Podcast | GROW GREAT

Last night on ABC NEWS NIGHTLINE, Diane Sawyer presented a special report entitled, “Hidden America: Inside Chicago’s Gang War.”

Watch it.

Then go here and read the Bible story of “the good Samaritan.”

Audio Quick Hit – Won’t Somebody Just Help Us Be Better? Read More »

Episode 146 – The Small Business Triple Death Trap

Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Podcast / By Randy Cantrell

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baby_crying — Crying like a baby won’t help.

Business isn’t easy. It’s hard work.

That doesn’t mean it’s not fun, exciting and rewarding. It can be all of those things.

It can also be a death sentence – a J.O.B. that we can’t quit.

Today’s show is about three things that consistently hasten the death knell for many small businesses (and larger ones, too).

Let’s discuss these 3 things and see if we can avoid killing our own small business.

1. Toxic viewpoint

2. Lack of strategic thinking

3. Poor communication

Help others find the podcast by leaving me a review over at iTunes. It’ll only take a few minutes and I’ll greatly appreciate it.

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Episode 145 – If Your End Of The Boat Sinks, So Does Mine

Entrepreneurship, Personal Development, Podcast / By Randy Cantrell

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Running Time 30:27

sinking_boat — Are you bringing on water?

Warning: You may be shocked at what I have to say about the “tropical auto-pilot” businesses you hear so much about.

“If your end of the boat sinks, so does mine.”

I’ve used that phrase through the years with regard to teamwork, but today I’m not necessarily talking about teamwork.

I am talking about ROI – return on investment.

Value. Providing high value.

Employees need to understand. Contract workers need to understand. Business owners need to understand. We all need to better understand these truths.

Life can be so much better. More profitable. More successful. More fun. But it demands we think about ourselves as a resource whose value is determined by our own efforts. Personal responsibility and accountability for what we bring to the party (or boat)…that’s the stuff of success! We can be an asset. Or, we can be a liability.

Listen around the 27:38 mark and you’ll hear Rosie bark. She’s determined to make it into every recording. Shame on me for not closing the door to The Yellow Studio!

Thank you for subscribing and listening.

P.S. Click that iTunes button below and subscribe. While you’re at it, leave me a review at iTunes. It’ll help more people find the podcast.

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Episode 144 – Making Customers Happy, Keeping Customers Happy

Communication, Entrepreneurship, Podcast / By Randy Cantrell

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This is the Cloud of Happiness. You may not have seen him in awhile, but he’s out there. Somewhere.

You want him in your life. Your customers want him in their lives, too.

How do you really feel about your customers? How do you really feel about your business?

Expectations

So much of our business life is centered around managing the expectations, both our own and our customers. We often end up unhappy in our business because we’re not getting the results we expect. We’re disappointed. We’re afraid. We’re frustrated.

Sometimes our customers end up unhappy, too. They’re not getting what they thought they’d get. They’re disappointed. They’re afraid. They’re frustrated.

What are you gonna do about it? Anything?

It’s time to better manage the expectations – your own and those of your customers!

Thank YOU for listening.

P.S. Do me a big favor…click here and go over to iTunes (I know it’s not the easiest thing in the world to do)…and leave me a 5-star review. It’ll help us get the word out to more people.

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Episode 143 – Tons Of Pain Without A Chance Of Gain

Entrepreneurship, Podcast / By Randy Cantrell

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When I began to hit the gym – regularly – about 7 years ago, I heard and read the phrase alot, “No pain, no gain.” An even better phrase was, “Pain is the weakness leaving your body.”

We want to lose weight. And we want it to be easy. And fast.

We want to launch a business. And we want it to be easy. And fast.

Easy and fast.

It’s how we want our food, entertainment, education and whatever else we’re clamoring after.

Just because somebody somewhere experienced success easy and fast doesn’t mean it’s a model we can replicate. We love outlier stories though. They’re fascinating. They fuel our imaginations where we’re at the center of that story.

Lotteries employ that story in their marketing. Plop down a few bucks for a chance (slim and none) to win millions! Your life could change tonight, when you watch the local news and they announce those winning numbers. It could be YOU. It’s got to be somebody…why not you?

Because statistically it’s highly improbable.

Start a business. As long as you’re passionate about it, you can make it. Others do. Others have. Why not you?

Because statistically it’s highly improbable.

Today’s show is only a cautionary story, not one designed to get you to never take a chance. I just want to encourage you to take some smarter chances. Be wise. Avoid foolish failure. The world needs you to succeed.

I’m irked at those who prey on people who lack knowledge. That’s why I hit record today.

I love this saying, mostly because it’s so true: