Business Advice and Career Development
How to Build a Winning Business Plan
“Don’t just pitch to win, pitch to get the business open.” During this episode Cassie and I share insights on how to differentiate business plans by highlighting unique strengths and marketing strategies. With experience in creating marketing plans for various industries, Cassie’s expertise brings valuable perspective to those looking to succeed in business plan competitions.…
Demystifying Sales
“When you are around people who are professional sellers, they are focused on customers. They’re not focused on self, they’re focused on helping people solve problems.” After struggling with sales in his early days, Mike Simmons decided to take a different approach. Little did he know that his passion for helping others would be the…
Managing Taxes as a Business Owner
“Having a professional by your side saves you time, saves you money, and gives you peace of mind.” As an entrepreneur, there were days when I struggled managing taxes as a business owner. I needed to find a reliable tax professional who could help me navigate the complexities of my business taxes. I came across…
Finding Expertise Through Experience and Failure
“Experience is the name we give our failures.” Developing expertise in a specific area can be critical for the success of an entrepreneur. It allows them to stand out among competitors and offer unique value propositions that cater to individual customer needs. Identifying areas of expertise involves self-reflection and understanding one’s strengths, passions, and market…
How Much Value is too Much to Give Away
“When you are creating content, when you are providing value to people, ask yourself, what do you want them to do with that information for their life or for their business?” In this episode of Will Talks biz, Cassie and I discuss the challenge many entrepreneurs and creatives find around giving away valuable information for…
Building a Successful Summit
“I’m a firm believer that people bank with people. An institution is important, don’t get me wrong, but people bank with a person.” After informing us about Small Business Loans in episode 38, Paul T. Long returns to talk more about the South Sound Business Summit, which he created and has been running since 2015.…
Your Guide to SBA Loans
“The lending process is a mystery, but I’m here to peel back the onion and dive deep into the details to help educate people.” In this episode I welcome Paul Long, a 26-year banking industry veteran and SBA lending manager at a local credit union. He is on a mission to reveal the mysteries of…
Shifting the Monkey on your Back
“Don’t take on someone else’s monkey or burden – make sure you set expectations and stick to them to ensure success in your business.” In this episode, Cassie and I share about the pitfalls of taking on others’ burdens and excuses and the concept of shifting “the monkey on your back.” This phrase refers to…
Entrepreneurship and Burnout
“Don’t take on more than you can handle, have an exit plan, and treat your business like a newborn baby – take care of it until it can walk on its own.” Over the years I have learned the delicate balance between hustling hard in entrepreneurship and burning out. As an entrepreneur it can be…
Ask Will – Delegating in Business
“When you start to spend money on the areas that could save you time, that could allow you to focus on the things that you should be doing.” It is not uncommon for entrepreneurs to struggle to find the balance between managing their own business and subcontracting work. During this episode, Cassie and I talk…