I've been away from the podcast for a year due to an unplanned sabbatical. I'm back with great news and an important announcement.

10 years after launching Smallstarter Africa, we have re-launched as Activator HQ. Our mission to support entrepreneurs is the same, but our new strategic focus is to make it easier and faster for our audience to start and grow businesses in promising (but difficult) environments like Africa.

In this re-launch episode, John-Paul Iwuoha explains the rationale for the re-launch, what to expect, and some great news. He hit an ambitious weight loss goal, and welcomed a baby girl this year! 🥳🥳💃🏽

There will be many takeaways for you in this interesting episode.

Enjoy!

Check out the new website at activatorHQ.com.

It’s frustrating to run a business that feels like a leaking bucket.

That’s the situation in businesses that make money from sales, but there’s hardly anything left as profit.

In this episode of the Smallstarter Business Podcast, I explore the common suspects in these kinds of businesses. 

I talk about how to look at your business data, and how to troubleshoot everything from sales, expenses, and overhead costs.

You’re going to find this quite interesting.

Happy learning!

Big companies can make great customers. 

They have deep pockets. They’re less price sensitive, and they are more likely to work with you for the long term. 

That’s why B2B sales can be an important growth opportunity for your business.

In this episode of the podcast, I explore the opportunities and considerations for targeting B2B customers and 5 practical tips to help you successfully land your first big client.

You’re going to learn interesting stuff!

How do you deal with the mental, psychological and emotional stresses of building a business?

Building a successful business is a marathon that takes a toll on your mind. That’s why you need endurance and coping mechanisms to support you.

In this episode of the Smallstarter Business Podcast, I explore 5 effective mental exercises that can help entrepreneurs cope with stress.

Sometimes, the problem is not the problem. It’s often the way you see the problem that’s the real problem.

You’re going to learn a lot from this!

99.99% of businesses sell a version of a product or service that already exists.

This means that if you plan to start a new business or launch a new product, you will likely be facing a crowded or competitive market.

Crowded markets can be a big advantage and a huge opportunity for newcomers. However, they also come with dangers and risks you need to watch out for.

In this episode of the Smallstarter Business Podcast, I explore the nature of crowded markets, their upsides, and their risks.

I also explore 5 specific strategies you can deploy to increase your chances of success when you enter a crowded or competitive market.

Happy learning!

Many small and mid-sized businesses are failing at customer service.

This is a big opportunity for you because improving how you serve your customers can become a strong competitive advantage for your business.

This episode is a mini-Masterclass in how you can achieve this.

You’re going to unlearn some of the misconceptions you may have about your customers, and how you can serve your customers in a way that makes them loyal, protective, and promoting of your business.

This is a really exciting episode.

Happy learning!

You cannot build a successful business on your own. You will likely need the help of employees.

But how can you tell the right kind of person to hire for your business?

How much knowledge, skill, and experience should they have?

What kind of personality should you be looking for?

In this episode of the Smallstarter Business Podcast, I discuss the 4 types of people who will likely do well as employees in your business.

Happy listening!

How can you be sure your business is in good hands while you’re away on travel, vacation, study, or just busy taking care of another business?

In this episode, I’m going to introduce you to the interesting concept of “vital signs”.

It’s an effective tactic that is used to great effect in hospitals around the world.

And there is a lot you can learn from this and apply to your business.

Remember, your ultimate achievement as an entrepreneur is to build a business that can thrive in your absence.

The lessons you’ll learn from this episode will show you how it can be done.

Happy listening!