The How of Business - How to start, run, grow and exit a small business.

• 590 – Annual Strategic Planning

  A practical 10-step guide to creating your small business strategic plan for the year ahead. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/590-annual-strategic-planning/ In this episode, Henry Lopez breaks down how to create a clear and practical strategic plan for the year ahead, without overcomplicating the process. Strategic planning gives small business owners a roadmap for growth, helping them stop reacting and start leading with intention. Henry walks through a 10-step framework that includes reviewing the previous year, refining your vision, conducting a SWOT analysis, defining strategy, setting goals and KPIs, breaking plans into quarterly actions, budgeting, and executing with discipline. He also explains why strategic planning matters even when circumstances change: "If we don't plan, then you really have no path to follow… things will happen to you instead of you making things happen." This episode is designed to help you clarify where you're going, stay aligned with your long-term vision, make smarter decisions about limited resources, and create a focused plan you can adjust throughout the year. You'll also learn Henry's five best-practice tips for more effective planning, starting with basing everything on reality, limiting priorities, tracking KPIs consistently, assigning ownership, and ensuring everything leads to real action. If you want to enter the next year with clarity, confidence, and intention, this episode provides the structure you need. This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

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• 589 – The Referable Client Experience with Stacey Brown Randall

  A referable client experience is the key to earning organic referrals, and Stacey Brown Randall joins the show to break down how small business can get referrals without asking. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/589-stacey-randall-referable-expereince/ In this episode, Henry Lopez welcomes back referral expert Stacey Brown Randall to explore how small business owners can generate referrals naturally, without asking. Stacey shares insights from her new book, The Referable Client Experience. She explains why great work alone doesn't create referrals, and why the emotional experience you deliver matters just as much as the deliverables themselves. Stacey breaks down the three stages of the client experience - new, active, and alumni - and how relationship-building touchpoints in each stage make clients feel seen, supported, and confident referring you. "Great work gets you repeat business," Stacey notes, "but relationships get you referrals." Henry and Stacey also discuss how to identify referral "hot zones," reinforce relationships without being pushy, and create organic moments where referral seeds can be planted authentically. Whether you're a consultant, creative, coach, or service provider, this episode will help you map your client experience, balance work vs. relationship touchpoints, and strengthen the natural referral engine inside your business. Stacey Brown Randall is an award-winning author, keynote speaker, and referral strategist who teaches business owners how to generate referrals naturally, without asking, manipulating, or creating awkward moments. Her newest book, The Referable Client Experience, expands her proven framework for building a referral-rich business through intentional client experience design. This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

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• 588 – Bookkeeping Essentials with Jodi Arrant

  Bookkeeping essentials for small business with Jodi Arrant, including best practices, and the biggest mistakes to avoid in small-business bookkeeping. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/588-jody-arrant-bookkeeping-essentials/ This episode brings a practical deep dive into small-business bookkeeping with financial professional Jodi Arrant, who shares her journey, best practices, and the most common bookkeeping mistakes business owners make. Henry and Jodi talk through essential topics like proper transaction categorization, the differences between Profit & Loss and Balance Sheet statements, and why regular bank reconciliation protects business owners from costly errors. They also discuss key year-end tasks, including cleaning up uncategorized expenses, preparing for 1099s, and reviewing financial reports before tax time. "Accurate coding and regular reconciliation are everything - your books simply can't be trusted without them," Jodi explains, offering practical advice for business owners who want cleaner books and clearer financial insights. Jodi Arrant is the founder of J. Arrant Consulting, a bookkeeping and financial operations firm based in Eugene, Oregon. With over 17 years of experience in bookkeeping, payroll, and QuickBooks consulting, she helps small business owners gain clarity, confidence, and organization in their financial systems. Jodi specializes in simplifying bookkeeping for entrepreneurs so they can focus on growing their small businesses. This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

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• 587 – Eisenhower Matrix Prioritization

  How to use the Eisenhower Matrix to cut through chaos, focus on what truly matters, and make faster, smarter decisions as a small business owner. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/587-eisenhower-matrix-prioritization/ Feeling overwhelmed by your never-ending to-do list? In this episode, Henry Lopez explains how to use the Eisenhower Matrix—a simple yet powerful framework—to prioritize your daily tasks and regain control of your time. Originally developed by Dwight D. Eisenhower and later popularized by Stephen Covey in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, the matrix helps business owners separate what's urgent from what's important, so they can focus on activities that truly move their business forward instead of reacting to every fire. Henry walks through how this framework complements the Big Rocks time management approach (Episode 569) and why most entrepreneurs mistakenly live in "urgent mode," constantly firefighting instead of leading strategically. He also shares how the Eisenhower Matrix inspired the creation of his free Task Management Tool, co-developed with his son-in-law, Colin Rhoades, using AI technology. "What is important is seldom urgent, and what is urgent is seldom important." — Dwight D. Eisenhower Henry and Colin also discuss how AI made it possible to create this simple browser-based productivity tool in just a few hours - proof that automation can make business life simpler in more ways than one. Listen to learn how to: Reduce overwhelm by categorizing tasks by urgency and importance. Identify your "Big Rocks" and schedule them intentionally. Use the Eisenhower Matrix for daily and even hourly decision-making... This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

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• R393 – Rethinking Hourly Worker Motivation

  Motivating hourly employees starts with a mindset shift. To do it well, it requires rethinking how we lead, communicate, and create purpose for hourly workers. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/r393-rethinking-hourly-worker-motivation/ Host Henry Lopez and his original co-host and business partner David Begin explore what it really takes to motivate, manage, and retain hourly or minimum-wage employees. Drawing from years of experience leading both corporate teams and blue-collar workforces, Henry and David reveal why so many entrepreneurs struggle when managing hourly staff and how a simple but powerful mindset shift can change everything. They share practical advice for: Understanding what truly motivates hourly workers beyond money. Creating a culture of respect, flexibility, and recognition. Building better systems for onboarding, training, and communication. Keeping your business both enjoyable to own and a great place to work. If your business employs and depends on hiring and retaining hourly wage employees, this conversation will help you build a happier, more reliable team by understanding what motivates them.. This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

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