Business Brain – The Entrepreneurs’ Podcast

We’re fortunate to discover so many diverse skill sets with all of the Small Business owners we get to meet on the Small Business Show. This week we are joined by Nick Zadrozny, founder and CEO of One More Cloud. We’re excited to have Nick as a guest today so he can educate us about One More Cloud, their products and services and about his Small Business story. Join us today to hear how Nick and his team created One More Cloud in 2009 to be one of the first companies to offer an Infrastructure as a Service. Nick discusses his years of programming and website programming experience and how a sticky note on his desk, labeled “Build Passive Revenue!” was the impetus to start One More Cloud. Listen in and hear about Nick’s 10-year journey, moving from Engineer to Manager and then to the leadership position of CEO and how he has adjusted to the various roles and requirements of a fast growing business. Nick talks about the power of having a group of like-minded peers, such as a CEO Coaching Group to share the details of your business with that can offer advice and criticism of all different aspects of your business, as well as your own actions as CEO. There’s much more to hear on this episode that you don’t want to miss! After the show, join us at the Small Business Support Group to ask questions, comment and share your own story. Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #206 for Wednesday, January 16, 201900:01:04 Featured Guest: Nick Zadrozny, One More Cloud00:05:30 Infrastructure as a Service00:06:28 “Build Passive Revenue”00:09:13 Learn what to say “Yes” to00:09:55 SPONSOR: Abby Connect. Get $95 off your first bill at AbbyConnect.com/sbs or calling 833-ABBY-WOW00:12:57 SPONSOR: TextExpander. If you’re on a team, TextExpander will change your life, leaving more time for what you do best. Visit TextExpander.com/podcast to learn more.00:15:06 There’s a marketplace for everything00:18:03 Finding the right customers00:17:13 Role Shift from Technician to ManagerCoaching Group with Other CEOs00:21:51 Managing the Entrepreneurial Mindset00:27:35 Showing value to customers00:30:30 Challenges running a Search Engine00:34:23 “You need to pursue your success elsewhere”00:38:34 Find your own “Mental Floss” Opportunities00:41:07 SBS 206 OuttroOne More Cloud at omc.ioNick Zadrozny at twitter.com/nz_ The post Interview with Nick Zadrozny of One More Cloud – Small Business Show Episode 206 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Are you a confident Small Business owner? Has showing that confidence helped build your business? Join your hosts Shannon Jean and Dave Hamilton today on episode 205 of the Small Business Show to hear learn how your own confidence can inspire confidence in your employees and your customers – leading to more sales and success! You’ll hear why “Praising yourself (and your Small Business) daringly” is a proven marketing technique that you should become comfortable using. When you communicate your expertise and display confidence, most people will believe you and they will tend to confirm that impression in their minds. We discuss a number of methods to use to create the confidence in yourself and your Small Business to attract success including the controversial use of “directional truths”, promoting past successes and how you overcame adversity even if it was caused by your own mistakes and how talking about big goals can convince potential customers that you’re already there. Listen in for all this and much more, then join us at the Small Business Support Group to join the conversation, ask questions and share your own confidence story. 00:00:00 Small Business Show #205 for Wednesday, January 9, 201900:01:18 The benefits of attending CES00:04:31 Trade shows are valuable!00:05:10 The Confidence Episode00:05:48 Confidence vs. CompetenceSammy Hagar says it best!00:06:30 Step one: Say you’re the best; Step two: become the best!00:09:39 People are impressed more by confidence00:11:13 SPONSOR: ExpressVPN – ExpressVPN.com/SBS gets you 3 months free with your 1-year subscription00:14:38 Promote previous successes 00:15:57 Tell “directional” truths“Thousands of customers…”“Multi-million dollar business…”“Dozens of employees…”00:18:58 Promote brand name customers and big deals00:22:13 Talk about how you’ve overcome mistakes00:23:29 Talk about your goals00:24:38 Know your cash numbers, even if they suck!00:30:11 SBS 205 Outtro The post Confidence is a Key Factor in Success – Small Business Show 205 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Join us this week as your hosts Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean discuss resolutions for your Small Business, how being productive is a great motivator to propel you forward and how focusing on efficiency can start your New Year off strong. We then jump into a discussion of using Debt as a Catalyst to massively positive cash flow. Dave explains this concept while Shannon tries to poke holes in the idea but then gets on board. The debt discussion leads us to a talk about not knowing what you’re capable of until you are forced to act and how a crisis can be a powerful change agent for you and your company. Listen in and then join the discussion at the Small Business Support Group! 00:00:00 Small Business Show #204 for Wednesday, January 2, 2019 00:02:05 The benefits of feeling productive 00:03:17 Resolutions: Intentional change, Prioritizing Efficiency 00:06:40 Managing Your Staffing Equation 00:08:59 Using Debt as a Catalyst to massively-positive cashflow 00:14:05 Competition is a catalyst, too 00:15:20 Learning your own capabilities 00:20:20 Lack of Crisis Creates Complacency 00:23:09 SBS 203 Outtro Email us: feedback@businessshow.co Next week: Confidence The post Small Business Cashflow, Crisis and Efficiency – Small Business Show 204 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

This week, while Dave and Shannon enjoying spending time with their family and friends for the Christmas holiday, we revisit one of our favorite episodes with Paul Downs, author of Boss Life and Small Business contributor to the New York Times and Forbes. This was a very special episode. If you missed it, you’re going to learn a tremendous amount. If you’ve heard it before like we have, listening to it again as we did during our editing is definitely worth your time. How prepared are you for the challenges of running your small business? What energizes you to make it through tough times and just how transparent are you (and should you be) to your employees and everyone else that you discuss your business with?  If you felt like your business was about to shut down, could you imagine reaching out to the New York Times with an offer to share the experience with thousands of people? Paul Downs thought it would make for a good story and he wrote for the NYTimes.com for 4-years before writing a “year in the life of my business” book: Boss Life. You’ve never read a business book like Boss Life. The book quickly joined our list of “must reads” for all current and potential business owners. The work is the most honest and transparent business book that we have ever read and we encourage all of you to read it. Today, Paul Downs joins Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean on the Small Business Show where they dig deeper into Paul’s story, into Boss Life and into the work ethic that has kept Paul in business for over 30-years. The post Paul Downs author of Boss Life – Revisiting a Favorite. Small Business Show episode 203 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

If you’re a Small Business owner, chances are you like things to be done a certain way – that may be why you don’t work for someone else, doing things their way. This is a powerful trait that can push you to succeed – but, it can also turn you into a micromanager when it comes to your employees, contractors and partners. So, how do you avoid being a micromanager while at the same time being sure things are getting done and that people are embracing change and not getting stagnant? Let’s figure it out together on this episode of the Small Business Show. Join Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean as they discuss their own micromanaging issues and how they have worked hard to overcome them with tactics like up-front communication, planned check-ins and perhaps most importantly, using persuasion to nudge things along in the direction that you want, while protecting the autonomy of your employees, contractors and partners. During the discussion, we come up with ways to promote change and avoid getting stuck at a “comfort level” for your team along with ways to foster change as a foundational part of your business. Join us for this and much more on this episode of the Small Business Show, then come share your story at the Small Business Support Group. Thanks for listening! 00:00:00 Small Business Show #202 for Wednesday, December 19, 2018 00:02:56 Working your own way 00:03:54 Creating Perpetual Change 00:07:01 Set check-in/adaptation points “You’re going to get bored if we don’t change it” 00:09:02 Why is micromanaging so bad? “I’ll back up every decision you make, but I reserve the right to critique them with you” 00:13:34 Delegate the work, and set Clearly-defined Checkpoints Fostering Autonomy 00:15:45 Don’t get comfortable 00:18:21 Use the illusion of choice to foster buy-in 00:20:23 Have that removed! 00:23:07 Treat people the way they need to be treated, not the way you need to be treated 00:24:03 Embrace change, reward risks 00:25:48 Eradicate the Resistors! 00:30:03 SBS 202 Outtro The post Stop Micromanaging and Start Persuading – Small Business Show 202 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Most of us create businesses to support our lifestyle, but there’s some people that live a lifestyle that seems to lend itself to starting businesses. Today we’re going to talk to Jeff Anderlite, a serial business owner that has travelled the world, in what looks like to us, like a pursuit of living a “non-boring” life. Along the way, Jeff has started a hostel in Nicaragua, a Spice company, a clothing brand and naturally, a business to help other businesses succeed. We’re sure you are as eager as we are to hear the backstory here… Join us and you’ll hear Jeff talk about starting his first business when he was in High School, how he knew early on in his life that in order to be true to himself, he would need to create and be an Entrepreneur and how his experiences working with different partners has taught him so much. You’ll hear about Jeff’s travels around the world and how he has combined his love of travel with marketing for his apparel business, Baja Llama and how his latest business, Ignite360 is helping other companies with their marketing and growth. After you hear the show, click over to Baja Llama and use coupon code Bajallama30 to take 30% anything through Dec 31, 2018. Listen in and then come talk with us at the Small Business Support Group!   00:00:00 Small Business Show #201 for Wednesday, December 12, 2018 00:00:56 Jeff Anderlite, Journeyman Businessman 00:03:06 Creating Rockets and Electric Erasers 00:03:45 Started with Bottle Buddy 00:05:40 “Weird Stuff” Sells 00:08:33 Be true to yourself 00:11:28 Selling vs. Stopping 00:12:56 SPONSOR: Visit TextExpander.com/podcast for 20% off your first year. 00:15:11 Baja Llama … Travel funding turned into a business? 00:17:35 Business partners need to have the same ideology and vision 00:20:11 Write it down! 00:25:48 Know who you are and what your actions communicate 00:28:46 Ignite360 00:31:56 Read, Listen, Learn & Take a step back and process 00:33:18 SBS 201 Outtro anderlitej@gmail.com The post Interview with Jeff Anderlite of Baja Llama and Ignite360 – Small Business Show 201 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Join us today for the 200th episode of the *Award Winning* Small Business Show! We’re thrilled to have been ranked as the #1 Small Business Podcast by Feedspot for 2018 and we couldn’t have done it without our listeners. Your Co-Hosts Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean thank you! Today we are focusing on Collaboration – why it’s important for you personally, your Small Business, your partners and employees. You’ll hear why Collaboration is good for your own well being, allows you to share your knowledge with other people and learn from specialists in other fields. We discuss the power of bringing together different viewpoints and experiences to help come up with and refine ideas, to offer suggestions, make changes and corrections in a two-way flow of knowledge that will dramatically improve your output. Collaboration also helps keep you accountable because it’s easy to let yourself down, but much more difficult to let other people down. Shannon discusses the concept of Collaboration as a tool to bring together different business concepts and to apply ideas from a completely different product or service to your own Small Business – sometimes a completely different take on things can be the differentiator that you need for success. There’s a few more tips about why Collaboration matters so much before we jump into ways to get yourself and your team to Collaborate. We’ve got a one-word solution for your team that you don’t want to miss. Join us today and then visit the Small Business Support Group to Collaborate with other Small Business owners.   00:00:00 Small Business Show #200 for Wednesday, December 5, 2018 00:01:23 A major award: Top Feedspot Small Business Podcast 00:03:11 Collaboration is good for the soul 00:07:37 You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know 00:10:19 It’s much easier to let yourself down than it is a partner How I Built This Method Co-Founders Episode 00:14:02 “I never thought of that!” 00:20:28 How does a completely different business solve this problem? The Purple Cow Crack pie 00:25:33 Create a safe environment for ideas 00:27:50 Leverage Serendipity Jay Gentile and BoosterBots on Small Business Show And now… Peak Social Apps 00:31:57 Be OK with both Yes and No 00:35:49 Food is Collaboration 00:39:16 The value of Flex Time and Recognition Move employees around 00:41:32 SBS 200 Outtro The post Why Collaboration is the Key to Personal and Small Business Success – Small Business Show 200 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Technology changes quickly and one of the problems we all deal with is finding a home for your old laptop, phone or tablet when you upgrade. How many of us have an old iPhone in a drawer or MacBook sitting on a shelf somewhere? Today we get a chance to learn more about the business opportunity that this situation creates with our guest Brian Burke, owner of SellYourMac.com You’ll hear the story about how not getting the job of his dreams pushed Brian into creating the company of his dreams. Join us today for episode 199 of the Small Business Show and then join the conversation on the Small Business Support Group!     Chapters: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #199 for Wednesday, November 28, 2018 00:00:55 Brian Burke from SellYourMac 00:02:40 Didn’t get the job I wanted out of college 00:04:20 Didn’t have enough product to sell! 00:04:41 Selling convenience first 00:06:40 Rely on yourself as your backup plan 00:09:32 Where else to sell your Mac? 00:10:56 SPONSOR: Visit TextExpander.com/podcast for 20% off your first year. 00:12:31 SPONSOR: Go to LinkedIn.com/SBS and get $50 OFF toward your first job post! 00:14:30 Buy where you want to sell 00:17:35 Let eBay do half your marketing for you 00:19:03 Managing your SEO from the core of your website 00:20:05 Managing by learning your people Culture Index 00:22:19 Beware the fraudsters 00:25:21 The (in)efficiencies of addressing fraud 00:27:42 Unintentional fraud 00:29:10 Never happy with current size. Always Be Growing. 00:30:14 Be prepared to work. 00:31:59 SBS 199 Outtro The post Interview with Brian Burke Founder of SellYourMac – Small Business Show 199 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

We hope you are enjoying the Thanksgiving holiday with family and friends! That’s what Dave and Shannon are doing this week, so we bring you one of our favorite interviews from last year with Gurjit Sing and Kevin Chou from the Gentleman’s Garage, a Turo based Small Business that focuses on renting exotic cars. Enjoy the show and we will be back with you next week! Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #198 for Wednesday, November 21, 2018 00:01:22 Small Business Show #141 October 18, 2017 00:02:58 Gurjit Singh & Kevin Chou – Using Turo as a Small Business platform 00:05:03 It all starts with two Mustangs … and a BMW 00:05:42 Turo covered the repair! Shift – online car buying and selling 00:06:53 Beware the damage claims 00:08:04 Think about how people will drive your vehicles 00:09:15 Turo manages the risk 00:10:03 Turo valet service 00:10:37 Each car makes 2-3x monthly payment 00:12:48 The logistics of management 00:14:51 One-way fee 00:15:58 With affluent customers, you’re managing an experience 00:18:34 If you’re going to rent it out, don’t buy new! Certified Pre-Owned works very well for Turo 00:21:40 Managing the fleet – new cars, selling cars, registrations 00:22:55 The bankers slow you down! 00:26:03 Did making it a business ruin your hobby? 00:27:01 “The cars are still a thrill to drive” Converting to a membership business 00:29:02 Visit Gurjit and Kevin’s The Gentleman’s Garage on Turo… and Facebook 00:30:15 SBS 141 Outtro The post Small Business Show 198 – From the Archives: Gentleman’s Garage on Turo interview appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Let’s face it, not every decision you’ll make for your Small Business is going to be a good one. What can you do to avoid bad decisions in the first place and how can you quickly recover from the ones that slip through? Join us today on episode 197 of the Small Business Show where your hosts share their own bad decisions and tips for minimizing yours! Bad decisions can hurt your Small Business, kill your cashflow or destroy your reputation. The first step we discuss on today’s show to minimize the destructiveness of bad decisions is making sure you have enough information to make an informed decision. Shannon uses an example from his super-bad decision to get into the TV business of how not having enough info in hand should have stopped him from make that decision. We then move onto to a discussion about timeliness and being sure you don’t get suckered in to a “limited time offer” situation, being sure that the data you are using is not out of date, not letting your emotions obscure the facts and the pitfall of being overly optimistic and letting best-case scenarios obscure reality. You’ll also hear us talk about Dave’s “Fallacy of Sunk Costs” and not letting invested money and time obscure your ability to make good decisions about projects, not letting so-called experts change your gut instincts about a decision. Join us for all this and more and then share your own story at the Small Business Support Group! 00:00:00 Small Business Show #197 for Wednesday, November 14, 2018 00:01:41 Good decision: Nearly 200 Episodes of SBS! 00:03:01 SPONSOR: Visit TextExpander.com/podcast for 20% off your first year. 00:05:38 Bad Decisions can devastate your business. 00:07:38 Shannon’s “no-manifest” story 00:09:53 The confidence conundrum 00:11:35 The most expensive TV on the planet! 00:13:23 Next time you can walk away. 00:16:42 Watch the things that slow you down 00:18:25 Don’t be afraid of saying no. 00:20:30 Get current info! 00:21:23 SPONSOR: Visit TryHopsy.com/SBS to get the SUB home draft machine, 2 mini-kegs of beer (equivalent to 2 six packs), 2 Hopsy glasses and free membership in the monthly beer Club for $99. 00:26:26 Don’t look for the best case scenario 00:27:48 Avoid complacency 00:28:56 Consider opportunity cost 00:29:32 Acceptable risk 00:33:18 Acknowledge confirmation bias 00:36:57 SBS 197 Outtro The post Bad Decisions in your Business – How to Avoid and Recover – Small Business Show 197 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.