Motivating hourly employees starts with a mindset shift. To do it well, it requires rethinking how we lead, communicate, and create purpose for hourly workers.

Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/r393-rethinking-hourly-worker-motivation/

Host Henry Lopez and his original co-host and business partner David Begin explore what it really takes to motivate, manage, and retain hourly or minimum-wage employees.

Drawing from years of experience leading both corporate teams and blue-collar workforces, Henry and David reveal why so many entrepreneurs struggle when managing hourly staff and how a simple but powerful mindset shift can change everything.

They share practical advice for:

Understanding what truly motivates hourly workers beyond money.

Creating a culture of respect, flexibility, and recognition.

Building better systems for onboarding, training, and communication.

Keeping your business both enjoyable to own and a great place to work.

If your business employs and depends on hiring and retaining hourly wage employees, this conversation will help you build a happier, more reliable team by understanding what motivates them..

This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

Toy designer and educator Cas Holman explores how embracing play can unlock creativity, reduce stress, and help small business owners reframe failure as part of growth.

Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/586-cas-holman-play-in-business/

Cas Holman, renowned toy designer, educator, and author of Playful: How Play Shifts Our Thinking, Inspires Connection, and Sparks Creativity, shares with host Henry Lopez how play isn't just for children. It's a powerful mindset for entrepreneurs.

From her early projects like Rigamajig and playful installations at New York's High Line to working with teams at Google, Nike, and the LEGO Foundation, Cas has made a career out of turning curiosity and experimentation into design breakthroughs.

Cas and Henry discuss how small business owners can benefit from a more playful approach to work, shifting from rigid outcomes to exploration and possibility. Cas explains her "three essentials for adults to relearn play": release judgment, embrace possibility, and reframe success.

Together they reveal how these principles foster innovation, collaboration, and agility - qualities essential for thriving in today's rapidly changing business environment.

"The most important thing any human can be right now is flexible," Cas shares. "A playful mindset makes us more creative, more agile, and more open to what's possible."

You will be inspired to integrate play into small business meetings, problem-solving, and daily business life. Transforming creativity from a childhood memory into a strategic advantage.

Cas Holman is an award-winning toy designer, educator, and author. Founder and Chief Designer of Heroes Will Rise and creator of the acclaimed Rigamajig building kits, her work focuses on the combination of creativity, design, and learning through play. Formerly a professor of Industrial Design at the Rhode Island School of Design, Cas now consults with companies and teams around the world, including Google, Nike, and Disney Imagineering, on the power of play to inspire innovation.

This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

Learn a simple, repeatable framework for crafting an effective sales pitch that connects, communicates value, and inspires action.

Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/585-crafting-your-sales-pitch/

Crafting an effective sales pitch isn't about being slick or persuasive - it's about clarity, empathy, and storytelling. In this episode, host Henry Lopez breaks down how small business owners can build a compelling sales pitch using a customer-centered approach inspired in part by Donald Miller's book Building a StoryBrand.

Henry explains that every great sales pitch starts with understanding your audience (your ideal client or avatar), defining their problem, and showing how your solution helps them win.

You will learn six core elements of every great pitch: Audience, Problem, Solution, Differentiator, Proof, and Call to Action. Then, Henry walks through a five-step process that will help you craft and use an effective sales pitch for your small business.

Drawing insights from past guests like Andy Paul, Carole Mahoney, and Ryan Dohrn, Henry shows that clarity and empathy consistently outperform clever slogans and aggressive selling.

Whether you're refining your elevator pitch, rewriting your website copy, or preparing for a formal sales presentation, this episode gives you the structure to tell your business story with confidence and authenticity."

This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com