Problem Solvers
345 episodes - English - Latest episode: 7 days ago - ★★★★★ - 171 ratingsProblem Solvers with Jason Feifer features business owners and CEO’s who went through a crippling business problem and came out the other side happy, wealthy, and growing. Feifer, Entrepreneur’s Editor in Chief, pulls these stories out so other business can avoid the same crippling problems. 767392
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Leader vs. CEO, with Whole Foods Co-Founder John Mackey
May 27, 2024 07:00 - 27 minutes - 62.9 MBWhat does it take to lead a great company? During his 44 years as CEO of Whole Foods, John Mackey found his answer: Don't worry about acting like a CEO, serve the business, serve its people, and never abandon yourself. Mackey discusses this, along with his new book The Whole Story. Thanks to our sponsor Hertz Business Rewards for helping small businesses save big. Join for free at Hertz.com/businessrewards.
What's Your Hidden Competitive Advantage?
May 20, 2024 07:00 - 19 minutes - 43.5 MBYou can't compete on quality alone, so what do you compete on? Today, Jason takes us on a trip to Costa Rica, where he discovered a business that stands out in a wonderful and personal way — and inspires you to find your hidden competitive advantage too. Thanks to our sponsor Hertz Business Rewards for helping small businesses save big. Join for free at Hertz.com/businessrewards.
How Google Executives Become More Productive
May 13, 2024 07:00 - 45 minutes - 104 MBWant to be more productive, and use your time more wisely? Take advice from Laura Mae Martin, Google's in-house productivity expert, and author of the new book "Uptime". In this conversation, she lays out a plan for focusing your time and your energy. You'll never look at to-do lists the same again. Thanks to our sponsor Hertz Business Rewards for helping small businesses save big. Join for free at Hertz.com/businessrewards
Start A Million-Dollar Business In A Weekend?
May 06, 2024 07:00 - 28 minutes - 65 MBYes, you can start a million-dollar business in a weekend. Noah Kagan, founder of AppSumo and author of the book "Million Dollar Weekend", shares how the foundations of a great business come together quickly, and why it's worth moving fast. Thanks to our sponsor Hertz Business Rewards for helping small businesses save big. Join for free at Hertz.com/businessrewards.
The Biggest Writing Mistakes That Entrepreneurs Make
April 29, 2024 07:00 - 27 minutes - 63.5 MBWant to get your ideas into the world? Writing coach Amber Rae (see: amberrae.com) has some counterintuitive advice: Don't think about your audience, and don't write what you "should" write. On this episode, she explains some of the most common mistakes that entrepreneurs make, and how anyone can find great stories and create meaningful, memorable work. Thanks to our sponsor Hertz Business Rewards for helping small businesses save big. Join for free at Hertz.com/businessrewards.
Solving the Staffing Shortage in Hospitality
April 22, 2024 07:00 - 28 minutes - 20.4 MBResorts around the world face the same problem: It's hard to recruit and retain a great staff. A small, luxury resort group called Nayara Resorts is experimenting with an interesting solution to that problem — by tackling the housing shortage that often impacts resort workers. Nayara CEO Leo Ghitis explains. Thanks to our sponsor Hertz Business Rewards for helping small businesses save big. Join for free at Hertz.com/businessrewards.
The First Influencer Marketing Agency... for LinkedIn?
April 15, 2024 07:00 - 34 minutes - 26.8 MBInfluencer marketing veteran Brendan Gahan has cofounded the first-ever agency specifically for LinkedIn, called Creator Authority. In this episode, he explains the state of marketing on LinkedIn, how professionals can become LinkedIn influencers, what kind of money we're talking about, and how both influencers and brands can better use the platform.
Make Better Content With the "Bricks & Mortar" Method
April 08, 2024 07:00 - 19 minutes - 15.5 MBHow can you make content that really connects with an audience? In this episode, Jason shares the strategy he uses to make engaging content. It's called "bricks and mortar", and it's a way of structuring content so that it's always relevant to your audience.
How To Find Your First Customers
March 25, 2024 07:00 - 34 minutes - 77.9 MBYou've built a product, but how do you take it to market? And who even wants it? To answer that, we've set up a unique call between an entrepreneur and an expert. Birna Dröfn Birgisdóttir built a brainstorming tool called Bulby, and is now ready to take it to market — but isn't sure who her ideal customer is. She gets advice from Brent Tworetzky, SVP of Product at Peloton, who has decades of experience building consumer and SaaS products.
Want A Great Business Idea? Find A "Cohort"
March 18, 2024 07:00 - 34 minutes - 77.8 MBWhen you're looking to solve a problem or start a new business, Future CEO Rishi Mandal has a brilliant tactic: Find cohorts of people who already solved the problem for themselves, so you can understand their solution, why it works, and how you might scale it. On this episode, Rishi explains how to do this, and how he used it to build his company Future, which is the largest provider of personal training in America.
Start Sales Pitches With Stories. Here's Why!
March 11, 2024 07:00 - 17 minutes - 40.6 MBIt's one of the greatest sales tactics, and also one of the most overlooked. In this episode, I explain why stories are so powerful, why you should start with them, and where to get the best stories to tell.
Should You Start A Business With Your Best Friend?
March 04, 2024 08:00 - 39 minutes - 90.9 MBMany people start businesses with friends and loved ones — but if you're not careful, you can destroy both your company and your relationship. So how do you do it right? Take it from two women who know: Julie Griggs and Danielle Dietzek, cofounders of FourPlay Social. They share the very personal, often difficult side of their relationship, and how they've learned to thrive.
LinkedIn's Algorithm Changes, Explained
February 26, 2024 08:00 - 52 minutes - 120 MBIf you want to gain an edge on LinkedIn, there are two people you need to hear from: LinkedIn editor in chief Dan Roth and senior director of engineering Tim Jurka. In this episode, we discuss the impact of LinkedIn's ongoing algorithm changes, how to adapt your content strategy, new LinkedIn features to help you gain visibility, and an interesting new feature called “suggested posts” that could help boost your best posts for years.
Why Workers Are Disengaged, and How to Fix That
February 19, 2024 12:18 - 29 minutes - 68.5 MBWhy are workers disengaged? Scott Greenberg has an answer: It's because of poor leadership, poor management training, and poor company culture. In this conversation, he offers a solution to all of that — by diagnosing his own one-time leadership failures, and the importance of understanding and relating to employees on a human level. Greenberg is the author of the new book Stop The Shift Show.
How to Send the Best Sales Emails
February 12, 2024 08:00 - 21 minutes - 48.2 MBAre you guilty of "fake personalization"? It's when you send someone a sales pitch (or any other cold email), and lazily add some personalization — even though it's clear you haven't spent time getting to know who you're pitching. Stop doing that! In this episode, I'll show you a much better way.
How Failure Can Feel Good
February 05, 2024 13:19 - 17 minutes - 15.6 MBOur jobs are not to do things perfect. We can't! But we can make our mistakes very useful. Here's how — along with a personal story about a very recent, embarassing failure. (To see the newsletter I talk about in this episode, visit jasonfeifer.com/newsletter)
Where Negativity at Work Comes From, and How to Fix It
January 29, 2024 08:00 - 30 minutes - 70.6 MBWhere there's a void in leadership, negativity will fill it. That's Jon Gordon's message. He's the best-selling author of 28 books (most recently, "The One Truth"), and has a company that teaches what he calls "positive leadership." In this conversation, he explains how workplaces become negative, how to diagnose the problem, and how leaders can create positivity instead.
Keeping Up With Rapid Change, With Investor Thomas Tull
January 22, 2024 08:00 - 28 minutes - 64.2 MBAre you ready to adapt quickly? Billionaire tech investor Thomas Tull says you should be—because these days, there’s no other choice. Entrepreneur’s 45th annual Franchise 500® ranking shines a light on the unique challenges and changes that have shaped the franchise industry over the last year—and how franchisors have adapted and evolved to meet them. See the list here: https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500
Taco Bell's New CEO On How Brands Become Culturally Hot
January 15, 2024 08:00 - 47 minutes - 64.7 MBBig franchise news: Taco Bell is #1 in the 2024 Entrepreneur Franchise 500! To mark the occasion, I talk with Sean Tresvant, Taco Bell's new CEO. He spent many years as the CMO of Nike's Jordan Brand, then became Taco Bell's global chief brand officer. Now he's in the hot seat, leading the hottest brand in franchising. We talk about how to make brands culturally relevant, how to build the teams that drive great brands, and his vision for Taco Bell's future. Sponsor: While much of Harvard...
Vulnerability Can Hurt Leaders, Unless They Do This
January 08, 2024 13:12 - 33 minutes - 75.6 MBShould a leader show vulnerability? That depends on how they do it, says leadership expert Jacob Morgan, author of the book "Leading with Vulnerability." He interviewed 100 CEOs and surveyed 14,000 employees, and found that, depending on how a leader shows their vulnerability, people are either more drawn or more distrustful of them. In this episode, Morgan explains how to use vulnerability smartly — as a way to build trust, not as a way to unburden yourself.
“I’m Running a Business With My Ex. HELP!”
December 25, 2023 08:00 - 39 minutes - 54.2 MBWould you (or COULD you) run a business with your ex? Today we're sharing an episode from Jason Feifer's other podcast, Help Wanted, where he and cohost Nicole Lapin help someone with that exact problem. She's getting a divorce from her husband... and her husband also happens to be her business partner. She wants to know: is it possible to have joint custody of a business? Jason and Nicole give their tips for anyone who is navigating a complicated work relationship.
How to be Heard by Improving Your Listening Skills
December 18, 2023 12:55 - 26 minutes - 36.5 MBIf you want to get what you want, you must become a better listener. And be careful — because you might not be as good a listener as you think. In this episode, expert negotiator Jonathan B. Smith (of the Black Swan Group and EOS) breaks down the tactics and approaches for active listening, and shows how it can be used to better connect with and convince people. The Black Swan Group was founded by best-selling author and former FBI hostage negotator Chris Voss; Smith is Voss's coach and bus...
Earn a Living as a Writer, Without a Writing Background
December 11, 2023 13:16 - 29 minutes - 40.8 MBMost writers obsess over their words. Sahil Bloom did that too — but he also became curious about how words travel, and why they go viral, and the needs that other writers have. That’s because he came from the world of finance, not writing, and was able to apply a business lens to the sometimes-squishy world of content... and now runs a newsletter with 600,000 subscribers that brings in upwards of $70,000 a month, along with a network of businesses that serve other writers (and earn much mo...
Making "Hybrid Work" Actually Work
December 04, 2023 08:00 - 24 minutes - 55.7 MBHave you heard of "productivity paranoia"? It's what happens when managers lose trust in their remote or hybrid workers, because they can't see them working. That's a big problem, says hybrid-work expert Gleb Tsipursky, because the research shows something startling: Remote working drives productivity UP, and bringing people back to the office can drive productivity DOWN. So what do we do about this? In this episode, Tsipursky offers a way forward for managers and leaders.
Turn A Crazy Idea Into A Very Real Business
November 27, 2023 08:00 - 37 minutes - 51.4 MBOne night, Holden Forrest drew a wild idea on the back of his daughter's math homework: What if he could lower a house into the ground, as a way to escape oncoming wildfires? He couldn't shake this idea, so he started researching whether it's possible — and now, years later, he has a company called HiberTec, multiple patents, groundbreaking technology, and is raising money to build his first prototype. On this episode, Holden explains how to turn a big idea into a real business. You can lear...
When You Have A Solution People Don't Know They Need
November 20, 2023 08:00 - 31 minutes - 43.3 MBSometimes, a company creates an amazing solution... but clients don't understand why they need it. What do you do then? Garry Cooper has the answer, because it's exactly what he had to do at his company Rheaply. Here's the problem, as Rheaply saw it: At large companies, employees often buy things the company already has. They also throw out things the company could still use. That's because there's no way for everyone in the company to know what they have, what they need, and how to get ...
How to Leave Social Media and Still Grow Your Business
November 13, 2023 08:00 - 33 minutes - 45.7 MBThis may sound counterintuitive, but your business doesn't HAVE to be on social media. In fact, social media might not even be the best tool for your growth. Amelia Hruby, host of the podcast Off the Grid, explains how to leave social media without hurting your business — and the many other marketing tools that you should pour your energy into instead.
He Got 450,000 Newsletter Subcribers by Sharing "Nice News"
November 06, 2023 08:00 - 26 minutes - 37 MBPeople often say they want positive news stories, but they rarely read them. Sean Devlin wanted to know: Why? So he set out to find out — and has since built a newsletter, called Nice News (at nicenews.com), that now has 450,000 subscribers. So how did he do it? And how can you build a strong newsletter for any niche subject? That's what we discuss on this episode of Problem Solvers. Sponsor: Harvard Business Review. Access's HBR's unlimited content start at only $10 a month. visit www....
Why "People First" Is Better Than "Customer First"
October 30, 2023 07:00 - 35 minutes - 49.2 MBLots of companies say they put their customers first, but what does it mean to be a truly people-centric organization? According to Rah Mahtani, Alibaba.com's head of marketing for North America, it means changing the way you think about your customers — as well as the products you design for them, and the marketing you create to reach them. Here, he breaks down some great "people-centric" examples of product design, and explains how Alibaba brings people (aka customers!) into their process.
Who Should Solve Our Biggest Problems?
October 23, 2023 07:00 - 38 minutes - 52.5 MBHow can we solve the biggest problems, in our company or our world, if we can't agree on what the problem is or who wants to solve it? Here's a case study that'll surprise you. Climate change is described as a “generational battle,” in which young people care and older people don’t. But this is a perfect example of how we think about generations all wrong — and that has big consequences. If we can drop our assumptions about generational divides, we might just have a shot at solving some of ...
How to Be More Human In A Time of AI
October 16, 2023 07:00 - 25 minutes - 34.3 MBCal Fussman is a master storyteller, and he's been thinking a lot about AI lately. Why? "This debate between authenticity and artificial intelligence is the battle of the next millennium," he says. When robots can communicate for us, how can we be more human? When we can automate much of our writing and production, how do we share our authentic selves and connect to others? These questinos have never been more important, and Cal — host of the podcast "Big Questions" and former Esquire write...
How to Tell Sexy Stories About Unsexy Brands
October 09, 2023 07:00 - 26 minutes - 36 MBNot every company has a whiz-bang product, so how can you make it pop? Squarespace Chief Creative Officer David Lee has done that, winning tons of awards and making campaigns with the likes of Adam Driver, Zendaya, Dolly Parton, Keanu Reeves and John Malkovich (which earned him an Emmy). Here, he offers a unique way for entrepreneurs to think about their brands, and some big questions to ask when you start crafting your new stories.
Small Biz Special: How A Magic Show Became Popular
October 02, 2023 07:00 - 26 minutes - 20.2 MBHow can a comedy/magic show compete against every other entertainment option, especially when most people aren't thinking of going to magic shows? In this special episode celebrating Entrepreneur and Yelp's list of America's Favorite Mom & Pop Shops, we take an inside look at Trickery in Chicago — by zeroing in on one customer interaction, and what made it so special. This episode is in partnership with the podcast Behind the Review.
How to Sound Smart and Memorable, Anytime
September 25, 2023 07:00 - 21 minutes - 29.9 MBWant to sound smarter? Want to be more comfortable speaking on the fly, whether it's giving a presentation or just rolling with a conversation? You don't have to memorize what you're saying, but you do need a structure that helps your ideas stick. Stanford lecturer Matt Abrahams, author of the new book "Think Faster, Talk Smarter", explains how to do it — and offers some specific structures you can start using today.
Can An Entrepreneur Be An Activist?
September 18, 2023 07:00 - 26 minutes - 37 MBSeth Goldman wants to change people's behavior, and he sees business as the way to do it. He founded Honest Tea, chaired the board of Beyond Meat, and now has a company called Eat the Change. In this conversation, he discusses how to be a pragmatic activist, and what it really takes to build a sustainable, mass market brand. Sponsor: Paper & Packaging Board. Learn more at howlifeunfolds.com/innovation
Small Biz Special: How A Small Gym Stays Strong
September 11, 2023 07:00 - 28 minutes - 22.4 MBHow can a small gym compete against a world of big, well-funded chains? In this special episode celebrating Entrepreneur and Yelp's list of America's Favorite Mom & Pop Shops, we take an inside look at Ambitious Athletics in Washington DC — by zeroing in on one customer interaction, and what made it so special. This episode is in partnership with the podcast Behind the Review.
Don't Just Sell A Product. Champion An Idea!
September 04, 2023 07:00 - 27 minutes - 37.6 MBJoelle Mertzel is the president of Kitchen Concepts Unlimited, and the self-declared "national advocate for countertop butter." What's that last part about? It's her way of drawing more attention and expanding her marketplace — and it's working. Today, she explains the benefits of creating a cause... instead of just selling a product.
Small Biz Special: How A Small Theater Gets Attention
August 28, 2023 07:00 - 29 minutes - 23.2 MBHow can a small theater compete against a world of big, well-funded entertainment? In this special episode celebrating Entrepreneur and Yelp's list of America's Favorite Mom & Pop Shops, we take an inside look at Illusions Bar & Theater in Baltimore — by zeroing in on one customer interaction, and what made it so special. This episode is in partnership with the podcast Behind the Review.
The Most Annoying Tech Mystery, Solved!
August 21, 2023 07:00 - 23 minutes - 32.8 MBHave you ever called a company, given your information to an automated phone system, and then had to repeat that same information to a human customer service agent? Why do that twice? It's so annoying! On this episode, we get the answer (and an important lesson on tech adoption!) from Eric Skeens and Brandon Bird of 3 Tree Tech.
Why Eco-Friendly Products Keep Failing
August 14, 2023 07:00 - 28 minutes - 22.3 MBPeople say they want eco-friendly products, but they rarely actually buy them. Why? Because their marketing is all wrong. Utah State University marketing professor Ed Stafford explains. Sponsor: Paper & Packaging Board. Learn more at howlifeunfolds.com/innovation
Where the Greatest Creative Ideas Come From
August 07, 2023 07:00 - 25 minutes - 35.2 MBSimplicity! In this episode, legendary creative Peter Arnell (who helped shape DKNY, Samsung, PepsiCo, and more) breaks down his creative process — and shares how to make the most complex ideas memorably simple. Peter's new book is "Peter Arnell: Portfolio 1980 - 2020".
The Greatest Meetings Policy Ever
July 31, 2023 07:00 - 39 minutes - 53.7 MBAt The Lactation Network, anyone can opt out of any meeting. Why? Because CEO Sarah Kellogg Neff has a philosophy about meetings and company culture — and you need to hear it.
Why More Creative People Should Be In Leadership Roles
July 24, 2023 12:48 - 33 minutes - 46.5 MBAdvertising legend David Droga, founder of Droga5 and now head of Accenture Song, explains why there should be more creatives in the C-suite — and why creatives should start seeing themselves as business leaders.
Prepare for the Worst With "The Flexible Method"
July 17, 2023 07:00 - 22 minutes - 31.2 MBJames Burstall is a high-powered entertainment producer, but he's also a guy who saved his business from disaster many times. His new book, The Flexible Method, offers a 16-point way to prepare for and navigate any disaster. He shares some of his points here.
How to Make Customers 28% Happier!
July 10, 2023 07:00 - 19 minutes - 15 MBMultiple studies prove it: Sustainable products make people happier, and inspire them to spend more money. We go through the research with Thomas McKinlay of Ariyh.com. Sponsor: Paper & Packaging Board. Learn more at howlifeunfolds.com/innovation
How to Speak and Be Truly Understood
July 03, 2023 07:00 - 33 minutes - 46.5 MBWhat you say is important, but how you say it matters even more. Tone coach Marshall Davis Jones, author of the new book "Tonal Influence", explains how to master the meaning behind your words.
Why LinkedIn Doesn't Want You Going "Viral"
June 27, 2023 01:57 - 47 minutes - 109 MBLinkedIn has made some big changes to its algorithm. So what kind of posts does the system now reward? LinkedIn editor in chief Dan Roth and director of product Alice Xiong walk us through it.
Find Meaningful Work in a Post-Career World
June 19, 2023 07:00 - 22 minutes - 30.8 MBHow do you find meaningful work? Start by recognizing what is meaningful. Bruce Feiler, author of "The Search", breaks down the lies we tell ourselves about work, the many different jobs we have, and the literal ABCs of meaning.
Everything You Know About Dieting Is Wrong
June 12, 2023 11:42 - 24 minutes - 33.9 MBEntrepreneurs need to take better care of themselves, but the health advice we hear is often so strange and conflicting. What's real? Adam Bornstein, author of the new book "You Can't Screw This Up", offers the entrepreneur's guide through the messy world of wellness.
Write Emails That People Actually Open
June 05, 2023 07:00 - 30 minutes - 42.3 MBExpert copywriter Laura Belgray explains what you're doing wrong in your emails (and especially your newsletters), and how a few simple changes can boost open rates and engagement. Laura's copywriting company is at TalkingShrimp.com, and her new book is "Tough Titties: On Living Your Best Life When You're the F'ing Worst". — Book time with Jason at intro.co/jasonfeifer