Good Business
66 episodes - English - Latest episode: 11 days ago - ★★★★★ - 16 ratingsHosted by Illana Burk who has 20 years experience guiding hundreds of entrepreneurial clients in creating profitable, ethically-driven, sustainable businesses based on their life’s work. Good Business is here to teach you how to do great work, make great money, and make a positive impact without feeling like you need a shower afterwards.
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Episodes
How to ask for and take feedback | GB63
April 16, 2024 22:00 - 18 minutes - 12.9 MBNavigating feedback can be daunting. In this episode, we dive into the skills of asking for and receiving feedback with intention and grace. Learn the art of crafting your asks to elicit constructive insights and how to gracefully accept the advice given, filter through biases, and grow from the experience. Whether it's refining your creative process or enhancing your professional journey, we share actionable tips on making feedback work for you. Listen now to learn the strategies that wil...
How to deal with business pauses | GB62
April 02, 2024 14:00 - 20 minutes - 14.4 MBDive into the realities of managing business amidst personal upheavals in this episode. Drawing from the Good Business Incubator community's experiences, we face balancing entrepreneurial demands and life's unpredictable events. Discover strategies for handling both planned and unplanned breaks, from creating financial buffers to building supportive networks. Whether you're currently facing a pause or planning for the future, this episode offers valuable insights and practical advice for mai...
The problem with most excellent plans | GB61
March 19, 2024 18:00 - 7 minutes - 5.33 MBEver plan an amazing business move but hit a roadblock? This episode tackles the "pothole" of poor planning for solopreneurs. Learn how to "right-size" your strategy based on your resources and set yourself up for sustainable success. Listen now! Good Business is hosted by Illana Burk, CEO of Your Life's Workshop llc and strategic coach to entrepreneurs, creative leaders, and industry disruptors the world over. For more details, visit YourLifesWorkshop.com.
When to stick and when to bail | GB60
March 05, 2024 14:00 - 12 minutes - 8.85 MBIn this 60th episode, we're diving into a crucial topic for entrepreneurs: knowing when to quit. This episode goes beyond the "stay positive" rhetoric. Host Illana is a pro-quitter and believes quitting strategically is essential for success. Learn a valuable framework to help you decide when to walk away or double down on your endeavors. We'll explore: The difference between quitting and giving up. Identifying when you've learned what you needed from an experience. Recognizing the pres...
You might not need a VA after all | GB59
February 20, 2024 20:00 - 14 minutes - 10.2 MBIn this episode, we discuss the crucial first steps in hiring and why starting in the wrong place can lead to problems. We explore the difference between what you want and what you actually need, and how to avoid wasting time and energy in the hiring process. Tune in to learn how to make smarter hiring decisions for your business. Good Business is hosted by Illana Burk, CEO of Your Life's Workshop llc and strategic coach to entrepreneurs, creative leaders, and industry disruptors the world ...
The most important 15 minutes of any client relationship | GB58
February 06, 2024 14:00 - 21 minutes - 14.6 MBIn this episode of The Good Business Podcast, Illana Burk discusses the significance of the first 15 minutes of a client meeting or call in setting the tone, establishing boundaries, and building trust. Learn how to effectively utilize those initial minutes to set expectations and create a clear partnership with the client. Good Business is hosted by Illana Burk, CEO of Your Life's Workshop llc and strategic coach to entrepreneurs, creative leaders, and industry disruptors the world over. ...
Want better clients? Make more mistakes. | GB57
January 23, 2024 10:00 - 23 minutes - 16.1 MBToday’s topic is all about mistakes. Why? Because we all make them and good business means managing the bad AND the good. People tell everyone they know when someone handles a mistake with elegance and class. But if you finish a project limping over a mistake, they ALSO tell everyone you know. Today's episode teaches you how to make mistakes well, so they can work for you instead of against you. Good Business is hosted by Illana Burk, CEO of Your Life's Workshop llc and strategic coach to e...
How to understand strengths and weaknesses | GB56
June 21, 2023 05:00 - 9 minutes - 6.55 MBIn this episode, Illana talks about what you can change and what you can't, what things are within your power and what are not, and how to deal with that. So that's our topic and we’re starting by talking about what is a SWOT analysis. Then we'll talk a little bit about what you can do about it, what it means, and then we will wrap up with a little bit about how to understand the resources that are available to you. And how they fit into that bigger picture of you know, what your strengths...
The Gauntlet | GB55
June 08, 2023 13:00 - 8 minutes - 6.12 MBHow do you get through the toughest time in your business without quitting or going crazy? In this episode of The Good Business Podcast, host Illana Burk is back. She introduces the topic of the "Gauntlet," describing it as a stage in business where everything seems to go wrong... over and over again. This phase often occurs during periods of growth when the next steps are unclear. How do you know if you're in it? How do you know when it's gonna end and how do you get out of it? Many ...
Asynchronous Income vs Passive Income | GB54
August 16, 2022 17:00 - 7 minutes - 5.4 MBAsynchronous income. What IS that?! In this episode, I talk about why passive income is a total misnomer, the difference between passive and asynchronous income, and what you can find in the middle between (the myth of) passive income and exchanging dollars for hours. Find out how we define asynchronous income and whether or not it's right for your business. How could you create asynchronous income streams to allow you to flatten out your income so there are fewer peaks and valleys? Good...
You don't have to be a commodity | GB53
August 02, 2022 22:00 - 10 minutes - 7.22 MBHow to know what you should commodify and what you shouldn't. In this episode, I address the idea that we don't actually have to become commodities in order to be successful business owners. First, I discuss what I mean by commodity, and what's the difference between being a commodity and not being one. Then I talk a bit about what it means to make that conscious choice to take a different path. Good Business is hosted by Illana Burk, CEO of Your Life's Workshop llc and strategic coach ...
Let's talk about ethical marketing | GB52
June 21, 2022 23:00 - 22 minutes - 15.7 MBWhat is ethical marketing? What does it mean? What doesn't it mean? And are you afraid of the wrong thing? Lately, there's been a new flavor to the ethical marketing and selling conversation happening amongst small business owners and marketers around what is ethical, what you're allowed to do and not allowed to do. Today I am talking about being afraid of saying the wrong thing and whether or not that's a bad thing, how to stay connected to your customers, and how you can aspire to not ...
Offer Design Part 5: Does your offer make the world better? | GB51
June 14, 2022 11:00 - 8 minutes - 6.2 MBDoes your work make the world a better place? When you think about creating an offer, do you think about the impact of what you're doing? And how do you think about it? In this episode, I talk about how to consider impact when it's not always straightforward. Let's dive into how to think about sustainability even as a solopreneur or small business and what place the triple bottom line has in your offer design. Good Business is hosted by Illana Burk, CEO of Your Life's Workshop llc and str...
What I do and why I do it | GB50
May 25, 2022 12:00 - 18 minutes - 12.8 MBThis is our 50th episode! I'm marking the occasion and sharing more about my own professional journey. In this episode, I talk about how I got where I am today, the big why, the triple bottom line, the kind of clients I work with, teaching leadership, and more. Join me. And thanks for listening. I am truly grateful that you're here. Good Business is hosted by Illana Burk, CEO of Your Life's Workshop llc and strategic coach to entrepreneurs, creative leaders, and industry disruptors the wo...
Offer Design Part 4: What does done look like? | GB49
May 18, 2022 16:00 - 11 minutes - 7.74 MBThis episode is part four of the Offer Design series. And today's topic is: What does done look like? What does the end of a client relationship look and feel like? And how do you know when you get there? And are you even designing one with an ending? First, we will look at how you think about this right from the jump. How do you think about finishing when you haven't even started? And is that going to be different for every client? Or do you want an open-ended loop? Are you more inter...
Offer Design Part 3: Delivery on your terms | GB48
May 10, 2022 19:00 - 10 minutes - 7.02 MBIn part 3 of the Offer Design Series, we talk about delivery. How you deliver is as important as what you deliver. Helping your clients or customers doesn't always mean doing it their way. Be the leader and make the choices that best serve. I use as an example how I have clients communicate with me between sessions. I used to let them choose the method, but that created more obstacles to doing good work. I had to change the way I delivered in order to keep my promises to clients. Good Busin...
Offer Design Part 2: Good scheduling is good leading | GB47
May 03, 2022 19:00 - 11 minutes - 7.82 MBToday’s episode is the second in our series on offer design. And it’s all about leading through scheduling. Leading well in any offer design starts with designing the schedule of your offer and making sure it is aligned with your own schedule. Not surprisingly, this ties in with keeping your promises from Offer Design Part 1. Good Business is hosted by Illana Burk, CEO of Your Life's Workshop llc and strategic coach to entrepreneurs, creative leaders, and industry disruptors the world over....
Offer Design Part 1: Know your promise | GB46
April 26, 2022 20:00 - 9 minutes - 6.38 MBToday's episode is all about knowing the promises that you're making and knowing if you can keep them. It's the foundation point of any good offer, whether you are making jewelry or you are designing a new coaching program or you are creating a web design project. It doesn't really matter. Offer design begins with a promise. What is the promise that you're making? And do you know if you can keep it? Good Business is hosted by Illana Burk, CEO of Your Life's Workshop llc and strategic coach ...
How to do AMAZING consults - Part 3 | GB45
April 12, 2022 16:00 - 9 minutes - 6.42 MBToday, we're going to talk about how to bring it all home. This is a pretty straightforward closing. The kicker here, and this is really important, is to tell them no. Listen in to find out why and how to close your consults. Good Business is hosted by Illana Burk, CEO of Your Life's Workshop llc and strategic coach to entrepreneurs, creative leaders, and industry disruptors the world over. For more details, visit YourLifesWorkshop.com.
How to do AMAZING consults - Part 2 | GB44
April 05, 2022 15:00 - 8 minutes - 6.18 MBThis episode is the second in a series on how to do amazing consults and why it matters. The answer is not just "because it's how you get money." We're using consults as a basic template. But the structural process that I'm going to lay out for you can be applied to anything from doing a job interview to interviewing a new assistant to starting any kind of relationship. The meaty part in the middle of a consult has to be where you show the best of yourself. How do you ask the right question...
How to do AMAZING consults - Part 1 | GB43
March 29, 2022 20:00 - 13 minutes - 9.28 MBThis episode is the first in a series on how to do amazing consults and why it matters. The answer is not just "because it's how you get money." We're using consults as a basic template. But the structural process that I'm going to lay out for you can be applied to anything from doing a job interview to interviewing a new assistant to starting any kind of relationship. Most people approach consults like, "How can I close this as fast as possible? How can I get this person to sign on the do...
How to be responsible with words that matter | GB42
March 02, 2022 08:00 - 11 minutes - 7.87 MBIn this episode, we are talking about language and leadership. This is one of my favorite topics because we are going to talk about the words that need to f-ing go. Good Business is hosted by Illana Burk, CEO of Your Life's Workshop llc and strategic coach to entrepreneurs, creative leaders, and industry disruptors the world over. For more details, visit YourLifesWorkshop.com.
But IS IT a revolution? Really? | GB41
February 25, 2022 04:00 - 12 minutes - 8.78 MBIn this episode, we talk about what productive antithetical marketing can look like, what it isn't, and what any of this has to do with toilet paper. Good Business is hosted by Illana Burk, CEO of Your Life's Workshop llc and strategic coach to entrepreneurs, creative leaders, and industry disruptors the world over. For more details, visit YourLifesWorkshop.com.
Why nothing you do matters when nothing you do matters | GB40
February 16, 2022 08:00 - 14 minutes - 9.68 MBIn this episode, we're talking about impact. When you're trying to make a positive impact, it can be very frustrating to feel like nothing you're doing matters. It's the thing that generally stops people from doing impact-driven, social justice type work because it feels like a drop in the ocean. And you know what, here's the really uncomfortable truth. It probably is. Without power, nothing you do matters. Good Business is hosted by Illana Burk, CEO of Your Life's Workshop llc and str...
What does it feel like to lead with power? | GB39
February 09, 2022 01:00 - 7 minutes - 5.54 MBThis episode is all about what it feels like to lead with power. This might seem like a bit of a misnomer. Obviously, if you're going to lead, then you have to have power, right? Well, it's not actually true. This week, I talk about powerless leadership and what it looks like, the kind of power you want for effective leadership, and what it feels like to lead with (or without) power. Do you want to know what you have, what you are capable of, and what makes you effective? Join me for this ...
What does it feel like to lead with power? | GB39
February 09, 2022 01:00 - 7 minutes - 5.53 MBThis episode is all about what it feels like to lead with power. This might seem like a bit of a misnomer. Obviously, if you're going to lead, then you have to have power, right? Well, it's not actually true. This week, I talk about powerless leadership and what it looks like, the kind of power you want for effective leadership, and what it feels like to lead with (or without) power. Do you want to know what you have, what you are capable of, and what makes you effective? Join me for this ...
Making peace with wanting power | GB38
February 01, 2022 16:00 - 12 minutes - 8.73 MBToday we're talking about a topic that is core to leadership. It's about making peace with power. And with wanting power. It sounds like a simple thing, right? But... are you actually comfortable with the acquisition of power and what to do when you have it? In order to make a real impact, accepting the need for power is a huge deal. This episode will have you think about your relationship with power as it is now and whether or not resistance to wanting power is getting in your way. G...
Identifying your leadership values | GB37
January 25, 2022 14:00 - 11 minutes - 8.15 MBThis episode is all about identifying your leadership values. It might not sound sexy, but it's essential. This is not going to be the standard "what are your values?" And you say, "honesty," and then we move on. It's not what we're doing right now. First off, we're going to articulate the need. Why do you need to know what your leadership values are? Second, we're going to talk about what leadership values even are. And then we're going to talk about how to figure out what yours are. Go...
The future of leadership | GB36
January 18, 2022 13:00 - 12 minutes - 8.54 MBLet's talk about the future of leadership. It's not a light conversation, so grab a coffee and settle in. Leadership is broken, like real broken. We don't actually know how to do this. And I want to talk about what to do about that and what the future might look like. So today I'm going to do a little rant about what's not working. I'm going to talk a little bit about some examples of, of ways in which changing things for the future is likely not helping. And then, I'm going to give you s...
What does leadership mean to you? | GB35
January 11, 2022 09:00 - 13 minutes - 9.18 MBGood Business episodes are usually to teach something, whatever's top of mind that day. But this episode marks something new. Today's episode is the starting line for 12 months of content where we're going to talk about leadership. What it is, what it isn't, what it means, and why it's important. Good Business is hosted by Illana Burk, CEO of Your Life's Workshop llc and strategic coach to entrepreneurs, creative leaders, and industry disruptors the world over. For more details, visit...
The power of constraint | GB34
August 10, 2021 21:00 - 16 minutes - 11.4 MBThis episode is about constraint and the power of constraint. And today we're going to dig into the difference between constraint and scarcity and false scarcity and how those three things affect users, buyers, and consumers differently, no matter what you do. Good Business is hosted by Illana Burk, CEO of Your Life's Workshop llc and strategic coach to entrepreneurs, creative leaders, and industry disruptors the world over. For more details, visit YourLifesWorkshop.com.
Be willing to tear it all down | GB33
July 29, 2021 08:00 - 19 minutes - 13.6 MBToday, we are going to talk about something that comes up again and again. And that is the willingness to pivot, to make big changes when you see them as necessary. Now a lot of this ties into the basic concept of objectivity. And we're going to touch on that a little bit too. But today is really about making peace with something that we are told our whole lives, that we're not supposed to make peace with, which is that something is not actually better than nothing. Good Business is hosted ...
What is your work ACTUALLY worth? | GB32
May 21, 2021 17:00 - 12 minutes - 8.47 MBI'm so excited to be back in the saddle and podcasting again, and coming to all of you with all kinds of fun, new stuff today. I want to jump right in and talk about something that's really, really important to me. And that is how we value our worth. I've been really amazed at how people talk about worth in the online space and in the business space. We tend to not really think about worth, especially as women, we don't think about worth in the same way that men do. I mean, it's an interes...
Why you shouldn't start a membership site | GB31
October 16, 2020 17:48 - 26 minutes - 18.6 MBToday's episode is all about how to look a little closer at the ever-growing trend of membership sites all over the place and how to know if you should jump on the bandwagon or not.
Four not shocking business disappointments | GB30
May 05, 2020 20:44 - 10 minutes - 7.27 MBToday’s episode is about the simple idea that your business exists not just to support you and your stakeholders, but to support your community.
Be of service and don't be a sh*thead | GB29
April 20, 2020 21:12 - 12 minutes - 8.95 MBToday's episode is all about how to not be a jerk in the middle of a crisis.
Avoid the piles of bricks. | GB28
February 04, 2020 05:00 - 10 minutes - 6.99 MBToday, we talk all about that craptastic feeling of being buried. Underwater. Crushed by the weight of big ideas, neverending task lists, and elephant-sized goals.
When you're failing, learn how to ask the right questions | GB 27
January 21, 2020 05:00 - 10 minutes - 7.56 MBToday’s episode is all about how to not shoot yourself in the foot right out the gate. I’m gonna break down one very common mistake that newbies (and non-newbies) make and how to fix it. Today, we learn how to ask for help and guidance in a way that doesn't totally tank your chances of actually getting it.
Freelance Files: Why over-delivery is the enemy of getting rehired | GB 26
January 07, 2020 08:30 - 7 minutes - 5.1 MBThings like adding extra value to something you do is fine. What I’m talking about is when you completely blow the scope of what was asked of you out of the water.
Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. | GB 25
December 11, 2019 23:42 - 11 minutes - 8.03 MBToday’s episode of The Good Business Podcast is all about my very favorite quote in the whole world. “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” by Arthur Ashe
Why impact matters as much as marketing, sales, or strategy. | GB 24
October 29, 2019 03:59 - 5 minutes - 3.99 MBToday’s episode is less of a lesson than recent episodes. Instead, today we’re making a case for a topic we’ll be talking a LOT more about in the future: IMPACT. What it is. Why it matters. And how to pay attention to it.
Market visibility for people who care about other people | GB 23
October 15, 2019 05:00 - 7 minutes - 5.36 MBToday is a branch off of our stakeholder conversation. If you listened to that episode, you should have a clear picture of exactly who matters to you and your work and why, as well as how much time you have for your work without sacrificing what those VIPs need and expect from you. Next up, we talk about exposure, protection, and the responsibility you have to those who matter most.
Know Your Stakeholders | GB22
October 01, 2019 04:00 - 8 minutes - 5.87 MBIn this episode, I’m going to walk you through how to think about establishing your stakeholders, the steps you need to take to do so, and how to make decisions based on who they are without compromising those big fat dreams we’ve been talking about.
Pricing Basics: Why discounts are the worst thing you can do for a values based business and what to do instead | GB21
September 17, 2019 04:31 - 16 minutes - 11.6 MBToday’s episode dovetails on our last one, where we talked all about how your value isn’t determined by your price tag. Today, we’re talking about discounts. First, we’ll talk about why businesses offer them, what their purpose is and when they ARE a good idea. Then we’ll talk about why they are probably a bad idea for you and what to do instead.
Pricing Basics: your value is not attached to your price | GB 20
September 03, 2019 04:00 - 11 minutes - 7.63 MBThis episode breaks down the popular trope that if you don't charge a lot, people won't value your work. First, we talk about the conditions that make this a common piece of advice. Then I lay out why this is complete crap for certain kinds of businesses.
Why trustbuilding beats listbuilding every day of the week | GB19
August 20, 2019 04:00 - 8 minutes - 6.18 MBToday we're talking about why trust building beats list building every day of the week. We talk about why having a primary focus on list building in client acquisition is the very best way to feel like you are banging your head against a wall.
CEO Mindset: Looking into the dark | GB18
August 06, 2019 20:05 - 7 minutes - 5.02 MBToday’s episode is on one area of what people call the ‘CEO Mindset’. First, we’ll dig in a little to what people THINK this means. Then, we’ll talk through what it ACTUALLY means. And finally, we’ll wrap up with some simple truths about how to do this better and why doing so is necessary to actually grow.
What to do when you just can't get fired up about a great idea | GB17
July 23, 2019 17:27 - 5 minutes - 4.05 MBToday’s episode is all about what to do when you’re working on something that you love but you can’t figure out why it just. isn’t. working. First, we’ll talk about what it feels like to love something but not be lit UP by it. Then we’ll talk about what to do about it and how to fix it. And finally, we’ll wrap up with some inspiring examples of how this works in action.
You should quit. Here's why. | GB16
July 05, 2019 18:49 - 7 minutes - 4.86 MBQuitting usually comes with shame. It feels like bad decisions and ignorance and can certainly be predicated on failure, but it is, and will always be a choice that is 100% within your control. You can’t be forced to quit. You can only choose to quit.
The Content Series Part 3: Take responsibility for your words | GB15
June 21, 2019 19:56 - 6 minutes - 4.6 MBEach communication or point of contact you have with your people will have a ripple effect on every subsequent interaction. A blog post from years ago - left to languish in the annals of Google - that has nothing to do with your current work - can tell a potential client all the wrong things about who you are and what you do NOW.