No guest this week because we had to re-schedule some stuff, sorry! Instead, Chris and Joel talk about business positioning. Why is it important in marketing and yet why is it so undervalued? Joel also loses hope in his own words part way through but things work out.

PS, I will be posting a screenshot of the much-discussed Google Doc on Twitter, so check for it there. – Lindsay

Quotes

• “I lost my train of thought three words in there.”
• “Saying no more often is really difficult.”
• “You and I are the Ubitter of good taste.”

Talking Points

• 2 Bobs Podcast
• Careening – The Family Knife Newsletter

Gear Picks

• Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days by Jake Knapp, John Zeratsky, and Braden Kowitz
• Futurama: Volume 1 DVD
• Family Guy: Volume 1 DVD

Chris is sick again and Joel is busy setting blogging goals. The two sit down this week to talk about common WordPress mistakes made by small businesses. They also delve into general advice for website building and being honest with your needs.

Quotes

• “No good goal goes by without revision.”
• “We tend to undervalue the time we spend doing things.”
• “Be honest about the solution you need at that stage.”

Talking Points

• The Family Knife – Market Positioning: Who is your product for?

Gear Picks

• Lasko 754200 Ceramic Heater
• The Field Study Handbook by Jan Chipchase

There’s audio issues all around in this episode, but Stephen does a great job smoothing things over with music. Because of the audio problems, everyone’s a little out-of-sorts and not much business talking gets done.

Quotes

• “Humans are a gas and will expand to fit the time given.”
• “Every podcast is a vore podcast.”
• “It’s just a bad conversation recorded between two people.”

Gear Picks

• Set of 6 Essential Oils
• The Last Templar by Raymond Khoury

We’re breaking new ground here – Joel is recording from his couch rather than his desk. These are exciting times, indeed. Joel and Chris also have a discussion about the value of cost-cutting versus purely trying to increase revenue. While costs can only be decreased, so much and revenue has a near-infinite ceiling of possibility, there’s a lot more evaluation that should be done on whether you really need to be spending as much as you are.

Quotes

• “Two business buds in a bod.”
• “It’s much easier to cut costs than grow revenue.”
• “How much business are we doing to impress other people and how much are we doing to meet our own goals?”
• “You heard it here first, folks: Joel thinks that’s lame.”
• “Stop listening, ya dinguses.”

Gear Picks

• Swingline Standard Stapler Value Pack
• Belkin Standard Mousepad
• AmazonBasics 92 Bright Multipurpose Copy Paper
• Origin by Dan Brown

Joel wants to do another show-in-a-show. But he’s spent too much energy this week fighting a certain Canadian postal service provider to do that, so let’s talk about management, leadership, and emotions instead!

Quotes

• “We’re all part of the royal family up here in Canada.”
• “Come-at-all-angles Kelly”
• “It’s my fault for having expectations.”
• “Solicit feedback from your team but don’t take it personally.”

Talking Points

• Ask a Manager

Gear Picks

• The Business of Consulting: The Basics and Beyond by Elaine Biech
• Wilton Holiday Grippy Cookie Cutters
• Nordic Ware Aluminum Baker’s Half Sheet