The Small Business Startup School – Business Notes | Financial Literacy | Retail Psychology – For Professionals & Entrepreneurs

EP. 35 – Leveraging Voice and Media To Drive Customer Engagement

Join the Small Business Startup School podcast as host Ola Williams engages with Colin Alexander, founder of Conduit Voice Media, in this insightful episode titled " Leveraging Voice and Media To Drive Customer Engagement".
In this digital era of accelerated content consumption, the episode brings to the forefront the importance of maintaining authenticity in voice media. From overcoming recording nerves to achieving a professional voice quality, Colin shares his industry expert tips and real-life success stories. Additionally, gain insights into the best tools in the field and how technology can add new depths to podcasting and voice media.
This enlightening discussion also navigates through the power of customer familiarity and comfort in the retail industry brought on by voice media. Discover the potential of word-of-mouth conversations driven by meaningful customer interactions and shared experiences.
Rounding up this episode is an encouraging message urging resilience and a continuous learning attitude among businesses. Learn how to leverage valuable technologies like AI and voice media to level up your business without fear. Remember, in the world of digital content, “done” is always better than “perfect”. Tune in now!
Do you have questions or comments? Your feedback ensures that we continue to give you content that adds value to you, fuelling our commitment to providing high-quality content and fostering a community of informed and successful entrepreneurs. Leave your voice note here
 
Connect with the guest, Colin Alexander:
LinkedIn: /Colinalexander
Facebook: Conduit Voice Media
Website: www.conduitvoice.com
 
Connect with the host, Ola Williams:
Website
Instagram
Linkedin
Let’s chat!

EP. 34 – Pitch Deck Presentation Tips For Startups

Welcome to another enlightening episode of Small Business Startup School.
In this episode, our guest speaker, Samuel Adeniyi - Founder, Kierep and Winner of the December 2023 Volta Pitch Competition - strips back the details of establishing 'Kierep', a startup fuelled by its purpose to combat the shortage of caregivers in Canada. He elucidates the challenges involving the recruitment and certification procedures for caregivers, providing an understanding of the prevailing market dynamics.
Learn the significance of a compelling pitch deck and the vital role of a passionate delivery in convincing listeners. Diving deeper into business aspects, our guest touches upon the significance of a robust business model, scaling strategies, and the influence of cultural and racial nuances in business discussions. He stresses the role of ceaseless experimentation and learning in entrepreneurship, inspiring listeners to see failure as a stepping-stone, not a stumbling block, towards success.
Don't miss this dialogue loaded with practical advice, entrepreneurial wisdom, and an uplifting tale of one startup’s journey from an abstract concept to a solid reality. Tune in now and fire up your entrepreneurial spirit to kick-start your startup journey today!
Do you have questions or comments? Your feedback ensures that we continue to give you content that adds value to you, fuelling our commitment to providing high-quality content and fostering a community of informed and successful entrepreneurs. Leave your voice note here
 
Connect with the guest, Samuel Adeniyi:
Website: https://kierep.framer.ai
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/deniwealthflow
Instagram: instagram.com/deniwealtflo
 
Connect with the host, Ola Williams:
Website
Instagram
Linkedin
Let’s chat!

EP.33 – How to Read and Interpret a Balance Sheet - Part 8

Whether you're launching a startup or taking over an existing business, understanding balance sheets is critical to your success. This concluding part of the series spotlights an often-overlooked aspect of business finance – receivables. Perspectives were shared on the importance of regularly reviewing accounts owed to you and scrutinizing long-unpaid debts. Don't just wish and wait; take action to ensure your assets are not tied up in bad debts.
This episode wraps up with a comprehensive recap of how to read and interpret balance sheets, equipping start-ups with non-finance backgrounds with practical, simple strategies. If you find this episode beneficial, we encourage sharing it with other entrepreneurs. Remember, constant learning and positive connections are keys to successful entrepreneurship.
This episode is part of an ‘8-series’ show on how to read and interpret a balance sheet. This is part 8, bringing us to the end of the series.  
Do you have questions or comments? Your feedback ensures that we continue to give you content that adds value to you, fuelling our commitment to providing high-quality content and fostering a community of informed and successful entrepreneurs. Leave your voice note here
We are arranging to bring a guest who recently won a pitch competition to share ideas on effective ways to pitch ideas as entrepreneurs. Ahead of the show, let’s know if there are questions you would want answered during the show. Take a listen here and reply, if you’d like your input featured
Connect with the host, Ola Williams:
Website
Instagram
Linkedin
Let’s chat!

EP.32 – How to Read and Interpret a Balance Sheet - Part 7

Welcome to another exciting episode of Startup Your Small Business and Learn. Hosted by Ola Williams, this podcast aims to enable budding entrepreneurs with the psychology of retail and enhance financial awareness, all while staying positively optimistic.
In this episode, we continue to delve into the world of balance sheets, explaining how you can negotiate your payables to effectively improve your financial standing. Entrepreneurial success comes down to strategic management of liabilities—something that has been discussed extensively in previous episodes. It's all about your business's ability to not feel pressured and to have the freedom to operate smoothly.
But what about the warning signs on your balance sheets? Are there obvious signs of danger? And are there practical steps you can take to maintain balance? Drawing from years of experience as an accountant, Ola Williams advises that assets must be capable of generating cash to ensure your business's survival. The secret lies in turning these assets into liquid cash, often referred to as 'working capital'.
Further, your current assets could be cash in the bank or items that can easily be converted to cash. But if you're finding that your current liabilities exceed these, then you may be in financial distress, and it might be time to reassess your small business's financial standing.
By the end of this episode, you should understand balance sheets better - from a non-finance background lens and you should be equipped to spot trouble in your finances and, with the strategies shared, be able to navigate through them.
Remember to apply these lessons according to your personal circumstances and seek professional advice when necessary. Please do share the show to foster a community of startup solopreneurs learning together.
Stay tuned for the concluding episode of the series.
This episode is part of an ‘8-series’ show on how to read and interpret a balance sheet. This is part 7.  
Do you have questions or comments? Your feedback ensures that we continue to give you content that adds value to you, fuelling our commitment to providing high-quality content and fostering a community of informed and successful entrepreneurs. Leave your voice note here
We are arranging to bring a guest who recently won a pitch competition to share ideas on effective ways to pitch ideas as entrepreneurs. Ahead of the show, let’s know if there are questions you would want answered during the show. Take a listen here and reply, if you’d like your input featured
Connect with the host, Ola Williams:
Website
Instagram
Linkedin
Let’s chat!

EP.31 – How to Read and Interpret a Balance Sheet - Part 6

This episode features an answer to one of the questions I received on the series. I concluded the answer to practical tips for improving balance sheet without getting into complex financial jargon.
This episode is part of an ‘8-series’ show on ‘how to read and interpret a balance sheet’. This is part 6.  
Do you have questions or comments? Your feedback ensures that we continue to give you content that adds value to you, fuelling our commitment to providing high-quality content and fostering a community of informed and successful entrepreneurs. Leave your voice note here. By leaving your voice note, you consent to your voice note being used on any of the podcast episodes.
We are arranging to bring a guest who recently won a pitch competition to share ideas on effective ways to pitch ideas as entrepreneurs. Ahead of the show, let’s know if there are questions you would want answered during the show. Take a listen here and reply, if you’d like your input featured
Connect with the host, Ola Williams:
Website
Instagram
Linkedin
Let’s chat!
 

Episode 30 - How to Read and Interpret a Balance Sheet – Part 5

This episode features an answer to one of the questions I received on the series. I shared practical tips for improving balance sheet without getting into complex financial jargon.
This episode is part of an ‘8-series’ show on ‘how to read and interpret a balance sheet’. This is part 5.  
Do you have questions or comments? Your feedback ensures that we continue to give you content that adds value to you, fuelling our commitment to providing high-quality content and fostering a community of informed and successful entrepreneurs. Leave your voice note here. By leaving your voice note, you consent to your voice note being used on any of the podcast episodes.
We are arranging to bring a guest who recently won a pitch competition to share ideas on effective ways to pitch ideas as entrepreneurs. Ahead of the show, let’s know if there are questions you would want answered during the show. Take a listen here and reply, if you’d like your input featured
Connect with the host, Ola Williams:
Website
Instagram
Linkedin
Let’s chat!

Episode 28 - How to Read and Interpret a Balance Sheet – Part 4

In the balance sheet, equity is usually presented in the form of the owner’s money brought into the business and any profits or losses the business has accumulated over time. Listen in for details of how you can interpret it and what it may mean for a business.
This episode is part of an ‘8-series’ show on how to interpret balance sheets. This is part 4.  
 
Connect with the host, Ola Williams:
Website: https://bit.ly/3rxixue
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3Qc5qH9
Linkedin: https://bit.ly/3Mbtzwz
Let’s chat! https://bit.ly/3MBwLSt

Episode 27 - How to Read and Interpret a Balance Sheet – Part 3

You see when you want to buy a business, you want to take a quick snapshot of the balance sheet. This is so that - at least, when your professional advisers such as accountants are discussing with you, you can follow reasonably.
Even when you already have your business, it doesn’t hurt to from time to time review your business balance sheet.
So far, we’ve looked at what assets are, and in the last episode, we looked into short-term liabilities. We’ve also done a bit of introduction on long-term liabilities. I encourage you to listen to episodes 25 and 26 for a catch-up. Also, a reminder that I’m intentionally keeping these episodes on finance short as they are meant for non-finance businesspeople, and I do appreciate it can be a lot to take in from that perspective.
This episode continues with what long-term liabilities are. And it is part of an ‘8-series’ show on how to read and interpret balance sheets. This is part 3.  
 
Connect with the host, Ola Williams:
Website: https://bit.ly/3rxixue
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3Qc5qH9
Linkedin: https://bit.ly/3Mbtzwz
Let’s chat! https://bit.ly/3MBwLSt