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.

Your hosts Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton are traveling this week so we are bringing you one of our favorite episodes from 2017 with the owners of Tanglefree Waterfowl. There’s a lot to learn from this one! What’s the best way to build your companies brand and create fans that are passionate about your products? Cory Fosket and Doug Butcher took a company focused on a single product line and expanded it over the last 13-years into a trusted brand for waterfowl hunters and outdoor enthusiasts. Along the way, they’ve learned about the importance of quality and how to step outside the business to plan 3-5 years ahead rather than just grinding it out day-after-day. Listen in to this episode of the Small Business Show to hear the Tanglefree story! During our discussion today, we get some great tips on creating strong relationships with your customers as well as your overseas suppliers to create a win-win environment where your company and suppliers profit while the customer gets a great value, high quality product. Cory and Doug spend some time discussing various measures of success and what means the most to each of them, as well as what they are doing to power through obstacles to propel Tanglefree into the future. We also learn about the pros and cons of selling to big-box retailers vs smaller stores and how to manage each different type of relationship. Finally, you’ll learn what to watch out for when developing products in China and how to create long term success with factory owners. Join us today on the Small Business Show for these tips and more! Then, jump over to the Small Business Show Support group to discuss the show. Chapters/Timestamps 00:00:00 Best of Small Business Show #134 August 30, 201700:01:17 Duck season and Ducks Unlimited00:01:24 Cory Fosket and Doug Butcher from Tanglefree Waterfowl Products00:02:20 An Intentional Family Business00:03:30 Acquire a minor line in someone else’s business and expand it00:04:57 Expand the staff by bringing in more family00:07:49 Building a brand in today’s world00:10:28 Making brand engagement a daily focus00:11:28 Relationships with Customers00:13:40 Redefining a relationship ahead of its time00:15:23 Favorite mistake: Not applying vision00:16:38 The other favorite mistake: learning that quality is better than price00:19:04 Success metric: Brand Engagement00:21:40 Look three-to-five years out00:22:46 Focus on relationships00:26:01 For a business relationship to work, both parties need to make money00:29:45 Reward Quality Control00:30:12 SBS OuttroTanglefree Waterfowl on Facebook and Instagram The post Tanglefree Waterfowl Interview– Small Business Show 245 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

One of the most frequently repeated pieces of advice that we give on the show is to get involved with a board of advisors and to connect with other business owners. Connecting with a group of diverse business owners and executives is a powerful way to build relationships and to bring experience to your business that you may be lacking. You’ll gain insight, critique, and knowledge with every meeting. We have had business owners on the show that have mentioned the impact of just such an advisory group: the Alliance of CEOs. We’re thrilled to have Paul Witkay, Founder of the Alliance on the show today.  Paul shares the story of why and how he started the Alliance back in 1996 to help both large and Small Business CEO’s solve problems and connect with other leaders. Listen in and then visit the Small Business Support Group to ask questions and comment on the show. 00:00:00 Small Business Show #244 for Wednesday, October 9, 2019 00:02:28 Paul Witkay – Alliance of CEOs Starting the Alliance “Don’t be Stupid” Create a safe space with no sales nor judgment 00:14:59 SPONSOR: Mint Mobile. To get your new wireless plan for just $15/month, and get the plan shipped to your door for FREE, go to MintMobile.com/sbs 00:16:58 SPONSOR: TextExpander.com/podcast gets you 20% off your first year. 00:19:07 Part 2 – How does the Alliance Work? Matching up the groups Trading Places These aren’t peer groups Advice: Focus on Clarity Advice: Hang around the people you want to hang around Find Paul Witkay at the Alliance of CEOsThe post Paul Witkay – Alliance of CEOs – Small Business Show 244 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Today on the show, we’re fortunate to have David Dawson with us, owner of The Instant Print Shoppe. David is going to talk all about printing as well as his journey as a small business owner. Regular listeners of the Small Business Show will know that we are passionate about the customer experience when they receive your product. We recently did a show all about packaging and how big of an impact it has on your customer’s view of your business, product, and service. There are so many opportunities to impress your customers with what you include in the box: fliers, stickers and promotional material along with what is printed on the box. The design and creation of printed goods, from business cards, those stickers and fliers to the critically important thank you cards. These things matter and help to create the framework for how your business is viewed by your existing and potential customers. Join your hosts Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton today as they learn about listener David Dawson’s journey as a multi-generational Small Business owner at the Instant Print Shoppe. Then, visit the Small Business Support Group to comment and share your own story. 00:00:00 Small Business Show #243 for Wednesday, October 2, 2019 00:03:16 Part 1: David Dawson from The Instant Print Shoppe Managing employees in a Multi-generational business “I guess I better figure this out” “The more I learn, the more confident I get!” 00:13:17 SPONSOR: Zapier. When you’re running your own business you know you could automate many of the tasks you do, but you don’t know-how. That’s where Zapier comes in. Try our special 14-day free trial at zapier.com/smallbusiness 00:15:38 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. 00:17:38 Interview Part 2: Letting customer service drive your business goals Personal Interaction with local businesses Updating your software Managing change resistance in a changing industry Keep Learning Find David at Instant Print Shoppe:  www.instantprintshoppe.ca Email David: info@instantprintshoppe.ca David Dawson on LinkedIn The post Interview with David Dawson of Instant Print Shoppe – Small Business Show 243 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

We all know how powerful saying No is. In fact, we’ve done shows where we discuss just that – focusing your power by saying no. But what if you are on the other side of that no? How do you work around being shut down? What techniques can you use to convince someone to change their mind and embrace your idea, your service, or your product? Stick around for the next half-hour or so to learn how your hosts Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton have overcome the NO over and over again. 00:00:00 Small Business Show #242 for Wednesday, September 25, 2019 Gary Vee Podcast 00:04:14 SPONSOR: TextExpander.com/podcast gets you 20% off your first year. 00:06:07 Converting No into Yes Bullheaded Persistence Timing and Listening Ask for What You Want Pacing and Leading Define the Trial 00:18:51 SPONSOR: Mint Mobile. To get your new wireless plan for just $15/month, and get the plan shipped to your door for FREE, go to MintMobile.com/sbs 00:20:51 SPONSOR: go.co – Get online with your .CO domain today. Register for just $5 and get 3 months of website builder and hosting services FREE at go.co/sbs. 00:22:21 The Next Level of Yes Always Be Following-Up Sanebox Always Be Building Relationships Small Business Show on LinkedIn Try to add value to the relationship Worry about the Deal, not the Money “We’ll Take it All” Scarcity and Exclusivity 00:42:30 SBS 242 Outtro The post Turning No into Yes – Small Business Show 242 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

We often talk about outsourcing with off-shore companies on the Small Business Show. Back in April, we focused on using outsourcing as a resource for delegating and on last weeks episode, Dave shared some of his frustrations about being impatient and expecting perfection when using outsourcing for a project. Today, we’re fortunate to have Curt Zweier of C3S Software on the show to provide some deeper insight into the world of outsourcing. Listen in to learn how to avoid the pitfalls of poor communication and how by treating your outsourced talent like they are your employees, you increase your success dramatically. If you have been tempted to contract with off-shore programming companies, but concerned about quality or the process, this is a show you don’t want to miss! Join your hosts Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean as they get a chance to learn from a successful leader in the off-shore and outsourcing industry. Then, visit the Small Business Support Group to ask more questions and share your own tips! 00:00:00 Small Business Show #241 for Wednesday, September 18, 2019 00:02:10 The Outsourcing Episode, with Curt Zweier Only the largest companies could leverage global employment Egypt is a great place to be Compartmentalize and Communicate Regularly Software Solution Specialists are the Liaison 00:15:16 SPONSOR: go.co – Get online with your .CO domain today. Register for just $5 and get 3 months of website builder and hosting services FREE at go.co/sbs. 00:16:49 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. 00:18:33 Integrating Outsourcing into Your Business Work like a team The Value of Customer Service Stay Involved with your Outsourcing Team 00:34:40 SBS241 Outtro Find Curt Zweier and C3S Software at www.c3ssoftware.com The post Outsourcing Secrets with Curt Zweier of C3S Software – Small Business Show 241 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Should your Small Business make loans to employees that are in a bind and if so, what policies and procedures do you need to put in place to protect yourself? And creating your own reality is great, but what about the reality of not being able to pay your bills? Join us today for a special listener questions edition of the Small Business Show! Most Small Business owners have found themselves in the position of being asked for a loan or payroll advance from an employee. When this comes up, should you make the loan? If you do, how do you protect your business and yourself and create standards to follow for future payroll advances? We discuss this terrific question from listener Grace T. and come up with ideas to support your employees when they need your help while protecting your own interests at the same time. We then tackle a question about how to create your own reality when your Small Business runs out of cash. Terry P. likes our focus on creating your own story, but when his Small Business can’t pay the bills, he needs some real-world help with finding alternative funding sources. Listen in to episode 240 of the Small Business Show as your hosts Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton answer these questions and more! 00:00:00 Small Business Show #240 for Wednesday, September 11, 201900:02:38 Grace-When do employees get a loan?Rocketlawyer Loan AgreementSHRM Pay Advances 00:16:22 SPONSOR: go.co – Get online with your .CO domain today. Register for just $5 and get 3 months of website builder and hosting services FREE at go.co/sbs.00:18:00 SPONSOR: TextExpander.com/podcast gets you 20% off your first year 00:19:42 E-MartinOFD from UK-Apple Podcasts SBS Review00:20:33 Terry-What do you do when you run out of money?HELOC = Home Equity Line of CreditPaypal Small Business LoanAmazon Payments Small Business LoanStripe Small Business LoanKabbage00:32:48 Business Therapy: Dave’s Impatience and PerfectionismThe 80/20 Rule for Mission Critical Items?00:41:17 SBS 240 The post Listener Questions about Employee Loans and Alternative Finance Sources – Small Business Show 240 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Every Small Business moves through cycles. From Creation, launch, growth and the grind, are you ready to adapt your skill set to each cycle? On this episode of the Small Business Show, we will explore each of these business cycles and more while we highlight the opportunities and pitfalls of each. Join your hosts Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean to learn how they adapted their leadership styles during each different cycle, what they excelled at and what they failed miserably with. Along the way, you will hear personal stories of success and failure and gain insight about what each of these serial small business owners would have done differently and how they have adapted to find success. We start with the Creative cycle, then move into Launching your new business before moving on to our Grow or Die phase that can often be followed by The Grind – a cycle that can burnout many entrepreneurs. This phase is where we start to ask ourselves: “Am I the right person to be running this business?”. Listen in for all this and much more on episode 239 of the Small Business Show! Then, bring your comments, questions, and suggestions to the Small Business Support Group to continue the discussion. Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #239 for Wednesday, September 4, 2019 00:01:41 Adapting to Different Business Cycles 00:03:39 Creation Want free advice? Ask Shannon and Dave Are there customers for your idea? It doesn’t need to be a lot of money Discipline points vs. process vs. systems vs. desire SBS 238 When people Quit! 00:17:04 SPONSOR: Zapier. When you’re running your own business you know you could automate many of the tasks you do, but you don’t know-how. That’s where Zapier comes in. Try our special 14-day free trial at zapier.com/smallbusiness 00:19:59 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. 00:21:42 Launch! 00:25:26 Grow or Die Beware Internal Culture Opposition 00:32:18 The Grind Am I the right person to be running this business? 00:36:25 Disengage / The Down-cycle 00:42:28 SBS 239 feedback@businessshow.co Leave us an Apple Podcasts ReviewThe post Adapting to Business Cycles – Small Business Show 239 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

What is Intentional Tension and how can you use it to achieve more with your Small Business? Join your hosts Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean for this episode of the Small Business Show to hear why introducing Intentional Tension to your company culture can increase productivity and produce higher quality results. We also discuss why some people feel the urge to quit on the cusp of success. What is it about that last 10% of a project, new business or new product launch that is often so hard to complete? Both Dave and Shannon have experience with this phenomenon and they have tips for you to help avoid these situations. Listen in for these topics and more as we discuss ways to make all of our Small Businesses better. After the show, please take 30-seconds to leave us a review on the Apple Podcast directory – it really helps! Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #238 for Wednesday, August 28, 2019 00:02:32 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. 00:04:27 Intentional Tension 00:09:19 Always Keep them Uncomfortable 00:12:33 Think in terms of Frameworks 00:15:56 Netflix powerpoint and podcast regarding their sports team policy Netflix’s Culture Document Netflix’s Culture Creator Created a Culture that Got her Fired 00:19:14 SPONSOR: Mint Mobile. To get your new wireless plan for just $15/month, and get the plan shipped to your door for FREE, go to MintMobile.com/sbs. 00:21:46 SPONSOR: go.co – Get online with your .CO domain today. Register for just $5 and get 3 months of website builder and hosting services FREE at go.co/sbs. 00:23:17 When people quit just as it’s getting good 00:33:11 The Easy/Difficult Sandwich 00:34:58 Fear of the Daily Grind 00:37:08 37 Signals Rework (Free book) Getting Real (Free book) 00:38:59 Parkinson’s Law 00:41:58 Business Therapy: Contracts for the Contractually Reticent Relationship Framework 00:53:29 SBS 238 Outtro feedback@businessshow.co The post Intentional Tension and When People Quit! – Small Business Show 238 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

As regular listeners know, we recently welcomed Mint Mobile on to the show as a sponsor. What they don’t know is before those sponsor spots started, we met with Mint Mobile’s Chief Marketing Officer, Aron North and we were so impressed with the story of Mint and how it began that we have asked Aron to come on the show today to talk about how Mint got started and how he and his team came up with their unique marketing and sales methods. Join your hosts Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton today to learn how Aron and his team came up with the concept for Mint Mobile and what tactics they employed to get noticed without a billion-dollar marketing budget. Hear how engagement with customers on forums and social media helped created a customer-first culture, how embracing the “F” word helped Mint to standout and much more on this special episode of the Small Business Show. After listening, join us at the Small Business Support Group to ask questions and to share your own story. Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #237 for Wednesday, August 21, 2019 00:01:48 Mint Mobile’s Aron North Multiple Customer Test Scenarios The Biggest Challenge Podcast Sponsorships 00:16:32 SPONSOR: go.co – Get online with your .CO domain today. Register for just $5 and get 3 months of website builder and hosting services FREE at go.co/sbs. 00:18:06 SPONSOR: TextExpander.com/podcast gets you 20% off your first year. 00:19:51 It’s time for Customer Service Hunt for the Negative “First Call Resolution” On Using The “F” Word We’re Not Failing Enough Bet Big on the SuperBowl Contact Aron North on LinkedIn 00:40:30 SBS 237 Outtro The post Mint Mobile: Chief Marketing Officer Aron North on Small Business Show 237 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.