Business Buffet

Quiet Quitting article on SHRM.com, https://bit.ly/3dtGLyE.Interested in creating your own podcast?  Zenith Exhibits Studios provides affordable podcast production services.  Recording, Editing, Hosting, AI Transcription, and Publishing included for one low monthly price.  Visit www.zenithexhibits.studios or call (208) 209-7170 to learn more.

Did you know it is free to attend classes at the SBDC?  Warren from the Small Business Development Center talks about the tax payer supported program available to all business owners (current and future) to help them navigate the business climate.  Warren shares his insight on business and tips for success for local small businesses.Search on Google for “North Idaho SBDC” or visit nisbdc.com Interested in creating your own podcast?  Zenith Exhibits Studios provides affordable podcast production services.  Recording, Editing, Hosting, AI Transcription, and Publishing included for one low monthly price.  Visit www.zenithexhibits.studios or call (208) 209-7170 to learn more.

Joe Hume has been running his computer repair business in Rathdrum Idaho for over 20 years.  In this episode he sits down with Business Buffet to talk about how he got into the business and shares tips for people who might be thinking about going into the computer repair business.Interested in creating your own podcast?  Zenith Exhibits Studios provides affordable podcast production services.  Recording, Editing, Hosting, AI Transcription, and Publishing included for one low monthly price.  Visit www.zenithexhibits.studios or call (208) 209-7170 to learn more.

Teresa Bruni from Less Fear, More Flow shares her insight to starting a personal coaching business.  She discusses the required skills, passions, and experience needed to become successful.To learn more about Teresa, visit TeresaBruni.comBooks mentioned in the podcast: Three Simple Steps by Trevor Blake Business Secrets from the Bible by Rabbi Daniel Lapin The Four Hour Work Week by Tim Terriss Interested in creating your own podcast?  Zenith Exhibits Studios provides affordable podcast production services.  Recording, Editing, Hosting, AI Transcription, and Publishing included for one low monthly price.  Visit www.zenithexhibits.studios or call (208) 209-7170 to learn more.

Steve Gray help my wife and I sell our home when I moved out of Oregon.  The experience was top notch!  I invited Steve on to Business Buffet to share his secrets to success for those who might be thinking about going into Real Estate.  NOTE:  His tips work in all business types!Books mentioned by Steve:  The Go-Giver by Bob Burg, The Go-Giver Sells More by Bob Burg, The Speed of Trust by Steven Covney.To learn more about Steve, visit steveg.johnlscott.com  or call (503) 320-4311.Interested in creating your own podcast?  Zenith Exhibits Studios provides affordable podcast production services.  Recording, Editing, Hosting, AI Transcription, and Publishing included for one low monthly price.  Visit www.zenithexhibits.studios or call (208) 209-7170 to learn more.

Tabitha Kraack sits down with Business Buffet to talk about her side hustle podcasting gig and shares all the secretes to success.  We talk about software, hardware, hosting options, marketing, mics, sound, interviewing…everything the small business person might need to know to start their own podcast.You can listen to Tabitha's podcast on Apple at:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/keepin-tabs-with-tabitha/id1517472872Interested in creating your own podcast?  Zenith Exhibits Studios provides affordable podcast production services.  Recording, Editing, Hosting, AI Transcription, and Publishing included for one low monthly price.  Visit www.zenithexhibits.studios or call (208) 209-7170 to learn more.

Nathan Wallace with Wallace Wealth Management visits with Business Buffet and talks about being an entrepreneur running a Financial Planning business.To learn more about Nathan, visit www.wallacewealthcda.com Interested in creating your own podcast?  Zenith Exhibits Studios provides affordable podcast production services.  Recording, Editing, Hosting, AI Transcription, and Publishing included for one low monthly price.  Visit www.zenithexhibits.studios or call (208) 209-7170 to learn more.

This is part 2 of why hackers want control of your computer and email.  In today’s episode I am going to talk about SPAM and the costs to small business.This episode is brought to you by Zenith Exhibits Studios.

Are you investing time in areas that improve your life and business or losing time to your competition?  In today’s episode we explore the purpose behind The Business Buffet and some important lessons on time.This episode is brought to you by Zenith Exhibits Studios.

Hundreds of customers ask my, “why do hackers want to gain control of my computer, I am just a small business?”  In today’s episode I am going to share the value of your business computer in the eyes of a hacker.This episode is brought to you by Zenith Exhibits Studios.

Today’s food for thought comes from Peter Drucker, he said; “There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.” Are you struggling with finding enough time in your business? You might be spinning your wheels in areas that you shouldn’t all because that is the way you’ve always done it.

In today’s episode we’ll discuss lack of experience and knowledge and what you can do to acquire the knowledge you need to either grow your business or keep up with the ever changing marketplace demands. This episode is brought to you by Zenith Exhibits Studios.

Should you run that new business on the side or jump in with both feet and dedicate yourself to the new endeavor? Today on the Business Buffet, we’ll explore our options and I’ll share a story that helps drive the point home.

Using the SWOT Analysis tool can help pull you out of the business procrastination doldrums. In today’s episode I share how the SWOT tool works and how you can over come the fear of change that you may be facing.

When your business depends on external resources then your business is hostage to continued availability of those resources. Today’s episode will discuss issues surrounding Parlor, the cancel culture and how this example should scare you back to preferring internal resources for your business operations.

As a small business owner, you frequently face a crisis of confidence. Is your product or service good enough, is your competition beating you to market, are you good enough to stay in business…and a thousand other self doubt phrases. In today’s episode we’ll explore ways to re-build your self-confidence to the point it was when you ventured out on your own.

You know you can make a mint if you just knew what products and services to sell. You’re unsure how to pick a niche. In today’s episode I share with you some stories on how I picked my niche and continue to reinvent my business.

Today’s episode is a work of business fiction that talks about an social media marketer who is having a hard time making financial ends meet. He has made bad decisions in the past, which he blames for the current situation: so now he is struggling with the unknown and fear of making another bad choice that could spell disaster for his business.Today's episode is sponsored by:F1 for Help - www.f1forhelp.net Abandon Your Aches Massage - ayamassagecda.com Oasis Lawn & Pest - oasislawnandpest.com

Today’s episode is a work of business fiction about a young man who feels stuck in a dead end job that is pulling him away from his family. Rather than accepting his situation as something that can not be changed, Tommy takes life in to his own hands and turns to entrepreneurship to fix things.

After last’s week’s episode, Phil and I decided ti was time to make some changes here on the Business Buffet. We created this channel to provide important how to information for you the listener. While we are not changing the goal, we are revamping the process how we present the information. In today’s episode Ed and Phil discuss the new podcast format and why making these changes are important for the future.Today’s sponsors are: F1 for Help - www.f1forhelp.net Abandon Your Aches Massage - ayamassagecda.com Oasis Lawn & Pest - oasislawnandpest.com

If there's one rule that applies to everything in life, it's that change is inevitable and the same goes for your business. Big changes aren't always needed to help your company. Sometimes it may only require a few tweaks and adjustments to stay current in today's market. But there ARE those times that it may take a monumental shift to do the trick. If you're not sure how to tell when, or even IF, it's time for a change Ed and I will talk about telltale signs that indicate you should look at making a change on todays episode of the Business Buffet.Thank you to our sponsors for today’s episode:F1 for Help - www.f1forhelp.net 208-687-0183Oasis Lawn and Pest - oasislawnandpest.com 208-921-3686Abandon Your Aches Massage - ayamassagecda.com

Phil and I help lots of small business owners and more often than not, the reason a business is struggling is due to decision paralysis. The business owners know a decision much be made and even know the decision that must be made, but fails to pull the trigger. In today’s episode we will explore the pros and cons of waiting until something is perfect versus getting to market as soon as possible.Thank you to our sponsors for today’s episode:Abandon Your Aches Massage - ayamassagecda.comF1 for Help - www.f1forhelp.netOasis Lawn and Pest - oasislawnandpest.com

The holidays are fast approaching. In this most unusual year of 2020, summer has flown by us and we’re now, unbelievably, in the month of Halloween, which means savvy small businesses are already looking ahead to the holiday shopping season. And that doesn’t mean JUST Christmas! Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday all count. And of course, there’s Thanksgiving, too! Smart businesses have reviewed data from last year to determine what promotions worked versus those that did not. They have defined and set sales goals, optimized their websites for desktop and mobile devices, and created marketing campaigns targeted to their ideal shopper. Is YOUR business ready for the holidays? Ed and I will light a fire under you on this episode of The Business Buffet!For Small Business Saturday on November 28th make sure to add your business to the Shop Small map, and take advantage of free promotional materials available to small businesses.Thank you to our sponsors:Oasis Lawn and Pest https://oasislawnandpest.com Abandon Your Aches Massage https://ayamassagecda.com F1 for HELP

Guerrilla marketing is an advertisement strategy in which a company uses surprise and/or unconventional interactions in order to promote a product or service. It is a type of publicity. The term was popularized by Jay Conrad Levinson's 1984 book Guerrilla Marketing.Guerrilla marketing uses multiple techniques and practices in order to establish direct contact with the customers. One of the goals of this interaction is to cause an emotional reaction in the clients, and the ultimate goal of marketing is to get people to remember products or brands in a different way than they are accustomed to.Guerrilla marketing is relatively inexpensive, and focuses more on reach rather than frequency.[citation needed] For guerrilla campaigns to be successful, companies don't need to spend large amounts, they just need to have imagination, energy and time. Therefore, it has the potential to be effective for small businesses, especially if they are competing against bigger companies.In today’s episode we are going to explore 7 online guerrilla marketing ideas that could give your business that extra oomph you need to rise about your competition.Thank you to our sponsors:Abandon Your Aches Massage - ayamassagecda.com F1 for Help - www.f1forhelp.net

If there is one thing consistent in business, it’s that virtually ALL businesses THINK customer service is what separates them from their competition. Like the word ‘branding’, however, the words ‘customer service’ also has a different meaning to different people. In the past, people chose which companies they did business with based on price, or the product or service offered, but today the overall experience is often the driver. Is your business catering to the customer experience? On this episode of the Business Buffet, Ed and I will talk through and walk through some very important things to consider implementing before you start telling people YOUR customer service is second to none.Thank you to our sponsors:Abandon Your Aches Massage - ayamassagecda.com F1 for Help - www.f1forhelp.net

Thomas Henry with AdWeek wrote an article titled A 4-Step Roadmap to Help Brands Create a Marketing Plan for the ‘New Normal’. He highlights four interesting areas, but as I was reading the article I didn’t feel the small business was being considered. Today Phil and I will explore the four suggested roadmap waypoints Mr Henry references and introduce our small business slant. At the end of this episode, you will be able to read the business climate for your industry and anticipate the new normal. F1 for Help - www.f1forhelp.net Abandon Your Aches Massage - ayamassagecda.com

Today, Ed and Phil are going to ask the questions, “Are you listening to your customers?” on this episode of the Business Buffet.A big thank you to our sponsors: Abandon Your Aches Massage - ayamassagecda.comF1 for Help - www.f1forhelp.net

Today’s episode is a deep exploration of something a big box store is doing to succeed and then Ed & Phil drill down to the main elements any business can use to improve their business.A big thank you to our sponsors:F1 for Help - www.f1forhelp.net Abandon Your Aches Massage - ayamassagecda.com

When you’re in business for yourself you obviously need to have a business license, relevant supplies & business equipment, name & branding and a physical location, if applicable. Although you HAVE to have those things, there are other things almost as important. In this episode, Ed and Phil will talk about the top 8 things every business must have that will give them the best opportunity of being successful.Thank you to our sponsors: F1 for Help - www.f1forhelp.netAbandon Your Aches Massage - ayamassagecda.comSocial Media Summit - https://www.smwcda.com

Have you heard about the business who was destroyed online because an employee said someone on a video that went viral? How about the business who got vandalized because they were not enforcing the mask mandate? My favorite is the business who got shut down by a mod of angry people because you gave money to a political candidate? These things all happen everyday and small business owners are scared to death. How you react to the initial attack is critical to surviving the onslaught. For that matter, knowing the attack is happening is the first step. It today’s episode, Ed & Phil will discuss how to monitor the internet for negative attacks and give you tips for dealing with the cancel culture.Thank you to our sponsors: Zenith Exhibits Studios - www.ZenithExhibits.Studio F1 for Help - www.f1forhelp.net Abandon Your Aches Massage - ayamassagecda.com

Cash is king. Businesses need cash. Cash is the lifeblood of your business. Without it, your business doesn’t function. You can’t pay for your supplies, you can’t pay your employees, you can’t pay your rent. 30% of small businesses fail because of a lack of access to cash. What can you do to handle cash flow issues in your business? How can you keep cash flow issues from happening? Ed and Phil will discuss those questions and provide sound and viable answers on this episode of the Business Buffet.Thank you to our sponsors:Abandon Your Aches Massage https://ayamassagecda.com Tails Foundation Inc. http://www.tailsfoundationinc.com F1 for Help - 208-687-0183 www.f1forhelp.net

Has COVID-19 slowed down you sales cycle? If so, then every at-bat is mission critical and thus you should take a closer look at your technique. If you are making the mistake of not taking the prospects point of view, then you could be leaking closed deals and wasting lots of time in the process. In today’s episode Ed & Phill will discuss this very common sales problem and what you can do to overcome the natural tendency to make.Thank you to our sponsors:Social Media Summit CDA - smwcda.comF1 for Help - www.f1forhelp.net

Business owners already have it hard enough. They are responsible to their employees, their customers and/or clients and to the business itself. Those that pull the trigger on business ownership realize, all too fast, the challenges that can cripple the business from being successful. Then why would business owners choose to surround themselves with people who can speed up the process of business demise? How do you identify those people? Should you seek out relationships with people that can ONLY help your business? Ed and Phill will talk about that on this episode of the Business Buffet.

With 2020 being anything BUT what we all thought it might be, things are vastly different. Many of the norms we were used to in our daily lives have shifted to new norms. And that includes in business. Whereas there are many businesses who have benefitted from COVID-19, there are also plenty who have struggled mightily to keep their head above water. We have talked at length at what businesses who are suffering can do to keep their proverbial doors open and today I’m going to review some of those things on this episode of the Business Buffet!A big thank to to our episode sponsor:F1 For Help - Visit www.f1forhelp.net or call 208-687-0183

Is paid digital advertising even working for small businesses anymore? Everybody says you have to do paid advertising on Facebook, Google, and Twitter, but what are they really trying to tell you? can business only succeed if it pays for digital advertising, or are there other options a small business can turn to in these very confusing COVID-19 days? In this episode, Ed and Phil will discuss different digital advertising options that are not Google and/or Facebook.A big thank to to our episode sponsors:F1 For Help - www.f1forhelp.netAbandon Your Aches Massage - ayamassagecda.comSocial Media summit - www.smwcda.com

When it comes to sports, whether it’s team sports or individual sports, there are coaches involved. But when it comes to business, many scoff at the idea of having a coach. In this Ingredients episode of the Business Buffet, we’re going to talk with business coach, Ted Schmidt, an award winning business & executive coach, trainer and speaker, who will walk us through some of the things he's helped his clients improve on. Thanks to our sponsors:Call F1 for Help at (208) 687-0183Visit Social Media Summit CDA at https://www.smwcda.com For more information on Ted Schmidt and Action Coach Northwest, please visit https://tedschmidt.actioncoach.com

Historically, it’s usually a gamble when businesses speak out about anything, but now with social media’s pervasiveness, vast reach and viral potential, brands are now put under a new global microscope. In today’s divisive social and political climate, brands face unprecedented challenges when engaging with consumer audiences on social platforms. As hot-button issues dominate headlines, many businesses and brands have struggled to navigate today’s biggest, and sometimes most controversial, conversations. On this episode, Ed and Phil will talk about how to navigate your business when you are thrust into the political spotlight when all you really want to do is serve your community by selling your products and services.

Corona-virus, nationwide protests, and finding local talent are all reasons why you might have implemented a telecommuting strategy for your business. The question is: is this approach helping or hurting? In today’s episode Ed & Phil will discuss different business scenarios and the impact of working from home might have. We’ll also explore the potential opportunities for those who might be struggling with the whole idea.

For months it seems like all we’ve talked about is how to get through a crisis in business. Whether it’s ‘Rona or protesters that are taking out their anger on brick and mortar stores, businesses have been hit from all angles. Today we’re going to shift gears a little bit and talk about the pros and cons of partnerships in business.Today’s episode is sponsored by:Abandon Your Aches Massage - ayamassagecda.comF1 for Help - www.f1forhelp.netSocial Media Summit - swmcda.com

Over time, your service-based business will need to adapt to customer needs, industry shifts, technology advances, and economic conditions. Are you conditioned to be on the look-out for when a change is required or are you an individual who feels your business will never need to change? In today’s episode, Ed & Phil will discuss the types of changes that face different types of businesses and ways to embrace the change.Today’s episode is sponsored by:F1 for Help - www.f1forhelp.netSocial Media Summit - swmcda.comAbandon Your Aches Massage - ayamassagecda.com

It happens more times than we want but it IS a given, as business owners, we will have to navigate a storm, navigate said storm to the best of our ability, and hope for a positive outcome. We’ve had to do that through this Coronavirus lockdown, for sure, but sometimes the storm resides from within. We can TRY to prepare ourselves for whatever comes our way, but at the end of the day, we can’t predict every scenario. Zenefits Chairman and CEO, Jay Fulcher, knew from day one he had his work cut out for him as he was asked, in February 2017, to take over silicon valley’s sweetheart, Zenefits, a company headquartered in San Francisco that offers cloud-based software as a service to companies for managing their human resources, with a particular focus on helping them with health insurance coverage. On today’s Ingredients episode of the Business Buffet, Jay will share some of the challenges he faced and had to overcome, and the major move he made within the first week of taking over.Thanks to our sponsors:Visit Social Media Summit CDA at https://www.smwcda.com Visit Abandon Your Aches Massage at https://ayamassagecda.com Call F1 for Help at (208) 687-0183For more information on Zenefits, visit https://www.zenefits.com

For small business owners, the last thing they need is another social media platform to learn and use. LinkedIn, however, is a must for any business that benefits from referrals, is a B2B business or a B2C business that needs great talent to hire and to stay informed about their industry. Today we will touch on the benefit of having a presence on LinkedIn during this 1st Business Buffet episode of season 2 and we’ll be doing it ‘live’ from Season’s Restaurant in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, during the Network CDA weekly lunch. The Business Buffet is open at Seasons. It’s time to eat hearty in business and eat hearty at Seasons! Let’s do this! Sponsors:Social Media Summit CDAF1 for Help - Call (208) 687-0183Abandon Your Aches Massage

Phil and Ed discuss challenges small business faces with social distancing and the government ordered shut-downs as well as potential solutions to overcome the challenge. This episode is not about business as usual, but rather business survival in a COVID-19 World.#EatHeartyInBusiness, #COVID19Business, #SmallBusinessSuccessThank you to our sponsors:Social Media Summit CDAF1 for Help

Growing a brand is never easy. It takes forethought, commitment, perseverance and the strength to will it to fruition. Or in the case of today’s guest, the strength to will it into a mug, in the form of premium coffee. On the Business Buffet, we’re constantly talking about staying consistent with your brand down to every detail. Tom O’Keefe founded Tully’s coffee, and was a man so closely associated with the operation that his middle name IS the company’s name, Tully’s. He will talk about the challenges of taking on the industry leader, Starbucks, as well as ways in which he has given back to the community, in this Ingredients episode of the Business Buffet.Thank you to our sponsor. Please visit https://www.smwcda.com for more information on Social Media Summit Coeur d’Alene and the Social Media Summit Inner Circle.

There are many reasons people go into business for themselves: They see an underserved niche and want to fill it, hate their jobs and want to become their own boss or think they can produce a better product and/or service than anyone else. There are no doubt many other reasons but many people simply realize exchanging hours for dollars is limited. Starting your own business means you can work as much or as little as you like and there is no limit to what you can earn. And all of this is true. But those that don’t take intentional thought into business ownership will likely get chewed up and spit out. If a small business owner can’t answer the question, “What separates your business from your competition” then there is a long uphill battle in their future. Today we will help you get over that hump and give you some tips and steps to consider when setting out to separate you from your competitors on this episode of the Business Buffet.

The terms “brand” and “business” are often used interchangeably. While the dictionary definitions might be similar, there is a distinct difference. Today we’re going to start with the very basics when it comes to branding and what that means on this Side Dish episode of the Business Buffet.Thank you to our sponsor. Please visit https://www.smwcda.com for more information on Social Media Summit Coeur d’Alene and the Social Media Summit Inner Circle.

Business has become too dependent on digital marketing channels and has lost touch with the idea of marketing diversification. What happens when a digital channel shuts down? Until COVID, most businesses did not think that was possible. Reality is not only was it possible, but it has been happening more and more and started long before the coronavirus.Political ideology, technology shifts, company acquisitions, and social trends all impact digital messaging and can push aside messaging that conform to norms. The key point for this podcast is to keep your digital marketing, but make sure you have other channels to reach your audience. The number one lead-generating marketing method is still tradeshow exhibiting.In today’s episode we’ll talk with Mel White, VP of Marketing and Business Development for Classic Exhibits, a leading tradeshow and exhibit manufacture and get his take on the condition of the tradeshow exhibiting option for marketing your business.

There’s Google Ad words, SEO, Social Media, Print, Direct Mail, Radio, Television… how on earth can your business stand out in all of this marketing noise? Well, you may have to consider some off the beaten path marketing for your business and that’s what I’m going to talk about on THIS Side Dish episode of the Business Buffet.Thanks to our sponsor, F1 for HELP. Please call them at 208-687-0183.

Google has over 92% of the global market share for searches culminating in over 7 billion searches per day. They built their business on reliable search results, and their position in the marketplace is well earned. Business has become dependent on the search results driving business, but now Google allows some political ideology to influence search results. We can only wish for the days when people were punished for crimes they committed, on the internet today (and the nation for that matter) punishment can be doled out for not doing something. And business can be devastated if it is not perceived as adequately woke. In today’s episode, we’ll stay clear of the politics behind the issue and instead speak to a solution. This is not a new-fangled solution with an unproved history, no today’s topic is based on a method with hundreds of years of provable success.

To maximize success on the tradeshow floor, one must plan correctly. The 5-step engagement process is a proven system for optimizing the limited tradeshow floor time and maximizing lead capture.

Small businesses are scrambling to gain a foothold on their business during this Covid-19 crisis. The tendency is to stop spending money which also means stop marketing. If history has proven anything, it is businesses MUST continue to market in a down economy. But many of those businesses that continue to market, do it from a transactional mindset. “What is the fastest way for me to get a return on my marketing investment?” Today we’re going to look at a different approach to marketing as we talk with Mark Schaefer, a globally-recognized keynote speaker, educator, business consultant, and author. His blog is hailed as one of the top marketing blogs in the world. Not only that, Mark has had a very up close and personal look at the Coronavirus. It’s time to step into the Business Buffet kitchen, open the recipe book and see some of the Business Ingredients Mark Schaefer uses on this Ingredients episode of the Business Buffet.For more information on Mark Schaefer visit https://businessesgrow.com Get your free Pandemic Playbook by visiting https://businessesgrow.com/pandemicplaybook/ Thanks to our sponsor Abandon Your Aches Massage. Please visit https://ayamassagecda.com or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/abandonyourachesmassage/