Inside the Lion's Den: A Business and Leadership Podcast

We're in the middle of a global pandemic of Covid-19 and a lot of things have obviously happened to a lot of different businesses. One of the big things that we're seeing is people either having to close their business or pivoting in some way shape or form. And businesses are starting to look at when the can re-open, how they can re-open, and what it's going to do to their bottom line. I wanted to...

Today on the show we have Kate Erickson who is partnered with John Lee Dumas of Entrepreneurs on Fire. Kate has a really unique background. She comes from the corporate world and has already spent 6-7 years in the entrepreneurial space. In this show, we talk about what transitioning from the corporate world to the entrepreneurial space looks like - and all the things they didn't know before starti...

We all love the feeling of something new. A fresh start, a clean slate, or the excitement of a new adventure always seems to intrigue us. But how do we decide if "something new" is the best avenue for us to pursue when it comes to our business?    Recently, I was listening to a rabbi who was telling a story about when he was a pulpit rabbi of a synagogue. He had a practice in which he would do an...

When business owners think about tax accounting, a feeling of dread often overcomes them. Most small to medium sized companies deal on a "call me if you have any questions" basis with their tax accountants, but shouldn't there be a way that is more customized? One that takes into account the priorities of the company, and optimizes accordingly?   Today I'm talking with Dan Nicholson, founder and o...

When two businesses offer the same product or service, what distinguishes the two? Why would a customer pay double the price (or sometimes more) for the same service?   Today I want to discuss branding and positioning.   In my last episode with Ross Johnson , the conversation centered around positioning, and the psychology around how people think about brands.    There are a lot of implications wi...

How did a broke personal trainer build two million dollar businesses in just four years? And what important lessons has he learned from his successes (and failures) along the way?   In this episode, I'm interviewing Ross Johnson, a 27 year old serial entrepreneur who is dedicated to teaching coaches and consultants how to grow their online businesses. Ross shares his struggles and successes around...

Creative deal structuring is the way that a company structures things financially. When someone is buying or selling a business, there are no official rules that must be followed, apart from what is legal.  When structuring a deal - outside of legal agreements that must be signed- you have a lot of flexibility as long as terms are agreed upon by both parties.   Capital Structures Beyond the legali...

Is it possible to increase your profits without finding new customers? Absolutely, and in this episode, I'm sharing with you how to do just that.   Today we are talking (again) about improving your margins.    In the last episode, we discussed shaving your expenses and how impactful that can be to the bottom line of your business. The objective today is to show how you can take your existing custo...

If you want to make more money in your business, you have to sell more, right? Not necessarily.  Increasing sales is great, if you can manage it, but it isn't always your best path to higher profitability. On this episode I'm showing you how to increase your profit margin and the overall value of your business without extra sales. Using a simple example, we'll walk through a small tweak you can ma...

You sell physical products, but are you an entrepreneur or a sales channel manager? Building a brand and growing a business is different than simply selling products on Amazon. In this episode, I'm talking you through the difference between being a true physical product entrepreneur and being a sales channel manager on Amazon. Owning a business requires a big picture vision, with three essential p...

How did Julian De Salay go from working with his father in the family business to reaching the INC 500 in the first few years of founding his own company? And what lessons has he learned along the way as the CEO and CFO of JB Office?  In this episode, I'm interviewing Julian De Salay, CEO of JB Office. While an office supply company might sound a bit boring, you are sure to learn a lot from this c...

Perhaps your business is struggling right now, and you're not exactly sure how to determine the main issue. Maybe you know the exact problem but aren't sure where to start. Don't worry: a lot of people find themselves here. Let's focus on the most common areas that businesses experience challenges.  In this episode, you'll learn the top nine challenges most businesses face then we'll break down on...

Typically the first thing that comes to people's minds when talking about growing their business is revenue. The thinking is, If you grow your revenue, you grow your business.   But is revenue the most important thing to grow in your business? Or is there something else you should be focusing on?   In this episode, I'm giving you a real life example of a business I've worked with for over a year t...

Maybe you've heard that you should never take venture capital money. Or perhaps getting outside funding is your definition of success. Either way, I'm breaking down the various options for growing your business via funding, and explaining why it's not a simple black and white issue.   Today's episode falls under the pillars of Financial Acumen and Business Acumen. For an overview of the 6 Pillars...

What are the six pillars of corporate structure for growth? What do they mean to you in your business and how can you apply them right now? As a business owner, you want strategies that will grow and scale your business, but understanding the core pillars for growth is more important than implementing any tactic. The six pillars of corporate structure for growth are the CEO role, scale, leadership...

To run and grow a profitable business, you must have the end in mind at the beginning. But how do you do this? What questions will help you assess your endgame? What do you need to measure along the way?   In this episode, you'll learn how to design the end at the beginning, how to be strategic in your next steps, and what KPIs to measure.   Have the End in Mind at the Beginning To begin with the...

In this initial episode of Inside the Lion's Den Podcast, I dive into why I am starting the podcast, how I hope it will benefit you and your business, and even where the name of the podcast came from.   In my career, I've seen smaller, private companies taking care of their people. And I've seen larger corporations taking care of their company. The goal with this podcast is to bridge the gap betwe...

Have you ever wondered what it really takes to be successful in business over the long-term? Would you like to know how to increase the value of your business and create the lifestyle you desire?   Introducing the Lion's Den Podcast, where you'll get an insider's view into the leadership skills, financial acumen, and operational improvements you need in order to succeed in the long run.   This pod...