Your business has grown to the point where you can’t manage everything. It’s a wonderful achievement, but it’s also pretty scary. You have to let go. You have to trust someone else with your baby. You have to pass responsibilities on. You have to hire a manager. It’s a big step. Management is different from any other role, and far more conseque ...…

E-commerce is a different game. Not quite entirely physical, not totally online, e-commerce has its own rules, challenges, and considerations. As it happens, Omar built his own e-commerce company way back when, in his early years as a budding entrepreneur. During that time, he acquired the most valuable lessons of all: the lessons you learn fro ...…

Few things are more satisfying than rewarding your team with a retreat. It’s a chance to bond, an opportunity to gel professionally, and a statement of how far you business has come. Most of all, it demonstrates how much you value the team that’s helped you get this far. It’s Q&A Wednesday, and one listener wants to know how to choose the best ...…

No matter what you do, your business will have a story. The question is: who’s writing it? Getting a handle on your business’s online narrative is key to protecting your brand. Whether your business is brick-and-mortar or strictly digital, you have an online reputation to protect. More and more, consumers rely on other consumers’ reviews to mak ...…

Entrepreneurs can have many lives. One business idea at a time, we remake ourselves as we take on new challenges. Starting over — and over — is the challenge, and the fun, of independent business. This week’s Must-Read for entrepreneurs is James Altucher’s Reinvent Yourself. This isn’t businessman, investor, podcaster, and best-seller Altucher’ ...…

The first rule of content marketing: you’ve gotta keep the content coming. Whether it’s blogs, podcasts, videos, or pics, you need a basically endless supply of ideas to generate content from. Fortunately, you have one — in your life, your experiences, your own head, and (most importantly) your audience. It’s simply a matter of capturing each l ...…

Tiers and trials: twin incentives to get users on board. But which one will work best for your business? Today, we explore how entrepreneurs selling digital products (like software services) can benefit from each. We explain the difference between the two, and how each is tailored to different business goals. By understanding both ways to give ...…

You’ve got a great podcast, but you want great guests. How in the world do you get them? It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a question from a fellow podcaster who’s looking to bring fresh voices to his audience. Knowing how to find quality guests — and convincing them to record — takes some finesse, and some time. Today, we discuss our methods f ...…

Experience is the best teacher, and we’ve had plenty. Today, we put aside the specifics of day-to-day business, and focus on the principles that carry us through the ups and downs of entrepreneurship. We’ve got 4 principles that years of struggle, doubt, anxiety, and ultimate success have ingrained in our brains. Learning how to cut through sel ...…

It’s time to get more specific with your business goals. That’s the theme of this week’s Must-Read book for entrepreneurs, John Doerr’s Measure What Matters. Doerr is a milestone master, helping organizations like Google and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation measure their progress with laser precision. Of course, his lessons are just as appli ...…

So many podcasts, so little time. Which ones are worth it for you? Today, we’re putting the spotlight on the 5 most valuable, insightful, useful business podcasts out there (besides our own, of course). Believe it or not, we actually listen to our competition, and learn from other entrepreneurs out there on the digital airwaves. Some, frankly, ...…

Conferences aren’t getting any cheaper. In fact, they’re getting more and more expensive — for those who don’t know some money-saving tips and tricks. Today, we discuss how to shave every possible dollar from the cost of your next conference. With some careful planning, the ROI on a conference can be well, well worth it. The insights, networkin ...…

You want to launch a business. Should you bootstrap down and go lean, or take a hefty investment from an outside source? It’s Q&A Wednesday, and one of our listeners is pondering whether to take money from an investor or bank. Is a pile of outside money a launching pad, or a trap? Is it wise to take money before getting proof of concept, or sil ...…

A simple truth: entrepreneurship is not for everyone. That’s not a judgment, but a helpful statement of fact. Just because you have a great product idea, or simply want to quit your day job, does not mean you should go into business for yourself. The decision to become an entrepreneur is a very serious, very big one. You need to be sure. Today, ...…

Content marketing: is there any other kind? If you’re getting into business, you need to get into the content game. Blogs, videos, pics; whatever the medium, it’s a necessary skill set. Content is the key to traffic, and traffic is the source of any and all sales leads. Your online presence depends on your ability to create, promote, and manage ...…

To everything, there is a season. Some businesses just don’t rake in the cash all year long. In fact, most business have their slow spells at the same times every year. So how in the heck can you stabilize your revenue stream, and keep your business on an even keel month after month? It just takes a little planning. Today, we discuss how to ana ...…

The jet-setting lifestyle of an entrepreneur requires a little work on the road. But what if the jet you’re setting on doesn’t have WiFi? We’re always traveling. Finding the time, space, and resources to handle business in transit can be a challenge. Planes in particular seem like the perfect place to hunker down and get some focused work done, ...…

Ah, working from home. For some, it’s the dream. For others, it’s a guarantee that you won’t get much done. It’s Q&A Wednesday, and one of our listeners has a problem. He’s trying to build a business on the side, but the second he comes home from the day job it’s one distraction after another. Of course, there is an alternative: the ever-more-p ...…

It’s often said that the captain should go down with the ship. What we don’t say too often is that if the captain goes down, the ship is likely to follow. Taking care of your own financial needs is not an act of selfishness. It’s not a sign of disloyalty to your team. It doesn’t mean that you’re not putting yourself on the line for your busines ...…

We review a lot of books. But every once in a while, a gem comes along that stands out from the rest. Our expectations for The Laws of Human Nature were high. Robert Greene is a legendary author, and one of Omar’s personal faves. Greene’s 48 Laws of Power was a game-changer, and we anticipated no less from Human Nature. Needless to say, Greene ...…

There’s no shortage of podcasts out there, but some are (way, way) better than others. With so many podcasts in interview format, how can you make sure yours stands out? If you’re trying to attract great guests, and give your audience something to talk about, you can’t go into interviews without a plan. Omar’s been interviewed on many a podcast ...…

Paper ads. Billboards. Sponsoring the local little league. It’s how our grandparents did business, but can it still work for us? Is the offline world still a viable source of traffic for your business, or is physical advertising over? Today, we discuss how to make offline marketing work for you. While not as precise as targeted online content m ...…

Content marketing is all about the numbers. And when it comes to numbers, email open and click-through rates are some of the most important numbers by far. Of all the factors that can affect those rates, is time one of them? Does it matter what day or hour you hit “send?” It’s Q&A Wednesday, and one listener is wondering if timing can give thei ...…

How can you measure motivation? How can you quantify the effect of appreciation on your team? When you don’t have a lot of cash to throw around, do the little ways of saying “thank you” really matter? Today, we share our experience using small incentives and rewards to keep our team on track. Small gifts and little bits of recognition can go a ...…

It seems like there’s a new self-help book for business people every day. But sometimes, it pays to look back to the old-school masters. Napoleon Hill was born in the 1800’s, but his wisdom has held up well into the 21st century. His best-seller Think and Grow Rich is a foundational text for entrepreneurs, and one of the most popular business b ...…

Your website’s pricing page: it’s the page where visitors are closest to making a purchase. It’s also the page where websites lose the most visitors, as cold feet stop visitors from becoming customers. How can you convert them? How can you get a visitor on the pricing page to pull the trigger? You have their interest. You have them *this close* ...…

What do you do with a dedicated, talented worker who’s exactly the kind of employee you need — but only sometimes? Employing part-timers has unique advantages, but it also comes with some challenges. Give them too much work, and they’re not part-time. Give them too little, and they won’t hang around long. So how can you ensure commitment despit ...…

There’s a huge talent pool on a sunny set of islands in the Pacific. If you hire remote workers, the Philippines is one of the best places you can look. It’s Q&A Wednesday, and one listener is ready to make the very smart move of recruiting Filipino employees to help run his business. As it happens, we have several invaluable team members who s ...…

Is your revenue leaking? Every month, businesses lose hundreds and thousands of dollars to failed payments. Whether it’s an expired account, insufficient funds, or a cancelled card, recurring payments that don’t go through account for an astonishing amount of lost revenue. So how can you safeguard your business against these unnecessary losses? ...…

Don’t think you’re a leader? That’s actually a good place to start! This week’s Must-Read book for entrepreneurs is Brene’ Brown’s Dare to Lead. In it, Brown explains how to find your own innate ability to take charge and lead, however hidden it might be under layers of insecurity. The emotions — including the fear — inside you can be used to i ...…

Conferences can be a very wise investment. As you decide which conferences you’ll attend this year, you have to make another decision: which ticket is right for you? Conference ticket options — and prices — range widely. From a seat in the nosebleeds to the multiple-VIP treatment, the choices can be overwhelming. Which tickets are worth the inv ...…

Every project is a learning opportunity — but only if you take advantage of it. After each and every project, our team takes a few minutes to reflect, learn, and (most importantly) improve. We are constantly raising our game, because we never let a project’s lessons go to waste. No matter the size of your team, you can do the same. Today, we di ...…

Reading: it may be the smartest investment an entrepreneur can make. The ROI of a good book is hard to exaggerate. For less than the cost of a sandwich, you can completely alter your perspective, grow professionally, and find inspiration you never had. Every second you spend reading adds value to you as a business person. That’s why our host Om ...…

You want to network. You want to make the connections that’ll help your business grow. You want to make the right friends and partners. Should you just reach out? Cold emailing is an option some entrepreneurs consider. Without any connection or previous relationship, some folks just get a hold of someone’s email address, and pitch away. But is ...…

Entrepreneurship shouldn’t suck. That’s the essential message of Greg Winteregg’s career. In his decades in business, he’s been a prolific speaker and management consultant, and a well regarded business author. Today, he’s here to explain how no one can truly succeed if they’re unhappy with their business — and how to find meaning in your indep ...…

Chargebacks are a hot topic of inquiry these days. With banks and credit card companies pledging to stand by their customers no matter what, it’s way too easy for someone to force a refund — even when they’re in the wrong. In this climate, knowing how to avoid these chargebacks is a necessary skill. No entrepreneur can manage their revenue stre ...…

We’ve discussed Mastermind groups, those collections of experienced entrepreneurs who meet to share their wisdom with each other, before. And some groups, frankly, are more valuable than others. But are some Masterminds valuable enough to pay for? Our intrepid host Omar decided to find out. Omar shelled out a significant sum of his hard-earned ...…

For entrepreneurs, ideas come easy. Often, it’s the next step we stumble on. Transitioning from idea to initial product can be a doozy, especially if your idea is a tech or software product. If you’re not an engineer, and you don’t have any handy, how in the heck do you move forward? Is your idea doomed to be just another coulda, woulda, or sho ...…

Video marketing is the latest must-have skill for 21st century entrepreneurs. While the power of text to drive traffic hasn’t waned, video is where smart entrepreneurs are finding their competitive edge. From social media marketing to YouTube SEO, video content has to be in your arsenal. But so many new entrepreneurs balk at shooting their own ...…

You can avoid wasting money without being cheap. In fact, you kinda have to. New, independent businesses depend largely on their founder’s ability to keep quality high but expenses controlled. You can’t spend yourself out of business, but you can’t disappoint your customers (or your team) just to save a buck. Quality is a must, but it’s no excu ...…

Entrepreneurship: it’s fun and exciting at the start, but after a while, some uncomfortable questions may start to creep in. Usually, those questions have to do with your progress. Are you successful enough? Are you “making it,” whatever that means? It’s time to reframe the question. One of the most important lessons an entrepreneur can learn i ...…

Your “to do” list is out of control. That’s entrepreneurship for you. Sometimes, just getting started is the biggest challenge of every day. With so many potential tasks and projects on the horizon, you need a way to prioritize. It has to be efficient, fast, and (most importantly) it has to guarantee the best return on the investment of your pr ...…

Are you in a position to transition? Many of us entrepreneurs started out side-hustling, building our little businesses while holding down a 9-to-5. But at some point, you have to decide if and when it’s time to ditch the day job and invest fully into your independent creation. It’s Q&A Wednesday, and one listener wonders how to know when it’s ...…

Every barrier between your customers and your product is an opportunity for lost business. One of the easiest ways to remove those barriers? Integration. Whether you’re selling a course, software, or even a physical product, integrations are and important key to closing, onboarding, and retaining customers. The more apps your products work with ...…

Leadership can be tough, and so can the conversations. When it comes to criticism, course correction, and other awkward talks, only the leader can (and must) buck up and say what has to be said. It has to be done smoothly, professionally, and in a way that creates change without creating resentment. It’s not easy. It’s a skill, one that every e ...…

Rise and shine, entrepreneurs. The early bird gets the profit. Or does it? Expert after expert, guru after guru, claims that jumping out of bed at the you-know-what-crack of dawn is the key to productivity and efficacy. But does that hold true for everyone? Can’t a night owl be successful? Can’t you make strides after 12pm? Is the snooze button ...…

What entrepreneurs focus way too much on: customer acquisition. What entrepreneurs focus way too little on: customer retention. Onboarding and retention are key to long-term sustainability. The first step? The initial welcome email your new customers receive when they purchase your product. That email is the start of something big, and it needs ...…

In business, public speaking is a must, even if it’s only occasionally. Communication is everything. It’s Q&A Wednesday, and one listener is ready to make a conscious effort to become a better public speaker. As it turns out, our host Omar wasn’t always the comfortable, confident maestro of the mic he is today. In fact, as a young educator, Oma ...…

When a customer taps out, it’s generally a sad, defeated moment. But not all is lost. Cancellations and refunds are going to happen, period. But each one is an opportunity to learn something that will improve customer retention going forward. There is great value in every loss, value you can reinvest into your business for a better long-term tr ...…

Stories have power. Stories are the way human beings fundamentally comprehend everything, from their history to their personal trajectory. When you want people to understand something, the best thing to do is tell a story. Especially if you want them to believe in your business. Entrepreneur and author Paul Smith’s Lead With a Story explains ex ...…