Ep. 164 – Market Driven Design and Customization: An Interview with Grava Bike Co., Part 2

Grava Bikes, straight from the paint booth.

Grava Bikes, straight from the paint booth.

As a small bicycle brand competing against the biggest names in the industry, Grava Bike’s founders need every advantage they can get. As co-owners of a retail bike shop, they already had an edge, hearing customer feedback and frustrations with existing products firsthand. One of those biggest issues — the lack of color choice — might just be a major factor in Grava Bike’s future success.

In today’s episode of the Succes in Business podcast, host and business coach Tom Ryan continues his conversation with Jeff Welch and Shawn Moore, co-founders of Grava Bike Co.. As always, Tom is joined by co-host and producer Jason Pyles. Continue reading

Ep. 163 – Being the Hole-in-One for Your Customers: An Interview with Grava Bike Company, Part 1

Grava Bike's Revenuer frameset

Grava Bike’s Revenuer frameset

Biking can be an expensive hobby. Between your light, sleek racing bikes and beefy, rugged mountain bikes, there are a range of frames, wheels, saddles and other options. A serious cyclist could easily end up with a garage filled with bikes and bike parts, each suited for a specific kind of riding. But what if there was a single bike that could do it all?

In today’s episode of the Success in Business podcast, host and business coach Tom Ryan talks with Jeff Welch and Shawn Moore, co-founders of the Grava Bike Co., makers of a bike that is shaking up the cycling status quo. As always, Tom is joined by co-host and producer Jason Pyles. Continue reading

Ep. 162 – Donald Miller’s “How to Tell a Story” eBook – Part 9

StoryYour customers have a problem. They came to you in the hopes of finding a guide who not only understands that problem, but who can also help them come up with a plan for solving it. It’s your job to not only walk them through the changes and challenges they will face, but to show them what the consequences of failing to act on that plan will be.

Host and business coach Tom Ryan explains the role of “The Plan” in business storytelling in this final installment of his review of Donald Miller’s How to Tell a Story ebook. As always, Tom is joined by producer and co-host Jason Pyles. Download your own copy of Donald Miller’s How to Tell a Story ebook today, and be sure to keep listening to the Success in Business Podcast this week for our continuing review. Continue reading

Ep. 161 – Donald Miller’s “How to Tell a Story” eBook – Part 8

SIBP-Blog-NEW-3In every great story, there is a hero who needs a guide. Every Daniel LaRusso needs a Mr. Miyagi, and every Luke Skywalker needs a Yoda. When you tell your company’s story, it’s important to remember that you aren’t the hero. Your customer is the one facing the challenge, and it’s their story they care most about. Your role is to be the guide who helps them overcome their challenges.

Host and business coach Tom Ryan dives into this important element of business storytelling in this multi-part breakdown of Donald Miller’s How to Tell a Story ebook. As always, Tom is joined by producer and co-host Jason Pyles. Download your own copy of Donald Miller’s How to Tell a Story ebook today, and be sure to keep listening to the Success in Business Podcast this week for our continuing review. Continue reading

Ep. 160 – Donald Miller’s “How to Tell a Story” eBook – Part 7

SIBP-Blog-NEW-2A truly compelling story isn’t defined by the hero, it’s defined by the challenge or problem the hero must face. The same is true when constructing a compelling story for your business. Your customer has a problem, and it’s your job to explain how your product or service helped them overcome it.

In today’s episode, host and business coach Tom Ryan talks about Donald Miller’s concept of the three kinds of problems a protagonist can face, and what this means in the context of creating a persuasive narrative for your business. Tom is joined by special guest co-host and producer Natalie Pyles.

Download your own copy of Donald Miller’s How to Tell a Story ebook today, and be sure to keep listening to the Success in Business Podcast this week for our continuing review. Continue reading

Ep. 159 – Donald Miller’s “How to Tell a Story” eBook – Part 6

StoryHow do the lessons of storytelling relate to creating a compelling business narrative? Learn how host and business coach Tom Ryan helped his students apply this concept a recent meeting of the Kauffman Foundation’s Entrepreneur in Residence program, and some of the misconceptions he was able to dispel along the way.

In this special episode, Tom is joined by guest producer and co-host Natalie Pyles to continue this multi-part series discussing Donald Miller’s How to Tell a Story. If this sounds interesting to you, download your own copy of Donald Miller’s How to Tell a Story ebook today, and be sure to keep listening to the Success in Business Podcast this week for our continuing review. Continue reading

Ep. 158 – Donald Miller’s “How to Tell a Story” eBook – Part 5

SIBP-Blog-NEW-4Crafting a powerful story for your company or brand can do more than attract customers. It can shape how you see your business, guide how your investors and partners view their roles, and even sway potential employees to join your cause. For this kind of storytelling to be effective, however, you need to understand how the central character — the hero — fits into the narrative, and what it means to for the hero to need a guide.

In today’s episode, host and business coach Tom Ryan and co-host/producer Jason Pyles continue their discussion of Donald Miller’s powerful, compelling ebook, How to Tell a Story. If this sounds interesting to you, download your own copy of Donald Miller’s How to Tell a Story ebook today, and be sure to keep listening to the Success in Business Podcast this week for our continuing review. Continue reading

Ep. 157 – Donald Miller’s “How to Tell a Story” eBook – Part 4

SIBP-Blog-NEW-5Creating a compelling story for your business isn’t about casting yourself or your company as the hero. It’s about placing your customers, partners and investors in that role, identifying their problems, acting as their guide, and calling them to action. It’s not your story that matters, it’s theirs.

Host and business coach Tom Ryan and co-host/producer Jason Pyles continue their discussion of Donald Miller’s powerful, compelling ebook, How to Tell a Story. Learn why it’s important to frame your stories correctly, and hear some real-world applications of these principles from Tom’s work with the Kauffman Foundation Entrepreneur in Residence program. Continue reading

Ep. 156 – Donald Miller’s “How to Tell a Story” eBook – Part 3

What do Star Wars and a great sales presentation or business pitch have in common? They follow the same fundamental storytelling structure. In today’s episode, we continue our multi-part review of How to Tell a Story by Donald Miller. Host and business coach Tom Ryan and co-host/producer Jason Pyles talk about applying effective storytelling ideas to your business.

If this sounds interesting to you, download your own copy of Donald Miller’s How to Tell a Story eBook today, and be sure to keep listening to the Success in Business Podcast this week for our continuing review. Continue reading

Ep. 155 – Donald Miller’s “How to Tell a Story” eBook – Part 2

StoryGreat stories require structure. You might not realize it, but every story that has entertained you, informed you and stuck with you over the years follows a similar structure. To reach your biggest audience, your company’s story needs the same kind of structure. This, in a nutshell, is what Donald Miller’s How to Tell a Story is all about.

We continue our multi-part review of How to Tell a Story in this episode. Host and business coach Tom Ryan and co-host/producer Jason Pyles talk about the ways effective storytelling can enhance every part of your business, from increasing sales to wowing potential investors. Continue reading