Startup Business 101

“From Self to Service: The One Shift That Makes or Breaks Your Business”

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Your Business Is Not About You—It’s About the People You Serve

One of the biggest mindset shifts an entrepreneur can make is realizing that success doesn’t come from fulfilling your own dreams first—it comes from solving real problems for others. Customers don’t buy your product or service because you want to be successful; they buy because they have a need, a pain point, a desire—and they...

Here are the three most important things every small business owner needs to understand from the podcast episode titled:

“Small Business Taxes Explained: How to Win the Tax Game No Matter Your Entity Type”

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Your Business Entity Type Affects Everything—Especially Taxes

The way your business is legally structured—whether as a sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, or S corporation—dramatically affects how you’re taxed, what deductions you’re eligible for...

Here are the three most important things you need to know when it comes to the episode:

“When You Don’t Know What to Do: Decision-Making Strategies for Entrepreneurs”

Each principle is essential for startup founders, business owners, and anyone building something from scratch—especially when the stakes are high, the path is unclear, or fear and overthinking start to creep in.

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Clarity Comes from Action, Not Just Thinking

Why it matters:

When e...

Here are three of the most important things you need to know when it comes to the concept of “Fail Forward: How to Bounce Back Stronger After a Business Setback”—especially as a startup founder or business owner:

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Failure Isn’t the End—It’s Feedback

Most people see failure as a final verdict. But in the world of entrepreneurship, failure is often just feedback in disguise. It’s how you learn what doesn’t work, refine your offer, adjust your...

Whether you’re managing a small startup or a growing organization, there are three foundational pillars that every great leader must understand:

1. Cast a Clear and Compelling Vision

Leadership begins with clarity. People don’t follow leaders who are vague, uncertain, or inconsistent. They follow a vision—something that gives their work meaning and direction. Your job as a leader is to paint a vivid picture of where the team is going, why it matters, and what role each person plays in that journey.

A great...

S Corp Simplified: What It Is and Why It Might Be Right for Your Business

1. An S Corporation Is a Tax Election—Not a Type of Business

Let’s clear up a huge misconception right off the bat: an S corporation (or S corp) is not a type of business entity like an LLC or a corporation—it’s a tax classification you choose with the IRS. This means your company (typically an LLC or C-corporation) elects to be taxed as an S corp by filing...

For your podcast episode titled “Before You Launch: The 7 Essential Steps Every Startup Must Take,” here are the seven critical steps every entrepreneur must complete before opening their doors for business. These are clear, actionable, and beginner-friendly—perfect for your Startup Business 101 audience.

1. Get Clear on the Problem You Solve

Before you spend a dollar on branding, websites, or business cards, you must be able to clearly articulate the problem your business exists to solve. This means getting specific: who has the problem, how often t...

Here are five essential things you need to know about how to manage stress and stay focused as a business owner—each one grounded in real-world experience and built to help you thrive, not just survive:

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You Can’t Pour From an Empty Cup—Prioritize Your Health First

No matter how driven you are, you’re still human. If you’re sleep-deprived, eating poorly, skipping exercise, and running on caffeine and adrenaline, stress will eat you alive. Your body is the engine o...

Here are the five most important things you need to know about “Equipment Leasing Explained: Types, Benefits, and How to Choose the Right Option”—crafted in a way that’s simple, clear, and highly valuable for your audience:

1. What Equipment Leasing Is and How It Works

Equipment leasing is not the same as purchasing. Instead of paying the full price upfront, you essentially rent the equipment for a fixed term, often with the option to purchase it at the end. The business makes regular payments—...

Eight essential things you need to know about “How to Hire the Right Manager: Traits Every Great Leader Must Have”—broken down into long-form, insightful explanations that will not only help you recognize the right person but also avoid the wrong one. Whether you’re hiring your first manager or replacing a critical leadership role, this guide is packed with practical, real-world value.

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Character Over Credentials

Resumes can be polished, interviews can be rehearsed, but character is who someone really is...

How to Find Customers and Make Sales When You’re Just Starting Out

Each one is rooted in real-world startup experience and focuses on clarity, momentum, and trust-building.

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Clarity Beats Complexity: Know Who You’re Talking To and What You’re Offering

When you’re starting from scratch, the biggest sales killer is confusion. If people don’t understand exactly what you do, who you serve, and how your product or service helps them, they won’t buy. You don’t need...

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Not All Loans Are Created Equal—Understand the Types First

Most new entrepreneurs don’t realize how many types of loans are out there, and they often chase the wrong one for their stage. There are term loans, business lines of credit, SBA loans, microloans, and equipment financing, just to name a few. Some are great for buying inventory, others for building working capital, and others for startup costs.

Explain each type simply and include how the...

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Instruction Relies on Authority—Influence Relies on Trust

Instructional leadership is built on position. It’s the kind of leadership that says, “Do this because I said so.” That might get short-term compliance, but it rarely inspires commitment. People will follow instructions just enough to avoid getting in trouble—but they won’t go the extra mile. They won’t innovate, self-initiate, or invest emotionally in the mission.

Influence, on the other hand, is built on relationship, trust, and personal example. Influential leaders inspire people to...

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Fear Is Normal—But It’s Not the Enemy

The first thing every aspiring or current entrepreneur needs to understand is that fear isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s a sign you care. That tension in your gut before launching a product, hiring a new team member, or signing that first lease? It’s part of the process. Fear only becomes a problem when it leads to paralysis.

Many entrepreneurs think they have to be fearless to start a business. But in reality, it’s not about...

1. Resourcefulness Is More Important Than Resources

Most people believe that starting a business requires a hefty bank account—but history and real-world examples tell a different story. What really separates successful entrepreneurs from everyone else is not how much money they start with, but how resourceful they are. Resourcefulness means using what you have to get what you need. It means leaning into creativity, grit, and connections to test and build your idea.

Examples like Mike Cessario of Liquid Death—who created a viral brand concept and gained millions of fol...

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Customer Acquisition Starts with Knowing Exactly Who You’re Trying to Reach

You can’t attract the right customers if you’re trying to appeal to everyone. One of the most common reasons small businesses struggle with growth is because they haven’t clearly defined their ideal customer. The clearer you are about who your customer is—what they care about, where they spend time, what problems they need solved—the easier it becomes to craft offers, messaging, and marketing that actually gets their attention.

To acquire cust...

Here are the three most important things you need to know and teach your audience—especially with your goal of making this feel applicable to any type of business, including brick-and-mortar.

1. Every Business Has Knowledge Worth Packaging

 Whether you’re running a hair salon, an auto repair shop, a coffee house, a consulting firm, or a fitness studio—you’ve built experience that someone else would pay to learn. You already have systems, methods, skills, and stories that, if packaged the right way, can become income-generating digital products.

 Exa...

Just like Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

That’s entrepreneurship in a nutshell.

When you launch a business, you don’t get guarantees. There’s no absolute certainty your idea will catch on or that your audience will respond. You hope. You plan. You work. But in the beginning, it’s all built on belief—belief that your effort will lead to something real. That’s faith.

You can have a solid business model, the right products, great people, a fa...

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Leadership Sets the Vision and Culture for Growth

The most successful businesses aren’t just built on great products or services—they’re built on great leadership. As the leader, you are the compass. Your vision sets the direction. Your consistency shapes the culture. And the way you show up every day becomes the emotional tone of your company.

If you’re clear, focused, and purpose-driven, your team will follow that. If you’re inconsistent, reactive, or disconnected, that chaos will echo through the organization.

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Your Team Feels What You Feel — Manage Your Emotions First

When uncertainty hits — whether it’s financial strain, a tough market, a product failure, or internal conflict — the very first person everyone watches is you.

Not just what you say, but how you carry yourself. Your team reads your nonverbal cues, your energy, your tone, even your silence.

If you panic, they will panic.

If you stay grounded, they will take a deep breath too.

Great leadership under pressure starts with emotional s...

1. Passion Without Structure is Just a Hobby

What it means:

Loving what you do is a beautiful place to start. But passion needs to be paired with strategy, systems, and discipline to become a successful business.

People often confuse passion with readiness. Just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean you’re ready to run a business doing it. Turning passion into profit requires shifting your identity from just “doer” (the technician) to “builder” (the entrepreneur).<...

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Recognize That Stress Is Normal—You’re Not Alone

Let’s start with this truth: stress is not a sign that you’re doing something wrong. It’s a sign that you’re doing something important.

Every entrepreneur, from the brand-new side hustler to the seasoned CEO, experiences stress. You’re building something from nothing. You’re responsible for decisions, finances, people, problems—sometimes all at once. That weight is real, and if it feels heavy sometimes, that’s because it is heavy.

But here’s the powe...

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Location Isn’t Just About the Address—It’s About Strategy

We’ve all heard the saying, “Location, location, location.” But what does that actually mean for your business? It’s not just about being on Main Street or in a trendy shopping center. A great location is one that aligns with your target market, supports your brand identity, and makes operational sense.

Start by thinking about your ideal customer:

Losing a key employee can feel like a punch to the gut, especially in a small or growing business where every person plays a significant role. It can disrupt operations, affect team morale, and leave you wondering how you’re going to fill the gap. But here’s the good news—it’s also an opportunity. With the right mindset and strategy, you can recover stronger, streamline your team, and even create a more resilient company moving forward.

Here are the three most important things you need to know when a key employee leaves and how to ha...

1. Understanding the Role: What Does the Manager Need to Do?

The first step in hiring a great manager is to clearly define what you need them to do. Different businesses have different needs, and a “one-size-fits-all” approach doesn’t work. A great manager’s responsibilities might vary depending on your industry, company size, and growth stage. So, you need to understand what key tasks and responsibilities you expect them to take on.

For instance, a manager at a fast-growing startup might be responsible for everything from hiring new employees to ensuring product development timeline...

1. Why Business Processes Matter: The Foundation of Efficiency and Growth

Many entrepreneurs start their businesses with a dream and a strong work ethic. They dive in headfirst, wearing every hat in the company—salesperson, marketer, customer service rep, bookkeeper, and everything in between. At first, this might seem like the only way to get things done, but over time, it becomes overwhelming and unsustainable.

The key to scaling a business successfully is not working harder but working smarter, and the secret to working smarter is having well...