Do Business Better Podcast

Dave Swain worked in corporate Agriculture his entire career until he jumped ship and started his own business (in his mid 50’s no less!). His company, Vision Technology Management, was born from his vision to help companies better utilize technology for which they had already invested. Face it, we all feel the pressure to innovate with new tech but sometimes we find implementation or full utilization so daunting, we revert back to what we know. This leaves a lot of under-utilized tech with a very bad ROI. Dave shares his entrepreneurial journey while discussing the business side of technology utilization.

Sadly, most Americans are terrible managers of their personal and/or professional finances. Even business owners and those who pilot their own business endeavor often struggle with money management. Michael Finley, financial author and the Crazy Man in the Pink Wig, dispenses advice for living a life of your choosing by first taking charge of your money.

Matt Roeder is an Iowa farm kid who’s employed as an Agricultural engineer for a plastics manufacturing company. A few years ago, after seeing a shortcoming on his corn planter (he still farms on the side), he designed a new and improved closing wheel. But this product design doesn’t belong to his employer, it’s his. Matt explains the inspiration for the product, how he brings it to market, and the delicate and mutually beneficial relationship he has with his employer — they build his designs and support his side hustle all while he retains his day job. We also discuss patent problems and assess the 5 entrepreneurial personalities. This is an excellent discussion for those looking to create or expand a side hustle.

My friend Brad Klopfenstein and I have shared a love of beer drinking and beer history for more than 3 decades. Now Mr. Klopfenstein is turning his love into a side hustle. A novice Indiana historian, Brad was poking around the internet researching old Indiana beers as sort of a “where are they now?” endeavor. That’s when he discovered Alps Brau — a former Fort Wayne, IN based beer brand — was available for the taking. Brad acquired the rights to the brand and in February 2023, will release the first batch of Alps Brau since 1978! Brad explains the path to his new endeavor, business lessons learned, and how he hopes to capitalize on the appeal of nostalgia.

Inflation has been on a tear since 2020’s globally disrupted marketplace upset the economics of everything from exercise bikes to used cars. With double digit price increases way more common than they should be, are you charging enough for your goods or services? Probably not. In this episode I outline why you should increase your rates. The benefit for doing so: better pay and better customers. Of course, there are downsides, such as losing customers. However, losing customers isn’t always a bad thing, because — like the old showbiz saying goes, “The cheaper the gig, the worse the client.” Listen to this!

The words “business development” get tossed around frequently and there are plenty of people whose titles include “business development,’’ but what exactly is it? Seth Schachner founder of StratAmericas joins me to define and expand on all things that are business development. Seth explains the importance of partnerships and audience building. Today’s business development activities are different today than a few decades ago in light of the technologies employed. Regardless, one thing hasn’t changed over the years: Without business development, you have no business!

Influencer marketing, social media, traditional media, newsletters…the marketplace is crowded with marketing. And…most of it sucks because it’s not marketing to client and customer needs, rather it’s about the company. David Saltzman of The Saltzman Group explains StoryBrand marketing, what most businesses get wrong, and how to make prospective clients become customers.

August 1, 1994 I resigned my corporate post to start in business for myself. Over the years there has been a great deal of evolution and learning. Here are 28 takeaways you can apply to your own enterprise to create a life and business by choice. Please let me know which of these resonates with or most helps you!

Paul Gambill is an engineer-educated Millennial who saw capitalism as the solution to green house gas removal. In 2017 he and six other people founded Nori — A carbon removal marketplace. Paul shares his entrepreneurial journey and a pile of lessons. Among them: why you shouldn’t have 7 company founders, the need to read, understanding the CEO’s most important job, how to raise money from venture capitalists, and the power of vision — something he says most people lack. Tune in to this fast-paced discussion and get inspired!

Brad Kent’s first entrepreneurial endeavor was in food sales — he carried oranges off the family’s backyard tree to peddle them outside the neighborhood grocery store. Brad was just 7 years old at the time but he promptly got ran off by the store manager. Brad joins me to discuss his various business endeavors — mostly pizza-related— including his latest project: Bagel & Slice. Bagel & Slice aims to sell high quality, expensive food inexpensively. Brad’s time re-engineering military rations taught him the value of creating a feeling with food. He aims to do that now with his restaurant concept aspiring to make people feel good after eating food that’s good for the environment.