Company Of One With Dale Callahan

If you are leading people for the first time you are likely a bit intimidated - and maybe a little excited. Leadership has this mysterious nature to it. Yet, when we step back we realize leadership is really about helping people help you to reach a goal. You are now part of a team and they need you to point the direction. How do you do that? I will share some basic leadership principles, as well as, some specific actions to improve your leadership. "First time leaders remember - communication is huge in leading others. #leadership #newboss"]Key Leadership PrinciplesLeadership is a moving target. If you are leading people for the first time or have been leading for years, the principles are all the same.Attitude Be positive, optimistic, and realistic. Attitude is very contagious.Service You are now serving both your leader and those you leadCommunicationYou must be clear about what you want and willing to listen.TeamDrop the "I" word excepting when taking blame or responsibility. This is

Mastermind groups have become wildly popular with business leaders and entrepreneurs. Yet, many mastermind groups are facing leadership challenges and as a result these groups are less functional - if not a complete waste of time. For the past 5-6 years I have been coaching mastermind teams and have seen many of these challenges played out in front of me. Some have been fixable - others not. So today I want to share some key ways to overcome leadership challenges in mastermind groups. "Leadership hinges on good communication #leadership #mastermindgroup"] Common Leadership Challenges in Mastermind GroupsMastermind groups operating as coaching groups Mastermind groups are not the same as a group coaching sessions - nor should they be. They are equal partners sharing.Common signs you have a coaching group pretending to be a mastermind group: The leader is always talking and has an answer for everything. You feel like the leader is offering the same advice to everyone - you all are in the same box a

Need a business license? One of the first places we stop when getting started is the business license. But, what kind of licenses do you need? Where do you go to get them? Today I will deal with these and other related questions to help you get your business out of bureaucracy mode. "Having a license does not make you a business ... revenue does #entrepreneur #businesslicense"]Business licenses are a tax and not directly related to your legal structure (sole proprietorship, C-corp, S-corp, LLC, etc).Note - This is not legal advice, but common sense views from those who have been in the trenches.General Rules of thumb about Business Licenses Solopreneurs rarely need them Creatives rarely need them Home based businesses rarely need them Often when you first start you can get away without them.When DO you need a business license before you start?If you fall into one of the following, you need to check out licenses before you get started. Regulated services such as a day care, plumber, lawyer, doctor

We all have time to start a side business. I know that because I see the busiest people start new businesses daily. Sure, they may not all grow as fast as a company with a full-time staff, but they do grow and prosper. Carving out time from a busy home and work life to get a company going is about using our time wisely and staying focused on the next action. In this episode, I will share some of the common hacks that allowed busy people to start and succeed. Yes, You Can Find Time to Start a Side Business "Finding time to start a side business starts with taking control of your time. #entrepreneur"]Today I go over some basic steps to help you find time to start a side business. These steps will take you about 2 weeks to do, but well worth it. In the end, you will have a lot of clarity and focus.Step 1 - Get control of your day job Most of us waste a lot of time at work. Working 50+ hours per week, we are rarely productive for more than 20 of those hours.Recently, I had a highly productive manager

Do you feel guilty about  making money? Most people starting or growing a business struggle with this feeling of guilt. This guilt feeling comes from wanting to help others in need mixed with a lack of confidence. The result is that volunteer our time with a ministry mindset. After all - we want to help people.But this feeling of guilt about making money not only keeps us from developing a business, it also keeps us from serving others to our full potential. How to Stop Feeling Guilty About Making Money "When people pay you , they are saying thank you with dollars. #entrepreneur #startup"]Today we will deal with that guilt When You Encounter the Guilt Doing your own R&D Buying encounters The Guilt Messages Expectations Game Zero Sum Game Thinking How to Replace the Guilt and ServeQuestion to think aboutWhat have you gotten for free that you value?Join and listen how to NOT Feel Guilty About Making Money. Links mentioned in this episode:Thou Shall Prosper: Ten Commandments for Making MoneyFrom

Want to find ideas to start your own business? Like me, most of you struggle with how to find ideas to start your own business. Finding ideas sounds so simple.  After all, we have tons of business ideas - that is until it becomes real and we start to act. It is when we are ready to start that indecision and a lack of clarity begins to haunt us. We are often left frustrated thinking we have no real ideas. But, there is hope. Let's start by looking at the problem in another way. Instead of looking for a business idea, consider you are a business that is in the Research and Development phase. So now, as chief of Research and Development (R&D), finding the idea IS doing your job. Five Tricks to Help You Find Ideas to Start Your Own Business (Your R&D) "Become your own chief of R&D to find ideas for your own business. #entrepreneur"] Keep a Small Notebook with You.I use a Moleskine, but some use Simple Note or Evernote.  Change your environment weekly (daily if you can) Get out of the

How Much Money Do You Need to Start a Business? The typical thinking is that $100,000 is needed to start a business. But in reality, the typical startup spends significantly less. In this episode we will explore ideas to get your business started with little or no investment. Money Plan to Start a Business "It costs less than $10k to start a business. #entrepreneur #startupcost"]No one ever really asks "How Much Money Do You Need to Start a Business?" - instead they just assume that is it some figure such as $100,000. Define why you need moneyEquipment and toolsPay yourself and your teamMarketing How to do it on the cheap - EquipmentRent or borrowUse what you have already and add as needed Team BuildingHire on a project by project basisDo not quit your day job yetManage the cash flow MarketingBe OK with growing slowEngage current or previous customers for referralsUse sweat equity Avoid the two lies of business startupsYou have to invest in things to growDebt is normal Listen to the advi

There are four obstacles keeping you from starting your own business. In all my coaching of business startups, these four continue to show up keeping would be business owners from starting their own business. Today I will examine the fours issues - and in the next few weeks I will provide you with the common steps I have seen work for others - as well as for me - to get past these obstacles. "Winning is finding the obstacles in your way and then how to overcome them. #entrepreneur #obstacles"]While other issues are often talked about - fear of the unknown, insecurity, financial situation, and family conflicts - I find the ones that show their ugly head are really about how we think about business.Thee Four Posts To Help with the Details I do not have enough money to start I have no idea about what to do I cannot charge for that I do not have any timeIn this podcast we address these subjects and attempt to debunk them. But, in the next few weeks I will give you practical plans to literally kill th

Today I cover the four steps in starting a business. But, I am excited to be sharing these steps along with Debra Mastic - who took these steps to create her business and leave her day job in just a few months time.This is so critical. So many times we listen to people tell us how to do things - but we doubt it will work for us. Debra doubted too, but she acted. She joined up for our business coaching and followed the steps even when she doubted. Today Debra has a  thriving business called Virtual Resume Coach. The Right Steps in Starting a Business  (listen to the podcast for details about how Debra Mastic did these)1. Discover Your Passion Before You Start a Business - No one wants to buy from someone who does not put their heart into what they do.2. Define and Engage Your Ideal Customer3. Create Products or Services for Your Business - Now that you have customers and have talked to them, listened, and used your experience, make an offer to SERVE them.4. Create a Business Structure and Processes - for most

Do you need another degree to start a new career? Most of the time we assume the answer is yes - of course. As a result, colleges are making a fortune from career changers. (Which is good for us!) But before you jump in and sign up for a new degree program or new training, you need to look closely to get the facts. Here, I will help you do just that! Photo by Joshua Earle is licensed under CC BY 2.0 [/featured-image]Click to ListenDo I need another degree to change careers?Even as a university faculty, I rarely get people asking me this question. In fact, I find few people ask anything. They assume. They show up at a meeting asking all the wrong questions such as:Would an MBA or Engineering Management be better to get a new job?Which degree will help me get promoted?What degrees are companies hiring more?Should I get a masters or another undergraduate degree?How do I get another degree faster?Which degree is best for getting into ....?Many variations. It is AWESOME. Think about it - when they show up at the

How can you go about finding your path and doing what you love? Perhaps it is not by working harder, but instead you should do what you love even if you see no path to money. In 18 Minutes  author Peter Bregman explains that we often find something new when we stop looking so hard. Think about it. Do you know someone who wanted to get married, but only found a spouse when they gave up? What about that guy looking for the perfect job who spent hours per day looking and only found the job when he relaxed? We often find the result we are looking for when we stop pushing for the what and enjoy the now. What am I saying? Stop trying so hard. Have fun. Do what you love even if you see no path to money. Today I will interview the person who found his path by just doing what he loved. Something I love - My Reading List[/featured-image]Click to ListenFinding your path and doing what you loveI met Jeff Brown at a conference. He is a fellow podcaster who does Read to Lead. In this interview you will hear his story of g

Lean Startup is a term I hear often. Recently, I was asked to talk about Lean Startups to a corporate group, followed by being asked to speak to a high school class on the same subject. So I wanted to share with you. Lean startups is about about starting or growing a company without going broke. It is a process for entrepreneurship. Image is by Stephen Radford (modified) is licensed under CC BY 2.0[/featured-image]Click to ListenVideoValidating Your Business Idea - Quick Notes from the Podcast The myth and reality of entrepreneurship – Life in a Van down by the river. What is a minimally viable product (MVP) and why does it matter? Why we need an MVP and the resistance! How to use the Lean process to get to the MVP. Our own examples of being in scope creep mode and how we got out. No matter how much you plan, you will be wrong. How to size your startup by determining the potential revenue. "Starting Lean helps you avoid entrepreneurial scope creep. #entrepreneurship"]Resources (Some of my favorite

I spent the last few days at the Tribe Conference. It was great to hang out with old friends and meet new friends. While the conference was about entrepreneurship and information marketing, I took away things more about life. The speakers and the side conversations really changed my view on some issues -  and I want to share some of them with you. After all - the first takeaway was "just help people" - So I am trying to do that here.  My take-aways - listed below - are a reminder of things that I have seen generate success and freedom. Courtesy of Jeff Goins and the Tribe Conference[/featured-image]Click to ListenToday I am going to skip the series I am doing with Anthony Witt from The Champion Entrepreneur. Will be back to it next week! Anthony is my partner in the Entrepreneur Dream Academy (See below). Check out the podcasts we have done in this series to date. Episode 102 - Finding Your Why Episode 103 - How to Find Your Passion and Your Why Episode 104 - Validating Your Business IdeaMy Take-Aw

There are ideas, and then there are opportunities. How do you find out if your business idea is a true winning opportunity or a dud? In this podcast, Anthony Witt and I help you find ways to validate your business idea, connect passion to profits, and find significance along with revenue. "Validating Your Business Idea" by Todd Quackenbush is licensed under CC BY 2.0[/featured-image]Click to ListenValidating Your Business Idea - Quick Notes from the Podcast Passion is not enough when it comes to business. You have to have skills and a viable market. However, skills can be developed or hired and a market can be found, but we cannot create passion. Many new business owners fall in love with their ideas and yet fail to do their homework. Over 60% of startups (in the US) never make over $25,000 per year. Doing an opportunity analysis tells you if you have a viable and sustainable business. An opportunity analysis consists of 1) determining the size of the market, 2) getting a percent of the market you

To succeed in business you need to do something you love -  you need to find your passion. It is the driving factor or "WHY" of your work. But, finding your passion is something that many find hard to do. Today, Anthony Witt and I, do the second in our series on getting started in your business by addressing the question "How do you find your passion?" "Turning Passion Into Profits" by Alex Wong is licensed under CC BY 2.0[/featured-image]Click to ListenHow to Find Your Passion and Your WhyI talk a lot about passion. Many think it is a touchy-feely issue and not worthy of discussing - especially in the hard world of innovation and engineering where I live. But I am talking passion because I know it can connect you to profit. I am reminded of the need to connect to your passion daily with the living dead - those people working in jobs they do not enjoy.  They are suffering from that corporate lobotomy. "If you feel like you have had a corporate lobotomy, you need to redisco

Why do you want to be an entrepreneur? Sounds like a silly question, but finding your why can be a big part of your long term success. Your why will get you through the rough days, teach you when to say yes and when to say no, and will keep you laser focused on serving your customers. In today’s show, Anthony Witt, of The Champion Entrepreneur, and I discuss finding your why. "Finding Your Why" by Tiago Aguiar is licensed under CC BY 2.0[/featured-image]Click to ListenFinding Your WhyIn today's show we discuss some of the issues we discuss with new and hopeful entrepreneurs.Why do you want to be a business owner?Why should you even ask why?What does passion have to do with it?What about skills? How important are they?What about following the market? Should I just do what is hot today? "Finding your why can sound touchy-feely, but the reality is any good business venture has a powerful why."] "Without a powerful why, you are likely to grow to hate your business venture."]H

Are you thinking about starting a business? Over 3000 new businesses are started each day in the United States alone. But, most new owners are not prepared for what they are getting into and have failed to prepare - which is the reason many will fail. I am not talking big issues or big strategies to get started - but some common sense things each person who is looking to start a business needs to do to improve their chances of success and increase their enjoyment when they become the boss. "Creative Commons" by Luis Llerena is licensed under CC BY 2.0[/featured-image]Click to ListenWhat to Do Before Starting a Business1. Know your goalsWhy are you starting a business? Is it to control the money, more time with the family, to make your fortune, or just because it is a lifelong dream? Knowing your WHY will prevent you from starting a business you learn to hate. For instance, if you are wanting to be with the family more and love to cook for the family, you might think owning a restaurant is in order.

A few years ago I was consulting with a telecom startup. One day the chairmen of the board (and primary investor) called me to ask a quick and simple question. “Dale will you take over as CEO?” I did not answer immediately - but somewhat out of obligation felt I needed to step up and take the reigns. I really enjoyed the people and the company. I became VERY busy. But one day I looked in the mirror found myself asking “Why am I doing this? I hate telecom?” Have you ever looked in the mirror and asked yourself a similar question? "Finding Your Why" by Mikael Kristenson is licensed under CC BY 2.0[/featured-image]Click to ListenAsk Why OftenNow I have learned to ask WHY often. The question brings clarity. But more importantly to you - I  find I am often asking my coaching clients WHY. Not only do I need to know they have clarity - but knowing their why helps me direct the conversation.Recently a good friend of mine shared his WHY with me. He called it his LIFE model. Wow - it hit home with me - and a

I hate A or B decisions. You know, those times when you have to decide to take a job or not, move or stay, and/or sell your business or keep it. Yet I have I counseled with multiple people recently caught in the “whether or not” trap. One person had a job offer which was going to pay him significantly more money - but in a job he would not like. He told me “I think I am going to literally throw up because I feel I have no choice but to take this job.” Another told me he was going to sell his business to another company because he did not know how to grow it and they did. Both needed to step back and look at more options. We do this WAY too often in our own lives. How can we learn to automatically broaden our options? "Creative Commons" by pippalou is licensed under CC BY 2.0Army[/featured-image]Click to ListenIn their book Decisive: How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work, Chip and Dan Heath call these A or B decisions narrow framed because we tend to narrow our view so we “see only a small sli

Do you just hate networking? Does the word feel slimy. Yeah - me too. So don’t network. Instead, do something that matters more. Listen in today to my interview with John Corcoran as we discuss why networking does not work and what you should think about instead. Click to ListenIn this episode John and and I talk about networking in a way that just makes more sense to me. Forget shaking of many hands and showing up at events trying to meet the right people. Here are a few points from the interview.Good networkers can be introverts. See the 2011 best networker in Fortune Magazine where Adam Rifkin is profiled. He is also mentioned in Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success.Why you need to network even if you are in the corporate cubicle and want to stay there.You should be intentional. You would never show up on a college campus and randomly walk into courses. Instead, we are intentional in what we do and where we go. In networking we should also be intentional.Challenges for new startupsTrying a