Podcasts about swot strengths

At a certain point in your leadership journey, success isn't about doing more—it's about seeing more. In this episode, Mary Sullivan, a co-founder with Sweet but Fearless talks with Stacey Linderman, CFO Specialist and President of CFO Services, who shares why stepping back is one of the most strategic moves a leader can make. Stacey explores how letting go of day-to-day tasks opens the door to stronger decision-making, bigger-picture thinking, and better use of your team's strengths. Stacey discusses her go-to leadership tool—a tailored SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) approach—and how she uses it to gain clarity, bring in outside perspectives, and navigate change with confidence. As the founder of A6 Financial and Business Optimization, Stacey provides CFO services that go beyond the numbers, offering strategic insights, financial strategies, and operational efficiencies that drive profitability. Her goal is to help businesses achieve financial clarity and sustainable growth. Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe, hit like, and leave a comment—we'd love to hear your thoughts!   MORE ABOUT STACEY LINDERMAN: Website: A6 Financial and Business Optimization LinkedIn: Stacey Linderman ABOUT SWEET BUT FEARLESS: Website - Sweet but Fearless LinkedIn - Sweet but Fearless

This Podcast Is Episode 615, And It's About Valuation Beyond Numbers: Enhancing Your Construction Business Worth When valuing a business, most people think straightforwardly about profits. While financial success is undoubtedly critical, it's far from the only factor determining a business's actual worth. Understanding valuation complexities can offer small business owners and entrepreneurs a clear roadmap for sustainable growth and long-term success.   While financial metrics are undoubtedly important, they do not provide a complete picture of a construction company's worth. For contractors and builders, understanding the nuances of business valuation can pave the way for sustainable growth, effective investments, and successful transitions, whether selling the business or attracting stakeholders.   Here is a fresh perspective on what makes a business truly valuable. We'll discuss traditional valuation metrics, the non-financial factors influencing worth, and practical strategies to enhance value.    The Importance of Business Valuation Business valuation isn't just for companies preparing for sale or investment. It's a powerful tool that helps you understand your business's health and identify areas for improvement. A valuation gives you insight into whether your construction business is structured for long-term sustainability or is at risk of operational inefficiencies, market challenges, or other pitfalls. Think of it this way: knowing your business's valuation is like running a health check. It gives you a snapshot of financial health, considers external factors, and ensures your company is ready to tackle challenges or opportunities that come your way. If valuation isn't already part of your business planning, it's time to make it one. Traditional Valuation Metrics Traditionally, business valuation has relied heavily on financial metrics. Two commonly known approaches include: Earnings multipliers This method involves multiplying a business's annual revenue or profits by a standard industry-specific figure. Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis DCF looks at a business's projected future cash flows and discounts them to present value, providing an estimate that accounts for risk and time. While highly detailed, this method depends heavily on accurate forecasts. These approaches are undoubtedly helpful but don't tell the whole story. A construction business can be profitable yet fail to secure a high valuation due to overlooked non-financial factors. Beyond Profits: The non-financial factors that matter While profits are essential, they're only the beginning of the valuation equation. Non-financial factors can significantly influence how much your business is worth: 1. Market Demand and Competitive Landscape  It's not just about how much profit you generate today—it's about your position in the market. Is the demand for your product or service growing, or is the market becoming saturated? Are competitors innovating faster than you? A future-proof business consistently assesses market trends and adapts to stay relevant. Pro Tip: Conduct regular SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis to understand your edge in the market. 2. Operational Risks  Operational risks can make the most profitable contracting business unattractive to potential buyers or investors. For example: Does the business rely heavily on an individual owner, a single key employee, or one major customer?  Are there documented systems and processes, or does the business suffer from inefficiencies?  Think of these risks as red flags that could threaten scalability and sustainability. 3. Reputation and Brand Image  Your brand's reputation isn't just about avoiding bad press—it's a key driver of trust among customers, clients, and partners. Businesses with a loyal customer base and a positive reputation often command higher valuations. Real-Life Example: A one-person remodeling company with a loyal local following may receive a higher valuation than a larger one with profits but poor customer reviews. 4. Innovation and Adaptability  How well does your business innovate? Construction businesses that embrace new technologies and methods are typically more resilient. Failure to adapt to changing technologies or market dynamics can cause even profitable enterprises to stall. Businesses that thrive on creativity invest in Research and Development, are ahead of the curve, and demonstrate resilience, which adds immense value during valuation. Key Question: Is your company actively curious about emerging trends and technologies?  5. Legal and Regulatory Compliance  Compliance isn't just about avoiding lawsuits—it's about showing that your business operates responsibly. Construction companies must comply with a myriad of regulations. A solid compliance record can improve a company's valuation by reducing risks related to potential lawsuits or fines. Demonstrating responsible operations assures buyers that your business is trustworthy. 6. Team Strength and Cohesion  The quality and stability of your workforce can influence valuation. A skilled, experienced, and well-coordinated team enhances productivity and project delivery, making the business more attractive to potential investors or buyers. High employee turnover can signal underlying issues and be a red flag to prospective investors. Warning Sign: Frequent employee turnover can signal a toxic workplace culture, directly impacting valuation. Strategies for maximizing business value To increase valuation, focus on both profitability and these often-overlooked factors: Diversify revenue streams: Reduce reliance on a single product, service, or client to decrease operational risk.  Document processes: Streamline workflows and document systems to make the business more scalable. Build a lasting brand: Invest in customer experience, brand identity, and online presence. A strong brand pays dividends in terms of valuation. Foster a strong team: To retain top talent, provide training, career development opportunities, and a positive workplace culture. Stay innovative: Review and refine your business model regularly to meet changing market needs. The role of innovation, compliance, and team strength True innovation, regulatory compliance, and a skilled team create a synergy that elevates your business value. These three pillars foster trust and sustainability: Innovation keeps you competitive. Compliance helps avoid costly legal issues. Team strength ensures the knowledge and talent needed for long-term growth. Final thoughts Unlock your business's actual value. Valuing a construction business encompasses much more than simply analyzing profits. To truly understand your company's worth, consider financial and non-financial factors. Focusing on market position, operational efficiency, and innovation can enhance your company's valuation and ensure long-term success in the competitive construction industry. Valuing a business is never just about profits. Understanding traditional metrics and exploring non-financial factors can position you for long-term success. Whether you're gearing up to sell or want to ensure your construction business thrives, a balanced approach is key. Want advice to boost your business value? Contact us. We'll help you create a plan tailored to your needs. About The Author: Sharie DeHart, QPA, is the co-founder of Business Consulting And Accounting in Lynnwood, Washington. She is the leading expert in managing outsourced construction bookkeeping and accounting services companies and cash management accounting for small construction companies across the USA. She encourages Contractors and Construction Company Owners to stay current on their tax obligations and offers insights on managing the remaining cash flow to operate and grow their construction company sales and profits so they can put more money in the bank. Call 1-800-361-1770 or sharie@fasteasyaccounting.com  

What do successful presidential candidates, businesspeople, and military generals all have in common? The answer is that none of them go into a campaign without a strategy, without understanding their ultimate goals and the internal and external factors that influence their chances of success. In this week's episode, McKay discusses how having a fully developed and articulated strategy is key in finding success in all areas of your life, and offers sage advice on how to design your own strategy. First up is a discussion of political strategy and how Biden and Trump utilized it in their 2020 presidential campaigns. McKay points out that while Biden's strategy worked better, the point is that, just as no presidential candidate would ever enter a campaign without a strategy, we can't win at life without one either. Instead, using a series of examples including IKEA, the Disney Corporation, and Frank Sinatra, he demonstrates how having a fully developed, properly articulated strategy is key to achieving success. He also introduces SWOT analysis as a tool for examining your personal strengths and weaknesses to reveal your strategic focus. Finally, McKay encourages everybody to approach 2022 in a strategic manner, which will bring new energy and new success as we head into a new year.The Finer Details of This Episode: - The core of every political campaign.- Winning at life.- Comparing goals and tactics with strategies.- The stories of IKEA, Frank Sinatra, Walt Disney, and Tata Motors.- The steps in creating a life strategy.- The SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis. Quotes: “Our perspective directs our actions, and my hope is that after listening to this podcast, you have a new perspective of yourself, the possibilities in your life, and how you can find your way forward.” “I've spoken to groups about having a strategy for life dozens of times, and each time I asked the question, ‘Do you have a written strategy for life?' I usually get about 10% of the audience who raises their hand.” “A strategy is a dynamic collection of interwoven tactics that enable you to reach and sustain advantage in life.” “You too can create huge advantages in your life if you're living based on a strategy, versus just letting life come to you however it comes to you.” “In business, people buy you long before they buy your product. So what strategy have you put in place to make you more attractive? A strategy to improve you would make all the difference.” “When you look at the external conditions in your life, you may have to make some modifications to your strategy. Perhaps your chosen career isn't working, your daily schedule doesn't allow you to do what matters, or you don't like the group of friends you've inherited, and so forth. It will require some changes. And that's the value of an external analysis.” “One of the interesting things about COVID-19 has been watching how the changing external conditions in our life have caused so many people to adopt new strategies for life. People have reevaluated where they live, they've changed careers or started their own business. In short, external factors matter.” “Once you've considered a few of these factors and completed your analysis, next, you need to start trying on a few strategies. Just like clothes shopping at the department store, you try something on and see how it looks and feels and evaluate it before buying into it.” Show Links: Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen

Send us a textReady to transform your nonprofit's strategic planning? This episode promises to equip you with practical advice on conducting an effective SWOT analysis, and shows you how even the smallest nonprofits can benefit from this robust but simple tool. Tim and Nathan start the discussion with a fun word association game to ease into the key concepts of SWOT—Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats...followed by breaking down each area with real nonprofit examples.  Discover why dedicating time to strategic planning is critical and how to navigate common pitfalls without complicating the process. Support the showThe Hosts of The Practice of NonProfit Leadership:Tim Barnes serves as the Executive Vice President of International Association for Refugees (IAFR) Nathan Ruby serves as the Executive Director of Friends of the Children of Haiti (FOTCOH) They can be reached at info@practicenpleader.comAll opinions and views expressed by the hosts are their own and do not necessarily represent those of their respective organizations.

Welcome back to The Daily Mastermind with George Wright III, your source for daily inspiration, motivation, and education. Today, we delve deep into the fascinating world of branding and licensing with none other than Kathy Ireland. From her early days as a supermodel to her current status as a business mogul, Kathy offers invaluable lessons on overcoming obstacles, building relationships, and creating a brand that stands the test of time. The Power of Authority Marketing In recent episodes, we've explored various ways to grow your business using authority marketing. Whether through magazines, podcasts, or mobile video technology, establishing your authority can significantly boost your revenue and personal brand. Today, we focus on an exemplary case: Kathy Ireland. As a supermodel turned business mogul, her journey offers profound lessons on branding and licensing. Kathy Ireland: The Brand and the Business Kathy Ireland's transformation from an international supermodel to a successful businesswoman is nothing short of inspiring. I had the privilege of interviewing her for our magazine, Valiant CEO. With over 100,000 monthly readers and peaks reaching up to 700,000, we've featured many celebrities, but Kathy's approach to branding and licensing stands out as particularly impactful. Transitioning from Supermodel to Business Mogul One of the first questions we asked Kathy was about the challenges she faced in transitioning from a supermodel to a business mogul. She emphasized the importance of forming strategic partnerships. According to her, finding the right people is crucial—it's all about people. She has worked with notable figures like Marcus Lemonis from CNBC's "The Profit," who stresses putting people before profits, a principle she strongly believes in. "Finding the right people is crucial. It's all about people," Kathy says. The ability to reach a broader audience through licensing has been monumental in her growth. The process involved collaborating with others, leveraging mutual relationships, and fostering loyalty and recognition. Overcoming Obstacles and Building Resilience Kathy faced numerous rejections in her modeling career, which developed her resilience. She explains that obstacles and rejections fueled her determination rather than defeating her. One of her notable quotes from the interview is, "Anytime you embark on something new, facing opposition is inevitable. Reflecting on my modeling career, one of the greatest gifts was the resilience developed through numerous rejections." This mindset has been crucial in her entrepreneurial journey. She advises that instead of merely trying to overcome obstacles, use them as opportunities to build resilience. Evolving Mindsets in Entrepreneurship We also discussed how Kathy's mindset evolved from the early stages of her entrepreneurial journey to her current endeavors with Kathy Ireland Worldwide. She points out the importance of not letting others' opinions define or destroy you. "Not letting someone else's opinion define or destroy you is critical to not limiting yourself," she says. Setting clear goals and understanding your audience are essential to navigating negative opinions and remaining focused on your objectives. The Cornerstone of Licensing Licensing played a pivotal role in Kathy's brand expansion. She highlights the importance of establishing strong relationships with potential partners, noting that it's as much about partnerships as it is about the licensing model itself. Early Stages and Initial Licensing Deals In discussing her initial licensing deals, Kathy shares a humble beginning with just a pair of socks. Her partnership with John and Marilyn Moritz has been fundamental to their success. Quality products, simplicity, and practical vision were the cornerstones that guided their initial endeavors. Risk Management and Integrity Maintaining brand integrity has been one of Kathy's priorities. She stresses the significance of conducting a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis to evaluate risks comprehensively. Financial circumstances should never be an excuse to overlook risk management. "In the world of licensing, just because we can doesn't mean we should," she points out. Kathy's example underscores the importance of aligning deals with your brand values and long-term vision. Passion Drives Success When asked about sectors she is passionate about today, Kathy mentioned her continued interest in fashion, home, and FinTech. However, what excites her most is the privilege of making a difference through her business endeavors. "Success for me is making a difference," she concludes. Final Thoughts: Building Your Personal Brand In wrapping up, I emphasize the importance of building your personal brand and creating authority in the market. Standing out is more challenging than ever, but featuring yourself in magazines, podcasts, and social media can help you build trust and create a lasting impact. Upcoming Topics Join us next time as we explore "10 Communication Strategies for CEOs and Business Owners." Until then, share this post, follow us on social media, and visit our website for more free resources. Have an amazing day!   Engage with us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, or visit DailyMastermind.com for more resources.

Welcome back to The Daily Mastermind with George Wright III, your source for daily inspiration, motivation, and education. Today, we delve deep into the fascinating world of branding and licensing with none other than Kathy Ireland. From her early days as a supermodel to her current status as a business mogul, Kathy offers invaluable lessons on overcoming obstacles, building relationships, and creating a brand that stands the test of time. The Power of Authority Marketing In recent episodes, we've explored various ways to grow your business using authority marketing. Whether through magazines, podcasts, or mobile video technology, establishing your authority can significantly boost your revenue and personal brand. Today, we focus on an exemplary case: Kathy Ireland. As a supermodel turned business mogul, her journey offers profound lessons on branding and licensing. Kathy Ireland: The Brand and the Business Kathy Ireland's transformation from an international supermodel to a successful businesswoman is nothing short of inspiring. I had the privilege of interviewing her for our magazine, Valiant CEO. With over 100,000 monthly readers and peaks reaching up to 700,000, we've featured many celebrities, but Kathy's approach to branding and licensing stands out as particularly impactful. Transitioning from Supermodel to Business Mogul One of the first questions we asked Kathy was about the challenges she faced in transitioning from a supermodel to a business mogul. She emphasized the importance of forming strategic partnerships. According to her, finding the right people is crucial—it's all about people. She has worked with notable figures like Marcus Lemonis from CNBC's "The Profit," who stresses putting people before profits, a principle she strongly believes in. "Finding the right people is crucial. It's all about people," Kathy says. The ability to reach a broader audience through licensing has been monumental in her growth. The process involved collaborating with others, leveraging mutual relationships, and fostering loyalty and recognition. Overcoming Obstacles and Building Resilience Kathy faced numerous rejections in her modeling career, which developed her resilience. She explains that obstacles and rejections fueled her determination rather than defeating her. One of her notable quotes from the interview is, "Anytime you embark on something new, facing opposition is inevitable. Reflecting on my modeling career, one of the greatest gifts was the resilience developed through numerous rejections." This mindset has been crucial in her entrepreneurial journey. She advises that instead of merely trying to overcome obstacles, use them as opportunities to build resilience. Evolving Mindsets in Entrepreneurship We also discussed how Kathy's mindset evolved from the early stages of her entrepreneurial journey to her current endeavors with Kathy Ireland Worldwide. She points out the importance of not letting others' opinions define or destroy you. "Not letting someone else's opinion define or destroy you is critical to not limiting yourself," she says. Setting clear goals and understanding your audience are essential to navigating negative opinions and remaining focused on your objectives. The Cornerstone of Licensing Licensing played a pivotal role in Kathy's brand expansion. She highlights the importance of establishing strong relationships with potential partners, noting that it's as much about partnerships as it is about the licensing model itself. Early Stages and Initial Licensing Deals In discussing her initial licensing deals, Kathy shares a humble beginning with just a pair of socks. Her partnership with John and Marilyn Moritz has been fundamental to their success. Quality products, simplicity, and practical vision were the cornerstones that guided their initial endeavors. Risk Management and Integrity Maintaining brand integrity has been one of Kathy's priorities. She stresses the significance of conducting a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis to evaluate risks comprehensively. Financial circumstances should never be an excuse to overlook risk management. "In the world of licensing, just because we can doesn't mean we should," she points out. Kathy's example underscores the importance of aligning deals with your brand values and long-term vision. Passion Drives Success When asked about sectors she is passionate about today, Kathy mentioned her continued interest in fashion, home, and FinTech. However, what excites her most is the privilege of making a difference through her business endeavors. "Success for me is making a difference," she concludes. Final Thoughts: Building Your Personal Brand In wrapping up, I emphasize the importance of building your personal brand and creating authority in the market. Standing out is more challenging than ever, but featuring yourself in magazines, podcasts, and social media can help you build trust and create a lasting impact. Upcoming Topics Join us next time as we explore "10 Communication Strategies for CEOs and Business Owners." Until then, share this post, follow us on social media, and visit our website for more free resources. Have an amazing day!   Engage with us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, or visit DailyMastermind.com for more resources.

Send me a textWelcome back to all our listeners, and a huge thanks for joining us on another episode of the Be Better Tomorrow podcast. I'm your host, Jason Fisher, thrilled to be with you again to explore more ways we can all be better tomorrow than we are today.This week's episode continues our discussion on the necessary yet often misunderstood concept of quitting. If you missed the previous episode (221), where we introduced the idea of quitting not as a failure but as a strategic choice, make sure to check it concisely explained at www.bebettertomorrow.com/221. Remember, quitting can signify strength, help refocus on what truly matters, and can open doors to new opportunities.Our sponsor for today's episode is Audible, an incredible resource with over a quarter of a million audiobooks to help you fill your mind with knowledge, inspiration, and entertainment. Be sure to visit bebettertomorrow.com/Audible  for a free audiobook and discover the wealth of knowledge waiting for you.Key Takeaways from Today's Episode:- Quitting and Opportunity Cost: We delve deeper into the necessity of quitting as a part of strategic personal development, focusing on the concept of opportunity cost. Letting go of less critical activities to focus on ones that drive us towards our true goals.- Self-Assessment and Goal Setting: A crucial part of making informed decisions about quitting involves understanding ourselves better through self-assessment and aligning our actions with our personal and professional goals.- Books and Resources Mentioned:  - The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, recommended for insights on starting with the end in mind.  - Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek, for discovering your driving purpose.  - Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi encourages finding passion and interests to get into the "flow" state.- SWOT Analysis: We discussed how to apply the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis to your life as a tool for making informed decisions about whether to stick it out or quit. - Looking Forward: Next episode, we'll touch on setting "kill criteria," identifying milestones, and recognizing when stagnation means it's time to move on.Your feedback and questions drive this show. If there's something you're struggling with or want to know more about, reach out to me at jason@bebettertomorrow.com or engage with us on Facebook and Twitter at the Be Better pod.Remember, each episode is designed to offer something valuable for your growth journey. So, if you enjoyed the show, consider sharing it with someone who might benefit from our discussions, and don't forget to rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform.Until next time, keep striving, keep learning, and be better tomorrow.Learn more faster with AudibleAudible is one of the largest collections of audio books on the planet. Read anytime you can listenDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Follow me at:https://twitter.com/Bebetterpodcasthttps://www.facebook.com/bebettertomorrowpodcast

In this episode, hosts Brad Schelling and Steve Cherrico dive into the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis that our team collaboratively developed during our recent spring meeting. This comprehensive review highlights key insights and strategic perspectives gathered from our staff, and now shared with you!  Takeaways: The importance of humility and healthy conflict within an organization The significance of collaboration and communication in addressing organizational challenges The mission to take the Hope of Christ to every student in America as a driving force for the organization The need for strategic planning and adaptability to address weaknesses and capitalize on opportunities

Step into the driver's seat and master the art of decision-making today! This episode is a game-changer! Join me as we dive deep into the 10 strategies that will empower you to make decisions with clarity and confidence. I am going to teach you how to SHIFT your thinking from worrying about making the right decisions to focusing on making decisions the right way… You can't control outcomes, but you CAN control your PROCESSES and STRATEGIES to give you the best chance of getting the outcomes you want. You must focus on PROCESS OVER PRIZE. Whether you're facing small choices or major life decisions, the insights from this episode will equip you with the tools to move forward effectively. We're talking about more than just making decisions; we're exploring how to make your decisions work for you, turning potential setbacks into stepping stones for what's next. You'll learn: My 10-Step Process that will guide you in making informed and impactful decisions Discover how approaching decisions with certainty can significantly influence outcomes and boost your confidence Find out why timing is crucial in decision-making and how you can capitalize on the right moments to maximize success Overcome common obstacles like doubt and procrastination that can hinder your decision-making process Learn how to use SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis to assess the potential impacts of your decisions Every decision has the power to reshape your destiny. It's time to step into your potential and make choices that align with the life you want to live. Don't miss this opportunity to revolutionize your approach to decision-making and see firsthand how the right strategies can lead to a more fulfilling life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

S3E30 Self-Publishers: Escape the Competition: Use AI to Find Your Perfect Niche and Skyrocket Your Sales! In this episode, Cindy Minear and Tammie Chrin explore the crucial strategy of niching down in self-publishing and how AI can be utilized to pinpoint the most profitable niches for new books. They discuss the advantages of targeting specific audiences, the competitive edge gained from niching down, and the role of AI in analyzing market trends to select the right sub-niche for authors. This engaging dialogue provides practical insights and actionable advice for authors aiming to stand out in a crowded market. Show Notes & Links: Prompt: Conduct a comprehensive Market Research and Analysis for self-publishing of novels in the [your genre] genre with the goal being to identify popular sub-niches. For each sub-niche list: 1. Popularity and growth projections for each: - Estimate the current size of the market. - Analyze historical market growth rates. - Project future market growth and identify potential inflection points. 2. Competitive Landscape: - Identify key competitors in the space. - Assess their market share, strengths, and weaknesses. Understand the level of competition (high/low) 3. Consumer Insights: - Profile the target customer segments for [Your Product/Service]. - Investigate consumer preferences, behaviors, and trends. - Explore price sensitivity and willingness to pay for specialized features. 4. SWOT Analysis: Conduct a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis Please provide a summary of findings, key action points, and recommend 5 sub-niches to publish for that will be profitable.

Thanks to our Partner, NAPA TRACS and AutoFix Auto Shop Coaching A deep dive into the SWOT analysis of our industry with a panel of shop owners.  As we navigate the evolving automotive landscape, it's crucial to turn threats into opportunities, revving up for success. Andy Fiffick, CEO Rad Air, 10-locations, franchise. Listen to Andy's other episodes HERE Greg Bunch, Aspen Auto Clinic, Transformers Institute. Listen to Greg's previous episodes HERE. Brian Sump, Avalon Motor Sports, and Urban Auto Care, CO. Brian's previous episodes HERE Watch Full Video Episode The Concept of Mastermind (00:01:58) Discussion on the concept of mastermind, its origins, and its application in the automotive industry. The Role of Independent Repair Shops (00:02:47) The nimbleness and expertise of independent repair shops compared to dealership networks, and the need for better public perception. Challenges of Independent Repair Shops (00:04:49) The weaknesses and challenges faced by independent repair shops, including the lack of unified marketing efforts and lobbying. Perception and Marketing of the Industry (00:09:16) The need for greater respect and recognition for the automotive aftermarket industry, and the importance of effective marketing strategies. Courage and Self-Respect (00:12:36) The courage and self-respect required to succeed in the automotive industry, along with the need for transformation in mindset. Advancements in the Industry (00:14:35) The industry's progress and advancements, challenges faced by smaller independent shops, and the industry's value and fragmentation. Image and Perception of Independent Shops (00:16:25) The importance of image, modernization, and professionalism in independent repair shops to build trust and attract customers. Training Engagement (00:17:15) Discussion on the importance of owners engaging in training with employees and setting an example. Shop Management System (00:17:49) Importance of a shop management system for profitability and efficiency, and the support and training offered by NAPA TRACS. Auto Shop Coaching (00:18:00) The benefits of Auto Shop Coaching in redefining success and efficiency within a shop, and the importance of accountability. Owners' Involvement in Training (00:21:03) The importance of owners attending training classes and being involved in the learning process to understand and support their employees. Challenges in Attracting Talent (00:23:36) Discussion on the challenges of attracting and retaining young talent in the automotive industry. Opportunities in Change (00:28:07) The positive aspects of change, embracing new technology, and being first to market with innovative equipment. Industry Opportunities (00:29:58) Discussion on the opportunities for growth and impact in the...

The "Telescopic Observation" provides an insightful overview of a strategic framework designed to enhance the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis by offering a more structured approach to examining an organization's internal and external environments. It emphasizes the need for a more focused, inclusive, and systematic methodology to better understand business environments and strategically plan for success. The framework, developed in mid-1999, has been tested across various organizational settings, proving its utility in bringing distant or complex aspects into closer, more analyzable view, akin to a telescope. This process involves a dual-matrix system that functions like a funnel, gathering and filtering information for effective analysis and strategy formulation, highlighting its innovative approach to strategic planning. ************ About the Show The Defenders of Business Value Podcast combines nearly 31 years of valuation and exit planning expertise working with business owners. Ed Mysogland has a mission and vision to help business owners understand the value of their business and make it a salable asset. Most of the small business owner's net worth is locked in the company, and to unlock it, a business owner has to sell it. Unfortunately, the odds are against business owners that they won't be able to sell their companies because they don't know what creates a saleable asset. Ed interviews experts who help business owners prepare, build, preserve, and one-day transfer value with the sale of the business.   ************ For past guests, please visit https://www.defendersofbusinessvalue.com/ Follow Ed: Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/defenders-of-business-value Twitter: https://twitter.com/sellabizpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/defendersofbusinessvalue/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bvdefenders  

We have over 18 years experience of implementing various ISO's, covering a wide range of topics such as Quality, Sustainability, Information Security and Risk. With a 100% success rate, we're confident in our consistent approach to implementing ISO's, so much so that we've coined our own unique methodology.   Our regular listeners may be familiar with the term ‘isology' from previous episodes referencing our online platform – the isologyhub. But what is isology exactly? Put simply, isology is our 7-step method for implementing any ISO Standard. Join Mel this week as she breaks down each of the 7 steps, including the planning, creation and review of an ISO Management System. You'll learn ·       Our experience implementing ISO's ·       The origin of isology ·       What is isology? ·       The seven steps of isology   Resources ·       Isologyhub ·       Isology synopsis   In this episode, we talk about: [00:25] Episode Summary – Mel Blackmore will be explaining our world leading methodology to implement any ISO Standard, which we've affectionately named ‘Isology'. [00:45] The creation of isology: We've been implementing ISO Standards for 18 years, starting with ISO 9001 and have since expanded our repertoire to over 20 ISO Standards covering risk, sustainability, quality and Information Security. The creation of the isology methodology has been a team effort from all of the consultants who have worked with Blackmores over the years, and is primarily built on best practice. [01:35] Step 1: Plan – Get a copy of the Standard, determine your scope, timescales, leadership commitment, resources and selecting a Certification Body. Timescales: This is typically around 6 months, but could be longer or shorter depending on your specific requirements. Resources: As an example, if you were looking to obtain ISO 14001 certification, you may need to appoint a sustainability champion. For ISO 27001 you'll need a representative from the IT department. Selecting a Certification Body: Ensure whichever Certification Body you choose is UKAS accredited. You can check this on the UKAS website. International listeners will need to verify on your country's national accreditation body website.   [03:45] Step 2: Discover – Time to understand what you have in place already and what you're missing – this is done through a Gap Analysis. This will often involve an initial meeting with the leadership team to establish what you already have in place, i.e. relevant policies and procedures or any relevant objectives. We break this down step-by-step and document it all in a Gap Analysis, which will deduce your current level of compliance. From this an action plan can be created to indicate what needs to be done to become fully compliant, including assigning roles to assist with the Implementation. [05:30] Step 3: Expose - This is where we look at risks and opportunities related to your desired Standard (both internally and externally). This is typically done through a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) and PESTLE (Policital, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal and Ethical). In this stage you will also need to understand the key requirements of any relevant stakeholders, so this can include clients, subcontractors, regulatory bodies ect. A Risk Register may be created to capture the findings to be addressed later. Some ISO's require a Risk Register, others don't, but in our experience it's beneficial to have one regardless. Companies are also encouraged to create a Legal Register to keep track of all their statutory, regulatory and contractual requirements. [07:50] Step 4: Create – Time to review the requirements of the Standard in terms of documentation – and create what's needed. This includes capturing your way of working with documented Procedures, so make sure you have the relevant staff involved in their creation. Something to remember, you can have additional policy statements that aren't required by the Standard. If they are important to you, add them in! We're in a modern age now, gone are the days of paper manuals gathering dust on an office shelf. Software and applications may be where the bulk of your Management System documentation lives. For example, at Blackmores we use a combination of Monday.com and SharePoint to manage all of our day-to-day activities, including our own ISO 9001 compliant Management System. The key here is to make your Management System accessible for everyone. [10:20] Step 5: Launch  – Once the Management System has found its home, you need to communicate it. Consider the type of launch you want and who will be involved. Make sure you encourage engagement with the Management System. Why should you Launch your Management System? Quite simply, there isn't much point in having controls in your business if no one knows about them! We have 2 key ways of supporting you with the launch of your Management system: 1)    We can run an awareness session on your Management System either in person or via Teams. It can then be recorded and used as refresher / induction training. 2)    Get access to the isologyhub – out online platform with a suite of over 200 ISO courses, training, tools and templates. [12:15] Step 6: Engage - After the launch you want to ensure that employees are fully engaged and they actually not only are aware of the policies and procedures that you've got in place, but they're actively using them. The only way to verify this is through Internal Audits – that's not just our opinion, that's a mandatory requirement of any ISO Standard. We can assist with conducting these Internal Audits, which double up as a dummy run ahead of your assessment visits. These audits are essentially a show and tell exercise to gather evidence that you're doing what you say your doing. [13:55] Step 7: Review - Time to take a step back and look at what's been achieved and what's been highlighted as areas for improvement through your Internal Audits. This is done at what we call a Management Review. These are typically conducted as meetings, but they don't have to be a meeting specifically. We've done a podcast covering other ways to conduct this review. At this Management Review you will collate data on the performance of your business in relation to the ISO Standard. The minutes must be recorded, as your Assessor will expect to see these as it's a mandatory requirement of any ISO Standard. If you'd like to learn more about what's involved with a Stage 1 and 2 Assessment, go back and listen to a previous episode. If you'd like to book a demo for the isologyhub, simply contact us and we'd be happy to give you a tour. We'd love to hear your views and comments about the ISO Show, here's how: ●      Share the ISO Show on Twitter or Linkedin ●      Leave an honest review on iTunes or Soundcloud. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one. Subscribe to keep up-to-date with our latest episodes: Stitcher | Spotify | YouTube |iTunes | Soundcloud | Mailing List

Academic Research   Researchers Use GPT-4 To Generate Feedback on Scientific Manuscripts https://hai.stanford.edu/news/researchers-use-gpt-4-generate-feedback-scientific-manuscripts https://arxiv.org/abs/2310.01783 Two episodes ago I shared the news that for some major scientific publications, it's okay to write papers with ChatGPT, but not to review them. But… Combining a large language model and open-source peer-reviewed scientific papers, researchers at Stanford built a tool they hope can help other researchers polish and strengthen their drafts. Scientific research has a peer problem. There simply aren't enough qualified peer reviewers to review all the studies. This is a particular challenge for young researchers and those at less well-known institutions who often lack access to experienced mentors who can provide timely feedback. Moreover, many scientific studies get “desk rejected” — summarily denied without peer review. James Zou, and his research colleagues, were able to test using GPT-4 against human reviews 4,800 real Nature + ICLR papers. It found AI reviewers overlap with human ones as much as humans overlap with each other, plus, 57% of authors find them helpful and 83% said it beats at least one of their real human reviewers.     Academic Writing with GPT-3.5 (ChatGPT): Reflections on Practices, Efficacy and Transparency https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/3616961.3616992 Oz Buruk, from Tampere University in Finland, published a paper giving some really solid advice (and sharing his prompts) for getting ChatGPT to help with academic writing. He uncovered 6 roles: Chunk Stylist Bullet-to-Paragraph Talk Textualizer Research Buddy Polisher Rephraser He includes examples of the results, and the prompts he used for it. Handy for people who want to use ChatGPT to help them with their writing, without having to resort to trickery     Considerations for Adapting Higher Education Technology Course for AI Large Language Models: A Critical Review of the Impact of ChatGPT https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/machine-learning-with-applications/articles-in-press This is a journal pre-proof from the Elsevier journal "Machine Learning with Applications", and takes a look at how ChatGPT might impact assessment in higher education. Unfortunately it's an example of how academic publishing can't keep up with the rate of technology change, because the four academics from University of Prince Mugrin who wrote this submitted it on 31 May, and it's been accepted into the Journal in November - and guess what? Almost everything in the paper has changed. They spent 13 of the 24 pages detailing exactly which assessment questions ChatGPT 3 got right or wrong - but when I re-tested it on some sample questions, it got nearly all correct. They then tested AI Detectors - and hey, we both know that's since changed again, with the advice that none work. And finally they checked to see if 15 top universities had AI policies. It's interesting research, but tbh would have been much, much more useful in May than it is now. And that's a warning about some of the research we're seeing. You need to really check carefully about whether the conclusions are still valid - eg if they don't tell you what version of OpenAI's models they've tested, then the conclusions may not be worth much. It's a bit like the logic we apply to students "They've not mastered it…yet"     A SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) Analysis of ChatGPT in the Medical Literature: Concise Review https://www.jmir.org/2023/1/e49368/ They looked at 160 papers published on PubMed in the first 3 months of ChatGPT up to the end of March 2023 - and the paper was written in May 2023, and only just published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research. I'm pretty sure that many of the results are out of date - for example, it specifically lists unsuitable uses for ChatGPT including "writing scientific papers with references, composing resumes, or writing speeches", and that's definitely no longer the case.     Emerging Research and Policy Themes on Academic Integrity in the Age of Chat GPT and Generative AI https://ajue.uitm.edu.my/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/12-Maria.pdf This paper, from a group of researchers in the Philippines, was written in August. The paper referenced 37 papers, and then looked at the AI policies of the 20 top QS Rankings universities, especially around academic integrity & AI. All of this helped the researchers create a 3E Model - Enforcing academic integrity, Educating faculty and students about the responsible use of AI, and Encouraging the exploration of AI's potential in academia.   Can ChatGPT solve a Linguistics Exam? https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/2311/2311.02499.pdf If you're keeping track of the exams that ChatGPT can pass, then add to it linguistics exams, as these researchers from the universities of Zurich & Dortmund, came  to the conclusion that, yes, chatgpt can pass the exams, and said "Overall, ChatGPT reaches human-level competence and         performance without any specific training for the task and has performed similarly to the student cohort of that year on a first-year linguistics exam" (Bonus points for testing its understanding of a text about Luke Skywalker and unmapped galaxies)   And, I've left the most important research paper to last: Math Education with Large Language Models: Peril or Promise? https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4641653 Researchers at University of Toronto and Microsoft Research have published a paper that is the first large scale, pre-registered controlled experiment using GPT-4, and that looks at Maths education. It basically studied the use of Large Language Models as personal tutors. In the experiment's learning phase, they gave participants practice problems and manipulated two key factors in a between-participants design: first, whether they were required to attempt a problem before or after seeing the correct answer, and second, whether participants were shown only the answer or were also exposed to an LLM-generated explanation of the answer. Then they test participants on new test questions to assess how well they had learned the underlying concepts. Overall they found that LLM-based explanations positively impacted learning relative to seeing only correct answers. The benefits were largest for those who attempted problems on their own first before consulting LLM explanations, but surprisingly this trend held even for those participants who were exposed to LLM explanations before attempting to solve practice problems on their own. People said they learn more when they were given explanations, and thought the subsequent test was easier They tried it using standard GPT-4 and got a 1-3 standard deviation improvement; and using a customised GPT got a 1 1/2 - 4 standard deviation improvement. In the tests, that was basically the difference between getting a 50% score and a 75% score. And the really nice bonus in the paper is that they shared the prompt's they used to customise the LLM This is the one paper out of everything I've read in the last two months that I'd recommend everybody listening to read.       News on Gen AI in Education   About 1 in 5 U.S. teens who've heard of ChatGPT have used it for schoolwork https://policycommons.net/artifacts/8245911/about-1-in-5-us/9162789/ Some research from the Pew Research Center in America says 13% of all US teens have used it in their schoolwork - a quarter of all 11th and 12th graders, dropping to 12% of 7th and 8th graders. This is American data, but pretty sure it's the case everywhere.     UK government has published 2 research reports this week. Their Generative AI call for evidence had over 560  responses from all around the education system and is informing UK future policy design. https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/generative-artificial-intelligence-in-education-call-for-evidence     One data point right at the end of the report was that 78% of people said they, or their institution, used generative AI in an educational setting   Two-thirds of respondents reported a positive result or impact from using genAI. Of the rest, they were divided between 'too early to tell', a bit of +positive and a bit of negative, and some negative - mainly around cheating by students and low-quality outputs.   GenAI is being used by educators for creating personalized teaching resources and assisting in lesson planning and administrative tasks. One Director of teaching and learning said "[It] makes lesson planning quick with lots of great ideas for teaching and learning" Teachers report GenAI as a time-saver and an enhancer of teaching effectiveness, with benefits also extending to student engagement and inclusivity. One high school principal said "Massive positive impacts already. It marked coursework that would typically take 8-13 hours in 30 minutes (and gave feedback to students). " Predominant uses include automating marking, providing feedback, and supporting students with special needs and English as an additional language.   The goal for more teachers is to free up more time for high-impact instruction.     Respondents reported five broad challenges that they had experienced in adopting GenAI: • User knowledge and skills - this was the major thing - people feeling the need for more help to use GenAI effectively • Performance of tools - including making stuff up • Workplace awareness and attitudes • Data protection adherence • Managing student use • Access   However, the report also highlight common worries - mainly around AI's tendency to generate false or unreliable information. For History, English and language teachers especially, this could be problematic when AI is used for assessment and grading   There are three case studies at the end of the report - a college using it for online formative assessment with real-time feedback; a high school using it for creating differentiated lesson resources; and a group of 57 schools using it in their learning management system.   The Technology in Schools survey The UK government also did The Technology in Schools survey which gives them information about how schools in England specifically are set up for using technology and will help them make policy to level the playing field on use of tech in education which also brings up equity when using new tech like GenAI. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/technology-in-schools-survey-report-2022-to-2023 This is actually a lot of very technical stuff about computer infrastructure but the interesting table I saw was Figure 2.7, which asked teachers which sources they most valued when choosing which technology to use. And the list, in order of preference was: Other teachers Other schools Research bodies Leading practitioners (the edu-influencers?) Leadership In-house evaluations Social media Education sector publications/websites Network, IT or Business Managers Their Academy Strust   My take is that the thing that really matters is what other teachers think - but they don't find out from social media, magazines or websites   And only 1 in 5 schools have an evaluation plan for monitoring effectiveness of technology.       Australian uni students are warming to ChatGPT. But they want more clarity on how to use it https://theconversation.com/australian-uni-students-are-warming-to-chatgpt-but-they-want-more-clarity-on-how-to-use-it-218429 And in Australia, two researchers - Jemma Skeat from Deakin Uni and Natasha Ziebell from Melbourne Uni published some feedback from surveys of university students and academics, and found in the period June-November this year, 82% of students were using generative AI, with 25% using it in the context of university learning, and 28% using it for assessments. One third of first semester student agreed generative AI would help them learn, but by the time they got to second semester, that had jumped to two thirds There's a real divide that shows up between students and academics. In the first semester 2023, 63% of students said they understood its limitations - like hallucinations  and 88% by semester two. But in academics, it was just 14% in semester one, and barely more - 16% - in semester two   22% of students consider using genAI in assessment as cheating now, compared to 72% in the first semester of this year!! But both academics and students wanted clarify on the rules - this is a theme I've seen across lots of research, and heard from students The Semester one report is published here: https://education.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/4677040/Generative-AI-research-report-Ziebell-Skeat.pdf     Published 20 minutes before we recorded the podcast, so more to come in a future episode:   The AI framework for Australian schools was released this morning. https://www.education.gov.au/schooling/announcements/australian-framework-generative-artificial-intelligence-ai-schools The Framework supports all people connected with school education including school leaders, teachers, support staff, service providers, parents, guardians, students and policy makers. The Framework is based on 6 guiding principles: Teaching and Learning  Human and Social Wellbeing Transparency Fairness Accountability Privacy, Security and Safety The Framework will be implemented from Term 1 2024. Trials consistent with these 6 guiding principles are already underway across jurisdictions. A key concern for Education Ministers is ensuring the protection of student privacy. As part of implementing the Framework, Ministers have committed $1 million for Education Services Australia to update existing privacy and security principles to ensure students and others using generative AI technology in schools have their privacy and data protected. The Framework was developed by the National AI in Schools Taskforce, with representatives from the Commonwealth, all jurisdictions, school sectors, and all national education agencies - Educational Services Australia (ESA), Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL), and Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO).

In this seminar we will learn how to use a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis to evaluate future plans in English. We will study language of probability and look at vocabulary related to science and technology.

On this episode of the podcast, we take a deep dive into the comparisons between former President Donald Trump and current Florida Governor Ron DeSantis using the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis methodology.   We start by examining the strengths of both Trump and DeSantis. What unique qualities and accomplishments have made them successful in their respective careers? From there, we explore their weaknesses and the areas where they may be vulnerable to criticism or opposition.   Next, we examine the opportunities that each leader has to grow their influence and impact. What challenges are they currently facing, and how can they leverage their strengths to overcome them? Finally, we explore the threats that they face and the potential roadblocks that could hinder their future success.   By using the SWOT analysis to compare Trump and DeSantis, we gain a comprehensive understanding of their leadership styles and their potential to shape the future of American politics. We also examine the wider implications of their actions and how they could impact the national political landscape.   If you're interested in politics, leadership, or the future of America, this episode is a must-listen!

We're back and coming in hot! On this episode we get through the last couple of days since the election before we get into the first of several deeps dives! We start with a look at the election itself before presenting a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis of the NDP campaign that we've been putting together with conversations with experts for the last couple of weeks! From there we get into our open mic and the anxiety that many are experiencing with the election of Smith and the re-election of the UCP before Ziad Fazel breaks down what we know about the arena deal and how badly taxpayers are apparently getting taken advantage of which also sees a surprise appearance and commentary from Jeromy Farkas! It's possibly our longest episode yet, but we cover A LOT of ground! As always, if you appreciate the kind of content that we're trying to produce here at The Breakdown, please consider signing up as a monthly supporter at our Patreon site at www.patreon.com/thebreakdownab. If you're listening to the audio version of our podcast, please consider leaving us a review and a rating, and don't forget to like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at at @thebreakdownab

Joe Pici was the very first guest on The Clarity Advisors Show, and he returns for the first episode of 2023. Joe is a master sales trainer and coach who teaches his clients how to book more appointments and close more business. In this episode, Joe talks with host Ken Trupke about his “Strategic Momentum Intensive” coaching with its three-pronged approach to helping businesses and teams focus on what they need to do to succeed in the upcoming year. Episode HighlightsJoe's “Strategic Momentum Intensive” coaching sessions. The importance of a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis. Setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Based) goals and establishing milestones on the road to success. Timestamps(01:11): What is “Strategic Momentum Intensive” coaching?(01:56): Start with a “reverse SWOT” analysis.(09:29): Establish SMART, quantifiable goals.(13:19): The importance of milestones.(15:00): Make sure everybody's goals are aligned.(20:40): Client success stories.(27:41): Get a complimentary cup of Joe. Episode Quotes“Good salespeople sell. Great salespeople sell profit margin.” (Joe)“You don't compromise goals. If you're going to compromise goals, don't set them.” (Joe)“The secret to 2023 is hidden in the areas you've got to get better at, and your opportunities.” (Joe)“When you up your game, you may work more.” (Joe)Recommended ListeningThe Sales Edge Podcast with Joe PiciThe Clarity Advisors Show – Episode 1 with guest Joe PiciFollow/Connect with Joe PiciPhone: 407-947-2950Text “Sales Edge” to 55678joe@piciandpici.comJoe Pici on LinkedInpiciandpici.comsellmorevirtually.com

In this episode you will learn the 4-step process to get the best out of your branding efforts.  Social selling and the power it can provide  - Tweaking your profile that tells the story you need it to - Your prospects and anyone to that you meet will be checking out your LinkedIn Profile - Aligning your message with what your product offering provides. Four-step process 1. Skills Gap Workbook – what do you want to accomplish 2. Review your SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) for your business 3. Fully defined Target Market demographics 4. Recommendations to fill the gaps of what has been identified. This process is important for any business – small to large. - Ideation of where your business is and if it aligns with your mission and values. - New businesses will get a leg up in building a successful company. - Existing businesses who are developing a new product that is going to market. - This process will work with any industry focus. - Repurpose your content to attract prospects. Tools that assist you building your brand: - InMail feature in LinkedIn - Events on LinkedIn - StreamMart - Grammarly - Audacity for podcasts - Canva Connect with Grant via LinkedIn. This podcast is brought to you in part by MI Group: MI Group is a tech company that assists you with billing technology solutions, full-service digital marketing, and hosting and maintaining your digital assets. With over 12 years of experience and a team of over fifty passionate business professionals, MI Group is your key to taking the next step to success. Visit migroupco.com to learn how we can help you and your clients reach your business goals. This podcast is brought to you in part by mMessenger.co: mMessenger.co is the ultimate SMS software that allows you to send messages to people in over 100 countries across the globe. Notifications, alerts, or any message you want to send can be done from the comfort of one website. Visit mmessenger.co for a free trial and to learn how you can use SMS to reach more customers. This podcast is brought to you in part by MI Digital Hub: MI Digital Hub is the all-in-one digital experience to help you improve your digital marketing experience. Suppose you want to understand your current online positioning and how your presence appears. In that case, MI Digital Hub gives you a high-level view of SEO, performance, listing, social media, and any online presence that might impact your business. Get a free snapshot of your performance by visiting midigitalhub.com to see where you are now and where you need to go. 

ASupercars in 2009 was beginning it journey to Car of the Future, and it took a good hard look at itself undertaking a SWOT analysis of the business. SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis is a framework used to evaluate a company's competitive position and to develop strategic planning. On this show we look at what were defined as the strengths of the category, and how that looks in 2022.

ASupercars in 2009 was beginning it journey to Car of the Future, and it took a good hard look at itself undertaking a SWOT analysis of the business. SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis is a framework used to evaluate a company's competitive position and to develop strategic planning. On this show we look at what were defined as the strengths of the category, and how that looks in 2022.

So you created an app. But can you sell it totally on your own, or should you make it available on the most popular marketplaces: the App store, Play store, etc?  What do you have to gain? What do you have to lose?  Today, we run a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis for independent […] The post MBA1972 Should You Offer Your Product in an App Store + Free Ride Friday appeared first on The $100 MBA.

So you created an app. But can you sell it totally on your own, or should you make it available on the most popular marketplaces: the App store, Play store, etc?  What do you have to gain? What do you have to lose?  Today, we run a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis for independent […] The post MBA1972 Should You Offer Your Product in an App Store + Free Ride Friday appeared first on The $100 MBA.

What do successful presidential candidates, businesspeople, and military generals all have in common? The answer is that none of them go into a campaign without a strategy, without understanding their ultimate goals and the internal and external factors that influence their chances of success. In this week's episode, McKay discusses how having a fully developed and articulated strategy is key in finding success in all areas of your life, and offers sage advice on how to design your own strategy.  First up is a discussion of political strategy and how Biden and Trump utilized it in their 2020 presidential campaigns. McKay points out that while Biden's strategy worked better, the point is that, just as no presidential candidate would ever enter a campaign without a strategy, we can't win at life without one either. Instead, using a series of examples including IKEA, the Disney Corporation, and Frank Sinatra, he demonstrates how having a fully developed, properly articulated strategy is key to achieving success. He also introduces SWOT analysis as a tool for examining your personal strengths and weaknesses to reveal your strategic focus. Finally, McKay encourages everybody to approach 2022 in a strategic manner, which will bring new energy and new success as we head into a new year. The Finer Details of This Episode: -        The core of every political campaign. -   Winning at life. -   Comparing goals and tactics with strategies. -   The stories of IKEA, Frank Sinatra, Walt Disney, and Tata Motors. -   The steps in creating a life strategy. -   The SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis.   Quotes:   “Our perspective directs our actions, and my hope is that after listening to this podcast, you have a new perspective of yourself, the possibilities in your life, and how you can find your way forward.”   “I've spoken to groups about having a strategy for life dozens of times, and each time I asked the question, ‘Do you have a written strategy for life?' I usually get about 10% of the audience who raises their hand.”   “A strategy is a dynamic collection of interwoven tactics that enable you to reach and sustain advantage in life.”   “You too can create huge advantages in your life if you're living based on a strategy, versus just letting life come to you however it comes to you.”   “In business, people buy you long before they buy your product. So what strategy have you put in place to make you more attractive? A strategy to improve you would make all the difference.”   “When you look at the external conditions in your life, you may have to make some modifications to your strategy. Perhaps your chosen career isn't working, your daily schedule doesn't allow you to do what matters, or you don't like the group of friends you've inherited, and so forth. It will require some changes. And that's the value of an external analysis.”   “One of the interesting things about COVID-19 has been watching how the changing external conditions in our life have caused so many people to adopt new strategies for life. People have reevaluated where they live, they've changed careers or started their own business. In short, external factors matter.”   “Once you've considered a few of these factors and completed your analysis, next, you need to start trying on a few strategies. Just like clothes shopping at the department store, you try something on and see how it looks and feels and evaluate it before buying into it.”   Show Links:   https://www.audible.com/pd/Podcast/B08JJMDXHL (Open Your Eyes with McKay Christensen)  

Mentors Help You GrowMentors can be assigned or you can seek them out. But what value do they provide?Mentors can help you identify your weaknesses and put plans together to improve upon them. You may know your strengths, but you might be overlooking areas where you fall short. Mentors can help you grow through regular meetings.Many times, the mentor-mentee relationship provides value in both directions. This is typically called co-mentoring. It's a great way to give and receive - you both benefit.If you'd like to learn more about how mentoring works and some areas you might want to explore, you should tune in to today's episode. We als explore the SWOT acronym - Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. Check it out!Chapters[00:33]Mentors can be friends or colleagues. It could be a local or long-distance relationship, in person or virtually.[02:10]When seeking a mentor, you might learn you have something to give back, as well. That means you're in a co-mentoring relationship.  [03:42]Seeking out a mentor is a positive sign of growth.[05:30]Everybody has several strengths and at least one weakness.  [06:53]Once you've successfully turned a weakness into a strength don't stop there!  [07:36]Feedback can hurt, make sure you take it constructively. What if you're told you have a lot of stutter or filler words?  [07:56]When you get put on the spot you respond loudly and defensively.  [09:34]As your weaknesses change because you're improving upon them, you can ask for help to grow in other areas.  [11:33]In addition to strengths and weaknesses, there are two more areas to watch out for. The last two come from SWOT - Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.[13:58]The final piece of SWOT is T, which stands for Threats. Do you know where your threats could come from?[15:00]After you've grown, focus on future areas to improve. If you can't think of any, envision being questioned during an interview for a leadership position.Mentioned LinksCGME: Episode 51 - Powerfully Placed Pauses - Improve your listening skills today!CGME: Episode 55 - Getting Rid of Um, Ah...Filler WordsMy new Cover Letter Master Class is out!Coupled with my Resume Master Class it's a winning combination.You no longer need to skip job postings that require cover letters.Get lifetime access to create, update, or redesign your cover letter and resume.Visit craigancel.com and grab your Cover Letter and Resume Master Class bundle today!

#208: How do you choose investment opportunities? What do you look for when entering into an investment deal? There are many things to consider when investing, one of which is making sure that you invest in something you understand and are passionate about.  Today's episode brings back Steve Libman, a managing partner of Integrity Holdings Group, host of the https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/free-from-wall-street/id1479043554 (Free From Wall Street podcast), and a member of the Forbes NY business council. Steve first appeared on the show back in July 2019 to talk about investing in self-storage facilities. Now, he will share how he shifted his focus to a different asset class as he learned more about his Investor DNA. So tune in and learn how to find the right investment opportunity that will give you the best chance of success.  Listen to Steve's previous episode: Episode 95: How to Become Recession-Resistant by Investing in Self-Storage Real Estate w/Steven Libman: https://www.wealthwithoutwallstreet.com/podcast/how-to-invest-in-the-self-storage-real-estate-space-w-steven-libman (https://www.wealthwithoutwallstreet.com/podcast/how-to-invest-in-the-self-storage-real-estate-space-w-steven-libman)   Top 3 Things You'll Learn:  Three critical factors to consider when managing other people's money Things to look out for when evaluating investment opportunities How to do a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Threats, Opportunities) analysis   About Our Guest: Steve Libman is a managing partner of Integrity Holdings Group, a real estate investment company involved in sourcing and executing value-add commercial opportunities. Integrity Holdings Group and its numerous partnerships connect and deploy capital into fixed, steady, asset-secured returns that create predictable cash flow. Integrity Holdings Group and its partners currently own and operate over 2k units valued at 150MM in assets. Steve is also the host of the https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/free-from-wall-street/id1479043554 (Free From Wall Street podcast) and a member of the Forbes NY business council.  Connect with Steve and Integrity Holdings Group: Website: https://integrityhg.com/ (https://integrityhg.com/) Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/IntegrityHG (https://web.facebook.com/IntegrityHG)

We here at the OTB studios want to ask you a question that could be slightly uncomfortable: do you have a business plan as a real estate agent? If not, don't worry, it's something that even Bernie and Steve haven't worked on in the past, but the past is the past and honestly, it's long past time to get one started!   Like Bernie says in the episode, having a business plan is sort of like having a business constitution. It's a document that asks questions of you to determine what kind of person you want to project to the world and what you're looking for by going into business for yourself. It's also about keeping yourself accountable; not necessarily toward the production goals you have for yourself, but the overall goals you have for yourself, and having them written down on a document can help you revisit those goals to see where you're at.   In the podcast we go over these questions to help build out your business plan, but here they are laid out for ease of use:   Identify who you are as a Realtor. Know who you are and who you're not.   Identify who your Ideal Customers are. What customer base would you ideally be serving?   Analyze your current Real Estate Market. What is the current state of things, what are the trends?   Analyze your Competition. Who is in the market with you and how do you fit in?   Decide What Services You'll Provide. Exactly what will you be bringing to the current market?   Conduct a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) Take a deep dive into who you are.   Determine Financial, Personal, and Growth Goals. Create the thought process on where you want to be in certain amounts of time.   You can download a template real estate business plan at these websites:   https://www.zillow.com/agent-resources/agent-toolkit/real-estate-business-plan-template/   https://www.tomferry.com/articles/what-is-a-real-estate-business-plan/   Have a question or topic you'd like us to cover? Send us a message at: Steve's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevedvalentine/ Bernie's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bernzpix/   You can find us on all the major Podcast apps: Apple Podcasts, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, and more! Subscribe to be notified when new episodes are live and leave us a review and 5-star rating to help the show grow!

Leo discusses how to effectively self-analyze ourselves in those moments between stress and overwhelm. If you want go from feeling hopeless to hopeful, lonely to connected and like a burden to a blessing, then go to 1-on-1 coaching, go to www.thrivewithleo.com. Let's get to tomorrow, together. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline800-273-TALK [800-273-8255]1-800-SUICIDE [800-784-2433]Teen Line (Los Angeles)800-852-8336The Trevor Project (LGBTQ Youth Hotline)866-488-7386National Domestic Violence Hotline800-799-SAFE [800-799-7233]Crisis Text LineText "Connect" to 741741 in the USALifeline Chathttps://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/International Suicide Hotlines: http://www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.htmlhttps://www.nowmattersnow.org/skillshttps://sobermeditations.libsyn.com/ www.suicidesafetyplan.com https://scaa.club/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I wrote this post back in December as we were closing out 2020. December is a great time to conduct an end-of-year SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) self-analysis. Truthfully, you can do a SWOT self-analysis at any time of the year, you don't have to wait until December. Doing them quarterly is a great idea. Right now is a great time to do an end-of-year self-analysis. I am going to give you a few ways to conduct a SWOT self-analysis. I conduct a SWOT self-analysis to take an inventory of my life. Looking at different aspects of my life to see where I became better, stayed the same, and where I'm worse off. Some of the areas that I look at are my goals, my plan, my education, and my expenses. In each area, I evaluate my strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

I wrote this post back in December as we were closing out 2020. December is a great time to conduct an end-of-year SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) self-analysis. Truthfully, you can do a SWOT self-analysis at any time of the year, you don't have to wait until December. Doing them quarterly is a great idea. Right now is a great time to do an end-of-year self-analysis. I am going to give you a few ways to conduct a SWOT self-analysis. I conduct a SWOT self-analysis to take an inventory of my life. Looking at different aspects of my life to see where I became better, stayed the same, and where I'm worse off. Some of the areas that I look at are my goals, my plan, my education, and my expenses. In each area, I evaluate my strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

Thankfully, business is booming again and everyone has plenty of work these days! Today,  I share with you how to increase your profits so that you're not one of the 80% of contractors who go out of business within the first five years. The secret is NOT in getting more leads, it's in keeping up with your gross profit margin. Listen in as I help break it down for you, and share my process for the all-important mid-year review. This will help you see where you stand financially and figure out how to finish off the year more profitably. What you'll hear in this episode: The gross profit margin is the #1 thing you should be looking at. Your sales for each job, minus your direct costs (labor, materials, permits, etc.) is how you figure your gross profit margin. Your rent payment, truck payment, cell phone, and employees are examples of your overhead expenses. You should also be paying yourself a 10% salary as an overhead item! Your gross profit margin covers these overhead expenses, INCLUDING your salary. Running a good business means paying your overhead expenses and reinvesting into the business with your net profit. Hiring great team members and investing in a focused marketing program are two excellent examples that get great results. I teach the business end of the roofing business. Are you looking for a coach? This is also a great way of reinvesting into your business. If your close rate is about 50%, you're not charging enough money. Differentiate yourself by adding value and you can sell your work for higher prices. My overview of the mid-year review: get everyone involved! And start by dusting off your 1-Page Business Plan. Start at the end and reverse engineer: what's your destination? Take a hard look at the kind of customers we want to do business with. Focus down on the elevator pitch. SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) Operations: sell work, do work, and keep score. Having systems and processes in place that aren't reliant on you. Action - what's the one thing that will make the biggest impact on your business? The view. Keep an eye on what I've detailed and make your adjustments along the way. You'll be able to grow your business, make more money, and have more free time. Don't forget to enjoy the journey!   Resources / Links: Check Out My NEW Website: The Roofer Coach Download My FREE 1-Page Business Plan Text Me @ (510) 612-1450 – Say Hi! I would love to hear your feedback, pros & cons! **Please leave me a review on iTunes!** ~Please Share My Podcast With Other Contractors~ THE ROOFER SHOW SPONSOR INFO: Need Help Answering the Phone Or Online Chat? Use Ruby Receptionists!! Find Out How They Can Help Bring In Leads!! Click here and use the code Roofer50 for a special $50 discount! https://www.callruby.com/roofershow Or Call Ruby at (844) 326-7829 Check out the app!! My Listeners Get a 21-Day Money-Back Guarantee!

Now, as it usually happens… during the first 1 kilometer, (and maybe you can relate to this)… the whole setup in my mind changed. Like when you are in the movies… remember those… and you have been watching ad's for what feels like hours… and then… finally… is this it ? Might this really be it… the start of the movie… Yes, that happened. Relief, because I had envisioned that feeling. I knew it was going to be that type of run. Not that type, but that running. Yes, that's a better way to put it. I anticipated it would be that kind of a run. Exactly. Of course numerous factors come into play here…. It was hot, yellow rapeseed fields, intense blue sky… no wait make that it was very hot (for may) and by being focused on the whole setup the strides, the breathing… that made the whole run extremely intense and of course pleasurable…. But that was my run. What about yours? Listen… whatever you do…. you need to collect and store these types of memories (well that's step two actually.) Step one is like when you enter a room, and your friends where just having a argument… and you can already imagine whats going to happen… That crime novel you know the person who did it is there RIGHT NOW, and you start guessing. Start doing that for your run. You need to realize that a great run in your perfect weather conditions… maybe you love running in the rain… or early morning whatever your “sweet spot” is… You need to be able to really pick up your state of mind, your thoughts, and observe what behavior this leads to. And what comes next is… again this is something you need to DO to experience any kind of effect. Just listening to it…this podcast… it is not going to help you … DO…. Take any sheet of paper you have right now… see often we think we need a black leather clad note pad. A old oak desk, with a view… a dim lit light, perfect setting… to write: Nooooo just grab any sheet of paper. Draw a horizontal line and vertical line through the middle. There you have 4 squares, correct. Well start top right… your strengths… running strengths… only got three points…? Come on… at least 5 ok… if you only have three come back to it later. Second square… weaknesses… write it… weaknesses… might be the moment of truth is a bit hard to grasp… but it shouldn't be If the first thought that came to mind was… weak on trails. Write it down. SWOT Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats... Do click on the link below find out more about me www.heikostribl.com and for more running related content do check out https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuoAaTiD4Dc2tMl5r3P09-g and take a free course on becoming a better runner… www.hypnorun.com A rating, a like, a share will be greatly appreciated, and will help other runners' that are looking for such advice find this show. So please do share.

Dae Bogan shares how he sees solutions and “warps” them into business ideas -- which is both a blessing and a curse. He began with selling cakes in middle school and organizing bus tours in high school from Cleveland, OH to New York. From his early history in acting, singing, and creating and producing events, he moved into a long series of start-ups (including putting gogo dancers in store windows) before moving into various endeavors in music tech. Dae has started and sold a variety of cloud-based ventures as well as mentored founders of other startups. Dae shares how he now is bringing those diverse skills to bear as head of Third-Party Partnerships with The Music Licensing Collective. The MLC works with music publishers and artists to collect and distribute their streaming royalties.   Guest: Dae Bogan, Head of Third-Party Partnerships, The Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC) Dae Bogan serves as Head of Third-Party Partnerships for The Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC), where he leads The MLC's strategy for engaging third-party entities to support initiatives in rights administration, data management, operations, and membership services.  A passionate music creators' rights advocate who enjoys exploring the global music rights landscape through the lens of business and technology, Bogan is also an adjunct lecturer at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. In this role, Bogan develops and teaches the music industry entrepreneurship course for which he was recognized in Billboard's "The 15 Best Music Business Schools In 2017."  Prior to joining The MLC and teaching at UCLA, Bogan's passion for innovation at the intersection of music and technology led him to found three companies: music rights administration technology company TuneRegistry, unclaimed music royalties, and licenses search engine RoyaltyClaim, and in-store music video network Maven Promo. Each of these companies has since been acquired.  Early in his career, Bogan worked directly and more creatively with recording artists, songwriters, music producers, and DJs as the owner-operator of an independent record label, a music publishing company, and a boutique artist management firm before pivoting into technology in 2012.   Dae holds an MA in Music Industry Administration with a focus on music publishing and copyright administration from California State University, Northridge, and a BA in sociology from the University of California. He resides in Los Angeles, California where he organizes SoCal Music Industry Professionals, an informal networking community of music industry professionals who live in Southern California. Mentioned Links: Website: https://daeboganmusic.com/ (https://daeboganmusic.com/) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daebogan/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/daebogan/) Twitter: @daeboganmusic Facebook: @daeboganmusic Instagram: @daeboganmusic UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music: https://schoolofmusic.ucla.edu/people/dae-bogan (https://schoolofmusic.ucla.edu/people/dae-bogan) The Music Licensing Collective (The MLC): https://themlc.com/ (https://themlc.com) SWOT: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats Analysis PESTLE: Political, Economic, Social, Tech, Legal, and Environmental Change Factors TAM: Total Available Market CSUN: Cal State Northridge: https://csun.edu/ (https://csun.edu) SXSW Music Mentors: https://www.sxsw.com/news/2019/2020-mentors-announced-for-interactive-film-music-convergence (https://www.sxsw.com/news/2019/2020-mentors-announced-for-interactive-film-music-convergence) Capitol Music Group / gBETA Musictech program: Your Host: Gigi Johnson, EdD I run transformative programs, speak/moderate, invest, advise, and produce multimedia on creativity and technology.  I taught for 22 years at UCLA, where I ran the Center for Music Innovation and the podcast "Innovating Music," built four industry-connecting programs, and...

Today I'm replaying a course that I did for The Contractor Success Academy. The Contractor Success Academy is hosted by Webrunner Media's Mark Levesque and is a series of around two dozen FREE online courses. In this episode, I cover my 1-Page Business Plan. It's a FREE download, so be sure to get it! You'll learn about how to plan, design, and implement a solid business plan. This is especially important going into 2021 because there's going to be a lot of opportunities available, but in order to capitalize on it, you'll need to be ready. I hope the information in today's show will help you do just that! What You'll Hear in This Episode: Many contractors don't know where to start in laying out a business plan. The 1-Page Business Plan is a simple, eight-step, fillable PDF. Let's reverse-engineer and detail the steps so that we can understand where we need to start: Where do you want to go? Where do you want to end up? What, who, where, and why? Come up with a one-minute elevator pitch. What's the problem that you solve? How do you solve that problem better than your competition? What's the action you want them to take? The “SWOT”: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, & Threats Take a look at the operation, which is like a 3-legged stool: You have to sell work You have to do the work You have to keep score The process: a 2-week vacation The action: What's the ONE THING that's going to make a difference in your business? The view: Do you like what you see? When you're building your team, they want to see someone who is a leader, who has a plan, and knows where they want to go. Mentioned Episode Featuring Mark Levesque: Podcast 197: The #1 Tactic to Get Qualified Leads for Your Roofing Business Dave's Video Lesson on The Contractor Success Academy Resources: Check Out My NEW Website: The Roofer Coach Download My FREE 1-Page Business Plan Text Me @ (510) 612-1450 - Say Hi! I would love to hear your feedback, pros & cons! **Please leave me a review on iTunes!** ~Please Share My Podcast With Other Contractors~ THE ROOFER SHOW SPONSOR INFO: Need Help Answering the Phone Or Online Chat? Use Ruby Receptionists! Find Out How They Can Help Bring In Leads! Click here and use the code Roofer50 for a special $50 discount! https://www.callruby.com/roofershow Or Call Ruby at (844) 326-7829 Check out the app! My Listeners Get a 21-Day Money-Back Guarantee!

In this week's episode, learn: How to create a SWOT analysis, analyze your business and identify marketing strategies. Going through the process of creating a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis can help you identify where you should spend your time and energy, plus how to tie your marketing goals to your business objectives. I walk you through the SWOT analysis I created and how to apply it to jump start your marketing plan. Download my free SWOT analysis guide at: getauthenticbranding.com/resources Music: Tuesday by Sascha Ende, Music.io

The people who would supposedly never stop watching beginning to stop watching. Brandon Thurston looks at the results of the Wreddit Census from 2020 and 2019 and how they may be an informative supplement to linear TV viewership data. What will happen if the timing of WWE and AEW's TV rights negotiations end up coinciding a couple years from now? Plus, a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis of WWE and AEW. Visit wrestlenomics.com Follow Brandon Thurston at twitter.com/brandonthurston Follow Wrestlenomics at twitter.com/wrestlenomics Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The pandemic has turned all markets upside down. There are many unknowns in what is to come. How do we create our projected goals? What do we do now to be ok when the dust settles?  A Marketing Leader, Creative Writer, Blogger, Editor, Strategic Marketing Consultant, and the Director of Marketing at 8020 Consulting, George Jacob, chats about the best strategies for utilizing your strengths in the current market.   Takeaways: Stuck on what to do next during the pandemic? Try doing a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis to reassess what your strengths are and what opportunities you could be taking. Be authentically helpful! You know what your company does best. Use that to help out as much as you can. Think of pay-per-click as a sniper and organic traffic as a tank. The pay-per-click is easy to get out there to get information on making a better decision. Whereas, the organic traffic will take too long to get to the point where the PPC has reached.  Minimum Viable Product is the primary feature or focus of an app for example. This focuses on what the app's bare minimum needs are to be successful and then exposing it to your user base to organize the features list. Technology is a great tool, but it is not always the answer. We often get sold into the idea of technology making everything better. The real answer is the why and how of what you are trying to accomplish. Marketing is a balance of creativity and analytics. There are more metrics you can study being created every year, but sometimes it is the wording of a post or the image that will change the engagement. Don't count out the little details! Successful storytelling starts with having a few simple points and knowing the person you are communicating with. Think “How can I convey what I want to say to that person in a way that they can understand it.” Career advice: Do not compare yourself to others! Take a second to breathe. It takes time to find a position that is your best fit.   Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgejacobus/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/_georgejacob Personal Website: https://georgejacob.us Marketri: https://www.marketri.com Marketri Twitter: https://twitter.com/Marketri   Busted Myths: In today's marketing climate, hitting your projected goals is less important than understanding why you did or didn't. - Understand that this pandemic is a different scenario and look at what tools you can take advantage of right now.   Ways to Tune In: iTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-hard-corps-marketing-show/id1338838763 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1vVLpNI1LssMTiL6Kdsamn Stitcher - https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-hard-corps-marketing-show Google Play - https://play.google.com/music/m/Im7mytmu2wa2mekhoeixlja5hpe?t=The_Hard_Corps_Marketing_Show YouTube - Full video - https://youtu.be/amNn_zan-FQ

SWOTing: it's not something you do to flies. It's a simple but powerful exercise anyone can use to refocus their business and plan for whatever comes next. A SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis lets you look around the bend to the future of your business. It's an easy way to assess exactly what your […] The post MBA1426 How To Perform a SWOT Analysis & Stay Ahead of Challenges appeared first on The $100 MBA.

Austrian Capital Theory holds that capital assets are heterogeneous and complementary. In business language, that means an entrepreneur can assemble set of assets that are special to his or her firm and combined in such a way that the combination is unique, or at least hard to copy. If the assets generate consumer value, and hence a revenue stream from consumer purchases, then the entrepreneurial firm can be said to have marketplace advantage—it is unique or advantaged in its creation of consumer value. The Resource-Based View (RBV) of the firm came from this thinking. The marketplace advantage available to any firm results from its assembled resources (synonymous with assets for the purposes of our discussion). We talk to Professor Steven Phelan, Distinguished Professor at Fayetteville State University, an expert in this field. Note: The conventional language of RBV is competitive advantage. At Economics For Entrepreneurs, we prefer the idea of the search for uniqueness, where the point of reference is the consumer rather than the competitor. Therefore, we'll use terms like marketplace advantage and commercial advantage. Show Notes Resource-based strategic thinking guides entrepreneurs in the identification, assembly and use of resources in unique (or at least differentiated) ways to create sustained marketplace advantage. The use of resources is how entrepreneurs create revenue flows from consumers. The money-value of the resources—and hence the market value of the firm—derives from these revenue flows. The goal is to align the resources as perfectly as possible with consumer wants and preferences. Entrepreneurs who combine consumer-valued resources in unique ways can establish an advantage in the marketplace. If their combination of resources is unique, or at the very least hard to copy, then the advantage is sustainable and the revenue flows can be anticipated to continue absent changes in consumer preferences. What kind of resources are we talking about? All kinds, both tangible and intangible, and both physical capital and human capital. It's the combination that counts. A handy acronym for the kinds of resources available for entrepreneurs to combine is PROFIT: Physical, Reputational, Organizational, Financial, Intellectual and Human, and Technological resources. It's a good exercise to review your resources under each of these headings and question whether they are unique and hard to copy. Reputational, Organizational and Intellectual (Human) resources are the most usual sources of uniqueness (in the VRIO framework, “unique” translates into valuable, rare, hard to copy / inimitable and non-substitutable). Reputational resources can include brand, customer satisfaction levels and trust. Organizational resources can include processes, methods, and culture, and also includes the bundles of resources we call capabilities. Intellectual resources include people (always unique), teams, decision rights, as well as patents and recipes. Sustainable advantage is reinforced when other firms can't see inside the “black box” of the combination of resources and can't reproduce the “secret sauce”. It might be the case that your Physical, Financial and Technological resources are not differentiated, or even rare. The “secret sauce” is in how you combine them, and especially how you combine them with Reputational, Organizational and Intellectual resources. If outsiders can't see inside, and can't decipher the combination or copy the recipe, you can separate yourself in the consumer's perception as a unique choice. How you deploy the resources can also be a source of advantage. Operational excellence can be differentiating and value-creating. If you can guarantee customers and suppliers that you'll operate with excellence in all directions—on time, on budget, high responsiveness—you'll create an advantage over other firms that don't keep their promises. Think of this as a bundle of resources that you deploy really well. The business literature sometimes calls it “core competence”. High quality, consistent operations do not come easily. This capability is also a resource. Dynamic flexibility can be thought of as a bundle of capabilities around detection of and action in response to the need for change. Austrian economics stresses marketplace dynamics and the role of entrepreneurs in detecting and responding to changes in consumers' wants and preferences. Such agility does not come easily to the firm. It requires “sensing” the uneasiness of consumers and using empathic diagnosis to identify the source of the uneasiness, and creativity and imagination in rearranging resources to produce new offerings. Organizationally, the entrepreneur must make the change occur—ready the organization for the adjustment and orchestrate individuals and functions to shift. It's a rare capability. Implementing the resource-based strategy is a continuous activity. Winning entrepreneurs shuffle and reshuffle resources continuously. Professor Phelan urges entrepreneurs to ask this question every day: what can we do better? Ask it in every resource area of the PROFIT framework. Gather information that tells you where you need to improve or change (You can use a template like SWOT—Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats; but make sure your use of it is deeply analytical and not just a laundry list of what you do). And then execute the hard part of dynamic flexibility: taking rapid action. This is the advantage of small companies and entrepreneurs. Additional Resource Resource-Based Theory of Entrepreneurship (PDF): https://Mises.org/E4E_18_PDF Useful books mentioned by Professor Phelan Entrepreneurship Strategies and Resources by Marc J. DollingerThe E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. GerberCrossing The Chasm by Geoffrey A. Moore