Some of my guests for these dialogues have carved out a niche, some have made a pivot. I invited Artem Lomaz on because he did a pivot into a niche. His clients and couples saw the need and pulled him in a direction that had led him to a better place. Listen to this new episode for some inspiration on how you might find your own pivot that helps you narrow your niche, to find a better place for you! Artem Lomaz has been continuously redefining the role of the wedding and event Master of Ceremoni...
Oct 31, 2022•32 min
I recently read (listened) to “The Gap and The Gain” by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy. I was really intrigued by the concept of how we can so easily fall into The Gap, and focus on what we don’t have, instead of The Gain, where we can appreciate what we’ve already done to get where we are. At first, I thought it was a simplistic concept, but it gets much deeper in this very short book. Listen to this new 7-minute episode for my take on the concept of The Gap and Gain, and how you can use i...
Oct 26, 2022•7 min
Are you letting others define success for you? Do you see what other’s are achieving and make that your benchmark? Or, are you choosing your own definition of success… the only one that really matters. Listen to this new 6-minute episode for a little perspective on this topic. If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, please reach out directly to me at Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com or visit my website Podcast.AlanBerg....
Oct 19, 2022•6 min
Right about the same time that I asked Myrna to come on the podcast, I got a listener suggestion from Rev. Annie Lawrence in NY City to do an episode on making your website ADA Compatible (ADA - Americans with Disabilities Act). Over the years I’ve heard conflicting information about who needs to make their websites more accessible. The easy answer is that all of us should do it, but is it required by law. While this short episode can’t answer all of your questions, it will give you some ideas a...
Oct 17, 2022•31 min
Discounting is always a hotly contested topic, whether for my speaking or consulting. This was a listener suggestion (thanks, and keep them coming) and whether you’re a solo-preneur, a small group, or a large company, coming up with the right pricing strategy is key to profitability. While I’ve spoken and written about this for years, and my clients, businesses just like yours, ask me about this, a lot, I thought this would be a good discussion for us. Listen to this new 11-minute episode for id...
Oct 12, 2022•11 min
This topic is another listener suggestion (thanks, and keep them coming). Many of you have either already gone from having a hobby to a side-hustle. Some of you have already made the leap to full time, and others are thinking about it. If you’ve done it already, listen to see how familiar some of this sounds. If you haven’t yet made the leap, this should help you decide when it’s the right time. Listen to this new 9-minute episode for taking your trepidation to inspiration and validation, so you...
Oct 05, 2022•10 min
I could have interviewed Matt about scaling his business to be the largest in his market, or how he pivoted into coaching. Matt recently asked me to join him in a Beta program on Mentor Pods, his latest venture and niche, and in this episode we talk about how and why Mentor Pods came to be and how it’s different than other learning and coaching programs. Listen to this new episode and then go to www.MentorPods.com/AlanBerg to see more about our Beta Pod and see if this affordable group coaching,...
Oct 03, 2022•20 min
Much of my work with wedding and event pros, like you, is on growing your business. I try to get you to focus on profitability, not just sales. One way to do that is to really understand your inventory, and I’m not just talking about physical goods. Your most valuable inventory are your time and your calendar. Understand those, and basic economics, and you’ll learn to profit more. Listen to this new 8-minute episode to get perspective to help you understand your most important inventory and how ...
Sep 28, 2022•9 min
I saw this phrase and it inspired me to do this episode, because so many of you are doing things at a high level, and that took work. At the same time, many of you are worried about the next new competitor. Maybe they’re doing more work than you to improve, maybe not. If you’re not doing things that seem hard, right now, you’re not pushing yourself higher. Listen to this new 8-minute episode for some ideas to, hopefully, inspire you to reach higher, personally and professionally. If you have any...
Sep 21, 2022•9 min
When I had Rod Baker on the podcast to talk about his pivot, we were chatting during a break about how so many DJs, and other wedding and event pros, are introverts. No matter how gregarious they may seem at an event, that could be a façade that’s masking their true, introverted selves. We had a lively discussion that I think you’d like to hear. Enjoy! About Rod Rod Baker is an industry optimist who strives to not only be his best, but to bring out the best in others. He's the owner of DFWPartie...
Sep 19, 2022•16 min
A Facebook post inspired this conversation about how wedding and event pros do, or don’t work well with others on the same wedding or event. I’ve heard some great stories and some horror stories about this, and in this episode I weigh in with my thoughts. Listen to this new, 8-minute episode to hear my perspective on how wedding and event pros can and should work together. If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, please r...
Sep 14, 2022•9 min
Every time I travel, I have a choice between a cab and an Uber (or Lyft). Often the cabs are sitting right outside and yet I’ll wait for an Uber. Why is that? What did Uber do to disrupt their industry and what can you learn from it so you can do the same in yours? Listen to this new, 7-minute episode to get some ideas how you can make your business indispensable to your clients. If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, p...
Sep 07, 2022•8 min
Every decision we make involves emotions, some more than others. When it comes to your business, and life, there are forces pulling you to stay where you are, don’t change, and those are competing with your desire to move forward. It also can affect your business, in that when people trust you more, they will want to do business with you more. Phil Johnson has spent the last 20+ years studying and teaching Emotional Intelligence, which is not the same as intellectual intelligence. Listen to this...
Sep 05, 2022•38 min
One of the big complaints about our education system is that we’re just teaching our kids to pass tests. What about when you’re out of school and choosing to study a new skill. Are you trying to get to the end of the book/course, or are you trying to achieve a level of mastery? Over the years, I’ve changed the way I approach learning. Have you? Listen to this new, 6-minute episode for some perspective on how you can maximize your learning efforts. If you have any questions about anything in this...
Aug 31, 2022•7 min
This is another episode influenced by a conversation I saw on Facebook. Someone had posted a meme about people who’ve never attended a conference, implying that those people were elitist, know-it-alls, and they didn’t think there was any value in them going. What was interesting was how many who were commenting said they had never attended a conference. How can you say there’s no value, if you’ve never been? Listen to this new 9-minute episode for my perspective on this. If you have any question...
Aug 24, 2022•10 min
Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the pressures of marketing your business? There are so many forces, pulling or pushing you to try the latest social platform, or are you blindly following the crowd? Heidi Thompson wants to help you Squash the Overwhelm and she shares her 5-steps for doing that in this episode. Listen to this new episode for some actionable steps on how you can feel less overwhelmed, and more in control! About Heidi: Heidi Thompson is the best-selling author of Clone Your Best Cli...
Aug 22, 2022•41 min
Having just gotten back from a short vacation, I was struck how two simple things made, or didn’t make, our experiences better. They cost nothing, but can mean everything. It’s not about price point, either. Some of the best experiences were with inexpensive restaurants. Listen to this new 6-minute episode to see what I’m talking about and how easily you can implement these into your business. If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a top...
Aug 17, 2022•6 min
Does the fear of failure prevent you from trying new things, personally or professionally? The greatest successes in this world were almost always preceded by lots and lots of failures. It’s learning to look at failure as a stepping stone to success that helps us succeed. If we don’t try anything new, we can’t experience new and better results. Listen to this new 9-minute episode for some ideas that may help you look at failure in a different light. If you have any questions about anything in th...
Aug 10, 2022•9 min
If you’re like me, you are texting every day, whether to friends, family, co-workers or customers. If you’re like many people in business, you’d rather not use your personal cell phone, for various reasons. And if you have employees and they use their personal cell phone number to text customers, those texts go away when they do. So, is texting right for your business and what are some of the current technologies that will make it more palatable for you? Listen to this new guest episode with Gav...
Aug 08, 2022•31 min
When things are busy, it’s easy to take your eye off other parts of your business and life. But what’s making you busy now is a result of past events and actions. Are you making time to prioritize working ON you business, among the busy-ness? Listen to this new 5-minute episode for a quick reality-check and, hopefully, some inspiration! If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, please reach out directly to me at Alan@Weddi...
Aug 03, 2022•6 min
Whether you own your business or work in it, having an owner-mentality is a recipe for success. Some people do this naturally, some need to be shown the way. Which one are you? Listen to this new 9-minute episode for inspiration on having an owner mentality for you and your team. If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, please reach out directly to me at Alan@WeddingBusinessSolutions.com or visit my website Podcast.AlanBe...
Jul 27, 2022•10 min
We’ve had many discussions about social ads and other marketing, but I’ve never had anyone on to talk about Google Ads. So, I asked my friend Mark Chapman, from The I Do Society, to come on and school us on what we should know about Google Ads (and SEO and lots more). Listen to this new episode and get a better understanding, and perspective on how and where you can look for a better ROI (Return on Investment). About Mark: Mark Chapman is the founder of The I Do Society and wedding industry's le...
Jul 25, 2022•38 min
I’m a Digital Immigrant! This is not a new revelation, but what may be new to you is to understand how today’s Digital Natives, and the generation coming next are communicating. Are you adapting to them, or are you trying to get them to adapt to you? Listen to this new, 11-minute episode for a combination dose of reality and rays of hope! If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic or guest, please reach out directly to me at Alan@Wed...
Jul 20, 2022•11 min
How is it that two people can look the same thing, and see totally different things? Each of our perspectives come from our collective experiences. People born in different cities, or into different cultures, will often view the same things very differently. Each of us has the Curse of Knowledge, and it’s the same knowledge that can hinder us in the sales process. Listen to this new, 7-minute episode to get some perspective and clarity on how your customers are seeing you! If you have any questi...
Jul 13, 2022•7 min
I saw an article recently on The Knot that was talking about how couples are now asking for a pay-over-time feature for their weddings, similar to how they can get that for so many purchases these days. So, I started thinking about who I knew that had expertise in this area, and my friend from my days at The Knot, Anja Winikka immediately came to mind. Her company, Maroo, offers this (and other payment services for wedding & event pros), and on this episode she explains what Pay Over Time is...
Jul 11, 2022•20 min
When you’re designing your website or a marketing piece, are you designing things that you would personally like? Or, are you designing things that your target audience would like. Unless you are the same demographic as your target customer, you may be heading in the wrong direction. And, asking your friends and industry peers may just be looking for “confirmation bias” – learning that what you already know and feel is right. Listen to this new 14-minute episode for some ideas on how you can lea...
Jul 06, 2022•14 min
When I’m doing sales training, very often I find that some salespeople have trouble asking for a higher price, or an upsell, because they wouldn’t buy those things themselves. Or maybe they’ve never spent that much money on an event, or anything, in their personal lives. They’re selling with their own wallet, instead of letting the customer buy with their wallet. Listen to this new 10-minute episode for some ideas on how you, and your team, can learn to more comfortably ask for the higher dollar...
Jun 29, 2022•10 min
I was at a conference and needed help bringing in supplies for my trade show booth from my car to the expo center. So, I rang up my friend Rob Ferre, and minutes later 6 people were carrying my supplies a long way to my booth. That’s an example of Social Capital, and Rob suggested that we have a conversation this for you. So, what is social capital, or social currency, and what is yours? Listen to this episode to find out. About Rob: Rob Ferre is an entertainer, speaker, DJ, and game show host f...
Jun 27, 2022•29 min
The Rolling Stones got it right when they sang: “You can't always get what you want. But if you try sometime, you’ll find, you get what you need!” Very often we, or our customers, are asking for something because we know what’s possible. We can’t ask for what we don’t know is possible. Apple was really good at selling us things we didn’t know to ask for. Listen to this new 9-minute episode for some ideas on how you can ask a better question to find out why someone (maybe you) wants something. An...
Jun 22, 2022•9 min
No, I’m not channeling Brittney Spears. I went shopping for a sports jacket and came home with shoes and pants as well. The store did Top Down Selling… good for them! It’s a lesson for all of us on showing what’s possible, not only what’s been asked. Listen to this new 9-minute episode for some ideas on how you can sell more, and have your customers and couples be happy about the outcomes! If you have any questions about anything in this, or any of my podcasts, or have a suggestion for a topic o...
Jun 15, 2022•9 min
