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Move The NeedleTaking a BreakThank you for being a listener!We're taking a break to enjoy the holidays and gear up for a strong 2020. Need to reach us while we're away...Contact Jason Zook at:Twitter: @JasonDoesStuffEmail: Hello[at]JasonDoesStuff.comContact Greg Hartle at:Twitter: @greghartleEmail: Online[at]GregHartle.com2019-12-1200 minMove The NeedleSome Thoughts on StressTopics discussed in this episode:How to manage early-stage business stressDiscussion around enough versus moreWhy stress is a natural by product of any significant accomplishmentDiscussion around lowering your stress versus improving your stress toleranceAre we experiencing a shift into a more stressful world and if so can we protect ourselves from itHow much has technology contributed to our stressWhy self-evaluation is important to help you determine what is contributing to your stress and how to better manage itTwitter: @greghartle @jasondoesstuffEmail: online[at]greghartle.com hello[at]j...2019-12-0600 minMove The NeedleWhy Momentum Matters, How To Sustain It, and How To Get It Back If You Lose ItTopics discussed in this episode:Working in sprints and taking breaks to recoverWays to bounce back after downtimeThe importance of working on ideas you love to help you sustain momentumWhy problem-solving is a great way to "get into business"Why doing what you say you are going to do is the best business strategyHow to get enough momentum to make significant changes in your life and businessWhy attaching your self-worth to your work is a bad ideaJason's terrible moving watching weekendsReach Jason at Hello[at]JasonDoesStuff.comReach Greg at Online[at]GregHartle.com2019-11-2100 minMove The NeedlePacing Yourself and Finding Balance (Especially in The Early Days)Topics discussed in this episode:Feelings around taking time off and vacations when you own a businessConcepts around building a life and schedule you enjoyDiscussion about whether entrepreneurs are born or madeWhat is work/life balance and how to find itThe idea of pacing yourself and your business rather than chasing growthWhy doing things that don't scale in the early days can lead to a more sustainable business model laterReach Jason Zook at Hello[at]JasonDoesStuff.comReach Greg Hartle at Online[at]GregHartle.com 2019-11-1400 minMove The NeedleThe Dangers of Mimicking Other BusinessesTopics discussed in this episode:Greg discussed finalizing a new business partnership, acquiring new investment capital to grow his coffee business, Youngblood Coffee Roasters.Greg talks about why he's delayed launching any online course. A discussion around why Greg has avoided launching into a business just because he can, and instead is focused on what he should be doing.Jason talks about his new business model focused on business coaching, and what it took for him to get passed his personal hang-ups with negative connotations around online coaching programs.Why taking time to acknowledge and celebrate successes, even i...2019-11-0700 minMove The NeedleWays to Avoid Mo Money Mo ProblemsTopics discussed in this episode:Jason shares results from his Bump Sale of his Squarespace template.Discussion around Pinterest and Facebook ads.Jason's one big takeaway on his side-income projects.Discussion around the value of running experiments and side projects and whether they are helpful or not.Jason and Greg each share their outlook on having business mentors.Is it always Mo Money Mo Problems or can you grow without creating more stress and more challenges?Reach Jason Zook at Hello@JasonDoesStuff.com or @JasonDoesStuffReach Greg Hartle at Online@GregHartle.com or @GregHartle2019-10-3100 minMove The NeedleSmall Business Customer Service, Self-Promotion, and Sales TipsTopics discussed in this episode:How to handle customer support issues when you partner or integrate with third-party companies who experience challenges.Taking responsibility for poor customer experiences and how to rectify them.Why customer help documentation is critical to customer success.The importance of choosing strong third-party partners to ensure great customer experiences.How to choose business partners aligned with your values and vision.Jason's creative ideas to find a traditional book publisher aligned with his vision for his second book.Greg goes off on Sales and Self-Promotion and Jason talks him off the ledge.Marketers ruin...2019-10-2400 minMove The NeedleShort-Term Cash Flow Strategies to Fund Your New Business VenturesTopics discussed in this episode:Greg shares how he's funding his new online business ventures with his one-on-one consulting income.How Greg landed a new consulting contract by reaching out directly to a potential client.Greg and Jason discuss their feelings on labels and why each chooses not to label themselves and instead focus on personal growth.Jason shares how he is handling Teachery.co software changes as a result of a third-party integration forcing his hand.Discussion around how to handle customer support issues when the issue is with a third-party integration or partner.Greg shares his...2019-10-1000 minMove The NeedleThe Keys to Great Business MarketingTopics discussed in this episode:Podcasting and podcast marketing.Podcasting as an ephemeral marketing tactic simply to build rapport and deepen relationships with potential and established customers.Executing marketing strategies when you don't have much marketing experience and a small marketing budget.Marketing this podcast in a unique enough way to substantially grow an audience.Is email still a useful way to market to consumers?The importance of ongoing adjustments to your marketing strategy based on feedback.How to build long-term and short-term marketing funnels at the same time.Why Word-of-Mouth marketing is still the best.Reach...2019-10-0300 minMove The NeedleHow to Avoid Comparison Traps and Feel Empowered About Your WorkTopics discussed in this episode:Greg discusses plans to open a second cafe location for Youngblood Coffee in downtown Minnesota.Greg discusses the multiple ways the team is considering financing the second cafe location without using cash.Greg talks about why accredited investors are important when raising capital even for small investment deals.Greg and Jason discuss how hard (or easy) it is to say no to money when the deal isn't good for you.Jason and Greg discuss comparison traps and how we avoid comparing our inside to someone else's outside.Jason discusses the contract he establishes...2019-09-2600 minMove The NeedleThe Importance of a Financial Philosophy to Your Business and Personal LifeTopics discussed in this episode:Greg gives an update on his next steps for deciding whether to create digital courses for an industry or a position across multiple industries.Greg explains the steps he's taking to research and decide which digital courses he may want to create. In particular, gaining clarity on what he doesn't want to do just as much as getting clear on what he does want to do.Jason and Greg discuss business financial lessons and what to do think about when starting a new business.Greg talks about Unexpected and Unknown expenses that come...2019-09-1900 minMove The NeedleFun and Unique Marketing Approaches to Help You Create Signal From The NoiseTopics Discussed In This Episode:
Why Greg makes every attempt to see the world through his own lens instead of blindly taking advice, even from experts.
Jason talks about how to find great service providers for your business and why it's so important.
Jason gives an update on his "Make $500" digital program beta test, and the results are surprisingly poor.
Greg and Jason discuss how to stay motivated when your customers buy from you, but don't consume your work and apply what they learn.
Jason talks about his next experiment for Wandering Aimfully, "Build a...2019-09-0500 minMove The NeedleUsing Pricing Strategies and Case Studies to Demonstrate Value and Get More BusinessTopics discussed in this episode:
Jason makes a stunning revelation that he never watched Michael Jordan play on the Chicago Bulls.
Jason and Greg discuss their love of books despite not reading much when they were young.
Greg discusses the buying psychology of paying more for a service and how charging a fee upfront increases the buyer's commitment and the seller prestige.
Jason discusses the importance of manually testing marketing and sales ideas before automating them.
Jason shares his process for ensuring a company website creates the feelings your customers want and delivers the message you are hoping...2019-08-2900 minMove The NeedleHow to Bring Your Crazy Ideas to Life: Part IIIIn this episode we discussed:
How Greg found a technical co-founder and launched a personal development online learning academy.
Greg and Jason discuss the difference between setting goals and developing positive habits.
Why Greg stopped documenting his life online and instead focused on helping small business owners in person.
The health scare that almost completely derailed Greg's 3-year travel project and how he was able to continue traveling and finish the project.
Jason talks about his ambiguous transition between his "I Wear Your Shirt" project before beginning his next major project and how he got through...2019-08-2200 minMove The NeedleHow to Bring Your Crazy Ideas to Life: Part IIIn this episode we discuss:
How Greg landed his first paid sponsorship.
How Greg got started with his first blog and website.
What led Greg to catch a ride from Portland, OR to Chicago, IL for an important event.
The proactive steps Jason took to book enough sponsors for I Wear Your Shirt for it to become a viable idea.
How Jason was able to land his first national press opportunity.
How Jason leveraged his first national press opportunity for more press.
Greg and Jason discuss how they've landed early sales through experimentation versus strategy.
Why Greg and...2019-08-1500 minMove The NeedleHow To Bring Your Crazy Ideas To Life: Part ITopics discussed in this episode:
Greg shares the story behind his 3-year, 50-state project "$10 and a Laptop."
Greg explains how he made money traveling around the United States starting with just a $10 bill.
Why Greg chose to share real-time transparent daily updates on how he rebuilt his life through entrepreneurship during the Great Recession rather than write a book afterward.
Greg's early struggles of trying to figure out how to travel around the United States with only $10 and no homebase.
Jason shares how he came up with his $1 million idea, "I Wear Your Shirt."
...2019-08-0800 minMove The NeedleThe Small Business Background of Jason Zook and Greg HartleIn this episode, you learn about the unconventional paths that have led each host to their most recent business endeavors. This includes how Jason quit his good-paying, mundane job and made $1 million wearing branded t-shirts and Greg going from barely graduating high school to starting his first business at age 22 before being diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.
Topics discussed include:
What Greg and Jason learned in school versus the real-world and how it has shaped their business decision-making.
Each hosts early employment days and when each discovered they wanted to be entrepreneurs.
Why having great job...2019-07-0700 min