The $100 MBA Show

There’s (way) more money in people than in products.One of the hardest early lessons new entrepreneurs have to learn is to stop chasing the best product idea. Almost all of us start with some version of the thought: “If I come up with the right product or service, I can build a business.” Or, we build a business because we thought of a product or service. But that’s getting it backwards. To build a business, you don’t start by building a product. You start by building an audience.Today, we outline all the reasons the audience-first approach gives you far higher odds of success. When you serve the right crowd — and serve them well — coming up with the product is actually the easy part. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For a startup, paid ads can be a game-changer…or a complete bust.It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener who runs a small SaaS business in need of more traffic. Our listener has been sinking money into paid digital advertising for months — and has exactly $0 to show for it.So how long should you lose profit on paid ads, before finally tapping out?Today, we discuss why paid ads work better for some businesses than others, why paid advertising is deceptively complex, and how to know if you’re likely to see an ROI. Depending on a few factors, it might be smarter to spend your marketing money elsewhere.We’ll cover the numbers you should consider, different models of paid advertising, and our favorite alternative to paid ads. Figure out what kind of marketing and advertising makes the most sense for you — Click Play!To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q.SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Redefine your “why.”Most of us get into business hoping to make a certain amount of money. But a radically different approach is gaining steam, helping entrepreneurs totally rethink what they’re really working towards.Spoiler alert: it’s not money.Today, we explore the concept of a “time billionaire.” That’s a specific term for a specific reason; it represents a measurable portion of your finite term on Earth, providing a concrete — if unconventional — way to define true wealth.Learn about the “time billionaire” philosophy, hear how it changed the way we look at entrepreneurship, and see why obtaining the time you want might not take as much money as you think. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What’s the point of starting a business? Is it to earn money, or what money buys? Probably the latter. And the most important, valuable thing money can buy isn’t real estate or caviar — it’s time.Free Time by Jenny Blake takes a different approach to entrepreneurship. Rather than trying to win the game of Who Can Make the Most Money, Blake decided to prioritize the creation of time for herself. And she couldn’t be happier with the results.Today, we review Free Time, and share why this book is such a life-altering shift of perspective for anyone who takes its lessons to heart.Hear how Blake created the kind of business that rewards her with the ultimate prize of entrepreneurship: freedom. By carefully creating a team and systems that make her presence less necessary, she won the only game that matters. Click Play!Pivot by Jenny BlakeDiscover all our must-read book reviews at https://100mba.net/bookreviews.SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How many company newsletter emails do you really read?The email newsletter goes all the way back to the beginning of the Internet. But needless to say, times have changed. With stuffed inboxes and the invention of the ‘Promo’ tab, does anyone give a hoot about your newsletter now?Well, that depends on you.Today, we share 3 strategic approaches to newsletters. From marketing your products to actually charging for the newsletter itself, these emails can truly support your business — if you include truly valuable content.With consumer email habits today, your newsletter needs a little something extra to be effective. Learn how it’s done — Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Creating a course? Listen to this first.Our intrepid host Omar wasn’t always a SaaS entrepreneur. Before that, he was a professional educator for over a dozen years. And since then, he’s created (and taken) dozens of online courses. In other words, we know what makes a good course…and what makes a bad one.Today, we share 5 essential elements every course needs. These aren’t suggestions or options; these are the 5 musts. If your course is going to produce results for your students, certain things absolutely have to be in place.Give your course the best chance to deliver for your customers. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How risky are money-back guarantees? Can they hurt your business more than they help it?It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a coach whose potential clients want some reassurance, in the form of a guaranteed refund if they don’t get results. But quite reasonably, our listener is hesitant to commit to not being paid for their time and effort. So what’s the right move? To guarantee or not?Today, we explain why risk reversal is a sales and marketing must. Yes, in our experience, a money-back guarantee is indispensable if you want people to believe in your product or service. And yes, you can offer a guarantee that mitigates the risk of losing money.Learn how to create a clear-cut, reasonable refund policy that protects you and customers, so you can put your money where your marketing’s mouth is — with confidence. Click Play!To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q.SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When software tools pile up, they’re no longer solving problems — they’re creating one.Every business picks up excess tools along the way. Software for marketing, project management, analytics, design, and more come and go. But inevitably, too many come and not enough go! Today, we explore how to give your business a little tool audit.We did our own audit recently, and found we were able to get rid of about 50% of our tools (and the costs associated with them). By defining our priorities and making a few strategic tradeoffs, we were able to make our startup even more lean.Are your software tools easing friction, or creating it? Saving money, or draining it? Learn how to boost efficiency with a little tech housekeeping. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Stage fright? Get nervous before a big talk, meeting, or pitch?We’ve got you covered.Caroline Goyder is a celebrated author and presenter who knows exactly how to approach speaking with cool, calm, and confidence. Today, she’s here with 5 specific exercises you can use as often as you need to develop the kind of poise that makes speaking a breeze.Fair warning though: maybe listen to this episode (and do these exercises) in private.Follow along as Caroline guides you through a few key movies that bring stability to your mind, largely by manipulating the body. They may seem a bit odd at first, but once you experience their effects, you’ll see why Caroline’s training is so powerful.Get ready to speak with ease — Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sometimes, the best way to push forward is to simplify.For a new business, a million shiny objects can become distractions disguised as goals. As legitimate as these goals may be, you can’t take your eyes off the most important prize of all — the one that’ll ensure your business’s long-term future.Today, we explore exactly what that goal is (and how to achieve it).No matter the industry, no matter the type of business, no matter the product or service, every new business needs to get to this special place before they can go anywhere else. Too many new businesses lose sight of this goal, to their peril.Learn what you absolutely have to achieve, above all else, in order to make it as an entrepreneur. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.