Mind Your Business

How do you know when you're ready to follow your dream and start your own business? At what point is it time to leave the safety of what you know to jump off into a new venture? I'm often asked two questions: "Mark, how do I start my own business?" (which is a podcast all its own) and "Mark, how do I know when it's time to leave my job and start my own business full-time?" These are both great questions. Please note that there are important things to consider before you jump. In this podcast, I speak about real issues that face the entrepreneur who wants to make his mark on the world. Entrepreneurs who plan to be successful must consider not only the market they wish to dominate, but their level of tenacity and confidence, and their willingness to leave the safety of the shore to launch out on the adventure of entrepreneurship. I hope you enjoy this podcast. More importantly, I hope it propels you to take whatever next steps you've been waiting to take.   -Mark

What is leverage and how does it affect your business? Simply stated, leverage is using something and/or someone to maximize your advantage. It is a way to exert minimum effort to achieve maximum results. A smart business owner will utilize the talents and efforts of others who have expertise in areas that they don't. When you leverage other resources, you not only benefit from the experience of other people's trials and errors, but you avoid the time and expense of start up costs. The idea is to work smart. Entrepreneurs are innovators that change the way we live and work. They bring vision to the marketplace and creative ideas that can change the world. Leveraging the knowledge and expertise of others affords entrepreneurs a way to focus on what is really important: their customer.  - Mark

If you want to stand heads above the crowd in your industry, you must have a strong value proposition. Your competitors have one. Ask yourself: What do I bring to the market that is unique? What do I do that is special and adds value to my product or service? How does it help my customer? Sit down with pen and paper and determine those values. Even better, utilize a large whiteboard to write out your ideas or go online and download a free mind mapping tool. In this episode, I share my experience with creating value propositions and how using them has positively impacted my business. Remember to keep your customer in mind when you choose 2 or 3 values that make you special. They should be simple, memorable, and repeatable. Enjoy this episode and reach out to me with your questions and comments. I would be interested to hear about your experience starting your own business and what factors determined your value proposition. As always, thank you for listening. I appreciate this audience so much.  - Mark 

Do you ever find yourself distracted or knocked off course from your goals? When life gets busy, it's easy to get diverted from my true North. How do I get myself back on track when I start to lose focus or direction? In this podcast, I discuss 6 tools that steer me back to my chosen course. If you have five minutes and a desire to make an impact on your world, you will benefit from these tools. I am committed to them and they map my course. I hope you enjoy this podcast and encourage you to share it with your friends. Please reach out to me if you have questions at www.drmarklew.com. I'm here to help you. -Mark

I have people ask me all the time, "Mark, how can I become a more creative person?" The answer is simple. You are already creative! People, by their very nature, are creative. The frustration comes from having so many creative ideas without a way to harness and use those ideas. In this multi-part series, I will teach you how to recognize, capture, hone, and deploy those creative ideas you have in your head. I am very excited to share this series with you because it's a topic I'm passionate about. Creativity and innovation go hand in hand. Equipped with the tools you'll hear in this podcast series, you will undoubtedly unlock the door to your creative power and expand your personal capacity to make a difference in the world. And don't worry, you don't have to be lying on a sandy beach, hiking in the beautiful mountains, or sailing across the Pacific Ocean to generate fantastic ideas. You can be creative ANYWHERE. Please share this episode with your friends, family, and co-workers. I hope it makes a difference. Thank you for listening.  -Mark

Your personal brand is everything! In my last podcast, Your Personal Brand is Everything!, I talked about the importance of building your personal brand and the ways in which companies and individuals successfully brand themselves. In Part 2, I want you to ask yourself some important questions. Do you have the resources and the talent to reach your goals? Do you have someone in your life who will be your mirror? What do you do if you fail? Take some time to consider these questions and answer them honestly. Awareness is a key component of moving forward toward success. Enjoy Part 2 of this podcast and reach out to me if you have questions you need answered. Building a personal brand you can be proud of requires discipline, an open mind, awareness, and a passion to succeed and follow your dreams. Remember: You are in control of building your personal brand. And if you don't take the time to build your own, you'll be working for someone else who did. Thank you for listening.  - Mark

How important is a personal brand? Do certain qualities come to mind when you hear Amazon, Starbucks and Apple? This is because these companies have successfully branded themselves as the best in the business. Like a corporation, you too are constantly branding yourself. Do you post your ideas and photographs on social media? With what purpose in mind? Are you not branding yourself by portraying your best, or, in some cases, your worst self to the world? What do people say about you behind your back? Are you known for being kind, punctual, generous and hard-working? Maybe you are creative and intelligent, but cranky and undisciplined? You are in control of building your personal brand. And if you don't build your own, you'll find yourself working for someone else who did. Either be "the man" or be controlled by "the man." I hope you enjoy Part 1 of this two-part series, Your Personal Brand is Everything! Stay tuned for Steps 2-5 of how to effectively build your personal brand. It might be helpful to have a pen and notepad handy to jot down some notes. Remember, becoming the brand you want to show the world is up to you! - Mark  

I have often been asked about relationships and entrepreneurship and how the two mix. In my belief, relationships can be one of two things: a lever or an anchor. A lever is something that provides influence and allows you to use a simple amount of effort to get multiple times the value. In a similar way, an anchor creates enough hold to stop a large vessel from moving against heavy wind and current. Now consider your relationships. Are they levers, pulling you toward achievement? Or are they anchors, stopping forward movement and perhaps pulling you down? Personal relationships can have either a positive or a negative impact on your career. Do you communicate your entrepreneurial visions and desires to your partner? Do you listen to their dreams as well? Are you setting clear and reasonable expectations early in the relationship? Ponder these questions. My hope is that they help you to craft relationships that are purposefully aligned, effective, and successful. We don't have control over when relationships come into our lives but we do have control over our actions when they do. Communication is key. Thank you for listening.  - Mark 

Relationships are one of the most valuable and precious commodities we have in the world today. Mr. Todd Thoman is a close, personal friend and perhaps one of the finest relationship builders I've ever met. He is genuine and kind, a hard worker and a man who finds purpose in serving others with a strong desire to leave a powerful and positive impact on the world. From his early days in the entertainment industry, to his experience in the retail world of high-end fashion and luxury goods, to his cutting-edge work today in healthcare, Todd remains, at his core, a man who believes in the power of relationships built on integrity. His humble nature draws people of influence to him. Thank you, Todd, for sharing your experience and wisdom with Mind Your Business. The ride is just beginning for Mr. Thoman and retirement is out of the question. I can't wait to see what's next. Listeners, as always, I thank you for taking the time to listen and to pass on the information you find of value. I encourage you to share this podcast with those aspiring to cultivate and strengthen their business and personal relationships.  - Mark   

What a pleasure to sit down with Stephanie Flynn, owner and operator of Fit Body Boot Camp! Stephanie is a busy woman, running 4 FBBC locations in Tulsa, Owasso and Bixby and raising a young daughter. Her mission is to help transform the health of local women so they can discover their potential to live healthy and fulfilling lives. She believes that we all have the potential and the power within ourselves to be, do and have whatever we want in our lives. Her own story of overcoming a deadly eating disorder and almost losing her life, has equipped her with perhaps the most powerful gift she has to give...experience. Thank you, Stephanie, for sharing your incredible experience with us. I know that our listeners will find great value in the tools you use to stay motivated and to empower women to push beyond their self-imposed limits to discover the beautiful potential underneath the doubt and fear. As Stephanie shared, asking for help is key. We're all in this together and here to help each other. If you are looking to transform your life and your attitude, you won't find a better coach than Stephanie Flynn. Thank you for listening.  - Mark    ABOUT STEPHANIE FLYNN Hi my name is Stephanie Flynn, and I started Tulsa Fit Body Boot Camp to help transform the health of local women, so they can discover their potential to live healthy and fulfilling lives. In less than one year, I completely transformed my life, and became a Bill Phillips' Transformation Champion in 2009, and now I would like to share what I have learned to help you make the transformation you deserve! At Tulsa FBBC, we educate and empower you with the knowledge and skills to transform your health, fitness, and entire well-being. Following the less is more principle, we teach you proven, reliable ways to exercise and eat right without having to kill yourself in the gym or starve yourself with calorie restriction. We also provide you with accountability, support and friends through our group personal training classes and accountability programs. With our guidance, you will shed fat, negativity, and excess baggage to become the healthy, happy and fit person you were created to be! By being the change and teaching women basic and simple transformation tools, I plan to transform the health of 1000s of women and children in Oklahoma, one person at a time, starting with YOU! “Empowering women to gain confidence, lose body fat, and reach their true potential in life, even if they are pressed for time, have tried everything to change and nothing else has worked, and feel they are at a point of no return.”   Stephanie Flynn Tulsa Fit Body Boot Camp 3131 South Yale Avenue Tulsa, OK 74135 (918)960-0872 ‎     

Do you feel pressured to make New Year's Resolutions? Does the first day of each new year automatically compel you to set goals for the future? You're not alone. But it's important to realize that if the goals you set are not specific, measurable, and realistic, they won't materialize no matter how resolute you are on January 1. There are at least 364 other days that are perfectly suitable to define goals. I am a big believer in setting goals, but I don't wait for the new year to do so. The goal must be meaningful to me and I must be ready for it and willing to set parameters in order to reach it. Remember, soon is not a time. Be specific and set a date to crush that goal. Some is not a number. Write down exactly what you want to achieve. And luck is not a strategy. If it is to be, it is up to me. And you. Thank you for listening.  - Mark

The term "entrepreneur" is tossed around a lot in today's business world.  Many people wish to become entrepreneurs and get out from under "the man," otherwise known as the corporate structure.  But what is a true entrepreneur and what does it take to become one?  My team had some questions about entrepreneurship so we sat down and had a chat.  I hope you find value in the questions they asked and the answers I offered.  The answers are quite simple, although oftentimes, I find that human beings get lost in unneccessary minutiae.  I like to say, "never let perfection be the enemy of accomplishment."  I hope you will listen to this podcast and hear encouragement, determination, discipline, and passion.  And I hope you will use it to push your limits and explore the creativity you have inside of you.  Thank you for listening.  - Mark  

It was an absolute joy to sit down for a 45 minute session with Melanie Logan, a licensed professional counselor. From favorite authors, potty training, and tips to using video app Marco Polo, we covered a wide spectrum of topics that will educate, inspire, and delight you. You are in for a treat! Ms. Logan is a therapist in Tulsa, Oklahoma whose mission is to help people find joy in their lives. In this podcast, Melanie shares about her path to becoming a counselor, the nudges that inspired her to open her own practice, and the passion and excitement she gets to experience as a direct result of helping others. Melanie is authentic, insightful, and truly gifted. She is a woman who absolutely insists that there is joy to be had and she is determined to help others discover it within themselves. Melanie Logan, LPC, aptly named her private practice: Joyful Living Counseling Services LLC.  Please visit her website to learn more about her at www.joyfullivingcounseling.com.  P.S. Test your self confidence by downloading the video app Marco Polo on your smart phone. It's a free download in Google Play.  - Mark    

If you've watched TV or followed social media lately, you must certainly be aware of the #MeToo Movement. This movement is an example of incredible social evolution for which I am thrilled. I am especially proud of the courageous women who have come forth and spoken their truth. Their bravery has made it possible for still others to find their voice to speak out against such reprehensible behavior and treatment of females in the workplace. If you are a woman who has been hurt by sexual assault and/or harassment, I am deeply sorry you experienced that and I stand in staunch support of you speaking out. Thank you for your courage. Sexual assault and harassment cannot be tolerated. It took one voice to start a movement for change. It takes all of our voices to make it stick. Thank you for listening.  - Mark  

Do you have an entrepreneurial spirit? Do you have ideas in your head that you want to see manifested in your reality? Are you willing to take a risk to bring those dreams to fruition? Jordan Evans is a man who has worked hard to make his dreams come true. He, along with his business partners, have successfully built a business on the side while working full-time jobs. In this podcast, Jordan explains strategies for building a business while maintaining integrity at his full-time gig. I hope you enjoy his kind spirit, enthusiasm, and heart for superior customer service as much as I do. Jordan is proof that dreams come true when you are willing to work for them. Thank you for listening! Showroom Garage Services is a professional garage cleaning and organization service exclusively focused on residential garages. They transform an ordinary garage into a SHOWROOM that you can be proud of. My garage has never looked better! Please check them out on Facebook or give them a call 918-947-9460.   - Mark

Do you struggle with trying to balance your work life with your personal life? Welcome to the human condition of today. There are, however, tips to making the most use of your time at work while making certain you are present to the people you care about at home and in your personal life. I have found that when I use these tools, I am ultimately more productive, creative, relaxed, and perhaps most importantly, I am present. I hope you enjoy this episode. Feel free to pass it along to those you know that could use some help with balance in their lives. As always, thank you for listening.    - Mark 

Dr. Tim Ihrig is a thought leader in palliative care and one of the kindest men I know. In this episode, Dr. Tim shares his journey from a cycling career to a physician specializing in palliative care. This man cares for the sickest of the sick, the most vulnerable people with life-limiting illnesses. He combines his love of science and people to grace the community of doctors treating this special group of patients. Dr. Tim Ihrig's knowledge of his profession, his thoughtful, caring attitude concerning this difficult area of healthcare inspires me and commands my deepest respect. I hope you enjoy this episode of Mind Your Business. Please share it with someone you would like to inspire today.    - Mark

A soon-to-be college graduate and Mind Your Business listener, recently asked if I had any advice for him as he begins his career. He specifically wanted to know if I would share things that I know now that I wish I would have known then. Absolutely! There are five things that I've pinpointed that have made a huge difference in my life, my career, and my attitude. I wish you well, my listening friends, and hope that my experience can help you on your path. Share this episode with a friend who may enjoy it as well.     - Mark

Do you think you're a leader? If you've never led, can you become a leader? In this podcast, I'm going to tell you the 5 essentials for leadership. These principles continue to work in my life and in the lives of the leaders I admire and respect. Try them on for size and see if you too can become a leader people are eager to follow. 

I had a very special week last week. I got a chance to sit down in solitude and think about the values that I have established as guiding principles to live my life by. I wanted to share mine with you and challenge you to think about the values that are important to you, write them down, and commit to live by them.  Otherwise, it's pretty easy to lose yourself in this world.  

Had a listener send in a request for me to discuss how the saying, "The early bird gets the worm, but the second rat gets the cheese" applies to business. I loved recording this episode and hope you enjoy it as well. Share this with a friend and let me know how you like it. - Mark 

A listener sent in the question: "Mark, what are some of the events in your life that really had an impact on you?" This episode is my response to this question. I hope you find it useful.  - Mark

"You're the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with." We have all heard it said, and whether you like it or not, I believe this to be 100% true. In this episode, I focus on the importance of your Vision Alliance Group and what you can do if your initial response to this fact is - "Oh Shit".   

In this episode, I get a chance to sit down with a good friend and business partner of mine - Chris Deininger. Chris is the President of MedalistRx, a full service national pharmacy benefits manager.   You can find Chris on his linkedin page at linkedin.com/in/chris-deininger-4a2911a/

In this episode, I got a chance to sit down with a former student and employee of mine - Dan Appel. Dan is an Account Executive at Salesforce.com in San Francisco, CA. Dan has a decorated sales career including multiple First-place finishes in the National Collegiate Sales Competition. Dan has been a door-to-door Kirby Vacuum salesman, small business owner and operator, Associate Director of Sales and Marketing, and now Account Executive at Fortune 500 - Salesforce.com. In this episode, I get to the bottom of what has worked for Dan including: - Cold call strategies - Sales methodologies - Motivation - Seizing opportunities - Closing the deal   You can find Dan walking the streets of San Francisco or by checking him out at: Linkedin  -  linkedin.com/in/dan-appel-47490051 Facebook  - facebook.com/dappel5 Instagram  -  instagram.com/drappel  

Friends, Here's a little rant on acting before planning. I hope you enjoy. Mark

Are unpaid internships worth it? Is it better to keep looking until you find a paid internship? Can you negotiate your compensation on either? Join me for a deep dive into how to make the best of your internship, whether it is paid or unpaid.  Mark

This is the final part of a 4 part series on Perpetual Entrepreneurship. In this episode, I discuss the fact that your first idea is never your best idea.      * Theme music by Justin Greathouse - luxpiration.com - @justin_great * 

This is part 3 of a 4 part series on Perpetual Entrepreneurship. In this episode, I discuss how great perpetual entrepreneurs can learn to ride the business cycle like a pro.  Formulation Growth Maturity  Decline     * Theme music by Justin Greathouse - luxpiration.com - @justin_great * 

This is part 2 of a 4 part series on Perpetual Entrepreneurship. In this episode, I address why business plans are for banks and NOT for entrepreneurs. I also have provided the link to the video I referenced in the podcast below. I strongly recommend spending a few minutes watching it.  DEV PATNAIK is the CEO of Jump Associates, a strategy and innovation firm. Jump helps companies create new businesses and reinvent existing ones. Jump works with some of the world's most admired companies, including GE, Nike, Target, and Virgin. TEDxSoMa - Dev Patnaik - Wired to Care: How Companies Prosper When They Create Widespread Empathy   * Theme music by Justin Greathouse - luxpiration.com - @justin_great * 

Perpetual Entrepreneurs are a different breed. They are constantly looking for innovation, vetting ideas, and searching for the next big idea. This is part 1 of a 4 part series on perpetual entrepreneurship where I share my perspective on how you can navigate the waters of perpetual entrepreneurship without getting lost at sea.  The topic of this episode is centered around the great quote by Ken Blanchard, "Feedback is the Breakfast of Champions".   If you haven't checked out his books yet, I highly recommend doing so.   * Theme music by Justin Greathouse - luxpiration.com - @justin_great * 

Are you living in the past or focusing on the future?    In this episode, I address the two major categories of people you will work with - those that are living in the past and those that are intently focused on their future. Friends you can't do both, so which one are you?    * Theme music by Justin Greathouse - luxpiration.com - @justin_great * 

Whether you are aware of it or not, you are known for some things. You may be known for having great ideas, always showing up on time, having a great attitude, etc. These things collectively make up your personal brand.  In this episode, I talk about what your personal brand is, why you should care, and how to develop your brand to increase your personal capacity to change your world. Mark 

This podcast is part 2 of a series titled Live Like No One Else. If you make a choice to live like no one else for 5 years, you give yourself the chance to truly live like no one else for the rest of your life.  SOME is not a NUMBER SOON is not a TIME LUCK is not a STRATEGY - Mark

This podcast is about the choice to live like no one else for 5 years so you can live like no one else for the rest of your life. 

In this episode, I discuss the risk reward tradeoff in business and share a relevant story. 

A little rant on what you can start doing today to keep yourself from winding up being 50 years old and out of a job. 

This is a continuation of episode 18: Keys To Entrepreneurial Success - A Conversation With Nick Redwine.  In this episode we take the gloves off and speak frankly about the disconnect between what he and I were taught in school about marketing and how it works in the real world. Nick shares his story about how he gave away t-shirts as a way to build his brand and ended up having one of the most popular t-shirt's in the Dallas, TX area. Nick is a true mastermind on Marketing. His insight comes from doing it every day for over 25 years for his own business. 

Nick Redwine has been a great friend of mine for a long time. Nick is a lifetime entrepreneur and business leader who has vast experience in starting businesses with limited resources. In this episode, we discuss what it takes to start a successful business and keep it running through the tough times. 

The topic this week is a tough one folks. One that is not usually covered in your undergraduate studies. Firing people is tough. There's no easy way around it. But over the course of my career, I have learned a lot about how to do it effectively. And occassionally, even keep the friendship. 

Shortly after earning his MBA from Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford, Jacob Lewandowski took a position in product management at D.light Design, a global solar energy company delivering affordable solar home and power solutions for 2 billion people without access to reliable energy. In this episode, I sit down with Jacob in NYC in Central Park and discuss the challenges, benefits, and many other aspects of conducting business internationally. For anyone interested in international business or education, this is a must listen. I hope you enjoy. 

Here's an interview with a great friend and colleague of mine - Billy Bindel. Billy is the Corporate Director of Hospice Sales and Services for Concordance Healthcare Solutions. He has been selling professionally for over 14 years now and shares with us some of the most important things that he has learned along the way. I hope you enjoy it.

I hire college athletes all the time. I love hiring college athletes. For this reason, I wanted to share some advice on how to maximize your college athletics experience and make a great transition into the workplace. I hope you enjoy it.  -Mark

Friends, In this episode of Mind Your Business, I discuss 3 commonalities of elite leaders. I have had the pleasure of being surrounded by some incredible leaders in my career, and I can tell you with absolute certainty that each one of these leaders embodied these 3 traits without fail.  I hope you find this useful and please shoot me a question you would like me to answer in a future episode.  - Mark 

We have all heard this message before, but far too many of us do not take it seriously: The best people in business, music, art, film - whatever industry or focus are perpetual learners. These people are veracous learners. Today's technology has created an environment where things change so quickly, if you are not investing time in staying on top of new technology, trends, strategies, you will be outdated much sooner than you think. This all can be summed up in one sentence: If you stop learning, you stop winning.  - Mark

What kind of employee are you? What kind of employee do you need for the position you are hiring for? In this episode, I discuss the three types of employees and where they fit in my organization.  Are you a Mule, Workhorse, or a Thoroughbred?  - Mark www.marklewandowski.com 

We have all heard it said, "It's all about who you know". In this week's episode, I explore this statement and provide some ideas on how you can increase your opportunities to build influential relationships.   I hope you enjoy this and take something away. Look for an idea that resonates with you and take action on it. Make a positive change today! I bet you will be surprised at the ripple effect.    - Mark  

This week I had the pleasure of sitting down with a long time friend of mine - Dr. Hall Thorp. Dr. Thorp is an entrepreneur who has started multiple companies and has worked with his family for over 20 years. Dr. Thorp's primary areas of expertise are in negotiations, organizational strategy, entrepreneurship, and leadership. After gaining an MBA from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at UNC-Chapel Hill, he joined Trinity Research, LLC which provides consulting and negotiation services to clients in the health care industry and other non-medical companies in various industries. Later, Dr. Thorp achieved a doctorate in corporate strategy and leadership. As a personal note, Hall and his wife Sharon have two wonderful children and enjoy hiking and playing tennis as a family. He is an adjunct professor and also a weekly volunteer at a men's correctional facility. I hope you enjoy this discussion on balancing family and business.  - Mark 

Are you considered a rising star in the eyes of your employer? In this episode of Mind Your Business, I explore the things you can start doing TODAY to get on the path of a rising star. And if you are already a rising star, I challenge you to take something away from this podcast and ACCELERATE your next career advancement.  Friends, in case you have forgotten: Some is NOT a Number Soon is NOT a Time And Luck is NOT a Strategy Stop relying on luck for a successful career, start putting yourself in position to SEIZE the moment and take control of your destiny.  Start today friends, tomorrow never comes. - Mark   

Have you ever met someone, then 10 seconds into the conversation your heart sinks as you realize.. “I have no idea what their name is”? This happens all too often to us and it is NOT something that we have to put up with. In this episode, I give you the tools you need to start remembering people's names and get new relationships off on the right foot.  SOME is not a NUMBER SOON is not a TIME LUCK is not a STRATEGY - Mark  

When business relationships don't work out, we have two choices: 1. Burn the bridge  2. Leave the bridge intact    The quick and easy decision is to burn the bridge, but life has taught me a thing or two about what can come from old bridges left intact.    - Mark