The Business Development Podcast

In Episode 94 of The Business Development Podcast, host Kelly Kennedy interviews Ben Spangl, a renowned mindset and performance coach, entrepreneur, podcaster, and professional speaker. As they celebrate the new year in 2024, Ben shares his personal journey and the commitment it takes to host a podcast, highlighting the dedication and effort involved. He reflects on his initial hesitation to start a podcast and how personal development played a crucial role in his life. Ben's insights and experiences have propelled The Pursuit, his podcast, into the top 1 percent of all podcasts globally. This inspiring episode provides actionable advice for entrepreneurs and business development professionals looking to grow their businesses.In this special new year's episode, Kelly Kennedy interviews Ben Spangl, a respected mindset and performance coach, entrepreneur, podcaster, and professional speaker. They delve into the topic of starting a podcast and the commitment it requires. Ben shares his own experience with podcasting, remarking on the dedication and effort it takes to maintain a successful show. He emphasizes the importance of personal development in his journey and how it has shaped his life. As a top-ranked podcast globally, Ben's insights and wisdom offer valuable advice to entrepreneurs and business development professionals. Listeners are inspired to think ahead and make the necessary commitment and effort to achieve their goals in the new year.Key Takeaways:Personal development is crucial for success and happiness.Starting a podcast requires dedication and effort.Financial success does not necessarily bring happiness.The journey to success may be challenging and require sacrifices.Being in business development requires commitment and hard work.It's important to think ahead and plan for the future.Money is not the sole measure of success.It's important to follow one's passion and not conform to societal expectations.Personal experiences and upbringing can shape one's career choices.Networking and connecting with other entrepreneurs and podcasters is valuable for personal and professional growth.

31 Dec 20231h 14min

Episode 93 of The Business Development Podcast, hosted by Kelly Kennedy, focused on setting business development resolutions for the year 2024. Kennedy expressed his gratitude to the listeners and reiterated his commitment to continue providing valuable content throughout the upcoming year. He emphasized the importance of implementing CRM systems and encouraged those who hadn't done so to catch up by listening to previous episodes on CRMs. Kennedy also highlighted the significance of regularly reevaluating target lists and marketing materials to ensure they accurately reflect the organization's goals and reflect the current state of the company. He provided practical advice on reaching out to potential clients and emphasized the need for commitment and consistency in business development efforts.In addition, Kennedy discussed the concept of meeting calculation in the episode. He stressed the need to prioritize target lists, categorizing them by location, industry, and sub-industry, to ensure efficient and effective business development. Kennedy shared that a maximum of 60 organizations should be included in the weekly follow-up stage for those conducting business development five days a week. He emphasized the importance of making phone calls when necessary to establish contact and build meaningful relationships. Overall, the episode provided insights and strategies to achieve business growth goals in the year 2024.Key Takeaways: Set specific goals for business growth and develop strategies to achieve them.Regularly evaluate and reevaluate partnerships with other companies to ensure alignment with organizational goals.Commit to continuous learning and improvement in business development practices.Reevaluate marketing materials to ensure they accurately represent the organization and resonate with the target audience.Make a commitment to yourself and hold yourself accountable to achieve your goals.Utilize CRM systems effectively to manage customer relationships and track business development efforts.Separate target lists by location, industry, and sub-industry to prioritize and focus efforts.

27 Dec 202338min

In Episode 92 of The Business Development Podcast with Kelly Kennedy and Tash Jefferies, the focus is on accelerator programs and their importance in the startup ecosystem. Tash Jefferies, an experienced mentor in accelerator programs, shares her journey and passion for helping founders through these programs. She discusses the various aspects and benefits of accelerator programs, including mentorship, fundraising, and acquiring customers. Tash emphasizes the need for creativity in running experiments and coming up with ideas that will move the needle for startups. Overall, the episode highlights the value of accelerator programs in providing founders with the necessary tools and support to succeed in their businesses.In this episode of The Business Development Podcast, host Kelly Kennedy is joined by Tash Jefferies, an expert in accelerator programs. Tash shares her personal experience and the importance of mentorship in these programs. They delve into the details of accelerator programs, including investor readiness, managing data rooms, and cap tables. Tash also emphasizes the significance of creativity and experimentation in running successful startups. The episode highlights the value of accelerator programs in providing founders with the necessary tools, knowledge, and support to grow their businesses.Key Takeaways:Accelerator programs are beneficial for startup founders in helping them acquire customers and receive funding.Mentorship is a valuable aspect of accelerator programs and can greatly impact a founder's success.The role of a mentor in an accelerator program involves providing guidance and support to founders in various areas such as sales, marketing, HR, operations, and fundraising.A mentor's experience and expertise in running experiments, acquiring customers, and managing business operations are crucial for founders' growth.The success of a startup in an accelerator program is measured by its ability to attract investors and generate revenue.Resilience and openness to growth are important qualities for founders participating in accelerator programs.A key focus in an accelerator program is identifying and implementing strategies that will have a significant impact on a startup's growth.Creativity plays a vital role in coming up with ideas and experiments to acquire more customers and increase revenue.Accelerator programs provide founders with a toolkit of skills and knowledge that can be applied to future ventures.Building a strong network of connections and maintaining relationships with fellow founders and mentors is valuable for ongoing support and collaboration in the startup ecosystem.

24 Dec 20231h 11min

In episode 91 of The Business Development Podcast, host Kelly Kennedy addresses community questions and provides valuable insight on various topics. He emphasizes the importance of speaking to the challenges faced by clients and the value that businesses can provide to solve those challenges. Kelly encourages listeners to consistently implement and stick to business development processes to improve their skills. He also announces that the podcast has been submitted for the Webby Awards and asks for support from the community. Overall, the episode offers practical advice and highlights the significance of value proposition in business development.In episode 91, host Kelly Kennedy takes on community questions, discussing the need for a value proposition cover letter when submitting proposals. He advises speaking to clients' challenges and explaining how the proposed solution addresses those challenges. Kelly acknowledges the support and engagement of the listeners, expressing gratitude for their continued involvement. The episode also touches on the slower season for podcasting in December and encourages community participation by leaving voicemails with questions and feedback. Overall, the episode provides valuable insights and emphasizes the importance of consistent effort in business development.Key Takeaways:Consistency is key in business development.Speaking to the value that you provide to clients is crucial.It is important to define and communicate the value proposition to customers.AI can enhance business development but consistency and showing up consistently is still essential.Speaking to the challenge and how your proposal will solve it is important in a cover letter.It is helpful to have a process and stick to it in business development.Companies often fall into the pitfall of not speaking to the value they provide.It is helpful to have a value proposition in your proposal that communicates the value you will provide to the client.

20 Dec 202336min

Episode 90 of The Business Development Podcast features Ruthann Weeks, the founder of Harmony in The Workplace. The episode focuses on topics of diversity, inclusion, and mental health in the workplace. Ruthann shares her personal experiences and the lessons she has learned throughout her career, including the challenges she faced and how she overcame them. She emphasizes the importance of taking a pause, considering different perspectives, and being trauma-informed in order to build strong relationships. Ruthann also discusses her passion for facilitation and helping others learn and grow. Overall, the episode provides valuable insights and practical strategies for creating a positive and inclusive work environment.In summary, episode 90 of The Business Development Podcast with Ruthann Weeks delves into topics of diversity, inclusion, and mental health in the workplace. Ruthann reflects on her own career journey, sharing the challenges she encountered and the lessons she learned. She emphasizes the significance of taking a pause to consider different perspectives, being trauma-informed, and building strong relationships. Ruthann's passion for facilitation and helping others learn and grow is also highlighted. The episode provides valuable insights and practical strategies for creating a positive and inclusive work environment.Key Takeaways: Contextual information is important in understanding someone's perspective and intentions.It's important to take the time to get to know someone before making assumptions about them.Facing difficulties can lead to personal growth and learning.It's important to assume that people are doing their best with their current level of awareness.The power of the pause can help us consider what we don't know about a situation and make more informed decisions.Mental health and mindset can have a profound impact on physical health.Compartmentalizing challenges may not be the best approach in the long run.Diversity, inclusion, and mental health are important topics to discuss and address in the workplace.Facilitation and helping others learn and grow can be fulfilling and impactful work.Being trauma-informed can improve relationships and understanding in various contexts.

17 Dec 202354min

In Episode 89 of The Business Development Podcast with host Kelly Kennedy, the topic of conversation is client gifting during the holiday season. Kelly emphasizes the importance of giving back to clients who have supported businesses throughout the year and highlights the value of showing gratitude and appreciation. He shares his personal experience of giving client gifts for over a decade, stressing the significance of making clients feel valued and cared for. Kelly encourages businesses to prioritize client gifting during the holiday season and discusses the various ways in which organizations can show their appreciation, including personalized gifts or small gestures like a handwritten card. Throughout the episode, Kelly emphasizes the need for thoughtful and meaningful client gifts, showcasing that giving back to clients is not about bribery but rather about fostering strong and positive relationships.In this episode, Kelly Kennedy, the host of The Business Development Podcast, discusses the importance of client gifting during the holiday season. He shares his experience of giving client gifts for over 12 years and highlights the excitement and joy associated with this practice. Kelly challenges listeners who are not currently engaging in client gifting to rethink their approach and consider the value it can bring to their business relationships. He emphasizes that giving back to clients is a way of showing appreciation and valuing their contribution to the success of the organization. Kelly encourages businesses to prioritize client gifting during the holiday season and provides examples of thoughtful and cost-effective ways to express gratitude. Ultimately, he aims to demonstrateKey Takeaways:Giving client gifts at Christmas is a common practice in business development.It is important to give back to clients during the holiday season to show appreciation and value.Some businesses may question the necessity of giving client gifts at Christmas, but it is a valuable practice.Client gifts should be thoughtful and show that they are valued.Giving client gifts is not bribery, but rather a way to express gratitude.Client gifts do not have to be expensive; even a small gift or card can be meaningful.It is important to prioritize and value relationships with clients.Giving client gifts at Christmas can lead to better relationships and repeat business.It is important to consider the preferences and needs of individual clients when choosing gifts.Giving client gifts at Christmas is a way to show kindness and care for clients.

13 Dec 202343min

Episode 88 of The Business Development Podcast features an expert guest interview with Peter Hurd-Watler, the co-founder of Impact Applications. The episode discusses grant funding and how Impact Applications helps innovative founders secure grants and non-dilutive funding for their businesses. Peter shares his own experiences as an entrepreneur, including selling Coke in junior high and later starting a web design company. He also talks about the challenges of funding a business and the importance of grants in supporting research and development. Throughout the episode, Peter and host Kelly Kennedy touch on various topics, such as blockchain, online voting, and the global landscape of entrepreneurship.In summary, Episode 88 of The Business Development Podcast delves into the world of grant funding and its role in supporting and growing businesses. Peter Hurd-Watler, the guest expert, shares his journey as an entrepreneur and how his experiences led him to co-found Impact Applications. The discussion touches on the challenges entrepreneurs face in raising capital, particularly for businesses that involve research and development. The episode also explores other relevant topics like blockchain, online voting, and the impact of grants on business success.Key Takeaways: Grant funding is a valuable source of non-dilutive funding for businesses.Conduct thorough market research before launching a business to ensure eligibility for grants.Impact Applications is a company that helps founders secure grants and non-dilutive funding.Tailored grant research reports and grant plans are created for clients by Impact Applications.The process of securing grants involves follow-up reporting and fulfilling requirements.Grant funding can provide the necessary funds to pay employees and developers.Grants can be obtained through corporate grants and other non-dilutive funding sources.It is important to navigate the legalities and regulations surrounding grant funding, such as in voting structures.Building relationships and networking is crucial for accessing grant funding opportunities.Grant funding can contribute to the success and growth of a business.

10 Dec 202348min

Episode 87 of The Business Development Podcast is the fourth part of the Proposal Playbook series. Host Kelly Kennedy expresses appreciation to the listeners and discusses the positive experiences and learnings from having Adam O'Brien as a guest. Kennedy also informs the audience about the delay in the community questions segment for November but reassures them that it will be included in a joint episode in December. Additionally, Kennedy announces the birth of his son and mentions that the show has reached a milestone of over 100,000 downloads in under 10 months. He emphasizes the importance of consistency and urges new businesses to focus on value and engaging content rather than the number of followers.In this episode, Kennedy encourages listeners who have business development questions to send them in for the community questions segment. He highlights the importance of knowing one's value proposition and provides contact details for submitting questions. Kennedy also expresses gratitude to sponsors and emphasizes the podcast's commitment to providing valuable information to help businesses grow. He concludes by emphasizing the significance of weekly reports and promising to continue delivering relevant topics and insights to give listeners an edge in their professional careers.Key Takeaways: It is important to have a clear understanding of your value proposition before writing a proposal.Consistency is key in business development, both in terms of your messaging and in your efforts to reach out to potential clients.Taking the time to learn about your customers' needs and how you can meet them is crucial for successful business development.Weekly reports are essential in business development as they help to track progress and identify areas for improvement.Building relationships with customers and consistently delivering value will result in long-term business success.It is important to follow up with potential clients after submitting a proposal to ensure effective communication and address any questions or concerns.Business development involves continuous learning and adapting to stay ahead in the industry.Successful business development involves providing relevant and valuable information to help clients excel in their professional careers.It is important to have a clear understanding of the goals and objectives of your business in order to create effective proposals and drive growth.

6 Dec 202358min