The $100 MBA Show

The greatest disasters produce the best lessons. From catastrophic successes to plain old catastrophes, 2020 has produced no shortage of forehead-slapping circumstances. When things are spiraling, whoever holds fast comes away with the most powerful insights — and a huge advantage in business. Today, we share the 5 most important things this dumpster fire of a year taught us. Tune in, and get a le...

What do you say when it’s time to ask for money? Kyle York knows how to talk to investors. He is one! He’s also the man behind York IE, a firm that specializes in bringing investors and investees together. So how do you nail your pitch? Today, Kyle shares his “key pillars,” along with 7 specific steps everyone should take when it’s time to woo the bankrollers. Give whoever’s across the table from...

Competition isn’t a bad thing.  That said, you don’t want to “compete” by doing what the other company does better. The best strategy for smart, lean small businesses is differentiation — finding a way to do what no one else is. What could that mean for your business? Today, we discuss a few ways your business can stand out by zigging where others zag. By embracing a creative approach to competiti...

Every business has ups and downs. But can you tell the difference between a temporary “down” and…something more serious? Maybe it’s the normal business cycle. Maybe it’s an industry-wide issue outside your control. But maybe it isn’t!  It’s not always easy to tell — and it’s not always easy to admit you’re failing.  Today, we discuss the most visible differences between a slump and a genuine nosed...

This one’s definitely in our wheelhouse. It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener with an interior design blog who’s ready to move to the digital airwaves. So what makes our podcast work so well for us? What’s the secret sauce? It’s not really a secret. In fact, it’s a few simple tips we’re happy to share today.  We’ve failed, we’ve succeeded, and we’ve done everything in between. Tune in, and...

Is there any way around paid advertising? For lean startups, the cost of paid ads can add up quickly. Are there any growth strategies that don’t involve blowing a hole in the budget? And if so, how’s it done?  What alternative tactics have small businesses used to spread the word more…frugally? Today, we discuss your other options. Learn how to elevate your brand without relying on ads. With a lit...

Everyone negotiates. It’s a foundational business skill that every entrepreneur has to develop, to the best of their ability. Whether it’s with vendors, employees, partners, or clients, you’ll have to (literally) come to terms with people on a daily basis. So how do you get good at it? Molly Fletcher has been called “the female Jerry Maguire” for her skill in negotiating on behalf of professional...

Ready to build a dynamic team? Look to the Philippines. There’s a huge pool of talented, tech-savvy, multilingual go-getters just waiting to find the right team to join. And given the differences in currency values and cost of living, you can hire them at beyond-reasonable rates. You just have to know where — and how — to look. Today, we explain how to get into the Filipino job market, and find ex...

For retailers, December is a beast. But for many other businesses, it’s the perfect “down time” to get ahead on certain things. …like marketing. Today, we discuss what your business should do while things are quiet. By taking advantage of the slower pace, you can give yourself a head start on next year’s marketing. There’s one thing in particular that — with a little extra effort — can bring you m...

When it comes to motivation, money only goes so far. That might sound a little precious, but it’s true.  It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener with a great team — and a tight budget. Fortunately, study after study has confirmed that after a certain salary point, employees are far more motivated by things like autonomy, respect, and achievement than anything else.  Today, we discuss a few op...

You put time, money, and effort into promoting your product. Did it work? Today, we discuss how to know for sure. If you’re not accurately measuring success (or lack thereof), your marketing efforts can’t evolve. And if they can’t evolve…well, eventually they won’t bring you much in sales. So how do you define “success” for a promotion? We’ll lay out the parameters, and help you establish a runnin...

Who makes it in business? More importantly, why? Ramit Sethi started his career by giving frank advice on personal finances. Now, the best-selling author teaches people how to monetize their strengths and develop their own businesses.  Today, we sit down with Ramit for an in-depth chat about what it (really) takes to succeed. From deciding what kind of business to run, to making the brave choices...

Constantly short on time? Don’t seem to have any for yourself? That’s not “hustle.” That’s unhealthy. Today, we offer a few strategies for getting your schedule under control. If your business is consuming your life, it’ll backfire eventually. That’s why it’s important to take a hard look at where all your hours are going. Work to live, not the other way around. Remember, time isn’t money — it’s w...

These days, it’s harder and harder not to be seen. Videos, webinars, and other on-camera presentations are becoming indispensable in online marketing. Consumers want to see you, and know who they’re (potentially) buying from.  But not everyone’s naturally comfortable. So how do you get over the fear? Today, we discuss what you can do to become comfortable, confident, and cool on camera. As a speak...

They’re not profiting. Does that mean you shouldn’t? It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener with a t-shirt company who gets regular requests from nonprofit organizations. These groups are looking for support in the form of a discount — which would make our listener’s profit margins a little on the tight side. It might be nice, but is it good business? Today, we discuss how helping nonprofits...

We all know testimonials work. …but not just any old testimonials. We’re living in the “social proof” era. When it comes to deciding whether to buy a product, no founder, marketer, or salesperson is trusted more than a fellow consumer.  Gathering quality testimonials, then, is one of the most important sales strategies you can use. Today, we explain how to reach out and get the most impactful test...

How do some leaders do it? You know the kind — they can get their teams to do the (nearly) impossible, inspiring loyalty and commitment that goes way beyond working for a paycheck.  What factor do the best leaders in business have in common? Today’s special guest, Johnny Merritt , has an idea. He calls it “kinetic” leadership, and he’s seen his share of it as an attorney working with high-profile...

Is it time to catch bigger fish? Moving “upmarket” can be a bold — but smart — move for some businesses. Transitioning from selling lower-priced products and services to higher-priced ones can be tricky, though.  How can you decide if it’s right for your business? More importantly, how do you pull it off? Today, we discuss what can go right, and what can go wrong. By making a smart transition, you...

Gamer or not, pay attention to the Playstation 5. The launch of this highly anticipated gaming console is a Master Class in how to debut a new product. Every step of Sony’s marketing campaign was packed with lessons for anyone who wants their next offering to make a serious splash. And yes, even small businesses can learn from the pros. Today, we detail the steps Sony took to make sure this launch...

You get what you pay for — even when it’s free. It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a tech startup founder who’s considering bringing on interns. It sounds like a can’t-lose: free labor from qualified young go-getters, right? But are there drawbacks? Spoiler alert: yes. Lots.  Today, we discuss what you really take on when you “hire” an intern — and why it may not be the no-brainer it appears to be....

Most national and state governments offer grants to businesses. Where’s yours? Today, we share our experience applying for grants. How much time and effort do you really have to invest? How much money? And of course…is it remotely worth it?  We’ll discuss the best ways to find out what grants are available in your country and industry, and how to apply in a way that increases your odds of success....

Today, it’s a Must-Read from a master. Taki Moore is the coach’s coach — the guy whose success and experience in this rapidly growing field is second to none. If coaching continues to explode as predicted, it won’t surprise Taki. He’s been ahead of this game for a while now. Million Dollar Coach is Taki Moore’s handbook for building a 7-figure business by helping others reach their goals. It’s an...

Sometimes, you really do have to spend some to make some…but it only works if you spend wisely . That’s where the professionals come in.  Today, we discuss how (and why) to find a paid ads marketer for hire. Yes, you can run ads yourself — you can even take courses and use free resources to learn how. We did, in our early days. But you won’t be as effective as a pro. Learn why real marketers are w...

It’s the “other” SEO: paying Google to display your ads above the organic search results. It’s expensive. But does it work? Today, we discuss what kinds of businesses get the most from Google. We’ll explain why these ads work, and why they cost so much more than ads on social media.  The investment is high, but the returns are (potentially) game-changing. It’s all part of a 2-part exploration of p...

When you personally provide a paid service, how can you scale up? And can you do it without sacrificing quality? Unless they finally invent cloning, a solopreneur can only do so much. Which means that every service-based business has a ceiling — once you reach a certain number of clients…that’s it. Or is it? It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener who wants to go big. For now, the business is...