Mads Singers Management Podcast

Joining me today on the Mads Singers Management Podcast is none other than David Gaines. David is the owner and CEO of La Terza Artisan Coffee Roasterie and the co-host of The Third Place Podcast.

Although La Terza has initially been from his friend, David bought the business, and it made him realize what a great cup of coffee was and how big of a difference it was to drink a well-made cup of coffee. While I'm not a fan of coffee, David believes that there is still room for me to change and have a cup of good coffee one day.

While people see coffee as a beverage, David sees it as a vehicle talks about being the third place and how coffee (and his coffee shop) became the third place where people from all walks of life can come together and hang out. This can also be where people can talk about uncomfortable topics or events they have in mind or witnessed personally.

A social enterprise or social business is defined as a business with specific social objectives that serve its primary purpose. These kinds of businesses usually maximize their profits and benefits to both society and the environment. Social enterprises generally use their profits to fund social programs such as feeding programs, free medical and dental checkups, skills and job training, or something as simple as offering free haircuts or food packages to help people in need. These kinds of businesses usually work together with their community to achieve their goals. 

Whatever problem, no matter how small or big, an employee has at home, they will always carry it with them at work, and this reflects in their performance at work, which can affect the energy and flow of your business.

Although business owners don't necessarily need to provide everything for their employees, being aware of how your employee is doing and lending a hand can help steer them back in the right direction.

Spend time doing regular team buildings, Myers Briggs tests, and even DiSC assessments to find out how you and your employees can click together.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed some plans, David looks forward to seeing an employee-owned business in the next couple of years, where he and his teams can share the cake. Once you've established your ground rules, you will have a company culture where everyone has each other's backs no matter what comes their way.

Key Learning Points:

1. David reminds us of the golden rule: treat other people how you want to be treated.- 04:35
2. Mads says that business owners should love their competitors because the world is so big and it's much better to collaborate with the people around you instead of competing.- 09:06
3. Mads says that when we focus on our competitors, we generate negative energy. - 09:27
4. David says that the happier our employees are, the more productive they become.- 11:50 
5. David says that business owners should look at the whole person and how they can help and provide for that person to become more productive and build a company culture. - 14:20
6. David says the more opportunity business owners offer to their employees and seeing them as a whole person, the more we can build a team culture in our business.- 15:08
7. Mads says that when you don't have happy employees, your business has no value. - 16:01
8. David says that business owners should live and embody the values that they created for their business.- 16:40
9. David shares that business owners should hire for character first rather than skill set.- 26:56
10. Mads adds that he looks at attitude, culture, and personality fit when hiring because skills can be taught. - 28:52

Resources Mentioned:

The Third Place Podcast

Social Enterprise Alliance

Connect with David:

LinkedIn

Email

Website

Facebook

The Radical Business Podcast

Joining me today on the Mads Singers Management Podcast is Maya Middlemiss. Maya is the Creator and Founder of Happy Healthy Homeworking, and she has been working remotely for quite a long time, way before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Maya launched her business back in 2000, a year she clearly remembers because it coincided with her millennial baby. What was supposed to be a solo business grew into an agency where she employed people from three different countries. She then left that business to completely go freelance, where she also spends her time writing and consulting, specializing in the future of work, business, and how we collaborate online. While many loom the work future due to the pandemic, Maya is excited and sees it as an opportunity to evolve.

Renting pricey office buildings was the norm of many businesses. It was somewhat of a beacon that let others know that you have established yourself. While a good corner office with a view is excellent for the CEO or President, ordinary employees struggled to work because of long commute times and even accessibility to transport. Some employees opted to move closer to their workplace but struggled with balancing their paycheck because they would spend most of it for rent and not having enough for food and other necessities.

While working remotely is not a new concept, many of those who just began their remote working journey have struggled because the lines between work and personal life often get blurred. However, there are productivity hacks one can implement to improve your work-life balance.

I prefer working on a solid office desk and in complete silence. In contrast, others thrive in the buzz of their local cafe or restaurant. Take the time to find out what works best for you. Some people perform well during the day, while creatives like writers, graphic designers, and video editors may perform better at night in a world where there aren’t many distractions in their homes and surroundings.

Key Learning Points:

1. Mads says that because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses have realized that they no longer need fancy and expensive offices to function. - 03:23

2. Maya adds that because of the pandemic, many businesses have also realized that remote work can be productive and possible. - 03:35

3. Mads says that remote working will have consequences for both businesses and employees. However, it’s better for everyone. - 05:30

4. Maya hopes to see a renaissance where people will be working in smaller towns where money will be pumped into the local economy and new jobs will be created. - 06:13

5. Maya says that businesses should adopt a remote-first course of action to continue no matter what comes their way.- 09:27

6. Maya says that once we liberate ourselves from the idea that we should constantly be working, we can start working more flexibly, and we can start to tune in to our rhythm. 14:28

7. Maya says that the more we know ourselves and our rhythms, the more productive and happy we can be - 15:08

8. Maya recommends that one have a dedicated space where they can do their work to dictate how you want things to be and surround yourself with things that make you productive.- 18:32

9. Mads shares that it’s essential to have a separate place for work and play. - 22:34

10. Maya adds that while not everyone may afford a separate home office or office space in their homes, they can look for creative ways to maximize their space and create boundaries to achieve work-life balance. - 24:11

Resources Mentioned:

Newsletter

Connect with Maya:

Twitter

LinkedIn

Facebook Page (Healthy Happy Homeworking)

Maya’s Facebook

Facebook Community

Instagram

YouTube

Website

Julian Goldie is joining me from Bangkok for this episode of the Mads Singers Management Podcast.

Julian runs his link-building agency where he builds backlinks to help clients rank higher on Google, get more traffic, and be seen easily. Julian has clients worldwide and has worked with several freelancers and contractors alike. But Julian didn't get to where he is today without a bit of struggle. Like most beginners, Julian hired cheap VA's because he wanted to get things done efficiently. However, this proved to be more of a problem rather than a solution.

Freelancing is not a new concept; it's been around for quite some time now; however, because of the COVID-19 pandemic and many people working from home currently, freelancing has been put in the spotlight. 

With many companies going remote for the first time during the pandemic, many have struggled to shift from the traditional work setting to a small workshop setting. 

While many companies struggled going remote, many employees, especially those who work in corporate or in rigorous environments or career fields, found freedom. Many employees could spend more time with their families, learn a new skill, discover something new about themselves, pick up a new hobby, and many more. Many people would still prefer to work remotely even after the COVID-19 pandemic ends.

As a business owner, you want to be doing SOP's as little as you can. 

Learn to delegate small, time-consuming, mundane tasks to your staff so that you can focus on more important things and grow your business or spend time on things or hobbies that matter to you. It's essential to have a solid framework to quickly onboard and train any new staff you hire or upskill the existing team you see fit for a promotion.

Although some may think that SOP's are a waste of time, these can save you time on training so you can quickly get a project started or work with a client but do keep in mind that you'll need to adjust to your staff's language and knowledge because not everyone is on the same page. If you have an outsourced team, you can have your project managers translate the SOP into your staff's language like Julian's team in the Philippines.

Key Learning Points:

1. Julian says that paying more for a VA or freelancer pays off more because they are proactive and quality is assured. - 03:08

2. Mads says it's essential to have a solid recruitment process so that you can hire the best talents and weed out the bad. - 04:10

3. Mads says that recruitment is about hiring the right people, having solid training, and having solid workflow processes.- 05:49

4. Julian adds, sharing from a book he has read recently, that managers and business owners should maximize their processes, not their people- 06:55

5. Julian says that SOP's should be kept simple. Writing it down in Google Docs is enough. - 09:28

6. While going out of your way to deal with a problem can save you time and money, Julian says business owners should instead spend their resources on something more substantial.- 16:57

7. Julian says that business owners should be careful to incentivize when working with freelancers. You want to try to be one of the best clients to your freelancers - 18:12

8. Julian adds that you need to find the balance between managing freelancers properly and giving them the trust, the freedom, and the flexibility to do their jobs as well as they can. - 19:18

9. Julian says that it's essential to be very clear with your expectations when working with freelancers- 26:19

10. Julian says that regardless of the metrics you use, it's essential to keep it simple so that they know exactly what is expected of them.- 28:48

Resources Mentioned:

Principles: Life and Work: by Ray Dalio

Connect with Julian:

LinkedIn

Upwork

YouTube

TikTok

Email

Website

Joining me for today’s episode in the Mads Singers Management Podcast is Julia Becker Collins. Julia Becker Collins is the COO of Vision Advertising, a 100% woman-owned, woman-run full-service marketing agency based outside of Boston, Massachusetts, in the United States of America. Like myself, Julia is crazy about people management and leadership (if you’re crazy about management and leadership like me, then you’ve come to the right place if you’ve stumbled upon this podcast!)

Despite being a small business, Julia and her team deal with different sizes and enterprises in their day-to-day operations. But before taking the plunge into entrepreneurship, Julia had to wear many hats, such as working in non-profit organizations making fundraising, donations, event planning, marketing, branding, and even grassroots work. 

Julia’s experiences (the jobs she took outside of college) and her strong personality launched her into the world of people management. However, because of this, Julia also struggled with managing the people around her because they were decades older than her and much more experienced than her. This circumstance led Julia to seek out support and work on herself to work better and help those in need. And this is the sad part for many people who get promoted into leadership and management roles. They often get pushed off a cliff and expected to do magical things and miracles by their superiors, only to be laughed at or mocked when they fail. 

Management isn’t about being a great individual contributor in a company or business or countless complex procedures. But instead, it’s all about mindset. While the best salesman in your team may seem like a good fit to become your next manager, not providing them the help and support they need to be a manager will set them to fail.

It’s a slow domino effect. If you don’t invest in your new managers, their performance will impact those who work for them and severely affect your business. Don’t wait for your business or company to be hit with financial ramifications that can send you falling into an abyss where recovery may not be possible. Encourage your staff, especially those in the lower levels, to seek help and assist them in making sure their needs are met and fulfilled because a leader should make sure that their staff is well taken care of.

Key Learning Points:

1. Getting into the workforce made Julia realize that she needed support to figure out what she wanted to do next in life. - 03:17
2. Julia shares that because of the tips and tricks that she learned along the way, she managed her team that blossomed in their way. - 04:20
3. Although Julia was struggling and failing at her job, she used this to her advantage, acknowledged it as a problem, and pushed herself to do better. - 07:03
4. Mads says that when an organization is ingrained in your company culture, you can see that a business or company runs well. - 09:50
5. Mads stresses the importance of providing training and giving them help and support when they get promoted to a management role. 10:08
6. Julia says that if you don’t invest in the new manager, it won’t be successful, and the people who work for them will be significantly affected. - 12:51
7. Julia talks about her passion for servant leadership and how she makes sure her staff is provided first before her.- 13:27
8. Julia says that people who are lower on the totem pole tend to be afraid to seek help, but instead of waiting for things to get worse, Julia will personally approach them.- 15:01
9. Julia adds that leaders and managers should give their staff more than just a paycheck: make them feel that they are being seen and heard. - 16:33
10. Mads says that business managers who don’t find the time to help their staff are the ones who are making themselves busy with unnecessary tasks.- 17:52

Resources Mentioned:

Adam Grant Podcast

Connect with Julia Collins:

Website

Twitter

LinkedIn

Instagram

Joining me today in this episode of the Mads Singers Management Podcast is Stacy Owen Johnston, CEO of EnlightenUp.

Stacy is a personal development coach and trainer for individuals or groups and a conversational public speaker. Although she grew up and thrived as a dancer, Stacy took a pivot and worked for the state where she has served as a Family Services Specialist. She has been an entrepreneur for 40 years and has spent much time building businesses and helping people uncover their authentic selves.

Stacy shares that the energy you put out can significantly impact the people around you and your business. And while there are times where we put our customers first (especially if they are high-paying clients), managers should always put their employees first because this helps encourage and motivate them.

She continues that all of us have our beat that we dance to, and we should learn how to find it instead of following others, don’t live and work for the dreams of your parents or other people because only you should be able to live the life you want and deserve. 

Stacy adds that we shouldn’t judge people quickly because we don’t know what trials or battles they face privately. People are doing their best to separate their private and public struggles, but there are times where people can get overwhelmed, and their performance takes a dive. Because people have different ways to handle scenarios, business owners should be cautious in approaching them if they notice they are not performing their best. Sometimes some people need a little push to get them going or to unlock their potential. 

Our life is too short to be unhappy or hating our job every day; go after your dreams and goals rather than live the life others want you to.

Key Learning Points:

1. Stacy says that people don’t leave bad jobs but leave because of bad management. - 08:06
2. Mads says that it’s essential to give people ownership and let them try - 10:00
3. Stacy says that the best leaders help develop a new bunch of leaders to take their place. - 10:57
4. Stacy says that leadership is about influence - not power, a corner office, or a nameplate. - 11:10
5. Stacy points out that a good leader or manager can easily recognize a person’s interest in a niche and help them pursue it. - 12:46
6. Stacy stresses the importance of a person’s ability to influence people and bring out their best version. - 14:25 
7. Mads says that managers should always focus on their staff first - 15:44
8. Stacy says that managers should encourage their staff and people around them to be quality human beings. - 16:50
9. Stacy says that we should learn how to celebrate our failures because failure is still a movement towards our goals and allows us to learn from our mistakes. - 21:26
10. Stacy says that life is too short to be unhappy every day or hating your job because happiness is a decision. - 31:22

Resources Mentioned

Extreme Ownership: How U.S Navy Seals Lead and Win: by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin

Becoming a Person of Influence: How to Positively Impact the Lives of Others: By John C. Maxwell

Connect with Stacy

Email 

LinkedIn

Facebook

Stacy’s Instagram

Hero Builder Podcast Instagram

Today's guest on the Mads Singers Management Podcast is Simon Kardynal, a Canadian Air Force veteran and the host of Trench Leadership: A Podcast from the Front. With his background in the military, Simon is no stranger to leadership; however, after 26 years of service, some people still get intimidated by his experience. 

Simon also had a hard time communicating with people after leaving the military. He had to make many adjustments, especially when he had to share and reach out to people. But this challenge didn't stop Simon from achieving his goals. He used this challenge as leverage to start his podcast to help upcoming leaders learn to communicate effectively.

Simon and I subscribe to the view that great leaders are built, not made. Because every leader was once a beginner who also struggled to get where they are today, they were once clueless and confused. Some had to go through complex challenges to achieve their goals.

For Simon, it's okay not to know everything. We shouldn't be afraid to ask for help from others, especially if we aren't familiar with something. This also applies to reaching out to people whenever you are faced with difficulties in life. Let's face it, we humans thrive on interaction, but because we all have our unique way of dealing with things, we need to consider how we should approach another person. 

Key Learning Points:

1.Simon shares about a program he was accepted into and how it taught him that leadership isn't about just leading with your brain but also with your heart. - 04:46

2. Simon says that a leader should be a blend of both intelligence and empathy. - 05:08

3. Mads shares that he is more of a logical person than an emotional person and admits he struggles connecting with people emotionally. Still, he doesn't let this stop him from reaching out to people or offering his support in a time of need. - 07:28

4. Simon shares how mingling with others became difficult for him as a leader. - 08:08

5. Mads says that you need different types of people in your company, you need people who can talk to other people, people who can make sales. Having people who are like you is ideal. However, it doesn't apply to every aspect. - 10:09

6. Simon shares that honesty will ensure that things will get done if you're honest and forthright with your people. - 12:17

7. Mads says that it's essential to recognize the different kinds of people you have in your company. - 15:35

8. Simon says that it's easier to build connections than understand when to push someone and read their body language. - 17:31

9. Simon shares a recent experience a few months ago when he realized that different environments require different things. Because of this, Simon's relationship with the people around him drastically increased. - 20:24

10. Simon talks about the importance of reaching out to talk to someone you trust when you find yourself in a difficult situation or don't have all the answers (and it's okay not to have all the answers all the time). - 28:29

Connect with Simon:

Email

Podcast: Trench Leadership: A Podcast from the Front

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

Joining me today on the Mads Singers Management Podcast is Andrea Overend, founder and owner of Globetrot Pro and Dream Vacations Cruise and Land Vacations travel agency.

Andrea had an early start on entrepreneurship and has had many ventures since then, including her restaurant and travel agency.

Now, unlike most travel agency owners, Andrea thrived during the pandemic despite being caught up in confusion when the lockdowns all over the world started. Even though some travel plans were postponed, the experience made Andrea realize the importance of having her team around to help the business stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Andrea had an early start with team building. With her experience in the military, this became a natural thing for her because many teams surrounded her during her stay there; eventually, Andrea slowly branched out to other circles like her church group when she returned to civilian life.

Unlike many business owners who tend to hire directly, Andrea likes to build up her staff and even dip her hands into the nitty-gritty of business, such as learning about a specific niche, the logistics involved in setting up that business, or what permits need to be claimed or applied for. And while it's common for companies to go over their budgets or exert more effort, it shouldn't be because of something that's not essential. 

Although it may not be evident initially, business owners should know what department or niche their staff should belong to, spend time with their team and get to know them. This dynamic also helps you understand your strengths and weaknesses; while you may enjoy crunching numbers, a staff member of yours doesn't. Another critical aspect in running and building a business is delegation. While being in control feels nice (and it has its perks!), holding on too tightly to power can cause problems in the long run.

Key Learning Points:

1. Andrea shares that when she opens a business, she acts on what she knows. 
2. For the things she doesn't know, Andrea immediately hires an expert or finds a book for that topic. - 06:03
3. Andrea shares her teambuilding philosophy: gathering and taking things off her plate. - 06:42
4. Andrea says that there will be days where you will be working for 120 hours or spending more than your usual budget; however, it shouldn't be because you're beating ahead or trying to figure out something that you're not needed for. - 07:57
5. Mads says that you'll need to make sure you can provide excellent customer service if you're selling an expensive brand or product. - 09:15
6. Mads likens hiring experts to cheat codes in a game where you can gain instant access to a level or beat the final boss with ease. - 10:20
7. Andrea says teambuilding with a consultancy is very important for your team. - 12:59
8. Andrea says that the best hires you have in your staff still need leadership and direction - 13:54
9. Mads says that when he hires people, he doesn't just look at what credentials a person has but also how that person can develop later on. - 15:58
10. Andrea says that while staff should follow SOP's, they should also have freedom because not everything is black and white. - 23:04
11. Andrea says that while we often hear information and that implementation is essential, it doesn't mean we have to take in everything. She adds that even one action step is enough to make a change in your life.- 41: 44

Connect with Andrea:

Facebook

Website

Joining me today is Ryan Shekell from Every Breath Counts Podcast. Ryan had his humble start as a 5th-grade special education teacher in upstate New York, where he had several eye-opening experiences during his teaching days. However, Ryan felt missing and decided to change careers and ventured into the medical field as a sales agent, specifically in orthopedic surgical device sales. 

Ryan enjoyed his days as a medical field sales agent and even made Atlanta, Georgia, his territory and paved the way for Ryan to where he is today: managing and educating other managers and leaders on how to grow their territories. 

We begin our talk where Ryan proudly shares how his experience in education became the perfect segway into managing and selling. He then relates it to the unique education system in the United States, where he shares how teachers create an IEP or an individualized education plan for students who need special education services. He adds how this document translates well into sales and management because it considers the way you are teaching and managing your staff. After all, you look at an individual’s learning style, personality type, and everything they need to perform a task and be successful. This leads you to create an individual plan for that person to achieve the goals that are set out for it. 

While it’s nice to receive praises and accolades for all your hard work and efforts, constantly stroking your ego as a manager or business leader can dampen your team’s morale and affect their performance. They may also end up not being that driven. Being a manager or a business leader doesn’t mean you need to be the one who’s always fixing problems. Ryan stresses the importance of walking the talk when it comes to our values for ourselves and our company, especially when we take on new employees because this empowers them to work better and more efficiently. 

Key Learning Points:

1. Ryan proudly shares how his experience in education became the perfect segway into managing and selling.- 04:20
2. While others may see it as a joke, Ryan adds how an IEP or an individualized education plan becomes a great tool.- 05:23
3. Mads shares how teaching is similar to management where you are constantly trying to lift your team and teaching them skills- 05:50
4. Mads adds that many managers need to let go of the notion where they have to be the center of attention when in reality, they have the opposite goal in mind. - 06:47 
5. Ryan shares that his goal/job is not considered “done” unless he sees an employee or team is more competent than he is.- 07:32
6. Ryan stresses the importance of exemplifying all the values you have (within yourself and your company) when you take someone under your wing so that they can hear and see you cultivating the relationships you have.- 16:26
7. Ryan says that managers should allow their staff to succeed or fail because both are positive experiences.
8. If a task is done successfully, it means your employee has learned how to do the job. 
9. If your employee fails, it means you’ve learned what it takes to be successful based on what didn’t work.- 17:06
10. Mads discussed the failures he witnessed in training managers. - 21:37
11. Mads shares that he uses DiSC and how it can be of great help in your business to manage your employees. - 22:30
12. Mads and Ryan agree that it’s okay for business owners to be honest. - 28:35

Resources Mentioned:

Apple Podcasts/iTunes

Spotify

Connect with Ryan:

Every Breath Counts Podcast with Ryan Shekell

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

Google Podcasts

Joining me today on the Mads Singers Podcast from the comfort of his bus is none other than TheAlchemist, Richard Matthews of Pushbutton Podcast, and The Hero Show. Unlike most people today, Richard works from home and traveling around in his bus, together with his whole family and their pet dog. Like myself, Richard has his podcast called The Hero Show, where he brings to life his superhero persona called The Alchemist and uses his superpowers to help others get their business to the next level.

A superhuman on his own, Richard can easily see systems and learn things quicker than the average human being. Like myself, Richard loves building systems and has a Pushbutton Process course where he uses it to put businesses on autopilot. Richard then shares his course called the Pushbutton Process, where he teaches people how to build systems efficiently.  

Richard shares that while it’s easy to automate everything nowadays, business owners should know where to draw the line on their creative capital and their robot capital. Both of them should co-exist together. But like most business owners, Richard also had a messy start when he began building systems; however, he was able to refine it along the way. It took a big jump when he started hiring new team members. While Richard has been working and managing his staff remotely before everyone else, he finds it hard to build a company culture with remote workers. He shares that business owners should be more intentional. He suggests doing weekly chat meetings, group communications, or simply keeping up with each other during their birthday. 

While remote working is still a new concept to most people, I believe and look forward to a future where companies will no longer spend on big office spaces to set up a business and get work done. 

Even though a colleague is far away and you’ll be meeting each other less frequently, distance shouldn’t be a hindrance to running a business, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Key Learning Points:

1. Richard says that systems should be a blend between your human capital and robot capital (automation) - 03:41
2. Mads points out that most businesses and owners tend to make complicated systems and say it won’t work.- 04:41
3. Richard says that processes make up the workflow which gives you the defined outcome. - 07:10
4. Richard adds that if you have a rock-solid language foundation on how a system is designed - 07:25
5. Richard shares his love for Trello and how it can be a powerful tool to get things done and even train your new staff. - 10:00
6. Richard and Mads both share a passion for an outcome-based work ethic rather than how many hours an employee renders. - 16:38
7. Mads stresses the importance of building a company culture based on discipline so that things can get done. - 18:45 
8. While hiring remotely offers a vast pool of talent, Richard recommends that one look towards a country or race with no significant gap in culture. - 19:57
9. Mads looks forward to the future of remote working where companies will no longer need big offices or an actual office to get work done. - 21:43
10. Richard says that business owners should take the risk and shares how most of his successful endeavors came from events where he was afraid.- 28:08

Connect with Richard:

Facebook 

LinkedIn

YouTube

Pinterest

Instagram

Today, joining me is none other than Erin Young, the founder, and principal consultant for SlideUX. This family-run consultancy provides practical and measurable approaches to business rather than quick and fancy hacks to unlock a magical way to get rich and earn money. Erin is a user experience architect who shares the same passion as I do to simplify processes, especially in a business setting. 

Erin and I began our talk on how many businesses nowadays tend to offer a lot of services. Although it may generally sound like a good idea, this paves the way for confusion because most business owners may lose their way and even stunt or stop the growth of their business because they have too much on their plate. 

Many businesses tend to follow what's popular instead of providing value. When they are asked, they can't answer their ROI or if that service is helping the company. While most new businesses may struggle to simplify their process, they shouldn't hesitate to cut down their list early on because it might be the only thing stopping them from being successful. However, new business owners should ensure that whatever they are "niche-ing" into is a real need and not just a quick-rich scheme. 

The devil is in the details when you have a business. While seeing the overview of your business can help you feel inspired to work, business owners need to look a little closer to know precisely what's going on in their business and what's being worked on. Sometimes, we even need to get involved and throw ourselves in, especially when dealing with a difficult client or a new task.

Key Learning Points:

1. Erin shares how they used to offer many services to clients initially but had to get rid of them because it would take time for the client to get back to them. - 3:35
2. Mads says that having many services to offer may sound good, but it isn't generally a nice thing to do. - 5:18
3.  Erin shares how cathartic she felt when her company simplified their list of services; she adds that they could cut down on 75% that cluttered their list. - 05: 55
4. Erin says that you don't need to sell it if you don't have a standard for your service. - 7:00
5. Erin shares how she wishes she could go back in time to simplify her business sooner. - 10:21
6. Mads says that if you have an easy-to-replicate and standardize process, you should focus on that. - 11:21
7. Erin says that she uses the standards in her company as somewhat of an entry pass, especially for clients who want a longer-lasting relationship. - 14:21
8. Mads says that the devil is in the details when it comes to business.- 16:21
9. Erin says that she sometimes gets involved with her staff to retrain them rather than seek a new client.- 17:09
10. Mads says that if you have particular case studies, gaining new clients - even in the most "niched" areas becomes so much easier- 18:38

Connect with Erin:

Website

Facebook 

YouTube

Twitter