Business Brain – The Entrepreneurs’ Podcast

As we enjoy Christmas Day with family and friends, we bring you one of our favorite episodes from 2017. Merry Christmas to you and yours! What’s more difficult? Starting up a new company or taking over and changing the culture of a 4th generation small business? Join us today on the Small Business Show with our guest Rick Stuart from Listo, a company founded in 1921! How would you handle taking over and managing employees that have known you since you were a kid? What about “updating” the culture of a company almost a century old? Would you rush in and be in a hurry to make changes to take advantage of current market opportunities, or would you take your time before you started making changes? Dave and Shannon explore these questions and more on today’s show. During the conversation with Rick, we learn about the importance of pivoting into new markets (sound familiar?), going “low-tech” and getting smaller to grow. Listen in to learn about how Rick adapted himself and his small business to keep it moving beyond the first 100 years. Chapters/Timestamps/Stuff Mentioned 00:00:00 Small Business Show #101 January 11, 2017 00:01:18 Interview: Rick Stuart from Listo Pencil Company 00:02:01 Multigenerational (4x!) business 00:04:22 Low-tech is a quandary… or is it? 00:06:21 Pivot, pivot, pivot! It’s (still) all about customer service 00:07:46 Started with… and returned to the family business 00:09:56 Running a company – and people – older than you are! 00:11:23 Changing (updating?) the company culture 00:15:07 “Go have fun with it, kiddo!” 00:16:33 Real estate as a hedge 00:17:56 Estate planning as part of a business plan 00:19:54 Looking at things from a different perspective – split out manufacturing 00:22:35 Shrinking to grow 00:25:33 Evolve: don’t hang on too long! 00:28:17 Let the brand live its own life “Be a steward of the brand” It’s OK to let a small business be small 00:31:09 Take time to Earn (trust) and Learn (the business) The post Best of SBS – Interview with Rick Stuart of Listo Corp – Small Business Show 255 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

As the saying goes: “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” The same can be said of Small Business owners. If you don’t give yourself the time and permission to relax, regroup and re-energize, you are going to limit your performance and impact your Small Business in a negative manner. Join your hosts Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton as answer listener questions about how to disconnect, how to get back to sleep and how to step away from things when you need to relax. Listen in, then visit the Small Business Support Group to ask questions and share your ideas!   00:00:00 Small Business Show #254 for Wednesday, December 18, 2019 00:01:30 SPONSOR: Linode. Instantly deploy and manage an SSD server in the Linode Cloud. Get a server running in seconds with your choice of Linux distro, resources, and choice of 10 node locations. Visit Linode.com/SBS and use promo code sbs2019 to start with a $20 credit. 00:03:22 Part I: How to relax? Comparison to Lazy If I take a break, can I still generate cash? 00:12:47 SPONSOR: TextExpander.com/podcast gets you 20% off your first year. 00:14:37 Part II: What to do when you wake up? Get the thoughts out of your brain Read – Choose someone else’s problems! Manage Your To Did List Beware the drug of relaxation 00:24:48 Part III: Downtime breaks up your routine Re-energize your creative juices “Out of the corner of my watering eye” 00:31:50 SBS 254 Outtro The post Why and How Downtime is Important for Small Business Success – Episode 254 Small Business Show appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Defining what success means to you is a critical part of developing a system to achieve what you want, both in your Small Business and personal life. On this episode of the Small Business Show, join your hosts Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean as they discuss how to develop a system to achieve your definition of success. Listen in to hear what questions you need to ask yourself to come up with your own definition of success, why you should avoid blindly competing with others and why your business partners and spouse should be very aware of what success means to you. Join us, then visit the Small Business Support Group to ask questions and share what success means to you! 00:00:00 Small Business Show #253 for Wednesday, December 11, 2019 Bullheaded Persistence 00:01:40 SBS 253 Part 1: Goals vs. Systems “Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing that you made the effort to do your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming” When The Game Stands Tall Keep challenging yourself “What do you really want?” Avoid Blindly Competing Without Purpose 00:13:55 SPONSOR: TextExpander.com/podcast gets you 20% off your first year 00:15:44 SBS 253 Part 2 Laugh Each Day Be Reliable Learn Continuously Be Financially Independent The definition of Financial Independence Goals are artificial stopping points Scott Adams: Goals are for losers Shannon’s system for writing a book 00:31:30 SBS 253 Outtro The post To be Successful, First Define What Success Means to You – Small Business Show 253 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

As we wrap up another awesome Small Business year, it’s time to revisit those tasks and opportunities to take advantage of before we close out December. On this episode of the Small Business Show, your hosts Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton share their strategies for closing out the year on a high note. Taking care of things that need to be dated for this calendar year and not missing out on ways to save money, pay fewer taxes, and complete the Executive Summary to keep an ongoing journal of what happened with your Small Business in 2019. Listen in and then join us at the Small Business Support Group to share your stories, ask questions and connect with your hosts Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean. 00:00:00 Small Business Show #252 for Wednesday, December 4, 2019 Review your financials Check your cash flow vs. your P&L Check your receivables and settle with folks who owe you Hire your spouse Fund your retirement accounts and build wealth 00:17:07 SPONSOR: Linode. Instantly deploy and manage an SSD server in the Linode Cloud. Get a server running in seconds with your choice of Linux distro, resources, and choice of 10 node locations. Visit Linode.com/SBS and use promo code sbs2019 to start with a $20 credit. 00:18:37 Part two Manage your inventory Look at your tax liabilities Write off your inventory Consider changing your Fiscal End of Year Begin your Executive Summary SBS 252 Outtro The post 2019 Small Business End of Year Tasks – Small Business Show 252 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Hundreds of Small Business owner guests on the Small Business Show have been asked this same question: What is the best mistake you have ever made? A mistake that taught you the most, something you remember to this day? Join us for Part Two of the Small Business Show where we sample and discuss lessons we have learned from our Best Mistake question. Guests include Paul Goodman of Pura Vida, Brittany Alwerud of Handlr and Brian Friss from Digistor. Listen in and then join us at the Small Business Support Group to share your stories, ask questions and connect with your hosts Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean. 00:00:00 Small Business Show #251 for Wednesday, November 27, 2019 Paul Goodman SBS 56 “Avoid Shiny Objects. Don’t change just for the sake of change.” Brittany Alwerud SBS 130 “Not launching fast enough.” Brian Friss of Digistor “Don’t Make Fear-Based Decisions” 00:22:22 SBS 251 Outtro The post Best Mistake Show – Part Two. Small Business Show Episode 251 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Hundreds of Small Business owner guests on the Small Business Show have been asked this same question: What is the best mistake you have ever made? A mistake that taught you the most, something you remember to this day? Join us for episode 250 of the Small Business Show where we sample and discuss lessons we have learned from our Best Mistake question. Guests include Tyler Merritt from Field Harmony, Sara Beznicki of A Gilded Leaf, Justin Sisley from Digidern Bookkeeping and Bob Grewal of Seapoint Business Advisors. There are some terrific lessons shared by our guests today. Listen in and then come join the conversation at the Small Business Support Group. 00:00:00 Small Business Show #250 for Thursday, November 21, 201900:01:28 Tyler Merritt SBS 102“I thought other people would think like me” Sara Beznicki SBS 107“Don’t panic and throw money at things you believe will quickly accelerate your business.”00:15:40 SPONSOR: Linode. Instantly deploy and manage an SSD server in the Linode Cloud. Get a server running in seconds with your choice of Linux distro, resources, and choice of 10 node locations. Visit Linode.com/SBS and use promo code sbs2019 to start with a $20 credit. 00:17:22 SPONSOR: TextExpander.com/podcast gets you 20% off your first yearJustin Sisley SBS 112“Putting off Bookkeeping”Bob Grewal – SBS 61“Keep your books clean – PL and BS to show to people outside your company”00:33:14 SBS 250 Outtro The post Best Mistake Show – Part One. Small Business Show Episode 250 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Today on the show, we are fortunate to have a successful reseller as well as a builder of communities to support other sellers. Out guest today is known as the Prime Time Treasure Hunter on YouTube, with over 8,000 subscribers that come to him for advice and support. As well, he is the administrator and force behind the Reselling Resource Center group on Facebook, with over 13,000 members that help each other succeed. If you are reselling on marketplaces like eBay, Poshmark, or others, you need to be a member of this group. Join us and hear Dominic talk about his journey as a longtime reseller and why he decided to build communities to support other sellers. His advice can help anyone reselling as well as all Small Business owners. 00:00:00 Small Business Show #249 for Wednesday, November 13, 2019 00:02:55 Part 1 Prime Time Treasure Hunter Prime Time Treasure Hunter on YouTube Reselling Resource Center Facebook Group Neuropsychologist becomes Reselling Treasure Hunter Dominic’s First YouTube Video on Vintage Spray Cans (Be nice! It was his first, and you can do it, too!) Dominic’s Academic/Textbook on Mild Traumatic Brain Injury 00:19:16 SPONSOR: TextExpander.com/podcast gets you 20% off your first year 00:21:32 Interview Part 2 Managing Space and Time Evaluate your Systems Don’t Misplace your Inventory! Find Dominic, the Prime Time Treasure Hunter, on YouTube primetimetreasure@gmail.com The post Interview with Prime Time Treasure Hunter – Small Business Show 249 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

You have heard your hosts Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean repeatedly discuss the power of optimism, of creating your own Success Story and embracing the power of yes to create a system of success. But what about failure? Are we shortchanging ourselves and other business owners by neglecting to focus on our failures? Discussing our failures is a way to celebrate our perseverance, our ability to recover and to a bit of humbleness when thinking about our success. Today on the Small Business Show we talk about the concept of a Failure Resume and why you should create and share one. A Failure Resume is a great tool to use when we are having trouble with a new project, a new product or a new business. Use it to remind yourself about how you have gotten through those failures to find success. 00:00:00 Small Business Show #248 for Wednesday, November 6, 2019Write your Failure ResumeShannon’s Failure Resume00:09:54 SPONSOR: Linode. Instantly deploy and manage an SSD server in the Linode Cloud. Get a server running in seconds with your choice of Linux distro, resources, and choice of 10 node locations. Visit Linode.com/SBS and use promo code sbs2019 to start with a $20 credit. 00:11:38 Dave and Shannon’s Joint Failures“I never lose. I either win or learn.” – Nelson Mandela00:37:36 SBS 248 OuttroSBS Reviews The post The Power of a Failure Resume – Small Business Show 248 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Simple marketing messages resonate with your potential customers. They allow you to connect with a customer and promote your brand. But the power of simplicity goes way beyond just marketing. Today on the Small Business Show, your hosts Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean, discuss three areas that benefit dramatically from simplicity: Getting Started, Customer Choice, and Internal Policies and Procedures. We start with tips on keeping your focus when starting your Small Business or creating a new product or service. We explain why it’s easy to get stuck in this phase and how to avoid the Perfection Trap to create a minimally viable product. Then it’s on to simplifying choices for your customers. Forcing your customers to make to many decisions can cause them to shut down and take their business elsewhere. We wrap up the episode with why we believe it’s essential to bring simplicity to your internal policies and procedures, as well as your terms and conditions. Join us today for episode 247 of the Small Business Show and then visit the Small Business Support Group to comment, ask questions, and more! 00:00:00 Small Business Show #247 for Wednesday, October 30, 2019Simple, right?Choose what to leave out.Shannon’s Book: Poshmark UnlockedPerfect is the enemy of goodWhat’s your metaphor?Avoid word salad!Spotify purchases Gimlet“I am the product.”Simplify Customer ChoicesDesign is about removing things.Simplify Internally“Push the phone back across the counter.”00:36:13 Outtro SBS 247SBS Reviews The post Simplicity Sells and Creates a Cycle of Success – Small Business Show 247 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Join us today on the Small Business Show to learn how to manage a one-way contract situation. Dave Hamilton shares his experience when negotiating a vague contract and why you might not want to help make the contract better. Listen in as Dave uses Pacing and Leading persuasion techniques to learn more about the person he is signing the contract with and why sometimes the smallest actions can help to cement a relationship. We then jump into one of Shannon Jean’s favorite topics: using stories to connect with your customers. We all know the power of story. Stories connect with us on a deep level, creating a long-lasting impact that influences our behavior and our views. Are you the protagonist in your Small Business Story?  By promoting the story of your Small Business, you are moving beyond a transactional relationship and into an emotional one. Whether it’s sharing your reasons for creating your business, talking about the obstacles you have overcome or focusing on the problem you wanted to solve, the story of Why and How can elevate you beyond your competitors and forge deep bonds with your customers. We wrap up the show by announcing a new monthly contest to feature a listener’s Small Business on the show. Just leave us a review and then send us your contact info to be entered! All this and much more on episode 246 of the Small Business Show. Listen in and then join us at the Small Business Support Group to ask your questions and comment. 00:00:00 Small Business Show #246 for Wednesday, October 23, 2019You need to know if you can walk awayHaste Makes MalpracticeLeading and Pacing: research your potential partnersDon’t steal the penLandlord vs. Innkeeper00:22:09 SPONSOR: TextExpander.com/podcast gets you 20% off your first year00:24:19 SPONSOR: Linode. Instantly deploy and manage an SSD server in the Linode Cloud. Get a server running in seconds with your choice of Linux distro, resources, and choice of 10 node locations. Visit Linode.com/SBS and use promo code sbs2019 to start with a $20 credit. 00:26:20 Are You the Hero of your Small Business StoryTechRestore: Help is on the WayBay Area Tech HeroGrammarly00:40:03 SBS 246 OuttroLeave us a review!feedback@businessshow.co The post One Way Contracts and the Power of Story – Small Business Show 246 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.