Business 300

Ep. 279 - 'Buy Local' Is Virtue-Signaling

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 04:00:00 +0000

If the only reason to buy from you is that you're local, why should anyone buy from you at all? Unless proximity is part of the value, local doesn't really matter. "Buy local" is a marketing tactic that avoids the real question.

Ep. 278 - Burnout is a Business Problem

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Exhaustion doesn't signal some sort of character flaw as much as it signals a system flaw. Much of our exhaustion has to do with our business having broken systems, and us compensating with unsustainable effort.

Ep. 277 - AI Won't Replace You

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Maybe AI won't replace you or make your business obsolete. But someone using AI to work faster, smarter, and cheaper will. This isn't new. It's the same pattern that happens and will keep happening.

Ep. 276 - You're Dealing With People

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 04:00:00 +0000

People are inescapable in the field of business. Even if you're on your own, your customers are people. And, it's hard to think of a business where you're not having to deal with any people in order to serve those customers. So, people in the input, people in the output. What sort of approach should a business owner have in his day-to-day interactions with other people?

Ep. 275 - Act, Fail, Learn, Do

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 04:00:00 +0000

There's a way to be paralyzed by the possibility of failure. There's a way to plan longer, research more, and wait for conditions to improve to the point of deadlock. It's when you treat failure as something to avoid at all costs. But failure isn't the opposite of success. It's part of the path to it.

Ep. 274 - Manage Employees' Expectations

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 04:00:00 +0000

When dealing with employees, many business owners are tempted to promise everything, but deliver almost nothing. This is not out of malice, but out of insecurity. They're scared of disappointing people, so they tell them what they want to hear. But if the promises aren't real, the created expectations collapse. And then you've lost something harder to rebuild than a good employee - your credibility.

Ep. 273 - Be Real

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 04:00:00 +0000

There's the sort of business owner who spends more time crafting his online persona than building his actual business. He optimizes his bio, chases engagement metrics, manufactures relatability. And most of it is fake. Show without substance. Promotion without product. A brand built on air. Social media is flooded with these sorts. And the AI explosion amplifies the noise 10 times.

On the backdrop of all that noise, a person with real substance is a breath of fresh air.

Ep. 272 - When Sales Should Say No

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Saying no to a sale is hard. It feels like leaving money on the table. But saying yes to the wrong customer, for the wrong work, at the wrong price isn't winning.

Ep. 271 - From Bean Counter to Value Guide

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Some people think business finance exists to count money, track expenses, reconcile accounts, and make sure the tax filings are accurate. But if you limit your expectations for the finance function to just that, you're limiting your business. Finance isn't just about recording what happened. It's about illuminating whether your business is actually creating value, and guiding decisions to create more of it.

Ep. 270 - Get Into The Mess

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 04 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000

We're not in the mess because we don't know what to do. We're in the mess because we know how much work it's going to take, and would rather not have to do it. We're hoping that if we wait long enough, it'll somehow get easier or someone else will handle it. At some point, we have to stop kidding ourselves. The mess is your work.

Ep. 269 - Christian Excellence in Business

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 05:00:00 +0000

There's a persistent anxiety among Christian business owners that revolves around an unease about profit. There's a need to justify their work by tacking on something more "spiritual." As if business itself weren't enough. As if serving customers profitably required moral laundering to be acceptable before God. That anxiety reveals a theology problem. And until we fix the theology, we'll keep misunderstanding what Christian excellence in business actually means.

Ep. 268 - Cultivating Culture - Part 2

Business 300 — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 05:00:00 +0000

You've embodied the culture. Your team sees you living the values, producing results, proving it works. That's good. And, embodiment alone won't scale. At some point, you need structure in order to build culture. You need a deliberate process for cultivating culture across the organization.

Ep. 267 - Cultivating Culture - Part 1

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Every business owner and their mom talks about culture - values statements, team-building events, speeches about what the company stands for. But culture isn't built by what you say. It's built by who you are. Before you can build the business culture you want, you must embody it.

Ep. 266 - When To Quit

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Sometimes quitting isn't failure. Sometimes it's wisdom. The question is knowing the difference. So, this one's a little different. It's about knowing when to quit. When should you quit?

Ep. 265 - Inspect the Activity, Not Just the Results

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 05:00:00 +0000

There's a comfort in tracking results. They tell you whether you won or lost. But results are history. By the time you're seeing them, the decisions that produced them are weeks or months old. You can't manage results. But you can manage what drives them.

Ep. 264 - Competing on Price

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 05:00:00 +0000

When customers shop on price alone, most business owners assume that's the nature of their market. But commoditization isn't inevitable. It's what happens when you fail to give customers a reason to choose you beyond simply cost. Commodity-type pricing isn't a market condition you're stuck with. It's a result of your lack of value-differentiation.

Ep. 263 - When Customers Ask for Discounts

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 05:00:00 +0000

When a prospect asks you for a discount, what do you do? Most salespeople negotiate. They justify the price, explain the value, maybe split the difference. What's actually happening is that the customer doesn't see or appreciate the value you're offering. And that's not a pricing problem. That's a qualification problem.

Ep. 262 - Your Rallying Cry

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Leaders cast vision, explain strategy, lay out plans. But not every leader is successful at rallying people to a better future. Yes, much of it has to do with the leader's character and presence, for sure. But his ability to communicate the vision in a way that is clear and enticing is fundamental to his leadership. You must give people something to rally toward.

Ep. 261 - Build Backwards

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 05:00:00 +0000

Most business owners set goals forward but don't plan backward. They know where they want to end up in December, but don't know what has to be true in March to make that possible. They then miss their targets because they never figured out what would have to be true - operationally, financially, structurally - to make it happen. Goals without a sequence are just hopes and wishes. Set your goal, and build your plan.

Ep. 260 - Winners Crawl Into The Grave

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 08:00:00 +0000

There’s a point in your business building efforts where you’ve given everything you have and the problem is still there. The choice is obvious. Quit, or keep going. It’s not complicated. But it most definitely is difficult. And that’s where most businesses die. Not because the problem was unsolvable. But because the owner ran out of will before they ran out of options.

Ep. 259 - The Difference Between Visionaries & Children

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Maybe you’re a guy who’s got ideas. Lots of them. You’re constantly seeing opportunities, imagining possibilities, thinking about what could be. And maybe, because you’ve got ideas, you call yourself a visionary. Maybe you’ve even convinced others to do so too. But being a visionary takes more than just having ideas.

Ep. 258 - Value-First Administration

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 08:00:00 +0000

With knowing that order and control is a means to the end of customer-value, not an end in and of itself, you can build a Value-Centered Administrative System. Here’s what the looks like.

Ep. 257 - The Administration Drift

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Order and control are good. And there's a way to do it right. But not when your business suffers from the Administrative Drift.

Ep. 256 - Delegation Isn't Abdication

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Giving someone a task doesn't free you from responsibility. It changes what you're responsible for - from doing the work to ensuring the work gets done well.

Delegation isn't abdication.

Ep. 255 - You're Not Owed Anything

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 08:00:00 +0000

The year doesn’t owe you anything. But it also doesn’t prevent you from getting what you can earn. The opportunity is still there. The customers are still buying. The problems are still solvable. You just have to stop expecting it to be easy.

Instead, go into this year expecting resistance and setbacks. Expect things to go sideways. And instead of being shocked when they do, be prepared.

Get after it and make it happen. You’re not owed anything.

Ep. 254 - Set Fewer Goals, Hit More Targets

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 08:00:00 +0000

What if you want to get more done this year than just 3 things? That's great. So do I. So then set goals on a quarterly basis, instead of an annual one. 3 priorities for the next 3 months. You finish those, you can add some more. If you don't finish them, you keep at it for the next batch of 3 months. I look at my year 13 weeks at a time. Control how much food you put on your plate, and you'll be surprised how much healthier you'll be.

You don't win by doing everything. You win by doing the right things well. And there are only a few right things.

Set fewer goals. Hit more targets.

Ep. 253 - Systems Beat Motivation, Every Time

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 08:00:00 +0000

If you feel motivated now, great. Use that motivation to build yourself a follow-through system. Motivation is a spark. Systems are the engine. Build the engine.

Start boring. Finish strong.

Systems beat motivation, every time.

Ep. 252 - Leaders Create Categories

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Vision without categories is a foreign language. People need frameworks to understand what you're talking about. They're imagination is limited to their current mental paradigms.

Leaders create those frameworks, as they build the mental architecture that turns tasks into meaningful contribution.

Leader create categories.

Ep. 251 - Price Is Filter - Not Barrier

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Consider raising your prices. Not arbitrarily. But strategically. Identify the customer segment that values what you do and is willing to pay for it. Then price for them. Yes, you'll lose some customers. That's the point. You're filtering them out.

Stop pricing defensively. Start pricing strategically. Filter for quality, not volume. You get what you charge. Price is a filter, not a barrier.

Ep. 250 - The Incarnation Impacts Industry

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Christmas isn't just a story about salvation. It's a statement about creation. God entered the material world to redeem it, not escape it. That should change everything about how you view your business. The Word became flesh. Heaven invaded earth. Your business matters. The Incarnation Impacts Industry.

Merry Christmas.

Ep. 249 - The Dilution Delusion

Phili — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Every new initiative costs more than money. It costs focus, clarity, energy. And those are finite.

The math might work, but that doesn't mean you should do it. Strategy isn't just about what you pursue. It's about what you're willing to walk away from.

Don't fall prey to the dilution delusion.

Ep. 248 - A Clear & Crisp Strategy

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Strategy is choosing what you're for and what you're not for. It's defining the game you're playing and how you intend to win it. And if you can't explain it simply, you haven't done the work.

One customer. One offering. One advantage. A crisp and clear strategy.

Ep. 247 - Your Breakeven Point

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 08:30:00 +0000

Fixed costs, variable costs, contribution margin are the mechanics of how your business actually makes money. You need to know what number you're after each month.

You need to know your breakeven point.

Ep. 246 - Budgeting Is Good For You

Philip Kulishov — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 21:40:00 +0000

Business owners are generally optimists. That's why they're business owners. They have hope for a better future. And, that optimism many times is naive and simple. It can keep business owners continually walking the tight rope sitting atop an elephant.

They spend what they make. They operate on thin margins. They assume the good times will continue indefinitely. And when they don't - when the market shifts, when a major customer leaves, when an economic downturn hits - they feel the hurt. But they act as if it was out of their control.

The issue isn't that winter came. Winter always comes. The issue is that they didn't prepare for it.

Ep. 245 - Measure What Matters

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Data and KPIs don't make your business better. Better decisions do. And better decisions come from measuring the right things, the things you can actually act on.

Stop tracking vanity. Start tracking action. Know the score, but manage the game.

Measure what matters.

Ep. 244 - Use Meetings To Drive Results

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 08:00:00 +0000

What gets reviewed gets done. What doesn't get reviewed gets forgotten.

Systems and processes are essential. But without a review cadence, they're just documents. You need the rhythm of accountability to turn good intentions into consistent execution.

Use meetings to drive results.

Ep. 243 - Manage Your Accounts Receivable

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Tighten up your accounts receivable, and don't play games with cash. An invoice is only a promise to get paid. Promises are broken all the time. You're not done until you've collected payment.

Getting paid isn't greed. It's stewardship. It's professionalism. And it's customer service.

Ep. 242 - The Hustle Lifestyle

Philip Kulishov — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 20:01:00 +0000

God gave you a business to steward, not to subsidize your comfort. He called you to dominion, not to "enough." So, don't call it a lifestyle business. Unless the lifestyle you're after is, "The Hustle Lifestyle." Live and work to serve people, create value, and exercise the dominion mandate for God's glory and your own in Him.

Ambition isn't the enemy. Comfort-seeking is.

Ep. 241 - Vision Beats Validation

Philip Kulishov — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 20:00:00 +0000

When you prioritize validation over vision, you shrink people. By pointing their focus inward, their vision is set on something smaller. You trap them in their own introspection. You make the focus be about their comfort instead of their contribution.

You rally people around a mission that's bigger than their Monday mood. You invite them to stop thinking about whether they feel fulfilled and start thinking about whether the customer is served.

Vision. Mission. Purpose. That's what leaders cast. That's what people need.

Ep. 240 - The Tyranny of Empathy

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Your job isn't to be your employees' therapist. It's to lead them toward delivering value to customers. And sometimes the most caring thing you can do is tell them the truth they need to hear, not the comfort they want to feel.

Stop letting emotions become tyranny. Start leading with truth. True love. True care.

Watch out for the tyranny of empathy.

Ep. 239 - Stop Apologizing for Success

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Christian business owners carry a guilt complex. You make money, and immediately feel like you need to explain it away. "Well, we're giving 10% to missions." "We're trying to be good stewards." "It's not about the money."

But here's what you're actually saying: "Making profit feels wrong, so let me show that I'm one of the good ones."

If you feel guilty about making money, then you've accepted the premise that profit is morally suspect. That success needs justification. That if you're doing well, you must be doing something wrong—or at least, something morally neutral that needs to be redeemed by doing something _actually_ good with it.

Serve your customers. Make good products. Create good jobs. And thank the Lord as you steward

your business under God's provisional blessing. Stop apologizing for success.

Ep. 238 - Bigger Isn't Better

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 08:00:00 +0000

What areas of your business are requiring you, or another manager, to manually make happen? Which balls are being caught by tribal knowledge instead of systems and training?

Get better before you get bigger. Systematize for your scale. Build for repeatability, not just reach.

Bigger isn't better.

Ep. 237 - The Visionary and the Operator

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Are you the Visionary leaving wreckage behind you? Or are you the Operator killing the dream?

The best businesses run on tension, but not opposition. You need both sides. Build the future, and build the systems that will get you there. You need the Visionary and the Operator.

Ep. 236 - Onboarding New Hires - Part 2

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 08:00:00 +0000

If you hired someone tomorrow, do you know what their first 10 days would actually look like? If not, you have work to do.

Do you have a clear onboarding plan, or is your plan to just throw them into the deep end and see if they can swim? One is better than the other.

Hire slower. Onboard sharper. Be prepared and prepare your people. You have work to do when onboarding new hires.

Ep. 235 - Onboarding New Hires - Part 1

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 08:00:00 +0000

The people you hire aren't you. That's why you're the one doing the hiring, and they're the ones being hired. That is to say, business owner's shouldn't expect their employees to think like them, and show the sort of initiative required to be, well, an owner. If they did, they'd be an owner. But the person you're hiring is not an owner. It's unfair to them, and unrealistic for you, to have that sort of expectation of them. All it does is breeds frustration for everybody involved.

Your onboarding strategy needs to be more than, "Shadow me for a day, and good luck." And then get exasperated with them 3 months in for still not performing up to your expectations. If you don't show them how to win, don't be surprised when they lose.

Ep, 234 - Craft Your Business Strategy - Part 2

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Whatever you want to call it - 5P Strategy Framework or something else - the point is to do the work of discovering your perspective, defining your position, developing your ploy, drafting your plan, and disciplining your pattern.

Don't wait for success or failure to happen to you. Instead, you craft your business strategy.

Ep. 233 - Craft Your Business Strategy - Part 1

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Without being led astray by the impracticalities of business textbooks, there is good benefit to being more thoughtful in your approach to winning at business. A business owner is set up to always be one step behind if he's constantly reacting to what the market and his competitors throw at him. This is a formula for failure. Hope is not a strategy. Vibes aren’t strategy. Guessing is not a growth plan. Strategy is a set of decisions built on reality. It's making things happen, instead of waiting for them to. An owner should approach his business with intention and focused execution. That's what a more comprehensive strategy outlook provides. It sets you up better for the win.

Ep. 232 - Leading While Discouraged

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Here's the thing. Being discouraged is real. But leading out of it is your job. You're not always going to be on fire, but you are responsible for the temperature in the room. If your team has to carry their workload and your emotional baggage, they’ll burn out before you bounce back.

Ep. 231 - Definitions Aren't Enough

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Business managers can have the tendency to mistake documentation for discipline. Just because you have things written down, doesn't mean that you - for that matter, your team - is following the process.

Founders, owners, and managers can get excited about clarity and control as they write polished SOPs, draw neat workflows, and lay out nifty diagrams. But that's the easy part. And the easy part is almost never the part that brings the results you're after.

Everyone “agrees” on the defined system — and then does whatever they want. You continue trying to manage the chaos, instead of actually creating order.

Ep. 230 - Bring It On

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000

A business can be compared to a tree in that it also consumes to produce. The entire point of a business is to deliver value to others - to do good to people. And that delivery of good is to be reliable and trustworthy. Customers need a business to be able to persevere and thrive under pressure.

Ep. 229 - The Profit Black Hole

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Lost throughput opportunity is the silent and permanent cash killer. It's silent because it's hard to notice. You can see payroll. You can see churn. But you can’t see the products that never shipped, or the hour you can’t recover. And it's permanent because you can't ever get that cash opportunity back. A lost shipping opportunity is gone, forever. Idle time doesn’t show up on your P&L while still bleeding you dry.

Ep. 228 - Quit LARPing, Get to Work

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000

There are some business people who have a hard time getting over their self-impressed pretense. Maybe they got their online MBA, and now think they have what it takes. Maybe they've watched too many YouTube business gurus instead of doing the work. Whatever it is, there definitely is a CEO-LARP culture.

Ep. 227 - Fire Faster - Part 3

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 07:00:00 +0000

I want to give a few pointers of how to fire faster, and do so effectively. There are bad ways to get the job done, and then there are less bad ways. I'm for the latter.

What I'm talking about here is the actual conversation. There are things you should be doing and saying leading up to the firing conversation. I've talked about that here before. But when it comes to pulling the trigger, what approach should you take?

Ep. 226 - Fire Faster - Part 2

Philip Kulishov — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 07:00:00 +0000

You might tell yourself that you're being kind and patient. But keeping the wrong person because you don’t want to have a hard conversation is leadership malpractice. Your team doesn’t want a perfect boss. They want a courageous one.

Ep. 225 - Fire Faster - Part 1

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Sure, there are consequences to firing someone. But there are many more consequences to tolerating the employee who should have been fired. And if you keep him, you are the one responsible for those consequences. It's not that employee's responsibility that customers don't trust your business, your business has stalled, people are frustrated, top performers are leaving, and nobody trust you. You brought that upon yourself by tolerating that which shouldn't have been tolerated. Are you willing to make that trade-off?

Ep. 224 - Founder, Not Flounder

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 07:00:00 +0000

In business (and probably most of life, but this is Business 300, not Life 300).. in business, waiting is often more dangerous than moving. A key difference between founders and flounders is movement. Those who make it are moving - maybe it's too fast, maybe it's ugly, maybe it's imperfect, but it's forward.

Ep. 223 - Make The Customer's Life Better

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Your customers are people who are trying to make their lives better. They buy from you because they believe what you're offering will improve their life in some capacity. So then, before making business decisions, why wouldn't you ask, “Does this help the customer win faster, better, or with less friction? How will this improve my customer's life?”

Ep. 222 - Profit Is Communication

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Profit is feedback from the market. Don't ignore it. It's not just a number. It's a conversation. You need to understand what is being said, and respond accordingly. If you can't speak the language, and want to be in the business of business, you'll have to learn to interpret.

That's because profit is communication.

Ep. 221 - Expand Your Reach Without Rebuilding Your Business

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 07:00:00 +0000

There may come a point in your business when it seems like your growth potential has hit a ceiling, but you'd like it to keep growing. You'd like to reach new customers, but your current market is tapped out. There are different things that you can try, some good and some, not so good.

There are ways you can expand your reach without rebuilding your business.

Ep. 220 - Strategies to Increase Cash Flow - Part 3

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Ep. 219 - Strategies To Increase Cash Flow - Part 2

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Two down.

First, speed up your cash in.

Second, maintain your cash hold.

One more left. For the next episode.

Ep. 218 - Strategies To Increase Cash Flow - Part 1

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 07:00:00 +0000

We don't ever think about our breathing, until we can't breath. We don't think about our blood-flow, until we're bleeding out. Breath and blood is essential to our survival. And yet, when things are normal, it's not something we have to think about.

However, we do take precautionary decisions and make choices to make sure we don't get put in a situation where we have to think about those sorts of shortages. If we're smart (and happy), we don't go to sleep with a plastic bag over our heads, and we don't put a knife into ourselves. We don't try to breath under water, and we avoid being shot. Those things are a given.

But when it comes to business, most owners don't approach it with the same level of wisdom and precaution. As blood is to your body, so cash is to our business. Cash is the oxygen your business needs in order to not just survive, but to sustain the energy required to pursue and grow and win.

Ep. 217 - Effort vs. Reward Matrix

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Feeling doesn't excuse thinking. Wisely manage your effort, energy, gifting, and money to work towards the reward you're after. Is this business model sustainable for your life stage, energy level, and goals? Even if you love the game, be clear on what it costs to play. Will you be building this business, or will it be breaking you?

Some mountains are worth climbing. Others are just tall distractions. Choose wisely, as you utilize the Effort vs. Reward Matrix.

Ep. 216 - Effort vs. Reward When Choosing A Business

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 07:00:00 +0000

For this time, your take-away is the first 3 points:

1. Define the reward

2. Consider the business

3. Understand the effort

It's good to think about the effort needed for the reward you're after when choosing a business.

Ep. 215 - Focus On The Customer

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Every business decision you make, should in one way or another be audited through the customer-centric filter: “Does this make the customer’s life better?”

Everybody on your team, starting with you the business owner, must always keep the focus on the customer.

Ep. 214 - Inefficient Progress Is Better Than No Progress

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 07:00:00 +0000

When starting off, you don’t need to be efficient. That'll come later.

When starting off, you need to move.

Efficiency is great when you’ve got momentum, systems, and clarity. But if you're at the starting line, still obsessing over the best way to take the first step, then you’re not building. You’re stalling.

Ep. 213 - You're Not Stuck

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 07:00:00 +0000

You’re not stuck.

You’re just avoiding the thing you know you need to do — because it’s uncomfortable, risky, or might make someone mad. So instead, you’ve built this pretty little lie called “stuck,” and you’ve wrapped yourself in it like a warm productivity blanket.

Ep. 212 - It's Not Overwork That's Causing Your Burnout

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 07:00:00 +0000

What are some tasks that make you want to light your laptop on fire?

Figure out how to delete, automate, or delegate them.

And start solving burnout — not with vacations, but with systems.

Because the goal isn’t to escape your business.

The goal is to build one that doesn’t make you want to.

You don’t need a break.

You need a better business.

It's not overwork that's causing your burnout.

Ep. 211 - Public Virtue

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Internal motives and thoughts do matter in our public and work life. To be effective overtime in our business pursuits - serving customers, employing people, blessing the community - we’ll need to plant a little deeper than just surface level behavior. Our entire being should be aimed at doing good.

Ep. 210 - Creative Thinking & Instigating Innovation

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 07:00:00 +0000

If we want to have results, we’re going to have to be okay with the world having problems. Not only would we have to be okay with that, but we’d have to be excited about it. Almost, thankful for it. It's why you're in business. A problem in the business world is nothing more than an instigator for innovation.

Ep. 209 - There Are Less Rules Than You Think

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Whether it's production runs, flow of product, financing needs, finding equity, resolving customer issues, or clearing work blockages, people build up a mirage of rules and explain away why they can't get through this problem. What they lack is a sort of freedom mindset - a creative approach - to be able to chart a path toward solving the problem. Some people are stuck finding the lights for their facility. Others are on their way to Mars.

There are less rules than you think.

Ep. 208 - Building Cultural Traction

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Take whatever sort of example in institutional culture. Maybe it's a culture of excellence, or continuous improvement, or disciplined execution. Maybe it's a culture of gratitude, or hard work, or competence. Whatever it is, why is it in the lifeblood of some institutions, and can't seem to get any traction in others?

Ep. 207 - Particular Value

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 07:00:00 +0000

The Value-Growth mindset is focused on the person for whom I'm providing value. In order for a business owner to be successful in his purpose of delivering value to a customer, he must care about that customer, and care about him as a customer - meaning, as a person who is the recipient of the value.

What that means, is that although all businesses are in the game to deliver value to people in general, the value that businesses are to deliver is particular to their customer.

Ep. 206 - How To Get Into Business Ownership

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 07:00:00 +0000

What if you're a competent, hungry, and disciplined individual, who would love to be a business owner, but can't seem to get traction in starting or owning a business? Starting a business isn't for you, and buying one isn't either. How can you enter into business ownership?

Ep. 205 - Custom Is Chaos

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 07:00:00 +0000

It's possible to create systems and standards that enable your business to profit and grow, no matter how much custom variation you're dealing with, or no matter how you're wired.

Ep. 204 - How To Scale Your Business

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 07:00:00 +0000

If you want to scale your business, you need to build systems. And if you can't do that, you need to find somebody who can help you. Either way, growth requires systems. That's how to scale your business.

Ep. 203 - Short & Thorough Problem-Solving

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 17:00:00 +0000

Not all problems are created equal. When having to solve a problem, we must consider what sort of problem we're dealing with. On the scale of priorities, we weigh the consequences and rewards of not doing anything (that is, dragging out the problem) versus doing the wrong thing (that is, implementing a hasty solution). Sometimes letting the problem burn is the right thing. You can always make things worse. But other times, putting on a band-aid to give you the time to address the root issue could be right.

Ep. 202 - Value-Creation Is Work

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 07:00:00 +0000

It's work to create and improve your value-offering. It's emotional work. It's mental work. It's physical work. And all of that demands your committed effort to see the thing through. It's a decision and choice that you must make and hold to until the work is done.

Ep. 201 - You're Responsible For The Burden

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Typically our problems are not unique to us. There have been people who have gone before us to identify why these kinds of things happen and what can be done about it. There are solutions that we can work at to reduce and eliminate the frustration and stress that we experience at work. Most of these solutions, however, require nerve, focus, patience, and an unwavering tenacity to keep moving forward. It's difficult to accept the fact that you are responsible for your own lack of agency.

Ep. 200 - Move Up By Moving Down

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 07:00:00 +0000

The Lord once told a story where a man, upon doing a good job with what he was given, heard it said to him, “You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much.” Whether we're the owner, manager, or a line employee, if we want to carry the organization, we must first kneel down to put the weight on our backs. We can only move up by moving down.

Ep. 199 - Management VS Employees

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Instead of concerning yourself with Top-Down vs Bottom-Up hierarchy arguments, ask a much more basic question: Who are your customers and what do they want? That's what it's about, not management versus employees.

Ep. 198 - Holding An Inflated Ball Underwater

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 25 Jun 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Stewardship is an understanding that everything we have, we have been entrusted with in order to be productive. And what is productivity? It's definitely not squandering, nor is it preserving, or hoarding. Productivity is an output of effort that brings value to others. This is the work of a business owner. Taking everything you own and have, and making a profit on it by turning it into value for others. And we can do this when we have worked out the issue of authority.

Ep. 197 - Shackles of Self-Focus

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 07:00:00 +0000

The constant focus on your deficiencies is not a symptom of humility. One is tormented by his impairments when he refuses to swallow the reality of the situation. One sees his own problem, and instead of accepting the fact and improving it, a self-degrading, proud person simply laments it. The Self-Loather is an egotist because his attention is always revolving around himself. It is a good thing to clearly see your own faults and inadequacies. You know what needs to be improved or avoided.

Ep. 196 - Growing Straight With Crooked Branches

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 07:00:00 +0000

We cannot faithfully look at a tree and hold tight to our idols of order and tidiness. A tree takes an axe to those idols, as it calmly grows with crooked branches. Don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t romanticize chaos or disorder, for it does strive to hold its shape and structure. It wants order and aims for structure. But it doesn’t simply topple over when its root is introduced to its first boulder. It doesn’t wait to grow until the ground below it and air above it is cleared of all obstacles. A tree reminds us that a fruitful life means growth, and growth is messy. It twists and bends. It warps and grasps. It lives and grows, mess and all. Governed by it’s Maker, a tree grows straight with crooked branches.

Ep. 195 - Make Them Feel Good

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 07:00:00 +0000

What if you ran an ad for your business that started with: “You’ll feel good after giving us your money."

That's catchy. You'd probably get people's attention. But could you say that to your customers with a straight face, and stand behind it?

Maybe you think it sounds presumptuous. Or haughty. Or too on-the-nose. Maybe you wouldn't run that sort of ad because it makes you look self-seeking or money-loving. Maybe you think it misses the point of what you're trying to do with your business.

Ep. 194 - The Job of Business Finance - Part 3

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 11 Jun 2025 07:00:00 +0000

In the last episode, I mentioned the first 2: Data and Analysis.

This brings us to the 3rd value-add: Insight. With the data collected and turned into information through analysis, now the job of finance is to delivery insight.

Ep. 193 - The Job of Business Finance - Part 2

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 07:00:00 +0000

In all your undertakings, you want substance, not fluff. We're tempted towards fluff, but, as business owners, we really can't afford it. There's no place for it.

The temptation for fluff is especially true in Finance. Fancy charts and complicated spreadsheets masquerade as substance. Irrelevant ratios and misleading statistics might give a semblance of control. It's easy for fluff to arise from Finance.

So, what should your Finance department produce in order for it's output to be meaningful and valuable?

I have 4 things to work through.

Ep. 192 - The Job of Business Finance - Part 1

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 07:00:00 +0000

One of the areas where business people are tempted towards irrelevant fluff is in the area of Finance. There are so many metrics that could be tracked, so many numbers that could be calculated, so many ratios and statistics that could be presented. If it wanted to, the Finance Department could be the business BS department.

The 4 things that the Finance Department should focus on in order to provide value to customers and owners are Data, Analysis, Insight, and Action.

Ep. 191 - When It's Time To Scale Back

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 07:00:00 +0000

If you have to scale back and take on roles that you previously delegated while you rebuild, do it.

Yes it sucks. But sitting and moping, wishing it were not so as you wait for things to pan out on their own is not an option for you. All things considered, you have to know when it's time to scale back.

Ep. 190 - A Michelin-Star Business

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 28 May 2025 07:00:00 +0000

The Michelin-star rating system is a way to help us think through our business and value-offering. Not every business can or should have that expectation. Sometimes we need just a convenient and affordable gas station. There's nothing wrong with that. It's a needed business. And, if that's you, expect to be "just another gas station."

But if you don't want that as your standard, if you want customers going out of their way to buy from you, or to have customers who can't wait to give you their money, then you'll have to dream a little bigger, care a little stronger, and work a little harder in order to provide that service and be a Michelin-Star Business.

Ep. 189 - Growth Is Not Linear

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 26 May 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Business growth is more comparable to a staircase than a ramp. It's not smooth and linear. It's patterns of straight up and flat plateaus. You seek growth, land more work, and increase your sales volume. Then, you stop to build up your systems and processes, train and equip your people, and make sure the new work volume is being digested well. You start to prepare for the next growth spurt, figuring out what you might need to be aware of as more work comes in. And then you go for the next growth spurt, increasing your volume.

Ep. 188 - Work as Sacrificial Worship

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 21 May 2025 19:09:00 +0000

As we give ourselves to God, our life and work flows out as sacrificial labor as we strain to produce good things for others. This brings us back to the idea that we, the ones creating value for customers, are in a position of givers. We give of our time, strength, ideas, resources, and skills.

And our work to produce value for our customer through a Disciplined Offering has eternal ramifications. There is a transcendent moral good in our physical labor.

Kaizen is more than Continuous Improvement.
Kaizen is Disciplined Offering.

Ep. 187 - Keep It

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 19 May 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Business ownership requires discipline. Which is self-control. Those who can rule themselves can run a business.

You keep your business with Attention, Intolerance, Prudence, and Discipline. If you thought your business was worth building, it’s probably worth keeping as well. Work it, and keep it.

Ep. 186 - Work It

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 14 May 2025 07:00:00 +0000

There's a lot of work to do to build your business. Getting distracted with your shovel or being impressed with new hammer models every few hours compromises future progress in your project as you chase after a shiny object time and time again, instead of focusing on the work in front of you. A steady and stable course at a sustainable pace is what helps you get to the next layer in your wall. You need discipline to work it.

"Working it" means cultivating, building, and growing. It requires Ambition, Shrewdness, Risk, and Discipline. Owning and managing a business is working it and keeping it. Next time, we'll talk about keeping it. For now, get after it, and work it.

Ep. 185 - Discipline Needs Carrots and Sticks

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 12 May 2025 07:00:00 +0000

When the potential accomplishment is in the distant future, it's helpful to set up relevant progress tracking on a daily or weekly basis where you can see the work accomplished. Instead of having 1 large completion, break up the completion into smaller chunks that you can see getting done. The reward for doing the work is seeing it get done. And the punishment for not doing it, is seeing it pile up. Set up immediate, relevant, and visible carrots and sticks to prod yourself towards self-control and discipline, on your way towards eventual completion. Start tracking the days you did and didn't do what you needed to, so that you can see the progress.

Ep. 184 - Discipline to Get Better

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 07 May 2025 07:00:00 +0000

A threat of pain or enthusiastic inspiration are a blessing that drive performance. But those factors in themselves are unreliable tutors if we want to consistently produce results. We need self-control and discipline to get better.

Ep. 183 - Talk Is Cheap. Do the Work

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 05 May 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Some of us like to speak grand about the future we envision for ourselves and our business. Sure, there's a place for talk. But the proportion of talk to actions needs to have the right balance. And too many people have it backwards. They're 80% talk, 20% action. Too many words. Too little deeds.

It really is much easier to talk big and work small. And you get to pretend like you're hiding your lack of diligent effort behind your big words. Like a slight-of-hand magician, we try to trick ourselves and those around us to think that we're getting after it, when in reality we're not making any traction. But we're only fooling ourselves.

Ep. 182 - Don't Let Go

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 07:00:00 +0000

It's a waste of a life to only focus on the potential future goodness. A short part of our life is enjoying the fruits of our labor. Most of it is the actual labor – the process of getting there. The mistakes we make, the clutter we clean up, the stories we live through are all opportunities for us to laugh and have fun as we work hard to build something great.

It's exhausting and frustrating to build a great business. We have to get into the details and intricacies of the product designs and production processes. It's gruesome. I know. But like Jacob wrestling with God until he blessed him - even through pain and weariness - we wrestle with the problem until it gives us the answer. We don't let go.

Ep. 181 - A Standard of Excellence

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 07:00:00 +0000

A standard of Excellence is reliable ground to make sure that you not only continue to serve your customers in the best way but innovate new ways to serve them better. If your aim is to exceptionally serve your customers, the standard for that service is excellence. You aim to make things better.

In this way, you make your competitor irrelevant. Sure, you should be aware of what they're doing, and what they're doing better than you. But also, you keep prodding at your work to serve your customers in your context. What can you do to improve your value-offering as you seek to get better on your own?

And, you also make short-term customer complaints irrelevant. Maybe these customers are right. But they're not. Either way, you are working to improve your offering and provide better value. Sometimes reacting to immediate complaints will set you off course and destroy the effort you need to make. Be driven by sustainable, focused, and disciplined effort to make your business better, as you pursue a standard of excellence.

Ep. 180 - Facets of Organizational Structure - Part 5

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 07:00:00 +0000

The Specialist is focused on Executing Today's Task within a Closed framework.

The Manager is focused on Equipping the Person for Tomorrow's success within a Semi-Open framework.

The Leader is focused on Rallying the People to a better Future within an Open framework.

The leader's focus on the Future guide's the manager's equipping for Tomorrow in order for the Specialist to perform his task Today.

Have fun designing your structure. Keep it straight and simple as you utilize the facets of organizational structure.

Ep. 179 - Facets of Organizational Structure - Part 4

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Now we have the sixth and final facet. The Role.

Leaders in the Open Framework are responsible to define what effectiveness in the business looks like, so that the Manager in the Semi-Open Framework has enough clarity to create and ensure the procedures and training to equip the Specialists in the Closed Framework for the task they are to execute on.

The Specialist, the Manager, and the Leader.

These are the different roles in your organizational structure. That's the sixth facet.

Ep. 178 - Facets of Organizational Structure - Part 3

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 07:00:00 +0000

The fifth facet is the Framework.

You have to consider today, tomorrow, and the future.
You have to consider the task, the person, and the people.
You have to consider execution, equipping, and planning.

You need a framework that can ensure your business' effectiveness and efficiency.

Ep. 177 - Facets of Organizational Structure - Part 2

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 07:00:00 +0000

We're talking about the different facets to consider when structuring your organization.

We covered the first facet - Function - which should be considered on the spectrum of autonomy and control. An organization needs functions who have autonomy to build, and functions who protect what is built by maintaining control.

And we covered the second facet - Context - which should be considered on the spectrum of today and the future, specifically today, tomorrow, and the future. An organization must meet the needs of today, while preparing for tomorrow, and keeping the future in perspective.

We have 4 more facets to consider.

Ep. 176 - Facets of Organizational Structure - Part 1

Philip Kulishov — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 17:04:00 +0000

There are many different functions that a business organization needs. But all of the business functions fall on a spectrum of autonomy and control. And this is what the first facet of an organization structure is. You need to consider the functions on the spectrum of autonomy and control.

A business operates in the world of today, with tomorrow in mind, and with the intention of beyond tomorrow into the future. At times, the demands of each context are in competition with each other. Giving way to one could compromise the success of the other. And when Today, Tomorrow and the Future are pitted against each other, the demands of Today are typically always victorious. The urgent always takes precedence.

Ep. 175 - Making Things Happen - Part 4

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 07:00:00 +0000

We are responsible to make things happen. To find a way, and get it done.

We are to approach it with Competent Care - getting good at what we do because we care enough about it.

We are to have Strategic Shrewdness - getting creative and finding a strategic path forward.

We are to assume Reasoned Risk - assuming the risk and committing the resources.

And we are to employ Draining Diligence - exhausting our effort as we tirelessly keep our butt in the seat.

We aren't to work aimlessly, punching the air. We are to run to win, as we get after making things happen.

Ep. 174 - Making Things Happen - Part 3

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Some people keep collecting data, asking questions, and not acting because they're never sure. Here's the secret. There's no way to be sure. Risk is always there. If we're after results, at some point, we're going to have to make decisions and commit resources, without being fully sure if our decision is right. Results have more to do with committing to a decision and seeing it through to completion, then they do with endless data analytics.

We're in pursuit here to make things happen.

Ep. 173 - Making Things Happen - Part 2

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 07:00:00 +0000

God cares about details. Look at God's work. Psalm 8 says that God crafted the moon and stars with his fingers. He cares about the intricacy of his work. No one is more detail-oriented than God. We see this not only in his creation, but also in his Sovereign decree in history. God never rushes to the conclusion. He builds the plot, develops the characters, has a multitude of side-narratives all leading towards the resolution. Details in Creation. Details in History. God cares about details.

Which means if we don't, then we're wrong. Poor is the image-bearer who doesn't have the patience for details. For in those details, he finds the One whose image he's bearing. If only he were to take the time to look.

Ep. 172 - Making Things Happen - Part 1

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 07:00:00 +0000

We're responsible for the results our work produces, or the lack thereof. We don't get to wash our hands at the point of intention or effort. Wanting to do great things is not enough. Trying to do great things is not sufficient. Results matter. Yes, God is sovereign. Yes, we are responsible.

In order to be deemed faithful, we must go beyond desire, effort, and "our best." This "going beyond" is what work is. A worker is faithful when he does more than desire, try, or max out his capability. He's faithful when he gets the job done. Faithfulness is evaluated by the result.

The Master in the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25 says to his servant who doubled his talents, "Well done, good and *faithful* servant. You have been *faithful* over a little." He makes this assessment because the servant had something to show for his work. The servant was faithful in trading the talents effectively and doubling his investment. Being faithful over a little meant that he actually brought a return. He did not come empty handed. His faithfulness was visible in his results.

How are we to do that? I can say, "Work hard" or "Be smart." But that's not very helpful. When you don't see the results you're after, what can you do about that? How do we make things happen?

3 things I have for you.
4 to keep it interesting.

The next few episodes will be about just that. Getting it done. Making things happen.

Ep. 171 - The Investor Experience - Part 2

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Making promises should be based on how you intend to deliver on them, not just hopeful ambition. We want to gain the investor's confidence. Just like with a Customer, the confidence in gained through your execution.

You're held accountable to promises you made. A plan that doesn't include execution isn't a plan. It's just an aspiration. To be able to keep your promises, it's necessary to know how you're going to execute, not just what you want to achieve.

Promises made. Promises kept.

There you have it. That's the Investor Experience.

Ep. 170 - The Investor Experience - Part 1

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 07:00:00 +0000

A business needs to have somebody at the ownership level thinking like an investor and somebody at the ownership level thinking like an operator. That could be 2 or more partners owning a business together. Or, it could be one Owner-Operator, who knows how to think like an investor.

If, as an operator, you're putting in alot of effort and not getting very much of a return at all, consider if the business is worth it? Does it need to pivot into a different industry? Does it need to be shut down and the equity redeployed elsewhere? These are the sorts of questions an investor needs to answer.

Ep. 169 - Think Like An Operator

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 07:00:00 +0000

As a business owner - whether you're a passive partner or an owner operator - you need to be able to think like an investor. This means that you evae objectively, without having your emotions and ego tied into your decisions.

So, as a business owner, you need to be able to think like an investor. And, as a business owner, you need to be able to think an an operator.

Ep. 168 - Think Like An Investor

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 12 Mar 2025 07:00:00 +0000

Whether you're a passive investor or an owner-operator, you're responsible for the results of your business. Which means, you need to be able to assess its condition with a sober mind, apart from emotional entanglement.

You need to think like an investor.

Ep. 167 - A Business Owner Delivers Value.

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 07:00:00 +0000

The wonder of business and free enterprise enables this vision and is a necessity without which human flourishing is impossible. The recipient of value is a customer. And the giver of value is a business, or more personally, a business owner.

It's a feedback loop of value upon value, or blessing upon blessing, and it all starts with the business owner's agency. Owning a business is good. That can be, and is to be taken both ways. It's good for the business owner. But, more importantly, it's good for others - for those whom the business owner is serving. That's because a business owner delivers value.

Ep. 166 - What is Business Ownership?

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 08:00:00 +0000

There are fundamentally 3 things that set the owner apart: Risk, Responsibility, and Reward.

The owner takes a risk to initiate and operate the business, takes responsibility for everything in the business, and is rewarded in return for his risk and responsibility.

Risk, Responsibility, and Reward are what distinguishes the business owner from other stakeholders. Risk, Responsibility, and Reward is Business Ownership.

Ep. 165 - When Finance Doesn't Serve the Customer

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 08:00:00 +0000

When the Finance function's job of keeping score turns inward, it forgets about customer value, causing the entire business to neglect it. But, in remembering that it's purpose is to give the business incite into value-delivery, the Finance department aligns the business effort for the customer.

Many business problems arise when finance doesn't serve the customer.

Ep. 164 - When Administration Doesn't Serve the Customer

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 08:00:00 +0000

If the purpose of a business - of any business - is to deliver value to a customer, each function revolves around that purpose. Strategy is to create the value, Sales is to promote it, Operations is to deliver it. And Administration is to manage it.

Administration should be serving to help the overall customer experience, not bog it down. Order and control are good, and very much needed, as long as they serve the greater purpose of delivering value to the customer. But order and control exasperate everybody when Administration doesn't serve the customer.

Ep. 163 - When Operations Doesn't Serve the Customer

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 08:00:00 +0000

In delivering value, Operations must hold the customer as the definer of what is right - right quantity, right quality, right timing - and then structure the systems accordingly. The customer, the business, and the operations function itself loses when Operations doesn't serve the customer.

Ep. 162 - When Sales Doesn't Serve the Customer

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 08:00:00 +0000

In episode 161, I talked about what a self-serving strategy looks like. This time we're going to talk about sales. What does self-serving sales look like?

When the customer believes that your value-offering is relevant and reliable, revenue growth follows. But when you chase revenue-growth, you win neither the customer nor the sale.

Ep. 161 - When Strategy Doesn't Serve the Customer

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 08:00:00 +0000

In order for a Business to create wins all around, the Strategy function has to understand the difference between the horse and the cart, between the white ball and the triangle rack of balls in the middle of the pool table, between the lead actions and lag measures.

I'm not talking about Customer instead of profit. I'm saying you can focus on profit in a way that puts your focus on serving the customer. Or, you can focus on profit in a way that makes you forget about the customer.

Everybody loses when Strategy doesn't serve the customer.

Ep. 160 - So, You Want To Own A Business

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 08:00:00 +0000

If you want to own and operate a business, don’t start with finding your passion. Figure out what others are struggling with and how you can help them. Solve other people’s problems. Start by focusing on potential customers, then continue your focus on existing customers, and then focus on future customers. Customers, not passions, are what make a business.If you want to be in business, focus on others first. Start by giving, not taking. And many a time, when you focus on serving others, your find your passions.

Ep. 159 - Systems Bring Residual Return

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 08:00:00 +0000

These are larger projects that have a lot of steps and milestones before the result can be actualized. But the return on them is big. These are your annual or quarterly goals that you have to work on for weeks or month to make progress on. In order to get where you want to get to, you need to devote most of your time on these items, and make sure you're keeping yourself on task. The payoff is big. But it won't happen right away.

Systems bring residual return.

Ep. 158 - Action Over Vision

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Business owners are visionaries. They're dreamers. They're goal setters. They focus on the future, with aspirations then and there.

Vague notions of ambition and aspiration that sound like, "It'd be great if..." aren't strong enough to get you anywhere, and definitely not strong enough to lead others with. Any leader must have clarity in his vision for the future and must be able to communicate it clearly.

Get clear on your actions. Thats where the results come from. You need to prioritize action over vision.

Ep. 157 - How To Move Fast

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 08:00:00 +0000

The typical amount of things that the average person gets done on a week by week basis isn't very much. There usually isn't too much actual progress made by most people.

But in business, you have a natural motivator to keep you going; a personal incentive to whip you into action. Profit.

Business requires that we move fast. But won't going too fast hurt you? If you can't keep up with the pace, won't that in itself be your downfall?

It could be. So, how then should we approach the speed of execution?

Ep. 156 - Working With Suppliers - Part 3

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 08:00:00 +0000

This is Part 3 in our little series on Working With Suppliers. The goal is to focus on providing them with value, before asking them for value.

If you want your suppliers to come through for you, you need to first come through for them. Before expecting value, give value. You want them to trust you, so be trustworthy.

It's good to consider what sort of value you're providing when working with suppliers.

Ep. 155 - Working With Suppliers - Part 2

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Your goal is to gain your supplier's trust and become a valuable customer for them. You want them to care about their relationship with you.

The question is, what makes a valuable customer in a business-to-business relationship?

It's good to consider what sort of value you're providing when working with suppliers.

Ep. 154 - Working With Suppliers - Part 1

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 08:00:00 +0000

You need your vendors and suppliers in order to serve your customers. If your care about your customers, you must care about your suppliers. They are there to help you deliver the value you've promised. And you need to approach them with that mindset.

They're not your employees. They are other business owners. Which means you are their customer.

You can help them understand what is valuable for you as their customer. You can help lay out the expectation to make their job of discovery easier.

There are 2 ways you do this.

Ep. 153 - Keep The Main Thing, The Main Thing

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 08:00:00 +0000

In anything we do, we're tempted to get distracted and derailed off the tracks we're on. I keep talking about serving customers as being the main idea - the entire point - in business. Serving the customer is the point of everything else you're trying to do. Everything else depends on it. You want your employees, vendors, and yourself to win. But that happens in connection with your customers winning. You need to keep that focus on the customer. You need the keep the main thing, the main thing.

Ep. 152 - Business is Boring

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Owning and managing a business has it's moments of euphoria. But a big part of business development is the gruesome, daily grind of simply doing the same thing every day. Results are what's exciting. Actions are boring. A business owner does not spend his time in the realm of results. Results are the outcome of work. The work itself is what the business owner does.

Results are an outcome of consistent action in the same direction. Are you bored because you have to do the same thing every day? Good. Lean in, and get ready for some exciting results. It's when we own the boredom, that things get exciting.

That's because business is boring.

Ep. 151 - You Or The Problem, Who Will fold?

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 08:00:00 +0000

What should you do when you're under continual pressure to fold? Consider the consequence. If you're tempted to fold, consider the consequence. Consider the consequence of 2 things. First, consider the consequence of folding. And second, consider the consequence of not folding. When tempted to fold, consider the consequence. Consider the consequence of folding. Consider the consequence of holding. And then decide: It's you or the problem. Who will fold?

Ep. 150 - Compound Your Improvement Effort

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 08:00:00 +0000

When there are so many opportunities for improvement, how do you know where to start? What is the most efficient and effective way to go about making things better? As in all things, there are a variety of frameworks, many of which are helpful. There are different ways to approach this question. The framework I have for you here is my go-to to get clarity quickly and efficiently, and get to action. I like using the Effort & Impact Matrix. It's not original to me. But I've made it my own. As you work on your business, think about how you can compound your improvement efforts.

Ep. 149 - A Waste Wrap Up

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 08:00:00 +0000

Here you have it. 7 things that your customer is unwilling to pay for. Which means, you are paying for it. These are all things eating away at your margins. Getting rid of them adds directly to your bottom line - either by flowing directly into profit, or by giving you the opportunity to improve your pricing structures, thereby winning more business.

So, get to it. Get rid of waste, or it will be getting rid of you.

Ep. 148 - Consistent Production Beats Sporadic Exceptionalism

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 08:00:00 +0000

In order to have consistent production, you must get to executing - to doing the work. Doing is producing. And if you want to get from not executing anywhere to executing everywhere, crossing that chasm in one leap will be the same sort of failure.

If your execution sucks, start by executing on something you can handle. Build sustainable deliverables. The point is to start producing consistently, no matter how small. You can make small things bigger. You can't make big things out of nothing.

You might be worried that small and consistent is slow. "This is going to take forever." You'd be wrong. It's actually the opposite. Consistent isn't slow. At least it doesn't have to be. Once you build consistency into your outputs, you'll be able to add to it. Keep piling, keeping improving, and soon your strides will be more than you wished to handle.

Build habits of consistent production, instead of pursuing leaps of gains. Consistent production beats sporadic exceptionalism.

Ep. 147 - A Company Christmas Party

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 25 Dec 2024 08:00:00 +0000

Most businesses host some sort of a Christmas party. Whether extravagant or simple, businesses have a Company Christmas Party. But that seems a bit strange, does it not? Why have a Company Christmas party?

On this holiday, when we remember God’s gift to mankind and give gifts to one another, how great it is that we can celebrate together with the people that we work with, the ones with whom every day we give of ourselves to others.

Happy Working. Merry Giving.
And Merry Christmas!

Ep. 146 - Manage Customer Expectations

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 08:00:00 +0000

Delivering on expectations is a good summary of what every business owner does. We make promises and then deliver on them. This happens with all parties and transactions. Customers, employees, financiers, vendors. Business owners deliver on expectations. If you want to deliver on customer expectations reliably and consistently, you must take the responsibility to set and manage them. You must manage customer expectations.

Ep. 145 - Character Creates Competence

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 08:00:00 +0000

"Character matters" has become the sort of overused adage that is neither considered nor applied. Yes, character does matter. Of course it does. So much so that it's measured not with intentions, but with results. And when considering results, what matters is competence. If we had to choose, of course I'd choose success in certain roles over other ones. However, choosing between character and competence is not only a false dilemma, it is a false*hood*. You can't choose character at the expense of competence. Not only are character and competence *not* mutually exclusive, real character produces real competence. Competence is what merits attention. So, character merits attention to the extent that a man with character excels at his work. That's because character creates competence.

Ep. 144 - Rousing Employees by Raising Their Vision

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 08:00:00 +0000

Whether due to fear, guilt, or naivety, business leaders have been beaten into the subservient role of "Servant Leader." Leading requires resilience in any context, but our cultural temperament of anxious envy suffocates leadership. Specifically in our context of not just disproportionate employee rights and entitlements, but a culture of empathy and feels, leaders have practically become followers. Presenting the aim for the leader's role as serving his employees is a wrongheaded approach to leadership because it doesn't drive people forward. It hinders the objective of the business, because it puts the focus on the employee instead of the customer. And it hurts the employee, because inviting them to live for themselves is a sad end. Purpose and joy is found in something bigger. The business leader should be rousing employees by raising their vision.

Ep. 143 - God Is In The Details

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 08:00:00 +0000

Some people are naturally minutious. An extreme care for details is the way they look at everything. Others see big picture and concepts only, and have no desire for the details. There are business people of both sorts, but I'm willing to bet that most are of the second type. Visionaries see big things, and have no patience with little things. Well, I'm here to tell you that if you don't have the patience for details, it will bite you in the end. I'm also here to tell you that if you don't have the patience for details, you're wrong. You've heard it said, "The devil's in the details." But I say unto you, God is in the details.

Ep. 142 - Playing the Long Game in Your Sales Strategy

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 08:00:00 +0000

Playing the short game in your sales strategy is reactionary and frantic. It's pushing the product onto the customer. Playing the long game is proactive and free. It's pulling the customer into the product. You either have to spend time and energy pressuring leads to become customers as you squeeze droplets of juice by hand out of the single orange, or you spend time and energy building and maintaining trust, as you plant and water an orchard of orange trees, harvesting an abundance in due time. The mindset is what I'm talking about. Winning is playing the long game in your sales strategy.

Ep. 141 - Poka-Yoke It Up!

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 08:00:00 +0000

Too many business people tolerate mistakes and defects, instead of addressing the root cause and building a quality solution into the system itself. Following the Jidoka concept - actually both in our business and our personal lives - helps us to eliminate defects and mistakes; eliminate the waste that gets in the way of our margins. Once you understand the cause of the issue, implement a preventative measure. This is called Poka-Yoke. Poka-yoke is a Japanese term which means "mistake-proofing." Insert a relevant poka-yoke into your system that will make it impossible to make the mistake again.

Ep. 140 - The Frontline Manager Is The Linchpin - Part 2

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 17:05:00 +0000

The first factor was covered on the last episode, that being ownership for the plan. It matters that the frontline manager is bought into the vision and strategy, and embodies it for the people. The second factor is clear, but also often overlooked. Competence. In order for the frontline manager to be a linchpin for the success of your business, he must have the adequate competence required of this role.

Ep. 139 - The Frontline Manager Is The Linchpin - Part 1

philip Kulishov — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 08:00:00 +0000

One of the critical roles in your business is the frontline manager. This is the role of execution. The top leader has the vision, the strategy, the plans. Those are crucial aspects to ensure your organization is moving in the right direction. Is the frontline manager bought into the mission? Does he own it? This is the first factor to consider in making sure you have the right person for the job. The second factor is equally important. But it'll have to wait until next time, when we talk more about how the frontline manager is the linchpin.

Ep. 138 - Pull the Weeds While They're Still Small

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 08:00:00 +0000

Identifying the source of the problem - whether accurate or not - is not the same thing as solving the problem. Identifying the source is not yet taking responsibility for it. But, taking responsibility for a problem is difficult because it assumes work must be done. Address the problem early and quickly without dragging it out. Pull the weeds while they're still small.

Ep. 137 - Growth or Cash, Choose One - Part 4

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 08:00:00 +0000

What if you choose not to grow? What if you look at your context and decide that you're content with the current size of your business? If growing it requires cash, what should you do if you want to cash in and stop growing? Listen to find out!

Ep. 136 - Growth or Cash, Choose One - Part 3

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 08:00:00 +0000

Growth requires cash. Because Working Capital is a thing. So, you need to get that cash somewhere. You don't want to outgrow your cash, which is possible. So, you must watch both. You must know what's in your wallet, and how to put more in there.

Ep. 135 - Growth or Cash, Choose One - Part 2

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 08:00:00 +0000

Growth and cash have an inverse relationship. The more growth your business experiences, the less cash it'll have. Which means, that if you want to grow, you need to make sure your cash can sustain it. This is why it's important for a business owner to understand and be aware of the Cash Flow Statement.

Ep. 134 - Growth or Cash, Choose One - Part 1

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 08:00:00 +0000

There are two things business-owners pursue that, in a sense, are mutually exclusive. Both of them are good pursuits, and perhaps necessary even if you're trying to maximize the good your business is doing. Both of them are near the core of the reason why a business owner comes in to work, investing his time and strength in building his business. And, reality is that he can only have one.. sort of. The two pursuits are growth and cash.

Ep. 133 - Profit Is For The Customer

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 08:00:00 +0000

Customers won’t trade their money for the product if they perceive the price too high for the quality offered. That information is vital for the Seller. The Seller must hear what the Buyer wants. That happens from the pursuit of profit. The Seller's free pursuit of profit enables value for the Buyer. And so, profit is for the customer.

Ep. 132 - Results Follow Trade-offs

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 08:00:00 +0000

Business people are after results. Actually, everybody's after results. It's just that a business makes it very clear if you have results or not. And, as in all things, results in this trade follow trade-offs. There is good. And there is better. Real results are better than good intentions. For you to have results, you must trade something. That's because, results follow trade-offs.

Ep. 131 - You Want Your Customers To Take You For Granted

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 07:00:00 +0000

If your customers are not constantly praising you for everything you do, that is in itself a silent recognition of a job well done. You’ve done it again. You want your customers to take you for granted.

Ep. 130 - Why To Uncover Your Mission

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 07:00:00 +0000

All business consultants will tell you that you need to uncover the mission of your business. You need to know "the why." You need to know what your business exists for. But, what for? Why do you need to know "the why?" Why uncover the Mission? Find out in this Episode.

Ep. 129 - Leading People (Even If You Can't Pay Them) - Part 3

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 07:00:00 +0000

In order to lead others, you must be present with a Character of Gravitas. The presence of substantive character draws people in. The critical competency that every leader must excel at, if he is to have people follow him on his journey, is communication - the power of words.Gravitas, Vision, Words. It's what it takes to lead people, even if you can't pay them.

Ep. 128 - Leading People (Even If You Can't Pay Them) - Part 2

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 18:05:00 +0000

The ability to lead others boils down to 3 things: the person, the focus, and the skill. The leader is someone who knows where he's going, knows how he wants to get there, and is making progress in that direction, whether or not he has others helping him. The leader is obsessed with the vision. He is building his future reality.

Ep. 127 - Leading People (Even If You Can't Pay Them) - Part 1

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 21:28:00 +0000

Entrepreneurs trying to get a business off the ground have a lot going for them. But the one thing they need most, is mostly what they don't have. Money. So, what do you do if you need money and don't have it? The entrepreneur who doesn't have any money must rely on something more important: his ability to lead. A Character of Gravitas that pulls others in is what you need when leading people, even if you can't pay them.

Ep. 126 - 2 Types of Customer Relationships

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 07:00:00 +0000

A business needs a customer the way a husband needs a wife – it’s what defines the role. I’d like to propose a different sort of distinction to identify and pursue your target audience, one that is relevant in both B2B and B2C scenarios. Building a trustworthy relationship is less about customer service and more about the strategy, structure, and systems that drive your business and deliver a reliable customer experience. To your customers, you are either transactional or trustworthy. Which sort of relationship are you cultivating out of these 2 types of customer relationships?

Ep. 124 - Value-Growth Mindset

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 07:00:00 +0000

The fundamental framework – the mindset – that ought to drive all of our actions as we work in and on the business is the Value-Growth Mindset. The Value-Growth Mindset is caring to make people’s lives better. Progress and innovation moves forward because people do good for other people. A business is the tool we use to deliver not just value, but growing value, to our customers.

Ep. 123 - Value Is The Goal

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 07:00:00 +0000

A business exists to deliver value to a customer. Anything else is a distraction from that goal, and will lead to your business’ demise. If something else takes the place of the customer, the customer eventually leaves. And without a customer, you don’t have a business. That’s because the business is not the goal of the business. Value is the goal.

Ep. 122 – Business Is Not Morally Neutral

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 07:00:00 +0000

Many Christians hold business in a morally neutral category. This ordinary world of business and…Continue readingEp. 122 – Business Is Not Morally Neutral

The post Ep. 122 – Business Is Not Morally Neutral first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 121 – A Fruitful Worldview

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 07:00:00 +0000

Profitable businesses have no place in our modern worldview. Our culture resides within a fruitless…Continue readingEp. 121 – A Fruitful Worldview

The post Ep. 121 – A Fruitful Worldview first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 120 – You Want Humble People

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 07:00:00 +0000

The mission and vision are only as good as the people living it out. If…Continue readingEp. 120 – You Want Humble People

The post Ep. 120 – You Want Humble People first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 119 – Get Better As You Get Bigger

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 07:00:00 +0000

Most business owners want their business to grow. However, much of the time those who…Continue readingEp. 119 – Get Better As You Get Bigger

The post Ep. 119 – Get Better As You Get Bigger first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 118 – Let Problems Fall Where They May

Philip Kulishov — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 17:07:00 +0000

The issue with solving problems for a living is that you want to solve all…Continue readingEp. 118 – Let Problems Fall Where They May

The post Ep. 118 – Let Problems Fall Where They May first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 117 – Aspirations & Actions

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 16:14:00 +0000

Idealists justify their position by reproaching the Pragmatists action as compromise. And Pragmatists sneer at…Continue readingEp. 117 – Aspirations & Actions

The post Ep. 117 – Aspirations & Actions first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 116 – An Owner’s Lack of Nerve

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 07:00:00 +0000

In the last episode, I introduced “nerve” as a necessary virtue to possess in order…Continue readingEp. 116 – An Owner’s Lack of Nerve

The post Ep. 116 – An Owner’s Lack of Nerve first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 115 – The Character Trait of Success

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 18:34:00 +0000

There are character traits that all successful business owners share; character traits without which a…Continue readingEp. 115 – The Character Trait of Success

The post Ep. 115 – The Character Trait of Success first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 114 – The Objective of Christian Enterprise

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 18:58:00 +0000

Everything within the domain of business – its end and its means – is subjected…Continue readingEp. 114 – The Objective of Christian Enterprise

The post Ep. 114 – The Objective of Christian Enterprise first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 113 – Let Sales Sell

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 07:00:00 +0000

Without sales there are no customers. Sales is supposed to sell. But because there’s much…Continue readingEp. 113 – Let Sales Sell

The post Ep. 113 – Let Sales Sell first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 112 – Playing The Inventory Game

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 18:12:00 +0000

The game of inventory is a balancing act, if there ever was one. If your…Continue readingEp. 112 – Playing The Inventory Game

The post Ep. 112 – Playing The Inventory Game first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 111 – Your Business Is Not Your Employee’s Baby

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 16:03:00 +0000

Nobody cares about the business like the owner does. The owner see and knows that.…Continue readingEp. 111 – Your Business Is Not Your Employee’s Baby

The post Ep. 111 – Your Business Is Not Your Employee’s Baby first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 110 – Size Matters

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 20:58:00 +0000

The size of your business affects how it should be run. You can have a…Continue readingEp. 110 – Size Matters

The post Ep. 110 – Size Matters first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 109 – You Want A Boring Business

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 16:07:00 +0000

Your goal is not to make our customers’ experience with you exciting and unpredictable. You…Continue readingEp. 109 – You Want A Boring Business

The post Ep. 109 – You Want A Boring Business first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 108 – The Global Objective

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 07:00:00 +0000

Your organization needs a lot of things to get done simultaneously. So, each functional department…Continue readingEp. 108 – The Global Objective

The post Ep. 108 – The Global Objective first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 107 – Balancing Autonomy & Control

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 07:00:00 +0000

The need to balance autonomy and control is prevalent in nearly every area of our…Continue readingEp. 107 – Balancing Autonomy & Control

The post Ep. 107 – Balancing Autonomy & Control first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 106 – Structure Enables Strategy

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 16:34:00 +0000

How the people in a business are organized and how they interact with one another…Continue readingEp. 106 – Structure Enables Strategy

The post Ep. 106 – Structure Enables Strategy first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 105 – More People, More Disorder

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 07:00:00 +0000

The more people are involved in your business, the more disorder will manifest. It’s better…Continue readingEp. 105 – More People, More Disorder

The post Ep. 105 – More People, More Disorder first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 104 – Business Turnarounds

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 07:00:00 +0000

There are times when our business falls into a sort of disorder, and we need…Continue readingEp. 104 – Business Turnarounds

The post Ep. 104 – Business Turnarounds first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 103 – Fail ‘Til You Succeed

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 07:00:00 +0000

Even though I don’t like the term “Fake it, ’til you make it,” I do…Continue readingEp. 103 – Fail ‘Til You Succeed

The post Ep. 103 – Fail ‘Til You Succeed first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 102 – The Imposter Syndrome

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 07:00:00 +0000

There’s that popular poser-friendly phrase: fake it ’til you make it. It’s the motto of…Continue readingEp. 102 – The Imposter Syndrome

The post Ep. 102 – The Imposter Syndrome first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 101 – The Missing Ingredient

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 29 May 2024 07:00:00 +0000

Most people and businesses grow stagnant. But there are those who don’t. There are the…Continue readingEp. 101 – The Missing Ingredient

The post Ep. 101 – The Missing Ingredient first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 100 – Death, Burial, & Resurrection

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 27 May 2024 07:00:00 +0000

Some failures are scratches and wounds. But there is a sort of failure that is…Continue readingEp. 100 – Death, Burial, & Resurrection

The post Ep. 100 – Death, Burial, & Resurrection first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 99 – How To Make a Business Case

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 22 May 2024 16:45:00 +0000

How can you know if your business idea is a good one or not? This…Continue readingEp. 99 – How To Make a Business Case

The post Ep. 99 – How To Make a Business Case first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 98 – Cruise On Your Own Time

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 20 May 2024 19:21:00 +0000

Transportation is one of the Seven Wastes in your business that your customers aren’t willing…Continue readingEp. 98 – Cruise On Your Own Time

The post Ep. 98 – Cruise On Your Own Time first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 97 – Assess, Align, Actuate

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 15 May 2024 07:00:00 +0000

When you work towards your business goals, what is guaranteed is that either you’ll meet…Continue readingEp. 97 – Assess, Align, Actuate

The post Ep. 97 – Assess, Align, Actuate first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 96 – A Framework to Work Toward Your Goals

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 13 May 2024 18:24:00 +0000

Big goals require small steps. You don’t want the lack of a “how” to keep…Continue readingEp. 96 – A Framework to Work Toward Your Goals

The post Ep. 96 – A Framework to Work Toward Your Goals first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 95 – Big Goals Demand Small Steps

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 08 May 2024 07:00:00 +0000

Most people have more aspirations than actions. There are, of course, different reasons why somebody…Continue readingEp. 95 – Big Goals Demand Small Steps

The post Ep. 95 – Big Goals Demand Small Steps first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 94 – Don’t Make Them Wait

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 06 May 2024 16:45:00 +0000

Waste Number 4. The Waste of Waiting refers to a customer waiting for anything. Here’s…Continue readingEp. 94 – Don’t Make Them Wait

The post Ep. 94 – Don’t Make Them Wait first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 93 – Don’t Be Pushy

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 01 May 2024 07:00:00 +0000

There is something consultants like to call “the Pull System,” originally known as Kanban. The…Continue readingEp. 93 – Don’t Be Pushy

The post Ep. 93 – Don’t Be Pushy first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 92 – You Know What To Do

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 07:00:00 +0000

What is a business owner to do when he feels like he’s stuck? The context…Continue readingEp. 92 – You Know What To Do

The post Ep. 92 – You Know What To Do first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 91 – Interpret Financials to Hear Your Customers (Part 2)

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 07:00:00 +0000

In the last episode, I covered a few basic things to be looking for when…Continue readingEp. 91 – Interpret Financials to Hear Your Customers (Part 2)

The post Ep. 91 – Interpret Financials to Hear Your Customers (Part 2) first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 90 – Interpret Financials to Hear Your Customers (Part 1)

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 07:00:00 +0000

Financial analysts will tell you that your Income Statement communicates your Competitive Advantage. That’s true.…Continue readingEp. 90 – Interpret Financials to Hear Your Customers (Part 1)

The post Ep. 90 – Interpret Financials to Hear Your Customers (Part 1) first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 89 – Quit Moving Around

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 15:58:00 +0000

There are seven categories of everything that gets in the way of providing value to…Continue readingEp. 89 – Quit Moving Around

The post Ep. 89 – Quit Moving Around first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 88 – On Making Progress When Leading People (Part 3)

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 16:17:00 +0000

This is part 3 in this mini-series about leading a group of people. When trying…Continue readingEp. 88 – On Making Progress When Leading People (Part 3)

The post Ep. 88 – On Making Progress When Leading People (Part 3) first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 87 – On Making Progress When Leading People (Part 2)

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 07:00:00 +0000

People are at different buy-in levels of the vision as individuals. So, when trying to…Continue readingEp. 87 – On Making Progress When Leading People (Part 2)

The post Ep. 87 – On Making Progress When Leading People (Part 2) first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 86 – On Making Progress When Leading People (Part 1)

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 07:00:00 +0000

If you only think of leadership in the context of a collective, it quickly gets…Continue readingEp. 86 – On Making Progress When Leading People (Part 1)

The post Ep. 86 – On Making Progress When Leading People (Part 1) first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 85 – Leading Through Sabotage

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 03 Apr 2024 17:31:00 +0000

If leadership only entailed charting forward while safely assuming that the people you are rallying…Continue readingEp. 85 – Leading Through Sabotage

The post Ep. 85 – Leading Through Sabotage first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 84 – Michelin Star or McDonalds Menu?

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 07:00:00 +0000

I promised to get through all seven of the wastes that keep you from providing…Continue readingEp. 84 – Michelin Star or McDonalds Menu?

The post Ep. 84 – Michelin Star or McDonalds Menu? first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 83 – What Kind of a Business Should You Own? (Part 2)

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 07:00:00 +0000

What sort of business should you start, buy, or be involved in building? In the…Continue readingEp. 83 – What Kind of a Business Should You Own? (Part 2)

The post Ep. 83 – What Kind of a Business Should You Own? (Part 2) first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 82 – What Kind of a Business Should You Own? (Part 1)

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 07:00:00 +0000

What sort of business should you start, buy, or be involved in building? Many aspiring…Continue readingEp. 82 – What Kind of a Business Should You Own? (Part 1)

The post Ep. 82 – What Kind of a Business Should You Own? (Part 1) first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 81 – Are You An Operator Or An Administrator?

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 07:00:00 +0000

There’s a difference between the 2 types of business managers: The Administrator and The Operator.…Continue readingEp. 81 – Are You An Operator Or An Administrator?

The post Ep. 81 – Are You An Operator Or An Administrator? first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 80 – Active Attention, Not Aimless Abdication

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 16:19:00 +0000

Conditions and circumstances in the business world change in a way that requires our adaptation.…Continue readingEp. 80 – Active Attention, Not Aimless Abdication

The post Ep. 80 – Active Attention, Not Aimless Abdication first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 79 – The One Thing For Operational Improvement

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 07:00:00 +0000

When thinking about improving your operation, everything comes to the forefront all at once. But…Continue readingEp. 79 – The One Thing For Operational Improvement

The post Ep. 79 – The One Thing For Operational Improvement first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 78 – Enjoy The Process

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 07:00:00 +0000

We enjoy dreaming, envisioning, anticipating. But then begins the process of getting there, with its…Continue readingEp. 78 – Enjoy The Process

The post Ep. 78 – Enjoy The Process first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 77 – Why Do We Over Produce?

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 08:00:00 +0000

Overproduction, out of the seven, is the waste that we not only do most often,…Continue readingEp. 77 – Why Do We Over Produce?

The post Ep. 77 – Why Do We Over Produce? first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 76 – Overproduction Is Your Biggest Enemy

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 08:00:00 +0000

I’ve previously introduced the concept of the 7 Wastes. We’ll go through each of them…Continue readingEp. 76 – Overproduction Is Your Biggest Enemy

The post Ep. 76 – Overproduction Is Your Biggest Enemy first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 75 – 3 Metrics To Deliver Value

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 08:00:00 +0000

The basic fundamentals of business is more value and less waste. Increase the value you’re…Continue readingEp. 75 – 3 Metrics To Deliver Value

The post Ep. 75 – 3 Metrics To Deliver Value first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 74 – Working With People You Don’t Agree With

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 08:00:00 +0000

We all should have some things at that level of clear-cut, uncompromising principle. But, is…Continue readingEp. 74 – Working With People You Don’t Agree With

The post Ep. 74 – Working With People You Don’t Agree With first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 73 – You Can Say “No”

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 21 Feb 2024 08:00:00 +0000

In the last episode I mentioned where to start looking when you’re wanting to grow…Continue readingEp. 73 – You Can Say “No”

The post Ep. 73 – You Can Say “No” first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 72 – Growing Your Business Revenue

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 08:00:00 +0000

The way a business owner ought to be in control of his entire business, so…Continue readingEp. 72 – Growing Your Business Revenue

The post Ep. 72 – Growing Your Business Revenue first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 71 – Cultivate Order, Not Chaos

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 08:00:00 +0000

Your vision might include a well-ordered operation, with clear instructions at all levels, and systemic,…Continue readingEp. 71 – Cultivate Order, Not Chaos

The post Ep. 71 – Cultivate Order, Not Chaos first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 70 – Practicing Your Purpose

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 17:18:00 +0000

Identifying a purpose is a good and necessary pursuit. As long as your purpose is…Continue readingEp. 70 – Practicing Your Purpose

The post Ep. 70 – Practicing Your Purpose first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 69 – The Role of The Leader

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 17:32:00 +0000

Getting back to the role framework for the organizational structure, we discuss the role of…Continue readingEp. 69 – The Role of The Leader

The post Ep. 69 – The Role of The Leader first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 68 – What Is Leadership?

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 21:31:00 +0000

Not everybody means the same thing when they say “leader”. I use the word “leader”…Continue readingEp. 68 – What Is Leadership?

The post Ep. 68 – What Is Leadership? first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 67 – The Role of The Manager

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 17:16:00 +0000

Continuing with the framework to help structure your organization and fill it with fitting roles,…Continue readingEp. 67 – The Role of The Manager

The post Ep. 67 – The Role of The Manager first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 66 – The Role of The Specialist

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 17:07:00 +0000

Earlier I covered a way to think about organizational structure. The different contexts of Today,…Continue readingEp. 66 – The Role of The Specialist

The post Ep. 66 – The Role of The Specialist first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 65 – The Organizational Structure

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 17:10:00 +0000

When thinking about structuring your business’ roles and allocating responsibilities, it’s necessary to acknowledge the…Continue readingEp. 65 – The Organizational Structure

The post Ep. 65 – The Organizational Structure first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 64 – Know Your Target Employment Audience

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 17:24:00 +0000

The mission and vision are only as good as the people living it out. By…Continue readingEp. 64 – Know Your Target Employment Audience

The post Ep. 64 – Know Your Target Employment Audience first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 63 – Uncover The Mission Of Your Business

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 04:03:00 +0000

If the purpose of your business is not clear, you probably won’t have thriving and…Continue readingEp. 63 – Uncover The Mission Of Your Business

The post Ep. 63 – Uncover The Mission Of Your Business first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 62 – What The Customer Won’t Pay For

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 17:20:00 +0000

Your focus is to provide value for your customer. But not everything you do is…Continue readingEp. 62 – What The Customer Won’t Pay For

The post Ep. 62 – What The Customer Won’t Pay For first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 61 – Manage With Freedom & Responsibility

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 17:36:00 +0000

Managers want reliable results. So they defer to managing the minute details of their workers…Continue readingEp. 61 – Manage With Freedom & Responsibility

The post Ep. 61 – Manage With Freedom & Responsibility first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 60 – Be Comfortable Being Uncomfortable

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 18:11:00 +0000

Business and markets are ever evolving and changing. As the world around us changes, there…Continue readingEp. 60 – Be Comfortable Being Uncomfortable

The post Ep. 60 – Be Comfortable Being Uncomfortable first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 59 – If Opportunity Isn’t Knocking

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 17:08:00 +0000

Business is all about capitalizing on opportunities, right? Your connections, market timing, technology innovation, resources.…Continue readingEp. 59 – If Opportunity Isn’t Knocking

The post Ep. 59 – If Opportunity Isn’t Knocking first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 58 – Profit Is A Necessary Good

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 16:52:00 +0000

Society lambasts business people with guilt, grabbiness, and sending them to the gallows. Business consultants…Continue readingEp. 58 – Profit Is A Necessary Good

The post Ep. 58 – Profit Is A Necessary Good first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 57 – The Sanctified Differentiated Leader

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 09:00:00 +0000

“The Failure of Nerve” by Edwin Friedman is one of the best leadership books I’ve…Continue readingEp. 57 – The Sanctified Differentiated Leader

The post Ep. 57 – The Sanctified Differentiated Leader first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 56 – How To Get Into Business Ownership

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 19:18:00 +0000

This episode is for the would-be business owners – for those aspiring to the role,…Continue readingEp. 56 – How To Get Into Business Ownership

The post Ep. 56 – How To Get Into Business Ownership first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 55 – The Fundamental Focus

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 16:53:00 +0000

A multi-faceted attention span is a job-requirement for the business owner. It’s too easy to…Continue readingEp. 55 – The Fundamental Focus

The post Ep. 55 – The Fundamental Focus first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 54 – Is There Good Debt?

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 20:32:00 +0000

Is debt a moral issue? Is there such a thing as “good debt?” Or is…Continue readingEp. 54 – Is There Good Debt?

The post Ep. 54 – Is There Good Debt? first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 53 – What About Business Debt?

Philip Kulishov — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 22:58:00 +0000

Is there such a thing as “good debt?” Or, is Dave Ramsey correct that all…Continue readingEp. 53 – What About Business Debt?

The post Ep. 53 – What About Business Debt? first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 52 – Employee Termination – Part 2

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 16:12:00 +0000

Terminating an employee is not fun for anybody. Part of what makes it unpleasant is…Continue readingEp. 52 – Employee Termination – Part 2

The post Ep. 52 – Employee Termination – Part 2 first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 51 – Employee Termination – Part 1

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 17:00:00 +0000

Terminating an employee is not fun for anybody. Part of what makes it unpleasant is…Continue readingEp. 51 – Employee Termination – Part 1

The post Ep. 51 – Employee Termination – Part 1 first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 50 – The Best Way To Success

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 16:33:00 +0000

We do because we want it done. We try because we want to succeed. But…Continue readingEp. 50 – The Best Way To Success

The post Ep. 50 – The Best Way To Success first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 49 – Start Walking

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 16:14:00 +0000

Our dreams are only as good as our execution. There are different reasons why we…Continue readingEp. 49 – Start Walking

The post Ep. 49 – Start Walking first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 48 – Customers Aren’t Always Right

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 17:38:00 +0000

Are customers really always right? Maybe the answer to that question depends on answering another…Continue readingEp. 48 – Customers Aren’t Always Right

The post Ep. 48 – Customers Aren’t Always Right first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 47 – Incentives to Keep Employees Engaged (Part 2)

Philip Kulishov — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 16:16:00 +0000

Keeping employees engaged at their jobs could be tricky. But it doesn’t have to be.…Continue readingEp. 47 – Incentives to Keep Employees Engaged (Part 2)

The post Ep. 47 – Incentives to Keep Employees Engaged (Part 2) first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 46 – Incentives to Keep Employees Engaged (Part 1)

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 16:54:00 +0000

Keeping employees engaged at their jobs could be tricky. But it doesn’t have to be.…Continue readingEp. 46 – Incentives to Keep Employees Engaged (Part 1)

The post Ep. 46 – Incentives to Keep Employees Engaged (Part 1) first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 45 – Keep It Simple

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 17:31:00 +0000

Like thorns and thistles, things in your business get complicated all on their own. One…Continue readingEp. 45 – Keep It Simple

The post Ep. 45 – Keep It Simple first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 44 – Lean Into Your Presups

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 16:11:00 +0000

Some business owners may attempt an illusion of neutrality, but at the end of the…Continue readingEp. 44 – Lean Into Your Presups

The post Ep. 44 – Lean Into Your Presups first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 43 – Communication is A.R.T.

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 18:08:00 +0000

The Commnunication System within your business is crucial to make sure your people are hearing…Continue readingEp. 43 – Communication is A.R.T.

The post Ep. 43 – Communication is A.R.T. first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 42 – On Being A Realistic Optimist

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 17:06:00 +0000

What kind of mindset is most helpful as a business owner? Pessimistic, Optimistic, or Realistic?

The post Ep. 42 – On Being A Realistic Optimist first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 41 – Against Work-Life Balance

Philip Kulishov — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 17:54:00 +0000

How does a business owner relate his work to the rest of his life? The…Continue readingEp. 41 – Against Work-Life Balance

The post Ep. 41 – Against Work-Life Balance first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 40 – Business Partnerships & Mutual Success

Philip Kulishov — Tue, 04 Oct 2022 16:22:00 +0000

Should you pursue partnerships or go at it alone? Sure, there may be pros and…Continue readingEp. 40 – Business Partnerships & Mutual Success

The post Ep. 40 – Business Partnerships & Mutual Success first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 39 – Change & Constancy

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 14 Sep 2022 18:03:00 +0000

Business, as is all of life, is seasonal. Different seasons demand different approaches. Refusing to…Continue readingEp. 39 – Change & Constancy

The post Ep. 39 – Change & Constancy first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 38 – Align Authority & Accountability

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 24 Aug 2022 16:04:00 +0000

Delegating results means we have to hold people accountable for them. But what about delegating…Continue readingEp. 38 – Align Authority & Accountability

The post Ep. 38 – Align Authority & Accountability first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 37 – The Collective and the Individual

Philip Kulishov — Tue, 02 Aug 2022 22:53:00 +0000

Serving customers and hiring employees means people are involved. And where there are people, there…Continue readingEp. 37 – The Collective and the Individual

The post Ep. 37 – The Collective and the Individual first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 36 – Generosity Before Gain

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 13 Jul 2022 16:09:00 +0000

Why are you a business owner? What drives your ambition? Comparitively, what drives the market?…Continue readingEp. 36 – Generosity Before Gain

The post Ep. 36 – Generosity Before Gain first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 35 – Hiring Is Not For Idealists

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 15:47:00 +0000

When it comes to hiring, idealism doesn’t always help. Good managers make employee management a…Continue readingEp. 35 – Hiring Is Not For Idealists

The post Ep. 35 – Hiring Is Not For Idealists first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 34 – The Principles Behind The Practice

Philip Kulishov — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 17:42:00 +0000

Not all advice is created equal. So, how can we filter advice, and draw principles…Continue readingEp. 34 – The Principles Behind The Practice

The post Ep. 34 – The Principles Behind The Practice first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 33 – Know Your People

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 18 May 2022 04:23:00 +0000

People. They’re everywhere. You can’t escape them. Actually, even more so, people are the point.…Continue readingEp. 33 – Know Your People

The post Ep. 33 – Know Your People first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 32 – Don’t Be The Ceiling of Your Business

Philip Kulishov — Fri, 13 May 2022 04:59:00 +0000

You’ll either be hiring people who are less competent than you or more competent than…Continue readingEp. 32 – Don’t Be The Ceiling of Your Business

The post Ep. 32 – Don’t Be The Ceiling of Your Business first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 31 – The Right Foundation

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 20 Apr 2022 16:38:00 +0000

We can despise our work. Or we can feel guilty about our success. Neither sound…Continue readingEp. 31 – The Right Foundation

The post Ep. 31 – The Right Foundation first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 30 – Get Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable

Philip Kulishov — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 17:27:00 +0000

Comfort or customers? Sometimes those are not mutually exclusive. But many times, they are. Which…Continue readingEp. 30 – Get Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable

The post Ep. 30 – Get Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 29 – Play Checkers, Not Chess

Philip Kulishov — Tue, 29 Mar 2022 01:10:00 +0000

Constant chaos. Unpredictable volatility. This is the world business managers live in. But is it…Continue readingEp. 29 – Play Checkers, Not Chess

The post Ep. 29 – Play Checkers, Not Chess first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 28 – Making Ideas Happen

Philip Kulishov — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 04:02:00 +0000

Ideas are great. But making them a reality is a bit better. Perhaps you can…Continue readingEp. 28 – Making Ideas Happen

The post Ep. 28 – Making Ideas Happen first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 27 – Utilizing Resources in Your Operation

Philip Kulishov — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 20:46:00 +0000

You serve your customers by utilizing resources. The “utilizing resources” part is what the operation…Continue readingEp. 27 – Utilizing Resources in Your Operation

The post Ep. 27 – Utilizing Resources in Your Operation first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 26 – Strategy & Structure

Philip Kulishov — Sat, 05 Mar 2022 02:04:00 +0000

What is the relationship between your business strategy and the structure of your business?

The post Ep. 26 – Strategy & Structure first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 25 – Accounting & Financial Statements

Philip Kulishov — Fri, 25 Feb 2022 00:03:00 +0000

The business owner typically knows the product and the customer very well, but a lot…Continue readingEp. 25 – Accounting & Financial Statements

The post Ep. 25 – Accounting & Financial Statements first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 24 – Replaceable and Critical

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 16 Feb 2022 23:34:00 +0000

Aspiring to indispensability sounds bold. But is it helpful? Is there a better mindset a…Continue readingEp. 24 – Replaceable and Critical

The post Ep. 24 – Replaceable and Critical first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 23 – Lag VS Lead Measures

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 19:32:00 +0000

Goal setting can be fun. But achieving them takes work. If you’re having problems with…Continue readingEp. 23 – Lag VS Lead Measures

The post Ep. 23 – Lag VS Lead Measures first appeared on Business 300.

Ep. 22 - Learn to Wear Your Whitey Tighties Proudly

Philip Kulishov — Fri, 04 Feb 2022 23:24:00 +0000

Accidents and mistakes happen. It’s a normal part of the game. Instead of freaking out, it may be good to learn to wear your whitey tighties proudly.

Ep. 21 - Make Your Decisions, Just Make Good Ones (Part 2)

Philip Kulishov — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 23:55:00 +0000

With 2 episodes on decision-making, you’re twice as equipped for the task than you were with only 1.

Ep. 20 - Make Your Decisions, Just Make Good Ones (Part 1)

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 19 Jan 2022 05:19:00 +0000

Making decisions is inescapable. But making bad ones is not. At the very least, we can up our chances to make them good.

Ep. 19 - Plans, Ifs, & Buts

Philip Kulishov — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 00:40:00 +0000

Making plans is important. But things rarely go according to plan. Is there something you can do about that?

Ep. 18 - Learn To Juggle - Build & Fight

Philip Kulishov — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 00:25:00 +0000

Growing a business has many facets. But there are 2 overarching objectives that you must always keep in perspective.

Ep. 17 - An Embodied Vision

Philip Kulishov — Tue, 28 Dec 2021 18:09:00 +0000

Owning the vision, being present with the crew, and having the responsibility and authority to lead them are inseparable.

Ep. 16 - Brand Building

Philip Kulishov — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 00:59:00 +0000

What is a brand? Is it important? How do you build and manage it?

Ep. 15 - Snake Oil Solutions

Philip Kulishov — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 01:19:00 +0000

Charlatans sell snake oil. And quick-fix solutions promise to save. But good things that last require something else entirely.

Ep. 14 - How To Gauge The Temperature

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 22 Nov 2021 23:58:00 +0000

Like a thermostat, it’s important that the business manager gauges the temperature of the organization and responds accordingly. How do you do that?

Ep. 13 - Show Me The Money

Philip Kulishov — Wed, 17 Nov 2021 06:38:00 +0000

What metrics matter? Why is my unit cost outstanding but my net profit is garbage? Why is my business growing but I have less money?

Ep. 12 - Systems! Systems! Systems!

Philip Kulishov — Tue, 09 Nov 2021 18:04:00 +0000

Whatever kind of business structure you have, systems will do you good. Systemic thinking makes good things happen.

Ep. 11 - Do You Have What It Takes?

Philip Kulishov — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 04:44:00 +0000

What does it take to be a business owner? Skills, talents, abilities. Do you have what it takes? That’s the ultimate question, right?

Ep. 10 - Hike, Don't Sprint

Philip Kulishov — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 17:55:00 +0000

When you’re building a company, you should have realistic expectations. Overnight success is possible. Here’s how.

Ep. 9 - The 4+1 Parts of a Business

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 00:00:00 +0000

The 4 functions are basic structural components of any and every business. Whether you’re a one-man show, or a red-tape corporation, you cannot remain in business if you don’t do these 4 things…plus one.

Ep. 8 - Your Mind & Your Gut

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 17:42:00 +0000

“In God we trust, all others bring data.” What place does data play in decision making? Should we trust our experience, or only rely on data?

Ep. 7 - No Map? No Problem

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 07:00:00 +0000

If all you can see is a few steps ahead of where you are, well then, let your concern not exceed your vision. Walk those steps, and keep your eyes open.

Ep. 6 - The Practical, Conceptual, & Ideal

Philip Kulishov — Tue, 28 Sep 2021 13:14:00 +0000

No need to get frustrated because the ideal isn’t practical. Also, no need to sit idly by. If you want to make progress in your business, focus on the practical for today, the conceptual for tomorrow, and the ideal for the day after that.

Ep. 5 - Results, Not Just Intentions

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Good intentions feel good. But they’re not the same as good results. Basking in premature boasting may be unhelpful as you pursue your business success.

Ep. 4 - Does Your Profit Compete With Your Mission?

Philip Kulishov — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Does profit compete with the mission of your business? Is it just a necessary evil? Are business owners greedy if they care about maximizing their profit?

Ep. 3 - Don't Romanticize Your Calling

Philip Kulishov — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 19:21:00 +0000

Ah, passion. “If only I could…”

Forget about it. Save romanticism for someplace else. In business, you need a customer.

Ep. 2 - 4 Reasons Why Business Is Good

Philip Kulishov — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 18:54:00 +0000

In this episode, I discuss why business is intrinsically GOOD, apart from any of the indirect benefits. Business is good. Why?

Ep. 1 - Business Is Good

Philip Kulishov — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 18:35:00 +0000

A new podcast about business. It’s not personal, it’s business. So, let’s get down to bid’ness. What am I doing and why am I doing it? Am I minding my own business?