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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
Wednesday Oct 21, 2009
Wednesday Oct 21, 2009
Susan Knapp knows…she cut a deal on ABC’s Shark Tank hit TV show!
We'll discuss...
- What did the investors want? And, how did you prepare and present to them?
- What does it mean to share equity?
- Any surprises to share? What did you not see coming on the show…or since you started working with the Sharks?
- What does your new company look like? How is the team different? Who does what?
- What did you learn…swimming with the Sharks?
Tuesday Aug 18, 2009
Tuesday Aug 18, 2009
Wednesday Jul 22, 2009
Wednesday Jul 22, 2009
Jeff is a professional publicist, tireless connector, and man about town. He goes out almost every night of the week, with several parties and people on permanent mental speed dial, his brain constantly buzzing with new ideas. Described by friends as a "human MySpace" (Anthony Lappé) and "an infectious force of nature" (Larry Smith), the 35-year-old Long Island native and current Queens resident even has his own logo, courtesy of Dan Goldman, and flits from the mostly underground arts and comics world to the reggae and jazz scenes and beyond, always in search of more people to add to his coterie.
By day, he works as a publicist. By night, he wears any number of hats: Minister of Hype for online comics collective ACT-I-VATE, SMITH magazine Comics Editor, creative consultant for online graphic novels Shooting War and A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge, writer and performer.
During the Teleseminar, I'll tackle these topics with Jeff..
- Let’s give a brief overview of Social Media…the tools and the vocabulary…
- What are the big mistakes people make with Social Networking? What’s your pet peeve?
- If you choose not to get into Facebook, Twitter, etc….what will you miss?
- Who does Social Networking really well? What sites, blogs, pages are worth a look?
- If you were to choose ONE Social Media connection…what would it be and how would you use it?
Friday Jun 19, 2009
Friday Jun 19, 2009
Named the MOST Influential Contractor of the last 25 years by PM Magazine, Frank Blau is the Plumbing, Heating & Cooling industry's foremost authority on business management education. His articles and seminar presentations have helped convert thousands of unprofitable firms into models of financial success.
Ellen’s Guest Star – Frank Blau – www.flatratepricing.com
Especially NOW, Frank can help you make more money and get REAL about your Selling Prices. WARNING! Frank is blunt and to-the-point. He loves business owners and wants them to make the living they deserve…and treat their employees like the professionals they are. Call in if you can open your mind and make a commitment to change.
“Once upon a time, Frank Blau told me I had my head…in a very dark place. His tough love business advice saved our business, my marriage…and helped us get rich. I am delighted and honored to have my greatest mentor on the Teleseminar. Don’t miss this one! Especially NOW…you need Frank’s medicine!” ~Xo$, Ellen
Monday Jun 01, 2009
