The $100 MBA Show

What’s your team capable of? Many business leaders don’t know — not really. That’s when Cheryl Lynn Mobley steps in. She’s an expert in getting the most from a team by unleashing their true potential. Today, she shares a few of her most important key principles. By asking just a few crucial questions, you can discover the hidden power of your team, however big or small. You can boost communication...

Be a better business person. There’s so much self-improvement…stuff out there. Courses, coaches, programs of every sort. But as heavy consumers of game-upping content, we’ve discovered a few things. Sometimes, a few basics are all you need. Today, we share the 3 most important ways to be a better you. These are the tools that get the biggest result for the investment. Whether it’s your time, money...

Should you learn to read? Almost no one would answer “no.” In most places, everyone can. It’s a fundamental skill that empowers you to do…anything! No matter the industry, it’s a must. People who can’t read are at an unfair disadvantage, regardless of their career. That’s how we feel about coding. Today, we discuss why everyone — not just developers — should learn coding. Even if you hire develope...

In business, you grow or you die. That doesn’t mean endlessly increasing profit or market share. And it doesn’t mean never being happy or satisfied. It simply means making sure you’re always evolving and achieving your personal best. Kinda like the gym — if you’re too comfortable, it’s not a good thing! It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’re helping one listener answer two questions: am I plateauing, and w...

How much do you need to bring in? It seems like a pretty basic question for a business owner. But many entrepreneurs aren’t really sure how to answer it. Revenue – not profit – is a tricky subject. How much you need depends on a few key factors. Surprisingly enough, bringing in more isn’t always the right move.  By putting revenue in a bigger context, you can identify realistic, effective goals. B...

Telling the truth seems easy, until you try it. We like to think we’re straight shooters. Some of us even use “straight talk” and “brutal honesty” as an excuse to be a jerk. But are we really, truly telling it “like it is?” Today’s guest teacher wants an honest answer. As he explains it, honesty starts between your own ears. Peter Kozodoy is a well-known expert in business leadership. His premise?...

What did we learn during the pandemic? The COVID-19 outbreak was an undeniable tragedy. But it also revealed other tragedies. As the disease swept through the nation, it hit some communities harder than others. It shed a harsh light on systemic inequality and historical disadvantage that left some less able to cope than their neighbors. In other words, COVID revealed existing problems even as it c...

Rookie move: only chasing new customers. Pro move: investing in the customers you have. Existing customers are a way better investment of marketing and sales resources than strangers. That’s not to say you shouldn’t bring new customers in. We’re just pointing out that on average, the fans you have are easier to convert again. And again. And again. You put so much time and resources into creating t...

You will get complaints. Everyone does. Even the best companies in the world do. Instead of trying to avoid the unavoidable, prepare for it! Whether it’s your own mistakes, haters hating, or just normal people having a bad day, it’s gonna happen. What’s the right response? The professional response? Today, we discuss how to handle bad reviews, flak on social media, and other forms of public shamin...

It’s SEO 101! Search Engine Optimization can be intimidating. It seems complex, and it can be. But it doesn’t have to be! Anyone can take the basic steps that make a huge difference in brand visibility, expert or not. Today, we focus on what you absolutely can do, right now. It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’re helping an entrepreneur get their new website onto that first SERP. That’s “Search Engine Resu...

How fast is fast enough? We know great customer support can be a huge asset, especially for a small business. It’s a differentiator, a way to compete against bigger firms with bigger budgets. But how do you know your support is that good? What’s a game-changing response time? Or just a standard one? Today, we discuss what fast, responsive support looks like. With its huge impact on churn, marketin...

I’d pre-order this one if I were you. Nope, we don’t get anything out of it. No affiliate commission, no favors, nothing. In fact, we believe in this book and its author so much, we’ll actually give you an incredible bonus just for buying it. Again, this is not sponsored.  We just want to spread the word on behalf of a great entrepreneur and friend, John Lee Dumas.  We’ve learned a ton from him, a...

Rule one of entrepreneurship: watch your money. Of course, Rule two might be “keep it lean.” Which means if there’s a free way to watch your money, consider it! For all the low-cost, low-quality products out there, a few killer options exist that won’t cost you a nickel.  Today, we share 4 of them. And maybe one more, just for fun. These are tools we use ourselves to track and manage our finances....

For years, a Facebook group was the go-to way to keep a group of coaching or training clients in touch. It was a forum to discuss, ask, encourage, and engage, adding value to courses and challenges.  But now, there’s another (better?) option: Slack. Today, we discuss the differences between these two group-messaging platforms. We’ll explain why some entrepreneurs prefer one to the other, and why o...

Does every business have to give before they sell? As they say, there’s no such thing as a “free” lunch. Free trials and plans involve overhead for you, and without a good ROI, that money is wasted. But many businesses, especially the SaaS kind, do it anyway.  Is there a better way to bring customers in?  It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener with a low-priced SaaS product who isn’t sure it...

It’s not just COVID. Live courses have specific advantages, even in normal times. Coaches and trainers are catching on in a big way, and the trend isn’t likely to slow down anytime soon. But why? What do live courses offer that’s so great? And how the heck do you scale them? Today, we discuss why this one model is on fire. We’ll dig into the specific reasons live courses yield so much for business...

Tight marketing budget? No problem. Many of us had to scale back in the wake of COVID. Since then, learning how to do more with less became something of a required skill. And it’s especially important in marketing – often one of the first budgets cut. So how can you spread your message? Today, special guest Alex Douzet explains a few ways you can get your brand out there for minimal cost. With a l...

Marketing is magical. But it isn’t free. As with everything, you get what you pay for. But so many entrepreneurs miscalculate how much of their budget should go towards marketing. Too many people simply get the math wrong on this.  Fortunately, we have a simple formula. Get the pencil and paper out! Today, we’ll show you how to calculate exactly what to spend on marketing. By applying this basic m...

You want to work for yourself. You just don’t know how. This is very normal! Getting started as an entrepreneur means finding a business model that works for you. As someone who founded several businesses, our host Omar has more experience in this than most — and he’s reached a conclusion. He’s convinced that one specific type of business is the best place to start. For anyone! Tune in, and hear w...

Read this before you spend a dime on Google ads! And also…y’know, listen to the episode.  It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’re helping a listener with a brand-new business figure out what’s wrong with their Google game. After running ads for a bit, the return on investment just isn’t there. Why not? Is it the channel itself or the execution? Or both? Today, we discuss how Google ads work, and how to make...

Is Facebook advertising over? Not exactly. Today, we explore the fallout from Apple’s big decision. If you haven’t heard, the iOS 14 update lets users opt out of data tracking. Without the ability to stalk you around the Internet, advertisers have drastically less data to inform targeted Facebook ads.  It was a huge win for privacy — and a gut punch to the Facebook advertising model. But all is no...

Your potential is in your body, not just your mind. Yes, that includes your business potential.  If you’re not physically fit, you’re not mentally fit. Ill health, fatigue, and malnutrition are cognition killers. Too many entrepreneurs think that sacrificing health for business is a necessary evil. It’s not.  It’s an unnecessary mistake. Today, we welcome entrepreneur and biohacking expert Jon Mit...

When’s the last time you got a trophy? Call it cheesy, but on some level everyone loves an award. The question is whether it’s an effective motivator in business. Is symbolic recognition inspiring, or insulting? Appreciated, or patronizing? When you give out awards, are you patting your employees’ backs…or your own? Today, we discuss how best to recognize extraordinary work, accomplishments, and m...

Need more revenue? Sometimes, we’re so focused on the quality of our product or marketing that we forget one thing: profit. To stay in business, lean startups need to keep their eye on revenue. Always. But especially in tougher times like these. Are you getting the best ROI from the people you hired? Today, we’ll explain how to find out. By making a few tweaks with a focus on revenue, you can make...

It happens.  Business partnerships don’t work out sometimes. How do you know when it’s time to say goodbye? It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’re helping one listener decide whether to end things. They’ve been fighting — a lot — and it’s not clear that both parties have the same objectives anymore. The longer this goes, the worse it’s gonna get. …especially if they wait too long to part ways. Tune in, and...