Mind Your Business

Had a listener send in a request for me to discuss how the saying, "The early bird gets the worm, but the second rat gets the cheese" applies to business. I loved recording this episode and hope you enjoy it as well. Share this with a friend and let me know how you like it. - Mark 

A listener sent in the question: "Mark, what are some of the events in your life that really had an impact on you?" This episode is my response to this question. I hope you find it useful.  - Mark

"You're the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with." We have all heard it said, and whether you like it or not, I believe this to be 100% true. In this episode, I focus on the importance of your Vision Alliance Group and what you can do if your initial response to this fact is - "Oh Shit".   

In this episode, I get a chance to sit down with a good friend and business partner of mine - Chris Deininger. Chris is the President of MedalistRx, a full service national pharmacy benefits manager.   You can find Chris on his linkedin page at linkedin.com/in/chris-deininger-4a2911a/

In this episode, I got a chance to sit down with a former student and employee of mine - Dan Appel. Dan is an Account Executive at Salesforce.com in San Francisco, CA. Dan has a decorated sales career including multiple First-place finishes in the National Collegiate Sales Competition. Dan has been a door-to-door Kirby Vacuum salesman, small business owner and operator, Associate Director of Sales and Marketing, and now Account Executive at Fortune 500 - Salesforce.com. In this episode, I get to the bottom of what has worked for Dan including: - Cold call strategies - Sales methodologies - Motivation - Seizing opportunities - Closing the deal   You can find Dan walking the streets of San Francisco or by checking him out at: Linkedin  -  linkedin.com/in/dan-appel-47490051 Facebook  - facebook.com/dappel5 Instagram  -  instagram.com/drappel  

Friends, Here's a little rant on acting before planning. I hope you enjoy. Mark

Are unpaid internships worth it? Is it better to keep looking until you find a paid internship? Can you negotiate your compensation on either? Join me for a deep dive into how to make the best of your internship, whether it is paid or unpaid.  Mark

This is the final part of a 4 part series on Perpetual Entrepreneurship. In this episode, I discuss the fact that your first idea is never your best idea.      * Theme music by Justin Greathouse - luxpiration.com - @justin_great * 

This is part 3 of a 4 part series on Perpetual Entrepreneurship. In this episode, I discuss how great perpetual entrepreneurs can learn to ride the business cycle like a pro.  Formulation Growth Maturity  Decline     * Theme music by Justin Greathouse - luxpiration.com - @justin_great * 

This is part 2 of a 4 part series on Perpetual Entrepreneurship. In this episode, I address why business plans are for banks and NOT for entrepreneurs. I also have provided the link to the video I referenced in the podcast below. I strongly recommend spending a few minutes watching it.  DEV PATNAIK is the CEO of Jump Associates, a strategy and innovation firm. Jump helps companies create new businesses and reinvent existing ones. Jump works with some of the world’s most admired companies, including GE, Nike, Target, and Virgin. TEDxSoMa - Dev Patnaik - Wired to Care: How Companies Prosper When They Create Widespread Empathy   * Theme music by Justin Greathouse - luxpiration.com - @justin_great * 

Perpetual Entrepreneurs are a different breed. They are constantly looking for innovation, vetting ideas, and searching for the next big idea. This is part 1 of a 4 part series on perpetual entrepreneurship where I share my perspective on how you can navigate the waters of perpetual entrepreneurship without getting lost at sea.  The topic of this episode is centered around the great quote by Ken Blanchard, "Feedback is the Breakfast of Champions".   If you haven't checked out his books yet, I highly recommend doing so.   * Theme music by Justin Greathouse - luxpiration.com - @justin_great * 

Are you living in the past or focusing on the future?    In this episode, I address the two major categories of people you will work with - those that are living in the past and those that are intently focused on their future. Friends you can't do both, so which one are you?    * Theme music by Justin Greathouse - luxpiration.com - @justin_great * 

Whether you are aware of it or not, you are known for some things. You may be known for having great ideas, always showing up on time, having a great attitude, etc. These things collectively make up your personal brand.  In this episode, I talk about what your personal brand is, why you should care, and how to develop your brand to increase your personal capacity to change your world. Mark 

This podcast is part 2 of a series titled Live Like No One Else. If you make a choice to live like no one else for 5 years, you give yourself the chance to truly live like no one else for the rest of your life.  SOME is not a NUMBER SOON is not a TIME LUCK is not a STRATEGY - Mark

This podcast is about the choice to live like no one else for 5 years so you can live like no one else for the rest of your life. 

In this episode, I discuss the risk reward tradeoff in business and share a relevant story. 

A little rant on what you can start doing today to keep yourself from winding up being 50 years old and out of a job. 

This is a continuation of episode 18: Keys To Entrepreneurial Success - A Conversation With Nick Redwine.  In this episode we take the gloves off and speak frankly about the disconnect between what he and I were taught in school about marketing and how it works in the real world. Nick shares his story about how he gave away t-shirts as a way to build his brand and ended up having one of the most popular t-shirt's in the Dallas, TX area. Nick is a true mastermind on Marketing. His insight comes from doing it every day for over 25 years for his own business. 

Nick Redwine has been a great friend of mine for a long time. Nick is a lifetime entrepreneur and business leader who has vast experience in starting businesses with limited resources. In this episode, we discuss what it takes to start a successful business and keep it running through the tough times. 

The topic this week is a tough one folks. One that is not usually covered in your undergraduate studies. Firing people is tough. There's no easy way around it. But over the course of my career, I have learned a lot about how to do it effectively. And occassionally, even keep the friendship.