Business, Beer & BS with Mike & Blaine

Send us Fan Mail The panic is real. You feel it. You almost become manic. You need money fast. What do you do? When your business runs headfirst into the realities of a cash flow crunch, sometimes it's too late to go the traditional route.  You need some creativity to bring some cash in fast or find a way to get you a little bit of relief.  In this episode, Mike & Blaine use their cash fl...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever seen two people just missing the point together? It’s weird to see a business and their client having two different conversations at the same time. The client is frustrated but doesn’t know the right jargon to describe what’s happening, and the business owner is trying to solve the wrong problem, causing more frustration. In this episode, Mike & Blaine discuss ge...

Send us Fan Mail In some form or fashion business has always existed. But the evolution of it is fascinating, and the basics still apply no matter what shape it takes. What is interesting is how the evolution has just been to add layers of complexity. At times, making it hard for business owners to understand the landscape. Join Mike & Blaine as they discuss how business shaped human civilizat...

Send us Fan Mail At the beginning of our careers, business cards were the staple of business. So was a Rolodex and a phone call. Like bread, milk and eggs, you got a desk, a phone number and a business card and boom, you were in business. With the world moving online in a much bigger way in the past few years, is there still room for old-school tactics? Mike & Blaine will dive into their roots...

Send us Fan Mail Most of us have had to devise some type of trade or barter in our business careers. It’s a core function of business and sometimes the only way to get something done. After all, isn’t business really just trading? Even if it’s for cash. In this episode, Mike and Blaine talk about how trading has come into play in their careers to help them reduce their operational costs. Like, sha...

Send us Fan Mail Guess who didn’t come up with a topic for today’s episode? Yep, procrastination gets the best of us. So, tune into Mike & Blaine for a healthy dose of BS while we discuss how we get behind and what heightened sense of productivity follows a period of procrastination. It’s usually a lot of stress and a cycle of unproductivity. See if we can work ourselves out of this one. It’s...

Send us Fan Mail Is exercising patience in your business good or bad? On one hand, thoughtful consideration can save you a ton of headaches down the road. On the other hand, you might miss out on an amazing opportunity and risk becoming stagnant or obsolete. In this episode, Mike and Blaine explore the double-edged sword of the role patience plays in the entrepreneurial mindset. Like, share, and f...

Send us Fan Mail Many of us aim to fit into what's considered "normal," yet often question whether we genuinely do. In this episode, Mike & Blaine tackle the intriguing question: What defines normal for your business, and how can we tell if we fit that mould? From being measured against industry averages to grappling with financial challenges, they dive into what society deems &...

Send us Fan Mail It was a good run. After almost two decades of growth and an explosion of crazy-good flavors, the craft brewing business is in decline. How could that be? You would think the beer snobs would revolt or come to their favorite brewers' rescue, but that hasn’t happened yet. In this episode, Mike and Blaine speak about the unthinkable: the decline of the craft brewing industry as...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever heard yourself say something and instantly regretted it? It happens to all of us.  It’s embarrassing and could cause real damage to your business. In this episode, Mike & Blaine talk about those slips of the tongue that can instantly alter your business.  Is this something you’ve done? Learn how to address the aftermath of a communication mishap as we look at cri...

Send us Fan Mail AI is here to stay, but we still have some thoughts about how it’s being used. The massive uptick in people using AI on a daily basis is an amazing phenomenon that needs to be paid attention to. It is improving people’s lives to the “nth” degree, but is it also making us lazy and uninspiring? Tune into this episode where Mike & Blaine talk about some of the best and worst use...

Send us Fan Mail Sometimes, it’s accidental, and sometimes, it's on purpose, but the strategy you choose for your product dictates how you introduce it to the market. The real difference between pull strategy and push strategy is that you can feel it. You feel the market pulling you in versus you pushing your message and product to anyone who will listen.  In this episode, Mike & Blaine d...

Send us Fan Mail You have probably sat on the couch, saw a product, and thought, “I should have thought of that” or “I had that idea once.” Yep, regular people, every day, take a chance to create a simple solution to a persistent problem. Most of the time, they didn’t set out to change the world, it just happened. In this episode, Mike & Blaine delve into the ideas that were odd but became ico...

Send us Fan Mail For some time now, value pricing has been all the rage in many industries. So, we took a dive into the art of value pricing, where you are focused on the customer experience, not the costs associated with the sale. What might seem like a recipe for disaster could be the very strategy you need to thrive. In this episode, Mike & Blaine take on the facts and myths of value pricin...

Send us Fan Mail You hear people say all the time that words f***ing matter. Especially when you are trying to attract customers to your business, in this episode, Mike & Blaine delve into the world of words and their impact on marketing and sales. Words do matter, and they can be used to invoke emotion and create perceptions. Tune in while we discuss the elements that help you win in your mar...

Send us Fan Mail In your career, you can either work on your own dream, or work on someone else’s. When it comes to this pivotal decision, most people have to weigh the pros and cons of leaving the security of employment to brave the world on their own. In this episode, Mike & Blaine talk about the weight of that decision and the personal attributes that are essential to succeed as they explor...

Send us Fan Mail We all know how it feels when someone either goes way over the top to deliver or drastically falls short. You’re either emotionally charged or pi**** off. In this compelling episode, Mike & Blaine delve into the psychological effects of 'underpromising and overdelivering' on customers. They discuss how exceeding expectations can significantly enhance customer satisfa...

Send us Fan Mail It seemed like everything got a fresh new start when the calendar turned from December to January.  Everything but our never-ending list of things to get done. In fact, the endless grind of goals, pricing changes, policy adjustments…on and on. It just feels like your uphill battle gets harder with each step. The hill may look small, but the shifting sand takes a ton more effort to...

Send us Fan Mail It seems like wherever you look, there is an article or claim that the author knows a secret that you don’t.  I don’t know how many times we have clicked on an article holding so much promise and been disappointed.  Ugh, it’s another clickbait headline!  Just before the podcast, we googled cash flow secrets and came up with millions of articles.  In this episode, Mike & Blaine...

Send us Fan Mail It’s that time of year when the internet overlords tell us what is going to happen in the New Year.  Don’t be shocked!  They look surprisingly similar to last year's predictions.  The truth in the matter is we don’t know, but we can make some pretty good guesses based on fact. Join Mike & Blaine as they discuss the need for predictions to be coupled with a flexible mind i...

Send us Fan Mail We always talk about the businesses that grab headlines and get you excited, but we often overlook the ones that seem mundane or routine.  The truth is: that these businesses are the ones that tend to stand out to a trained eye.  They are more predictable and reliable.  In this episode, Mike & Blaine discuss what makes a boring business attractive. Thanks to our beer sponsors!...

Send us Fan Mail At the risk of making every business advisor in the world mad at us, “working ON your business, not just IN your business” is a worn-out cliche. Don’t get it wrong, it’s totally true; it's just that the phrase itself might be played out. In this episode, Mike & Blaine dissect the phrase and pass judgment on whether or not the phrase needs an update. Thanks to our beer spo...

Send us Fan Mail We always want to talk about the wins, but nobody tells the stories of the cringe-worthy sales call.  Funny thing is, you can almost tell immediately when things go south during a presentation. It leaves everyone with a lasting impression, so let's give thanks to Mike & Blaine as they discuss the warning signs that a sale just isn’t going to happen in this Thanksgiving ep...

Send us Fan Mail We first heard about virtual assistants for small business owners from Tim Ferris in his book - “The 4 Hour Work Week.”  But how practical are they?  Do you really have enough work to justify one, and will they do the job the way you want it done?  Mike & Blaine debate the tips, tricks, and traps of finding help as a small business owner in this episode. Thanks to our beer spo...

Send us Fan Mail What makes you remember a company?  Better yet, what is almost the first thing you think of when someone mentions a company.  A lot of times, it’s their tagline.  That short little phrase just seems to sum up the entire business.  In this episode, Mike and Blaine talk about how hard it is to find the perfect words to connect your brand with the emotions people hold about you. Than...