The $100 MBA Show

Sometimes, standing out is subtle. You might think you have to be radically different. But more often, just being different enough is the best recipe for success. By focusing on some little things, some small but impactful zigs when others zag, you can beat the competition. The key is to play your own game, rather than your competitors’.  Today, we discuss a few specific things you can zoom in on...

In business, you evolve or die. You can’t rest on your laurels. You can’t let your product and marketing be the same quarter after quarter, year after year. But sometimes, it can be hard to know what’s next. What’s the next update? The next big (or small) news? Today, we create a plan. Tune in, and learn how to systematize your business evolution. By plotting out your updates, you can craft a coor...

What do you love least about your business? More importantly, why? It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’re helping one listener decide what to do about Customer Support. Thing is, this entrepreneur just “hates” it. But before we choose a course of action, we have to understand the real root of the problem. Plus, is it smart to pay someone else for work you can do? Is it not “lean” enough for a startup to ma...

If you run an online business, it’ll definitely happen. Sometimes, your customers’ credit cards will be declined.  But it’s probably not for the reason you think. Insufficient funds actually account for only a minority of credit card rejections. There are other reasons, some of which you might not suspect. More importantly, some of these reasons are things you can prevent or fix! Today, we list th...

Books are the greatest investment you can make in yourself. We’ve always maintained that — it’s why we host regular “Must Read” book review episodes. That’s why it’s so exciting to have Steph Clarke, bookworm par excellence on the show! The host of the Steph’s Business Bookshelf Podcast , Steph knows a thing or two (or 4) about maximizing every minute you spend reading. Today, Steph is here with s...

Always be ready to pitch. Don’t need investors? That doesn’t mean you don’t need a solid, succinct pitch. Our own company is 100% self-funded, and Omar pitches all the time. Why? Because your pitch is for a million super-important things — not just investment. Today, we explain why. We’ll discuss all the ways a great pitch helps you become a better leader and ambassador for your brand. It’s an exe...

Sudden revenue loss is not uncommon. In entrepreneurship, it’s almost inevitable. Situations change. The big players (think Google, Amazon, etc.) change the rules or algorithms you built your strategy around. Market cycles, pandemics, trends, and a host of other factors beyond your control can blindside your business. It’s up to you how to respond. Today, we discuss what can go wrong suddenly, and...

When is it ok to take some profit home? It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener with a small — but profitable — software business. It’s doing pretty well, which raises the question: how much can a founder keep, guilt-free? How much should be plowed right back into the business? It’s a great problem to have, but a problem nonetheless. Today, we discuss what you should think about when deciding...

e-Commerce is different. The model is different. The math is different. So when it comes to figuring out your prices, you have to take what makes e-commerce special into account. Fortunately, Omar has some experience in that, having run a successful online clothing business. Today, he shares the insights he discovered. This is one of those “I wish I had known this when I started” episodes. From ca...

Values: they’re not just for HR documents and mission statements.  For your company to really be shaped by your values, you have to live them. And it’s not only a moral decision; values-driven decisions are great for business — as companies big and small are realizing. So how can you put values first? Today, special guest Lisa Gralnek is here with a detailed lesson on the impact of values, and why...

WordPress is king. Or is it? We are huge, serious WordPress loyalists. Our websites run on WordPress. Our host, Omar, basically built all of his businesses on WordPress. But what was true several years ago might not be true today.  While WordPress is as awesome as ever, it’s not the only game in town. When it comes to website design and management, other options have come along. And some of them a...

Not literally, of course. It’s one of the most important lessons a life of entrepreneurship has taught us: resilience. Disappointments, failures, injustices, and a thousand other blows will come. It’s just the price of doing business.  That’s not a bad thing. Today, Omar explains how he developed resilience, and why setbacks are something he treasures. We’ll discuss what “punches” to expect, how t...

It’s a decision most small businesses will have to make, eventually. Your small team is full of people you trust, who know your product and your customers. But are they qualified to lead? When it’s time to make important hires, should you look for the best you can find, or use the best you already have? There are pros and cons to both. It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’re helping one listener who’s ready...

There’s a single, simple mistake too many entrepreneurs make when it comes to their marketing.  It might be killing your business. The good news? Avoiding it takes some time and effort, but it’s very, very doable. And it’s beyond worth the effort. We’ve seen countless people make this error. We used to make it ourselves.  But once we stopped doing it, everything changed for the better. So what is...

If you don’t understand your team, you can’t lead them. The Enneagram is an advanced system for leadership and team cohesion, using 9 personality types. By identifying everyone’s type — including yours — you can build a better, more mutually supportive team. …and it’s not too hard to apply. Today, CEO, advisor, and coach Susan Drumm is here to explain the Enneagram framework, and how you can use i...

Is there any way out of offering discounts? It’s one of the oldest sales tricks in the books. At some point, almost every business decides that it’s worth losing a little revenue to gain some customers. But how do you ensure a good return on that investment?  And is there a better way to bring in business? Today, we discuss when and where discounts work best — and worst. We’ll explore how to be mo...

How do you know what your customers really want? Without regular, open conversations with clients, you could be missing something crucial. That’s what happened to us, as we found out during a recent round of user interviews for our software company, WebinarNinja. …and what we discovered wasn’t just important for our business alone. The simple fact that these interviews produced huge revelations sh...

Will it sell? It’s the first scary question entrepreneurs have to ask. Just because you think it’s a great idea doesn’t guarantee there’s a market for your product or service. So how can you find out?  How can you get an accurate sense of whether your business will make it? It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’re helping an aspiring entrepreneur figure out if anybody actually wants what they’re planning to...

No matter what kind of business you run, you’ll need software tools to maintain your online presence. The question is: what’s the best way to pay for them? You might be tempted to think that anytime you can afford to pay annually, you should. It saves money in the long run, right?  But in our experience, some software is better paid for on a monthly basis — even when your budget allows otherwise....

What is “profit?” If you think you know, you might be looking at it all wrong. It sounds out there, but Profit First by Mike Michalowicz makes a compelling case for a totally new outlook on profit. And after reading it, we can’t see profit the same way ever again. Two applications for bodybuilding to install on your smartphone bharat serums 4 muscle exercises for how to get fat fast. In this Must-...

Can you really make it on your own? It’s the first (and maybe most important) question aspiring entrepreneurs ask. What do the numbers need to look like to (safely) leave the 9 to 5?  How can you transition out of your job, with enough runway and cushion to have a real chance at success? Today, we do the math. Becoming an entrepreneur isn’t about taking a massive risk. It’s about mitigating risk!...

Yes, you have to spend money to make money. But if you’re not careful, you’ll spend more than it’s worth. Staying lean and profitable is getting tougher. The cost of digital ads is rising steadily, as social media platforms take advantage of their unique position. But there are ways to get customers without draining your marketing budget! Today, we show you how. Using our own business as an exampl...

Take a close look at your bills. Are you really using everything you’re paying for? It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener with a common worry: that money is being wasted on redundant or unnecessary software. Over time, the products (and the costs) can add up! Today, we clean house. That doesn’t necessarily mean canceling. Sometimes, the smartest move is to utilize a given software different...

Vacations are investments. And you should never waste an investment. Taking time off to recharge and reset your creative energy is absolutely essential. But too often, entrepreneurs can’t leave work behind long enough to truly recuperate. Today, we fix that. With our 5 tips, you can take an active approach to your vacation planning. By doing so, you can make sure that when you relax, you relax. No...

It’s time to run your business, rather than letting business run you. Mike Morse is an attorney, consultant, and best-selling author. At one point, the unpredictability of business (and life) caused his dreams to go up in flames —  literally. But from the ashes of tragedy rose a fresh, smarter approach to entrepreneurship. Today, Mike is here to share some of that approach. After a destructive exp...