Business Reimagined with Danny Iny

An entrepreneur isn't an entrepreneur no matter how many businesses they try to build or how many startups they have a hand in. Entrepreneurs are built, too, and it's a step too often skipped. Today's guest, Ash Maurya, founder of LeanStack, knows all about entrepreneurship. He also knows from personal experience what happens when you don't build that skillset first. He'll also be the first to tell you that the tools available to help you become a better entrepreneur aren't readily available, especially when it comes to ideas and business plans. Discover: The revolutionary way to 'pilot' a book and become a thought leader How to tell when an idea will work and when it won't Where great business ideas come from The alterative to a business plan that works like LEGOs If you're interested in a simple, flexible way to build a business, or how to know when you've got an idea worth pursuing, you don't want to miss this episode. KEY POINTS: At 4:00 – How to write a book using the lean startup method, and make yourself a thought leader in the process. At 8:00 – Ash describes how his lean startup method goes a step further than its predecessors, and how it simplifies the process. At 12:30 – Ash explains why the LeanCanvas method is something anyone can do; you don't have to be a software designer like he is to use it. At 17:00 – There's lean startups, running lean, and now, Ash has a new book called Scaling Lean. Find out what that means for growing businesses. At 21:00 – Ash explains why his passion lies in lean startups, and how he strives to build entrepreneurs instead of businesses.

Stop. Take a breath. What are you grateful for, right now? What brings you happiness? Can't think of anything more meaningful than 'my family,' or 'I'm alive?' You're not trying hard enough, according to UJ Ramdas, co-creator of the Five Minute Journal phenomenon. You've probably already heard of the Five Minute Journal. But you might not have heard or considered how you can take the happiness and gratitude you cultivate in the journal and apply it to productivity and successful businesses. Discover: The exact questions you'll find within the pages of the Journal and how they're designed to hack your brain What you should be FEELING when you think about what you're grateful for Adaptations to the Five Minute Journal that make it your own How productivity and happiness scale with being aligned with your values Want to create the kind of happiness that scales? Don't miss this episode of Business Reimagined. KEY POINTS At 4:00 – UJ talks about what he calls the 'toothbrush for your mind,' and explains how to live a happier and more engaged life. At 9:00 – UJ turns the tables on Danny, asking several piercing questions about Danny's life and happiness. At 15:00 – Danny and UJ discuss different ways people use the 5 Minute Journal, including discussing it with loved ones and logging emotions, to supercharge the effectiveness. At 21:00 – UJ explains the new product his company has produced, aimed at aligning values and business to heighten productivity, and make it scale with happiness. At 25:00 – UJ reveals how happiness doesn't scale with money, and he shares his thoughts on how it DOES scale.

Ever been to McDonald's? What if I told you there were masters of customer experience? You'd probably laugh me through those golden arches. But Joey Coleman, today's guest on Business Reimagined, believes they're doing something very right. Only one thing, though: their French fries. Admit it. You've at least heard about people's obsession with the fried feast of potatoes. It's not about the customer service you receive. It's about the experience you have at McDonald's that sets it apart from the rest. So how can you take this strategy and apply it to the real world of getting customers and keeping them? Joey Coleman discusses: How to walk YOUR customers through the first 100 days of the relationship The emotional bond you create with them that makes them rabid fans How to get people to actually USE your product Ways to connect AFTER the sale that will make a world of difference to your customers If you want to create a customer experience your competitors and peers can't touch, then you don't want to miss this episode with Joey Coleman. KEY POINTS: At 5:00 – Joey explains in three minutes what the first 100 days process is and how to get customer relationships right. At 10:00 – A lot of businesses drop the ball, and Joey talks about the most common mistakes they make. At 13:00 – Joey explains how the phases he described work in practice and process for many types of businesses. At 18:00 – Joey addresses how to provide enough support to the variety of customers you will have without being too detailed for some, and not giving enough to others. At 20:00 – Some customers buy, but never USE the product, which means less good reviews for a business owner. Joey explains the unusual way he encourages customers to use the product after the sale.

I'm sure you've heard of the shoe company, Zappos, and their amazing workplace culture. They have a popcorn machine in the lobby. Does that mean you should get a popcorn machine, too? Is creating culture really that simple? Yes and no, according to the man who helped Zappos pioneer their corporate culture training, Robert Richman. Today, he talks about what makes a great company culture, not JUST for existing companies, but those that are a single person scaling up. Discover: The experience attendees to the Zappos training get from the minute they walk in the door Why culture is more about belief that specific actions The two things you need to establish to make a great culture AND, how to create a culture for yourself as a solopreneur Whether you're an established entrepreneur or one who's about to start scaling, culture is something you need to latch onto now. Don't miss this episode! KEY POINTS: At 7:00 – Culture is about way more than a notebook of tactics, and Robert talks about 'game changers' as simple as a popcorn machine and as sweeping as company meetings. At 12:00 – Robert gives 2 tips for instant change in your company, even (and especially) if you're a solopreneur. At 14:00 – Danny and Robert address the issue of firing people who seem hard to replace, and the benefit of getting rid of what doesn't work at a company, even people. At 16:00 – Robert calls out managers who are habitually late for meetings, and explains how that kills culture in a company. At 22:00 – Robert goes into detail about how new entrepreneurs can and should create culture from day one, and why it can be a challenge for distributed companies.

Entrepreneurs come in all shapes and sizes. You've got those who were born to it and others who had incredible mentors. The stars seemed to align for them. Then there are some who have to fight and hustle for every bit of ground they gain. It feels like no one cares about their dreams or passions, and no one is there to help or guide them. Are YOU a 'foster child' of the entrepreneurial world? Today's guest, Anthony Trucks, was a REAL foster child, and he defied the statistics. Not only did he become a NFL football player, but he also went on to become a successful entrepreneur. He teaches other people to 'trust their hustle,' and how to get through the loneliness and hardships they face when stepping into the entrepreneurial ring. Discover: The heart-wrenching experience Anthony had that make him feel unloved and unwanted for most of his childhood. The 5 foundational bases you need to keep you stable as you go after your dreams. The revealing question Anthony asks people that helps them get their priorities straight. Why Anthony doesn't care whether you're trying to cure cancer or trying to be a better spouse. If you've ever felt alone in the entrepreneurial world, maybe even abused by people who were supposed to help you, you need to hear this episode. Anthony brings an amazing perspective to people with big dreams who may not have all the 'right resources' to accomplish them. KEY POINTS: At 5:00 – The statistics regarding foster children are shocking, and Anthony shares what his life WOULD have looked like if he followed the trend. At 9:00 – As a foster child and NFL player, you might wonder what lessons you could learn from Anthony, but he explains why his own adversity allows him to teach anyone. At 13:00 – Danny and Anthony talk about motivation, blind spots, and how a women's Dove study reveals a deeper truth about how we view ourselves. At 16:30 – Anthony reveals the one question he asks people that can shift their perspective entirely. At 19:00 – Anthony explains the ways he can tell when people aren't being honest with themselves, and how he breaks through it.

For any business, profit is like oxygen. You can't live long without it. It's also the key to building real wealth. If your accountant doesn't understand that, he could have you spending a dollar to save 40 cents. What kind of accounting is that? The kind that will strangle your company's profitability and growth. Today's guest, Greg Crabtree, is a new type of accountant. After working with hundreds of entrepreneurs, he provides his clients with something that few other CPA's even bother with: sweeping insight into the numbers businesses can APPLY to make business decisions. This shouldn't be revolutionary, but in today's financially illiterate world, it is. Discover: The simple numbers successful entrepreneurs use to make decisions that accountants don't even consider Why writing a big check to the IRS means you're creating wealth Why 10% is the new 'break even' businesses should be aiming for The app to help you make your business accounting simple If your accountant is AFRAID of you making a profit, you NEED to hear this episode with Greg Crabtree, CPA. KEY POINTS: At 3:30 – Greg explains why it's a terrible idea to spend away your profits at the end of the year to 'save' on taxes. At 7:00 – Danny and Greg discuss behavioral economics and how Greg uses it to help entrepreneurs be more profitable. At 13:00 – Greg shares the numbers he looks at every day, every week, and annually. Businesses can follow this same mentality to be more aware of how they're doing. At 20:00 – Danny and Greg discuss how the framework can help seasonal and cyclical businesses manage their accounting. At 24:00 – Greg talks about the new app that will allow you to bucket your accounting data and create 'simple numbers' reports to help you make business decisions.

Having a 'satisfied' customer isn't enough these days. How many people switch phone and TV plans every year or two to get the better deal, regardless of how satisfied they are? What you need to do is create 'lifers,' and one of the best ways to do that is through surveys. Yes, I said surveys. But just 'asking' isn't enough. Today's guest, Dr. Matt Champagne, is an industrial organizational psychologist. He has been helping businesses create better surveys for over a decade. And according to him, most of us have been doing it very wrong. Discover: The one thing you can do to make your surveys matter to customers How to ask the right questions to get the answers you actually need 3 of the biggest mistakes businesses make when creating surveys Why the 'autopsy approach' should be left for dead If you're a business owner who wants to create life-long fans instead of satisfied customers, you don't want to miss this episode with Matt Champagne, Ph. D. KEY POINTS At 4:00 – Matt talks about what the 'autopsy approach' is, and the biggest mistakes businesses make when creating surveys. At 8:00 – Matt explains his principles of psychology, and shows how social media would fail if we treated it like we treat our surveys. At 11:00 – According to Matt, surveys are key to earning lifelong customers, and he explains the why and how. He also explains why 'asking' is the complete wrong approach. At 18:00 – Matt explains why he doesn't use the 'satisfied customer' approach, and the surprising way to make your customers happy through surveys. At 22:00 – Matt sums up what makes a great survey, and the short list of what you need to do to create it.

We've got a lot of phrases that capture the essence of ego. We say 'she's got a big head,' or 'he thinks the world revolves around him.' There's my personal favorite, one I often heard my grandfather say, 'he's getting too big for his britches.' But as entrepreneurs, don't we need ego to do the improbable, or is confidence enough? Today's guest, Ryan Holiday, admits to struggling with ego, and according to him, that's exactly why he wrote his latest book, Ego is the Enemy. In this episode you'll discover: The heart wrenching story of an author who committed suicide after a book rejection, only to have it go on to win the Pulitzer Prize posthumously The distinction between ego and confidence Why it's impossible to be ego-less and what humility REALLY means Why turning your life into a story can destroy your future Whether you struggle with ego or pride yourself on your humility, this is an episode you don't want to miss. KEY POINTS At 3:50 – Ryan explains why humility doesn't always get you want you want, and where your focus should be instead. At 12:00 – Danny and Ryan discuss celebrating personal wins without allowing yourself to be caught up in your own greatness. At 16:00 – Ryan explains the difference between ego and confidence, and why you shouldn't take credit for things that helped you succeed. At 20:00 – Ryan gives his thoughts on the whole idea of 'fake it till you make it,' and how it feeds the ego in a very unhealthy way. At 23:00 – Danny and Ryan discuss the 'narrative fallacy' in regards to the story you tell yourself and others about your life, and how it can be destructive to your success.

You've heard of the Law of Attraction, and it's all about the mindset. But how often have YOU heard of someone wishing good things into his life successfully? Anyone who claims they have is probably pulling your leg. Here's the truth: mindset is only part of it. There are 2 other important components that make the Law of Attraction really attract success into your life! Today's guest, John Assaraf, is founder and CEO of NeuroGym, and a best-selling author who has appeared on most major TV programs like Larry King Live, was featured in 'The Secret' documentary. John and Danny discuss the two things that must follow the right mindset if you want to succeed. Also, discover: John's shocking start in life that almost left him dead The 3 things you need to have to make the Law of Attraction work The strange way our brains work, and how to use them differently What causes Harvard grads to fail at life and success John's life went from a one-way ticket to jail to a juggernaut of success based on what he's sharing on today's episode of Business Reimagined. Before you dismiss the power of positive thought, see what John has to say about it. Key Points: At 3:00 – John talks about 'true north,' and how he lets this simple concept guide his life and his decisions. At 9:00 – There are a lot of mental training, positive thinking gurus, etc., and John explains what they leave out, and why NeuroGym is very different. At 13:00 – John explains how his process is more like using an owner's manual to the most powerful organ we have, our brain. At 17:00 – John explains the difference between fear of actual things versus fear of the feelings associated with them, and how to break the cycle for things like public speaking. At 20:00 – There is a time when fear is acceptable, and there's a time it isn't. John explains the distinction that will change the way you look at what scares you.

Giftology: it's a thing. Believe it or not, there is a science behind great gifting. Not only will giftology ensure the recipient has their metaphorical socks knocked off, but also that they will think warm, fuzzy thoughts about you for years to come. Do you know what an 'artifact' gift is? If not, and you want to learn the science of gifting, then you don't want to miss today's episode of Business Reimagined with John Ruhlin, author of Giftology. You'll learn: Why you should give a gift that's NOT for the recepient Perfect timing for maximum gifting impact Whether or not gifts replace face-to-face meetings A counter-intuitive approach to logo marketing John is a brilliant gift-giver who can make every thoughtful dollar you spend worth a hundred of your competition's mindless dollars. Give smarter, not harder. Key Points At 2:00 – John tells the touching story of a man who made millions, but he did it by being the most generous person John ever met. At 4:00 – Never, NEVER give gifts at certain times of the year. John reveals what holidays to avoid, and the odd times of year that gift-giving has its maximum effect. He also explains why gifts shouldn't necessarily be given to the recipient. At 7:00 – John talks about why expensive gifts aren't always best. He describes some other types of gifts that have more impact. At 13:00 – Danny and John discuss what type of ROI you can expect on the gifts you give, both to clients and prospective customers. At 17:00 – John explains why it's NOT the thought that counts, and getting help with gift-giving doesn't make that gift thoughtless.