The Co/LAB

The Co/LAB

By Megan Marsh and Andres MunarBusinessMarketingManagement
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The Co/LAB episodes

  • 5 Strategies to Increase Your Business Revenue
    Description:

    Bringing in revenue is crucial to the operation of any business, but some businesses are better at increasing their revenue than others. Diversifying revenue streams is one way The CoLab hosts Megan Marsh and Andres Munar have successfully grown their business. Now, they’re ready to share their 5 strategies to increase your business revenue with you.

    Show Notes:

    Increasing revenue is about more than just growing your business. It’s about creating a better future for yourself, your team, and your family. The trick is diversifying your revenue streams. Think of it as a security measure against the possibility of demand dropping for one good or service your business provides.

    Multiplying your revenue streams sounds complicated, but The CoLab hosts Megan Marsh and Andres Munar have strategies they’ve used successfully in their own businesses that will help you start your journey.

    Ready to dive in? Here’s what we’re covering in this episode of The CoLab:

    • [04:15] It takes the right decisions and resources in order to increase your business revenue by creating multiple revenue streams.
    • [06:38] There are five strategies recommended by The CoLab that you can use to increase your business revenue.
    • [14:11] Don’t just focus on the money. It’s important to remember that passion for your products or services and customer service can earn you more in the long run than focusing on big sales increases in the short term.
    • [21:39] Use your knowledge to promote yourself and connect with customers and other entrepreneurs. Your expertise can be shared across social media platforms, in publications, and many other avenues.
    • [30:00] You’re not alone in your business journey, and The CoLab has a great resource for helping you take your first step toward increased revenue.

      • Take The CoLab’s Are You Built for Entrepreneurship? quiz if you have dreams of growing your business or starting an entrepreneurial journey.

      Connect with The CoLab at www.thecolablife.com or on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.

      0 min
    • How To Make Your First Hire As A Small Business Owner
      Description:

      Are you a business owner who feels like you work all day but get nothing done? Many small business owners may feel trapped in a cycle of doing busywork that keeps them from growing their business—especially those without employees. If you want to break that cycle and make your first hire, The CoLab hosts Megan Marsh and Andres Munar are here to walk you through bringing your first team member on board.

      Show Notes:

      Being a solopreneur can be very rewarding. You’re your own boss, you make your own schedule, and you do the work you want to do—sometimes. Other times, your business is pulling your attention in a million different directions.

      Being a one-person business limits your production to what you can get done. Bringing on an employee or two can cut down your to-do list and grow your business to new levels. That said, a bad hire can cost you valuable time and money, so The CoLab is here to help you do it right.

      Ready to dive in? Here’s what we’re covering in this episode of The CoLab:

      • [04:23] Hiring the wrong person can be frustrating for small business owners with busy schedules and endless to-do lists. Having a consistent, thorough hiring process can help you select the candidates that will shine in the job.
      • [12:22] The key to hiring the best person possible is to understand what you need help with and what kind of skills and characteristics a person would need to succeed in that role.
      • [14:09] To understand where you need help, make two lists of business tasks. One list will be tasks you enjoy and are making your business money. The other will be tasks that don’t make money, you don’t like doing, or you don’t feel you’re good at.
      • [21:48] Entrepreneurs are action takers. Preparing to hire that first employee can be daunting, but not bringing someone on board could have a negative impact on your growing business.
      • [28:59] You don’t have to hire alone. The CoLab has a free masterclass in hiring you can take

        • Resources in this Episode:

        • The CoLab’s [Masterclass Link] is free and the tool you need to successfully build your team.
        • Listen to Episode 5: The Blueprint to Successful Team Building to learn more about The Busy Bee Blueprint.
        • Listen to Episode 25: Virtual Assistants: Your Secret Weapon for Success to learn more about hiring virtual assistants.
        • The CoLab recommends using Fivver for your freelance needs.

          • Connect with The CoLab at www.thecolablife.com or on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.

          0 min
        • Push through Adversity to Find Success with Andrea Dolci Baldini
          Description:

          The decision to start a business often punctuates a journey filling with planning, soul searching, and hardship. Andrea Dolci Baldini, owner of Ultimate Financial Help and an area manager for PRMG, has known hardship from a young age and has overcome it time and again on her entrepreneurial journey. She joins The CoLab hosts Megan Marsh and Andres Munar in sharing stories of business failure and triumph.

          Show Notes:

          Finding success meant taking a big step for Andrea Dolci Baldini. Without knowing a word of English, she set off to the United States from Brazil in search of opportunity. She got her start flipping burgers and delivering pizzas before an opportunity to co-own a nail salon presented itself. The business’ success and ultimate closure taught Andrea the lessons she needed to pursue entrepreneurship opportunities that have led to her owning a business and making her mark in the mortgage industry.

          Andrea has overcome many challenges that threatened to derail her dreams, and she joins The CoLab hosts Megan Marsh and Andres Munar to pass on lessons learned and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

          Ready to dive in? Here’s what we’re covering in this episode of The CoLab:

          • [03:45] With dreams of making enough money to live comfortably in her home country of Brazil, Andrea set off to the United States as a young adult to find work. She had no idea a fast food job would be the first in a series of steps toward business ownership.
          • [11:03] “There’s a purpose for everything. You know, at the beginning, you don't understand. I went through hell, it was hard. I didn't have money for anything. And I had no money to buy a box of diapers for my son who was about to born. But it was worth it.” —Andrea describing the fallout of losing her first business.
          • [17:03] A key part of business success is the ability to learn something new in an industry you think you know everything about.
          • [19:39] If you want to reach a goal and if you want to be successful in the pursuit of that goal, you have to do more than everyone else is doing.
          • [25:56] Bringing in others to mentor and coach you can help you be successful in business. Even if it’s listening to a podcast or reading a book, the lessons others have learned can help you

            • Connect with The CoLab at www.thecolablife.com or on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.

            0 min
          • Talita Guerrero: Overcoming the Odds
            Description:
            There are many ways a person can do to be able to overcoming the odds. Adversity has been a recurring element of Talita Guerrero's life. Her family moved to the United States when she was 12, and she’s spent the last 20 years overcoming challenge after challenge to get where she is today: a successful business owner. Talita shares her story and advice for starting a business and achieving your goals with The CoLab hosts Megan Marsh and Andres Munar.  
            Show Notes:
            Passion. Ingenuity. Drive. The list of qualities for a successful business owner can go on and on. Among those qualities, Talita Guerrero has found resilience has carried her through many challenges she’s faced in life and in starting a business. She is currently a senior loan officer and partner at Right Key Mortgage LLC. The road to her success has been filled with ups and downs, but each came with a lesson that she has used to run her business and help others in her community reach their potential.
            Ready to dive in? Here’s what we’re covering in this episode of The CoLab:
            [02:08] Introducing Talita Guerrero, a senior loan officer and partner at Right Key Mortgage LLC. Talita has been in the mortgage business for over a decade and serves as a member of the Forbes Boston business council.
            [10:15] Building and learning a business or industry isn’t instant, but that pursuit of instant gratification is something that Talita says finds herself encountering as she mentors young or new loan officers in her business.
            [16:10] “I always wanted to be a business owner. I wanted to go into business for myself and create a legacy.” — Talita Guerrero.
            [24:40] As part of her passion for helping others, Talita has established a scholarship fund to help dreamers (as defined by the DREAM Act)—people who may not otherwise qualify for a scholarship.
            [35:32] If giving back to your community is important to you as a business owner, consider getting involved with mentorship opportunities. Your help could be the key to unlocking someone else’s success.
            What are your stories about overcoming the odds?
            Connect with The CoLab at www.thecolablife.com or on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.
            The Cólab Busy Bee Bluprint:
            5 step process to hiring an all-star team.
            DOWNLOAD NOW
            47 min
          • Tips On How To Run A Transparent Business
            Description:
            Starting a small business is a personal endeavor for many entrepreneurs. It’s easy to be overprotective of a business you founded and have nurtured through success and difficulty. But, letting your employees see how everything works has the potential to make them feel part of something bigger and work harder for every win. The CoLab hosts Megan Marsh and Andres Munar practice open-book management and have tips on how to run a transparent business to share for implementing it at your own business.
            Show Notes:
            The inner workings of a business are often kept closely guarded by leadership. Unfortunately, this choice can create an environment that has the potential to breed misunderstandings and assumptions that can hurt employee morale—and potentially the bottom line. Increasing transparency is a great way to get employees to feel more invested in your business and its success.
            It might sound unwise to open your books and let employees truly see your business operations—warts and all—but increasing your business transparency can build trust with employees and help them see beyond their position and into the big picture.
            Ready to dive in? Here’s what we’re covering in this episode of The CoLab:
            ● [01:03] One of the biggest gaps between small business owner and their employees is transparency. Without transparency, you as a business owner are leaving room for assumptions and ignorance to take hold.
            ● [12:01] Being transparent can help bring employees from working for your business to being committed to your business.
            ● [16:58] Seeing the big picture is important and getting your team involved in that vision helps them see the end goal for your business.
            ● [23:17] Increasing your business’ transparency also can help your employees understand the difference between earning and asking and how any decision impacts the bottom line.
            ● [31:42] Opening up your books and increasing transparency can help employees understand how each part of your business affects the other and encourages employees to come up with solutions for problems across operations.
            What about you? Do you have any tips on how to run a transparent business to share with the community? Lets us know!
            Connect with The CoLab at www.thecolablife.com or on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.
            The Cólab Busy Bee Bluprint:
            5 step process to hiring an all-star team.
            DOWNLOAD NOW
            40 min
          • Know About The Art of Rebranding
            Description:
            Building a brand is vital for any business. It’s easy to think of it as just your logo or the color theme you use in business materials, but branding is so much more. It creates the first impression of your business, and you want to be sending all the right messages. The CoLab hosts Megan Marsh and Andres Munar have each owned multiple businesses and understand the importance of branding your business for success and the art of rebranding.
            Show Notes:
            When you start a small business, you get to define nearly every aspect of it, from the name to the products to the look and feel of its physical space. For many, the topic of branding might not land at the top of your to-do list when first starting out, but it’s an incredibly important part of a business at any stage.
            As your small business grows, you want to be sure it has an identity that consumers can recognize, remember, and connect to on a personal level. It also should accurately represent the product or service you provide. In time, a brand also reflects the reputation your company has built, so you want to be sure your business is being represented in the best possible light. Whether you’ve been in business for one day or one decade, rebranding your company could be the key to unlocking even higher levels of success.
            Ready to dive in? Here’s what we’re covering in this episode of The CoLab:
            ● [00:55] Think about your company’s brand. Is it reflective of a successful business or is there room for improvement to better represent your company?
            ● [12:39] The subject of branding comprises more than just a logo. It’s your company’s identity. It sets the tone for customers recognizing your business and interacting with it it.
            ● [17:32] Branding is powerful because it not only represents your company’s identity but its reputation and authority. At the end of the day, what do you want to be associated with your brand?
            ● [20:30] Businesses of any size need a brand, but what the brand is tied to depends on the company. For example, if your goal is to keep your company as a one-person operation, it makes sense to brand it with your name.
            ● [24:42] A key part of branding is making your business recognizable and memorable. People are creatures of habit, so successful branding will keep them coming back.
            ● [30:00] Branding can change over time, just like your business. If your company is undergoing change, such as opening new locations or launching new products or services that don’t quite fit in with your current brand, it might be time for a rebrand.
            Share this with someone who needs to learn about the art of rebranding!
            Connect with The CoLab at www.thecolablife.com or on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.
            The Cólab Crush It Action Plan:
            7 Steps to Small Business Transformation
            DOWNLOAD NOW
            40 min
          • Coaching Programs And How To Find Business Success with Them
            Description:
            Get ready to boost your business with The CoLab, a podcast for entrepreneurs and business owners seeking to elevate and expand their enterprise through collaboration and teamwork. In this introductory episode, meet hosts Megan Marsh and Andre Munar. The pair are business owners, entrepreneurs, and community leaders who have a passion and desire to help others succeed both personally and professionally.
            Show Notes:
            Welcome to The CoLab, a podcast series focused on helping entrepreneurs grow their business ventures through collaboration and teamwork.
            Podcasts hosts Megan Marsh and Andre Munar are the picture of collaboration. The pair combined their separate finance businesses four years ago and took it to a new level in just two years, ultimately doubling their team and tripling their revenue.
            Together, Andre and Megan have a dream to use their extensive experience in business to teach others how they can become entrepreneurs by starting and operating their own businesses. Join them as they share their knowledge, resources, and more to help you start your journey of entrepreneurial growth and avoid costly mistakes along the way.
            Do you feel stuck? That your hard work is going unnoticed and unappreciated? Megan and Andre have been where you are and want to help you overcome the hurdles standing in your way of success. You don’t need a recruiter or big company telling you what will get you to the next level. You can get yourself there. You are the key, and you can make it happen.
            Ready to dive in? Here’s a preview of this episode of The CoLab:
            [01:10] Welcome to The CoLab. Meet your hosts and business besties: Megan Marsh and Andre Munar. They each have spent 15 years in the lending industry. Four years ago, their finance companies joined forces and through the power of collaboration, doubled their team and tripled their revenue.
            [02:10] We know where you are. We’ve been there. It might be dealing with a bad boss, feeling stuck, getting fired, or reinventing a brand. Learn from our experiences and avoid making costly mistakes as you grow your business.
            [03:40] So what can you expect from The CoLab? Exercises, tips, tools, and resources that you can put into action and see results in your business right away that are presented by two knowledgeable business leaders.
            [06:50] Collaboration is key, and this podcast will help you connect with a community of people like you and leverage these connections to inspire business growth.
            [08:09] Ready to start your journey? Here is a preview of topics that will be covered in season one and two of The CoLab: how to take the leap from employee to employer, how to start your own business, how to build an all-star team, and how to deal with bad bosses.
            52 min
          • How To Create Killer Content with Scott Schang
            Description:
            Content can be the connection to customers your business is missing. Whether it’s blogs, articles, or social media posts, content creates an opportunity for potential customers to find and interact with your small business. The CoLab hosts Megan Marsh and Andres Munar know firsthand the power that content holds. In this episode, they are joined by entrepreneur Scott Schang, co-owner of Buy Wise Mortgage and founder of Find My Way Home, to discuss the important role content plays in business growth, and how to create killer content.
            Show Notes:
            Businesses create products and services for customers, but there’s something else they should be creating, too—content. Content is more than just advertisements. It’s a means of connection and one that small businesses don’t have to invest an astronomical amount of resources into to get started.
            The CoLab hosts Megan Marsh and Andres Munar have produced many types of content for their businesses. They’re joined this episode by Scott Schang to talk about the best strategies, tips, and more. Schang is the co-owner of Buy Wise Mortgage and founder of Find My Way Home, a website focused on empowering potential homebuyers with the knowledge to successfully navigate the homebuying process.
            Ready to dive in? Here’s what we’re covering in this episode of The CoLab:
            [00:29] Creating content can be a simple and cost-effective way to market your business, especially for young businesses that may not yet have the funds to pour into a robust marketing campaign.
            [06:23] Scot Schang’s content creation journey started in 2007 with a WordPress blog and an idea.
            [15:39] In today’s digital world, a video-first content strategy can really pay off for a small business. A video can be broken down into audio-only and also transcribed to create written content.
            [26:51] Building content does not replace person-to-person relationships—it helps amplify them.
            [34:24] Content should be created with a specific goal or purpose in mind.
            [44:38] Embrace opportunities to participate in newsjacking. That means getting out in front of news about your industry and having an opinion on it. Then share that content with your customers to establish yourself as a thought leader in the industry.
             
            What about you? What are some tips, steps, and tricks you use to help others know how to create killer content?
            Resources mentioned in this episode:
            Want to learn more about marketing? Listen to The CoLab Podcast episode, “How Can A Small Business Gain Traction With Marketing?”
            A helpful speech-to-text tool recommended by The CoLab is ai.
            You can connect with Scott Schang on his Facebook or LinkedIn
             Connect with The CoLab at www.thecolablife.com or on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.
            The Cólab Crush It Action Plan:
            7 Steps to Small Business Transformation
            DOWNLOAD NOW
            55 min
          • How To Rewire Yourself for Business Success
            Description:
            No one’s path to business ownership is the same, but even the most nontraditional path can lead to success and growth. The CoLab hosts Megan Marsh and Andres Munar are joined this episode by Ryan Stewman, who has overcome a lifetime of challenges to get to where he is today: CEO of Hardcore Closer, an online learning resource for salespeople that includes coaching and training courses. Stewman also runs the Break Free Academy and is the host of the THC Podcast and The ReWire Podcast. Let's know how to rewire yourself for business success...
            Show Notes:
            Doubt is an often unwanted but persistent guest in the brains of small business owners. It’s there saying that running your own business is too hard, you’re not cut out to be an owner, or that everything you built is one bad decision away from total failure. Are there steps you take to rise above that negative voice? The CoLab hosts Megan Marsh and Andres Munar have faced down these fears and others with the help of business coaches.
            Ryan Stewman, CEO of Hardcore Closer, joins Megan and Andres to discuss strategies for rewiring your brain to shut down doubt and build yourself up to be the successful business owner you know you can be.
            Ready to dive in? Here’s what we’re covering in this episode of The CoLab:
            [04:46] When everything seems to be going wrong, and you’re struggling, it’s easy to consider yourself cursed and destined to fail. As hard as those struggles are to deal with in the moment, they can pave the way for bigger, better things.
            [11:45] Not all paths to becoming a business owner start with a college degree and a healthy pot of seed money. Your path to business success might be mired with challenges, but the right mindset and hard work can help you overcome them.
            [20:10] Starting a business can be a second (or third or fourth) chance for entrepreneurs to prove themselves and rise above difficulties that have held them back in the past.
            [35:54] Not every business model is successful or sustainable. Instead of dwelling on a failed business, use it as an opportunity to grow and learn. Then, apply those lessons to another venture.
            [42:05] Being resourceful is an important but uncommon skill that can give business owners the edge over their competition.
            [44:22] Sales, marketing, hiring, and training processes are key to helping your business reach new levels of growth and take your enterprise beyond a one-person show.
            What about you? How do you rewire yourself for business success?
            Connect with The CoLab at www.thecolablife.com or on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.
            The Cólab Crush It Action Plan:
            7 Steps to Small Business Transformation
            DOWNLOAD NOW
            1 hr 4 min
          • The Power Of The Pivot And How To Lead Your Business Through Crises
            Description:
            The longer you own a business, the bigger the chance that you’ll have to confront internal and external challenges that threaten to derail the successful company you have built. In 2008, the mortgage industry was in tatters in the wake of a home lending crisis. Many businesses closed or laid-off employees. It was a time where being able to pivot meant the difference between surviving and closing. Brian Peart, founder, and CEO of Commercial Captial Ltd., joins The CoLab hosts Megan Marsh and Andres Munar to discuss the lessons he’s taken away from decades of owning a business in the mortgage sector and to speak about the power of the pivot and how he has had to lead his business through major economic crises since 1995.
            Show Notes:
            It takes the right people, skills, resources, and sometimes luck to keep a business running strong. With a solid foundation comes a better chance of weathering storms such as tanking financial markets, natural disasters, and shifting consumer preferences.
            So what does it take to lead a business through challenge after challenge? The CoLab hosts Megan Marsh and Andres Munar are joined this episode by Brian Peart, founder, and CEO of Commercial Capital Ltd., and author of How to Make 6 Figures in the Mortgage Business and 5 Steps to Buying Your Dream Home. Peart has successfully navigated his business through decades that included major economic crises, such as the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic.
            Ready to dive in? Here’s what we’re covering in this episode of The CoLab:
            [04:04] When Brian Peart started a mortgage business in 1995, he wanted to grow it as fast as he could. In the years since the company has expanded to 40 branches and includes publishing and commercial divisions—but not without facing obstacles.
            [12:14] In business, you should hope for the best but you also should expect the worst and have a game plan ready for it as best you can.
            [16:11] Escaping a 9-5 job is a common reason entrepreneurs start their own businesses, but starting a business isn’t a replacement for that job. It’s a new experience entirely and one that will require a lot of work.
            [26:34] A mentor is an invaluable resource for new business owners. Their guidance can help you craft a business that works around you and your life.
            [33:24] Anybody can go into business, but you need to be ready because the process will test your biggest weaknesses.
            What about you? What the power of pivot means to you? And how do you lead your business through difficult times?
             
            Connect with The CoLab at www.thecolablife.com or on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.
            The Cólab Crush It Action Plan:
            7 Steps to Small Business Transformation
            DOWNLOAD NOW
            41 min

          About The Co/LAB

          From the publisher's feed

          Do you feel stuck? Has your business gone stagnant? Do you feel trapped in your current job and dream of starting your own business but not sure where to start? Megan and Andres have been where you are and want to help you overcome the hurdles standing in your way of success. You don’t need a recruiter or big company telling you what will get you to the next level. You can get yourself there. You are the key, and you can make it happen. They want to share with you how they did it and why surrounding yourself with the right people, the right mindset and having the right tools can help your business explode!