2 Small Biz Guys

The Guys help you pump it up with this show. Groundswell is a spontaneous movement of people using online tools to connect, take charge of their own experience, and get what they need—information, support, ideas, products, and bargaining power—from each other. The groundswell is broad, ever shifting, and ever growing. Are you part of it? Find out what to do to make sure.

A while back The Guys took on Boer and Wickman in a discussion about How to Be a Great Boss. They present a plethora of points to lead business owners and managers toward creating ideal working conditions. Amidst all the popular research and studies there are some tell-tale truths. In fact, 'people issues' are one of the most common frustrations shared by bosses--not sales, not profits... people! Keep this in mind: as frustrated as you might be with your people, the fact is, they are your number one competitive advantage. So better or worse, the people you employ or who report directly to you are your only real differentiator.

The Guys might be a little too seasoned for this topic; advisorologists aged to perfection. ...and what the heck are Free Radicals? According to the author a Free Radical is someone who not only creates wealth for themselves, but at the same time improves the world, makes life better and increases everyone else's standard of living. That sounds like a new millennial mindset we could all adopt. That sounds like a new millennial mindset we could all adopt, right? You simply have to tune in to this show and hear what The Guys have to say about the author's assertions and wisdom he shares from intense research and experiential understanding.

Decisive - How to Make Better Choices in Life and Work by Chip & Dan Heath... review by The Guys... Crib Notes by Ray Silverstein This week The Guys talk about the Heaths' book and processes that both hinder and hasten good decisions. The discipline exhibited by good corporate decision makers—exploring alternative points of view, recognizing uncertainty, searching for evidence that contradicts their beliefs—can help us in our families and friendships as well. A solid process isn’t just good for business; it’s good for our lives. Listen in and learn!

Business Owners and Operators This week Ray and Zen speak with two dynamic and successful business leaders who are part of the Business Mentor Team, a group of successful business owners/operators that volunteer time to help mentor small businesses. Allan Himmelstein and Rich Murphy share their enthusiasm for and understanding of small business challenges. The Business Mentor Team mission: to provide small business owners/operators access to people and resources to develop and grow, both personally and professionally.

The Guys start off this show by examining a few employee retention myths. They cross-reference a series of assumptions made by managers as to what employees are looking for in a job. The differences are striking and fodder for fueling change management for sure. You'll enjoy the banter and maybe learn something about your own perception. What makes a great boss? Do you have what it takes? Listen in and learn.

This week's guest, Diana Hoyt, has been around fundraising since the mid-1980s serving in various capacities, including as board member and past president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Arizona Chapter. Her passion for serving the nonprofit community caused her to become instrumental in raising millions of dollars while directing a number of campaigns. She also consults and trains nonprofit organizations across America.

This is a topic of extreme importance in today's digital world. Small business growth depends on rapid response, relationship and reputation in the marketplace. How does it all work? What are best practices for successful market penetration and, most of all, getting the phone to ring and acquiring new business? The Guys dive into the digital discussion with local search industry marketing experts Ed Kundahl and Linda Donnelly.

Author and speaker Jay Myers is a veteran entrepreneur who shares inspiring stories and practical tips based on growing his technology business from $11- to $25-million during the Great Recession. Jay's message as detailed in his second book, Hitting the Curveballs: How Crisis Can Strengthen and Grow Your Business, reveals creative, practical strategies to achieve business success in difficult times.

Ray and Zen get to have a fun conversation about the relativity of Zen (the practice) and how it can apply to practical business daily. Eleven Rings discusses Phil Jackson’s basketball background and most importantly, the leadership style he developed to mold larger than life personalities into a team. Phil’s success using the tools he presents is much more relevant in the world today, and certainly his results demonstrate it on a very practical level. The information is much more practical in business than you could even imagine, it truly is the soul of success on so many levels.

The Guys launch into the first of a couple of discussions on the book, 13 Fatal Errors Managers Make and how you can avoid them, by W. Steven Brown. The subject matter is great for small business owners and managers who are developing employees to help grow their business successfully. We don’t often think of them, although we often find them during the process of business building… usually because we make them. What are manager’s fatal mistakes? This book is about avoiding the common errors managers make with the people they manage, and luckily for you, there are only 13!

The Guys have a most interesting guest this week, Taansen Fairmont, a consultant and expert on debt elimination and common law trusts. Many people have heard about these topics and some business owners may have had experience with the process of debt elimination and/or common or natural law trusts. Taansen shares information about the nature of trusts, who uses them and why. The Guys talk with Taansen about how unsecured debt can be eliminated through a few simple steps.

The Guys explore one of the toughest issues – dealing with confrontations in the workplace. No, it isn’t about breaking up fights, but it can result in one if not handled properly in some cases. Most of us avoid conflict at all costs, so confronting employees who aren’t meeting up to standards is certainly not an enjoyable process. How do good leaders create conversations to address work issues? The first few seconds of the interaction sets the tone for everything that follows.

2 Small Biz Guys

Ray and Zen throw around a lot of stuff during the shows, but this one is different – no BS. The Guys square off to debate and discuss the notion of being a freelancer in today’s economy and what that really means as an employee and employer. This is not a book of theory – it’s Business without the Bullsh*t. It’s a collection of practical approaches to real-life situations that take place every day inside every company.

The Guys take off with preparing you to launch into 2017 with a jump start.. Goal Setting. How do you make them? What do you need to consider? Who should be involved? Those are just a few of the discussion questions. Ray has some great insight, has been a featured professional on Entrepreneur.com and many years of experience in his own companies and peer adversary groups. Of course, Zen is no novice to the process either. He’s helped many small businesses and entrepreneurs develop goal setting processes, too.

Simon Sinek is a movement maker, a way-shower for building momentum that matters in our world today. He’s insightful and spot on in observations of how we behave and using those observations to create maximum results. This book is about a naturally occurring pattern, a way of thinking, acting and communicating that gives some leaders the ability to inspire those around them. Tempting incentives or the threat of punishment will often elicit the behavior we desire. Great Leaders are able to inspire people to act.

The Hard Thing… not THAT one!

The Guys get caught up in a relevant and timely discussion about best business practices in the new millennium…. REWORK. It really is imperative for business owners to not just think about what to do. They need to DECIDE and ACT… That makes so much sense, doesn’t it? Why does it not happen more often? The authors of REWORK present some pleasant and unpleasant facts about what it takes to run a successful business in the 21st Century.

2 Small Biz Guys with guest Jeff Bartelt, Midwest HR.