Small Business Survival Conversations
Anna Steinfest
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It is hard to run your business and keep up with new trends and resources to help you build a profitable company. Each Tuesday, join Anna Steinfest and Dr. Michael Troyer will share with you business tools, insights, and ideas. If you are a business owner or thinking about starting a new company or just want to hear some business advice this podcast is for you.
Available episodes
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5 days ago
S2E70: Networking Mastery: Four Game-Changing Strategies for Success
Welcome to Small Business Survival Conversations, where we unveil four indispensable networking strategies that will help you stand out, connect meaningfully, and represent your business effectively.
*1. Elevator Pitch Excellence:* Craft an engaging elevator pitch that's quick, simple, and intriguing. Make it foster a response – a question, a laugh, or piqued interest – from your listener.
*2. The Art of Storytelling:* Prepare a repertoire of stories, including successes, honest reflections on failures, amusing anecdotes, and pivotal decisions. Use them strategically to create admiration, humor, and a bond with your audience while showcasing your character and values.
*3. Authentic Personal Branding:* Learn to brand yourself in an open and unpretentious manner that draws people in. Your personal brand should be concise and compelling, reflecting your essence and what sets you apart.
*4. Savvy Conversation Navigation:* Efficiently move in and out of conversations based on your goals. Identify the right people to connect with and make the most of your networking opportunities.
Join us with experts Anna Steinfest and Michael Troyer as we delve into these four networking strategies that will enhance your interactions, strengthen your connections, and drive your business forward. Whether you're a seasoned networker or just starting, these techniques will boost your networking prowess.
Tune in to Small Business Survival Conversations and master the art of networking today!
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Sep 14, 2023
S2E69: Add Value to Your Product Without Adding Cost
In this special rebroadcast episode, we're revisiting a timeless conversation that's more relevant than ever. Join us as we delve into the world of product development and discover innovative ways to elevate your offerings without breaking the bank. Our expert guests, Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest, will be your guides on this journey to adding substantial value to your products without incurring additional costs.
In today's fiercely competitive market, finding ways to stand out and delight your customers is paramount. Michael, a seasoned product strategist, and Anna, a marketing guru, bring their combined wisdom and experience to the forefront. Together, they share invaluable insights and actionable tips that can transform your approach to product development.
During this episode, you can expect to learn:
* *Hidden Value Gems*: Discover often-overlooked aspects of your products that can be enhanced to captivate your audience and drive loyalty.
* *Consumer-Centric Strategies*: Learn how to align your product enhancements with the needs and desires of your target audience, ensuring a more profound impact.
* *Innovative Marketing Techniques*: Anna's marketing prowess will provide you with creative ways to communicate and leverage your product improvements effectively.
* *Resource Optimization*: Michael will shed light on optimizing your existing resources, maximizing the value you can provide without increasing costs.
* *Case Studies and Real-World Examples*: Dive into concrete examples of successful cost-free product enhancements that have made a significant impact in various industries.
Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting in the world of business, this episode will provide you with a fresh perspective on adding value to your products. Join us on this enlightening journey as we uncover the secrets to enriching your offerings without the burden of added expenses.
Tune in, take notes, and get ready to transform your approach to product development. Your customers will thank you for it, and your bottom line will too.
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Aug 29, 2023
S2E68: Mastering Customer Service: Setting Your Small Business Apart - Interview with Dan Hatheway
*Dive into a compelling discussion on enhancing customer service for small businesses in our latest podcast episode, "Mastering Customer Service: Setting Your Small Business Apart." Hosted by Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest, this episode features a captivating interview with customer service expert Dan Hatheway. Discover the essential role of exceptional customer service in building loyalty and trust, and gain insights into effectively differentiating your small business from competitors. Learn firsthand from Hathway's wealth of experience as he shares practical tips for training your team to deliver outstanding customer experiences, enabling you to create a customer-centric culture that stands as a hallmark of your brand's success. Don't miss this episode for actionable strategies to elevate your business through exceptional customer service.*
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Aug 1, 2023
S2E67: Networking Secrets for Small Business Owners: 4 Keys to More Effective Connections
In this enriching podcast episode, join host Anna Steinfest and Dr. Michael Troyer as they delve into the world of networking and unveil the four essential keys to building strong and effective connections for your small business.
Owning a small business can be challenging, and networking is crucial in driving growth and success. Anna and Dr. Michael Troyer will share their expertise on how to harness the power of networking to take your business to new heights.
* Authenticity and Purpose: Discover the importance of authenticity in presenting your brand and how having a clear sense of purpose can attract like-minded individuals to your business. Dr. Michael Troyer will provide valuable insights into aligning your business's core values with your networking efforts.
* Active Listening and Empathy: Effective networking for small business owners involves understanding the needs of your potential customers, partners, and collaborators. Anna and Dr. Michael Troyer will discuss the art of active listening and empathetic communication to create lasting and meaningful relationships with your network.
* Navigating Networking Events: Small business owners often face unique challenges when attending networking events. Learn practical strategies and pro tips on how to navigate these gatherings with confidence, making authentic connections that can lead to fruitful collaborations and partnerships.
* Following Up and Building Long-Term Relationships: Building a strong network goes beyond the initial interaction. Anna and Dr. Michael Troyer will guide you on the art of effective follow-up, nurturing long-term relationships that can result in loyal customers, repeat business, and invaluable support for your small business.
Tune in to this episode to gain actionable advice and inspiring anecdotes that will empower you as a small business owner to transform your networking approach. Whether you're seeking new clients, strategic alliances, or community support, these four keys will revolutionize the way you network, helping you establish your small business as a powerful force in your industry. Get ready to unlock the potential of networking and take your small business to unprecedented levels of success!
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Jul 24, 2023
S2E66: Building Trust in E-commerce: Nurturing 6 Key Customer Interactions
In the fast-paced world of e-commerce, building trust is paramount to success. Each customer interaction presents a unique opportunity to establish a strong bond with your audience. In this episode, we delve into the six pivotal moments that can significantly impact your brand's credibility. From the importance of independent evaluations and initial contact to providing trial opportunities, streamlining the purchasing process, and ensuring seamless shipping and returns, we explore how these interactions contribute to customer retention and loyalty. Join us as we uncover effective strategies to cultivate trust and strengthen your brand's reputation in the ever-evolving e-commerce landscape.
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Jul 17, 2023
S2E65: Finding the Perfect Web Designer: Key Factors to Consider
In this insightful episode, co-hosts Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest delve into the process of finding the right agency or freelance designer to build your website. Navigating the vast sea of options can be overwhelming, but fear not! Our hosts break it down into six essential factors that will guide you towards making the best decision for your business.
Firstly, they emphasize the importance of finding a designer who takes the time to understand your industry and business. Just like hiring a new employee, you need someone who genuinely cares about your results and is invested in your success.
Next, they explore the significance of technical skills. A great designer should possess both creative flair and advanced technical abilities to deliver the website you envision. While many agencies can create basic sites, finding a designer with exceptional technical skills sets them apart.
Considering the business model is the third factor discussed. Whether it's a local agency with face-to-face interaction or a virtual agency with lower overheads, it's crucial to align their business model with your needs and preferences.
Our hosts then emphasize the value of industry experience. While the designer's expertise lies in building websites, having prior experience in your specific sector can greatly enhance their ability to understand and cater to your unique business goals.
The fifth factor centers around the fee structure. Design agencies may charge hourly rates or provide fixed fees for defined scopes of work. Understanding their fee structure, including upfront deposits or installment payments, ensures alignment with your budgeting needs. Fixed pricing can offer more predictability and fewer surprises in invoice amounts.
Finally, Dr. Troyer and Anna Steinfest touch on the significance of a designer's ability to complete your specific project. While prior experience in similar projects is advantageous, they highlight that designers lacking extensive experience may compensate in other ways and can often offer more affordability.
Tune in to this episode to gain valuable insights and guidance on finding the perfect web designer. Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest provide expert advice on navigating these six factors, enabling you to make an informed decision that aligns with your business objectives.
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Jul 10, 2023
S2E64: Small Business Automation Tools to Save Time & Increase Profit
Join Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest as they explore the power of business automation and its impact on small brands. Discover how automation levels the playing field, allowing smaller businesses to outpace larger competitors by reacting swiftly to new trends. In this episode, our hosts recommend a selection of top business automation tools designed specifically for small brands, including productivity software like Calendly and Boomerang, email marketing tools like MailChimp and Constant Contact, billing automation tools like QuickBooks Online and Shoeboxed, and customer support software like Freshdesk and Zendesk. They also introduce Zapier and Microsoft Flow as tools for seamless integration across various applications. Tune in to optimize your business and unlock its true potential with these efficient automation tools.
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Jun 12, 2023
S2E63: Unleashing Success: Four Often Overlooked Strategies for Business Growth
Join hosts Anna Steinfest and Dr. Michael Troyer in this thought-provoking podcast episode as they delve into the secrets of success that are rarely discussed but hold immense potential for personal growth. In "Four Ways That No One Tells You Often Enough to Be More Successful," they uncover powerful strategies that can transform your mindset and propel you towards achieving your goals.
The episode begins by emphasizing the value of reflection and introspection. Anna and Dr. Troyer guide listeners on contemplating the bigger picture of their focus, examining its significance, and challenging themselves to improve their approach. They reveal how taking a step back and critically assessing one's actions can lead to breakthroughs and a heightened sense of purpose.
Next, they explore the importance of listening to the inner voice. By encouraging listeners to pay attention to their instincts and inner guidance, Anna and Dr. Troyer help uncover hidden aspirations and desires. They demonstrate how tuning into this internal compass can provide valuable insights and lead to informed decision-making.
Continuing the conversation, the hosts stress the significance of lifelong learning. They advocate for a commitment to continuous personal development and expanding one's knowledge, skills, and understanding. Anna and Dr. Troyer offer practical tips and resources to help listeners embrace a growth mindset and ensure they never stop learning.
Lastly, they delve into the transformative power of self-improvement and open-mindedness. Anna and Dr. Troyer inspire listeners to cultivate a mindset that embraces new ideas, approaches, and perspectives. They discuss strategies to tap into the creative force within and encourage individuals to explore fresh thinking methods to enhance their problem-solving abilities and drive innovation.
Throughout the episode, Anna Steinfest and Dr. Michael Troyer provide invaluable insights, actionable advice, and real-life examples to illustrate each strategy's potential impact. By adopting these often overlooked techniques, listeners will discover a renewed sense of purpose, ignite their personal growth, and unlock their true potential.
Tune in to this captivating podcast episode and embark on a journey toward greater success, fulfillment, and self-discovery. Remember, reimagining your path and creating your desired life's never too late.
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Jun 7, 2023
S2E62: Four Powerful Strategies for Maximizing Productivity as a Small Business Owner
In this episode of Small Business Survival Conversations], join Anna Steinfest, a successful entrepreneur, and Dr. Michael Troyer, an expert in business efficiency, to explore four essential thoughts on enhancing productivity and making the most of your time as a small business owner.
* Stop jumping at the quick and easy thing to get done: In the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship, tackling the small, easily achievable tasks that provide instant gratification is tempting. However, Anna and Dr. Troyer emphasize the importance of resisting this urge. Discover why focusing on these low-hanging fruit tasks might not advance your firm and how to redirect your energy effectively.
* Organize first: Time spent on organizing may seem counterintuitive when there are pressing tasks at hand. However, Anna and Dr. Troyer advocate for taking the time to organize as it ultimately saves valuable time in the long run. Learn how proper organization can prevent the "stop and start" cycle and enable a smoother workflow.
* Focus on the future: To optimize productivity, it is crucial to identify and prioritize tasks that will significantly impact your business's future success. Anna and Dr. Troyer discuss the strategies and mindset needed to differentiate between tasks that may seem urgent but don't contribute to long-term growth. Discover how investing time in these future-focused activities can save you time and benefit your business in the long term.
* Create a "Why" to-do list: Traditionally, to-do lists are created based on the tasks that need to be accomplished. However, Anna and Dr. Troyer propose a unique approach. They encourage small business owners to write their to-do lists as a list of "Why we/I need to do this task." Uncover the power behind this shift in perspective and how it can motivate and guide your actions more effectively.
Tune in to this enlightening episode of Small Business Survival Conversations as Anna Steinfest and Dr. Michael Troyer share their valuable insights and practical advice on prioritizing tasks, organizing efficiently, focusing on the future, and creating a purpose-driven to-do list. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting your small business journey, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to maximize their productivity and achieve long-term success.
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May 17, 2023
S2E61: Ways to Differentiate Your Business and Why You Want to Differentiate It
In this episode of "Small Business Conversations," host Anna Steinfest and Dr. Michael Troyer delve into differentiating your business and why it is essential. In a competitive marketplace, standing out is crucial for long-term success. The hosts explore effective strategies to achieve this, starting with the importance of directly asking your customers what they want. By gaining valuable insights into their needs and preferences, businesses can tailor their offerings to provide real value.
Additionally, Anna and Michael discuss the significance of finding and establishing a unique niche. They emphasize the importance of making a distinct contribution to customers' efforts that sets your business apart from competitors. By doing so, you can attract customers who are exclusively yours without the need to share them with other firms.
The hosts also stress the dangers of competing solely on price. Engaging in a price war reduces your business to a commodity, leaving little room for growth and survival. Instead, they encourage listeners to consider alternative approaches, such as exploring new lines of business or finding untapped opportunities within their current industry.
Throughout the episode, Anna and Michael provide actionable insights and practical tips to help businesses differentiate themselves effectively. By embracing these strategies, entrepreneurs and business leaders can position themselves for success in today's competitive landscape. Tune in to gain valuable insights on differentiating your business and seeing your sales soar.
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May 9, 2023
S2E60: 3 Ways How to Improve Your Ability to Influence Others as Business Owner
In this episode, Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest discuss the importance of improving your ability to influence others as a small business owner. They offer three practical ways to enhance your persuasiveness and increase your chances of success in your business ventures.
The first tip they share is to make your presentation all about the listener, not about you. They emphasize the importance of focusing on the listener's needs and desires rather than just promoting your own products or services. By showing that you understand and care about their needs, you are more likely to gain their trust and support.
The second tip is to use comfortable, casual language when presenting your ideas. Dr. Troyer and Anna explain that using language that is easy to understand and relatable can make the listener feel more comfortable and open to your message. They suggest speaking as if you are talking to a colleague or friend rather than using overly formal or technical language.
Finally, the…
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May 2, 2023
S2E59: 3 Reasons Why Less is More For Your Product or Service
Welcome to "Small Business Conversations," the podcast that helps entrepreneurs and business owners achieve success by providing practical advice and inspiring stories. In this episode, Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest explore the concept of "less is more" when it comes to designing products and services. They offer three good reasons why simplifying your offerings can be a game-changer for your business.
First, customers often become annoyed when paying for features they don't need or use. By reducing or simplifying the design and number of features in your product or service, you can offer it at a lower price or make it easier to use. This can help you solve a problem or complete a job for your customers more efficiently.
Second, complex products or services can lower the efficiency with which your customers can use them. By evaluating your offerings and simplifying them for customers who are looking for efficiency, you can make it easier for them to get value out of using your…
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Apr 22, 2023
S2E58: 4 Tips to Grow Your Business
In this episode, hosts Anna Steinfest and Dr. Michael Troyer share their four unique tips to help entrepreneurs and business owners grow their businesses. With their extensive experience in business strategy, leadership development, and organizational psychology, Anna and Michael offer practical and insightful advice that can help businesses of any size and industry.
Tip #1: Examine your business away from your business - Anna and Michael explain why it's essential to step back from your business to examine it from a fresh perspective. They offer strategies for identifying areas that need improvement, optimizing resources, and making changes that can have a significant impact on the bottom line.
Tip #2: Put yourself in the customer's shoes - Anna and Michael stress the importance of understanding your customers' needs, preferences, and pain points. They provide tips for collecting feedback, analyzing data, and using customer insights to improve your products, services, and overall cust…
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Apr 17, 2023
S2E57: Four Challenges as You Grow Your Business
Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest discuss the four challenges that businesses may face as they grow. They first emphasize the importance of having enough money in reserve to support growth, including external sales growth, timely delivery, inventory management, and internal infrastructure. Secondly, they urge listeners to overcome the fear of delegating tasks to others and recognize that their time is the limit on their business's growth unless they delegate work. The third challenge is being honest with yourself about the potential for growth, with a clear vision grounded in data, customer excitement, and careful observation. Finally, the hosts caution against getting too excited and overestimating the success of their product or service, reminding listeners to stay grounded in reality and check for real enthusiasm from untapped markets. This episode provides valuable insights and practical advice for entrepreneurs and small business owners who are navigating the challenges of gro…
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Apr 5, 2023
S2E56: How to Improve Your Presentation Skills
Welcome to this episode of our podcast, where we discuss how to improve your presentations. Whether you're presenting to investors, customers, employees, or the community, you want to make sure your message is clear and effective. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest about how to create presentations that resonate with your audience.
Dr. Troyer and Anna Steinfest share their expertise on how to think about your audience when creating presentations. They suggest asking yourself how you can speak most clearly to your audience and focusing on the micro business. They also advise washing out jargon, acronyms, and terms that others don't understand.
The experts also highlight the importance of understanding what your audience needs to learn from you. They suggest telling them what they need or want to know, talking in words they understand, and being short and to the point. They also advise leaving room for questions.
Finally, Dr. Troyer and Anna Steinfest…
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Mar 23, 2023
S2E55: 4 Steps to Master Your Networking Skills
Today Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will share tips and tools to master your networking skills.
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Mar 16, 2023
S2E54: Practical Tips to Maximizing Your Marketing Efforts
Join Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest for a quick and actionable podcast episode on maximizing your marketing efforts in just ten minutes!
In this episode, you'll learn practical tips for identifying your target audience, creating a strong value proposition, and tracking your marketing campaigns. You'll also discover some useful tools and resources to help you save time and improve your results.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to level up your marketing game in just ten minutes! Tune in to the podcast and get ready to take your marketing strategies to the next level.
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Mar 10, 2023
S2E53: Three Essential Steps in Financial Planning for a Small Business
In this podcast episode titled "Three Essential Steps in Financial Planning for a Small Business," financial expert Anna Steinfest and host Dr. Michael Troyer provide critical advice for small business owners who want to survive and thrive in the current economic climate.
The first essential step is to develop financial projections that accurately reflect the business's revenue, expenses, and cash flow. Steinfest and Dr. Troyer discuss the importance of creating multiple scenarios to account for different outcomes and provide guidance on how to create projections that are realistic and useful.
The second step is to plan for contingencies. Steinfest and Dr. Troyer stress the need for small business owners to anticipate and prepare for unexpected events, such as a sudden drop in revenue or a supply chain disruption. They offer practical tips for developing contingency plans to help businesses weather unexpected challenges.
The third essential step is to learn to monitor and adjust. St…
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Feb 28, 2023
S2E52: How to Beat the Competitor Who is Bigger than You
In this episode, we explore small businesses' three unique advantages over their larger counterparts. We dive into the power of transparency and how it can build trust and loyalty within a small business, creating a culture of openness and mutual support. We also examine the benefits of collaboration and how small businesses can foster idea-sharing and innovation through their tight-knit teams. Finally, we look at the advantage of adaptability and how small businesses can quickly learn from mistakes and pivot their strategies, which larger organizations often struggle with. Join us as we uncover small business success secrets and how these advantages can help you thrive in today's competitive market.
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Feb 21, 2023
S2E51: 4 Business Lessons for Small Business Owners
Welcome to our new podcast episode, and in this episode, we'll be sharing four key lessons that every small business owner should know to succeed.
The first lesson we'll discuss is the importance of a profit plan.
Our second lesson is to revisit your lending needs in good times.
Third, we will discuss the importance of starting with small, steady steps. We'll explore how small business owners can avoid getting overwhelmed by their goals by breaking them down into manageable tasks.
Finally, we'll share advice on setting circuit breakers when it's time to call it quits.
Whether you're a small business owner, an entrepreneur, or someone interested in starting their own business, this episode is for you. Join us as we explore these valuable business lessons and gain insights to help you navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship and set your business up for success.
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Feb 13, 2023
S2E50: Navigating Uncertainty: The 4 Must-Ask Questions for Small Business Success
In this episode of Small Business Survival Conversations, Anna Steinfest, and Dr. Michael Troyer delve into the topic of navigating uncertainty and the importance of asking the right questions to ensure the success of small businesses. Join them as they explore the four must-ask questions that small business owners should ask themselves to stay ahead of the curve in today's rapidly changing business landscape. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting, this episode is packed with valuable insights and expert advice to help you successfully navigate the uncertain waters of small business ownership. So sit back, relax, and get ready to learn how to achieve small business success with Anna and Dr. Michael.
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Jan 26, 2023
S2E49: How to Cut Cost in Your Small Business
Cutting costs in your small business is an extremely important strategy that can help you find the extra cash to get more done. Today Anna Steinfest and Dr. Michael Troyer will share tips to help you cut expenses and increase your profit.
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Jan 17, 2023
S2E48: 5 Steps to Turn Your Business Plan into Action: Achieving Success with a Strategic Approach
Join Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest as they share their expert tips on how to turn your business plan into action in just 10 minutes. Learn the 5 steps to achieving success with a strategic approach and take your business to the next level. Don't miss out on this valuable information!
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Jan 9, 2023
S2E47: Where Have all the Workers Gone? - Interview with Phil Hauck
In this episode of our podcast, we had the opportunity to sit down with Phil Hauck, the Envision Board President and former journalist for the Wall Street Journal. With a wealth of experience working with businesses throughout his career, Phil shared his thoughts on the current state of the job market and the challenges that many employers are facing when it comes to finding qualified candidates to fill open positions.
According to Phil, it has been a common issue for the past two years that there simply aren't enough people to staff many businesses, leading to intense competition for top talent. To help address this problem, Phil recommended the book "Winning the War of Talent" by Chris Czarnik, which he believes offers valuable insights for both large and small businesses that are looking to recruit employees.
Throughout the interview, Phil also provided his perspective on the importance of building strong company cultures, the role of HR in attracting and retaining top talent, and h…
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Dec 19, 2022
S2E46: How to Grow Your Small Business - Advice from Lennie Shefchik
No matter what kind of small business you run, you will want to increase your sales and grow your revenue. That’s why so many people are interested in how to grow a small business.
There isn’t an easy one-size-fits-all business growth strategy for small business owners. But, there are key strategies you can use to give your business the best chance at growing. Listen to the founder of PTI Lennie Shefchik and learn first-hand tips and tools for success.
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Dec 14, 2022
S2E45: How to Ensure Your Survival in the Coming Year – Advice from Business Leader Paul Tutskey
In an interview with Paul Tutskey, you will be reminded of the critical role of consistency in serving customers, the value of operating from a business plan that you re-visit on a continuous basis, and the challenge and importance of innovation and continuous improvement.
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Dec 5, 2022
S2E44: What Should be Your Marketing Budget for Your Business?
Every business needs to do marketing to attract customers, increase sales and compete better. Many small business owners need help calculating how much money they should spend.
Anna Steinfest and Dr. Micheal Troyer advise that there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. So much depends on the kind of business you have, your business objectives and your revenue.
They offer tips for developing a marketing budget that fits your small business.
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Nov 18, 2022
S2E43: Sales - Small Business Survival Guide
*Sales - Small Business Survival Guide
*
Today’s sales environment is hyper-competitive! Fine-tune your SBSG sales strategies for attracting and retaining customers that truly fit your mission and vision within your community. Improve your sales know-how with these real-world tips and lessons learned from the pros.
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Nov 9, 2022
S2E42: Marketing - Small Business Survival Guide
Today Anna Steinfest and Anna Steinfest will share with you three marketing tips that you can implement to be successful. Also, feel free to download our Free Marketing Survival Guide, full of free resources. Here is the link:
https://khanplanet.com/bookshelf/Marketing/Guide.html
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Nov 4, 2022
S2E41: How to Manage Your Project
Today Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will share with you three easy steps to manage your projects.
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Oct 28, 2022
S2E40: How to Prioritize Even if Everything Seems to be Urgent
Knowing how to prioritize work affects the success of your business. Today Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will share some tips on how to be more efficient in doing so.
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Oct 18, 2022
S2E39: 7 Tips to Improve Your Credit Score
Listen to our episode to understand how to improve your credit score.
Here are our 7 tips to improve your credit score:
*1. Pay yourbills ontime
2. Have the right credit mix
3. Keep your credit utilization rate low
4. Separate your business credit from your personal credit*
*5. Check your credit report regularly
6. Avoid debt collection and bankruptcy
7. Be patient*
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Oct 11, 2022
S2E38: 6 Questions Your Banker Will Ask
Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will explain in detail the questions your banker will ask you when you apply for a loan.
Here are questions your banker will ask you:
1. What is your financial strength?
2. What will your project’s financial impact be?
3. What is your investment or collateral?
4. What’s your overall business plan?
5. What’s your personal financial situation?
6. Have you done your due diligence?
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Oct 5, 2022
S2E37:Your Checklist for Winning Loan Request
Today Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will share with you how to win your business loan request. Here is their checklist:
Your checklist for winning loan Request
1. Prepare a business plan
2. Prepare financial projections
3. Identify your investment and collateral
4. Check your credit history
5. Shop around
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Sep 26, 2022
S2E36: How to Deal with Uncertainty
It’s a tough time to be a small business owner right now.
Uncertainty and knowing what the future will bring are still in the air.
The harsh reality is that uncertainty is always present, and takes various forms, whether it is the Coronavirus crisis, trade tensions, environmental concerns, or political unrest.
Today Dr. Micahel Troyer and Anna Steinfest will share some ideas on how to be better prepared for tomorrow.
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Sep 14, 2022
S2E35: Time Management
Think about your typical day. What do you think are the most impactful roadblocks to your business productivity?
Learn some tips to manage your time as small business owner.
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Aug 9, 2022
S2E34: The Basics of Running a Business: Understanding Financials
Today Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will teach you how to make sense of your financials
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Jul 26, 2022
S2E33: How to Set Up Goals
How to set up goals for your small business? This is the topic for our conversation today. We will share some tips and tools for you to use to be more productive.
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Jul 11, 2022
S2E32: How to Keep Better Financial Score on Your Business
Today you will learn some tips and tools to help you keep better financial score on your business.
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Jul 5, 2022
S2E31: How to Better Use Your Time as a Small Business Owner
Today you will hear Dr. Troyer's and Anna's favorite hacks to manage their time
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Jun 5, 2022
S2E30: 3 Forgotten Parts to Setting Your Goals
Today we will share some tips on how to be more productive in setting your goals.
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Jun 5, 2022
S2E29: How to Craft an Exit Strategy for Your Small Business
Today you will learn what a business exit strategy is, why you need it, and what are the best business strategies to consider.
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May 26, 2022
S2E28: How to Choose an Accounting Service for Your Small Business
Today you will learn why it is important to have an accounting service and how to choose it.
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May 10, 2022
S2E27: 6 Ways to Increase Your Sales
Want to increase your sales dramatically? Then shift your sales focus from attracting new customers to enticing your proven customers to buy again. The best sales prospect is a prospect that's already converted—in other words, one of your current customers.
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May 3, 2022
S2E26: How to Calculate Your Labor Cost Percentage
Payroll is a major expanse for any firm, and in some industries, it is the largest cost. Tracking employee labor percentage is extremely important for the small business owner because it is a key metric the owner must know so she/he can identify problems and opportunities to capture payroll savings.
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Apr 12, 2022
S2E25: Tips for Effective Small Business Hiring
Hiring is one of the most important things an entrepreneur will do to grow their company. For a small business, each new hire has a tremendous impact and influences the company's culture. The stakes are high, so you need to ensure that each of your new hires is a passionate, engaged, and committed team player. Today we will share with you few tips you can implement to be more effective when hiring employees.
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Apr 5, 2022
S2E24: Competitive Strategies for Your Small Business ( Outside View-Part II)
How do you grow your business? What type of strategies you should implement to be successful?
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Mar 30, 2022
S2E23: How to Grow Your Firm Part 1 ( Inside View)
What do you need to grow your company? Today we will take a look at what resources you need to help you grow from an internal perspective.
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Mar 9, 2022
S2E22: Rethink Your Marketing
Wasting money on ineffective marketing is easy. Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will teach you some low-budget high-impact marketing strategies to improve your small business.
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Mar 1, 2022
S2E21: Shorten Your Focus
Today Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will give a tool that you should use to accelerate your business success. The main takeaways are:
1. Shorten your feedback loop on the goals that you set
2. Prioritize your time
3. Measure your execution regularly
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Feb 15, 2022
S2E20: How to Conduct a Market Analysis for Your Small Business
Today Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will share with you how to conduct a market analysis for your small business to be successful. They will answer three questions:
* What is a market analysis?
* What are the benefits of running a marketing analysis?
* How to run a market analysis?
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Feb 7, 2022
S2E19: Solutions-Focused Customer Relationships
Solutions-Focused Customer Relationships
as a Means to Earning Business Opportunities
With the consumer of today being much more aware, more knowing, and much wiser to sales tactics, there is a better way to approach a prospective customer/client.
It is to think of it as collaboration around solving the other person’s problem or helping them to complete a job that is important to them.
It is creating a value proposition of support for the other person – sharing ideas and knowledge and working together in a common effort. It shifts the focus from selling a product or a service (and the features they represent) to creating value by collaborating together to solve the person’s or company’s problem or job.
It is especially appropriate to situations where the solution or tool has a degree of sophistication in its function and value or when the cost of acquisition is significant to the potential buyer.
To begin, put your mind and the conversation into a collaborative perspectiv…
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Jan 6, 2022
S2E18: Focusing on Business Growth in the New Year
Today we will share with you how to focus on your business growth through the New Year.
At the beginning of a new year is a time to pause for reflection and it’s also an opportune time to plan your goals for the year ahead. Listen to our new episode to learn Anna's and Michael's best advice for setting and keeping your New Year’s business goals.
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Dec 29, 2021
S2E17: Our New Year's Resolutions for Your Business Success
Today Dr. Troyer and Anna Steinfest are sharing their New Year's resolution for your business success.
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Dec 21, 2021
S2E16: Time Blocking as a Small Business Owner Tool
In this podcast episode, Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will teach you how to manage your most precious resource - time. Listen and learn to how own your schedule and set priorities.
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Nov 16, 2021
S2E14: How Does Your Business Survive and Thrive - Interview with Emily Jacobson the Owner of Green Bay Doulas
Listen to Emily Jacobson, the owner of Green Bay Doulas, and learn how she survived the pandemics. Currently, she is growing in double digits. What tools and tips you can learn from her?
*Bio of our amazing guest: *
Emily was raised in Green Bay, she has been a labor and postpartum doula since 2011. Emily’s strength lies in supporting families through the childbearing years, in whatever manner they envision it unfolding. Unbiased and judgment-free support are the cornerstones on which Emily has built Green Bay Doulas.
Emily’s accolades include:
* Future 15 award recipient- Young Professional of the Year by the Greater Green Bay Chamber of Commerce. (2017)
* 3 Nominations for Entrepreneur of the Year by the Future 15 and Young Professionals (2016 & 2017 & 2019)
* Nominated for Business Person of the Year for the Business Recognition Luncheon through the Greater Green Bay Area Chamber. (2016)
* Nominated for Entrepreneurial Award for the Business Recognition Luncheon through…
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Nov 16, 2021
S2E15: How to Pave Your Road to Business Success - Interview with Jamie Veeser, owner of Machine Plus
Meet the owner of Machine Plus - Jamie Veeser who grew from a 1000 sq ft machine shop to a 10,000 sq ft machine shop in one year. Learn what resources he used to do that. He will share his tools and tips for success with our listeners.
Veeser, a lifelong machinist, founded Machine Plus in January 2012 when he saw an opportunity to enhance the services machine shops provide customers. He said Machine Plus gives customers the online tools to track the progress of their orders, update cost information, and more input in the process.
One of his tips: "We concentrate on what the customer really wants and needs. A lot of shops are just about more sales, but I want to see what would help our customers, what they're lacking," Veeser said. "If they're successful, so am I."
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Nov 3, 2021
S2E13: What is Your Favorite Book That Helped You Grow
Today Anna Steinfest and Dr. Michael Troyer will share 4 of their favorite books.
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Nov 3, 2021
S2E12: How to Survive Rejections
We all deal with rejections at some point. But it’s never fun to deal with rejections in your business. The way you handle rejection can make a big difference in your business so today Anna Steinfest and Dr. Michael Troyer will share with you some tips on how to handle rejection in your business, so you will thrive.
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Oct 28, 2021
S2E11: Motivation for an Entrepreneur
Today you will learn why Why is motivation important for an entrepreneur and How do I sustain my motivation when starting and running a business.
Share with us your favorite motivation hacks at Anna@koppagroup.com or Michael@koppagroup.com
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Oct 5, 2021
S2E10: The Art of Persuasion
There are two key points that every entrepreneur needs to understand about the new world of sales - persuasion and moving others. We as entrepreneurs spend a huge portion of our time not only selling in the traditional sense our product, our service, but selling in a broader sense; persuading and convincing people to do something different. That is a big portion of what we do as an entrepreneur is selling, persuading, and influencing. It’s the essence of our job. So listen to our new episode and learn how you can be more effective.
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Sep 28, 2021
S2E9: How to Pitch Your Business
Entrepreneurs are pitching all the time. So how do they do better? Today Anna Steinfest and Dr. Michael Troyer will share with you two of their favorite ways to pitch: the Pixar model and using questions when you pitch. Share with us what is your way of pitching your business.
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Aug 31, 2021
S2E5: Inflation and the Challenge of Pricing
What is inflation and how to price your product or service in this inflationary environment? Today Anna Steinfest and Dr. Michael Troyer will go back to basics and share some tips you can use to price your product or service.
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Aug 31, 2021
S2E8: How to Improve Your Business Productivity
Today you will learn how to improve your business productivity and create a work-life balance.
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Aug 31, 2021
S2E7: How to Use FAB Selling ( Features, Advantages and Benefits)
FAB stands for Features, Advantages, and Benefits. A FAB Statement is explaining the feature, what it does ( the advantages), and how that benefits the prospective client.
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Aug 31, 2021
S2E6: How to Communicate the Value of Your Product or Service
Today you will learn how to communicate the value of your product or service.
There is a simple formula for that - you have to answer two main questions - *what *are your customers buying and *why* are they buying it.
Another tip you will learn from Anna and Michael is that to change people's heads you have to change people's hearts.
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Aug 19, 2021
S2E4: Your Company Needs to be Good at Change
The capacity of your company for change in today's world matters strategically! Listen to our new episode to learn some tips and tools to be able to improve your company ability to handle change
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Aug 19, 2021
S2E3: How to Give Great Business Presentations
Today you will learn an easy recipe for great business presentations. This is a very important skill to have to make sure that you increase your sales.
1. Tell a story
2. Keep it simple
3. Be authentic
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Aug 2, 2021
S2E2: 3 Ways to Manage an Overwhelming Workload
The overwhelming workload can be huge for small business owners. That is why, entrepreneurs need to work smarter, not harder. Today Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will share 3 ways to manage your business workload.
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Jul 26, 2021
S2E1: Why You Need a Mentor - Revisited
In order for your business to survive you need to find a mentor. Because of their own entrepreneurial experience and their objective perspective, the mentor can see where you may be draining cash, or spark ideas for new business models or initiatives to contribute to your business business growth. Listen to our new episode to learn more how the mentor can help you and your business.
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Jul 20, 2021
Episode 67: Small Business Survival Conversations - Unveiled
Anna Steinfest and Dr. Michael Troyer are sharing with you their new podcast name and logo. You will learn why you need to do this in your own business.
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May 24, 2021
Episode 61: How to Ensure Your Business Survival
Today Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will share some tips to ensure your business survival.
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Jan 21, 2021
Episode 48: Keeping Everybody in the Loop
Today Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will why it is important to understand and be aware of your style of communication. The conditions under which we are living requires more and deeper communication:
* Across
* Down and Up
This is extremely important for small business owners.
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Jan 21, 2021
Episode 47: Hire the Right Employee
When we build a business or purchase one, we often start with close friends or family to help get our idea off the ground or help operate the business.
As we improve and grow the business, the time comes when we will need additional people to help manage it. Choosing them will be very critical when cashflow and profits are tight.
We want to make the right choice given the urgency of the need and the cost of a mistake. How should we approach this challenge?
This is what you learn today from Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest at Lessons in Success
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Jan 12, 2021
Episode 46: Never Waste a Crisis
Today Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will teach you how to get better in the middle of a crisis.
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Dec 23, 2020
Episode 44: "Why Did I Just Miss My (Basketball) Shot?" [That's the wrong question!]
Today Dr. Micheal Troyer and Anna Steinfest will be teaching you how to use negative feedback to build better products and services.
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Dec 2, 2020
Episode 41: Finding What Ties the Top 20% Of Your Customers Together
If we are going to keep telling you to work hardest on retaining the top 20% of your customers (that 80% income contribution), then we ought to help you figure out what they have in common.
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Nov 16, 2020
Episode 40: Shut Up and Listen!
Dr. Micheal Troyer and Anna Steinfest will teach you how to be a better listener and how this will help your business.
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Nov 16, 2020
Episode 38: Customer Connection
Today Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will teach you how to create a long-term relationship with your customers. Probably a better question is – how can you make your customer feel *better about their life* and make them *feel appreciated by you* and your employees?
* Make them feel *comfortable* whether in person or online – do more of that than you thought you could do before all of this.
* Make them feel more *secure* – more than you thought you could do or needed to do in the past.
* Give them a reason to *trust* you and your business.
Our question to you is: Can you think of creative ways to do these three things – offer comfort, provide security, and create trust?
Let us know your thoughts.
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Nov 10, 2020
Episode 37: Choose Your Battles and Win the War
Today Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will help you manage your emotions. You will learn to answer these questions:
How big is this issue in the larger scheme of things?
How much personal, relationship capital is it worth investing to make you feel better?
What other battles can you anticipate with this person in the future?
What is the big picture – what is the outcome that you most want to achieve?
Is this the war you want to win?
What is the big strategic outcome that you seek? Keep that in front of you.
The question they would like you to answer is: What is the war and what are the battles you must win, and what battles will just slow you down from getting to the Big Win?
E-mail us at info@affresearch.com.
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Nov 4, 2020
Episode 36: Drafting a Mentor
Dr. Micheal Troyer will share today his own experiences as they relate to drafting a mentor in the Green Bay Packers Mentor-Protege Program. He will teach you how to use your time most effectively recruiting potential mentor.
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Oct 27, 2020
Episode 35: When You Have Screwed Up In A Big Way
Dr. Micheal Troyer and Anna Steinfest will share what to do when you make mistake. Some of their tips:
Admit your mistake – right away
Acknowledge it
Humble yourself
Then explain how the mistake happened
Now develop a strategy to rebuild the trust that you have lost
Include everyone affected by the mistake, but especially the person most directly affected
You must work to recover trust
What can you do to demonstrate that you can be trusted in the future?
Is there a compensating behavior you can offer?
* An apology in writing
* A call
* A message
* A gift
* An extra task
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Oct 27, 2020
Episode 33: Move Your Idea Forward and Upward
One of the most difficult parts of starting a new business is successfully executing on the idea. So today Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will share with you how do you move your product idea forward.
* If you’re misunderstood, your idea will fail.
* Practice – make sure you are clear in your thoughts
* If you’re boring, your idea will fail
* Share your passion
* If you’re uninspiring, your idea will fail.
* Explain, in simple terms, how great the idea is to solve or correct the challenge on which everyone is focused
* What’s at stake if your idea doesn’t reach the right people? Who suffers? What fails?
* Make sure that everyone listening understands the impact of your idea on others – name who they are
* Be committed and persuasive
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Oct 27, 2020
Episode 34: Profit vs. Sales or Income
Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will help you answer the question of how do you make money?
By investing the least amount of time, resources, and expertise for each of the dollars of profit we make
Constantly think through (monthly – set a date):
* Who should be doing what?
* Does what they are doing fit them?
* Do they fit the “what” you are asking of them?
* Do you know what resources, time, value of skills and expertise are going in?
* Do you know what value is coming out for the customer or end-user?
*If you can’t answer both of these, do you realize that you are operating without a Business Model? *
And your employees don’t know what they or you are doing either.
How can we serve the customer better than anyone else is thinking to do?
Customers pay for value
That is why it should be called the “Customer Value Proposition”
But the customer must be helped to see or experience the value!
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Oct 20, 2020
Episode 32: The Perfect Way to Learn
Today Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will share with you some shortcuts towards learning some techniques that can help your small businesses grow and be successful. Here are some of their thoughts:
* Work to learn from others
* Read widely and deeply
* Talk to people who have already done it in the past
* Soak up the lessons from the past – search for those lessons
* Ask lots of questions – to yourself and of others
* Prepare the questions in advance but let the follow-up question flow out of you as you think, learn and converse
* Show your curiosity to others
* You don’t know it until you can teach it to someone else
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Oct 16, 2020
Episode 31: Why Another Meeting?
Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will share with you how to have a productive meeting.
There should never be a meeting where the invitation does not make it clear, in general terms, what is needed as an outcome from the meeting – what is it that we hope to accomplish and have not done so to this point.
Meetings are not for general communication. Think of the tools we have for that, that are much more efficient.
Meetings are not for teambuilding.
Meetings are not for “get-togethers” and the “how ya doing?”.
Meetings are for "getting something done"!
Or to set the steps in place to get something done!
That is it.
Don’t waste a useful tool (over-used) and people’s time (always scarce) by a bloated agenda that covers lots of topics, even if they bear some relationship to one another.
Your best and most talented people won’t attend the next meeting!
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Oct 7, 2020
Episode 29: What Your Customers Know That You Don't Know?
Do you really know your customers? That is the question Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will be answering in their new episode of Lessons in Success.
You want your product or service to be useful and valued by your customers. Yet, in the creation of that, you have become caught up in your own "creative genius".
For your customer to find their satisfaction or to achieve their expectations, you need to observe the process through which they go to solve their problem or complete their particular job. You should answer the following questions:
* How does your product or service work for them?
* What do they add in the way of resources ( other tools) before they achieve what they want?
* How can you serve them better by providing them more of what they want?
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Oct 7, 2020
Episode 28: What is a Tagline and How to Create One
Today Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will explain what is a tagline and simple steps on how to create one an amazing tagline for your business.
The elevator pitch compels customers to think of and want your product or services. When you are asked what is your business – your response should be an intriguing “tag line” or sentence that should always lead to an immediate question: “Tell me more. It sounds interesting.”
It should be a short phrase or sentence – nothing more. Just let the reaction you need, for a longer conversation that should follow.
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Oct 1, 2020
Episode 27: Growth has Risks
Today Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will teach you how to manage your company growth. Growth is something you want to manage even when it surprises you in terms of its intensity.
Here are some tips from the episode:
* Always Plan for Growth
* Understand that growth changes everything
* The larger your firm is or becomes, the more difficult and complex the impact of intense growth will be
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Sep 22, 2020
Episode 26: Planning For Surprises [The Ultimate Oxymoron]
Today Dr. Micael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will teach you how to protect your business from surprises and be resilient (they will occur):
* Know your business inside and out – be an intense student of it (feel it in your bones)
* Be ready for surprises
* What are the metrics you need to keep an eye on
What other topics you would like to hear? Email us at info@affresearch.com
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Sep 15, 2020
Episode 25: How to Differentiate Your Product
Today Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will share with you some ideas on how to differentiate your product.
*As a business owner, you need to know how to differentiate yourself from your competitors as the surveys show that:*
* 80% of customers are willing to pay more for better customer service.
* One-third of customers seek customizable products.
* 50% of customers choose sociably responsible products.
Listen to our new episode to give you additional tips and ideas.
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Sep 8, 2020
Episode 24: What is a "Features, Advantages and Benefits" (FAB) Analysis?
Today Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will share with you what is FAB ( Features, Advantages, and Benefits) analysis and how you can use it to successfully market your products or services.
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Sep 3, 2020
Episode 23: Organizational Drag - How Your Business Loses Money
Today Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will teach you the following:
1. What is an organizational drag?
2. And how to fix it so your business does not lose money.
Organizational drag: *Organizational drag* is familiar to anyone who has worked in organizations. Essentially, *organizational drag* is the cumulative effect of “needless internal interactions, unproductive or inconsequential meetings, and unnecessary e-communications.” *Organizational drag* wastes time and saps the energy of the workforce.
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Aug 21, 2020
Episode 22: How to Improve Your Sales Skills
Selling is moving someone to trust you and to want to work with you.
It is not the antiquated idea that selling is pushing people to buy something they don’t want, don’t need, or can’t afford.
It is offering ideas in a collaborative conversation with the customer.
It is being a person who takes a genuine interest in the customer’s problem, that the customer wants help in solving.
Today Dr. Micheal Troyer and Anna Steinfest will help you improve your Sales Skills.
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Aug 3, 2020
Episode 21: How to Get More Done in Less Time
Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will teach you how to get more done in less time. You will learn the following:
Learn to block (but not as in football) – will it be time-blocking or project blocking?
Waste some time by taking breaks – What???
Be more disciplined! Learn to use your smartphone in a better way.
Put those mini-tasks and repetitive tasks in a big jar. Only “snack” on them twice a day. ( like e-mails etc.)
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Jul 24, 2020
Episode 20: A Plan for Managing Interruptions at Work
Today Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will teach you how to manage your interruptions at work and be more productive.
Some of the tips you will learn to use are:
* Keep an Interrupters Log
* Analyze and Conquer Interruptions
* Put Your Phone to Work for You (Not Against You)
* Catch Your Breath
* Learn to Say "No"
* How to handle uncontrollable interruptions
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Jul 8, 2020
Episode 19: The Challenge of Pricing
Today Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will talk about the challenge of pricing. You will learn the following:
* What your price should reflect
* Cost to create and deliver the product or service
* The necessary reserves listed above
* The risk you are taking on: debt, time, payroll, governmental regulations,
* The expertise that you are providing (its depth, breadth and the investment of resources in acquiring it)
* The degree to which you can customize your product or service to the specific customer’s needs
* The adjustability of the product or service to changing customer needs and your capacity to meet those needs
* The value your product or service delivers relative to the customer’s other choices
* The sacrifices and compromises (compensating behaviors) the customer will or won’t except in solving their problem, relative to the performance of your product or service.
If you would like to ask a question please e-mail us at info@affresearch.com.
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Jul 1, 2020
Episode 18: How to Manage Your Small Business as a Team
Today Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will explain how to manage your small business as a team. In 10 minutes you will learn:
What makes a Team important and valuable?
* Benefits of Teamwork
* Higher productivity
* Better alignment of tasks and focus
* A company that grows offers more opportunities for team members to grow as well
* A more satisfying place to work
* A place where on Monday your excited to get back to work and on Friday your happy to have the weekend ahead
* Strategies to Achieve Teamwork
* Engage – treat everyone as having value to you
* How to: Ask, Invite, Listen, Respond
* Make the Purpose of the Business Clear – Help everyone to see their role and their fit in the team
* Recognition
* Being in on Things
* Be a willing role model to team members
“Leaders eat last”
“Leaders clean up first”
* Build a Team to support the Small Business – even more important when resources are limited
* Differentiate between a group…
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Jun 25, 2020
Episode 17: When Should You Terminate an Individual?
Today Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will explain when you should terminate an individual from your company. They will answer three main questions:
· Why terminating an employee is so difficult
· Why we should make the decision
· How to terminate an employee
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Jun 18, 2020
Episode 16: How to Hire for Success – Part II
We continue the conversation about how to hire for success:
When you run a small business, you can’t afford to make mistakes. Every client interaction, product, and invoice reflects on you and your company, and one bad experience can make or break your reputation. And that’s why, even though growing your business is a good thing, it’s natural to feel a lot of pressure when you’re hiring new employees who will represent your company to the world.
Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will give you some ideas on how to select your winning members of your team.
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Jun 9, 2020
Episode 15: How to Hire for Success - part I
When you run a small business, you can’t afford to make mistakes. Every client interaction, product, and invoice reflects on you and your company, and one bad experience can make or break your reputation. And that’s why, even though growing your business is a good thing, it’s natural to feel a lot of pressure when you’re hiring new employees who will represent your company to the world.
Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will give you some ideas on how to select your winning members of your team.
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Jun 4, 2020
Episode 14: How to See Opportunities Others Miss
Today Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will teach you how to see opportunities others miss.
1) Study a totally different field, then return to the original problem.
2) Invert the problem. Try to achieve the opposite.
3) Talk to hyper-creative people. Their thinking will help you see the challenge from a different angle.
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May 19, 2020
Episode 13: Crisis Recovery and Growth
You need to prepare to leave the crisis behind you by preparing for its end in advance. Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will guide you in identifying transition strategies to prepare your Firm for post-crisis opportunities, amongst them:
· Prepare to implement your plan to improve your competitive position as the crisis eases;
· Prepare for the opportunities that the end of the crisis will offer and its eventual end can create for you;
· Prepare to satisfy the “pent-up” demand that will turn into sales as the crisis ends, and yet not over-prepare.
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May 14, 2020
Episode 12: How to Prepare a Crisis Contingency Plan
Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will share with you steps you should take to create a successful Crisis Contingency Plan (and a Due Diligence Assessment). The Assessment focuses on two main strategic positions:
· The firm’s strategic and financial position
· The firm’s competitive position
The contingency planning process then guides you through a determination of the key steps that you will need to take at designated stages of the crisis. It will serve as a roadmap for your decision-making, intended to help you sustain your firm.
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May 4, 2020
Episode 11: How to Manage Your Family-owned Business during Difficult Times
Today’s podcast outlines how experts review specific strategies and related tools for family-owned business owners to explore and implement while navigating through the difficult COVID-19 crisis.
It is extremely tough and stressful for anyone in business to know how to deal with the predicted coming depression—then add in family-business factors! Emotions run high; ensure the speaker is understood correctly; clarity is key with responsibilities.
Learn appropriate responses to questions on how to:
· Generate and foster more positive, constructive communication (more than less to avoid family believing that a leader’s silence = the worst news is looming ahead)
· Consider your message content (carefully and thoughtfully) + timing of delivery to the family
· Address fears attentively
· Find common ground
· Identify criteria to guide the family business through tough times
* *
*ABC Tip: Listen to others; choose words carefully; de-personalize situations.*
By following a…
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Apr 27, 2020
Episode 10: 3 Tips to Get Successful Funding for Your SBA PPP Loan
We will share with you 3 tips to get successful funding for your SBA PPP loan, also we will answer questions like:
1. What is the Paycheck Protection Program?
2. Who is eligible?
3. When was the new PPP signed?
4. Our Three tips to be successful in getting funding:
· Apply for PPP at Fintech ( discussing what is a FinTechs and why FinTechs)
· Prepare your monthly payroll documents don't forget depreciation, health insurance, and retirement contributions
· Prepare all you 2019 documents and 2020 documents
Feel free to contact us at info@affresearch.com
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Apr 23, 2020
Episode 9: Social Distancing doesn’t have to Disrupt Mentorship
The focus of this podcast is on B2B mentorship which aligns with the Green Bay Packers (GBP) Mentor-Protégé Program (MPP) and expands on a blog article written on April 6, 2020 by David Smith and Brad Johnson (HBR blog).
Mentors and protégés readily acknowledge that current recession/pandemic times are new to all. Potential benefits of practicing social distancing are:
· Growth fostering
· Role modeling
· Mentor learning opportunities
· Value-added learnings (tech, interaction with clarity, affirmations)
· Awareness of email shortcomings (unclear tone)
* *
*ABC Tip: Leaders eat last!*
New video conferencing technology is stepping up to provide clean, honest interaction and offer flexibility in scheduling. During these extended times of self-quarantine, we can feel less isolated and more accessible for co-workers, clients and mentor-protégé relationships. Anna Steinfest and Dr. Michael Troyer outline three recommendations for building a solid mentor-protégé or ment…
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Apr 15, 2020
Episode 8: A Quick Action Guide for Coping with a Recession
As a business owner trying to prepare for a long recession, you will be forced to make drastic moves to survive. Get and keep your company in survival mode with these management strategies for critical facets of your business, such as:
· Cash position (outflow/inflow)
· Debt position (debt control/debt planning)
· Payroll
· Communication
· Accounting/Tax planning
* *
*ABC Tip: Don’t take cash to maintain business as usual: consider the options!*
By encouraging alternative, yet effective, approaches to cope with a recession, together with Dr. Michael Troyer, Anna Steinfest shares real ideas on surviving the 2020 recession! Dissect debt position into debt control, debt leveraging, debt bridging and debt planning with the highly informative tips in our ABC Podcast: Lessons in Success, Episode 8: A Quick Action Guide for Coping with a Recession.
*Show notes:*
Strategic options to reflect on for handling long-term and at-risk-of-default customers might include loyalty consi…
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Apr 14, 2020
Episode 7: How to Grow Your Business
Business growth is regarded as a measure of business success. Our How to Grow Your Business podcast explores your options which could:
1. improve your ability to manage change
2. provide a springboard to stay ahead of change and the competition
3. get your team excited about that success
*ABC Tip: Explore alternate options to instigate and develop business growth.*
Along with valuable input from Anna Steinfest, Dr. Michael Troyer analyzes and offers insight relating to terms such as convergence, tweaking your business model and the outside-in concept. Seek feedback directly from your clients to consider redesigning your business model and culture. Grow your business into an enhanced version of itself with the tips in our ABC Podcast: Lessons in Success, Episode 7: How to Grow Your Business.
*Show notes:*
What is a blue ocean? How does it differ from a red ocean? Learn about the term 'uncontested marketplace.' Consider who is leaving the marketplace or look at markets that are un…
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Apr 7, 2020
Episode 6: How to Close a Deal
Is your sales team experiencing a lull in closings? The price tag may hold the key! Our ABC Podcast Tip of the Week: *Three steps to successful sales*!
Why is it a struggle to close a business deal? Discover our 3-step process in a concise episode that goes to the heart of the subject. Find the right balance to bring comfort to your sales process:
1. hone your listening skills and ask targeted questions
2. practice, practice, practice … prepare yourself to heighten your sales comfort level
3. research your customer’s needs and focus on the benefits they seek
*ABC Tip: Focus on the benefits your product or service can provide the customer.*
In this episode, Dr. Michael Troyer takes the lead by asking sales specialist Anna Steinfest to recap the top three steps of the sales process: Listen, show empathy and bring confidence to the table! Convert your sales into a high success rate with the tips in our ABC Podcast: Lessons in Success, Episode 6: Closing a Deal.
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Mar 31, 2020
Episode 5: Learning to Delegate
By delegating, CEOs can make the most of each hour of the workday. Self-assess where to best allocate your time and skillset. Our Podcast Tip of the Week: *If employees are leaving work earlier than the CEO, then not enough delegating is going on*!
For CEOs, the challenge of delegating is a critical, daily struggle to correctly manage and prepare for corporate and employee growth. Here’s how to find the right balance between doing and leading to growing your business:
1. minimize micromanaging—consider the opportunity cost; allow the workforce to develop & grow
2. identify the work to delegate; ask your team for feedback
3. pinpoint fails (e.g., lack of clarification) and promote communication & training with customized tools, resources, and coaching
CEOs, ask yourselves these questions: Which work should I delegate? How do I learn to delegate effectively? How do I avoid 'just doing it myself'?
* Tip: Nurture a motivating workplace environment that tolerates (initial) mistakes…
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Mar 24, 2020
Episode 4: Productivity Tools Every Business Owner Needs
Nowadays business owners need diverse hats to perform their responsibilities: an HR hat when hiring and managing employees; a financial hat when projecting revenue; and other hats for working with clients, generating new ideas and navigating legal issues. Every small business owner dreams of getting more work done every single day. Our ABC Podcast Tip of the Week is how to incorporate the *productivity tools every business owner needs*. Organize productive tools to augment team output!
Productivity tools every business owner needs. Here’s how to:
1. enhance each work-hour yield with time management and project management
2. identify low-cost or free productivity tools to improve team throughput
3. customize to optimize specific tools for a particular team including delegating & communicating
Are these your questions: How does a business achieve this goal? How do you choose the right tools or implement rules to succeed? How do you know which tools are right for your business and t…
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