Company Of One With Dale Callahan

Everyone thinks they need the perfect business idea before they can start. The truth? The idea doesn’t matter.In this episode, I’ll share why execution beats ideas every time, how customers (not your imagination) define what works, and how you can test something this week without waiting for inspiration to strike. What You’ll Learn:Why “big ideas” keep you stuck.The one thing that actually gets you paid.A simple 3-step way to test an idea this week. Related Episodes:Ep 137 – How to Find a Business Idea for a Side HustleEp 112 – Five Tricks to Help You Find Ideas to Start Your Own BusinessEp 086 – How to Find a Good Business IdeaEp 085 – How to Keep Someone from Stealing Your IdeaEp 055 – Is My Business Idea Good?Ep 026 – How to Tell if Your Idea is a True Opportunity Ready to stop waiting for the “perfect idea” and start building something real? Book a $500 Strategy Session or apply for my coaching program: dalecallahan.com

Is your job already taking everything you’ve got—yet you still want income and freedom on the side? In this episode, I unpack the1-hour/day Escape Plan I’ve used to help busy professionals earn their first $2K–$5Kwithout quitting their job. Want my help personally? I’m opening5 spots in my Fall Escape & Earn Cohort. DM me“ I WANT OUT” if you want one.

That’s the question that stops most professionals before they even start.What if I fail? What if I waste time? What if I lose money?But here’s the reality: failure isn’t the enemy. Standing still is.Every breakthrough I’ve seen—from my own career to my clients’ businesses—came on the other side of risk.In this episode, I unpack the fear of failure, why it shows up when you start thinking about change, and how to flip it so you can actually move forward.If you’re feeling stuck, chances are it’s not your boss, your company, or the economy holding you back—it’s fear. And you don’t have to let that be the end of the story. Mentioned in this episode:→ The Idea Engine: 7 Prompts to Find Your Next Movehttps://dalecallahan.com/op/idea-engine/

You don’t have to hate your job to feel stuck.Sometimes the biggest reason you’re not moving forward is a set of lies you’ve been told—and believed—about what “success” looks like.In this episode, I break down the 3 most common lies that keep smart, capable professionals from making their next move. You’ll see how these myths quietly shape your choices, limit your options, and keep you working for someone else’s dream instead of your own.If you’ve been feeling restless but unsure what to do next, this is your wake-up call.Whether you want to grow where you are, launch a side business, or make a complete escape from the corporate grind, you’ll learn how to spot these lies—and replace them with truth that leads to action. Mentioned in this episode:→ The Idea Engine: 7 Prompts to Find Your Next Move→ Work with Dale: Book a Clarity to Cash Strategy Session

Welcome to the new beginning.This isn’t episode one—but it is a restart. After coaching hundreds of professionals, I’ve realized that most people aren’t just looking for a promotion or more flexible hours. They want freedom. Ownership. Clarity.In this episode, I explain the real reason so many smart professionals stay stuck—and why I’m shifting this podcast to help you break out.Whether you want to launch a side hustle, escape the corporate grind, or take control of your income, you’re in the right place. Mentioned in this episode:→ The Idea Engine: 7 Prompts to Find Your Next Move→ Work with Dale: Book a Clarity to Cash Strategy SessionDale Callahan, Ph.D.Business Coach for Professionals Ready to Take Control Helping you move from stuck to in-demand — or start something of your own. Grab the Idea Engine: 7 prompts to find your next move Book a Clarity to Cash Strategy SessionDirector of Engineering Management @ UAB (205) 790-8447 dalecallahan.com LinkedIn

What should you quit doing? As we move into a new year, I have found many of my clients planning to do more and add to an already busy schedule.But I want to challenge you to think about what you should quit.What should you quit doing? Relationships that are not productive Dating relationships Employees Employers Friends Habits that you have formed that are destructive Activities that are not getting results Work activities Workouts Marketing Nighttime habits Social media Watching/Listening to the NewsClick here to listen now.Subscribe & Review in iTunesAre you subscribed to my Company of One? If you’re not, I encourage you to do that today so you don’t miss an episode. Click here to subscribe in iTunes!If you like what you hear, I would be really grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast. I also love reading them and connecting with you. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favori

So, are you the burger flipper or the boss?This is a question I ask my kids often. If you are a burger flipper, you do not have to think much. You just wait and do what you are told. You can be totally unengaged in your work. If you are the boss, you have 10,000 decisions to make. Everything hinges on you. You have to be self-driven and engaged else nothing happens.It is all about ownership and engagement.I hear a lot about engagement. Employers want to do everything they can to engage their employees. At the university, we want to engage our students. Why?Engagement means money and productivity. Engaged customers and audiences are great for marketing. Engaged employees are great for morale and productivity.Engagement is directly related to profit.How to Create Engagement in Others and MeThe problem, according to Marshall Goldsmith in his book Triggers (Triggers: Creating Behavior That Lasts - Becoming the Person You Want to Be), is that engagement is not something we do to people. Engagement is something the

Quit being a pawn. Stand up and fight back. As you might be noticing yourself, nobody is listening. We have quit talking and turned instead to yelling at each other. And, if nobody is talking, who is controlling the conversation? I have been watching what is going on in our country (I am in the US) for some time. We fight. Nobody is talking anymore. Everything is charged. We all think we have opinions and are fighting for the truth -but we are just being used. They want us fighting against each other. They want division. We are stepping up and marching to their orders.We fight about issues such as politics, global warming, abortion, the second amendment, etc.But nobody is listening to me, or to you, or to anyone. We are just fighting.On TV "news" shows we see the news as one-sided. Even when they talk about having a discussion - it turns into insults and yelling. In the printed media, it is all just opinion laced with a few facts to make their care.And social media - that is the cesspool of it all.T

A conversation I often have with parents is something like this:  "College? There Has Got to Be a Better Way".College is like a money pit and does not offer such a powerful tool to create wealth and security as perhaps it did. In fact, if chosen poorly, it generates the opposite.So today, I want to dive into the issue a little deeper and explore some thoughts.College? There Has Got to Be a Better WayThe college experience has some issues that often go with it. massive debt wasted time opportunity cost converting good thinking kids into - well, something else (garbage in and reprogramming)Yet as parents, we only hear of a few alternatives Military Trade school Living in the  basement foreverThe truth is, we want for our kids the same thing that the college experience used to really offer. We want Opportunity to do anything they like Ability to earn and prosper Success on their own termsSo to think about this, let's start by unpacking what college does still offer A plan - course plan to get a de

Moving from tech expert to leader in your organization can be tricky. Scientists, engineers, developers, architects, and many other experts move into leadership positions every day. Many companies expect this transition to take place. But other companies do not see tech experts as leaders - just as tech experts. It is kind of a new "blue-collar" thinking. Either way, the transition is not always easy.Leadership positions come in many flavors, but the first moves are often as team leaders - where you are still on the technical side of things but you lead the activity of your peers. Project management or product management is another common path toward higher leadership positions.Over the last 20 years, I have been coaching people into leadership - usually out of tech positions. Most go rather smoothly once the new leader to-be understands the game. But too often, the tech leader resists the change and new responsibilities and fails to grow.So in today's podcast, I am going to provide some observ

My Most Popular Podcast Episodes tell a story. The story is not about me, but more about you. What topics catch your attention? What are you most interested in hearing from me?What are you struggling with? Where do you want answers or insight? My Most Popular Podcast EpisodesBelow is a list of my most popular episodes. When I put them together by category I get this...Topic #1 - Getting a job - 3 postsTopic #2 - Excelling at work - 3 postsTopic #3 - Productivity - 1 postsTopic #4 - Starting a company - 2 postsWhile this meets the Company of One mindset (you are all of these things) it is interesting that the tops are still about getting a job and some of the less popular are others about starting a company.So where do we go from here? Email me at dale@dalecallahn.com or post to my Facebook. Would love to hear your thoughts?https://dalecallahan.com/reverse-interview-questions/https://dalecallahan.com/overcoming-the-fear-of-making-mistakes-at-work/https://dalecallahan.com/how-to-conduct-a-reverse-interviewe-int

Waiting on leadership to show up and take action can be one of the most frustrating issues in corporate America. More frustrating than a bad tyrant of a boss is the absent boss. At least with that tyrant, you might learn what to expect. When absent and you are waiting - you often spend your days in frustration not knowing what matters and what should be let go. In episode 156, I dealt with how you can lead if you have a leadership void. The reason for that podcast was because I find myself with so many clients who find themselves leaderless. My first take when leaderless is to find a way to step up and lead - if even on the small things.But unfortunately, that does not always work. Sometimes a lack of a leader just leaves you frustrated.Lack of LeadershipHere is the situation. You have a job to do, but nothing clear about what matters. No one is calling the shots. You have asked the person who is filling the role (often in a temporary role) and get nothing. You are being told by management that things will ch

Make money online will help you see the quick and dirty methods of getting started in a side hustle without spending much (or any) money.The video from the presentation is below.Make Money Online - Outline1. Find an ideaHow to find a simple idea that fits you.2. Find a platformHow to use common platforms with lots of traffic to get noticed3. Do the workSetting up some platforms.4. Action TNTContinue to grow.Click here to listen now.Subscribe & Review in iTunesAre you subscribed to my Company of One? If you’re not, I encourage you to do that today so you don’t miss an episode. Click here to subscribe in iTunes!If you like what you hear, I would be really grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast. I also love reading them and connecting with you. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!Links mentioned in this episode:

How much should I be spending on my business? Like all other things in life, modern businesses tend to overspend, Especially small businesses that are not making money yet. I constantly am running into startups who are "investing" money to help the business grow. But, too often, they are only growing in the wrong direction.Instead, it would be best if you focused on spending that will generate sales. Too many people are spending money on things that will likely not move the needle. Perfect tools that are overkill. Logos design. Software that is way too big for the budget. Focus instead on spending money on things that will impact your customers.So let's step back and examine who you should be spending - and on what.How Much Should I Be Spending on my Business1. Marketing Spending money on marketing is usually the biggest issue that will have the greatest impact. Whether the money is via ads, help to do calls, of just your own time connecting and marketing your business. This is number one for a

Five reasons you should consider an online business. I spend a lot of time trying to help people like you start something on the side. (Why You Need to Start Your Own Business Now.)Join me Oct 14th at 6:30 PM CentralWe will do a webinar on this subject of Make Money Online: Business Ideas You Can Start from Home live on Oct 14th at 6:30 PM central. Of course, after that, the recording will still be there.Five reasons you should consider an online business1. Everyone needs a side incomeIn Ep 32: Why You Need to Start Your Own Business Now, I explain that everyone needs a second (or third) source of income.2. Costs little to startCompared to almost every other business, an online business is cheaper to start, maintain, and market. The risks are just low. Expect to pay from zero down and zero per month to just a few hundred dollars a month once you get moving. But you should at very least always break even!3. Gets results quickly. A simple way to test ideasUsing other platforms like eBay, Etsy, and Amazon (to na

The five signs that it's time to quit your job are easy to see from the outside. But often in the middle of the beast, we have clouded judgment.Here are the five signs you need to go, and some ideas of how to deal with things if you need to stay.Five Signs That it's Time to Quit Your Job There is no growth path for you. You do not fit what they want to promote. You are at the top of where you can be. The company does not want to grow. The company is dying slowly (or quickly). The culture is negative. You are being discriminated against. There is no one you trust in the organization. You are no longer passionate about your work.What if you Need to Stay?You might be near retirement or a significant milestone or have a huge benefit from staying the course. Do your job and look for paths to grow for your future gig. Take on some new job in the company as a distraction to get rid of boredom. Start a side gig to get your mental energies flowing.Subscribe & Review in iTunesAre you subscribed to my Comp

Today we discuss 7 things I have learned from being an entrepreneur. While there are many courses, especially in universities that teach entrepreneurship, I have found a lot of what they talk about and teach to miss the point. The academic model of entrepreneurship just does not translate into the real world if you really want to make money.So today - let's talk about seven of those things.7 Things I Have Learned from Being an Entrepreneur Execution is everything. Action means more than plans. You cannot determine how your customers should spend their money. Broke people are not really broke. Niche market products are better. Think about My Pillow. Money is the easy part. Marketing is more important than the product. Prospects lie, customers speak the truth.Click here to listen now.Subscribe & Review in iTunesAre you subscribed to my Company of One? If you're not, I encourage you to do that today so you don't miss an episode. Click here to subscribe in iTunes!If you like what you hear, I wo

Using love as a business strategy might seem like a strange title - especially coming from an engineer. Generally speaking we technical people are pretty much just the facts. The talk of soft skills and focusing on people makes me squeamish - so to start talking about loving your customer is really a leap - for me anyway.Over the past few months, I keep hearing pastors talk about being called to love one another. Yes, if you look that up in the Bible - you might find it a time or two - so not really a surprise to hear it. But perhaps I just now have started to hear it clearly. So I have been thinking - what does this mean for me as a university faculty and business owner.We have been talking a lot about this inside the business - so much that "love the customer" is becoming a theme.Using Love as a Business StrategyLoving the customer means... Loving your customer means knowing your customer. Loving your customer means tuning into their frustrations and needs. Loving your customer means treating them

Want multiple streams of income? How would it feel not to be 100% dependent on just your day job income? Today we want to dive into streams of income that others use to smooth out the edges as things get rough - and in 2020, everybody needs multiple streams of income!Develop Your Multiple Streams of Income (MSI)Here are some of the more popular categories others use for diversification of their income. Your Day Job - Never forget to focus on this income source. Providing service through a third party - Pizza delivery, shopper, Uber driver, Amazon driver, UPS, or another delivery driver. Pros - They do the marketing. Cons - You have little control over what you do. Consulting/coaching service - Fiverr, Upwork, etc. - This is the easiest thing to do where you have a little control over what you offer. Pros - It is easy to get started. Cons - Takes your time to deliver the service. Home services - From yard work, small repairs, pressure washing, cooking, cleaning, closet organizing - something for everyone here.

My Reading List for 2020 is a collection of ideas around the topics of success, money, work, time management, and how to think apart from the crowd.All in no particular order.My Reading List for 2020 Atomic Habits The Greatest Salesman in the World The Compound Effect I Will Teach You to Be Rich Rich Dad Poor Dad Thou Shall Prosper  Financial Intelligence Deep WorkSubscribe & Review in iTunesAre you subscribed to my Company of One? If you’re not, I encourage you to do that today, so you don’t miss an episode. Click here to subscribe in iTunes!If you like what you hear, I would be really grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast. I also love reading them and connecting with you. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!