The $100 MBA Show

Stress is like an anchor. It weighs you down, and holds you back. It does the same to your business, as stress makes you a less effective and efficient leader. So what can you do about it? And by the way, we’re not talking about big stress, like you get in response to a rare crisis or major catastrophe.  We’re talking about the basic, everyday stresses that any entrepreneur experiences, no matter...

If you need proof that a self-funded, bootstrapping startup can make it big — with no special advantages or even extraordinary luck — this is the episode for you.  Creator-focused email marketing software ConvertKit is the company. College dropout Nathan Barry is the founder. And his story will erase any doubts you have about your own business potential.  Omar and Nathan go way back, to a time bef...

It’s time to start hiring. Every once in a while, the stars align to make great talent more available and accessible to small businesses. And you don’t need the world’s biggest budget to get the best hires. Sometimes, it’s all about timing. A few forces have come to bear on the jobs market. Yes, unemployment is low — but it’s not in the freefall it’s been in since 2010 or so. Yes, we just went thr...

As they say, “Success leaves clues.” And few companies have left more clues behind than Apple — even for small businesses. You don’t have to be a giant to make these moves. You just have to dare. After all, Apple was a startup once, too. Today, we break down a few key things that Apple has always done well. From the way they create their products to the way they market, Apple cut a new path throug...

Setting your first price for your first product can feel…scary. But most new entrepreneurs err on the wrong side of the equation, undervaluing their product or service in a way that can backfire — badly. It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener with a new software product. But what should it cost? A common misconception is that the lowest price will attract the most customers. However, this st...

A personal touch can set your business apart — even when there’s no chance you’ll be able to do it for everyone. So why do new businesses avoid strategies that don’t scale…even while they’re still small? Sometimes, there’s a such thing as being too efficient, even in business. It’s the inverse of the old saying, “What got you here won’t get you there.” Of course you’ll have to evolve your strategi...

Sometimes, it’s not the brand that’s the star of the show — it’s the community. As today’s special guest explains, an intentionally fostered community can be as valuable an asset as your product! Yes, you read that right. When it comes to everything from marketing to your company’s valuation, a well-planned and managed community can be worth its weight in gold. But too many entrepreneurs simply op...

Ever wonder how we make your favorite bite-sized business podcast? Wonder no more! Today, we share the exact setup in our home “studio” where we record almost every episode. That’s right — we record this professional-quality podcast at home. And so can you. We’ll share the tools we use to get consistent quality of sound, including how the setup of the room itself affects the recording. You don’t n...

Firing people is never fun, unless you’re the kind of boss who someone is better off not working for. But firing people is almost inevitable, especially as your team and business grows. Better to be prepared! Today, we take a hard look at this hard — but necessary — task. Besides the obvious cringe-worthiness of taking someone’s living away, firing people is uncomfortable because it’s not just abo...

To borrow a quote from a book title, “What got you here won’t get you there.” It’s normal for new businesses to hit a plateau after a period of initial growth. But how do you…y’know, move past it? It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener with exactly that problem. Plateaus can happen for any number of reasons. Market saturation, changing consumer preferences, economic downturns, competition —...

Yikes. The collapse of SVB is one of the biggest stories in business, as depositors, investors, and investees react to what can only be described as a full-blown disaster. But what can you learn from it? You don’t have to be in Silicon Valley to take a lesson from all this. We won’t be analyzing the specific causes of SVB’s faceplant. But we will explore how SVB broke some of the most basic rules...

Today we’re sharing an episode of The Hustle Daily Show — a daily dose of irreverent, offbeat, and informative takes on business & tech news.  In this episode, they take a look at how getting stuff for “free” affects consumer behavior. Why do we care so much when a crummy t-shirt gets shot out of a cannon at a sporting event? It's all about the power of "free," a price point that makes us feel hig...

We’ve learned a ton about business in Japan, and how the country offers incredible opportunities for small business (including Western ones). Now, it’s time to take the first concrete steps. So what do we do? Today, we put our Ja-plan into action.  We’re making a few small — but important — moves to introduce ourselves and our company to the country. You won’t see a new $100 MBA Show or WebinarNin...

“What got you here won’t get you there,” as the saying goes. And while a good blog is still a powerful marketing tool, one thing we can finally put to bed forever is the Comments section.  Today, we explain why — and what you can do instead. We all remember the early days of blogging, when a lively Comments section could breed an active, engaged community of potential followers or customers. Comme...

When you buy someone a gift, what does that buy you? Do customers, partners, and others see it as an investment in your relationship, or an unasked-for transaction? Or worse, an attempted bribe? It all depends on how you give. Today, we discuss the art of the business gift. If it’s overly transactional, or impersonal, or simply has the wrong objective behind it, a gift can backfire. But if you do...

Times are tough. Inflation, continuing supply chain issues, and price gouging are on the rise. Recessions are natural and inevitable — but should you wait them out before starting your own business? Spoiler alert: no. It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener with a great business idea. But they’re worried about the timing. Is it smart to get into business when businesses (and consumers) are st...

The customer is always right — except when they’re not. It’s time to stop clinging to customers who aren’t serving your business, just like they’d quit your business if it wasn’t working for them. Seriously. As providers of products and services, we’re often primed to bend over backwards for our customers. But when a customer starts costing you more than they’re making you, a line’s been crossed....

We’ve been hanging out in Japan, learning a whole new perspective on business. Now, it’s time to explore how you can get in on the action — by actually doing business with or inside Japan. Yes, this is possible. And it’s a very good idea. Today, we explore various ways non-Japanese businesses have forged ties with Japanese entities and professionals. We’ll also get into digital nomad options in Ja...

The wrong approach: “I should do my best to make sure there’s always enough of my product/service for everyone who wants to buy it.” The right approach: “I should run out of stuff. Often.” Yes, this is tough to wrap your head around, especially if you’re new to business. But remember that value is defined by one thing: scarcity. That’s why people line up for new Jordans — because there will never...

Let’s cut to the chase: what’s the best way to get people to buy your thing? Today, we offer 3 answers, based on our experience. These funnels work best for us — and they might for you, too. We’ll lay out exactly how to build and manage each of these funnels, with our own products as an example.  There’s no single “best” funnel for every business. But by studying the way various funnels work — and...

You can’t sell your product or service if you can’t sell yourself. Confidence in branding is everything. But does that mean you have to be…full of yourself? Can you persuade without playing the peacock? After all, in a noisy market, the loudest voice often wins. It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’re helping one listener learn how to market without being a total tool. There is a way to showcase everything...

Goals are hard. A goal, however, is more attainable. So how can you narrow your focus to something big and all-encompassing that’ll have the greatest impact on your business? And should you? It all comes down to a single number. There’s no shortage of business metrics you can track (and no shortage of products and services designed to help you track them). If you’re not careful, you can get lost i...

So how exactly did a cartoon kitten take over the world? And why does Japan consistently produce products that are almost dangerously cute? It’s no accident — it’s a business strategy. Kawaii is a catch-all term for a specific aesthetic, something Japanese businesses purposely cultivate. Loosely translated, it means “cuteness.”  But kawaii is no child’s play. It’s a cultural vein that Japanese com...

Don’t leave home without these — and we’re not talking about hardware. You can’t put these items in your bag, but if you’re working on the road, each and every one is a potential lifesaver. Not to mention…a trip-saver. Wherever you go, you can’t predict exactly what the situation will be re: Internet, security, and your ability to communicate with the rest of your team. For that reason, it’s impor...

It’s not as simple as “make stuff, sell stuff.” Of course it can be, but there are other ways to make money on your own. Before you start your first (or next) business, listen to this episode. Our intrepid host Omar has started several businesses in his day. And he’s learned how critical it is to choose the right model — regardless of the industry or niche. These days it’s SaaS (Software as a Serv...