The $100 MBA Show: MBA2508 - The 10-Year Journey and What’s Next

Episode Release Date: August 16, 2024

Host: Omar Zenhom

Producer: Nicole Zenhom

1. Celebrating a Decade of Entrepreneurship Education

In this landmark 10th-anniversary episode of The $100 MBA Show, producer and co-founder Nicole Zenhom interviews Omar Zenhom, the visionary behind the podcast. The episode offers a heartfelt reflection on the past decade, exploring the lessons learned, challenges overcome, and the future direction of the show and their entrepreneurial ventures.

Nicole Zenhom introduces the episode:
“Welcome to a very special episode of the Hundred Dollar MBA Show. [...] Omar Zenhom shares his reflections, lessons learned, and what's next for the podcast and our businesses.” ([01:05])

2. Early Life Influences and Foundations

Omar delves into his upbringing, highlighting the impact of his immigrant parents from Egypt and the values instilled during his childhood. Being the youngest of three siblings in the United States, Omar learned the importance of hard work and seizing opportunities.

Omar Zenhom:
“...immigrants, learning a new language, learning a new culture, trying to make ends meet... instilled in us this concept of opportunities are not to be squandered.” ([03:24])

He recounts his first job at his father’s car dealership at age 13, which taught him the value of earning money and saving diligently—a habit inspired by his thrifty mother.

Omar Zenhom:
“I was a saver as a kid and I would save my $35... that was one of my earliest memories of going to work with my dad and just earning my first dollar.” ([05:55])

3. The Birth of The $100 MBA Show

The inception of The $100 MBA Show in 2013 stemmed from Omar and Nicole’s desire to create scalable, valuable business education accessible to everyone. Frustrated with traditional business education's high costs and limited practicality, Omar envisioned a platform that offered actionable lessons without the hefty price tag.

Omar Zenhom:
“I wanted to get into a business model where we can create something that was a value that could scale and help people. Create it once, sell it many times.” ([10:53])

He criticizes the existing education system for being slow to adapt and too focused on credentialing rather than practical entrepreneurship.

Omar Zenhom:
“MBAs are not for [aspiring entrepreneurs]. MBAs are for people who want to get a finance job at a bank...” ([10:53])

4. Overcoming Early Challenges and Key Inflection Points

Launching The $100 MBA Show wasn’t without hurdles. From integrating payment systems like Stripe to mastering SEO and email marketing, every aspect of starting an online business was a learning curve.

Omar Zenhom:
“The biggest challenge was just the amount of work we had to do, the amount of things we had to learn...” ([20:03])

A pivotal moment came when they attended the New Media Expo, where they connected with influential entrepreneurs like Nathan Barry and Amy Porterfield. This experience validated their vision and inspired them to persevere despite initial setbacks.

Omar Zenhom:
“These people are just like us and this is possible... they were relatable.” ([21:23])

Winning the Best of Apple Podcasts award six months into the podcast’s launch was a significant validation, marking their entry into the entrepreneurial space with credibility.

Omar Zenhom:
“It was a big validation for us that we’ve created something worth people’s attention.” ([24:02])

5. Personal Growth and Daily Disciplines

Omar emphasizes the importance of personal development in his entrepreneurial journey, citing early influences like Tony Robbins and Jim Rohn. He believes that facing and overcoming failures fosters more growth than successes.

Omar Zenhom:
“You learn more from your failures than your success... challenges are horrible but there are so many lessons.” ([28:12])

He shares his daily disciplines, which include journaling, exercising, and prioritizing work tasks to maintain productivity and mental clarity.

Omar Zenhom:
“I like to stay consistent with my journal every morning... sometimes it’s just a to-do list or notes about what I want to get done.” ([36:37])

Nicole echoes the significance of these habits, highlighting their collective commitment to continuous learning and discipline.

6. Personal Qualities Contributing to Success

Nicole attributes Omar's success to his sense of humor, humility, kindness, and empathy—traits that not only make him approachable but also resilient during tough times.

Nicole Zenhom:
“Humor is one of them. The ability to... see the humorous side of life... plays a huge part in overcoming the tougher days.” ([44:43])

Omar Zenhom:
“Life is too short for you to take yourself too seriously.” ([47:02])

These qualities, combined with their entrepreneurial mindset, have enabled them to build a supportive community and navigate the complexities of business building effectively.

7. Looking Ahead: Future Plans and Innovations

As they celebrate ten years, Omar and Nicole unveil exciting plans for the next decade. Key upcoming initiatives include:

• Rebranding and Website Overhaul: A refreshed brand identity and a new, user-friendly website featuring enhanced search capabilities for over 2,500 episodes by topic.

• Video Content Expansion: Launching a YouTube channel where all podcast episodes will be available in video format, catering to diverse audience preferences.

• Enhanced Membership Programs: Revamping the $100 MBA program with updated content, interactive elements, AI tools, and tiered courses targeting different business growth stages.

Omar Zenhom:
“From tomorrow, every episode is going to also be available on video. So you’ll be able to watch the 100 MBA show on YouTube.” ([56:06])

Nicole Zenhom:
“We're adding worksheets that go along with our episodes, some particular episodes that are going to be hands-on...” ([56:38])

Their mission remains steadfast: to empower individuals to achieve financial independence and build businesses they're proud of through accessible and practical education.

8. Rapid-Fire Personal Insights

To provide listeners with a more personal glimpse into Omar’s character, Nicole conducts a rapid-fire segment, revealing his preferences and quirks:

• Superpower: Flying ([61:41])
• Preferred Time: Morning person ([61:43])
• Guilty Pleasure Snack: Chocolate ice cream ([61:49])
• Animal Preference: Cats ([61:55])
• Dream Travel Destination: Japan ([61:57])
• Karaoke Song: "New York, New York" by Frank Sinatra ([62:10])
• Beverage Choice: Coffee ([62:15])
• Hobby Wish: Committing to playing the piano ([62:19])
• Weirdest Thing Eaten: Cat food as a child ([63:02])

9. Concluding Reflections and Gratitude

Omar expresses deep gratitude towards Nicole, acknowledging her unwavering support throughout their entrepreneurial journey. He underscores the importance of having a reliable partner, whether in business or life, to navigate the ups and downs of building a venture.

Omar Zenhom:
“...without having a good partner with you. I’m very lucky.” ([63:33])

He emphasizes the significance of perseverance and the satisfaction derived from overcoming challenges, reinforcing the podcast’s core message of resilience and continuous growth.

Omar Zenhom:
“We realized that, yes, there are journeys tough, but a lot of people have it tougher... making the tougher it is, actually the more satisfying it is.” ([64:39])

Nicole concludes the episode by celebrating the milestone and encouraging listeners to subscribe and engage with their newly enhanced platforms.

Nicole Zenhom:
“Happy 10th birthday to the $100 MBA Show. To the next 10 years.” ([65:20])

Key Quotes with Timestamps

• Omar on Opportunities:
  “Opportunities are not to be squandered. You should work hard for them and then when they come in front of you... you should just take action.” ([03:24])

• Omar on Learning from Failure:
  “You learn more from your failures than your success.” ([28:12])

• Nicole on Humor’s Importance:
  “Humor... plays a huge part in overcoming the tougher days.” ([44:43])

• Omar on Entrepreneurship as a New Planet:
  “It's like going to a new planet... you realize, oh, the rules are not the same here.” ([18:26])

• Omar on Growth Mindset:
  “If I want different results, I can't expect to be the same person.” ([33:27])

Closing Thoughts

This special episode serves not only as a celebration of The $100 MBA Show's ten-year legacy but also as a roadmap for aspiring entrepreneurs. Through heartfelt storytelling, practical insights, and a vision for the future, Omar and Nicole Zenhom continue to inspire and educate a global audience, empowering individuals to achieve financial freedom and build meaningful businesses.

For more information and to engage with their new offerings, visit 100mba.net.