Make It Matter

Hey kids, it's been fun, but it's time to lay this project to rest. But have no fear! I've launched a new podcast—The Currency—and you're going to love it.

Catch up ep in which I share my recent thinking on the nature of my work and how I'm going to be approaching what I do over the next few years. Plus an announcement about a cool change to the podcast.

Everyone's talking about the recent Gillette commercial, or short film, as they like to call it—and for that reason I hate to even bring it up. But, there's some relevance for marketers and business owners that I think is being overlooked. In this episode I tackle the infamous, and probably soon-to-be-forgotten Gillette ad of January 2019.

In this episode I share the three things you can do now to make sure your business thrives even if the economy isn't. Plus I talk a little about a mistake I made with the podcast and the current trade war between the US and China.

Have you heard? Facebook, Tumblr, Patreon are going through some changes and in the process some folks are getting left out in the cold. Now, lot's has been said about this from a political perspective, but there's a big lesson in there for entrepreneurs, businesses, and marketers. So, pull up a chair, pour a drink, and settle in.

Join me for a long ramble as I ask and attempt to answer the question, can marketing be moral.

I'm halfway though John Lewis Gaddis' amazing book, "On Grand Strategy" and I want to share something from the book that's made me think about my own approach to life.

Thanksgiving thought, my online business plan, the power of pen and paper, I'm tied to a weird YouTube sub-genre, and what it all leads to.

Podcasting has enjoyed a lot of success but the fact is it could grow so much more—but it likely won't. Join me as I compare iTunes and YouTube as platforms to learn why.

What? I leave for almost a year and then right before 2018 is wrapped up, I decide to fire up the pod again. Hey gang, sorry for the long hiatus but it's great to be back behind the mic. And, in this episode I share a bit about what I want to do with Make It Matter and how things have been going with my YouTube efforts.

I'm one week in and already I've gotten my first video up, reeled in my first subscriber, and even lost my first $2,000. It's a beautiful thing. Join me, Mike Gastin, as I share the first week of starting a digital business.

I'm embarking on a new project—a project that I'm going to chronicle here on the Make It Matter podcast. Join me as I develop an online business from the ground up. I'm going to share everything with you: successes, failures, expenses, and revenue so you can see what it's like to create an online business from scratch.

Have you ever wondered if you're spending the right amount on your marketing? The accepted rule of thumb is to budget between two and five percent of your gross revenue, but is that really the right way to determine how much to spend on your marketing? In this episode, Mike shares his fail-safe approach to building a marketing budget.

There's a problem with the latest Oxfam report on inequality that should bother every business owner and entrepreneur. It's a problem of story. Join Mike as he gets you up to speed on the report, what's problematic with it, and shares why he thinks telling our own stories is the best way to respond.

What if you could project your own brain activity onto another person, forcing the person’s mind to closely mirror your own? What if you could become so good at this that you were able to do it with your prospects, customers, and employees? It might sound like science fiction, but it's actually science fact. Join me as I explore how neural coupling, oxytocin, and the power of story can transform your business.

Hospitals across the US are struggling to maintain their supply of IV bags due to the effects of hurricane Maria, which struck Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017, crippling Baxter International's ability to manufacture the bags. Join Mike as he draws a lesson for entrepreneurs, owners, and executives from this crisis.

The Make It Matter podcast is back in business—it's good to get behind the mic! A quick episode to get things rolling again and to update listeners to what's been going on.

Wanting to own a business is the easy part, but how do you find one for sale besides just getting lucky? In this episode I share the best way to find multiple businesses for sale in your community. It doesn't take that much time and the best part about it not many people know this simple approach, making your odds of winning even that much higher.

What if you didn't have to start a business to be an entrepreneur? Most think the only way to be a business owner is to start one from scratch. And, although that's an excellent way to go about it, there's a lesser known path to entrepreneurship; a path that can be quicker, less risky, and better suited. In this episode Mike shares how you can become an entrepreneur without starting your own business. Sound too good to be true? Listen in and find out for yourself!

After writing 1,000 words for 65 days straight, Mike has learned a few lessons. A couple were a bit of a surprise. Take a listen and find out just what writing like an olympian powerlifter has taught him and how writing can make you a better entrepreneur.

Do you love winning new business but hate to close? Or, maybe you've found closing to be a bit of an enigma; part contact sport and part magic. Don't worry. Closing is easy once you understand a few key ideas. In this episode Mike finishes up our series on sales by sharing his approach to closing deals. Listen and learn how to take make closing a great experience for you and your customers.

Ever hire a sales rep only to be disappointed with their performance? It could be that you just need to understand what kind of sales person they are. In this episode Mike explains the difference between the two main kinds of sales people: farmers and hunters and how to better utilize each one. Listen and learn how you can avoid a great deal of frustration and missed revenue goals while building the perfect sales machine.

In this episode Mike shares his approach to sales that he's developed over 25 years of working with prospects and clients. Boiling it all down to three key points, he shares how listeners can transform the way they sell, making both their own and the lives of their prospects much better.

Why not start the new year with a smarter approach to your prospects? Most agree that prioritizing prospects makes sense, but hardly anyone does it. Mike shares a simple approach that will help you better allocate precious resources, while driving impressive sales.

This year has witnessed many proclamations of the demise of cold calling—everyone from low-level sales reps to the founder of Hubspot are all saying the cold call is dead. But, is it really? In this episode Mike shares his perspective on the much-maligned cold call and how this may be the best time ever to embrace it.

2017 is just around the corner and you're thinking about what you'd like to accomplish next year. Odds are this includes increasing your revenues. What better way to grow your business than through sales? And yet, most people hate selling. In this episode I address two main obstacles to becoming an expert salesperson and how you can overcome them.

We've all had money problems at one time or another. But there's one problem we've all got with money that we don't realize. Learn what it is, why it's effecting you, and what to do about it.

Mike reviews Cal Newport's book, Deep Work, Rules for Focused Success in A Distracted World. Learn about the book's main ideas and decide for yourself if it's worth the read.

Get up. Do combat with your inbox. Try to keep your customers happy while juggling employee requests. Bang out a proposal while trying to catch up on a deadline. Then, call it a day. Rinse, dry and repeat. That's what it often feels like to be an entrepreneur. Good news: there's a better way. In this episode Mike shares with you the single major contributor to out-of-control days and what you can do to take back your life.

If there's anything constant in this world, it's the steady flow of destabilizing news—the latest being Brexit. What are we to do? How do we run our businesses? Whether it's Brexit today or the American presidential election tomorrow, you're going to be faced with challenges. In this episode Mike shares three simple things that will make running your business during difficult times much easier.

Whether you're a king or queen, mom or dad, executive or clerk; there's one resource that everyone has in a limited supply—time. Time is the one thing that no one can get more of. In this episode, recorded on Father's Day, Mike reflects on how we as entrepreneurs spend our time.

Do your marketing efforts seem to be returning fewer results for the same amount of work? It's likely that you're stuck in a rut. Don't worry—it happens. In this episode Mike shares a powerful approach to invigorating your marketing program; one that will get you closer to your prospects while regularly delivering excellent results.

How do you know when it's time to hire new employees and grow your team? As entrepreneurs we often like to rely on our gut. The problem is, hiring is a big decision; one that's painful if you get wrong. In this episode I share my process that allowed me to move away from relying on my gut and move towards a fail-proof system for knowing when to hire and when to wait.

With so much needing attention, it's easy to get caught in the trap of your business' day-to-day operations. But did you know that doing so will stunt you company's growth? In this episode Mike talks about the difference between working on and in your business and how to break free of the day-to-day in order to build something greater than yourself.

Have you ever been guilty of not paying yourself what you're worth? It's an easy trap to fall into and a hard one to get out of. In this episode Mike tackles the issue of entrepreneurs underpaying themselves. He explain how taking a proper salary out of your business is critical if you really want to see your business succeed and shares some of the added benefits of paying yourself properly.

A quick intro episode—the episode behind the episode—to get the show launched. In it host Mike Gastin explains what Make It Matter is about and what listeners can expect going forward.