Category Archives: Podcast Episodes

Ep. 058 – Elementary Startup Planning For New Entrepreneurs

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SIB-Blog-3What are the fundamental steps for creating a viable business? What groundwork needs to be laid before any entrepreneur can take their business plan to investors? In this episode, host Tom Ryan strips the business-creation process down to the most basic levels to reveal the core elements of a viable startup.

Tom is on the road this week, requiring a slight change of format from two-person discussion to solo show format. As a result, he’ll be taking on a variety of listener questions. Continue reading →

Ep. 057 – Do You Really Need a Business Plan?

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SIB-Blog-2Are long-form business plans really necessary for every startup? Are they even all that useful? Are there better alternatives? This week, host Tom Ryan takes on this controversial topic, explaining his skeptical view of traditional business plans and offering some other options for fledgling entrepreneurs.

Tom is on the road this week, requiring a slight change of format from two-person discussion to solo show format. As a result, he’ll be taking on a variety of listener questions. Continue reading →

Ep. 056 – Interview with Slidebean CEO ‘Caya’ Cayasso, Part 4

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Jose 'Caya' Cayasso, CEO of Slidebean

Jose ‘Caya’ Cayasso, CEO of Slidebean

In this episode, the Success In Business Podcast wraps up our interview with Jose ‘Caya’ Cayasso, founder and CEO of presentation-sharing software startup Slidebean. In this segment of the interview, Tom and Caya discuss working with investors, the challenge of timing your fundraising, and the startup cultures of New York, Silicon Valley and Costa Rica.

In addition to his success as an entrepreneur, Caya has been named in the “40 Under 40” list of Costa Rican innovators by El Financiero newspaper, and received an Innovation Champion by the Costa Rican Ministry of Science and Technology. Continue reading →

Ep. 055 – Interview with Slidebean CEO ‘Caya’ Cayasso, Part 3

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Jose 'Caya' Cayasso, CEO of Slidebean

Jose ‘Caya’ Cayasso, CEO of Slidebean

In this episode, the Success In Business Podcast continues our interview with Jose ‘Caya’ Cayasso, founder and CEO of presentation-sharing software startup Slidebean. In this segment of the interview, Tom and Caya discuss accelerator programs, and the lessons learned from pitching his startups to over 150 investors.

In addition to his success as an entrepreneur, Caya has been named in the “40 Under 40” list of Costa Rican innovators by El Financiero newspaper, and received an Innovation Champion by the Costa Rican Ministry of Science and Technology. Continue reading →

Ep. 054 – Interview with Slidebean CEO ‘Caya’ Cayasso, Part 2

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Jose 'Caya' Cayasso, CEO of Slidebean

Jose ‘Caya’ Cayasso, CEO of Slidebean

In this episode, the Success In Business Podcast continues our interview with Jose ‘Caya’ Cayasso, founder and CEO of presentation-sharing software startup Slidebean. In this segment of the interview, Tom and Caya discuss Slidebean’s business model, examine the lessons learned from Caya’s previous startup Saborstudio, and talk about the risks of starting a business with your friends.

In addition to his success as an entrepreneur, Caya has been named in the “40 Under 40” list of Costa Rican innovators by El Financiero newspaper, and received an Innovation Champion by the Costa Rican Ministry of Science and Technology. Continue reading →

Ep. 053 – An Interview with Slidebean CEO Jose ‘Caya’ Cayasso

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Jose 'Caya' Cayasso, CEO of Slidebean

Jose ‘Caya’ Cayasso, CEO of Slidebean

The Success In Business Podcast shakes things up this week, taking a break from business coaching to spend a little time with to entrepreneur and founder/CEO of Slidebean, Jose ‘Caya’ Cayasso. As a serial entrepreneur, Caya has developed a wealth of experience beyond his years, earning a place in the “40 Under 40” Costa Rican innovators by El Financiero newspaper, and being named an Innovation Champion by the Costa Rican Ministry of Science and Technology. It’s safe to say that Caya knows a thing or two about getting startups off the ground.

In the first segment of this multi-part interview, Tom and Caya discuss the development of Slidebean, rising from the ashes of his previous startup Saborstudio, and how the business model for the presentation software has changed since its launch. Continue reading →

Ep. 052 – The Alignment-Based Sales Approach

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SIB-Blog-2How exactly does the “Always Be Aligning” approach to sales work? In this episode, host Tom Ryan explains the three fundamental building blocks of alignment-based sales, from creating a strong alignment statement and confirming interests to qualifying leads and learning when to pull the plug.

Not only can this technique build more sustainable and long-term relationships with customers, it also prevents the unnatural and high-pressure conversations of traditional methods. As always, Tom is joined by co-host and fellow podcaster Jason Pyles. Continue reading →

Ep. 051 – The “Always Be Aligning” Approach To Sales

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IMG_2523Sales doesn’t have to be the high-pressure, trust-destroying experience from the “ABCs of Sales” scene in Glengarry Glen Ross. Not only is it a terrible approach for building a long-term, sustainable relationship with your customers, it’s also not very effective in day-to-day sales.

In today’s episode, host Tom Ryan explores a more cooperative sales philosophy he calls “Always Be Aligning.” It’s a disqualification-focused approach that favors strong, mutually beneficial connections with customers over simply getting them to sign on the dotted line. As always, Tom is joined by co-host and fellow podcaster Jason Pyles. Continue reading →

Ep. 050 – Why the Sales Philosophy “Always Be Closing” Is Problematic

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350x350-5What better way is there to celebrate the 50th episode of the Success In Business Podcast than by changing things up? Host Tom Ryan presses pause on the discussion of building a core competency in sales, and instead focuses on one of the most interesting topics in the sales and marketing culture: “Always Be Closing.”

Made famous by the 1992 film version of Glengarry Glen Ross, the ABC of Sales approach isn’t exactly what it’s cracked up to be. As Tom explains, it almost always does far more harm than good. As always, Tom is joined by co-host and fellow podcaster Jason Pyles. Continue reading →

Ep. 049 – What Is Required to Sell and How Much Will It Cost?

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350x350-4The more you understand the economics of your business, the more options you have for controlling your growth and profits. While every company is different, the basic economics of business are universal.

In this episode, host Tom Ryan dissects customer acquisition costs, and explains the most common ongoing expenses. As always, Tom is joined by co-host Jason Pyles. Continue reading →