The Friday Habit

In this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark provides 5 of the top ways to be a more positive person. It has been proven time and again that your emotions have the power to change your body at a cellular level, so here are a few techniques to ensure that those are positive changes rather than negative.Have a lens of positivity – Let your first reaction to any situation be to ask yourself “What is this trying to teach me?” Even when you can’t control the circumstances, you can control how you respond to them. You can choose to make the best of it, and you will likely find that things weren’t as bad as they seemed when you look back.Be grateful – Many people spend some time every morning thinking about or writing down a list of things they are grateful for. It is hard to be negative when you are aware of how many things in your life are going well, even the simplest things.Get enough sleep and exercise – Set routines for yourself to ensure that you go to bed at a reasonable time and you have time set aside in your day to exercise, even if it is just taking a break to walk outside during the workday. There are physical and mental benefits to getting 6 or more hours of sleep per night as well as through the release of endorphins during exercise.Look to gain experiences more than possessions – You never look back on material things with joy, but memorable experiences are always worth it. Your kids won’t remember what you gave them for their 8th birthdays, but they will remember the road trip you took as a family.Help others – Acts of kindness have a way of positively impacting the people you are serving as well as boosting your own satisfaction and happiness. You can’t be negative while helping people and gaining a better perspective on how fortunate you are in life.Your action item after this episode is to integrate gratitude into your routine, writing down a list of things you are grateful for every day.Connect with us:https://www.thefridayhabit.com/thefridayhabit@knapsackcreative.com https://www.instagram.com/benjaminmanleyhttp://www.benjaminmanley.com/https://www.brandvivamedia.com/https://www.facebook.com/Marklab2https://www.linkedin.com/in/marklab2/ 

On this episode of The Friday Habit, Ben and Mark discuss lead magnets, the tools that allow you to trade something of value to the consumer for their email address. Even with social media dominating the digital landscape, email is still the most cost-effective method of communication for lead generation, so what should you be doing to tap into this power?1.     E-book2.     Self-evaluation checklist3.     Access to a free online course4.     A series of helpful emails sent weekly5.     Access to a private Facebook or Slack group6.     Mythbuster PDF7.     Access to a single how-to video8.     5-day video series9.     Spreadsheet-based tool10.  Free quiz with results sent via email11.  Specialized interactive calculator – Calculoid is a great resource for this.12.  Fill out worksheets 13.  Access to a free webinar – Just make sure the content is interesting and not only a sales pitch.14.  Cheat sheet15.  Free demo or sampleWhen thinking through which lead magnet would be a good starting place for you, consider this question: “What is the first step someone needs to take before they are ready to hire you?” Here are 4 key criteria for finding the right one for you:·       Something your audience actually wants – You could ask your current clients for their input on this.·       Something closely related to your product or business·       Something that you have the skill to create·       Something that will build trust, be a good experience for the consumer, and be usefulNow that you have decided which lead magnet to use, make sure you have your basic sales funnel systematized. Your next steps could look something like this:1.     Trigger an automatic email to welcome/thank them for joining2.     Add them to your mailing list3.     Follow up with a personal video response4.     Invite them to take the next action5.     Set them up in a drip campaign of a series of emailsConnect with us:https://www.thefridayhabit.com/thefridayhabit@knapsackcreative.com https://www.instagram.com/benjaminmanleyhttp://www.benjaminmanley.com/ https://www.brandvivamedia.com/https://www.facebook.com/Marklab2https://www.linkedin.com/in/marklab2/

You’ve heard people talk about their mastermind groups before, but maybe you’ve just assumed that you aren’t “big” enough to be a part of one. Or, maybe you’ve never been invited, or perhaps you don’t know what’s in it for you. In this episode of The Friday Habit podcast, Ben and Mark break down for you the benefits and how-tos of creating your mastermind.A mastermind group typically consists of 4-8 participants who are in a similar industry or stage of personal or professional life who meet regularly. So, what could you gain from being a part of a mastermind?Gain an outside perspective – Sometimes, all you need is to get out of your own head and get someone else’s take on your challenge or dilemma. It is even better if that person has knowledge of your business and your previous endeavors.Make learning automatic – By having people in your group who are above and below you in terms of experience in certain situations, you have a built-in community that can help you learn as you go.Achieve more goals – Accountability is key in accomplishing any goals, and this group provides that opportunity.Build strong friendships – Spending time with each other and discussing your goals and accomplishments will lead to an enhanced community that could extend beyond business.If you are considering starting your own mastermind group, here are a few suggestions for getting started:Make a list of people to addSet up a group meeting to discuss the potential of starting a groupEstablish ground rules such as meeting timing, adding new members, attendance expectations, etc.Add a recurring event on your calendarSet up a shared Google Doc for resources and/or a Slack channelStay organized and consistentYour action items after this episode are to make a list of people to add to your mastermind and set up a group call.Connect with us:https://www.thefridayhabit.com/thefridayhabit@knapsackcreative.com https://www.instagram.com/benjaminmanleyhttp://www.benjaminmanley.com/https://www.brandvivamedia.com/https://www.facebook.com/Marklab2https://www.linkedin.com/in/marklab2/ 

Delegating is a buzzword that is overused and underutilized in business. In this episode of The Friday Habit, we will outline five tips to using delegation effectively to help you accomplish more, serve more customers, and make more profits.1. Identify what can be delegated – Ask yourself these questions:Is this something that only I can do?Is this the best use of my time and energy?Can someone else do this?What should I be doing?2. Delegate to the right person – Try to match up the task with someone based on their skills, interests, experience, capacity, and career goals. Chances are, you have someone on your team who is looking for a challenge in the exact area you need to release some responsibilities.3. Provide clear direction – Define the goal or the “why” behind the task. Set expectations for the output, in terms of the effort and time commitment expected. Be available for questions.4. Stay organized – To be able to delegate tasks, you should have all of the relevant information in one place, such as a project management system, so you can easily pass it off to someone else.5. Make delegation a team effort – Communicate with your team. Discuss why and how you are planning to implement more delegation and encourage others to do the same. Ask for feedback regarding the tasks you are planning to delegate. Give them the freedom to call you out if you try to pick those tasks back up again. A great avenue for this is a brief weekly meeting.Your action item after this episode is to schedule a 30-minute meeting with your team to discuss the goals of delegating certain tasks and solicit feedback about how everyone could implement delegation where appropriate.Connect with us:https://www.thefridayhabit.com/thefridayhabit@knapsackcreative.com https://www.instagram.com/benjaminmanleyhttp://www.benjaminmanley.com/https://www.brandvivamedia.com/https://www.facebook.com/Marklab2https://www.linkedin.com/in/marklab2/

This episode is the second part of Mark and Ben’s conversation with Allan Langer, an expert in the field of pricing and how to sell more by selling less. Ben asks Allan about the best ways to delegate some of the selling to other team members so you can focus on other things. Allan explains the importance of having a sales philosophy that can be easily enumerated, absorbed, and replicated by your team members. He also says that even after this pandemic is over and things go “back to normal,” Zoom will continue to be a vital resource and should replace any phone calls you were previously scheduling with your clients. Allan explains most of the time when a client says, “we’ll get back to you,” that either means that they are not the right person to make the decision or they are nervous about spending the money. To make people feel more comfortable about making a purchase, Allan recommends some form of social proofing, showing them that other people “like them” have recently made this purchase or that you have helped business just like theirs before. It also helps if you involve the client in the process, being upfront about your pricing from the beginning and allowing them to “build their own” product and choose which options are best for them. In your conversations with them, make sure you emphasize the added value and how your product or service will specifically help them, focusing on the return on their investment.Some people might say that these strategies are manipulative because you are forming your strategy around the psychology of the human brain and how it has been proven to react to certain things. But all you are really doing is giving them what makes them feel better and improve their lives by getting the right thing in their hands. To learn more about Allan’s strategies, be sure to check out his book!Connect with Allan:https://allanger.com/ https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Selling-More-Less-Reinventing/dp/1794315497 Connect with us:https://www.thefridayhabit.com/thefridayhabit@knapsackcreative.com https://www.instagram.com/benjaminmanleyhttp://www.benjaminmanley.com/https://www.brandvivamedia.com/https://www.facebook.com/Marklab2https://www.linkedin.com/in/marklab2/ 

Allan Langer, the bestselling author of “The 7 Secrets to Selling More by Selling Less," joins Ben and Mark on this episode of The Friday Habit. Allan has committed his career to understand and teach about pricing psychology and consumer behavior, and his insights could be game-changers for entrepreneurs and business owners. Allan has found that most decision-makers come up with their pricing based on a computer-generated algorithm or a formula they have created to get them their desired profit margin. However, what if this method is severely undercutting the margins you could be making if you had a pricing strategy? You have probably noticed that most prices end in the number nine, but did you know that this practice is grounded on research that shows that consumers feel good about paying for products or services ending in nine? They haven’t been able to determine why, but repeated studies have shown this result. A second pricing strategy that Allan recommends is to always provide your clients with three-tiered options. You could use the movie theater popcorn example of a small for $5, a medium for $7.50, or a large for $8.00. By making the large only slightly more expensive than the medium, you are positioning it as the best option psychologically, which will make your customer feel good about their purchase from the beginning. You can sell with integrity and still get the client to choose the option that is best for both of you. In regards to determining your pricing strategy from the start, Allan says it is imperative to decide what you’re worth and stick with it. Do good work, and don’t devalue your services just to attract the “price shoppers." You don’t want to work with them anyway. Come back next week for the conclusion of our conversation with Allan!Connect with Allan:https://allanger.com/ https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Selling-More-Less-Reinventing/dp/1794315497 Connect with us:https://www.thefridayhabit.com/thefridayhabit@knapsackcreative.com https://www.instagram.com/benjaminmanleyhttp://www.benjaminmanley.com/https://www.brandvivamedia.com/https://www.facebook.com/Marklab2https://www.linkedin.com/in/marklab2/ 

In this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark and Ben share why and how to effectively conduct quarterly check-in meetings with each of your team members, including the benefits this can bring to your business. Essentially, check-ins are pre-arranged, lasting approximately an hour. Check-in meetings offer opportunities to discuss how things are going, provide feedback, and meet with each employee individually.So why do you need to implement this practice into your business?These meetings provide a space for intentionally staying connected with your team by building this communication time into your structures and culture.When employees know you are setting aside this time and ask them how things are going, they are more likely to provide honest feedback than they would have without this structured time.It is a great opportunity to review job descriptions with each team member. This will ensure their actual job functions align with what is written in their job description, and you can discuss any adjustments that need to be made.Most businesses conduct annual performance reviews (if they conduct them at all), but quarterly meetings are much more effective for true performance evaluations in a less intense environment.How should you implement this structure for the first time?Give your employees a heads-up that this will be coming before scheduling a meeting on their calendar.Set expectations for honest and clear communication.Establish a performance review chart and communicate the criteria ahead of time. Perhaps send a blank chart to each employee a week prior to their quarterly check-in. This will allow them to do some self-evaluation and then compare notes during your meeting.Recognize each team member’s strong and weak areas verbally during the check-in.Prepare a list of general questions to lead the discussion.Discuss any necessary pay raises, responsibility shifts, and job title changes as well as their career plans and how those align (or don’t align) with those of the company long-term.Be humble and receptive to their feedback, and then do what you say you are going to do.Your action item after this episode is to implement these quarterly check-ins by communicating the purpose to your team and then schedule them.Connect with us:https://www.thefridayhabit.com/thefridayhabit@knapsackcreative.com https://www.instagram.com/benjaminmanleyhttp://www.benjaminmanley.com/https://www.brandvivamedia.com/https://www.facebook.com/Marklab2https://www.linkedin.com/in/marklab2/ 

We’ve all felt it, and on this episode of The Friday Habit we are talking about it: imposter syndrome. Perhaps right now you lack confidence in your skills and you feel inadequate no matter how successful you are. Here are 8 keys to building your personal brand and pressing into it with confidence:Specialization – Have a niche and be confident in describing it to others.Leadership – Think about where you want to be a leader and get involved in those communities.Personality – Be genuine and people will gravitate towards you.Distinctiveness – By being authentically you, you are expressing your brand identity in a unique way that will engage people.Visibility – Be seen repeatedly and consistently by networking and telling people what you do.Utility – Be the same publicly and privately and be committed to continuous growth.Persistence – Be willing to fail and look stupid while you are growing your brand. It will take time to get where you want to be.Goodwill – Create a positive impact and provide value to those you come in contact with. Be kind, pay it forward, and give good advice rather than primarily being concerned with your bottom line.Your action item after this episode is to reverse engineer yourself to become who you want to be and to confidently proclaim what you do when you are asked.Links:Blog post: https://medium.com/@brandviva/8-ways-to-get-over-your-imposter-syndrome-and-start-building-your-personal-brand-2529484e9022https://www.videoask.com/Connect with us:https://www.thefridayhabit.com/thefridayhabit@knapsackcreative.com https://www.instagram.com/benjaminmanleyhttp://www.benjaminmanley.com/https://www.brandvivamedia.com/https://www.facebook.com/Marklab2https://www.linkedin.com/in/marklab2/ 

We pick back up mid-conversation with Greg Hickman on this episode of The Friday Habit. He is talking about how agencies and businesses that function mostly in the full-service space spend too much time and energy thinking that the grass is greener on the DIY side of things, and vice versa. Ultimately, your best bet is to find a sweet spot right in the middle and then branch out in either direction to have multiple income streams and a variety of clients. He describes this as a ladder with one-to-one higher-cost product offerings at the top and several rungs down you get to one-to-many self-service product offerings. Greg encourages businesses to have 1-3 product offerings and to never have more product offerings than you have employees. Here are a few questions Greg recommends you ask yourself about your business:What does this market need?What do I need?What am I designing this for?What are my goals?Is it worth it?At the end of the episode, Greg describes his top 3 action items for listeners:Document your current process and focus on doing what you are good atWrite out your 3-5 year goals and reverse-engineer your life to get thereFind a mentor to shorten your learning curveConnect with Greg:greg@altagency.com https://altagency.com/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIMW0w-FD3yXlz3MR0aAEqAConnect with us:https://www.thefridayhabit.com/thefridayhabit@knapsackcreative.com https://www.instagram.com/benjaminmanleyhttp://www.benjaminmanley.com/https://www.brandvivamedia.com/https://www.facebook.com/Marklab2https://www.linkedin.com/in/marklab2/ 

Our guest on this episode of The Friday Habit is Greg Hickman, founder of Alt Agency. Greg graduated from a small liberal arts college and earned a business management degree, then joined one of his classmates at a big brand agency as a project manager. Working with all departments at the agency really helped give him a good understanding of the design process and working with clients. Before long, he decided to go out on his own to help personal brands sell their courses and develop sales funnels, eventually providing full-service automation. This experience helped him realize that monthly recurring revenues were not scalable or sustainable for his team and he found himself in a cycle of needing more help to take on new clients but not being able to afford to hire anyone new. As he began to process how he might be able to shift his model, he focused on the 80/20 rule and decided to start with productizing his services and then introduce retainers later in the sales process. They also flipped the script on client work, waiting until the client created the required content before having his team start their portion of the project to reduce unnecessary backups waiting on the client. This became the Foundations flagship program offered by Alt Agency, teaching people that they have to specialize before they can productize. Businesses that successfully productize market to a specific problem and articulate to consumers how they can solve that problem. They also systematize all parts of the funnel, from lead generation to onboarding to communication to billing. Come back next week for the second half of Mark and Ben’s conversation with Greg!Connect with Greg:https://altagency.com/ Connect with us:https://www.thefridayhabit.com/thefridayhabit@knapsackcreative.com https://www.instagram.com/benjaminmanleyhttp://www.benjaminmanley.com/https://www.brandvivamedia.com/https://www.facebook.com/Marklab2https://www.linkedin.com/in/marklab2/