The $100 MBA Show

If you’re running a business by yourself, the question isn’t if you should hire an EA or VA (Executive Assistant/Virtual Assistant). 

The question is when.

And wouldn’t you know it, one of our listeners asked exactly that. It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a solopreneur who knows an EA will be a good idea at some point. But how soon is too soon? How can you know when it’s the right time?

In other words, at what point does an EA become an investment, rather than just an expense?

In this episode, we’ll discuss why and how an EA can empower you to make more money, by freeing you up to focus on higher-priority revenue-generating tasks. We lay out a step-by-step system you can use to determine if the time is now, or if your EA is still a while down the road.

Bonus — we also get into where to look for a great EA, so you can hire one that’s (almost) as good as ours. Click Play!

To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q.

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Profit is oxygen. But if you’re only creating profit by maximizing revenue…you’re only doing half the job.

It’s time to get lean, and stay lean.

Today, we explore how to keep expenses down, by consistently tracking and trimming the fat. It’s not about obsessing over overy penny or being a miser. It’s about making smart deals with the people and companies who make up the “Loss” side of your Profit & Loss sheet — and renegotiating regularly.

Learn how we systematically analyze our own spending, and slash expenses by a significant percentage every couple years.

The fact is, you’re probably spending more than you have to, somewhere. And to keep your small business growing, you can always make more room in the budget. Hear how to get the most out of your budgets, and keep that P&L sheet in shape. Click Play!

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There’s only one thing more valuable than networking: being the one creating the networking opportunity.

Ronsley Vaz started Australia’s first podcasting conference, We Are Podcast, now a significant regular event for entrepreneurs worldwide. But…how? 

How does someone just decide to create a major event and actually pull it off? We decided to ask Ronsley and find out.

In this extended conversation, Omar sits down with Ronsley to unpack everything that went into creating the event. By studying Ronsley’s journey from first-time entrepreneur to the guy connecting and coaching small business owners across the globe, you can learn what’s really possible if you have the courage to swing for the fences.

Hear what it takes to organize and produce an event with audacious goals, including what can go wrong and how to prepare for it. If you’re thinking about bringing people in your niche together, don’t miss this interview. Click Play!

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Everyone’s blogging. Everyone’s on social. 

Podcasting, though…

We can’t stress enough how powerful this podcast has been for our business. From our coaching and public speaking to our software business, The $100 MBA Show has opened more doors for us than anything else. More importantly, it taught us skills that apply to everything, not just the digital airwaves.

And you should try it, too.

It’s not as impossible as it seems! Everyone with a successful podcast, from ourselves to Joe Rogan himself, started with zero listeners and very little following (no, Joe Rogan was not a big deal at first). 

Today, learn why podcasting is so game-changing. Some of it is obvious, but just as much will surprise you. You don’t need to have millions of listeners for a well-targeted podcast to support your business. You just need to have something to say and an audience to serve.

Plus, we’ll share a special free resource for starting your own podcast. Don’t miss out on this one! Click Play!

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Your marketing and advertising resources are limited.

You can’t afford to waste them on people who might buy what you’re selling, or even on people who almost certainly will buy it. To grow a small business, that’s simply not good enough.

You want to focus on people who will love what you’re selling, and tell everyone they know.

In other words, you want the perfect leads. And as it turns out, they’re not as hard to find as you might think. Today, we share how to stop wasting time and effort on tire-kickers, casual browsers, and maybe-hopefully one-time customers.

Today, it’s all about finding lifers and evangelists for your brand. We’ll discuss how to identify the people most likely to become superfans, how to produce marketing materials that speak directly to them, and the best way to convert them into customers.

Not all leads are created equal! In this episode, learn how to focus on the best ones. Click Play!

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What really gets your new business off the ground — friends or followers?

As they say, your “network is your net worth.” But as we say, your audience is the single most valuable asset you can build, one that can support you across multiple products and businesses.

So which should you put first?

It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener who’s just starting out, and asking exactly the right questions. While getting out and forging relationships with industry people and influencers in your niche is critical, your audience is your business. Today, we take a hard look at how to balance the two.

The good news? There are ways in which each can support the other.

Learn how to divide limited time between equally crucial aspects of your business. Create the biggest impact you can with the resources you have. Build the twin pillars of any independent business. Click Play!

To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q.

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We all know consistency is key. 

…but we’re terrible at putting it into practice.

Making real strides in business (or anything else, really) isn’t about monumental efforts or drastic measures. It’s about the small, daily decisions we make that add up to something bigger over time. So how can you stay on the ball, day after day?

Today, we break it down.

From his years of experience in both education and entrepreneurship, Omar shares the importance of consistency, what it really means, and what steps you can take to bring greater consistency to everything you do for your business.

Success is always a certain number of steps away. Make sure that every single day, you’re taking at least one forward. You’ll be glad you did — Click Play!

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Hard work does not guarantee success.

In fact, the unsuccessful are some of the hardest working people out there. That’s because instead of leveraging what comes easiest to them, they dig in and grind.

Meanwhile, other people are experiencing less stress — and passing the hardest workers by.

Ayman Al-Abdullah was CEO of AppSumo. In his time there, Ayman took the company from a modest 7-figure annual revenue all the way up to within striking distance of 9 figures. He didn’t do it by working himself to death. He did it by focusing strictly on the kinds of work that had the biggest impact.

The same approach can turbocharge any business.

In this extended interview, Ayman and Omar share the ways in which more strategic uses of their time and effort paid off huge, with a special focus on growing a business beyond what any single person’s hard work can achieve.

Learn how to get to that next level, by letting yourself breathe a little easier. After all, sweat alone can only take you so far. Click Play!

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Your team can (probably) do even more.

In our experience, most founders don’t realize how much their people are really capable of. But once employees settle into their roles, they have a tendency to go on autopilot.

Then — lacking a challenge — they operate at less than their full potential.

Today, we explore the different ways you can fire up your team, and get them excited to work, not just willing to. By tapping into their natural sense of pride and ambition, you can inspire employees to work beyond their job descriptions.

…and no, this isn’t about overworking people or squeezing more productivity out of them!

It’s about finding intrinsic motivation in your team’s normal desire to do awesome work. Hear the strategies that’ve worked for us. Grow your business and get more accomplished, without hiring anyone new. Click Play!

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Losing a customer isn’t fun — but it doesn’t have to be a total loss.

There are a few ways you can make lemonade (by which we mean money) when a customer is on their way out the door. 

Some of them are…well, odd. But today, we’re sharing our favorites. The key is to not write off every soon-to-be former customer. Instead, you can build a “cancellation flow” that helps identify a best-case scenario for both of you. 

Ideally, it means they stick around. But even if they don’t, you can still profit — even after they’re gone! 

Very few businesses are using all of these strategies. In other words, they can give you an edge. Learn these creative ways to salvage some of your investment. After all, you put time, money, and effort into getting these customers. Click Play!

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You found your voice. You found your audience.

Now it’s time that podcast got you paid!

It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener who’s just over a year into their own podcast, and ready to monetize. There’s only one question: how? You can’t exactly walk into the nearest sponsor store and ask someone to put an ad on your show.

Fortunately, we have lots of experience with this.

Today, we’ll explore the different ways you can go about getting ads onto your podcast. We’ll discuss what attracts sponsors, how to find them, how to sell them on buying some of your time, and what terms to ask for. 

Take your podcast from passion to profit — learn how to turn your show into a real-deal revenue stream. Click Play!

To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q.

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In business, you need to go in with a plan.

But how much planning is really useful?

At some point, strategizing stops being preparation and starts becoming procrastination. If you spend all your time drawing the map, you can’t take enough steps to get anywhere.

Today, we explore how too much strategizing can be more limiting than helpful. With examples from various businesses, we’ll discuss how the right amount of planning is empowering — but too much will only hold you back.

How many decisions can you really make in advance? More importantly, how many decisions are made better by having a strategy, and how many are best considered in the moment?

From product development to marketing to hiring and beyond, find the sweet spot between solid strategy and “analysis paralysis.” Click Play!

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Don’t hope people will buy your product. Know it.

If you have an idea for a product or service, it’s just that: an idea. And even if it sounds like a great one, you can’t really tell if people will actually part with their money for it. 

Not without a little research, anyway.

Today, special guest Narek Vardanyan walks us through the “pre-launch,” a way to put your product on the market before you go all-in. By dipping your toes into the water, you can get a  much more accurate sense of whether the broader market will love what you’re selling.

Go beyond simply asking questions, and test the viability of your product in a meaningful, actionable way. Launch with (data-backed) confidence — Click Play!

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If you have an established coaching business, it’s time to grow it.

Maybe you know that already. Maybe you’re even trying! Today, we break down how to do it, and the key principles you can organize your scaling efforts around. Too many coaches make too little for what they do — make sure you’re not one of them.

And yes, we will talk numbers.

Today’s lesson applies to every kind of coaching, from business to fitness and beyond. We’ll discuss what you should charge, how much you can (really) make, and what steps are necessary to get there.

You can earn much more, and have a far greater impact.

Learn how to get from A to B, how to diversify your offerings, and how to market and sell them effectively. The sky is truly the limit for online coaches. Let’s see how far you can go! Click Play!

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Is it feasible to juggle 2, 3, or more business simultaneously?

…and just as importantly, should you?

We get this question a lot, probably because our business consists of quite a few operations. From this very podcast to our webinar software to Omar’s public speaking engagements, our income streams are varied.

So, is it a good thing? Or are we pulling ourselves in too many directions?

Today, we discuss all the reasons we run (meaning run, not just own) multiple businesses, and every advantage that comes with it. We’ll also discuss what can go terribly wrong — including what went wrong for us.

If you’re running a business and feel the tug of starting a new project, this episode is for you. Learn exactly what factors you need to consider, and make the right call for you.

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Every business needs a website (seriously, every). 

But not every business can hire a website designer full-time. Fortunately, there are a ton of DIY site builders out there. Unfortunately, there are so many, it can be a major task just to figure out which one is right for you and your needs, wants, and skill set.

We’ve got you covered.

It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener with just enough tech skills to feel comfortable building their own site, but not enough to build it from scratch. In this episode, we break down the major builder tools, and explain the different features each one offers.

No matter what you’re doing in business, you can probably find the tool you need in this episode!

Whether you’re a coding ace or a total Ludditte, there’s an option that’s perfect for you. From tools for fully digital businesses to e-commerce to brick & mortar stores, this episode will help you figure out exactly which one will help you get the job done.

To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q.

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If you’re charging 2 figures for a coaching program, you’ve already lost.

That’s a bit of a bold statement, but in today’s episode, Omar explains why it’s true.

From years of experience coaching, being coached, and working with coaches, one thing is clear from where we stand: the bargain-bin pricing model is a no-go — even if it’s designed to create upsell opportunities.

It may seem like a solid premise, but it doesn’t work. Not for clients, and certainly not for your business.

Learn why! Today we explain the flaws in the low-ticket coaching model, and why fixating on price instead of value is never a good strategy. Hear what we think is the bare minimum for any decent coaching program, and how to get over the self-doubt that makes coaches charge less than they’re worth.

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The best way to “make it” as an entrepreneur? 

Don’t learn the right strategies — create them.

Matt Giovanisci built a successful brand and business without anyone else’s money, anyone else’s formulas, or even a post-secondary education (unless you count everything he taught himself, which you should). 

So how did he do it? 

By fearlessly experimenting, adapting what works, and ditching the rest. In this long-form interview, you’ll get an in-depth lesson in how adaptability, ingenuity, and some extra chutzpah really are the only things an entrepreneur needs. 

From leveraging random (but valuable) knowledge from a summer job into effective content, to teaching himself how to build websites pre-WordPress, to affiliate marketing before most people knew the term, Matt is proof that with flexibility and persistence, you can just…figure it out.

Learn from an example of pure entrepreneurship: self-made, completely independent, and brave enough to disregard anything that doesn’t directly support the lifestyle he wants.

If you’re not sure what you want to do, or how you want to do it, give yourself the benefit of hearing this interview. Where there’s a will, there’s a way — even if you have to invent it. Click Play!

Profit First by Mike Michalowicz

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Should you “do what you love?”

Or is that exactly the kind of advice that’ll keep you from doing what you love?

Entrepreneurship is supposed to be about freedom, and the ability to choose your livelihood. But just because you love something doesn’t mean it’s a viable business. So if you’re starting out, should you try to create a business out of your passion, or a business that can fund your passion?

We have a firm answer on that one.

Today, Omar shares his experience (plus lessons from other, more high-profile entrepreneurs) to explore your real-world options. With a grounded idea of how independent business works, you get a solid sense of just how attainable your dreams really are.

If your goal is to do what you love, it’s possible. But the path from here to there might include a few stops along the way, to best guarantee your ability to be fulfilled — on your own terms. Click Play!

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If you know our host Omar, you know he prides himself on a healthy lifestyle. But everyone eventually meets the bug they just can’t beat.

…no, it wasn’t that one.

But Omar was recently laid out for 10 days with one of the nastiest infections you can get without heading to the hospital. And while it wasn’t life-altering like a serious illness, it did force some serious reflection, specifically about life as an entrepreneur.

In this episode, Omar explores what he learned by being forced to do nothing. When you face the powerlessness and helplessness that illness can bring, it reorients your perspective — even if you normally think of yourself as “in control” of most aspects of your life.

Everything is a learning opportunity. Learn what a busy, successful entrepreneur took away from being forcibly sidelined by something we almost never see coming. Click Play!

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It’s a depressing scenario: you built a business. You’re not happy with it. And you’re stuck exactly where you are…forever?

It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener who invested 10 years into a small business — and hates it. It does just well enough to survive, but not well enough to support the ideal lifestyle or allow its founder to cash out. So what now?

This is more common than you might think. And there are always options.

Even Omar has been in exactly this same situation. The problem isn’t financial, or even strategic. It’s emotional. So many feelings are tied up in a business, and so many fears about what could happen if you make a big change leave us paralyzed.

Today, we explore what the options are when you really want out. We’ll discuss how to navigate the emotions involved, play out best and worst-case scenarios, and understand that you’re never as trapped as you trick yourself into believing.

Learn how to get unstuck from an unsatisfying business. Click Play!

To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q.

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When success is followed by a rut…what do you do?

What holds a business back from reaching that next level? When your business started off good, but levelled off, how do you get off that plateau and move forward again?

Our answer will probably surprise you.

When your business hits a flat spot in terms of growth, it’s probably not your marketing, sales, product development, or anything you can quantify. Or rather, those things are just symptoms of the real, deeper issue.

Today, we discuss what gets most independent businesses stuck in the mud, and how you can always take action to get out. It’s not a tip, trick, or hack. It’s a hard look at a more fundamental aspect of what makes your business tick.

Learn what tends to limit your business, and how you can break free. Click Play!

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For a small business, customer loyalty is the best guarantee of success.

Ultra-happy customers create more business for you than any amount of marketing or advertising. Word of mouth is — and always will be — the undisputed champion of business growth, stability, and long-term success.

So how do you create those die-hards?

Today, special guest teacher Dave Charest is here with a system you can use to be discovered by your (soon to be) loyal supporters. Dave is the Director of SMB Success at Constant Contact, with access to loads of data on what really, truly works to drive engagement.

With specific tips for 3 key areas of base-building, Dave will help you forge your biggest asset: your biggest fans. Learn how to help people discover your brand, turn them into customers, and leverage their passion for what you do.

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Let’s just say it: coaching isn’t always a good idea.

There are times when it’s the best way to grow and advance as an entrepreneur. And there are times when it’s a colossal waste of time and money.

Over years of developing businesses, Omar has had quite a few coaches. And of course, he’s been a coach too! With lots of experience from both sides of the coach/coach-ee equation, Omar is uniquely qualified to share a few (hard) truths about the business coaching industry.

And suffice to say, it’s important to think very carefully before sinking significant cash into something that may or may not benefit you.

Today, we discuss what makes coaching work, what makes it fail, and when coaching is most likely to be worth it. If you’re thinking about hiring a business coach, check out this episode first. Click Play!

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You’re supposed to diversify and spread risk. But ideally, you’re also supposed to focus on one thing at a time.

What’s an entrepreneur to do?

For some of us, businesses are like potato chips or tattoos — it’s hard to have just one. That’s why so many independent founders have 2, 3, or more brands going at the same time. Is this some kind of addictive behavior? Or is it a smart way to keep your eggs in different baskets?

Or is it both?

Today, we explore the ups and downs of running multiple businesses at once. Naturally, we juggle our podcast and our SaaS (and occasionally, other stuff too). Does it stretch us too thin, or does it maximize our chances of success?

Learn what factors you should consider before spinning those extra plates, and make a well-considered decision about what works best for you and your goals. Click Play!

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It can be easy to forget when you run your own business: you’re an employee, too.

As such, you need compensation as much as anyone else on the team. No one can run a business when they can’t pay their rent. But too often, we feel like every dime we take for ourselves is somehow stolen from the company.

It’s Q&A Wednesday, and one of our listeners is finally starting to see some real traction in their small business’s growth. Until now, our listener has been taking survival wages, just enough to keep lights on. But now that there’s more money coming in, how much is the founder entitled to?

Omar has definitely been there.

Serious consideration of founder pay is something too many entrepreneurs skip. It matters to you and your business how much you make. Moreover, it matters to the fundamental mission of your business, your big “why.”

Today, we explore how to calculate the right number for you and your business. Plan your personal financial growth in the context of your business growth, so that you and the whole team succeed together.

To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q.

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Think of small businesses as David, and big businesses as Goliath.

SEO is your slingshot.

Paid advertising is getting wildly expensive, rapidly approaching the point where it’s out of reach for new and small businesses. Paying for attention and traffic can quickly deplete your resources. Bottom line: it’s not sustainable.

But getting organic traffic from loyal followers who actually want to be on your website? That’s doable.

Today, we explain how increasingly important SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is, and why you should take action immediately to make sure your SEO is as strong as it can be. We’ll discuss how to invest in SEO strategically, and why organic traffic is so much better than the traffic you get from throwing money at Google or Facebook.

Every dime you spend on SEO is money you don’t have to spend on ads. Make an end-run around the trend. Boost your business on the strength of your content — not your ad budget. Click Play!

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You can get better at selling, just by thinking about it differently.

Too many of us approach sales as an intimidating or mysterious skill — or worse, as a form of manipulation. As a result, we shy away from it. We think of it as one of those necessary evils that we just have to do to run a business.

But what if sales isn’t like that at all?

Sell It Like a Mango is a practical, easy read that’ll reframe your thinking about selling. Based on the author’s long experience in sales (starting with his childhood among Jamaican fruit vendors), this book looks at selling in a different, more practical, more human way.

In other words, it explains how sales is something we can all do naturally. In fact, most of us already do, whether we realize it or not.

Hear our takeaways from this excellent guide, and learn how the basics of effective sales don’t change, from fruit to software. Click Play!

Sell it Like a Mango by Donald Kelly

The Sales Evangelist Podcast

Discover all our must-read book reviews at https://100mba.net/bookreviews.

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When you put a lot of effort into your marketing, there’s nothing worse than the sound of crickets.

So many of us blog, vlog, tweet and post, only to get nothing out of it. We pump what we think is great content out into the Internet, and then…nothing. How can you turn this around? What can you do to finally get noticed by the audience you want to convert?

Today, we finally shut those crickets up.

In this episode, we’ll explore why certain brands don’t take off, and why it’s so hard (especially for new entrepreneurs) to get that initial traction. We’ll discuss what usually holds people back, and how some of the best examples in entrepreneurship have gotten over it.

Learn how to make your voice heard. Hear a few exercises you can put into place right away, to start reshaping your approach for the better. Click Play!

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It’s one of the most effective ways to grow your following. But how do you pull it off?

Here’s the good news: almost every podcast needs guests — lots of ‘em. Most of the time, your average podcast would be thrilled to have someone who knows their area of expertise and can carry a good conversation. You just have to be that person.

Today, we explain how.

Using Omar’s personal system, we’ll discuss how to get yourself invited onto the right podcasts, and how to prepare in a way that’ll make you more than just another guest. With the right strategy, you’ll make yourself the kind of guest who gets invited back — and gets invited to other shows.

Learn how incredibly powerful podcast guest spots can be, and how to leverage that power to boost your brand. Click Play!

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What are your employees worth? What will it take to keep them?

It’s a question every founder has to ask themselves, especially once the ball gets rolling. It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener who’s finally making decent profits — enough to start spreading the wealth to the team that helped make it happen.

…but how much is a “good” raise?

Today, we’ll explore how to create a raise-giving formula that rewards and retains your best employees without hurting the business. We’ll discuss what factors go into finding that number, how to evaluate employees and their contributions, and how to make the whole process fair and transparent.

Of course, this is all based on our various experiments with salary increase structures and schedules, and the system we eventually stuck with.

Learn how to share the fruits of everyone’s labor with…well, everyone! Click Play!

To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q.

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If you sell digital products, you need to know about AppSumo.

AppSumo is the GroupOn of digital deals aimed at entrepreneurs and other business people. Today, we explain how putting your own offer on AppSumo can boost your business.

…in fact, we’re offering our own deal on AppSumo, to help promote our SaaS business.

Learn the benefits of creating an AppSumo deal, what missteps to avoid, and how to create an attractive offer that draws people in. Yes, you’re giving away a discount — but you’re doing so on a platform with massive authority and a huge reach.

Done strategically, introducing your business to AppSumo’s audience can be a major boost. Learn how we approach it, and how your business can grow with a little help from a big platform. Click Play!

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Don’t go for the biggest audience. Go for the right audience.

Finding your niche might be the most important early step in creating a business. If you can find the people only you can serve best, you don’t just create sales. You create loyalty.

…and best of all, you do an end-run around the competition.

Today, special guest teacher Frida Leibowitz shares her strategies for identifying, connecting with, and growing the crowd that’s perfect for you and your business. From high-level research to getting to know customers as individuals, you can understand who your potential die-hards really are.

From there, it’s a matter of learning from your audience in order to grow it.

Learn how to find the core audience that forms the foundation of a sturdy business, one that can truly endure. Carve out your space in the market by serving the people who need your solutions most. Click Play!

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Stress is not a sign of a great work ethic. It’s a liability.

It’s crucial not to underestimate the toll stress can take on you and your business. The myth is that we trade our mental health for better business outcomes. But the reality is just the opposite.

Today, we discuss the effects of excessive stress — and how to avoid it as an entrepreneur.

Stress is limiting, draining, and ultimately counterproductive. Fortunately, there are reasonable ways to bring stress down to manageable levels. Notice we’re not talking about eliminating stress; it’s about reducing stress to the point where the positive outcomes outweigh the sweat you put in.

In this episode, Omar shares 5 ways he keeps unnecessary stress at bay.

These 5 moves are the result of years of experience and experimentation. Try them out for yourself, and find the formula that keeps you relaxed and energized enough to lead your team effectively. Click Play!

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You don’t have to be a developer to develop an online business.

These days, “no code” business-building is all the rage. With third-party solutions for everything from creating a website to building an online community to designing an app, your average non-engineer can pretty much do anything…within certain limits.

But is it smart?

There are advantages to not hiring or relying on real-deal devs. Today, we explore those advantages, and what you give up in exchange.

“No code” development is something many entrepreneurs are getting into — and many professional commentators are getting paid to discuss. But every trend should be considered carefully before you jump in with both feet.

In this episode, we weigh the pros and cons, so you can make the right call for your business. Click Play!

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In business, can you get respect without being ruthless?

Can you command a team without being commanding? Do entrepreneurs need a mean streak to survive — or even a cold one?

It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener with a team that basically walks all over them. For some reason, the employees are not showing our listener the respect due to their position as founder. Can a leader change this without getting…mean?

We think so, and today we explain why.

In this episode, we’ll share what can motivate even the kindest person to take a stand, get their team in line, and secure the appropriate level of respect. You can stand up for yourself without being selfish; you can establish order without aggression. You just need to adjust your mindset.

Learn how to balance empathy with leadership, kindness with firmness. Your team, and your customers, need you to! Click Play!

To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q.

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Ready to create (and keep) more customers?

A while back, we started experimenting with something in our SaaS company, WebinarNinja. We authorized team members who have daily contact with leads and customers to offer what we call “salutation offers.”

…and it worked like a charm.

Today, we explain how this tactic is boosting our revenue, lowering our churn rate, and generally strengthening our business in modest — but important — ways. We’ll explain exactly how these special offers work, and how you can implement them in your business.

Best of all, it’s not a ton of work! With a little planning, you can make salutation offers a smooth part of your marketing and sales process. Click Play!

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In business, anything can happen — including bad things.

You have two choices: be prepared, or be blindsided.

Rochelle Clarke is an expert in ensuring business longevity through continuity. She helps businesses plan for the worst, so they can bounce back and keep on keeping on.

Think of your business like a car; most of the time, it just runs. But breakdowns happen. Accidents happen. Potholes. Traffic. The longer you drive, the higher the odds are that something will take you off the road.

Similarly, if you achieve the goal of starting a long-lasting business, every year you come closer to something that takes you, or a key team member, out of action. What happens then?

Today, Rochelle will help you plan for all contingencies, so that even the most drastic disruption doesn’t shut your business down. Learn how to prepare for (and survive) the worst-case scenario. Click Play!

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Not sure what kind of business you want to start? There’s a perfect go-to answer.

Service-based businesses are uniquely suited to first-time entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, and people with day jobs. Today, we explain why.

With a low barrier to entry, limitless growth potential, and more flexibility than any other model, the services game is pitch-perfect for your first (or next) foray into entrepreneurship. The risk-to-reward ratio doesn’t get any better — and you can create the schedule and workload that suit the lifestyle you want.

Learn how to create a service business, take advantage of its upsides, and scale it up at a pace that works for you. 

If you know you want to create a business, but aren’t quite sure what that should look like, this episode is for you. Click Play!

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Call it the ultimate productivity hack: blurring the line between the office and the gym.

There are so many ways to make progress on your To-Do list while you’re on a treadmill or under a barbell. The kind of repetitive exercises most of us use for conditioning are a perfect opportunity to make headway on any number of tasks — including the tedious ones.

Today, Omar shares how he personally kills two birds with one stone, by merging work and workouts.

For many of us, our gym time is a wasted opportunity to do work, or vice versa. If you hate getting in the reps, distract yourself with a little work. If admin is a slog, do it while you’re pumping iron!

This works so well, it’s a wonder more entrepreneurs don’t do it. Learn an incredible multitask, and improve both your productivity and your health. Click Play!

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We’re not all salespeople.

It comes naturally to some. For others, nothing is more awkward than trying to get someone to buy your thing. But here’s the good news: you really don’t have to “sell” if you don’t want to.

It’s Q&A Wednesday, and one of our listeners has a thriving business, ripe for expansion. The only problem? Our listener can’t stand the thought of having to do more selling. 

Fortunately, we’ve got a few good alternatives.

In this episode, we explain why “sales” as traditionally understood is less necessary than ever before. We’ll present several ways our listener — and anyone else — can successfully run and grow a business without ever really putting on the Sales Hat. 

Sales-averse founders, it’s a different marketplace than it used to be. Enjoy it! Click Play!

To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q.

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Ever have doubts about the business you’re in?

That’s natural. In fact, it’s healthy. But sometimes, we’re scared to ask ourselves if we chose the wrong path — and to answer that question honestly.

Today, Omar shares a single guiding principle he’s learned over decades as an entrepreneur, having founded almost a dozen independent businesses. In all that time, one huge, crucial, clear lesson has come through about what kind of business you should run.

Tune in to this episode, hear Omar’s #1 rule, and decide for yourself if the business you’re in is actually right for you. If it’s not, you can pivot and change course (we discuss how).

Define success in the ways that matter most, and discover if the road you’re in leads in that direction. Click Play!

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Why do you make the decisions you make? How?

It’s a huge question, with huge implications for how you run your business. Today, we dive into Daniel Kahneman’s Thinking, Fast and Slow. This book by economist, psychologist, and nobel laureate Kahneman unpacks the mechanics of decision-making — and how to better optimize it.

If that sounds a little deep…it is.

But it’s entirely practical, and applicable to the way you make day-to-day calls in your company. In this episode, we discuss how Thinking breaks down complex concepts into understandable guidance, based on the two major kinds of decisions we make.

Hear why this book is so powerful for entrepreneurs, and how understanding your own thinking can empower you to make better decisions. Click Play!

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Discover all our must-read book reviews at https://100mba.net/bookreviews.

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For entrepreneurs, there’s no way around writing.

No matter what you sell, the written word is your primary tool for reaching potential customers. Even if you’re a great speaker or vlogger, writing will still be mostly how you market, sell, and communicate generally — even when you’re writing what you’ll say out loud.

So how can you get good at it?

Today, we offer a simple 30-day challenge that will force you to up your writing game. Focusing on the 3 main types of writing every entrepreneur has to master, this challenge will make you more comfortable, competent, and confident at the keyboard.

Once you’re able to let your real value shine through in your writing, you’ll open up a whole new world of interaction with your audience.

Best of all, it’s not about “proper” composition or hackneyed strategies. It’s just about speaking your truth more clearly. Click Play!

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Thinking about starting a business? For how long now?

Getting honest with ourselves about our motivations — and our fears — might be the most fundamental step toward becoming an entrepreneur. “Am I afraid to do this?” is the first question you have to answer. And you have to answer it truthfully, for better or worse.

The alternative? You just keep thinking, to avoid actually doing.

It’s true; we protect our alleged goals by never really pursuing them. We strategize, we dream up products, but in the end we stay behind emotional blockers that keep us firmly in our 9-to-5’s.

Today, we change all that.

In this episode, we discuss the powerful allure of not facing our fears, and how to get over that mental hump. Learn how to train your mindset to embrace failure, rather than fearing it. Decide once and for all whether you’re up for the challenge of entrepreneurship — whatever it brings.

Click Play!

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Business can get emotional — but you can’t let emotions hurt your business.

The ability to navigate strong feelings and prioritize relationships over ego is a must-have skill in entrepreneurship. If networking is key, most of us can’t afford bad blood.

It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener who had a falling out with their former business partner. In the past, they had great success. But then things went South in a hurry. Now, our listener wants to mend fences — and potentially work together again.

It’s time for a lesson in olive-branching.

Today, we explore why diplomacy is so crucial in entrepreneurship, and how to bring about a detente when feelings get in the way. We’ll discuss how to reach out to heal a rift, and how to prepare for whatever reaction may come. Plus, we’ll share a little advice on how to avoid fallings-out in the first place.

Learn how to take a centered, fair-minded approach to your working relationships. Click Play!

To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q.

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Experts agree a recession is on the horizon. Most small businesses will have to keep a closer eye on their budgets, very soon.

Which means now is the perfect time to shore up your reserves, and stockpile revenue to weather the coming storm. But how can you get some extra pennies in the piggy bank, quickly and without burning out yourself or your team?

Today, we offer 4 ways.

Short-term revenue bursts are almost always possible, if you simply leverage the assets you have a little differently for a while. All 4 strategies in this episode require minimal time and effort to execute — and best of all, you can use them whenever you need a few bucks, regardless of the economy.

Hear these 4 methods, and how we’ve applied them to boost our own business in tougher times. Click Play!

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What kind of leaders do employees love most?

According to this week’s Must-Read, the best leader isn’t someone who commands. It’s someone who coaches their people, unleashes their fullest potential, and trusts them to be their best.

The Coaching Habit by Michael Stanier is two things at once: a primer on a coaching-based leadership philosophy, and a practical guide to make it happen. 

Today, we share the best takeaways from this super-valuable book, one you’ll want to keep on the shelf and refer to for years to come. The book revolves around 7 essential questions a great leader-coach should ask, and how the answers inform the path to your team’s greatness.

Hear what makes this approach to leadership so powerful, and how it can give you the confidence to be the leader your team deserves — and stays loyal to through thick and thin. Click Play!

The Coaching Habit by Michael Stanier

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Don’t dream about starting a business. Do it!

You don’t have to start by quitting your job or borrowing a ton of money. You don’t need the “perfect” product or service idea.

You just need time, and practice.

Today, we share 5 low-risk, low-investment businesses you can literally (yes, literally) start today. With minimal time, resources, and sweat, you can get the ball rolling on a business that can go big down the road. The key is to get the “reps” in, and watch it pay off over time.

To prove it, this episode features real-world examples of people who’ve done it!

All 5 of these businesses can become a viable full-time living…or even more. Learn from the success of those who’ve started small and simple, and scaled up. Click Play!

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The written word is still the biggest key to your website’s traffic.

Fortunately, nailing the words you need to rank on search engines is much easier than it used to be — especially if your site is hosted on WordPress.

With the tools available now, even non-professional writers can get help making sure their page copy, blog posts, and other content is hitting the right notes for Google (and even content & copy pros can get some valuable assistance).

Today, we share a few ways you can tighten up your site’s SEO game, from managing extraneous content to nailing the right phrasing based on your audience’s search habits— all without resorting to outdated hacks like keyword stuffing. WordPress and its associated plugins make it (relatively) easy!

SEO can unlock the potential of your website, and your business. With a few tweaks, anyone can optimize. Click Play!

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