Business, Beer & BS with Mike & Blaine

Send us Fan Mail “If you always do what you’ve always done; then you will always get what you have always got.”  It’s a recipe for disaster.  Why do we insist on taking the long or hard road to achieve results.  Mike and Blaine talk about being stubborn and getting you your own way in your business.  Check out this episode if you feel stuck or just want to learn about finding an easier way to win....

Send us Fan Mail We all love to say YES!  It means success. It means winning and it’s fun.  But there are times when saying yes can actually hurt you.  You can become over extended or embroiled in a project that isn’t viable and it sucks up all of your time.  Mike and Blaine talk about adding the word NO to your vocabulary and getting the most out of your life and your business. Don't miss ou...

Send us Fan Mail Everyday businesses are finding themselves more and more connected to the social issues facing the population.  It’s no longer good enough to provide a great product or quality service, businesses also find themselves having to pick a side in a social debate.  It helps some companies and hurts others.  But at the center is the enthusiasm people have for the brand.  In this episode...

Send us Fan Mail You can’t be all things to all people, but you can be really good for a specific group of people.  In this episode, Mike and Blaine discuss how tailoring your message for a niche can be the difference between being a good company to one we all envy.  Tune in to Nobody Told Me with Mike & Blaine to discover how to  find your niche.   Don't miss out on the latest insights a...

Send us Fan Mail You love them.  You need them.  But, man can your customers just down right annoy you.  It’s been said that business owners only hear from about 3% of the customers that have a problem with your service.  We guess that those are the ones that just want to let you have an earful.  Mike and Blaine talk about customer service issues, specifically with those customers who just aren’t...

Send us Fan Mail Come on, what is a podcast with Mike and Blaine without talking occasionally about cash flow.  The authors of two prolific books on cash flow spend some time talking about the difference between profit and cash.  If you have ever thought your company was making money, but you didn’t feel like you had any, then listen to this episode.   Don't miss out on the latest insights an...

Send us Fan Mail From the minimum wage increases to the new trend of paying huge salaries to workers, payroll is a huge expense.  The days of cheap labor are over as the push to improve the standard of living for the population gains momentum.  Mike and Blaine discuss how wages and benefits have changed over the years, plus the new creative thinking to recruit and retain the best workforce you can...

Send us Fan Mail Every time you turn on the news you hear about augmented reality, virtual reality and metaverses.  If they are ever going to become a part of the fabric of society, then they have to have an economic benefit.  Mike and Blaine discuss what they are learning about the future of digital business and some interesting ideas that could change the way we do business. Don't miss out...

Send us Fan Mail When we think about the generational gap, the phrase “they’re too old/young too understand” comes to mind.  It is a fact of life that age is a defining factor in how we perceive the world.  When we are young we are fearlessly optimistic than reality and experience changes us to knowingly pessimistic.  Mike and Blaine talk about their own journey plus how to address the generationa...

Send us Fan Mail It’s been said that the “CEO” of the company should be the company’s best salesperson.  You have to convince everybody of something.  You have to pitch your idea to your friends and family, investors, employees and customers.  They all have to believe in your idea and agree to partner with you on your journey.  In this episode Mike and Blaine share their experience with struggling...

Send us Fan Mail It is one of the hardest decisions you have to make in small business: knowing when to quit.  Pulling the plug on a project you love, or a business you invested everything in will cause a lot of anxiety and heartache.  Unfortunately, sooner or later you have to make that decision.  Mike and Blaine talk about things you should consider to know when it’s time to let go. Don't m...

Send us Fan Mail When you run a small business, you are the main character in a play.  Yep, everyone in your life looks to you for something.  Your customers want to be delighted.  Your employees need your guidance and motivation. Your friends and family need your attention.  You are always in the spotlight.  In this episode, Mike and Blaine talk about what the pressure of performance is really li...

Send us Fan Mail Is the work/life balance a myth?  Sometimes it seems so when you run a small business. It’s time Mike and Blaine discuss how they have managed to strive for balance in their lives, like starting a podcast with a friend! You will also hear about the challenges they faced over the last couple of decades and the things they missed out on because of small business ownership.  If you a...

Send us Fan Mail It’s a skill that we learn early in life, but very few master the art of negotiation.  The truth is, it’s a skill that once you learn it becomes a part of your everyday life.  Mike and Blaine discuss how negotiations are a part of everything we do, from going out to dinner to closing a huge government contract.  Check out this episode and learn about some of the negotiation experi...

Send us Fan Mail You can look anywhere today without running across governmental impact.  Beyond just the laws and regulations imposed, you now have to navigate the stream of social conscience.  It used to be that government and activism were two different things, but more and more they seem connected at the hip.  Mike and Blaine give their opinion on how politics can impact your business without...

Send us Fan Mail One thing is certain, there is no shortage of people who want to offer you advice.  If you run a business, you will often be bombarded with offers for consulting, wisdom from professionals, or sage nuggets from experienced operators.  But what we have learned is that a lot of bad comes with the good.  Mike and Blaine talk about their experience with experts and what’s worked and w...

Send us Fan Mail One thing is for sure, every business gets a fresh start once per year.  Most start over on January 1st, but some companies have picked other dates that match their business better.  The date isn’t as important as the preparation.  You have a whole year under your belt of new experiences, new projects launched, and lessons learned.  In this first episode of 2022, Mike and Blaine t...

Send us Fan Mail Or do they?  Sure the landscape of making sales calls has changed.  Let’s face it, we are all using less minutes on our phones than we used to.  You have to be a lot more clever to get someone to talk to you on the other end of your pocket camera (read cell phone).  Listen in to see how Mike and Blaine leverage the phone to make the cash register ring.   Don't miss out on the...

Send us Fan Mail Love it or hate it, email is still one of the best ways to generate sales.  What has been cool to see is the evolution of email, or rather the lack thereof.  Think about it.  Since the 1990’s the basics of email are the same, the only differences are in the way we customize and organize it.  Being small business owners, Mike and Blaine have sent millions of emails.  Learn the tips...

Send us Fan Mail In the last 5 years, there has been an absolute explosion of software tools aimed at the small business owner.  Who knows how many times we have tried to use one with limited success.  But there are apps that we just can’t live without, and think everyone should have them in their arsenal.  In this episode, Mike & Blaine talk about their favorite and not so favorite software t...

Send us Fan Mail It is always surprising to see a sh**ty website.  There are so many tools to help you create a professional environment in hours.  People will judge you by your online presence and even choose a lower quality product or service based on what they see.  Mike and Blaine talk about how important your website is.  Learn about design, content, and calls to action in this episode. Don&a...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever thrown money into a fireplace?  Conferences and other sponsored events can often make it feel like you did.  Mike and Blaine have planned and executed hundreds of events and learned a lot of lessons along the way.  Listen to this episode to learn how to stand out at an event and create fanatic customers in the process.   Don't miss out on the latest insights and...

Send us Fan Mail Your business is an extension of you or is it?  In most cases the business has its own personality.  This is the image that the market sees.  You get to define it, but how your message is perceived could be a whole different story.  Mike and Blaine discuss the importance of company values, tone of voice, images, and style that you associate with your brand.  Believe it or not, the...

Send us Fan Mail It’s no surprise that building a team has its challenges, especially when it comes to creating a culture and keeping your employees motivated for the long haul.  Mike and Blaine have seen the evolution of team and culture over the last 30 years and agree that today’s workforce expects you to be a leader.  They want great culture, recognition, and challenging assignments.  Check ou...

Send us Fan Mail Referrals, affiliates, partners, no matter what you call it this sales channel is best known as “word of mouth” advertising.  The difference in today’s market is that these programs have become formalized and managed just like a sales team.  The reason?  You can expand your sales team by thousands without the cost of hiring.  Mike and Blaine talk about putting a successful program...