Freight came screeching to a halt two years ago amid global shutdowns. Then things opened up and now "supply chain issues" became the reason for every business challenge on the planet. Seems now would be a good time to be in the shipping business, given that the price to transport goods is through the roof. Right? Well, maybe. Brad McDonald, my high school classmate and owner of FreightCo explains what it’s been like managing through a chaotic transportation marketplace. He explains pricing fluctuation, employee challenges, lessons learned last year, and the value of relationships. Brad also shares this gem of biz truth: Expenses don’t dictate price, the market dictates price.

Two years ago all hell broke loose. Small businesses were forced to close, workers stayed home by order, and many businesses suffered. What have we learned? Will this happen again with more regularity? If so, how can you and your business survive or even thrive? In this episode we discuss what’s transpired over the last 24 months and provide 8 takeaways to improve your business.

Sometimes the customer needs something and they’re not sure exactly how to go about fixing their problem. Other times, in fact oftentimes, the customer does know what their pain point is, proclaims to be perplexed by said pain point, and yet does nothing to address this issue. Welcome to dealing with people. They’re emotional after all. In this episode we discuss how to get to the actual pain point your prospect / customer is dealing with while still getting the deal done.

At some point in life and business, you’ve achieved a modicum of success then you ask yourself, “what’s next?” Bruce Turkel, former ad agency owner, businessman, speaker, and author found himself asking that question, which is why he penned the book Is That All There Is? If you’ve wondered about your next adventure, pondered your next business endeavor, or sought motivation in mid life, this interview will speak to you.

I recently spoke to a small business group and delivered what I believe are ten tenets of success in business. They were ten things I wrote down when asked “What do you think has helped your business make it for 28 years?” Number one was understanding what your business is in the business of selling. And that’s the subject of this episode. Remember: Most businesses think they sell one thing, while their clientele would tell you it’s something different. Because customers pay for the result of your product, not the actual product.

Kelly Garrett is an Iowa farmer, trucking company owner, Ag influencer and consultant, among a few other titles. He joins me to discuss the four traits of success, adding a fifth — the trait of communication, which he says is God-given — to my list of four character traits successful people possess. He explains how he works with and against his own character strengths and weaknesses to manage his two dozen employees while keeping the ship heading in the right direction.

A decade ago Larry Kreider had just been let go from his second sales job due to a company purchase and restructuring. After working in sales for more than twenty years selling to restaurants and bars, Larry looked into acquiring Z-Place — a well known (but struggling) hometown pizza and chicken establishment. Two of Larry’s advisors crunched the numbers, analyzed the books, and advised him against buying the business, but he saw opportunity. Since then, he has tripled revenue. I sit down with my old neighbor and friend, "L.T.” who explains his approach to employee management, the importance of knowing your costs, the skill of paying attention, and the need to take care of yourself personally.

Shannon Hayes was going to become a professor. She never did so, despite completing her PhD. Instead she returned to the family farm in upstate New York and became her own business person in conjunction with her husband and family. The family sells direct-to-consumer, grass-fed meat along with many other farm-based products. They also operate a cafe, own short and long term rental properties, invest in other small businesses, and a few other things. Shannon has a great story along with amazing advice for budding entrepreneurs or seasoned business owners.

Kyle Stoffel started out selling life insurance at age 21 when he left the family painting and decorating business. Today, he owns Underwriters Alliance of Indiana. His company helps establish and grow aspiring insurance agencies. In this informative and inspiring sit down with Kyle and his daughter Este — who’s been with the business five years — we discuss: business expansion, hiring people you know, working with family, managing personality traits, the power of daily habit, and much more, including tips on being unemotional, retaining younger employees through education, and why not to be a control freak.

Part of ongoing success and longevity lies in your ability to decline less appealing opportunities. In other words, your ability to say no. To put yourself in line for great outcomes, you must be positioned to turn down below average opportunities. Here are five tips that will allow you to decline jobs and leave them for your more desperate competitors.