The How of Business - How to start, run, grow and exit a small business.

Stacey Brown Randall, a referral strategist, keynote speaker, and author, shares her insights on generating organic referrals without asking or incentivizing. She emphasizes the importance of the emotional experience clients have, defining a referable client experience as balancing feelings with deliverables. Stacey breaks down the three client stages and highlights how personal touch points can strengthen relationships. She also reveals how to identify referral hot zones and offers practical advice on maintaining connections with alumni clients to foster ongoing referrals.

Jodi Arrant, founder of J. Arrant Consulting and a seasoned bookkeeping expert, shares invaluable insights for small business owners. She discusses the importance of monthly bank reconciliations and common pitfalls, like uncategorized transactions. Jodi breaks down loan payment impacts on financial statements and offers best practices for documenting business meals. With over 17 years in the field, her practical advice equips entrepreneurs to streamline their financial processes and avoid costly mistakes, ensuring clarity and confidence in their bookkeeping.

Struggling with an endless to-do list? Discover how the Eisenhower Matrix can help you prioritize tasks and regain control of your time. This method distinguishes between what's urgent and what's truly important, allowing you to focus on what drives your business forward. Explore how it complements the Big Rocks approach and learn about a free AI-powered task management tool designed for efficiency. Transform your daily chaos into intentional productivity and say goodbye to decision fatigue!

In this engaging discussion, David Begin, a seasoned business leader known for his expertise in managing hourly workers, shares insights on motivating this crucial workforce. He emphasizes a vital mindset shift for employers, focusing on respect, flexibility, and employee well-being. The duo explores the importance of fostering purpose and connection in work, enhancing onboarding processes, and using recognition to boost morale. They reveal practical strategies to attract and retain hourly staff while creating a positive work culture that benefits everyone.

Toy designer and educator Cas Holman explores how embracing play can unlock creativity, reduce stress, and help small business owners reframe failure as part of growth. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/586-cas-holman-play-in-business/ Cas Holman, renowned toy designer, educator, and author of Playful: How Play Shifts Our Thinking, Inspires Connection, and Sparks Creativity, shares with host Henry Lopez how play isn't just for children. It's a powerful mindset for entrepreneurs. From her early projects like Rigamajig and playful installations at New York's High Line to working with teams at Google, Nike, and the LEGO Foundation, Cas has made a career out of turning curiosity and experimentation into design breakthroughs. Cas and Henry discuss how small business owners can benefit from a more playful approach to work, shifting from rigid outcomes to exploration and possibility. Cas explains her "three essentials for adults to relearn play": release judgment, embrace possibility, and reframe success. Together they reveal how these principles foster innovation, collaboration, and agility - qualities essential for thriving in today's rapidly changing business environment. "The most important thing any human can be right now is flexible," Cas shares. "A playful mindset makes us more creative, more agile, and more open to what's possible." You will be inspired to integrate play into small business meetings, problem-solving, and daily business life. Transforming creativity from a childhood memory into a strategic advantage. Cas Holman is an award-winning toy designer, educator, and author. Founder and Chief Designer of Heroes Will Rise and creator of the acclaimed Rigamajig building kits, her work focuses on the combination of creativity, design, and learning through play. Formerly a professor of Industrial Design at the Rhode Island School of Design, Cas now consults with companies and teams around the world, including Google, Nike, and Disney Imagineering, on the power of play to inspire innovation. This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

Discover a framework for crafting a compelling sales pitch that emphasizes clarity and empathy rather than slick tactics. Learn the six core elements essential for effective pitching: Audience, Problem, Solution, Differentiator, Proof, and Call to Action. Explore a five-step process to engage your audience, activate their pain points, and present tailored solutions. Gain insights into the habits of great communicators and avoid common pitfalls in sales. Ultimately, clarity is key—people buy what they understand the fastest!

Wesley Henderson, a seasoned business attorney and entrepreneur behind Drafted Legal, offers invaluable insights for small business owners. He explains when to form an LLC versus staying a sole proprietor and clarifies the distinctions between LLCs, corporations, and S-Corp elections. Wesley highlights the importance of clear contracts to prevent scope creep and costly disputes, while also discussing how to protect intellectual property and avoid common legal pitfalls. His expertise provides listeners with essential tools to confidently navigate the legal landscape of entrepreneurship.

Engineer-turned-entrepreneur Joshua Talbert shares his journey from defense contractor to tech startup founder and CEO of MySherpas.ai. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/583-josh-talbert-software-startup/ In this episode, Henry Lopez interviews Joshua Talbert, co-founder and CEO of MySherpas.ai, about his entrepreneurial journey and lessons learned in building and scaling startups. Joshua shares how his engineering background provided the problem-solving skills that have guided his ventures, including the successful growth and sale of his first med tech company. Joshua highlights the critical importance of strong partnerships, adaptability, and customer feedback, as well as the realities of startup life, where motivation and persistence are essential for the long run. Reflecting on MySherpas.ai, he explains how their platform transforms commercial lending by streamlining collaboration and communication between lending and borrowing teams, enabling faster go-lives and better borrower experiences. "It's about breaking down complex challenges into manageable parts," Joshua explains, "and listening to market feedback so you can adapt and keep moving forward." Joshua shares insights on raising funding, developing MVPs, shifting go-to-market strategies, and building a strong company culture rooted in radical candor and continuous improvement. Joshua Talbert is the co-founder and CEO of MySherpas.ai, an AI-powered platform improving efficiency in commercial lending. With a background in electrical engineering and a track record of launching and growing successful startups, Joshua brings a unique blend of technical expertise and entrepreneurial vision. This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

How small signs of disorder in your workplace can erode culture, safety, and customer trust, and how fixing them builds pride and small business success. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/582-broken-windows-theory/ In this episode Henry Lopez explores the Broken Windows Theory and its direct application to small business environments. Originating from research by Philip Zimbardo and popularized in The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell, this theory shows how minor neglect - like graffiti, cluttered offices, or dirty restrooms - signals lowered standards and invites further disorder. Henry shares examples from New York City's subway transformation, the car wash industry, and restaurants to highlight how seemingly small details shape both customer perception and employee culture. A tidy and well-maintained workplace not only signals professionalism but also enhances safety, efficiency, and morale. "Little things matter. When we ignore small signs of disorder in our business, we send the message that standards don't count here." – Henry Lopez This episode challenges you to find and fix the "broken windows" in your small business, setting the tone for excellence. This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

Entrepreneur Sasha Millstein shares her journey launching Aunt Ethel's Pot Pies and scaling this frozen comfort food brand from idea to shelves. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/581-sasha-millstein-aunt-ethels-pot-pies/ Sasha Millstein, founder and CEO of Aunt Ethel's Pot Pies, joins Henry Lopez to share her inspiring entrepreneurial journey from concept to scaling a consumer packaged goods (CPG) business. Launched in 2020 during the pandemic, Aunt Ethel's has sold over 75,000 units, secured placement in 100+ Wegmans stores, sold out on QVC in under six minutes, and earned features in The New York Times and How I Built This. In this conversation, Sasha reveals the origin story of Aunt Ethel's, including her family's entrepreneurial influence, the pivotal pop-up that validated the concept, and her innovation of the first-ever two-part pot pie that solves soggy crusts and long cook times. Sasha also discusses the challenges of packaging, co-packers, funding, navigating consultants, and ultimately landing major distribution. "In the first three years, I think I cried every single day. But ultimately what keeps me focused is having that North star - you have to know why you started this company." – Sasha Millstein Listeners will gain valuable insights into perseverance, the realities of the CPG space, fundraising challenges, and why doing your research and knowing your numbers is non-negotiable for entrepreneurs. Sasha Millstein is the founder and CEO of Aunt Ethel's Pot Pies, a Brooklyn-based frozen food company reinventing comfort food with innovation and hustle. Since launching in 2020, Sasha has scaled the brand into national retail and online channels, earning acclaim for her patented two-part pot pie design. This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com