Listen to “#667 How Businesses (and Politicians) Influence What You Think” on Spreaker.
On this episode of The Small Business Radio Show…
SEGMENT 1 with Matt DB Harper, starting at 0:00: Kelly Ann Conway called them alternate facts. Newt Gingrich said it doesn’t matter what the facts are, it’s what people believe. Propaganda in politics and business have been around forever. But why do people allow this influence and believe something that simply isn’t true?
SEGMENT 2 with Shawn David Nelson, starting at 19:00: When 70% of your sales are in-person, and then you’re forced to close that down, how do you survive? Shawn David Nelson, founder and CEO of Lovesac, shares his experience managing Lovesac to 100% online and back to in-person again and how they’ve continued growing at the same rate the entire time. He also provides entrepreneurs insight into retaining their best people, handling inflation, inventory challenges, going public, not giving up, and more.
SEGMENT 3 with Barry McCarthy, starting at 35:45: We are in the middle of a small business revolution. Small businesses are the backbone of economy, they provide the livelihood for the majority of Americans, and are the source of the most job growth. What do small business owners need to know to make their company thrive so that we all may thrive?
Sponsored by NiceJob and Plastiq.
More on each segment below.
Segment 1: Matt DB Harper is an author who wrote a fascinating article called “Understanding Propaganda: A History of How You Get Fooled Daily.”
1:30 – How does propaganda actually work?
3:15 – Why do we allow this influence and allow ourselves to believe things that we haven’t confirmed?
6:00 – The successful use of propaganda depends on the creator generating some emotional response in the viewer.
9:00 – It is no secret that the vast majority of people obediently think as they are told. It’s just human nature–who has the time or the energy to sort out all the issues one’s self?
10:45 – Propaganda isn’t always bad.
11:45 – How does Trump compare to historical figures of spreading propaganda?
13:00 – How does a society exist without shared truth going forward?
Segment 2: Shawn David Nelson founded Lovesac in 1998 and is currently serving as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and as a member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Nelson is the lead designer of the Company’s patented products and leads sourcing, creative, design, public relations, investor relations and culture. In 2005, Mr. Nelson won Richard Branson’s “The Rebel Billionaire” on Fox and continues to participate in ongoing TV appearances.
19:00 – Shawn won Richard Branson’s “The Rebel Billionaire” in 2005 and for the past 21 months has been running his large retail business through a pandemic.
22:00 – Lovesac continued growing at the same rate with the same volume of sales throughout the pandemic even though showrooms had to close. How did you manage that?
25:15 – How have you handled any inventory challenges?
27:45 – How has NetSuite helped you give your customers a better experience?
29:00 – How have you been able to attract and retain your best people during the “Great Resignation”?
30:45 – Shawn’s approach and experience with handling inflation, raising prices, and taking the company public.
33:00 – How to get through the moments along the entrepreneurial journey where you want to give up.
Segment 3: Barry McCarthy was named President and CEO of Deluxe Corporation in November 2018 and is a member of its board of directors. Prior to joining Deluxe, he spent 14 years at First Data Corporation, where he served in senior executive positions, most recently executive vice president and head of network and security solutions, a $1.5 billion publicly reported business segment. Barry has overseen Deluxe’s successful companywide transformation from a traditional check manufacturing company to a Trusted Payments and Business Technology™ company that serves millions of small businesses, thousands of financial institutions, and hundreds of the world’s largest consumer brands. He is the author of the new book “The Small Business Revolution.”
35:45 – Why do you talk in terms of a small business revolution?
38:15 – Three things small businesses need to be successful.
39:30 – Are you selling what the market wants to buy?
42:00 – Have the courage to charge a fair price for your products and services.
45:00 – Common mistakes than can torpedo a company’s website and their business.
47:00 – Tips for maintaining a customer base.
50:30 – What can we expect to see on season six of the Emmy nominated show, Small Business Revolution?
