eCommerce has become a big topic in business especially after the year we just had. However all eCommerce is not equal and in some cases it does not make sense. Social selling is another term that has run hand in hand with eCommerce but again not the same and not beneficial in all circumstances. Topic 1: What is eCommerce and how do you know it fit…

Sub-topic 1 - How to look at your business within your overall wealth (1 stock/Asset?) It’s generally ok if your business is your only asset driver, Dave have you ever looked at it like that. Sub topic 2 - With great risk comes great reward. This is why entrepreneurs exist right? How do we get by if this is our only asset? Loans, (leverage), partne…

Marketing... yourself/your business and your community/network and how this leads to, building, preserving and ensuring long term Wealth.

Today is all about Chambers of Commerce, an important network in your community and to your business. As we speak with our guest we are going to look at a few topics and get first hand experience. Today we would like to welcome Janelle Best, Director of the Howell Chamber of Commerce to the Trailblazer show. Welcome Janelle Topic 1: What does a Cha…

Are you meeting your customer’s needs? Whether you are in the service, retail or restaurant industries, your customers' needs are whey they come to do business with you especially as we re-engage. Do you know your customer’s needs and have you asked? If not you would be amazed at the pointers or suggestions your regular customers can provide that c…

What areas of your business are you holding onto the old ways and need to get with the new way of doing business? Topic 1: Is it your old way of planning your business budget Old - Ledgers, monthly to month planning, only using CPA’s New - Digital tools like Quickbooks, full financial team, looking at the full year planning while having quarterly a…

Question/Topic 1: So a little bit of a no brainer question but why is having multiple - streams of income important now compared to 5 or `10 years ago? Question/Topic 2: If someone is looking at getting into multiple streams of income whether they are existing business owners or are looking at this to get into business, what are 3 things they shoul…

As we get into this, we are going to break down 3 key digital technologies you can implement easily and we are going to focus on the retail/restaurant and service businesses. Topic 1: Digital communications. Social media - posts vs. live Chat Bot Text messages Email Topic 2: E-Commerce / Fast purchases E-commerce Upgrade POS/Credit card systems Tab…

So let’s get you excited about what 2021 can hold for you with a question: What are you going to do to make 2021 the best year yet for you and your business? Topic 1 - Excited about new features/program Is it eCommerce - if not it should be Online tools like website upgrade (no not social media but we will get to that) Is it keeping carryout or cur…

Passion is one of the leading characteristics needed to run the race of a successful business. That is why we wanted to talk another look at this topic and share some insights different from the episode on passion a few weeks ago.

This week we are going to take a look back on some things that made 2020 very interesting that can help propel your business forward as we run (hopefully) into 2021 and highlight some of the past episodes that are great to listen to again along with some fan favorites. Fan favorites and really great topics on ways to help grow your business include…

Questions to ponder: Holiday boost or bust Is the last month of the year important to you How can we focus on the essentials during busy holiday season Topic 1: How to make the holidays and year end a boost not a bust Topic 2: Use the last month of the year to springboard into the new year Topic 3: Focus on the essentials, distractions galore…

Some questions that you are having right now as we get started, maybe its: I have passion for what I am doing but I don't know how to share it Does my passion really relate to the profit or growth of my business Yeah I lost of fire now what Topic 1: Sharing your passion Your passion for what you do and bring to the community needs to be shared with…

Why is net profit so important and what can it be used for aside from paying taxes What is your business valuation, including pre-money, post-money and net profit effect Capital - you want it, need it, how to get it and does net profit help Topic 1: Net Profit Gross Revenue minus operating expenses before taxes How to make the most of your revenue …

What is profit? This is not a duh moment What are some things we can do to maximize profit? What should we be doing once we have profit? Topic 1: What makes up profit Profit is not just the difference between but you bought and sold something for Why is profit so important Topic 2: How to maximize business to reach profit Deals with vendors and ser…

Is your business producing revenue? Notice we didn’t say profit What would it do you need to focus on to get, grow or boost your revenue This may be weird for some of you, does your business or have you thought about multiple lines of revenue? Topic 1: Producing revenue Revenue growth path from startup to success Foundation to turn revenue into pro…

Questions we want to throw out there: Its 4th quarter and the holidays are coming - are you ready? What new things have you put into action or are thinking about and just not put into play yet? Are you ready for 2021? If not its a coming whether you are or not. Topic 1: What are your plans for the 4th quarter and holidays Partnering with community …

Do you really need a coach or mentor? What should you be looking for in a coach? What are the long term benefits or pitfalls to having a coach?

What we want to share today is the “Selling” in your business goes far beyond selling a product or service and should never be in the arena of “I hate selling or being sold to”. Here a few questions to get us started in the fun world of selling as an everyday function of your business. Are you selling your why daily? Are you selling your products/s…

Last episode we talked about your why in Why the hell are you in business in the first place. So in keeping with our goal to get our listeners thinking, we again have three questions for you. Do you believe your why? Does your why tell in your story? Does anyone care about your why?

Let’s be honest, there are a variety of reasons why you chose to be an entrepreneur - you would have to have good reasons to have days of complete bliss wrapped with days of being hit in the face like a rookie boxer. Let’s get you thinking, here are some questions to get your mind on fire Was it money that steered you to start a business? Was it an…

This week we wanted to share 4 questions that will highlight 4 common mistakes made when nearing the sale of your business. Are you are the secret sauce, that holds everything together in your business? Do you have a realistic valuation and are you basing your price off your dream retirement or are you creating a valuation based on your financial p…

Questions to consider as you listen: If in fact you will be “retiring” from your business have you been working with a team or solo planning, to look at your personal wealth, and what that may look like if you sell? What do you WANT to do after the liquidity event? What CAN you do after your liquidity event?…

So as we dive into this topic we what our listeners to ask the following questions: What can I do to pivot my business - is it new ways of buying, is it new hours Is it time to evolve my business - new products/services, get rid of outdated routines My business is doing good - is it time to expandPoint 1: What does it look like to pivot? First let'…

Talking pt.1: Inspiration and excitement What is your inspiration or excitement on why you started Agile Wealth Partners? What got you inspired to start Mobileteer? Inspiration is why we got into business and leads to giving you excitement in what you are doing. I liking it to golf - there are bad shots and good/great shots. Its the great shots tha…

This week we talked about some of the important foundation points from past episodes. Check out the full episodes with the dates posted below for reference. Reference episodes:Protecting your business: Episode 20 posted on Aug. 6, 2020Community Involvement: Episode 7 with guest Kate Litwin posted on May 5, 2020Referral Marketing: Episode 4 with gue…

Topic 1: Why are you needing to protect your business aside from the obvious of protecting something you have put your blood, sweat, tears and of course money The type of entity you create and run. Very important in adding layers of protection between you and your business. Have a good attorney or two on speed dial. Build a relationship with them a…

Topic 1: Start a new - setting up financial plan requires a guide Having a financial plan that is guided by a planner helps to make sure you set your business for up success. Best "free" resource Build a team, use your resources You have clear path to financial options such as investors like we spoke about last weekTopic 2: What does it look like t…

Topic: So you decided you want an investor.What are investors looking for? What are they looking for, Market (viable growing long term or niche), Technology/idea, is it different/better, People, do you have the team to continue to build it successfully and the grit to be persistent.How can you get this message to the Investor? Executive Summary Pit…

Topic 1: Bootstrapping, equity sharing, side hustle, timeTopic 2: friends/family/ warm marketTopic 3: Bank lending, SBA and micro loans (Prosper, kabbage, paypal new players)Topic 4: Investors - Angels, VC’s and General investors (networking/linkedin), family wealth officesTopic 5: Alternative ideas401k Covid distribution, credit cards!!, crowdfund…

Point 1: Quality over Quantity Point 2: Ask “how you can help" Point 3: 6 degrees of separation Point 4: Reach out don't be static Keep The growth going by moving and finding new! Reference articles: https://thesaleshunter.com/networking-and-the-6-degrees-of-separation/ https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/298262 Follow up on Facebook @trailblazeri…

Strategy 1: Do you have the right training? Just like in a marathon you need to train and business is no different. Anyone can sprint, it's a short distance and doesn't require much training.Reference material: https://rosefinancial.com/building-a-successful-business-is-a-marathon-not-a-sprint/?cli_action=1593048222.549Strategy 2: Do you have a pla…

Topic/Pt 1: Igniting your personal economy Cash flow- Create and live by a budget - especially since you might have had major changes in your income. Break down your expenses into categories, the basics or Core (nitty-gritty) then discretionary. Emergency, did you have it, did you use it? Rebuild it Analyze current investments, including business C…

Topic 1: Retooling Is it new products or services Is it changing how staff assists customers or new guidelines to service your customers The power-up sequence - turning your business back on in the right order to be able to grow fast as you emerge from the pandemic As you retool - stay lean and keep parts of your business turned off that either loo…

Topic 1: What has John Oliver and Agile Wealth Partners been up to and new things they have taking on as a result of the quarantine Topic 2: What has David McDonald and Mobileteer been up to and new things they have taking on as a result of the quarantine Topic 3: New things we have seen other people take on and new programs that businesses are usi…

Point/Topic 1: So with that lets talk about everyone’s favorite punching bag - Politics When it comes to your customers or vendors - it does not matter which side of the isle you are on Politics play a role in how your business operates local, State, and Federal Make sure your vote for people that share your goals Don’t let politics negatively affe…

Strategies/Concepts of Payroll/HR:Point 1 : Should businesses do payroll on their own, through a CPA or with a payroll company? Why a payroll company is better than traditional CPA services Importance of utilizing technology in their payroll processing Time savings business owners get by using a payroll service vs. on their ownPoint 2 : Bringing on…

This episode is longer than normal but we promise it is pack full of tools and concepts to help boost your reopening strategy. Point 1: Websites, E-commerce and Social Media Social media - posts and going live Websites - Don't set it and forget it E commerce - Why you need one or find access to one Share some advances from Mobileteer (excuse the sh…

Talking Points: Point 1 - Given all the restrictions and social distancing, Clark can you tell our listeners what it has been like and how you are working through it? Point 2 What has been some new tools or innovative changes that Aberrant Ales has made to still operate your business and what has been the feedback from customers and staff? Point 3 …

Point 1: Insights about Michigan’s new executive order that allows businesses to start reopening such as landscapers, store curbside pick up, etc. The new order lifts restrictions on some businesses and allows residents to go outside for recreational activities Retailers that do not sell necessary supplies may reopen for curbside pickup and deliver…

Few questions for you to consider as we go through connecting with your community. Question 1: Have your customers forgotten about you? Question 2: What does it look like to connect again while we recover? Question 3: Have you connected with your community partners such as Chambers, Main Streets, DDA’s or City Council? Point 1: What to do if your c…

This weeks episode takes a look at how to make a plan to return to economic growth in both your business and community. We will discuss 4 points to consider and some ideas as you look to putting a plan in place to safely reopen along with attracting customers back to your business. Four main points include: Pt1: Now is the time to start planning Th…

Pt. 1: Why is having a referral network important to all types of businesses? It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. Pt. 2: What advice or what do you say to owners that focus mainly on networking events vs. joining a referral network to actually building relationships? Referral networks are not just business people. They are both personal and …

We hope you/family/staff are safe and healthy during these uncertain times. Last week we talked about marketing and the importance of taking this time to review your marketing strategy. Now we want to take a look at taking time to strengthen your business’s foundation. Like a house, a business needs to be on a solid foundation and sometimes the fou…

Discussion of how marketing has changed and showcase insights on new marketing tools especially digital options. Also discussed the importance of content marketing and appealing to customers based on specific industries.

Trailblazer - Igniting Business & Community with hosts David McDonald and John Oliver are excited to bring this weekly podcast to provide insights, resources, and interviews to help grow businesses. Discussions will also include how a community plays a role in both businesses and improvement of a city with insights from community struggles to commu…