The $100 MBA Show

In business, you have to play the hand you’re dealt. In the age of COVID, that means moving traditionally IRL activities online.Sometimes that works out. Sometimes…not as much.Following up on our episode about why we chose to hold a virtual retreat, today we discuss the results. Our online “retreat week” just ended, and we learned a few things. Some aspects of it worked well — really well. But some in-person experiences are just irreplaceable.With dozens of employees on four continents, we had some fears and apprehensions about organizing this event. Hear how we decided to navigate the whole thing, and how it went. You might just get some great ideas for building camaraderie virtually, when there’s no other way. SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Think of yourself as a coach, and watch your team win.Too many team leaders act as “managers.” But think about how we use that term outside of business. We “manage” problems, difficulties. Our employees are neither. Instead, our employees are investments — and they can only deliver returns when we bring out the best in them.Ruchira Chaudhary is a renowned consultant who teaches leaders how to lead, rather than manage. The best way to do that? Be your team’s coach. Today, Ruchira explains exactly what she means by “coaching” in this context, and lays out a complete framework for bringing this approach to your business.Help your team — and yourself — to grow. Learn how to lead by coaching, and the results will speak for themselves. Click Play!Coaching: The Secret Code to Uncommon Leadership by Ruchira ChaudharySUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Apple knows what they’re doing.Love ‘em or hate ‘em, the world’s leading tech company has a unique ability to excite their own market. Each year, Apple’s fall announcement of new products and updates causes a stir — and offers incredibly valuable lessons for entrepreneurs.Today, we share 4 of those lessons.Apple events are worth watching for any business founder. When this company puts what they have on the table, you can glean crucial insights into their mission and strategy. Then, you can apply those broad lessons to your own operation. Hear what we got from this year’s event, and how you can use it too. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Marketing isn’t just about what brings customers to your door. It’s what brings customers together that counts. When your business model includes some element of a movement, you do better than creating leads and sales. You create a sense of community that drives long-term brand loyalty, and full-blown evangelism for your brand.In other words, your customers become your greatest marketing asset — without you even asking them to.Today, we explain how and why movement-based businesses succeed. With examples from small businesses and household names, we explore how engaging people in a philosophy creates a business that thrives and endures. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What’s a symbol worth?When you start a business, you start lean. That means making careful choices about where to spend your marketing dollars. When it comes to branding, how important is the company logo? How much is really worth investing when you have plenty of other costs?It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener with a brand-new business who needs to know.Some schools of thought say that any logo will do at first, and to wait for momentum before you go paying graphic designers. Others say a high-quality pro logo goes a long way towards creating that momentum. What’s the right approach?Today, we discuss what kind of a priority your logo really is, and the best ways to go about creating it. Click Play!To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q.SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Peloton is one of the most successful fitness business models ever. How did they pull it off?Exercise equipment comes and goes. Most of the time, companies that sell in-home workout machines have terrible churn, as New Years’ resolutions become next year’s regrets and laundry starts to pile up on the treadmill. What makes Peloton different?Peloton didn’t invent the stationary bike. What they created was a community.In this episode, we unpack the recipe for success behind Peloton. Focusing on a few key things Peloton did right, we explore how this company went from Kickstarter to kicking butts across the US and the globe.See what Peloton did right — so you can do it in your market. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hi [First Name],Do your cold emails…work?Most people’s don’t. That’s because writing cold emails is different from any other kind of copywriting.  If you want results, you have to craft emails in a way that strikes the right tone — and doesn’t come off as a phony attempt to be personal.Fortunately, we have an expert on that.Laura Lopuch is a copywriting expert who teaches people how to turn words into wins. Having built her own business largely on the strength of her emails, Laura is here with a quick lesson on how it’s done. Tune in, and learn how to nail the tone and content of your most important cold messages. Learn Laura’s guiding philosophy, and why “personalization” might be hurting more than it’s helping. Click Play!Cold Email TemplateSUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Take a cue from the tortoise. Slow & steady is the way forward.Entrepreneurship is not a sprint; it’s a marathon. In fact, it’s not even a race —  it’s a lifestyle! And slower growth is the most stable kind of growth. Instead of fretting that you’re not an overnight (or over-week, or over-year) success, take a breath, and realize that’s probably a good thing.We’ve seen businesses collapse under “catastrophic success,” where the business grows too fast to keep up with!Today, we’ll provide concrete examples of why pacing yourself is the best way to ensure the future. Plus, we’ll discuss how to gauge the speed of your growth, and determine if it’s too fast, too slow, or just right. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As anyone in business can tell you, all tragedies contain opportunities. Today, we discuss how in certain situations, it’s never been easier to start a business (or expand one) — because of the pandemic. Savvy entrepreneurs can identify the gaps in the market the disaster left behind. If you’re able, the chance to fill one of those gaps could be a once-in-a-lifetime shot.For every door that COVID has closed, it’s also opened up new paths forward for those who are willing and able to start the journey.The pre-pandemic world can’t really ever come back. But with an entrepreneurial spirit, we can build a future from what this world-altering crisis left behind. Let’s get that future going, starting right now  — Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Blogging is still one of the most effective (and cost-effective) kinds of content marketing.But does frequency matter? If so, how often should you post?It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’re helping a relatively new blogger figure out how much content to pump out. In 6 months, this blogger hasn’t seen the needle move much. Does it make a difference if you publish every day, week, or month? The short answer is yes — but there are other, bigger factors.Everything from SEO to reader habits have changed since the dawn of the Internet. Today, we discuss what really drives blog readership and helps market your business. Learn how the blogging landscape has evolved, and what you can do to keep your audience engaged. Click Play!To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q.SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.