Small Business Confidential

The way you deal with mistakes and confrontations at work says a great deal about your professional abilities. It can be challenging to know how to react in these situations, but you can do a few things to make things easier for yourself. In this episode, Mike Reilly and Mike Ferrante will share their thoughts on confrontations, mistakes, and how to deal with them.
15:52 Mike Reilly and Mike Ferrante talk about making mistakes and how to deal with them.
19:25 Mike Reilly talks about the prospect of confrontation.
21:39 Mike Reilly shares what it takes to be confrontational.
24:31 Mike Ferrante talks about the right time to have a confrontation with yourself.
26:29 Mike Reilly discusses how writing mistakes in a journal and acknowledging them will help you.

Lawyers are often seen as unapproachable. What if you could sit down and have a conversation with one? What if you could learn about their work, their life, and how they got where they are? This episode features Mike Reilly and Mike Ferrante talking to lawyer/entrepreneur Alex Hertzberg. They discuss what you are getting into if you start your own business. Topics discussed include understanding contracts, and obtaining good insurance. They also discuss consulting and services costs, customer management and the qualities their clients must possess to do business with them.
14:34 Alex Hertzberg tells the importance of having a good insurance to cover all six plaintiffs
25:15 Mike Reilly discusses the nature of reactive lawyers
29:33 Mike Ferrante states what he believes makes a good lawyer
34:16 Alex Hertzberg elaborates on the first question a client asks 
38:53 Alex Hertzberg describe what acronym business owners should engrave on their pillowcases
44:35 Mike Ferrante explains what type of process they use in their questionnaires to their clients

You find a job or create a job? The answer to this question is both. You can find a job that already exists and apply for it. You create a job by being proactive and innovative. You find a job by being resourceful and persistent. You create a job by being creative and taking risks. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages. On this episode, Mike Reilly will be joined by Brook Reilly and A'marri Clancy to help you decide. Should you find a job or should you create one?
8:31 A’marri Clancy explains the importance of having a long-term goal connected to a career and being a long-term thinker
11:54 Brook Reilly talks about how college is the logical next step if you have a certain goal
17:35 Mike Reilly discusses the value of being proactive when it comes to finding a job
20:01 Brook Reilly talks about learning more from life experiences than from a college degree
23:13 Mike Reilly emphasizes the phrase ‘supposed to do‘ that everyone should be careful
26:55 A’marri Clancy points out that having a traditionalist mindset is difficult to escape without real-life experiences
30:25 Mike Reilly talks about ‘Building Connections’
33:11 Mike Reilly concludes his final note and lesson for this episode

A mentor is someone who can help guide you to success. A mentor can help you navigate your career, give you advice, and introduce you to new opportunities. But how do you find a mentor? How do you start reaching out to people who have the skills and experience you want to learn from? In this episode, Mike Reilly and Mike Ferrante share their thoughts on finding a mentor.
4:36 Mike Reilly and Mike Ferrante start the discussion about how to find a mentor
13:54 Mike Reilly and Mike Ferrante share some of the things that a mentor should teach
26:43 Mike Ferrante outlines some fundamental questions to ask a mentor
30:57 Mike Ferrante shares another strategy in seeking out a mentor
32:04 Mike Reilly talks about what and who your mentor should be

Starting your own business or taking AP courses? Choosing either one can be challenging. It depends on your skills and goals. Some people may prefer to take AP courses in order to get a head start on their college education, while others may be more interested in starting their own business in order to gain real-world experience. Both options have pros and cons to consider before deciding on a final choice. In this podcast, Mike Reilly and Mike Ferrante discuss the advantages and disadvantages of starting a small business or taking an AP course. The two also share how they started a small business while still very young.
3:45 Mike Reilly talks about how he started his first small business as a kid
6:09 Mike Ferrante discusses how learning how to talk to people is the first step to becoming a good salesperson
7:02 Mike Reilly and Mike Ferrante discuss two independent road leads one could follow. Lemonade stand road where you're working on your own, or got the AP and spend all your entire time studying to get good grades.
12:29 Mike Reilly talks about the illusion that getting good grades will lead to your success
15:35 Mike Reilly emphasizes the value of having a mentor
24:31 Mike Reilly and Mike Ferrante discuss how they would mentor someone at 13

Is college connected to your goals? There are countless opinions on whether or not college is necessary for success. Some people believe that college is the key to a bright future, while others think that success can be achieved without it.  The truth is, there is no right or wrong answer, as the connection between college and success will vary from individual to individual. However, there are a few factors to consider when deciding whether or not college is the right step for you. It all depends on your individual goals and what you want to achieve in life. In this episode, listen to Mike talking to Brook, Travis, and A'marri about whether or not college is truly connected to your goals.
3:11 Mike Reilly talks about the myths of small businesses
7:06 Mike Reilly mentions about getting your MBA
13:39 Mike Reilly discusses with Brook, Travis and A’marri about getting into college and knowing what you want to get out of it
21:37 Mike Reilly talks about the key to starting your own business

When you're starting a business, there are a lot of things you learn along the way. It’s important to be open to advice, but also be willing to experiment and find your own way, there is no one right way to do things. You have to figure out what works for you and your company, and then go with it. This can be tough, but it's also incredibly rewarding when you finally find a way to make your business work. 

In this episode hear Mike Reilly discuss owning your own business, what the real deal is when you own a business, and whether a college degree is really necessary. He will be speaking with Brook, Travis, and A’marri on this topic.
3:25 Mike Reilly speaks with his guests about what they've learned about running their own businesses.
12:00 Mike Reilly mentions that no company clock exists
20:22 Mike Reilly talks about gaining a variety of skills from college, but not necessarily locking yourself into a career.
21:28 Mike Reilly talks about how having your own hobby and business can enable you to pay your bills.

Finding your passion and turning it into a business is a topic that is often discussed. That can be a good thing, but it isn't always the smart move. It's important to remember that your passion might not be what other people are interested in.
Before you turn your passion into a business, take some time to listen first with our podcast as Mike Reilly and Mike Ferrante talk about what business one should go into. Once you've listened, you can start thinking about the best business to start.

We're Small Business Confidential, the podcast where we discuss all things related to starting and running a small business, the dirty little secrets no one tells you.

Listen to Mike Reilly and his long-term sidekick Mike Ferrante share their stories about how they became entrepreneurs, as well as the benefits of running several small businesses while you are young as opposed to attending college.
2:46 Mike Ferrante and Mike Reilly discuss what makes a good mentor.
11:37 Mike Reilly talks about what is riskier, setting up your own business or working at a company. 
16:53 Mike Reilly points out, most of the secrets of entrepreneurship are not taught in schools.
21:47 Mike Reilly and Mike Ferrante discuss what does it take to be successful as an entrepreneur.