Shows
The Friday HabitBurnout, Bad Deals & Building Culture: Lessons from the Entrepreneurial Frontlines with Steve Van DiestIn this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark sits down with Steve Van Diest, President of Acumen’s Front Range region, to unpack the highs and lows of his entrepreneurial journey. From founding a thriving mattress business to launching a customizable pillow company, Steve’s path has been anything but linear.Steve candidly shares his experiences with burnout, making costly business decisions, and the challenges of building a healthy company culture. He opens up about the turning points that led him to give away a profitable business and the lessons he now imparts to othe...2025-05-161h 07The Friday HabitThe Ingenious Acquisition of InstagramIn this episode of The Friday Habit, hosts Mark Labriola and Benjamin Manley engage with guests Mark Ackler and Mert Esheri, exploring the intricacies of entrepreneurship, the importance of building relationships, and the lessons learned from their experiences in the startup world. They discuss the journey from idea to execution, the significance of legacy in business, and the insights shared in their book 'Exiting Right'. In this conversation, the speakers delve into the intricacies of business acquisitions, emphasizing the importance of trust, strategic alignment, and the long-term relationships that can be built prior to a sale. They discuss the...2025-03-1447 minThe Friday HabitBuilding high-performance teamsIn this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark Labriola and Benjamin Manley welcome Natalie Dawson, EVP and partner at Cardone Ventures, to discuss her new book 'Teamwork' and the essential strategies for building high-performance teams. The conversation covers Natalie's journey from a failed business leader to a successful entrepreneur, the importance of team alignment, practical tools for team development, and effective hiring strategies. They also explore how to pitch ideas to a team and maintain alignment as the team grows. In this conversation, Mark Labriola II discusses the importance of effective team communication, onboarding strategies, training processes, employee termination...2025-03-071h 02The Friday HabitLessons from a marketing maverickIn this episode of The Friday Habit, we welcome Eric Huberman, founder and CEO of Hawk Media. We explore Eric's entrepreneurial journey, the challenges he faced in the early stages of his career, and the strategies he employed to build a successful marketing consultancy. The conversation delves into the realities of entrepreneurship, the importance of adaptability, and the value of learning from experiences. Eric shares insights on competition, personal growth, and the significance of setting measurable goals in business. In this conversation, Mark Labriola II discusses the intricacies of managing client relationships, the importance of building a strong network...2025-02-2852 minThe Friday HabitThe Importance of Risk-Taking in EntrepreneurshipIn this episode of The Friday Habit, hosts Marc Labriola and Benjamin Manley engage with Youngsoo, who transitioned from a successful career in cryptocurrency software engineering to founding Urban EDC, an eight-figure e-commerce business. Youngsoo shares his journey, emphasizing the importance of self-reflection, risk-taking, and audience engagement in entrepreneurship. He discusses the challenges he faced, including job losses and the leap to Silicon Valley, and how he built his business by understanding his interests and validating his ideas through market research. In this conversation, Mark Labriola II shares his entrepreneurial journey, emphasizing the importance of validating ideas through market...2025-02-2157 minThe Friday HabitExploring the Franchise Landscape: What Works and What Doesn'tIn this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark Labriola and Benjamin Manley discuss the journey of balancing family life while traveling and running a business remotely. They welcome James Hylvowski, an expert in franchising, who shares his extensive experience in the industry. The conversation covers the opportunities and challenges within franchising, key elements for success, and common mistakes to avoid when building a franchise. The episode emphasizes the importance of support systems, understanding market dynamics, and the strategic decisions involved in franchising versus corporate ownership. In this conversation, Mark Labriola II discusses the essential traits of successful franchisees, the...2024-11-081h 00The Friday HabitMaximize Your Margins: ROI-Focused Sales Tactics with Ian CampbellEpisode Summary:In this episode of The Friday Habit, hosts Mark Labriola and Benjamin Manley sit down with Ian Campbell, CEO of Nucleus Research. Ian shares his extensive experience and insights into the world of investigative research and how businesses can leverage the concept of Return on Investment (ROI) to enhance sales, improve services, and ultimately win more deals. Whether you're a small business owner, a freelancer, or a creative, this conversation is packed with valuable advice on how to prove ROI and focus your efforts to grow your business.Key Takeaways:...2024-02-2344 minThe Friday HabitStrategic Real Estate Investments for Beginners with Dan Templin part 1Join us on an exciting journey into the world of real estate investment with your hosts, Mark Labriola II and Benjamin Manley. In this episode, we're here to not only help you grow your wealth but also lay the foundation for a lasting legacy. We're joined by a special guest, Dan Templin, a renowned business expert, to provide even more valuable insights.We'll uncover the secrets of the property market and draw on the wisdom of seasoned investors, including Dan Templin, to prepare you for the ups and downs of real estate investment. Discover how t...2024-01-2725 minThe Friday HabitInterview with Mark Achler & Mert Iseri Part 2An early employee of Apple and Head of Innovation at Redbox, Mark Achler has been creating and investing in tech startups since 1986. Today, he is a founding partner of MATH Venture Partners, a technology venture capital fund, and an adjunct professor at the Northwestern Kellogg School of Management.Mert Iseri co-founded SwipeSense, a healthcare technology company acquired by SC Johnson in 2020. Prior to that, he co-founded Design for America, a national network of students using design thinking to create social impact, now part of the IBM Watson Foundation. He is currently an Entrepreneur in Residence at MATH...2022-09-2326 minThe Friday HabitInterview with Mark Achler & Mert Iseri Part 1An early employee of Apple and Head of Innovation at Redbox, Mark Achler has been creating and investing in tech startups since 1986. Today, he is a founding partner of MATH Venture Partners, a technology venture capital fund, and an adjunct professor at the Northwestern Kellogg School of Management.Mert Iseri co-founded SwipeSense, a healthcare technology company acquired by SC Johnson in 2020. Prior to that, he co-founded Design for America, a national network of students using design thinking to create social impact, now part of the IBM Watson Foundation. He is currently an Entrepreneur in Residence at MATH...2022-09-1623 minThe Friday HabitEpisode 100 - Our Favorite Episodes So FarWe're celebrating 100 episodes of The Friday Habit with a look back at Mark and Ben's top favorite episodes so far. Thank you to everyone who has listened and learned alongside of us! We're looking forward to the next 100!Ben's Favorite Episodes:1. Episode #21: Morning Rituals for a Better Life2. Episodes #62-63: How to Live Every Day Like It's Friday with Mark Labriola IIEpisode 62: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-friday-habit/id1495985093?i=1000515445923Episode 63: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-friday-habit/id1495985093?i=10005163912403. #23-24: Productize Your...2022-08-2623 minThe Friday HabitScaling an Outsourced CMO Business to 270 Employees with Erik Huberman of Hawke Media - Part 2Ben and Mark talk to Erik Huberman, the founder and CEO of Hawke Media, the fastest growing marketing consultancy in the United States.Recap / TakeawaysThere's a perception and reality with every job and you have to determine whether the hard parts are worth itIf you're early in your career, go try a bunch of jobs and find out what's worth itStress isn't necessarily a bad thing, that's what helps you growIf you don't have difficult challenges, the wins don't feel as goodManaging a large business can be like walking an elephant down a narrow pathYou...2021-11-1928 minThe Friday HabitScaling an Outsourced CMO Business to 270 Employees with Erik Huberman of Hawke Media - Part 1Ben and Mark talk to Erik Huberman, the founder and CEO of Hawke Media, the fastest growing marketing consultancy in the United States.Recap / TakeawaysThere's a perception and reality with every job and you have to determine whether the hard parts are worth itIf you're early in your career, go try a bunch of jobs and find out what's worth itStress isn't necessarily a bad thing, that's what helps you growIf you don't have difficult challenges, the wins don't feel as goodManaging a large business can be like walking an elephant down a narrow pathYou...2021-11-1226 minThe Friday HabitPersonal Finance - Interview with Chad Willardson - Part 2Chad Willardson is the President of Pacific Capital, a fiduciary wealth advisory firm he founded in 2011 that serves entrepreneurs and families. His bestselling first book, Stress-Free Money, has been featured in Forbes’s “21 Books To Read In 2021” and on NBC News and Yahoo Finance. Chad has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Inc., U.S. News & World Report, Investment News, Entrepreneur, and Financial Advisor Magazine. He lives in Southern California with his wife, Amber, and their five children.Main Topic NotesGive us a brief overview of how things have been for you since writing Stress-Free Money...2021-10-0824 minThe Friday Habit6 Business Apps We're Geeking Out About in 2021Top business apps we've been geeking out about in 2021Ben's #3: Noted https://www.notedapp.ioMark's #3: Convert Calculator https://www.convertcalculator.coBen's #2: Notion https://www.notion.soMark's #2: Pixieset https://pixieset.comBen's #1: Miro https://miro.comMark's #1: Bonsai https://www.hellobonsai.com Go to TheFridayHabit.com to find show notes for this episode. There you can also find links to our websites and ways to get in touch. At the bottom of the page you can download our guide to the Friday Habit system that will show you how to set aside one full day each week dedicated to w...2021-09-1736 minThe Friday HabitScale Your Company & Protect Your Culture with Kayvan Kian - Part 2Kayvan Kian wrote the bestselling book What is Water: How Young Leaders Can Thrive in an Uncertain World. Kayvan’s book and his work as a consultant with Mckinsey seeks to show young leaders how to grow, how to thrive, and how to contribute in any situation.Recap / TakeawaysCreation is a magical thing that's always happening all around usYoung leaders often have more overwhelm, doubts, and insecuritiesWhat is Water book: Fish don't know what water isYou need to become better aware of your context (what's around you)He who has a why to live for can...2021-09-1025 minThe Friday HabitScale Your Company & Protect Your Culture with Kayvan Kian - Part 1Kayvan Kian wrote the bestselling book What is Water: How Young Leaders Can Thrive in an Uncertain World. Kayvan’s book and his work as a consultant with Mckinsey seeks to show young leaders how to grow, how to thrive, and how to contribute in any situation.Recap / TakeawaysCreation is a magical thing that's always happening all around usYoung leaders often have more overwhelm, doubts, and insecuritiesWhat is Water book: Fish don't know what water isYou need to become better aware of your context (what's around you)He who has a why to live for can...2021-09-0327 minThe Friday HabitWhy Helping Your Competitors is a Great Business Strategy with Shawn Khorrami - Part 2Shawn is a serial entrepreneur, having started and managed more than a dozen businesses, up to $100 million in revenue, involving products and services across a wide range of verticals. In the process, he has managed thousands of employees servicing tens of thousands of customers, large and small, from consumers to small to medium-sized businesses and even governmental entities.Main Topic NotesIt sounds like you've had a lot of jobs in your life, what was your first one and what was one lesson you carried on with you. Being an entrepreneur is different from being a b...2021-08-2729 minThe Friday HabitWhy Helping Your Competitors is a Great Business Strategy with Shawn Khorrami - Part 1Shawn is a serial entrepreneur, having started and managed more than a dozen businesses, up to $100 million in revenue, involving products and services across a wide range of verticals. In the process, he has managed thousands of employees servicing tens of thousands of customers, large and small, from consumers to small to medium-sized businesses and even governmental entities.Main Topic NotesIt sounds like you've had a lot of jobs in your life, what was your first one and what was one lesson you carried on with you. Being an entrepreneur is different from being a b...2021-08-2024 minThe Friday HabitHow to Build a Business You Can Sell with Michelle Seiler Tucker - Part 2Hey everyone, Ben here. Mark is out today, but I have an excellent guest to talk with.Michelle Seiler Tucker is the Founder and CEO of Seiler Tucker Incorporated. She holds the M&AMI (Mergers & Acquisitions Master Intermediary) title, as well as Certified Mergers and Acquisitions Professional (CM&AP) and Certified Senior Business Analyst (CSBA). Michelle also owns many other businesses in several different industries. As a 20-year veteran in the M&A industry, she is regarded as the leading authority on buying, selling, fixing, and growing businesses. Her and her firm have sold over a thousand...2021-08-0625 minThe Friday HabitHow to Build a Business You Can Sell with Michelle Seiler Tucker - Part 1Hey everyone, Ben here. Mark is out today, but I have an excellent guest to talk with.Michelle Seiler Tucker is the Founder and CEO of Seiler Tucker Incorporated. She holds the M&AMI (Mergers & Acquisitions Master Intermediary) title, as well as Certified Mergers and Acquisitions Professional (CM&AP) and Certified Senior Business Analyst (CSBA). Michelle also owns many other businesses in several different industries. As a 20-year veteran in the M&A industry, she is regarded as the leading authority on buying, selling, fixing, and growing businesses. Her and her firm have sold over a thousand...2021-07-3022 minThe Friday HabitWhat Pages Should I Include on My Website?Four Steps to Decide What Pages to Include on Your Website:Define the purpose of your site (legitimizer, converter, attractor, salesperson, educator)Create a list of pagesStructure your site for SEOMake it easy to navigateAction ItemThink about what purpose your website should be serving. Take out your phone, pull up your website and take a look to see if it's achieving that purpose.Go to TheFridayHabit.com to find show notes for this episode. There you can also find links to our websites and ways to get...2021-07-2326 minThe Friday HabitFive Benefits of Hosting a Virtual EventDue to the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual and online experiences have transitioned into the new norm over the past year. Converting events online may have initially seemed temporary. However, 93% of event marketers will continue to invest in virtual events in the future—but why is that? Despite losing the value of in-person attendance, virtual events offer benefits that can generate long-term ROI and provide improved experiences for your attendees.1. Expand Audience ReachIn-person events often involve more planning, time, and effort from attendees. When you transition your event into an online experience, your team an...2021-07-1626 minThe Friday HabitHow to Become a Professional Copywriter with Jacob McMillen Part 2Main Topic NotesDo you find that most business owners understand the value of copywriting?What do you say to business owners who don't value copywriting?What would you recommend to someone interested in getting started with copywriting?How can they learn the skill?How can they get their first clients?What should they do to increase prices and profits?Recap / TakeawaysIf you buy a website with high traffic you can turn that into revenue with an affiliate model or selling products to a small percentage of those people.Embrace who...2021-07-0934 minThe Friday HabitHow to Become a Professional Copywriter with Jacob McMillen Part 1Main Topic NotesDo you find that most business owners understand the value of copywriting?What do you say to business owners who don't value copywriting?What would you recommend to someone interested in getting started with copywriting?How can they learn the skill?How can they get their first clients?What should they do to increase prices and profits?Recap / TakeawaysIf you buy a website with high traffic you can turn that into revenue with an affiliate model or selling products to a small percentage of those people.Embrace who...2021-07-0231 minThe Friday HabitSeven Keys to Building a Thriving Company CultureMain Topic Notes1. Have a mission that matters2. Put your team first3. Give feedback often4. Be emotionally in touch5. Trust your people6. Welcome feedback7. Correct problems quicklyAction ItemLook over these principles and see which one you need to work on most. Spend 15 minutes with a notebook and think about 1 practical way you could do better. Then do it!We invite you to go to TheFridayHabit.com to find show notes for this episode...2021-06-2530 min
The Friday HabitBuilding Systems Around Your Faults with Benjamin Manley - Part 2Happy Friday everyone! This is the second part of a two-part episode recorded on Ben’s birthday, where we dive deep into his backstory to learn more about why he ticks the way he does. If you're looking for a fun, relaxing listen—this is it! Main TopicsHow Ben won over his wife by joining a Jewish dance team. Lessons learned from previous jobsThe transition to becoming an entrepreneurHow to build systems around your faultsTakeaways from episodes 72 & 73:Make space for creativity...2021-06-1837 minThe Friday HabitCreating Space For Creativity With Benjamin Manley - Part 1Happy Friday everyone! This episode was recorded on Ben’s birthday, so naturally, we dive deep into his backstory to learn more about why he ticks the way he does. If you're looking for a fun, relaxing listen. This is it! Main TopicsIce breaker question, where you get weird insights into our guest & host’s minds. This week’s question, “Is a hotdog a sandwich?”We learn a little about Ben’s childhoodGrowing up with space for creativityLearning sales strategies from the Boy ScoutsImportance of talking about emotionsConnect with Ben:Ben’s Websi...2021-06-1129 minThe Friday HabitBuilding an App to Revolutionize an Industry with Andy MathisenHappy Friday everyone! Unfortunately, we don't have Ben with us today, he is off gallivanting the beaches of Maui, but we do have my friend And Mathisen who is the co-founder and CMO of GloveBox App. Andy welcome to the show! Andy has done everything from working at a startup to joining the family business, to starting a business of his own designed to revolutionize the insurance industry, one glovebox at a time.Main TopicsAndy, did you always want to go into the insurance industry?Tell us about your first job out o...2021-06-0442 minThe Friday HabitEnhancing Company Culture with Laura Treonze - Part 2Laura Treonze is an executive coach who specializes in behavioral understanding to enhance company culture, maximize executive talent and boost employee engagement. She combines psychology with experiential coaching methods to help individuals and teams break through limiting beliefs to increase productivity and profit. Main Topic NotesHow did you get into executive coaching?So how do you enhance company culture and boost employee engagement with behavioral understanding.?Speaking about employee engagement, what are your thoughts about hiring and how do we do it right?Whats the secret to attracting abundance into your life.R...2021-05-2826 minThe Friday HabitEnhancing Company Culture with Laura Treonze - Part 1Laura Treonze is an executive coach who specializes in behavioral understanding to enhance company culture, maximize executive talent and boost employee engagement. She combines psychology with experiential coaching methods to help individuals and teams break through limiting beliefs to increase productivity and profit. Main Topic NotesHow did you get into executive coaching?So how do you enhance company culture and boost employee engagement with behavioral understanding.?Speaking about employee engagement, what are your thoughts about hiring and how do we do it right?Whats the secret to attracting abundance into your life.R...2021-05-2121 minThe Friday HabitSocial Media & Influencer Marketing with Mae Karwowski - Part 2Mae Karwowski is the founder and CEO of Obviously, a leading global influencer marketing agency and technology platform.Recap / TakeawaysIf you’re pivoting your business, you don’t have to pivot hard. You can taper off one service and grow the other simultaneouslyIt’s important to know what you’re good at, and what you’re not good at. Identify which things that you need to get better at, and which things you need to outsource.If you’re looking to promote your brand on social media, a great way is to create helpful tip or DIY video...2021-05-1430 minThe Friday HabitSocial Media & Influencer Marketing with Mae Karwowski - Part 1Mae Karwowski is the founder and CEO of Obviously, a leading global influencer marketing agency and technology platform.Recap / TakeawaysIf you’re pivoting your business, you don’t have to pivot hard. You can taper off one service and grow the other simultaneouslyIt’s important to know what you’re good at, and what you’re not good at. Identify which things that you need to get better at, and which things you need to outsource.If you’re looking to promote your brand on social media, a great way is to create helpful tip or DIY video...2021-05-0720 minThe Friday HabitShould I grow my agency? with Tyler Pigott - Part 2Main Topic NotesWhat kind of culture do you want to have in your company?What do you do to intentionally affect culture?What does your leadership/team structure look like?What differences do you notice between having a 5 person team and a 18 person team?Were there any unexpected effects?How do you keep communication efficient between team members?Do you still have all-hands meetings?How do you handle remote work?What mistakes have you made that we could learn from?Recap / TakeawaysBe transparent with your team and give them authority instead...2021-04-3031 minThe Friday HabitShould I grow my agency? with Tyler Pigott - Part 1Main Topic NotesWhat kind of culture do you want to have in your company?What do you do to intentionally affect culture?What does your leadership/team structure look like?What differences do you notice between having a 5 person team and a 18 person team?Were there any unexpected effects?How do you keep communication efficient between team members?Do you still have all-hands meetings?How do you handle remote work?What mistakes have you made that we could learn from?Recap / TakeawaysBe transparent with your team and give them authority instead...2021-04-2322 minThe Friday HabitEpisode 64: Five Jobs Your Website Can Do for Your Business1. Build legitimacyHow to build legitimacy with your website:Create a great impression with a professional designShow examples or case studies of your workShare your knowledge through blog postsDisplay quotes from happy customersFeature logos of respected companies you’ve worked withShow photos of your team with relevant biosInclude a press section with places you’ve been featured2. Help people discover youHow to help new people find your website:Strategically use keywords in your page titles and URLsWrite long-form blog posts than answer customer questionsUse alt text for your images so peop...2021-04-1632 minThe Friday HabitEpisode 63: How to Live Every Day Like It's Friday with Mark Labriola II - Part 2Main Topic NotesWhat are some of your first memories?Where did you grow up?What were you like as a kidWhat was your education like?What was your first job?What has your career looked like?How has your background informed who you are now?Where do you hope to go from here?Go to TheFridayHabit.com to find show notes for this episode. There you can also find links to our websites and ways to get in touch. At the bottom of the page you can download our guide to the Friday Habit system that...2021-04-0937 minThe Friday HabitEpisode 62: How to Live Every Day Like It's Friday with Mark Labriola II - Part 1Icebreaker QuestionWould You Rather Live One Life That Lasts 1,000 Years Or Live 10 Lives That Last 100 Years Each?Would You Rather Be Without Elbows Or Be Without Knees?Main Topic NotesWhat are some of your first memories?Where did you grow up?What were you like as a kidWhat was your education like?What was your first job?What has your career looked like?How has your background informed who you are now?Where do you hope to go from here?Go to TheFridayHabit.com to find show notes for this episode. There you...2021-04-0234 minThe Friday HabitMake it Hard for Your Team to Fail with Sam & Josh Ovett - Part 2Main Topic NotesProfessional Whitewater Kayaking Athlete?You work with a family member, how is that going? What is business process mapping and how do you incorporate marketing?Please tell us more about your tagline “Be Human otherwise Automate!” Why is this your tagline?What made you realize that “the Human” aspect was so important in automation? How do you apply this to your business?What do you think is coming up in the field of automation for sales and marketing?Recap / TakeawaysWhatever you're doing in life, pay attention and you'l...2021-03-2637 minThe Friday HabitMake it Hard for Your Team to Fail with Sam & Josh Ovett - Part 1Main Topic NotesProfessional Whitewater Kayaking Athlete?You work with a family member, how is that going? What is business process mapping and how do you incorporate marketing?Please tell us more about your tagline “Be Human otherwise Automate!” Why is this your tagline?What made you realize that “the Human” aspect was so important in automation? How do you apply this to your business?What do you think is coming up in the field of automation for sales and marketing?Recap / TakeawaysWhatever you're doing in life, pay attention and you'l...2021-03-1934 minThe Friday HabitLeading as an Entrepreneur with Jason Reichl - Part 2This is the second part of Mark and Ben’s interview with Go Nimbly cofounder, Jason Reichl, so if you haven’t listened to the first part, go back to Episode 58 and get caught up! Jason says that there are two key questions you should ask yourself when it comes to setting goals:How do I enact change that sticks?How do I communicate about that change implementation? And why?He says that if you do not communicate goals and the changes that will be a part of reaching those goals in a way that is recognizable to y...2021-03-1237 minThe Friday HabitLeading as an Entrepreneur with Jason Reichl - Part 1Come on in and take a seat for part one of Mark and Ben’s conversation with Jason Reichl, cofounder of Go Nimbly, lover of design thinking, master of optimizing revenue operations, and a guy who has a love/hate relationship with the Eisenhower Matrix. If you have marketing, sales, or customer service staff in your business, Jason’s insights could be gamechangers. Jason came from a creative background but he always had a firm grasp of the business aspects of every endeavor, so even his mediocre projects became successful. Through his early work experiences, Jason realized that he had...2021-03-0524 minThe Friday HabitHow to Bootstrap a Sci-Fi Film with Joel Guelzo Part 2When Joel started the creation process for Norman in 2012, he didn’t have many resources besides an idea and a dream. He thought at the time that he was working on a short film, but after the first few weeks of shooting it became apparent to him and the actor who played Norman that the film had the potential to be feature-length, so they shifted their mindset to fleshing out the story more. Most Saturday mornings for about 3 years, they could be found at another friend’s house, which was the main filming location, working on various scenes until Joel...2021-02-2637 minThe Friday HabitHow to Bootstrap a Sci-Fi Film with Joel Guelzo Part 1On this episode of The Friday Habit, Ben and Mark talk with Joel Guelzo about how he bootstrapped a sci-fi film of such high quality that people are shocked to hear that it only cost $40,000 plus countless volunteer hours from Joel’s family and friends. Joel came up with the idea for a story about a time-traveling scientist who used his invention for his own selfish purposes, to escape his life circumstances, and goes through a journey of self-realization before he is faced with the need to return back to the present time before the world as he knows it...2021-02-1933 minThe Friday HabitFearlessly Build Your Business with Jeremy Parker Part 2Now that listeners have a pretty good understanding of where Jeremy has come from and what motivates him to keep innovating, the rest of the interview drills down more into business operations. Considering their rapid growth, Swag.com has had to be very adaptable and creative while ensuring that new employees are trained to catch the vision of the business and stay in touch with what consumers want. Over the years, this quest to the most beneficial user experience has taken many iterations and requires an understanding that it is always being tweaked and improved. Swag.com h...2021-02-1224 minThe Friday HabitFearlessly Build Your Business with Jeremy Parker Part 1Jeremy Parker is the son of an entrepreneur, so that creative and daring spirit was engrained in him from an early age. So when he found himself winning a film festival with his documentary in college and still feeling unfulfilled, his logical next step was to finish his degree and then start his own business. He jumped into the high-end t-shirt industry with very few concrete plans, but through a very innovative marketing strategy, he caught the eye of Mark Cuban and got an immediate sales bump that allowed him to remain in the business long enough to get...2021-02-0520 minThe Friday HabitHow to Build Culture on a Remote Team With David Burkus: Part 2Welcome back to The Friday Habit podcast for the conclusion of the interview with David Burkus, author of Leading from Anywhere. He explains that the source of a lot of confusion and contention regarding managing a remote workforce is misaligned expectations. Specifically, expecting that presence and responsiveness equal productivity, as is the common belief for managers of in-person teams. However, productivity both inside and outside of the office should be defined by outcomes and the progress being made to reach those outcomes. It is important that leaders set up systems to support this outcomes-focus as well as hold team...2021-01-2929 minThe Friday HabitHow to Build Culture on a Remote Team With David Burkus: Part 1David Burkus started out his career as a business school professor who was inspired and intrigued by the narrative nonfiction books being written by people like Malcolm Gladwell. On this episode of The Friday Habit, David tells Mark and Ben about how that inspiration became action when he realized that he wanted to help people work and lead more effectively by using storytelling techniques combined with science. He decided to advance his education by earning a Master’s in Organizational Psychology and a Doctorate in Strategic Leadership, providing him with the foundation to embark on his writing journey....2021-01-2221 minThe Friday Habit5 Mistakes That Undermine Your Business GoalsWhether you have created 2021 business goals yet or not, Ben and Mark have some great pointers on this episode of The Friday Habit for you to keep in mind as you try to crush your goals. Here are 5 common mistakes that may undermine your business goals and how you can shift the equation to point you in the right direction.Setting the wrong goals – If your goals are unclear or vague, you will lack direction. Instead, make sure that your goals are specific, measurable, and achievable.Forgetting your goals – If your goals are not top of mind, you will...2021-01-1523 minThe Friday HabitBuilding an Authority Brand with Curt Mercadante (Part 2)We dive a bit deeper into the four pillars of building an authority brand with Curt Mercadante during this episode of The Friday Habit. When it comes to the right ways to gain attention for your business or brand, Curt says that it is important to have a LinkedIn presence and consistently publish content there. But this will not be effective unless you have a concrete understanding of who your ideal client is. The accuracy pillar addresses this, nudging you towards creating those personas that you will keep in mind as you go about every brainstorming and strategy conversation...2021-01-0830 minThe Friday HabitBuilding an Authority Brand with Curt Mercadante (Part 1)Our guest on this episode of The Friday Habit podcast is Curt Mercadante, Founder of Merc Enterprises, author, certified Gallup Strengths trainer, certified human behavior specialist, and host of The Freedom Mindset Podcast Radio show. Curt shares his insights about creating an authority brand rather than just a commodity brand, providing value, attracting customers, and cultivating loyalty. Every business, he points out, started as a thought which led to an idea which manifested in a business which comes with inherent authority, but many people are not tapping into this authority to improve the lives of other people. T...2021-01-0120 minThe Friday HabitMerry Christmas!Merry Christmas, everyone! Ben and Mark take a break from their previously scheduled programming to bring you reminiscences from Christmases past and some great ideas for bonding as a family or as a work team. Mark paints a picturesque scene from Christmas mornings spent at his grandmother’s house as a big, happy, Italian family and the laser tag set that brought him such joy. Ben remembers the surprising happiness that came from receiving his first pocket-sized “video game” as well as the electric train set and race cars that every young boy looks for under the tree. As a...2020-12-2526 min
The Friday HabitBuild A Low-Stress Business With Time BlockingTime blocking is the topic on this episode of The Friday Habit, and Ben’s insights could be beneficial to you whether you currently use time blocking in your business or not. Time blocking is helpful in a business because it keeps you away from overcommitting, it makes you better at estimating how long things will take you, and you can have foresight in working with your clients to ensure that you are providing them with adequate time for their project. At Knapsack, Ben and his team rely on time blocking because of their structure of creating web...2020-12-1819 min
The Friday HabitWhat Kind Of Business Do You Want To BuildWith the end of the year quickly approaching, it is a good idea to recalibrate your business, looking inward to determine where you are, how you got here, and where you want to be. This episode of The Friday Habit is all about this topic and integrating this introspection into your process occasionally. Here are the four questions and where Mark and Ben currently find themselves on their answers:Why do you have your own business? Mark was unexpectedly laid off a few years ago and immediately decided to ramp up his side hustle into a full-time gig...2020-12-1131 min
The Friday HabitStaying Fit as an Entrepreneur with Jeremy SlateOur guest on this episode of The Friday Habit podcast is Jeremy Slate, host of the Create Your Own Life podcast and co-founder along with his wife of the Command Your Brand agency. As we discussed in our last episode, Jeremy built his success on a series of hard-earned lessons. He found his passion in helping others grow and evolve their businesses, but none of it would work without a few core principles that drive his days – the first one being, without fail, getting to his exercise routine first thing. Jeremy follows his morning cup of bulletproof coffee with a...2020-12-0426 min
The Friday HabitGift Ideas for EntrepreneursOn this special holiday edition of The Friday Habit, Ben and Mark bring listeners their very timely gift guide for entrepreneurs and clients. These are things that Ben and Mark have either received, given, or purchased for themselves and they are now self-proclaimed unofficial brand ambassadors. Here are the gifts they recommend and why:Miir water bottles – These water bottles are vacuum-insulated and feature a very minimal design as well as helping to fund clean water projects worldwide.Link: miir.comShure MV7 podcast microphone – This would be more of splurge purchase for friends or clients who are looking to l...2020-11-2720 min
The Friday HabitThe Basics of PR That Anyone Can Use with Jeremy SlateOur guest on this episode of The Friday Habit podcast is Jeremy Slate, host of the Create Your Own Life podcast and co-founder of the Command Your Brand agency with his wife. Jeremy went to college with the hopes of becoming a college professor one day, but after he finished his Masters’ degree and entered the job market, he realized that he was either overqualified or underqualified for every job he was interested in. Jeremy had bad break after bad break before he taught himself how to build websites and he launched his first (unsuccessful) podcast before landing on th...2020-11-2026 min
The Friday HabitThinking Time: Your New Secret WeaponOn this episode of The Friday Habit, Ben and Mark discuss the idea of making time and space for thinking, planning, and reflection, as inspired by the book “The Road Less Stupid” by Keith Cunningham. What if you were to spend the same amount of time thinking as you do mindlessly scrolling through social media? You may be surprised by how much clarity you can gain from setting aside this intentional thinking time, even if it is only 15 minutes a day.In his book, Cunningham outlines the 5 core disciplines of thinking time:Find the unasked question – Ask be...2020-11-1323 min
The Friday HabitAre You Emotionally Intelligent?Our topic on this episode of The Friday Habit is emotional intelligence. Mark and Ben start out the episode by posing a couple of hypothetical scenarios and talking through the emotional intelligence implications of the typical responses to the situations. Emotional intelligence is your ability to understand and manage your own emotions and recognize the emotions of others, which are key components of being a good manager and leader.The four competencies of emotional intelligence are:Self-awareness – This is knowing the effect of your emotions on yourself and others. Studies have shown that while 95% of people th...2020-11-0625 min
The Friday HabitThe Business Hierarchy of NeedsOn this episode of The Friday Habit, Ben summarizes the main points of one of his favorite books: “Fix This Next” by Mike Michalowicz. As we all learned in that one college psychology class, humans have needs in life that fall into 5 basic categories as defined by Maslow, from most basic to most complex: physiological, safety, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. Maslow explained that certain needs must take priority over others as we go through life and it is important to prioritize the most basic before moving up the hierarchy.Michalowicz believes that a similar concept can...2020-10-3021 min
The Friday HabitThe Secret to Great Company Culture with Claire Chandler Part 2This episode of The Friday Habit podcast is this second part of our interview with Claire Chandler, author of “The Whirlpool Effect” and thought leader on great company culture. She begins by offering an exercise that founders can do in order to gain clarity and make decisions more easily. Claire suggests writing down and drawing a circle around the core principles your company started with. Then, draw another circle that includes what’s currently working well. The third and last circle should describe goals for the future. Once you have all three circles, move them together to create a venn d...2020-10-2327 min
The Friday HabitThe Secret to Great Company Culture with Claire Chandler Part 1Our guest on this episode of The Friday Habit is Claire Chandler, author of “The Whirlpool Effect” and thought leader on great company culture. During Claire’s career, she has noticed that startups and small companies tend to have really good collaboration and culture, but as the companies begin to scale, they fall apart. There is a disconnect, she explains, between the people and the culture once a second generation of employees are brought on board because they do not have the context of the culture that has been laid out by the founder from the beginning.Her bi...2020-10-1629 min
The Friday HabitValidate Your Business Idea Quickly with Matthew BarnettWe are picking right back with Mark and Ben’s interview with Matthew Barnett on this episode of The Friday Habit. Matthew continues to expand on his vision for customer service, being accessible and hospitable to every customer (or potential customer) who contacts your team. His approach is data-driven, recognizing that satisfied customers come back and buy more or new products and they also recommend your products or services to others. A great next step in improving your customer experience is visually mapping out their journey with you, taking note of the touchpoints, typical conversion points, and any...2020-10-0934 min
The Friday HabitHow To Delight Your Customers with Matthew BarnettOn this episode of The Friday Habit podcast, our guest is Matthew Barnett, founder of Verbate, a company using video data for qualitative research, and Bonjouro, an app that makes it simple to integrate video into your business operations and connections with your audience. After growing up in the U.K., Matthew decided to take the leap across the huge pond and start his adult life in Australia. He found this entrepreneurial spirit was beneficial in getting out in his new community and meeting new people who were on similar journeys. Before long, he had launched Verbate, a consulting...2020-10-0224 min
The Friday HabitGrowing & Scaling Businesses with Kevin Urrutia - Part 2On this episode of The Friday Habit, successful entrepreneur Kevin Urrutia continues his conversation with Mark and Ben from the previous episode, so go back and listen to that episode if you missed it! Kevin describes the thought process that led him to get into e-commerce after the cleaning company he was running got to a certain sustainable point and he wanted to gain some new experience in a different field. He started out selling outdoor gear but realized that the barriers to entry were so low that he was facing a lot of competition, so he recruited the...2020-09-2530 min
The Friday HabitGrowing & Scaling Businesses with Kevin Urrutia - Part 1On this episode of The Friday Habit, Ben and Mark talk with Kevin Urrutia, co-founder of Voy Media in NYC and many startups along the way. Kevin went to school for computer science and started a web development consulting business by generating leads through Craigslist. When he graduated, he got a job in Silicon Valley working for Mint.com, but he knew within a month that this 9-5 structured work culture was not what he wanted, so he jumped ship to work for a startup called Zaarly. This was the perfect situation for him and he was even able...2020-09-1820 min
The Friday Habit5 Practices That Will Make You a Better LeaderOn this episode of The Friday Habit, Ben shares his 5 practices that will make you a better leader in the hopes that they will be an encouragement to you and will be spurred on in your influence of those around you. 1. Learn your weaknesses – This is how you will grow and come to trust those around you to fill in the gaps. Be vulnerable about what you need and what you expect from others that will allow you to play to your strengths.2. Define your “why” – You will work the hardest for what you care about. Once you...2020-09-1121 min
The Friday HabitPositivity. The Secret To SuccessIn this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark provides 5 of the top ways to be a more positive person. It has been proven time and again that your emotions have the power to change your body at a cellular level, so here are a few techniques to ensure that those are positive changes rather than negative.Have a lens of positivity – Let your first reaction to any situation be to ask yourself “What is this trying to teach me?” Even when you can’t control the circumstances, you can control how you respond to them. You can choose to make...2020-09-0425 min
The Friday HabitTurn Website Browsers into Buyers with a Lead MagnetOn this episode of The Friday Habit, Ben and Mark discuss lead magnets, the tools that allow you to trade something of value to the consumer for their email address. Even with social media dominating the digital landscape, email is still the most cost-effective method of communication for lead generation, so what should you be doing to tap into this power?1. E-book2. Self-evaluation checklist3. Access to a free online course4. A series of helpful emails sent weekly5. Access to a private Facebook or Slack group6. Mythbuster PDF7. Access...2020-08-2826 min
The Friday HabitWhy and How to Start a Mastermind GroupYou’ve heard people talk about their mastermind groups before, but maybe you’ve just assumed that you aren’t “big” enough to be a part of one. Or, maybe you’ve never been invited, or perhaps you don’t know what’s in it for you. In this episode of The Friday Habit podcast, Ben and Mark break down for you the benefits and how-tos of creating your mastermind.A mastermind group typically consists of 4-8 participants who are in a similar industry or stage of personal or professional life who meet regularly. So, what could y...2020-08-2121 min
The Friday Habit5 Tips to Help you Delegate Like a BossDelegating is a buzzword that is overused and underutilized in business. In this episode of The Friday Habit, we will outline five tips to using delegation effectively to help you accomplish more, serve more customers, and make more profits.1. Identify what can be delegated – Ask yourself these questions:Is this something that only I can do?Is this the best use of my time and energy?Can someone else do this?What should I be doing?2. Delegate to the right person – Try to match up the task with someone based on their skills, interests, experience, capa...2020-08-1416 min
The Friday HabitSecrets of Pricing and Selling with Allan Langer - Part 2This episode is the second part of Mark and Ben’s conversation with Allan Langer, an expert in the field of pricing and how to sell more by selling less. Ben asks Allan about the best ways to delegate some of the selling to other team members so you can focus on other things. Allan explains the importance of having a sales philosophy that can be easily enumerated, absorbed, and replicated by your team members. He also says that even after this pandemic is over and things go “back to normal,” Zoom will continue to be a vital resource and sh...2020-08-0727 min
The Friday HabitSecrets of Pricing and Selling with Allan Langer - Part 1Allan Langer, the bestselling author of “The 7 Secrets to Selling More by Selling Less," joins Ben and Mark on this episode of The Friday Habit. Allan has committed his career to understand and teach about pricing psychology and consumer behavior, and his insights could be game-changers for entrepreneurs and business owners. Allan has found that most decision-makers come up with their pricing based on a computer-generated algorithm or a formula they have created to get them their desired profit margin. However, what if this method is severely undercutting the margins you could be making if you had a p...2020-07-3124 min
The Friday HabitHow to do Quarterly Check-Ins with Your TeamIn this episode of The Friday Habit, Mark and Ben share why and how to effectively conduct quarterly check-in meetings with each of your team members, including the benefits this can bring to your business. Essentially, check-ins are pre-arranged, lasting approximately an hour. Check-in meetings offer opportunities to discuss how things are going, provide feedback, and meet with each employee individually.So why do you need to implement this practice into your business?These meetings provide a space for intentionally staying connected with your team by building this communication time into your structures and culture.When...2020-07-2426 min
The Friday HabitFight Imposter Syndrome & Build Your Personal BrandWe’ve all felt it, and on this episode of The Friday Habit we are talking about it: imposter syndrome. Perhaps right now you lack confidence in your skills and you feel inadequate no matter how successful you are. Here are 8 keys to building your personal brand and pressing into it with confidence:Specialization – Have a niche and be confident in describing it to others.Leadership – Think about where you want to be a leader and get involved in those communities.Personality – Be genuine and people will gravitate towards you.Distinctiveness – By being authentically you, you are expressing your brand...2020-07-1720 min
The Friday HabitProductize Your Business With Greg Hickman - Part 2We pick back up mid-conversation with Greg Hickman on this episode of The Friday Habit. He is talking about how agencies and businesses that function mostly in the full-service space spend too much time and energy thinking that the grass is greener on the DIY side of things, and vice versa. Ultimately, your best bet is to find a sweet spot right in the middle and then branch out in either direction to have multiple income streams and a variety of clients. He describes this as a ladder with one-to-one higher-cost product offerings at the top and several rungs...2020-07-1021 min
The Friday HabitProductize Your Business With Greg Hickman - Part 1Our guest on this episode of The Friday Habit is Greg Hickman, founder of Alt Agency. Greg graduated from a small liberal arts college and earned a business management degree, then joined one of his classmates at a big brand agency as a project manager. Working with all departments at the agency really helped give him a good understanding of the design process and working with clients. Before long, he decided to go out on his own to help personal brands sell their courses and develop sales funnels, eventually providing full-service automation. This experience helped him realize t...2020-07-0327 min
The Friday HabitOur Top 5 Productivity AppsThis episode of The Friday Habit podcast is dedicated to everyone out there who is looking for a little extra help to maintain or improve their productivity, particularly those people who find themselves thinking “Isn’t there an app out there that can help me with this one thing I need to do AND is well-designed and beautiful to stare at?!” Rest assured that Ben and Mark have got you covered.Here is Mark’s list:Spark Mail – This app for Apple and iOS allows you to combine all of your email inboxes into one, snooze emails tha...2020-06-2636 min
The Friday HabitMorning Rituals for a Better LifeOn this episode of The Friday Habit podcast, we are finishing up the discussion started last week about the daily rituals that Mark and Ben practice to help them be more productive while still having plenty of time with their families. Ben gets up and intentionally gives his wife some time to herself before he leaves for work, fixing her coffee, and taking care of breakfast for the kids so she can prepare for the day. Next, he usually goes for a run with his son followed by taking a cold shower and riding his electric bike or one-wheel...2020-06-1921 min
The Friday HabitNight Rituals for Entrepreneurs with FamiliesOn this episode of The Friday Habit, our topic is evening rituals for entrepreneurs with families and the idea that a great day starts the day before. Once the workday ends every day, Mark and Ben are both committed to spending intentional and focused time with their families over dinner where everyone discusses their highlights and lowlights from the day. They also try to do an activity like a walk, a game, or play outside together after dinner and read together before the kids go to bed. They believe that it is important to be present with their kids...2020-06-1230 min
The Friday Habit10 ways to improve your attitudeMaybe you are like Ben and Mark and you’ve found that positivity helps you have better personal and professional success in life. Or maybe you are one of those people who Mark and Ben smile at relentlessly in the elevator until you make eye contact and smile back. Either way, this episode of The Friday Habit podcast is intended to give you practical pointers for promoting positivity. When you find yourself struggling with negativity or pessimism, try these ways of improving your attitude:Identify the source – Ask yourself why you are feeling this way. If it’s...2020-06-0523 min
The Friday HabitValues Before Mission with Todd EvensonWithin the first few clicks on the websites of most organizations, you can find their mission and vision statements that they communicate to the world. But what do they communicate internally? Access.mobile International’s Todd Evenson has focused his journey as an entrepreneur and leader on the establishment of the values of the organization first, before crafting the mission and vision that are expected by consumers. Essentially, your values, mission, and vision outline the who, what, and why you are in business.The values of your business are those things that you want to consciously do an...2020-05-2935 min
The Friday HabitBuild Self-Trust & Be More ProductiveBen has multiple personalities – sort of. But you likely do too: Boss You and Worker You. Boss You is the one who plans out the tasks and objectives, puts them on a to-do list, and allocates a certain amount of time for those things to be completed. Boss You is optimistic, ambitious, not very realistic, not very thorough, and doesn’t know how to prioritize things.Worker You is the one who receives the to-do list from Boss You, complete with the timing expectations and little else. Worker You is also optimistic, but skeptical of the plan that...2020-05-2217 min
The Friday HabitImprove Your Video Calls with David HepburnOn this episode of The Friday Habit podcast, our guest is David Hepburn of Hepburn Creative. He and his team are committed to optimizing the video platform for their clients before, during, and after the coronavirus pandemic crisis. Since the vast majority of business meetings (and many personal ones as well) have transitioned so abruptly to video, it is likely that you haven’t had the time to put much thought into how you come across to your colleagues on screen. David provides listeners of The Friday Habit with 5 simple ways to improve how people view you in meetings ov...2020-05-1526 min
The Friday HabitHow to Generate Innovative Business IdeasOn this episode of The Friday Habit, Ben and Mark discuss specific ways to come up with ideas for your business throughout the year, but particularly during this time of COVID-19 quarantine. Undoubtedly, you have noticed many businesses shifting their methodology and messaging out of necessity such as coffee shops and restaurants offering convenience and grocery items for sale to customers. If you are struggling to come up with creative solutions like this for your own business, here are 3 places to start your brainstorming:Cross-pollinating from other industries – Take a step back from your industry and survey the en...2020-05-0818 min
The Friday HabitWhy and How to Start a PodcastOur topic on this episode of The Friday Habit is using podcasting to communicate, inspire, motivate, and connect. There are nearly 1 million podcasts available to listeners at this point in 2020, and you likely subscribe to or listen to at least a few episodes per month. While it might have been complex to launch a podcast back in 2005 when Ben and Mark were both starting to dabble in the platform, technological advances in the past 15 years have drastically reduced the barriers to entry and made it almost effortless for new podcasters to launch their shows.As with most...2020-05-0121 min
The Friday HabitStop Trading Your Time for Money with Jonathan Stark - Part 2Welcome back to the continuation of Ben and Mark’s interview with Jonathan Stark on The Friday Habit podcast. Jonathan says that it is important to determine the metrics that a client is using or looking for during discussions with them about potential projects or else you will never be successful, and they will never be satisfied. Many clients say that they want to be “thought leaders”, but they are really looking for specific outcomes that they feel like would make them thought leaders, so getting to the root of what they want is the key to your success and, i...2020-04-2439 min
The Friday HabitStop Trading Your Time for Money with Jonathan Stark - Part 1Our guest on this episode of The Friday Habit is Jonathan Stark, industry thought leader, CEO of Jonathan Stark Consulting, and cohost of The Business of Authority podcast. Jonathan is working to flip the script on the traditional hourly pricing model used in freelancing and consulting. He points out that when you price your services based on hours, you are creating an unnecessary limit on earning potential. Instead, he advocates for a value-based pricing model that is based on the value of your service to the client. In order for this model to work, the client must h...2020-04-1725 min
The Friday Habit7 Ways to Improve Your WebsiteOn this episode of The Friday Habit, Ben and Mark shine some light on the ethereal subject that is website improvements as only two people who are experienced in branding and creative website creation could do. In fact, they outline 7 ways to improve your website that will not only provide you with a clearer and more effective website but also with greater clarity on your brand as a whole.Make your text bite-sized – You shouldn’t have any big paragraphs that cause the reader to audibly grunt when they see what they are expected to read. Within 5 seconds, the...2020-04-1020 min
The Friday HabitBeing Resilient with Sherry Walling, PhDOn this episode of The Friday Habit, Ben and Mark talk with Dr. Sherry Walling, a clinical psychologist with a specialization in trauma and stress. She works with people in high-intensity jobs, particularly entrepreneurs, so she has been trained in the space of chaos and has the advantage of experience in knowing how to navigate uncertain times.Sherry says that during this time of coronavirus affecting countries all over the world and the subsequent impacts on the economy, many people are experiencing instability and a heavier than normal mental load. There is really nothing anyone could have...2020-04-0330 min
The Friday HabitRunning Your Business in Unusual TimesBen and Mark take a step back from their planned episodes of The Friday Habit to address ways to run your business in these unusual times. Many small business owners and entrepreneurs are struggling to know the next right steps, but there is hope and there are some simple ways that you can keep things moving:Reach out to your network – Call or send messages to your clients and other people you have business relationships with to check in and see how they are doing. Encourage them during these uncertain times and offer to help in any way yo...2020-03-2717 min
The Friday HabitIncrease the Lifetime Value of Your CustomersSo how do you retain more of your current clients and increase their lifetime value over time? On this episode of The Friday Habit podcast, Ben and Mark provide their top 3 ways and recommend some awesome resources to help you along the way. Package or productize your service – Mike McDerment wrote the e-book “Breaking the Time Barrier” demonstrating this topic, which we highly recommend that you read. Horizontal integration such as expanding your current product offerings based on demand and needs expressed by your clients can be a gamechanger for your business.Create a subscription service – Often referred to as a r...2020-03-2023 min
The Friday HabitDealing with Business EnvyThe topic of this episode of The Friday Habit is dealing with business envy. Everyone struggles with comparison and the temptation to be judgmental of yourself and others in the context of business, and when you are in the heat of the moment it can be difficult to see things from the right perspective. Even if you didn’t get that new client or promotion, you are doing better than you think you are. Here are four ways to help combat this business envy and get a better understanding of your own strengths and position in the industry:Re...2020-03-1321 min
The Friday HabitThe Right Way To Say NoWhether you realize it or not, when you say “yes” to anything, you are saying “no” to everything else in that situation. On this episode of The Friday Habit, Ben and Mark discuss the wrong ways that people typically say “no” and the one right way that will be in everyone’s best interest. You could think of this like a financial budget, as described by several business leaders including Michael Hyatt, where overspending in one area will make you go into debt somewhere else. In his book, “The Power of a Positive No”, William Ury spells out the 4 ways that...2020-03-0618 min
The Friday HabitHow To Do Meetings RightIf you are living with the “live every day like it’s Friday” mentality like Mark and Ben are, you know how this shift in perspective can boost your energy level and help you find the good things in each day, seeing every problem as an opportunity to do something right. This perspective carries over into many aspects of your working life and is especially pertinent to the implementation of effective meetings. Maybe you have never been a part of a meeting that you would define as “effective”, so here are 5 ways to alter the paradigm and make every meeting mo...2020-02-2814 min
The Friday HabitTurn Your Business into a Profit MachineBased upon the book "Profit First," Ben and Mark share the concept of setting aside profit for yourself first by simply creating different bank accounts (for operating expenses, owner's compensation, taxes and profit). Then, you put a percentage of what is made each pay period into each account. Each quarter, you change the percentages as needed. One of the many perks is it helps you assess reoccurring expenses more often. The four keys to creating stability include:Keep your overhead low – If you value a really nice office space, perhaps sublease part of that space to cover the exp...2020-02-2124 min
The Friday HabitHow To Stay Focused at WorkToo often, distractions invade our world and keep us from accomplishing everything we have set out to do in a certain timeframe. Whether you find that your distractions are of your own making or the result of those who work around you, hopefully you can find some good insights and action items in these 3 simple strategies for staying focused at work:Stick to a time management plan such as the Pomodoro technique – Block out some time during your day when you can commit 25 minutes to focus on one task with no distractions whatsoever followed by a 5-minute break. Yo...2020-02-1415 min
The Friday HabitStrategies to Beat ProcrastinationWhether you find yourself constantly procrastinating or you are specifically avoiding a particular task, hopefully you realize that you can’t put it off forever and eventually you will have to do it. Why not just get started right now? Ben shares his 5 tips for beating procrastination:Think through the process – Create some space for yourself each week to consider your upcoming tasks and define the physical actions involved in each one. While having a task like “get better health insurance” on your list is specific, it is just unclear enough that you might not know how to move for...2020-02-0717 min
The Friday Habit5 Habits That Will Revolutionize Your BusinessMain Topic5 Habits That Will Revolutionize Your BusinessLearn every weekLet others curate for youSubscribe to make it automatic (podcasts, emails)Capture new ideasWrite it down right when you think of itUse team messagingEncourage others to contributeDocument problemsExample: Taking too much time to quote small changes to sites turned into a membershipPerform a weekly reviewSchedule it on the calendarTalk through each of the ideas and problemsMake decisions and assign action itemsBlock off time to take action...2020-01-3115 minThe Friday HabitWelcome to The Friday HabitAre you too busy doing work for your customers to make critical changes to your business? We’re here to help you set aside time every Friday to improve your business. So you can stop feeling behind and instead build a business that works for you.2020-01-2201 min