What does it mean to be a “constant learner” and how can busy entrepreneurs (or wannabe entrepreneurs) apply the “five hour rule” to their lives? In episode 19 of LifeWork, Dave and Meagan discuss why regularly including books, articles and other kinds of instructional media in your life is so important when building a business – and how to make it fit around all the other balls you have in the air. Discussion Points and Links: Why Constant Learners Embrace The Five-Hour Rule – The Inc....

So you’ve got a great business idea or existing business. Only problem: you need money to either start or grow it. Between angel investors, SBA loans, venture capitalists and other forms of capital-generation, your head is spinning. Sound familiar? We’ve got you covered! In this episode of LifeWork, Dave and Meagan break down the most common forms of business funding, how to figure out which is right for you, and how to get started looking for it. Discussion Points and Links:  What’s the...

Is burnout the necessary price for success? No, but you’ll need to work hard. In Episode 17 of LifeWork, Meagan and Dave discuss “crushing it,” whether work-life balance is a myth, and why it pays to set up systems early that can help lighten your workload down the road. Discussion Points & Links: The inspiration for this topic, Damon Brown’s Inc article: Sacrificing Yourself For Your Business is Silly and Useless Hero worship, Gary Vaynerchuk and different levels of success Work/Life...

What does your personality type say about your strengths and weaknesses as an entrepreneur? In Episode 16 of LifeWork, Dave and Meagan discuss two popular personality tests, the Myers-Briggs and StrengthsFinder tests, and how being aware of your own strengths, weaknesses, and tendencies can make you a more successful entrepreneur and all-around better person. Meagan and Dave also share their own results and what they think it means about them as human beings and business owners. PLUS: this...

What do we want? Freedom! When do we want it? At a time and place of our choosing! After a month-long hiatus in which they both went “off the grid” on relaxing vacations, Meagan and Dave are back. In episode 15 of LifeWork, they discuss the systems and team they’ve had to put in place to make their businesses “vacationable,” and how to take that even further to become “fire-able.” They also talk about the incredibly fast-growing popularity of Pokémon Go and what entrepreneurs can learn from...

  So you’ve got a great business idea. Now what? If your first step is “create the product and then try to find a market for it,” you’re probably putting the cart before the horse. In episode 14 of LifeWork, Meagan and Dave discuss the importance of understanding your potential market before you decide what to create for them, and why it always makes more sense to solve a problem that already exists than to try to force a “great idea” into a market that doesn’t recognize its value. Discussion...

  So you’ve got a great business idea. Now what? If your first step is “create the product and then try to find a market for it,” you’re probably putting the cart before the horse. In episode 14 of LifeWork, Meagan and Dave discuss the importance of understanding your potential market before you decide what […]

How do you turn your business into a “cash machine?” Can you build a successful business around a small number of high-quality customers who can really benefit from your big idea? And how do you keep your products and services cohesive so that they serve the whole of your business rather than diluting your efforts? Those are just a few of the topics we discussed with Tara Gentile, business strategist and creator of Quiet Power Strategy, in Episode 13 of LifeWork. Listen in to find out how to...

How do you turn your business into a “cash machine?” Can you build a successful business around a small number of high-quality customers who can really benefit from your big idea? And how do you keep your products and services cohesive so that they serve the whole of your business rather than diluting your efforts? Those […]

What does it mean to take smart risks in business –  and how do you balance that potential reward vs what you’re putting at stake to achieve it? In episode 12 of LifeWork, Dave and Meagan discuss different kinds of risks in business, how to decide if a risk is worth taking, and how to minimize the potential fallout if things don’t go as planned. Discussion Points: How a business risk is like an investment How accurate are financial projections? And does it matter? The more knowledge you have,...

What does it mean to take smart risks in business –  and how do you balance that potential reward vs what you’re putting at stake to achieve it? In episode 12 of LifeWork, Dave and Meagan discuss different kinds of risks in business, how to decide if a risk is worth taking, and how to minimize the potential […]

Is there such thing as a natural propensity toward risk-taking? Are successful people more (or less!) likely to be risk-takers themselves? In episode 11 of LifeWork, Meagan interviews Kayt Sukel, author of the new book The Art of Risk. Kayt’s insights into how the brain measures and judges risk can help anyone be a smarter and more calculated risk-taker, in business and in life. Discussion Points: How and why the teenage/young adult brain is wired for risk, and why that propensity tends to...

Is there such thing as a natural propensity toward risk-taking? Are successful people more (or less!) likely to be risk-takers themselves? In episode 11 of LifeWork, Meagan interviews Kayt Sukel, author of the new book The Art of Risk. Kayt’s insights into how the brain measures and judges risk can help anyone be a smarter and more […]

Nick Ruffini is a professional drummer, entrepreneur and student of success. As host of the Drummer’s Resource podcast, Nick interviews the best pros in the world in his niche. He’s been featured in Modern Drummer, Drum! Magazine and all of the other top media in the drumming world. He’s also a former restauranteur. In episode 10 of LifeWork, Dave and Nick discuss what it takes to make it in the music business, the importance of self-education, choosing happiness and more. Discussion Points...

Nick Ruffini is a professional drummer, entrepreneur and student of success. As host of the Drummer’s Resource podcast, Nick interviews the best pros in the world in his niche. He’s been featured in Modern Drummer, Drum! Magazine and all of the other top media in the drumming world. He’s also a former restauranteur. In episode 10 […]

Do you have to choose between art and commerce, or sacrifice the things you’re passionate about in order to build a successful business? In episode 9 of LifeWork, Meagan and Dave discuss how to pursue the things you love while also earning an income, either by using work and financial planning to subsidize your outside interests or finding joy in business by incorporating the things you love doing best in your day to day work. Links & Resources: Stop Trying To Make Money From Your Passion...

Do you have to choose between art and commerce, or sacrifice the things you’re passionate about in order to build a successful business? In episode 9 of LifeWork, Meagan and Dave discuss how to pursue the things you love while also earning an income, either by using work and financial planning to subsidize your outside […]

Should you follow your passion in life or go the “sensible route?” What if you don’t have to choose?  In Episode 8 of LifeWork, Meagan talks with Joe Nolan, a former investment banker who retired from his first career at 50 and is now the owner of Good Harvest Market, a thriving natural-foods store in the Milwaukee area. He’s also a seasoned singer and actor, and as a marathon and Ironman athlete, says he’s in the best shape of his life. Joe and Meagan discuss the importance of having a plan...

Should you follow your passion in life or go the “sensible route?” What if you don’t have to choose?  In Episode 8 of LifeWork, Meagan talks with Joe Nolan, a former investment banker who retired from his first career at 50 and is now the owner of Good Harvest Market, a thriving natural-foods store in the […]