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I almost sunk our family business. I assumed I knew enough about business to run a dinky little plumbing company. After all, I had spent about $100,000 of my parents’ money on my college degree in Business Administration. In fact, I graduated at the top of my class. Still, I didn’t know how to balance a checkbook! I got involved in my husband’s company after his partner died unexpectedly. Boy, was I humbled! It seemed like lots of money was moving through the company, but at the end of the month there was never any money left. Thankfully, I found a mentor, a savvy plumbing contractor. Frank Blau wrote a column in Plumbing & Mechanical magazine. I wrote to him and asked for help. He took me under his wing and taught me how to keep score in business. He taught me how to read and use financial reports. He taught me how to make money. We turned our company around. We paid off our business loan. We doubled sales and tripled the amount of money we took out of the company. Very cool. My husband and I went middle-age crazy. We sold the company to our employees – a friendly coup d’état! – and bought a gentleman’s farm in the country. (Picture Green Acres.) At this point, I realized that I wanted to share what I’d learned. After all, if a smart, highly educated person like me didn’t know how to read a Balance Sheet, I figured business illiteracy must be rampant. I was right. My experiences since then have included teaching and consulting with hundreds of small businesses, primarily home service companies. I rarely find a student or a client who creates and reads financial statements on a regular basis, much less uses financial information to make management decisions. In fact, few know their assets from their liabilities! I teach the basics, the simple disciplines that can move great ideas into successful businesses. I’ve written four books on business basics: Where Did the Money Go?, How Much Should I Charge?, The Bare Bones Biz Plan and The Bare Bones Weekend Biz Plan. Check them out at ellenrohr.com. My consulting work led to a position as president of Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, a home-service plumbing franchise company. I learned a lot about what works to grow fast and profitably…and what doesn’t. Guess what! The basics never go out of style, no matter how big a company gets. Currently, I am an owner and founder of ZOOM DRAIN—a drain and sewer cleaning and repair franchise with locations across the US. I am a financial coach at HowardPartridge.com. I also work with ServiceTitan, the premier software for the trades, as a consultant and podcaster. I am here to help. Together, we can build extraordinary businesses and expand world peace. Follow me on Instagram @ellenrohr or visit my website at ellenrohr.com.
Episodes
Thursday Jun 25, 2020
Tuesday Jul 26, 2011
Tuesday Jul 26, 2011
In business, sometimes it feels like you are surrounded by 5 year olds! Total chaos! Is business really just babysitting? Let’s learn how to handle the “kids” as we visit with Trish Saccomano, author of the Kindergarteners at Work book series. Yep, everything you need to learn about business can be learned in Kindergarten! Listen in. Bring a snack and your blankie.
Tuesday May 17, 2011
Tuesday May 17, 2011
ISISARA BEY is Vice President of Programs & Education for Count Me In For Women’s Economic Independence, and “journey agent” for its signature Make Mine a Million $ Business competitions, 1-Day Business Intensives and conference workshops, domestically and internationally. She designed and leads the Count Me In Leadership Institute and supervises other CMI educational program initiatives including its webinar series and regional MeetUps for women entrepreneurs.
Prior to joining CMI in September 2007, she was Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Sony Music Entertainment, directing the company's corporate philanthropy, strategic non-profit, government and community relations and popular employee enhancement activities.
We'll Discuss…
- Isisara’s story…from Sony Music executive to fostering women’s economic independence at Count Me In, Inc.
- Tacking on a label? Or making a real difference? How to create real change.
- Where and how do you start…on the “inside?”
- Integrating personal, professional, community and family life.
- All of life’s a stage…bringing authenticity to your communications.
Tuesday Mar 15, 2011
Tuesday Mar 15, 2011
Carol and I are soul sisters! Carol helps businesses grow and make more money. She has helped her clients raise more than $1 billion in capital, complete hundreds of millions of dollars in M&A transactions, secure high-profile licensing and partnership deals…and more. Wow!
Carol is a rockin’ media guest, appearing on Fox News, MSNBC, Fox Business, WGN TV Chicago and more. She is also signed to LA-based t.v. production company Snackaholic who is currently developing a television show around Carol’s life as a business expert and personality. Carol’s Unsolicited Business Advice blog at CarolRoth.com was recently named as one of the Top 10 small business blogs online. The Entrepreneur Equation, Carol’s book on evaluating the realities, risks and rewards of business ownership, releases March 22nd!
We'll Discuss...
- Not all businesses are created equal! We’ll discover what’s the difference between a jobbie, a job-business and a bona-fide business.
- How to work on your business instead of just in it, even if you are a solo-entrepreneur.
- The Importance of Setting Goals…Setting BIG Goals.
- Valuing Your Time and Experience. (I love talking about how much to CHARGE!)
- What it takes to be a Professional and attract what you put out.
- Being "ABLE"- Viable, Remarkable, Scalable and Suitable.
- Simple business tweaks to create recurring revenue opportunities.
Tuesday Dec 14, 2010
Tuesday Dec 14, 2010
Natalie Sisson is the founder of WomanzWorld- a blog for women entrepreneurs wanting freedom in business and adventure in life.
Natalie travels the world living out of her suitcase and running her business. She appeals to the Suitcase Entrepreneur - a person who wants to run their business from anywhere using online tools, social media and outsourcing.
We'll Discuss...
- Streamlining your business so it can run without you.
- Attracting more clients, leads and joint venture partners using social media. Let's reduce the noise and discover more of what works!
- Outsourcing work that takes you a lot of time currently for much less than your hourly rate. Don't waste dollar time on penny tasks!
- Leaving the office and staying in touch – and in charge!
Tuesday Oct 26, 2010
Tuesday Oct 26, 2010
- How we met! Tab has the BEST story of moving from lackluster tract home work to a rockin’ full service business!
- What adding a new division can do for your business.
- Becoming a teacher. Tab says, “It’s all Ellen’s fault!”
- Raising standards and what you will and won’t tolerate.
- Selling a company – what Tab wants you to know before you do!
- We’ll chat about Franchising! We have a lot of experience between us.
- Retirement at 41? Back in the game and getting back to basics.
- Buying a company – what to do first, second and third!
Thursday Sep 02, 2010
Thursday Sep 02, 2010
- “Why can’t you be more like your brother?” Sometimes it makes sense to compare yourself to others in your industry.
- Don’t Throw Good Money After Bad. You can’t cut your way to financial health, but here are a few things to STOP doing.
- Biz Reinvention! Don’t dig your heels in the ground. Try a NEW approach!
- Giving yourself permission and time. THINK about what you want to be and do.
- Learn how to start with the obvious. And, no Sacred Cows.
- How to Price Differently. Aim for Apples to Oranges!
- When to be Unorthodox: Collaborate with a competitor. Target a new industry. Go virtual.
Tuesday Jul 13, 2010
Tuesday Jul 13, 2010
Kenny owns the Chapman Companies, which offer business and personal development, coaching, training and motivational speaking. He tours with Les Brown! He is the author of “The Six Dimensions of C.H.A.N.G.E.,” and has created “The Most Powerful Selling Secret Ever.” Yeah, baby!
Kenny is a serial entrepreneur. From the first business he purchased, to the multiple companies he is currently involved with, Kenny has dedicated himself to the study of leadership and people development. He lives his dream by inspiring others to unleash their potential, while enjoying the rewards provided by his businesses.
Kenny and I met through mutual friends at Nexstar, Inc. I am delighted to have him for my guest. He has so much energy, he makes me look like a slug!
We discuss...
- What makes a change in business and life? How to get un-stuck!
- What is the difference between successful and non-successful companies?
- Why do so many people and companies struggle creating change?
- The framework of C.H.A.N.G.E. – break it down, Kenny!
- How key Leadership is to any organization…and how to develop it.
- We are both Michael Gerber fans…and were changed by The E-Myth! Let’s discuss!
Tuesday Jun 29, 2010
Tuesday Jun 29, 2010
Bo Burlingham is an editor-at-large of Inc. magazine and chairman of the Small Giants Community. His book Small Giants: Companies That Choose To Be Great Instead of Big was one of five finalists for the 2006 Financial Times/Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year award. His most recent book, co-authored with Norm Brodsky, is The Knack: How Street-Smart Entrepreneurs Learn to Handle Whatever Comes Up. (It is now available in paperback under the title Street Smarts: An All-Purpose Tool Kit for Entrepreneurs.
- What’s Bo’s definition of “mojo”? What companies have it? Which one’s need it?
- How can you tell if you have a company with “mojo”?
- I love Bo’s book, Small Giants: Companies that Choose to be Great Instead of Big. We’ll discuss the inspiration. Good news for the other-than-Fortune-500 set!
- The importance of having a mentor. Finding one, being mentored…we’ll explore!
- Bo co-wrote The Great Game of Business. What it’s like to work with Jack Stack and how he managed to build a company that is bucking nearly every current economic trend?
- Stories from Inc. magazine. Bo has his finger on the pulse of business. What advice can he share to help YOU? Call in and ask for it!
Thursday May 20, 2010
Thursday May 20, 2010
Nely Galán - dubbed the “Tropical Tycoon” by The New York Times Magazine is one of the entertainment industry’s savviest firebrand talents - bringing her considerable expertise to full effect as a successful producer and entrepreneur; a galvanizing powerbroker in the Latino world; and a female empowerment and motivational speaker.
Galán was also responsible for creating and executive producing the smash FOX reality hit “The Swan”, and as its in-house life coach, wrote the best selling companion book “The Swan Curriculum”.
Recently Galán appeared on the NBC hit "The Celebrity Apprentice with Donald Trump" where she raised $250,000 for her charity COUNT ME IN, furthered her reputation as one of the nation’s top female moguls.
Galán’s latest venture, Ms. Mogul, harnesses her passion for helping women create their own businesses to garner financial independence and wealth. Her Ms. Mogul web site is also being developed as a multi-platform brand.
We discuss...
- More women are starting businesses than getting married. What does that tell us about the economy and our society?
- Fear is our enemy. What to do…and how to tell fear from "wrong move" gut feeling?
- What’s to like about failure?
- Sometimes when you win...you lose, and sometimes when you lose...you really win.
- Fall in love... with yourself! There is no Prince Charming.
- Life isn't what you thought it would be...Learn Nely’s take on success and reinvention.