Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality are popular buzzwords we read and hear about a lot these days. Much of it sounds like it “will be” great someday, but what about Small Businesses that are in the VR/AR space and creating businesses TODAY? Joining us for episode 125 of the Small Business Show is Chase Dittmer and TJ Dishaw, co-founders of GrowpoVR Studios and GovRed.

GrowpoVR began as an arcade/studio business, offering up VR experiences for consumers. When Chase and TJ noticed lots of Police officers using the equipment, they quickly realized there was an underserved demographic, so of course, they launched a new business, GoVRed to focus on military and government agency VR use.

During the show, we also got a chance to learn about the Iowa Startup Accelerator and how GoVRed became a part of this 12-month startup program. We discussed how the business incubator provides support for design and engineering as well as legal and marketing areas.

The co-founders discuss how their youth has been a benefit as well as a challenge when developing their business and meeting new customers. One thing is for sure, there’s no lack of enthusiasm from either Chase or TJ. Listen in to this episode of the Small Business Show to learn about their *fast* journey, the problems they have faced and how they are making changes to their “virtual” business plan almost daily as they bring their new business to fruition.

After the show, be sure to join us at the Small Business Support Group on Facebook to share YOUR story!

Chapters/Timestamps

• 00:00:00 Small Business Show #125 June 28, 2017
• 00:01:19 Chase Dittmer and TJ Dishaw – GrowpoVR Virtual Reality Studio and Govred
  • Starting with the iPhone… of course
• 00:02:36 Having the right tech means… a partnership was born!
• 00:04:28 VR Arcade…to the military!
• 00:05:44 Attracting the Military with Facebook
• 00:07:08 Beware of being tied to your business plan
• 00:07:26 Iowa Startup Accelerator
  • Accelerator provides Legal, Marketing, Design, Engineering
  • Clerky
• 00:09:45 Don’t make assumptions about your customers
• 00:11:47 Make your mentors be mean… or at least honest
• 00:13:28 Age as a benefit as well as a negative.
• 00:15:01 Use your product to sell yourself
• 00:16:15 Be ready to move!
• 00:18:00 Support your family, even when they’re crazy
• 00:19:56 VR for your ice cream store
• 00:21:07 VR/AR to enhance any business
• 00:22:27 Use Vive for your Meetings
• 00:24:58 HoloLens is Fake AR – more of a 360 viewer
• 00:27:03 Learn about Govred, Chase and TJ
• 00:28:25 GG Outtro

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:13 — 13.5MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Email | Google Podcasts | RSS | More

You know the name, you’ve accepted the payment method. But, did you know that Paypal has a team of people focused solely on Small Business advocacy and public policy? Joining us today on the Small Business Show is Paul Disselkoen, Paypal Public Relations Specialist. Paul is charged with getting the voices of Small Business owners heard by politicians that are setting public policy that impacts Small Businesses throughout the country.

Join your hosts Dave Hamilton and Shannon Jean to learn about what Paypal is doing to insure that it’s not just the big companies that are sending lobbyists to Washington. You’ll get a chance to find out about the Paypal Small Merchant Advisory Delegation and how YOU can join and get your message heard and get some great publicity for your Small Business.

Paul takes us through the role that Paypal plays in helping to set policies that are favorable for Small Business owners and discusses the types of businesses they are looking for to connect with lawmakers locally, as well as in their annual trip to D.C. to connect with legislators on Capitol Hill.

Listen in to learn more and find out how you can join the Small Merchant Advisory Board to protect and promote your Small Business. After the show, click over to the Small Business Support Group to share your thoughts about the show!

Chapters/Timestamps

• 00:00:00 Small Business Show #124 June 21, 2017
• 00:00:49 Paul Disselkoen, PayPal Government Relations Specialist
• 00:02:45 Small Business Merchant Advocacy Delegation (SMAD)
• 00:03:48 Lobbying for Small Business – getting the voice of Small Business owners heard
• 00:05:26 Introducing SMB owners to their representatives in govt.
• 00:08:17 How do businesses join SMAD?
  • Finding good stories from passionate SMB owners
• 00:09:28 What makes a good SMAD member?
• 00:11:09 Use PayPal to vet overseas suppliers
• 00:12:38 Using SMAD to overcome challenges
  • Paypal SMB research report
• 00:17:00 Thought leaders in the Small Business area
• 00:18:21 PayPal hosts local events for Small Business Owners as well as trips to D.C.
• 00:19:24 Small Business Pitted Together with Politics
• 00:21:52 PayPal Public Policy on Twitter
• 00:24:05 Check the “Join” Link at PayPal.com/publicpolicy
• 00:24:34 SBS Outtro

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:45 — 11.9MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Email | Google Podcasts | RSS | More

Are you a Closer? On the Small Business Show, we often say that all business owners are in the Customer Service business – but, we’re also in the Sales business. Wether you’re selling a product or service, you’ve got to sell to make your business grow. This week on the Small Business Show, you’ll get to hear the story of Ryan Stewman, Founder of HardcoreCloser.com.

Ryan is an incredibly enthusiastic sales trainer and motivator that has overcome numerous obstacles to create a successful business that helps others succeed. Listen in to learn how Ryan started out washing cars and moved up to selling mortgages before the “Police kicked in the door” and everything came to a screeching halt. Keeping motivated and overcoming adversity propelled Ryan and before long he was back on top and running his own company.

As the Founder of Hardcore Closer,  Ryan teaches salespeople and business owners how to succeed using social media, the sales funnel concept and all about grinding-it-out everyday to create the life you deserve. You’ll hear about going from $25 a week to $20-50,000 per month in Facebook ads and what that gets you, along with what Ryan wishes he would have done sooner as a Small Business owner.

Join us today on the Small Business Show to listen to a guy who has dedicated his life to “creating millionaires” and then click over to the Small Business Support Group to comment and connect with other Small Business owners!

Chapters/Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Small Business Show #123 June 14, 2017
• 00:01:17 Ryan Stewman – Hardcore Closer
• 00:02:11 From Car Wash to Mortgages… just like that!
• 00:03:42 Hooked!
• 00:04:13 The Police Kicked in My Door
• 00:05:23 $770k in 2005 – all came to a screeching halt.
• 00:06:08 Then the laws changed… and I couldn’t work.
• 00:07:18 Putting that G.E.D. to Good Use
• 00:09:34 Practicing for your business while on the clock
• 00:10:24 Pivot OFTEN
• 00:11:45 Keep the momentum going
• 00:12:05 Daymond John – The Power of Broke
• 00:13:18 Put your mask on first … but then make sure you help others!
• 00:14:25 Dedicating to creating millionaires
• 00:16:43 “I advertise heavily”
  • “Advertising is the thing that propelled me”
  • Facebook Ads
  • Retargeting
• 00:20:14 You have to learn your market
• 00:21:18 Writing the first book
• 00:22:54 I write every day
  • Emails, Social Media, Books, Blog Posts
• 00:24:00 I am a prolific mistake maker
• 00:26:00 Embracing your mistakes -empowering yourself and others with your story
• 00:26:56 Don’t be a lone wolf for too long: get help faster!
• 00:28:53 SBS Outtro

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:42 — 13.7MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Email | Google Podcasts | RSS | More

What’s your Exit Strategy? You have one, right? That’s the question a business mentor asked of Kyle Baccus a few years ago that led to the eventual sale of one of his businesses. Today on the Small Business Show, Kyle joins us for a second guest spot to discuss the sale and to spend some time exploring our Revenue Stack concept of developing multiple streams of revenue as part of your path towards world domination.

We get a chance to learn about the three different types of business sales that Kyle has been involved in and what he’s learned from each of them, with the concept that you should “Keep saying Yes until there’s a reason not to” as a guidepost during the transactions. Business owners should consider going to a business-sales seminar to learn about selling a company, but be weary of paying cash up front to a business broker when you area ready to sell, according to Kyle. We then jump into a conversation about what is the most difficult part about selling a Small Business and how to avoid some of the usual pitfalls.

Shannon and Dave then steer the conversation towards the Revenue Stack that Kyle has developed over time, how he’s moved from being self-employed, to being a business owner and finally an investor. We dig deep into how a missing revenue stream can be replaced with a varied Revenue Stack.

Finally, we wrap up the show discussing how wealth can make you fear risk, how to leverage your strengths to overcome weaknesses and we discuss time management – or the lack thereof.

Join us today for episode 122 of the Small Business Show, then visit our Small Business Support Group to leave your comments!

Chapters/Timestamps

• 00:00:00 Small Business Show #122 June 7, 2017
• 00:01:43 Kyle Baccus – KC Tool 
• 00:03:32 It’s a lot harder to count the failures than the successes
• 00:04:17 Selling 3 Businesses
• 00:05:19 Selling to a stranger is a different animal
• 00:06:55 What is your Exit Strategy?
• 00:08:00 Keep saying Yes until there’s a reason not to
• 00:09:26 Go to a business-sales seminar when you don’t need to attend
• 00:10:18 Learn how to price a business
• 00:12:41 The Most Difficult Part About Selling
• 00:14:33 Employees are the biggest challenge
  • Be appreciative of the fact that they are working for you
• 00:15:35 Do Your Research!
  • Google “Business Selling Horror Stories”
  • Avoid the pitfalls
• 00:17:00 When a sale goes south
• 00:19:20 Avoid the embarassment of failure
• 00:19:46 “I’m self-employed and working towards being a business owner”
  • Rich Dad, Poor Dad
• 00:22:36 Replacing a missing revenue stream and building a revenue stack
• 00:26:04 Money makes you fear risk
• 00:27:10 Leverage your strong suit
• 00:30:20 Maximizing your Time… For You
  • Mr. Money Mustache
• 00:34:38 Avoid Wipeout Risk
• 00:36:07 SBS Outtro

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:22 — 17.2MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Email | Google Podcasts | RSS | More