Company Of One With Dale Callahan

How to calculate how valuable you are to your boss. Sounds like a big promise? Does it sound like math? Both are true - but I can handle the promise and the math is pretty simple - so you can handle it. While we measure value in a lot of different ways, the most powerful way to show value is by showing your financial impact to the company. You only have two reasons for being on the payroll. To make the company money. By this I mean you directly contribute to the revenue. If you are part of bringing the product and/or service to the customer, you are about making money. If you are in sales, product development, or production (you create the product or service) or have a role interfacing with the customer, you are likely revenue-generating. To save the company money. These would be people who are making the company more efficient and profitable and possibly those who keep customers coming back. Project management, much of accounting and finance, quality, safety, or any kind of other back-office administration f

17 Ways to Market Yourself. Yes, I said market yourself. As we move through the four roles of your Company of One model (See Episode 174: Grow Your Own Company of One) we are now focused on your CMO or your Chief Marketing Officer.You might notice some overlap - which is normal. The last few episodes dealt with how to become better at operations - or your COO role. As you might expect - operations and market overlap in many places.But the key focus areas are different: The COO is focused on delivering value to the customer.  The CMO is focused on communicating value to the customer - how it can or how it was delivered.  So today we will focus on the 17 Ways to Market Yourself - a quick and powerful list to help you get amazing results.17 Ways to Market Yourself1. Define your expertise. Who do you help, how, and what benefit do they get from your help? For example, ”I help technology professionals connect their tech experience to their personal brand and company so they can maximize their income and growth whi

Three tools for powerful focus and incredible results. Sound like a big promise? Perhaps - but these three proven tools have a long track record of results in companies like Google, Intel, Youtube, and MyFitnessPal.The three tools are 1) Four Disciples of Execution, 2) Objectives and Key Results, and 3) Entrepreneurial Operating System.Each of the three tools is similar in that they drive focus and results. You only need one of the three, but since each tool works better in specific environments, we will take a look at all of them spending more of our time on the first tool, since it is most likely to have a positive impact on your Company of One."Ideas are easy, execution is everything" -- John DoerrA Quick RecapIn the last few weeks I have been going over the Company of One model: Episode 174: Grow Your Own Company of One - An overview of the model itself covering the 4 roles - operations, marketing, finance, and research. Episode 175: The Three Kinds of People at Work. Which one are you? - The mi

Become Better at Your Job? I know that you are likely thinking, "I am already good at my job!"I hope that is true. But, can you become better at your job? I think we all know the answer is yes - we can always be better.Why should you? If you can become better at your job you will have greater work satisfaction, improve your relationships with your coworkers, be more productive, impress your leaders, and grow your income.If nothing else caught your eye - I hope the idea of increasing your income did. Is this selfish thinking? Sure. But the whole point of working is for income - so the idea of maximizing income should be part of your mission. Since you are a Company of One, you should operate like one and look for ways to grow profit. (See Episode 174)Only Two Ways to Make More MoneyI forget where I heard it, but I remember someone telling me that there were only two ways to make more money. To work more hours. To become more valuable.If you are paid by the hour, working more hours will do the trick.

Seven things you must know about your boss. Too often we think that our job description is supposed to tell us about our job. Of course, we all know that is does not, and it is often the joke - or the point of contention. But forget your job description - after all, it is more about protecting your employer legally than it is about you.So what is your real job description?Your Boss = Your CustomerIn episode 174, I covered the Company of One concept. In this concept, I explained that the customer is the person who hands money to you in exchange for the services you perform. So, your boss is your customer.But let's get a little more specific. The customer is any person who can impact the flow of money into your pocket. This means that your boss, your boss's boss, your co-worker, your vendors, etc. Yes - it gets complicated.But it is always complex. Think of a car dealer trying to sell a new car. You and your five-year-old son go into the dealer to look. Your five-year-old is not the person who is goin

There are only three kinds of people at work. I am not talking about the normal grouping of the three kinds of people you might have heard of before: Those that make things happen. Those that watch what happens. Those who wonder what happened.(By the way, I might add a fourth - those who have no idea anything happened. But that is not my point today.)But, I have noticed that we can divide three kinds of people in another way  - how they think, and what they have been taught to do.These three kinds of people are: Victims Followers LeadersI have found, and you have likely noticed yourself, that these three groups dominate the economy, politics, and certainly the workplace. Let's focus now at work.So today, we are continuing our discussion of the Company of One concept (from episode 174), but taking a moment to deal with MINDSET - something so critical to becoming a profitable Company of One.What are you? A victim? A follower? Or a leader?The Three Kinds of People at WorkVictimsAlways applying for governmen

Ready to grow your own company of one.Since the title of this podcast is Company of One, many of you are asking lately, "What do I mean by the "company of one?"So today, I want to help you understand this concept and grow your own Company of One.Why? It will help you see some of the misconceptions about the work we have been taught. It will bring your freedom. It will help you make more money.Grow Your Own Company of OneTo explain the company of one, we will look at a company we all know.The Business ModelLet me us Walmart to help depict this model. We all know of Walmart. But have you ever thought about the critical thing that happens in Wallmart? In fact, the only thing Walmart focuses on. It happens as a relationship. When you hand over money in return for goods/services. This exchange of money for goods and services is what we call doing business.This model is typically called the business model. In this model, the person who hands over the cash is the customer, and the one that takes the m

How can you further your career during the COVID crisis? Or put another way, how can you use the crisis to grow? While there are many people who are out of work or on limited hours, the separation and time warp we are living in has pushed us all to do some things differently. Besides wearing masks, washing our hands, and social distancing - this crisis should be giving us some new unexpected skills and some new perspective. So can you use this time to further your career during the COVID-19 crisis? I think so. In fact, if you pay attention, you might already be enhancing your skills.How to Further Your Career During the COVID-19 Crisis1. Think StrategicallyRethink the goal. Where will you be in the next crisis? A bit of strategic thinking on your own career can help you strengthen your thinking muscle as you get back to work. All jobs and careers need evaluating from time to time to make sure you and your team are on track. Practice it now by thinking about where you want to be in the next 5 years.2. Better M

Is fear stopping you from starting your business?Before you answer this question, make sure you look clearly at all the common signs of fear. If you think it is something else holding you back from your startup, you might not be doing the right things to get past it.Today we want to look at the common signs that fear is controlling you.Like anything else, identifying the core problem is half of the solution.Is Fear Stopping You from Starting Your Business?Here are common signs of fear that I see every day in startups.What kind of business should I start? Do not know what to do. This statement is a sign of indecision - usually coming from fear. What are you afraid of?  That you do not know enough? That someone will laugh at you? That you might have to work?The problem is, you already have tons of ideas - most are right in front of you. They are your calling. To find an idea, go through the calling exercise.Is fear stopping you?How to get past it: Download my ebook on calling. See my example.I do not know wher

Our ugly startup story is something I have told many times - usually when I am speaking at an event. But, since I recorded the 9 steps to generate $30,000 per year, I have been talking to many of you about how you can start something. A lot of misconceptions and overcomplicated ideas out there. I wanted to open up and show you what a startup looks like for real (not the idealized things you see in Facebook Ads). So today I share our ugly startup story which will include lessons learned and how we might do it differently today.Our Ugly Startup Story - The AskDrCallahan Startup StoryFirst, we were led to homeschooling our two daughters. The story was a three-year path from "we have never heard of homeschooling" to starting up. Get more details here. About us.The PAIN.  The path into the business came from learning about PAIN. Friends, who were homeschooling and finding their kids also going into high school, were afraid of math. They simply could not teach high school math (their words - not ours.) Th

How you can serve and thrive in a crisis? This is a question being asked by many people.While the current COVID-19 crisis has created a lot of panic and financial stress, this is a great time to rethink how you can serve more and thrive doing it.I have heard many pundits, podcasters, and coaches telling us they will teach how you can serve and thrive in a crisis - but I often hear generalities about retooling. What does retooling mean? How do I do that? So if you have lost your job, find yourself too dependent on the paycheck, or just realize this is the time to act - this is the podcast for you. How You Can Serve and Thrive in a Crisis [Outline]Step 1 –  Get Control and Get A Plan Get control of you – your mental state. Wake up on time to work. Get ready for work. Your job NOW is to find people to serve. Make a schedule for the week - including workouts and work (get to that later) Realize you CAN make this work. Others can – you are not helpless. Go for a walk or do something physical for 20-40 minutes) Get

Learn how to make $30k on the side. Think about it - $30,000 a year extra (that is $2500 per month) is not chump change, but many people have no idea how to make $30k on the side. But I coach people to do this all the time - and as you might guess - simple steps. Not easy - but simple.Here’s how to make $30k on the side in 9 Steps (Podcast Outline) Identify what you love to do.  Uncover fun ways to make money doing what you love.  Discover who is doing it now.  Learn from their experience.  Who do you want to serve? Define your audience. Get crystal clear about the people or companies who need what you have to offer.   Define what they want. Want is the KEY word here.  Develop a product or service to fit their needs.   Set a value-based price, so the product/service sells itself.  Serve your customers and make your money. These steps are simple (not easy). They require mastery Relentless commitment and An unshakable belief in you. Schedule your FREE 45-minute discovery session with me.  Choose a time on my c

Making money in a crisis might sound counter-intuitive - but be clear that there is always an opportunity to serve. A crisis is no exception. So if you are willing to serve others and looking for ways to start making money in a crisis - you are in the right place.But I know what you are thinking. Making money in a crisis is just plain greedy. Others need FREE help. Maybe - but before you judge too quickly, listen in. Making Money in a Crisis (Podcast Outline) Money is NOT always the issue.    It is OK to charge people during a crisis. Many have the means and want your help. There are unique opportunities while people working from home: Babysitting Pet care Tutoring (any subject, any grade) Helping those with health care needs - Diabetic or other issues Food delivery Errand running Showing them how to use tools such as Zoom etc. - Art teacher could not use virtual tools, so had to cancel classes.  Setting up in house workstations - computers, desks, etc. (VPN is a term some are hearing for the first time) Asse

Want to know how to get more of what you want? Last week we talked about the question: ”Is it OK to want more?” so today we will tackle how to get more. Let's dive into where we left off and how to get what you really want. The secret that always works. It works for individuals, companies, and teams. My example of how to get more will use a popular weight lifting app-  StrongLiftsFirst the simple formula. To reach a goal and get more, you have to have a few tools. First is the goal Second is a simple set of actions to follow that are preplanned. Third is a set of measures - so that you know you are making progress. Fourth is the time to work on the goalHere is how Stronglifts works.Goal - Get stronger (simple)Actions - Turn on the Stronglifts app and follow directions. (No thinking now)Measures - Tracked in the Stronglifts app, you can see your progress. Tracks one thing, weight lifted for each exercise. Time - Go to gym every Monday/Wed/Friday at lunchtime  How to Get More - Here are how the steps work

It is OK to want more. Really. I will tell you why in a minute.But the statement I keep hearing is “I want more” I want more out of my job.I want more out of my career.I want more out of my degree.I want more out of my life.We all get restless at times and feel like everything is moving but yet not much is happening. We feel like it might not matter anymore. Like we have no place to go. Like we have used up all of our mental energy in what we are doing, and there is nothing more to do. Then we might say “I want more”  I want more. Is that OK? (podcast outline)In a recent post by Marie Forleo, she showed a sign in a window saying “I want more.” While many of her followers related to the statement, some stated that is was not OK to want more. Ideas like You need to be content with what you have. If you get more, others will have less.  If you are already wealthy (define wealthy) you should stop wanting more because you are taking from me. But, all of this is part of scarcity thinking, This doesn't make sen

Being bored at work seems normal. Studies indicate 43% of office workers are bored - many hoping to find a new job. So if you are bored, then note that you are normal. Now - does that make you feel any better? I thought not. So what do you do? Quit and find another job? Some of you will take this path, only to quickly be bored again. So instead of quitting and starting again at a new place, maybe there are creative ways to make boredom go away. Are You Bored at Work? (podcast outline)What to do when you are bored at work?  Want to stay in current job - just wish I was less bored Embrace it. You do not have to work too hard. Maybe that is OK.  Explore. Look around and become curious about what is going on. Get away from your desk (or normal job) and go learn about what others do.  Stop doing so much. Often we are bored when we are not using our gifts. A person who likes movement would prefer sweeping the floor or walking around taking inventory vs sitting at a desk. And some are the opposite. For me - I am NOT

Who is living your dream? Do you know? Or put another way, who do you want to grow up to be? Whether their occupation, their success, their ministry, their impact on the world - who is your role model for success? John, a CIO at a multi-billion $ company told me “No one ever asks me how to be me. No one seems to want to be CIO.”His statement was odd because the same statement is written in the book Rich Dad Poor Dad - no one ever asks him how to be rich.  But the key to finding success is to answer three questions - and one of them is to find out who is living your dream. Who is Living Your Dream (podcast outline)The Hard Truth: Many people do not have a role model. They are drifting. We need to find people who have walked the path we want to walk. Who is Living your dream - how to find out. The three questions you need to answer: What do you love to do? How do you make money doing that? Who is living your dream?Today we focus on the last question - who is living your dream?  But to help you find the other a

Finding your path after 30 has some unique challenges. College is just a memory. You have a good career. You have a family. But when you look around at what you do and what comes next - you might be yearning for some direction. The words I hear so often are, "I want more."A client recently told me this:When you get into your 30’s, you do not know where to go. Up to now, you had a plan. High school counselors and parents helped you find a college, college helped you find a job, and when you started the job you had some direction since you were new and just learning. Now, you are experienced with so many options of where to go, and no one is directing you.She said it well. Finding your path after 30, when no one is there to guide you, and you have so many choices can be a rough and lonely road.Finding Your Path After 30 (Podcast Outline)Warning signs you might be on the wrong path (Some of these are taken from Jack Canfield's post on how the universe is speaking to you. The universe aside - some

Have you forgotten how to dream? I asked that question of a client the other day as he was talking through all of his options. Should he take the job that was a minor promotion (my words - not his) or should he take the job in the other company which is also a minor promotion? (Again - my words not his.) As he described both, I could tell his heart could care less? “What do you really want?” I asked. He then started comparing the options between the two jobs. No - I mean “What do YOU really want?” Take all of this off the table. What do you want to do if you could step back and money was not the issue? He stared at me as if I had just morphed into speaking Chinese. After a moment of awkward silence, I said - “Have you forgotten how to dream?" After another moment of awkward silence, he said - “I have even forgotten what it means to dream." Have you forgotten how to dream? (podcast outline) We have let others do the dreaming for us. They set the agenda.What has happened to all of us? We used to be a

Do you hate marketing yourself? The other day someone told me “I hate having to market myself. It just feels slimy - like I am a used car salesman."  (No apologies to the used car salesmen out there - the label is well earned.) But, a central component of any business is marketing and promotion. So, in the Company of One model - where you look at yourself as a business - marketing YOU is important for growth. So if you hate marketing yourself, this episode is for you.   Be comforted. Marketing yourself is NOT what car salesmen do - well it should not be unless your goal is to have people run from you when you walk down the hall - then it can be pretty effective. So today we want to talk about what marketing yourself looks like. Professional, not pushy, and very effective. I blogged about marketing yourself or showing your value in this blog post with similar content: How to Show Your Value. What To Do If You Hate Marketing Yourself (podcast outline)Operations vs marketing. Operations are about delivering