Business Brain – The Entrepreneurs’ Podcast

We’re strong proponents of finding something you love to do and creating a business around it. Lance Lewsader had such a great time getting out of an escape room attraction a couple of years ago that he decided to create his own and Bolt NWA was born! Bolt NWA is an Escape Room Experience where customers have one hour to find clues, solve puzzles and work together to escape the room. Bolt has three rotating concept rooms, including Locked!, The Vault and Day Dream. Lance and his team have created a successful business while getting involved closely with their community to serve multiple “bottom lines”. We start the show with your co-hosts Shannon and Dave getting educated about the Escape Room phenomenon, a fast growing attraction that is increasing in popularity around the country. Lance spends some time discussing Bolt’s history and how they have grown the business quickly, while connecting with their local community and charity organizations. Not content to just enjoy fast growth of Bolt on his own, Lance has franchised the business concept and explains how that process works. Your hosts are impressed that what usually can be a very complicated process, is just one more way to grow the business to Lance. But enough about success, we also want to know about those all important mistakes that teach Small Business owners so much. For Bolt, it was partnering with friends that got the business off to a rocky start. We wrap up the show with a talk about measuring success, what’s important beyond profit and what obstacles stand in Bolt’s way and how Lance plans to overcome them. Join us today for a fun show about a fun business concept! Listen in and then visit the Small Business Support Group to comment and ask questions. Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #116 April 26, 2017 00:01:18 Ghost Pepper Salt! 00:01:49 Lance Lewsader – Bolt NWA Escape Room 00:04:37 Ride the wave! 950 to 2,500 in 18 months! 00:07:40 The F word: Franchising 00:11:09 Leverage your specific expertise 00:13:07 Repeat business? Keep it fresh! 00:14:51 When in doubt… and when in trouble: consult with a lawyer 00:18:00 Charity is success 00:22:56 Advice: make mistakes! 00:24:08 Can you Bolt? The post Small Business Interview with Lance Lewsader of Bolt NWA – Small Business Show 116 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Are you using video to market your Small Business? What problems does it solve and how about problems it can create? Join us today on the Small Business Show where we meet Adam Rahn of Droi Media to find answers to these questions and learn about Adam’s journey from freelancer to Small Business owner. Adam shares his surprise at just how many “hats” he is now wearing to get his business up and running and how to manage those non-billable hours that can eat up your time as a Small Business owner. Dave and Shannon suggest diving into the EMyth book to learn more about working “on” your business instead of always “in” it and developing an org chart, even if your name fills every job duty. We also spend some time talking about ways to promote yourself as an expert in your community, how to say no to new business when it is not in your (or your clients) best interest and what methods work well for communicating with new clients. Winding up the show, we focus on the importance of digging deep to find your niche and keeping yourself creative when creativity is your business. Join us today on the Small Business Show for these topics and more, then jump over to the Small Business Support Group to share your thoughts! Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #115 April 19, 2017 00:01:28 Adam Rahn – Droi Media 00:04:33 Wearing many hats 00:06:09 EMyth – Working ON your business, not just IN it 00:07:08 Non-billable hours 00:08:04 “15 Minutes is Too Long” – Finding out what the client wants 00:11:37 Turning away business is sometimes a profitable decision 00:13:44 Position yourself as the community expert 00:17:20 Choose the right communication tools with your clients 00:20:13 When your creativity is your business 00:22:37 Becoming a grunt! 00:24:07 Future planning: carving a deeper niche 00:27:19 SBS 115 Outtro The post Using Video to Promote Your Small Business – Adam Rahn from Droi Media – Small Business Show 115 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Have you been trained in Human Resource management? Things like legal hiring practices, at-will employment, harassment policies and employee manual development? We didn’t think so. HR issues can plague small businesses of all sizes, especially once you hit the magic 50-employee number that activates all kinds of regulations and requirements. You need some help! Today on the Small Business Show, Dave and Shannon meet and talk to Kelly Loudermilk, founder of BuildHR, a human resource outsourcing and consulting firm that can make your Small Business life much better. Come along for the discussion and learn how a few quick questions at a Rotary function set Kelly on the path to launch her own Small Business to help other business owners succeed, while not having to worry about their HR compliance issues. We touch on topics including recognizing your own expertise to create a business, why you need an employee manual and best practices during the hiring process – because you just never know if that question you really want to ask is actually legal.  Finally, Kelly shares her marketing experiences with Facebook ads, answering questions on Reddit and getting involved in local Chamber of Commerce events. Join us on episode 114 of the Small Business Show for this and much more, then visit the Small Business Show Support Group on Facebook to discuss the show and get your questions answered! Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #114 April 12, 2017 00:01:40 Kelly Loudermilk 00:02:10 BuildHR <https://www.yourhrsource.com> 00:03:19 It started at the Rotary Club 00:04:42 Recognizing Your Expertise 00:05:13 Growing businesses need help from 15 employees and up! 00:07:07 Good HR means better recruiting – offer the Cadillac package 00:08:51 Marketing BuildHR Facebook ads lead to success! Networking, local chambers Reddit! 00:10:37 What you can’t ask during an interview! 00:13:07 Did you New Yorkers know you can’t ask about salary? Kelly did! 00:14:09 Get yourself an employee handbook… and more… templatized! 00:20:20 Being a consultant means still serving the client in the end Objective Key Results 00:25:16 Starting a business is all about the journey 00:27:20 YourHRSource.com Twitter.com/yourhrsource Facebook.com/yourhrsource The post Small Business Human Resource Interview with Kelly Loudermilk of BuildHR – Small Business Show 114 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

In your Small Business, do you value being told when you are wrong? Would you like to have a Revenue Stack that generates cash from multiple sources? Do you know what the Scotty Principle is? Join us on Episode 113 of the Small Business Show for these topics and more! We all love it when we’re right. But as you know, Dave and Shannon love hearing about mistakes, the “wrongs” that teach us all so much. Are your employees or colleagues comfortable telling you when you’re wrong? Do you encourage it? Dave spends some time on the show explaining a new policy he’s enacted to be sure this happens in his Small Business. During the past year, we’ve discussed Scott Adams’ book and his Talent Stack concept. Shannon takes the stack concept and applies it to Revenue, discussing concepts to insure you’re not relying on just one source of cash to fuel your Charmed Life. We’ve invited some excellent guests to join us on the Small Business Show in the near future to discuss how they have developed their own Revenue Stacks – stay with us, it’s going to be awesome. Finally, when you have a Revenue Stack, you’re often faced with hiring outside service providers and contractors to help support those businesses. The guys discuss the Scotty Principle and frustrations with Small Business owners that don’t get the concept of under-promising and over-delivering. Join us today on the Small Business Show, then head over to our Small Business Support Group to discuss the show and ask questions! Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #113 April 5, 2017 00:01:00 Surrounding yourself with people who will tell you when you are “wrong” No “yes men” Requesting “You’re Wrong…” 00:05:48 Scott Adams’ Talent Stack 00:07:23 Key to Success: The Revenue Stack 00:08:35 Digging into the Serial vs. Parallel Entrepreneur Concepts 00:14:16 Revenue Stacks require the use of service providers/contractors – Can be frustrating 00:16:50 You’re gonna get paid: show up to do the work! 00:19:17 The Scotty Principle! – Underpromise and overdeliver if you can Managing your customers’ expectations. 00:22:28 Contact us at the Small Business Support Group The post Developing a Small Business Revenue Stack and being told when you are wrong – Small Business Show 113 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

We often ask our guests on the Small Business Show to tell us about their biggest mistake in business, as well as what advice they would have given themselves if they could go back to when they were just getting started. A very common response: Better accounting, better bookkeeping! On today’s episode, we are thrilled to have Justin Sisley of Digidern Bookkeeping as our guest to discuss the how and why of keeping track of your cash, as well as lessons from his own business experiences. The show begins with a discussion about what makes a good bookkeeper, how NOT to choose one and what to look for when searching for someone to help guide your accounting decisions. We quickly move into business strategy topics such as pricing your services, replicating yourself to grow (can you?) and the best marketing practices for service and consulting businesses. As the show proceeds, we get back into some accounting basics, such as not doing your own payroll and how critically important it is to keep up with your bookkeeping so you can catch mistakes, problems and opportunities early. Join Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean on episode 112 of the Small Business Show for these topics and more. Then, head over to the Small Business Show support group on Facebook to meet Justin and get your bookkeeping questions answered.   Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #112 March 29, 2017 00:00:55 Justin Sisley from Digidern Bookkeeping 00:03:11 How did that begin? 00:05:04 Anyone can be a bookkeeper… what separates you? 00:06:19 Take someone’s headaches away 00:08:00 Target the bootstrappers! Brian Tracy 00:09:26 You can’t replicate yourself, don’t try! 00:12:18 Pricing yourself: show that you’re serious 00:13:42 Marketing yourself as a solopreneur consultant Thumbtack Using social media to connect with small business owners – find businesses that you are passionate about. 00:16:39 You’re in a niche, target another niche 00:18:14 Stay the course, or use the shotgun approach? Following different business ideas Designated Driver business concept – first business. 00:21:21 Putting off Accounting – #1 mistake 00:23:34 Don’t do your own Payroll! 00:25:40 Back in time with advice! Resist the shiny objects – focus on your core business Don’t half-ass two things! 00:28:46 Uniquely Qualified … Unfair Competitive Advantage! 00:30:37 Finding Justin The post Small Business Interview with Justin Sisley of Digidern Bookkeeping – Small Business Show 112 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Today on the Small Business Show, we discuss the launch of the Apple Market Forum, Dave’s new business venture with longtime colleague, Paul Kent. Shannon gets a chance to quiz Dave about the impetus for starting AMF and some of the juicy details behind the concept for the event that will be held this summer in Silicon Valley. During the course of the show, we discuss some critical aspects of partnerships including differing skill sets, mutual expectations and managing different types of communication. Other topics include finding an expert in a different field than your own to partner with, limiting the launch size of a new business and developing no-nonsense, clear communication with your business partners. We wrap up the show with a discussion about feeling nervous or apprehensive can be a good thing and the trick of insuring your success (or failure) by your thoughts. Join us today for these topics and more! Then jump over to the Small Business Show Support Group to share your comments. Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #111 March 22, 2017 00:03:18 Apple Market Forum – Dave’s & Paul Kent’s new gig 00:06:08 How long have you been planning? 00:08:06 Partnering with an expert 00:11:20 Limiting your launch in size  – easier to manage, scarcity 00:13:25 Be careful of overwhelming yourself 00:17:39 Believing is Creating. Success/Failure 00:17:58 Do good partners make good partnerships? 00:25:27 Teach yourself to crave apprehension 00:26:52 SBS Outtro The post Dave Launches Apple Market Forum, Partnerships and Embracing Apprehension –  Small Business Show 111 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

What’s in a name? Everything when it comes to your company or brand! As founders, owners and stewards of Small Businesses, we all know how important your company or brand name is. Joining us today on the Small Business Show, Mike Pile, Founder of Uppercase Branding discusses his own business as well as sharing tips and methods for coming up with great names. Mike discusses how prioritizing tasks and projects when you are the boss can be one of the most challenging adjustments after leaving a corporate job, along with being sure to disconnect at the end of the day to keep your creative juices flowing. We then move on to discussing how Uppercase got its start and what marketing methods worked the best for them. You might be surprised to hear what traditional methods produced the best results. Later on the show, we spend time talking about how to come up with a great name for your business or brand with some examples of good and bad. Listen in to your co-hosts Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean and then post your comments and questions to our Small Business Support Group on Facebook! Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #110 March 15, 2017 00:01:09 Mike Pile from Uppercase Branding joins us today 00:01:50 “Verbal Identity Consultancy” 00:03:42 Pulling out stories from companies 00:05:18 Prioritizing tasks and projects 00:06:43 Being your own boss: scary and liberating 00:07:49 Disconnecting to keep your creativity flowing 00:10:21 Marketing YOUR B2B Marketing business – using existing connections 00:13:43 A gift in the mail 00:18:09 “Brainstorming is a waste of time” Strategy and discovery 00:23:09 “A great name won’t help a bad business model” A bad name can be a distraction 00:25:09 Vetting your name is just as valuable as creating one 00:26:23 Norman Awards – Great new brand names. Good: “Adwash” – Samsung. Not so good: “Scion” – Hotels 00:30:07 Set a big stretch goal The post Small Business Interview with Mike Pile of Uppercase Branding – Small Business Show Episode 110 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

We began episode 109 of the Small Business Show with a plan to chat with Bob LeVitus about his new book, Working Smarter for Mac Users. We talked about the book of course, but we also covered a treasure of information about being a “Solopreneuer” for 20+ years and how creating discipline techniques can be a path to success. Bob considers himself to be “virtually unemployable” and perhaps that has opened the doors for him to become an author with over 80 books to his name, a regular contributor to the MacObserver and a tech columnist for the Houston Chronicle. We jump right into one of the most critical issues to being successful when working on your own: being disciplined enough to get the work done on and done on time. Bob uses the Pomodoro technique that blocks out 25-minute time-frames with no interruptions to keep on task. Join us today if you find yourself easily distracted and have trouble getting things done – there’s some great tips that we think will benefit all of us Small Business owners. Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #109 March 8, 2017 00:01:16 Interview with Bob LeVitus – Author, Entrepreneur and Small Business owner 00:02:37 Virtually unemployable 00:04:53 The power of saying “yes” 00:06:34 The hardest part about being a _______ is keeping your ass in the chair 00:07:20 Crazy glue on my buttocks – developing a system that works to motivate and discipline yourself. 00:08:44 Pomodoro Technique 00:10:00 Making ADHD work for you – Why the rabbit holes are so attractive 00:11:26 A Plan for the Day – isolate things that are the most important. 25 min work sessions 00:12:28 The most important deal you make … is the one with yourself 00:15:06 “Driven to Distraction” 00:16:36 Bob’s Book: “Working Smarter for Mac Users” 00:18:43 No stupid PC tricks! Partnering with other experts, using your brand. 00:24:42 Set yourself up for success – using quotas to keep you disciplined. 00:28:49 Working Smarter for Mac Users, the website! 00:31:46 Invent something! The post Small Business Interview with Bob LeVitus – Managing Distractions and Being Disciplined for Success – Small Business Show episode 109 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

Problems – we all work on solving them every-single-day. Maybe the solution to a problem is the entire reason for your business to exist in the first place? Today on episode 108 of the Small Business Show, join Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean as they focus on problem solving for your Small Business. Here’s some of the good stuff we covered on the show today: Tips to get you and your customer on the same side when trying to solve a problem – a critical maneuver to remove the “us and them” mentality when problem solving. Managing customer expectations to avoid problems in the first place. How to deal with problems when your Small Business is the customer. Getting past the automated systems to work with real humans. Using Google Docs to document, share and track access to your problem. Using storytelling to get people on your side that can help solve your problem. And much more! Join us on the Small Business Show and then click over to the Small Business Support Group to share your thoughts! Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #108 February 29, 2017 00:03:05 Solve your problems with your customer – be on the same side 00:04:29 Make sure you manage your customers’ expectations 00:09:02 Solve problems together 00:10:46 What happens when you’re the customer with a problem? 00:12:12 Don’t let the robots win! 00:13:36 When complaining, Lead with love 00:14:36 Use Google Docs to track your issue 00:20:21 If I treated my customers the way you treat me, you wouldn’t have me as a customer 00:20:54 Always tell a story 00:21:12 Play the reasonable man 00:23:20 “You are better than this” 00:24:48 Make the document live and breathe 00:26:49 Using LinkedIn InMail for Customer Service 00:29:50 SBS Outtro The post Effective Problem Solving with Your Customers and Suppliers – Small Business Show 108 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.

What if you were tasked with taking a thriving brick and mortar business with an established clientele and transitioning it to an ecommerce business selling a completely different product line to a new demographic? How would you handle the stress of trying to keep existing customers happy while attracting new customers to grow the business? Sara Beznicki and Isabelle Tan jumped into this situation in 2015, leaving the corporate world to successfully launch A Gilded Leaf to find new customers and growth, while protecting the companies existing customer base. Join us today on the Small Business Show to hear about how the company sells on multiple marketplaces and converts customers to direct purchasing from their website, how independent user testing helped to change their website design and how focusing on specific customer groups rather than just sheer numbers has helped the business grow. After the show, join in on the conversation on the Small Business Support Group!  Chapters/Timestamps: 00:00:00 Small Business Show #107 February 22, 2017 00:00:58 Sara Beznicki from A Gilded Leaf Jewelry <https://www.agildedleaf.com> 00:02:52 Changing your parents’ business 00:03:24 moving from corporate to small business – doing it all. Many tasks – 00:07:02 Going to where the customers are 00:10:13 Try, try and try again. Don’t get stuck. 00:10:41 Use UserTesting.com to test your site <https://www.usertesting.com> 00:12:24 Shopify Platform <https://www.shopify.com> 00:14:02 Use Pinterest and then boost 00:16:00 Brick and mortar to Appointment Only 00:17:24 Robots don’t buy your products! 00:19:33 Customer feedback as a success metric 00:21:06 Stay Calm The post Small Business Interview with Sara Beznicki of A Gilded Leaf – Small Business Show 107 appeared first on Business Brain - The Entrepreneurs' Podcast.