Send us a text Dr. Micheal Troyer and Anna Steinfest will share what to do when you make mistake. Some of their tips: Admit your mistake – right away Acknowledge it Humble yourself Then explain how the mistake happened Now develop a strategy to rebuild the trust that you have lost Include everyone affected by the mistake, but especially the person most directly affected You must work to recover trust What can you do to demonstrate that you can be trusted in the future? Is there a compensating be...
Oct 27, 2020•9 min•Season 1Ep. 35
Send us a text Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will help you answer the question of how do you make money? By investing the least amount of time, resources, and expertise for each of the dollars of profit we make Constantly think through (monthly – set a date): Who should be doing what? Does what they are doing fit them? Do they fit the “what” you are asking of them? Do you know what resources, time, value of skills and expertise are going in? Do you know what value is coming out for the c...
Oct 27, 2020•11 min•Season 1Ep. 34
Send us a text One of the most difficult parts of starting a new business is successfully executing on the idea. So today Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will share with you how do you move your product idea forward. If you’re misunderstood, your idea will fail. Practice – make sure you are clear in your thoughts If you’re boring, your idea will fail Share your passion If you’re uninspiring, your idea will fail. Explain, in simple terms, how great the idea is to solve or correct the challe...
Oct 27, 2020•10 min•Season 1Ep. 33
Send us a text Today Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will share with you some shortcuts towards learning some techniques that can help your small businesses grow and be successful. Here are some of their thoughts: Work to learn from others Read widely and deeply Talk to people who have already done it in the past Soak up the lessons from the past – search for those lessons Ask lots of questions – to yourself and of others Prepare the questions in advance but let the follow-up question flow...
Oct 20, 2020•9 min
Send us a text Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will share with you how to have a productive meeting. There should never be a meeting where the invitation does not make it clear, in general terms, what is needed as an outcome from the meeting – what is it that we hope to accomplish and have not done so to this point. Meetings are not for general communication. Think of the tools we have for that, that are much more efficient. Meetings are not for teambuilding. Meetings are not for “get-toge...
Oct 16, 2020•11 min
Send us a text Do you really know your customers? That is the question Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will be answering in their new episode of Lessons in Success. You want your product or service to be useful and valued by your customers. Yet, in the creation of that, you have become caught up in your own "creative genius". For your customer to find their satisfaction or to achieve their expectations , you need to observe the process through which they go to solve their problem or comple...
Oct 07, 2020•11 min
Send us a text Today Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will explain what is a tagline and simple steps on how to create one an amazing tagline for your business. The elevator pitch compels customers to think of and want your product or services. When you are asked what is your business – your response should be an intriguing “tag line” or sentence that should always lead to an immediate question: “Tell me more. It sounds interesting.” It should be a short phrase or sentence – nothing more. J...
Oct 07, 2020•11 min•Season 1Ep. 28
Send us a text Today Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will teach you how to manage your company growth. Growth is something you want to manage even when it surprises you in terms of its intensity. Here are some tips from the episode: Always Plan for Growth Understand that growth changes everything The larger your firm is or becomes, the more difficult and complex the impact of intense growth will be...
Oct 01, 2020•11 min
Send us a text Today Dr. Micael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will teach you how to protect your business from surprises and be resilient (they will occur): Know your business inside and out – be an intense student of it (feel it in your bones) Be ready for surprises What are the metrics you need to keep an eye on What other topics you would like to hear? Email us at info@affresearch.com...
Sep 22, 2020•11 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Send us a text Today Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will share with you some ideas on how to differentiate your product. As a business owner, you need to know how to differentiate yourself from your competitors as the surveys show that: 80% of customers are willing to pay more for better customer service. One-third of customers seek customizable products. 50% of customers choose sociably responsible products. Listen to our new episode to give you additional tips and ideas....
Sep 15, 2020•12 min
Send us a text Today Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will share with you what is FAB ( Features, Advantages, and Benefits) analysis and how you can use it to successfully market your products or services.
Sep 08, 2020•11 min
Send us a text Today Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will teach you the following: 1. What is an organizational drag? 2. And how to fix it so your business does not lose money. Organizational drag: Organizational drag is familiar to anyone who has worked in organizations. Essentially, organizational drag is the cumulative effect of “needless internal interactions, unproductive or inconsequential meetings, and unnecessary e-communications.” Organizational drag wastes time and saps the energ...
Sep 03, 2020•11 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Send us a text Selling is moving someone to trust you and to want to work with you. It is not the antiquated idea that selling is pushing people to buy something they don’t want, don’t need, or can’t afford. It is offering ideas in a collaborative conversation with the customer. It is being a person who takes a genuine interest in the customer’s problem, that the customer wants help in solving. Today Dr. Micheal Troyer and Anna Steinfest will help you improve your Sales Skills....
Aug 21, 2020•15 min
Send us a text Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will teach you how to get more done in less time. You will learn the following: Learn to block (but not as in football) – will it be time-blocking or project blocking? Waste some time by taking breaks – What??? Be more disciplined ! Learn to use your smartphone in a better way. Put those mini -tasks and repetitive tasks in a big jar. Only “snack” on them twice a day. ( like e-mails etc.)...
Aug 03, 2020•11 min
Send us a text Today Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will teach you how to manage your interruptions at work and be more productive. Some of the tips you will learn to use are: Keep an Interrupters Log Analyze and Conquer Interruptions Put Your Phone to Work for You (Not Against You) Catch Your Breath Learn to Say "No" How to handle uncontrollable interruptions...
Jul 24, 2020•12 min
Send us a text Today Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will talk about the challenge of pricing. You will learn the following: What your price should reflect Cost to create and deliver the product or service The necessary reserves listed above The risk you are taking on: debt, time, payroll, governmental regulations, The expertise that you are providing (its depth, breadth and the investment of resources in acquiring it) The degree to which you can customize your product or service to the sp...
Jul 08, 2020•13 min
Send us a text Today Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will explain how to manage your small business as a team. In 10 minutes you will learn: What makes a Team important and valuable ? Benefits of Teamwork Higher productivity Better alignment of tasks and focus A company that grows offers more opportunities for team members to grow as well A more satisfying place to work A place where on Monday your excited to get back to work and on Friday your happy to have the weekend ahead Strategies to...
Jul 01, 2020•10 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Send us a text Today Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will explain when you should terminate an individual from your company. They will answer three main questions: · Why terminating an employee is so difficult · Why we should make the decision · How to terminate an employee
Jun 25, 2020•11 min
Send us a text We continue the conversation about how to hire for success: When you run a small business, you can’t afford to make mistakes. Every client interaction, product, and invoice reflects on you and your company, and one bad experience can make or break your reputation. And that’s why, even though growing your business is a good thing, it’s natural to feel a lot of pressure when you’re hiring new employees who will represent your company to the world. Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfe...
Jun 18, 2020•20 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Send us a text When you run a small business, you can’t afford to make mistakes. Every client interaction, product, and invoice reflects on you and your company, and one bad experience can make or break your reputation. And that’s why, even though growing your business is a good thing, it’s natural to feel a lot of pressure when you’re hiring new employees who will represent your company to the world. Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will give you some ideas on how to select your winning me...
Jun 09, 2020•18 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Send us a text Today Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will teach you how to see opportunities others miss. 1) Study a totally different field, then return to the original problem. 2) Invert the problem. Try to achieve the opposite. 3) Talk to hyper-creative people. Their thinking will help you see the challenge from a different angle.
Jun 04, 2020•20 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Send us a text You need to prepare to leave the crisis behind you by preparing for its end in advance. Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will guide you in identifying transition strategies to prepare your Firm for post-crisis opportunities, amongst them: · Prepare to implement your plan to improve your competitive position as the crisis eases; · Prepare for the opportunities that the end of the crisis will offer and its eventual end can create for you; · Prepare to satisfy the “pent-up” dema...
May 19, 2020•18 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Send us a text Dr. Michael Troyer and Anna Steinfest will share with you steps you should take to create a successful Crisis Contingency Plan (and a Due Diligence Assessment). The Assessment focuses on two main strategic positions: · The firm’s strategic and financial position · The firm’s competitive position The contingency planning process then guides you through a determination of the key steps that you will need to take at designated stages of the crisis. It will serve as a roadmap for your...
May 14, 2020•23 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Send us a text Today’s podcast outlines how experts review specific strategies and related tools for family-owned business owners to explore and implement while navigating through the difficult COVID-19 crisis. It is extremely tough and stressful for anyone in business to know how to deal with the predicted coming depression—then add in family-business factors! Emotions run high; ensure the speaker is understood correctly; clarity is key with responsibilities. Learn appropriate responses to ques...
May 04, 2020•21 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Send us a text We will share with you 3 tips to get successful funding for your SBA PPP loan, also we will answer questions like: 1. What is the Paycheck Protection Program? 2. Who is eligible? 3. When was the new PPP signed? 4. Our Three tips to be successful in getting funding: · Apply for PPP at Fintech ( discussing what is a FinTechs and why FinTechs) · Prepare your monthly payroll documents don't forget depreciation, health insurance, and retirement contributions · Prepare all you 2019 docu...
Apr 27, 2020•13 min
Send us a text The focus of this podcast is on B2B mentorship which aligns with the Green Bay Packers (GBP) Mentor-Protégé Program (MPP) and expands on a blog article written on April 6, 2020 by David Smith and Brad Johnson (HBR blog). Mentors and protégés readily acknowledge that current recession/pandemic times are new to all. Potential benefits of practicing social distancing are: · Growth fostering · Role modeling · Mentor learning opportunities · Value-added learnings (tech, interaction wit...
Apr 23, 2020•15 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Send us a text As a business owner trying to prepare for a long recession, you will be forced to make drastic moves to survive. Get and keep your company in survival mode with these management strategies for critical facets of your business, such as: · Cash position (outflow/inflow) · Debt position (debt control/debt planning) · Payroll · Communication · Accounting/Tax planning ABC Tip: Don’t take cash to maintain business as usual: consider the options! By encouraging alternative, yet effective...
Apr 15, 2020•34 min•Season 1Ep. 8
