Ep. 118 – The Business Power Pitch Deconstructed: Part 2 – The Solution

IMG_2329To be successful, your business needs to solve a problem. That problem might be something specific and logistical within a given industry, or it might be something more along the lines of addressing an anxiety in the marketplace. A great pitch is all about delivering that perfect one-two punch of a succinctly stated “problem” and “solution.”

In this episode, host and business coach Tom Ryan talks about the ingredients common to great business solution pitches. As always, Tom is joined by producer and co-host Jason Pyles. Continue reading

Ep. 117 – The Business Power Pitch Deconstructed: Part 1 – The Problem

SIB-Blog-1Great business pitches don’t happen by accident. They are the result of an intentional process combining an awareness of the market with the audience-captivating insights of a true storyteller. The best foundation for a powerful pitch is to start by establishing “the problem.” It’s that un-met need, nagging anxiety or obvious gap in the market that your business will solve.

In this episode, host and business coach Tom Ryan explains what “the problem” is, how it works, and why it’s so important to creating a strong pitch. As always, Tom is joined by co-host and producer Jason Pyles. Continue reading

Ep. 116 – The Business Power Pitch Deconstructed: Part 0 – The Big Picture

SIB-Blog-1Almost all early stage companies share a common struggle: Telling their story. It’s easier to talk about a product concept or a service idea than it is to create a compelling story about why the company’s efforts matter. Products and services may be at the core of the business, but it’s the company story — the pitch — that opens doors, wins customers and gains the attention of investors.

In this multi-part series, host and business coach Tom Ryan breaks down the “power pitch” every business needs into its basic elements. As always, Tom is joined by co-host and producer Jason Pyles. Continue reading

Ep. 115 – The Business Power Pitch Deconstructed – A 12-Part Series

300x300new_resizedThanks to shows like Shark Tank, the art of pitching a business to investors has never been more popular. While having a strong business pitch is vital for a startup looking for financial capital, that’s barely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to understanding the importance of a great pitch. Any business or organization has something to gain from being able to tell their story in a concise, persuasive way.

Over the next few weeks, host and business coach Tom Ryan will be taking a deep dive into this hugely important topic. As always, Tom is joined by producer and co-host Jason Pyles. Continue reading

Ep. 103 – A Less Effective E-mail for Turbo-Thruster

SIB-Blog-4A few days ago, Tom Ryan received an unsolicited investment pitch through LinkedIn. This was no mere spam message; it was a train wreck. The message was so incomprehensibly bad that stuck with him for days. Here, in a few short lines, was nearly every mistake business marketers should avoid in their communications.

The message also presented a great opportunity for a “teachable moment.” In this episode, Tom and co-host Jason Pyles (an experienced copywriter in his own right) break down everything not to do when sending out a blind email like this one. Continue reading

Ep. 042 – Consultation With Pam, Part 5: Putting It All Together

300x300In this episode, Tom concludes his one-on-one consultation with author and burgeoning entrepreneur Pam. As an author without an established following, what’s the best use of Pam’s time and effort? Should she reach out to publishers directly, or should she invest her resources in building an audience through other channels, such as ebooks and blogs?

Tom and co-host Jason Pyles explore this topic with Pam, and tie up a few loose threads from earlier in the conversation. Continue reading

Ep. 041 – Consultation With Pam, Part 4: How to Tell Your Story

350x350In this episode, Tom continues his one-on-one consultation with author and burgeoning entrepreneur Pam. This is part four in a five-part series discussing Pam’s efforts to turn her passion for writing into a full-time business.

Tom is joined by fellow podcaster Jason Pyles as they explore Pam’s professional goals, including the importance of sexual abuse advocacy in her writing, and her challenges in preparing a book proposal for publishers. Continue reading

Ep. 033 – How to Build Your Value Proposition in Three Easy Steps – Business Model Canvas Part 3

Good morning! This morning on the Success in Business Podcast we pick up where we left off in Episodes 27 and 32 answering a question from Brian. What is Value Proposition? The concept of Value Proposition is simply the value that you propose to bring to your clients. Now you must find out how the market feels about your product or service. Tom reminds us not to ask them, “Would you buy?” but rather to ask, “Will you buy?” This will give you a more accurate gage on the market. Tom and Jason continue the hilarious Kick-Ass Cat Sweaters example to illustrate just how to use reliable validation of consumer feedback. Thanks for listening! Continue reading

Ep. 023 – Top 10 Things to Consider Before Starting Your Business Part 7.5: How to Tell Your Story Well Continued

Today’s episode is a continuation of the series, “Top 10 Things to Consider Before Starting Your Business,” which was initiated by one of the show’s listeners, Kathy. She is making the shift from the corporate world to entrepreneurship, and is in the process of starting her first business; she asks, “What do you suggest that I consider and avoid before taking the leap of faith?” Tom discusses the seventh thing to remember before starting your business, how to tell your story.

Key Takeaways
An important part of connecting with your customers and audience is to know how to tell your story. Tom’s role as the Kauffman Foundation’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence for Western North Carolina allows him to work with startup early stage companies and founders; he continually encounters interesting patterns that emerge about companies’ ability to effectively tell their stories. In this episode, Tom reveals the last two tips for you to follow so you can get better at telling your story.

Tip 4: Answer the right question (not the comfortable one)

The order in which you communicate your story to your audience begins with answering the right question and not the one you want to or are most comfortable with. Frequently, people are asked the question—what do you do? Too often they Continue reading

Ep. 022 – Top 10 Things to Consider Before Starting Your Business Part 7: How to Tell Your Story Well

Today’s episode is a continuation of the mini series, “Top 10 Things to Consider Before Starting Your Business,” which was initiated by one of the show’s listeners, Kathy. She is making the shift from the corporate world to entrepreneurship, and is in the process of starting her first business; she asks, “What do you suggest that I consider and avoid before taking the leap of faith?” Tom discusses the seventh thing to remember before starting your business, how to tell your story.

Key Takeaways
An important part of connecting with your customers and audience is to know how to tell your story. Tom’s role as the Kauffman Foundation’s Entrepreneur-in-Residence of Western North Carolina allows him to work with startup early stage companies and founders; he continually encounters interesting patterns that emerge about companies’ ability to effectively tell their stories. In this episode, Tom reveals three out of five quick tips for you to follow so you can get better at telling your story. The fourth and fifth tips about storytelling will be delivered in tomorrow’s episode (023).

In order to successfully convey your company’s products and services, you first need Continue reading