The $100 MBA Show

Feeling stuck in your business?That’s not to say you’re not doing ok financially. But every so often, a business can lose the…magic.You feel bored, unmotivated, maybe even depressed. You go through the motions, joylessly. Running your business has become the thing that you became an entrepreneur to escape: just another job.You’re not alone, and you’re probably fine.In fact, your business is probably fine. In our experience (and others’), we have these feelings because we’ve hit a personal plateau — a mental, emotional, even spiritual rut. Before you decide to do something drastic, like sell the business, take a step back and listen to this episode.Today, we’ll discuss the reasons we lose love for our creations, and how to approach the problem from an unexpected angle. We’ll share a list of ways you can shake things up, get out of your head, and determine once and for all if you really need a new start.Get excited to run your business again. Alter your course without going off the rails. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed

How long is too long to request a refund? It’s an important question, especially for small businesses. To grow, you have to be able to rely on steady, predictable revenue. And revenue that suddenly reverses can throw your metrics out of whack. But on the other hand…Risk reversal is one of the most powerful selling tools you have. When customers feel like they’re truly guaranteed satisfaction, you earn trust. And trust means sales. Every day a customer knows they can change their mind equals a little peace of mind.It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener who sells online courses with a 30-day guarantee. But is that enough? More importantly, would pushing it to 60 or 90 days be a net positive for the business, or a risk that’s just not worth taking?Hear our advice, and ask yourself if it’s time to give your customers a little more leeway. Click Play!To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q.SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed

2022 was…something alright. So what fresh challenges and opportunities can we expect this year?We’ve got a few (educated) guesses. Today, Omar shares what’s most likely to define 2023, based on his borderline-obsessive reflection and study of small business trends. From post-COVID adjustments to workplace culture to the surprise advantages most people will miss, these predictions can keep you ahead of the curve.They might not all pan out — but the smart money says at least some of them will. Take a good long look down the road, and see if you can adjust your expectations and strategies to meet what’s (probably) coming.We’ll explain what’s likely to happen, why it’s likely, and how to make sure you’re ready to capitalize. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed

We all have monsters.Maybe you call them “demons,” or just plain old insecurities. Whatever the name, they’re the things that make us make poor decisions out of fear, doubt, or simple habit. Today, we review a book from someone who’s had to face their monsters down. And somehow, it’s…hilarious.Leave it to Kevin Hart, the comedian who survived a serious accident and came out a little wiser — but no less funny. In Monsters and How to Tame Them, Hart puts a name to common reasons we fail ourselves (e.g., the Approval Monster, Comparison Monster, etc.), and shares how he managed to put those little suckers in their place.Join us for a review of this excellent read, and Omar’s personal experience with the syndromes Hart identifies. Don’t let the monsters take the wheel! Click Play!Monsters and How to Tame Them by Kevin Hart (Audible Exclusive)Discover all our must-read book reviews at https://100mba.net/bookreviews.SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed

So you need traffic…but you don’t have much cash to throw around.No problem!As a lean startup, we regularly experiment with low-to-no-cost ways of driving consumers to our website. Today, we share a few we’ve heard about, researched, and even tried ourselves.Always remember that paid ads can get eyeballs on your content and other assets — but not necessarily the eyeballs you want. For small businesses especially, the quality of traffic matters way way more than the quantity.The tips we share today are all about attracting the right kind of audience: the kind that’s most likely to convert.Hear what methods got us most interested recently, and which ones produced results for our companies. When it comes to driving traffic and generating leads, creativity is a much stronger asset than deep pockets. Click Play!Free Lead Magnet TemplatesSUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed

You can do a million things for your business.…or you can do just one, really well.There’s a simple strategy that can boost almost any business, in the medium term. It doesn’t matter what you sell, who your audience is, or what size business you have. It doesn’t require expensive tools, or super-advanced specialized knowledge.But it’s not exactly easy.This move is low on complexity, but requires consistency. If you do it all year, the effects are almost guaranteed to come — slowly but surely. By investing some time and effort (and most importantly, effort over time), it’s pretty hard not to end up in a better place than where you started. Today, we share this strategy, one that Omar learned from a (very successful) entrepreneur years ago. Learn what it is, how to apply it, and why it’s counter to so much of the typical growth advice out there. Then, see if you’re up for the challenge. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed

It’s easy to grow an email list……when you have lots of money to blow on paid lead captures.But for the rest of us, building a solid list takes time, work, and creativity. It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’re helping one listener figure out how to rake in the email addresses without sinking too much cash into the project. The good news? There are lots of ways.Early on, we generated our own initial leads the old-fashioned ways: tried-and-true methods based on content, SEO, and more. Even today, we keep the paid marketing to a minimum, and focus on getting our leads organically. The result is that we don’t just spend less on capturing email addresses — we capture the addresses of people who are more likely to convert.In this episode, we share short and long-term methods for building an organic following, and getting into their inboxes. You can do this, and you don’t have to part with too much of your hard-earned revenue to make it happen. Click Play!To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q.SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed

What is your business really offering people?We’ve all heard the “benefits over features” lecture, where you do your best to communicate what consumers get out of your product. But there’s a bigger picture — and it can compel people even more effectively.It’s all about your vision.Identifying and communicating your vision isn’t some exercise in self-importance. It’s a way to show your audience that when they use your product or service, they’re not just getting a problem solved. They’re investing in a better future, for themselves and others.If it sounds a little emotional, remember the #1 rule of marketing and sales: people don’t put aside emotion to make logical decisions. They make emotional decisions they can justify logically.Today, we explore how visions, articulated well, inspire more action than most people realize. When you have a vision, your customers aren’t just customers — they’re part of a movement. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed

Your sponsorship “packages” might be costing you sponsors.Sponsorships are one of the best ways to monetize your brand and content. But as entrepreneurs who “work smarter not harder,” many of us approach sponsorships way too…passively.Today’s guest has a better idea.Justin Moore is a classic self-made entrepreneur with a unique specialty: helping other entrepreneurs get the best possible sponsorship deals. In this extended conversation, Justin and Omar explore why one-size-fits-all and “choose your package” models of sponsorship are too oversimplified. To really make yourself attractive to sponsors, you have to start with what they need — not with what you’re willing to offer. Sit back and enjoy this long-form lesson. It just might unlock a world of opportunities to monetize your brand. Click Play!Creator WizardSUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed

Hate your day job? Is your own business stagnating? Are you feeling powerless? Sad? Angry? Good. When it gets bad enough, you have one of the greatest advantages an entrepreneur can have: motivation that outranks your fear. Today, we discuss how to use a rock-bottom low point in your professional life as a launching pad for independence. Omar will share how all the success we’ve built with The $100 MBA and our software company started with a bad day — the day he was passed over for a promotion.  That slap in the face hurt. It was also a tipping point, and proof that your worst moment can take the shape of an open door. Learn how to reframe failures, frustrations, and unfair treatment. Use the most uncomfortable feelings you experience as fuel for change. Embrace the pain, and turn it into gain. Click Play!  SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS Stitcher | SoundCloud | Podcast Feed | How To Subscribe Give us a Rating & Review Today’s Sponsors Win The Year Join Omar & Nicole for a live 2-hour mini course to conquer 2023! We’ll establish attainable business goals for the whole year, and break them down into realistic milestones — using the exact templates we use to make sure every year is a giant step forward. For just $19, you can head into the new year with an action plan! Don’t improvise your path to success. Be there on January 9th at 1 PM PST: learn more at 100mba.net. Recommended Tools WP Engine WP Engine is our first choice for small business website hosting (seriously, you’re looking at one of our WP Engine sites right now). They’ve got the tools, features, and power you need to keep your online storefront going strong — and customer support is incredible, like having an extra tech team by your side 24/7. WP Engine has a plan for every size business! Get 20% off at wpeng.in/mba and use PROMO CODE WPE20OFF ConvertKit ConvertKit has everything you need for effective email marketing — and they make it ridiculously easy. From newsletter subscriptions to complex automations, ConvertKit is the most straightforward way to build your campaigns. Best of all, ConvertKit will even migrate your whole list, sequences, and forms from another platform for you! Check out the best email platform for independent business people at 100mba.net/convertkit WebinarNinja Share what you know, and grow your business — the easy way. WebinarNinja lets you teach, market, and sell with the user-friendliest webinar software ever created. With built-in features like automated emails, an easy landing page builder, and more, it’s never been easier to connect with your audience. Best of all,  WebinarNinja comes with a FREE 14-day trial so you can see if  it’s a good fit for you, risk free. Head to webinarninja.com and use promo code MBA for 15% off your first month or year. Show Links EasyCourse The post MBA2212 How To Use Frustration To Overcome Fear + Free Ride Friday appeared first on The $100 MBA.