Podcasts Business Tax Pro Nation | The Podcast For Independent Tax Professionals Intrapreneurship with Sean Ahlum

Intrapreneurship with Sean Ahlum

Published: June 11, 2018, 10 a.m.

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Experienced intrapreneur, executive, and tech disruptor Sean Ahlum speaks about succeeding within the framework of a larger organization. We cover a wide range of interesting and helpful topics like intrapreneurship, innovation accounting, lean startup methodology, managing up, white spaces, unique selling propositions (USP), mindset, sharing ideas, and finding the right team.

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While we focus on Step 2 of The Pronto Path, we cover topics that touch on many more steps. The Activation step does not only apply to tax business owners. It applies to anyone working at a company. Employees can act entrepreneurially, too, and reap the benefits. In fact, it is a large part of being a successful tax professional.

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A lot of people who have a job think they should not be entrepreneurial, disruptive, or take any risks. Sean takes a different approach and discusses the reason his new mindset takes him further in business.

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To learn more, and for the complete show notes, visit: http://taxpronation.com/12

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Resources Mentioned:

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Quotables:

  • [05:25] \\u201cYou can\\u2019t break the rules unless you know what the rules are.\\u201d \\u2014Kevin Canty (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Canty_(author))
  • [13:27] \\u201cThe object of work is to recover the seriousness of a child at play.\\u201d \\u2014Nietzsche
  • [20:54] \\u201cGood artists borrow. Great artists steal.\\u201d \\xa0\\u2014Austin Kleon (https://austinkleon.com/)
  • [28:14] \\u201cI\\u2019m an intrapreneur because I just never could figure out what that one thing was that I was super passionate about.\\u201d \\u2014Sean Ahlum
  • [29:50] \\u201cYour customers are probably already telling you what your next product is.\\u201d \\u2014Sean Ahlum
  • [39:22] \\u201cEvery single person that operates in the world is the CEO of company YOU.\\u201d \\u2014Sean Ahlum

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In This Conversation We Cover:

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  • [02:53] The Beastie Boys and Productive vs Destructive Disruption (http://blog.beastieboys.com/)
  • [04:28] Innovation inside a more rigid, corporate structure
  • [05:25] \\u201cYou can\\u2019t break the rules unless you know what the rules are.\\u201d \\u2014Kevin Canty
  • [06:04] Steve Blank, Eric Ries and Lean Startup Methodology
  • [07:50] Disrupting a small business productively and intelligently
  • [08:44] What is tekMountain, Castlebranch, and what makes them special? (http://tekmountain.com/) (https://www.castlebranch.com/)
  • [13:27] \\u201cThe object of work is to recover the seriousness of a child at play.\\u201d \\u2014Nietzsche
  • [14:18] Why proximity to success at all levels improves everyone\\u2019s success
  • [15:37] The mindset of creating a safe space to incubate innovative ideas
  • [17:37] Innovation Accounting and Return on Learning (ROL)
  • [18:25] Metrics on learning inside a growing company and Pareto\\u2019s Principle
  • [19:53] Successful USP\\u2019s with examples
  • [20:54] \\u201cGood artists borrow. Great artists steal.\\u201d \\xa0\\u2014Austin Kleon (https://austinkleon.com/)
  • [23:45] Why you should innovate in competitive white spaces
  • [26:28] How do I test where my white space is? How do I find my USP?
  • [28:14] \\u201cI\\u2019m an intrapreneur because I just never could figure out what that one thing was that I was super passionate about.\\u201d \\u2014Sean Ahlum
  • [28:34] How intrapreneurship and entrepreneurship are a slight psychological step apart
  • [29:00] Persona Creation templates (https://www.google.com/search?q=persona+creation+templates)
  • [29:50] \\u201cYour customers are probably already telling you what your next product is.\\u201d \\u2014Sean Ahlum
  • [30:08] Why the Baby Boomer entrepreneurs are the most successful generation
  • [30:53] Next Gen (http://tekmountain.com/tm_member/nextgen/)
  • [31:21] Kevin Small with NewLine Loan, LLC (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-small-608ab74)
  • [31:58] How can I \\u201cmanage up\\u201d in a company where new ideas are shot down?
  • [32:54] Tax Preparer is the job with the highest average age (http://time.com/4726657/retirement-age-jobs/)
  • [33:37] Small ball and the 2008 Philadelphia Phillies under Manager Charlie Manuel
  • [35:04] How to show value while building psychological trust
  • [37:18] How to take small micro actions to prove out and test ideas
  • [39:22] \\u201cEvery single person that operates in the world is the CEO of company YOU.\\u201d \\u2014Sean Ahlum
  • [39:33] Who are the investors in the company of YOU?
  • [41:55] Is being an employee the opposite of being an entrepreneur? Myth busting
  • [44:34] The key questions Sean asks every day to assess whether he should be doing something else
  • [45:40] What does it mean to be your own boss?
  • [46:22] The shift in mindset when you take risk and how surfing is a great analogy
  • [48:07] The two-way relationship between boss and employee
  • [49:00] What Sean looks for in a candidate
  • [51:16] Why diversity breeds innovation
  • [52:05] How to share your ideas with your boss and company
  • [55:10] The difference between having a great idea and executing it

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Tax Pro Nation is sponsored by Pronto Tax School, Inc. Sponsored links include:

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The Pronto Path infographic

http://taxpronation.com/path

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Basic Income Tax (Federal) course link:

http://taxpronation.com/basic

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Business Tax Verified online course link

http://taxpronation.com/business

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To sponsor an episode, please email hello@taxpronation.com


Tax Pro Nation is produced by Podcast Masters

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