Business Genius

Looking for a new way to boost your productivity? Want to bring more enthusiasm to your work day? Themed days might be just what you need! Find out how to use them so you, too, can experience their magic!

It’s only two little letters, but for many, no is such a scary word we hold ourselves back from saying it when we really should not do that. Especially when we are afraid saying no means missing out on a big opportunity. An opportunity that would have catapulted us to success, or that will never come again. Most of the time that simply isn’t true. More importantly, it’s the saying yes to everything that holds us back from success which is why we must commit to mastering the beautiful no. This episode talks about how to know when to say no and how to do it with grace.

Businesses rarely fail because the original idea was bad. Or from a lack of capital or time. Or because the economy tanked. They fail because their owners don’t have solid answers to 3 key questions. Consequently, their marketing is one big disconnect. Keeping your eye on the big picture is one way to be proactive and successful in business. There are some others too and we’re talking about them in this episode.

What is an entrepreneurial balance sheet? And why do you need to make  one? Entrepreneurs who know what it’s like to experience “anorexia of the soul” will tell you it’s a fate worse than any financial failure you might fear in your business! Pretending to be someone you’re not and selling what you don’t believe in or in a way that isn’t congruent with your true self, is a road to ruin. And being solely focused on striving to please the market and presenting the brand persona you think will sell, but isn’t who you really are, isn’t sustainable long-term. It only leads to a growing sense of disconnection from the self. It’s critical to your future success to start disciplining yourself to think about all aspects of your business in terms of assets and liabilities. This guides your future decision making more effectively. Your entrepreneurial balance sheet is different from your financial one. It has five things on it that require regular evaluation. In this episode, you’ll learn what they are and how to m

Remember the training montage scene in the 1976 hit movie Rocky? What you see Stallone do in the 40 seconds starting at minute two is key to knowing how to not make this common conversion-killing marketing mistake! Almost everyone makes this mistake more than once! But it’s easy to fix when you know what to look for and what to do instead. This is critical to reinforcing (and not contradicting or diluting) your marketing message. After my clients see the difference this simple fix makes, they rarely make this mistake again. Listen as I explain: - the importance of direction in marketing and digital communications, video and stage work, - how cultural conditioning subliminally influences your audience response to messaging, and - what to give your audience instead (Hint: see it at work in the Rocky scene) to improve results. PS Watch the key scene here starting at minute two to see this key principle in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YYmfM2TfUA  

Is math anxiety crippling your business? Math trauma leftover from grade school can prevent even the smartest business owners from engaging with their business finances.  Don’t let it destroy your business and personal life ... Math is part of doing business. You don’t have to struggle with anxiety over it. And you might be just one decision away from bringing home more bacon. This episode talks about how to keep math anxiety from stealing your joy and derailing your success as the money comes into your business.

Many business success stories were created by the willingness to endure multiple failures and on many levels. Public failures. Small failures. Epic failures. The learnings from them can lead us to greatness. And that’s why we should celebrate our progress through the five levels of failure.

What if the reason you give in to distractions isn’t what you think? (I recently confronted this eye-opening truth in myself.) The way we talk about distraction, especially digital distraction, has changed a lot in recent years. We see what the big players are doing to us as they mine our attention for profit. We say we want focus on work and be more present with loved ones … then can’t seem to stop the mindless scrolling. We set personal rules, wear noise-cancelling headphones, and install web-blocking apps. And yet, they don’t seem to work very well. So, what’s really going on here? Listen up as I share Oliver Burkeman’s insightful explanation from his recent message in The Imperfectionist in: BUSINESS GENIUS | Episode 405: The Truth About Distraction

Are you less than thrilled with the results of your marketing? Frustrated because it feels like you’ve tried everything and nothing is working out the way you’d hoped? If so, it could be you’re missing critical pieces of the process. The good news is all marketing tactics work! Provided they are well matched to your business objectives, used at the right time, and executed correctly. But before selecting any tactics or tools, you need to think about the four critical marketing systems every business has to have. That, and more in this episode!

Einstein. Possibly the most misquoted figure in history! Do you put your reputation and credibility at risk by using misattributed (or unattributed) quotes in your marketing, presentations and social media? There are so many things you probably think Einstein said (because these quotes are everywhere on the internet) that he never did! Such as … The quote that is as fake as most celebrity weddings … The quote which is one of the most over-used clichés of all time … The quote made famous in thousands of memes featuring Einstein  that actually was taken from two books published in 1983 (28 years after he our pal Al died) … Are you guilty of giving Einstein credit for things he never actually said in quotes you share on the internet? Find out here: BUSINESS GENIUS | Episode 403: Things Einstein Never Said (and who actually did) PS Credit for this episode’s content belongs to news junkie and history buff Kathy Copeland Padden who published her research on Medium. Thank you, Kathy!

Independence through entrepreneurship is the goal of many business owners. Seven freedoms of independence via entrepreneurship are often what drives commitment to choosing it over traditional employment. Clarity, confidence and clients are welcome companions on the road to success, but their contribution pales next to the must-haves: courage, patience and resilience. How close are you to enjoying one or more (and possibly even all seven) of the freedoms of independence through entrepreneurship right now? PS See the list of the 7 freedoms discussed on the podcast on our blog.

// SEASON 4 HAS ARRIVED WITH ALL NEW EPISODES! // Clients don't want to work with people who are perfect, the want to work with people who are real and not pretending to be something or someone they aren't! In this episode, discover how something you learned in your childhood is interfering with your business success in a crowded marketplace and what you can do about right now to make competition irrelevant.

Selling things does not mean you are in business. Making money selling things means you are in business. And to do that you must have three things: a market, a message, and a compelling offer. Your first goal is to have your offer convert to a sale. Your second is to have it convert at the best price.

Did you know the average adult makes around 35,000 conscious and sub-conscious choices each and every day? Your entire life is just one big "Choose Your Own Adventure" if you really think about it. I’ve made a lot of different choices throughout my business journey; I bet you can say the same for yourself too. The thing is, you can't split test your life like you do your marketing ...

Just about every business owner needs help defining business strategy! Why? Because not having a sounding board leaves you vulnerable to derailing your business before you’re even out of the gate. Hoping your business will succeed is how most people start out, but it’s not anywhere near enough because HOPE is NOT a strategy. Investing in professional help to work out your strategy can save you a great deal of money and heartache long term. These six questions help you jumpstart your thinking!

Whether you are selling a product or a service, each new customer undergoes an on-boarding experience as they transition into working with you or whatever you sold them after the sale. As the business owner, you are responsible for creating that experience in a way that leaves them thrilled with the decision to buy from you and not one of your competitors. Here's how you take charge of what happens after the sale.

Many of us put off our hopes and dreams until a random someday in the future. When you're waiting for the perfect time to start building your business dream, you are stuck in a deferred life plan. The best time to start was yesterday. The second-best time is now.

Persistence in the face of defeat often makes the difference in outcome. That’s not just a military history lesson, it’s also a modern-day business lesson. The question is, Are you making procrastination work for you?

Many starting a business today do so because they want a higher income, more flexibility and greater happiness — all while working less. Can all this really be achieved? Well, the short answer is yes. But, sadly, that is not the typical business owner’s experience. The results you will get depend on which type of business owner you are. Do you know your type? Here's how to find out. 

Whether it be unproductively chasing inbox zero, maintaining a pristine desk and workspace, or endlessly tinkering with product design instead of launching, the end result is the same. When you spend all your time and energy chasing perfection, you are not making any money! Today we're talking about how a messy desk and creative work go hand in hand.