What does the trip look like; the trip from employee to business owner? How do you make that trip? What are the challenges, known and unknown? Where do you start? What's the best path? Woody Huffines has taken the trip before and is doing so again....
Vicki is a good and great friend. Her honesty and vulnerability come through this interview from start to finish!
As if a small business start-up isn't enough, Erik kept a full time job as an aerospace engineer! Listen to his take on establishing relationships through monthly services and the necessity of flexibility in planning and execution. Add to that the skill of finding the right WHO to keep a business up and running. I must say that I'm amazed at the energy and focus necessary to have a full-time job and a NerdsToGo!
It's amazing to continue the interviews with other NerdsToGo owners. The commonality from one owner to the next is the values shared by each of them. Learning and reinforcing those values has been a gift for me.... Listen to the challenge of asking Dan Sullivan's entrepreneurial question: Who not how!
Mike and I met at Nerd University two years ago and started the process at the same time. It was a pleasure to reconnect and discuss business with Mike. He is an Air Force veteran and long time IT guy so we communicate well. Listen for Mike's lessons about doing the business of business and the importance of process.
David is my twin brother from another mother. He has been a tremendous help and support for NerdsToGo -McKinney from sharing resources to commiserating on the tough days. Listen for his why and his community involvement One could do a lot worse for a role model than David....
Some interviews could go on a lot longer than others... this is one that had to be edited substantially. Get two aviation guys on the phone and stories just start coming out! Chuck is a serial entrepreneur that has seen success in a couple of ventures. Listen for how he has and is adjusting to the COVID world; take in his why; look for lessons learned.
Another fun and interesting discussion! Pay attention to when you might want to start your Owner's Voyage (What are you waiting for?) The assumptions you may bring with you from a corporate gig... Thanks again to Tricia for the time and honesty!
Another fun interview! Pay attention to: Paul's Why Constant learning bias Creating culture
Kevin is one of the long term Nerds owners and has lessons learned that he can effectively teach. Kevin has great technical background and a direct way of working toward his goals. The day of our interview, both of us were busy and it limited our time since we had a hard stop... I'd love to revisit this interview with an hour free....
Speaking with and learning from others is always a humbling experience. I find that there are some many good ideas, inspiring stories and interesting perspectives to be gleaned from those conversations. This interview with Angel raised to bar! Enjoy!
The first of the series! Rory Dunnaback owns the NerdsToGo in Milwaukie, Oregon. We spoke about what what it takes to start and continue on the Ownership Voyage.
Catherine Monson is a leader that is widely recognized for her drive, passion and results. Listen to this episode to begin to understand why she gets the results she does...
This episode is an interview with Austin Titus from Network Lead Exchange. Austin and his family run a very successful portfolio of franchise brands. We talk about franchising, small business and networking. If you are interested in learning more, contact Austin through LinkedIn @ https://www.linkedin.com/in/austin-titus-3ba358148/ He is worth your time to connect with.
Presidential election. COVID. Business regulation... could there be more uncertainty? What steps can you take to reduce the pain of uncertainty?
You are going to end up with a Board of Directors.... Why not chose the one you want? The one that will help?
There are many options to marketing your business. Some of the options can just irritate your customers. How irritating do you want to be?
How do you manage expectations and change behavior? Make folks involved 'drink the water'.
How do we continue to use social media in the era of cancel culture?
It's time to take some time to think through your total environment and see how the pieces/parts affect the whole!
If this year feels like you are living in a snow globe that keeps getting shaken up... Join the crowd! What does it take to survive the snow globe? There is a great resource available from Wayne Salmans. You can find it here: http://www.theheronation.com/
One of the many keys to success in business and in life is understanding systems... from adjusting the temperature of you shower to responding to COVID-19...
I saw an article several years ago that made a distinction between small business owners and entrepreneurs... I'm not sure that is helpful...
Your identity defines how you execute the roles you undertake....
This episode is an insightful interview with Sara Waskow of FranNetDFW. Sara is a franchisee that helps folks find a franchise that might work for them. Her process in interesting. Her insights are valuable. Having a local resource to help you with the network of local support a business might need is definitely and added benefit! You can contact Sara by phone: 817-519-3952 By email: swaskow@frannet.com On the web: frannetdfw.com
Whether you are new to business or an old hand, transformational thinking is always welcome. The Fifth Discipline is the kind of book that will provide mental model of mental models that can provide transformational thinking as well as transformational processes. https://www.amazon.com/Fifth-Discipline-Practice-Learning-Organization/dp/0385517254
OODA Loop? Boyd Loop? What kind of mental model can you fit to your decision process?
What are the key factors for your customers when you consider a retail space? You've got a list of possibles, which one is best?
So you need a retail space and have never thought about how to go about that... It's lots different than buying a house....
As a small business owner that phrase has a different connotation. Instead of the employee view were you trade your time for money (salary), as a small business owner your trade get time back by paying someone else...
How much persistence can you exhibit? What does in mean to have the discipline to be persistent.
How will you become a part of your community? What will your community be? Will you be additive to that community?
What are the goals you have for each of the roles you have in your life? Those goals are your big rocks; the ones you have to tend to first....
Start a business; start a podcast! Document the journey. Create content. Here's the book: https://www.amazon.com/Leuchtturm-Lines-Memory-Medium-Black/dp/B00ACDNP70/ref=sr_1_1_sspa
Sometimes the most challenging activity in starting a business is not working on that business....
As daunting a task as self-examination is, having a guide or coach to help is a welcome addition. Coach Dale AKA Dale Young is such a guide. Dale brings a wealth of experience, a long history of searching for significance as well as a history of helping others find their significance. His book, Identity Key, is a well written and concise guide to resources that will help someone that is interested in finding a meaningful 'why' or identity. His patience and wisdom coupled with a nerd's focus on data leads to a broad set of tools that can be used to develop and more robust understanding of oneself. I have been blessed to be associated with Dale and have gained greatly from his knowledge. Find his book on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/Lifesong-Keys-Unlocking-Significance-Identity-ebook/dp/B084RSXH9X/ Find his website at: http://www.coachdale.com/ Thanks once again to Coach Dale for taking the time. (He always does.)
The only people that are sure to make money in a gold rush are the guys selling shovels, pics and prospector's pans.
When considering what kind of business you will have and how it is to operate, determining your resources, your talents and skills will be important to ensure you align yourself with your business purpose and goals.
I greatly enjoyed speaking with Bob Roden of Utmost Travel. In thinking about having a sufficient 'why' to carry on when times get tough, I think about Bob and the passion he has for his business and what it means to him. We spoke about the difficulties of owning a travel business during the COVID-19 excitement and his why shines throughout the conversation. Find Bob's interviews with travel industry leaders on his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDDXWSWu-FYKONzA22Y1i7w Visit the Utmost Travel website at: https://www.utmosttravel.com/
Before you get started, it's important to review the resources and tools available to accomplish the mission.
You know who you'll sell to... now what? What kind of business will you start?
And by avatar customer, I'm not suggesting you are look for someone with blue skin.... Find the right customer to match your why and most of the time, it's a fun day!
Getting started any voyage necessarily needs a strong why. Why will get you through the tough spots. Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience https://www.amazon.com/Flow-Psychology-Experience-Perennial-Classics-ebook/dp/B000W94FE6/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2D6ESULJH8L0W&dchild=1&keywords=flow+the+psychology+of+optimal+experience&qid=1590209223&sprefix=flow+the%2Caps%2C171&sr=8-2 Awakening Your Ikigai https://www.amazon.com/Awakening-Your-Ikigai-audiobook/dp/B079HDSRWV/ref=sr_1_1?crid=5B50H6VW8U7M&dchild=1&keywords=awakening+your+ikigai&qid=1590209309&sprefix=awakening+your+i%2Caps%2C188&sr=8-1 ikigaitribe.com Venn Diagram https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fikigai-living.com%2Fthe-perception-of-ikigai%2F&psig=AOvVaw1e-0Hd_lYNtJER-VX4HcR_&ust=1590295827134000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCNjBtumXyekCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAI
Everyone has a backstory... a narrative about why they've become what they've become. That's a great place to start the Owner's Voyage
Everyone has a backstory - how did I get from Fortune 500 controller to small busineess owner and franchisee through the Japanese concept of ikigai?