Podcasts by The Fab Lab

The Fab Lab

Running a stone shop is HARD. I make it easier. I give resources to help you reduce frustration and increase profits in your stone shop. Visit www.AaronCrowley.com and get the first 3 chapters of my book ”Less Chaos More Cash” for free!

Further podcasts by Fabricators Friend

Podcast on the topic Management

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The Fab Lab
A Bit More History from 2023-03-17T10:02:06

There are some important elements to starting a successful side hustle and I share them in this episode.  The good news fellow fabricator is that you already have them!

1. Examples

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The Fab Lab
Banking Crisis Protection - Stone Shop Owner Edition from 2023-03-15T12:47:08

In this episode, I explain what happened with SVB - Silicon Valley Bank - and its failure over the weekend.

What does it mean for those of us in the stone industry?  Well, we get into tha...

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The Fab Lab
The Best Business Model in the World! from 2023-03-03T09:20:25

Please consider donating to Rancho Santa Marta!

Your donation will fund the work at this amazing orphanage in Baja Mexico.  RSM was the first special needs orphanage in the region and the...

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The Fab Lab
5 Reasons a Side-Hustle Makes Sense from 2023-02-24T09:22:35

Please consider donating to Rancho Santa Marta!

Your donation will fund the work at this amazing orphanage in Baja Mexico.  RSM was the first special needs orphanage in the region and the...

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The Fab Lab
A Bit of History from 2023-02-20T15:57:46

This may sound crazy, but starting a side hustle can contribute massively to making life easier in your stone shop...I know, I know, that does sound crazy, but it may not be as crazy as you thin...

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The Fab Lab
A Riff on an IDEA That Would Make the Stone Business Less Hard! from 2023-01-19T22:49:21

In this episode, I share an idea I was exploring prior to selling my stone shop...Its unconventional, its out of the box, its a "blue ocean strategy" if you will.

I dont suggest you shoul...

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The Fab Lab
The Stone Business is HARD, Here’s What to Do About It from 2023-01-06T17:14:15

In the last episode, I detail a list of the ways the counter fabrication business is just plain hard. 

In this episode, I share the 3 most important tactics for positioning your stone sho...

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The Fab Lab
Why Is This Business So $#@! HARD?!?!?!?!?!?! from 2022-12-31T09:33:48

Running a stone shop is HARD!!!

On its best day, its more difficult than just about any business you could run.

As such, you deserve MASSIVE credit and honor for succeeding!

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The Fab Lab
5 Best Gifts For Stonecutters (AKA Your Employees) from 2022-12-22T16:18:17

Gift cards, hams, and Christmas bonuses are GREAT ways to show your love your employees and share the fruits of their labor.

But there are 5 other gifts that are worth their weight in gol...

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The Fab Lab
3 Tips to Getting Paid - Economic Storm Series - Collections and Receivables Strategy from 2022-12-16T12:39:47

If you're doing work for builders or remodelers, you're waiting to get paid.  The longer you wait the bigger risk you take, especially if your customer experiences a decline in sales and revenue...

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The Fab Lab
Storm Tactics - 3 Part Plan for Preparing for an Economic Storm from 2022-12-08T23:08:46

Better to have a plan and not need it than to be caught unprepared!  The simple principles in this episode will serve you well if an economic storm hits your business.  They will serve you well ...

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The Fab Lab
3 Massive Mistakes I Made During the Great Recession - Economic Storm Stories - Pt 1 from 2022-12-01T22:16:48

Times have been good in recent years, but will they continue?  Hopefully.  But if they dont, and the economic weather gets stormy, the companies that have prepared will be fine.

Those tha...

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The Fab Lab
The Neuroscience of Gratitude (Happy Thanksgiving 2022!) from 2022-11-24T04:00

We have much to be thankful for, but sometimes bad news and our perceptions can cloud reality to the point we really miss out…and forget how much we have to be thankful ...

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The Fab Lab
The 1000 Pound Problem – The Risk and Reality of Full Slab Islands from 2022-11-18T08:35:04

Stone Shops are in a catch-22.  They can’t say no to the work otherwise their customers will go somewhere else.

So when the customer want...

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The Fab Lab
The MILLION Pound Problem&The Effects from 2022-11-11T06:00

If you run a stone shop, someone has to install those counters you’re manufacturing…We call them installers and we ask a lot of them.

You...

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The Fab Lab
Interview – NSI’s Mark Meriaux on OSHA and Silicosis from 2022-11-04T08:27:55

If you are in the stone fabrication business, you are creating airborne silica.  Its not a question of whether you or your employees are breathing it.

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The Fab Lab
Near Misses and Close Calls – It’s a Dangerous Business from 2022-10-28T06:00

Safety might be the least popular, most uncomfortable, but all the while important topic a stone shop owner needs to face.  In this episode, I share my near-death experi...

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The Fab Lab
Friends in low places from 2022-10-14T07:54:12

You may not be at a low point in your stone career, but you may know someone who is. 

Don’t underestimate the power of an encouraging wor...

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The Fab Lab
Dream Small from 2022-10-07T06:00

We must have small victories, little wins, achievements along the way on the journey towards the big dream… In this episode we break down four areas of life where you can identify smaller dreams...

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The Fab Lab
The 6 Stages (AKA the 6 D’s) from 2022-09-30T06:00

The journey of a stone shop owner can be exhilarating and marked by success and profits.  Along the way, there can be roadblocks that either wear us out or prevent us fr...

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The Fab Lab
Part 2 – Simple Path to Taking Time Off (Without Interruptions!!!) from 2022-09-23T06:00

Imagine what your family and friends will say when you tell them you’re taking a day off to spend with them and that you won't be on your phone!

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The Fab Lab
The Simple Path To Taking Time Off (Freedom Today Instead of Later) from 2022-09-16T04:00

What if you could leave for lunch and not get calls from the office or the crew?  What if you could take a day off of work and not spend half the day on the phone or com...

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The Fab Lab
Freedom Now or “Maybe” Later – Blowing Up Conventional Wisdom from 2022-09-09T09:47:47

Conventional wisdom says we have to wait until we build and sell our business for millions before we can have the time and money to do the things that are important to u...

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The Fab Lab
#1 Danger in Delegating – Giving Up (Not Letting Go) from 2022-09-02T06:00

Breaking out of the “doing it” mentality and into the “delegate it” mindset and practice is HARD!!!

No way of getting around that fact… Listen

The Fab Lab
Remind, Insist, Demand – Real World Implementation of the PROcess from 2022-08-26T09:43:24

It would be nice if we could just throw a document at an employee and magically see flawless execution…But that’s not reality and it's not a fair expectation.

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The Fab Lab
Trust the People – Trust the Process from 2022-08-19T12:26:37

When your team is working at their maximum potential, everyone wins!   Your customers win, you win, and your team wins!

 

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The Fab Lab
Turn Stress into Strength! from 2022-08-12T08:53:37

Stressed out?  Pessimistic or Negative thoughts creeping in?  Disappointed over something?  If so, you’re just like me😊  But be encouraged, there is much you can do to transform that experience...

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The Fab Lab
What’s the best solution? - Guest Host Ed Young from 2022-08-05T06:00

Have you ever had a problem in your business, and you took action to solve that problem only to find out later that you still had the same problem?  Do you find yourself saying things like - I t...

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The Fab Lab
Guest Host Ed Young - Interview with Gina Gardner from 2022-07-29T06:00

When you start digging, it’s not hard to find what I call ‘Unsung Heroes’ in our industry.  In this episode, we talk with Gina Gardner who has worked with Cosentino, the Artisan Group, is a ment...

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The Fab Lab
What’s the Octane of Your Business? - Guest Host Ed Young from 2022-07-22T04:00

Are you ready for whatever this next recession or ‘soft landing’ is going to bring?  Do you know where you should spend marketing and ad money for the best impact?  Can ...

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The Fab Lab
How to Close More Biz Doing Fewer Quotes from 2022-07-15T04:00

This may sound too good to be true or counterintuitive.  Or it might sound crazy…to choose not to quote someone’s project.  But the fact is, opting not to quote work tha...

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The Fab Lab
Beat Your Competition to the Punch – 3 Simple Steps to Turn Existing Quotes into MORE Sales! from 2022-07-08T14:36:08

Would you like to put more jobs on the calendar without having to generate more leads and produce more quotes?

 

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The Fab Lab
How to double your profits without adding another job (or grinding your suppliers or buying more equipment)! from 2022-07-01T09:42:19

Want to grow your profits without growing your headaches?  Want to grow your profits without growing your business?

The fact is you can and its easier than you think!

In this episo...

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The Fab Lab
Interview – Pricing Your Work with Ed Young – Fabricator Coach from 2022-06-17T06:00

Have you raised your prices?  Are you raising your prices?  Does the topic of raising your price cause you to sweat and worry about what your customers might say?

Well, no matter how you ...

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The Fab Lab
Redlined to Relaxed (Are you redlined? Pt 2) from 2022-06-10T06:00

Ready to grow beyond the “redlined existence”?  Would you like a more relaxed pace as you lead and manage your stone shop? 

The way you g...

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The Fab Lab
Are you Redlined? – Pt 1 from 2022-06-06T11:43:22

Are you a doer, director, or dictator?  In this episode, we assess each stage (or gear) and how the redline effect happens at each stage.  We also discuss how to escape the redline experience so...

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The Fab Lab
Your Business – Engine For Wealth Creation from 2022-05-27T13:38:16

Your stone shop is an incredible asset.  It is an “engine” that has the potential to provide you with massive wealth creation opportunities!  But it must be maintained and cared for. 

Is ...

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The Fab Lab
Shrink and Grow Rich from 2022-05-20T09:29:26

High demand and lack of labor running you ragged as you make up the difference?  Thinking that growing might be the answer to your challenges?  It might be.

But what if there is another w...

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The Fab Lab
Leading Indicators and Crystal Balls from 2022-05-13T06:00

Economic forecasts are essential and smart business owners pay attention to them.

But those forecasts can be too general and there can be enough lag in when they are made available to ren...

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The Fab Lab
Interview – Economist Eric Post of ITR Economics from 2022-05-06T06:00

Interview with the Director of Research and Development, Eric Post of ITR Economics

Want to know what's happening and what’s going to happen?  We don’t have a crystal ball, but we do have...

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The Fab Lab
Costly Mistakes - Reaction vs Response from 2022-04-22T06:00

There is a huge distinction between a knee-jerk reaction and a conditioned response when it comes to overcoming oversights, mistakes, and remakes.

It’s the difference between chronically ...

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The Fab Lab
Interview – All Slab Fabber Founder – Chris Hildebrand from 2022-04-15T16:03:55

Chris Hildebrand is a very busy guy, he runs the All Slab Fabbers, reps for 2 different equipment manufactures (Sasso and BBM), and oh by the way, he also owns a very successful stone shop in Ai...

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The Fab Lab
A Tale of Two Owners from 2022-04-15T06:00

Delegator or Doer… Which owner are you?  Which do you aspire to be?

The difference between a “delegator” and a “doer” has massive significance to your business and your quality of life.  ...

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The Fab Lab
Interview – Slippery Rock Gazette Editor - Larry Hood from 2022-04-08T06:00

In this episode, I talk with my old friend Larry Hood who is the editor at the Slippery Rock Gazette. 

He takes us back to the beginning, how the SRG was started and how it has evolved an...

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The Fab Lab
Mindset for Mistake Management from 2022-04-01T06:00

If you’re dealing with oversights, mistakes, and remakes…your current mindset might lead you to Emotions, Conclusions, and Actions that prevent you from overcoming those very mistakes.

To...

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The Fab Lab
Reducing Costly Mistakes from 2022-03-25T15:21:59

Do you have costly oversights, mistakes, and remakes in your stone shop?  Of course you do, every stone shop does.

The question is how long will you tolerate them…

In this episode ...

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The Fab Lab
The Psychology of Selling a Stone Shop from 2022-03-18T06:00

There is an emotional toll and mental strain that is overwhelming at times when selling a business.  In this episode, I describe the 3 most important ways to prepare mentally for “selling out”!<...

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The Fab Lab
How I Sold My Stone Shop from 2022-03-11T05:00

In this episode you will hear how the buyer for my stone shop materialized and how the process unfolded…from the day we received the official letter of intent to the day we closed.

 

...

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The Fab Lab
I Sold My Stone Shop and Why from 2022-03-04T05:00

In this episode I share the 3 big reasons I decided to sell my stone shop.

 

You can watch the video on youtube: Ep: 116 "I sold my stone sho...

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The Fab Lab
The Fab Lab is Back! Update and New Season Teaser from 2022-02-25T04:00

After a very eventful year, the host of Fab Lab, Aaron Crowley, is back behind the mic!

 

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The Fab Lab
Sacred cows make the best burgers. - Guest Host Ed Young from 2021-02-26T08:34:14

I am excited to announce that this week we have our first guest host of the Fab Lab podcast, Ed Young.

The power of professional relationships and the power of trust is such a blessing an...

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The Fab Lab
Part 2 -Interview with Ed Young - FabricatorsCoach.com from 2021-02-12T12:37:25

If you’d like to reduce the chaos and move towards a calmer and more profitable shop environment, you will love this conversation between me and Ed Young.

 

He also has made his 6 ...

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The Fab Lab
Part 1 -Interview with Ed Young - FabricatorsCoach.com from 2021-02-08T10:22:57

Ready to geek out on stone shop talk?  Me too!  In this episode, I get to interview Ed Young, a long time stone fabrication professional.

 

Ed has helped, coached, and counseled ma...

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The Fab Lab
How to Help Your Employees! from 2021-01-22T10:04:22

How to Help Your Employees!

Ever thought that giving your employees work to do actually helps them realize their full potential?

It's true!  In this episode, I review how delegatio...

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The Fab Lab
Defining YOUR Success from 2021-01-15T13:45:24

Defining YOUR Success

What is success?  Are you experiencing it?  Or is it vague and elusive and frustratingly just out of reach?

In this episode we delve into the topic to better ...

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The Fab Lab
Big Risks If It's Not Written Down from 2021-01-08T18:21:53

As your business grows and evolves, it becomes more necessary to rely on written words instead of spoken words.

Spoken and verbal communication leaves the door wide open for misunderstand...

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The Fab Lab
My First Week in the Stone Business from 2021-01-01T17:55:03

It's easy (and common) to duck, hide, and avoid certain tasks and actions in our stone shops.  But if we let that happen, we run the risk of missing out on opportunities and results that we want...

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The Fab Lab
How to Know What you Want and Get It! from 2020-12-18T01:00

What if I told you that what you want in and out of your stone shop is entirely possible?  Well, that’s what I’m going to tell you in this episode!

There are 4 principles to knowing and g...

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The Fab Lab
Interview on Marketing with Lorenzo Marquez of the Marqet Group. from 2020-12-11T01:00

Fellow fabricators, marketing, and branding is not just a practice for big companies.  It is something that even the smallest fabricator needs to understand and implement.

 

In thi...

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The Fab Lab
Can Should Must from 2020-12-04T01:00

What should you do?  Do you know?  In this episode I talk about how to tell the difference between the work that you can do, should do, and MUST do so that you can get maximum impact in your bus...

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The Fab Lab
Is your stone shop a means or the end? from 2020-11-26T09:19:31

What role does your stone shop play in your life?  Does it serve you or is it the other way around?  Is it a  means to an end or is it the end in and of itself? 

 

It’s a tough que...

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The Fab Lab
Interview with Rick Stimac from 2020-11-20T01:00

In this episode, I talk to Rick Stimac, CEO of BBI (formerly Braxton Bragg Inc.), and hear about how he is bringing his wealth of experience from t...

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The Fab Lab
Origin of Results from 2020-11-13T01:00

If you want to change results, chances are good you need to change your thinking about those results.

In this episode, I share key insight into how our thoughts have an amazing impact on ...

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The Fab Lab
Interview with Michael Bungay Stanier from 2020-10-09T02:00

Season 3 launches with an incredible interview that I had with Michael Bungay Stainer.

Michael Bungay Stanier is at the forefront of making coaching an everyday leadership behavior. Listen

The Fab Lab
Episode 100! Interview with EMyth Coach Steve Edkins from 2020-05-08T15:26:17

Episode 100! Interview with EMyth Coach Steve Edkins The 5 years I spent in the EMyth Mastery program with my coach Steve Edkins, altered the course of history for me. Without it, I would sti...

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The Fab Lab
Interview Update with financial analyst Taylor St. Germain of ITR Economics. from 2020-05-01T13:02:11

Interview Update with financial analyst Taylor St. Germain of ITR Economics.

What does the future hold for our businesses?  W...

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The Fab Lab
3 Challenges with Fixed Turn Around From Template to Install from 2020-04-24T12:21:20

3 Challenges with Fixed Turn Around From Template to Install When we commit to install dates, the clock starts ticking and when things go wrong, it can be a challenge! And those challenges a...

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The Fab Lab
The Rhythm of All Rhythms from 2020-04-17T15:40:57

The Rhythm of All Rhythms Hold on fellow fabricator, in this episode, I make a bold statement. You should have a fixed, consistent, and repeatable turn around time from template install. Yes...

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The Fab Lab
Why Routines, Rhythms, and Patterns are Essential to Business Success from 2020-04-10T13:38:37

Why Routines, Rhythms, and Patterns are Essential to Business Success. When leaders make the work in their companies predictable and "routine" the results can be astounding! I begin to look ...

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The Fab Lab
Interview with Aaron Crowley from 2020-04-03T15:32:25

We could all use a laugh right now and this episode is full of them. In this episode, I interview Aaron and asks him a few fun questions. We cover topics from Aaron's favorite books to the count...

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The Fab Lab
Economic Forecast with Taylor St. Germain from 2020-03-27T11:28:13

In this episode, we interview financial analyst Taylor St Germain, a financial analyst with ITR Economics.

While the forecast...

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The Fab Lab
Managing Fear - Turning Panic into Productivity from 2020-03-24T18:27:55

Managing Fear - Turning Panic into Productivity In times like these, fear is an almost ever-present emotion for the folks we lead and even ourselves. In this podcast we discuss 3 techniques t...

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The Fab Lab
Leadership Teams - Secret Service or a Posse? from 2020-03-20T13:32:28

Leadership Teams - Secret Service or a Posse? When the shooting starts, it's nice to know you're not alone. It's really nice to know your team has your back no matter what. In this episode, ...

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The Fab Lab
Time to Lead - Coronavirus Edition from 2020-03-16T14:05:21

Hello Fellow Fabricators!

We are experiencing unprecedented levels of uncertainty in the country and economy. So what do leaders like you and I do in times like these? In this special ...

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The Fab Lab
Top 5 ways my mastermind group is transforming me and my future.  from 2020-03-13T14:29:49

Top 5 ways my mastermind group is transforming me and my future. 

Hello Fellow Fabricators! You know, my goal with the podcast is to offer value and insight that will help you to run you...

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The Fab Lab
Chinese Quartz Tariffs - Interview with Emerson Schwartzkopf from 2020-03-06T12:30:52

Chinese Quartz Tariffs - Interview with Emerson Schwartzkopf

We recently got to sit down and talk with Emerson Schwartzkopf on the Fab Lab podcast. He is an expert on the topic of Chinese...

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The Fab Lab
3 Thoughts About Employee Promotions from 2020-02-28T15:20:02

3 Thoughts About Employee Promotions It is common practice to promote successful employees into management positions, but it is oftentimes not ideal. I explore 3 thoughts today that are impo...

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The Fab Lab
Employee Roles, Potential, and Retention from 2020-02-21T13:59:01

Employee Roles, Potential, and Retention

What would you do without your employees?  What beliefs do you have that might be limiting their potential?  Wesley Rice is back on this week's ep...

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The Fab Lab
Another death in the stone industry from 2020-02-12T16:17:01

Another Death In the Stone Industry 

If you own or manage a fabrication company, a tragic reminder of how dangerous this industry can be. 

In this episode, Aaron shares some though...

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The Fab Lab
When our role becomes our identity from 2020-02-04T10:47:02

When our role becomes our identity

There is real danger and risk if we let the work we do, define who we are and determine the value we place on ourselves. It limits us, our companies, a...

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The Fab Lab
The Role Beliefs Play In the Roles We Fill from 2020-01-24T13:53:17

The Role Beliefs Play In the Roles We Fill What's your role as boss, CEO, leader, and driver of success in your stone shop? Better question, what do you believe about your role? It might s...

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The Fab Lab
What's your role as you grow? from 2020-01-17T11:26:26

What's your role as you grow? 

Do you want to do what you love and succeed while doing it? Well, then you need to make sure you're asking yourself the 3 questions we explore in this episo...

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The Fab Lab
Digital Stone Working Interview with Mark Lauzon and Bill Elliott from 2020-01-10T14:21:57

Have you made the jump to "going digital" in your stone shop?  What does "going digital" mean? In this episode of the Fab Lab podcast, we talk about going digital with industry leaders Mark Lauz...

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The Fab Lab
Questions equal closed sales from 2020-01-03T11:03:12

Do you know what differentiates you from your competitors?  Do you convey what makes you unique to your customers?  Asking the right questions will make all the difference during your sales pres...

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The Fab Lab
Judge and Jury from 2019-12-27T01:00

You can reduce the number of quotes you do and increase sales at the same time...as long as you are "qualifying" your prospects before you quote them and follow up. 

In this episode, we d...

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The Fab Lab
Christmas in the Trenches from 2019-12-26T08:05:36

Christmas in the Trenches: 

Winston Churchill is one of the greatest leaders of the 20th century and this episode tells the story of his involvement in WW1, for which he is not widely rec...

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The Fab Lab
Don't judge me from 2019-12-13T15:31:54

You quoted the job and now it is time to follow up.  Do you follow up with everyone? or just the ones you think will actually buy.  In this episode, we talk about the importance of following up ...

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The Fab Lab
Falling down and then following up. from 2019-12-06T16:27:49

Falling down and then following up.

First you quote, then you sell…right?  Wrong.  Once you quote, you have to FOLLOW UP with your prospects to close the sale!  In this episode, we deal ...

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The Fab Lab
Gratitude Equals Success - Happy Thanksgiving! from 2019-11-28T00:00

Being thankful and expressing gratitude has been proven to actually transform our brains, and I'm thankful you tuned in to hear about it! Happy Thanksgiving from the Fab Lab Podcast

If y...

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The Fab Lab
Canary in the coal mine from 2019-11-25T14:32:47

What’s going to happen in your business next month and the month after that?  Well, nobody really knows…but for the stone shops who track their quotes, they have an early warning signal as to wh...

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The Fab Lab
Interview with Geoffrey Gran - The Countertop Factory from 2019-11-15T15:41:20

It's not every day you can learn years' worth of knowledge in 1 hour, but in this episode, you can.  We interview Geoffrey Gran-owner of The Countertop Factory, one of the most successful stone ...

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The Fab Lab
Consequences or Coaching? from 2019-11-08T16:40:08

Consequences or Coaching?

One of the main questions we get asked is: What are the consequences for an employee who gets the process but fails to follow it?  We have the answer.  Enjoy.  Listen

The Fab Lab
Interview with Laser Products Industries - Kevin Yeh from 2019-10-30T08:00:44

Interview with Laser Products Industries - Kevin Yeh

Laser templating and social media are two realities that every fabricator must consider. In this episode, we talked with Kevin Yeh abo...

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The Fab Lab
Employee Conflict from 2019-10-23T07:30

Employee Conflict

How do you handle employee conflict when it arrises?  We cover 3 way on how to handle it.    

If you enjoy The Fab Lab podcast, consider sharing it.  Thank you fo...

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The Fab Lab
Trust Vs Turnover from 2019-10-18T15:48:50

Trust vs Turnover

How do you reduce turnover?  Did you know that compensation is not on the top 5 reasons why crew members move on? We dive into how "trust" can help to retain your employ...

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The Fab Lab
3 Lies About The Labor Shortage And Turnover from 2019-10-11T17:18:06

3 Lies About The Labor Shortage And Turnover

Do you know the 3 lies? Do you know how to identify and overcome these lies?  Find out in the latest episode of the Fab Lab podcast. 

W...

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The Fab Lab
Drifters from 2019-10-04T13:10:58

Drifters

We all have a tendency to drift and when that happens, the result can be costly.  So what do you when you do drift?  Join us on this weeks episode of the Fab Lab podcast as we sh...

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The Fab Lab
Drift from 2019-09-27T09:50:47

Drift

Your company is growing, and that’s great! It’s because of the ideals and standards that you as the owner have upheld in your business. Question is how do you continue to uphold tho...

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The Fab Lab
How did that happen? from 2019-08-29T08:04:40

"How did that happen?"  

What do you do when an employee makes a costly mistake?  Do you fire them? Do you place guilt on them?  Join us as we go deeper on this topic and let us know you...

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The Fab Lab
High Five from 2019-08-23T14:00:42

It has been a hard couple of weeks.  Sometimes a little encouragement can make all the difference. Tune into our latest episode to find out what we have been working through as well as a special...

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The Fab Lab
Interview with Patrick Foley from Moraware from 2019-08-15T04:00

We interviewed Patrick Foley from Morawre on this weeks episode of the Fab Lab podcast. Moraware is the top software program for running a stone shop. We have used Morware for about 15 years and...

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The Fab Lab
"The Cost of Not Defining Expectations" from 2019-08-08T09:00

 

Yes, defining expectations is a lot of work, but the alternative is worse! In this episode we talk about three costs that your stone shop will incur if you don't set expectations.  Enj...

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The Fab Lab
"The Origins Of Expectations" from 2019-08-01T15:02:28

The Origins of Expectations

In this episode of the Fab Lab podcast we talk about how do you begin setting expectations...it's probably different than you think so you better listen!

...

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The Fab Lab
"Defining Expectations - Continued" from 2019-07-25T09:11:06

 In this episode we go deeper on the topic of defining your expectations.

We look at understanding the difference between technical work and intuitive work...they are very different.  Listen

The Fab Lab
"How to Define your Expectations" from 2019-07-19T13:49:59

Fab Lab Podcast

Does staff performance meet your expectations?  If you’re like Wes and I, your initial response might be no and you may not think its even possible!

But what if i...

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 55 "Transformation" from 2019-07-11T07:00

What comes after the Train Wreck and the Turnaround? The transformation. In this episode, we introduce the 3 C's for transformation:

1) Consciousness

2) Communicate

3) Co...

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 54 "4 Leadership Lessons for the 4th of July" from 2019-07-02T15:26:58

4 Leadership Lessons on the 4th of July! We have so much to be thankful for here as we consider the 4th of July holiday. In this episode, we discuss an epic but not widely known battle that ...

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 53 "The Turnaround" from 2019-06-27T15:34:19

Can you recover from a train wreck?  Can you get the train back on the tracks after things have gone off the rails?

The answer is YES!  In this episode we discuss 3 decisions that result...

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 52 "Train Wreck" from 2019-06-20T13:09:59

Have you ever seen a train wreck?  Have you ever been on a train that went off the rails?

Well, climb aboard the Fab Lab express and take a ride down the most difficult year in our stone...

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The Fab Lab
Season 2 - Fab Lab Podcast Promo from 2019-06-11T09:48:56

Season 2 of the Fab Lab Podcast is coming!  New sponsors, interviews, and a co-host!  We have been busy behind the scenes and are excited to launch season 2 of the Fab Lab podcast. See you next ...

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 51 - "Daily Prioritizer" from 2019-04-05T15:34:29

Daily Prioritizer Your time is valuable and limited. Make the most of it by managing it well! The tool we use is the "DP" - daily prioritizer and it works!

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 50 - "Dirty Rotten Tough" from 2019-03-15T16:22:14

Dirty Rotten Tough

What determines the difference between "world-class achievement" and "why don't I just give up and do something else"?

Find out in this episode of the Fab La...

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 49 - "What about you? Part II from 2019-03-08T13:24:19

What about you? Part II Just a friendly check up fellow fabricator...how are you doing? How's the business and your relationship with it? We follow up and check in to remind you to keep pursui...

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 48 - "How to Close on the Promise" from 2019-03-04T13:37:51

How to Close on the Promise If you want to turn all your sales efforts into actual work on the calendar, then you've got to "Close" the sale... We talk about how in today's episode of the Fab ...

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 47 - "How to Convey the Promise" from 2019-02-22T10:08:14

How to Convey the Promise.

Optimizing the "Promise" for maximum benefit to your client and maximum profit for your company requires thought, care, and documentation. Learn how to conve...

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 46 - "How to Make the Right Promise to the Right Customer" from 2019-02-18T12:03:55

How to Make the Right Promise to the Right Customer: First, you have to understand the segments of the market so that you can align your company's strengths for maximum impact and profit. Chec...

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 45 - "How to NOT Overpromise" from 2019-02-08T16:56:21

How to NOT OverPromise If you've ever found yourself with more commitments than capacity, then you need to hear this: There is a simple way to make sure you don't suffer the negative effects ...

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 44 - "How to NOT keep a Promise" from 2019-02-01T15:49:37

Fab Lab - Ep 44 - How to NOT Keep a Promise. Customers have very low expectations...they don't expect us to show at all, much less on time. What differentiates the average from exceptional is...

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 43- "The Map - Live at TISE" from 2019-01-25T17:33:23

"The Map- Live at TISE"

Join Aaron Crowley Live at TISE 2019 in Vegas as he talks about "The Map To Full Potential"

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 42 - "3 Truths about employees that owners must remember" from 2019-01-18T17:15:56

Ep 42 - "3 Truths about employees that owners must remember"  Last week we discussed the 3 lies about employees that owners like to believe, this week we deal with the truths about employees th...

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 41 - "3 Lies About Employees Owners Like to Believe" from 2019-01-11T15:49:07

Ep 41 - 3 Lies About Employees Owners Like to Believe. Employees are so essential to the success of our companies, it is essential that we view them correctly. In this episode, we expose 3 co...

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 40 - "Scope Creep" from 2019-01-04T18:09:13

Fab Lap Podcast

Ep: 40 - Scope Creep Are the demands of the business creeping into your personal life? It can happen so easily. In this episode, we get into the 3 reasons why this ha...

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 39 "Side Jobs - 5 Reasons You Should Let Your Crew Do Them!" from 2018-12-21T11:46:56

Side Jobs - 5 Reasons You Should Let Your Crew Do Them! There are many advantages to letting your crew moonlight, especially if it's in your shop! The thought of opening your shop up after ho...

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 38 -"What's the Plan?" from 2018-12-14T17:17:49

Ep 38 - What's the Plan? Setting a goal is easy. Reaching a goal is another matter. In this episode, we continue the discussion of how to achieve the change you want and need as the owner of ...

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 37 - "What About You?" from 2018-12-07T13:09:08

Fab Lab Podcast Episode 37

What About You? How is your business treating you? Are you doing the work you want and like to do? Are you getting what you want out of the business? Those ar...

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 36 - "Retail Profit Potential" from 2018-11-30T16:30:31

Retail Profit Potential There are profits for fabricators who understand the reality of the retail opportunity. Check out this episode and learn 5 steps to higher profits through retail count...

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 35 - "Tariffs on Quartz - What's the Impact?" from 2018-11-16T17:06

Tariffs on Quartz - What's the Impact? In reality, we don't really know how this will affect the industry or our individual business. What we do know is that there are certain principles we m...

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 34 -"The Power That Leaders Possess." from 2018-11-09T15:52:56

Episode 34 - The Power That Leaders Possess. Fellow Fabricator, you possess enormous power and influence as a leader in your company. The power to speak life and if your not careful, death in...

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 33 - "The Power of Imposing Order" from 2018-11-02T12:21:51

The Power of Imposing Order Chaos is always pressing in on your operation and its effects are negative. But you can and should push back! By doing so, you will: 1. Improve your profits ...

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 32 - "The Power of Peer Learning and the Value of Trade Associations" from 2018-10-26T08:49:52

Episode 32 The Power of Peer Learning and the Value of Trade Associations In this episode, I explain the value of peer to peer learning and share why I have avoided it for so long. Enjoy!

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 31 - "Loose Ends and Why you Must Tie them Down!" from 2018-10-18T10:31:19

Episode 31 - Loose Ends and Why you Must Tie them Down! In business and in life, situations exist where we have the choice to deal with them or ignore them. When we face them and deal with t...

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 30 - "Beware The Silver Bullet Syndrome" from 2018-10-12T09:01:33

In running a stone shop there are endless challenges, so it's easy to fall into the trap of believing that a single decision, activity or purchase will magically make everything better.   That's th...

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 29 - "The Cause of Company Conflict" from 2018-10-04T11:01:12

Episode 29 - The Cause of Company Conflict If there's tension or even open warfare between the departments in your company, it might be natural and normal. In this episode, we discuss why tha...

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 28 - "What Not To Do" from 2018-09-26T08:57:33

Episode 28 - "What Not To Do" When reality hits a department, it's important to make sure everyone in every position knows what to do. but...its equally important that they know "what not to ...

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 27 - "How to Get There" from 2018-09-19T03:00

Fab Lab Podcast episode 27 How to Get There Where are you going? Better yet, where is your company going? Have you thought about that recently? Well to be honest, neither had I, until I st...

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 26 - "Digital Marketing 101 - For Stone Shops" from 2018-09-11T14:58:03

Digital Marketing 101 - For Stone Shops If you don't make the transition to digital marketing, your stone shop will be left behind. In this episode we cover the basics of this revolution in 3...

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 25 - "Why I Need Mentors, Coaches, and Counselors!" from 2018-09-05T09:56:13

Why I Need Mentors, Coaches, and Counselors! Some situations are so tough and so dark that they require perspective and wisdom that we as owners don't have. In those situations, mentors, coac...

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 24 - "Company Motto and Core Values" from 2018-08-28T03:00

Sometimes our employees are faced with challenges that nobody could predict…and thus no rulebook exists for handling them. If you’re there, they can ask you what to do. But what happens when yo...

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 23 - "How to Work Less and Accomplish More by Delegation." from 2018-08-22T03:00

How to Delegate: working less and accomplishing more. Yes its true, you can work less and get more done when you delegate to your awesome crew. We discuss it in detail on this episode of the...

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 22 - "3 Reasons Why You Must Delegate" from 2018-08-14T09:13:45

3 Reasons Why You Must Delegate

For maximum impact and potential, owners and leaders must learn to delegate.

Here's why: 1. Maximize performance in each department 2. Makes dif...

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 21 - "Getting the Most out of Your Crew" from 2018-08-07T07:54

Episode 21: Getting the Most out of Your Crew  Your great crew is capable of so much! Maybe more than they're currently producing.  You can lead them to their maximum potential with these 3 le...

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 20 - "Hiring, Training, and Retaining the Best Employees" from 2018-07-31T09:41:38

Episode 20 - Hiring, Training, and Retaining the Best Employees If you're going to take full advantage of the current economic boom, then having the best employees us a must! 1. Hire - What ...

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 19 - "3 Reasons Why You MUST Not Give Up" from 2018-07-24T03:00

Episode 19 3 Reasons Why You MUST Not Give Up Running a stone shop is HARD, and life, in general, is no picnic. Sometimes we are tempted to give up as it appears the best and only option. ...

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 18 - "7 Dangers of Dealer Work" from 2018-07-17T03:00

Episode 18 - 7 Dangers of Dealer Work There are 7 distinct dangers inherent in all dealer work, so keep these in mind as you pursue profitability and prosperity in your stone shop! 1. Low Lo...

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 17 - "Blue Ocean Strategy&Direct to Consumer Models" from 2018-07-10T03:00

Blue Ocean Strategy & Direct to Consumer Models 1. Yellow Tail Wine case study 2. Unconventional Thinking 3. Direct to Consumer Model for fabricators. Watch Video Series: Radical Retail Sa...

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 16 - "Happy 4th of July" from 2018-07-04T03:00

Happy 4th of July! In this episode we celebrate the freedom we have to start and run businesses. We also discuss the opportunity to free ourselves from our companies thru effective delegation....

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The Fab Lab
Ep: 15 - Interview with Eric Rolseth of FillAChip from 2018-07-03T03:00

Aaron sits down with Eric Rolseth (of www.FillAChip.com) for a great interview.  You won't want to miss this episode. 



Running a stone shop...

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