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As we all settle into our new normal, we want to take a few minutes to talk about what happens after the pandemic. How does our experience during this time prompt us to look at our lives in a new way? What does it expose about our relationships and how we’re living our lives? Are we actually living? Rather than rush to get back to how things were, what if we take this time to hit the reset button? How do we find the silver lining in this time of stress and uncertainty?

Okay, we know it's been a while, but we're back. And we're tackling what's top of mind for everyone right now: COVID-19. Specifically, how is my business going to survive? So pause your Netflix to binge us for a few minutes as we talk about some practical things that you can do to survive the business side of this pandemic.

Here's the story: You encounter a genie. They give you three wishes. What are they going to be? But be careful you might get exactly what you wish for. This week we explore how to turn your wishes into reality for yourself, your business, and the world around you.

Politeness. It seems simple enough. Something we learned as kids. But what does it mean to us as adults? How does it shape how we interact with each other personally and in business? Listen along as we discuss why it happens and what it means connection wise for all of us.  

We’re all scared someone is going to steal our big idea. But when does healthy caution become crippling paranoia? This week we talk about when you should worry, when you shouldn’t worry, and what you can do to protect your intellectual property. Don’t let your fear of someone stealing your idea keep you from building your dream.

Last year we made a podcast talking about all the turkeys in our business: the projects and relationships that could have gone better. As we said then, and will repeat now, not every bird is a winner. So join us as we take a stroll down turkey lane and reflect on the things that came out underdone, overcooked, and just plain scorched. Regardless if you're baking, basting, or resting, we're sure you'll gobble this one up (again).

Here’s the scenario: You’ve just been offered the big one; the job that could transform your business. But your excitement quickly turns to fear as the size of the job starts to sink in. How are you going to write the proposal? How are you going to do the work? Are you really going to be able to do this? Listen along this week as we break down the steps to move you from hyperventilating to winning the BIG ONE.

Contracts are the basis of good business. But as business owners and entrepreneurs, we often skip putting contracts in place and even sign them without reading them. This can jeopardize everything we’ve worked for. One lawsuit can wipe out a business. Today, we talk about the basics of contracts and how to protect yourself. Spoiler alert, you have to read them.

We have a narrative in this country that business equals success. That if we just pull hard enough on our own bootstraps we’ll make it. The numbers say otherwise, but we’ve taught ourselves to see failure as something shameful rather than a part of the process. This shame often causes us to push too far and risk too much. This week, we explore the link between failure and shame, and how you can fail and still be in your purpose.

Recessions scare business owners. They worry leads will dry up, customers will hoard cash, and their business will go under. If you’ve been paying attention to the economic news lately, there’s a lot of talk about how soon the next recession will hit. This week, we try to take some of the fear out of thinking about a potential downturn and discuss what you can do to make your business recession resistant.

As business owners, we love it when what we offer makes someone’s life better. But what about those clients who just won’t change? Whether it’s work that doesn’t get used, clients who ghost us when things get real, or even expensive products that someone buys and then doesn’t use, we've all been there. This week, we explore the pain and frustration we feel when someone refuses to get value from what we’re trying to do for them.

We were asked recently at a networking event for advice on how to hire a bookkeeper. For business owners, getting support on their finances can be one of the hardest things they do. We’re notorious for leaving our bookkeeping to the last minute, and we tend to feel tons of shame around it. This week, we cover what makes a good bookkeeper, what makes a bad bookkeeper, and when and how to ask for help. We’re also starting a new feature with Season 2 where answer a business question at the end of the episode. This week’s question is about how to deal with the data fog that envelopes so many business owners.

Networking and referral groups are not one-size-fits-all. The personality of the group, the industries represented, the types of businesses, and how inclusive a group is all factor into whether or not a group is a good fit for you. From a business perspective, it's not enough to have well-meaning people who would love to refer you, but never see your ideal client. From a personal perspective, it's important to be part of a group where you can connect authentically and get support. Listen as we explore what makes a group a good fit and share some of what we've learned the hard way.

Bartering is big business. We're talking to the tune of 12 billion dollars plus a year. Many business owners barter to get their business up and running. Be cautious about trading goods and services when you don't have enough clients and cash flow is tight. Listen along as we break down the pros and cons of bartering. And if you are going to barter, we'll give you the best tips to make the transaction super successful. 

This is a really personal episode for us. In 2017, Barb had the first of several ongoing health crises. And we dealt with it like most owners deal with their health...poorly. Business owners are notorious for not resting when they're under the weather. We hide because we don't want others to think about us differently. And we don't want it to hurt our business. What happens when something more serious happens? How is it that you take time to heal? What are the conversations that you need to have with your partners and staff? Listen along as we discuss how we've dealt with illness in our business and how it's changed where we're going.

Inspiration. We often see it as a grand experience, like a lightening bolt that propels us forward into greatness. We look for it but believe it's a finite experience that is rare to find. We challenge those assumptions. We all have the ability to be inspired every day. Inspiration is all around us. You just have to be awake to it. This week we talk about the importance of inspiration, where and how to find it, and how to keep it flowing.

We live in a society today where 70% of people are unhappy in their jobs. There is a disconnect between ourselves, our passions, and our purpose; with many people in positions where they neither know nor can live their purpose. If you don't know what your purpose is or you're stuck trying to make it happen--don't judge yourself. This week, we explore the factors that keep us from living our purpose and trap us in cycles of shame about how we're looking for and experiencing that spark which gives our lives meaning.

You must have a business plan! Businesses with documented business models and plans make twice as much revenue and are twice as likely to receive access to capital. Don't have a plan yet? Don't worry. We'll walk you through all the key things that need to be in it. (Just remember to do your business model first. If you haven't, listen to Episode 33: Business Models to get the basics of what should be in one.)

Let's face it. Many of us start our businesses without fully mapping out our business model. Our customers and clients are anyone who buys our products and services. We pick revenue streams, price in the dark, and then we're off. We struggle to make money or make the money we really desire. It is imperative for you to figure out the different types of business models out there and what configurations are the best fit for you in terms of time, money, and resources. In this special, super-sized episode, we give you a crash course in the basics of business models.

This week's podcast pays homage to the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. Nowadays it seems pretty simple, right? We built rockets. Astronauts went to space. They walked on moon and came back. But that giant leap for mankind  was never a sure thing. Nothing had been created: no space suits, no rockets, no computers that were up to the task. Everything had to be invented. And, that is how it is as business owners. We have big ideas, but start without knowing what we need, what needs to be created, and the multitude of steps it's going to take to get there. That’s how we innovate and make it happen. Join us as we geek out about the space race and how it created the world we live in.