Tips on the First Weeks of Starting a Business: Spend on What Matters

Leadership (Part 2): Are You A Great Leader or an Egomaniac?

In the second half of last week’s conversation about leadership, Lou and Elizabeth talk about the hallmarks of bad leadership and the struggles some people experience stepping into leadership roles. Lou regales listeners with some wild stories about tough decisions and, frankly, crazy management moments and, most importantly, Lou and Elizabeth look at alternative choices that would have made things work smoothly. Should bosses be friends with their employees? Is it possible to not internalize your management choices? Do women experience leadership roles differently than men do and, really, how much impact does a leader have on the team’s results? How do generational differences inform what works? It’s all here …and, of course, Elizabeth goes to bat for the Clifton Strengths Assessment [with which she has no professional affiliation]. Questions? Find them online @elizabethonline and @louimbriano.

Good Leadership Distilled (Part 1)

In the first half of a two-part episode, Elizabeth and Lou talk about what makes good leadership. Leadership is a way of behaving that governs everything you do, but it boils down to a few key attributes. Today, the focus is on the kernels of good leadership: discipline, decision-making, and building credibility, all of which are especially important when you have an excellent team full of great ideas. Being a good leader not only affects your team, but also your customer service. Time off, maternity leave, and HR come up; Lou deftly illustrates why we need to think better and more flexibly about family leave. Questions? Find us on Twitter @elizabethonline and @louimbriano.

KPIs 2: Your First KPIs and KPIs To Generate Referrals

Lou and Elizabeth are back to talk about starting out with KPIs: what Key Performance Indicators are worth measuring and what KPIs are not as useful or, worse, distracting? KPIs for coaches, tutors, and consultants are on the docket today, which extends to KPIs for people in service businesses. You can identify KPIs to help you grow your revenue and referral mechanisms, too, which means engineering growth no matter your industry. It drives Lou nuts when people don’t have the right mechanics and KPIs in place, and you’ll hear that in this episode. Buckle up! Questions? We’re all ears at questions@thekingandlou.com [questions@thekingandlou.com] or on Twitter @elizabethonline and @louimbriano.

Intro to Negotiation

Lou and Elizabeth are talking negotiation this week. If sales is "listening and giving people what they want," then negotiation is "listening and getting what you want." Lou has some crazy stories this week. From big money sports negotiations to more personal negotiations like buying a home or a car, this episode has the good, bad, and ugly. Know what you need to know about leverage, your list of Nevers, and the inalienable ability to walk away on this week’s episode. If you have questions, find the hosts on Twitter at @elizabethonline or @LouImbriano.

Tips on the First Weeks of Starting a Business: Spend on What Matters

Lou and Elizabeth have a lively conversation using real-life stories and personal examples about things to think about in the financial realm when you’re first starting a business. It’s so easy to want to spend money once “you can expense it” (new computer, anyone?), but this conversation highlights what’s worth spending on and what might be worth holding off on. Given Lou and Elizabeth’s totally different backgrounds and personality types, what they feel strongly about can vary in this conversation, but you’ll no doubt learn a lot as they each divulge a little bit about “how the other half lives.” Should you go in for the branded water bottles? What about company-branded polo shirts? Do customers want things with your brand on them at all? Is getting an accountant really worth it? How do you spend your time and money on strategic gifts that truly help grow your business? How do you keep track of your expenses and your financial basics, anyway? This conversation is peppered with tidbits that would never make it into their own show but definitely need to be on your radar. Lou and Elizabeth are loving your listener questions. If you have one you’d like to ask, find us on Twitter @elizabethonline and @louimbriano, or email them at questions@thekingandlou.com [questions@thekingandlou.com].