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Tag: Q&A

Hustleburg Episode 13.5 Bonus Episode – Creating Normalcy in a Time of Uncertainty

As we face an unfamiliar landscape of isolation, working from home, layoffs, and remote learning, the stress of these changes couple with the uncertainty of our future to induce a lot of anxiety. As you struggle with this anxiety and a litany of change, here is a conversation I had with my partner, Morgan Dean, that we hope will help you to create normalcy in the chaos of COVID-19.

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If you enjoyed what you heard in this episode, please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review this podcast on your favorite player. Each episode is available on its own post, with the entire catalog here. It’s available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast catcher. We listen to this show and our favorites on Castbox. It’s hosted by Podbean. We appreciate your attention, and we can’t wait to have you back for the next episode. 

Hear Your Question, Answered, on Hustleburg

If you have any questions you’d like to have answered on an upcoming Q&A episode, please take a moment to visit beyondyoursidehustle.com/podcastquestion and ask there. If you’re a St. Pete businessperson who’d like to sit down for an interview, please reach out to us here. 

The below transcript created automatically by Otter.ai

Brett Bittner  
This is a warning that the next few seconds are going to be rather loud and chaotic.

That clip that you just heard is probably what you feel like is happening all around you as you have tried to adapt in your new working from home mindset and the rest of this episode, this bonus episode of Hustleburg, is a conversation in which I talk about how you can kind of mitigate some of the anxieties, and some successful strategies for what we’re now finding is our new workplace. 

Welcome to a bonus episode of Hustleburg. In this one, we’re going to be talking about a lot of the things that have changed as a result of coronavirus or Cova 19. We’re actually recording this on the day that Pinellas County orders a stay at home order for the coronavirus, and it’s going to be released. The day after that it takes effect and I’m having a conversation with Morgan Dean. She is a law student at Stetson University College of Law. She also happens to be my partner, and we’re talking about some of the things that we’re anxious about, or that we are concerned about and how we can kind of mitigate some of those concerns as we face this, what has become at least a temporary new normal. So I’d like to welcome Morgan to the show.

Morgan Dean  
Thank you so much for that warm welcome.

Brett Bittner  
So Morgan, in our dynamic, generally speaking, I’m more of a calming presence, whereas you might be perceived as a bit more anxious. And I know that when it comes to this particular situation, you’ve been very consuming of the news, and have let it worry you probably a little more than I would like. Tell people a little bit about some of the things that you’re experiencing as a student who is having gone from going to class to now all remote for the remainder of the semester and kind of the things that have changed about your routine and things that are making you anxious about this new normal.

Morgan Dean  
Yeah, so it’s definitely weird. I got used to going to campus to study in the library and see people from my classes, as well as attend class. And now, none of that is happening, which is really weird. So, one of my classes is recorded. It’s not even live. So that’s very, there’s like no interactive element now, which is tough, especially in law school where so much of it is like discussing the law and trying to figure it out, like as a class really, because we’re all in the same boat. The other class is live using zoom like technology through Blackboard, so that’s nice, because you at least get that interactive element. But yeah, like you said, I consume a lot of news, obsessively I would say a little bit. And you know, I’m kind of also an insomniac. And so this is, this is not an ideal situation. Um, but yeah, I’m seeing a lot of changes and I know we’re seeing a lot of changes in the Small business community here in St. Pete. And yesterday was the great American takeout day.

Brett Bittner  
Oh, yesterday was great American takeout to help support some of the restaurants, small business restaurants as they try to adapt to a to go and delivery only model for the foreseeable future. So as you’re moving off of campus and doing more of your studying at home, and even classes at home now, what are some of the struggles that you’re finding that you’re having?

Morgan Dean  
Well, um, I think it’s just like the lack of the routine and the, like, lack of stability in a way like, and I you know, it is a little like, I am an introvert and I’m a homebody to an extent, but it definitely starts to wear on you. I think I’m on day 12 of not leaving the house except to go to the grocery store.

Brett Bittner  
Yeah, that sounds about right

Morgan Dean  
And yeah, I mean, it It’s definitely weird. I’m finding like, it’s kind of sometimes it’s hard to focus when I’m working on class stuff, especially with like the craziness that is having two rambunctious dogs and a crazy cat. So that’s a little difficult. And I think some of it is also the changes that are potentially happening in our grading system moving from GPA base to potentially pass fail. Can you sort of, you see, there’s a lot of positives and negatives on both sides. But this is definitely a difficult semester and very unorthodox, and I think everybody’s just trying to adjust to it the best they can

Brett Bittner  
Well, I think people that are home from their everyday jobs are certainly trying to adapt to conference calls and zoom being part of their everyday life. And we did insert a little bit of audio at the beginning of this episode to give you a taste of what that chaos can feel like, if only for a few seconds there. But you know, you’ve got kids and dogs And things going on in the background that are that are certainly distracting. And hopefully most of our small business people are remaining open, if they’re essential, or if they are unable to remain open, they’re doing some things as I am to, you know, plant some of those seeds for longer term projects and goals, to make sure that down the road, we’re going to be successful. Even if in the short term, we’re having some struggles. And one of the things that I wanted to make sure that we talked about today is focusing on what you can control. You know, you talked about the change in grading and everything being at home now and just a topsy turvy world. You know, a lot of people who have kids in the school systems school is at home for either the foreseeable future, possibly through the rest of the school year. And so with those closings, you know, really we have to learn that the only thing that we can control is ourselves and try to Do a little bit about the environment around us. And one of the ways that I found to be useful and I think that you have as well is if you figure out a daily routine, you know, where you’re getting up at kind of the same time, you’re making sure that you’re getting whatever stretching or exercise or physical activity. You know, you know, make sure you’re working that into your day and, and making sure that you’re departing your quote house to get to your quote, office, even if you’re just segregating where you do that work from the rest of the house so that when you’re sitting there, it does feel like you’re at work because it’s a situation where you’re setting that routine. Okay, this is home me in this new world. And this is work me when I’m in this space, and yeah,

Morgan Dean  
I think it can also help I haven’t personally tried this because I’m kind of lazy, but I think it can also help to get ready like you’re going to work, you know, Oh absolutely. If you’re someone who wears makeup, putting on makeup putting on like I mean you know you can be a little comfier than you would be at work maybe but still putting on you know, real clothes and not just like your pajamas, which like I said, I haven’t been great about. I have to say that I think that that can help as well, from what

Brett Bittner  
I’ve heard from other people, well, for sure it’s a mindset shift, you know, you’re moving from home you to work you. So it’s not just an environment thing. You have those routines that you’ve set for yourself, you maybe don’t have the commute that you did, maybe it’s a lot shorter as you go from the living room to the office or the bedroom to the office or just to a desk that separated from a lot of the things that are going on in the house. And you mentioned earlier we talked about your overconsumption or I think you call them obsessive consumption of the news specifically with regard to the coronavirus. And I’ve for the most part, kind of stayed away from that focusing on not really consuming because I know that you’re going to tell me anyway what’s happening. Although I have been very focused on what’s happening with the small business community, and little Here in St. Pete and Pinellas County, you know that overconsumption of the news when we have a 24-hour news cycle that’s constant, you know, there’s always something new coming out. And that can add a lot of stress.

Morgan Dean  
And yeah, I think it’s also that even if you’re not like looking up news specifically, you’re just on Twitter because you want to see some funny memes or whatever. You’re still inundated with it constantly because it’s really the majority of the content out there right now. So I think it’s, I think it’s difficult to avoid I I’ve been trying to take a break from social media in general because it’s just everywhere, even on Instagram, which is just amazing that you can make a site that’s all pictures about the coronavirus.

Brett Bittner  
Well, and I’m seeing it too generally my feed is a lot about what’s happening locally and you know, what’s happening for small businesses and what’s happening in tech and, and marketing and so I’m seeing that that has been overtaken by news about coronavirus and you know, all the closings and infections and testing.

Morgan Dean  
It would seem that there is, in a way like trying to look on the bright side cuz I’m trying to do that more. Yeah, it would seem that there’d be an opportunity for small business owners with utilizing like social media and virtual events, I guess right now because I’m seeing a lot of that which is interesting. I actually saw a virtual happy hour the other day, yes reply, which I thought was kind of interesting. Yeah, it’s kind of nice because everybody is missing that like social connection, even us introverts, I have to say.

Brett Bittner  
Well, one of the other things that I think we have been working on together to help reduce stress is being more mindful and meditating a bit more. We’re also spending more time with our two dogs and a cat. They’re very comforting. They are very comforting and it gives that time spent there I’m sure that they are thinking that we don’t do it enough as it is. So they’re appreciative of as well. And then just just taking a break when we need to take a break because it feels like you don’t get to when you blend the home and work or home and school, you don’t really have that opportunity to take that break. So we’re, we’re doing a little more when it comes to recreation with regard to just kind of watching things or checking out a little bit and painting painting for some of us, not for me, because I know that that would be terrible, but…

Morgan Dean  
It’s terrible for me to… painting

Brett Bittner  
So, is there anything as we wrap up that you want to share some of the tips or tricks that you want to share that you found useful for you in this kind of, I guess I’ll call it new normal.

Morgan Dean  
Yeah, um, I think it’s just the little things the day to day things meditating and getting outside like I went outside in the yard the other day and filled up our kiddie pool. That’s actually what we pay their dogs and I cleaned it first I filled it up with water and I put a chair right next to it and dipped my feet in and read a book and I felt like I was kind of out of pool Not really. But it helped a little bit it helped to like get the sun and feel nice. So doing things like that that maybe seem a little crazy to our neighbors perhaps. And yeah, just reading for fun. I’ve that’s been helping me a lot. You know, taking walks, getting that exercise, doing virtual yoga classes that’s been helpful. hula hooping, that’s fun, virtual hula hooping classes are also fun, by the way. So yeah, I think though, it’s the day to day things. And I think those things help shift the mindset because I think that’s the most important thing. But I know it’s hard. And I think everybody’s feeling it differently. And we’re just gonna get through this together, I think well.

Brett Bittner  
Together. I like that. Well, I want to thank you. For taking a little bit of time to chat with me today and I hope that those of you listening have enjoyed hearing that you’re not alone and that everybody is kind of struggling with their own things with the adaptation to what we’re having to kind of do right now. And hopefully, we were able to share a little bit about how you can make the situation that we find ourselves in just a little bit better.

Hustleburg Episode 13 – Interview with SPS Home Inspection’s Scott Surridge

“Get a Home Inspection… It’s Worth the Investment”

To follow up the last interview episode, it seems fitting to hang out in the real estate realm as Brett sits down with SPS Home Inspections‘ Scott Surridge. No matter where you are in Tampa Bay, Scott can offer the peace of mind you need when purchasing your next home.

Brett and Scott discuss what most people don’t know about their own homes, the craziest thing he’s found in an inspection, and what’s so important about inspecting the home you’re about to purchase. 

Get Peace of Mind from SPS Home Inspections, LLC

Connect with Scott here:

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If you enjoyed what you heard in this episode, please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review this podcast on your favorite player. Each episode is available on its own post, with the entire catalog here. It’s available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast catcher. We listen to this show and our favorites on Castbox. It’s hosted by Podbean. We appreciate your attention, and we can’t wait to have you back for the next episode. 

Hear Your Question, Answered, on Hustleburg

If you have any questions you’d like to have answered on an upcoming Q&A episode, please take a moment to visit beyondyoursidehustle.com/podcastquestion and ask there. If you’re a St. Pete businessperson who’d like to sit down for an interview, please reach out to us here. 

Transcription below done by Otter.ai.

If you have a question about marketing, building your brand or operating your small business that you’d like to have answered on a q&a episode, please visit beyond your side hustle comm slash podcast question to submit it. In this episode, I have the opportunity to speak with Scott Surridge from SPS home inspections. Enjoy. 

Brett Bittner
Tell me a little bit about why it is that you are a home inspector what is it that got you into that line of work?

Scott Surridge 
Well, I first started building houses when I was 17. And I’m 57 now so it was a natural progression from time that I finished building homes to go into some sort of profession where I’m more of a counselor or advisor and Home Inspection seems to be the next step to go.

Brett Bittner
So not swinging the hammer anymore. You wanted to be more of somebody who’s guiding someone through that home buying home selling process to make sure that the house was ready for them to either move in or sell to somebody else, right?

Scott Surridge 
Correct. Yeah, I am the go between for the buyers and sellers and making sure that the buyer is purchasing a product that is that is secure and sound.

Brett Bittner
Okay, who is your kind of ideal client? Are you mainly working with buyers? Are you mainly working with sellers? Is it a mix of the two or are you just coming in when a real estate agent that has you listed as the two or three inspectors to check out?

Scott Surridge 
It’s all three situations… sellers, buyers and realtors. I’ve been in the business for eight years inspecting only and building houses for 40. But for the past eight years, it’s a referral business I’ve never advertised and never had to. And buyers are the mainstay, whether they’re a referral from a friend or whether they’re a referral from a realtor. We do get sellers I will knock on sellers doors for for sale by owners and ask them if they would like a home inspection done to understand what they might expect in the sale of their home. And that is a very good way to help the seller out but I like working with buyers and making sure that they’re understanding what they’re purchasing with a major investment.

Brett Bittner
So you talked about having a background in construction previously, you’ve been solely in the home inspection business for the last eight years. What else do you bring to the table? What kind of education In addition to the construction background?

Scott Surridge 
Well, as I mentioned, I started building houses framing houses when I was 17. I’m from way upstate New York near Rochester area. And when I moved down here 30 years ago, I continued to build build homes and mainly waterfront homes in Mira Bay and mocha Sega Bay, and we also started Chevelle. So I’m used to the larger custom homes. So I was involved in the total process of building those homes starting as a framer and then working up to be a superintendent and project manager. So over 40 years I’ve gained a lot of experience in understanding the home from the ground up. Now is there any kind of education training certification that comes that somebody who is looking for a home inspector should be looking for, there are certifications from the state it is mandatory if you are a home inspector that you’d be licensed by the state There is a state test that needs to be taken for the individuals who don’t qualify for being grandfathered in I, I was grandfathered in because of my experience. However, I’m also a member of the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors, which does require that you do take that state test for where you’re located, and that you pass that test with a 75 or better. I got a 99.

Brett Bittner
Oh, there’s that one question, isn’t there? Always one there’s always one, of course. Now, if you’re a homebuyer and you’re entering the home inspection process, what is it that they should expect in that in that whole thing from choosing a home inspector, getting the inspection done, understanding what it is and what it means? Like, walk us through that whole thing, because that’s something that I imagine especially first-time homebuyers, and probably even first-time home sellers have no idea about this.

Scott Surridge 
Very true, but what you want to do is to be able to check the background of the home inspector that you’re choosing ask them questions. Are they licensed in that state? What is their experience in building homes? Were they a handyman where the electrician were they an actual contractor. I myself do still have my building license for the state of Florida. But I don’t use it. It’s on a voluntary hiatus, I guess you’d say okay, but the buyers should always ask for references and do background checks and make sure that they understand who the person is that’s going to be doing the inspection. They should expect their inspector to go through the entire home be in the attic, lock the roof. Take the air conditioning system apart, look at the coils take the cover off of the electrical panel, make sure the wiring inside his proper check outlets, windows, everything that’s accessible. They should be testing you Looking in cabinets, under under everything, and if you have to move a couple of things in the hall to be able to be complete, move a couple of things. Now, how long should a process like this take when they’re actually doing the inspection? It depends on the square footage of the home. I mean, an average home here in Florida somewhere between 1500 and 2500 square feet. smaller ones are generally an hour and a half, you can go you know, two hours, I myself generally take about two hours for 2500 square foot home. I work alone, so it’s just me. If you have two people, sometimes it takes a little bit less, but there’s no reason to spend four hours and have a 60 page report for a 2500 square foot home.

Brett Bittner
You mentioned a number of pages in the report. What’s the average that you would expect to see for a home that’s ready to be to be closed on essentially?

Scott Surridge 
Well, in general like a 2000 square foot home somewhere between 25 and 35 pages of information. Okay, that includes photos and descriptions of everything that’s going on with it. Written in layman’s terms, mainly, but enough technical term that the licensed individual that has to do repairs understands what’s going on.

Brett Bittner
Now following a home inspection, what is that home seller going to have to go through?

Scott Surridge 
The seller is going to talk to the selling agent and the buyer agent talk back and forth and the buyer will make requests of what might they want fixed, and then seller, depending on the contract that’s written, seller may have to fix certain things, but generally the safety issues are what the seller should have to fix. Now in the state of Florida, you do not have to bring the house up to current code when you’re selling it. However, if there are safety issues, even if you haven’t, as is contract, generally the seller should fix those items.

Brett Bittner
So, we’re talking major things like an electrical issue or a wiring thing where it’s obvious that someone safety is going to be in debt in jeopardy. Correct?

Scott Surridge 
Yeah, there’s certain electrical panels that insurance companies won’t insure. Sylvania established federal Pacific. specific names that insurance companies have deemed unsafe. Different types of electrical wiring are supposed to have gfcis in certain wet areas. Certain years they weren’t required, but I still suggest they put them in. Same thing with smoke detectors and bedrooms. It’s very common that you don’t find smoke detectors in bedrooms. In older homes that are 90s or earlier. I always suggest that you put those in.

Brett Bittner
Okay. Now what are you doing currently to ensure that you have a full calendar of inspections?

Scott Surridge 
Mainly, I have a Facebook page that’s SPS on inspections, LLC. And my business is word of mouth and referrals so I don’t generally advertise because I’m just so busy. I mean I’m doing 10-15 a week on average. In 2017, I did 449 inspections Wow. And in 2019, I did 432.

Brett Bittner
Okay, so you’re keeping pretty busy. 

Scott Surridge
I’m very busy. Yes sir. What it shows is that if you’re good at your profession, the referrals come.

Brett Bittner
Yeah. You’re adding value to somebody’s transaction, correct?

Scott Surridge 
Yeah, I’m when I’m when I’m being referred by a realtor especially. Now I’m an extension of that realtor.

Brett Bittner
Right. So, your reputation is not the only one on the line. There’s is as well.

Scott Surridge
Correct.

Brett Bittner
That’s awesome. I’m glad that you see things that way because a lot of people are in a transactional mindset and not realizing how much relational, even when it’s generally a one-off service because I mean, how often are you going to have a home inspection done maybe two, three times in your lifetime.

Scott Surridge 
Correct Yeah. I mean, it’s, it’s essential that you have customer service in this business and you make sure you have a conversation with the buyers, and they understand exactly what they’re getting. And when there are items that need to be corrected, they understand why they need to be corrected and how they should be corrected.

Brett Bittner
Now, what is something that you’re looking to do to help grow? I mean, you seem pretty busy. Is there anything that you can foresee utilizing to help either maintain or increase how busy you are?

Scott Surridge 
Yes, I’m always looking for new ventures. But I originally started over in Hillsborough County. Over in the south shore area and moved over here with my wife to St. Pete Beach, last year, April and I’ve been marketing myself In the local areas, there’s a lot of real estate firms over here and I go and talk to realtors and slowly moving you know things in this area and tend to do more work on the Pinellas side of the bay.

Brett Bittner
Okay. What, if you had to estimate, is the biggest surprise that you found when performing a home inspection? I mean, we’re talking like an alligator under the house kind of a surprise like suddenly you completely did not expect.

Scott Surridge 
Nothing like that. Couple of rodents underneath homes here and there snakes but you know, nothing drastic. But the surprise item that I found was a garage slab in a house that had collapsed in one corner and there was no structural damage on the exterior walls. There was no tree roots in the area, no plumbing in the area. It ended up being that the material underneath the house was not compacted properly in the in the garage, floor sink. That was from an engineer.

Brett Bittner
Okay, what is something that a homeowner probably doesn’t know about their home when they’re selling it that your average home inspector is going to find?

Scott Surridge 
Electrical panels and aluminum wiring over here and St. Pete and St. Pete Beach area homes that were built in the 70s. Due to the Vietnam War, they stopped using copper because they needed to copper for bullets. So they started using aluminum wire, and it’s it was very prevalent in the late 60s, early 70s. You do not need to completely rewire the house you need to have corrections made with the aluminum wiring connectors, licensed electricians would complete that service.

Brett Bittner
Okay. Now, is there anything that you are reading, watching or listening to to help you in business and to grow your business?

Scott Surridge 
I get a monthly newsletter from the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors, and that has a lot of good information in it. I’m doing a lot of research online for four codes, like to go to sleep at night. So break out the codebook. And read that a little bit.

Brett Bittner
Oh, you mean, that’s not what you’re reading on the beach? 

Scott Surridge 
No. But there’s always information with some of the pages on the on websites for the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors, there’s conversations going on. So you learn a lot by reading different things the inspectors will put in Well, I have this problem and what’s the what’s the remedy? So there’s a lot of learning there. And also we have to have recurring credits for our license. So we always have to take new courses and keep up to date on.

Brett Bittner
Okay. When you’re not on a ladder, shining your flashlight, carrying your clipboard around, inspecting a home, What’s your favorite thing to do here in St. Pete?

Scott Surridge 
Being on the water. My wife and I are very much salt water people and we take the boat out go to the sandbar have a couple of beers and just relax and watch life go by. 

Brett Bittner
That sounds awesome.

Scott Surridge 
So that’s a great reason to have left upstate New York to me down here and enjoy the 300 plus days of sunshine that we get and works for me every weekend.

Brett Bittner
Awesome. So where can people find out more about you and SPS Home Inspections online? Is there a phone number that they can call? This is your opportunity to plug yourself so people can find you and hire you to inspect their home. 

Scott Surridge 
The best way to reach me is my phone number is 813-245-6088 or you can go to my Facebook page which is SPS home inspections, LLC. There’s different areas there where you can contact me and also make an appointment. You can read the reviews and I look forward to Talking to new people every day.

Brett Bittner
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the audience of Hustleburg?

Scott Surridge 
Not at this time except make sure if you are getting a purchasing a home, get a home inspection. It’s worth the investment.

Brett Bittner
Awesome. Scott, thank you so much. I really appreciate you appearing on Hustleburg.

Scott Surridge
I appreciate your time, sir. Thank you.

Hustleburg Episode 12 – Answering Listener Questions About Facebook 3-19-20

In this Q&A episode of the Hustleburg podcast, Brett answers listener questions about Facebook in the first of two parts. This is the beginning of a platform-specific series on the Q&A episodes about the varying social media platforms. Episode 14 will be the second part of the Facebook Q&A.

How Should I Maximize My Downtime During the COVID-19 Crisis to Brand My Business on Facebook?

During the self-isolation, restricted business operations, and a lack of sporting events, we likely find ourselves with newfound downtime. That downtime can be the catalyst necessary to lay the groundwork for your brand or business online. You can use this opportunity to create your Facebook page, engage with your existing community, and create content for it as well. Don’t let the temptation to just binge Netflix stop your dream and use this time to your advantage.

My Feed Is Filled With Draining News. How Can I Fix It?

First, take a break. Unplug and regroup. Take a walk. Read for fun. When you’re ready to fix things, follow and engage with people, pages, groups, and topics that aren’t bringing you down. The algorithms show you what they think you want to see, so you have to re-engineer what it’s showing you by changing how you use the platform. The good news is that you can change what you see by changing your behavior. The better news is that recent activity and changes have more influence than past activity, so get started now by focusing on what you want to see. You find what you seek, both online and in the world.

What Are the Benefits of Creating a Group in Support of my Facebook Page?

Your page is a communication tool for those outside your community. It’s your virtual storefront. It contains basic information about your business, like your hours, your location, or your special deals. It’s a great tool for people already looking for you. It’s social media’s version of your website with a touch of your personality.

Facebook Groups present you with a unique way to build deeper relationships with your community. It’s where you have in-depth discussions, interactions, and engagement. While your page is your opportunity to build many, shallow connections, your group gives you the chance to build ocean-deep connections with fewer people. Those are the people who are committed to your business. They are or become your raving fans.

How Can I Get More 5-Star Reviews on my Facebook Page?

Giving 5-star service is the best way to receive 5-star reviews. You can also offer on a receipt, signage in store, or a follow-up communication a small token of appreciation for all reviews. With these reviews, you should directly engage with your customers, while you have their attention, asking them for their feedback. Address any issues on the spot, and no matter what they share with you, ask them to share it online, and if your Facebook page is where you want to drive them, send them there. This also applies to Yelp or Google Reviews. 

Start Marketing Your Business Online With These Three Easy Steps

If you’re just getting started marketing your business online, Beyond Your Side Hustle offers a FREE Getting Started Guide.

Find out more about Beyond Your Side Hustle here:

Website
Hustleburg Listener Community
Facebook
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Brett’s LinkedIn

If you enjoyed what you heard in this episode, please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review this podcast on your favorite player. Each episode is available on its own post, with the entire catalog here. It’s available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast catcher. We listen to this show and our favorites on Castbox. It’s hosted by Podbean. We appreciate your attention, and we can’t wait to have you back for the next episode. 

Be a Guest on Hustleburg

If you have any questions you’d like to have answered on an upcoming Q&A episode, please take a moment to visit beyondyoursidehustle.com/podcastquestion and ask there. If you’re a St. Pete businessperson who’d like to sit down for an interview, please reach out to us here. 

Hustleburg Episode 11 – Interview with eXp Realty’s Trent Smith

In this episode, Brett talks with eXp Realty‘s Trent A. Smith, a real estate agent here in St. Pete, helping you make sense of the real estate process.

Brett and Trent discuss his tips for buying a home, selling a home, and even a bit of real estate investing. 

Buy or Sell Your Home With Trent

Connect with Trent here:

Website
Facebook
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YouTube

If you enjoyed what you heard in this episode, please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review this podcast on your favorite player. Each episode is available on its own post, with the entire catalog here. It’s available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast catcher. We listen to this show and our favorites on Castbox. It’s hosted by Podbean. We appreciate your attention, and we can’t wait to have you back for the next episode. 

Hear Your Question, Answered, on Hustleburg

If you have any questions you’d like to have answered on an upcoming Q&A episode, please take a moment to visit beyondyoursidehustle.com/podcastquestion and ask there. If you’re a St. Pete businessperson who’d like to sit down for an interview, please reach out to us here. 

Hustleburg Episode 10 – Answering Listener Questions 3-5-20

Before we get started on this week’s episode, I’d like to thank the folks over at Radio St. Pete for their addition of Hustleburg to the lineup on Thursdays at 8 AM and noon, as well as the podcast archive.

Thank you for the opportunity to share with your listeners how we do business in the ‘Burg.

In this Q&A episode of the Hustleburg podcast, Brett Bittner answers listener questions about how to market your business beyond social media, favorite marketing methods, and which social media platforms you should use to market your business.

How Do I Get the Word Out About My Business Beyond Social Media?

Social media isn’t for everyone, and some small businesses want to go beyond it to bring their business to the people they wish to serve. Brett responds to the above question with that in mind. The focus for someone not using social media or going beyond their social media networks should be to network. While most people think of networking as happy hours and business card swapping, there’s far more to it than that. Each interaction with someone in your field, you should learn how you can create value for them and act on it within your network. “Connectors” are some of the best businesspeople, because they know who can help whom, how, and they work to connect the helpers.

What Is Your Favorite Marketing Method?

Being a digital marketing firm, Beyond Your Side Hustle uses and recommends using social media and content marketing to share what it is that we do. By being a content producer, whether on social media, podcasts, you get to impact people’s lives that you may never encounter in a positive way. By adding all of that value to your community, value will be added to your life in return.

Which Platforms Should I Be Using for My Business?

This is a topic broached in Episode 4 of Hustleburg, where Brett discussed the single-most-important platform (Facebook), due to its popularity and the expectation that you have a page, even if you don’t have a website and alluded to what you should also consider. Keep in mind that current popularity and forever popularity aren’t the same, and that all social media platforms “age up.” Also, make sure that you use platforms that your likely customers do and that you can tell your story in a compelling way.

Start Marketing Your Business Online With These Three Easy Steps

If you’re just getting started marketing your business online, Beyond Your Side Hustle offers a FREE Getting Started Guide.

Find out more about Beyond Your Side Hustle here:

Website
Hustleburg Listener Community
Facebook
Instagram
Brett’s LinkedIn

If you enjoyed what you heard in this episode, please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review this podcast on your favorite player. Each episode is available on its own post, with the entire catalog here. It’s available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast catcher. We listen to this show and our favorites on Castbox. It’s hosted by Podbean. We appreciate your attention, and we can’t wait to have you back for the next episode. 

Be a Guest on Hustleburg

If you have any questions you’d like to have answered on an upcoming Q&A episode, please take a moment to visit beyondyoursidehustle.com/podcastquestion and ask there. If you’re a St. Pete businessperson who’d like to sit down for an interview, please reach out to us here. 

Hustleburg Episode 9 – Interview with FUSE Therapy’s Amanda Grozdanic

In this episode, Brett talks with FUSE Therapy‘s Amanda Grozdanic, a licensed and registered occupational therapist, working in aquatic and outpatient therapy, primarily for children with disabilities. FUSE Therapy focuses on the direct needs of the child, emphasizing nature and recreational activities to address any and all limitations.

Brett and Amanda discuss who might need occupational therapy, how she can help with sensory processing for autistic children, and what about her approach sets her apart. Her focus on aquatic recreation in the community is also discussed. A hiking day to celebrate the launch of FUSE Therapy is scheduled, weather permitting, for March 14th.

Connect Your Child With FUSE Therapy

Find out more about FUSE Therapy:

Website
Facebook
Instagram

If you enjoyed what you heard in this episode, please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review this podcast on your favorite player. Each episode is available on its own post, with the entire catalog here. It’s available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast catcher. We listen to this show and our favorites on Castbox. It’s hosted by Podbean. We appreciate your attention, and we can’t wait to have you back for the next episode. 

Hear Your Question, Answered, on Hustleburg

If you have any questions you’d like to have answered on an upcoming Q&A episode, please take a moment to visit beyondyoursidehustle.com/podcastquestion and ask there. If you’re a St. Pete businessperson who’d like to sit down for an interview, please reach out to us here. 

Hustleburg Episode 8 – Answering Listener Questions 2-20-20

In this Q&A episode of the Hustleburg podcast, our host Brett Bittner primarily answers questions about the viability of an idea, business and marketing strategy, and how much content is “too much.”

How Do You Know If/When A Business Idea is Viable?

In response to this question, Brett shares his thoughts on how you know when something moves beyond just an idea into a viable business. As with most bootstrappers, going beyond your side hustle means easing yourself and what you create into the market while still having the stability and comfort of your day job. The most important thing to know about viability is the reaction of your community about what you’re creating, and to find that out you must create. Just do it. It’s not just an athletic shoe slogan.

Where Do You Start When Creating a Strategy?

When creating a larger-scale business, a business plan can offer many insights as the entrepreneur critically evaluates the idea, product, or service. For many side hustlers, a strategy map will suffice to get past the idea stage and into the market. From a marketing perspective, strategy is determined through identifying the struggle your ideal client faces and working backward to determine the best way to tell stories to show how you and what you do will help them to tackle that struggle.  

How Much Is Too Much Content?

The short answer is that there is no such thing. With a diversity of platforms and channels, you will never overwhelm your community with content, because they don’t (and won’t) see everything that you put online. Not even your mom will get tired of seeing the content you create, because she won’t even follow you everywhere, and even if she did, the algorithms won’t show her absolutely everything. Read more about how there’s no such thing as too much content here. Finally, Brett touches on how it’s possible to create so much using a strategy like this from Gary Vaynerchuk through repurposing and sharing similar content through a variety of channels and using different contexts that are relevant to each platform.

Start Marketing Your Business Online With These Three Easy Steps

If you’re just getting started marketing your business online, Beyond Your Side Hustle offers a FREE Getting Started Guide.

Find out more about Beyond Your Side Hustle here:

Website
Hustleburg Listener Community
Facebook
Instagram
Brett’s LinkedIn

If you enjoyed what you heard in this episode, please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review this podcast on your favorite player. Each episode is available on its own post, with the entire catalog here. It’s available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast catcher. We listen to this show and our favorites on Castbox. It’s hosted by Podbean. We appreciate your attention, and we can’t wait to have you back for the next episode. 

Be a Guest on Hustleburg

If you have any questions you’d like to have answered on an upcoming Q&A episode, please take a moment to visit beyondyoursidehustle.com/podcastquestion and ask there. If you’re a St. Pete businessperson who’d like to sit down for an interview, please reach out to us here. 

How To Prevent Being Discouraged

Question from Hustleburg’s Episode 2, Answering Listener Questions: How can the solopreneur who is trying to keep up with their 9-5 while also starting their side hustle keep from getting discouraged? How did you do it?

Once you’ve decided that you’re ready to ditch your 9-5 and embark on your entrepreneur journey, you need to keep giving 100% at work, but limit it to only 100%. You can’t give your day job free space in your head outside of the time you gave at the office. Outside the office, that space is for you and your dreams.

The Question, “Why?”

Then, think about why your side hustle is your passion. Why is this “it?” You’ll notice in the interviews on the Hustleburg podcast that I start each of them with “Why?” That’s because I want to know what drives the guest. When I consult with a potential client, I ask it as well. Repeatedly. It’s likely maddening in the moment, because they feel like they are answering an inquisitive 5-year-old who only has one question in his toolbox. In interviews and consultations, I have to know.

More importantly, YOU need to know what drives you, why you’re passionate about it, and you need to share that with yourself and others. Everything becomes about the mission of what you do. Why? Why? Why? It usually takes the third or fourth Why to truly understand your underlying meaning in doing this. This is your vision of the dream you have for yourself.

Make Your Vision Your Mission

When you make that vision the focus of everything that you do it makes all of your business decisions, it makes all of your conversations, all of the things that you do regarding your side hustle and eventually your business, about your why. When you can serve your why you’re not likely to get discouraged, because you have made that vision a mission. You’re not likely to get burned out, because you have a purpose.

Focus on Your Mission

You will always be focused on the real reason why you’re doing it. That’s how I did it. I started with asking why I needed to get rid of the nine to five so that I could help other people do exactly the same.

This listener question was a part of Hustleburg’s second episode. If you have a question you’d like to have answered, please join the community here.

The Single Most Important Platform

Question from Hustleburg’s Episode 4, Answering Listener Questions:  What is the single most important social platform to get your content out as a side hustler and beyond? Or does it vary from business to business?

I’m glad you hedged your question, because I look at this two ways.

Single Most Important Social Media Platform

The single most important platform is where everyone already is. Right now, in 2020, that’s Facebook. At the end of 2019, they reported 2.5 BILLION monthly active users. As such, it’s simply too large to ignore, and people expect that no matter what business you’re in, that you at least have a Facebook page with some basic information.

Your Customers Are Already There

The reason that people expect this is because that’s someplace where they already are and they can find out something about you. Even if you don’t have a website, people expect that you have a business page on Facebook. We aren’t talking about your Facebook profile, we’re talking about a Facebook business page. You don’t want to confuse the two. A profile is where you share the photos of your children with their grandparents, but a page is about your business activity. Separating them keeps your personal life personal and your business life business.

Great Tools to Advertise

Also, Facebook is going to be a great way to jump into advertising as a part of your digital strategy on social media. Facebook offers so much data on their users to advertisers, so that you can hyper-target your demographics and psychographics. This allows you to spend your advertising dollars only going after your ideal customer. Their tool allows you to really focus on specific zip codes, specific age groups, and specific interests. When you really know your customers and your potential customers, they provide an awesome opportunity to utilize. These tools within Facebook further their position as the single most important platform in 2020. Keep in mind that some advice in the digital marketing space doesn’t age well, because of how rapidly things change so I’ll likely revise this in the future.

Also, Consider This…

Current popularity does not always forever popularity, so the above is not to say that it’s going to be the most popular social platform going forward. Remember Myspace? Or Friendster before that? Neither of those stuck around, as they were surpassed by something that was more interesting or more social. We wanted something different, found it, and platforms either evolve with us or go away.

The other way to look at this question is to consider other platforms as well, because marketing is all about telling the stories. Most importantly, it’s about telling YOUR story, and how will you best tell that story. For example, if you do something that’s very visual, has a very compelling visual element, or is very complicated to share with words, you’re definitely going to want an almost exclusively visual platform.

Finally, you also need to make sure that you choose a platform that you’re comfortable with using. That does not mean, however, that you can just not use a platform because you’re not comfortable. You should learn how to use it. You do that by watching what successful users of that platform do, by interacting with them and your potential customers, and by using the greatest information resource in the history of mankind.

This listener question was a part of Hustleburg’s fourth episode. If you have a question you’d like to have answered, please join the community here.

You can subscribe to Hustleburg on your preferred player here.

Hustleburg Episode 7 – Interview with Tread Connection Tampa Bay’s Peter Jaeger

“Weekends are for fun, not for tires.”

In this episode, Brett meets with Peter Jaeger of Tread Connection – Tampa, a mobile tire and wheel service, serving Saint Petersburg. In addition to installing tires and wheels at your home, office, or anywhere in between, they also provide mobile flat repair, wheel balancing, and nitrogen fill services for your car’s tires and wheels.

Brett and Peter discuss how operating a franchise is a bit different than building from scratch and how much things are the same. They discuss challenges in marketing a small business, even with a national brand name behind you, and their upcoming appearance at the 33rd Annual Mustang and Ford Roundup on March 14, 2020. 

Grip Tread Connection

Find out more about Tread Connection – Tampa:

Website
Facebook
Instagram

If you enjoyed what you heard in this episode, please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review this podcast on your favorite player. Each episode is available on its own post, with the entire catalog here. It’s available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast catcher. We listen to this show and our favorites on Castbox. It’s hosted by Podbean. We appreciate your attention, and we can’t wait to have you back for the next episode. 

Get Your Questions Answered on Hustleburg

If you have any questions you’d like to have answered on an upcoming Q&A episode, please take a moment to visit beyondyoursidehustle.com/podcastquestion and ask there. If you’re a St. Pete businessperson who’d like to sit down for an interview, please reach out to us here.