The Liquid Lunch Project

Small business owners are faced with a myriad of decisions every day - and one of the most challenging decisions is how to price products and services. Is this price too low? Is this price too high? How do we know we’re getting what we’re worth?   Today’s guest is going to pull back the curtain on the mystery that is price-setting. Per Sjofors, aka The Price Whisperer, spent years running companies and doing experiments on pricing. Some were successful. Some were complete duds. And everything he read in business school didn’t shed any light on why some worked and some didn't.    So he took it upon himself to figure it out, and now his company is helping clients 5x - 10x their revenue in just a few years.   In this episode, he explains why pricing should be the centerpiece of your business strategy, how you can leverage it to attract the type of customers you want, and how you can earn the right to charge higher prices. He also gives some real-life examples of how some big names use “fighting brands” to reach new markets and how fear plays a significant role in the purchase-making process.   We say this often, but this is definitely an episode you’ll want to listen to with pen and paper at the ready!   What You’ll Learn: The power of branding when it comes to prices The concept of Pricing Power Why you shouldn’t price based on competition A practical strategy you can use to find the best average price for your product or service Why the price isn’t always the deciding factor for some buyers (or, at least, the ones you WANT to attract) Price anchoring and how it can have a considerable impact on your business …and much more!   Favorite Quote: “Price selects your customers.” -Per Sjofors Connect with Per: His book, The Price Whisperer: A Holistic Approach to Pricing Power is available on Amazon and other major retailers.  You can also connect with him on his website, www.sjofors.com, or LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/persjofors/     How To Get Involved: Matthew Meehan and Luigi Rosabianca use their combined experience to provide insight and strategic advice to help small and medium-sized businesses in America have the same opportunities as corporate 500 companies. If you’re looking for tailor-made solutions to grow your small biz, learn more at www.shieldadvisorygroup.com.   Stay Connected: Connect with Matt and Luigi on Instagram: @matthew.r.meehan @luigi_rosabianca @theLiquidLunchProject @ShieldAdvisoryGroup. Visit The Liquid Lunch Project website and subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more. www.theliquidlunchproject.com Make sure you never miss an episode — check out The Liquid Lunch Project on Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review.  

Do you have an idea for a book that’s just itching to get put onto paper, but the whole process has you feeling overwhelmed and unsure of where to start? Then this is the podcast episode you’ve been waiting for.    Our guest today is two-time author, business strategist, and public speaker Malene Bendsten, aka “The Book Coach.” She’s giving us a peek behind the proverbial publishing curtain and how self-publishing capabilities create space for otherwise overlooked niches and authors. With the top four publishing houses accounting for nearly 80% of book sales, it can be a tough market to break into. The self-publishing route can be a huge advantage for business owners seeking to elevate their credibility by being published experts on specific subject matters - without forking over a lot of money or rights to a third-party company.    She also gives some tips on the writing process, market research, and the importance of a detailed outline, as well as a look at her latest book, NextGen Author. It’s the perfect 30-minute crash course to get you started.   What You’ll Learn: Her process for writing her latest book and how she incorporated AI How a ghostwriter can aid in your book writing process How she is marketing her book and the number one strategy she recommends The evolution of Web1 to Web3 and what might mean for authors in the future Why she recommends self-publishing versus a traditional publishing house …and much more!   Favorite Quote: It’s not really selling books that are most important. It’s about having the expertise to write the book that raises your level of credibility.  -Malene Bendtsen   Connect with Malene: Website: www.goosebump.pub LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/bendtsen/     How To Get Involved: Matthew Meehan and Luigi Rosabianca use their combined experience to provide insight and strategic advice to help small and medium-sized businesses in America have the same opportunities as corporate 500 companies. If you’re looking for tailor-made solutions to grow your small biz, learn more at www.shieldadvisorygroup.com.   Stay Connected: Connect with Matt and Luigi on Instagram: @matthew.r.meehan @luigi_rosabianca @theLiquidLunchProject @ShieldAdvisoryGroup. Visit The Liquid Lunch Project website and subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more. www.theliquidlunchproject.com Make sure you never miss an episode — check out The Liquid Lunch Project on Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review.

To say that Amazon has enjoyed a tremendous amount of success would be the understatement of the century. But it was no happy accident or cosmic fluke that took Jeff Bezos from boxing books in his garage to running a billion-dollar operation. It was hard work, a lot of failures, and a very specific set of principles.    And today’s guest is giving us a look at what those principles are.   Meet John Rossman; keynote speaker, small business advisor, and former Amazon executive who played a key role in launching and scaling the Amazon marketplace business. In his newest book, The Amazon Way, he takes a look at the 14 leadership principles that Amazon still uses to this day to show how other companies can apply them to achieve great results. Whether you’re a solopreneur or lead a team, these principles can be used in a variety of scenarios to start or scale your operations.    What You’ll Learn: Why you should be careful of falling in love with your own ideas - and the importance of inviting others who don’t agree with you to look at your concept; that’s how you learn. How innovation will help you navigate this era of “do more with less.” How he ended up at Amazon, and what he took away from his time there. His thoughts on Web3. Why winning the market isn’t just about being better; it’s about having a value proposition that is completely differentiated from everyone else. How principles with execution creates culture - and that culture can help you scale. How a single sentence made all the difference when it came time to execute the third-party seller platform with Amazon …and much more! Favorite Quote:   “One big winner pays for a thousand concepts that don’t work.” -John Rossman   Connect with John: His books (The Amazon Way and Think Like Amazon), can be found in paperback, Kindle, and audio.  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-rossman/ Website: https://the-amazon-way.com/ Substack: The Digital Leader Newsletter     How To Get Involved: Matthew Meehan and Luigi Rosabianca use their combined experience to provide insight and strategic advice to help small and medium-sized businesses in America have the same opportunities as corporate 500 companies. If you’re looking for tailor-made solutions to grow your small biz, learn more at www.shieldadvisorygroup.com. Stay Connected: Connect with Matt and Luigi on Instagram: @matthew.r.meehan @luigi_rosabianca @theLiquidLunchProject @ShieldAdvisoryGroup. Visit The Liquid Lunch Project website and subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more. www.theliquidlunchproject.com Make sure you never miss an episode — check out The Liquid Lunch Project on Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review.

A good entrepreneur is like a serial murderer; they just can’t stop. And our guest today is proving that point.   Meet Jonathan Zacks, Founder of Make It All Work and Co-Founder of GoReminders. He’s on the show to discuss how his two startups are helping small business owners find solutions to two very common problems: Tech Support and No Call-No Shows.    For tech support, Make It All Work is a remote service that connects self-proclaimed “non-techy” people with the right technology solutions that are easy to use and understand. Entrepreneurs and small business owners don’t always have the luxury of a go-to person on their team to help troubleshoot IT issues or make system upgrades. Make It All Work can step in to fill that gap and be a full-service solution.    And for companies struggling with wasted time and lost revenue due to No Call-No Shows, GoReminders is a fully automated solution that is helping thousands of businesses decrease the number of missed appointments…and subsequently increase their revenue. Jonathan describes the software as sort of a crystal ball - it can help determine early on who is likely to be a no-show - and has strategies in place to send well-timed text reminders and confirmation requests to reduce the overall NCNS rates.   There’s a reason Luigi described him as “the best friend of small business.” Be sure to tune into this episode to learn how Jonathan can help you and your team!    What You’ll Learn: How GoReminders and Make It All Work can help your small business His book recommendations for startups How the dot com bust changed all his plans of working for tech companies and led him to striking out on his own How he markets and sells his services - without a sales team or traditional sales funnel Why text reminders are more powerful (and efficient) than phone calls or emails His favorite software platforms …and much more!   Favorite Quote:  "Finding a problem to solve at one of those critical points for a business is how I've had success in my business." -Jonathan Zacks Connect with Jonathan: www.GoReminders.com www.MakeItAllWork.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-zacks/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonnoz/     How To Get Involved: Matthew Meehan and Luigi Rosabianca use their combined experience to provide insight and strategic advice to help small and medium-sized businesses in America have the same opportunities as corporate 500 companies. If you’re looking for tailor-made solutions to grow your small biz, learn more at www.shieldadvisorygroup.com.   Stay Connected: Connect with Matt and Luigi on Instagram: @matthew.r.meehan @luigi_rosabianca @theLiquidLunchProject @ShieldAdvisoryGroup. Visit The Liquid Lunch Project website and subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more. www.theliquidlunchproject.com Make sure you never miss an episode — check out The Liquid Lunch Project on Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review.

Are some people born naturally creative, while the rest of us are just SOL? Today’s podcast guest would argue that’s not entirely true.  Meet Robin Landa, a Distinguished Professor at Kean University, named one of the “great Teachers of our Time” by The Carnegie Foundation, and author of 25 books, including her latest work, “The New Art of Ideas: Unlock Your Creative Potential.” In this episode, Matt and Luigi sit down with Robin to talk about all things advertising. The industry has evolved quite a bit over the last decade, and brands must match the pace to keep up if they want to stay relevant. Advertising is also much more participatory than ever before; people want to and expect to interact and have conversations with brands via TikTok, Twitter, etc. This can be a double-edged sword: You get real-time feedback on your ads and content, but it might not always be what you want to hear.  Robin also gives our audience a sneak peek at the core concept of her new book - she calls them the 3 G’s: Goal, Gap, and Gain. The Goal is what you want to achieve, the Gap is the missing piece, and the Gain is who benefits from it. When you have all three of these, then you know it’s a worthwhile idea.  If you’re struggling to come up with creative content and ads for your small business, unsure where or how to reach your audience, or simply interested in learning more about generating new ideas in general, you don’t want to miss this episode.   What You’ll Learn: How to get your creative juices flowing How to find and define your target audience What is social listening The importance of taking risks and not settling for pedestrian concepts  Pros and cons of in-house vs. outsourcing advertising …and much more!   Favorite Quote: “If you teach people to be more curious, to observe human behavior, it really enhances creativity and unlocks the creativity that’s already there.”   Connect with Robin: Website: www.robinlanda.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinlanda/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robin.landa Twitter: https://twitter.com/rlanda Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proflanda/   How To Get Involved: Matthew Meehan and Luigi Rosabianca use their combined experience to provide insight and strategic advice to help small and medium-sized businesses in America have the same opportunities as corporate 500 companies. If you’re looking for tailor-made solutions to grow your small biz, learn more at www.shieldadvisorygroup.com. Stay Connected: Connect with Matt and Luigi on Instagram: @matthew.r.meehan @luigi_rosabianca @theLiquidLunchProject @ShieldAdvisoryGroup. Visit The Liquid Lunch Project website and subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more. www.theliquidlunchproject.com Make sure you never miss an episode — check out The Liquid Lunch Project on Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review.

Remember during the pandemic when we started running out of toilet paper? Rolls were flying off the shelves, and stores placed limits on the amount you could buy per family. It was pandemonium, and Americans quickly became acutely aware of supply chain issues (not to mention the importance of this very precious resource).   Our guest on today's show is here to talk about another type of very precious resource: Titanium. And just like the TP debacle of 2020, titanium has experienced its own set of supply chain issues.    Meet Taso Arima, CEO & Co-founder of IperionX. Dubbed "Master of Metals," he recognized that the global titanium supply chain is complex, costly, and environmentally unsustainable - not to mention a lot of it is processed through other countries. His company is on a mission to usher in a new age of American industry and be a leading developer of US-based sustainable critical mineral and critical material supply chains. And that starts with titanium.    Because it's a finite resource (but has innumerable uses - think healthcare, new tech, aerospace, drones, and space exploration, just to name a few), he believes our focus should be utilizing this resource to its maximum potential, so we can minimize the amount we take from the ground.    Through focused investing, providing jobs to communities that once relied on coal mines, and showing kids there is a future worth exploring in these new and exciting industries, Taso hopes that titanium will be as commonplace as having a smartphone; it's everywhere!     What You'll Learn: The raw materials we'll be talking about in 10 years The future of titanium Why and how they use 3D printing in their manufacturing The importance of having a good team The coolest thing they've made with titanium …and much more! Favorite Quote: "Some people want to have the tracks laid, whereas we want to lay those tracks. We want to figure it out."   Connect with Taso: Website: www.iperionx.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iperionx LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/iperionx/   How To Get Involved: Matthew Meehan and Luigi Rosabianca use their combined experience to provide insight and strategic advice to help small and medium-sized businesses in America have the same opportunities as corporate 500 companies. If you’re looking for tailor-made solutions to grow your small biz, learn more at www.shieldadvisorygroup.com.   Stay Connected: Connect with Matt and Luigi on Instagram: @matthew.r.meehan @luigi_rosabianca, @theLiquidLunchProject @ShieldAdvisoryGroup. Visit The Liquid Lunch Project website and subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more. www.theliquidlunchproject.com Make sure you never miss an episode — check out The Liquid Lunch Project on Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review.

Branding is hard work. And it’s more than just creating a shiny new logo or building a new website and expecting immediate results. It’s about narrative and storytelling and, above all else, staying curious.    On the podcast today is Max Gerson, creator of Brand Wolfe and branding guru. He’s taking us on a deep dive into what branding - effective branding - actually is and how his company is helping small and medium-sized businesses gain clarity and focus.    For Max, it’s all about staying curious, listening to your audience, and being the brand that loves them back. Your new logo won’t help you meet your sales numbers next quarter. Overhauling your website probably won’t triple your revenue. But engaging with your customers, being in their corner, and knowing what they are saying about you, will help you evolve into the truest version of yourself and your brand - one that people will not only trust but will recommend and refer.   If you’re feeling overwhelmed or stuck or simply need some brand direction, you’ll want to tune in. What You’ll Learn: How his company, Brand Wolfe, can help with tension in your business Why direction is more important than speed How and when new and existing businesses should focus on branding The one question you should be asking yourself about your brand Why not every piece of marketing is for every single person Why he believes behavior has to change in order for businesses to change The importance of Average Customer Value and Lifetime Customer Value   Favorite Quote: “Be the brand that loves them back. Show real gratitude to your clients. Know your audience.” Connect with Max: www.Brandwolfe.com Instagram: @thebrandwolfe  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brand-wolfe/   How To Get Involved: Matthew Meehan and Luigi Rosabianca use their combined experience to provide insight and strategic advice to help small and medium-sized businesses in America have the same opportunities as corporate 500 companies. If you’re looking for tailor-made solutions to grow your small biz, learn more at www.shieldadvisorygroup.com.   Stay Connected: Connect with Matt and Luigi on Instagram: @matthew.r.meehan @luigi_rosabianca, @theLiquidLunchProject @ShieldAdvisoryGroup. Visit The Liquid Lunch Project website and subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more. www.theliquidlunchproject.com Make sure you never miss an episode — check out The Liquid Lunch Project on Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review.

“The capital market system is a perfect system…it’s very difficult to disrupt it because it’s on a tightrope of mathematical balance. Every once in a while, someone comes along with a jockstrap the size of a barrel that says, maybe we can make the system more perfect.’” - Luigi   That someone is our guest on today’s episode.    Noah Healy is a mathematician, literal genius, and Founder of Coordisc, a technology product that has the potential to reorder the global financial system altogether. He recognized that in addition to Supply and Demand, information also plays an important role in every deal. Noah found a way to produce a three-sided marketplace that brings Supply, Demand, and Info together - which can ultimately make the entire system considerably less expensive than the current capital markets.    Intrigued yet? Keep reading - and tune in!   What You’ll Learn: Why he’s been working on a patent for over ten years, and what will come next Why competition will continue to exist but in an improved capacity How blockchain technology provides a forum for marketplaces that don’t rely on traditional regulations, and how he’s incorporating it into his own technology A crash course on the scariest numbers in number theory An analysis of the Fibonacci Sequence …and more! Favorite Quote:  “I’ve found a way to produce a three-sided marketplace where Information, Supply, and Demand come together.” How to Connect with Noah: noahphealy@yahoo.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noah-healy/ www.coredisc.com   How To Get Involved: Matthew Meehan and Luigi Rosabianca use their combined experience to provide insight and strategic advice to help small and medium-sized businesses in America have the same opportunities as corporate 500 companies. If you’re looking for tailor-made solutions to grow your small biz, learn more at www.shieldadvisorygroup.com.   Stay Connected: Connect with Matt and Luigi on Instagram: @matthew.r.meehan @luigi_rosabianca, @theLiquidLunchProject @ShieldAdvisoryGroup.   Visit The Liquid Lunch Project website and subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more. www.theliquidlunchproject.com Make sure you never miss an episode — check out The Liquid Lunch Project on Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review.

Our past will shape us - but it doesn’t need to define us.   That’s the message today’s guest is bringing to the episode. Meet USMC Veteran Alundas Havens: CEO and Founder of Alpha Influence Media and host of the Winner’s Paradigm podcast.   The California native shares how his difficult upbringing shaped the person he is today – and how he’s using his podcast to help others unpack the tools needed to recalibrate their mindset to become better versions of themselves for their families, businesses, and communities. He’s also helping fellow entrepreneurs through his media company who need help promoting their products or services on podcasts, using his network to make connections, and help them dial in their message.     What You’ll Learn: His advice for becoming the elite-level version of yourself How his past shaped who he is today How Alpha Influence Media can help you promote your business How to develop strategic messaging …and much more! Favorite Quote: “You got to look at the time you put into yourself - the reading books, the conversations you have; it’s all those things that mold you into becoming that elite-level version of yourself.” Connect with Alundas:   Send a DM to Alundas on TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram!   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alundas_havens/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alundas.havens TikTok: @alundas_havens LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alundas-havens/   How To Get Involved: Matthew Meehan and Luigi Rosabianca use their combined experience to provide insight and strategic advice to help small and medium-sized businesses in America have the same opportunities as corporate 500 companies. If you’re looking for tailor-made solutions to grow your small biz, learn more at www.shieldadvisorygroup.com.   Stay Connected: Connect with Matt and Luigi on Instagram: @matthew.r.meehan @luigi_rosabianca, @theLiquidLunchProject @ShieldAdvisoryGroup. Visit The Liquid Lunch Project website and subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more. www.theliquidlunchproject.com Make sure you never miss an episode — check out The Liquid Lunch Project on Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review.

Have you thought about starting your own podcast but need help figuring out where to begin? Today’s guest is Jason Cercone, founder of Absolute Evolution Branding, and he’s spilling all his best advice for aspiring podcasters in this episode.   Podcasting has evolved tremendously over the last several years. According to DemandSage.com, by the end of 2022, there will be around 424 million podcast listeners worldwide, with 100 million of them living in the United States. That’s a lot of ears.   There’s massive potential in podcasting to help build your brand, reach a large audience, and, yes - even make money. But it’s more than just getting advertisers, buying expensive equipment, and waiting for the cash to start rolling in. Podcasting is a long game. You must be diligent, provide valuable content, and build your show the right way, or people will tune out.   This episode has a lot to unpack, so listen carefully and take notes! And make sure you grab a copy of Jason’s FREE guide, “8 Simple Ways to Grow Your Personal Brand with Podcasting,” on his website. What You’ll Learn: Why you should be a podcast guest BEFORE being a podcast host His two vocal exercises he does before any podcast or interview (hint: Anchorman) Three tips for being a good podcast guest Producing a podcast in-house vs. outsourcing How he helps aspiring podcasters develop their ideas to fit their brand Why he recommends affiliate partnerships vs. traditional ads …and much more! Favorite Quote:  “You have to be patient with your growth. If you expect to grow your show, you have to do it on the back of your content.” Connect with Jason:   www.jasoncercone.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/podtheory Twitter: @jasoncercone  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasoncercone/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jasoncercone LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncercone/   How To Get Involved: Matthew Meehan and Luigi Rosabianca use their combined experience to provide insight and strategic advice to help small and medium-sized businesses in America have the same opportunities as corporate 500 companies. If you’re looking for tailor-made solutions to grow your small biz, learn more at www.shieldadvisorygroup.com.   Stay Connected: Connect with Matt and Luigi on Instagram: @matthew.r.meehan @luigi_rosabianca, @theLiquidLunchProject @ShieldAdvisoryGroup.   Visit The Liquid Lunch Project website and subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more. www.theliquidlunchproject.com Make sure you never miss an episode — check out The Liquid Lunch Project on Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review.