Breaking Down Your Business | Small Business | Business Owners | Entrepreneurship | Leadership

What’s In This Episode:

Systems are great, we said. You'll love them, we said. ... except when they go wrong.

"It's almost always user error." - Brad

Sometimes systems can go wrong - especially where automation is concerned, says Jill. Brad has a system with an automation that's connected to a Google form and somehow, he accidentally sent the same email to the same person a couple of times. Sometimes the software changes, but you don't know. The point is - there are a million things that could go wrong.

"Be more forgiving of yourself when a system goes awry." - Jill

But at the end of the day, isn't maintaining your system less work than not having them at all? Brad thinks so. Plus, it never hurts to audit your systems, especially automated emails: Check that the links still work and that the flow is what you think it is.

Ever had a system go wrong? 

Sponsor:

If you’re a manager or business owner, chances are you juggle many HR tasks and are trying to keep up with the ever-changing employment laws. HR 101 from ComplyRight is a free online training program that will give you a solid understanding of employment law so you can handle typical workplace issues like a pro. The six courses include General Legal Obligation for Employers, Recruiting and Hiring, Classifying Workers Correctly, Managing Your Employees, Preventing Workplace Harassment and Discipline and Termination. Explore ComplyRight’s free courses at www.complyright.com/courses.

Direct download: Breaking_Down_Your_Business_EP_338.mp3
Category:Business -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

What’s In This Episode:

What are "systems" anyway? To Jill, it means organizing what you need to do in a process that's easily replicable. And, Brad adds, they should happen without you touching them.

"The very best systems are actually automation." - Brad

Jill has systems has for onboarding leaders for her Founding Exchanges while Brad has one for his invoicing - there's even a system for how these podcasts get published. Systems are useful because they get things off of your plate, and they get done in a way that the quality is good (and if they're not good, then you know something isn't being followed or that something needs to change in the system).

"A system has to be functioning." - Jill

Systems can just be a checklist, a Google doc, a video... whatever is the most helpful to you and your team. But systems are great because it leads to more consistent performance and decreases the need for you, as the business owner, to check up all the time. Plus, the more you get into it, the more fun it is. And it frees up your time, which is something every business owner can appreciate. Also, if someone quits, systems make it so much easier to transition.

What "systems" do you have in your business - and if you don't have them, how can you get started?

Sponsor:

If you’re a manager or business owner, chances are you juggle many HR tasks and are trying to keep up with the ever-changing employment laws. HR 101 from ComplyRight is a free online training program that will give you a solid understanding of employment law so you can handle typical workplace issues like a pro. The six courses include General Legal Obligation for Employers, Recruiting and Hiring, Classifying Workers Correctly, Managing Your Employees, Preventing Workplace Harassment and Discipline and Termination. Explore ComplyRight’s free courses at www.complyright.com/courses.

Direct download: Breaking_Down_Your_Business_EP_337.mp3
Category:Business -- posted at: 2:00am CDT

What’s In This Episode:

Business owners wear too many hats. Systems turn the insanity into sanity. They help you (theoretically) to make sure everything gets done on time.

"From a business owner's standpoint, what is your job?" - Brad

As a business owner, what is it that you do? Business owners have to:

  • sell. No one is going to sell as effectively as the business owner does.
  • recruit and train. You need to be responsible for who's in the business.
  • own the brand. What does the brand mean and is it consistent?
  • do strategy. Where is the business going?

Anything that you don't do should be the responsibility of someone else. That's where systems come in.

"You don't own it because it's the scariest role to take on." - Jill

What are you handing off in your business for someone else to do so that you have room to breathe? And are the materials your team needs easily accessible to them? Brad recommends getting a pack of notecards with one task that's written on each that needs to get done in order for your business to succeed. With your team or by yourself, arrange those cards by skill or tool. Each of the piles you end up with is a job.While you may need to do these tasks yourself, eventually you might be able to outsource to a VA (learn how to hire a VA here).

Who takes care of what in your business?

Sponsor:

If you’re a manager or business owner, chances are you juggle many HR tasks and are trying to keep up with the ever-changing employment laws. HR 101 from ComplyRight is a free online training program that will give you a solid understanding of employment law so you can handle typical workplace issues like a pro. The six courses include General Legal Obligation for Employers, Recruiting and Hiring, Classifying Workers Correctly, Managing Your Employees, Preventing Workplace Harassment and Discipline and Termination. Explore ComplyRight’s free courses at www.complyright.com/courses.

Direct download: Breaking_Down_Your_Business_EP_336.mp3
Category:Business -- posted at: 2:00am CDT

What’s In This Episode:

How do you handle the operations in your business? HR, IT, accounting... all of the foundational things. Isn't accounting the most fun part? 

"Accounting helps you answer questions that you might have about your business." - Brad

Even if you hate accounting, it provides value to you in your business. Some business owners hire accountants, and some do it themselves. But if you're not understanding cash flow or other accounting principles like an income statement, you might constantly worry where the money might be coming from or wonder whether you can afford what you want to buy. A good bookkeeper should go over an income statement, cash, and receivables once a month to make sure that you're on the same page.

"I have such an aversion to the word 'accounting' that every time you say it, it hurts." - Jill

There are also indicators of future revenue in your business, and you can figure it out by organizing your budget. Some business owners run their business blindly, but if you figure out your budget and pay attention to feedback and results, you can tweak it with a little help from data and a spreadsheet.

Do you do the accounting in your business or other operational items?

Sponsor:

If you’re a manager or business owner, chances are you juggle many HR tasks and are trying to keep up with the ever-changing employment laws. HR 101 from ComplyRight is a free online training program that will give you a solid understanding of employment law so you can handle typical workplace issues like a pro. The six courses include General Legal Obligation for Employers, Recruiting and Hiring, Classifying Workers Correctly, Managing Your Employees, Preventing Workplace Harassment and Discipline and Termination. Explore ComplyRight’s free courses at www.complyright.com/courses.

Direct download: Breaking_Down_Your_Business_EP_335.mp3
Category:Business -- posted at: 8:26am CDT

What’s In This Episode:

Would you ever use an influencer for PR purposes?

"Who influences you as a business owner? Who influences your crowd?" - Jill

Whether you like Kim Kardashian or not, when she launches something, people buy it. But even if Kim isn't your favorite example, there are other celeb influencers out there who use their platforms to spread a positive message.

And the truth is, there are influencers in every industry.  In Jill's crowd, for example, Brene Brown is a huge influencer. In Brad's industry, David C. Baker is at the top of the list. When The Founding Moms got mentioned in Sheryl Sandberg's newsletter last year, that press hit was gold - Jill's business was viewed by a rather large audience because of it. 

"People who are paying $15k for an Instagram post? Don't." - Brad

Brad does a lot of legwork on LinkedIn. If one of the influencers he follows writes something, Brad tries to engage in conversation by leaving a comment. Even if he doesn't get a response, other people see that comment. Some might view this as a waste of time, but Brad sees it as a way to get in front of his target audience. And Brad and Jill disagree as to whether an ideal target audience would see things on a platform like LinkedIn rather than a local newspaper. But by engaging on social media, reaching out for partnership and/or collaboration, or an email mention, influencer outreach can pay off. 

How do you feel about influencer outreach?

Sponsor:

If you’re a manager or business owner, chances are you juggle many HR tasks and are trying to keep up with the ever-changing employment laws. HR 101 from ComplyRight is a free online training program that will give you a solid understanding of employment law so you can handle typical workplace issues like a pro. The six courses include General Legal Obligation for Employers, Recruiting and Hiring, Classifying Workers Correctly, Managing Your Employees, Preventing Workplace Harassment and Discipline and Termination. Explore ComplyRight’s free courses at www.complyright.com/courses.

Direct download: Breaking_Down_Your_Business_EP_334.mp3
Category:Business -- posted at: 3:00am CDT

What’s In This Episode:

You've gotten results from your press outreach! Now what?

"Showing people that some media outlet covered you gives them perceived validation." - Jill

Most people will do a happy dance (sometimes for two hours) and then post on their socials allll about it. But, Jill says, you could be doing so much more. Any time you get a press hit, you should be promoting it anywhere and everywhere - and there are creative ways to get around the promotion being entirely self-serving.

Getting press is a little tedious, but the payoff is well worth it. You can also take that link and then send out new pitches to the outlets who may have skipped you before, with the new link weaved in. Feel free to add those news sites' logos to your website too, which furthers your credibility

Want more press hit follow up tips?

Sponsor:

If you’re a manager or business owner, chances are you juggle many HR tasks and are trying to keep up with the ever-changing employment laws. HR 101 from ComplyRight is a free online training program that will give you a solid understanding of employment law so you can handle typical workplace issues like a pro. The six courses include General Legal Obligation for Employers, Recruiting and Hiring, Classifying Workers Correctly, Managing Your Employees, Preventing Workplace Harassment and Discipline and Termination. Explore ComplyRight’s free courses at www.complyright.com/courses.

Direct download: Breaking_Down_Your_Business_EP_333.mp3
Category:Business -- posted at: 2:00am CDT

How and where can you target your PR?

"People who need what you serve are already looking at [software companies]." - Brad

Jamie Van Cuyk is a business consultant who focuses on helping employees and teams find the right people for positions. But she's having trouble with strategic visibility. Most of her referrals are word of mouth, but now she wants to use the online space to help people find her. Currently, she's trying a little bit of everything, but Jill thinks that's her first mistake. How can she reframe her marketing so that she's not mentioning "hiring" which some people find boring? 

"You need to constantly be evolving." - Jill

Jill continues with PR tips:

  • Reach out to your local paper - find the editor that applies to your business. Start building a spreadsheet.
  • Reach out to 10 papers, 10 podcasts, etc.
  • Narrow your focus - find stories that apply to your business. Who writes them? Reach out to those professionals too. They may write about you!
  • Tweak your pitch as you go and figure out what's working and what's not.

Where do you target your PR?

Sponsor:

If you’re a manager or business owner, chances are you juggle many HR tasks and are trying to keep up with the ever-changing employment laws. HR 101 from ComplyRight is a free online training program that will give you a solid understanding of employment law so you can handle typical workplace issues like a pro. The six courses include General Legal Obligation for Employers, Recruiting and Hiring, Classifying Workers Correctly, Managing Your Employees, Preventing Workplace Harassment and Discipline and Termination. Explore ComplyRight’s free courses at www.complyright.com/courses.

Guest:

  • Jamie Van Cuyk has a track record of managing high-performing teams and educating business leaders. Through small business consulting, I’m going to help you find, develop, and retain the effective employees you need to feel confident and adequately supported as you move your business forward. Visit her website.
Direct download: Breaking_Down_Your_Business_EP_332.mp3
Category:Business -- posted at: 2:00am CDT

What’s In This Episode:

"Why would press want to cover MY business?" is a question every small business owner asks themselves.

"You're asking the wrong question." - Jill

Going after press is a time-intensive endeavor, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't do it. Essentially, you get listeners or viewers or new customers for FREE, says Jill. All you have to do is find your angle - your business is worth it to someone.

"Did Jill just insult me? I think she did." - Brad

Figure out why your business is better than someone else's. Give your contact one of these three reasons that you're pitching:

  • the "why" of your business
  • an event you have coming up
  • some new thing: new partnership, new launch, etc.

Lead by asking a question, and the next paragraph should answer that question. Rephrase the question from the beginning, and sign off.

Want more pitch tips?

Sponsor:

If you’re a manager or business owner, chances are you juggle many HR tasks and are trying to keep up with the ever-changing employment laws. HR 101 from ComplyRight is a free online training program that will give you a solid understanding of employment law so you can handle typical workplace issues like a pro. The six courses include General Legal Obligation for Employers, Recruiting and Hiring, Classifying Workers Correctly, Managing Your Employees, Preventing Workplace Harassment and Discipline and Termination. Explore ComplyRight’s free courses at www.complyright.com/courses.

Direct download: Breaking_Down_Your_Business_EP_331.mp3
Category:Business -- posted at: 2:00am CDT

What’s In This Episode:

Jill and Brad delve into PR!

"We all put out into the world what we actually need." - Brad

Melissa Ronda, weight loss nutritionist, calls in to discuss how she's struggling with her price points because she's pricing according to a group structure that she may or may not achieve - and she's experiencing resentment and stress. They talk about co-dependent behaviors and asking for what you need - and of course, tell Melissa to raise her prices and to get feedback from her clients.

"For every PR professional listening, Brad's got it all wrong 'cause he doesn't know how to do it." - Jill

Is PR lying? Brad hates it, but Jill thinks he may not have covered the basics: the pitch, sending that pitch to the right people, and following up. You can't just throw a press release out there and wonder why people aren't getting back to you. You need to think of your audience and tell them why you're press worthy. Jill and Brad discuss what makes an interesting pitch, media lists, and why followup is so important.

What are your thoughts on PR? 

Hang out with Jill and Brad!

Wanna join Jill and Brad for drinks at their FIRST-EVER offline event? Meet them THIS FRIDAY at Park & Field in Chicago to get your shouting on. RSVP here.

Sponsor:

If you’re a manager or business owner, chances are you juggle many HR tasks and are trying to keep up with the ever-changing employment laws. HR 101 from ComplyRight is a free online training program that will give you a solid understanding of employment law so you can handle typical workplace issues like a pro. The six courses include General Legal Obligation for Employers, Recruiting and Hiring, Classifying Workers Correctly, Managing Your Employees, Preventing Workplace Harassment and Discipline and Termination. Explore ComplyRight’s free courses at www.complyright.com/courses.

Guest:

  • Melissa Ronda is a weight loss nutritionist who has made a career out of helping women realize what they are capable of. Visit her website here.
Direct download: Breaking_Down_Your_Business_EP_330.mp3
Category:Business -- posted at: 2:00am CDT

What’s In This Episode:

At the end of your sales meeting, how do you have the confidence to close?

"I never leave a meeting without a next step." - Brad

Brad had a period early in his business where he went 27 meetings without closing. He spoke with a business coach who told him to go to four more meetings and figure out what went well, what went poorly, and what he needed to do differently. It was only at appointment four of four where he actually asked for what he wanted - and got the sale. He learned how to apply next steps to his meetings in order to close.

"I don't want to have to wade through all your words to figure out what I'm buying; I just want to pay for you to fix it." - Jill

Closing is different depending on the type of business you have. And if a prospect gives you "homework," like a proposal, figure out what it is they're questioning before you spend your time... and then leave without a sale. But people spend hours on proposals - which could be a sign that they're not doing the same thing over and over again - but you also could be putting yourself in trouble in the process.

But if you're giving your prospect a few things to do with the expectation that you can discuss in your next meeting and they don't do it, it's a sign that maybe you don't need or want to work with them in the first place. As you get better at closing, you can afford to be selective.

How do you close with confidence?

Hang out with Jill and Brad!

Only a few more days 'til you can join Jill and Brad for drinks at their FIRST EVER offline event! Meet them October 4 at Park & Field in Chicago to get your shouting on. RSVP here.

Sponsor:

If you’re a manager or business owner, chances are you juggle many HR tasks and are trying to keep up with the ever-changing employment laws. HR 101 from ComplyRight is a free online training program that will give you a solid understanding of employment law so you can handle typical workplace issues like a pro. The six courses include General Legal Obligation for Employers, Recruiting and Hiring, Classifying Workers Correctly, Managing Your Employees, Preventing Workplace Harassment and Discipline and Termination. Explore ComplyRight’s free courses at www.complyright.com/courses.

Direct download: Breaking_Down_Your_Business_EP_329.mp3
Category:Business -- posted at: 2:00am CDT