
The Businessology Show
Welcome to the Businessology Show, where we interview guests and talk about the business of design. We find agency owners who talk about running their businesses more successfully through all of their ups and downs. Listen along as we interview agency entrepreneurs and uncover insights about shaping a sustainable agency that can scale. Bury your feet in some topsoil and sprinkle some water over your noggin: it’s time to get growing.
Latest episodes

Mar 15, 2024 • 41min
Continuous Learning in the Digital Age with Mickey Mellen
Welcome to The Businessology Show! In today's episode, we dive into the intricate world of daily publishing with our guest, Mickey Mellen, who shares his insights on maintaining a steady stream of content and the absorbing method he’s adopted from none other than Charlie Munger himself. Join us as we explore the digital and tangible realms of reading, from flipping through the pages of ""Poor Charlie's Almanack"" to using cutting-edge tools like Kindle Scribe and Readwise.
Amidst reflecting on the roles of luck and strategy in business success post-COVID-19, Jason and Mickey discuss economic influences like election cycles and market forces, always with a mindful eye on the importance of recurring revenue and a sound financial buffer.
We'll uncover the personal journey of an agency leader who turned sporadic blogging into a powerful tool for self-improvement. Hear how Mickey leverages blogging to crystallize knowledge gained from life’s myriad experiences into compelling Sunday summaries.
Stay tuned for our in-depth conversation on how the pressing need to understand drives continuous learning and how maintaining a personal touch in a digital age reigns supreme over automation. This is The Businessology Show – let's get down to business!

Feb 15, 2024 • 39min
The Business Skills Every Creative Needs to Thrive with Ilise Benun
In this episode of The Businessology Show, Jason dives into the symbiotic relationship between creativity and business savvy. Today's episode features Ilise Benun, a seasoned expert who has spent 35 years guiding solopreneurs and creative business owners on their journey to financial prosperity by merging artistic intuition with business acumen. Ilise dispels the myth that business and creativity are isolated realms, encouraging creative minds to manifest their talents in strategic networking, compelling content marketing, and targeted outreach.
Jason and Ilise's conversation peels back the layers on client dynamics, revealing how to spot red flags, establish authority, and maintain professional boundaries. Together, they explore why face-to-face meetings and real-time communication are critical in complex client discussions, and how the post-pandemic landscape demands patience in marketing while offering freedom for growth.
Jason and Ilise delve into the art of nurturing leads through various platforms—from websites and podcasts to newsletters and ebooks—stressing the power of consistency. You'll hear practical tips on content creation and targeted outreach, such as dedicating 30 daily minutes to marketing and harnessing LinkedIn to forge genuine connections.
Finally, Jason and Ilise tap into the often-elusive subject of money. They discuss not only how to approach the topic with potential clients but also how to position oneself to attract those with higher budgets who value your expertise.
Today's episode is great for creatives eager to enhance their business strategy, deepen client relationships, and turn their creative prowess into profit. Join Jason and Ilise for these insights and more.

Jan 24, 2024 • 8min
Lesson 25: Cultivating Healthy Remote Teams: Defining Culture and Rhythm for Success
Learn practical tips for cultivating a healthy remote team culture, including regular cultural meetings and core value call-outs. Discover the importance of establishing rhythm and structure in remote team meetings to foster a strong team culture. Explore the value of respect and honor in creating a close-knit community.

Jan 24, 2024 • 5min
Lesson 26: Unlocking Mental Clarity and Personal Growth
Discover the power of journaling as a tool for managing the challenges of entrepreneurship. Learn how journaling can promote mental clarity, improve decision-making, and help balance work and personal life. Uncover the therapeutic and growth aspects of journaling for entrepreneurs.

Jan 15, 2024 • 44min
Redefining Business Success with Sparktoro's CEO, Rand Fishkin
Jason's got a treat for you today. He's hanging out with the one and only Rand Fishkin. You might know him as the big brain behind Sparktoro and the former CEO at Moz – basically, he’s the guy you want to chat with if you’re all about leveling up your audience research.
In today’s chat, Jason and Rand are cutting right through the fluff. They're going to bust some age-old stereotypes on hiring, chat about why bigger isn't always better when it comes to your team, and get into the real talk about the entrepreneurial rollercoaster. Rand's got some killer insights from Sparktoro about what your audience is up to online – and get this, you can mess around with it for free here: https://sparktoro.com/
Jason and Rand are not just about the serious business talk, though. Rand’s got stories that’ll make you nod your head and some that'll make you shake it in disbelief. From the pains and gains at Moz to his no-BS approach to funding Sparktoro – it's not your typical tech tale.
Rand fills in the gaps on how to pursue team transparency, having a healthy workplace, and how their team gets their work done together. Plus, they don’t shy away from the big stuff, like AI, blockchain, and how the economic ups and downs have been tossing the tech world like a salad.
So keep it locked here, and let's get the inside scoop from Rand—who’s not only a master marketer but also a pro at stirring up a tasty cocktail. Jason and Rand are about to dish out a full-course meal of business wisdom with a side of laid-back banter – right here on The Businessology Show. Let’s get into it!

Jan 10, 2024 • 9min
Lesson 24: Visionaries and Integrators: The Dynamic Duo Driving Business Success
In today's lesson, listen as Jason unravels the dynamic relationship between visionaries and integrators within a company. Jason shares a personal account of partnering with an integrator and delves into the significance of nurturing a strong partnership in order to drive business growth. This insightful discussion sheds light on the critical role that visionaries and integrators play in the success of a services-based company, offering valuable lessons for entrepreneurs looking to expand their ventures. Sit tight as he explores the intricacies of visionary integrator dynamics and the transformative potential of a well-aligned partnership.

Jan 3, 2024 • 5min
Lesson 23: Insights from a First Hire and Redefining Your Approach
Insights on the strategic considerations of the first hire, importance of delegating tasks effectively, and understanding cultural fit. Personal anecdotes of successes and mistakes provide valuable lessons for navigating hiring complexities and building a strong team.

Dec 15, 2023 • 31min
Strategic Planning: Mastering Calendar Blocking Pt. 2 with Jason Blumer
Jason continues the exploration of strategic calendar work blocking, an essential strategy in efficiently managing your time and resources to drive growth and accomplish targets. In this episode, Jason dives into his personal work schedule, unfolding his key tactics in block planning—from segmenting time for meetings, strategy, and content production, to setting priorities and dealing with the unpredictability of the corporate world. Jason also taps into how the principles of strategic calendar work blocking play out in a partnership scenario, casting light on how he and Julie synergize their efforts and tackle tasks collaboratively. Hear about their experience with the Todoist task management tool, their approach to defining and achieving goals, as well as the crucial aspect of managing commitments. This episode carries enriching insights for any entrepreneur, manager, or anyone striving to master their work-life balance and productivity, so stay tuned and dive in.

Nov 15, 2023 • 32min
Strategic Planning: Mastering Calendar Blocking with Jason Blumer
In today's episode, Jason flies solo and explores the concept of "strategic calendar work blocking" as a method to manage attention and time effectively. For those of you running multiple businesses or facing numerous routine tasks, this approach could be a game-changer. He'll debunk the myth that entrepreneurs can do anything they wish, emphasizing the necessity of making intentional choices. Jason discusses the importance of balancing attention between work and personal life and how deliberate planning can help us avoid self-sabotage. He introduces the idea of 'leveraging rhythms' - a systematic approach to using calendars to schedule regular strategy sessions. These practical tips and insights are designed with one goal in mind - to help you as an entrepreneur effectively manage your time, handle urgent tasks, and grow your business intentionally. Stay tuned for a guide on how you can put this revolutionary method into practice.

Oct 16, 2023 • 50min
Balancing Strategy and Operations for Business Growth with Alyson Caffrey
In this episode of The Businessology Show, Jason and Alyson dive into the fascinating world of business operations and strategic thinking. Join them as they explore the parallels between developing land and roads and developing administrative functions within a business. Alyson Caffrey, a Systems and Process Creations expert, shares her insights on the importance of paving the road and finding the right person to navigate it successfully. Jason and Alyson discuss the balance between promoting from within and inviting external conversations to ensure operational efficiency and strategic growth. Get ready to uncover the secrets to increasing productivity, unlocking growth, and mastering the core metrics that drive small businesses. Plus, they'll delve into the hustle culture, breaking systems, and finding new ways to operate more efficiently. You won't want to miss this enlightening episode packed with practical tips for taking your business operations to the next level. Let's get started!