No-Pay Client: Getting Stiffed for $23k (How to Avoid)
I lost $23,442 with a really bad choice. That was money I needed, because this was my first business – and my bank account was running on fumes. Here’s the bad choice I made, and Read more…
Why Your Business Needs Promise Over Product
Your Product Will Change, But Your Promise Should Not Falling in love can cause you to make poor choices. That goes for business, too. Many businesses become so enamored with their product (or service) features Read more…
Boring Brands Finish Last: How to Capture Attention
I was completely failing at my first business. I was yet another small firm saying “big firm quality at small firm prices” … and prospects weren’t biting. Why? It was BORING. Here’s how I fixed Read more…
Sales and Marketing is NOT an Expense
In my eCommerce business, we lose money acquiring every customer. I did the same thing at my agency. And even today, I’m looking for ways to lose more money. Insanity? No, an understanding of how Read more…
Innovate Or Die. You Have 3 Years.
My friend John’s business is dead. He just doesn’t know it. He runs an agency that’s headed straight for irrelevance as AI tools improve month over month. Growth was decent in the past years. But Read more…
Relentless: Accountability for Massive Business Gains
It was March, and I realized I couldn’t even remember what my annual goals were. Not good. I’d set them at the beginning of that year. Such conviction and enthusiasm. I even printed them out Read more…
Double Your Customers Overnight with Channel Partnerships
You’re grinding to get more customers. Cold calls, social media, sales sales sales… But despite running yourself ragged, new customers still seem painfully slow to come. What if I told you there’s a way to Read more…
How to Spot Your Next Big Venture
The siren song of entrepreneurship is the chance to build something truly novel – to see a void in the marketplace and fill it with innovation that unlocks value for customers (and profit for you). Read more…
The Struggle of Entrepreneurial Loneliness
Sometimes Entrepreneurship really sucks. It can be an isolating journey. The stresses and responsibilities fall squarely on Our shoulders. Friends and family can’t fully relate. They just can’t. A great team is amazing, but you Read more…
How To Charge Insane Prices
I’m going to share how you can sell for higher amounts by just changing how you present your price. I’ve personally sold everything from cheap $1 goods to $50,000/month high-end services to $400,000 software. The Read more…
Tracking Time Sucks. Embrace the Suck.
Should you track your time in your company? If you run any services business – especially an agency like I did, you might hate the idea. Time tracking is frustrating, painful, and for most services Read more…
How To Double Your Agency Profits Without More Clients
If you want to see how you can double or more the profit in your agency WITHOUT adding any clients, this article is for you. I’ll show you how I’ve taken agencies – including my Read more…
Why Adding More Services Could Wreck Your Agency
Expanding your services might seem exciting at first, but it could end up being a costly mistake. As an agency owner, you need to be very strategic about what you offer – more doesn’t always Read more…
Your Agency Margins Suck. Here’s Why It Matters
If your agency is operating at 5-10% margins, you’re just a few weeks from dead. I talked to three agency owners in the last week, each doing around $1M in revenue, each with margins under Read more…
5 Things I’d Tell Younger Me If I Had a Time Machine
Most people are SO predictable. You give them a time machine and they’re all like: “I’ll go back in time with the winning stock picks.” BORING. Let’s pretend I had a time machine and could Read more…
“You’re doing too much, dumbass”
“You’re doing too much, dumbass,” he said – and my ego was smashed. This week I met two entrepreneurs One had a simple website business. Just published articles on a blog and had a newsletter. Read more…
Falling asleep to heavy metal (don’t do this)
One thing I did right as a parent was introduce my 12 year old daughter to metal from an early age. But it didn’t turn out how I expected – Years ago she wanted to Read more…
Productized Services are NOT the best Business Model
As a marketing agency, it is essential to think beyond the traditional productized services model. While this model may offer fixed deliverables, duration, and dollars, it is not the best approach for growing and selling Read more…
Finding New Customers In Surprising Places
What if finding new customers wasn’t so hard. What if it was just a matter of looking in different places? Here are seven ways that we expand the customer bases for our portfolio companies: ONLINE/OFFLINE: Read more…
How To Never Get Derailed From Growing Your Company
Here’s how I guarantee that I’m never derailed from growing my company – and how you can do the same. Every week, I was getting pulled into a fire. Some customer problem, an employee issue, Read more…
4 Kinds of Employees That Can Skyrocket (or Destroy) Your Business
There are 4 kinds of employees. Two of them will wreck your company, and one will 10x the results. Here are lessons on how I learned to spot each kind, and how you can too. Read more…
Entrepreneurs: 8 Keys to Scale Your Business Quickly
I’ve created over 753 strategic plans for entrepreneurs. At the core of each one are two things: Simplicity and Scale. Here are eight things to cover in your strategic plan to grow with less complexity. Read more…
A New Year: How To Always Nail Your Strategic Business Plan
The year is almost over, and you’re probably going to miss the goals you set in January. Most business owners are in the same boat – BUT a few crush their goals every year. Here’s Read more…
How to Scale Your Company Without More Sales
I’m constantly getting pitched by agencies telling me they’ll get me more leads and sales. If you hire them, you’ve hired an interior decorator for a house that’s on fire. Here’s why I ignore Agency Read more…
How To Get More Done This Week than Last Month
The way most entrepreneurs work gets them no closer to their goals. They’re just running on a hamster wheel. Here’s the process I’ve used for over 7,431 hours for myself and clients that guarantees you’ll Read more…
How Entrepreneurs Can Beat Procrastination Every Time
I procrastinated and watched my first company tread water for two years. Other entrepreneurs got stuff done and I wondered what made them special. Here’s how to kill procrastination and hit your company goals. In Read more…
How To Delegate For More Freedom In Your Business
Every business owner or entrepreneur has heard, at one point, that delegation is the key to growing a business and staff management, which is absolutely true. As a force multiplier, delegation gives business leaders leverage, Read more…
This Bad Advice Kills Your Company Culture
Leaders always point out how important company culture is. They hear it everywhere and repeat it so often that they spend all their time focused on the idea of culture, rather than the company’s overall Read more…
How To Hire A-Players: The Complete Hiring Process
This hiring process got me the best employee I ever had. A serious A-Player. Performance was an 11 on a 10-scale. These counter-intuitive steps will help you get the best talent – and avoid bad-fit Read more…
7 Reasons Your Employees are Underperforming
Think your staff might be at risk of “quiet quitting” due to low compensation? Think again. Recent research suggests that salary is one of the least-important facets of a role that drive employee performance, keeping Read more…
9 Huge Business Growth Mistakes
I’ve talked to hundreds of companies this year. Most of them are making the same 9 mistakes which is holding their company back from growing. Or, even if they do start growing – the company Read more…
How To Upgrade Your Team with A-Players
One of the most decisions any business owner can make is upgrading the team with the right people. Some companies upgrade to A-Player Talent and crush it. Others repel these MVPs, and greatly underperform as Read more…
CEO Vanishes for Three Months … and This Happened
This summer my dad nearly died. At first we thought he was just tired – and the ER near where we were staying in Maine had no answers. Two days later, his lungs were filling Read more…
How To Lose Customers and Make More Profit
My business lost a major contract, so I cut the headcount of my company in half. It wasn’t a good start to that year. Even after the cuts, I thought we might not make it. Read more…
How I Narrowly Avoided a Coup at my Company
She went behind my back, destroyed morale, then tried to hijack the company I founded. The story of a hire gone very, very wrong, and how you can prevent it from happening as you grow Read more…
Do You Have a Zombie Company?
It’s Morocco, 2001, and I didn’t want to eat brains. … A short story about one dinner that taught me how not to fail at business: So – camel brains are a delicacy in Morocco, Read more…
8 Ways to Speed Customer Acquisition
Want to generate more revenue for your business? Here are 8 ways to speed up customer acquisition that took me 27 years of advising 907+ companies to learn. Most companies are doing (at most) one Read more…
The Big Jump for Business Owners
“This is really dangerous” I told Andrew, before he jumped off the roof. A lesson in taking business risks, learned the painful way at age 13. Before he jumped looked at me. Didn’t say anything Read more…
Run Your Company Like a NFL Coach
There’s a reason why football coaches use playsheets instead of making it up as they go along: So why isn’t your business using them? Imagine this – instead of dealing with each crisis as it Read more…
How Your Company Can Avoid Cash Crunches
Huge problem facing most businesses? Routinely falling into a cash crunch. The good news is it’s easily avoidable. Here are 11 ways to turn your cash-hog company into a profit fountain: First, understand the basic Read more…
How to Exit Your Agency (Or Any Services Business)
Discover a weekly list of short, actionable steps to get out of operational deadlock, build a self-managing team, grow strategically, and increase company value in the Boardroom Bulletin™.
Case Study: Music Discovery & Hit Prediction App
A developer creates an app where you can guess what music will become popular, and get rewarded with early access to cool music. How can the app get traction?
Quick Take: Should I Raise Money For My Startup?
When should a startup raise money? The answer isn’t always clear – and there are risks of being too early or too late. Dive into whether or not it’s time to raise based on the Read more…
Case Study: Real-World Business Goes Virtual
If you’re offering a service in the “real world” and ever wanted to take it online or create an app, this case study is for you. This offline service business is creating an app that Read more…
Crash Course: Selling with Instagram Ads
Using Instagram ads can be amazing, or a total waste of money. Which one depends on if you know how to use them. Here’s how to use Instagram ads to sell more … successfully.
Crash Course: Building Your Personal Brand
Building a personal brand can be one of the most valuable things you do – if you do it right. Here’s how.
Are Business Books Worth Reading?
Thousands of business books are published each year. Should you be reading them? Is it worth the time and effort? Or are there better things to do with your time?
Crash Course: Using Direct Mail To Sell More
Does direct mail still work to generate sales? Absolutely, if you do it right.
Crash Course: Using Blogging to Market Your Brand
What’s the right way to use blogging to market your business? In this crash course, we cover what to do (and not do) to blog your way to a better brand and more sales. Transcript: Read more…
References Done Right
What’s the best way to get glowing references? And as an employer, how do you make sure references are accurate? Here’s the quick hack to making sure you’re upping your reference game.
Growing Wealth: Whose Job Is It?
Diving into why you need to take control of your corporate structure, asset protection, and tax optimization. Even with great advisors, each one of them only has a piece of the puzzle.
Crash Course: Sponsorship Marketing
Sponsorship marketing can be either a great way to get in front of prospects, or a total waste of money. Here’s how to make it work.
Crash Course: Writing a Book for Business Marketing
Writing a business book can be an incredible resource for marketing your company. Here’s how to make sure it’s actually useful (and gets done quickly)
Crash Course: Digital Display Advertising
Digital Display, also known as “banner ads” can be the right choice for some advertisers. But which ones? Dive in with Raj and Hannah as they find out.
The KEEP Series: Bonus Depreciation for Tax Breaks
Bonus depreciation is a key part of lowering a business owner’s tax bill. If you’re not using it, it’s time.
The KEEP Series: What is Tax Optimization?
Raj discusses what “tax optimization” is and how looking at things differently can drastically reduce the tax bill for business owners.
Crash Course: How to do YouTube Advertising
Raj and Hanna uncover what you need to be successful getting started with YouTube advertising
The KEEP Series: Tax Offset Years Create Opportunity
Discovering a Tax Offset Year can give you opportunities for strategic tax planning that you wouldn’t have if you did things the way most CPAs suggest.
Case Study: Bad Website Drives Customers to the Competition
How serious should you be about great website features? Very, as this case study shows. This company has been losing a ton of business to the competition.
Case Study: Avoiding Legal Issues With an App
This app might be in trouble, but it doesn’t know it. Seems like a harmless booking app, but there could be big legal problems brewing if it didn’t handle things right.
Crash Course: Retargeting Supercharges Your Marketing
If you’re not using retargeting, you’re leaving a ton of opportunity on the table for your company. Here’s what you need to know.
Crash Course: Using Marketing Newsletters the Right Way
Newsletters can be a powerful way to increase engagement and sales … and are usually done wrong. Here’s what you need to do them right.
The KEEP Series: Lowering Business Tax with the Invoice-Out Strategy
Using corporate structuring properly allows business owners to legally shift their tax obligation to lower-tax entities. Here’s where you can begin.
The KEEP Series: Licensing Lowers Tax & Protects
This little-known strategy can both protect your company from lawsuits and also lower your tax rate (in some cases, to close to nothing). What is it? A unique combination of corporate structuring and intellectual property Read more…
Case Study: Creating Demand for Selling Your Company
A manufacturer of a safety tracking device for children and seniors is considering preparing for acquisition. How do they create demand for their company?
Crash Course: Using Email To Ramp Business Revenue
Email can be an amazing channel to generate both customer loyalty and sales. Here’s how to turbocharge your email program … Or just launch one if you haven’t yet.
The KEEP Series: How Business Owners Use Loans to Lower Taxes
Debt isn’t a bad thing – in fact, it can be a great thing. Using debt the right way a business owner can lower the tax bill substantially.
Case Study: Private Security Company Launches Marketing to Grow
A private security company has grown organically, now they want to take growth to the next level. What’s the best way to do that?
The KEEP Series: How Business Owners Can Reduce Taxes With Legal Entity Choice
Choosing the right legal entity can be used to reduce taxes considerably. And no, the answer probably isn’t an S-Corp.
Crash Course: How to Podcast Effectively
In this Crash Course on Podcasting, Raj and Hannah uncover keys to running a successful podcast.
Monday Mindhacks: The Peak-End Rule For Customer Success
Did you know that you can totally change a customer’s experience by fixing two little things? Transcript: Raj: Did you ever go to a restaurant and you had a really great entree, but then you Read more…
Case Study: Local Direct Mail for Services
If you’re trying to figure out marketing, it’s not always obvious what’s the best way to go. This company is using old-fashioned direct mail – is that a mistake?
Monday Mindhacks: Harness the Proximity Effect
Imagine being able to make your company or product become more desirable, just by putting it next to the right things? It can work … Here’s how. Transcript: Raj: Did you ever wonder why so Read more…
The KEEP Series: How Business Owners Can Deploy Capital To Reduce Tax
Most business owners don’t know that they can actually invest dollars in reducing taxes. What’s more, the government encourages it. Here’s what you need to know.
Case Study: Marketing a Beverage on Facebook
Food & Beverage is a tough industry with tight margins. How can they successfully market on Facebook?
Crash Course: How To Run Search Ads
If you’re new to search ads, or want to know how to make your company initiative successful, here are the fundamentals an executive should know.
Monday Mindhacks: Use Social Proof to Get Attention
A sure-fire way to attract attention is to use Social Proof. What is it, and how can you use it effectively? Transcript: Raj: Welcome to another episode of Monday Mind Hacks in which we go Read more…
The KEEP Series: Go From Business Owner to Investor
To reduce taxes and build wealth, you need to move from being a “business owner” to “investor” in your own business. It’s a huge mindset change that makes all the difference.
Case Study: Preserving Grandpa’s Business
When inheriting his grandfather’s western bootmaking business, the demand generation needs a re-boot. How to respect grandpa’s legacy, but get new business in the door? Transcript: Raj: Hi there, RajJha with Hannah Mears and we Read more…
Monday Mindhacks: Using Fear of Loss
You can make your customers stick with you longer using this clever psychological tactic – loss aversion. Transcript: Raj: Welcome to another episode of Monday, Mind Hacks. And today we’re going to go over a Read more…
The KEEP Series: CPAs Miss This Huge Tax Benefit
Most CPAs hunt for tax deductions or do very basic “save on payroll tax” strategies. This misses a strategy which can cut a tax bill in half – or more – if deployed right. Most Read more…
Spanky Moskowitz of AdZombies Will Make Your Ads Shine
Raj interviews AdZombies founder Ken “Spanky” Moskowitz on how to make your advertising impactful, storytelling, and lessons from growing from a business in the bedroom to supporting thousands of customers.
The KEEP Series: Don’t Fund Your 401(k)
Funding a 401(k) is a bad financial trade for business owners, if you do the analysis. Do you know why the 401(k) was created? The answer will surprise you.
Case Study: Expanding by Opening New Locations
This case study covers how to expand into new geographic areas – whether as a new owned location or if you’re franchising. Transcript: Raj: Hi there I’m Raja. And welcome to another case study. I’m Read more…
Monday Mindhacks: Chunk and be Remembered
In this Monday Mindhack, you’ll discover how to ensure you – and the points you’re trying to get across – are remembered. Transcript: Raj: Hi there! Welcome to another Monday, Mindhack. Today we’re going to Read more…
Case Study: Subscription Service Markets to Enthusiasts
Raj and Hannah break down demand generation for a meal prep subscription service that caters to high-performing individuals. How can they grow profitably and smart? Transcript: Raj: Hi there! I’m Raj Jha. I’m here with Read more…
Q&A: Business Matchmaking Platform Strategy
This platform successfully matches people for business meetings. What’s the best way to get traction and position for acquisition?
Monday Mindhacks: Anchoring In Price Negotiations
Wouldn’t it be great to have a magic wand that could make buyers want to pay more? I’d love to have customers who want to throw more cash my way … offers to buy the Read more…
Q&A: Built an App But Need Customers
Raj talks with a founder who built a neat app but doesn’t yet have a userbase. How to begin getting traction? Transcript: Raj: This is a 5-minute session just for you. It’s not about pitching, Read more…
Case Study: When Competition Eats Your Lunch
When a retailer of kid’s playground structures is getting crushed by the competition, they’re not sure where to begin. Here’s how to quickly take the lead. Transcript: Raj: Hi there! Welcome for another case study Read more…
Q&A: Building a New Startup Community
Jonas is building a new community for startup founders and had questions on how to grow the community, the business model, and how to give value. Transcript: Jonas: I would really like to talk about Read more…
Monday Mindhacks: Intro & Status Quo Bias
The first Monday Mindhacks: discover the psychological triggers that create demand for your company & products. Why is it so dang hard to get buyers to change their behavior? I mean, my product is way Read more…
Case Study: How to Fix Stalled Retail Sales
This case study helps a real-world furniture retailer get out of a sales slump with practical strategies to get more foot in the door and more sales in the register. Transcript: Raj: Hi there and Read more…
Q&A: Increase Customer Engagement in SaaS
The key to this SaaS platform’s success is end-customer engagement. How can they make sure users stay involved with the platform? Transcript: Greg: Basically my question is this. So we’re a B to B to Read more…
Case Study: How Can an Apparel Brand Generate Demand?
In this case study, a women’s athleisure brand is looking to break out of just retail and ramp up sales. How should they do it? Transcript: Raj: Hi there! Raj Jha. I’m here with Hannah Read more…
Q&A: How to Increase Sales Before Going to Investors
Anton’s company wants to get funding, but can’t answer when investors ask his cost to acquire a customer. In this Five Minute Accelerator session, Raj breaks down how he can answer the question, and what Read more…
Case Study: Growing Service Company Revenue
Services businesses may be easier to start, but growing can be a challenge. In this case study we tackle an IT services business that’s looking to generate business beyond referrals. Trascript: Raj: Hi there and Read more…
Let’s Talk Demand
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