Company Of One With Dale Callahan

What should you quit doing? As we move into a new year, I have found many of my clients planning to do more and add to an already busy schedule. But I want to challenge you to think about what you should quit. What should you quit doing? Relationships that are not productive Dating relationships Employees Employers Friends Habits that you have formed that are destructive Activities that are not getting results Work activities Workouts Marketing Nighttime habits Social media Watching/Listening to the News Click here to listen now. Subscribe & Review in iTunes Are you subscribed to my Company of One? If you’re not, I encourage you to do that today so you don’t miss an episode. Click here to subscribe in iTunes! If you like what you hear, I would be really grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast. I also love reading them and connecting with you. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Rev

So, are you the burger flipper or the boss? This is a question I ask my kids often. If you are a burger flipper, you do not have to think much. You just wait and do what you are told. You can be totally unengaged in your work. If you are the boss, you have 10,000 decisions to make. Everything hinges on you. You have to be self-driven and engaged else nothing happens. It is all about ownership and engagement. I hear a lot about engagement. Employers want to do everything they can to engage their employees. At the university, we want to engage our students. Why? Engagement means money and productivity. Engaged customers and audiences are great for marketing. Engaged employees are great for morale and productivity. Engagement is directly related to profit. How to Create Engagement in Others and Me The problem, according to Marshall Goldsmith in his book Triggers (Triggers: Creating Behavior That Lasts - Becoming the Person You Want to Be), is that engagement is not something we do to people. Engageme

Quit being a pawn. Stand up and fight back. As you might be noticing yourself, nobody is listening. We have quit talking and turned instead to yelling at each other. And, if nobody is talking, who is controlling the conversation? I have been watching what is going on in our country (I am in the US) for some time. We fight.  Nobody is talking anymore. Everything is charged. We all think we have opinions and are fighting for the truth -but we are just being used. They want us fighting against each other. They want division. We are stepping up and marching to their orders. We fight about issues such as politics, global warming, abortion, the second amendment, etc. But nobody is listening to me, or to you, or to anyone. We are just fighting. On TV "news" shows we see the news as one-sided. Even when they talk about having a discussion - it turns into insults and yelling. In the printed media, it is all just opinion laced with a few facts to make their care. And social media - that is the cesspool of it all.

A conversation I often have with parents is something like this:   "College? There Has Got to Be a Better Way". College is like a money pit and does not offer such a powerful tool to create wealth and security as perhaps it did. In fact, if chosen poorly, it generates the opposite. So today, I want to dive into the issue a little deeper and explore some thoughts. College? There Has Got to Be a Better Way The college experience has some issues that often go with it. massive debt wasted time opportunity cost converting good thinking kids into - well, something else (garbage in and reprogramming) Yet as parents, we only hear of a few alternatives Military Trade school Living in the  basement forever The truth is, we want for our kids the same thing that the college experience used to really offer. We want Opportunity to do anything they like Ability to earn and prosper Success on their own terms So to think about this, let's start by unpacking what college does still offer A plan -

Moving from tech expert to leader in your organization can be tricky. Scientists, engineers, developers, architects, and many other experts move into leadership positions every day. Many companies expect this transition to take place. But other companies do not see tech experts as leaders - just as tech experts. It is kind of a new "blue-collar" thinking. Either way, the transition is not always easy. Leadership positions come in many flavors, but the first moves are often as team leaders - where you are still on the technical side of things but you lead the activity of your peers. Project management or product management is another common path toward higher leadership positions. Over the last 20 years, I have been coaching people into leadership - usually out of tech positions. Most go rather smoothly once the new leader to-be understands the game. But too often, the tech leader resists the change and new responsibilities and fails to grow. So in today's podcast, I am going to provide some observations fr

My Most Popular Podcast Episodes tell a story. The story is not about me, but more about you. What topics catch your attention? What are you most interested in hearing from me? What are you struggling with? Where do you want answers or insight? My Most Popular Podcast Episodes Below is a list of my most popular episodes. When I put them together by category I get this... Topic #1 - Getting a job - 3 posts Topic #2 - Excelling at work - 3 posts Topic #3 - Productivity - 1 posts Topic #4 - Starting a company - 2 posts While this meets the Company of One mindset (you are all of these things) it is interesting that the tops are still about getting a job and some of the less popular are others about starting a company. So where do we go from here? Email me at dale@dalecallahn.com or post to my Facebook. Would love to hear your thoughts? http://www.dalecallahan.com/reverse-interview-questions/ http://www.dalecallahan.com/overcoming-the-fear-of-making-mistakes-at-work/ http://www.dalecallahan.com/how-t

Waiting on leadership to show up and take action can be one of the most frustrating issues in corporate America. More frustrating than a bad tyrant of a boss is the absent boss. At least with that tyrant, you might learn what to expect. When absent and you are waiting - you often spend your days in frustration not knowing what matters and what should be let go.  In episode 156, I dealt with how you can lead if you have a leadership void. The reason for that podcast was because I find myself with so many clients who find themselves leaderless. My first take when leaderless is to find a way to step up and lead - if even on the small things. But unfortunately, that does not always work. Sometimes a lack of a leader just leaves you frustrated. Lack of Leadership Here is the situation. You have a job to do, but nothing clear about what matters. No one is calling the shots. You have asked the person who is filling the role (often in a temporary role) and get nothing. You are being told by management that things wi

Make money online will help you see the quick and dirty methods of getting started in a side hustle without spending much (or any) money. The video from the presentation is below. Make Money Online - Outline 1. Find an idea How to find a simple idea that fits you. 2. Find a platform How to use common platforms with lots of traffic to get noticed 3. Do the work Setting up some platforms. 4. Action TNT Continue to grow. Click here to listen now. Subscribe & Review in iTunes Are you subscribed to my Company of One? If you’re not, I encourage you to do that today so you don’t miss an episode. Click here to subscribe in iTunes! If you like what you hear, I would be really grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast. I also love reading them and connecting with you. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you! Links mentioned in this episode:

How much should I be spending on my business? Like all other things in life, modern businesses tend to overspend, Especially small businesses that are not making money yet.  I constantly am running into startups who are "investing" money to help the business grow. But, too often, they are only growing in the wrong direction. Instead, it would be best if you focused on spending that will generate sales.  Too many people are spending money on things that will likely not move the needle. Perfect tools that are overkill. Logos design. Software that is way too big for the budget.  Focus instead on spending money on things that will impact your customers. So let's step back and examine who you should be spending - and on what. How Much Should I Be Spending on my Business 1. Marketing  Spending money on marketing is usually the biggest issue that will have the greatest impact. Whether the money is via ads, help to do calls, of just your own time connecting and marketing your business. This is number one for a reas

Five reasons you should consider an online business. I spend a lot of time trying to help people like you start something on the side. (Why You Need to Start Your Own Business Now.) Join me Oct 14th at 6:30 PM Central We will do a webinar on this subject of Make Money Online: Business Ideas You Can Start from Home live on Oct 14th at 6:30 PM central. Of course, after that, the recording will still be there. Five reasons you should consider an online business 1. Everyone needs a side income In Ep 32: Why You Need to Start Your Own Business Now, I explain that everyone needs a second (or third) source of income. 2. Costs little to start Compared to almost every other business, an online business is cheaper to start, maintain, and market. The risks are just low. Expect to pay from zero down and zero per month to just a few hundred dollars a month once you get moving. But you should at very least always break even! 3. Gets results quickly. A simple way to test ideas Using other platforms like eBay, Etsy, and Ama

The five signs that it's time to quit your job are easy to see from the outside. But often in the middle of the beast, we have clouded judgment. Here are the five signs you need to go, and some ideas of how to deal with things if you need to stay. Five Signs That it's Time to Quit Your Job There is no growth path for you. You do not fit what they want to promote. You are at the top of where you can be. The company does not want to grow. The company is dying slowly (or quickly). The culture is negative. You are being discriminated against. There is no one you trust in the organization. You are no longer passionate about your work. What if you Need to Stay? You might be near retirement or a significant milestone or have a huge benefit from staying the course. Do your job and look for paths to grow for your future gig. Take on some new job in the company as a distraction to get rid of boredom. Start a side gig to get your mental energies flowing. Subscribe & Review in iTunes A

Today we discuss 7 things I have learned from being an entrepreneur. While there are many courses, especially in universities that teach entrepreneurship, I have found a lot of what they talk about and teach to miss the point. The academic model of entrepreneurship just does not translate into the real world if you really want to make money. So today - let's talk about seven of those things. 7 Things I Have Learned from Being an Entrepreneur Execution is everything. Action means more than plans. You cannot determine how your customers should spend their money. Broke people are not really broke. Niche market products are better. Think about My Pillow. Money is the easy part. Marketing is more important than the product. Prospects lie, customers speak the truth. Click here to listen now. Subscribe & Review in iTunes Are you subscribed to my Company of One? If you're not, I encourage you to do that today so you don't miss an episode. Click here to subscribe in iTunes! If you like what you hear,

Using love as a business strategy might seem like a strange title - especially coming from an engineer. Generally speaking we technical people are pretty much just the facts. The talk of soft skills and focusing on people makes me squeamish - so to start talking about loving your customer is really a leap - for me anyway. Over the past few months, I keep hearing pastors talk about being called to love one another. Yes, if you look that up in the Bible - you might find it a time or two - so not really a surprise to hear it. But perhaps I just now have started to hear it clearly. So I have been thinking - what does this mean for me as a university faculty and business owner. We have been talking a lot about this inside the business - so much that "love the customer" is becoming a theme. Using Love as a Business Strategy Loving the customer means... Loving your customer means knowing your customer. Loving your customer means tuning into their frustrations and needs. Loving your customer means treating th

Want multiple streams of income? How would it feel not to be 100% dependent on just your day job income? Today we want to dive into streams of income that others use to smooth out the edges as things get rough - and in 2020, everybody needs multiple streams of income! Develop Your Multiple Streams of Income (MSI) Here are some of the more popular categories others use for diversification of their income. Your Day Job - Never forget to focus on this income source. Providing service through a third party - Pizza delivery, shopper, Uber driver, Amazon driver, UPS, or another delivery driver. Pros - They do the marketing. Cons - You have little control over what you do. Consulting/coaching service - Fiverr, Upwork, etc. - This is the easiest thing to do where you have a little control over what you offer. Pros - It is easy to get started. Cons - Takes your time to deliver the service. Home services - From yard work, small repairs, pressure washing, cooking, cleaning, closet organizing - som

My Reading List for 2020 is a collection of ideas around the topics of success, money, work, time management, and how to think apart from the crowd. All in no particular order. My Reading List for 2020 Atomic Habits The Greatest Salesman in the World The Compound Effect I Will Teach You to Be Rich Rich Dad Poor Dad Thou Shall Prosper  Financial Intelligence Deep Work Subscribe & Review in iTunes Are you subscribed to my Company of One? If you’re not, I encourage you to do that today, so you don’t miss an episode. Click here to subscribe in iTunes! If you like what you hear, I would be really grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other people find my podcast. I also love reading them and connecting with you. Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you!  

How to deal with a setback... That is a question we all encounter from time to time. Setbacks look like a lot of things: Job loss Project failed Demoted Did not get the job you hoped for How to Deal with a Setback Own it - take 100% responsibility. Placing the blame is great - but it takes you out of control. You have become a victim, and you cannot change the circumstances. We want to blame others because Politics Discrimination Stupidity Relationship issues Write down the thoughts  - How do you feel.  I lost this job and will never get another good job again. I was overlooked for the promotion because they found me out - I have hit my peak. Since I am [black, white, male, female] I will never get ahead in this [industry/company] Write down the reality - What is more likely the truth. I got this job, can get another. I know more now. I am more valuable. I have learned more and can do more - if I want to. Do I? Others who are [black, white, male, female] have done

When it comes to your financial success at work, it is all about the money. Yet,  in the United States, over 70% of the population lives paycheck to paycheck - barely making enough to make it through the month. I can only assume this is true of most other countries also. And - the amount of money does not matter. People are living in poverty to those who should have - based on their monthly income - plenty of money. As I have worked with entrepreneurs - and wannabe entrepreneurs, money is often the trap keeping them from taking the leap. But as we look back at the roles in your Company of One, the financial role is a big one. Their Chief Financial Officer or CFO. I usually refer people to Dave Ramsey or I Will Teach You to  Be Rich to learn these concepts, but too often, I find myself in conversations with coaching clients where I have to teach them some basics about money. So today, I am picking back up on your Company of One - and diving into the role of your chief financial officer. It's All About the

Ready for some business ideas you can start from home? I get asked all the time for ideas - so today, I just wanted to share a few of them to help you see what is possible. Business Ideas You Can Start From Home Coaching families or kids  Sports training Tutoring Health care for kids with special needs (like food allergies) Consulting for small businesses SEO Social media Payroll Bookkeeping Support Shipping Tech support Customer service Ecommerce site Sell products you make Become a value-added reseller Create online courses Sell products on eBay or Amazon Freelance your services - Design, writing, copywriting Get started Now Start with the easiest product or service - Do something you do anyway. Start the easiest way - Use sites like Shopify, Amazon, or eBay to sell your products. For courses, use Udemy. Start now - Just do it now. Start imperfectly - Forget polish. Just post and then edit later Click here to listen now. Subscribe & Review in iTune

Is overcoming the fear of failure in your side hustle something you have been thinking about? It should be. That fear of failure is likely holding you back and keeping you from making the bold moves you need to make. Want help in your side hustle? Schedule Your 45-Minute Discovery Session with Dale Overcoming the Fear of Failure in Your Side Hustle 1. Identify the fear. Put it in writing.  Failure Looking stupid Doing the wrong thing Making the wrong decision Wasting your time and getting nothing of it My idea has already been done I do not know enough. 2. Speak the truth about the fear  What does failure mean? Quitting and trying something else. No big loss. The only people who think you are stupid are those not doing anything. If you are going to operate as an entrepreneur - or anything out of the norm, you may look stupid to others. What this means is they think you are not acting normal. Good. Broke is normal. Hating your job is normal. Being frustrated with less income is normal. N

Ever take a course on how to make money? Did you find it awesome and frustrating at the same time? A while back I got a random phone call from a woman in New York. I have no idea how she got my name or number, but she said that she wanted my help. She was trying to get a business started so she could replace her income at her $60,000 per year job. But she was having no luck. She said "I have spent $12,000 trying to learn how to start and grow a company. Nothing has worked. I have bought books and taken courses at $2000 a whack. I am overwhelmed and still no income." Most of my coaching clients will say something similar. I will mention marketing from some pros like Amy Porterfield, Jeff Walker, or .... so many others. These clients do not doubt that what Amy, Jeff, and the many others teach works - but they are overwhelmed with the amount of work they have to put into an unknown. They also get new information daily via a blog post or Facebook ad. What do they do? How to Make Money without Information Overload