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Harbourtime Podcast

Harbourtime Podcast

Author: Collin Harbour

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A podcast designed to explore a variety of business strategy topics and a place to hear practical tips for building and implementing sound business strategies.

#strategy #business #management #smallbusiness Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/harbourtimepodcast/support
36 Episodes
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In this Episode of Harbourtime Podcast, I talk with Chris Baggett, Founder of Canyon Creek Revenue Management about entrepreneurship.  More specifically, we focus in on entrepreneurs that are over the age of 50. Specific challenges facing more experienced workers who decide to take the entrepreneurial plunge.     Segment 1: Entrepreneurship as an Aging Professional Sharing of personal stories or anecdotes of entrepreneurs who started their businesses later in life and faced unexpected challenges.    Discuss the societal stereotypes and misconceptions surrounding older entrepreneurs. Focusing on why we are in business for self and/or why we started our business. Highlight the unique advantages and strengths that come with experience and wisdom.   Segment 2: Challenges Faced by Older Entrepreneurs Explore the various challenges faced by entrepreneurs over the age of 50. Navigating technology advancements and digital platforms. Dealing with potential health issues or caregiving responsibilities. Managing the fear of failure and societal expectations. Segment 3: Strategies for Success and Work-Life Balance Share practical tips and strategies for older entrepreneurs to thrive in business while maintaining a healthy work-life balance. -Do you have a backup plan?  -Do you have the resources in place in the event of an emergency? Emphasize the importance of self-care, physical fitness, and mental well-being. Address the importance of building a strong support system, including family, friends, and business networks.  Closing Remarks: Embrace your unique journey and pursue your entrepreneurial dreams despite the challenges. Offer advice on finding purpose and passion in entrepreneurship, focusing on long-term goals and legacy. Collin Harbour - Harbourtime Podcast Chris Baggett - LinkedIn Page --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/harbourtimepodcast/support
Do you consider yourself a thought leader? Are you interested in becoming a thought leader? In this Episode of Harbourtime Podcast, I talk with a thought leader from one of the industries that I serve: Mortgage. Matt Slonaker's experience includes Operations Leadership and Enterprise Sales Leadership. Matt has a consulting firm, M. Allen, LLC, where he focuses on "Growth in Action" for his clients. Podcast Episode Outline: Segment 1: Becoming a Thought Leader Define what it means to be a thought leader in and industry or profession Discuss why becoming a thought leader is important for solopreneurs or those who want to stand out Share tips on how to become a thought leader, including: -Finding your niche -Building a personal brand -Creating valuable content -Networking and collaborating with others in your industry Segment 2: Consulting with C-Level to Maximize Revenue • Discuss the importance of targeting C-level Executives/Decision Makers • Explain how solopreneurs and business owners can approach C-level executives • Share tips on how to maximize revenue as a solopreneur or consultant, including: -Understanding the needs and goals of the organization -Providing customized solutions that align with those needs and goals -Building relationships with decision makers -Demonstrating ROI and delivering results Segment 3: Using Artificial Intelligence to Help as a Solopreneur • Explain what artificial intelligence (AI) is and how it can benefit solopreneurs • Discuss specific ways AI can be used to help solopreneurs, including: -Automating repetitive tasks -Analyzing Data • Enhancing customer experience • Share tips on how to effectively integrate AI into your business, including: -Choosing the right AI tools for your business -Training yourself on how to use AI effectively Harbourtime Blog: https://collinharbour.com Matt Slonaker: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattallenslonaker/ Blog: https://www.mattallendevelopment.com/blog --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/harbourtimepodcast/support
In this session we discuss Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how it can be used with Big Data to grow your business and expand your professional life. Poossenjeet Bhatacharya is a Machine Learning and Big Data expert, and he shares his knowledge on how to use AI with Big Data. We cover a lot of ground. The following topics are covered: Segment 1: Artificial Intelligence as a Tool to Help Make Decisions Explanation of what AI is and its capabilities The benefits of using AI to make decisions The different types of AI and their applications The role of machine learning in AI decision-making How AI can help reduce bias and improve decision-making The potential drawbacks of using AI to make decisions Segment 2: How Big Data Can Help Guide Your Business Particularly Coupled with Artificial Intelligence Explanation of what big data is and its importance The role of big data in decision-making How big data can be used to identify patterns and trends The challenges of managing and analyzing big data The potential of coupling big data with AI to improve decision-making Real-world examples of big data and AI in action Segment 3: Will AI take over your job? What “AI taking over your job” means If AI can potentially take over your job, where can you focus your professional efforts for the future state of things? How shifting your focus can be more beneficial. Can AI replace humans? Collin Harbour: https://collinharbour.com Poossenjeet's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fjkl40/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/harbourtimepodcast/support
In this session, Collin Harbour and guest Dennis Gierula discuss dealing with adversity in the context of job searching as an Experienced Professional and business/client searching as a seasoned solopreneur. They key areas of focus on the pod are: Segment 1 Dealing with Adversity Many people face adversity including:  Job Loss, Business Loss, Illness, Weather Collin and Dennis have both experienced job loss. Coping with loss and how to deal with adversity. Segment 2: Job Hunting as a Seasoned Worker (And weaving in a little bit of client searching as a seasoned solopreneur). Experienced professionals may face in a job market (and as a solopreneur), such as technology gaps, job titles, pay assumptions We provided some tips and resources for experienced professionals including good old-fashioned networking, and skills updating Segment 3: How Artificial Intelligence Can Help with Job Searching – and, how can it help with anything?  Artificial Intelligence can help in a job search.  It can help write cover letters.  It can update a resume. We explore other ways to use AI, including blog writing and social media posts. AI, when used as a tool, can be a useful resource for experienced professionals.  Segment 4 Bonus Segment Who was better, Ramones (First “true” punk band) or Iggy Pop (Godfather of Punk)? Conclusion: Bad situations will arise and dealing with adversity is a fact of life. Feel free to share a story or strategy for overcoming adversity.     Collin Harbour https://collinharbour.com Dennis Gierula Dennis Gierula, MBA | LinkedIn --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/harbourtimepodcast/support
In this episode, we cover a topic that hits all of us. It is unavoidable. Pressure! Pressure! Pressure! On December 11, 2011, RGIII won the Heisman Trophy and included in his speech, “Great things don’t happen without hard work . . . the hotter the heat, the harder the steel. No pressure. No diamonds. We compete. We win.” The guest today is Bruce Pulver, Author of Above the Chatter, Our Words Matter, Ted x Speaker, and Acrostic Extraordinaire, and Co-Host of the podcast, “Can I Have a Word with You?” Bruce can be reached at: For speaking and the book: abovethechatterourwordsmatter.com Facebook and IG: above_the_chatter_bruce_pulver LinkedIn: Bruce Pulver Host: Collin Harbour Bruce is a guy that is on a journey to everyday try to get closer to and reach more of his potential. It’s a struggle. It’s a journey. He tries to help others and bring them along in his journey. Bruce says that in business and everyday life that we’ve got to do the hard things and it takes the right mindset. The easy things have already been done. We have to embrace the fact that where the struggle comes, when the challenge comes, that we need to take ownership. A stumbling block can become a steppingstone. Dealing with extreme pressure can be accomplished by: Getting grounded Relaxing Stepping back Quotes on Pressure: Pressure is a word that is misused in our vocabulary. When you start thinking of pressure, it's because you've started to think of failure. Tommy Lasorda Everything negative - pressure, challenges - is all an opportunity for me to rise. Kobe Bryant The only thing that relieves pressure is preparation. Tom Kite No matter how tough, no matter what kind of outside pressure, no matter how many bad breaks along the way, I must keep my sights on the final goal, to win, win, win-and with more love and passion than the world has ever witnessed in any performance. Billie Jean King To be under pressure is inescapable. Pressure takes place through all the world; war, siege, the worries of state. We all know men who grumble under these pressures and complain. They are cowards. They lack splendour. But there is another sort of man who is under the same pressure but does not complain, for it is the friction which polishes him. It is the pressure which refines and makes him noble. Saint Augustine --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/harbourtimepodcast/support
10.5 more months to go until 2024! 2023 is full of hope and possibility and the perfect time to accomplish all of your goals and turn dreams into reality! Want to build a business? Nothing’s holding you back. Want to close a big deal? Close it! Want to quit your job and become an independent? Simple! Crack open the list and highlight your goals. We all have one and we all have things we want to achieve this year. But the list isn’t going to check itself! These tips will help provide ways to HUSTLE HARDER! Buckle, up and grab some coffee (or whatever form of liquid you deem appropriate – no judgement here). No Excuses As the saying goes, excuses are like opinions, everyone has them, but they won’t get you anywhere. Seriously. Stop making excuses. Quit blaming the pandemic. It’s not your boss’s fault. Why are you trying to blame your significant other? Your dog, really, have you run out of all other excuses? It’s your fault that you haven’t pushed yourself to achieve your goals. Take responsibility and move forward. It’s not easy, but it can be rewarding. With a “No excuses” mentality, emphasis will be placed on the fact that you must take responsibility for your actions and outcomes. SMART Goals You’ve more than likely heard of SMART goals. SMART goals will give you a roadmap. But you must follow it. Utilizing this method allows for goals that can be broken down into more manageable steps. They are all important and don’t skip “Time-Bound.” Time bound goals provide a hard stop for achieving the goal. Rather than meeting a goal “this year,” a better example might be achieving it by March 31. Pivoting is okay if needed but stay focused as you strive hustle harder. Find Your Tribe! Get rid of the people who are holding you back and bringing you down. This will be critical as you develop a hustle harder mentality. It is easy to stick with the same crowd, but if they do not motivate and inspire you, it’s time to cut bait. Find those with similar goals and values and don’t forget work ethic. This will help motivate the hustle harder attitude but can also provide a level of accountability. Make sure to affiliate with those who stretch you to new limits. Organize Yourself and Your Plans It probably goes without saying, but organization is key to success. Some of the hardest hustlers I have seen are old school and use paper planners to complete their tasks. It’s okay if you don’t want to use a paper planner, find a technology solution instead. Make sure the tool helps prioritize your tasks. We all know how overwhelming it can be, so make sure to maintain control of the list. Self-Care The daily grind will be exhausting but remember the ultimate rewards that lie ahead. Make sure to take care of yourself with a healthy diet, enough sleep and regular exercise. Building endurance as you hustle harder is key for success. Hustling harder in 2023 is all about taking control! Achievable goals and self-care will help support the hard hustling. Most importantly, remember that mindset is key to overcoming any roadblocks you may encounter. Let’s go! collinharbour.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/harbourtimepodcast/support
The relaunch of Harbourtime Strategy Talks Podcast as Harbourtime Podcast!  This is a previously recorded episode that was a pilot episode for Just Make Contact Podcast.  I decided to stop at the pilot and focus on Harbourtime, but this content is too good not to use! Today we discuss taking a leap of faith in business and life in general with Marcus Ellis. A wide range of topics are covered including: Taking a leap of faith isn't the worst thing you can do.  Think of all of the entrepreneurs and solopreneurs that have taken a leap of faith and the impact they have on others. What is the worst thing that can happen to you anyway?  If something really bad can come from a decision, then skip it. But do you really need that "W2 job" anyway? How being a "Dead Head" taught significant life and business lessons. Why telling people "I Love You" can have a significant impact on their life, and potentially their year. We have the inaugural "Who was better" from 80s bands -The competitors are: Madness and A Flock of Seagulls.  We declare a definitive winner! Some key quotes from Famous People that apply to taking a leap of faith: "There are many talented people who haven’t fulfilled their dreams because they over thought it, or they were too cautious, and were unwilling to make the leap of faith." James Cameron "Transformation is something I cannot explain – too much analysis might destroy it." Sophia Loren collinharbour.com Marcus Ellis (IG) --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/harbourtimepodcast/support
Rob Dewald and Erika Garcia from Precedent Management are this week’s guests. We discuss: Creating strategic differentiators Pivoting to new business opportunities Going above and beyond for clients Creating and maintaining an employee-focused culture. Creating strategic differentiators are key to growing a business. In the age of technology, a differentiator may just be “the human touch.” Technology can be used to provide services, but the human component is a strategic differentiator that is often overlooked. It is important to combine the high touch/human element with other aspects of providing service to clients. Pivoting in business is key. Many individuals and businesses were forced to pivot in 2020. Precedent had the right processes and people in place to handle the unexpected pivot. For instance, they have expanded their services from industry specific to a broader approach of providing services in various markets. When the pandemic hit and the volume dried up in their industry, they made a strategic pivot by provisioning their people, processes and proprietary technology to serve other companies. These services are critical for companies that don’t have the existing people, infrastructure, time or capital. A key lesson from this is that you need to have the right team in processes in place for any unforeseen crises that may come your way. As they provided services to other companies, a key component of the service is the “onshore” aspect. Their people are located in the United States, which can provide benefits to their potential client base. As entrepreneurs, they understand the importance of: Speed: Make sure you have the ability to provide the services quickly when requested by clients. Flexibility: Don’t simply focus on your services agreement. Be ready to go above and beyond for you clients when they make requests outside of your existing scope. Relationships: Both internal (i.e. employees) and external (i.e. clients) relationships are key in growing a healthy business. Show them that you care. Create open environments for both employees and clients. The benefits are immeasurable. https://collinharbour.com/ http://precedentmgmt.com/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/harbourtimepodcast/support
Kate Bradley Chernis is the co-founder and CEO of Lately AI, also known as the only social media management platform that creates content FOR you with the power of A.I. In this week’s session, we discuss her journey from DJ of one of the biggest XM Radio shows to Marketing Agency (managing marketing and social media on spreadsheets), to capital raiser, to Start Up Founder and CEO (and then hopefully to DJ again, when she can afford her own private island!) Focusing on a variety of topics, we discuss overcoming personal roadblocks, taking advice from dad, and always be networking – because you never know when your next lunch might be your seed investor. Marketing any sized business is tough. How do you produce the right content? How do you distribute the content once it is ready? How do you manage the schedule? How do you know which posts have the biggest impact? Kate had some great ideas, and turned them into an incredible business. We also discuss how to turn customers into EVANGELISTS. Imagine that -- your customers selling your business for you!! I, for one, am glad that she did because Lately AI makes my life easier. In case your wondering, she loved being a DJ and wouldn’t mind doing it again. Harbourtime Strategy Talks Podcast https://collinharbour.com/ https://www.lately.ai/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/harbourtimepodcast/support
Leslie Hassler of Your Biz Rules yourbizrules.com) speaks with me about her experience guiding women owned service-based businesses into more profits cashflow and success. Leslie applies over 14 years of entrepreneurial experience to help business owners and entrepreneurs navigate the waters when things go “sideways”. Her experiences helps companies overcome the obstacles and continue to thrive and grow. We discuss her “Scaling Rich Personality Quiz” (scalingrich.com), which focuses on personality type and help you achieve the highest level of business for yourself. We take a deep dive into how Leslie came up with her business concept and after a two-year journey and discovering that she did not “love” her business at the time. There are many methods to start, run and grow your business. Leslie’s business focuses on women entrepreneurs because she has been there, done that . . . juggled the roles, raised a family, while running a business! Hey, but don’t worry guys . . . she can help you focus on your business growth, too. As Leslie says, good marketing picks a spot in the sand and plants a flag, but that doesn’t mean that people that are a little difference can’t come into it. Helen Keller’s quote about vision: The only thing worse than being blind is having sight, but no vision. A guiding vision is necessary to flourish in business.  Vision = Beacon  For instance, Leslie’s guiding vision is “empowering prosperity for every business”.  So many things are out of our control, but a vision can help stay on track. Regarding strategy, some can be implemented quickly and some can take quite a while. Go for the easy wins first. But, as your business matures, you will need to focus on some longer-term strategies. What the biggest obstacles to success for entrepreneurs in 2021? The Three M’s: Motivation Money Mindset Business owners need to have a Dashboard. Look at the KPIs, cashflow and a strategic plan. This will allow you to measure where you are and where you might have gone off track. Strategic planning is necessary for business growth, and a Dashboard can keep entrepreneurs on track. Always be learning . . . and always be implementing. Take nuggets, ideas, strategies from books, podcasts, videos and implement them. Learning without implementation is useless. collinharbour.com yourbizrules.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/harbourtimepodcast/support
Vulnerability Tour 2021 – Dealing with Communication Issues in 2021! Can you think of a time or would you even admit to it a time when your, your communication, your words, or your, your style of communication caused damage to you or to someone else? In this session, I discuss overcoming the “communication roadblock,” aka “when you can’t say what you really mean.” Based on the book by Brian Harbour, 17 Roadblocks on the Highway of Life and How to Overcome Them. The “roadblocks” we are covering in the Vulnerability Tour 2021 are: Failure Criticism Communication Anxiety Immobilization Indecisiveness Envy Self-Pity We cannot escape the responsibility of our communications. Our communications have consequences, but we do have the ability to make good choices when it comes to commuting. Great leaders are quoted, including Peter Drucker, Tommy Lasorda, Peter Drucker, Plato, Mark Twain and others. Most of the quotes focus on “listening.” Four Strategies for Overcoming Communication Issues in 2021: Learn how to Listen, and listen with the intent of understanding: Do you really want to understand someone when they're talking to you? You should. And if you, if you listen empathetically, and if you listen with the intent to understand, it's going to improve your ability to communicate. Develop relationships: If you don’t know the person you are trying to communication with, it’s going to be difficult to connect with them.  What are we doing right now? Face-to-Face Dialogue is key: in 2021, even if you're ready to go out and have a face-to-face dialogue with someone, they may not be ready. We’re all encountering that right now. But you can gain a different understanding of your communication if you are in person. Be sensitive to Non-verbal clues: Tone. Body Language. Other NVC’s can tell a story. Pay attention to these clues. collinharbour.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/harbourtimepodcast/support
Leadership is Always Relevant as a Strategy! The speed of the team is all about the speed of the leader. You’re not really a leader if people aren’t following you. In this episode, leadership, motivation, and overcoming your fears to get things done is discussed with Tim Kintz of Kintz Group Buzzwords aren’t necessary for good leaders. Managers are often the least trained people at companies. Even if they are trained, it doesn’t mean you they have what it takes to be a leader. Five years from now. If someone asked your people, who was the person who made a difference in your life, will they remember your name? Leaders should strive to be the one who is remembered as impacting and influencing lives. We discuss Tim’s “Leadership Quadrant”: Lead, Manage, Coach, Train, and how each of these is different based on individual skill sets. We discuss ways to determine which area is your strongest and where your individual skills are on the quadrant. Leading is setting the vision. Managing is the detail side. Training is giving knowledge. Coaching is developing skills. Tim discusses dreaming big and leading big. Leaders leave people better off than before they met. A good leader is in the trenches and focused on the people he or she is leading. Being “fearless” plays an important role in leadership. Fear holds people back. Being fearless is about not being afraid to make mistakes. Stop being afraid. Take Charge. Dream Big. Have a big passion and a big purpose. We also discuss the concept of an “Emotional Bank Account.” As a manager and as a leader, you will eventually have to get tough on people. Great leaders need to earn the right to have tough conversations with people. Do a good job of catching people doing things right. (Based off of a concept from John Maxwell.) Determine where you want to be in 5 years and act on a plan to get there. Have a big vision. Paint a big vision for your followers. Make sure they know how they will fit into that vision Tim also provides steps to take for a great employee one-on-one. https://collinharbour.com/ https://kintzgroup.com/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/harbourtimepodcast/support
#strategy #personalbranding #socialselling #brand #smallbusiness Many of us have a strong physical brand, but a weak digital brand.   This session of Harbourtime Strategy Talks discusses various strategies to enhance your brand (personal and corporate) and defines social selling. Strategies are presented to help with social selling and personal brand building, with a delineation between a physical brand and digital brand. What are you doing to build your personal brand? Do you even care? Guest on the podcast today is Olesija Saue (olesijasaue.com) “I don't want to be a superstar I just want to do my job is personal branding for me.” Personal Branding and how it is tied to Social Selling Olesija has been in the business world for over 20 years, during which time she has have experienced both very quick high rises, and then also very big lows. It is easy to be in business when everything is thriving,  but we really learn our lessons and we evolve when life gets tough as it is right now. We all have experiences that we can use our advantage business and in marketing, and also our unique strengths, our values, our why, and most importantly, our story and story that we have to own and we have to share. People and Social Media combined make for a great passion. The most important part of personal branding is actually your substance: what is inside the story, your strengths, your values, your why, because they really talk to our subconscious mind, which draws on emotions, which is how decisions are made. Personal branding is putting together our uniqueness and packaging it in a way that that our ideal customers can resonate with. Think about Audi or Porsche.  These brands actually create certain emotions. Keep in mind that we all have a personal brand from the moment we do anything. In 2021, personal branding is now what other people know about you before you actually enter the room. We have two worlds . . . the physical world and the digital world.  We must make sure that our digital and personal brand are at the same level. Make sure your personal brand is telling the story that you want it to tell. Balance growth, fun and achievement for success. Enjoy the process. The process and the end results are equally important. In order to stay relevant in today's environment, we really have to learn not all the time. Make sure that you are balancing work and “life” to make sure you are covering the things that are important to you. Social Selling: Social selling is in our DNA. Now, we build the relationships online. Content Marketing is communicating “one to many,” but social selling is communication “one on one.” Trust is built through digital/online social selling. According to Olesija, Social Selling is like dating.  The relationship takes time to develop. Businesses in 2021 can stand out by implementing a social selling/social media strategy by taking care of their social media profiles. Stand out. Be visible. The buyers have to know you exist. Webpage, Articles, Podcasts – online conversations – thought leadership. Olesija co-authored a book, “The Brand Named You”, is to help individuals with social media strategy and exposure. They fight the misconception that personal branding is “bragging.” The also provide a step-by-step process (Roadmap) to help with personal brand strategy. https://collinharbour.com/ https://olesijasaue.com/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/harbourtimepodcast/support
Leadership as a business strategy or leadership in general is always an important topic. Learning about leadership can help you grow into a better person. My favorite leadership style is “servant leadership.” Servant leaders don’t see themselves as the dictator and that they actually serve others. They lead by example. Tom Lawrence has a YouTube channel, Leadership & Growth. Tom also has a website, highlyeffectiveleader.com. Tom has published a book on leadership. Tom is a former Rock Star who moved from Liverpool, England to the West Coast of the United States Highlyeffectiveleader.com is a website that started off as a blog in January, 2020. The purpose of the book and YouTube Channel, Leadership & Growth, is to help people learn from Tom’s mistakes and resonate with them to become better leaders. Tom intends to inspire others to take the next steps in their leadership journey. Tom has written a book entitled Manager to Leader. It is targeted at managers, supervisors, and team leaders who have the position and job title, but now need to know what to do. Having a job title gives you a certain authority and gives you a certain amount of power, both as a leader. The leader’s job is to serve their people, serve their team. The book is to help them understand what servant leadership is, why we need to save our people and how to save our people. How, how can leaders serve their people? “Serve” is another way of saying “help.” It's a responsibility of the leader to grow and develop others. Develop yourself as a leader. Don’t be exposed. Why is dictatorship why is a deep dictatorial style of leadership and effective in 2021? Dictator-style leaders do not inspire people to give their own ideas, their own solutions, their own recommendations, and they are not inspiring them to implement their own ideas. Servant leadership is the exact opposite.  Servant leaders inspire others to come up with their own ideas and solutions. Tom is a former rock star and the leader of the band led by example.  She helped others learn their parts and stay focused on the goal. What Tom learned from his Rock Star experience is to follow your dream: Do not give up on your dream. If you have something that you really want to do that you think can make a difference in the world or even will make a difference in other people's lives, don't give up, keep doing it, keep working hard. What is Tom’s vision? What is his just cause? Tom’s just cause is that envisions a world where leaders create environments that focuses on people. https://collinharbour.com/ https://highlyeffectiveleader.com/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/harbourtimepodcast/support
Podcast Guest is Business Coach and Author, Warren Coughlin from Toronto. Warren is a dad and business coach to entrepreneurs since 2002. Warren believes “deeply in the core of my being that entrepreneurship is one of the most powerful forces for positive social change.” The first part of the discussion centers around business coaching and operational strategy: Business coaching is not the same as life coaching for business folks. Business coaching is about integrating the organization: All the specific business skills, mindsets, the systems, even the tools to help the owner reach his or her goals. Business Coaching involves some training and consulting as well as that kind of goal setting envisioning and that kind of thing. Business coaching isn't pure coaching, it's a combination of coaching, training and consulting on the strategy piece. Entrepreneurs face many challenges: Don’t confuse symptoms with the problems. Utilize tools (like this one created by Warren Coughlin) to help with strategic planning. In this case, the tool automates the entire front end of the strategic planning process.  Once you’ve identified issues, make sure to build out an actionable plan, perhaps monthly, perhaps quarterly. But set real goals and make real changes. As an entrepreneur, don’t play whack-a-mole. Consider the impact you could have on your business if you made two significant improvements per quarter. Business is like poker, particularly when considering long term strategy: Make sure you don’t dwell on short-term thinking. Focus on strategic long-term thinking. Business is similar to poker. Business is a game of skill, but there is much uncertainty and an array of probabilities. In both business and poker, the professionals will when the game, even if they don’t win the hand. This is due to strategic thinking. Are you focusing on winning the hand or the game? Long term thinking will focus your attention on the game. Consider your business a game. Why are you in this game? What game are you playing? What do you want out of the game? If you don’t focus on strategic planning, your business will face danger.  Don’t overlook the risks. There will be another pandemic, economic crisis, weather crisis. A downturn is always around the corner. If you're only focused on the short term, you're not going to build for the eventual downturn. And that's just because, so when you, you know, when you say stories like that, hopefully help people go, Oh, maybe I shouldn't just be thinking about the next two or three months. I need to be thinking. Long-Term. It's okay to spend some time on short-term thinking, but your focus should be on strategic long-term thinking. Make sure your decisions are based off of planning rather than off of fear: In the face of an uncertain environment, don’t tortoise. Instead, plan. Don't spend all of our time on short-term results. Make sure to look at the bigger picture. In the face of uncertainty or fear, there is a natural human instinct to go into a protective mode – go into your shell. Focus on the underlying needs of your clients. Even if there is a disruption that changes the way you deliver your service or product, the underlying needs of your clients still exist. Consider pivoting, morphing, adding or modifying your business, your career, your life: Pivot general means, “I’m here and now I’m going there,” which is something totally different. A pivot is a fundamental change for a business. Most businesses don’t necessarily need a "fundamental change." Impact your culture in other ways that can lead to change, morphing, adding. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/harbourtimepodcast/support
Are you your own worst critic? I hate receiving criticism, but I certainly love dishing it out. Or are you like LeBron James in that criticism stimulates you? Lebron said, “I like criticism. It makes you strong.” Everybody's a critic these days. And I mean, literally everybody, social media has made it more harsh, more frequent and more real, like it's a real punch in the face. For instance, on February 5th, 2018, the following was tweeted. Dear KFC. “No one likes your fries, your sincerely, the entire world.” @Upgrade_ music sent that on behalf of the entire world. The bigger point here is that everyone receives criticism and sometimes it's, or at least it seems like it is from the entire world. So how are we going to handle this? How do you handle criticism professionally? How do we handle it personally? How do we handle it from a corporate standpoint? Criticism is generally just in your head. We worry about things. “Remember the only taste of success that some people have is when they take a bite out of you.” Zig Ziglar. “Any fool can criticize condemn and complain. And most fools do.” Benjamin Franklin. Don’t worry about criticism. Move past it. “Criticism may not be agreeable, but it is necessary. It fulfills the same function as pain in the human body. It calls attention to an unhealthy state of things.” Winston Churchill. Strategy 1: Realization that criticism is inevitable. Strategy 2: Evaluate and Categorize. Category 1: Criticism that has no basis in fact. Category 2: Criticism that is true. Category 3: A little bit of both. Strategy 3: Contemplate. Strategy 4: Activate. How did KFC handle the criticism? They realized that criticism comes, they evaluated it. They categorize it as true. They contemplated a response. It took them nine months to respond and they activated a plan to overcome it. Nine months after the entire world criticize their fries. I hate criticism as much as anybody. I must admit a lot of times I like dishing it out. Criticism hurts. It slows me down. It makes me angry. https://collinharbour.com/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/harbourtimepodcast/support
Is your business prepared for the next big crisis? The utility companies in Texas are learning about preparedness. 2020 taught us all that we need to be prepared: for global pandemics, for social unrest, for changing economic environments. David Obert is Vice President of Property Technology Solutions at Xactware. Finding a “better way” to provide service is the premise behind this technology company. Here how a company that focused on contracts shifted to new verticals including insurance, remodeling and mortgage default servicing verticals. Preparedness. Why is business preparedness so important, especially in 2021? Enter 2020  . . . that’s why it's so important. Are you ready for all issues that will hit your business? Don’t be surprised by unforeseen issues. Be prepared. Businesses can learn a lesson or two from biology and nature. Biological concepts are important when discussing preparedness. For instance, heterogeneity is a concept that businesses can learn from. Take the cactus:  The cactus is just fine during the day as it's built for that, but those flowers, it protects so that when, when the time is right, it can open those flowers back up in the evening. it can be pollinated by bats and things like that. Your business very similarly should be prepared. Consider diversification. We should look at ways to enhance our businesses so that we can be ready with for these harsh times with alternatives. When one side of our business slows down, we should pick up on the other side so that we can maintain some semblance of continuity with our businesses. How do you decide what project to focus on at any given time? Make sure you have a process to focus on specific issues. Can you identify any low-hanging fruit? Where can you make the most impact? How can you get ready (PREPARE) for an influx of business? How can you improve our customers their livelihood? How can you ultimately help them make more money in the long run? Businesses always have time to prepare, with the right process, for things to come. Is business/revenue diversification is more important as a strategy in 2021 than the past? Business/revenue diversification is always important. I think, I think is it, is it more important now than, than in the past? I would say no, just because it should have always been important. What is the biggest challenge you have had with your specific business role in the last few months? And how are you overcoming it? Pivoting a business strategy. Diversifying your business. https://collinharbour.com/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/harbourtimepodcast/support
When is the last time you failed, I mean, really failed?  I know that you failed and you know that I have failed. I know you're scared of failing again, whether you're a business owner, a successful executive, maybe a solopreneur, someone looking for a job I'm willing to bet money that you've already failed, If not miserably in 2021.  How are we going to handle failure in 2021?  I'm going to focus on a few key basics of life. I might even refer to this as my vulnerability tour because a lot of these are inward-facing they're things that I need to deal with and, and how I am going to deal with them moving forward. But I hope as we explore these topics, that you'll go on this journey with me and that we can grow together.  But this new focus at this stage of my career, where I am life is where I want to focus on some of these topics. One of the roadblocks that stood out to me is failure, the failure roadblock, or how he puts in the book when we blow it, when you blow it, you know, you've blown it. Sometimes you can sense it coming.  It can be in your personal life. It can be in your business life. It could be in so many aspects of life, but you know, you've blown it.  So how do you deal with that? What we're going to talk about is ways to handle failure. We know we're going to fail. I'm not saying that to be negative. I'm actually saying it and hoping that we're exploring this to set us up for success, because success is going to be defined with how we deal with failure.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/harbourtimepodcast/support
Trent Simmons is the CEO of Hardeman Company and has a passion for small family businesses.  Trent and his brother took a natural gas marketing company from their father which was the genesis of Hardeman.   Trent has a passion for small business. Hardeman seeks to purchase businesses that they can own and operate as owners for the long haul. Not looking for a quick flip. They want businesses that are built the way we are built. We want businesses that ran for the previous 25 years, the way we plan to run them for the next 25 years.  Small businesses built through character, work ethic, and relationships Manufacturing, Distribution, and Service-related industries Business owners who want to see their legacy preserved and their employees and customers are taken care of Trent is a business leader - he has acquired several companies over the years.  He knows what it takes to be a business strategist, private equity guy, and owner-operator of established businesses. He was also a professional triathlete and we discuss how that experience translates to business strategy.  During this part of the podcast, Trent discusses lessons he learned from world class athletes, gold medal winners, and a former Australian boxer!  The lessons are great -- everyone can learn from them: Paraphrased: The man on top of the mountain did not fall there. Don't try to swim like Michael Phelps if you are not Michael Phelps. Don't waste your time on comparative analysis -- you're probably not going to be the next Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos . . . but that's okay.  Reach the highest level you can. The secret sauce of world class athletes (and CEO's)?   Their minds.  They put in the work.  Most of the time, they put in the work when no one is looking.  Day in and Day out.  Hard Work, Over And Over Again.  What we see are the "medals" the awards, but the hard work is almost never seen. Work on your weaknesses for improvement, but MAXIMIZE your strengths. Questions/Topics are listed below: Referencing Hardeman company’s LinkedIn page, How are you built?  Hardeman = Perseverance, Survival Trent, If you had to pick 2, maybe even 3 key traits of the CEO/leaders of these businesses, what stands out? What drives a business leaders/CEO/entrepreneur to build a successful business?  Hardeman has a nice portfolio of companies – a good mix of service, manufacturing, and other types of companies. How do you decide your portfolio strategy? Are you looking for a specific mix, or do you look for specific revenue targets, or any combination thereof? You’ve looked at a lot of companies – You’ve acquired some of them, and I’m sure you’ve passed on more than you bought. What strategic advice would you give a business owner who is thinking about selling their company in 2021? What should they be doing to prepare their company for acquisitions? When reviewing a company, you are competing against many factors: Owner Expectations, Family Member expectations, other acquirers, and many other factors. How do you balance seller expectations and other competing factors when you are in trenches of a potential acquisition? What lessons did you learn in training and competing in triathlons teach you that can be translated to business strategy? I know this is a bit vague, but what business lessons did the rigorous training teach you? Who is your favorite business leader and Why? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/harbourtimepodcast/support
Our guest this week is Shelia Butler, COO of the Arrangement.   Shelia is also a former classmate of mine in the Baylor University Dallas Executive MBA Program, Class 10 (2004) Shelia has experience starting, building and selling companies.  She also has experience as a Consultant, Industry Thought Leader and Speaker. Shelia was "Podcasting Before Podcasting Was Cool".  We discuss what it used to be like to run a podcast.   Some of the most important things about podcasting: There are many ways to get your self out there if you want to be seen as a "thought leader".   A podcast can be shared many ways, and it helps create content.  A podcast can also help you discover a little more about who you are . . . and can push the theme of "not being afraid to fail".  Podcasting can help you take on and overcome various challenges.  In Shelia's case, Podcasting helped her speak to people more, which led to speaking opportunities and business consulting opportunities.   Tips for entrepreneurs who are starting a business.  Be intentional.  Everyone thinks it is necessary to be on all social media platforms and be everything to everybody.  Shelia suggests that these three things should be the focus: Be clear on your governing values:  Hyrum W. Smith (Franklin Quest/Franklin Covey) talks about governing values.  Know who you are and what you stand for in life. Have intense clarity on everything else:  goals, habits, communication, in every aspect of your life.   Know how to grow your business (3 ways):  1.  Increase number of clients; 2. Increase the average value transaction of a client; 3. Increase the number of transactions per year. Decide what needs to be done to make these things happen and then determine which social media and marketing platforms can help make this happen.  Above all, don't be afraid to fail and try something different. How to focus on Strategic Planning and Leadership. Realize that you don't know everything and learn from others -- it can make a big impact in your business. Don't be afraid to pivot.  And pivot quickly.  It is okay to learn and grow from your experiences and move on.   Shelia's Favorite Book Clarity First by Karen Martin Shelia's Favorite Business Leader Sara Blakely, Spanx -- Bootstrapped her company from day one.  Her father told her "don't be afraid to fail."  Sara's a mom, down to earth, runs her business and is a philanthropist. sheliabutler.com - Shelia's LinkedIn Profile Shelia can be contacted at: sbutler@sheliabutler.com. collinharbour.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/harbourtimepodcast/support
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