Make It Matter

Hey kids, it's been fun, but it's time to lay this project to rest. But have no fear! I've launched a new podcast—The Currency—and you're going to love it.

Catch up ep in which I share my recent thinking on the nature of my work and how I'm going to be approaching what I do over the next few years. Plus an announcement about a cool change to the podcast.

Everyone's talking about the recent Gillette commercial, or short film, as they like to call it—and for that reason I hate to even bring it up. But, there's some relevance for marketers and business owners that I think is being overlooked. In this episode I tackle the infamous, and probably soon-to-be-forgotten Gillette ad of January 2019.

In this episode I share the three things you can do now to make sure your business thrives even if the economy isn't. Plus I talk a little about a mistake I made with the podcast and the current trade war between the US and China.

Have you heard? Facebook, Tumblr, Patreon are going through some changes and in the process some folks are getting left out in the cold. Now, lot's has been said about this from a political perspective, but there's a big lesson in there for entrepreneurs, businesses, and marketers. So, pull up a chair, pour a drink, and settle in.

Join me for a long ramble as I ask and attempt to answer the question, can marketing be moral.

I'm halfway though John Lewis Gaddis' amazing book, "On Grand Strategy" and I want to share something from the book that's made me think about my own approach to life.

Thanksgiving thought, my online business plan, the power of pen and paper, I'm tied to a weird YouTube sub-genre, and what it all leads to.

Podcasting has enjoyed a lot of success but the fact is it could grow so much more—but it likely won't. Join me as I compare iTunes and YouTube as platforms to learn why.

What? I leave for almost a year and then right before 2018 is wrapped up, I decide to fire up the pod again. Hey gang, sorry for the long hiatus but it's great to be back behind the mic. And, in this episode I share a bit about what I want to do with Make It Matter and how things have been going with my YouTube efforts.

I'm one week in and already I've gotten my first video up, reeled in my first subscriber, and even lost my first $2,000. It's a beautiful thing. Join me, Mike Gastin, as I share the first week of starting a digital business.

I'm embarking on a new project—a project that I'm going to chronicle here on the Make It Matter podcast. Join me as I develop an online business from the ground up. I'm going to share everything with you: successes, failures, expenses, and revenue so you can see what it's like to create an online business from scratch.

Have you ever wondered if you're spending the right amount on your marketing? The accepted rule of thumb is to budget between two and five percent of your gross revenue, but is that really the right way to determine how much to spend on your marketing? In this episode, Mike shares his fail-safe approach to building a marketing budget.

There's a problem with the latest Oxfam report on inequality that should bother every business owner and entrepreneur. It's a problem of story. Join Mike as he gets you up to speed on the report, what's problematic with it, and shares why he thinks telling our own stories is the best way to respond.

What if you could project your own brain activity onto another person, forcing the person’s mind to closely mirror your own? What if you could become so good at this that you were able to do it with your prospects, customers, and employees? It might sound like science fiction, but it's actually science fact. Join me as I explore how neural coupling, oxytocin, and the power of story can transform your business.

Hospitals across the US are struggling to maintain their supply of IV bags due to the effects of hurricane Maria, which struck Puerto Rico on September 20, 2017, crippling Baxter International's ability to manufacture the bags. Join Mike as he draws a lesson for entrepreneurs, owners, and executives from this crisis.

The Make It Matter podcast is back in business—it's good to get behind the mic! A quick episode to get things rolling again and to update listeners to what's been going on.

Wanting to own a business is the easy part, but how do you find one for sale besides just getting lucky? In this episode I share the best way to find multiple businesses for sale in your community. It doesn't take that much time and the best part about it not many people know this simple approach, making your odds of winning even that much higher.

What if you didn't have to start a business to be an entrepreneur? Most think the only way to be a business owner is to start one from scratch. And, although that's an excellent way to go about it, there's a lesser known path to entrepreneurship; a path that can be quicker, less risky, and better suited. In this episode Mike shares how you can become an entrepreneur without starting your own business. Sound too good to be true? Listen in and find out for yourself!

After writing 1,000 words for 65 days straight, Mike has learned a few lessons. A couple were a bit of a surprise. Take a listen and find out just what writing like an olympian powerlifter has taught him and how writing can make you a better entrepreneur.