When you are focused on building your business, does it make sense to have a “side hustle” – a business or job you pursue on the side that isn’t necessarily tied to your main gig? In episode 7 of LifeWork, Dave and Meagan define the concept of a “side hustle” and discuss how it can actually bring more energy, creativity, and possibility to your main income-generating work – as long as you make sure to keep some boundaries around it. Discussion Points:  The benefits of a side hustle:...

When you are focused on building your business, does it make sense to have a “side hustle” – a business or job you pursue on the side that isn’t necessarily tied to your main gig? In episode 7 of LifeWork, Dave and Meagan define the concept of a “side hustle” and discuss how it can […]

Have you ever wondered if it’s really possible to build a cash-flowing business that supports your life without taking up all of your time? In Episode 6 of LifeWork, Dave talks with Alex Kravets, a young entrepreneur and founder of Cognitea, about how he built a business that is largely automated and allows him to work shorter weeks from anywhere in the world. Did you miss us yesterday? Don’t worry, LifeWork isn’t going anywhere! After studying our feedback and download numbers, Dave and...

Have you ever wondered if it’s really possible to build a cash-flowing business that supports your life without taking up all of your time? In Episode 6 of LifeWork, Dave talks with Alex Kravets, a young entrepreneur and founder of Cognitea, about how he built a business that is largely automated and allows him to […]

What skills, experience and know-how does it take to make a move from one role within a company to another – or maybe, to take the leap to a whole new industry? In episode 5.5 of LifeWork, Dave shares his pivot story, from learning about business, to paid consulting, to investing in real estate and eventually, combining real estate and business ventures.

What skills, experience and know-how does it take to make a move from one role within a company to another – or maybe, to take the leap to a whole new industry? In episode 5.5 of LifeWork, Dave shares his pivot story, from learning about business, to paid consulting, to investing in real estate and eventually, […]

This week at LifeWork we’ve been discussing pivots and transitions. Today we’re talking with Barbara Jones, who spent 20 years as a marketing executive in the music industry, helping build tribes of loyal fans around the artists they loved. In the mid-2000s, Barbara took the skills, talents and experiences she’d developed over the years, and used them to start One2One Network, an influencer marketing company that helps brands build tribes of loyal fans via bloggers, content creators and...

This week at LifeWork we’ve been discussing pivots and transitions. Today we’re talking with Barbara Jones, who spent 20 years as a marketing executive in the music industry, helping build tribes of loyal fans around the artists they loved. In the mid-2000s, Barbara took the skills, talents and experiences she’d developed over the years, and […]

Should you fix a business that’s not broken…(yet?) How do you know when it’s the right time to jump on a new technology or opportunity, especially if what you’re already doing seems to be working? In episode 5.3 of LifeWork, Meagan and Dave discuss how to get a sense for what’s on the horizon, and why sometimes it makes sense to pivot or transition…even when what you’re doing seems to be working. Discussion Notes:  Super-early adoption vs adopting at the right time The importance of not...

Should you fix a business that’s not broken…(yet?) How do you know when it’s the right time to jump on a new technology or opportunity, especially if what you’re already doing seems to be working? In episode 5.3 of LifeWork, Meagan and Dave discuss how to get a sense for what’s on the horizon, and […]

What does it mean to “pivot” in your business, and what are the essential things you need to know to make a pivot successful? In this episode of LifeWork, we define the process of testing, iterating, and if needed, pivoting, and share resources to help you implement that process in your own business. Discussion Points: What is pivoting? Why “the idea is not the thing” A description of lean startup process Why a product doesn’t have to be perfect before it goes to market Links and Resources:...

So you’ve got a great business idea, but your current job is eating up all your time and creativity. Should you hand in your notice and make the leap? In episode 5.1 of LifeWork, Meagan and Dave explore this controversial topic, sharing their personal experiences and lessons they’ve learned along the way. Final answer? “It depends.” Discussion Points: Whether quitting your job will be catastrophic or a positive catalyst can depend a lot on your circumstances and personality. Keeping your...

So you’ve got a great business idea, but your current job is eating up all your time and creativity. Should you hand in your notice and make the leap? In episode 5.1 of LifeWork, Meagan and Dave explore this controversial topic, sharing their personal experiences and lessons they’ve learned along the way. Final answer? “It depends.” […]

The secret to success in business? The people you surround yourself with. In today’s episode of LifeWork, Meagan and Dave discuss creating a “dream team” made up of staff, partners, and mentors that can help you focus on what matters and make the most of your strengths. Discussion Points: Letting go of things and bringing in the right person to take on that role   How to choose a business partner Turning employees into business partnerships “Partners” who aren’t partners (vendors, etc)...

The secret to success in business? The people you surround yourself with. In today’s episode of LifeWork, Meagan and Dave discuss creating a “dream team” made up of staff, partners, and mentors that can help you focus on what matters and make the most of your strengths. Discussion Points: Letting go of things and bringing […]

Could that great idea you have today turn into a multi-million dollar acquisition deal in just 13 years? Julie Cole, co-founder and VP of Mabel’s Labels – the company that makes cute, unique and durable labels for “stuff kids lose” – would never have guessed how quickly her company would grow when she and three family members started it in a basement in 2003, but she and her team made decisions along the way that helped set the company up for continued growth, now and into the future. In this...

Could that great idea you have today turn into a multi-million dollar acquisition deal in just 13 years? Julie Cole, co-founder and VP of Mabel’s Labels – the company that makes cute, unique and durable labels for “stuff kids lose” – would never have guessed how quickly her company would grow when she and three family members started […]

For service providers and creative entrepreneurs – artists, authors, and online personalities, for example – scaling up can seem impossibly complicated. How do you build a business that’s more than “just you” when you ARE the product? In episode 4.3 of LifeWork, Meagan and Dave discuss the challenges and opportunities of scaling a “personality-based” business by creating a product or brand around it to create more revenue and possibilities, and discuss why any entrepreneur needs to build on...

What do some of the smartest minds in business have to say about scaling up? In episode 4.2 of LifeWork, Dave shares some of his favorite books and links to help you learn what you need to know to grow your business. Show notes and resources: Scaling Up – How A Few Companies Make it And Why The Rest Don’t – Verne Harnish. Also sign up for the email newsletter at www.scalingup.com Simple Numbers, Straight Talk, Big Profits – Greg Crabtree The E-Myth – or the expanded version, E-Myth Mastery –...

What does it take to grow your business and take it to a new place? In episode 4.1 of LifeWork, Meagan and Dave introduce this week’s topic, scaling up, and discuss how to plan for growth and scale whether it’s day 1 – or day 1001 – of your business. Discussion Notes: Overview of week 4’s episodes How knowing what direction you’re headed in is crucial to mapping out the right path – and surrounding yourself with the right people 4 questions to ask yourself to determine where you most want to...

From time-saving apps to the Internet, technology affords us so much opportunity…if we can just learn to harness it in positive ways. In Episode 3.5 of LifeWork, Dave and Meagan discuss the apps and sites that help them run better businesses, live more fulfilling lives, and do what matters. Show Topics and Notes: Dave shares some of his favorite apps and websites for gathering knowledge and finding community How to decide which social platforms to invest time in Utilizing the internet in...

How can technology enhance the human experience? That’s what Dave and Meagan discuss today with entrepreneur, speaker author, and Inc. blogger Damon Brown. Show Notes & Links: Damon’s website  The story of Damon’s app, Cuddlr, and its acquisition. Follow Damon on Twitter Damon’s Sane Success column on Inc.com

We hear a lot about the negative aspects of technology and social media, but what about the ways tech can help us build stronger businesses and more fulfilling lives? In episode 3.3 of the LifeWork Podcast, Dave and Meagan discusses the positive impact of technology on business, and how it’s allowed them to create life-changing – and career-changing – connections. Discussion Notes: Online networking has changed business, community, and the opportunities forever Meagan gives the history of her...

Ping! That’s the (figurative) sound of the dopamine hit you get whenever you get a notification that a new message is waiting for you. So how do you control the influx of input and tame your technology? In episode 3.2 of LifeWork, Dave and Meagan discuss how to manage and tame the technology in our lives, whether using other technology, re-shaping mindsets, and using analog methods.   BlockSite – a great (and kind of funny) way to curb a social media addiction. Discussion Points & Links:...

We love technology! But do we sometimes love it too much? This week on LifeWork we’ll be discussing the intersection between tech and human connection and the best (and worst) aspects that technology can bring to our lives. Today we ask the question: How do you glean the good in social media without letting it take over your life? Discussion Points:  Social media fasts: are they a thing? Are they a good thing? (Dave explains his strategy) Meagan shares the gateways and systems she uses to...