Problem Solvers (Entrepreneur.com)

Bureaucracy doesn't have to grind you down, says Marina Nitze, who has fixed government bureaucracies and now has lessons for us all. She's the co-author of the new book, "Hack Your Bureaucracy."

Do you know what makes your brand special? Sometimes, you're wrong — and the "special sauce" you cling to can actually be holding your company back. That's the story of HiBall, an energy drink that was struggling to gain traction... until they rethought a critical part of the brand. Sales went through the roof, and the company was sold to Anheuser-Busch. Here, HiBall cofounder Dan Craytor explains what happened.

Not 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.

This episode turns into a Sliding Doors special. Jason talks to a former colleague from 20 years ago, whose career didn't turn out the way he hoped for, and then offers advice on how to play catch up. This episode is from Jason's other podcast, Help Wanted, which you can find here: https://link.chtbl.com/LsYdERXQ

Our culture is full of difficult, important, hot-button issues — and even if you want to avoid them, you can't always. Sometimes you need to discuss or address them. So, how? Paul Kix has spent a long time figuring that out with his new book, "You Have To Be Prepared To Die Before You Can Begin To Live." On this episode, he explains how to do it with honesty and humility.

Lenny Rachitsky built a thriving newsletter about product development. Here's how he did it, step by step, and how he's now making more money from the newsletter than he did as a product lead at Airbnb.

James 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.

You'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.

If 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 business partner.

Expert 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

The alcohol brand Soso Sake has blown up on TikTok (@sososakesoda). Its strategy? They film supermarket tastings, and post videos of people's worst reactions. This wasn't the brand's first idea, and it came with a lot of risk — but here, their CMO Mike Brown explains how it became such a hit.

In every partnership, there will be disagreements. But they don't have to ruin your relationships. Today, listen in on a coaching session about this: Jason talks with an entrepreneur who disagrees with his cofounders (and family members!). This is an episode from Jason's other podcast, Help Wanted.

How 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.

Most 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 more). In this episode, he explains how he did it. Learn more about him at sahilbloom.com.

Yes, 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.

Our 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)

In 1923, a famous scientist predicted how work would change in 2023. Now, 100 years later, we can confirm: He was shockingly right… and yet totally wrong. What happened? The answers can tell you a lot about what’s coming in the next 100 years, and how technology will (and maybe won’t) change work forever. This episode originally aired on the podcast "Build For Tomorrow".

Are you setting the right boundaries at work? In this episode, we pick apart a very real relationship between an employee and employer, and see where boundaries end... and where assumptions begin. For more like it, listen to the new podcast "Help Wanted".

This episode is sponsored by Target Accelerators. Learn more here: https://entm.ag/targetaccelerators

Should 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.

Our speech is full of likes, ums, and you knows, and that's not a bad thing. Sociolinguist Valerie Fridland, author of the new book "Like, Literally, Dude" explains the critical purpose these phrases play in our speech, and why you should embrace them.

How 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.

Jaliyla Fraser is the Founder and CEO of Fraser’s Mathematics Solutions. What started as a STEAM summer camp for students, Fraser’s Mathematics Solutions now provides high-quality mathematics learning for administrators, teachers, and parents to help the students in their lives succeed. Fraser’s Mathematics Solutions also produces school supplies for students to help them reach their full potential.

Listen to the Side Hustle to Small Business podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or visit: entm.ag/hiscox

Naveen Jain, serial entrepreneur and founder of Viome, believes that outsiders make the greatest disruptors. So how do you know when you're onto something? In this episode, he shares the three most important questions to ask yourself — and how he answered them.

It'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.

LinkedIn 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.

Entrepreneurs 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.

Does self-promotion make you uncomfortable? You need to start — because if you don't talk yourself up, nobody else will! On today's episode, I offer my four rules of self-promotion, four ways to talk yourself up if you're afraid to do it, and then how to handle the inevidable haters. These are all tips from my newsletter, One Thing Better.

Shark Tank's Barbara Corcoran explains the importance of giving (and getting) direct feedback, why being silly is a good business strategy, and what it takes to thrive despite the largest setbacks.

What 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.

Entrepreneurs often take on too much, so when should you say "yes" to something new? I talk about that with best-selling author Dan Heath, a busy guy who took on a new project, a great podcast called What It's Like To Be... In this episode, we discuss how to evaluate new ideas, which are worth committing to, and how to know if they're truly valuable.

How do you build a great cofounder relationship? Pat Flynn and Matt Gartland have figured it out — and have built Smart Passive Income into a gigantic success. Here, they explain how.

Special announcement! Our annual Franchise 500 list is out, providing you with the best opportunities to buy a business. Which is right for you? Entrepreneur magazine Jason Feifer explains what goes into the list, and how it can benefit you. Learn more at entrepreneur.com/franchise500

Want 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.

Are you prepared to sell your business? Even if a sale is many years away, you should start planning now — and avoid the common mistakes that devalue many other businesses. CLA managing principal of industry Brandon Knight explains why not all businesses are sellable, why you need to build a leadership team, and why it's so important to look at your impact beyond your business.

This episode is brought to you by CLA — CliftonLarsonAllen LLP. See how CLA can help you, your family, and your employees prepare for the seamless transition of your business. Visit CLAconnect.com

Joelle 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.

If 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.

Influencer 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.

Are 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

How 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.

Want 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.

What 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.

Seth 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

Why 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.

One 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 learn more and invest in HiberTec at https://republic.com/hibertec-homes

Advertising 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.

How do you make a million? And what does it actually get you? Sam Parr and Shaan Puri, cohosts of the popular My First Million podcast (who have made multiples of millions themselves), share what they've learned in this candid conversation about money.

Have you been told you're a perfectionist — and not in a good way? Psychotherapist Katherine Morgan Schafler says we have it all wrong, and explains how you can use perfectionism as a strength. She's the author of the new book "The Perfectionist's Guide to Losing Control".

See NordLocker Business in action now with a 3-month free trial here nordlocker.com/creators with code PROBLEMSOLVERS

Kelly Erhart read about an interesting way to address climate change, but it was stuck in academia and didn't have the funding for real-world application. Even though she isn't a scientist and didn't have connections to people in this space, she threw herself into creating a solution — and now, at age 26, she's running a public benefit corp called Vesta that's raised $6 million and putting this climate-protecting idea into practice. This is how she did it.

Sponsor: Paper & Packaging Board. Learn more at howlifeunfolds.com

How do you take a crazy idea, and turn it into an actual business? Matt Williams, the cofounder and Chief Cookie Officer of OpenFortune, explains how he's built a business by creating an entirely new kind of advertising space.

Lots 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.

How can a mission-oriented company help tackle gigantic global problems? By narrowing your focus. That's the message from Ryan Jeffrey, senior managing director at a VC firm and accelerator called gener8tor, which supports startups that focus on climate change. We discuss how to identify a small problem worth solving inside of a gigantic issue. Sponsor: Paper & Packaging Board. Learn more at howlifeunfolds.com

People 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

Dan Martell says we don't hire people to grow our business. We hire people to buy back time out of our calendar. His new book is called Buy Back Your Time, and in this episode, he explains how to do that — starting by calculating your specific "buyback rate."

Have 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.

Many 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.

What is your company's purpose? And how can you protect it, even as you grow? Harvard Business School professor Ranjay Gulati, who also hosts the podcast Deep Purpose, explains.

Andrew Wilkinson went from barista to billionaire, and often wonders: When does it feel like he's accomplished enough? It's why he wrote his new book, "Never Enough." In this deep and personal conversation, we explore what it means to constantly want more, and how to find satisfaction in your accomplishments.

This is how founders should always talk! Chris Mears has been in startups for 20 years, and talks honestly about the challenges of getting his new one, Wild Clean, off the ground. Contribute to his Kickstarter at launch.wildclean.com

Want to become a keynote speaker, but you're not sure how to get on stage and get paid? Katrina Mitchell has advice. She's the founder of Franchise Speakers, an agency that books speakers for franchise events, and shares how speakers can find their niche, develop their product, and start making money.

Resorts 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.

Cal 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 writer who's interviewed major celebrities and CEOs — has some very surprising answers.

When Barbie sales were falling, the company asked Richard Dickson to help save the famous toy. He became its president and COO — and here, he explains the four-point playbook he drew up to turn Barbie sales around. (And it worked!)

How 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.

This 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.

Pat Flynn and Matt Garland of Smart Passive Income share what entrepreneurs need to do today to improve their business. This is a special bonus "roundtable" episode of Problem Solvers, and the beginning of a fun experiment where Entrepreneur Podcast Network hosts join together to discuss the subjects most important to you. 

Christina Fagan Pardy started Shit That I Knit as a side hustle. It's now a thriving knitwear business. She made a decision early to source sustainable materials and pay living wages to South American workers, and that has come with many costs, many challenges... and many rewards.

Sponsor: Paper & Packaging Board. Learn more at howlifeunfolds.com

At 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.

Here's a strategy for talking people down. And I have the emails to prove it!

Jordan Harbinger (of the Jordan Harbinger Show) hosts a top podcast that makes big bucks. But how did he build it, and how can you build your own profitable show? On this episode, he explains.

This episode is sponsored by Target Accelerators. Learn more here: https://entm.ag/targetaccelerators

Multiple 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 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 the world’s most urgent problems.

Sponsor: Paper & Packaging Board. Learn more at howlifeunfolds.com/innovation

Leadership expert Logan Stout asks his clients that all the time. In this episode, he explains how leaders lose their way, and takes us into a powerful coaching session where he helped a leader reconnect with the things that matter most.

When 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.

Would 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.

People 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.hbr.org/subscriptions and enter PROMO CODE: SOLVERS to take advantage of this great offer.

Donald Miller made 537 mistakes in growing his business, and he did six things right. In this episode, the author of the new book "How to Grow Your Small Business" explains all six.

How do you navigate tricky power dynamics at work? Leadership consultant (and author of the new book "Quick Confidence") Selena Rezvani has the answer. And it all starts by working with the person... and not their power.

Want 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

In this special 300th episode, Jason reveals some of the biggest lessons he's learned in communications — including a fascinating shift in podcasting, how to build a newsletter people really want to read, and more. If you want to reach an audience of any kind, even just an audience of one, you'll want to hear this.

How can you build a business, without it consuming your life? Kathleen Griffith, author of the book "Build Like A Woman", explains how to keep both things healthy — step by step.

Simplicity! 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".

Have 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.

Jon Taffer is celebrating 250 episodes of his hit TV show Bar Rescue. In this episode, he shares how he evolved into the screaming, food-throwing guy you see on TV — and the lessons that any aspiring leader can learn from it. (It won't be what you think!)

This episode is sponsored by Okta. The world’s Identity company.
To learn more, visit https://www.okta.com/

David Walker is the Founder of iCell Consulting LLC, a consulting firm specializing in telecommunications analysis. After a successful career in telecommunications, David decided to start the business by pursuing his skill of analyzing telephone records. Working with multiple telecommunications companies, David has helped solve over 200 criminal cases, bringing him across the country over the last decade.

Listen to the Side Hustle to Small Business podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or visit: entm.ag/hiscox

You're unique, so why can't customers see it? In this episode, you'll get an answer — by dropping in on a real consulting session! David Lederman is an executive mentor who struggles to stand out among a sea of coaches. Brand expert Kerry Harris helps him, and also gives you the tools to stand out from your competitors.

FamousBirthdays.com looks simple — it just collects the birthdays of famous (and not-so-famous) people. But the business and thinking behind it is much more complex. In this episode, a journey into the system behind one of the internet's most curious destinations.

You don't want to be locked down. You'd rather have multiple sources of income. But how? Eloise Skinner, author of the new book "But Are You Alive?", explains.

Our sponsors:

• Sunday - Get 20% off when you visit getsunday.com/PROBLEMSOLVERS at checkout.
• Factor - Head to factormeals.com/problemsolvers50 and use code problemsolvers50 to get 50% off your first box.

Where 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.

Sometimes, 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 items across that divide. Garry and his team built Rheaply to solve that problem. It helps companies reuse products... if only they could get clients to recognize this as a problem, and realize the value of the solution. Here's how Rheaply did it.

Sponsor: Paper & Packaging Board. Learn more at howlifeunfolds.com/innovation

When you're afraid to take the leap, what finally pushes you? Sheri Lynch shares her answer. She's cohost of the nationally syndicated radio show Bob & Sheri, where she was once just a corporate employee... until she became so frustrated that she took the show independent. But it wasn't easy. And it required a total personal transformation.

Big 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 Business Review’s Content is available for free after signing up at their site, subscriptions to unlimited content start at only $10 a month. Go to www.hbr.org/subscriptions and enter PROMO CODE: SOLVERS right now to take advantage of this great offer.

We often take on too much, desire too much, or feel stuck between different paths. How can we navigate it? Social psychology professor Tessa West, author of the new book Job Therapy, helps us make sense of our complex paths — and our often complex relationship with work.

When the company Wilde Chips released its "chicken chips", nobody bought it. Then they changed the name, and the product started selling. Here's what happened, and a lesson for anyone trying to introduce a new idea to customers.

How 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.

Are 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.

Entrepreneurs make a mistake: They often think of decisions as binary, where one answer is definitely right and the other is definitely wrong. Astrophysicist Saul Perlmutter says there's a better way to approach decisions — and it's with "probabilistic thinking," a concept that's familiar to scientists but less so to businesspeople. Today, he explains. Saul also writes about this in his new book Third Millennium Thinking.

Are you bad at delegation? Just follow these three steps: Do it, document it, delegate it. That's the framework that Trainual founder (and operations expert) Chris Ronzio uses to teach people how to delegate. In this episode, he explains how to put it to use.

To avoid burnout, we can't just think about task management. We need to also think about energy management... and how productivity doesn't just mean "getting lots of stuff done." In this conversation with psychotherapist Katherine Morgan Schafler, author of the new book "The Perfectionist's Guide to Losing Control", she offers strategies for building yourself up for the long haul.