In This Episode

During tonight’s show we were joined by Joni Fedders, President of Aileron (www.aileron.org), a non-profit with the goal of helping private business owners like you find greater success.  Joni was also a business owner prior to joining Aileron and had some fun and helpful stories to share (does worrying about making payroll or losing your house resonate)!

Some of the topics we covered included the shift from the for-profit world to the non-profit world, the emotional parts of business especially when it comes to the people, and how Joni flipped from swearing off business partners after a bad experience to now being an advocate for partnerships!  

Joni also touched on a couple of key things that have lead to the success of Aileron which includes having more of the for-profit mindset vs. non-profit as well as focusing on the “community” of small private businesses.  Giving owners who are feeling lonely a place to go.

People, Companies and Resources We Mentioned in the Show

Aileron (www.aileron.org)

Scrooged (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096061/)

The post How Can Small Private Business Owners Find Help, Joni Fedders of Aileron? appeared first on Dirty Secrets of Small Business.

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In This Episode

During tonight’s show we had the honor of being joined in studio by Michael Robinson of Rust Belt Riders (https://www.rustbeltriders.com).  He shared his story about moving to Cleveland to start a business with a local partner.  Part of his story is how the city has embraced him and his company. Michael shared with us what Rust Belt Riders is doing to reduce the amount of food going into landfills.

He is also a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program (https://www.goldmansachs.com/citizenship/10000-small-businesses/US/) and he shared with us some of his key takeaways from that program in our monthly Goldman 10 for 10 segment. One of his key takeaways was how important it was to work on vs. in the business.  The way the program is set up forces the business owner to be away from the business for at least a day per week for three months.  Michael realized that he could step outside the business for a day per week especially when roles within the business were well defined.  He also appreciated having the outside perspective of his fellow classmates and advisors.

People, Companies and Resources We Mentioned in the Show

Rust Belt Riders (https://www.rustbeltriders.com)

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program (https://www.goldmansachs.com/citizenship/10000-small-businesses/US/)

Tilth Soil (www.tilthsoil.com)

The post How Do I Build A Business In A New Town, Michael Robinson? appeared first on Dirty Secrets of Small Business.

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In This Episode

Something most small business owners don’t do well is share information with their team.  It’s not their fault as most small business owners don’t understand why they should share certain information.  In fact, decades ago you’d be hard pressed to find any small business owner sharing information with their team.  “They should be glad they have a job,” was a common refrain.

During tonight’s show we share not only the “Why” for sharing information about your company but also talked about “What” to share, “How” to share it, as well as “Who” to share it with.  If you’re able to get past the why part then you’ll find out that we recommend that you share everything with your team…except what people make in terms of compensation. We like to keep things simple and go with our 7 Keys to Success when figuring out what to present.

As you might already appreciate, it’s certainly important to understand what you should be sharing but it’s also key how you share it as well.  Hint, sharing a bunch of detailed numbers or overloading people with a 50 page slideshow is not a good way to go. Initially, it’s also not a good idea to have other folks leading the sharing, it should be you as the business owner leading the way.  On the who front we gave examples of sharing with your team, vendors, and customers. The message for each audience should be tweaked.

If you’re looking to get the most out of your team and ultimately your company, properly sharing your company’s info might be the key next step you need to take.  Only one way to find out, enjoy the show!

People, Companies and Resources We Mentioned in the Show

Blind Men and Elephant (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_men_and_an_elephant)

Keebler Elves (https://www.keebler.com/en_US/all-about-the-elves.html)

The post How and What Should I Share About My Business? appeared first on Dirty Secrets of Small Business.

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In This Episode

As a loyal listener to Dirty Secrets of Small Business, you’ve heard us talk about how we’ve been business partners since 2003.  And we often say that our business partnership has lasted longer than most marriages.  So are we just one of the lucky ones?  Like those couples who celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary while others are on their third marriage?

So during tonight’s show we delved into why so many business partnerships get a bad rap.  If you’ve been in a business for a while or know someone who has, chances are you’ve heard all kinds of business partnership horror stories.  I’m sure you’ve also heard some good stories about business partnerships and tonight we shed some light on what makes for a good partnership and provided some suggestions for what not to do in a partnership.  As I’m sure you can appreciate, knowing what not to do can often be more important than knowing what to do.

In addition to our current business partnership and some of our prior experiences, we also drew from several dozen clients we’ve had over the years where there were some truly stellar partnerships and ones that needed a little more work.  Perhaps the most important part of the foundation for any relationship (business or personal) is the “T” word…trust.  How do you earn it, keep it, and not abuse it?  How do you know if your partnership material?  Are you willing to accept your partner’s shortcomings?  Do you like to keep secrets?  Are you looking out for your best interest or that of the organization?

We hit on these topics and many more in tonight’s show.  If you have some stories you’d like to share with us, shoot us an email at radio@maximumvp.com to let us know the details!

People, Companies and Resources We Mentioned in the Show

• Family Man (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Family_Man)
• Rap sheets (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rap%20sheet)

The post How Come So Many Business Partnerships Get Such A Bad Rap? appeared first on Dirty Secrets of Small Business.

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