The $100 MBA Show

Latest Episodes:

MBA1407 Where to Start When You Have No Ideas + Free Ride Friday Nov 29, 2019

Show notes

You know you want to start a business. But that’s about all you know.

You’re not alone! So many people think that entrepreneurs start by having some grand product idea, but that’s rarely the case. More often, entrepreneurship starts with nothing more than the desire to be independent, and the chutzpah to go for it.

So you’re off to a good start, even though you have no idea what’s next.

Successful independent business is way more about execution than product ideas. As we discuss in this podcast, some of the most wildly successful entrepreneurs didn’t actually come up with anything new; they just improved the form, deliverability, or accessibility of something that was already out there.

The key was: they met a need.

Maybe we need to flip the notion of “creating a business idea” around. Instead, let’s try to find your business idea, by putting our ear to the ground and figuring out what market need you can meet.

Take the time. Find an audience. Talk to it, but listen to it. Your big idea is out there somewhere, and if you’re patient and strategic, your idea will come — and it’ll seem like the most obvious thing in the world. Click Play!

EasyCourse

Fizzle

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MBA1406 3 Golden Rules When Starting a Software Company Nov 28, 2019

Show notes

Ready to start a software company? These are the most important things we learned from building ours!

It took time to learn them. It took a lot of trial, and no small amount of error. Software as a product type has exploded, especially the SaaS (Software as a Service) model. For anyone looking to start a business, software is quickly becoming the first, best option.

We’ve seen a zillion software companies rise and fall, so what can we say that’s true for all of them?

Today, we share 3 specific facts about the software game that are immutable, irrefutable, and unchanging — no matter what kind of software you want to sell. Whether you want a lifetime revenue stream, or simply want to build an app and sell it, these are the universal rules.

We learned most of this on the way to building WebinarNinja, our webinar software. The key, in our experience, is to make decisions based on external realities and not just your own ideas. In other words, humility is the first ingredient.

Check out these 3 rules, and keep them in mind as you plan your incredible software business. Click Play!

WebinarNinja

The Fizzle Show Podcast

Strong App

Profitwell

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MBA1405 Q&A Wednesday: How do I get a better work/life balance? Nov 27, 2019

Show notes

Entrepreneurs are in a tough spot.

We take on tremendous responsibility to improve our lives, but sometimes it comes at the expense of our lives. We know that a happy, healthy entrepreneur is more successful than an overworked one, but business doesn’t care when you need a break. We want freedom, but we chain ourselves to our computers.

How we can have lives and businesses at the same time?

It’s Q&A Wednesday, and one listener is doing great, business-wise, but life is passing him by. He’s got no social life, a messy home, and no idea what to do about it. It begs the question: if your success isn’t making you happy, is it really success?

Sometimes, we entrepreneurs forget that high priorities aren’t the only priorities. Business, however much we enjoy it, is a means to an end. Moreover, actually enjoying your life as an entrepreneur is your greatest chance to be any good at it!

If there’s no balance, you’re going to sink — personally and professionally.

Fortunately, we’ve got some strategies that can help. It doesn’t necessarily mean doing less; it mostly means doing things more efficiently, more effectively, and sometimes letting others share the load. There’s no “one size fits all” solution, and no prescription work/life balance that’s perfect for everyone — but we can help you adjust the scales.

To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q.

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MBA1404 How To Manage a Bad Day Nov 26, 2019

Show notes

Bad days will happen. What matters is how you respond.

Our intrepid host, Omar, is no stranger to rough days at work. He’s learned how to feel it coming; the insurmountable To-Do list, the shift in mood, the feeling that nothing can go right while this particular sun is up.

We’ve all been there. And we know that finding a healthy way to manage the emotions that come with a bad day is crucial to running a business effectively.

Today, we discuss specific, actionable strategies you can use to cope with, navigate, and ultimately triumph over your godawful day. Whether it’s angry customers, uncooperative team members, depressing metrics, or something else, there is always a way forward.

You just need the tools.

A successful entrepreneur has to develop one skill that’s sometimes overlooked: the ability to keep yourself in the right headspace in the face of frustration. Your decision-making abilities as a leader have to stay consistent — even when your luck isn’t.

By utilizing these few simple strategies, you can avoid compounding your bad day with bad decisions, and make tomorrow better. Click Play!

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MBA1403 Must Read: 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson Nov 25, 2019

Show notes

It starts with posture.

Jordan Peterson is a controversial figure, ever since he left academia and touched many a nerve with his hugely successful self-help career. His landmark book, 12 Rules for Life, lays out a philosophy guided by deceptively simple advice — like standing up straight — rooted deeply in his interpretation of history, philosophy, and religion.

There’s plenty to argue about — and there’s plenty of value to extract.

Today, we’ll discuss how Peterson’s rules apply to business and the entrepreneurial journey. We won’t cover all 12, but a few of the rules are super relevant to building your own independent business, and could be surprisingly helpful to you.

Sometimes, the simplicity of advice is part of its effectiveness.

Standing up straight may not seem like a game-changer, but the effects on your mind, body, and the way others perceive you goes way beyond posture. It’s a perfect example of what you and your business can get from a “self-help” book like Peterson’s.

Tune in, and see what else you can learn from this polarizing but important figure. Click Play!

12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson

Discover all our must-read book reviews at https://100mba.net/bookreviews.

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MBA1402 Is Growing Your Business Pages on Social Media Still Important? + Free Ride Friday Nov 22, 2019

Show notes

Social media is a fickle thing. One year it’s the key to your business, the next year all your “likes” don’t translate to a dime in sales.

The social media Powers That Be (that’s Facebook, Insta, and the like) are constantly updating their algorithms and tweaking the way they determine how much of your content actually reaches the people you’re speaking to. It can seem a fool’s errand to try to keep up, but keep up we must.

Case in point: how much are your business’s social media accounts really driving your growth?

It can be tough to decide just how much time, money, and energy you’re willing to throw at the social media game. For some businesses, it’s undeniably crucial. For others, the ROI just isn’t there. Today, we’ll help you determine which category your business falls into — and what to do about it.

In simpler times (when more presence automatically meant more business), we over-valued social media. After that, we under-valued it. Now, we’re searching for that “Goldilocks” level of social media investment: just enough.

Tune in, and see where your business falls on the Social Media Importance Spectrum, and how to optimize your own business pages for the best results. Click Play!

EasyCourse

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MBA1401 How to Start Getting on Stages Nov 21, 2019

Show notes

So you’re ready to speak in public.

Kudos. Public speaking — especially at industry conferences — can be a massive brand-builder. It can turbo-charge your networking. It’s not for everyone, but the effects on a small business are undeniable. Somewhat surprisingly, it can also be the perfect way for introverted entrepreneurs to connect with people.

But how do you book a gig?

We’ve been there: before our intrepid host Omar became a successful regular public speaker, he had to find a way in. The goal was never to be a high-powered semi-celebrity making his living off speeches, but simply to showcase expertise, build his personal brand, and make connections. But getting in the door was…a challenge.

Today, we’ll share what Omar learned over time, so you can get to your first speaking engagement sooner.

There is a way to get on stage, even if you’ve never delivered a talk in your life. Find out how — Click Play!

EasyCourse

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MBA1400 Q&A Wednesday: Why is my website not getting any traffic? Nov 20, 2019

Show notes

It’s an SEO emergency!

It’s the first big, scary challenge that many entrepreneurs face: how the heck to get people to your website. There are literally hundreds of millions of websites out there, many of which are filled with advice on how to get traffic.

But what can you do, right now, today, that’ll give you a chance to be heard?

It’s Q&A Wednesday, and one of our listeners has hit a plateau. Despite regular blogging over several months, the traffic isn’t exactly stellar. Are there any quick fixes?

There sure are.

While the art of building an audience is something that takes time, patience, and effort, sometimes it’s the little tricks and tips that make all the difference. Today’s episode is all about things you can do immediately to improve your site traffic, mostly to do with those three magic letters: S.E.O.

Hear what relatively simple changes can unleash your website’s true potential. Some of them are so simple and small, they’re often overlooked. But each of them represents a potential “traffic jam” that you can easily clear up, if you know how. Click Play!

WebinarNinja

Ahrefs

To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q.

Watch the episodes on YouTube: https://lm.fm/GgRPPHi

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MBA1399 Should You Write a Book in 2020? Nov 19, 2019

Show notes

“You should write a book.”

“I could write a book.”

“One day I’ll write a book.”

We’ve all had the thought, the suggestion, even the plan. But as a marketing strategy, is it smart? Are books still relevant in a digital economy? Does the (considerable) time, effort, and money required to produce a book pay off? What’s the ROI?

Today, we answer those questions.

We’ll discuss what makes writing a book worthwhile, and how so much of a book’s value rests on a simple question: “Why?” Before you write a single word, the purpose of the book — and the effects you’re trying to produce — have to be established.

What you write, how you write it, and what you do with it all depend on the “why.”

There are different endgames for different books. We’ll explain how to choose your endgame, and how to actually execute the writing and marketing of your book. Launching a book now is much different from the days of Barnes & Noble. You may find that your idea for a book, however good, needs some tweaking.

Your book might be a game-changer for your business — but only if you start with a plan. Click Play!

Elizabeth Marshall

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MBA1398 Guest Interview: Ramit Sethi – Creating Your Rich Life Nov 18, 2019

Show notes

What do personal finance, entrepreneurship, “money dials,” and the importance of fitness have in common?

Answer: Ramit Sethi.

If you’re a regular listener, you know our intrepid host, Omar, reads a ton of books. Perhaps the most impactful one for him was I Will Teach You to Be Rich by personal finance expert and course-selling mastermind Ramit Sethi.

Seriously, he still gives it to people as birthday presents.

So today is a special treat for Omar and our listeners: we’ve got an extended interview with Sethi, covering a multitude of important topics for entrepreneurs. From their shared immigrant-family experience, to their stances on credibility in marketing, to the powerful impact nutrition and exercise have had on their performance as business people, Omar and Ramit have lots to talk about — and lots to teach us.

It’s rare that we get a chance to learn directly from the public figures that influenced us the most. Tune in as Omar picks Sethi’s brain, and see what you can learn about managing your finances, building your business, and getting it all together.

Click Play!

I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi

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