The Freedom Focused Podcast

The Freedom Focused Podcast

by Daran Wastchak

Entrepreneurship Courses

Season 1

029 Why Is Everyone So Excited About A 4-Day Work Week?

In this episode, host Daran Wastchak will be talking about a 4-day work week. He'll start with an historical context, considering how the hours worked by employees have changed over time in the United States. Next, Daran will talk about the reality of how most people spend their time during the two days they currently have for a weekend, which, unfortunately, includes very little time for rest and rejuvenation. Lastly, he'll be reviewing what the research says about whether or not a 4-day work week is beneficial to not only employees, but also employers, then make recommendations for how you can move your organization from a 5-day to a 4-day work week. Lots of great information to share in this week’s episode, so be sure not miss it. Enjoy the show and don't forget to... Stay focused on your freedom! Show Notes

028 Freedom to Exit with Guest Lisa Riley

In this episode, host Daran Wastchak will be joined by special guest Lisa Riley of Delta Business Advisors. Daran talks often about the highest level of freedom for small business owner’s in terms of “freedom to exit”. In a recent article, "Achieving Your Freedom to Exit", he explained that there are two primary options for “exiting” your business, either close the doors and walk away, or sell the business.In this episode, Daran is going to explore more closely the option of selling, and include the input and thoughts of a real expert on the process of selling a business. Enjoy the show and don't forget to... Stay focused on your freedom! Show Notes

027 Two Important Elements of a Strategic and Business Plan Every Business Should Have

In this episode, host Daran Wastchak will be talking about Strategic Planning and Business Planning. More specifically, why both types of planning are most likely not an activity that most small business owners engage in. And there’s a good reason why, which he’ll explore. More importantly, he's going to be talking about two key elements, which are part of both business plans and strategic plans, that every small business owner should have, even if they don’t do formal business or strategic planning. Join Daran for this week’s episode and he’ll tell you what these two key elements are, and why they’re so important to the success of your business. Enjoy the show and don't forget to... Stay focused on your freedom! Show Notes

026 How Small Business Owners Can Escape the Struggle Between Work and Leisure

In this episode, host Daran Wastchak will be talking about a struggle that’s been going on for mankind for thousands of years, and is as strong today as it’s ever been. The struggle he's referring to is with time. The time we devote to work, and the time we devote to leisure, when we’re not working. Daran's going to take a philosophical look at work and leisure, how the struggle between the two is actually a relatively new phenomenon in our evolutionary history as a species, and how, while this struggle may seem inevitable, and something that most everyone has simply resigned themselves to, it doesn’t have to be that way for everyone. In particular, it doesn’t have to be that way for small business owners. Join Daran for this week’s episode and he’ll explain exactly why and how. Enjoy the show and don't forget to... Stay focused on your freedom! Show Notes

025 The #1 Challenge for Small Business Owners

In this episode, host Daran Wastchak will be talking about the biggest challenges identified by small business owners in today’s economy, with particular focus on the number one challenge that rises to the top of most business owner’s list. Research shows that “cashflow” and a “lack of capital” were the number one issue for the past decade or so, but current events and significant swings in the economy caused by the traumatic disruptions of the global pandemic have caused a new champion to rise to the top. Join Daran for this week’s episode to learn what this challenge is, how business owners have been responding, and what you can do, contrary to what other business owners are doing, to overcome this and other critical challenges to the success of your business. Enjoy the show and don't forget to... Stay focused on your freedom! Show Notes

024 The #1 Reason Why Employees Become Business Owners

In this episode, host Daran Wastchak will be talking about the primary reasons why people, by the hundreds of thousands every year, give up the safety of their job to start a business.More specifically, Daran will be sharing with you what business owners have consistently said, in multiple studies, their number one motivation is for starting their business. Here's a hint: it’s not money!Listen to the show to learn what it is, and also how to make it a reality, not just a dream, for you and your business. Enjoy the show and don't forget to... Stay focused on your freedom! Show Notes

023 Rejuvenation - Guest interview with Ben Weiss

In this episode, host Daran Wastchak will be joined by a special guest, Ben Weiss. Ben took a very special nine-week long road trip with his family, beginning exactly one year ago today in April, to see the United States. His daughters were still in school, and Ben continued to work and meet with clients…. but he made this trip a reality anyway. Learn a little about why he took the trip, how he made it possible, and how it impacted his life and business in a profound and positive way. Enjoy the show and don't forget to... Stay focused on your freedom! Show Notes

022 Winning the "Great Resignation"

In this episode, host Daran Wastchak will be talking about a troublesome employment issue that was brought to light by a management professor at Texas A&M University in the Spring of 2021. Prior to this, most employers knew that something very strange was going on in the labor markets, but now, thanks to this professor, they had a name for it. We all know it now as, “The Great Resignation”. Daran's going to talk about what the Great Resignation is and the primary drivers of this major shift in employee behavior. More importantly, he's going to talk about how you, as a small business owner, can overcome the challenges that are a direct result of the Great Resignation. In particular, how to win the intense battle with all other businesses, large and small, for recruiting and retaining the best employees. Enjoy the show and don't forget to... Stay focused on your freedom! Show Notes

021 Living Your Life Rather Than Your Business

In this episode, host Daran Wastchak will be talking about a simple but essential ingredient to Freedom Focused. That ingredient is “rejuvenation.” It’s both necessary to achieve Freedom Focused as a small business owner, and at the same time a product of being Freedom Focused. He'll begin by sharing a story from a small business owner that he recently met who by all measures has been very successful, but after 25 years is tired, burned out, and full of regrets. As a bit of a counter point, he'll then share with you the positive steps he's taken, over his 20 plus years as a small business owner, to minimize burnout, overwhelm, and most importantly, regrets. Lastly, he'll share how you can do the very same thing when you build a Freedom Focused business that creates greater freedom and allows for critically important rejuvenation time. Enjoy the show and don't forget to... Stay focused on your freedom! Show Notes

020 Maximizing Freedom with a Well Organized Team

In this episode, host Daran Wastchak will be talking about a simple business management tool, that’s been around for a long time, but many small business owners don’t take advantage of. He's talking about an organizational chart. You might be thinking to yourself, “org charts are a waste of time because I only have a handful of employees, and we all know what each of us do.” As you might expect, Daran will clarify that org charts are for ALL organizations, large and small, public, private and nonprofit. They aren’t sexy, but org charts are a key element in creating a Freedom Focused organization, with a team that is more enthusiastic, engaged, and bought-in to the work they do every day.In this episode, Daran will tell you exactly how… and why, so you don’t miss the opportunity to create greater personal and professional freedom not only for yourself, the owner, but also for the rest of your team. Enjoy the show and don't forget to... Stay focused on your freedom! Show Notes

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