Our three co-hosts discuss what it’s like to work with companies that are much larger than their own.  What are the challenges of being an entrepreneur when your client is a “giant”?  How can you negotiate for favorable terms?  Jason Meyer (Meyer Business Law) leads the conversation this week and gathers some interesting stories from his colleagues! 

00:30 Jason introduces the episode – “are you a David, trying to make a deal with Goliath?”

03:15 Alisa talks about how payment can be an unexpected burden for small companies who may not have the necessary capital on hand. 

06:45 Successfully negotiating contract terms.

12:25 Jason explains how he thinks about NASA launch protocols in advance of a sensitive deal. 

14:45 Boss Moves of the Week!

Resources & Links:

Smart Boss Media

First Steps Financial

Meyer Business Law

River Avenue Digital

For more information, e-mail us at info@smartboss.media

Quotes:

What you have to do walking in is know your risk profile and pick your battles, and as you pick your battles, listen closely to the other side for what their requirements are and meet those requirements … in other words, be entrepreneurial about the way you deal with those negotiations.

 Jason Meyer, Meyer Business Law

I actually didn't realize how much negotiation I was able to do on my side…I always feel as though as if there's a bigger company and they have more market share, that I have to do things their way.  Knowing that I don't have to – that there is some wiggle room in that negotiation that we can at least ask for – That's really comforting to know.

Alisa McCabe, First Steps Financial

This week, Josh, Jason & Alisa welcome Mary Forte to the show as a special guest co-host.  Mary is the Philadelphia Area Vistage Chair, and former CEO at Zale Corporation. Josh (River Avenue Digital) leads the discussion on executive mentorship based on his own journey as an entrepreneur, and his most recent experience as a member of Mary’s Vistage group.  Why is it important to establish a network of leaders across different industries, and what is the role of an executive mentor?  All bosses know it can be lonely at the top – but it doesn’t have to be. 

00:25 Josh introduces the episode

01:25 Josh outlines the role of a Vistage group

07:00 Mary Forte discusses Vistage and her experience as a CEO.

11:00 Josh talks about his favorite part of a Vistage meeting. 

13:30 Vistage goes beyond simple networking – accountability, perspective, and a wholistic assessment of the individual allow them to dive deep and do the work together. 

18:00 Boss Moves of the Week!

Resources & Links:

Smart Boss Media

First Steps Financial

Meyer Business Law

River Avenue Digital

For more information, e-mail us at info@smartboss.media

Quotes:

How can you create camaraderie and get advice from people who have been in your seat, who are in your seat, who have done all the things that you're doing? How can you help them and get a great feeling about bringing other people along? It's all part of executive mentorship.

Josh Irons, River Avenue Digital

I think it's a common experience for entrepreneurs to sort of get their business to a point and then just keep hitting some glass wall.

 Jason Meyer, Meyer Business Law

What people don't realize… is that someone who's in manufacturing is going through a lot of the same problems as someone who owns a marketing firm or someone who owns a law firm or someone who owns an accounting firm; they still have some really similar basic issues.

Alisa McCabe, First Steps Financial

I don't think I would have grown as much as I did in my career if it wasn't for some pretty great mentors.

            Mary Forte, Vistage Chair

This week, Alisa, Josh & Jason welcome a special guest host to the show: Jeff Harris, founder of JMJB Merchant Solutions, a credit card processing brokerage based out of Philadelphia.  Alisa (First Steps Financial) leads the discussion about delegating work to facilitate growth.  When, how, and why should a business owner decide to delegate tasks?  How do you know that the time is right to add to your team? Our co-hosts recall the moments that drove them to finally start delegating, and the immediate benefits they saw from doing so.

00:35 Alisa introduces the episode

02:00 Jeff Harris talks about his career path and why he decided to start his own company, JMJB Merchant Solutions.

06:00 Jason explains why everybody should start delegating “sooner than I did!”

07:50 Jason manages to paraphrase MC Hammer, much to the delight of his co-hosts!

09:40 Josh knows that its’ time to delegate more when the pressure builds – delegation becomes a release valve of sorts, so you can get out of your own way.

11:10 Jeff Harris finds that bringing someone on to do the tasks he doesn’t love doing allows him to focus his time and efforts.

15:00 Jason asks the group to weigh in on what it’s like when you start delegating the high value work.  When do you know you need another “you”?

21:55 Boss Moves of the Week!

Resources & Links:

Smart Boss Media

First Steps Financial

Meyer Business Law

River Avenue Digital

JMJB Merchant Solutions

For more information, e-mail us at info@smartboss.media

Quotes:

Every time I've made that step to hand somebody something, it's freed me up to be a better boss and be able to grow my vision quickly and efficiently.

Alisa McCabe, First Steps Financial

As long as I keep surrounding myself with people smarter than me, my business is going to soar.

Josh Irons, River Avenue Digital

[When] adding to your own team, I would take ability, intellectual fire power, being a culture match -- to me, those are much more important than does someone have previous experience, do they have some particular technical skill.

Jason Meyer, Meyer Business Law

Figure out what you love doing and what you are incredibly good at doing, and really focus and go hard at those things. Then figure out ways to have the other stuff taken care of elsewhere.

Jeff Harris, JMJB Merchant Solutions