Ditching Hourly

Lauren Pearl, an Advisory CFO and insightful daily emailer, shares her expertise in pricing strategies tailored for startups and small businesses. She discusses the essential framework she's developed for setting floor and ceiling prices while emphasizing the importance of understanding customer perceptions and decision-making. Lauren also highlights the power of post-purchase feedback for enhancing client satisfaction and the need for flexibility through continuous experimentation in pricing. Tune in for actionable insights that can transform how you approach your business finances!

Andrew Croasdale, a former police officer turned consultant, joined me on Ditching Hourly to discuss his transition from policing to consulting.(00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome (00:18) - Andrew's Background in Policing (01:05) - Transition to Consulting (05:11) - First Steps in Business (06:06) - First Client Experience (09:37) - Challenges of Small Business Owners (17:38) - Defining Governance and Leadership (26:25) - Diagnostic Approach in Consulting (29:10) - Cross-Referencing in Police Work (29:32) - Challenges in Communicating Strategic Objectives (29:48) - Overcoming Ego for Improvement (30:09) - Psychological Differences in Large vs. Small Organizations (31:27) - Resistance to Change in Large Companies (35:11) - The Importance of Psychological Safety (36:15) - Choosing the Right Company Size to Work With (37:11) - Balancing Impact and Satisfaction (41:04) - Implementing Values in Solopreneurship (43:58) - Defining Mission and Values (51:22) - Final Thoughts and Contact Information Andrew’s Links:- LinkedIn » https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-croasdale/- Website » https://octopusleadership.com/AI SUMMARYIn this conversation, Jonathan Stark interviews Andrew Croasdale, a former police officer turned consultant, about his transition from policing to the business world. Andrew shares insights on how his background in counter-terrorism policing informs his consulting work, particularly in enhancing governance and operational excellence for businesses. He discusses the importance of creating high-performing environments, the role of governance versus leadership, and the need for clear communication and structure within organizations. Andrew emphasizes that good governance can lead to improved team performance and customer service, ultimately benefiting the business as a whole. Andrew discusses the critical role of transparency in leadership and the importance of clear communication of strategic goals within organizations. He emphasizes the need to overcome ego and fear in order to foster a culture of improvement and psychological safety. The discussion also touches on the challenges faced when working with larger organizations compared to smaller businesses, highlighting the impact of organizational structure on decision-making. Additionally, Andrew shares insights on how solopreneurs can define their values and create alignment with their clients to drive business success.TAKEAWAYS- Andrew transitioned from policing to consulting to seek a change- His experience in policing helps him develop high-performing teams- Customer service quality significantly impacts people’s lives- Starting a business involves aligning passion, skills, and market value- His first client came from a casual conversation in a showroom- Small business owners often lack leadership training and support- Good governance is crucial for effective team performance- Clear communication and structure are essential for business success- High-performing environments require a holistic approach to governance- Leadership and governance are interconnected but distinct concepts- Transparency is essential for effective leadership- Assessing strategic goals requires open communication- Ego can hinder organizational change and improvement- Working with large organizations often involves navigating politics- Smaller businesses may allow for quicker decision-making and implementation- Creating governance structures is important for solopreneurs- Defining clear values helps align business practices with client expectations- Continuous improvement should be a focus for all businesses- Psychological safety encourages team members to admit mistakes- Finding the right client size can enhance the impact of consulting work ----Before you go!The next time someone asks you for your hourly rate, I want you to stop what you're doing and head on over to valuepricingbootcamp.com to sign up for my free value pricing email course.Hope to see you there!

Barry LaBov, founder and CEO of LABOV Marketing Communications and a two-time Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, shares his insights on business differentiation. He details a five-step process for niching down, emphasizing the importance of understanding client engagement and feedback. The conversation highlights strategies to articulate unique selling propositions and foster strong client relationships. Moreover, Barry discusses how celebrating customer impact can elevate company culture and drive success, advocating for value-based pricing to build trust.

Guest Russ Waddell joined me on Ditching Hourly to explain how he successfully went out on his own for the first time after more than a decade as a full-time employee. Guest Links:https://www.russwaddell.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-waddell/ ----Before you go!The next time someone asks you for your hourly rate, I want you to stop what you're doing and head on over to valuepricingbootcamp.com to sign up for my free value pricing email course.Hope to see you there!

Zach Stevens, co-founder of Conversion Factory, shares insights from two years of running a successful subscription-based service business. He dives into growth strategies and effective communication that drive retention and productivity. Zach emphasizes the importance of tiered pricing and managing client expectations. He also discusses the transition from traditional employment to entrepreneurship and the role of offshore resources in scaling operations. The appeal of subscription models over hourly billing shines through, encouraging a shift in how services are marketed.

Shaun Jardine, an author and expert on value-based pricing in law, shares his transformative journey of moving a 240-person law firm away from billable hours. He discusses the challenges and successes of adopting this pricing model, emphasizing the importance of team mindset and understanding client value. Jardine critiques traditional attorney-client relationships shaped by hourly billing, advocating for deeper engagement through value-based pricing. He also touches on how these connections can enhance job satisfaction and improve financial outcomes.

Alex M H Smith, author of 'No Bullsh*t Strategy' and founder of Basic Arts, dives into the essence of business strategy. He emphasizes the importance of delivering unique value rather than simply trying to outdo competitors. The conversation also highlights practical approaches to strategy and the role of experimentation in navigating business challenges. Alex discusses leveraging LinkedIn for marketing success, urging solopreneurs to balance service delivery with effective promotion. Innovation and a distinct perspective are key to standing out in today’s market.

Pranav Kale, a LinkedIn ghostwriter known for his clever posting strategies, shares insights from his unique reverse interview. He discusses how to expand audience reach on LinkedIn and convert followers into subscribers. The pair delve into navigating criticism while maintaining authenticity in personal branding. They explore the dynamics of LinkedIn engagement, analytics, and the importance of meaningful communication over attention-seeking behavior. Pranav also offers tips for introverts on how to engage effectively by focusing on providing value.

Matt Kerbis, also known as the Subscription Attorney, joined me on Ditching Hourly to share his novel approach to ditching hourly billing in the legal space with a subscription model.Matt's bio from his website: ”My name is Mathew Kerbis, I’m The Subscription Attorney, and I believe subscriptions can help bridge the access to justice gap and incentivize attorneys to modernize and scale their practice like never before.”Matt's links:Website: https://www.lawsubscribed.com/aboutLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerbisverse/Substack: https://substack.com/@lawsubscribedThe Law For Kids Podcast:https://www.lawforkidspodcast.com/AI-Generated Info:SummaryIn this conversation, Jonathan Stark interviews Matt Kerbis, also known as the Subscription Attorney, about his novel approach to ditching hourly billing in the legal space with a subscription model. Matt explains how he offers affordable and accessible legal services through different subscription tiers based on the client's needs. He discusses the pricing structure, the scope of services provided, and the use of automation tools to streamline his practice. Matt also addresses the challenges and benefits of implementing a subscription model in the legal industry. Mathew Kerbis discusses his unique subscription-based law firm model and the client experience. He explains that while his model is one of a kind, there are other attorneys using the subscription model in different ways. Mathew highlights the importance of educating clients about the subscription model and the client portal. He also discusses the challenges of marketing a new business model and the slow process of building traction. Mathew emphasizes the value of problem avoidance and the benefits of being a generalist in the legal space. He advises those interested in experimenting with subscription models to start narrow and go broad.TakeawaysMatt Kerbis offers affordable and accessible legal services through a subscription model.The pricing structure includes different tiers based on the client's needs, with options for individuals, freelancers, and business owners.Matt uses automation tools and no-code solutions to streamline his practice and deliver services efficiently.Churn is a key consideration in the subscription model, and Matt focuses on delighting his clients to reduce churn and increase client satisfaction.While a pure subscription model may not work for all legal services, a hybrid approach combining subscriptions and alternative fee-based pricing can be effective. Mathew Kerbis has a unique subscription-based law firm model that is one of a kind.Educating clients about the subscription model and the client portal is crucial for their understanding and comfort.Marketing a new business model can be challenging, especially in the legal space.Building traction and gaining clients takes time and persistence.Problem avoidance is a valuable selling point, and being a generalist can be advantageous in the legal industry.For those interested in experimenting with subscription models, starting narrow and going broad is a recommended approach.Sound Bites"I'm the subscription attorney because I was sick and tired of billing time as an attorney."—MK"My whole goal was accessibility while also still trying to be profitable."—MK"People don't like talking to their lawyer. They have better things to do in their life."—MK"There are probably hundreds of attorneys using the subscription model in some way."—MK"I make it really easy to schedule a ‘no legal advice’, 15-minute introductory call with me."—MK ----Before you go!The next time someone asks you for your hourly rate, I want you to stop what you're doing and head on over to valuepricingbootcamp.com to sign up for my free value pricing email course.Hope to see you there!

Ben Zettler, owner of Zettler Digital, discusses value pricing for agencies with Jonathan Stark. Topics include client conversations, free work offers, using data to quantify impact, challenges of pricing for smaller businesses, ideal client relationships, shifting to retained services, difficulties of ongoing service fees, and utilizing LinkedIn for marketing.