Startup Daddy Business Startup Podcast: Recent Episodes
Ian Gordon | StartupDaddy.com
I’m writing this in the car as we head a couple hours away on a family outing. When I’m done, I’ll connect to the internet through my phone, and post it. Technically, I could write and send the whole thing through my smartphone, but I prefer to write long form on a full keyboard. Technology […]
Luck is a funny thing. A lot of people wish they were more lucky in their business. Some wish they were as lucky as others they see online, or in their networking group. I read this book to my children, called Zen Shorts (affiliate link). It’s a great book with fables that teach some nice […]
Happy Sunday! As I was thinking about what I could share with you this week that could be helpful, I remembered a conversation I had this morning about the creative flow. I think the building of a business is one of the most creative things you can do. To me, great business is art. It […]
In this episode of Startup Daddy I talk with Mitch Joel about his new book, Ctrl Alt Delete: Reboot Your Business. Reboot Your Life. Your Future Depends on It. We also touch on his thoughts about balancing what he calls the three tiers of entrepreneurial life- Family/Personal, Community, and Professional. Technology has fundamentally changed the […]
Happy Sunday ! It’s a long weekend in Canada, and with most of the working world here taking a 3 day weekend, it’s a great opportunity to catch up on some work projects. So a while back, I sent an invitation to unsubscribe. This was meant with some confusion. Today, I’m going to be more […]
Spring has definitely sprung here. The leaves on the trees are starting to pop out, lawns are green, flowers are blooming, and I finally got to take the snow tires off the car! I had to give our lawn it’s first mow of season yesterday. Most people seem to mow their lawn in straight lines. […]
In this episode of Startup Daddy, I talk about the new rules of Search Engine Optimization. The new rules of SEO rely heavily on social media, specifically having your website and content shared on social media websites. I also talk about the importance of a Google Places profile to Local Businesses. Sign up for a […]
Are you working on the things that will move you forward, or are you letting others dictate your priorities? This is a big one, and something I still struggle with from time to time. It is so easy to let your inbox dicate your day. You may try to get organized- write out a todo […]
Today was Masters Sunday if you like golf (or you’re a general sports fan). If not, it was just Sunday. Don’t worry, this isn’t going to be about sports. Well not much. Just a quick sports metaphor, and I’m out- OK? For the non-golfers, the Masters is one of the four biggest golf tournaments every […]
It’s a sunny but cold Sunday morning here in Toronto. I’m grateful for the sun. It just makes the day better to me. I was talking to client last week about what it takes to move a customer from just happy or satisfied with your business, to a “raving fan”. It’s an important thing to talk about, and I wanted […]
I hope you’re having a great Sunday. I made my girls Belgian Waffles this morning, and any day that starts with maple syrup is a great start in my book. I did a presentation about business planning for entrepreneurs at Podcamp Toronto yesterday (a subject that you know I like to talk about), so my […]
I hope Sunday is treating you well so far. Like so much of the northeast, we got some serious snow in Toronto this weekend. I’m sitting here next to my daughter who was up much of the night fighting a cold, a bit tired from shoveling and lack of sleep, and I’m thinking about how […]
Happy Sunday! Happy Superbowl Sunday, if you’re a football fan like I am. American football that is. Most of the world plays football with a round ball :) I want to start off by saying THANK YOU to all of you who have subscribed to this newsletter. As of this week, we are over 10,000 […]
Happy Sunday! I hit a snag and this is hitting your inbox later than I wanted, but Good Morning on the West Coast, Good Afternoon on the East Coast, and Good Evening to my friends in Europe, Africa and the Middle East / Western Asia. To my friends in India, Sweet Dreams. I have some […]
In this episode, of Startup Daddy I talk about some things you can do to get your business off to a great start in the coming year. I cover the 3 Words exercise started by Chris Brogan, where you pick 3 words that will frame your year. If you pick three words, please drop them […]
I hope you’re enjoying your weekend. It’s a rainy one here, but warmer than usual for this time of year so I’m grateful for that! Today I wanted to talk to you about the importance of growing your network. That’s such a buzzword isn’t? When I say “network” I just mean the people you know […]
I hope you are enjoying your Sunday! I was overwhelmed by the response I received after sending my last email to this amazing community. There are so many of you out there doing incredible things! To those who have hit reply to talk back or ask a question, I thank you. I know I still owe a […]
As today is Thanksgiving in the United States, I wanted to drop you a quick note to say thanks. There are people on this newsletter from all over the world, but it’s a great excuse. So Thank You! Thank you for taking the time to read or listen to what I have to say. Thank […]
In this episode, of Startup Daddy, I answer some questions from audience email. Some of the topics covered include: Do the Work, by Steven Pressfield (Amazon affiliate link) Domino Project Starting A Business Plan Getting Your Business Funded Advice About Presentations & Pitches What Makes A Good Presentation or Elevator Pitch Guy Kawasaki’s 10, 20, 30 Rule for making presentations or pitches Play […]
The Importance of Expanding Your Personal and Business Network The importance of your personal and business network cannot be overestimated. When I talk about network I am not talking about the way your computers talk to each other or the internet, I am talking about the people you know and that know you. This has […]
I don’t do a lot of reviews here, but since the interview I did with Scott Stratten was one of the most listened to and commented on episodes of Startup Daddy, I figure I owed it to him and you to check out the book once it came out. I pre-ordered the book because I […]
In this episode of Startup Daddy, I talk about the best business books for starting a business, and a service that makes it easy to share large files with clients (or anyone else). I get asked about books a lot, so I made a new page on this site called, Recommended Reading. I thought it […]
In this episode of Startup Daddy, I talk about one of the challenges I have been facing getting my new business going. Starting a business with young children in your life is hard. Period. Hopefully, by talking about some of my challenges, I can encourage some of you, to push through your challenges, and not […]
I have a lot of irons in the fire. All of the successful entrepreneurs I know, do too. If you have the mind of an entrepreneur, you are constantly seeing new opportunities. You come up with business ideas like authors come up with story ideas. Good business is art. To create great art, you need […]
In this edition of Startup Daddy, I talk about changes Facebook made this week, and Facebook Social Plugins. They are big changes that impact not only traffic to your website, but the way you can market your business. If you have a Facebook Fan Page for your business or yourself, you need to know that […]
In the last episode of Startup Daddy, Scott Stratten got me thinking about why someone should consider not starting a business. He said that nobody really talks about it and he’s right. So I’m saying it now. You may not be cut out to be an entrepreneur. If you’re not, you should not start your […]
In this episode of Startup Daddy, I interview Scott Stratten, president of Unmarketing, and author of a soon to be released book: UnMarketing: Stop Marketing. Start Engaging (affiliate link). Scott has a successful company, popular marketing blog, busy speaking schedule, and a book deal with a major publisher. I figure that’s someone you could learn […]
If you’re like a lot of small businesses and freelancers, you get paid for what you know. You may be a consultant, or a designer, or an accountant (or you may want to be), but in the end, people pay you because you know more about X than they do. Now if you’re smart, and […]
I participated in Podcamp Toronto this weekend, and I was thinking about how to share my experience with you in a way that would benefit you most. So I won’t post the slides from my presentation, and I’m not going to write about how attending and presenting at conferences is one of the best ways […]
In this episode of Startup Daddy I talk about creating a professional looking presence on social media sites like Facebook and Youtube. Facebook has over 400 million active users. More than half log in every day and the average user spends about an hour per day there. See why you should be there? In this […]
In this episode of Startup Daddy I talk about my new company, Memory Deck. I hope that by talking about the process I’m going through as I start this new company, you will see that you can do it too. While my partner and I have been researching and planning this for months, when it […]
I wrote a post for Dad-O-Matic about talking to our 6 year old about the earthquake in Haiti, and all of the horrific images she catches on TV now and then. It’s never easy to talk to your kids about death and tragedy but it’s important. It’s not the usual business fair, but you can […]
I’m taking a mulligan for 2009. In golf, a mulligan is when you hit the ball poorly, into the woods or a lake, or five feet in front of you, and you want a do over. I know a lot about mulligans. I was inspired by CC Chapman, who had a bad week, and called […]
Google made a huge announcement today. Essentially, because of an attempt by the Chinese Government to hack the Gmail accounts of Chinese human rights activists, Google has made a decision that will likely lead to their leaving China. In 2006, in order to make the deal in China, Google agreed to censor some search results. […]
As this is the beginning of a new year, and I am starting a new venture, I find myself going through a list of inspiring reads and videos I have bookmarked. For my first post of 2010, I want to share a video of Steve Jobs giving the commencement speech at Stanford in 2005. It’s […]
In this episode of Startup Daddy, I’m going to talk about a new business I’m starting, and some tools I am using to collaborate with a partner in another Country. In today’s time saver quick tip, I’m going to talk about some things that will help save you some time and money when it’s time […]
I observed a couple of great examples of customer service and community building recently that I want to share with you. I believe that customer service and community building are the same thing, by the way. Whether your business is on-line or off, you better be viewing your customers as a community. They honor you […]
This episode of Startup Daddy is my first Video Podcast. I made a video that talks about the different kinds of business plans and the elements that a business plan should contain. About a month ago, I posted this video to YouTube. When I compare my statistics for the number of people who listen to […]
I’m Lucky. I’m Old. At least that’s what my 6 year old told me recently. I’m 41, so I am lucky enough to have grown up in a world without the internet which helps me appreciate it. It also helps me factor in how technology is perceived differently among different generations. I read a blog […]
In this episode of Startup Daddy I have a conversation with Marc Warnke, author of ONO: Options Not Obligations. A few months ago Marc popped up on my radar as he was promoting his book. What made me stop and take notice was his concept of the Family First Entrepreneur. This has been the way […]
Last year my wife and I packed up our family and moved to Toronto. We didn’t have any grand expectations of a better life, we just wanted our kids to grow up near the huge extended family that was waiting for us here. I have to admit that the transition has been harder for me […]
EDIT: Some of you listen to the podcast but don’t visit the site, so I turned this into a video podcast episode. Listen to your customers! I do :) I made a video about the importance of creating a business plan whether you are just starting your business or looking for funding. The video talks […]
Starting a business can be a scary, intimidating affair if you have never done it before. The most common question I am asked is, “Where do I start?” That is why in my very first podcast episode, I talk about the Business Startup Checklist. It is a list of steps first-time business owners can use […]
Nobody makes it on their own. Not in business, not in life. To be successful you need to have people that teach and inspire you, not just directly but through their actions. So I am going to start recommending some of the people I think you should know. These are people that I learn from […]
This past Saturday, I went to see Bill Clinton speak at the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), or as the locals call it, the EX. Whatever you think of Bill Clinton, and whatever your political views are, he said some things during his speech that every entrepreneur should hear. Though he attended the funeral for Ted […]
In this episode of Startup Daddy , I answer questions from YOU. I really want to help you get your businesses started, and one of the ways I back that up with action is to invite you to send me your questions. I want this to be a conversation, not a lecture. A lot of […]
My baby is a sales rock star. It’s next to impossible to say no to her. Now this isn’t a talent exclusive to my baby, but she reminded me of some very important sales principals this morning, and I want to share them with you. She kept mom and me up most of the night, […]
In this episode of the Startup Daddy podcast, I talk about the importance of writing at least a basic business plan, and how to tackle some basic financial statements: Startup Expense Table, Break-even Analysis, and Cash Flow Statement. When you write a business plan, the process is the juice. Going through the research and thought […]
In this episode of the Startup Daddy Podcast, I talk about how to conduct initial market research to determine of there is a market or potential market for a particular product or service. I also talk about some ways to evaluate an opportunity and some tools I use for market research. Today’s feature segment is […]
There was a weird problem with iTunes where many of you downloaded a file that was silent. I thought the best thing to do, was to repost the file and give it a whole new record, so iTunes would look at it as a whole new podcast. This way, if you are subscribed, you will […]
Yesterday, I wrote my first post for Dad-O-Matic. Dad-O-Matic shares opinions, reviews, advice and news for dads. It is a great site and place for me to write about the overall dad stuff that is not related to my business. I plan to write a few posts a month, and the first one is The […]
Shakespeare wrote that a rose by any other name would surely smell as sweet. Is the same thing true of domain names? What I share with you and teach here, is what I know and what I do. I have recently had a shift in my thinking that will impact my process, and I want […]
One of my favorite things to watch on TV these days is a show called Pinks. It is a racing show where teams “race for pinks” which means ownership of the car. For the uninitiated, here is the description from the Speed Channel: PINKS: LOSE THE RACE, LOSE YOUR RIDE! Two hot cars. Two proud […]
In this episode of Start A Business With Startup Daddy, I talk about productivity, and two books that have put me on the path to getting more done each day: Getting Things Done, by David Allen and Zen to Done, by Leo Babauta. In order to accomplish all I have to in a given day, […]
My oldest daughter turned 6 on Friday. The simple fact that my daughter, my my wife and I have survived for the last six years with our physical and mental well being reasonably intact, is more than an enough reason for a celebration complete with balloons and cake. However, this day marks another milestone too. […]
So I am attending Podcamp Toronto this weekend. It has been great to finally meet some other people who are interested in podcasting and social media, in person. The learning sessions have been interesting for the most part, but it has been the interaction with other like-minded people, face to face, that I have enjoyed […]
I was inspired by my Twitter friend Michelle, to think about a question I ask myself that helps me focus and prioritize. I came to realize that it is the most common question I ask myself: “So what?” Now I don’t mean, “Who Cares?”, I mean WHY would someone care? Why is that thought, answer, […]
In this episode of Start A Business With Startup Daddy, I talk about Affiliate Marketing. It is a type of home based business that offers flexible hours and location, as well as leaving plenty of time in your day to spend with your family or to pursue other interests. I explain what affiliate marketing is, […]
You can’t own your ideas. Sorry, but it’s true. You can patent an invention, copyright a work of art, trademark a name or phrase, but you can’t own an idea. Once you put it out there, it’s out there. Remember this when you start a business. Sure, you can use a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to […]
I have come to realize that there is a huge difference between a father and a daddy. I had a father, I’m trying to be a daddy. So just for fun, here are a few differences between a father and a daddy: A father changes a diaper by yelling, “Hon, the baby needs to be […]
The one time you skip a CYA procedure will be the time that procedure was really needed- guaranteed! If you downloaded episode 5 of my podcast before today (December 22, 2008), and you listened to the Time Saver Quick-tip, you were probably thinking, “What’s wrong with this guy?” There were long pauses and heavy sighs, […]
I talk about using WordPress to build your website in episode 4 of the podcast. One of the things that makes WordPress so powerful, is the ability to install plugins to easily add certain functions. Andy Beal, from Marketing Pilgrim has recently posted a great list of WordPress Plugins that will supercharge your new website. […]
In this episode of Start A Business With Startup Daddy, I interview Dan Zeidler, an expert in both Individual and Group Health Insurance coverage. He answers your questions about getting health insurance for you and your family when you are self employed, and getting coverage for you and your employees after you grow your business. […]
In this episode of Start A Business With Startup Daddy, I talk about how you can have a modern, Web 2.0, interactive website for your new business, even if your computer skills are limited to sending email and searching Google. I discuss free open source software you can use to create your website, as well […]
In this episode of Startup Daddy, I give some tips about setting up your home office and get you started with branding by talking about getting a Business Identity Package for your new business. Creating a Logo and making sure all of the things that project the image for your company- Logo, Website, Letterhead, Business […]
Tomorrow is Halloween, and at our house that is a pretty big deal. My oldest daughter (who would be proud to tell you she is five and three quarters) is totally into it. That makes it a lot more fun for my wife and me. She decided what she wanted to be months ago, and […]
This video tutorial teaches you how to use the US Patent and Trademark Office website to search if a trademark is available. Before you finalize the name for your new business and file the paperwork for your LLC or corporation, you need to make sure the name is not being used by another business. One […]
Okay, I gave away the answer in the title, but I just couldn’t wait to tell you. There is a lot of talk about the recession lately. The world economy is on magic mushrooms, and stock markets go up and down by 10% in a given day. All you hear on the news are stories […]
In this episode of Startup Daddy, I talk about the differences between business entities. I explain Sole Proprietorships, Partnerships, Limited Liability Companies (LLC), and Corporations, and why it is so important to protect yourself. In the Time Saver Quick Tip, I recommend a virtual phone system to give you a professional image without the cost […]
If you’re worried that you don’t spend enough time with your children, you’re not alone. If your worried that starting a new business will take up the little free time you have, and you won’t have any time left over to be a good dad, you’re not alone. Let’s face it. It isn’t easy being […]
This is the premier podcast episode of Startup Daddy. In this episode I talk about my entrepreneurial path, and how I made the leap from unhappy employee to financially independent home based business owner. In this episode you’ll also find: The basics of starting a business A checklist to get you started The 2 books […]
I like to cook. My family just made a huge move a few months ago, and we are renting a furnished house for a year, while we settle into the new city, and figure out the area where we want to live permanently. Most of our stuff is in storage, and that includes most of […]
Before you start doing the things, the tasks, required to start a business, I suggest you spend some time doing some serious thinking and planning. Not just setting specific goals, which is important, but higher plain stuff. The things David Allen calls 50,000 feet thoughts- career, purpose, lifestyle. There is a very famous book by […]
This post continues the series on Starting A Business. This installment deals with choosing a business structure for the formation of your new company. Choosing the right business structure for your personal situation is one of the first decisions you will have to make when you start a business. Just like daughters are different than […]
Having done both (more than once), I am going to make the argument that choosing a name for your business is even more difficult than choosing a name for your child. While you don’t have to factor in things like people in your past that had that name, in-laws, and what will happen to your […]
I know it has been a couple months since I posted anything, but I am back. In the two long months since my last posting, I have learned many new lessons and re-learned a few old ones. In the coming posts, I plan to share a lot of what I have learned. You will also […]
Ready, Fire, Aim! This is how most people start a home based business. This is how most people start any business; how most companies launch a product. This is how I did things when I first started along my entrepreneurial path, and let me tell you, it is one of the most expensive and important […]
This is a Valentine’s Day tip for all of you Startup Daddies and Startup Mommies out there. The best way to show your spouse you really care about them is to do the little things that take a more thought than money. At least that is how it is in our house. Go buy a […]
Here are five things you can do get off to a bad start, waste your time and money, and frustrate yourself in your quest for financial and career independence. 1. Forget About Niching Down Whether you are starting an online venture or a real world, brick-and-mortar business, it is very important to find your niche. […]
This has more to do with the Daddy than the Startup, but this is how I spent Super Bowl Sunday. About 4 am, our oldest daughter comes into the room. “I don’t feel so good.” Great day to come down with a cold! She didn’t wake me up, because this is about the time the […]
I just finished being interviewed by Sterling and Jay, from Internet Business Mastery. I learned so much about internet marketing from their podcast, that I decided to take their course a while back. They wanted to interview some former students to see what they were up to, and I was very happy to tell them […]
If you don’t have a pet, you may not be aware of how enormous the Pet Industry is. Even if you are a pet owner, you may not know how much money Americans spend on their pets each year. According to a BusinessWeek cover story from August 2007, Two-thirds of US households, 33%- 71 million […]
This tutorial will walk you through the process of getting a Taxpayer ID (TIN/EIN) from the IRS Website. It is essentially the social security number for your business, and you will need this to open a Business Checking Account and to perform many of the other financial aspects of running the business. You can get […]
I am sure there will be thousands of articles about predictions for 2008, but that is not going to stop me from adding my two cents. I am going to talk a lot about having multiple streams of income as I guide you along your path of entrepreneurial success. You need to have a main […]
The first thing you need to do before you start any new business, is to decide what you want from the business in the first place. Do you want something that is part-time, to supplement your income? Do need a way to pay your bills if you quit your job, because you have a job […]