Good Business

In this episode of the Good Business Podcast, host Illana Burk delves into the concept of 'bread and butter' offers—the reliable and consistent products or services that sustain your business. She shares her personal journey from web design to partnership coaching, highlighting the importance of these core offerings and their role in creating a stable and meaningful business foundation....

In this episode, host Illana Burk discusses implementing strategic pivots within your business. Catering to solopreneurs and small business owners, Illana explores how to recognize the need for significant changes, crystallize your unique value proposition, and align your vision with current market trends. The episode features case studies like Instagram and Netflix, emphasizing the importance of...

In this episode, we’re talking about decision-making. Specifically, how do you decide where to put your energy around self-promotion when resources feel limited and it feels like you need to be everywhere all at once? For more details, visit illanaburk.com . Good Business is hosted by Illana Burk, CEO of Illana Burk Consulting llc and strategic coach and advisor to entrepreneurs, creative leaders,...

Welcome back to the Good Business Podcast! In this episode, host Illana Burk delves into the concept of credibility—what it is, why it's essential, and how to establish and maintain it, especially in an era rife with misinformation, deepfakes, and AI. The discussion highlights a personal anecdote from TikTok that sparked introspection on her own credibility and digital footprint. She undersco...

In this episode, Illana Burk challenges the relentless chase for 'more' typically associated with business success. She discusses the pervasive culture of endless growth driven by capitalism and its impact on small business owners and entrepreneurs. Instead, Illana advocates for redefining success by embracing the idea of 'enough,' which involves understanding personal values,...

In this episode of Good Business, business and leadership expert Illana Burk challenges the traditional notion of niching and discusses why your offerings should reflect what's best for you before they reflect what's best for your clients. While finding a niche may seem daunting, crafting offers aligned with your strengths, weaknesses, and preferred working style can create a niche audie...

Are you struggling with traditional productivity methods? In this episode of Good Business, we explore 'Backcasting,' a strategic planning approach that could revolutionize the way you set and achieve goals. Discover how this technique allows you to envision your ideal future and work backwards to create a clear path to success.  Why does backcasting often outperform traditional forecast...

Welcome back to the Good Business Podcast. Today, we're talking about visibility. It's a big theme for me at the moment, as this week marks the start of "Go for the Know," my very new, very exciting, totally free program for learning and taking action to gain visibility and finally do all the pitching and outreach that you've had on your list forever and aren't curren...

This episode of the Good Business Podcast debunks the myth that everyone should own a business. It explains how entrepreneurship requires a high tolerance for risk and can deeply affect personal relationships. The host, Illana Burk, emphasizes that success in business isn't just about skills, but about being comfortable with constant uncertainty. The discussion encourages listeners to conside...

In this episode, Illana Burk explains why it is the right thing to do to give out your work, your very best work, generously, and everywhere you can, why special and generous content wins, the pitfalls of marketing funnels, and how generosity contributes to sustainable business success and collective growth.  For more details, visit illanaburk.com . Good Business is hosted by Illana Burk, CEO of I...

I'm guessing you're here because you want to give feedback without being a jerk, right? Welcome back, listeners! In this episode, we address the delicate art of giving feedback. Building on our previous discussion on asking for and receiving feedback, we explore how to give feedback in a way that is empathetic, constructive, and respectful. We start by challenging the common notion that...

Navigating feedback can be daunting. In this episode, we dive into the skills of asking for and receiving feedback with intention and grace. Learn the art of crafting your asks to elicit constructive insights and how to gracefully accept the advice given, filter through biases, and grow from the experience. Whether it's refining your creative process or enhancing your professional journey, we...

Dive into the realities of managing business amidst personal upheavals in this episode. Drawing from the Good Business Incubator community's experiences, we face balancing entrepreneurial demands and life's unpredictable events. Discover strategies for handling both planned and unplanned breaks, from creating financial buffers to building supportive networks. Whether you're currentl...

Ever plan an amazing business move but hit a roadblock? This episode tackles the "pothole" of poor planning for solopreneurs. Learn how to "right-size" your strategy based on your resources and set yourself up for sustainable success. Listen now!  For more details, visit illanaburk.com . Good Business is hosted by Illana Burk, CEO of Illana Burk Consulting llc and strategic coa...

In this 60th episode, we're diving into a crucial topic for entrepreneurs: knowing when to quit. This episode goes beyond the "stay positive" rhetoric. Host Illana is a pro-quitter and believes quitting strategically is essential for success. Learn a valuable framework to help you decide when to walk away or double down on your endeavors. We'll explore: The difference between q...

In this episode, we discuss the crucial first steps in hiring and why starting in the wrong place can lead to problems. We explore the difference between what you want and what you actually need, and how to avoid wasting time and energy in the hiring process. Tune in to learn how to make smarter hiring decisions for your business. For more details, visit illanaburk.com . Good Business is hosted by...

In this episode of The Good Business Podcast, Illana Burk discusses the significance of the first 15 minutes of a client meeting or call in setting the tone, establishing boundaries, and building trust. Learn how to effectively utilize those initial minutes to set expectations and create a clear partnership with the client. For more details, visit illanaburk.com . Good Business is hosted by Illana...

Today’s topic is all about mistakes. Why? Because we all make them and good business means managing the bad AND the good. People tell everyone they know when someone handles a mistake with elegance and class. But if you finish a project limping over a mistake, they ALSO tell everyone you know. Today's episode teaches you how to make mistakes well, so they can work for you instead of against y...

In this episode, Illana talks about what you can change and what you can't, what things are within your power and what are not, and how to deal with that.  So that's our topic and we’re starting by talking about what is a SWOT analysis. Then we'll talk a little bit about what you can do about it, what it means, and then we will wrap up with a little bit about how to understand the r...

How do you get through the toughest time in your business without quitting or going crazy? In this episode of The Good Business Podcast, host Illana Burk is back. She introduces the topic of the "Gauntlet," describing it as a stage in business where everything seems to go wrong... over and over again. This phase often occurs during periods of growth when the next steps are unclear.  How...

Asynchronous income. What IS that?!   In this episode, I talk about why passive income is a total misnomer, the difference between passive and asynchronous income,  and what you can find in the middle between (the myth of) passive income and exchanging dollars for hours. Find out how we define asynchronous income and whether or not it's right for your business. How could you create asynchrono...

How to know what you should commodify and what you shouldn't. In this episode, I address the idea that we don't actually have to become commodities in order to be successful business owners.  First, I discuss what I mean by commodity, and what's the difference between being a commodity and not being one. Then I talk a bit about what it means to make that conscious choice to take a d...

What is ethical marketing? What does it mean? What doesn't it mean? And are you afraid of the wrong thing? Lately, there's been a new flavor to the ethical marketing and selling conversation happening amongst small business owners and marketers around what is ethical, what you're allowed to do and not allowed to do.   Today I am talking about being afraid of saying the wrong thing a...

Does your work make the world a better place? When you think about creating an offer,  do you think about the impact of what you're doing? And how do you think about it? In this episode, I talk about how to consider impact when it's not always straightforward. Let's dive into how to think about sustainability even as a solopreneur or small business and what place the triple bottom l...

This is our 50th episode! I'm marking the occasion and sharing more about my own professional journey. In this episode, I talk about how I got where I am today, the big why, the triple bottom line, the kind of clients I work with, teaching leadership, and more. Join me. And thanks for listening. I am truly grateful that you're here. For more details, visit illanaburk.com . Good Business...