You want to make your audience the hero of your website.   In this microsode, I delve into the world of personal branding and web strategy. Join Christy and me as we explore the importance of crafting a compelling narrative about yourself to enhance your credibility and reputation. Key Points: Audience-Centric Website Design: A website serves as a critical element in personal branding, acting as a virtual storefront where potential clients assess professionalism and credibility. Learn how to tailor your website to resonate with your potential clients and make them feel seen and understood. Strategic Positioning: Effective personal branding involves positioning oneself as an expert in their field, communicating their value proposition clearly, and identifying target audiences for maximum impact. Clarity in Communication: You may struggle to articulate your skills and offerings concisely, leading to a lack of confidence and clarity in your personal branding efforts. Your website serves as a powerful tool to communicate that message. Discover the importance of showcasing your authentic self and how to strategically position yourself to attract and engage your target audience. Crafting Compelling Bios: Dive into the art of crafting a bio that goes beyond a simple narrative or resume. Learn how to unearth intriguing tidbits from your life story and weave them into a compelling narrative that enhances your credibility and builds trust with potential clients. Social Media Amplification: Leveraging social media platforms strategically can enhance personal branding efforts, providing opportunities to showcase thought leadership, build relationships, and increase visibility. Mastering the communication of your personal brand through your online presence is essential for establishing credibility, building trust, and attracting your ideal clients. Learn how your personal brand can boost your web presence in today’s microsode…

Did you know that brand storytelling can boost conversions by up to 30%?  We’ve all experienced the emotional impact of a great story–whether through books, movies, or TV. Now our latest podcast guest is showing us how to harness that power for our businesses.  John Ehrhard is the CEO and Founder of Orson, the first platform created to enhance human connection by sharing one’s authentic self through automated video storytelling. He is a seasoned producer in the unscripted television industry, with over two decades of experience working with almost every major network.  Through his extensive career, John has mastered the art and science of unscripted storytelling, documenting over 50,000 hours of real people’s lives. His expertise lies in the ability to understand audiences and craft real stories to convert strangers into devoted viewers and fans.  Storytelling at Scale John’s journey into storytelling started with his own family. During the pandemic, he started manually capturing the life stories and memories of older family members. Putting his TV background to use, he then moved on to documentaries, creating personalized videos for Mother’s Day and other holidays.  When his family started to share the videos with friends, John started getting requests from others who wanted to capture their own family memories. Creating individual videos was extremely time-consuming, so he started looking into how he could automate the process. Part of what makes storytelling so powerful is the element of connection–the relationship between the storyteller and their audience. John was at a loss for how he could deliver that experience at scale. That is…until AI came on the scene. After two years of hard work, John and his team cracked the code. They created an AI director that’s able to conduct interviews, read facial cues, and ask follow-up questions. They named the software Orson after legendary director Orson Wells. Assembling the A Team John had a wealth of experience in the TV business, but the world of tech and AI was completely new to him. Now he was faced with the challenge of turning what he’d always thought of as an art into a science. As a first-time founder, John knew he needed the right team behind him. After raising capital for Orson, he leveraged investor relationships to put together a board of tech giants–people who knew the industry and had the right skill set to take Orson to the next level.  John says finding people who shared his passion for storytelling and “made his life difficult in a good way” has been a key ingredient for Orson’s success. Not only did the board of investors bring new ideas to the table, but they also brought top talent, tapping into their networks to build an incredible team.  Enjoy this episode with Orson founder John Ehrhard… Quotes “Stories are how we connect fundamentally…learning about people’s stories is how we inspire people, how we have empathy for people, and how we relate.” “The nature of the product we’re building touched investors on a personal level.” “At the end of the day, helping people connect and capturing stories…it’s really powerful.”   “The thing I always found fascinating was that people never stop evolving– our viewpoints, what scares us, what inspires us. But when you’re in a relationship, you stop asking those fundamental questions.” “Any technology for good always has ways people can twist it. You just need to be careful and put precautions in place to prevent that.” “I think there’s an art form to people who know how to share themselves in a way that doesn’t feel like bragging or grandiose.” Links mentioned in this episode: Orson website: http://www.heyorson.com  Love Story wedding videos: https://www.thelovestoryshop.com/  Connect with John Ehrhard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-ehrhard-9b191917b/ 

Born and raised in Nicaragua, our latest podcast guest came to the United States at just 15 years old with dreams of independence. Decades later, she’s built a business that provides freedom for both her and her family. Maria Marin is the CEO, President, and Founder of Unlimited Recycling, Inc., a one-stop-shop company specializing in waste disposal, recycling, and transportation for commercial, industrial, and institutional facilities. Established in 1999, the company has served high-profile customers like Selfridge Air National Guard, US Army TACOM, and more. Maria is an alumni member of the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a mentor for the Stanford University Hispanic Entrepreneurship Program. She graduated from the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurs Leader Program in 2016. She is an EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2023 Michigan and Northwest Ohio Finalist, and also sits on the Board of Directors for the Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Breaking into a male-dominated industry  Maria started her career at the Department of Natural Resources in the State of Michigan, where she learned about illegal dumping and mercury pollution in the Great Lakes.  The same day Maria found out she was pregnant with her second son, she decided to start her own business: one dedicated to raising awareness about recycling and proper waste disposal. In the beginning, Maria focused on customer education, selling containers, and subcontracting other companies to do the hauling.  But all that changed when the US Army contracted her for both recycling and trash removal. At the time, Maria didn’t know anything about trash hauling and she didn’t yet have her own trucks, but she took the contract and vowed to figure it out. She received excellent ratings from the United States Army for the completion of a successful 5-year waste and recycling contract–and the business has only grown from there. Managing financial risk Maria didn’t jump right into trash hauling. She waited seven years to buy her own trucks, until she was certain the company could support the investment.  Maria has never taken on investors–she’s bootstrapped the company, getting loans when necessary but always careful not to get in over her head financially. She’s extremely conscious that her employees are relying on her and never makes large investment in personnel or equipment until she knows the work will be there. Taking care of yourself as a CEO After 24 years in business, Maria knows that in order to be at her best for her customers and employees, she needs to take care of herself first. She makes an effort to stay in good shape mentally, physically, and emotionally.  Maintaining a positive attitude is key. No matter what happened in the office that day, Maria switches off at night by reminding herself she did the best she could–and that she needs to rest so that she can do it all again tomorrow. Enjoy this episode with CEO and Founder, Maria Marin… Quotes “I always wanted to have my own business. I always wanted to be independent because I felt like I wanted to fly, I had wings, and I was restricted. I wanted to be unlimited.” “I love to learn and I think we’re never done learning. Every day is an opportunity to grow.” “I don’t have to prove myself to anyone except my customers, my employees, myself, and my family.” “Have I faced adversity? Absolutely, but I think we all do at some point. It is a male-dominated industry, but when I walk into a room, I feel like I’m bringing so much value. My head is high. I have many, many years that I have dedicated, I have sacrificed to give to this community, and to give to the company.” “I try to take care of myself first–mentally, emotionally, and physically. Because if I’m not those things, then what do I have to offer to my team, my family, and my customers? So it’s very important to me to stay in good shape in every way that I can and to stay in that positive attitude.” Links mentioned in this episode: Unlimited Recycling Website: http://www.unlimitedrecycling.com  Unlimited Recycling Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DumpsterPlus/  Connect with Maria Marin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unlimitedrecycling/ 

Social media–love it or hate it, it’s an essential part of doing business online. Many entrepreneurs fall firmly into the latter category, but our latest podcast is here to share an easier, more enjoyable approach to growing your brand on social. Karlyn Ankrom is the Founder of Oh Snap! Social and creator of the Fan Firestarter Framework, a new approach to social media marketing made specifically for businesses “tempted to fake their own death and flee to Tahiti at the mere thought of content creation.” Karlyn developed her user-friendly strategy after working for a decade with a variety of brick-and-mortar businesses that were “social allergic”, as she calls it–not because they didn’t want to do social media but because they were intimidated by it. In response, her system helps newbies get on the fast track to “unsucking their social media” in just one hour per week. The Fan Firestarter Framework After working for a series of start-ups and then a branding agency, Karlyn developed her own framework for social media success, which she now uses with all Oh Snap! Social clients. Everyone goes through the same system, from solopreneurs to CEOs of large companies. The first step is a pulse-check audit, to see what’s working and what’s not. From there, Karlyn and her team work with the client to develop a strategy specific to their business goals. She asks her clients to think beyond vanity metrics like their number of followers and instead focus on the “why” behind their social media content–what outcome are they hoping to achieve by posting?  From there, they move into the final stage, advancement, with either done-for-you or done-with-you social media posting. Which Metrics Are Worth Measuring? To Karlyn, the most important success metric for social media is website traffic. She thinks of social as the “conversation water cooler”, but the goal is always to bring that traffic over to the client’s website and/or email list. Google Analytics and referral traffic take priority. Other important metrics include how many quality conversations you’re having in the DMs, how many profile visits your content is generating, and how many new people are discovering you through your content. The last two are especially important for newer businesses looking to grow their visibility and reach.  Lastly, Karlyn recommends looking at your metrics to see which content is resonating the most with your audience, so you can create more posts like that in the future. Growing Your Personal Brand on LinkedIn Karlyn has had a lot of success building personal brands on LinkedIn, both for her clients and herself. One of the key strategies she uses is to publish SEO-friendly articles based on what her audience is searching for. She also recommends incorporating keywords into your LinkedIn bio and profile. Think about what terms your audience is searching for, then include those words wherever you can. When it comes to social media, personal brands win out over company brands. Even when Karlyn’s clients publish content through their business profiles, she always asks specific people to share the post and add comments. Profile pictures are also important–make sure your photo is updated and that it’s a headshot, not a company logo. The Future of Social One of the major trends Karlyn has noticed in recent years is people want the internet to feel “smaller” and less noisy. With so many of us suffering from information overload, social media users are more interested in finding smaller groups with content that feels relevant and relatable to them.  This explains the rise of niche communities like Discord and Slack channels. More and more people are moving off of larger platforms like Facebook and Instagram and into smaller groups.  There have also been major shifts in the industry with the advancement of AI. At this stage, Karlyn says it’s not enough to replace human-written content for one simple reason: AI-generated content doesn’t capture your brand. Your unique voice is what makes content real and relatable to your followers, and ChatGPT can’t compete with that level of human connection (at least not yet). For now, Karlyn recommends being a “smart user” of AI and using it more for brainstorming than writing or strategy. Enjoy this episode with Oh Snap! Social Founder Karlyn Ankrom… Quotes “I realized that a lot of the news that was out there was bad news. And I don’t have the heart for bad news all the time.” “Would I be okay if I didn’t do this? When I’m eighty, am I going to be like, I really wish I’d started that business? Regret is so powerful.” “A lot of that seasonality from a business perspective, we do not control as business owners. Just like we don’t control the algorithms of social media, we don’t control the behaviors of our buyers, or the economics of what’s happening in the world.”  “I think the best thing about social media is that it’s very forgiving. People expect it to be very real and raw and relatable–and they don’t want it to be overly produced because it doesn’t feel as real to them so they’ll ignore it.” “The vanity metrics truly don’t matter. Followers don’t matter…my goal is always to connect the digital dots from social, which is kind of that conversation water cooler, over to your website. I look at Google Analytics and that referral traffic first.” “Personal brand is where it’s at on LinkedIn.” “People do business with other people, not logos.” “Make it easy for people to give you money.” “You can build a business utilizing Facebook but at some point, you have to have real estate on the internet that you own in the form of a website. It doesn’t need to be overly fancypants if people are connecting with you on Facebook, but they need to have a place, a home base, a storefront that you own. Because you don’t own Facebook.” Links mentioned in this episode: Oh Snap! Social Website: https://ohsnapsocial.com  Connect with Karlyn Ankrom on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karlynankrom

What makes a successful entrepreneur?  There’s no shortage of speculation about which traits are most important for business success. Today’s podcast guest is a great example of someone who not only has the innate curiosity and confidence of an entrepreneur but who has also learned to cultivate those traits in others. With more than 25 years of experience, Dr. Kyle Flanigan is the Co-Founder and CEO of US Specialty Formulations (USSF), a pharmaceutical manufacturing company currently working on the first oral vaccine for COVID-19. Kyle is an expert in pharmaceutical and medical performance materials development and consults with companies to provide stable solutions and services for formulation, scale-up technology, contingency planning, supply-chain issues, quality systems implementation, and new facility design.  The Combination of Curiosity and Confidence One of the key traits behind Kyle’s entrepreneurial success is curiosity. Back when he worked for other large pharmaceutical companies, he was always looking for a new and better way to do things. Kyle brings a unique skill set to his industry, with his ability to marry the technical and business sides of pharmaceutical manufacturing. This broad range of interests allows him to network with people across different fields and establish long-term relationships with customers. He is genuinely interested in every person he meets, and customers can feel that. The second key factor behind USSF’s success is confidence. Kyle and his co-founder Garry Morefield both have strong lab and pharmaceutical backgrounds and with Kyle’s expertise in business, they felt confident in launching their own company. Building a Confident and Capable Team Confidence is also a key component in building a strong team. One of the biggest challenges for Kyle and Garry has been staffing. They receive a lot of applications to join their company, but finding the right person for each role is still challenging.  Their ultimate goal is to build a self-sufficient team that doesn’t need to be micromanaged; freeing up the founders to focus on larger strategic issues. Their team currently consists of 14 people but Kyle knows that as the company grows, he and Garry won’t be able to oversee every individual–so they work to develop confidence in their employees, with the goal that eventually the team will be able to run itself. The Power of a Personal Brand USSF’s marketing is limited by the pharmaceutical industry restrictions; they can’t make claims about what their products do, which makes branding even more critical. Almost all of their sales come from the founders’ networks and word-of-mouth referrals.  Pharmaceutical development is a small field and Kyle and Garry have built strong reputations. The customers who need and want their products seek them out and USSF, although a small, boutique company, has quickly become the go-to in the industry.  Enjoy this episode with CEO and Founder Dr. Kyle Flanigan… Quotes “What I found developing was an interesting skill set. There aren’t a lot of people with this skill set out there, to do a deep dive on the technical aspect of something and look at the applications and make the comments of ‘you can use this for this and this, because it has these properties’ and go through and list them all off. And at the same time, thinking as the businessman, how is this going to fit into my portfolio, what are my resources, what sorts of commitments am I going to make?” “Because I have a wide breadth of industries and interests, which makes me dangerous across a wide range of topics. It’s served me well.” “Throughout my whole career, I was always thinking ‘How can I do this better?’” “A lot of it has hinged on our personal brands. They know us, we know them, and they can know what we can produce.” “When we give the team a task, we trust that it will be a good work product and will require minimal input on our side. You have to find the right people but then build that capability and work with them to develop that capability, so you can get to a point where even when you’re not overseeing it, they’re able to perform as you expect them to.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit the USSF website: https://ussfgmp.com/  Learn more about the oral Covid vaccine: http://www.kyndr.com/ or https://vaxform.com/  Connect with Dr. Kyle Flanigan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyleyflanigan/ 

Many entrepreneurs would describe themselves as multi-passionate–we feel drawn to different niches and industries, and we dislike being put in a box. Our latest guest on the podcast is proof that not only can you find success as a multi-passionate entrepreneur, but there are plenty of ways to combine your passions or use one to fuel another. Jason LaBaw is the founder and CEO of Bonsai Media Group, a full-service Internet Marketing Firm ranked as one of the top 15 SEO companies in the world by Top SEOs. The company serves top brands such as Samsung, Amazon, Supra Boats, and CTG.  Jason holds certification in web management and web development from Western Washington University, as well as being AdWords & Google Analytics certified. His in-depth knowledge of digital marketing communications, combined with his technical experience as a certified web developer, makes him uniquely capable of driving both technology-focused and marketing-focused solutions.  Building your team One of Jason’s biggest regrets is not taking his recruitment and hiring process seriously during the early stages of his company. As Bonsai grew, its clientele shifted from mom-and-pop shops to global enterprise clients, and it was difficult to let go of team members who no longer aligned with where the company was headed.  Over the years, Jason hired people who were either the wrong culture fit or didn’t have the skills necessary to succeed in their role, and he’s learned from those mistakes. His old strategy was to have someone put up a job posting and wait for applications to roll in.  Now Jason personally creates videos for each job posting and interviews the candidates. The job market has gotten tougher, and so have Bonsai’s recruitment standards. Jason’s goal is not only to hire top talent but also to find people who are the right fit for their company culture. Developing an app Jason’s latest venture is Social Bee, a travel augmented reality (AR) app that combines elements of Pokemon Go and Trip Advisor to enhance the travel experience. The app began as a social content platform, hosting contests and digital scavenger hunts. That soon progressed to offering digital tour guide services through AR. The original plan for Social Bee was to provide tips, trivia, and interactive videos to tourists to make their travel experiences more immersive and engaging.  The business model targeted tour guides and travel influencers to create content, which users would then pay for while the app took a platform fee. Jason found that model was incredibly difficult to scale; it required too many conversations to bring new content creators on board. So he started looking for an alternative way to bring the app to market. This was right around the time AI and ChatGPT were taking off, and Jason wondered if he could leverage AI to create travel itineraries. The new and improved Social Bee helps travelers create personalized itineraries using ratings and reviews pulled from Google. As the business grows, Jason plans to release a companion app and expand more into virtual reality. The profits from Bonsai will continue to support Social Bee until the app becomes cash flow positive, allowing Jason to use one successful business as a springboard for another. Enjoy this episode with CEO and Founder Jason LaBaw…  Quotes “I would highly encourage people to allow the changes or the challenges in your business to inform you as to the changes you need to make.” “My calendar rules my life. Everything is on my calendar because if it isn’t, someone else is going to book that time.” “By not focusing on working on the business and growing the business and growing my team, I’m putting the quality of our work in jeopardy. I’m putting our clients, our team, and my family in jeopardy. There was a realization for me that this has to be a priority and I have to be a priority. Earlier in my career, I would sacrifice everything for the business.” “Relationships in general are so important. You never know where somebody is going to land. They may be at a small yoga shop now, but three years down the road they may have a $300,000 RFP for a major enterprise.”  “Social Bee is a seven-year startup. It’s been a journey, let me tell you. But I think like anything worth having, you’ve got to pursue it. You’ve got to have a vision and be relentless in working toward that vision.” “Just because you can work 12 hours a day doesn’t mean that you should. The person that you become on that conference call or on that one-on-one with an employee probably isn’t as good as the person who took the time to go for a walk or workout and do those things. For entrepreneurs and agency owners, it’s not the quantity of time, it’s the quality of time. So figuring out what’s necessary to maximize the quality of your time and the impact of the time you do have.” Links mentioned in this episode: Bonsai Media Group: https://bonsaimediagroup.com/  Social Bee website: https://socialbee.ai/  Connect with Jason LaBaw on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/labaw/ 

When Saima Rathor and Patricia Gallardo met outside their children’s preschool 15 years ago, they never could have imagined that one day they’d be founding a company together. The two women struck up a fast friendship, and over a decade later they turned their shared passion for the transformative power of beauty products into EpicLight Beauty: a line of clean, multi-tasking products for women aged 35+ that break the standard mold of beauty. EpicLight Beauty is inspired by Saima and Patricia’s rich Latina and Pakistani cultures. Their products address the changes in women’s skin, different ethnicities, and the beauty industry's perception of real women. The result is a celebration of women of all skin tones, ages, and skin types. Since they launched last October, EpicLight Beauty has been featured in outlets like People Magazine, ABC News, and Beauty Independent. Launching a Product-Based Business After securing a product developer, manufacturer, and packaging company, Patricia and Saima started hitting the pavement – attending trade shows and making phone calls. With Patricia’s background in product development and Saima’s in finance, they made use of industry contacts and spread the word. After a successful pre-launch campaign, they launched in October 2022. Initially, they sold direct-to-consumers online and through local pop-ups, but soon they opened an Amazon shop as well. As the company has grown, they’ve brought on help with their social media and now work with a team of influencers and content creators. To avoid the pitfall that many product-based businesses fall into, Saima and Patricia have been careful to limit their skews. They focus on a select few products, all of which are multi-tasking and work for a variety of skin tones. Building a Community Around Your Brand EpicLight Beauty is entirely self-funded, which makes their growth even more impressive. From day one, Patricia and Saima prioritized building a community around their brand. Most of their marketing efforts center on the human connection and meeting their customers in person at pop-up events and tradeshows. Their PR strategies have also focused on relationship-building. By reaching out to editors and making a connection, Patricia and Saima have been featured in major publications and even had their products featured in the Oscar's goody bag! They’ve also built a successful partnership with Erica Taylor, a well-known artist and educator in the beauty industry. Many of Patricia and Saima’s industry connections and publication features have happened through word-of-mouth – something the founders credit to their network of fellow moms. Throughout all their marketing efforts, Patricia and Saima reiterate how important it’s been for them to listen to their audience. Their tagline, “We see you because we are you” captures the heart of their brand. Enjoy this episode with EpicLight Beauty Founders Saima Rathor and Patricia Gallardo…  Quotes “It’s just the feeling that I get. I can have the worst day, and if I go and put on lip gloss that I love, it makes me feel better. It has an emotional impact.” “All the press we’ve gotten, it’s been through talking to a mom friend. It’s been this amazing network of moms helping each other, helping us get in touch with Allure, People, and all these magazines. It’s been wonderful to see the power of the mom network.” “We’re not in a rush. We can take our time, go slowly, and have it grow organically. But we’re doing it.” “Of course we want to grow and become really big, but it’s more important to have an ear on the ground; listening to our friends and women of our age group, understanding what they want and what they want to see. We want to build more relationships. That’s how we plan to grow.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit the EpicLight Beauty website: https://www.epiclightbeauty.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/epiclightbeauty/  Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/EpicLightBeauty/page/A29CD316-5980-4C13-84AA-2DCC3C4014AE?ref_=ast_bln  Connect with Saima Rathor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saimarathor/  Connect with Patricia Gallardo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricia-gallardo-547174b1/ 

In April 2020, when the rest of the world was shutting down, Madhav Srinath was gearing up to launch his company.  With a Bachelor's in Industrial Engineering and a Master's of Science in Computer Science, Madhav brought his background together to found NexusLeap: an analytics consulting company that specializes in equipping companies with scalable decision-making tools, helping them become more efficient and cost-effective. Madhav has deep technical expertise in data warehousing, business intelligence, and cloud application management. Before founding NexusLeap, he served on Microsoft's advisory board for their Artificial Intelligence product offerings in the cloud and has held several analytics leadership positions in consulting and product companies.  What started as a one-man show has turned into a successful company that not only survived the pandemic, but has grown tremendously since.  Turning Tough Times into Opportunity Before founding NexusLeap, Madhav was working as a sought-after consultant and helping a friend with fundraising for his Virtual Reality company. When Covid hit in early 2020 and the rest of the world hunkered down, Madhav decided to use it as an opportunity to get ahead. When a client came to him for help solving a complex problem, he jumped at the chance. What started out as a solo consultancy grew quickly into NexusLeap. Madhav freely admits that there may have been better times to launch a company – but with support from his wife (who joined the company a year later as their full-time COO), he was able to build solid foundations.  NexusLeap made the most of uncertain economic times to help their clients come out the other side stronger than ever. Since then, they’ve grown steadily year over year. The Power of “And” Madhav is a firm believer in the power of differentiating your brand based on “and’s”. It’s not enough to be good at one thing; for a powerful differentiator, you need to bring multiple specialties together.  For example, NexusLeap builds technical infrastructure and collaborates with business functions. Lots of companies build tech infrastructure, but it’s marrying the two together that makes NexusLeap so unique. Madhav knew that in most companies, the tech and business teams were siloed. He wanted to find a way to facilitate collaboration between the two. NexusLeap helps companies bridge that gap, so that their entire organization speaks the same language and is driven by the same incentives. Leveraging Your Personal Brand to Grow Your Business Although NexusLeap started out as Madhav’s personal brand, the current priority is growing the company brand so that it can stand independently. As a respected name in the industry, Madhav uses his personal platform to help his network learn more about the company. As a startup founder, Madhav wears a lot of different hats. Spending dedicated time on marketing and brand identity tends to take away from other areas of the business, which is why he prefers to let it happen organically. When Madhav posts to LinkedIn, for example, it’s to share client results or how proud he is of his team’s work. He encourages all of his employees to do the same. And since they’ve spent time building long-term relationships with every team member, the result is that NexusLeap effortlessly attracts new clients and talent. They’ve built a brand that’s known for resilience, excellence, and loyalty. If you’re trying to grow your business’s brand visibility, think about what values you want to portray through your content. Enjoy this episode with CEO and Founder Madhav Srinath…  Quotes “From a differentiation standpoint, I always believe in the power of ‘and’s’. If I’m good at building cloud infrastructure, that’s great but there are a lot of people that are good at that. But what is the and? If I’m good a building cloud infrastructure and collaborating with business functions, all of a sudden there’s this really dangerous combination that very people can compete with.” “I think what we do really well is it’s not one or the other, it’s one and the other.” “There were probably better times. But it’s one of those things, when you create a surface area for luck, when you see the opportunity and you’re able to do it…you have to go for it without thinking about it too much logically.” “Companies are led by business problems, that’s what strings them along. The value is had by solving that business problem. Technology generally enables those problems to be solved, but companies have such a hard time bridging that gap.” “As we grow, I see more and more of my team members filling in those gaps I left behind. As a human being, there are weaknesses I have in addition to my strengths. So it’s cool to see my team members fill in those gaps and make the brand bigger and bigger.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit the NexusLeap Website: https://nexusleap.com/ Connect with Madhav Srinath on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madhavsrinath/

All entrepreneurs are visionaries, but our latest podcast guest has a vision more lofty than most. Chris Mirabile aims to add one billion years of healthy life to humanity–a goal that may be within reach, given that Chris himself is aging 31% slower than the average person his age. Chris is the CEO and Founder of NOVOS Labs, the first human longevity company to simultaneously address all 12 biological causes of aging through its innovative, patent-pending over-the-counter supplements.  As a serial entrepreneur, brain tumor survivor, and the youngest winner of NYU Stern’s business plan competition, Chris has a track record of beating the odds. He’s co-founded multiple lucrative startups, all while pursuing a lifelong passion for wellness, with an emphasis on avoiding disease, extending his healthy lifespan, and maximizing his well-being.  Getting Scientific Support Although Chris’s background is in business, he wanted to ensure his ideas at NOVOS Labs were fully backed by the scientific community. So he decided to become a “citizen scientist”–running self-experiments, reading scientific articles, and networking with top scientists in the field. In the early years of NOVOS, Chris attended biotech events to get himself in the room with leading academics. It’s an approach that’s paid off. NOVOS has significant support in the scientific community, with some of the top minds in the field endorsing their products. To date, their anti-aging supplements have been backed by more than 400 scientific and independent research studies. Natural Ways to Improve Your Health NOVOS Lab’s anti-aging supplements target 12 biological hallmarks of aging to improve health and extend the lifespan. But even without taking supplements, Chris says there are plenty of natural ways to slow the aging process. The first strategy is through nutrition. Meal timing, otherwise known as intermittent fasting, involves restricting your food intake to certain hours of the day (typically 16 hours of fasting with an eight-hour window for eating). Eating natural foods such as fish and whole eggs, is another way to slow aging.  As for exercise, Chris recommends 25 minutes of low to moderate cardio each day, paired with strength training two to three days per week. Another important factor for our health is sleep: if you live in the city, try blackout curtains or an eye mask to keep light out of your bedroom. Make sure the temperature of the room is cool and use ear plugs to block noise if necessary.  Meeting Market Demand It’s clear from the success of NOVOS that Chris had identified a strong market need. Their supplements sold out in the first week, and for the first year, their biggest problem was keeping up with demand. All of NOVOS’s early growth was organic and word-of-mouth. In July 2021, the company sales metrics were still performing extremely well, so they decided to raise their first round of venture capital. With the help of $5 million in funding, they hired their first employee that fall and have grown steadily ever since. Enjoy this episode with CEO and Founder Chris Mirabile… Quotes “The question is, is what you’re about to do actually good for you in the long-term as well? And the answer is not always. A lot of the health advice, and even medical advice at times, is focused on short-term goals.” “I want to have a positive impact on the world. I want to do good for people in any way that I can.” “The way I define longevity is increasing your healthspan and your lifespan–both how long you live without chronic disease and how long you live before passing away.” “What we’re thinking about is the 100-year-old who’s on the dancefloor at their great-great-grandkid’s wedding and living it up, and has more energy than the 50-year-olds and 40-year-olds. That’s longevity. That’s what we want, and that’s achievable.”  “How can we take modern living environments and optimize lifestyles as much as possible, so that we can replicate–or even go further, in some cases–than those living in Blue Zones?” “I want to spread this knowledge to as many people as possible, because you really can slow down or speed up your pace of aging, and everyone should at least have that knowledge to then decide for themselves if they’re going to take the care to slow down their aging.” Links mentioned in this episode: NOVOS Labs Website: https://novoslabs.com Chris’s Website and Blog: https://slowmyage.com  Connect with Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrismirabile

The tech industry is renowned for expensive startup costs and never-ending elevator speeches. Kevin Lancaster is the Co-Founder of a company that’s changing the game, connecting service providers and vendors on a level playing field. As the CEO and Co-Founder of Channel Program, Kevin has been named one of the Top 25 Software Sales Executives by The Software Report in 2021. He’s built channel programs that have generated more than $5 billion in revenue and is a leading authority on cyber security, technology innovation, startup acceleration, and channel program development. His passion for supporting the underdog, creating meaningful partnerships, and making space for diverse voices fuels his work at Channel Program. Kevin has an unrelenting drive to revolutionize the IT channel by empowering and inspiring both vendors and IT service providers to focus on community-building, collaboration, and respectful communication–a formula he believes will lead to greater success and health for the channel as a whole, along with its thousands of partners.  How personal branding contributes to MSP success Kevin has two main recommendations for anyone looking to build a successful MSP. The first is to build a strong personal brand–post consistently online, share thought leadership content, and be transparent about what you’re doing and why. Both Kevin and his business partner have spent years building their brand and reputation in the industry. The second recommendation is to take a sales class, especially if you’re an introvert or selling is outside your comfort zone. Get comfortable talking to customers and build relationships. These two skills work hand-in-hand, as creating a personal brand will also help you sell more effectively.  Creating an open and accessible community After working in the industry for years, Kevin realized that the largest vendors were pricing out emerging competitors. At trade shows, for example, the larger companies held a monopoly on keynote speeches and the best booth locations, while newer startups were relegated to the sidelines.  Kevin and his business partner wanted to give those scrappy startups an opportunity for equal access. So they launched a virtual event, Channel Pitch, where every company received seven minutes to pitch to vendors, regardless of size. The event was a hit and Channel Program grew the platform it is today, where vendors and IT service providers can connect in an open and equal community. Enjoy this episode with Channel Program CEO Kevin Lancaster… Quotes “There are a handful of large vendors out there that are private equity backed, publicly traded, and they have deep pockets. What I’d see at these industry events, is you’d go up and down the rows, and you could see that the big vendors had the pockets to keep out all these emerging vendors. And in my opinion, they were stymying the innovation that could occur within the channel. The small, scrappy startups had these great ideas and great platforms but they weren’t getting the visibility.” “Where do we go from here? How do we build a recurring revenue business that provides value to both sides of the industry?” “That’s what drives me: trying to solve these problems.” “As we looked at this massive marketplace and all the challenges, we thought, how do you break it down to the common denominator? How do you make it just stupid simple? If I can explain it to my daughter who’s 14, then we’re onto something.” “We couldn’t have done this if we hadn’t built strong personal brands. Yes, we had a great product…but really, people were buying us.”   “Yes we want to build a business, but we want to build a business that provides value. When you can be open and honest about that, I think that stuff comes through. And I think people can tell the difference between the snake oil person versus the person who genuinely wants to help create change.” “Creating a personal brand helps you sell more effectively.” Links mentioned in this episode: Channel Program: https://channelprogram.com/  Connect with Kevin Lancaster on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinlancaster/ 

“Whether you're a personal brand or business brand, you definitely have to define who your target audience is. When you try to talk to everybody you talk to no one.” -Rachel Gogos Immerse yourself in the latest "Behind The brandiD " microsode, where Rachel and Christy discuss the intricacies of defining and marketing towards a specific audience. Gain valuable insights into:  📣 Marketing with your target audience’s pain point in mind  📱 Tailoring your brand voice to the specific platforms where you target audience is most active  ➡️ Aligning products with customer need  🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Debunking the misconception that “everyone” is the target audience Join us for a deep dive into the power of your target audience! 

When you’re running a mission-driven business, marketing is about more than just landing new clients–it’s about getting your message out to more people. Celina Shands is an expert at helping her clients tell their brand story and communicate their value to potential customers, partners, and funders. As CEO of Full Capacity Marketing, Celina is the 2017 Marketing CEO of the Year in the Pacific Coast USA, a former American Marketing Association Marketer of the Year, and a two-time Women Who Mean Business finalist. For the past 25 years, she’s been a strong advocate for workforce education and economic development missions.  As a communications expert, Celina has helped more than 500 workforce development and K-12/post-secondary education organizations build high-performing outreach campaigns that empower vulnerable populations, students and job seekers to embrace their potential.  Finding the Best Marketing Strategy for Your Business After 25+ years experience in workforce development and marketing, Celina says she still follows the same process with all of her agency clients.  The first step is to sit down and define what problem the business is trying to solve in the market and what their unique selling proposition is. From there, the agency performs market research to understand the psychographics of the client’s target audience. Customers are inundated with marketing messages so it’s essential to use data to cut through the nose.  The last step is to add outreach strategies, which may involve a new website with search engine optimization (SEO), paid ads, or PR. The best strategy will depend on where your ideal client spends their time online. Relationship-Building and Word-of-Mouth Born and raised in North Carolina, Celina approaches business like a true southerner by putting relationships first. Up to 97% of her agency clients come from word-of-mouth referrals. From the early days of her business, Celina has prioritized her sense of mission and helping others. She built her network through email outreach, phone calls, and speaking at conferences. To this day, the company has never run an advertising campaign. Instead, Celina shares information freely with her audience through email newsletters, blogs, and ebooks. This educational approach has resulted in long-term, repeat customers–many of whom have become like family. Tips for Running a Remote Team Celina’s agency is fully remote and has been from the beginning–something she sees as an inherent advantage. Not only does working remotely save on overhead costs, but it also promotes greater communication between team members. Celina’s team works across several different time zones, but she’s flexible on when her employees work, as long as they continue to deliver results.  Although these days there are many tools for remote work, technology alone isn’t enough to ensure the success of your virtual team. It’s equally as important for the CEO to set the tone and culture. You need to have systems and processes in place, and communicate clear expectations at the start of every project. Establishing key milestones will help keep everyone on track, and your team will appreciate having the freedom to work on their own schedule. Enjoy this episode with CEO and Marketing Expert Celina Shands…  Quotes “The reason why we’re called Full Capacity Marketing is because I want each of our clients to be at full capacity long after our contract concludes.” “If you position yourself as a partner versus a vendor, you have more opportunities that come in. That’s why we do things like ebooks, teaching, and things of that nature. Whether you work with us or not, we want you to succeed, especially in those missions.” “I can’t say we’ve had all this success intentionally. We set the course as best as possible and then go with the flow and see what opportunities come up.” “PR strategies are fantastic for entrepreneurs–getting them out there, getting their voice, and having a connection in the community.”  “How does your business not only solve a problem, but connect to a bigger mission that is of value and relevance in the community or the markets that you serve?”  “My grandma always said, ‘No one can argue with results.’” “There’s room for everybody. It’s not a competitive thing, even though you’re trying to be unique in your own way. It’s really about being authentic." Links mentioned in this episode: Full Capacity Marketing Website: http://www.fullcapacitymarketing.com  Connect with Celina Shands on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/celinashands/  Check out Celina’s new book, Business On Purpose: https://www.amazon.com/Business-Purpose-Inspiring-Overcomers-Changing-ebook/dp/B0CGWWF372  eFCM Learning Hub: https://www.fullcapacitymarketing.com/skills-building/ 

“Without a business, there is no brand and without a brand, there is no business. Because they're so interwoven, it's important that a CEO is paying equal attention to both” -Rachel Gogos Immerse yourself in the latest microsode of "Behind The brandiD," where Rachel and Christy unravel the symbiotic relationship between brand strategy and business strategy. Gain valuable insights into: Understanding the Impact of Your Target Audience on Business and Brand Evolution Navigating Pricing Offerings and Positioning Striking the Right Balance Between Brand Visibility and Business Efficiency Overcoming the Challenges of Business Pivots Join us for a deep dive into the strategic intricacies that can shape your business success! 🎙️🌐

Max Azarov created his business to meet the needs of his own children and families like his. But it was successful enough to become a major online platform – and is in the process of scaling up big time. Today on The Business of You, Max shares some of his key takeaways from scaling up and growing as an entrepreneur.  Max is the Founder of NovaKid, an online language learning platform for kids ages 4-12. Novakid has been included on the Forbes Top 500 list of America’s Best Startup Employers. NovaKid is currently in the expansion phase, exploring new ways to work with older children and create group language immersion experiences. Classes are 25-45 minutes depending on childrens’ ages. NovaKid employs complete immersion during classes, with no English spoken, and integrates learning games into the curriculum, making language acquisition engaging and effective. NovaKid is a Series B startup that has raised $41.5 million to date and created revenue of over $18 million in 2021. This fully remote, venture-backed business has been operating since 2017, with approximately 2,500 staff and teachers in over 20 countries. Novakid is funded by well-known venture capital firms Owl Ventures and Goodwater Capital, PortfoLion, LearnStart, Xploration Capital, Bon Angels, Leta Capital, TMT Investments, all of which support innovation businesses globally. Max has a robust background in applied mathematics, software design, and digital signal processing. He worked at Google in product development and the development of Google Maps.  Created out of need Max Azarov was frustrated. Living abroad in Eastern Europe, he was struggling to find teaching modalities for his older son to learn English. In a place where English was not widely spoken or accessible at the time, he attempted to find a teacher for him – but she ended up moving away.  While on a trip to Shanghai in 2017, Max had an epiphany when he saw families using a popular platform called VIPKid. Wondering why there was no comparable platform in Europe, he set out to research it. While there were plenty of options for adults to learn, there weren’t for children. There were widespread beliefs that children could not learn online and certainly could not acquire language skills online. Fortunately, those beliefs turned out to be false.  Secrets of scaling a remote company As NovaKid extended its influence, it emerged as a prominent player in the online education sector. Max Azarov, equipped with a background in applied mathematics, software design, and experience at Google, guided NovaKid through substantial growth. Max's entrepreneurial journey, rooted in personal necessity, is a compelling illustration of how business ventures can address unmet needs and revolutionize industries, particularly in scaling online businesses and embracing remote workforces. Quotes “I was helping these big guys to help them solve a problem. That was a big moment for me – realizing that this is not just my hobby, not just my passion…it was something that I could use to make a big difference in the world.” “This was the need – how do I make them fluent in English while living in a country where English is not the first language and is not widely spoken?” “For adults, you could find a lot of choices. But for kids, there was nothing. Traditional wisdom would say that it wouldn’t work for kids. But that turned out to be completely false.” “There are two things we do differently than others: We went with complete immersion! No English is spoken during the class. The second thing is that we heavily used learning games as part of the curriculum.” “It’s a combination of games, to get attention, and full immersion that drives the learning.” “We are focused on deep and meaningful connections with students.” “Why do we even have language as a species? We have it to make deep, meaningful connections with each other. So we encourage that in our product as well.” “If your business model allows you to have remote workers, definitely do that!” “Without an excellent healthy culture, you cannot really build a successful company.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit the NovaKid website at https://www.novakidschool.com  See NovaKid’s feature in Forbes’ list of America’s Best Startup Employers: https://www.forbes.com/lists/americas-best-startup-employers/?sh=60b6d5272ad7  Connect with Max on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mazarov 

"In the spirit of giving, holiday marketing is not just about selling products; it's about giving customers a reason to believe in the magic of your brand." - Oprah Winfrey  'Tis the season to be generous because a connection with a potential customer can lead to a commitment. In today’s “Behind The brandiD” microsode, Rachel and Christy explore various aspects of HOLIDAY MARKETING. From Thanksgiving and Black Friday to Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday, they highlight the importance of creating a bond with customers that goes beyond transactions. Dive deeper to: 📱 Explore the role of social media in holiday marketing ✨ Embrace the spirit of generosity in holiday marketing 👔  Understand the intertwined nature of personal and business brands 🤝 Forge a lasting connection with customers that goes beyond transactions

What if everything we’ve been taught about how to succeed in business was wrong? According to Don Schmincke, success is not about learning how to win…it’s about learning how to lose.  In his new book, Winners and Losers, Don uses scientific data, research from anthropological expeditions across the world, and his experience in training over 30,000 CEOs to argue that true entrepreneurial success arises from our failures. Don is an award-winning speaker, researcher, and Founder of the SAGA Leadership Institute. His book The Code of Executive was a best-seller and his writing has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and USA Today.  Using his research from MIT and Johns Hopkins, Don uses evolutionary genetics to expose popular management myths and unearth controversial but scientifically accurate methods that accelerate sales, market penetration, competitive advantage, and organizational performance.  Taking a Closer Look at Failure After working with over 30,000 CEOs and business leaders to understand what drove the success of their organizations, Don had received numerous requests to apply his research methodology to entrepreneurship. There were plenty of books that looked at what successful entrepreneurs did right, so Don decided to dig deeper into what happened before their successes. What he found was that their paths were littered with mistakes, failures, and major losses.  Don began to suspect that the key to successful entrepreneurship lay in those failures–and his research validated that assumption. Over and over again, the successful CEOs he worked with agreed that this was what most research on entrepreneurship was missing. Despite Don’s findings, he knew the popular advice to “fail fast” and iterate forward was a dangerous idea for entrepreneurs, for whom failure could mean losing their house or marriage. Instead, he encourages entrepreneurs to focus on their response to failure when it inevitably happens. Embracing Failure and Taking Risks As any entrepreneur knows, starting a business can be a minefield of challenges. What Don realized was that it was those moments of despair that seeded eventual success.  The most successful entrepreneurs were those who faced seemingly insurmountable setbacks, failures, and losses–and kept going. His advice for entrepreneurs is not to avoid failure, but to embrace it when it happens. According to Don’s research, entrepreneurs are uniquely suited to tolerate risk and adapt to change. The most successful business owners know that they must destroy old, unsuccessful ideas to make way for new ones. Enjoy this episode with founder and best-selling author Don Schmincke… Quotes “I began to see patterns where we were teaching leadership wrong, and then I began experimenting about how to do it better using different models.” “It’s not a new theory, it’s an unearthing of an ancient one.” “We’re only teaching what the great entrepreneurs have done right, but we’re not teaching what they did wrong. And I found that in the space of failure, that’s where they found themselves and found their strength, and they grew. We should be teaching more around that.” “It’s not for everyone. Entrepreneurs tend to be okay with taking on a level of risk.” “There were a bunch of management myths that I needed to debunk and replace with actual data and actual experiences.” “You have to destroy before you can create. Entrepreneurs seem to be comfortable with destruction. Some of them, when the ideas fell apart, they could embrace the destruction because it gave them access to new creation.” “The entrepreneur seems to have the capability or ability to ensure that level of risk.” Links mentioned in this episode: SAGA Leadership Institute: https://www.sagaleadership.com  Winners and Losers book launch: https://www.sagaleadership.com/w-l-book-launch  Connect with Don Schmincke on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/schmincke-research-alliance 

“You’re only as great and as strong as your team.” -Rachel Gogos Join us for the inaugural episode of "Behind The brandiD," a microsode from "The Business of YOU" podcast, where we explore The brandiD agency, our dedicated team, and the world of business. In this episode, our Founder and CEO, Rachel Gogos, engages in a dynamic conversation with Christy, a seasoned member of our brandiD team. They explore the realm of hiring for business owners and entrepreneurs, discussing the strategies for building a robust team, utilizing tools like Workable, finding the delicate balance between cultural fit and skills fit, and emphasizing the paramount importance of integrity in today's remote work landscape. Don't miss this insightful discussion—it's your key to achieving success in business growth! Dive into this "Behind The brandiD" microsode where Rachel and Christy share their insights on: Team strength The hiring process with tools like Workable Balancing cultural fit and skills fit The significance of integrity in a remote work environment.

Parker Olson is a passionate young wellness entrepreneur, not afraid to take big risks to get results. Parker shares the lessons he has learned about bold branding, following your intuition, and standing out from the crowd. Parker is a creative force within the realms of health, wellness, and strategic marketing. As the co-founder of FORIJ mushroom-infused snack foods and Scally Studios, Parker is spearheading initiatives that merge well-being with innovative business growth strategies. Parker's entrepreneurial journey began with a personal 18-month exploration into diverse diets, sparking an unexpected discovery of the potent health benefits within varying mushrooms. This quest for health culminated in the birth of FORIJ, a brand dedicated to crafting granola bars that are as nutritious as they are delicious, all thanks to their unique mushroom blend. Parker's thirst for innovation didn't stop with FORIJ. Acknowledging the difficulties faced by emerging brands in acquiring customers, he went on to co-found Scally Studios. This ground-breaking venture assists brands in unlocking the power of trust-based marketing engines, helping them navigate and thrive within the intricate digital marketplace. Through his unwavering resolve and commitment to health, wellness, and strategic business growth, Parker continues to inspire other entrepreneurs to chase their purpose. Anyone can do it When Parker was a college student, he saw that his dormmate was on his phone a lot, and making plenty of money.  Upon questioning him, he discovered that he was monetizing a successful online Twitter account. On the spot, Parker sent him his entire savings – a few thousand dollars – in exchange for learning his secrets. It was a risky move, but it became a major success. He grew an account, made money while in school, and didn’t have to work full time. It was then that he realized that out of thin air and with a bit of a time investment, anyone can create value online and begin to support themselves. Despite acknowledging how impulsive that decision was, he also cites his intuition and impulsivity as a major asset when it comes to entrepreneurship. After all, risk can mean big rewards. Later, when he decided to start more businesses, Parker had an understanding of what it takes to get started, and was unshaken by entry barriers. He’d made money online before. Why not do it again? Passion helps us push through One of Parker’s most influential lessons came when he attempted to launch a clothing brand. It was a fun idea, and a lot of the project came easily to him – but when it came down to doing more difficult aspects of business-building, he felt uninspired.  Where he normally felt hyped up and motivated in his business, he felt annoyed and discouraged by challenging tasks. That’s when he realized that it was not the right path for him. Now, he shares that wisdom with us: if you find it draining to push through hard things in your business, it’s not the right business for you! Passion and purpose will fuel you through hard times, and a strong “why” will always make it worth it.  While building FORIJ, Parker took extreme measures. He slept in a tent in the yard while keeping his ingredients safe in his room. He frantically contacted local cafes and rented out one of their kitchens for his production when covid hit. He even lived in his van and traveled the country selling boxes and educating wholesalers about the benefits of mushrooms for brain health, sleep, mood and more. All of this was possible because he believed in what he was doing, and he was fueled by purpose. Good branding is unique and memorable FORIJ has been called a few things over the years. Laughing, Parker admits that when he started, it was not a memorable brand.  These days, FORIJ has cute packaging with memorable characters on it, bright colors, and a strong brand message about infusing everyday snacks with whole food ingredients. But before all that, there was cheap and basic branding – and it didn’t make the impact it does today.  Back when the brand had a generic name and inexpensive stock kraft packaging, he gained notoriety not with cute colors and a great website, but for his hustle and belief in what he was doing. Because of his van lifestyle, he became known as “the van guy” with the mushroom foods. He realized that his brand was himself, because that was all that was unique and memorable. Going forward, he invested more heavily in his branding in order to help his products stand out and catch the attention of his consumers.  Enjoy this inspiring and memorable episode of The Business of You, with Parker Olson… Quotes “I gave him every single dollar I had to my name, on the spot! This is part of what has enabled some of my entrepreneurial journey, but has also caused some tribulations for me…compulsively being like, this is a good idea! Without thinking it through. That kickstarted my entrepreneurial journey.” “You, meaning anyone, can go out and make something that has value and support yourself.” “I wore nice clothes to the office at that job. I was like - I go to work, I get paid, it affords me a lifestyle. But it doesn't bring me fulfillment, so I thought, I want to start a business. I want to work for myself.” “It’s not rocket science. What you eat impacts how you feel!” “What makes a good brand versus a pretty brand? A good brand is unique and memorable. Our brand was neither! It was pretty, but not unique or memorable.” “People didn’t know the brand. They didn't even necessarily know my name. But they were like – you’re the tent guy! I realized, like, that was unique and memorable. That was the brand.” Links mentioned in this episode: Check out the official FORIJ website at https://www.forij.co/  Connect with Parker on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/parker-olson-forij/ 

When it comes to modernizing a family business, Carla Ejaz is an expert. Masterfully, she took everything wonderful and enduring about her father’s company – and successfully streamlined it for today’s customers. Carla Ejaz is the Co-owner, Director of Business Development, and Vice President of Sales at Lasting Impressions Inc, a promotional products company that has placed in the top 8% of promotional distributors nationally. Carla specializes in seasonal trends and corporate incentive programs, working with Fortune 500 companies, professional sports teams, mid-sized manufacturers, and even their neighborhood bar and grill. Lasting Impressions, Inc was founded in 1976 by Carla’s father Mark Dabiero. Currently, the company resides in a 50,000 square feet facility located in Canton, Michigan equipped with screen printing and embroidery machines. Printing of textiles is done in-house which enables them to control the print quality. They offer a wide variety of options which keep up with the latest in the retail market including: jumbo print, simulated processes, liquid metal, glitter & transparent inks, rhinestone transfers, laser printing on wearables and distressed appliqués!  Lessons in modernization In any family business, there is a pivotal point where you must either stick to what you know – or take the risky, extraordinary leap into the unknown. When faced with respecting tradition or modernizing, Carla Ejaz chose…both.  Carla Ejaz is enthusiastic about keeping up with the latest trends in the corporate and retail world. While consistently honoring her father’s legacy, Carla took drastic steps to make Lasting Impressions products more accessible online, and it paid off big time. Even before the pandemic, Carla spent years working closely with sales and marketing to ensure that online ordering was easy, seamless, and exceptional.  Noticing early on that other companies were not offering easy ordering, Carla saw an opportunity for growth. She encouraged her Co-founders to invest in online marketing, and enjoyed the success that it brought when customers loved it! Business partners make your business better When her father announced his retirement, Carla decided she wanted in. So did her siblings – but that’s a great thing. Rather than the common stories of family feuds and power struggles, the Dabiero family makes big decisions together.  Carla shares that they’re so successful because they trust one another, focus on their strengths, and stay in their lane. She insists that they would not have been so successful at working together if they tried to overpower one another.  Enjoy this episode of The Business of You – if you have a family business, this will hit close to home! Quotes “I am a people person. I find it easy to talk to people, and I love networking. I am always learning more about other people, companies, and cultures.” “We grew up working around the shop, since we could walk. All of us have done every job in that business – from filing to production to catalogs to customer service. I couldn’t give you my start date, because I’ve always worked here.” “He always knew he wanted to retire at some point. He had communicated with all of us that we would have the first option to buy the company. We all wanted to have our hand in the business in some way!” “You want to grow and change with the times, you don’t want to become stagnant. We want to keep up with trends and follow changes that are happening with the world.” “It wasn’t common for distributors to have this robust online website. That’s something we really wanted to do!” “We were able to implement that on-demand option that was really lacking in our industry.” “I absolutely love having business partners. There’s 5 of us, and we all have our roles within the company. We all stay in our lane. I think that’s why we’ve been able to grow like we have.” “I think a challenge if someone is a sole owner of a company is trying to work on your business instead of in your business, that’s a challenge.” Links mentioned in this episode: Check out the official website for Lasting Impressions at https://www.liteam.com  Connect with Carla on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/carla-l-dabiero-ejaz-20baa936 

In Part 2 of our conversation with Jeff Walker, we discuss what it means to be a brand with longevity in a competitive online market…and the best and worst business advice he has ever received.  Jeff Walker is the original online marketing business Coach, a podcaster, and the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller LAUNCH. He has been coaching people how to launch online courses, products, services, and brands online for over 30 years. Jeff started his first online business in 1996 from his child’s nursery. His "Product Launch Formula” transformed the online marketing world from the day it was released in 2005 and Jeff–and PLF–have never slowed down. Now, years later, the Product Launch Formula brand is the gold standard in the online entrepreneurial training market. Jeff’s students and clients have done over a billion dollars in launches in hundreds of niches and markets and dozens of countries around the world! Whether you are a new entrepreneur or you’ve been in business for years, it’s time to launch (or re-launch) your business.  A flexible mindset leads the industry Jeff has been creating online courses for decades. But he’ll tell you himself – flexibility is even more important than experience.  While Jeff and his team thought they had perfected the art of selling courses and launching programs, they noticed a significant decrease in sales and attendance at live broadcast events in the past few years. The online market is competitive, it’s saturated, and it almost seems impossible sometimes. But instead of giving up or getting frustrated, they remained flexible. They asked themselves an important question – what would make it easier for consumers to get what they need, and how should the content be delivered? They decided to experiment. Instead of requiring participants to attend a live broadcast, they released the content in “seasons” or “limited releases,” just like Netflix. They batched the content and sent it out with hype each time new “episodes” were released, and saw an immediate uptick in watches.  This experimentation was essential to the success of their company, and it was a reminder that innovation never stops. Sustaining a flexible and curious mindset leads the industry, no matter how much experience you have. The best (and worst) business advice In his three decades in online business, Jeff has heard great advice, and terrible advice. In this episode, he shares what he’s learned and why it’s important.  Laughing, Jeff confesses that his business reached a million dollars in sales before he hired a single employee, and four million dollars in sales before he had a team of four. He had taken some bad business advice: Someone had told him that hiring was too complicated, and it made life too hard. Looking back, Jeff wishes that he had hired sooner because despite the complication, hiring made his life–and his business–function more smoothly than ever.  In his early years as an entrepreneur, he observed a lot of marketers using formal and corporate speech when addressing their clients. People told him that he needed to craft a persona for his online business - but his intuition told him that it was a bad call. Even in his early emails in 1996, Jeff talked to his clients in his own voice as if he was their best friend. Now, it has paid off. His clients rave about his casual, friendly, and warm way of interacting with them. It is the reason Product Launch Formula has remained so successful.  Jeff’s lessons are a vital reminder to us that entrepreneurship is about trusting yourself, staying flexible, and taking measured risks. Enjoy Part 2 of this conversation with Jeff Walker… Quotes “I started this business from the baby’s changing room. For the first eight years, there wasn’t even a picture of me online. I never imagined that I’d be on camera, or doing live broadcasts.” “One of the things that is somewhat unique about our affiliate partners is that nearly all of them came up through our program first. They used Product Launch Formula to launch and grow their businesses and brands, and then they were excited to tell the world about it.” “Getting caught up in the process stuff…it literally made my stomach hurt. Mary took over that stuff. We were at a million dollars in sales before we hired anyone.” “One of the bad pieces of advice I heard from a ‘business guru’ back in the day was to not hire anyone, and that it makes your life a living hell. It might make your life more complicated, but it does make your life better.” “I think I am an extraordinary leader for our clients, and in the industry…but leading the team has been a learning experience for me. It didn’t come naturally and I wasn’t good at it. But I’ve gotten a lot better!” “It was very clear even with the first few emails that I sent in 1996 that I needed to use my own voice. People were using a lot of corporate speak and it was so clear to me that that was a mistake. I think people like my warm, friendly conversational tone. I see that as a big piece of my personal brand.” “People know what to expect from me. I’ve been very consistent over time. We kept getting results for our clients, and people talk about you when you get results.” “Everything is changing, all the time. We just rolled out two new programs. For us, it’s about getting better at serving the people we already have, and exploring small mastermind events.” Links mentioned in this episode: Check out Jeff Walker’s website at https://jeffwalker.com/  Enter your best email address to get Launch Quickstart – Jeff Walker’s FREE training for building a business you love: https://productlaunchformula.com/  Buy Jeff’s #1 New York Times bestselling book, LAUNCH: https://jeffwalker.com/programs/book-launch/  “Is it possible to launch a ___?” Check out this page for amazing marketing case studies. Learn about the power of launching: https://jeffwalker.com/blog/launch/launching-a/ 

To celebrate our very special 100th episode of The Business of You, we’ve brought on the ultimate VIP of online marketing: Jeff Walker!  After a renowned 30-year career in internet sales, Jeff is here to share his insights with us. The truth is, whether you’re developing your brand or you’ve been in business, you need to launch. It’s time for you to reach the next level of success…and Jeff is exactly the entrepreneur to get you there! Jeff Walker is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller LAUNCH. He coaches people how to launch online courses, products, services, and brands online. Jeff started his first online business in 1996, and he pioneered the very idea of the online launch. His "Product Launch Formula” transformed the online marketing world from the day it was released in 2005 and Jeff–and PLF–have never slowed down! Now, all these years later, the Product Launch Formula brand is the gold standard in the online entrepreneurial training market. Jeff’s students and clients have done over a BILLION dollars in launches in hundreds of niches and markets and dozens of countries around the world! If you want to start or grow a successful online business, you need to launch. Are you ready for takeoff?!  Set goals, start small Before Jeff was an entrepreneur, he was a stay-at-home dad in the 1990’s. Struggling to support his wife and feeling uninspired by his previous corporate resume, Jeff sought out to contribute financially by learning about the stock market. Spending nights researching stocks and trading, Jeff realized that he wanted to teach others how to make money doing it too. He began writing a modest email newsletter and sending it to his list…of 19 people. Regardless of the size of his email list, he invested his time and energy into making his newsletter the best it could be. Eventually, he realized he could charge for his knowledge, but he was nervous – what if people hated him for asking for money? In his desperation, Jeff showered his readers with more and more free resources and knowledge until he finally asked them to subscribe to a higher-value newsletter. It was his first launch, and he brought in $1,650. He was floored.  The success of this first launch was enough to get him inspired, motivated, and fueled by the desire to do more. Every single launch he did after that grew exponentially – from $6k to $8k, then $5k and $34k – and ultimately to a $100k launch that helped him buy a home and prompted his wife to quit her job.  Jeff’s first launch may sound simple, but it is truly a success story. He never let a small email list or the lack of industry experience  bring him down. He literally invented the product launch – simply by setting goals, and starting small! Believe in what is possible for you After he made $1,650 at his initial product launch, Jeff made an important discovery: An idea can become an income. We can see evidence of his discovery in everything we do as entrepreneurs, even decades later.  While he had been building up his email list and making a small income, he had a backup plan to return to graduate school. But during his first class, he got up and walked out. Laughing, he reflects that it was out of character. “I’m not a dramatic type person,” he insists – but he realized that his path was clear. After leaving school for good, he intensely pursued online marketing with the goal to improve and learn from every launch. Even now, Jeff talks about his first launch with the fervor or someone who has landed on the moon. Despite 17 consecutive multi-million dollar launches, it was that $1,650 that changed the course of internet sales forever.  Enjoy Part 1 of this conversation with Jeff Walker, and be sure to tune in next week for Part 2!  Quotes “How do you sell something? I had no sales experience! I started researching it, and no one was teaching online marketing or online business at the time. I started studying the old masters of direct marketing going back to the 1920’s.” “I had discomfort with sales. I thought…these people love me. But they’re going to hate me if I try to sell them something. But we were desperate as a family for an income. So I thought, I am going to really romance these people! I am going to give them even more free stuff, and make it even cooler, and it will naturally lead into an upgraded paid newsletter that had more and was more frequent. It was the free-to-fee model, and it was 1996.” “I set goals in every area of my life – my parenting, my marriage, my adventure goals, my physical goals, and my income goals! The absolute biggest number I could imagine making was $100k. Three years later, I did it in a week. It was insane.” “I went to a marketing conference. I didn’t know it was unusual, but I started talking about the launch. People were asking me how I did it. I started informally helping and coaching, not even charging. I didn’t even know if it would work in any other businesses.” “I was still sitting in my office, writing newsletters about the stock market. But the floodgates were open. People were calling me, and my phone was ringing off the hook – they wanted help, and they wanted coaching.” “The internet was growing. It was crystal clear. The idea of selling stuff online was growing. I did not see multi-million dollar launches! But I saw a legitimate path of being able to help people and build a business slowly.” Links mentioned in this episode: Check out Jeff Walker’s website at https://jeffwalker.com/  Enter your best email address to get Launch Quickstart – Jeff Walker’s FREE training for building a business you love: https://productlaunchformula.com/  Buy Jeff’s #1 New York Times bestselling book, LAUNCH: https://jeffwalker.com/programs/book-launch/  “Is it possible to launch a ___?” Check out this page for amazing marketing case studies. Learn about the power of launching: https://jeffwalker.com/blog/launch/launching-a

It’s getting more popular than ever for service-based entrepreneurs to leave their businesses behind in favor of selling online courses. But the question is: which one is more sustainable? Abagail Pumphrey has unique insight into this question. As a former service provider turned online educator, she sees the best (and worst) of both worlds. In this episode of The Business of You, Abagail will share the wild and wonderful ride behind launching her brands and help us make more informed decisions about pricing, marketing, and booking clients.  Abagail is the Founder of Boss Project and a Co-host of the chart-topping podcast, The Strategy Hour. She is internet-famous for the program she created with her Co-founder Emylee, Trello for Business, which breaks down tedious and complicated systems into bite-size chunks for entrepreneurs.  To date, Abagail has helped over 15,000 creative small business owners create simplicity and ease in reaching their goals. Abagail allows other service-based business owners to reignite their offer, develop systems for client experience, and get more of their time back inside their program, The Incubator. The team at Boss Project is truly revitalizing the service-based industry through strategies that don't require flashy marketing, a huge audience, or full-time hours. Life and business comes full circle As a child, Abagail was encouraged to work towards a career in STEM. Instead, she whimsically told her mother that she'd like to design cereal boxes someday.  From the beginning, Abagail had a creative eye and a passion for design. While her parents instilled practical knowledge and strategic thinking, she also longed for a business beyond working 9-5. She pursued work in marketing. After a long road building her resume, a surprise layoff forced her to get serious. She accepted the challenge. Determined, Abagail launched her business and spent every waking moment in launch mode. She replaced her corporate income in a matter of months. She was popular on social media and carved out a niche in the food space – finally venturing into the packaging design field! Making the switch from services to sales Abagail was thriving in her career. But despite her passion and hard work, she had yet to realize she was neglecting a key opportunity. Her Co-founder pointed to their marketing plan and suggested that many of their followers were not their clients and would never book them for their services. They were other business owners…and were missing out on significant opportunities to sell them what they needed the most! They decided to make the switch to educational programs to help entrepreneurs thrive. Should you pivot to programs? The switch from services to courses took a lot longer than their initial business launch. Creating infrastructure to sell online courses was a lot of work, but it paid off when it began to pay their salaries.  Abagail says yes when asked if it was worth it – but only because she enjoys both businesses! She shares the pros and cons, emphasizing that while selling courses seems like passive income, most service providers make more money with less effort.  This educational episode will help you decide what's right for you on your entrepreneurial journey. When it comes to business, one size does not fit all – especially when it comes to strategy, systems, and scaling! Quotes “On a whim, I told my mom that I wanted to design cereal boxes. She was like, what are you talking about! But someone has to design the boxes that things go in.” “I jumped headfirst into building my business. It was a time of my life in which I had the most time and needed the least amount of money to maintain the lifestyle I had. In 30 days, I had replaced my corporate salary.”   “It is a hard switch.  Especially when you’re not marketing to the same group of people. Making the switch into education meant I was unsure when I was going to have that income again.” “We switched gears. We put all our time and energy into the education part of the business. We stopped taking client work. It meant slowness and took time to pick up momentum…we were launching all the time!” “We were doing live workshops every two weeks, presenting on webinars, speaking at summits and conferences. We eventually started our own podcast. It was a lot of getting in front of people to start to make a reasonable living. It took us a long time to get to where the education part paid us the same as what the service side did.” “Our initial course was called Pricing for Profit, designed to help photographers with in-person selling and how to utilize those strategies to create an actual career and money. We took that program and extrapolated that out to be for all services, using the psychology of selling.” “We have worked with over 15,000 businesses all over the globe over the last eight years.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit the Boss Project website at https://bossproject.com/  Check out the Boss Project ultimate template shop on their website at https://creativetemplateshop.com/  Follow Abagail Pumphrey on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/abagailsays/  Connect directly with Abagail on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/abbiep/ 

Today’s podcast guest is proof that one great idea can change everything. Jimmy Gould is an entrepreneur and inventor who left behind a lucrative career in finance to develop a simple solution with a profound impact. His patented product, SoapStandle, is a tool that attaches to bar soap and elevates it to allow better airflow and extends its life by up to 30%  – all while preventing slippery messes in the shower.  Since founding his company in 2018, Jimmy has now sold nearly one million SoapStandles. In this episode, he shares his experience with product development and the ins and outs of running a successful product-based business. Landing on a great product idea Jimmy was enjoying a successful career in finance when he stumbled – literally – onto the idea for SoapStandle. After dropping his soap in the shower one too many times, he decided to invent a solution himself. The first SoapStandle prototype was built from modeling clay. Jimmy was amazed to discover that his invention not only prevented the soap from becoming slippery but also extended the lifetime of each bar by 20-30%. Soon he was 3D printing duplicate products for his friends. The first batch of products got great feedback, and when Jimmy couldn’t find any companies doing something similar, he decided to patent his idea. What began as a side business – with Jimmy 3D printing products out of his garage and sanding each SoapStandle by hand – soon became a legitimate company. With over 100K SoapStandles purchased to date, the brand has had great success marketing directly to consumers on Amazon and their website. They’re now looking to expand into retail and partner with more businesses that have bars to sell. Traits of a successful entrepreneur Although Jimmy’s prior experience in commission-based sales prepared him for the risks of starting a company, there was still a fair amount of learning on the job. As any founder knows, you need to wear many different hats – from marketing to manufacturing, legal, operations, and more.  Now that the business has grown to the multi-six-figure mark in annual revenue, Jimmy is refocusing his attention on what he does best: sales. At this stage, that’s what will keep the company growing, and Jimmy intends to devote more of his time to selling while he considers the possibility of hiring a full-time salesperson. He reminds us that without an effective sales engine, the rest of your business will fall apart.  While sales is an essential skill for all entrepreneurs, there are also several personality traits that Jimmy credits for his success. Optimism is essential – especially when you get tired of hearing “no” over and over again. Jimmy is quick to point out that every no gets you one step closer to a yes. Curiosity is equally as important, especially for anyone in product development.  Choosing your growth channel When starting a product-based business (or any business), you need to consider which channels will be most effective for reaching customers. SoapStandle has been very successful selling direct-to-consumer – other products may do better in wholesale or retail. One method that’s worked well for SoapStandle is partnering with other soap bar providers like Dr. Squatch Soaps. If you’re looking for new avenues to sell your product, consider partnering with businesses that serve a similar market. As the business continues to grow, SoapStandle is now looking to expand into new markets – at home in the US and around the world. Tune into this conversation with Jimmy Gould to hear the full story… Quotes “Even as a little kid, I tried to figure stuff out. If I was supposed to cut the grass every week, I thought there must be an easier way to do this. I would look for patterns to save myself 10 minutes.” “Because it’s a patented product, I can exercise on pricing a bit more. That’s worked over the past few years as far as scaling into producing more and selling more. If those margins weren’t as good, it would have been much more difficult to do.” “If we don’t manage the sales process correctly, then all this other stuff doesn’t matter.” “Soap is used all over the world. There’s nothing national or regional about using our product. People in South America will find it just as useful as people here do.” “We’re trying to be flexible. I don’t want to spread myself too thin, but I think it can succeed on each of those levels. There’s no reason why we can’t sell direct-to-consumer and also be in Target and also have partnerships.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit the website for SoapStandle: https://www.soapstandle.com/  Check out SoapStandle on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/SoapStandle/page/0704B651-94C8-41F8-BF6B-A281DB006935?ref_=ast_bln  Connect with Jimmy Gould on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/soapstandle/about/  More industry articles and facts about bar soap: barsoapinfo.com

What if you could step outside your life for a moment, tap into hidden sources of inspiration, and completely reimagine your life’s possibilities? It turns out, you can.  In today’s episode of The Business of You, we’re hosting creativity coach Susie deVille to teach us how to do exactly that. Susie is a longtime brandiD client, and this is her second time on the podcast  – because our listeners requested that we invite her back for more! Susie is the founder and CEO of the Innovation & Creativity Institute. An author, coach, and business owner who built and sold a highly profitable real estate firm, she has been researching innovation and creativity since 2005. Her first book, Buoyant: The Entrepreneurs Guide to Becoming Wildly Successful, Creative, and Free, has been called The Artist's Way for entrepreneurs. Susie teaches us how to be more creative, not just for fun, but in how we approach every aspect of our lives, from relationships to work.  Are you ready to bet on yourself? When the recession of 2008 hit, Susie lost it all. She calls it her “nuclear winter period,” a time of deep loss and seemingly endless change. But even when times were dark, Susie could bet on one thing: Herself. Despite a business and marriage in shambles, Susie knew she had what it takes to get through difficult times. Instead of succumbing to despair, she renovated a building and started a real estate business.  On the outside looking in, it made no sense. Her friends and family questioned her sanity when she went into real estate during a housing crash, effectively placing her life savings in the hands of an uncertain economic market. But everything paid off when she succeeded. Her business took off, and everything came into alignment for her.  Innovative thinking requires practice. When asked why she can weather such extreme periods of change without a hitch, Susie’s answer might surprise you…she practices being uncertain, all the time.  Before the recession hit, Susie was no stranger to taking calculated risks. She practices creative and innovative thinking every single day using the methods she lays out in her book: walking, meditating, making art, singing, and moving her body. By allowing her brain to become comfortable with uncertainty and creativity, she effectively trains herself to become a more innovative thinker. In her own words, “There is a physiological thing that happens in our brain when we are creating something.” You can do this too. If you find yourself becoming more inflexible and doubting your abilities, it’s time to read her book – and become more creative yourself! It’s time to design your life… Your life is not meant to be lived in a cubicle, doing the same things every single day, with no room for creativity. You are so much more than that, whether you know it or not.  You create possibilities you would never have discovered by training your brain to think creatively. In her book and her coaching programs, she teaches her clients how to tap into this part of themselves.  The first thing she asks them to do is design their ideal day. What is your ideal day, and what would you be doing if nothing was holding you back? The answers might surprise you and might be closer than you think. Despite the limitations we assume are there – money, time, and connections – allowing ourselves to dream creates space for our brain to do the work for us, identifying resources to get us closer to what we really want. That is the power of the buoyant way and Susie deVille’s incredible teaching. Tune in to this episode and prepare to discover what you’re really capable of! Quotes “It’s about designing and mapping out the life we want to have…and then having the courage to live it.” “I was faced with quite a dilemma because everything in my life imploded at that point - my finances, my marriage, everything. I needed a plan to get out of this. By the end of 2010, I did it! I launched my own company and renovated a building for my office. People thought I was insane, during a recession.” “I bet everything on myself. In three years, I was financially free. Because I was forced to make this huge leap and not just stick my toe into uncertainty but dive into the deep end, I was going to find a way!” “I have a practice that I do every single day - meditating, walking, and creating art. I fill the well of my self-trust that is required to move with agility and speed in uncertain times.” “Stay in your existing job and start stocking your escape capsule with money, supplies, resources, teams of people and connections to be successful. Do this first. Then you’ll be in a position of not being panicky about your resources. You’ll be able to build in a very thoughtful intentional way, and leverage your resources to make bigger and bigger deals.” “Write down your ideal day, in detail. Don’t censor yourself, or limit yourself. Then look at it for things that are surprising to you. Suddenly, the things that you typically think will be important to you, don’t seem as important. It might surprise you how little it requires.” “It’s important to remember things you used to do and enjoy, that you stopped doing when you got busy. Make a list of those things.” “Don’t wait until you have five million in the bank. Beginning gives momentum. Starting opens you up to new possibilities, new people, new resources and ideas - and it’s all a lot closer to you than you might think.” “There is a physiological thing that happens in our brain when we are creating something.” Work With Susie: If you would like to work with Susie, check out her latest workshop details below. The Art of Designing Your Big Life Workshop  (The Rosetta Stone that unlocks ALL human potential!) Saturday, October 14 from 9 am - 1:30 pm EST (via Zoom) Ready to achieve more while doing less and map it all out so that you are crystal clear? There are mindsets, habits, and old limiting beliefs that must go. And there are new, more empowering ways of thinking, being, and creating that must come to the fore. This requires a strategic plan powered by unfettered access to your inspired action, intuition, and imagination.  Susie deVille has pulled together and distilled the wisdom of some of the best minds in the fields of neuroscience, quantum physics, creativity, design, and peak performance. She has poured everything she has learned into this transformational workshop. If you want to map out your most successful, adventurous, and creative 2024 in a supportive and FUN community of fellow seekers, Susie invites you to join in! Here's How to Register Venmo your $197 payment to Susie (@Susie-deVille) OR send it via PayPal (susie@innovationcompass.com). Purchase 2 paperback copies of BUOYANT from Amazon and email your receipt to:  susie@innovationcompass.com. Don’t put off what has been pulling at you to create, live, or launch. PS. If you are not able to attend LIVE, you still will be able to access the entire workshop. Everyone who registers will receive the Replay via email. Links mentioned in this episode: Check out the website for the Innovation and Creativity Institute: https://innovationandcreativityinstitute.com/ Purchase Susie deVille’s book and hone your own creativity and inspiration: https://innovationandcreativityinstitute.com/book/  Become a coaching client of Susie deVille or purchase a course on her website: https://innovationandcreativityinstitute.com/work-with-susie/  Follow the Creativity and Innovation Institute on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/innovationandcreativityinstitute   Connect with Susie deVille on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susiedeville/   Susie recommends the work of Lynda Barry in uncovering your own creativity. You can find her beloved book What it is here: https://www.amazon.com/What-Lynda-Barry/dp/1897299354

With decades of experience in entertainment and reality TV, Brady Connell’s career might seem incredibly different than your own. But today on The Business of You, Brady shares just how similar his life lessons have been to those of any entrepreneur and freelancer! Brady Connell is an Emmy-award-winning Executive Producer, Showrunner, and Director with vast television producing experience. Connell’s work has propelled the success of popular reality programs such as Survivor, The Amazing Race, and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.  Brady is a two-time Emmy recipient for The Amazing Race, an NAACP Image Award recipient for Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, a DGA Award nominee for The Great Christmas Light Fight, and a Humanitas Prize winner for writing in children’s programming. While Executive Producer/showrunner of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition at ABC, the United Nations recognized Brady and his team with the prestigious Peace Award: “The Most Positive Television Show in the World.” A graduate of UCLA, Brady Connell is a member of the Directors Guild of America, the Hollywood Radio and Television Society, and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Currently, Brady is working on two primary projects: The Great Christmas Light Fight and Secret Celebrity Renovation.  Pursue your interests and the path will become clear When Brady Connell started working in television, he took a variety of short jobs in order to jumpstart his career. He wasn’t passionate about it and even considered leaving production altogether.  That’s when the makers of Survivor noticed his resume and connected the dots! Although Brady’s resume looked like “a mess” to him, it was an amalgamation of experiences in game challenge creation and social experiments. The creators of Survivor realized early on that Brady’s unique resume made him perfect for the role, and he went on to be one of the first producers of reality television in history.  The beginning of his career serves as inspiration that no matter how unusual your experience is, there is a perfect role waiting for you - you just have to work hard, develop your skills, and network.  Be customer service-centric While the entertainment industry is saturated with people trying to “make it in Hollywood,” Brady shares one thing that makes you stand out: Work ethic. It’s a common belief that if you are a great performer, writer, or producer - or entrepreneur - that people will want to work with you, even if you’re challenging. However, he points out that in a saturated market, your interpersonal skills are what set you apart from the crowd. Whether you’re on set of a show and displaying a positive attitude, or an entrepreneur going out of your way to make your clients happy, your energy and attitude will define your career success.  Stick to your values In the world of reality television, Brady stands out: He has a firm commitment to working on life-affirming content (in a genre that doesn’t always make it easy), with principled teams and reputable partners. He chooses his projects wisely, which he learned early in his career.  In the early years of his work in television, Brady got work wherever he could find it. Despite laughing when he refers to certain projects, he knows that his early work led him further toward success. Doing what he had to do early on led him down an illustrious path - and now, he gets to create television that has a major effect on the audience it serves.  Inspire to standards When managing others, Brady Connell has a technique we all can use: It’s called inspire to standards.  When he begins work on a new project, he makes  a speech and sets expectations for the staff and crew. He shares the mission and vision of the show, what is expected of their time and energy, and how they will work together in collaboration. This is ultimately the source of his success - motivating people to be self-driven so that he doesn’t have to manage them; he only inspires and encourages.  Inspire to standards works when we’re creating a team, and even when we’re managing ourselves. Brady uses this mantra for himself when he chooses projects - asking himself, what will drive my mission forward? What will be the most fun? What is the expectation, and is it a good use of my time? As entrepreneurs, we should be asking ourselves the same questions.  Enjoy these life lessons from a reality TV entrepreneur - and apply them to your own career, no matter what industry you’re in.   Quotes “The decision to be a freelancer is a major, major career and life decision. If you’re a freelancer-type person, you have to be okay with not knowing where your next paycheck is coming from and you have to be looking for work on a regular basis. That takes your career in one direction. On the other side of things, if you want stability and consistency, that takes your career in another direction. Nobody told me that when I was starting out.” “I was trying to get out of tv…until Survivor came along. They were putting resources into this really interesting social experiment. I happened to meet the right person at the right time. My resume, which looked like a total mess, actually made a lot of sense for this game show adventure experience. I had experience coming up with challenges for games.” “The Amazing Race - I felt like it was pure. It was like, go here and get there as fast as you can. And we’ll give you a clue. Win the race around the world and we’ll give you a prize. We just documented their story. Historically speaking, it was impressive. It is all real.” “You follow your gut along the way. In the freelance world, you’re making choices all the time, daily. I love that, that I’m faced with that choice. I consider the impact and whether it will be fun; it makes me think about my day-to-day work!” “If you just want to crank out a product, it might as well be nuts and bolts. But telling stories is another thing. You’re touching peoples’ hearts. People in charge of projects have to have certain standards, personal standards, a commitment to the content, and elevating those standards so that everyone involved is self-motivated.” “Hire the right people, then set the standards - what are these expectations and what is the commitment. Everybody becomes really self-motivated. That’s my operating procedure.” “There is a certain collaboration in business; it is the key to everything. Everybody has different jobs and skill levels. You don’t want a bunch of egos just running around trying to prove themselves. I try to lay it out, this is how I want this production to run.” “A lot of people come from around the world to work in this industry, But you’ll get called back if you have strong interpersonal skills. That’ll stand out. If you have a good attitude and you’re a hard worker, you will stand out.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit Brady Connell’s website at https://www.bradyconnell.com/  Connect with Brady on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradyconnell/ Read Brady's case study at https://thebrandid.com/portfolio/brady-connell/

When asked about the greatest challenges of scaling his business, David Charles echoes what we frequently hear from successful entrepreneurs: The biggest lesson is their own personal growth.  In Part II of this conversation with David, we get to hear about how he launched his brand and what it took to get started. Currently, he serves as the Co-Founder, CEO, and COO of MOOD, a surging e-commerce dispensary that produces legal, high-quality THC products tailored to set your mood. Mood only sources their plants from small family-owned cannabis farms. Their product is a cannabinoid that still provides mood altering properties without giving its user a feeling of being overwhelmed. It’s cannabis and technically not marijuana. And customers are raving. Today’s episode centers around David’s journey since he founded Mood, and we have so much to learn from him.  The biggest journey of entrepreneurship is a personal one It’s no secret that Mood is a massive success. In their 1+ year in business, they have already upgraded their 5,000 square foot warehouse to a 30,000 square foot warehouse to accommodate their needs.  Mood hit a million dollars in just their second year in business, shocking David and Jake and exciting them about their prospects for the future.  But the biggest growth journey of all? It’s personal. David admits that while he had launched many businesses, none have been as successful as Mood - leaving him feeling green and excited to learn as a leader. He grows each day into the role of CEO,  COO, and Co-founder, with an understanding that entrepreneurship is never perfect. For David, it’s about evolution. Divide and conquer One of the most major pieces of advice David dispenses to other  entrepreneurs is: divide and conquer.  While people question him for dividing labor in his company, David stands by it. He hired a warehouse specialist and speaks highly of her work helping them scale the business. He also hired a client relationship specialist to interact with farmers across the United States who is experienced in the industry. Even the Co-founders enjoy a division of labor that makes sense for their respective skills. When others question his hands-off approach to leadership, David laughs. He’s here to encourage, foster growth, and give his staff the tools they need - not to control their every move. Much of their success can be attributed to this divide and conquer strategy of growth.  Next steps: scale and sell For some people, success means doing the same thing for their entire career. But not for David Charles. As an experiential entrepreneur, he knows that he doesn’t want to stay in one place for too long. He takes the lessons he learns and avoids stagnation by trying something new.  Now, he dreams of scaling the company even further and selling it to a worthy successor. He strives to set goals that will ensure the company’s success - long after his nomadic lifestyle takes him in a new, exciting direction.  Enjoy Part II of this conversation with the unstoppable David Charles… Quotes “Financially, I was in no place to fund an inventory-focused business with a warehouse and tons of equipment. His approach was, you do most of the work. He told me to do the marketing and he would be an investor. But then Jake went from being an investor to being in the trenches as voraciously as any Co-founder I’ve ever seen.” “The industry is dominated by con artists and low quality operators. The industry as a whole is just not very professional. But it was really important to us that this time, we were going to deliver the best quality product for our customers.” “We did a million our second month. Who wouldn’t get psyched about that?” “We work with 30 to 35 small organic farms across the USA.” “There are a lot of people who are aware of the immense benefits of THC, and they just don’t know where to get it. But now they can access this product legally and safely.” “We’re shooting a documentary about each and every one of the farms we work with. We want to tell that seed to shelf story!” “There are ways to be compliant and lawful, while giving people the kind of experience they desire.” “We’d like to fundamentally quadruple the size of the company. We’ve nailed it, now it’s time to scale. It. Then we’d like to exit the company when we’ve taken it as far as we can take it.” “I’d like to get involved with charity. I’ll be able to make a difference in any way we want. I’d love to help animals, and I’d love to get a goat farm.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit the website for Mood at https://hellomood.co/  Connect with David on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-charles-b105911a5/  Read an interview with David on imensch at https://ideamensch.com/david-charles/#:~:text=David%20Charles%20is%20a%20growth,tailored%20to%20set%20your%20mood 

David Charles grew up in his father’s chocolate factory. Now, he makes a different kind of candy – infused with cannabis for the medicinal and energetic benefits of his consumers.  David is a growth marketer, storyteller, and serial entrepreneur. Currently, he serves as the Co-Founder, CEO, and COO of MOOD, a surging e-commerce dispensary that produces legal, high-quality THC products tailored to set your mood. The team at Mood hand-selects cannabis strains for their degrees of varying cannabinoids and terpene profiles, enhancing naturally occurring profiles by adding additional cannabinoids and terpenes to further promote a given mood. The result is a cannabinoid that still provides mood altering properties without giving its user a feeling of being overwhelmed. And while it’s cannabis and technically not marijuana – it enhances the life and mood of the user, naturally.  Mood has been in business for just over a year. Since then, they have experienced massive growth and they have already upgraded their 5,000 square foot warehouse to a 30,000 square foot warehouse to accommodate their production needs.  Before David helped found Mood, he tried a lot of other business ventures. He was born with an entrepreneurial spirit, and never let setbacks, failures or mistakes discourage him from growing as an individual and leader.  Today’s episode centers around David’s story before he founded Mood, and it’s a fascinating one. As business owners, we can learn so much from how David sees entrepreneurship: as a masterclass, an experience, a series of lessons, and ultimately a grand adventure.  One size does not fit all David Charles is a smart and successful entrepreneur. But he did not enjoy school, or prescriptive learning.  Unlike students who simply did what they were told and memorized facts for tests, David struggled to engage. But when he found something interesting, he became obsessed to the point of losing sleep and staying up all night to read and learn. Like some rare students out there, David just was not an average student or an average person - he was an exceptional learner, despite his struggles to get good grades.  This theme carried through into adulthood. Whereas many of his peers would get traditional jobs or follow traditional paths, David refused. Instead, he began setting out to make money in his favorite place: the internet.  Throughout his life, David loved the internet. He loved that he could learn practically whatever he wanted, and whenever he found a gap in knowledge, he set out to find the answers. From his business researching pheromones to his consulting company, David forged his way through every lesson he could learn until he found what he was looking for. Lessons were hard won David started a business with a Co-founder, his friend Jake. While they admired and respected one another, they were young and inexperienced. Now, he laughs. After all, they had no background in launching and scaling companies - and they were on the road to some hard earned lessons.  When their venture collapsed, David reflected on his mistakes as he got a job and picked up the pieces. He realized that he and Jake both avoided conflict to the point of sabotage, never discussing essential topics because they were too afraid to seem negative or difficult. It was a vital moment in both of their lives, and they parted amicably. The right business at the right time David  and Jake had not seen one another for years when David was living out his dreams of joining a telehealth company. He was on the brink of becoming part of their full-time marketing staff when Jake called him up.  After a long time, he was calling him to tell him that he saw an opportunity, and he wanted to give their business relationship another shot. He told David about the edible cannabis industry, and David jumped on it. It was a serendipitous time to make the leap, and the rest is history.  Tune in next week for Part II of The Experiential Entrepreneur with David Charles… Quotes “I was a horrible student in high school. I just didn’t enjoy prescriptive learning. If a teacher assigned a book, I would either not read it at all, or I’d read a few pages, find it interesting, and stay up all night reading it. I didn’t do much of what I was supposed to do, but I was a voracious learner.” “I went through a real dark night of the soul. I sold the nice trappings I had accumulated, just to pay my rent.” “I wanted to do something real. I had to humble myself. I had to say okay, I have been involved in these businesses that have turned over many millions of dollars. I’m a smart and experienced guy. But I don’t have a next step. Right now, I have to get a job.” “The people who were starting telehealth companies were not marketers. They were tech people or medical people. But they didn’t know how to market. I could win on marketing alone.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit the website for Mood at https://hellomood.co/ Connect with David on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-charles-b105911a5/  Read an interview with David on imensch at https://ideamensch.com/david-charles/#:~:text=David%20Charles%20is%20a%20growth,tailored%20to%20set%20your%20mood 

This is the story about how two women left a toxic workplace, launched a better publishing brand, and equipped people with the tools to tell their stories. Today’s guest on The Business of You is Leslie “LAM” Miller, the Co-founder and CEO of Girl Friday Productions. GFP is a women-owned and led publishing company, offering indie and hybrid publishing focused on inclusivity and empowerment. In Girl Friday’s nearly twenty years, LAM has focused on disrupting business as usual for both publishing processes and organizational leadership with a focus on empathy and radical transparency. The “Girl Friday experience” has kept clients coming back for almost two decades. It begins with a compassionate, curated team devoted to authors’ publishing goals and culminates in a book they are elated to call their own. From book coaching to editorial to cover design to marketing strategy, the GFP publishing program produces books of distinction. LAM is passionate about excellent books–but she also emphasizes positive work culture. She and her Co-founder Ingrid Emerick launched GFP after leaving their previous publishing company, where time off was virtually nonexistent and work-life balance did not exist. As young moms, they fought to be able to do the work they loved, while spending time with their families. Now at GFP, they cultivate a culture that celebrates parenthood, individuality, hobbies and interests, and harmony with work. Being an author means that you’re an entrepreneur LAM sees the same thing happen again and again in her years in publishing: People who passionately write books and promote them do really well.  However, she also sees individuals who write a book and spend no time promoting it–believing that a company can carry them towards the finish line. LAM reminds us that readers–much like clients–desire a strong connection with us and our brand in order to commit to our message.  While you can publish anything at any time, she serves a lighthearted and humorous reminder that not everything needs to be a book, and not everything will be a bestseller. It’s okay to publish something just for your grandkids. And if you decide to tell a great big story to a large audience, make sure you promote it! Clarity attracts the right people, places, and things LAM is unapologetically herself, and she encourages you to be yourself too. She wears her emotions on her sleeve, and that’s part of her personal brand.  In this episode, she encourages us to be who we are and live out our values. In our lives, and in our businesses, the right people will be attracted to us. The message at Girl Friday Productions is clear: They are a gender-inclusive, diverse, and anti-racist company. Because they are clear, loud and proud about their messaging, they attract clients that believe in the power of good. Everyone’s story deserves to be told At Girl Friday Productions, everyone’s story deserves to be told. LAM discusses troubling trends in publishing, and how essential it is that they disrupt the norm that primarily white women get a platform to tell their stories. Even in positions of power in publishing, the executive teams are mostly led by white men. Girl Friday Productions is a loud voice in opposition to the discrimination of the traditional publishing industry.  Now, LAM and the other staff at GFP are working behind the scenes to create exciting new offerings, empowering more diverse voices to tell their stories and reach new audiences. Enjoy this wonderful conversation with Leslie “LAM” Miller on The Business of You! Quotes “Every author is an entrepreneur. Every contract we have, we are teaching entrepreneurship.” “We were publishing all these books about feminism and motherhood. At the same time, I was having my first child and my business partner Ingrid was having her second. We had three weeks of maternity leave, typing over their heads and taking meetings. We asked to reduce our hours. The answer that came back was, we’ll pay you less…but we’ll reduce your hours and your workload. But it didn’t change at all! It was so frustrating.” “You shouldn’t have to choose between being the human that you are most of the time, and the person you are at work. I think you can be happier and it should be more sustainable.” “We scan the landscape and ask, how can we better allow people to share their stories? That’s what we’re really passionate about. We produce audiobooks for people now! We produce eBooks. We look for new marketing opportunities. We look at social media, and what it does for authors.” “Indie publishing, or self-publishing, used to be such a dirty word. But we built this incredible program. We aren’t going to do the same work as a traditional publishing company - we do better work! We are so proud of these books. We take better care of you.” “If you want to publish a book so that your grandchild can have it, don’t do any marketing. But if you want to sell copies, you absolutely need to have effective strategies.” “We give people a report that says, this is your ideal reader, where they’re hanging out, and how to reach them.” “We don’t work on content that doesn’t help the world.” “We would love to pass on what we know, and equip more people to tell their stories.” “Everyone’s stories deserve to be heard. And there are a lot of stories that are being kept out of the industry.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit the website for Girl Friday Productions at www.girlfridayproductions.com  Follow Girl Friday Productions on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/girlfridayproductions/  Follow Girl Friday Productions on Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/GirlFridayProductions Connect with LAM on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslielammiller/ 

In Part 2 of our conversation with Joelle Flynn and Sonia Hounsell, the Co-Founders and best friends share valuable advice for women launching product-based businesses. Sonia and Joelle did not plan on breaking into the oral care industry, but now they’re seasoned experts. After Joelle came up with the brilliant idea for a reusable 2-in-1 toothbrush and toothpaste combination, she partnered with her friend Sonia Hounsell. With experience in product development and marketing, Sonia was prepared for the long haul of bringing a product to market and growing a brand.  Joelle Flynn and Sonia Hounsell officially launched FunkkOFF!® in 2021, eleven years after the idea’s original inception. Designed with women in mind, FunkkOFF!® TeethRefreshers® are the only 2-in-1 toothbrush-toothpaste beauty essential that is reusable 30x to keep your smile fresh & white. TeethRefreshers® come in multiple colors and easily fit into a purse, backpack or jacket pocket for an on-the-go refresh. Their products contain no fluoride, BPA’s, sulfates, or dyes. After Sonia and Joelle recently appeared in an episode of Shark Tank, they received a major financial investment and were able to grow their inventory and marketing exponentially. FunkkOFF!® has been featured in Travel + Leisure, the LA Times, NBC, Real Simple and ABC. The art of business partnerships People often ask Joelle Flynn and Sonia Hounsell what it’s like being in business with your friend. Their answer is encouraging: It’s great, as long as you stick to your strengths.  In the early days of their business, Sonia and Joelle had to do everything together. All decisions were made with each of them weighing in, and they collaborated on every project. It was a whirlwind time, and each of them were raising young children as they made it happen.  Once the business got off the ground and began to gain momentum - and after they appeared on an episode of Shark Tank - Sonia and Joelle began to clarify their independent roles more explicitly. With an increased workload and ever-growing online brand, it was time to divide tasks according to their respective strengths.  Ever-supportive of one another, Sonia and Joelle decide who does what by looking at one another's natural capabilities. The Co-Founders give us a valuable lesson in supporting one another and respecting the innate abilities of different members of a team. Especially at the executive level, it’s essential to stick to what you’re good at. Women supporting women The episode of Shark Tank did a great job highlighting their business. However, it left out something really important: How supportive the sharks are for women entrepreneurs on the show. Just a few decades ago, women in business did not have access to the same opportunities as men had. Now, investors and serial entrepreneurs are stepping in to bridge the gap and help give women a leg up. Sonia and Joelle raved about how kind the sharks were as they pitched and explained their business. Sonia says - what didn’t air on tv was their genuine support.  After the sharks initially said no to Sonia and Joelle’s offering, they were stopped on their way out the door - and offered a financial boost in the form of $250,000 from Robert Herjavec. As he put it, his wife Kym would love their product.  Take advantage of resources Whether you’re launching a product or service-based business, Sonia and Joelle have a piece of insight for you that you won’t want to miss: Take advantage of every free resource you can.  During the process of designing and launching FunkkOFF!®, they took their time to seek out free or inexpensive services to support their goals, starting with their product design. Upon contacting professional product designers to help them create a prototype for the TeethRefreshers®, Sonia and Joelle discovered that product design consultations are usually free. The consult came with numerous pieces of advice that ultimately helped them succeed.  Not only did they receive a free consultation with product designers - the Co-Founders were overwhelmed with how many resources were available to help women launch a business. They discovered grants, investors and professional consults with skilled entrepreneurs available to women looking to become Founders and build their brands.  Ask yourself - what resources are available to help support you? Who could you approach for encouragement and support as you bring your ideas to life? Enjoy this useful and encouraging episode of The Business of You, featuring Joelle Flynn and Sonia Hounsell. Quotes Joelle “What wasn’t aired [on Shark Tank] was how totally supportive they were of women entrepreneurs. They were so kind. I wish that was shown more!” Joelle “As with any founders of an organization, there is an evolution that happens. In the beginning, it was easy for both of us to do everything. We were together on everything. Then as we have grown, you just don’t have time. We have to divide and conquer. Division of labor is a really powerful tool.” Joelle “We have to be a unified force.  We talk a lot about priorities and we meet weekly to make sure we’re on the same page.” Joelle “The numbers change and the vision grows, but the plan stays the same and we work equally as hard.” Sonia “Whatever time or money you think it’s gonna take to get a product to market, multiply that by two…or ten. Things don’t go the way you planned.” Sonia “The innovation of a product is the most important thing - to create the highest potential. But if you don’t have the packaging and branding and communication plan, it’s not going to matter. You have to connect with the consumer and make sure they understand the product.” Sonia “We’ve made our own lane, at an intersection between beauty and oral care that did not exist before.” Sonia “Someone can create a similar device, but no one is going to take away our brand or what we stand for. We’re 100% women-owned and that is very powerful. We’re all about being as natural and sustainable as we can. We give back. All of that wrapped up together helps create some protection for us.” Sonia “You really do want to ask people what they think. More than friends and family, because they will tell you more of what you want to hear. Pressure test the idea. Talk to people who will tell you what they think. Do an extensive search on what’s out there and what features and benefits they provide. You want to differentiate.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit the website for Funkkoff at https://funkkoff.com/  Follow Funkkoff Leadership on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/funkkoff  Follow Funkkoff on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/funkkoff/  Find Funkkoff on Twitter at https://twitter.com/FunkkOFF_ 

Today on The Business of You, we’re sharing a Shark Tank success story! These two Founders combined their strengths to turn the seeds of a great idea into a best-selling product. Childhood best friends turned powerhouse entrepreneurs Joelle Flynn and Sonia Hounsell are changing the oral care landscape with their revolutionary on-the-go oral care brand, FunkkOFF!®. Designed with women in mind, FunkkOFF!® TeethRefreshers® are the only 2-in-1 toothbrush-toothpaste beauty essential that’s reusable 30x to keep your smile fresh & white. TeethRefreshers® come in multiple colors and easily fit into a purse, backpack or jacket pocket for an on-the-go refresh. Containing no fluoride, BPA’s, sulfates, or dyes, you can use the easy gel formula without concern over harsh chemicals.  Sonia and Joelle recently appeared in an episode of Shark Tank, and sharks bit - recognizing the incredible value of their product offering. FunkkOFF!® has been featured in Travel + Leisure, the LA Times, NBC, Real Simple and ABC. At FunkkOFF!®, Sonia and Joelle believe in giving back. They are proud supporters of the Smiles for Everyone Foundation, providing free dental care to those in need, both at home in the U.S. and around the world. They also helped establish an Orange County chapter of Girls on the Run, encouraging girls to pursue their dreams.  Currently, Sonia and Joelle are rapidly scaling up operations at FunkkOFF!® with their flagship product and working behind the scenes on new product offerings to release in the future.   An idea starts with a problem solved Joelle Flynn loves red wine. But she does not love what red wine does to her white teeth! During a day of busy wine tasting, she packed a toothbrush and toothpaste in her purse to go from tasting to tasting. After a quick brush, she was applying her lipstick when she had the ultimate aha moment - realizing that there is no product for brushing your teeth on the go that is environmentally sustainable and reusable, all-natural and easy to use.  Working around the bulky and wasteful limitations of the current products on the market, Joelle stuck a toothbrush head on a chapstick tube and started taking it to product designers. With her first prototype created, Joelle partnered with her friend Sonia and they began methodically filing and receiving patents.  Now, Joelle and Sonia are glad they did everything by the book. Filing patents took years and tons of time and energy, but set them up to compete with other dental and personal care brands in the world market.  Combining strengths, combining forces Joelle conceived the idea for FunkkOFF!® TeethRefreshers®, and she knew who to call - her childhood friend Sonia Hounsell.  WIth 30+ years in business, Sonia knew how to launch and market a product successfully. With Joelle’s ideas and Sonia’s eye for business, they believed they could become successful entrepreneurs. Despite their excitement, they played the long game, never losing sight of their overall goals.  As business partners, Sonia and Joelle work to complement each others’ strengths and combine their visions to grow their company. They are a shining example of knowing one another’s capabilities and highlighting their best talents in business. A Shark Tank success story When Sonia and Joelle were invited to apply for Shark Tank, they didn’t know what to expect.  Walking in with radiant smiles and glasses of red wine, they proudly proclaimed: “We all have funk…and we all need it off.” But the sharks did not bite right away!  Sonia and Joelle’s biggest obstacle had been money - to finance enough inventory to gain notoriety and market their product in the right places. But they never let the struggle get them down. The entrepreneurs and friends endured an hour-long questioning session on Shark Tank about everything from their gross income to their investment to their product design. It was brutal and lengthy, but ultimately a shark bit at the last second. Investor Robert Herjavec decided to invest $250,000 to help them increase their inventory and successfully market their business. Now, they have sold out multiple times and are working to scale their company. Enjoy this Shark Tank success story on The Business of You! Quotes Sonia “At the end of the day, it is a lifestyle business to help people look and feel good no matter where they are.” Joelle “I was loving my red wine - and my red wine loved my white teeth! It would turn them a funky shade of purple. I started to carry around a toothbrush and toothpaste in my little purse from winery to winery, brushing the purple funk off my teeth and heading to the next tasting. I was in the bathroom putting my lipstick on and I was like, why is there nothing quick, compact, and reusable to make it easy to use on the go?” Joelle “I actually stuck a round spinning toothbrush head on a chapstick container and took it to product designers. Over about 8 years I filed 8 patents - to make it reusable and all-in-one.” Sonia “I loved the name FunkkOff because it’s very memorable and ownable. There’s a lot we can do with it as far as building out the current product in addition to launching future products. We are currently working on more products to release down the road! People love to say it, and when they say it, they smile.” Joelle  “We actually walked in [to Shark Tank] with two glasses of red wine! You walk in and you want to be confident. There are a gazillion cameras, and they are really far away. Halfway through we just started answering questions. It was nerve-wracking and exhilarating. But it worked.” Joelle “The sharks were really nice. They were intimidating but they’re real people - who wanted to learn about and understand our business.” Sonia “With the airing of the Shark Tank episode, our business has taken on a new level of growth. We’re working through that. It’s opened up opportunities in the United States, Internationally and in different markets and distribution channels. We need to focus on scaling up that business first, then we’ll start adding new products to grow further.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit the website for Funkkoff at https://funkkoff.com/  Follow Funkkoff Leadership on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/funkkoff  Follow Funkkoff on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/funkkoff/  Find Funkkoff on Twitter at https://twitter.com/FunkkOFF_

The $100M mark is a unicorn in the software industry, as well as in many others. But Stijn Hendrikse has done it – and he found a duplicatable solution to help you do it too.  Stijn is the Author of T2D3: How some software startups scale, where many fail, a book written for early-stage SaaS leaders who want to build their go-to-market toolkit. T2D3 stands for Triple Triple Double Double Double: The idea that you can triple annual revenue 2 years in a row, only to double it 3 more years after that – to ultimately reach that $100 million annual recurring revenue mark.  It sounds like a rarity, but it is possible. By using Stijn’s tips in sales, marketing and niching down, entrepreneurs and founders can turn their SaaS companies into wild successes and stay true to the power of their ideas.  Stijn has contributed to the success of 10+ startups as a C-level executive, including Chief Revenue Officer of Acumatica and CEO of MightyCall, a SaaS contact center solution. Stijn founded Kalungi - the global leading Growth-as-a-Service provider focused solely on B2B SaaS companies, and Amy.us, an AI-powered conversation platform that allows small business owners to service their customers better. Stijn has served as CMO and CEO for multiple B2B SaaS companies, including MightyCall and Acumatica. Stijn led Global SMB Marketing and B2B Product Marketing for Office at Microsoft, including the launch of Office 365 and the adoption of the Open XML ISO 29500 Standard. A shift from quantity to quality Stijn agrees that software as an industry has boomed for the past 15 years since the great economic recession. However, he shares that this growth comes at a significant cost.  Just 5-10 years ago, companies focused on rapid growth achieved their goals. They quickly expanded, cutting corners and taking shortcuts. The mindset was growth at all costs - and it shows in their lack of infrastructure. Now, Stijn points out that companies who did exceptionally well a decade ago were not built to last. They are struggling to retain clients with the introduction of new technologies such as generative AI, as suddenly their customers are going elsewhere.  In his book and in this episode, Stijn encourages us to look beyond traditional measures of success and evaluate our businesses with an open mind. We should ask ourselves: When someone lands on our website, how many stay, and for what? How many sign up for our product or service? How many are recurring customers? How many recommend it to others?” In order to evaluate our businesses, he reminds us that the most frustrating mistake he sees is when entrepreneurs fail to establish real product-market-fit: Defined on wikipedia as “the degree to which a product satisfies a strong market demand.” This comes down to doing your research. What value are you adding to the market – and what value will you continue to add? Depth over width in business growth When SaaS Founders consider methods to reach the $100M mark, they often think that they have to appeal to a wide range of members or customers to achieve their goals. But Stijn shares that this is not the case.  By focusing on width, you are more likely to score temporary users. You’ll ultimately spend more money this way, especially in the marketing process. It’s smarter and more effective to target specific users who will become diehard fans of your product. They are more likely to recommend it to others, use it for years and get excited when new features launch. This saves you money in advertising dollars and builds a more solid foundation for your company to thrive.  It also helps you focus your efforts in the right places. In a competitive market like SaaS, competitors will come out of the woodwork offering cheaper or better features. However, your users are more likely to stay when you focus on their needs, ask them questions about what features they’d like to see, and serve the clients you already have rather than focusing on new ones.  Enjoy this exciting wisdom from SaaS entrepreneur and Author Stijn Hendrikse… Quotes “Marketing and sales can be really hard for founders. You often have a founder who is either an engineer who found a problem to solve, or a subject matter expert, like a dentist who builds software for clients in the dental industry. Neither have real sales or marketing backgrounds! I founded a company called Kalungi where founders of companies, when they are ready to go talk with the world and scale, can do that!” “After the 2008 financial crisis, things have gone really well in the world of software and SaaS business. But it was about growth at any expense – and it’s coming back to a few companies who did not do the basics well.” “In the end, we need to add value. With generative AI, it’s rapidly changing. When you think of a marketing agency, that’s half of what they do! They have to rethink - am I really solving a problem? Am I able to prove it in the end?” “Time is our most valuable resource. We can never make more of it. Every time you spend an hour doing something, how do you turn that into more?” “T2D3 talks about the $100M mark. To achieve this – People often think they have to go really broad, really wide. But if you look at how big markets are for a meaningful solution, a meaningful software product that actually solves a really important problem - getting to a $100M doesn’t actually require you to have a very large market! It just requires you to do really, really well.” “Staying relevant is also about saying no, and not trying to do more for more people - just doing more for the existing audience you have.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit the website for T2D3 at https://www.t2d3.pro/  Read the Blog Post: 10 Milestones to Reach Product Fit: https://www.kalungi.com/blog/10-milestones-to-reach-product-market-fit    https://www.amazon.com/T2D3-software-startups-scale-where-ebook/dp/B09HPDDHDY/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=t2d3+book&qid=1634416736&s=digital-text&sr=1-1&__hstc=194312882.aa180531902a7c98291215f661c2f5b9.1690673640933.1690673640933.1690673640933.1&__hssc=194312882.1.1690673640934&__hsfp=1912911101&hsCtaTracking=eadd46a3-9889-41b4-a84a-48522e8a9558%7Ce9667de1-79c1-42e5-a954-83983243b9a3  Connect with Stijn Hendrikse on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/stijnhendrikse/  Follow Stijn on twitter at https://twitter.com/stijnh1

With the rapid changes in technology, it’s easier than ever to get connected online. Except one demographic that has essentially been left behind – older adults. Today’s guest is working to change that. Lawrence Kosick is the Co-founder of GetSetUp, a learning platform and community for older adults – specifically those aged 60+. He was inspired at a young age by the wisdom and potential of the older residents at his father's assisted living facility. GetSetUp focuses on re-skilling seniors who then teach other seniors how to do all the important things in their lives. This demographic will be close to 25% of the total population in the next 20 years, and seniors will become increasingly important customers for every business. GetSetUp’s Guides will be able to train and onboard these customers across Healthcare, Technology, Finance and a whole host of other verticals. On GetSetUp, learners can take classes in how to use their SmartPhone or iPad, drawing and crafting, cooking, and ordering groceries using an app. With GetSetUp, the world becomes more accessible for elders, whether or not they leave their homes. Lawrence and Co-founders Neil Dsouza and Deval Delivala launched GetSetUp with support from founders of LinkedIn, Yahoo, and Zynga, as well as executives from United Healthcare and Rally Health. Previously, Lawrence oversaw Business Development and Partnerships for IFTTT, led Sight Machine's APAC operations, and was VP of Global Partnerships at Yahoo.  A company born from community Lawrence often gets asked: Why focus on older adults? He has a multifaceted answer. As an entrepreneur, Lawrence realized that older adults, particularly in the 50-70 age range, are the fastest-growing group in the world. With limited knowledge in countries like the United States, he clearly identified a need for greater accessibility. In countries outside the US where elders are more likely to have technical savvy, GetSetUp’s travel and cooking classes are wildly popular and learners are likely to connect with others socially via groups.  But when Lawrence developed his business plan, he was focused on more than wealth or success. He remembered the days when his father has a retirement home – and he recalled how difficult things were for the residents. Elders in the facility often felt forgotten and overlooked by society. They also struggled with loneliness and missed the people they cared about. As Lawrence worked on GetSetUp, he connected strongly with the desire to make life happier and healthier for people as they age.  Lawrence and his Co-founder created an image of a world where differently-abled people can virtually travel at the click of a button, make new friends securely on the internet, discuss their favorite hobbies and interests, and learn new skills. Scaling took a smart idea When the pandemic hit, the Founders of GetSetUp recognized an opportunity to grow and scale the company. However, they weren’t certain where they should find instructors for their classes.  It dawned on them that their learners were more likely to be receptive to and excited by classes taught by other elder adults – but that group is less likely to know how to teach online! An idea was born. Lawrence and his Co-founders met a retired former Apple Genius Bar instructor and Operator with 30+ years of experience teaching others how to use technology and teach online. They helped her set up an academy to help retired teachers learn to teach online. They then reached out to the Retired Teachers Association and began bringing retired teachers onto their team. With support from their Genius Bar instructor, they empowered the teachers to learn new ways of using technology to teach others, and it took off.  While this sounded like an insurmountable hurdle, Lawrence and his team took it on. It was all part of empowering others to live better lives – and the mission is continuing on as GetSetUp thrives with over 5 Million users today! Quotes “How could I apply my business and fundraising experience to tackle something that was more fulfilling–where I could wake up every day to solve a specific problem?” “I love startups. You have to be a little bit of a ‘broken toy’ to do a startup, because you are fundamentally disrupting a market or building something that has never been built before. It’s not for the faint of heart but for the right person, it’s a wonderful thing to do. There is nothing easy about doing that.” “We realized that there was a huge technical deficit and need to scale it faster. We realized we had to go out and raise capital.” “The 50-60 year old US portion of the population is the fastest-growing. We have a disproportionate amount of adults who need to learn things and use services to live happy healthy lives.” “We started asking our learners – what else do you want or need to learn? It became a great source for new programming. And we kept hiring new teachers.” “People think – if that person can do it, I can do it too. We didn’t expect it to be as magical as it is.” “You’re not only teaching them things, but there are instances where we are helping them overcome loneliness.” “Not everything is a structured academic class. When you think about helping someone understand their iPad or use LinkedIn for volunteer work, they’re smaller and more interactive classes.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit the website for GetSetUp at www.getsetup.io  Connect with Lawrence on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrencekosick/  Follow GetSetUp on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/getsetup.io  Follow GetSetUp on Twitter at https://twitter.com/lawrencekosick 

*Please note: Today’s episode has a content warning for mental health and self-harm discussions. We hope this content will inspire you to practice self-compassion and share your story because you are not alone. For resources, please see our episode show notes.   Today’s episode offers hope in the face of one of the world’s most concerning crises: The troubling decline in mental and emotional health for teenagers and young adults. Our guest, Emily Pesce, is joining us on the show to offer exciting ideas, potential solutions and advice for anyone trying to solve a great big problem. When Emily Pesce came out as transgender, she was in her late thirties. While always being trans, she didn’t always realize that she was–and she didn’t grow up knowing anyone like her. That changed when she moved to Seattle and started noticing people who reminded her of herself–for the first time. Emily was walking her dog one day and had the sudden realization that she is a trans woman. What followed was a process of self-discovery, vulnerability and community connection.  Emily Pesce is CEO of Joon, whose mission is to make mental healthcare and well-being accessible and effective for 13-24 year olds. Emily has 20+ years of experience across healthcare, e-commerce, grocery, supply chain, technology, mobile, and cloud computing with her primary operating experience at Amazon and Nerdy. Emily is also an investor, providing early-stage capital to over thirty companies. Emily graduated from Duke University with a BA in Public Policy, a minor in Computer Science and a certificate in Genetics. She received her MBA from the NYU Stern School of Business. Joon Care was founded by Dr. Amy Mezulis and Josh Herst. Their vision is to create a new model for mental health care, designed specifically for youth and young adults, that integrates the benefits of one-on-one therapy sessions with a mobile app-based experience. Their approach is evidence-based, skills-focused and personalized for each individual client. Enjoy this important, eye-opening and deeply moving conversation with Emily Pesce, CEO of Joon.  The problem, and the solution It’s hard to hear, but Emily shares some disturbing and sad statistics: One in four LGBTQ+ young adults attempts suicide. Not considers, not plans–tries to end their life. As sad and horrifying as this is, Emily heard this and turned to hope, and we should too.  Studies are consistently showing that Joon Care and other teletherapy services have a profound impact on mental and emotional health of young patients. But first–why is this epidemic so massive? If you think this was solely driven by pandemic-related concerns, you would be wrong. In fact, this decline in mental wellness began to show up starkly in studies in 2011. Emily Pesce shares information that suggests that while there are other things affecting teen and young adult depression and anxiety, the top two causes are: constant social media interaction, and exposure to gun violence.  All the while, access to mental health care in America is often confusing and frustrating. Young people living at home especially struggle to voice their concerns, ask for help and get connected to a licensed mental health professional. Now with companies like Joon, teenagers can finally get access to important resources to help them recover, sustain happy and healthy daily habits, and disconnect from devices more frequently.  Removing barriers to mental health care When Joon first began utilizing teletherapy, many were concerned that it wouldn’t work. After all, they launched their company years before the pandemic. But with covid, the door to teletherapy breezed wide open, and Joon was there to welcome clients with open and experienced arms.  A shocking 81% of counties in the United States do not have a single licensed Psychiatrist. With Joon, patients can sign up with clicks of a button instead of struggling to search for local Psychologists or Psychiatrists via Google. Teletherapy works for teens for several reasons. They feel safer and more relaxed in their own bedrooms. Joon helps with wellness tracking, reminders and check-ins after and between appointments, helping forgetful teenagers stick to the daily habits they set.  Joon and other mental wellness companies are determined to solve this massive crisis. And as you’ll hear in this episode, straight from Emily herself: “This crisis is not unsolvable.” Enjoy this thoughtful and inspiring episode of The Business of You. Quotes “I was in my late thirties when I had a realization. I was on a walk with my dog when a lightning bolt hit me, and I thought–oh, I’m trans! I always was, but I didn’t always know.” “Seeing people like you, around you, it helps tell you about yourself.” “Joon is basically a therapy solution for 13-24 year olds. If they are dealing with anxiety, depression, or an eating disorder, and it’s affecting their life at school, it’s time for them to talk to someone. A big problem that has persisted is access. They don’t know how to get help.” “A hundred years from now, people will want great mental health. They will still want it to be easy, affordable and accessible.” “Once therapy begins, we do check-ins. We’ll get the therapist, the patient and the parent together. But in general, the therapy is between the patient and the therapist. This allows them to be comfortable and it’s confidential. The ability to trust is essential for getting to recovery.” “The way I think about building a business is this: You identify a big durable need. In a hundred years, people will still have mental health needs, and will want personalized affordable mental health care.” “I want everybody in this space to be wildly successful. We need people to be successful to solve the problem. The good news is-the evidence tells us that we can help! Kids are super resilient, and this is not an unsolvable problem.” “We may feel very different from one another politically or what we do or where we live, but we are just humans. We are not great at saying that…and asking for help.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit the website for Joon care at https://www.joon.com/  Connect with Emily Pesce on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilyspesce/  If you or someone you love are considering self-harm or you find yourself struggling with your mental health, you are loved - and you are never alone. Please call the National Suicide Hotline at 988 and visit their official website for support, resources and completely confidential support. https://988lifeline.org/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=onebox

Today’s entrepreneur has helped the blind see and the sick breathe. He overcame serious limitations to help people during the pandemic - and now he is here to tell us the story of his epic 28 days to save the world on The Business of You! Dan Purvis is a serial entrepreneur and the founder of six companies. He is the CEO and co-founder of Velentium, a professional engineering firm that specializes in the design and manufacturing of therapeutic and diagnostic active medical devices. He has 25 years of practical know-how in creating corporate environments that people want to work in and clients want to engage with. The theme throughout his professional and nonprofit endeavors has been an intense love for people, which led Dan to become a student of culture. Dan’s passion is building things. His background is in automation, controls, and software. When working with people, he identifies possibilities for what they can accomplish. Dan Purvis is doing remarkable things. Velentium designs and develops plantable neurostimulator devices that change lives for a better world. One of the companies Velentium partners with is called Second Sight. Together, they help the blind see - using a special pair of glasses that senses light, the imagery is played on the wearer’s optic nerve. At Velentium, what began as a two-person operation grew to a multimillion-dollar-firm within three years. From 2014 on, Velentium has averaged 50% annual growth year over year. Velentium has executed 1,500 projects in 15+ countries, working with over 100 clients. Velentium has recently been named to the 18th Annual Aggie 100™, honored as fastest-growing company. Rise to the occasion Velentium exists to change lives for a better world - and they stick to their promise to rise to the occasion when things get hard.  When Velentium scaled up and took on manufacturing, Dan was proud of their dedication and hard work. But nothing could have prepared him for what came next. When the pandemic hit, Dan realized that one of their partner companies was going to have to begin producing thousands more ventilators, at a rate they’d never been able to deliver before.  With his own family in mind, Dan decided to be part of the solution. He made some phone calls and specifically requested to fly from Houston to Seattle where the first COVID deaths had occurred - just in time for Ventech Systems’ 8am morning meeting. In partnership with General motors, Ventech took the 100 units a month they were producing and turned it into 10,000 units a month in just 28 days. Radical transparency forges strong bonds When Velentium initially received the massive, record-breaking order from General Motors for thousands of ventilators, Dan Purvis turned it down. Everyone thought he was crazy.  Shocked, the purchasing department called him on the phone. So far, he had risen to every request and need they had - so why was he turning this one down? Dan was honest with them: He could not deliver what they were asking for, by the date they had requested. They asked him for a new date, but he still could not give a definitive answer.  After ramping up production to unprecedented speeds, Dan was still wary of making promises he could not follow through on. Essentially, he asked them to work with him. He would push his team as far as they could go and produce as much as they could - and he would promise to brief them daily on Velentium’s progress.  While this was different from what General Motors had dealt with in the past, they appreciated Dan’s transparency. He hired his own personal friends for their purchasing team, asked his employees to go above and beyond and still required that every ventilator be thoroughly tested. He wrote a book, 28 Days to Save the World, to tell the story of what it looks like when an entrepreneur has to rise to an extraordinary challenge, overcoming all obstacles.  Enjoy this world-changing conversation with Dan Purvis - about work culture, guiding principles, teamwork and courage. Quotes “We were a contract design and development house that is now a contract design, development and manufacturing house. It's really important for your listeners to know that as they get more and more successful in their entrepreneurial cycle, just understand that growth eats cash. The more you grow, the faster you grow, the less cash you'll have. With manufacturing, we can now finish the project, hand it into our manufacturing shop, and now we can have revenue for the life of the product that we just developed!” “Thinking as entrepreneurs: How do I get my business model into a place where there is perpetual repeatable revenue and I don't have to go through the whole sales effort again and again to keep revenue up?” “I could not have a time where it's your mom and my mom, and they both have COVID - but there's only one ventilator left. I thought, if we can make a difference in that, we need to. So I flew out there.” “We doubled the size of the company in about a week, and through that process, just stepped in over and over and over again. We ended up writing a book about it, 28 Days to Save the World. One of the things I say in that book is that you're going to have all-in moments that come across you in your career as an entrepreneur. In those moments, it is absolutely critical that you step in and volunteer yourself - why not me? Why not you? When it comes, you have to not just dip your toe in the water. You’ve got to cannonball. And we did.” “We had 120 people in what was a company of about 48…working 16 hours days, seven days a week. And then I called several of my friends who were all at home watching The Office reruns because they were bored, wondering what's going to happen with the world. I was like, Are you bored? They're like, I'm bored out of my mind. I was like, well, join our purchasing team!” “We wrote 28 Days to Save the World, to tell that story, but more importantly, to give entrepreneurs like your listeners a good, hard perspective of the culture. Work we have been doing for ten years is what enabled that story.” “At Valentium, we have four principles that govern all that we do: Our passion, honor, humble charisma, and the commitment to changing lives for a better world.” “When you say, how do you build culture? Know your principles.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit the website for Velentium at https://www.velentium.com/  Purchase Dan’s book, 28 Days to Save the World: https://www.amazon.com/28-Days-Save-World-Crafting/dp/1637741901  Follow Dan Purvis on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-purvis-velentium/

Amy Carter is the owner of one of Indiana’s top salons, but she isn’t a beauty service provider. She is not licensed to do hair, nails or esthetics - but she has found success by approaching salon ownership from an accountant’s point of view. Amy Carter is the Founder of Empowering You Consulting - helping salons and spas across the nation every day to expand their client base, increase profits, operate more efficiently, train a team of leaders, and gain personal satisfaction from their professional endeavors. Amy owns and operates Solaris Aveda Salon in Evansville Indiana, ranked in the top 200 fastest-growing salons by Salon Today. Solaris has been named as an Honoree in Salon Today 200 for the years 2018-2022.  Amy knows what it takes to reinvent a business and train a leadership team that is invested in long-term success. This is the story of how Amy started her unlikely career - not as an accountant, but as an entrepreneur in the face of great difficulties. She has overcome obstacles like bad business partners, bankruptcy, a lack of systems and the merging of mindsets to create her business. These lessons are being featured on The Business of You to inspire us to rise above the impossible - and allow ourselves to grow. A rough start in business Amy’s story is a welcome reminder that great success sometimes begins with failure.  After college, Amy longed to start a small business. With her degree in accounting, she bought a salon - realizing after the ink was dry that the business was bankrupt. She was panicked. Her business partner cleaned out the bank accounts, left the employees unpaid and skipped town overnight, leaving 22-year-old Amy to clean up the mess. She made the difficult decision to build a new building and reopen the business after receiving 24-hour notice to vacate the mall. 18 years later, the business is still open.  Amy could have let that mistake dictate the rest of her life. But rather than being hard on herself, she humbled herself instead - committing to a lifelong journey learning to be better at business.  Now, Amy understands what she missed the first time. As an accountant, she looked back through the books and the issues were clear. Realizing that they had been paying too much rent and the profit was so low, Amy vowed to approach her salon business like an accountant from now on. Structure in an unstructured business When Amy asked one of her employees to clock in and clock out, it felt as though she was asking for her first born child. Met with resistance while implementing systems and processes, Amy realized that she needed to learn to speak her employees’ language. To Amy, structure and systems were like breathing. They felt normal and natural. But to her creative and relaxed staff, her rules felt like a prison. Amy had to change their tune. After explaining that the systems were in place to protect their legal rights, Amy felt exasperated.  Finally, she had an aha moment. She motivated her employees to follow processes in order to free up their time, take on more clients, get paid more and receive payment on time with no issues. Her communication worked - and many of her previous employees still work with her to this day.  Your business grows with you When asked about her personal and professional growth, Amy laughs. She admits that she wasn’t the leader she is today, early in her business.  Since Amy started her business at just 22 years old, she didn’t have the life experience to approach her employees with empathy and understanding. But now, she sings a different tune. She is nationally recognized as a leader of salon and spa owners, teaching them to think less like frazzled service providers and more like smart savvy entrepreneurs.  Your personal growth will be reflected in your business. Enjoy this funny, frank and inspiring conversation on The Business of You! Quotes “I was like - if I'm going to do this type of business again, I've got to do it differently. And that's when I hired a consulting company.” “I had a personal mission that I wanted to have a debt-free company. Because to me, in a small business, when we have debt, it really does tie us in as owners. There's not a lot of freedom. So for me, freedom and flexibility look like being completely debt-free.” “It became about running it like a business, not as a job. A lot of times in the beauty industry, really, any service-based business, typically the owners are heavy technicians. Being a non-technician, I wasn't constantly doing services. But you know what the tricky part of it was? How do you take beauty and business plus employees, and merge them together? It was really challenging, putting this structure in place so that they can thrive - because they were so resistant to it.” “I realized that there were owners just like me that thought that their dream was the most amazing vision dream ever…turned straight up nightmare. Like, the math just doesn't work in this industry.” “I finally figured out some secret ingredients to get my employees to really be on board with it. Ultimately, those systems are for them. When I was able to figure out some of the secret sauces, so to speak, about this industry, I was like, I know those people are just like me. If I can support them in creating a life that they love and a business that they love and maybe a paycheck that they deserve, then we're onto something!” “It takes so much resilience to be able to not only have a brick and mortar, but then to learn how to have a remote company, have a remote team.” “I'm only really good at this because I really sucked at it. I'll be honest. I didn't get here because it was easy. I didn't take the easy path. I actually was an asshole. I couldn't understand why people just wouldn't just do their job. My businesses grew up with me. I took on a lot of personal development in my twenties, and then in my thirties, I really took on leadership development because that had to happen.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit Amy’s website at http://www.empoweringyouconsulting.com  Follow Amy on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/amy.laura.carter  Connect directly with Amy on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/amycartereyc/

*Please note: Today’s episode has a content warning for mental health and self-harm discussions. We hope this content will inspire you to practice self-compassion and share your story because you are not alone. For resources, please see our episode show notes.   David Hollenbach has walked through the fire. Now, he helps others fan the flames of their own self-compassion and rise from the ashes of their limiting beliefs. David Hollenbach is a retired Fire Department Battalion Chief, an international best-selling author, professional speaker, member of the National Speakers Association, John Maxwell certified speaker and DISC Method Trainer. His most recent book, Fireproof: Your Grand Strategy for Transforming Failure into Fuel for Your Future was released in 2022.  David owns and operates David Hollenbach Consulting, LLC and hosts the popular podcast From Embers to Excellence - with over 170+ episodes featuring inspiring guest speakers. His brand was built on the foundation of helping others, speaking up and creating a legacy of good.  Additionally, David is a Veteran of the United States Navy with a Master's Degree in Public Administration from Barry University. A major focus of research for his capstone was how strong, positive leadership can influence the culture of a large organization. While studying at Barry University he published "The Firefighter's Creed" and “Women in the Fire Service: A Diverse Culture Leads to a Successful Culture,” an article highlighting the importance of gender diversity within the fire service in Fire Engineering Magazine. He has spent years as an instructor, coach and mentor helping others define and realize their personal goals.  There is strength in adversity David Hollenbach had read about trauma and studied philosophy. But during his time in the fire service, he experienced it for the first time - and it nearly broke him.  Like many who work in emotionally difficult careers, David saw horrific things during his time in the fire department. He struggled with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and even considered taking his own life. In this deeply moving episode of The Business of You, David authentically shares his personal story with us, reminding us that we are not alone.  During the depths of his despair, David reached inside himself and found a spark - committing fully to his own healing, no matter what. He began to do meaningful and consistent work on his emotional and mental health. Now, he encourages other veterans and service members to do the same, paving a path for them to speak up and talk about their experiences. Breaking the code of silence, David reminds us that our value is found not just in what we do, but in who we are… and our intrinsic self-worth.  Uncover your core values As a coach and mentor, David Hollenbach helps leaders create a grand strategy for their lives.  He believes strongly that without direction, we will never arrive where we want to go, or become the person we’re meant to be. This begins with discovering your core values.  Through his coaching and speaking services, David helps others create a roadmap for their lives. Despite their failures, regardless of where they are, he teaches others to rediscover their passion for life and reconnect with the best parts of themselves. Forging a better future When David was working on himself, he finally discovered a term that he had been seeking to define for years: Emotional intelligence.  Studying emotional intelligence, he noticed that women consistently  received much higher emotional intelligence scores than men. That explained why the fire service, notoriously lacking women, was an industry with room for improvement in emotional intelligence and communication. But it also explained why women weren’t joining the fire service - and certainly weren’t being retained.  Even when women become firefighters, they frequently  leave for careers  in which their emotional  intelligence, skills and abilities are more highly valued. Now, David writes and speaks about opportunities for better gender equality in service careers, and what that could mean for improving outcomes.  Quotes “I really try to help veterans and first responders with PTSD. I had my own struggles.” “People who spend their adult life who spend their adult life in fields like combat, law enforcement, EMS, and the fire department - you end up seeing horrible things. If you don’t deal with and process that, it can fester and lead to PTSD.” “I went to a really dark place. I hadn’t accepted that I was as bad as I was. It wasn’t until I almost took my own life, in the moments and days after that experience, that I committed to myself that I would do everything that I could to heal and become the person I knew I could become - someone my daughter could be proud of.” “I felt like - nobody’s gonna read this. Who am I to write a book? I came very close to deleting the entire thing. Then I realized that sharing the lessons I learned could help somebody avoid taking their own life.” “Ultimately, I believe that we’re all seeking the same thing: Happiness, a sense of fulfillment - and one of the purest forms of fulfillment comes from helping others succeed. If you can, find your purpose helping others succeed by doing the things you’re gifted at.” “The fire service is lagging behind even every male-dominated industry in the United States. Paid firefighters - in 2010, the workforce was 3.7% female, and other occupations that were similar had 17% females or higher. Ten years later in the 2020 census, they achieved success in bringing it up to 4.7%. The work needs to be done on the culture so that it’s more inclusive.” “While the fire service is hiring more women,  they’re not retaining them. Most women may do 6-10 years but ultimately they’ll leave for a career where their skills and experience are valued to a higher degree. You can’t fault anybody for that!” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit David Hollenbach’s website at https://hollenbachleadership.com/  Follow Hollenbach Leadership on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/hollenbachleadership  Connect with David Hollenbach on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-hollenbach-author-speaker/  Find David on Twitter at https://twitter.com/HollenbachLEAD  Listen to the Hollenbach Leadership podcast at https://hollenbachleadership.com/from-embers-to-excellence-podcast  If you or someone you love are considering self-harm or you find yourself struggling with your mental health, you are loved - and you are never alone. Please call the National Suicide Hotline at 988 and visit their official website for support, resources and completely confidential support. https://988lifeline.org/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=onebox 

His clients call him “The Youtube ads guy.” He has overseen $22.2 million in ad spend over the last 12 months alone. Now on The Business of You, Youtube ad expert Tom Breeze is sharing some of his time-tested marketing secrets with us! Tom is the Creator and Founder of multiple brands: YouTube ad agency Viewability, and Bidurk, a YouTube content analysis software that helps you create better videos and grow your audience online.  Viewability is an innovative, world-leading YouTube ad agency that partners with companies selling digital products to get reliable, profitable customers at scale. With over a decade of Youtube advertising experience, Tom and his team at Viewability have successfully cracked the formula for advertising on YouTube. Viewability is a performance-based agency, which means they only get paid when they get results.  Tom Breeze worked to develop Bidurk, a new tool that scans an entire Youtube channel to identify areas for growth and opportunity. After identifying that Youtube channel creators were spending too much time desperately trying to grow their following, Tom realized that he had a way to increase results, decrease time spent and massively impact leads. Bidurk expedites the process of growing a Youtube channel by providing data and insight.  Recently, Tom launched an exclusive, performance-based YouTube advertising club, Ad Buyers Club, where he shares bespoke advice with his members and gives them access to his entire expert team and network of contacts. Additionally, Tom Breeze is the Author of Viewability: Harness the Power of Youtube Ads and Show Up for Your Customer. He speaks passionately at conferences and conventions worldwide. Educated at the University of Leeds (UK), Tom achieved a Bachelor of Psychology degree and then continued his education at University of Surrey (UK) where he was awarded his Master of Psychology degree. After running several successful companies in the fields of presentation skills training, video marketing and online marketing, Tom specialized in the field of video advertising.  Be willing to take big risks When Tom began running Youtube ads, he saw big opportunity. He also knew that he was willing to take big risks.  Tom promised his client that he would cover the cost of his ad spend - if the client would pay him for results. After negotiating a dollar amount per lead, Tom got to work. When the numbers came back, everyone was happy.  With his first major campaign, Tom made a 5x return on his investment and his client was raking in new leads. By willing to bet on himself, Tom had successfully proven what he was capable of. Even now, a decade later, Tom and his team at Viewability cover the ad spend of their clients - knowing that the results will create major profit.  The five A’s of Youtube advertising Youtube advertising is often seen as complicated, and entrepreneurs are frequently intimidated. But as Tom explains it, all you need are the five A’s. Tom lists Audience, Ads, Acquisition, Accounts and Attitude as the secrets to great Youtube advertising. Audience means that there is already an audience on Youtube - as in, people are there for the content you are offering already. While you can build or attract an audience, advertising is much easier when this infrastructure exists. Ask yourself - are people on Youtube searching for the content you want to create?  In the five A’s of Youtube marketing, Ads is defined as the client’s own ability to create good ads. Tom and his team at Viewability specifically work with clients who are good on camera and confidently speak about their offerings. Having a great personality on video is more likely to resonate with the right viewers, increasing the ad’s likelihood to succeed. Acquisition refers to how you attract leads in your marketing funnel, and the quality of your offering. Is your offer converting? While anyone can get started advertising on Youtube, Tom acknowledges that prior ad data is a huge help. The fourth A stands for Accounts - and the supply of advertising data you can pull from to craft a profitable Youtube ad. What advertising have you done in the past and what did you learn about your audience? When it comes to advertising on the Youtube platform, being specific about your audience’s behavior can pay off big time.  Lastly, Tom names the last A as Attitude - because a healthy attitude towards marketing can make or break your success. When working with his clients, Tom and his team assess their attitude and expectations. What is their company’s objective? What are their current goals? Do they have a flexible and resilient mindset? If you’re curious about scaling your business with consistent, profitable Youtube ads, this episode is for you. Quotes “I wouldn’t say I’m the cleverest person but I work hard. I’ll outwork most people. If I find something interesting, I go deeper and deeper to find out more about that subject matter… sometimes, to the point where I go too deep.” “I’m quite happy with high risk. As long as the opportunity’s big.” “With advertising, I find that the rules can change month to month. It’s easier to keep on top of that for one client - it’s harder to do that with lots of clients.” “The five things I look for when running a good Youtube ad are: They have to have a good audience already on the Youtube platform. The second thing is ads - can the clients create good ads? Then there is acquisition - saying, do you have a funnel? Is there a good offer that converts? Then you have the account - your ad account and how it is working, if you have results already. The fifth is your attitude - what the client is demanding, or wanting.” “Youtube consumers are looking for information or entertainment. Think of what the audience would be typing in.” “If you have a personality in a video, those people can educate and give value really effectively.” “How you get started on Youtube is really, really important. Go and create really good content.” “The whole idea is to amplify what you’re already doing on Youtube - identifying what content already works for you, and get in front of more and more people.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit the website for Viewability at https://viewability.co/  Check out Bidurk at https://www.bidurk.com/home  Connect with Tom directly on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/tombreeze/  Find Tom on Facebook at https://en-gb.facebook.com/TomBreezeOfficial  Buy Tom’s book Viewability: Harness the Power of Youtube Ads and Show Up for Your Customer at https://www.viewability.co.uk/book

In Part 2 of my conversation with Jonathan Jackson, we dive deeper into his faith and passion for creative storytelling.  If acting, music and writing were all about entertaining people, Jonathan would have left the industry behind a long time ago. Instead, he uses multiple creative channels to weave authentic stories of redemption, grace and humanity for others - through song, spoken and written word.  While Jonathan still acts, he primarily builds his influence on the foundation of storytelling in every form it takes, with poetry and music taking center stage.  Jonathan recently released a new book called The Harrowing of Hell: An Epic Poem exploring what happened between Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. To Jonathan, it is the story of the Hero of Heroes. He has also authored other books including a work of Mystical Poetry entitled “Book of Solace and Madness” and the non-fiction prose “The Mystery of Art”, which has been translated into multiple languages.  His band Enation has performed alongside artists such as Echo & The Bunnymen, Sarah McLachlan, Echosmith, and more. Their newest album, Ultraviolet Empire, was released in the fall of 2020 and was co-produced by GRAMMY® Award-winning producer Colin Linden.  Jonathan Jackson is a five-time EMMY® Award-winning actor and Critics’ Choice Award nominee who has starred in numerous TV and films, including ABC/CMT’s hit drama “Nashville” (2012–2018), “General Hospital” (1993–1999, 2009–2011, 2015), “Tuck Everlasting” (2002), “The Deep End Of The Ocean” (1999), “Insomnia” (2002) and “Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights” (2004). He also appeared in episodes of “One Tree Hill”, “Boy Meets World”, “The Twilight Zone” and “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.” Trust the timing Jonathan Jackson is a believer in divine timing.  Rather than many business strategists who will tell you that there is a “right” or “wrong” time to put your work out into the world, Jonathan recommends that we as entrepreneurs turn inwards. Do you feel like the work is done - and is the world actually ready for it? Do the conditions feel right to you?  Jonathan has multiple albums, several books and even some screenplays that await the right conditions. They are in various stays of completion, but they all have one thing in common - it’s not the right time yet.  In this episode, Jonathan serves us a welcome reminder that much of life and business is about timing.  Don’t be afraid to explore your interests If you’re someone with varying interests, it can be easy to cave in to others’ advice to just choose one focus. But Jonathan Jackson gives us his honest advice: Don’t.  In his young adulthood, Jonathan was an actor while he sought to learn songwriting, screenwriting and more. He never lost sight of his own passions and followed every thread as far as he could, creating new spaces for his own exploration. The results have been incredible. With his most recent book he released an original score of music and occasionally hosts live performances honoring the work. SImilarly, he believes that we can all weave our passions together when the timing is right. Rather than seeing our interests as boxes we have to fit into, he encourages us to stay open minded and see the broader picture. Your interests may seem disparate now, but how could they be woven together in new and innovative ways? Those are the questions worth asking in life.  Quotes “I had these deep experiences with Christ. To be, theology is beauty, and poetry. It’s not about a religion, it’s about life.” “When I’m looking at music, storytelling or films, I can’t see the world outside of the beauty and challenging reality of Christ.” “Orthodoxy has helped me to see the whole world as a sacrament.” “When I was younger I was looking at it like acting was the central focus of my income. But I saw the writing on the wall a long time ago, that that was not going to be enough for my soul. Developing my writing and music was a way of engaging with the world in these other ways.” “There is a strange kind of tension between the flurry of inspiration, creating things, and waiting. We have four albums we’ve created and not released yet, because we’re waiting for the right time. I have a handful of books that have been written and screenplays - we don’t know what we’re doing, really. There is intentionality and prayer and vision, but we’re trying to be flexible.” “As a writer, I want to live in it for a while, go away from it and come back. Again and again. It’s a testing thing, a maturation process with a particular work. My lived experience finally matches the intention of the work.” “I’ve learned over the years that the music and the story is about connecting with someone’s soul and heart. That’s the stuff I care about.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit Jonathan Jackson’s Website at https://www.jonathanjackson.com/  Find Jonathan on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JonathanJacksonHQ/  Follow Jonathan on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jonathanjacksonhq/  Subscribe to Jonathan Jackson’s Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4KKxEIbF5kAGOSi26Nx3Bg 

Jonathan Jackson was a child actor in the 1990’s and early 2000’s. But since then, he has become a powerful artist, musician and creator. Now on The Business of You, Jonathan is sharing his unique story - including his journey to faith, fame and personal growth.  Jonathan Jackson is a multi-faceted artist who creates meaningful art pieces through music, film, and the written word. He is a five-time EMMY® Award-winning actor and Critics’ Choice Award nominee who has starred in numerous TV and films, including ABC/CMT’s hit drama “Nashville” (2012–2018), “General Hospital” (1993–1999, 2009–2011, 2015), “Tuck Everlasting” (2002), “The Deep End Of The Ocean” (1999), “Insomnia” (2002) and “Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights” (2004). He also appeared in episodes of “One Tree Hill”, “Boy Meets World”, “The Twilight Zone” and “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.” His indie band Enation has performed alongside artists across the musical spectrum, including post-punk legends Echo & The Bunnymen, the iconic Sarah McLachlan, Echosmith, and more. Their new album, Ultraviolet Empire, was released in the fall of 2020 and was co-produced by GRAMMY® Award-winning producer Colin Linden.  Jonathan is also a published Author. His current books include a work of Mystical Poetry entitled “Book of Solace and Madness” and the non-fiction prose “The Mystery of Art”, which has been translated into multiple languages. Jonathan resides in Ireland with his wife, Elisa, and their three children. He enjoys Greek coffee, good wine, and music. Navigating fame at an early age At just 11 years old, Jonathan left his idyllic childhood in Washington State to work as a child actor in California. Starring in “General Hospital”, he gained notoriety as a soap opera star and quickly began to book other roles.  Working in television and movies, Jonathan had a workload that exceeded that of most grown adults. He knew that if he did not anchor himself in his relationship with God and his connections to his family, he would be swept away. With wisdom beyond his years, Jonathan turned to creative self-expression to set himself free. He collaborated with his brother Richard to compose original music, learn new instruments and write screenplays. Laughing, he explains that he had to begin writing because many of the ones he read were not very good.  Rather than fall victim to the clutches of a dark industry, Jonathan used music and writing to guide himself towards the light. It became the foundation for his life’s work. Creativity is a divine gift Self-expression became the basis on which Jonathan connected with others and with his higher power.  Channeling his gifts into music and written words, Jonathan became a known artist and musician with his band, Enation. Since the band’s inception in 2003, they have toured periodically and continued to produce new work. Jonathan is the band’s frontman, writing most of the songs in addition to singing, playing guitar, and playing the piano. While navigating fame and building a career as a musician, Jonathan was also on another personal growth journey - his quest to deepen and explore his faith. For more of Jonathan’s story, be sure to tune in next week for Part II of Jonathan’s story here on The Business of You! Quotes “I’m more of an introvert, definitely. I’m fascinated by the introvert/extrovert dynamic. I’m not sure how much is nature versus nurture. I was extroverted as a child and became more introverted when I started acting. I do love people, communicating and connecting one on one.” “Too much attention, positive or negative, is kind of negative. It’s going to kind of attack your ego and put you in a false reality. And if you have too much criticism and judgment, you’re potentially in extremes when you have any kind of spotlight. Searching for an equilibrium was my main focus throughout my teenage years. How do I remain sane through all that?” “I glimpsed where my life could go if I wasn’t careful. A massive wave could pick me up and destroy me, if I didn’t position myself carefully. I thought, I need to anchor myself.” “My brother was my closest friend, growing up. I was grateful that we had each other to walk through the madness of LA and the industry together.” “I was slowly, slowly feeling like something central was missing in my experiences in Protestant churches. Wonderful people most of the time, good intentions. But something about the church itself, I just didn’t understand it. There were so many versions. You start looking around and think, this is very confusing. The sense of something missing was not connected to Christ Himself, it was the vagueness of the church.” “The modern question is, what do I believe? It sounds like an important question. But the real question if you have any approximation to Christ is, what do Christians believe, and what have they always believed?” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit Jonathan Jackson’s Website at https://www.jonathanjackson.com/ Find Jonathan on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JonathanJacksonHQ/ Follow Jonathan on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jonathanjacksonhq/ Subscribe to Jonathan Jackson’s Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4KKxEIbF5kAGOSi26Nx3Bg 

If weeds were people, they’d be the ultimate entrepreneurs. Stu Heinecke has created a business strategy based on weeds, and it’s quickly taking root in the world of entrepreneurship. Stu is a business growth strategist and the originator of Weed Strategy™. He is also a keynote speaker, renowned cartoonist and bestselling business author. His first book, How to Get a Meeting with Anyone, was named one of the top 64 sales books of all time. His latest, How to Grow Your Business Like a Weed, introduces a new model for explosive business growth, based on the strategies, attributes and tools weeds use to grow and spread. Stu has been named “The father of Contact Marketing”. He is the Founder of The Total Weed Awards, in collaboration with the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center.  Stu has had an unusual career arc. Mentored by some of the world’s top cartoonists from Playboy and The New Yorker, Stu has had his cartoons published in The Wall Street Journal and Playboy, among other publications.  Stu has explored Weed Strategy™ for several years, collecting insights from thought leaders from the worlds of business, government, and entertainment including T. Boone Pickens, Kathy Ireland, General Barry McAffrey, Henrik Fisker, Gareb Shamus, Giovanni Marsico, Esther Dyson, Christopher Lochhead, Nathan Myhrvold, Carmen Medina, Jon Ferrara, and Jonna Mendez.  What do weeds and entrepreneurs have in common? Stu Heinecke was stuck in traffic on the Santa Monica freeway when he noticed something that would change his life: There, in between the cracks in the pavement, dandelions were growing. It was an unlikely place for life. They were even spreading and taking over the cracks, one by one. As he sat in a long line of cars, Stu wondered why weeds thrive in the unlikeliest of places - and what it means for us. In that moment Stu recognized something vitally important. If entrepreneurs thought more like weeds, we could experience the same explosive growth! Think like a weed Weeds are so much more than pests. Weeds are natural disruptors, collaborators and process-builders. If that doesn’t describe the ultimate mindset for entrepreneurs and their teams, nothing does. Imagine operating as a fierce collective, growing out of hardship, and taking over industries in innovative, unexpected ways. That’s the power of Weed Strategy™! So what exactly is Weed Strategy™? To describe weeds and exceptional entrepreneurs, consider how they operate. They follow a consistent pattern: They always deal with what is, they never do anything without an unfair advantage, they never do anything alone, they always focus on what makes them win, and they thrive in disrupted ground.  Weeds deal with what is happening right now; They don’t obsess about hypotheticals. Weeds don’t do anything without an unfair advantage; They look for ways in which they already have a leg up on the competition in order to come out on top. They don’t do anything alone; They use their connections to get their needs met. And above all, weeds thrive when they’re challenged. We as founders, creatives, entrepreneurs and self-starters could do well to follow their example. Weeds are the Ubers, Airbnbs and SpaceX’s of the natural world. Applying Weed Strategy™ to your business can  transform your organization into a fierce collective, fanatically replying unfair advantages that explode the scale of your enterprise.  Enjoy this episode of The Business of You for actionable insights that will change your life! Quotes “I was driving the Santa Monica Freeway. It’s no place for a plant to take root… but there in the cracks in the concrete, I noticed a dandelion. It struck me - how did it get here? What makes weeds so special, hardy and unique? Is there a unified model that they use, and is it something we can use in our businesses?” “To describe weeds, look at what they do and how they operate. They always deal with what is, they never do anything without an unfair advantage, they never do anything alone - it’s always at scale, they always focus on what makes them win, and they thrive in disrupted ground. All of these statements suggest something about the [business] model.” “Weeds would tell us - We would probably do well to let your actions lead our emotions, rather than letting emotions lead our actions.” “Weeds never do anything alone. They’re natural collaborators. They would tell us - you need to team up with the smartest people you know, as fast as you can.” “We are creating unfair advantages for each other through collaborations.” “When you observe weeds, you can see that they’re aggressive, urgent, resilient, adaptive, and they’re even optimistic. I’m ascribing something to them when they don’t have emotions, but they function in a way we would if we were feeling optimistic.” “We want our competitors saying, we can’t get rid of them. How can we compete with this!” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit Stu Heinecke’s Website at https://stuheinecke.com/  Purchase Stu Heinecke’s Book on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Grow-Your-Business-Like-Weed/dp/1632651998  Connect with Stu directly on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuheinecke/  Find Stu Heinecke on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/stu.heinecke.1  Follow Stu on Twitter at https://twitter.com/byStuHeinecke 

You’ve never heard of a business like David Fischette’s. David is the Co-Founder, CEO, and Chief Creative at Go West Creative (GWC), an industry-leading marketing agency specializing in bringing brand stories to life through unparalleled live, virtual, and hybrid experiences.  Go West has helped hundreds of organizations, including giants like the United Nations, HP, Deloitte, CVS, SalesForce, DuPont, Petco, Inspire Brands, Farmers, Aetna, and Sonic, effectively communicate their message to key stakeholders. Go West has also won dozens of awards, including Special Event Magazine's "Top 50 Events Companies," Event Marketer Magazine's "Top 100 It List for Event Agencies," and Expertise's "Best Branding Agencies in Nashville." David has 38+ years of experience helping big global brands in telling their stories so they can better relate to their target audiences and motivate them to take action. Known for his passion and over 38 years at the helm of the award-winning Go West Creative Group, David Fischette has established himself as a visionary in the live production, broadcast, media and entertainment industries. He is a highly respected and sought-after Executive Producer and Director, both in Live Events and Film Productions. Additionally, he has produced live performances by Blake Shelton, John Legend, Sheryl Crow, Bebe Rexha, Jay Leno, Earth, Wind & Fire, Chicago, Josh Groban, and other top artists. When asked about the name Go West Creative, David delivers an exceptional answer:  True North is your purpose, but your True West is your sense of curiosity, adventure and exploration. Success is about marrying the two together. Build your brand intentionally Prior to the success of Go West, David had a wild and rocky journey starting out in the events industry. Laughing, he shares that his business has evolved - internally and externally.  After founding an event production company in 1984, David and his Co-Founder named it Audio Ecstasy. Their original tagline was “When image is everything.” Laughing, David is embarrassed about his original motto. But the name change and rebrand are an important reminder that as we discover our mission and evolve our personal brand, our business needs to follow suit. It’s never too late to pivot and discover that your work can follow the direction of your personal growth! After doing some soul searching, David realized something important: They weren’t an event company; They were a creative agency. The modalities they worked in - audio, video, creative branding - were just tools in a bigger toolbox. With their mission in mind, they rebranded and watched their business grow exponentially. To connect with others, be authentic David has learned many lessons in his 39 years as a creative professional. He’ll be the first to tell you that he spent years trying to make the business seem more successful than it was. But after a situation where an employee embezzled client money, it was time for a reckoning. David cast aside his pride and talked openly with the customers. After informing them of the situation, he told them that he wanted to grow with them and show up for them going forward. The responses were overwhelmingly positive!  This was an important moment for David and for the company. Instead of shying away from a challenge, he stood up, took accountability for the lack of oversight and used the experience to grow as a CEO and entrepreneur. Out of a difficult situation, he forged deep client relationships that he maintains to this day. Lesson in diversification Now, Go West is experiencing exponential growth. They are not in the business of just producing events - they create transformative experiences.  The team at Go West translates clients’ company messaging into creative experiences, both for corporate teams and for their customers. Their business has three facets: Events, Content, and Experiences.  They have even invented something entirely new: Spoken Cinema. For Spoken Cinema, Go West collaborates with spoken word artist Steve Connell. Steve writes a unique piece about the company’s vision and mission, then the Go West creative team works on a digital landscape including an original music score. It’s completely unique and seeks to connect customers to the impact and vision of the company - fusing more enduring client relationships for years to come.  Quotes “The way that I have connected the most with people is when I shared our actual business struggles. People are actually drawn to authenticity. It took me a lot of years to realize that I don’t have to be something I’m not. I’m just a guy who’s been doing this a long time, and we have wins and we have losses, but we’re persistent.” “The way to hold on to clients is to be authentic and build trust. Sometimes the best way to build trust is to say - no, we’re not the right agency for you - instead of just accepting everything.” “I’m a huge fan of experiential. The beauty of experiential work is that you don’t need 2,000 people… you need 50 or 100 people to experience something, and it spreads like wildfire.” “Our company’s so interesting because we have the event side of what we do, but we also have the content side. We also have an agency side of the business - a business and experiential agency.” “For Spoken Cinema, we have partnered with a spoken word artist out of Los Angeles by the name of Steve Connell. We’ve been creating these pieces together for over a decade - which either open a show or if it’s a charity, it’s before the ask. It’s specifically connecting the audience to what they do. Not just their job, but what they do. Steve writes the piece and we create the digital landscape and original music score. We’ve done over 250 pieces.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit  the Website for Go West Creative at https://www.gowestcreativegroup.com/  Learn more about the Spoken Cinema experience at https://spokencinema.com/about/ Connect with David directly on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-fischette-0119b3/  Find Go West Creative on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/gowestcreative/  Follow Go West Creative on Twitter at https://twitter.com/gwcreativegroup?lang=en  

Verónica Buitrón believes that the most creative, innovative companies have simple processes to follow - removing stress and setting minds free to work on exciting new ideas.  Veronica is the Co-Founder and CEO of TangoCode, a Chicago-based software development firm focused on Digital Marketing. Prior to TangoCode,  Verónica was a Co-founder of GeneXus USA, a development services firm for enterprises. TangoCode specializes in creating simpler ads. The team at TangoCode use their industry expertise to guide companies through the process of aligning their technology strategy with their business objectives. Basically - they create automation software to simplify business processes! As a female entrepreneur,  Verónica considers it essential to not only create a diverse and progressive culture within her own company but also to actively promote it within the tech community. She believes that diverse views help solve complex technology challenges in a global market. TangoCode is built upon the principles of innovation, continuous improvement, diversity, and excellence. These values have enabled TangoCode to create the industry’s most innovative digital marketing solutions at an accelerated rate for its clients and evolve from a software development firm to include the launch of its latest AdTech automation platform, Chassis.  Verónica speaks publicly on diversity, innovation, and their interrelated relationship. She participates in workshops and fireside chats about a more diverse technology world and the power of finding solutions together. Change creates innovation Before founding TangoCode,  Verónica explored many avenues for her talents. But every time she considered software for companies, she saw stable industries - and wasn’t challenged enough.  Instead, she took notice of an ever-changing industry: Digital marketing. Constantly evolving, the world of digital marketing requires that marketers innovate to survive constant disruption. TangoCode brings both automation and scale to marketers to enrich their value-added services.  In digital marketing,  Verónica and her husband and Co-Founder discovered an industry that required easier solutions in order to take away the stress and anxiety of advertising businesses. But she also saw a fun and unique challenge for her company to stay on their toes and learn new things every day. As a diverse and unique team, the experts at TangoCode have taken on major challenges - including the creation of simpler beautiful ad design programs for automotive dealers, a self-serve real estate ad platform, integrated medical apps, and even increasing exposure by running ads for teen arts programs.   Simplicity sets you free  Verónica knows that the most difficult thing in business is scaling it and making it easy to follow processes - often saying that “It’s a very complex concept to make something simple.”  Advertising has been complicated for long enough. Now, Veronica’s team creates streamlined systems for companies to use to advertise their services. Businesses are overwhelmed with gratitude when they reach exponentially more customers, eliminate overwhelm and save hundreds of hours of work time.  While the TangoCode team works on complex issues, one thing will always be simple and true: By following processes, your mind will be free to explore bigger and better ideas. Quotes “Simple is a concept that we take very seriously. It’s a very complex concept to make something simple.” “TangoCode is an interesting company because it was started based on values. This is how I want to work. I want to provide solutions but work in a team collaboration way. I want to make sure that the result was the sum of all our parts. We knew it was possible.” “Most industries don’t change in a way that actually transforms the solutions you build! But digital marketing keeps changing. It’s very exciting as an industry. It’s very challenging and you have to keep up with what you know. We specialize in scale. So when a company wants to build a digital marketing product, it’s automated. We help them figure out all the pieces and create a roadmap for that product.” “For a real estate company that works with property management companies, they saw an opportunity. They wanted to be able to provide more value based on the property listing data that they had. Ads were a natural way to expand. They were using listing data to run ads for their clients, but they didn’t want to just become an agency managing ads full time. We worked with them to design an express product - something that’s easy to sell. Within the first year, we were already around $6 million dollars in revenue!” “We build processes so that we can have freedom. We build frameworks so that people can actually be creative.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit  Verónica’s Website at www.tangocode.com  Connect with  Verónica directly on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronica-buitron-64a68017  View the website for GeneXus at https://www.genexus.com/en/  Watch  Verónica’s feature in the UniVision video - Women in Tech at https://tangocode.com/latest-updates/

Media Maven Christina Nicholson has a lot to say about public relations. More than anything, she has valuable advice for entrepreneurs - on how to promote themselves authentically, confidently and effectively.  Christina Nicholson is an award-winning television journalist, course creator, public speaker, podcaster and Founder of the PR agency Media Maven. Christina and her Media Maven team work intimately and exclusively with a select number of high-ticket clients, bringing their public relations goals to fruition through hard work and strategic ad placement. Besides her agency’s work with clients, Christina has used her decades of experience in media to create a suite of products for business owners, with various budgets and goals. Entrepreneurs can take a mini bootcamp on her website to improve their PR skills or invest in the Media Mentoring Program course for a full education on how, when, where, and why to use PR strategies to their full advantage. Christina has been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, the Huffington Post, Time, Yahoo!, PR Daily, All Business Experts, on CNN, WTVJ in Miami, WPTV in West Palm Beach, News 12 in New York City, and in many other media outlets.  Now on The Business of You, Christina shares her industry’s best-kept secrets to help us all get recognized by the right people, at the right time. Treat your business like a business When Christina decided to go out on her own, she thought it would be easy.  She started an Upwork account, jumped on LinkedIn and worked around the clock. But for two years, she made herself miserable - until she invested in herself! After exhausting her energy, Christina hired a business coach, who told her to treat her business like an actual…business.  Christina had been wearing all the hats - sales person, service provider, marketer and beyond. For the first time, Christina took a step back and considered the future of her company like a CEO. Her coach advised her to hire a team, thinking big-picture and take on more seasoned clients.  So many entrepreneurs are guilty of this. In your own business, are you thinking like a CEO? What actionable goals could you set for your business and who could you hire to help you achieve them? Stop getting in your own way When asked for her biggest piece of advice for entrepreneurs, Christina responded immediately with this: Stop getting in your own way.  Founders, particularly women, think that they need to wait for perfect conditions to market their businesses. They make excuses and put off PR and media until they think they've achieved success - when their website is perfect, they have a team and they’re making “enough” money. But Christina advises: This is backwards! When it comes to PR, she reminds us that it’s all about generating new opportunities for growth. Get in front of people before you’re “ready,” and big things will happen in your business! Share your wins, everywhere Christina has noticed a bizarre trend in the world of PR, and she’s here to encourage you to avoid this popular mistake.  After getting PR coverage, she notices that a lot of businesses don’t share it. They forget to send out an email about it, make a social media post about it, post it on their website, or even mention it beyond their personal circle of friends. Nobody knows they were on TV, and they don’t help get the word out. Avoid this popular PR mistake. If someone promotes you - on their channel, podcast, in their newsletter or magazine, etc - share it far and wide. This is a great opportunity to ask yourself - where was I featured recently, and who have I told about it? Who could I tell about it? Who needs to know about this? Make sure you’re celebrating your wins, because it will ultimately catapult you to business success.  Quotes “I said, you know what? This is a service-based industry, so I don’t need a lot of money to get started. I’ll just go on LinkedIn and Upwork and get my own clients! I did that for two years, by myself…and I was freaking miserable.” “It was tough because I was wearing all of the hats. I was doing it all myself - I was doing the marketing, servicing the clients, I was the salesperson. It wasn’t until I hired my first business coach that I actually learned about business!” “Everything I do is under the PR umbrella. But there are different products and services depending on where you are in your business, and how much time or money you want to spend making this a part of your marketing strategy.” “I’m the kind of manager I would have wanted. I don’t check up on them. As long as you’re hitting those goals, I don’t care. I don’t care what you wear, when you work,  where you went to college, how many hours you worked. Is the client happy, and are you happy? Perfect! We just do our jobs. We’re all adults. We don’t need to be babysat. We just get things done.” “With our clients, we don’t have a whole onboarding thing for weeks. We have one call - what are your goals? What do you want to see? What do you want? What is the short term goal and end goal? Then we go and execute that day. All this talking, planning and researching - it has a place! But in PR when we’re trying to get you coverage, we don’t waste time.” “We give our clients updates every week. It’s so important to send them an email every week - this is what we did, this is what worked, this is what didn’t work. We think we’re gonna go this way next week and we need your help with XYZ.” “Stop telling yourself you’re not ready for it. A lot of women do this. They make all kinds of excuses. You’re putting the cart before the horse. The way you get more money, a bigger brand, more leads and a bigger email list - you get this by being in front of people. You get the attention first, then the leads come in. So many people get this backwards.” “After you get coverage, please - share it, and share it everywhere! It blows my mind how many people get media coverage and don’t put it on their website, don’t post it to social media, don’t send it to their email list.” Links mentioned in this episode: Are you ready to finally see your name in popular media outlets like Forbes, Inc., and Fast Company? Download your free guide, 16 Places to Pitch to Be a Contributor at https://www.mediamavenandmore.com/contributor Visit Christina’s Website at https://www.mediamavenandmore.com/  Listen to the Become a Media Maven Podcast at https://www.mediamavenandmore.com/podcast/  Connect with Christina Nicholson on LinkedIn at https://LinkedIn.com/in/ChristinaAllDay  Follow Christina on Facebook at https://Facebook.com/MediaMavenAndMore  Follow Christina on Twitter at https://Twitter.com/ChristinaAllDay  Email Christina personally at Christina@MediaMavenAndMore.com

Jen Kem is an ultra-quotable entrepreneur. She is full of incredible wisdom based on her rich experiences in business - learning how to live her values, maintain her confidence, and empower others. Jennifer "Jen" Kem is a San Francisco Bay area-based brand building and leadership expert who gets entrepreneurs seen, heard, and paid for being themselves. She’s the creator of the Master Brand Method: a framework to develop powerful brands that win customers' hearts, which she uses in strategic consulting for emerging entrepreneurs, celebrity brands like the Oprah Winfrey Network and Steve Harvey, and other major corporations including Verizon, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Bank of Hawaii. She is a successful owner of three multimillion-dollar businesses and the proud mother of three children. The seeds of entrepreneurship were planted early Jen Kem had no intention of building a business, much less multiple successful businesses. But a long and winding path led her here.  At a young age, Jen was in search of one thing: Knowledge. Growing up in Hawaii, she went to her local library in search of information and a world outside her small island community. After devouring the entire children’s section, she worked her way through the adult books - and wished for more.  Sitting on her Grandmother’s shaggy 1970’s carpet, she was handed the business section of the newspaper and her eyes lit up. She began to realize that the world was impacted by business decisions.  Even in school, when asked what she wanted to become, she answered precociously that she wanted to become the General Counsel of Coca-Cola International. The adults in her life were stunned.  Jen never became a lawyer, but what she became is incredibly powerful - a high-level Business Strategist and creator of The Master Brand Method. Passed up for a promotion inspired her Jen was working in the corporate world before she became an entrepreneur. She was happy there - until a white male coworker got a promotion over her.  Regardless of her respect for him, she realized that her qualifications would never be enough in her industry. It was time for her to pave her own path and create the kind of world she wanted to live in.  She left behind her corner office and charted a new path - a path of trying new things, rediscovering herself again and again, and using her values as a path to the life she wanted. Doing what works, quitting what doesn’t Jen has owned multiple businesses, and they didn’t all work out. In fact, she uses her story as a teachable moment to us entrepreneurs - to show us that sometimes, a failure is actually an important lesson.  Before there was Doordash, there was Webvan, and Jen Kem was on the launch team. It was a great idea back in the late 1990’s! But the market wasn’t ready - and the idea flopped.  Jen watched the Founder of Webvan recover and go on to do great things. When Doordash became popular, she laughed at the timing: Sometimes an idea is great, but the market just isn’t ready.  Before she founded The Master Brand Institute, Jen launched an underwear store in Hawaii. It was a great idea, since there weren’t any others like it at the time! Women on the Hawaiian islands were traveling back to the mainland and shopping at Victoria’s Secret for their options in underwear, because they didn’t have any local options. But when the recession hit, her store went under - and she subsequently lost her house, her marriage, and her confidence. Jen fell into a deep depression.  It would have been easy for Jen to tell herself negative stories about her “failures.” She could have decided that she was bad at business, and that she shouldn’t try again. Instead, her ten-year-old daughter gave her a big pep talk. Jen began seeing a therapist and gaining back her mental and emotional health. It inspired one of her best pieces of advice for us: Focus on what you’re great at.  When Jen asked herself the hard questions, she realized that she didn’t actually love retail! Was it really a failure if she wasn’t passionate about it long-term? Retail was limiting, and one of Jen’s key principles is autonomy - and her business wasn’t in alignment with that value. This realization made Jen realize that it was time to create a company that was, and she bounced back.  Values are a verb Jen’s core values are autonomy, justice, generosity, leadership of self, and legacy. Now, her business clearly reflects those values.  While businesses frequently feature their values as words on a wall, Jen reminds us that values are how we live, not what we preach.  Your values can help you make important business decisions. For example, Jen’s biggest goal is to be autonomous; To be in charge of herself and in control of her life. Now, when presented with a choice, she filters it through her values before coming to a conclusion. Does this option give her more autonomy, or take it away? Does it require so much of her time that she loses too much freedom in order to participate? Does this serve the legacy she is trying to create?  Jen’s work to live her values inspires us to do the same. What are your personal values, and how do you actively use them in your business? Quotes “I am obsessed with learning. Reading is my favorite thing to do. Every morning my grandmother would drink her Lipton tea and I would sit on her shaggy 70’s carpet. She would give me the business section of the newspaper, so I started reading about business. I started to understand that that was what made the world move.” “As a visionary, we do see the future. Sometimes the ideas aren’t ready. Sometimes the market is not ready, but that doesn’t mean the idea isn’t good.” “The system wasn’t set up to support people like me - women of color, women ingenral. The system was set up to support people who played golf with our boss.” “I made the big scary decision to leave my corporate job. I took 9 months to create an exit plan. I had to, because I had two young kids. I spent the entire 9 months putting away half my paycheck. I had no reason to leave, I was making $400,000 a year in a corner office with a disco ball in it. I had the trophies and triumphs.” “Entrepreneurs are the reason we solve problems in the world.” “I wanted to help others like me get rich, respected and recognized for the fact they could see the future.” “I’m committed, not attached. Not every business I build is my dream home. We get so attached to our dream home. But a real estate investor never gets attached! So I look at my business like a real estate investor. I put all the elements inside it to make it work, but if it’s not working and I’ve tried everything, I can elegantly shut it down.” “Courage is a muscle. It’s something you have to keep training. People ask me if I lose confidence. I am still scared to do things! But what I can trust is what I know. I would rather fail fast than fail slow. It doesn’t mean I’m not scared.” “Values aren’t what you wish for. They are who you are and how you’re behaving right now.” “Legacy isn’t about the future - legacy is what you’re doing right now to create the world you want to live in. Every decision I make runs through that filter.” “Maybe is a place we use as an excuse. It slows us down. I only say a clean yes or a clean no. When I filter things through ym values, I don’t have regrets. You start to feel like yourself.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit Jen Kem’s website at www.JenniferKem.com    Connect with Jen Kem on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkem  Follow Jen on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JenniferKemComm  Follow Jen on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jennifer.kem/?hl=en  Follow Jen on Twitter at https://twitter.com/_JenniferKem_

Liam Austin created his company out of love - literally. Desperate to stay with his partner whose visa was expiring, they set out to build a business they could do from anywhere, and wound up launching an accidental empire.  Liam Austin is the Co-Founder of Entrepreneurs HQ, a company that helps business owners host virtual events, online summits and mini-workshops. Through the power of virtual events, Entrepreneurs HQ empowers Founders to get more clients, authority and income. Having launched over 15 virtual summits and online conferences, and countless virtual events, hosting over 400 speakers whilst educating 100,000+ business owners through his programs, Liam is a virtual event strategist. With all this experience, he's a specialist at making it easy for people to create their own online events and virtual conferences to grow their email list, authority, impact, and revenue. Desperate times call for successful measures When Liam met Sarah in 2015, he knew he wanted to spend more time with her. The problem was, they didn’t have any.  Sarah was Swedish and her visa was quickly expiring. They were in Liam’s native Australia, dreaming of traveling the world together. An idea was born.  With the clock ticking and a desperate need to stay together, Liam and Sarah conceptualized the idea of Entrepreneurs HQ. They wanted to gather entrepreneurs together to learn from one another, so they hosted their very first online summit.  They poured all of their energy and focus into the event. They hosted knowledgeable professionals to teach about how to generate sales and leads on LinkedIn - featuring 35 speakers in 3 days. It was a booming success. They hosted 15,000 business owners and sold all of their VIP passes, making over $50,000 USD. Liam was shocked - it was more than his first annual salary! Realizing that they had made their dreams come true, they embarked on an ongoing whirlwind of travel, adventure, and business.  Duplication is the key to scalability Liam and Sarah kept hosting successful events, over and over again. They were so successful that they started hosting events teaching others how to host events.  The problem was, they were tired. They loved their business and the life they had built, but the constant state of launching was making them feel depleted. With another stroke of genius, they realized that they could repurpose their content.  Liam took the recording of one of their most successful and profitable workshops and repackaged it for sale again. He expected it to sell some, but the results were far more than he imagined - it sold out again, at the same price point as the live event.  Liam had discovered something major. People still had the same problem they had had when the event had launched before - they wanted to generate leads and sales easily online. This was information every entrepreneur needed! Not only was the content in demand, they could now access it quickly and easily. Instead of waiting weeks to attend a live event, they could play it on 2x speed and start making money right away.  Liam and Sarah were excited to see that evergreen content was doing well, and they began duplicating this process with their other events. Now, they have dozens of high-value workshops available virtually, generating income for them while they travel the world! What can you duplicate in your business? Liam is a hard worker. But when it comes to online events, his message is clear: After the initial launch, you can work smarter, not harder! When it comes to your business, how can you generate more income by making your process replicable? What is your process and what are the steps to success? What results have you seen? These questions can help you design your own successful online event - and see massive results for years to come. Quotes “After doing this for just a year, we learned so much. We had over a hundred thousand people come to our events.” “That’s what’s great about virtual events. I’m at home, you can see where I live. You can see my space. It’s the authentic me. Authentic you attracts people who jive with you and enjoy working with you.” “One of the big things we learned in our first year was that it’s tiring, launching all the time. It’s tiring showing up to your own events all the time. So we packaged one of our old events, sent out an email and it sold out…at the same price we sold it for the first time. People were still having the same problem as they were when we originally launched it. They want more leads, they want more sales, they want more clients. It was the same promise, packaged differently.” “When you launch something live, you create the landing page, the copy, the emails, the images, the payment processor, the actual product itself…now we just automate it. You can bring in traffic, sales and leads without launching all the time.” “Partnerships are a great way to grow your business. But as a person, there are some really great benefits of building relationships with people who are servicing your niche.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit the website for Entrepreneurs HQ at https://entrepreneurshq.com/  Receive your own Virtual Events Checklist by entering your information at https://entrepreneurshq.com/virtual-workshop-checklist/?utm_source=qwwcom&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=qwwc  Get free access to the Virtual SUmmit Masterclass at https://virtualsummitclass.com/ Follow Entrepreneurs HQ on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/entrepreneurshq  Connect with Liam on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/liamaustin/  Contact Liam personally by emailing him at liam@entrepreneurshq.com 

If there’s one piece of advice Irene Nakamura wants you to take to heart, it’s this: Your success begins when you expand beyond others’ expectations for you. Irene Nakamura is the Founder and Principal of iDepo Reporters and iDepo Hawaii LLC, a woman and minority-owned court reporting firm providing both in-person and remote depositions, e-filing, subpoena and process serving, and record retrieval services to attorneys, law firms, legal secretaries and paralegals.  iDepo operates two independent companies in Los Angeles and Honolulu, Hawaii, with a network of 100+ culturally-diverse court reporters and staff, nationwide. In addition to a high degree of professionalism, iDepo is known for providing an excellent workplace environment. With nearly 30 years of court reporting experience, Irene is also a Registered Professional Reporter, a Realtime Reporter, and a certified LiveNote Reporter with certifications in California, Hawaii, Washington, Nevada, and Illinois. Prior to founding iDepo, Irene served as an Official Court Reporter for the Honorable Robert M. Takasugi and the Honorable George H. King at the United States District Court for the Central District of California. Since 1991, Irene has reported on complex cases for national and international law firms including high – profile cases involving the Mexican and Armenian Mafia and several groundbreaking business cases. She has also reported corporate meetings for the Screen Actors Guild, among others. By founding her own court reporting agency, Irene has become the first Japanese - American woman to do so in Southern California, perhaps in the nation. As hard as it may be for anyone to start a business, Irene says it is especially difficult coming from her background.  A brand born out of determination Looking at Irene’s success, it’s easy to assume that she was encouraged every step of the way. But while addressing cultural nuances, Irene shares that for her, this wasn’t exactly the case.  Irene Nakamura’s mother raised her to be a good wife and mom - but the emphasis was not necessarily on education. Beyond high school, Irene was informed that she had to wait to enroll in college until her brother graduated university. Irene was not having it.  After all, her brother was pursuing a double Master’s degree - and Irene was not about to wait to start her life until his graduation date. Instead, she worked full-time to put herself through trade school as a court stenographer. She didn’t even understand what it was, but she took to it naturally. Despite the challenges of becoming certified - stenographers have to pass their licensure exam with aa solid A+ and at least a 95% accuracy rate - Irene thrived and quickly became beloved to her clients for her follow-through, attention to detail and dedication. Relationships build better companies Irene Nakamura did not set out to become an entrepreneur.  She was frequently requested by name and became a staple of the court reporting community, and nourished her relationships with others in her field. But the inspiration for starting her own business came out of a troubling moment in her career.  Irene was requested on a case and communicated that she had surgery that week, so she wouldn’t be able to turn in her transcripts until the following week. Nevertheless, the client insisted on working with her. Despite her communication, she woke up from surgery to harassing messages from people waiting for her transcripts - and realized that it was time to make a change. Her own family, watching her work while recovering and on a holiday, suggested that she start her own company. Upon launching iDepo, many of Irene’s former clients chose to work with the company long-term. Relationships are everything to Irene, and nurturing her client partnerships paid off in a big way when she started her own brand! Creating opportunities for others Irene was beloved by her clients, but she observed that the working conditions for court reporters could be improved. Starting her own company meant that she could have a profound influence on the trade - and change lives along the way.  Now with three locations and growing, Irene says that her biggest goal is growing an excellent team. iDepo works on a national level, providing services in courts across the United States. The company is in a time of rapid expansion. WIth more graduates looking for stable employment in a trade that impacts lives, court stenography is a fantastic and marketable skill to learn - and iDepo is a company born out of excellence.   Quotes “When I was young, I was conditioned to follow the path my mom had led for me. She was grooming me to become a good wife and mother, and that was my path.” “It was all born out of relationships. I was getting so much work, there was no way I could do it by myself. I needed to start hiring.” “One of the biggest challenges is the people you work with. Hiring and making sure you have a really good team you can count on. They need to have a really good attitude and an entrepreneurial spirit, I like that even as part of a team. I want them to work well together. Sometimes your coworker might need help! I do my best to cultivate that type of environment.” “At first I really struggled to put myself out there. I had built my business on relationships but I got to a point where I needed to expand beyond those relationships. I had to have a website, marketing, social media, and being on amazing podcasts like yours to bring brand awareness…” “We have to pass our national test at 95% accuracy, at 225 words per minute with two people speaking. There aren’t many exams given for a career that you have to have an A in order to pass, not just an A but an A+. One technicality can make or break a case.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit the website for iDepo at https://ideporeporters.com/company-idepo-team/  Connect with Irene Nakamura on LinedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/irene-nakamura/   Check out Irene’s feature in Medium Magazine’s “Power Women” series: https://medium.com/authority-magazine/power-women-irene-nakamura-idepo-reporters-on-how-to-successfully-navigate-work-love-and-life-as-209de062481  Read Irene’s shout-out in Shoutout LA’s piece Guardian of the Record: https://shoutoutla.com/meet-irene-nakamura-guardian-of-the-record-founder-of-idepo-reporters-and-idepo-hawaii/ 

Your business requires you to be at your peak performance. You make decisions, serve clients and manage a team - isn’t it time that you felt better while doing it? Ollie Matthews is Rachel Gogos’ Health Coach. Today on The Business of You, Ollie helps us uncover some of the lifestyle changes that are holding us back, and what we can do about them. Ollie is a Health Coach, Nutritionist and Functional Medicine Doctor living in the UK. He works with stressed-out high-achieving entrepreneurs to help them revitalize their lives from the inside out! Ollie works with clients virtually and in-person. Ollie Matthews has over 17 years experience in health working with clients in 27 different countries - from the busiest entrepreneurs and parents to professional athletes including Tour de France riders and Olympic athletes. He is known for a very nontraditional method: He moves in with his clients! In a lot of cases, Ollie quite literally lives with his clients to help assess their lifestyle and help them break harmful patterns that are preventing them from living their most optimal lives.  Ollie is the Founder of OJay health. He hosts OJay Talk Radio, a monthly podcast about reaching optimal health. On the podcast he discusses hot topics such as insomnia, early-onset menopause and hormone balance, burnout and ADHD. It started with a loss Ollie was just a young teenager when his dad passed away. It was an event that changed his life forever. Ollie idolized his father and missed him terribly. It was also a time of great confusion. Ollie’s dad seemed perfectly healthy! He wasn’t overweight, he didn’t have any obvious signs of poor health…except for nagging migraines.  The loss of his father at such a young age set Ollie off on a lifelong journey to understand health. But it also triggered Ollie’s anxiety, sadness and a desire for control. After struggling with his weight after his father’s passing, Ollie fought to gain control of his health, but wound up developing an eating disorder. On the outside, he was winning bodybuilding competitions left and right - but he wasn’t healthy.  Now, Ollie shares that his loss of control in life led to his need for control in his own body. He discovered functional medicine, quit competing and found balance.  Ollie encourages us to approach lifestyle changes with curiosity and a desire to reset your foundation…not an obsession with perfection! Instead of selling supplements or presenting a fix-all solution, he trains his clients to start where it matters: Deep within. Doing the work starts with you Sure, you could take supplements and drink protein shakes! But Ollie Matthews is here to get to the root of it all.  After quitting the bodybuilding world and leaving corporate jobs behind, Ollie began exploring the world of functional medicine more seriously. Accredited as a Doctor of Functional Medicine, he empowers his patients to start at the root cause of their problems. When working intimately with his clients, he asks the foundational questions: What does your sleep schedule, nutrition, exercise, stress management and home environment look like? Are you taking care of yourself mentally and managing your stress? Ollie wants to help his clients avoid “masking” or avoidance techniques. Just like his own struggles were a manifestation of grief and trauma - what are you running away from that needs to be dealt with before you can move forward?  Ollie Matthews once helped Taylor Swift’s Manager. Frustrated and desperate for change, he hired Ollie to come to Nashville and support him - with the ultimate gift of giving his wife back the man she married over a decade before. At the end of their time together, his family was in tears thanking Ollie for his gifts. The stress of touring and managing a popular artist was wearing him down and affecting his entire life. Once he learned to manage his stress and make holistic changes, he became a better version of himself! What does your foundation look like? As a busy entrepreneur, it might seem overwhelming to focus on your health. So you might be wondering - where should you begin? Ollie starts with two things: Nutrition and exercise. Beginning with those two areas affects the most change. He encourages you to work with a nutritionist to figure out whether you’re getting enough protein, so that your brain can reach peak performance. He also recommends exercising every day in order to boost your immune system, clear out arterial plaque and stimulate a better mood.  Start with how you’re fueling and energizing your body, and watch your life-and your business-begin to transform.  Quotes “I thought having muscles would give me that confidence. But it brought up a lot of demons. I couldn’t control my dad passing away, or losing people. But I could control my food. So I became obsessed…and developed an eating disorder.” “A lot of people are going through stuff…but they don’t realize, this is going to help your life in a positive way.” “It’s not about the money for me…it’s about seeing that impact.” “I want to look at your foundation first. Unless you’re sleeping okay, getting good nutrition and managing stress, nothing works.” “Your gut health talks to your brain. When people can’t focus, I look at the body from a top-down perspective. What is the actual underlying cause?” “If we get our heart rate up and get our blood pumping, it helps with arterial clearance. It has a better chance of getting to the brain. It gives you much more energy for the rest of the day.” “I’m persistent, and if I don’t know the answer to something, I want to go out and try to find it. I’m driven to find out more so I can help more people.” Links mentioned in this episode: Check out Ollie Matthews’ website at www.ojayhealth.com  Listen to Ollie’s podcast, OJay Health Radio, at https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ojay-health-radio-health-optimization-for-the-worlds/id988469529?mt=2  Subscribe to Ollie’s Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCKkHLbH09IgCyNoVc_XLLA?reload=9 Connect with Ollie Matthews on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ollie-matthews-78460199/  Follow Ollie on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ojaymatthews 

If you have a process for everything except sales, you’ll benefit greatly from this encouraging pep talk from Jennifer Bleam. She’s here to discuss scaling your business, stepping out of your own way and reimagining the possibilities! Jennifer Bleam is the Owner and Founder of MSP Sales Revolution, a cybersecurity-focused company that teaches entrepreneurs to level-up their operations. She is a trusted educator and mentor for Managed Service Providers looking to dominate their marketplace and build the company of their dreams. Jennifer’s drive and expertise has led her to grow several multi-million dollar companies and divisions in under 2 years each. She has been featured in countless trade publications and podcasts and has been a guest speaker and trainer on stages around the world including North America, Australia, and Europe. To date, Jennifer has coached nearly 2,000 MSPs on effective sales and marketing to small and medium-sized businesses. Jennifer is a best-selling Author on Amazon for her book, Simplified Cybersecurity Sales For MSPs: The Secret Formula For Closing Cybersecurity Deals Without Feeling Slimy.  Jennifer is also a wife, and a mother of three boys. When she’s not occupying her role as a Speaker, Author and Founder, Jennifer enjoys traveling out of her home base on the East Coast. What got you here, isn’t going to get you there Now and then, Jennifer is on a call with a frustrated client. As a direct and authentic mentor, Jennifer asks them - “Why do you think you’re not seeing growth in your business?” When Jennifer sees businesses stagnate and plateau, they have something major in common - they haven’t truly scaled up. The Founder is still trying to do it all- refusing to step away and trust their team, wearing too many hats and burning out. It can be hard to delegate and let go of the reins, but MSP Sales Revolution is all about doing that mindfully! With humor and positivity, Jennifer gives us a helpful reminder that what got us where we are today, might not be exactly what will get us where we want to be. And that’s okay! Her 9-step process gives Founders and CEOs the practical tools they need to retain quality control in the company beyond the scale they’re currently in, launching them into exponential success.  Evaluate your desire role in your company As a Founder, you can’t do it all. Jennifer Bleam offers helpful advice on how to remain a visionary and decision-maker for your brand: Start hiring! Whether you begin with a single Virtual Assistant or a dozen, outsourcing administrative tasks can be your gateway to build an expansive company. It can also be a tough pill to swallow, but not everyone is meant to be an entrepreneur…and not everyone loves it! Her decades of experience have taught Jennifer that pride can get in the way of unhappy Founders evaluating their career. Through her coaching process, Jennifer teaches Founders to make the important decisions that affect their happiness and success: What their strengths are, what role to fill in their own company, how to hire, and how to scale.  What does scaling look like for you? Scaling can look different for different  companies. In this episode, Jennifer helps us understand some different ways companies scale and how any service provider can level up - if they’re ready to step up and rise to the occasion! Quotes “Many of my clients have woken up and said, you know what? What got me here is not gonna get me there.” “I have an MSP growth road map. It’s a 9-step system that all my clients walk through to get from Point A to Point B. Point A is usually, they’ve had some success but they don’t know how to document or measure or prove it. And Point B is, I now have a sales and marketing machine!” “I encourage my clients to hire as quickly as they can - starting with a Virtual Assistant or several Virtual Assistants to do administrative work. I don’t think it’s practical for an owner to run sales and marketing, be a visionary and make decisions about acquisition. That’s a recipe for disaster.” “We will never buy from someone we don’t know exists.” “We get very vulnerable. I ask, why are you calling today? There are certain companies that are stuck, and they’ve been stuck for ten or fifteen years. It’s usually because of the owner. The owner can’t get out of their own way. Or, they’re not willing to get uncomfortable.” “Not everybody is meant to be an entrepreneur. There are business owners who want to close and don’t want to define it as a failure. But it’s not a failure to say this isn’t working - let me close my doors and find something that I like better.” Links mentioned in this episode: Learn more about MSP Sales Revolution on their website at https://mspsalesrevolution.com/about/  Get freebies to expand and scale your business at https://mspsalesrevolution.com/freebies/  You can find Jennifer’s book on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jennifer-Bleam/author/B09TRYQZL2?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true  Connect with Jennifer Bleam on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/bleamjennifer   Follow Jennifer on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JenniferBleamOfficial/ 

Rachel Senior believes that your greatest business meetings are happening in your sleep. In today’s episode of The Business of You, Rachel will inspire and educate us on the power of dreams - for personal, professional and spiritual growth. Rachel Senior is a Pastor, an Author, a Songwriter, An Entrepreneur, and a professional Dream Coach. She is the Founder of Business of Dreams and The Dream College. Having been a uniquely gifted dreamer from early childhood, Rachel Senior has come into full awareness, through a number of personal dream encounters and manifested dream interpretations, the power of the Dream to create wealth, to build businesses, to advance corporations, and to save lives! She now takes the charge to activate this power all over the land. Rachel has a Masters in Psychology and an Education Specialist Degree in Curriculum & Instruction. She is the Author of The Business of Dreams: 5 Ways to Maximize the Linear Relationship Between Your Purpose, Your Business and Economic Success, and Your Dreams. She also wrote Hidden Wealth: 4 Things you Did Not Know about the Interrelation Between Wealth and Dreams and  Dreamsmen- The Final Combat.  Take your gifts seriously Rachel’s dreams have always been vivid. When she was younger, she felt embarrassed by her classmates’ reactions.  Especially when she had a negative or ominous dream about them, she hesitated to inform them. But when dream after dream came true, she began to realize that telling them about her dreams could have helpful implications.  Rachel’s dreams are an important reminder that even if something feels weird or socially awkward at first, our gifts are meant to be shared - and the right people will be grateful.  She recalls a time when she dreamt about a young woman she had gone to school with…a decade earlier. She saw the woman giving up on her aspirations of becoming a professional makeup artist, throwing away her makeup and supplies. Nervously, Rachel looked her up on social media. Abandoning her reservations, she messaged the woman. She called her immediately.  This woman had indeed been considering a career change. Depressed and frustrated, she wasn’t seeing results from her business. Discouraged by her lack of success, her light was beginning to fade. That’s when Rachel’s gift changed everything. Rachel talked her off a ledge, convincing her that triumph was closer than she thought. After her call with Rachel, she landed important contracts for her business, became a celebrity makeup artist and gained serious influence in the beauty industry.  How to become a better dreamer Rachel takes her dreams seriously - and she wants to convince you to do the same. She is here to tell you that your dreams are a gift, given to you by a higher power. And that a higher power has big exciting plans for you.  After going on her own dream journey, Rachel takes this podcast as an opportunity to help you become a better dreamer. To begin receiving powerful and life-changing dreams, you must first respect, honor and commit to them.  There are few steps to becoming a better dreamer. First, she recommends treating your sleep like a meeting with God. Regardless of your spiritual beliefs, she encourages you to consider this a time of divine communion. Show up to your meeting with the divine with an open heart, casting aside the worries and cares from the previous day.  Rachel suggests that you keep a notebook and pen on your bedside table and be ready to take notes in the morning or whenever you wake up. When you commit consistently to recording your dreams, you’re sure to start having more of them.  What do dreams mean for your business? While doing research, Rachel discovered that many entrepreneurs use their dreams to make big important decisions about their businesses - not just historically, but currently. Now, she coaches and hosts corporate seminars to teach Executive Leaders how to use their dream life to launch, expand and grow their businesses.  Using your dreams as a North Star, making intimidating decisions can feel effortless. If you’re stuck on how to write your book, what course to launch this year or how to grow your company, it’s time for you to get into alignment…in your sleep! Quotes “God absolutely speaks to me in my dreams.” “We’ve got to pay attention to our dreams.  We’re asking all these questions, we don’t know what our purpose is, and we have important decisions to make.”     “There was a time when I was like, I’m not telling anybody my dreams! But over time, I had to embrace that they are a gift I can utilize to help people. Even if the dream isn’t so good, it can help them prepare so it won’t be so bad.” “It was like God was saying, ‘Let me see how disciplined you’re going to be with these dreams’! Once I showed that I’m going to write them down and study them, it became easier to remember when I woke up. I write them down, record them or make little notes. You’ve got to make a habit of remembering them. Dreams don’t come through our conscious minds.” “I learned not to ignore my dreams. And in the process of me following my dreams, the downloads became instant. It was happening without me making an effort. I started writing my book. The courses started coming. Just because I said fine, I’ll do it!” “What greater way to coach, than through God-given information.” Links mentioned in this episode: Learn more about Business of Dreams and The Dream College at www.businessofdreams.net  Connect with Rachel Senior on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-senior-66b619100/  Follow Rachel Senior on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dreamcoachrachel/  Find Rachel on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100016230313576 

A great idea can create a better world. Bryan Clayton had an idea he believed in so much that he put it all on the line - and he’s so glad he did.  Bryan Clayton is the CEO and Co-Founder of GreenPal, an online marketplace that connects homeowners with local lawn care professionals. GreenPal has been called the Uber of lawn care by Entrepreneur magazine and has over 200,000 active users completing thousands of transactions per day. GreenPal makes finding a lawn care professional simpler than ever. Customers who want consistent and reliable service love GreenPal for access to high-quality professionals. And lawn care vendors love using GreenPal too - because they receive more work, get paid faster and cut down on marketing costs.  Before starting GreenPal, Bryan Clayton founded Peachtree Inc., one of the largest landscaping companies in the state of Tennessee, growing it to over $10 million a year in annual revenue before it was acquired by Lusa holdings in 2013. Bryan‘s interests and expertise are related to entrepreneurism, small business growth, marketing, and bootstrapping businesses from zero revenue to profitability and exit.  Always be helpful, no matter what Before Bryan had the idea for GreenPal, he owned a thriving lawn care business. It was doing so well that they were only taking large commercial contracts - turning away anything smaller than airports, malls and developments. He referred prospective clients to smaller lawn care businesses locally completely for free.  Bryan believes that we should always be helpful, no matter what. He continued showing up to refer business between vendors and customers - until he realized that he could build a service they would use every day. Seeing an opportunity to make larger and more lasting connections, Bryan developed the concept for GreenPal to make lawn care service seamless. Don’t cut corners, put the work in Bryan had never written code in his life. Bryan and his Co-Founders pooled their money to hire an app developing service - which was an expensive lesson. Despite their vision for the app, the development process was painful and ineffective. They realized that they needed to approach their idea differently and pivot. Not giving up, the three Founders got to work in separate spheres to make the business work - Zach Hendrix spent hours every day in an online software coding class, Bryan worked on front end development, and Gene Caballero worked PR and wrote content. They weren’t going to let their idea fail because of one expensive hurdle, and they knew it would pay off. Living on rice and beans, the Founders spent all of their time learning new skills.  Bryan discusses how painful but important this lesson was. He emphasizes the importance of skill-building, flexibility and customer feedback. In fact, after spending months wasting time on branding and mascot design, he realized that he could have hustled up a hundred customers instead.  He encourages entrepreneurs to remember the goal and abandon the fluff. What skills will truly drive your business forward? And are you spending enough time listening to the feedback your customers give?  Your brand is a promise When it comes to his approach to brand values, Bryan keeps it simple. He reminds us that a brand is a promise - to keep our word, show up and be helpful always.  Instead of focusing on lofty concepts and buzzwords, Bryan focuses on what keeps his business moving: Daily habits. His blue collar attitude translates perfectly into his new role as a tech Founder.  Quotes “GreenPal is a 10-year overnight success.” “If we were gonna be in the tech business, we needed to learn how to write code. We needed to literally build it ourselves. If you don’t know what it’s going to be, you can’t outsource it. You have to build it as you’re interacting with users.” “We had to pass out flyers all over Nashville Tennessee begging people to use this thing. And then we would meet with every one of them that would use it. And they would all tell us everywhere that the thing sucked. It broke and it didn’t work. But they never told us we didn’t need this. They were actually disappointed. And we took that as validation to keep going!” “In my Co-Founders…I was looking for two people who could live on rice and beans for a long time. We weren’t unicorns, we were cockroaches. You couldn’t kill us. We lived very cheaply.” “The first hundred or even thousand of your sales when you start a business should be hand-to-hand, should be manual. Then you know what processes and technology you need to build. You don’t know until you hand-crank it.” “It’s our job to load up the lawn care provider’s schedule with as much work as he or she wants to do. Make their life easier with getting paid quickly, not having to do marketing…basically, it’s a business in a box. They can make more money with less hassle, so that it makes sense for them to do business with GreenPal instead of the old way.” “We spent all this time thinking about branding…with no customers. We even designed a mascot, Gary the GreenPal. We spent like three months or longer with zero customer feedback. We wasted way too much time. We should have not worried about any of that. We should have hustled up one hundred customers first.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit GreenPal online at https://www.yourgreenpal.com/  Connect directly with Bryan Clayton on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-clayton-a96b33214   Follow Bryan on Instagram at https://instagram.com/bryanmclayton 

There is a lot to be learned from Paul Baron. Having been called a “serial entrepreneur” and referred to as “industry agnostic”, Paul is a restless and energetic visionary who recognizes opportunity everywhere he goes.  Paul Baron is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Wall Printer USA. He is responsible for all executive functions, assuring the corporation's growth and the success of businesses that purchase a Wall Printer.  Paul’s 40+ decades of business experience span B2B, B2C, retail, manufacturing, distribution, international business, and franchising. He has personally developed and launched concepts and supported successful revenue growth, leading to exits for several start-ups and established businesses. Paul thrives in rapid-growth and high-energy environments and values a diverse culture with good people who like to dream big, work hard, and have fun. He leads with a positive attitude, humor, and humility. An articulate communicator with outstanding public speaking and presentation skills, Paul is frequently asked to guest lecture at industry events. He mentors business owners and student interns at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW) and at UNCWs Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE.) Paul serves on advisory boards at UNCWs Business Schools Entrepreneurship track, at non-profit organizations, and privately held businesses in Wilmington, Atlanta, and NY. PAUL earned a BS in Mathematics with an education minor at the State University of New York at New Paltz and studied advanced Mathematics at the University of New Hampshire. In 2022, Louis Vuitton’s ‘200 Trunks, 200 Visionaries’ Exhibition Featured The Wall Printer in NYC on the Prestigious Madison Avenue. Passersby observed The Wall Printer constantly printing new designs on the wall behind the Louis Vuitton trunk display, in celebration of the 200th birthday of their eponymous founder. You'll find The Wall Printer beautifying walls indoors and out across the Western Hemisphere. The Wall Printer is quickly expanding throughout North America, Latin America, and the Caribbean. As Wall Printing businesses grow, the company will support them with tangible solutions, inks, parts, outstanding service, and marketing solutions to expand their successful wall printing services locally. Entrepreneurship is a mindset After Paul graduated, he went to work for someone else. He was never truly satisfied.  After asking for a deserved raise, Paul’s boss looked him in the eye and gave him a valuable piece of advice: When you work for someone else, you’ll never be paid as much as you feel you’re worth. This lesson stuck with Paul. While working to build other peoples’ dreams, we never get to chase our own - and wind up feeling unappreciated. Paul took those words to heart and he decided to go into business for himself.  Over the years, there were numerous opportunities to work under other leadership. But Paul had tasted freedom, and he loved it. His desire to manage his own time and creativity led to him honing his skills in negotiation, communication and strategy. Paul’s discovery is a powerful reminder to all entrepreneurs to know their worth.  Entrepreneurs look for exciting opportunities When it comes to launching businesses, Paul has some sage advice to share: Look for opportunity everywhere you go. He encourages us to keep an open mind. Ask yourself - What problem does this product or service solve? Who is best served by it? Where do I find those people? When Paul first heard about The Wall Printer, he was excited. But he didn’t jump in right away. He dutifully did his homework, researching ways to make the company successful in North America and beyond. After spending over a year looking into numbers and areas for improvement, Paul decided to take the leap.  Rather than sticking to a more traditional franchising model, Paul settled on a fresh new concept: The exclusivity model. Exclusivity agreements are a method of controlling the market - In this case, granting each company that buys a printer an exclusive area for growth. Paul doesn’t restrict the marketing or branding for The Wall Printer locations; He provides ongoing support for them as they grow and expand. Buyers can secure their own territory in North America or beyond. His goal is 1,000 territories in the United States - and he’s steadily working towards the mark. Leaders create opportunities for others Whether managing teams or building new business owners, Paul fosters leadership abilities in others.  Refusing to micromanage or obsess over details, Paul learned early in his entrepreneurship journey that his time had greater value elsewhere. He also saw the immense benefits of allowing others to lead - forming bonds between teams, creating opportunities for employees to shine and get recognized. The message is important - When you step back and allow people to use their strengths, they become future leaders.  Enjoy the lessons of serial entrepreneur Paul Baron on this episode of The Business of You! Quotes “I gained a reputation as someone who could take a foreign company’s product and identify high-value customers in the American audience. So, that’s what I did.” “Somebody once told me, ‘What makes a great leader and CEO is someone who is smart enough to hire the best people for the jobs that are needed… but wise enough to back off and let them do it!’” “More often than not, when you don’t stay in your own lane, you start doing more than you’re really capable of doing, and not what your time is best suited doing. When you back off… chances are, people will rise to the occasion. Teams will run better.” “I told myself, if I’m going to make this business a success, and I’m going to make my customers a success, I’m going to give them enough area exclusively to grow a business - with something nobody’s ever seen or heard about before. So that’s why I wanted the exclusivity model.” “Our community shares videos and success stories. That’s something we do for one another! We share those things because it works for everybody’s benefit.” “I went in to the owner of the company. I said that I was ready for a raise. He said something that I carry with me to this day. He said - ‘Paul, when you work for somebody, you’ll never earn what you think you’re worth.’” “A common thread of my businesses is that I’ve always had a partner. I’ve always enjoyed having a person who complements the skills that I do not have.” “I’ve always believed in cooperation over competition. We can always exchange ideas and work out financial agreements.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit the website for The Wall printer at https://thewallprinter.com/en/  Watch The Wall Printer in action in the Youtube video for the Louis Vuitton 200 Exhibition, celebrating the 200th birthday of the eponymous founder. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZkHd_bKsAU  Contact Paul Baron to become an owner at https://thewallprinter.com/en/contact-us/  Connect with Paul Baron personally on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/pbbaron/?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F 

Andy Mowat is on a mission to improve email, for everybody.  Andy is the CEO and Co-Founder of Gated - an easy, free service to help you reduce unsolicited email and support the nonprofit you love. Gated has been featured in TechCrunch, Protocol, PR Newswire, and Yahoo News. Gated was also listed prominently in Business Insider’s Most Promising Tech Startups of 2023. Gated, which is referred to as “noise-canceling headphones for email,” allows users to gatekeep their email inbox - by requiring senders to donate to their favorite nonprofit.  After beginning his career in Europe, speaking Czech and managing a finance team at Credit Suisse, Andy decided to dive into the world of email marketing. He built his career developing sales and marketing engines for leading technology companies like Upwork, Box, and Culture Amp. Today, Andy's vision and expertise sets the tone for the entire Gated team - as they build a solution and a movement to fix email, for everyone.  Andy leads with a business brain, but sets his company apart with a heart for giving. He believes that Gated can change the world through the enduring power of email.  The inception of an idea Andy Mowat has sent billions of emails. He admits to being a mass emailer - and causing a lot of pain. Andy and his team were observing a trend of lower and lower reply rates. People were burnt out, annoyed and overwhelmed by their spam-filled inboxes. Nothing felt personal anymore. Andy was not just tired of being a spammer - he was sick of receiving spam, too. Tired of being part of the problem, Andy came up with a creative idea to stop the send. In a moment of inbox overwhelm, he shot out one more mass email. It said, “I don’t know you. But here’s my Venmo. If you spend ten cents and donate to my favorite nonprofit,  I’ll guarantee that I’ll read your email.” It worked.  People donated ten cents and got through to him. But more often, people donated $5, $10 or even $20, and they weren’t upset about it. It was a social experiment gone right.  Andy had figured out that people needed a way to filter emails more effectively. Senders needed to take an action to get through to the recipient, proving that they were real people with a desire to connect. But the icing on top of the cake was the fact that they were giving back, making the world a more connected place and supporting causes people truly care about. Changing behavior requires risk and curiosity Andy is very adamant about the money going to charity. After all, he insists that the recipient keeping the money would “come across the wrong way”.  Asking senders politely to please support important causes creates just the right amount of social debt - requiring an action, creating space for connection and furthering the brand awareness of remarkable nonprofits. He credits this decision for the overwhelmingly positive response to Gated.  Not everyone is on board when they initially hear how Gated works. Andy shares that people often undergo a dramatic thought process when being asked for a donation - Disbelief, sometimes irritation, consideration, curiosity, and then genuine interest. Despite being asked for money, Andy finds that most recipients respond with excitement in the end. Most even end up signing up for Gated themselves.  Creative solutions for modern problems One of the most important things about Gated? It works. Since founding the company, Andy has observed trends of behavior changing. Just as users were skeptical about Uber, DoorDash, Venmo and even Google, he believes that Gated will become a household name.  Gated increases reply rates. When replying, recipients are more thoughtful with their responses and more eager to connect. It’s a service that aims to help everybody - effectively fixing emails for both buyers and sellers.  Quotes “Our vision is to fundamentally rewire how marketing is done.” “I believe email should be personal. It should be one-to-one. How do we create incentives for person-to-person communication? The idea is, if you send an email, you should want a reply.” “I love helping. But in the past, I had always separated my business side from my giving side.” “I honestly think Gated doesn’t work if we don’t have a nonprofit. If we’re like hey, pay me money to reach me - it just comes across wrong!” “I started this to address the fundamental problem of digital noise, which is getting worse and worse. How do we solve this? And nonprofits became part of it.” “This is a behavioral change model and it’s really interesting. There are a lot of really interesting behavior changes because of what we’re doing.” “The only way to change the way the world behaves is to give it away for free to everybody.” Links mentioned in this episode: Sign up for Gated at https://www.gated.com/  Send Andy Mowat a personal email by donating to his favorite nonprofit! Connect with him at andy@gated.com to get a thoughtful response. Send Andy a message on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/amowat/ 

Tissa Richards wears cowboy boots to every meeting. Every day, she shows up as her authentic self - and she’s here to encourage you to do the same! Tissa is a repeat technology founder and CEO on a mission to create a legion of leaders with an unshakable sense of self. As an Executive Coach, she teaches C-Suite professionals how to articulate their value propositions, stand out, be memorable, and get hired. Tissa has founded, invested in, and run software companies in Silicon Valley. She holds over a dozen software patents and has won awards for her valuable software products. As a keynote speaker and facilitator, Tissa Richards helps leaders and rising stars from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies create blueprints that nurture diverse and emerging talent. Tissa works with the world’s largest private equity and investment firms and corporations as well as innovative startups. She speaks globally on topics affecting executives and leaders.  Tissa’s inaugural business book, No Permission Needed, is a useful guide to a successful career trajectory at the executive level. Designed as a workbook, No Permission Needed is your #1 resource to help you become your own most powerful advocate. She dedicates herself to help foster innovation, engagement,long-term value, and lift up all team members for equal voices and meaningful contributions. Pivoting is okay - and even necessary Tissa Richards was a successful CEO and Tech Founder. Frequently the only woman in the room, Tissa created software that she patented. She had caught the startup bug, and launched project after project in a hyper-competitive industry.  At the height of her achievement, Tissa came to a troubling realization: She was totally burnt out. Exhausted and depleted, she decided to step back. In a culture that glamorizes the grind and rewards obsession, Tissa made the difficult decision to take time away. It may have been the best choice she ever made. While on leave, she began receiving offers from companies wanting her to consult. Major brands had questions, and she had the answers. She resolved to make her knowledge her next business, and Tissa Richards Executive Leadership Training was established. Money and values are not created equally When Tissa began raising capital as a young entrepreneur, she didn’t ask enough questions. If she were to give other Founders valuable advice, it’s this: Get to know your investors.  Naive and new to asking for large sums of money, Tissa believed that all money would propel her forward. But now, she knows differently. When asked why, she says that a thousand dollars from two different investors has different implications. Her advice is to get to know investors and their motivations. What are their values? What is their mission? Are your visions for the world aligned? By knowing what is important to you, you will ask the questions that will yield the best funding from the right people. Know yourself, grow your business Tissa Richards believes in authenticity - not just as a buzzword, but as a daily practice. Her coaching and speaking are founded on the belief that what sets you apart as a person and as a leader, is the secret sauce that adds value to the world.  Finding your unique value can help you reach your career goals. Whether you’re trying to set yourself apart in interviews, present to your senior executives for a promotion, manage a team effectively or build your brand, showing up as yourself can help you use your strengths to stand apart from the rest. Tissa is an expert at personal and professional branding - and she is here to encourage us to be ourselves in business and life! Quotes “If you’re not thriving, your company won’t thrive.” “I thought I was writing my book for women. But I’ve had a lot of men reach out and tell me that it really resonated with them. I was surprised, because you want to be specific and go narrow. But the premise of the book is, who are you? You want to know that and do that in a really unapologetic way, both about the value you bring to your work and the values you operate with as a leader.” “We do a lot of talking about what we do and how we do it…and we don’t talk enough about why it matters. Frontloading with why it matters and then using that to activate talking about what you do - that’s a great way to get hired, stand out and have an executive presence. That’s how you accelerate your career.” “When asked about their values, people like to say - I lead with compassion. I lead with empathy. But I like to go one level down and say, tell me why! Those are great aspirational statements, but if we can’t get to the heart of why that’s important and how it creates results, then it’s empty. If you articulate it, it helps people know the brand and your values.” “Every day, I look at my calendar and get really excited! That’s when you know you’re really thriving.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit Tissa Richards’ website at www.tissarichards.com  Connect with Tissa Richards on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/tissa-richards/  Take an online course or join a Coaching Cohort with Tissa at https://www.tissarichardsleadership.com/  Purchase Tissa’s book, No Permission Needed, on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Permission-Needed-Leadership-Potential-Self-Doubt-ebook/dp/B0BF7G3X5H  Find No Permission Needed on Audible at https://www.audible.com/pd/No-Permission-Needed-Audiobook/B0BHTWLQ9T 

Kudoboard is a product designed to make people happy. It helps you recognize your employees, celebrate your coworkers and send your friend the most meaningful card they’ve ever received. It was created by Aaron Rubens - a former teacher who dreamed of better ways to communicate positivity in the workplace and beyond. Aaron Rubens is the CEO and Co-Founder of Kudoboard. Aaron is a Tulane graduate with an MBA from Harvard Business School. His early career was focused on education, having taught high school math at Alta Vista Charter School in Kansas City, joining a highly selective national service corps, Teach for America. Since Aaron first had the idea to create Kudoboard, the company has added Co-Founder Kyler Deutmeyer and a growing team of 20+ employees. Kudoboard is in use by many of the world’s top organizations including TMobile, LinkedIn, GoFundMe, Airbnb, Shopify and Webflow. Kudoboard has received positive reviews in the media from Harvard Business Review, Lifewire and Business Insider.  This brand story began with appreciation It started with a simple idea: Aaron’s colleague at Teach for America suggested that they lead their math students in an appreciation exercise.  Each student wrote their name on a piece of paper and passed it around. The rest of the class took turns writing notes of praise and recognition. It made a deep and lasting impact. For years after their students graduated, Aaron would run into them - and they would all mention how special it was. Many of them still keep their piece of paper, referring to the kind words whenever they need a burst of positivity and encouragement.  It sparked an idea for Aaron Rubens - to create a tool that helps people efficiently share appreciation with their friends, families, students and employees.  Celebrate the moments that matter Soon after he graduated, Aaron was brainstorming ideas for his friend’s thirtieth birthday. He built the first Kudoboard: A mashup of videos from friends around the country, to celebrate his friend’s birthday with everyone no matter where they were. It was a magic moment. Everyone loved making the Kudoboard, and his friend loved receiving it.  Don’t wait to start until you have every piece of the puzzle Before Kudoboard had software engineers and a CMO, it had Aaron Rubens. He wasn’t a software specialist, but he was going to do whatever it took to build it.  Aaron started small, by building out Google forms and having people fill them out. He then built them into Powerpoints. The first Kudoboards were made manually by Aaron himself. When he pitched the idea to his Co-Founder, Aaron had something meaningful to show for all of his work - emotional and compelling testimonials from people who had made and received boards. Passionately, Aaron invited him to explore what Kudoboards could look like if they were more streamlined - making it possible for hundreds of people to spread appreciation to others.  People invest in what matters to them When Aaron launched Kudoboard, he didn’t intend to charge for it. After discussing it with his Co-Founder, he decided that it added enough value to make it a paid product. They expected the amount of users to drop, but the opposite occurred - users began seeing Kudoboard as a high-value gift and the amount of customers exploded. Large organizations began using Kudoboard for quarterly workplace celebrations. Now, companies are also using Kudoboard to celebrate Pride Month, welcome new hires and even share exciting job offers with new recruits.  There is so much to learn about using authentic encouragement and appreciation in the workplace. In today’s episode, you’ll be inspired to discover new ways of building a positive work culture! Quotes “There really is this power in giving people permission to say something positive to someone else. But oftentimes, people need that opening. If you can give it to them, that can be something really special.” “If not everyone is in the office every day, how do we keep them feeling like one team…but not in a heavy-handed way? This is meant to be one of those light-touch tools that keeps people feeling like part of the greater thing they’re working towards.” “Kudoboard tends to be for quarterly shout-out boards. Or it’s pride month and there’s a board for that. Kudoboard creates moments in time that matter to an organization, and they pull their employees in to celebrate.” “It’s not another endless feed of content. It creates moments that matter, that we pull people in around.” “We’re building out the features to make Kudoboard highly useful for larger organizations. We want to make it highly secure and integrated with their other platforms. Longer term, we’re going to continue to build out the usefulness.” “In recruiting - when someone gets an offer, they can receive a Kudoboard from the hiring team that interviewed them, telling them that they’re super excited to have them on board. It’s all about those little personal touches. If they get three great offers, it’s a gut call. It can be helpful to set a business apart.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit the website for Kudoboard at www.kudoboard.com  Connect with Aaron Rubens on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronrubens/  Connect with Kudoboard’s Co-Founder Kyler Deutmeyer on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyler-deutmeyer-4739a57?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fkyler-deutmeyer-4739a57  Follow Kudoboard on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/kudoboard Discover innovative and culture-building methods of using Kudoboard in your workplace on their Youtube channel. Subscribe at https://www.youtube.com/@kudoboard7945/videos 

Chris Williams and his team are on a mission: To help you get your time back, fully enjoy your life and make more money. Chris is the Founder and CEO of Group Coach Nation, a company that teaches industry experts how to build high-ticket masterminds. Group Coach Nation has been featured in Heart & Hustle, The Lucky Titan, and 51Blocks.  Chris Williams is a masterful entrepreneur - who doesn’t have a car, He spends most of his time raising his five kids, exploring world communities, and trying his hand at adventures like shark diving, ice climbing, running ultra-marathons, and riding electric skateboards. He believes in the value of fun, freedom and exploration - and created his business to help you do the same. Chris has 20+ years of experience building hyper-profitable business models. After leaving his job in finance, Chris launched Senthold, a strategic consulting company that primarily partners with surgeons. After analyzing sets of marketing data for medical practices, Chris and his team noticed trends that stood out. Using data only, they built a highly profitable marketing system. It was so effective that Chris would accept a range of payment options - Up front or on a performance-based, profit-share structure. His clients got the results they wanted and Chris became wildly successful.  Now, Chris teaches others to build their own masterminds. During this powerful conversation, he will be sharing his expertise on how to find your niche, how to make more money, how to free up your time, and ultimately how to enjoy your life to the fullest. It all began with a business book Before Chris was the Founder and CEO of multiple successful companies, he was a burnt-out entrepreneur missing his kids. He realized that he needed to reclaim his time, rediscover what he loved and built systems that served his lifestyle. Like many entrepreneurs, Chris Williams had heard of the book The 4-Hour Work Week by author Tim Ferriss. After briefly skimming it, he laughed it off.  Months later, Chris downloaded the audiobook and listened casually while he was raking leaves in his yard. After a few moments, he set his rake down - and opened up his notes app.  What happened next was a whirlwind journey. Chris created a mind map, essentially breaking down what he really needed to focus on. By cutting out distractions and building better business systems, he could free up more time. He ended up easily doing exactly that - and made more money in the process! In just four months, Chris was only working four hours a day - and quadrupled his income.   Chris’s advice to entrepreneurs: Follow the data As busy entrepreneurs, we get overwhelmed with our workload, our visionary ideas and our commitments. It can be difficult to know what to focus on!  Chris’s advice for us is pretty simple - we need to start following the data. He recommends that we get clarity by writing down the ten most profitable projects we’ve worked on in the last year. Looking at these projects, take note of common threads. Moving forward, you can dramatically increase your income by doing more of the projects that make you more money - and developing systems to simplify and duplicate those projects.  What could you do to systematize your business? What could you delegate to free up your time? The answers to these questions will help you decide what you should be focusing on.  If you can teach it, they will come After Chris built Senthorn, he had people offering to take him out to lunch and pick his brain. After all, he had built a wildly successful marketing company…in a field that was entirely new to him. How did he do it? He realized that he could monetize this knowledge, making an income by selling this information to others. He encourages you to do the same.  What are you great at, that brings value to yourself and others? What do people talk to you about, and ask you questions about? You could create a profitable course on that subject in just 8-12  weeks, with the help of professionals at Group Coach Nation! Quotes “Anything you can learn how to do, you can teach it to someone else and they’ll pay you for it.” “Once we get time, all of the sudden opportunities become so obvious. We just need time and space to think.” “If you’re really focused on what your prospect’s needs are and you truly think you can help them, then taking their money is okay. If you really don’t think you can help that client, taking their money is unethical.” “Once I was free from the time constraints of work - which gave me opportunities to heal my heart in other ways - I didn’t want to go back. So I wanted to start an information-based business without filling up my calendar.” “What is the highest profit value thing that takes the least amount of your time? Do that. Cut things out that don’t keep up with that initial project.” “Niche or no niche? Everybody talks about that. The way to find your niche is to look back at the ten most profitable things you’ve done in the past year. Look at those ten and find the commonality. The next ten gigs you do need that common thread. You’ll get deeper down a path that is more profitable and takes less time.” “My team and I are on a mission to help you take your knowledge and expertise and actually make a living off it. Ask yourself, how do I sell my information for the highest price?” Links mentioned in this episode: Check out Group Coach Nation at https://groupcoachnation.com/  Connect with Chris Williams on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriswilliamshq/?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F  Follow Chris Williams on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/chris.williamshq/  Get your own copy of the 4-Hour Work Week on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/4-Hour-Workweek-Escape-Live-Anywhere/dp/0307465357/ref=asc_df_0307465357/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312106851030&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8665366581156340730&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031326&hvtargid=pla-433366776920&psc=1  Read more about Senthold at https://www.senthold.com/ 

Carrie Richardson is a successful entrepreneur, having scaled three service-based businesses from zero to seven figures in the last ten years. But she got her start in an unexpected place: In a fitness center, cleaning weights at four in the morning.  This is the compelling story of how Carrie earned her sobriety, built multiple award-winning companies, met her husband and started a thriving consulting company. It serves as a great reminder that no matter what rung of the ladder you’re on, you can climb all the way to the top.  Carrie Richardson founded Managed Sales Pros in Winnipeg, MB, Canada in 2013, and Everywhere Managed LLC in Las Vegas, NV in 2016 until its sale in 2020.  Carrie began her business as a solopreneur making phone calls by herself - and the demand for outbound cold calling quickly surpassed her ability to fulfill on her own. Carrie bootstrapped a home-based business into two award-winning niche-focused call centers. Carrie graduated from the Eureka Project Technology Incubator in 2016, the same year Managed Sales Pros was named the 25th fastest-growing company in Canada by Profit Magazine. Everywhere Managed was founded in 2016 to support US-based technology manufacturers that required US-based outbound sales development teams. Everywhere Managed hired almost exclusively out of workforce reentry programs in Nevada. Carrie and her team developed a one-of-a-kind on-the-job training program for technology sales. The Everywhere Managed unique approach to employee development earned Carrie an Athena Leadership nomination for advancing women in the workforce. Everywhere Managed was 100% female owned and managed, and all executive team members were promoted from within after being outbound agents. Carrie was inducted into the Las Vegas Women’s Hall of Fame for the achievement, and to date has been the launch pad for two successful entrepreneurs, four sales development leaders (six figure earners with stock in fast-growing tech firms) and has helped over 50 employees move from social assistance to self-sufficiency. In October 2020, the omnichannel marketing agency EBQuickstart acquired Everywhere Managed. In 2021, Carrie co-founded Richardson & Richardson with her husband Ian to help small business owners create and execute process-driven, repeatable sales and marketing programs after they have solved for all systemic challenges in their business. Carrie has found that most companies start out believing they have a sales or marketing problem, when in reality they are also experiencing financial, service delivery, staffing, and communication challenges that are impacting their ability to win and retain clients. Richardson & Richardson Consulting helps to identify areas for improvement in those areas and beyond. Carrie’s journey began with a powerful origin story Carrie always loved selling. She was self-taught, a natural born salesperson. But when she decided to get sober, she faced unexpected obstacles: Sales jobs usually came with boozy lunches that made it easy to fall off the wagon.  Being a determined and process-minded person, Carrie saw that her course had to change. She quit sales and landed a job at a gym with a four a.m. shift.  Carrie had to clean the gym, answer the phones, and stand at the front desk while she worked to become a certified personal trainer. It was hard, humbling work. Setting her ego aside, Carrie meticulously scrubbed the weights clean every morning - and was spotted by the manager.  Soon after, she was called into the office. Thinking she was going to get fired, she was surprised when her manager told her that she deserved a big promotion - with a massive pay raise. Carrie never forgot that moment. Someone gave her a chance and believed in her. Her work was recognized. It inspired her to build companies that truly support people - no matter what they’re going through.  When Carrie left her job at the gym, she decided to return to sales. It wasn’t long before she started her own company staffed with telemarketers niched into the world of IT.  A lesson in giving people a chance When she started her own call centers, Carrie encountered major staffing challenges. As she jokes herself, nobody grows up wanting to become a telemarketer - and HR was wasting time chasing candidates who did not want the job.  This challenge led Carrie to think creatively. She decided to begin hiring candidates from economic development agencies. Many were coming to work from jail or rehab, and many were experiencing food and housing insecurity. Carrie saw an opportunity to help them succeed.  The call centers hired people who needed positive work experience and even provided food and housing support. Carrie got to watch them build better lives - buying their first cars, getting married, having children and even starting their own businesses. Some of her former employees have launched their very own call centers, using systems they learned working at Everything Managed. After being given a chance herself, Carrie handed out second chances to hundreds of individuals, effectively changing the lives of them and their families. Carrie’s advice to entrepreneurs: Build it better Carrie Richardson loves numbers, and she hates wasted time. When asked about her greatest advice for beginning entrepreneurs, she recommends that we focus our marketing efforts on things that produce real, tangible results.  Rather than just shooting out messages on LinkedIn and hoping for a response, Carrie suggests that you take stock of what works for you, and what doesn’t. Is your website working for you? Are your cold calls being answered? Are you getting the results you want? If not, it might be time to refocus your energy - or hire Richardson & Richardson Consulting for professional guidance. Quotes “Most IT companies - like most other companies - start their business and grab a couple clients that are low-hanging fruit. They might take a couple from the previous company they worked for, or they build their business initially by supporting their parents’ friends. But they’re only used to closing referral-based sales appointments. They build up their company entirely from word of mouth and referrals. When these leads stop coming in, they don’t know what to do. By the time they call a company like mine, they should have called a year before!” “I don’t think you should ignore any opportunity to prospect. Try all of it. Measure it and see if you can improve on it! If you see that sending twenty LinkedIn messages means that two will respond, awesome. How do you get three people to respond? But don’t just send out messages all day, willy-nilly. To me, that’s not sales or marketing because it can’t be measured.” “Your website should translate to dollars out the bottom of your funnel. But most people aren’t measuring it.” “Work with professionals up front. Make major investments in viability before you start investing in head count.” “What are you measuring? What KPI’s are you reporting on? What are your accountability checkpoints?” “We hired people right out of jail, and right out of rehab. They might not have made it past screening for other jobs. Some were experiencing food insecurity or homelessness. We had a food bank in our office. If you were struggling between paychecks, we had resources. We provided breakfast and lunch for everyone. We helped people pay for apartments.” “We started watching peoples’ lives change. They would come in to work after getting their hair done, for the first time since starting work for us. They would buy their first car, get married, or have a baby. Watching peoples’ lives change was incredible.” “We worked with economic development agencies. They had people who were like, ‘Help me find a job! I need to work.’” “Yeah, this is your job today - but let me tell you about my life. Let me tell you where all of this took me! Cleaning the handles of some weights took me to a job that allowed me to save enough money to train with UFC kickboxers in Thailand. I did so many amazing things. And all of them came from being humble enough to take a job that I thought was a little bit beneath me.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit the website for Richardson & Richardson Consulting at https://randr.consulting/  Watch on Youtube: “Make Smart Business Decisions with Carrie Richardson”, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CICPia7wA4  Listen to Carrie and Ian Richardson’s podcast, “What’s Important Now,” on Buzzsprout: https://win.buzzsprout.com/  Connect with Carrie Richardson on LinkedIn at http://LinkedIn.com/in/tinfoilhat2

In the second part of our conversation with George Howell, you’ll hear the story of how he influenced the global coffee market, increased quality standards and improved the lives of thousands of people. George Howell is a passionate coffee connoisseur. His career in coffee began in the 1970’s, when he opened an art café in Harvard Square. Combining his deep love for roasting with his dedication to Mexican indigenous artists, George’s cafés gained a devoted following. Now, George Howell Coffee shops are expanding across the East coast in the Boston area. As the Founder, George spends his time educating and traveling with his daughter Jenny in pursuit of the finest coffee beans in the world.  George Howell was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Specialty Coffee Association of America in 1996, for having raised specialty coffee quality standards to a new level through his Massachusetts-based company The Coffee Connection (1974 – 1994). He had grown The Coffee Connection into 24 company-owned stores in the Northeast and sold his high-quality popular coffee company to Starbucks in 1994.  In 1997, George worked on models of economic sustainability for coffee farmers under the United Nations and the International Coffee Organization. This led directly to the founding of the precedent-setting Cup Of Excellence program in 1999; it established the world’s first international estate coffee competition and international internet auction that mightily contributed to breaking the commodity/price cycle for craftsman farmers in the specialty coffee industry. George Howell is a pioneer of the fair trade system. Working in partnership with quality producers, George’s company pays top prices for green coffees, far exceeding Fair Trade pricing.  Giving the people what they want George Howell wishes we would all drink black coffee. But back in the 1980’s, he realized that crowd pleasing drinks were a hit…and decided to help create one.  In this episode, George tells the real story behind the frappuccino: He didn’t invent it. After visiting Seattle with a friend, he tried a version of the frappuccino and sought out to create a version of it for The Coffee Connection. He tasked his Manager and Marketer Andrew Frank with perfecting the formula, and Andrew did so much more than that - he coined the name frappuccino. It took off.  The idea exploded, turning their slow summers into record-breaking profit months. Customers loved the frozen caffeine drink and told their friends all about it. New versions of it popped up around the United States. Not only was America hooked on coffee - we were getting experimental with it. The quest for quality and the start of a competition Above all else, George considers himself an educator. After The Coffee Connection was acquired by Starbucks in 1994, he traveled Brazil with The International Coffee Relations Group to connect with coffee farmers.  He noticed that Brazil was not yet keeping up with Kenya, which was selling their beans at auction for double the usual fee. On a mission to help Brazilian farmers, he started test farms. They started simple, adding a new improvement each year. They designed tests to help prove that production improvements increase quality and profit.  Their tests were working when the program was suddenly halted. On a mission to prevent their research from being wasted, George brainstormed a solution.  He created the Cup Of Excellence program, encouraging a quality competition amongst coffee producers. He promised the winners ten cents above the current market value, and he suddenly had three hundred participants. The Brazilian market took off. Enjoy this fascinating second half of our conversation with George Howell. If you love coffee, you’ll appreciate it even more knowing that every cup you drink was impacted by George himself. Quotes “What has sustained me is a need to educate.” “Our invention of the frappuccino was the name. It took off! It made our summers go from being the least income-producing to being equal to any other quarter…literally overnight.” “It was in 1988 when I went to Kenya and Costa Rica. I discovered how extraordinary, and how difficult it was to make great quality coffee.” “I was invited to be part of the International Coffee Relations Group, at the International Coffee Association. We met four times a year, talking about issues, relationships and quality. We talked about what could be done to promote those issues.” “I would travel and lecture - I would talk about the fast growth of specialty coffee, visiting one farm after the other. We created model farms where we had various farm owners where they would start from scratch. Each year they would add a quality improvement. We would see, was it more profitable at each level? We wanted to make the point that it was more profitable with each improvement we made.” “We communicated to farmers that if they won the competition, they would get a minimum of ten cents over the current market value. By promising that, we got three hundred farmers to participate.” “I had learned in ‘88 and ‘89 that Kenya was selling all their coffee at auction! And they were selling at about double everything else on the market. They went through a lot to get that quality.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit the website for George Howell Coffee at https://georgehowellcoffee.com/  Follow George Howell Coffee on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/ghowellcoffee/?hl=en and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GHowellCoffee/ 

If you walk down any American main street, you’ll find a coffee shop or three. If you love coffee, you can thank George Howell: The man that grew the culture behind coffee consumption in the United States and beyond. George Howell is a renowned entrepreneur and the Founder of George Howell Coffee. He has been expanding the art, appreciation and knowledge of fine coffee roasting since the 1970’s.  George is a powerful storyteller, telling us how he spent the past 50+ years spreading unbridled enthusiasm for coffee, art and fair trade practices. George Howell was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Specialty Coffee Association of America in 1996, for having raised specialty coffee quality standards to a new level through his Massachusetts-based company The Coffee Connection (1974 – 1994). He had grown The Coffee Connection into 24 company-owned stores in the Northeast and sold his high-quality popular coffee company to Starbucks in 1994. He returned to coffee-traveling worldwide, and in 1997 worked on models of economic sustainability for coffee farmers under the United Nations and the International Coffee Organization. This led directly to the founding of the precedent-setting Cup Of Excellence program in 1999; it established the world’s first international estate coffee competition and international internet auction that mightily contributed to breaking the commodity/price cycle for craftsman farmers in the specialty coffee industry. George Howell is a pioneer of the fair trade system. While founding George Howell Coffee, he sought quality producers that were just as passionate about outstanding coffee as he was. To this day, George Howell Coffee pays these farms top prices for green coffees, far exceeding Fair Trade pricing. In order to assure mutual education and trust, George and his daughter Jenny visit the farmers they work with and form lasting partnerships.  Enjoy Part One of this Two-part series with entrepreneur, connoisseur and compelling storyteller George Howell. Great entrepreneurs lead with passion and purpose George grew up in New Jersey then Mexico City, raised with a love of language, art and culture. Before George began roasting coffee, he discovered Mexican indigenous Huichol artists.  Quickly realizing that their work was unappreciated, he sought to help Huichol artisans show their work on the national stage. He was met with condescension. Defined as ‘folk artists’, the Huichol peoples’ work was devalued and discarded. But George saw what we see today - that these artists produced work that was every bit as thoughtful, unique and important as European painters and muralists.  Meanwhile, George developed a love for coffee - which he did not yet see as a business opportunity. George was determined to bring Huichol art into museums on the East coast. He and his pregnant wife, Laurie packed their two children into the car and headed East. He packed his french press and coffee grinder. The family stopped at Howard Johnson’s motor lodges along their route and George would grind their coffee in the mens’ restrooms, leaving behind a captivating aroma most Americans had never smelled before. After using hot water to brew their coffee right there in diners and parking lots, people would come up to them and ask, “What are you doing?” Big things begin with simple ideas Showing art wasn’t paying the rent. George and Laurie got to work thinking of things they could do to make money, help artists and make an impact. This led to the creation of The Coffee Connection - named by Laurie Howell. The Coffee Connection was a simple idea: The Howell’s wanted to share their love of art and coffee with the world. It combined two things they cared about, paid the bills and built community. They never could have hypothesized the growth and scale their dream would take over the next few decades. After an initial press boom and surviving the coffee freeze that hit Brazil in 1975, The Coffee Connection continued to expand. During the height of the espresso obsession of the 1980’s and 90’s, they were adding a new café every two years. After rebuffing Starbucks’ advances multiple times, The Coffee Connection was successfully acquired by Starbucks in 1994, led by CEO Howard Schultz.  An exciting coffee comeback After The Coffee Connection was sold to Starbucks, George devoted himself to transforming the coffee industry for the better. He worked on sustainable farming and coffee production policies at the United Nations and the International Coffee Organization. He was making the impact he always wanted to make - but he found himself longing to return to the formation of new cafés.  Be sure to tune into Part Two of our conversation with George Howell to hear how George Howell launched his signature East-coast cafés, further developing coffee culture and nurturing a love for quality coffee unlike any other. Quotes “It became a ritual to wake up to a great cup of coffee - no milk, no sugar because it was good just the way it was.” “We moved East, by car with two kids and number three on the way. It was February or March 1974. I brought coffee with me, and a little french press and grinder, just for Laurie and me. We stopped at the Howard Johnson’s along the way. I would grind the coffee in the mens’ rooms, always leaving the bathrooms smelling a lot better after we left. And we would order hot water…like, for tea. We’d brew our coffee right there at the Howard Johnson’s. We’d always have two or three people who were having breakfast there who would come up and say, ‘what are you doing! What’s that!’” “We realized that we could win on both sides by opening up a café where we could exhibit art and sell great coffee.” “The enthusiasm was so incredible. Literally within the first three months, we were overwhelmed with customers coming in there. The media was coming in. The locals were coming and filming us!” “We were successful with the people we were hiring because they were so enthused. We learned very quickly that the best salespeople were the people who spread the excitement by contagion. That was the best you could ask for!” “I’d rather go broke selling great coffee than make a fortune selling garbage.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit the website for George Howell Coffee at https://georgehowellcoffee.com/  Follow George Howell Coffee on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/ghowellcoffee/?hl=en and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GHowellCoffee/ 

Alexandra Nicole Nolan didn’t mean to become an influencer. But she created a six-figure brand from thin air with sheer determination, creative thinking and resilience.  Now on The Business of You, Alexandra shares some of her hard-earned lessons on the power of influencer marketing and unconventional entrepreneurship! Alexandra, featured on Yahoo’s Most Inspiring Influencers list, is a self-made digital entrepreneur, Founder of City Chic Living Blog and The UE Academy, and mother of three boys. She obtained her MBA from the University of Memphis, studied International Business Studies at Bournemouth University in England, is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Marketing, and has appeared in Forbes, as well as many other notable national publications.  Through her passion as a women empowerment speaker and mentor to many small business owners, Alexandra is paving the way for aspiring entrepreneurs all over the world.  Today, Alexandra shares some of the funniest, wildest and most fascinating stories behind her brand.  Surprise, you’re on the Superbowl! When Alexandra was asked to make a video review for Everlywell, she was on board. She used the at-home testing kits for gut health, hormone testing and more. A while after submitting her video, she received a littany of texts from her friends - “Hey, do you know you’re on the Superbowl?!” She was surprised and amused to see that she was front and center in an Everlywell ad during the Superbowl, giving them a rave review. Many people would be annoyed that their video rights were open for use at any time - but Alexandra took this as an important lesson. Now, she laughs about it as she tells the story. She reads her contracts thoroughly or consults her husband, who is a Contract Attorney. Through lessons like these, she learns the ins and outs of her chosen business and how to successfully partner with big brands. Personal branding wins and knee-scrapes When it comes to her brands, Alexandra has had some big wins. She has also experienced what she calls knee-scrapes…things that serve as lessons for later.  Now pursuing her Ph.D. in Marketing, Alexandra jokes about her crash-course in business as she launched, grew and sold multiple highly successful brands in fashion and beauty. From what to name your business to understanding your competition, Alexandra gets real about what worked and what didn’t. How do Influencers get paid? Alexandra breaks down some of the most common ways Influencers make their money - helping us understand why Influencer marketing is so powerful.  Thinking of leveraging your audience and growing your brand? You can make money through paid posts, paid Instastories, blog and newsletter promos, making video recommendations, affiliate links, hosting events, and ads…the list goes on! During this episode, Alexandra shares her main sources of income and how she balances paid posts with her own personal content.  Quotes “I didn’t aspire to be an influencer. I just had no money to market my store! I started a blog taking selfie pictures in my clothes. I shared makeup looks. Brands started noticing and reaching out.” “You have family on one side of the scale, and work on the other, and it has to be balanced. And if it’s not, it has to be more family than anything. It’s an exciting thing to live in your work-life passion. But it can overtake you, as an entrepreneur. I would be up at the store until three in the morning, unboxing stuff and listening to music. But family time was suffering.” “The world has changed so much. Everything’s digital. You have to jump on that train, pivot and be flexible.” “Pinterest is a bomb waiting to explode. That’s where it’s at. It’s so affordable to run ads on Pinterest. The number one driver to my blog is Pinterest, over Instagram.” “It’s 100% branding. I have to be very protective. Not only of my brand and keeping the image that I have and promoting things my audience will like…but I don’t want them to think I’m just selling. I find balance. The way influencers get paid is based on engagements and insights. They want to see your audience. I’m very particular and strategic.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit Alexandra Nicole Nolan’s website at https://www.alexandranicolenolan.com/  Get DIY tips, lifestyle advice and shop clothing and beauty on the City Chic Living website at https://citychicliving.com/  Buy Alexandra’s book, The Unconventional Entrepreneur: Your Blueprint to Becoming Your Own Boss at https://main-hill-630.myflodesk.com/  Follow Alexandra on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/alexandra.nicole/  Follow Alexandra’s Facebook at Https://www.facebook.com/alexandranicolenolan  Connect with Alexandra Nicole Nolan on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-nolan-601755b1

When Pawan Gupta observed supply chain gaps in fashion manufacturing, he decided to design something entirely new: Production technology that solves problems and creates a more sustainable future. Pawan is the Co-Founder and CEO of Fashinza, an AI-driven B2B marketplace and tech-enabled global supply chain platform for fashion brands, retailers and manufacturers.  Fashinza is more than just manufacturing technology. They predict future fashion trends, help retailers modify and order designs, and connect with manufacturers to get timely delivery. By going thought-to-shelf in just 2-4 months, Fashinza helps deliver trends to consumers where, when, and how they want them. Fashinza helps eliminate unsold stock by giving consumers more of what they want and none of what they don’t. Their impact on the environment has been substantial, fulfilling Pawan’s mission to reduce the impact of the fashion industry globally.  Over the past 12 months, Pawan has led Fashinza through a period of 10x growth, surpassing $150 million an annualized GMV run rate while increasing the Company's global footprint. As a serial entrepreneur for nearly a decade, Pawan co-founded and successfully led Curofy, India’s largest network of doctors to an all-cash acquisition by Seattle-based Edifecs. Prior to Curofy, he was an analyst at Deutsche Bank in London where he was involved in structuring derivative products and proprietary credit indices in emerging markets.  Pawan is a mission-driven entrepreneur who believes that technology has the power to change the lives of the most vulnerable for the better. At Fashinza, he is improving the lives and working conditions of workers throughout the fashion supply chain while striving to bring sustainable design and increase efficiency. Pawan Gupta was part of Forbes India's 30 under 30 in 2018, Rising Stars by Bloomberg TV, and Young Turks by CNBC. He has also written guest columns in leading publications and has spoken at global events. To grow a brand, identify a need After the acquisition of his second successful company, Pawan was spending a lot of time at his parents’ house. He got an idea.  Inspired by his father’s decades of experience in manufacturing, he saw a major gap: Retailers, producers and customers were largely disconnected. He saw their frustration in dealing with middlemen, who made their jobs more difficult and ate into their profit margins. He identified a need.  By researching the gaps in the fashion supply chain, Pawan got to work with his friends and Co-founders to design something the industry had never used before: Technology that helps them predict trends, choose designs, order from manufacturers and get timely deliveries. Fashinza launched and they experienced explosive growth.  Successful entrepreneurs get crystal clear Pawan’s advice to any young entrepreneur is this: Don’t start a business until you get clear on what your goals are!  While your reasons might be different from everyone else’s, you need to identify your true driving force in order to create the type of company you actually want. Whether you want to create a massive impact, make more money, retire early or launch a family business, approach this question with no judgment and complete clarity. Understanding your business goals helps you decide what steps to take as you launch, grow and scale your company.  Enjoy this fascinating conversation with Pawan Gupta on The Business of You. Quotes “We don’t just accelerate the manufacturing process - we also help brands make a decision on what to manufacture and what kind of designs to launch, so that the industry only produces stuff the customers want! We are solving the problem of dead stock and overproduction, making fashion more sustainable.” “I got super excited. How can we take these small manufacturing units and connect them with customers across the world?”  “We value the integration of technology and how we could change the fragmented supply chain. It’s really challenging but the solution was really needed as well.” “Be very clear on why you want to start a company. No judgment! It’s entirely your call, but be very clear on exactly what it is that you want to do. Don’t get swayed by propaganda. Not everyone does a job for the same reason. Your reasons could be personal. And your answer affects how you build your own company, as well.” “We believe in providing absolute freedom and autonomy, and trusting that you do the right thing. This is exactly what our hiring and internal management philosophy is.” “I want to make something super big. I care about the impact and what it brings to the supply partners and customers. I care about what it brings to society and millions of workers. This is the most important exciting part of our business.” Links mentioned in this episode: Learn all about Fashinza on their company website at https://www.fashinza.com/en-us  Connect directly with Pawan Gupta on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/pawaniitd/  Read Pawan Gupta’s interview in Medium Magazine at https://medium.com/authority-magazine/pawan-gupta-of-fashinza-on-the-supply-chain-and-the-future-of-retail-e68781e7e862   

Before Dirk Doebler, there was no such thing as paid parental leave insurance. Now, Dirk is changing the lives of millions by offering a unique program that is changing the way Americans live and work. Dirk Doebler is the founder and CEO of Parento. Parento is employers’ all-in-one solution for working families. With its insurance-based parental leave & support program, Parento enables companies to retain and elevate working parents, particularly working mothers.  This unprecedented brand is transforming the landscape for employers and making increased retention and engagement of parents a reality. Parento is proving that investing in working parents is good for business.  Headquartered in New York, Parento recently completed the Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator and its policies are backed by A-rated reinsurers. Dirk is committed to helping businesses capture the missing $12 trillion in global growth (McKinsey) by reducing the 43% of highly-skilled women who leave the workforce after becoming a mother. Prior to founding Parento, Dirk held roles in the finance and the consumer wellness industries, serving as CFO at the women-founded Dame Products. During his time at Dame, he played a key role in strategy development and execution to grow annual revenue 10x and achieve profitability with minimal outside equity. Prior to Dame Products, Dirk worked at Barclays and in Analytics at Sikorsky. He graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with degrees in Economics and Finance. Build the world you want to live in Dirk Doebler was working at Dame Products when he noticed a disturbing trend: Their ads were constantly being rejected because their products are marketed towards women. In stark contrast, male-focused brands such as Trojan, Viagra and Roman were flying past ad censorship.  Dirk realized that there was an undiscussed societal bias against companies created for and by women. He began digging into inequalities in the world of finance and marketing and investigated a major gap in the industry: Paid Family Leave. Realizing that a lack of paid family leave is keeping women out of the workforce or permanently stalling their careers, he identified a need for an unprecedented new company. Look to the future, not the present When founding Parento, Dirk did not use other insurance companies as an example. After all, they didn’t provide the type of insurance he was working to create - and constantly disappointed their consumers.  Instead, Dirk focused on reforming the entire experience of paid parental leave. He interviewed finance experts, collected data to prove that paid parental leave helps both families and companies, and discussed issues with both human resources and company finance departments. He even evaluated luxury brands and the type of customer experiences they offer their clients.  An unprecedented brand requires visionary leadership While approaching the issue of paid parental leave, Dirk encountered cultural challenges, archaic ideas and technical obstacles. But none of that slowed him down.  Currently, most companies do not offer paid parental leave at all - much less a plan that entices top talent. Employees were feeling unappreciated and even disrespected by the companies they were working for, which often expected them to act like nothing had changed after their leave had passed. He also found that paid parental leave is usually only offered to women who are giving birth - leaving out fathers, adoptive parents and foster families. This leaves ample room for inequity in households. Women therefore become significantly more likely to leave the workforce or experience career plateaus. Dirk sought to build a plan that offered more than just basic insurance - it provided ongoing support and coaching on work-life integration. By caring for employees and eliminating sources of inequity and stress, Parento helps parents return to work feeling inspired and motivated. Quotes “Ignore the negative things people say about starting a company. Sure, you have to work hard and it takes a lot of time. But don’t let that sway you. Only really listen to what your users and customers are saying.” “This is a program that did not exist. No one had paid parental leave insurance. We had to create it from the ground up.” “I was trying to offer paid parental leave to my employees. Being in finance, I understood the challenges of trying to budget for that - How to mitigate the risk, and how to make sure employees are coming back after you pay them not to work for three or four months because that’s a concern for a lot of organizations. That led me to talk to dozens of finance leaders and I discovered that they don’t know how to budget for parental leave. They don’t know what the ROI is, if there’s going to be one.” “The most important thing is, it’s gender-neutral. It’s going to cover parents whether they’re giving birth, adopting or fostering. We actually don’t really care about the parent’s gender or how that child gains a home, we just want to know that the employee is bonding with a new child.” “We provide a support system. Employees have access to unlimited emotional support, and even parenting advice before, during, and after leave. Most employees use 12-14 hours of support with our coaches during their leave. There’s someone helping them manage their anxiety, stress, how to get their baby to sleep, and then work-life integration. We help them manage their calendar, and make sure that they are adjusting back to work.” “We can build analysis for companies. We can determine how many women they have likely lost over the years due to parenthood. We can put a price tag on that for organizations. We make it transparent to companies, not just intended to sell. The ability to bridge the divide between HR and finance is huge.” Links mentioned in this episode: Learn all about Parento, the world’s only paid parental leave insurance company at    https://www.parentoleave.com/  Follow Parento on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ParentoLeave  Connect with Dirk Doebler on LinkedIn at  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ddoebler/  Read Medium’s article interviewing Dirk Doebler on their website at https://medium.com/authority-magazine/working-well-dirk-doebler-of-parento-on-how-companies-are-creating-cultures-that-support-sustain-75f78d6ee56a  

Danny Popescu is a passionate visionary in the world of wealth management. In this episode of The Business of You, Danny shares some of his guidance on finance, being a great employer and making an impact.  In 2013, Danny Popescu founded Harbourfront, an independent wealth management firm. Danny launched Harbourfront with an $11 million personal investment and within 9 years, established a $425 million enterprise value when Boston-based Private Equity firm, Audax Group bought a stake in the firm. With roughly 250 employees in 25 branches across Canada, Harbourfront is one of the fastest growing independent dealers now on track to establish a $1.5 - $2 billion enterprise value by 2027. At 46, Danny was named one of Canada’s Top 50 Industry Leaders of 2021 by Wealth Professionals. As CEO, Danny oversees the operations of Harbourfront Wealth Holdings' four underlying businesses including its Investment Dealer, Asset Management Firm, and US investment arm. Danny also created the Harbourfront Gives Foundation which raises money for a number of Canadian charities. The Harbourfront Gives Foundation has donated over $300,000 to 54 charities as of July 2022. Thinking outside the box Before Harbourfront, the large majority of investment advisors across Canada were limited to investing their clients’ dollars the old way – exclusively in publicly traded securities, with no allocation to private investments.  Danny and a group of seasoned wealth advisors strategized a solution to the investment limitations in Canada. At Harbourfront, seasoned wealth management professionals offer harmonized advice that intricately weave defensive portfolio construction, income planning and projecting, tax minimization planning, estate preservation, and trust management, all with a continuous focus on the management of risk. It’s unlike anything that existed in Canada before. Using psychology to connect with employees and clients When asked about his ability to connect with clients and staff, Danny cites his secret to success - human psychology. By assessing the way people think, he can advise his clients to build a lasting and meaningful financial legacy.  Danny encourages his clients to consider nontraditional methods of building wealth - also minimizing their risk and protecting their life savings. By focusing on diversifying portfolios and offering alternatives to publicly traded securities, Danny ensures that his clients build a future for themselves and their families.  Quotes “I am fortunate to be a good generalist. I have decent knowledge of marketing to sales, business development, organizational skills and interpersonal skills. I think psychology is really important when you’re working with people.” “I don’t gamble. If I don’t see how something will unfold, I don’t make a move on that initiative.” “I understood the psychology of decision-making and human beings. It was helpful in learning how advisors think.” “When I am hiring people, I don’t put too much focus on where they went to school. We’re making an investment in them. We say hey, can this person fit in here and essentially provide a return on investment of hiring them? We put far more stock in their personalities, work ethic, ambition and communication skills.” “Your employees need to understand why they’re doing what they’re doing. We teach them how they fit into the overall goal, and why their roles are valuable to the organization. We also try to speak to the end goal and vision, how they are benefitting the consumer.” “The ethics that we have towards our employees, I think that translates towards clients. People feel that they work at an organization that treats them fairly, and treats them with respect.” “Money is not just made by investing in businesses in the stock market. You can invest in private businesses looking to invest capital. You have a lot more available in the pool of companies in the private space. Don’t be limited to public securities.” “Most clients are not just looking to get rich overnight - they are looking to protect their life savings. A balanced approach between multiple asset clients is what they like.” Links mentioned in this episode: Learn more about Harbourfront Wealth Management by visiting their website at www.Harbourfrontwealth.com      Connect with Danny Popescu on LinkedIn at  https://www.linkedin.com/in/popescugroup/  Read about the Harbourfront Gives Foundation at https://harbourfrontgives.org/

In this provocative conversation with Ella Magers, you’ll discover that rebooting your business begins when you reprogram yourself. Ella Magers, MSW is the world’s leading voice for revolutionary transformation in the wellness industry. Ella is the Founder of Sexy Fit Vegan and 22Reboot, a 22-Day holistic transformation system. She offers entrepreneurs and thought leaders the tools, support, and guidance they need to ultimately develop lasting healthy habits, claim optimal wellness, and live longer, more fulfilling lives.  Ella’s deepest gift is her ability to shatter patterns that no longer serve. Through visionary writing, inspiring talks, and compassionate coaching, she empowers her followers to align their behaviors with their beliefs and stand tall in their personal truths. Ella is also an inspiring speaker, author, podcast host and holistic health coach. She has been featured in Well+Good, CanvasRebel Magazine, CNN, Vegan Food & Living, Healthification, Medium, LiveKindly, Healthy Magazine, and SevenSeas Media. With fierce compassion, Ella shows people that there are alternatives to crash diets, excessive workout regimens, and lives packed with stressors. She’s on a mission to prove that plant-based living is the quickest path to holistic health and that true and lasting wellness is achievable for everyone. Ella has been vegan for 25+ years. She is a visionary who stands for the rights of animals, empowerment of people, and survival of the Planet. Reboot your life by standing in your truth Before creating the 22Reboot program, Ella Magers had a secret: She was struggling with an eating disorder. After studying nutrition and competing as a bodybuilder, Ella found herself controlling everything she consumed. She wanted to become the perfect vegan, a shining example of a plant-based lifestyle, and a beacon of hope for those struggling to break away from their animal-centric diets. But perfectionism had a price. Ella’s desire for excellence spiraled into shame and isolation as she followed a restrictive diet, binge eating alone after bodybuilding competitions.  Finally, she took brave and transformative action. Sick and tired of degrading herself, she frantically penned a blog post telling the world what she was going through. Holding her cursor over the publish button, she felt a wave of freedom - She felt like she was standing in her truth for the first time in forever.  Create what the world needs Ella decided to reboot her identity - embracing the reality that she is a perfectly imperfect human being. She realized that by forcing herself into an impossible mold, she was setting an impossible example. Ella decided that her program needed to reflect her own inner transformation.  She went back to school and earned her Master’s degree in Social Work in order to deepen her skills as a coach and mentor. 22Reboot was redesigned to honor the four essential components of a holistically healthy lifestyle: Nutrition, movement, mindfulness and sleep. Detox from your addiction to doing Later, things were going well in Ella’s businesses - but she was exhausted. She was feeling burnt out and lackluster. As entrepreneurs, it can be tempting to ride the wave of success and abandon self-care completely - but Ella knew better! Feeling out of touch spiritually and creatively, she embarked on a journey to reconnect with herself. She turned off her phone, powered off her laptop and even stopped eating flavorful foods during a wellness retreat in Peru. With zero emails, no texts, no blue light and no addictive foods, she was able to hear her own intuitive voice again.  Upon returning from her voyage, Ella Magers was more inspired than she had ever been! Doing “nothing” gave Ella her mission back and reminded her of what she cares about most: People, animals, and the planet.  Now, she shares her mission with us and inspires us to reboot our lives, whatever it takes. Quotes “I was a perfectionist - I wanted to be a shining example. I wanted people to come up to me and ask me about what I was doing, so that I could share about plant-based eating - which was not well known or well received at the time. I put a lot of pressure on myself. I knew a lot about nutrition and I was very restrictive with my food. I would binge at night sometimes! I won first place in bodybuilding competitions. But I was suffering inside.” “It took a really long time to be able to say hey - It’s okay that you’re not perfect. People are not going to respect you less because you’re sharing. I created a blog post where I put it all out there. I put my clicker on the publish button and I was like, it’s time to be proud of myself. I can’t do that if I keep hiding. It was a huge moment for me.” “When I got to that place of just loving, appreciating and respecting myself, my whole program changed. And that was a big turning point.” “Just because you have a thought, doesn’t make it true. We believe these thoughts and beliefs are truth but they’re not even ours! They were given to us. They were programmed into us when we were children. It really limits us. It limits our health, ability to succeed in our lives and our businesses.” “I have a lot of trust in the universe. I work on connecting with my being, passion and mission in life.” “Success is freedom. It’s about fulfilling my mission to help other people, animals and the planet. The money is a side effect, and it allows me freedom as well. I make money to donate to animal sanctuaries and donate to causes that I care about.” “We have intrinsic value, just for being on this earth. We don’t have to be doing to be worthy of being. That’s hard for entrepreneurs and professionals who are dedicated.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit Ella Mager’s coaching and speaking website at www.ellamagers.com  Explore the 22Reboot Program at www.22reboot.com  Follow Ella on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/sexyfitvegan/  Follow Ella on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/sexyfitvegan   Connect with Ella Magers on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellamagers/ 

It doesn’t happen every day that a speaker begins their TedX presentation with the story of how they went to jail. But Will Samson does exactly that, using his impactful story to inspire, uplift and encourage others to create a life they’re proud to live.  Will Samson is on a moonshot mission to disrupt the self-help industry and possibly alter the human operating system. He is a transformational mindset and change coach who guides tech companies, C-Suite executives, and entrepreneurs to amazing levels of growth.  Will is the brains behind the T3 ecosystem, a collection of hackers, thinkers, activists, and dreamers who are sprouting new ideas, stories, and products based on the idea of interdependence. His story of rebooting his life was told to the TEDx audience in 2021. When he is not germinating the next wave of thought, he is a master home chef and a Spartan racer. Will’s T3 model creates lasting change in his clients through transitions, transformation, and thriving. By focusing on a transformation of their core identity, Will teaches his clients to evolve into new people, able to overcome complex challenges and cast aside the limitations of their past. An incredible origin story Will isn’t shy about the metamorphosis he himself had to undergo. It began when he was arrested for driving under the influence and had to spend several weeks in jail. As he admits, most people become surly and search for ways to blame others - but he didn’t do that. Will spent his time genuinely reflecting on the actions that got him there and came to terms with his need for change.  In the courtroom standing in front of a judge, Will looked around to see a community of people who had shown up just to support him. The judge marveled at the amount of people present for the hearing, telling him that he’s a lucky man - and not to waste his second chance!  Will went into recovery from his addiction with the troubling belief that he was alone. Ashamed and unable to fully accept himself, he was surprised to discover a group of people who welcomed him with open arms. This is when Will began researching the power of community for recovery, improving mental health and becoming the best version of yourself.  Change begins with transformation Change and transformation may seem like synonyms, but they can be fundamentally different. We can change our habits and revert right back when things get difficult! Instead, Will Samson chooses to focus on transformational coaching.  By encouraging his clients to reinvent themselves, he helps them transform their lives from the inside out. In the early stages of coaching, Will helps them discover the parts of their identity that are holding them back and should be discarded - and the parts of themselves they should be leaning into. Will Samson helps people develop new identities based on the type of people and leaders they want to be.  This can serve us in our own businesses. What aspects of your identity are serving you as you build your brand? Which parts of you are not? Will is here to help you lay it out on the table and build a life you’re excited to live. Build your ultimate life team Will Samson is in the business of teaching us that we can’t do it alone. He likes to say that it is “his mission to make interdependence cool.” In the process of his recovery, he designed a “life team” - a support system to help him along the way.  Will now educates and inspires others to form their own life team. He recommends looking at your life as if it is a company and considering yourself the CEO of your own story. Who do you need in your corner to keep things running smoothly?  This begins with fully knowing your strengths. Will coaches his clients through an intimate process of self-discovery to help them understand their role in their life, and the roles they should effectively fill. What are you great at - and what do you struggle with? What can you outsource to make your life better? Who can you collaborate with so that you bring out the best in one another?  Will coaches his clients to create a life team, and he is also in the process of developing a Life Teams app. His mantra is simple - We’re supposed to rely on one another and build each other up.  Quotes “I’ve been trying to practice vulnerability, honesty, courage…and nothing’s going to do that like standing up in front of the audience giving a TedX talk and telling them about the time I went to jail.” “My life purpose is to make interdependence cool.” “I had burned down a lot of things around me. I had done a lot of the things that people with substance abuse disorder do. I had damaged my relationships, damaged my business, and there were dark things happening. I decided to enter the process of recovery. I always assumed that to address substance abuse, I’d have to do it on my own. What happened instead was that there were groups of people who said, ‘Let us love you until you can love yourself.’ Everything I do today is to repay the grace I received!” “From the moment we wake up until we go to sleep at night, there’s a group of people keeping our world going…we just don’t remember to focus on them.” “We need ways of remedying this toxic independence.” “We celebrate these individual serial entrepreneurs, the Musks and the Bransons. But Richard Branson is a great example of what we’re talking about here. When Richard Branson was 23 years old he went bankrupt. His mom mortgaged her home to keep Virgin Record store in east London afloat! Now we all know the story of Richard Branson, this amazing self-made billionaire…because he ‘authored his own life’. But even these great success stories have stories of interdependence.” “A lot of entrepreneurs are not the people who want to build to a massive scale to sell to Google or Facebook. They just want to solve a problem. The idea of the T3 ecosystem was born… What we’re hoping to do is to launch companies that can focus on social good and share administrative services.” “Start with the question, what did I learn from that interaction? What did I miss?” “We’re awash in self-help books and we’re awash in depression because we’re not sure how to create change in our life. Change is fleeting, but transformation means taking on a whole new identity.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit Will Samson’s website and learn more about his methodology at www.willsamson.com  Follow Will on facebook for encouragement and words of wisdom at https://www.facebook.com/willsamsonchangecoach  Connect with Will Samson on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/willsamsonchangecoach/ 

No matter what size your business is, eCommerce has leveled the playing field. That’s what Jake and Eulalie Cook teach: How to build a successful online brand using the transformative science of data. Jake Cook is Co-founder and CEO of Tadpull, an eCommerce service and software solution for growing online brands. The team at Tadpull provides customized eCommerce growth plans, strategy and management, and software with predictive analytics to unlock online companies’ full potential. With an incredible remote team of data scientists, ecommerce strategists, software engineers, Tadpull has been growing and evolving since its inception in 2013. While Jake has worked for large and established companies like Google and Microsoft, these days he is deeply passionate about helping mid-market companies compete smarter by harnessing their own disparate datasets to turn data into profit with the power of AI.  Jake holds dual teaching appointments at Montana State University and the University of Montana while also guest lecturing at Harvard Business School on the topics of data science and ecommerce. He has open-sourced his course materials at ondigitalmarketing.com. He earned an undergraduate degree in physics and an MA in marketing from Drury University on a swimming scholarship. Jake and Eulalie Cook, Ph.D. are data scientists, marketing professors and the Co-founders of Tadpull. For nearly a decade now, they have been creating and perfecting a proprietary software aptly named The Ecommerce Data Pond. This software is designed exclusively to serve mid-market companies, providing them with the same AI tools and domain expertise that the big tech firms have at their fingertips while reducing and even eliminating dependency on third-party players. What can data tell us? When people think of data for eCommerce, they might be thinking simply about profit margins. But before that, there is a vast range of information you can use to help you design a strategy for your business! Tadpull helps companies master a simple flywheel that covers the 5C's of ecommerce: Capital, Customers, Campaigns, Catalog, and Culture. Their complex data gathering systems allow you to understand where to find the right customers, how to design campaigns that work, how to manage inventory, what consumers are likely to buy based on previous purchases, and how to deliver a great customer experience every time based on your unique business model.  Jake Cook teaches about something he affectionately likes to call “non-creepy personalization”... That is, the act of making the customer experience highly personal but not to a degree that makes the person feel like they’re being watched. Tadpull has perfected the art of designing powerful and personal customer journeys.  Important lessons on timing and entrepreneurship Before Jake founded Tadpull with his wife Eulalie Cook, they started two other companies. Jake got his first taste of what it takes to bootstrap a new business when he bought a 3D printer and began building scale models of cities. The company did so well that it attracted unexpected attention! After receiving a cryptic phone call from Google, Jake Cook was ready to dismiss it. After all, he assumed that they were getting sued for violating terms of service - or that it was a fluke. But in fact Google was reaching out to hire them to build a 3-dimensional scale model of their company headquarters!  Jake was over the moon. Their company was steadily growing - until the recession of 2008 hit them hard. Rather than continue, they sold the 3D printer and decided to venture into something new. In this podcast episode, Jake shares some valuable insight with us into how he knew it was time to close that chapter and begin a new one. He suggests that we write down what our criteria are for being happy at work…or how we will know when it’s time to move on. What are the most important parts of your workplace happiness? Knowing his criteria for satisfaction, Jake knew when it was time to cut ties and begin a new business venture.  In their second venture, Jake realized the importance of a shared vision between business partners. Although it ended amicably, his second business was thwarted by differences in long-term visions and ideas. This is a common conundrum when Founders embark on shared partnerships.  In this episode of The Business of You, Jake shares some of the most common reasons businesses don’t work out and how you can set yourself up for success when your next big idea strikes! How do you know who to work with? Jake Cook has learned a lot about starting businesses and collaborating with a team. But he also shares a golden nugget of wisdom with us: Don’t work with people you don’t align with.  In the early days of running Tadpull, Jake and his team took on several smaller projects. Now, he only works with businesses made up of conscientious, thoughtful and respectful collaborators, and we should too. Jake has some great advice for us on how to tell if someone is in it for the long haul or if they’re going to expect quick fixes and ask for unreasonable solutions. In his strategic sessions with clients, he works to set expectations for the results they’ll achieve together - based on factors like timeline, budget and input.  During the 2-3 week research phase, the Tadpull team analyzes all the factors that could affect a brand’s online journey. Using their proprietary software, they can provide important hypotheses to their clients to suggest what outcomes would come to pass if their input changed. This allows for helpful conversations about timeline expectations, budget increases, or strategy shifts.  Enjoy this fascinating conversation about the art of data for eCommerce businesses, and be sure to access Jake Cook’s open-source course material in the links below. This information could empower you to take your brand’s online future into your own hands! Quotes “Core values are something we look for when we hire. We can teach a lot of things but we can’t always teach empathy or hustle.” “We try to reward people for trying, and for a growth mindset. The team is incredibly supportive.” “Focus on what you can control. You can control how you prepare and how you work.” “The modern monopolies are built on data. Customer data is how they’re able to do that. Google and Amazon have had that vision for a couple decades. The more data you have and the earlier you have it, you can identify patterns. You have to have a thesis on how to leverage the data or you have to pay a toll to Amazon or these other guys.” “We comb through inventory data, website behavior data and financial data. We map it back to what they want to do and how fast they want to grow their business. From there, we have a sense for what’s reasonable.” “What I really love is taking technology and mathematics and solving business problems with them. I’m not typically interested in TikTok follower count…I’m more interested in doing the work. And connecting with really sharp people who are interested in doing the work.” “The reason eCommerce is so much fun is because it’s not just marketing - it’s got finance, it’s got operations, it’s got culture - it’s got all of these interdisciplinary areas. I’ve always found that when you cross disciplines like that, it gets to be really fascinating.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit Tadpull’s website at https://www.tadpull.com/    Access Jake Cook’s open-source course material at https://ondigitalmarketing.com/learn/odm/  Connect with Jake Cook on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakecook/   Read Jake and Eulalie Cook’s feature in Yahoo Finance at https://finance.yahoo.com/news/private-equity-leaders-converge-bozeman-150000196.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAJZs5un1c-qDGjOUeMPQU2u9ygFs0atfrG4xpAWLxV95uztrRKmGc568b1y_kuhBy6hsMAkTORyywkfNnkNiKqxYrTol04EPB7H9J-gS5J3zo8xruvfS4SQsqvB96--E3tz0b1cRs9oAcFZkET7cwTE-Z2HJ5PweEXH9Zd_y-FYB 

Great stories begin in unexpected places. Trena White could not have foreseen the incredible journey she embarked on as she decided to build her brand. But now, a decade into being a Co-founder, Trena has many wonderful lessons about entrepreneurship to share. Trena White is a veteran book publisher and co-founder of innovative book publishing firm Page Two, which publishes non-fiction books by leading industry experts. Page Two offers a faster path to market, more creative control, and deep engagement in authors’ launch strategies. Co-founders Trena and Jesse Finkelstein launched in 2013 to help thought leaders, subject matter experts, and organizations publish their contributions. Page Two has published several books selling over a million copies and its authors have been translated into dozens of languages around the world. Trena is a nominee for the RBC Women of Influence Trailblazer Award. Before launching Page Two, she was publisher of Douglas & McIntyre and Greystone Books, Canada’s largest independent book publisher at the time; and an editor at McClelland & Stewart, now an imprint of Penguin Random House. Page Two sets itself apart from other publishing companies by building more collaborative relationships with its authors. While traditional publishing focuses on retail sales, Page Two takes an in-depth look at how the book and its publishing strategy serve the greater needs of the client’s brand and eventual goals. The vision, methodology and niche of Page Two are all unique and fuel its success in the industry.  Entrepreneurs look for opportunities Before they founded Page Two, Trena and Jesse were in senior roles together at a publishing company that was in the process of going bankrupt. Bigger companies considered buying it, but first - they wanted to see the numbers! Trena had to create models to show buyers what was possible.  All of this financial modeling gave Trena and Jesse an idea. What if they took what they had learned and created something entirely new? Not to be swayed from their big vision, they decided to launch Page Two while they were suddenly out of work and Trena was home with a brand new baby. Trena and Jesse were coworkers who respected one another's perspective - but this leap of faith turned them into both Co-founders and great friends. They got to work collaborating, planning and building a publishing company different from all the rest.  Action is better than perfection Is there something in your own business you’re waiting to perfect before really getting started? Are you letting perfectionism hold you back?  Trena recalls the grassroots nature of their launch in 2013, and it’ll inspire you to ditch perfectionism for good. Page Two began finding clients using good old-fashioned networking and word of mouth. They even started serving those clients without official templates or systems!  Trena and Jesse didn’t have time to waste. They made plans and ran them past lawyers, branding experts and friends in publishing to make sure they held water. Page Two was a big dream that had to succeed, because the alternative was unthinkable.  What does scaling your business look like? Every brand is unique, and each has different requirements as they scale and grow. For Page Two, Trena discusses a process of deepening - Adding depth to their customer service and working more closely with their authors, rather than experiencing rapid growth.  Rather than a plan to work with more authors, Trena reminds us of the importance of doing business with intention. At Page Two, they are becoming more and more selective about the authors they work with, leading to better outcomes through successful collaboration. Long-term, they’re appointing heads of each department so that they can step back and envision what’s next.  Page Two rose out of a need for better relationships between thought leaders and the people who publish them. But it’s grown into a thriving brand that Trena and Jesse - and the authors who publish there - can truly be proud of. Enjoy this story of the power of collaboration, leaps of faith and bold action. Quotes “In the traditional publishing model, there were a lot of constraints that made book publishing tricky for the kinds of people who had built a lot of intellectual property and had built businesses. Our vision was to start a new kind of publishing company where the author really partnered with us to develop their book in a way that made sense for them and their broader business goals.” “We started to imagine, what would it look like if we took parts of this initial vision that we had created for someone else and ran with it our way? And created something new and different so that we could explore our idea of what publishing could look like for entrepreneurs and subject matter experts? That was the beginning of Page Two.” “The clock was ticking. We didn’t have day jobs anymore! We had to make this work or…what? Neither of us wanted to leave book publishing. We both felt really inspired to create something new.” “When we work with an author, we start at the very beginning about where their book fits into their other products and services. In most cases it’s meant to lift up the other services they’re offering as part of their company. We want to be careful that the book represents the company’s brand and it will support their other services meaningfully.” “When we work with an author, we don’t license the rights to the book. This might sound technical but it’s critical. When you work in traditional publishing, you sign an agreement that says the publisher owns the rights to the copyright. We don’t do that. With Page Two, there are no constraints to what you do with the work. If an author publishes a book and you want to put three chapters in a workbook, you would be free to do that - and you wouldn’t normally be able to.” “I was quite naive about what a business partnership would look like! Jesse and I had only worked together for a year. It could have gone so badly, but we have an amazing and really special partnership. Deep down, we have really similar values. When things get tricky and we’re debating a question of how to handle something, we have compatibility at quite a deep level that has carried us through.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit Page Two’s company website at www.pagetwo.com   Follow Page Two on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pagetwo   Follow Page Two on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/pagetwo_books/   Connect with Trena White on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/trenawhite

With over 18 years of recruiting experience, Carolyn Betts is an authority on hiring. She is sharing her valuable insights on The Business of You podcast, helping us to understand the dynamic nature of hiring and the art of employee retention.  This conversation will motivate you to drastically improve your workplace culture. Whatever your current retention rates, prepare to watch them rise as you implement some of Carolyn Betts’ innovative retention ideas!  Carolyn founded Betts Recruiting in 2010, and her knack for spotting top talent and pairing them with an ideal company has led to developing a trusted marketplace in the SaaS space. As part of this success, Carolyn has helped clients make key hires and navigate the ever-changing landscape brought on by the current Great Resignation movement. Betts Recruiting is the go-to agency for companies looking to find sales, marketing and client services talent in the US. Featured in many publications including the the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, Betts Recruiting has built the reputation of leveraging new technology, current market trends, networking and old fashioned head-hunting techniques to find top talent for clients more efficiently. Betts Recruiting has offices in both Austin, Texas and Manhattan. Their team can choose whether to report to their offices or work remotely. They also enjoy annual summits to discuss values, market movement and upcoming projects in person. Carolyn Betts makes it her mission to build a great place to work - and she will help you do the same! Identify a problem and develop a solution After graduating Harvard Business School, Carolyn Betts fell into the recruitment field. She quickly became aware of a major issue facing the industry - the fact that after posting a position, companies received thousands of resumés - and few of them were actually qualified for the job.  It was laborious and time-consuming to evaluate floods of applications. At times it even felt like finding a needle in a haystack! She also noticed that a lot of recruiters prioritized closing the deal over long-term employee retention. Carolyn dreamt of a more personalized way to find talent for the tech industry, and the idea for Betts Recruiting was born in 2009.  By getting to know hiring managers on a more personal level, Betts Recruiting can better deliver talent that fits available roles. Betts acts as a professional matchmaking service for tech-based companies, ensuring that the needs of the team are met with assessments of the candidates’ skills, personality, values, and vision. Bring your authentic self to work Carolyn Betts believes in professionalism - but she enthusiastically encourages us to bring our authentic selves to work.  During the dissolution of her marriage, she grappled with how to present this information in the workplace. She disclosed the change to her team, not knowing what to expect - and received an outpouring of support. The team’s honesty with one another also helped them to collaborate more effectively on future projects. Carolyn wants to remind us that we’re people first and workers second, and that acknowledging our humanity can actually help us work harmoniously as a team.  Build a better work culture Carolyn Betts isn’t just invested in helping other companies increase their retention. She is also engaged in making sure that Betts Recruiting is an amazing place to work!  After the pandemic hit, Carolyn could have lamented the transitions facing the growing company. Betts Recruiting was formerly a mostly in-person employer, and this was a major pivot. They had been steadily growing, with offices in several major US cities. There had been expectations that teams would be in-office at certain times and on certain days, ready to work.  Carolyn approached the market trends with positivity and excitement. She cheerfully developed a new plan to usher Betts into a new era and come out winning. She decided to allow all employees to choose their own adventure: Come into the offices in Austin or Manhattan or work remotely. Betts strategically discarded the offices in other cities, instead deciding to invest in plans for the collaboration and satisfaction of their team. To bring people together, they would host annual summits. They would also invest in the wellness of their workers and pay for vacations including flights, hotels and experiences. Driven by the evolving workplace philosophies of millennials and Gen Z, Betts Recruiting modified their practices to support the desires of the tech industry’s budding talent. Quotes “I did some soul-searching. I thought, there must be a better way to build companies and teams! There can be a much more personalized approach.” “When covid hit, our business was affected pretty dramatically. 90% of our clients froze hiring. As leases expired, we transitioned out of [in-person offices]. Now it’s choose-your-own-adventure. The people who choose to, the offices are open in Austin and Manhattan. Anyone who wants to be remote, can be remote! We also make an effort to bring everyone together in person for summits.” “The talent pool is limited when you have to come into an office every day.” “Have a value based culture - does everybody in your company understand what those values are?” “Our leading value is people first. This generation wants to feel valued, like their work matters and that they are part of something bigger than themselves. These people are awesome!” “A company that still has that old-school mentality of ‘you work here, this is your job’ - even with amazing training, without career development and growth and without them buying into what your company is doing and where you’re going - you’re going to have a huge turnover issue. People are not going to want to work there. And they’re not going to be a part of what you’re doing and where you’re going.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit the Betts Recruiting website at https://bettsrecruiting.com/  Read all of the Betts Recruiting press features at https://bettsrecruiting.com/press-coverage/  Follow Betts Recruiting on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BettsRecruiting  Connect with Carolyn Betts on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynbetts 

Mike Gardon was a hardworking type-A professional trader and entrepreneur. But he found real fulfillment when he stopped making decisions with his head and began making them with his heart. Now, he’s joining us for a frank conversation on the power of teaching our kids entrepreneurship, the importance of work-life balance, and how to live a life you’re proud of. Mike Gardon is the founder of multiple successful businesses, an investor, a Digital Media Executive, and most importantly - a husband and father. He is currently the CEO of Rejoin Media, a holding company for digital brands and businesses. He is also the Executive Editor and Host of the acclaimed Careercloud Radio podcast. Mike is an advocate for remote work and intentional work-life integration. He runs his teams remotely from the beautiful (and affordable!) Midwest, where he resides with his wife and three young boys. You can read Mike's writing and media mentions on investing, startups, life and work across the internet on these sites: The Simple Dollar, Reviews.com, The Huffington Post, Forbes, Business Insider, Yahoo News, GoBankingRates, Ask Men, Cosmopolitan, Discover Financial, The Penny Hoarder and Good Financial Cents. Design your dream life Things seemed like they were progressing in Mike’s life. He was a young futures trader in Chicago taking risks and learning a lot. But he describes his time in trading as mediocre - because his heart wasn’t in it.  When he read The Art of Learning by Josh Waitzkin, he had a powerful realization that sometimes you have to take steps backward in order to propel yourself forward. Abandoning his expectations for a linear career path, Mike quit his trading job the very next day and got his MBA, beginning a career in content marketing. He eventually founded ReJoin Media to grow digital brands in a conscious and thoughtful way. He also hosts the Careercloud podcast, created to help listeners design the dream life and career of their choosing. Early in his career Mike looked around him and didn’t feel aligned with the expectations of corporate America. Rigid and unforgiving, these positions often demanded a workaholic attitude and a neglect of the day-to-day activities of family life. He decided to envision a life he could be proud of and tailor his career to fit his personal goals. More and more entrepreneurs are choosing their career steps to complement an integration with work and life - and this trend is not going anywhere! Mike Gardon built multiple successful businesses around the importance of being present for his wife and his three sons. The best ideas are inspired In addition to his work in digital marketing and investing, Mike Gardon also founded Quotebook, a keepsake journal created out of a desire to preserve his own family’s memories.  Early in his marriage to his wife Stephanie, Mike realized the importance of showing up. Stephanie attended Medical School and did her Residency while Mike’s career was taking off - leaving them exhausted and disconnected. They were collapsed on the couch after a long day when Stephanie blurted out something funny about the cheese balls they were snacking on. After Mike rushed to write it down, he conceived of the idea to write down the moments that matter.  Now parents of three young boys, Mike and Dr. Stephanie Gardon write down the hilarious things their sons say, reading them aloud at bedtime. It helps them bond over the humor of everyday life. The boys even learn the power of entrepreneurship through helping Mike fulfill orders for Quotebook - mastering lessons about money, marketing, customer service and follow-through. The Gardons also donate part of the proceeds of Quotebook to fight the opioid crisis, giving opportunities for essential and life-saving services to those who need them. The Quotebook journal is tailor-made to help other families remain close even when life gets rushed. When discussing Quotebook, Mike Gardon reminds us that the best business ideas connect us to our humanity! Everything Mike does, he does with heart. After listening to this episode, you’ll be inspired to design a life you’re proud of! Quotes “I’m big on figuring out what type of life you want, and then figuring out how to build that.” “I say ‘work life’, instead of ‘career’, because I think our work and our lives are really integrated.” “I had to find what I didn’t want, and build a company that gave us flexibility and ease to be parents, husbands and wives, instead of our goal being to grow-grow-grow all the time.” “I always have this battle between being aspirational and shooting for the moon, and finding balance. At the end of the day, what our people are after is flexibility and opportunity. If I can provide that, I’m pretty happy!” “I’ve stopped being hyper-rational and thinking about the numbers. This doesn’t come naturally to me; I’ve worked with a coach on it. As I’ve led with the feeling, it’s led me in a good direction.” “Quotebook was born out of something deeply personal. Before my wife and I were married, I was trading and she was in medical school. We came home and we were so tired. We could just collapse on the couch and inevitably someone would say something funny. Now, we read these funny things and get transported back to that moment. Now we have kids, three young boys, and they say funny things. We even read from it at bedtime.” “I used Quotebook to teach my kids about entrepreneurship. You have to risk something, talk to people, get feedback and understand how people will use it. It’s been this cool mentorship path with my kids.” “The funny moments are what we look back on and remember.” “I don’t want [my kids] to think about how to be a success. I want them to think about, ‘how can I enjoy my life?’” “Big decisions like what to do with your life - I don’t think you can just think your way through that.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit Mike Gardon’s personal website at https://www.michaelgardon.com  Listen to Mike as he hosts the Careercloud radio podcast on their website: https://www.careercloud.com/careercloud-radio  Contact ReJoin Media at https://www.rejoinmedia.com/  Learn more about the Quotebook journal on the website: https://quotebookjournal.com/  Connect with Mike Gardon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelgardon/

Coco Brown wants to see the world evolve. And she’s not willing to wait: She works tirelessly to propel women into well-deserved leadership roles and help them thrive there.  Coco is the Founder and CEO of Athena Alliance, a SaaS platform for women seeking to gain, expand and master leadership roles. Athena Alliance provides live and on-demand learning, networking, coaching, and access to career opportunities for the world’s top women leaders. With Athena's support, thousands of women have advanced their executive careers and more than 300 women have landed board seats.  Prior to founding Athena Alliance, Coco served as COO, President and Board Director at Taos, where she led the company out of near-bankruptcy and ushered them towards their successful acquisition by IBM.  Coco is also a renowned Keynote Speaker and Writer. She has spoken at Microsoft’s elite global CEO Summit and has been published in Fortune, Forbes, NACD, WSJ, and Bloomberg. She has also received a variety of leadership awards, from Business Woman of the Year in Silicon Valley and San Francisco to Silicon Valley’s top 100 Women of Influence.  Keep the pulse on shifts in business and culture… When asked about the rise of women in executive roles, Coco Brown has plenty of valuable insight. Before she realized there was an issue, she was already at the top - and realized that there weren’t a lot of other women at the top with her.  After doing some digging and examining cultural attitudes, she noticed powerful trends towards a more conscious model of commerce, a steady increase in consumer power and a collective desire to create a better world through better business. A lot of these shifts are being explored by women, nonbinary individuals and people of color who are rising into positions previously filled by men - or conceptualizing new executive positions that have never existed before. How will you create the future? By empowering women and historically-excluded individuals to ascend into leadership roles, Athena Alliance works to build a more diverse and prosperous world for all people. Their goal is to be a resource for leaders who want to grow in their positions and be the best in their respective industrues, and they have members hailing from industry giants including Microsoft, Bank of America, and Disney; as well as rising leaders like Databricks, Stripe and TalkDesk. During her research Coco Brown looked to the history of the stock market. She realized that men have had hundreds of years to become comfortable with investing, risk-taking, entrepreneurship and leadership, while women are just now learning some of these skills. Just like men did during the conception of the stock exchange, Coco recognized a need for information-sharing in order to give women the boost they need. Unlike a traditional MBA which can at times become irrelevant even by graduation day, Coco sought to construct a place for powerful and knowledgeable women can share information in order to success in business. Now, Athena Alliance has an on-demand learning platform to help executives flourish, develop and grow as leaders. In minutes, members of Athena Alliance can access half a dozen women sharing their own experiences and giving valuable professional advice.  Quotes “There’s been a fundamental flipping of power from businesses to consumers. It almost doesn’t matter how poor you are, you have a device in your hand and a voice. Companies are no longer able to tell people what a brand feels like, how you should feel and who you become when you have the brand…consumers tell brands that!” “Consumers were being mistreated by brands and are taking control. That fundamental shift is what has created the adoption of conscious capitalism in the United States.” “If the power is changing, and the powers that be are paying attention, then what is required at the top of leadership is a lot more integrated than it ever was before. It’s a shift away from valuing risk-taking at all expense, competition and the fight to win….traits we consider very masculine. It’s a shift towards bringing in vulnerability, cooperation, co-opetition, caring for society and for one another, and these are very feminine qualities.” “If you’re going to be a senior leader, you have to have a dynamic way of keeping your finger on the pulse of wisdom. That is an increasingly difficult challenge.” “Don’t just focus on the endgame. Focus on being a great leader throughout. We’re all so busy - We need to get access to learning in a dynamic and instantaneous way.” “I’m compelled to try to help whenever I can. If I walk away from someone with their hand out on the street, I’m very aware of what my justification is. That is not a Mother Thesa virtue… I just get disappointed when I don’t  see  other people helping. It’s disappointing when we get so caught up in our own needs that we don’t see the needs of others. That’s central to my brand.” “I want to see the world evolve. I want to see leadership at the top of business represent the demographics of the society that it serves.” “I want the structure of business to fundamentally change. It was designed around the elites and the factory model. The way you progress and get access to opportunities are based around the elite.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit the Athena Alliance Website: www.athenaalliance.com  Connect with Coco Brown on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cocobrown/  Follow The Athena Alliance on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/company/the-athena-alliance  Follow The Athena Alliance on Twitter: https://twitter.com/athenaalliance   

Growing from a tiny seed of an idea to a flourishing company, the couple behind a subversive new product shares the pivotal moments that fueled their major success in the sustainable confectionery industry.  Taylor and Brennan Clarke are the Co-Creators of Amborella Organics, a revolutionary line of organic seed-bearing lollipops with herbs and flowers throughout. After years of grit and hard work, Amborella products are now featured in Urban Outfitters, Nordstrom and Uncommon Goods as well as hundreds of trend-setting cafés, florists and curated shops around the world. Amborella Organics has been featured in Goop, Daily Mail, Food Network Magazine, ABC News, Nylon and Epicurious.  Amborella Organics leads the confectionery market in conversations about sustainability, ethical means of production and conscious consumer goods. Their lollipops feature flavors like strawberry and basil, champagne and roses, and lavender and lemongrass, with thoughtful product packaging. After enjoying the luxurious flavors of an Amborella lollipop, you simply plant the stick horizontally in the ground and grow the seeds of a plant you just consumed. It’s beautiful and it keeps giving back to you and the earth!  There were no other lollipops like them anywhere, and the Clarkes overcame every adversity to make them a reality.  You can accept challenges and rise to the occasion Taylor and Brennan Clarke are no strangers to the challenges of growing a business. Beyond the usual red tape of starting a new company, they wanted to stick to their own rigorous standards of ingredient sourcing, flavor formulation, pouring and packaging. This would prove to be an incredible obstacle, but they made it happen through sheer determination and hard work. After being invited to promote Amborella at a trade show for the first time, they stayed up late the night before the event - making their website on Squarespace in bed. It paid off. Immediately after the event, they received their first wholesale account: It was Alfred, a trendy influencer in the coffee space promoting small brands from Los Angeles to Tokyo! Amborella Organics even went viral in 2017, reaching over ten million views with a video feature on NowThis News.  They were experiencing explosive growth when they found out that their lollipop manufacturer was closing up shop - with just two weeks of notice. In a moment that could have caused anyone to quit, Taylor and Brennan doubled down! They poured lollipops by hand and stacked boxes as high as the ceiling as their family and friends helped them fulfill thousands of orders.  Finally, they built a company headquarters with an organic kitchen and efficient in-house production.  Stick to your mission and your vision Most lollipops are formulated with lab-created ingredients, poured overseas, then packaged and branded. That’s been done before - and the Clarkes had no interest in being just another candy company.  On top of all of this, they are frequently made with mass-production machines that are unable to handle the seeds and petals in Amborella’s lollipops without breaking down.  In the midst of every challenge, there were roadblocks that could have easily made them compromise their vision. But with an unwavering commitment to their long-term goals for Amborella, the Clarkes accepted each challenge as an opportunity to improve the industry as a whole. Always be planting seeds Amborella Organics is not just about lollipops. It’s about a future of sustainability and respect for the planet, as evidenced by their tagline: “Eat, Plant, Love.” Just like you can plant seeds from every Amborella lollipop, the Clarkes plant seeds of change for the confectionery industry with every hurdle they knock down.  It’s a sunny reminder that we can create a better world for all those who follow in our footsteps - by believing in the power of our ideas.  Quotes “We didn’t want to create something that already existed. The copy-and-paste model was not interesting to us. Beyond seed-bearing technology, we also wanted a delicious flavor that wasn’t already out there.” “We have ambitions to do a lot of things - but we will always be botanical, organic and different.” “We truly have stuck with our vision. It has been ten times as hard, but it has been worth it. Throughout this entire process, people have tried to get us to compromise our vision to make things cheaper or easier, and we have stuck to our guns. We know who we are, and who our customer is. We’re confident in that!” “If it was something we had to do alone, it would have been too impossible.” “It’s important to create a dialogue about what can be sustainable!” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit the Amborella Organics website at https://amborellaorganics.com/  Read Amborella’s growing press features on their company website at  https://amborellaorganics.com/pages/press  Find Amborella’s wholesale application by clicking here: https://amborellaorganics.com/pages/wholesaleapplication   Follow Amborella Organics on Instagram for fun giveaways and new flavor releases at https://www.instagram.com/amborellaorganics/  Connect with the team at Amborella Organics on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/amborella-organics/   

For our 50th episode of The Business of You with Rachel Gogos, we are hosting a very special and inspiring guest: Rachel Gogos herself. Rachel delivers powerful insight about the importance of finding your life’s purpose, trusting the journey and amplifying your unique voice through your personal brand. She also shares some juicy details about the inception of this podcast and why it is a passion project for Rachel to connect with other entrepreneurs who are often behind the scenes. Bursting with relatable career advice and words of genuine encouragement, this is the coffee conversation you have always wanted to have with an entrepreneurial friend and mentor. Rachel Gogos is the host of The Business of You. She is the Founder and CEO of the brandiD digital marketing agency, established in 2007 and still flourishing today with a gifted team of web developers, designers, copywriters and project managers. She also created MyPath101, an online resource for high school and college students to examine their traits and research potential careers.  Rachel is a true Internet pioneer who was creating businesses on the web before Google was established as a commercial entity in 1998, and long before the phrase ‘personal branding’ became an industry buzzword. She started her career at the United Nations headquarters in New York City, where she helped create the look and feel for the organization's first website. She has held positions at The Wall Street Journal and DowJones.com.  Rachel’s entrepreneurial spirit bloomed at a young age. The child of Greek immigrants and Buffalo-based entrepreneurs, Rachel literally grew up in the restaurant business. She developed a strategy and brand identity to turn a dilapidated eatery into a hip family restaurant, which remains a popular destination to this day. Rachel is one of just 15 people worldwide who have earned a Master’s level certification in personal branding from Reach, the oldest company devoted to personal branding. She was also a contributing author to the #1-selling personal branding book on Amazon.com, Personal Branding For Dummies (Wiley.) Today, in her current role running The brandiD, Rachel channels over 15 years of marketing and communications experience into each and every website for brandiDs clients. Her approach to business is based in service, hospitality, kindness and empowerment. Get clear, and your path will be illuminated. Looking at her illustrious career in marketing and branding, Founder and CEO Rachel Gogos may seem like someone who always has a complex plan for the future. But the truth might surprise you: Rather than getting caught up in the details, Rachel chooses to live her purpose through faith and trust in the journey. By becoming clear on what she wants, new and exciting opportunities present themselves at every turn - and she’s ready to receive them.  Prior to her career in personal branding, Rachel Gogos knew that she wanted to work in the United Nations. Despite obstacles and a lack of the usual connections to the agency, she opened herself up and explored the possibilities - and sure enough, she found a position at the UN headquarters in New York.  Gain clarity on your heart’s desires and begin exploring. Don’t get caught up in how and where - focus on your why, and the rest will work itself out. What is personal branding, and why is it so essential? Rachel defines personal branding as the amplification of your authentic self through your brand’s marketing and online presence. By pursuing your desires and knowing yourself, you can infuse your purpose and personality into everything you create - from your website, paid ads and social media all the way to your life’s enduring legacy. What makes you who you are, and what are you passionate about? Who do you want to serve and why? These impactful questions can help you explore your personal brand voice and lead the way to revelations about your future offerings. It’s your moment to shine! It’s time to step into a bigger version of yourself, and you’re ready. Rachel’s words will inspire and encourage you to chase your dreams and launch your business, commit fully to entrepreneurship or create new and exciting contributions to serve your audience. Your personal brand is your core essence - your soul’s truest expression of itself. Honing in on it reveals the work you were meant to do, and can serve as the soul of your business. Let the magic begin! Quotes “I always loved being behind a story. This podcast is shining a light on what people are doing with their brand and on leaders who are not in the limelight, because there is so much depth to people whose natural personalities are more introverted. I want to bring those stories to light and help other people who are starting their businesses!” “I’m never clear on 3-4 steps ahead, but I’m always clear on my next step. Just by identifying that in my head and my heart, I always find my way there.” “Establish how accessible you want to be, in your own working style. Instead of having to back out of anything, establish boundaries early on so that your clients don’t feel like you’re taking something away from them. That is just how you do business!” “I have found that entrepreneurs get nervous about the little things, because those things aren’t so little when you’re in it for the first time. I don’t want confidence to be a roadblock for someone doing their own thing. Confidence comes with time. I surround myself with people who remind me that I have the strength and ability and experience to do the thing that might be pushing me out of my comfort zone.” “I define personal branding as a combination of your reputation, true personality and marketing. One of the biggest myths about personal branding is that you need to be extroverted and be obnoxious about who you are. It’s totally not - unless that’s your personality! The marketing piece is all about elevating who you are, your reputation and personality, and injecting it into your business.”  “The core of what we do is helping people tap into who they are, and project and amplify it into their brand.” “We spend so much of our time working. If we’re doing something that doesn’t feel like work, what an amazing way to live.” “If there’s something you really want to do in life, you can.” “I want to be remembered for empowering others, helping them find their purpose and live in a way that feels free and abundant.” Links mentioned in this episode: What’s your brand superpower? Take the 2-minute quiz to uncover your unique voice at https://content.leadquizzes.com/lp/jqgbMsr00g  To learn more about brandiD services, visit http://www.thebrandid.com/services/  Launching your business or building your brand? Schedule your free discovery call with brandiD team at https://thebrandid.com/#contact  To learn more about MyPath101.com and generate your Identity Report, visit http://www.MyPath101.com  Interested in connecting with Rachel Gogos? Email her directly at rgogos@thebrandiD.com Rachel Gogos recommends that you read The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks, which is a powerful and effective business book to help free yourself of limitations. She also suggests that you add The Go Giver by John David Mann and Bob Burg and The Game of Life and How to Play it by Florence Scovel Shinn to your entrepreneurial reading list.  Rachel was featured as a contributor in the #1-selling personal branding book on Amazon.com, Personal Branding For Dummies. You can purchase it on Amazon or from your local bookseller.

Rod Hardy is a successful rising star in the world of rap music. He’s also an expert at personal branding - and shares his wisdom with us in Part Two of this powerful conversation.  Rod is a rapper, a former college football coach, and a successful entrepreneur. When he decided to chase his passion, he fiercely and consistently hustled until he made his dreams a reality. It only took him two years to jumpstart his promising music career, but don’t let that fool you - he attributes his achievements to years of laying the groundwork.  If you comb through Rod’s Twitter account, you’ll find a tweet from 2013. It’s simple, but clear: “I’m gonna win a Grammy one day.” This was posted seven years before he even began putting out music in 2020, and today he is well on his way to bringing this goal to life. It’s a small but significant reminder of his belief in playing the long game. Rod knows that big rewards take time, effort and consistency.  What is your brand? Your brand is not just a product or a service. It’s the contribution you want to make to the world, your purpose, and your values.  Rod Hardy’s brand is hard work. Coming from an inner-city blue collar family, he set out to learn how to make money by exploring the corporate world then becoming an entrepreneur. The same values that made him profitable in business translate directly to his career in music: Show up, be consistent, work harder and connect deeper. He demonstrates those values every day in the actions he takes to build his empire and most importantly, to build genuine relationships with his audience.  How will you connect with your audience? Rod Hardy doesn’t need to check analytics constantly or get swept up in research. He does something much simpler: he talks to his fans. How can you connect more authentically with the people you serve? When choosing platforms and systems for your own business, you may be attracted to the newest social media or the most curated feed. But in the end, your platform should align with the values that your brand stands for. In service of his goal to form genuine relationships with his fanbase, Rod Hardy uses a texting service. It’s not just occasional notifications when a song drops - Rod asks his fans what lyrics resonate with them, what musicians they listen to and recommend, and what’s new on their playlist. His website is consistently updated in order to announce shows and drops. Every platform he uses is simple and consistent, and his fans always know what to expect from him.  As entrepreneurs, we would do well to take lessons from his success in the music industry. Enjoy this conversation about branding, values, consistency and the power of music with rapper and entrepreneur Rod Hardy. Quotes “The thing about hip-hop that’s so unique is that it’s the voice of a community. When people cringe at what’s being said, I encourage them to dig into the words more and try to understand. This is music coming from a frustrated people. You’re hearing what they live through every day.” “When good music comes out, even during segregated days, that's what brought people together. We realized we all love that sound.” “It’s not about the music, it’s about the connection with the people. Hip-hop has done a really great job at bridging that gap.” “Your brand, to me, is a compass. As long as I stick to that compass, my fans know what they’re gonna get from me when they hear my music or see me in concert, or even see me out.” “The brand was hard work. The brand was navigating, figuring out…I didn’t come from money, and my family was blue collar. I had to figure out how to make money. That’s part of my brand: It don’t matter how long it takes. Start where you are. Start where YOU are, not where the world says you should be. The situation’s never gonna be perfect. Start today.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit Rod Hardy’s Website: https://rodhardymusic.com/  Listen to Rod Hardy’s music on Apple, Spotify, iTunes, Amazon, Tidal, deezer and audiomack: https://foundation-media.ffm.to/-slide  Text Rod Hardy at (213) 510-1655 to receive notifications whenever he drops new music, and to connect with him about your favorite hip-hop artists. Follow Rod on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rodhardy_/?hl=en  Connect with Rod on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rodhardymusic/  Follow Rod Hardy on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RodHardy_ 

Rod Hardy is an up-and-coming rapper, a former college football coach, and a successful entrepreneur. He makes it all look easy - but today, he’ll be sharing the real-life hustle, mindset and motivation behind his journey.  After making his mark in the corporate world and inspiring others to pursue their dreams as a coach, Rod’s life took a turn after his brother fell into a coma for three weeks at age thirty-two. Upon waking up, he told Rod: Don’t let life pass you by before you do what you really want to do.  Three weeks later, Rod was on his way to becoming a major rising star in the rap genre. It only took him two years of putting out music to gain devoted fans, hit charts and gain press from publications like Hype and Medium.  Overnight Success is Evidence of Consistency Rod Hardy knows that there’s no such thing as an overnight success. He knows this for a fact because he is one - and he can attest to the years of consistent action that got him there.  Rod shares his tips with us - from his driven mindset to his morning routine. Pointing to daily action and years of personal development, he reminds us that success is built on the foundation of consistency! Authenticity is Always in High Demand When asked what has driven most of his success, Rod Hardy doesn’t point to a marketing plan. He doesn’t name his agent, his label or his manager. He points back at his fans.  Rod tells his story and authentically connects with his fans, writing music to help them feel seen and understood. Now that Rod has something to say, he is wasting no time sharing his messages of hope, positivity, self-discovery and endurance with the world. Quotes “I knew working for somebody was never going to be my thing. I had an independent mind. I knew my ideas weren’t always gonna be taken into consideration the way I knew they should be. Being a creative, it’s tough working under infrastructure.” “Things that you want to do, that you say you wanna do, you need to do them today because you don’t know what tomorrow brings.” “Releasing those singles had a huge impact, but…I think the big impact was my brand and my work, and how we do things. I didn’t expect to just throw music out there and expect people to jump on board. There are thousands of people making music every day…but are these thousands of people making connections with fans? That’s what I wanted to do. Not shying away from my story, not trying to be something I’m not, just being authentic, and really telling my fans my story.” “I like to get up at four-thirty or five in the morning. I feel like those are real spiritual hours, where you can be by yourself and have creative time, before the world wakes up. That’s when I do a lot of my writing. I write a couple lines, even a verse.” “I’m a huge hip-hop fan. I know what songs make me feel this type of way, the beat or the words. So I trust in my own instincts when I’m in the studio.” “Still loading, to me, means evolving. Continuous evolution. Whatever you were prior to this point in your life, that’s not what you need to continue to be. You can do anything you want to do, and it’s never too late.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit Rod Hardy’s Website: https://rodhardymusic.com/  Listen to Rod Hardy’s music on Apple, Spotify, iTunes, Amazon, Tidal, deezer and audiomack: https://foundation-media.ffm.to/-slide  Text Rod Hardy at (213) 510-1655 to receive notifications whenever he drops new music. Follow Rod on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rodhardy_/?hl=en  Connect with Rod on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rodhardymusic/  Follow Rod Hardy on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RodHardy_ 

Akhila Satish became fascinated by science at an early age. When she looked for a way to use her love of science and information to make an impact, she set her sights on the technology space. Akhila is the CEO of Meseekna, a science-first simulation technology company that helps organizations measure and optimize potential to improve effective promotion, placement and hiring. Akhila is an expert in the science behind decision-making. As a director, she brings a highly collaborative and solutions-oriented approach to governance and is immensely valuable to boards looking to accelerate growth, scale, and product-market fit. Akhila is also the executive director of The Science Runway, a non-profit dedicated to inspiring girls to join the life sciences. Under her leadership, The Science Runway has grown from an idea at a roundtable discussion to a successful arm of the Center For Healthcare Innovation (CHI). Akhila’s unique background spans venture capital, SaaS, and science, and she holds degrees in neuroscience, biotechnology, and business. Her research has been published in scientific journals Nature and Human Genomics and her expertise on metacognition, science, and talent management has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur Magazine, CNBC, Fortune, and Business Insider. Why is Meseekna’s work so important? Using brain-science technological simulations, Meseekna evaluates hidden areas of bias in workplace assessments, hiring or training processes. If similar candidates arrive with competing credentials and qualifications, why does one succeed while the other does not? Meseekna’s simulations seek out answers in order to improve the hiring and training process, ensuring that qualified candidates are much more likely to thrive in their new roles! Meseekna also helps organizations evaluate management teams and place trainees properly according to how- not what- they think. By understanding complex and nuanced brain science, an organization can use Meseekna to place new people in strong roles within the company or make changes to current structures that aren’t working. And if an individual needs help to develop in their role, Meseekna has training modules to support them as they expand fully into their role, finding satisfaction and excitement in their work.  How can we begin to assess our own teams? Akhila often discusses VUCAD in her work - which stands for volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity and delayed feedback. Originally developed for the US Army, VUCA (together with the addition of delayed feedback) is a way of understanding a person or organization’s responses to stressors.  In her own workplace, Akhila notices that she can control some elements of VUCAD, creating a happier and more stable work environment for her team. For example, she can avoid the stress that comes with delayed feedback, telling her team when she will deliver feedback on something so that they know what to expect. She seeks to fully understand each team member’s top VUCAD element in order to place and support them properly, avoiding issues and setting them up for success.  Akhila Satish is passionate about using brain science to create a better world. She is often the first call for founders struggling to put out fires, from interpersonal team dynamics to negotiating customer contracts. Quotes “I started thinking about how I could have the most impact…and the place where science had impact, and where I thought I could contribute greatly was in the technology space.” “Impact investing is focused on companies that could provide a societal good and a financial return. My firm was looking at companies that were both socially conscious and profitable.” “I spend a lot of my day translating between science, technology and sales.” “We love to see incremental and lasting change for organizations that we work with. We want to do simulations…and we form a partnership for lasting change.” “A lot of our clients are proactive. They’re looking for something different! Companies that seek us out are looking at their data and employee landscape and it’s giving them a piece of the puzzle but they’re missing something. They have candidates coming to them with identical resumes, identical aptitude tests, relatively similar psychometric profiles. One is succeeding and one is not succeeding as well. They’re looking for that X factor of metacognition. These are HR leaders who are very thoughtful. They want both candidates to come in and thrive within the organization.” “These are HR leaders who are thinking through issues around diversity. They see biases that are creeping into their process. These are typically things that metacognition and a bias reassessment and simulation can help with. These are the leaders who come to us typically!” “We’re not interested in what they’re thinking, we’re interested in how they’re thinking. It’s context free. The same simulation can apply from the military to a healthcare organization to a bank. We can run the same simulation, but certain measurements may be more important.” “One of the things I love about being a CEO is the ability to work with people, and see them grow over time.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit Akhila Satish’s website: www.akhilasatish.com  Visit the website for Meseekna: https://www.meseekna.com/  Get Meseekna’s Stress Management Guide: https://www.meseekna.com/how-to-manage-stress  Get Meseekna’s Decision Readiness Guide: https://www.meseekna.com/decision-ready-guide  Check out the website for The Science Runway, where Akhila is the Executive Director: https://www.thesciencerunway.org/  Gain a deeper understanding of VUCA and get real-life examples from Harvard Business Review: https://hbr.org/2014/01/what-vuca-really-means-for-you  Connect with Akhila Satish on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akhilasatish/

Patricia Lohan used Feng Shui to manifest the love of her life, create her dream business and free herself to travel the world while empowering others. Now, she wants us to invite us to look at our spaces with fresh eyes so that we can do the same! Patricia is the Founder of PowerHouse Feng Shui and Author of The Happy Home: A Guide To Creating A Happy, Healthy, Wealthy Life. She helps entrepreneurs make their homes and businesses magnetic to money, luck, and blessings.  Patricia has helped thousands of people across the globe embrace Feng Shui and create lasting changes in their businesses, homes, and lives. She has seen firsthand the power of living a holistic life aligned with one’s surroundings, in tune with the energies within and without. A successful entrepreneur, Patricia has 15 years of experience running and growing three successful startups of her own. She has been featured in media internationally including The New York Times, CNN, Fox, Forbes, The New York Post, She Knows, Essence, Mindbodygreen, USA Today and Elephant Journal. What is Feng Shui? Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese practice and it is over 5,000 years old. It is a manner of arranging your physical surroundings to channel productive and positive energies into your home, while also ridding your space of negativity or stagnation.  While often thought to be an entire process of renovation or redecoration, Feng Shui can actually be very simple - simply removing an object or shifting a piece of furniture can have a profound impact on your wellbeing. Patricia provides hilarious, encouraging and thought-provoking examples of her clients’ stuckness, and what it took to ultimately set them free. She asks us to look at our home and office with fresh eyes and consider what has positive or negative associations for our peace of mind. Is there an object in your home that brings painful memories or makes you feel frustrated? Patricia says - get rid of it! Are you living a life aligned with your core values? Freedom can look different for everybody. Whether you want to curate the perfect home, make your office a money magnet or live nomadically, Feng Shui can help you create your dream life by reconnecting you with your core values.  Working with a Feng Shui expert like Patricia can help you assess what’s important to you and how the physical spaces you interact with, can influence a more favorable future.  Quotes “I feel like our houses are a reflection of our unconscious.” “Is this [space] like a shrine to my past or a vision board for my future?” “I said to my flatmate, I’m not moving out until I move in with my new husband. And it was the truth. I did all the Feng Shui for calling in love.” “I had one amazing client who was doing all the things - qigong every morning, eating all this special vegetarian food, reading books, doing meditation practices…and still wasn’t in the flow that she wanted. And then I went to her house. And I was like ugh, this is it. It wasn’t good for people, there was so much stuff, the energy was off. All we needed to do was change that and everything she was already doing was amplified.” “It was in 2016, I started doing a basic online course…We built software and a program so that we get to do virtual consultations for our clients and we transformed the way Feng Shui is done.” “Our programs help people change and improve their lives for the better. As a business owner, you have to keep reminding yourself of who you’re helping!” “This is your house. Start to LOVE on it. Be so grateful. Extend gratitude instead of resistance to things you don’t like. Walk around your house and ask yourself, how does this make me feel?” “People think Feng Shui is a redecorating of your whole house. But with fresh eyes, ask yourself - is anything depleting your energy? Is anything broken? It’s creating stress in your body.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit Patricia Lohan’s website, https://patricialohan.com/  Make sure to enter your info to receive free Feng Shui resources for your own home and office: https://patricialohan.com/#free-resources-home  Listen to Patricia’s podcast, Live your Dreams Awake: https://patricialohan.com/podcast-live-your-dreams-awake/  Join Patricia’s thriving online community in her PowerHouse Feng Shui Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/powerhousefengshui  Follow her on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/PatriciaLohan.RestoringYouBack.ToHarmony/ Connect with Patricia on LinkedIn: https://ie.linkedin.com/in/patricia-lohan-131b222  Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/lohanpatricia

In Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Azizi Seixas, we discuss the relationship between medical academia and the opportunities afforded by big tech. In his work in the Media and Innovation Lab (MIL) at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, he teaches new generations of healthcare innovators to stay curious about the solutions to the biggest problems facing healthcare today.  In his pursuit of a vibrant and equitable future, Dr. Seixas looks for solutions in unexpected places. Open to all possibilities and ideas, he believes that true innovation stems from a purpose-driven life. He uses medicine and technology as tools to create a better world.    Dr. Seixas (Say-shas) is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science and the Director of the Media and Innovation Lab at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He is also the Associate Director for the Center for Translational Sleep and Circadian Sciences (TSCS) and an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Population Health and Psychiatry at NYU Langone.  Innovation means keeping an open mind Dr. Seixas teaches students to be innovative leaders of the future. What does that mean? According to Dr. Seixas, it means keeping an open mind - and being a student forever.  Dr. Seixas encourages us to think of ourselves as expert students with more to learn, humble and always receptive to new ideas. This philosophy is useful in innovation by keeping us on a path of exploration, leading us to exciting solutions we may not have seen otherwise.  The innovative future of healthcare When it comes to new solutions to today’s problems, Dr. Azizi Seixas doesn’t shy away from challenging questions. When asked about the relationship between healthcare and big tech companies, his answer was surprising - he’s all for it.  Rather than approaching the issue with concern, Dr. Seixas is curious about how we could create massive, positive change using funding from big tech. He also sees opportunities for us to build a system of checks and balances, preventing issues before they arise. He envisions a world where healthcare is accessible from the comfort of our own homes, where we don’t have to take time off work to get the care we need and we don’t need to sit in a waiting room to talk with physicians.  Enjoy Part 2 of this exciting forward-thinking conversation about the future of healthcare with Dr. Azizi Seixas! Quotes “When you grow up in a poor working-class family, you become an innovator. You have to find solutions!”  “In order to stay sharp, you have to force yourself to be a student.” “To innovate and do bold things, you have to flow forward and chase your goal. When you’re constantly chasing your vision, you’ll always end up being ahead of the curve.” “My mother always told me, ‘Never take no for an answer’. As a scientist, I think you need to think like this. You need to be flexible - cognitively and emotionally flexible. It allows me to see things optimistically.” “This is where big tech comes in - they have the infrastructure to scale, and scale quickly. Science gives itself some time to ensure that the results they have are not flukes, and that they are vetted over a period of time. But when it comes to invention and innovation, sometimes we need to do things quickly! We need to accelerate it. Through partnerships where we can quickly implement and iterate on solutions, that’s where medicine needs to go.” “If you’re pitching an idea, it must have a research question and a problem that you’re solving. If you’re very clear on that, you’re good.” “If you’re doing the business of serving people, you should never compromise your values for others.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit Dr. Seixas’ website: https://draziziseixas.com/  Hire Dr. Seixas to speak, giving your audience an inspiring vision of the future of health: https://draziziseixas.com/speaking/  Check out the Media and Innovation Lab (MIL) at the University of Miami School of Medicine: https://med.miami.edu/programs/mil  See Dr. Seixas featured in the official 2020 Cell Press “100 inspiring Black scientists in America”: https://crosstalk.cell.com/blog/100-inspiring-black-scientists-in-america  Check out Dr. Seixas’ research timeline as Assistant Professor in the Departments of Population Health and Psychiatry at NYU Langone: https://med.nyu.edu/faculty/azizi-a-seixas

Dr. Azizi Seixas has an impressive bio, but the most extraordinary thing about him is his passion and his purpose.   Dr. Seixas (Say-shas) is an innovator, scientist, thought leader, and technologist. He was voted top 100 most inspiring Black Scientists in America by Cell Press. Currently, he acts as Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science and the Director of the Media and Innovation Lab at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He is also the Associate Director for the Center for Translational Sleep and Circadian Sciences (TSCS) and an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Population Health and Psychiatry at NYU Langone. He studies artificial intelligence and technology with the intention of revolutionizing healthcare systems. Growing up in inner-city Jamaica, Dr. Seixas got his driven attitude from his hard-working single mother who earned a college, then Master’s degree while working full-time. His passion came from his force-of-nature grandmother, who taught him to question the status quo. “The two things in life that level off human beings are death and education,” she told young Azizi. Motivated to create a more equitable future for all people, he decided to pursue medicine. Where does your passion come from? When it comes to the tension between faith and science, Dr. Seixas insists this is a false dichotomy. Steadfast in his faith and belief in people, he uses his pursuit of excellence in health and technology as a tool to help underserved communities get the healthcare they need.  Despite the common belief that faith and business are in competition with one another, Dr. Seixas encourages us to use one to serve the other. How can you use your entrepreneurial skills, innate talents and spiritual purpose to drive your mission forward? Innovation is more than just technology. When we think about innovation, we usually think about technology-What apps are trending, new ways to communicate or share files, and creative ways to work online. But Dr. Seixas reminds us that innovation is about so much more than that! Innovative thinking is fresh and creative, making complex things simpler and more accessible. Dr. Seixas spends his career teaching young innovators to think about the communities they’re serving and how to most efficiently show up for them.  What systems can be developed to make healthcare available in their area? What difficulties are they facing that you can create solutions for? And what products or technologies can be produced to serve those needs? Dr. Seixas will inspire you to take an innovative look at your own business, ultimately helping you provide more value to your clients. Quotes “I have this burning desire to improve the lives of the have-nots, and to ensure that they can have better health outcomes and live a happy life.” “We’re trying to reimagine academic medicine and health. We’re doing this by reimagining healthcare by considering education, ensuring research leads us to comprehensive causes of disease, making delivery systems work for people, and creating next-level solutions.” “Find what you’re here to do. Be passionate about it and work unceasingly so that it’s not about you, it’s for the betterment of others. It so happens that science and medicine are the vehicles through which I can do that.” “I believe that everyone is super talented, everyone is special and unique. There just aren’t enough people breathing happiness, joy and love into these individuals.” “In order for you to have a purpose-driven life, it must be steeped in excellence so that people can reap the benefits of your work.” “It’s a false tension, where science and faith are inadmissible. They go hand in hand. My purpose is driven by what I’m here to do.” “We imagine a world where instead of going to your physician once or twice a year, we want to shift home as being the primary place where health is done. We want to create infrastructure to provide personalized treatments. We want more prevention, better prevention, and lower costs.” “Instead of thinking about underserved communities last or not at all, we can roll out programs and studies to look immediately at people across different socioeconomic strata.”   “When we think about innovation, we think tech. But innovation can be many things! Innovation can mean an innovative practice to increase access to care, making complex things simple. That’s what we’re doing.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit Dr. Seixas’ website: https://draziziseixas.com/  Hire Dr. Seixas to speak, giving your audience an inspiring vision of the future of health: https://draziziseixas.com/speaking/  See Dr. Seixas featured in the official 2020 Cell Press “100 inspiring Black scientists in America”: https://crosstalk.cell.com/blog/100-inspiring-black-scientists-in-america  Check out Dr. Seixas’ research timeline as Assistant Professor in the Departments of Population Health and Psychiatry at NYU Langone: https://med.nyu.edu/faculty/azizi-a-seixas

Even before the pandemic and the great resignation, Sara Aviram was curious about remote work. By now, she’s a renowned expert.  Sara was working for a tech company when she began researching the value of working from home by exploring it herself. After working remotely from 12 countries in 12 months in 2019, researching and living the future of work, she published the best-selling book, Remotivation: The Remote Workers Ultimate Guide to Life-Changing Fulfillment. Sarah Aviram is a workshop facilitator and keynote speaker and has spoken at Google, American Express, Avon, Bank of America, PepsiCo and NYU School of Business on creating successful hybrid work environments, team connectivity in remote work, and optimizing workforce performance by motivating workers. Begin by getting curious Sara began with a question: What is the value of remote work, and how can we use it effectively? And what are the benefits and challenges of remote work?  While still employed as a Director of Talent Development for a New York-based tech company, Sara was looking into ways to recruit quality talent when she noticed a trend-people were talking more and more about remote work. In the interest of finding and retaining the best talent from around the globe, Sara’s boss set her free to try it out and report back.  When the pandemic hit and Sara was suddenly laid off, her interest in remote work didn’t lessen-it grew exponentially. She realized that this was her opportunity to bring her findings to print and help others find greater satisfaction in their work lives. The six factors that drive our decisions about work In her book, Sara discusses the six contributing factors to our happiness with work: Money, identity, routines, growth, impact and joy. She asks us to evaluate our priorities, find where our values actually lie, and create a life that serves us. Be sure to listen to this high-quality interview with Sara Aviram to get a taste of the wisdom to be found in her book, and finally discover the working arrangement that works for you! Quotes “If you don’t like your job in Baltimore, you’re not going to love it in Bali.” “I thought I was just writing a book for a small niche group of remote workers…and then the whole world became remote. I started my own business doing workshops for companies to help them motivate and engage remote workers and help them perform at their best!” “You never know where opportunities are gonna come from. You have to keep getting the word out about what you do.” “More people are quitting their jobs at a record rate. There are a few reasons. We came out of a global pandemic, and people during that time started reevaluating their lives, what’s important and what role they want work to play in their lives.” “During the pandemic, a lot of people didn’t spend money. They saved and had a little nest egg. They started to think, maybe I should start that business I’ve always wanted to start! Maybe I could take some time before I jump back into something!” “It’s important to think not just about what kind of work you’re good at, but also what kind of work energizes you? Those two things could be different. What do you want to do more of?” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit Sara Aviram’s website: https://sarahaviram.com/  Purchase her book, Remotivation: The Remote Workers Ultimate Guide to Life-Changing Fulfillment: https://sarahaviram.com/book/  Hire Sara to speak at your event or facilitate a workshop: https://sarahaviram.com/speaking/  Connect with Sara on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahaviram/  

Entrepreneurship is an epic adventure and no one illustrates that more effectively than Dr. Travis and Michelle Fox!  Dr. Travis Fox and Michelle S. Fox are the Co-Founders behind Ultimate Business Quest, the #1 business tool for helping entrepreneurs discover the business hero within. Launched in May 2022, Ultimate Business Quest delivers business basics and practical coaching, presented in a world of immersive fantasy gameplay. Do you truly know who you are in the workplace? Are you the courageous warrior or the cunning wizard? Are you the Bard always looking for your next performance? Or are you simply looking to free yourself from the shackles of society like the Jester? Find out by taking their quiz and embarking on your own Ultimate Business Quest. Why use gameplay on your business journey? By pulling us out of our day-to-day life and throwing us into an imaginary world, Ultimate Business Quest is designed to help us effectively overcome limiting beliefs, fear of failure or success, or even a fear of public speaking.  Facing real-life business challenges feels easier after discovering your strengths and areas for growth within a game world. Ultimately positioning yourself as the hero of your own story, you have virtual opportunities to become an innovative leader in the real world! What are the real-life outcomes for your brand? Hundreds of entrepreneurs are raving about Ultimate Business Quest, sharing the positive effects the game has had in their real-life businesses. By helping you develop your business skills in a fantasy world, you access the determination and unshakeable self-confidence it takes to be a capable business owner!  Whether you’re working to hone your public speaking skills, learning how to hire personalities that work harmoniously together or accessing the courage to overcome your own fears, Ultimate Business Quest will send you on a journey down the road to entrepreneurial self-discovery.  Are you up for the quest? Quotes “It’s like building a business. First you claim your map, you take the next step to build the foundation of your business before you expand your realm. Each of these are building blocks of a successful company.” “The quest was, how do we create something that has guidelines to help you discover your own path in a fun way?” “We get testimonials every day from people who say, I didn’t know that it could be this easy to apply these complex things!” “We all have these fears that we go through as entrepreneurs. We sat down with the coding team and we created the Ultimate Business quest to take people through a journey. We have research that says that if we put you through an immersive space, in a fantastical realm, you learn instantaneously.” “We want to take your entrepreneurship into an empire where you find your passion, purpose, your mission and vision so that you can live your legacy.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit the website for Ultimate Business Quest: https://ultimatebusinessquest.com/  Watch the official ad for Ultimate Business Quest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_VTBTR5pNA  Download the Ultimate Business Quest app for FREE on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app.businessempire  or on the Apple store  https://apps.apple.com/us/app/business-empire/id1596933808   Follow Ultimate Business Quest on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/mybusinessquest/?hl=en  Connect personally with Dr. Travis Fox on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/travisfox  Connect personally with Michelle S. Fox on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/questmastersilk  Read Medium Magazine’s article on UBQ: https://medium.com/authority-magazine/lessons-from-a-thriving-power-couple-with-dr-travis-fox-and-michelle-s-fox-of-ultimate-business-4cd31cc6aa89 

Manisha Thakor is excited to help you achieve financial freedom. But unlike a lot of so-called financial gurus, she begins in an unexpected place: Your feelings around money.   Manisha believes that finance doesn’t have to be complicated-you can unpack your emotional barriers, simplify your life and ultimately pursue your life’s purpose using money.  Manisha Thakor, CFA, CFP, is the founder of MoneyZen, a boutique financial wellbeing consultancy. A 25-year veteran of the financial services industry, her work has been featured in: The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, CNN, CNBC, Womens Health and Real Simple. Manisha sits on the board of The National Endowment for Financial Education and has authored two personal finance books for young women. Manisha earned her MBA from Harvard Business School and her BA from Wellesley College. Having worked for 25+ years in the predominantly (white) male financial services industry, Manisha has come to see firsthand how important it is to empower women to achieve financial wellbeing. She ardently believes that money gives women voices and choices. What’s your money story? Rather than just diving into your financial history, Manisha wants you to dig deeper into how you feel about money. How did your family discuss finances when you were growing up? What limiting beliefs might you have adopted about scarcity or wealth? The answers to these questions might shed new light on your journey with money as an adult and reveal the secrets to setting yourself financially free. What is financial freedom? To Manisha, financial freedom is all about choices. When you create financial freedom for yourself, you have the ability to explore your interests, protect your investments and avoid toxic situations. It all starts with your money story! Quotes “My mission is to help people fight through the abundance of information to help people arrive at calm, confidence and clarity around their personal finances.” “The biggest tool I have found is your money stories, and your money history. I advise corporate clients to do something called money circles, where you get together around certain topics…mostly to talk about money feelings and what’s blocking you. People work through their gunk and are able to actually make decisions.” “Emotional wealth comes down to simplicity, small joys and financial independence.” “Financial independence is the ability to extract myself from any situation that is toxic to me.” “The number one thing I get asked daily is, how can I find trustworthy guidance and advice for my situation?” “Financial health doesn’t mean that you’re always chasing more, more, more. That gets you into a never-enough mindset.” Links mentioned in this episode: Check out the MoneyZen website: https://moneyzen.com/  Connect with Manisha Thakor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manishathakor/  Follow Manisha on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ManishaThakor  Manisha references Courtney Carver’s 333 method for simplifying for life. You can explore it here: https://bemorewithless.com/project-333/  Manisha discussed Jean Chatzky’s Her Money Media website. You can check it out here: https://hermoney.com/  She also highly recommends Carl Richards’ weekly newsletter, Behavior Gap (modeled after his book, Behavior Gap: Simple Ways to Stop Doing Dumb Things with Money). You can receive it here: https://behaviorgap.com/

Early in Maxim Wheatley’s career, he wasn’t afraid to take risks. Years later, he credits those risks. Maxim is an entrepreneur and startup executive who has scaled companies from five to fifty-plus employees. He has led and scaled remote teams for over seven years and is experienced in remote and distributed team building, operations, and leadership.  Maxim is currently the Head of Product and Marketing at Merico, the next-generation code contribution analytics system, driving transparency and improvement. Their unique metrics and measurements bring fresh insights to enterprise engineering, HR teams, and open-source projects.  Once a startup entrepreneur and now an employee, Maxim shares his lessons learned from leading, following, and collaborating. Don’t be afraid to face issues head-on. Maxim used to channel his courage into risky endeavors in his company. But he soon found a new challenge: Having difficult conversations. Preferring to keep quiet and seem amiable, Maxim soon learned that the biggest risk is vulnerability-in conversations with consumers, employees and business partnerships.  Quotes “My life has revolved around taking risks with lots of conviction.” “I would attribute a lot of my success to showing up authentically with great mentors. They have helped me feel capable and confident when things get tough. Create your personal advisory board.” “I invest a good deal of my own mental energy into figuring out what questions I should be asking of myself, other people or the task at hand - and finding out how I will know whether I’m right or wrong.” “I want to improve the quality of life for the people who touch whatever I’m doing.” “We get [consumers] to give us insights about the things that are getting in the way of their success. It helps us figure out where the pain points are.” “You can do all kinds of clever things, but there’s no getting around the value of having those direct conversations.” Links mentioned in this episode: Check out Merico’s website here: https://www.merico.dev/ Connect with Maxim on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maximwheatley/   You can follow Maxim on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MaximWheatley

Raju Narisetti is optimistic about the future of journalism, and his reasons are compelling.  In this discussion on media literacy and the power of sharing information online, Raju encourages us to keep an open mind and explore who is creating the information we’re consuming and how we can share it responsibly. Raju Narisetti’s current role as Leader of Global Publishing at McKinsey & Company is the latest in a 32-year global career in media and publishing, during which he has created, reimagined and managed major media organizations in North America, Europe and Asia, as well as being on the frontlines of digital transformation challenges and new ventures in the publishing industry. Raju has worked at The Wall Street Journal, Hindustan Times/Mint, The Washington Post, News Corp, Univision/Gizmodo Media Group and Columbia Journalism School. He was an essential part of the team that won the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News for 9/11 coverage. How do we use media to open gates and empower others? Raju queries that rather than acting as gatekeepers for information, journalists should act in a role as a gate-opener, helping consumers navigate the sea of overwhelming information in this digital era. He gives suggestions for how publications can improve their click rates while empowering consumers. Why is media literacy important? Media literacy is the ability to interpret and understand written material…and how we discern the intentions of the writer.  Raju talks in detail about how understanding where a piece of content is sourced from should influence how we should share it online. Before you share, ask yourself…who wrote this, and why? Raju discusses his belief that an emphasis on increased media literacy will shape the future of information sharing. Quotes “Our role as journalists should be as gate-openers. People say, ‘this person is helping me navigate the sea of information. I trust them.’ That is what brings people back to you!” “I’m one of those people who remains very optimistic about journalism in 2022. People don’t realize, it was only in 2018 or 2019 that half of our planet was finally able to get the internet on a daily basis. The demand for what journalism can produce will be continuously growing.” “We have struggled to communicate the fact that something is news or opinion.” “A couple of generations are consuming content without necessarily thinking about where something is coming from, whether it’s the Washington Post or Daily Mail. Teaching young people about the value of sourcing is something the journalism industry forgot to do for many years, and now we’re figuring out how to regain that.” Links mentioned in this episode: You can see the MicKinsey and Company website at https://www.mckinsey.com/ Connect with Raju Narisetti on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajunarisetti You can follow Raju on Twitter at https://twitter.com/raju?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Everything Susie deVille makes serves her ultimate mission: To empower entrepreneurs to access their inspiration and creativity.  By developing workshops, offering coaching programs and writing her book, Susie is working to make the world of business a more joyous and innovative place! In this episode, Susie deVille uses her own story to teach us the importance of casting aside perfectionism and taking confident action. Susie is the founder and CEO of the Innovation & Creativity Institute. An author, coach, and business owner who built and sold a highly profitable real estate firm, she has been researching innovation and creativity since 2005. Her first book, Buoyant: The Entrepreneurs Guide to Becoming Wildly Successful, Creative, and Free, has been called The Artist's Way for entrepreneurs. The secret to getting unstuck: Take bold action! Susie teaches business owners to build small daily habits that free us up for more creative thinking-actions like journaling, sketching, and moving our bodies. Ultimately, these bold and messy exercises have a proven impact on our work. By removing ourselves from details and the anxious trap of our thoughts, we free ourselves from limitation and see solutions that were previously unseen. Work, relationships, aspirations and ideas flow easily to us and we approach them with excitement and inspiration! Think you don’t have time to play around? This is for you… Susie faces a popular objection from her clients: “I don’t have time for these things! I have a job!” But studies about innovation paint an important picture about the value of play. By carving out a few moments to mindlessly create, we unlock parts of our creative brain that will help us solve difficult challenges in our businesses. Small daily actions like Susie’s journaling and sketching prompts will send us down a path to becoming more inspired and innovative entrepreneurs. Quotes “My book is written for entrepreneurs who are painfully stuck and crave creativity and inspiration. They believe they have to be more, do more, have more discipline to achieve that. But the book shows us that it’s by tapping into that your unbridled creativity that you can access that flow that you’re seeking.” “I help people have a whole-brain approach to life and work.” “Once we get clear on our own instincts and strengths, we can leverage that in how we build business partnerships, how we work with our clients, and how we lead strategically.” “When our imagination and intuition come online, something happens in our work that is robust and intoxicating.” “I was experiencing self-doubt, writing a book about self-doubt. I was deep in the details and my perfectionist tendencies took the wheel. It shut off the lights in my brain. But I remembered the way out…I went to my sketchbook and did a 5-minute piece of art. I wasn’t thinking about design, I just went wild. I went for it! And I chiseled out the concrete of my self-doubt. I was back in the saddle of my true self.” “There’s a reason you’re so attracted to entrepreneurship. You have a great idea! You have a desire to create, to serve, and put a positive dent into the universe. You can shape and create a business that serves the kind of life that you want to lead, not the other way around. Design your ultimate life and then shape your business to serve it.” “When we get back into rhythm with our values and our joy, we realize that the magical marketing elixir is us.” “Establish your healthy habits and rituals. Make them non-negotiable.” “Our artistry and creativity give us the ability to get through any challenge.” “Everything in my life was a disaster. But I started with very simple healthy habits and it fed my creativity.” “We have everything we need for the journey already. Once you start moving, the universe sees that you’re in the game!” Links mentioned in this episode: Check out the website for the Innovation and Creativity Institute: https://innovationandcreativityinstitute.com Purchase Susie deVille’s NEW book and hone your own creativity and inspiration: https://innovationandcreativityinstitute.com/book/  Become a coaching client of Susie deVille or purchase a course on her website: https://innovationandcreativityinstitute.com/work-with-susie/  Follow the Creativity and Innovation Institute on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/innovationandcreativityinstitute   Connect with Susie deVille on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susiedeville/  You can follow Susie on Twitter at @susiedeVille Susie recommends the work of Lynda Barry in uncovering your own creativity. You can find her beloved book What it is here: https://www.amazon.com/What-Lynda-Barry/dp/1897299354

Creativity and inspiration cannot be bought, but they can be learned. Susie deVille is in the business of teaching entrepreneurs how to be more creative, innovative and inspired! Her methods have freed hundreds of business owners from perfectionism and turned them into unique, inventive leaders. Susie is the founder and CEO of the Innovation & Creativity Institute. An author, coach, and business owner who built and sold a highly profitable real estate firm, she has been researching innovation and creativity since 2005. Her first book, Buoyant: The Entrepreneurs Guide to Becoming Wildly Successful, Creative, and Free, has been called The Artist's Way for entrepreneurs. Why is creativity important for business? Susie’s clients want to have better ideas, solve problems with ease and become exceptional leaders.  All the skills that make up a great leader-The ability to think quickly when challenges arise, inventing new products and services, and ultimately serving clients more effectively-begin with our ability to be creative!  By uncovering our own profound sense of inspiration and intuition, we become magnetic: People want to hire, invest in or work for us. Creativity is a skill that anyone can develop! If inspiration doesn’t strike, how do you find it? Susie has built her career around teaching solutions.  Whether you feel like you’re not a creative person or you’re just feeling stuck lately, Susie has great advice for you: Stop trying to make “good” things and just focus on the act of making!  In this episode, Susie deVille gives quality exercises for how you can become unstuck by embracing the messy, imperfect and exciting parts of the creative process. Quotes “Once we remember who we truly are, we become insanely attractive to the marketplace. People can feel us even before we speak.” “This is a process of the archeology of the self. As we move through life, things accumulate which are not our true selves. They are the expectations of others, cultural messages and things told to us by parents, teachers and family members. Through my work with clients, we reconnect them with their innermost playful, joyful self. We then direct and shape how they build their businesses.” “We have to tap into our inspired creativity. We need to breathe in what fills us. It can be absorbing or creating beautiful art, resting, or spending time in the park. Through these practices, we anchor ourselves in rituals that bring us back to ourselves.” “When we begin focusing on inspiration instead of more productivity, we come home to ourselves. We begin to profoundly trust our own decision-making. It’s the direct result of making things.” “Making something is the bridge across the river of self-doubt. It gives a sense of possibility.” “Once we have our sacred inspirational energy back, we have to protect it and continue to fuel it. We set boundaries and become more mindful about scheduling things.” “There is an addiction to the adrenaline of overdoing. We get a charge out of opening our planner and seeing all the stuff. It’s a socially-sanctioned way to hide out. Especially if we’re carrying some trauma, we load up that schedule.” “My clients are often overachievers who believe that they can achieve their way to a sense of self and intrinsic value. But it’s a fool’s errand. You cannot give yourself intrinsic value by doing. You have to know that you have ‘value’ without achieving anything.” “My clients push back on the joyful, easy path because it sounds frivolous! They think it’s for crafty people with time to kill, retired people or children. This is the hardest part of the process - we have to shift and undo this cultural training.” “People believe that what you make has to be quote-on-quote ‘good’. We tend to believe that the product is what has value. But I’m more interested in what’s happening inside of my soul.” Links mentioned in this episode: Check out the website for the Innovation and Creativity Institute: https://innovationandcreativityinstitute.com/ Purchase Susie deVille’s NEW book and hone your own creativity and inspiration: https://innovationandcreativityinstitute.com/book/  Become a coaching client of Susie deVille or purchase a course on her website: https://innovationandcreativityinstitute.com/work-with-susie/  Follow the Creativity and Innovation Institute on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/innovationandcreativityinstitute   Connect with Susie deVille on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susiedeville/  You can follow Susie on Twitter at @susiedeVille Susie recommends the work of Lynda Barry in uncovering your own creativity. You can find her beloved book What it is here: https://www.amazon.com/What-Lynda-Barry/dp/1897299354  

Ladi Goldwire believes that women’s innate skills are a valuable asset in typically male-dominated fields like construction. Ladi Goldwire is a State licensed General Contractor and Building Code Administrator certified through the International Code Council. She is vigilant in her pursuit of those business and partnership opportunities which offer favorable and equitable positions for everyone, specifically persons of color. Ladi has served as Principal for BrinMar Construction and Development Group Ltd, a full-service construction firm since its inception in 2008. She also is the owner of The Permit Ladi, a robust permit mitigation firm that serves the South Florida area.  She has discovered a passion for hemp building materials as a means to more sustainable and economical construction. After decades working within the framework of the construction industry, Ladi is focusing on advocacy work for building better buildings, cities, connections and communities.  Know yourself to find your path. Despite the push for her to attend college, Ladi Goldwire didn’t envision herself spending four years in a classroom. She wanted to get her hands dirty. After watching her father work in construction, Ladi decided to explore a career in the construction industry. She understood that job experience and hands-on work were what truly excited her and pursued those experiences with dogged determination. Breaking away from the mold, Ladi set an example of what life can look like when we see beyond the expectations of others. Women belong in trades. Ladi is on a mission to encourage more women to go into trades. She makes the case that women’s mindfulness, attention to detail, compassion, futuristic thinking and conviction have the power to transform communities through work in trades.  Quotes “I learned from the bureau of labor and statistics that there are only 36,000 general contractors registered in the country. 9% of those 36,000 are women. And only 3% of that number are women of color. Effectively, there are only 97 of us operating at the capacity and level that I am.” “There is space for women: The way we think and the way we do business.” “We can create more seats at this phenomenal table.” “Being able to establish my own business and my own hours, being able to call my own shots, that was the best gift of being able to work in a trade and vocation.” “My goal right now is to encourage more women to join the ranks because we need them there. Desperately.” “Most people don’t start a business from the sole standpoint of wanting to make money. They’re starting a business because they want to make a stamp on the world, some way, somehow.” Links mentioned in this episode: You can check out Brin Mar Construction here: https://brinmarconstruction.com/  Connect with Ladi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ladi-anita-march-goldwire-a45a9114/?trk=org-employees&originalSubdomain=il  Follow Ladi Goldwire on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ladiamarch  Read Ladi’s interview with Candice Georgiadis of Authority Magazine here: https://medium.com/authority-magazine/women-of-the-c-suite-ladi-goldwire-of-brinmar-construction-development-group-ltd-on-the-five-166933b77f4c   

Caring what people think is important as you build a business. And building your reputation is what Lida Citroën does best. Lida Citroën is an award-winning branding and reputation management authority who designs and enhances the identities of executives, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders globally. As CEO and founder of LIDA360, LLC, Lida is sought-after for her knowledge of personal brand development, reputation management, leadership communication, and online positioning. Lida's popular TEDx Talk, Talks at Google presentation, and multiple courses on LinkedIn Learning showcase her empowering delivery style and message. She regularly presents business workshops on reputation management, personal branding, executive presence, leadership communication, and using social media to self-promote, helping employees and leaders build a personal brand that supports the business. She also works to support military veterans as they make the transition from a military to a civilian career. Lida is the author of 5 best-selling books on reputation management including her latest "Control the Narrative: The Executive's Guide to Building, Pivoting and Repairing Your Reputation," published in May 2021 from Kogan Page. Why should you care about your reputation? You have a personal brand. Even if you’re just now launching your business, you are already known for acting, interacting and dressing a certain way. How you treat people, how you present yourself and how you run your business has a deep impact on how others perceive you! Those perceptions affect whether people want to work with you in the future. What can you do about it? When you intend to have a big impact, your reputation gets bigger and the stakes get higher. Lida Citroën coaches entrepreneurs on how to build, reclaim or transform the way people perceive them.  In this episode, Lida discusses accountability, public perception, and why your reputation can be the foundation for a strong and enduring business. Quotes “Everyone has a brand - by design or by default. You’re known for certain things - how you’ve been living your life and showing up. You’ve formed some type of reputation in the minds of people who interact with you. What I do is to help people take control of that, authentically.” “One thing I help my clients do is separate reputation from fact. It’s hard when you’re being dragged. Separate what happened from what you feel about what happened. What are the short and long term implications? Has it actually damaged your career? I also help them decide who their audience is.” “We have to know that someone’s perception of us is going to drive them to want to work with us…or not.” “If people don’t see you and perceive you in the way that you want, you’re going to miss out on opportunities.” Links mentioned in this episode: You can navigate to Lida Citroën’s website here: www.lida360.com  Watch Lida’s TedTalk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BloWnsJCRw  Subscribe to Lida’s Youtube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/c/LidaCitroen Lida is very active on LinkedIn. Send her a connection request at https://www.linkedin.com/in/lida360/  Follow Lida on Twitter at https://twitter.com/LIDA360 Find Lida on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LIDAthreesixty Purchase Lida’s books and enter your info to receive your FREE Elevator Pitch Download here: https://www.lida360.com/store/   

What does the future look like for service industries? Michael Andreacchi’s award-winning waste removal company offers us an inspiring blueprint. Michael is the CEO and Co-Founder of Junk King LLC, an international waste removal franchise with a focus on recycling, touted for being ‘North America's greenest junk removal service’. He is an innovative business leader in the junk removal industry with strong experience in franchising, high growth business expansion, environmental sustainability, and operational excellence. Junk King was founded from a garage in 2005 by Michael and his friend in San Carlos, California. The idea was simple: Offer great customer service and recycle way, way more than their competitors. Today, Junk King is the #1 Rated junk removal service in North America, with 100+ locally-owned franchises in 37 states and Canada. We have a lot to learn from Michael Andreacchi. Begin with a strong mission. Michael and his friend founded Junk King with a simple but powerful goal: Recycle the most, and do the best job at it. Michael and his Co-Founder Brian Reardon looked around and realized that there was a need in their area for a junk removal company that delivered faster, friendlier and more environmentally-conscious service. Because of their determination and commitment to excellence, Junk King now recycles up to 50% of all the debris they haul. Stay open to change. Michael spent time and energy observing opportunities for growth and change within the junk removal industry, implementing changes slowly until he had an award-winning combination of old-school customer service and new technology.  With a customer-centric mindset, Junk King set out to use technology like easy junk pickup scheduling software, a progressive recycling system and modern methods of tracking labor costs. By remaining open to change, Junk King was able to move towards duplicability.  Replication is the key to scaling your company. Junk King created methods and guidelines for serving people in a warm, personal way using modern technology. Realizing they could create massive environmental change and thousands of jobs, they decided to expand by exploring a franchise model. Now, Michael shares his lessons about franchising and maintaining company culture across state lines and national borders.  Quotes “Franchising is a great opportunity to start your own business because there’s so much support. You get that partner immediately built in that’s invested in the same goals as you. We can launch our franchises in 6-8 weeks. There’s a lot of value in buying an existing business or starting a franchise!” “Our training is centered around, what is the culture you want to build for your franchise?” “We’re collaborative. I always know what’s going on, but we’re very relaxed. We work hard and play hard, and everyone still hits deadlines and we scale the company.” “Our software allows us to run the business efficiently. We’ve been building it since 2-3 years in. We started with scheduling software and it has evolved into a massive proprietary software that tracks every KPI… labor costs, dumping fees, a pricing estimator, finance, and a phone system. It’s a pretty robust system!” “When we brought in a really good marketer, it helped the brand tremendously. Hire smart people!” “Don’t be afraid to market. You have to spend money to make money, and we tried different marketing programs. You don’t know until you try…and you do have to build your brand!” “You have to get more granular and more invested in your community. We ask, how can we do better at being involved in the community locally?” Links mentioned in this episode: Check out the Junk King website online at https://www.junk-king.com/  Explore franchise opportunities with Junk King and help make your area greener and cleaner by visiting their franchising page at https://franchising.junk-king.com/ View current careers at Junk King by visiting their hiring website at https://junk-king-careers.careerplug.com/jobs  Read current articles about sustainability, recycling and the waste industry on the Junk King Blog at https://info.junk-king.com/  Subscribe to the Junk King newsletter to receive recycling info and helpful advice to help keep your items out of landfills and into the hands of the people who need them! https://signup.e2ma.net/signup/1958542/1943194/  Follow Junk King on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/junkking_corporate/?hl=en  

When Liya Shuster-Bier was diagnosed with cancer, she immediately cut off her hair, froze her eggs, called her friends and prepared for a fight. But what she didn’t know was that she was about to go to battle for a better future for all cancer patients, everywhere.  Liya Shuster-Bier is the founder and CEO of Alula, the first digital platform to help cancer patients and caregivers navigate the symptoms of cancer treatment and everyday clinical care outside of the hospital. Before founding Alula, Liya began her career in community development and impact investing, starting out on the corporate currency derivatives team at Goldman Sachs. As a female CEO, cancer survivor and immigrant from Baku, Liya is proud to speak on the struggles of fundraising for women-owned businesses, and how her experience of facing down death has radically changed her style of leadership. Beautiful ideas start with experiences. Liya was undergoing chemotherapy and her friends were trying to help. After receiving several pink ribbon blankets in response to her diagnosis with non-hodgkin's lymphoma, she made a striking realization: Our communities desperately want to support us, but they don’t know how. Liya founded Alula from her hospital bed.  She set out to design a pseudo gift registry for cancer patients and ended up creating something much bigger: A service dedicated to supporting patients through cancer with products, advice, community and frank conversations. With Alula, Liya created the type of support she had wished for during her own treatment. Who are you serving and how? Creating a company starts with an idea, and it is sustained by passionately serving the people you founded it for.  When listening to Liya’s incredible story, ask yourself: How can you expand and deepen your offers to provide services that improve the lives of your consumers?  Quotes “I feel fortunate to be able to lend my brain to something that makes life for others so much better.” “Our big goal is to make life with cancer liveable.” “We will become a clinical provider. Our goal is to have everything reimbursable by insurance, so we can democratize it.” “I felt so much pressure to ‘Beat cancer’ and be a cancer survivor’ during my fight, in my battle - all these metaphors for cancer - and it had become such a new part of who I was. I wanted to ensure that our product was focused on navigability of cancer without a point of view on whether or not you survive. How do we support patients regardless of the outcome?” Links mentioned in this episode: Check out the Alula website at https://myalula.com/  Follow Alula on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/ouralula/  Follow Alula on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ouralula/  Connect with the team at Alula by emailing hello@myalula.com 

Rachael Evans has an expression she uses frequently as an entrepreneur: “Fear means go.” As a speaker, coach, author and founder, Rachael is on a mission to propel each of us towards a courageous life. Rachael has led a career of disruption in male-dominated global industries, carving out pathways and opening doors for scores of women to walk through and stand beside her. A visionary strategist and futurist, Rachael has grown her own multi-million-dollar companies from scratch while navigating the challenges of a young family. After successfully coaching leaders in the automotive repair industry, Rachael began creating spaces for women to tell their stories and step fully into their power and potential.  A dynamic speaker, Rachael inspires audiences to embrace and celebrate the bravest, boldest versions of themselves. You can fearlessly start over. Rachael stepped into her previous partner’s auto repair business in order to keep her family afloat financially. After turning it into an empire, she became a coach for other struggling auto repair companies, ultimately becoming a leader in the industry.  Struggling in her traditional marriage, Rachael decided that it was time to stop playing small and living in the shadows. She stepped away from her marriage and into her own truth as a mother, a leader and a female entrepreneur.  You can step into your power. Rachael realized that womens’ stories of bravery were not being told. She began creating space for other women to explore their ambitions! As a speaker, podcaster and author, Rachael empowers women to live courageously by inviting them to examine their own strengths, hopes and dreams.  Quotes “Well-resourced women can change the world.” “I felt like women’s stories of bravery weren’t being told.” “Some of the things we as women do every single day are indeed brave….despite what society wants us to think. I know how brave you need to be to start again, and to pursue your business.” “There is no courage without fear. Courage does not arrive if we are not scared. If there’s no fear, none of the things happen to alert us to the fact that we might need to have courage and summon a decision.” “I made a decision. I call this my ‘empire state moment’. I was standing on the empire state building in awe of the view, and it was actually my 40th birthday. I decided that my kids would be okay to see me succeed in business.” “The best thing especially for my daughters to see was me making my way in the world.” Links mentioned in this episode: Check out Rachael’s personal brand, The Real Rachael, at https://www.therealrachael.com/  Prepare for the launch of The Brave Media Network by subscribing to updates and important announcements at https://www.therealrachael.com/#media  Connect with Rachael on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/therealrachaelevans/?originalSubdomain=au   Follow Rachael’s Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/therealrachaelevans/

Juliet Starrett is an accidental entrepreneur and viral Youtuber. She has some golden advice for you: You can gain a MASSIVE follower base just by solving your customers’ problems. What began as a mission to help people avoid movement injuries resulted in an 18-year track record of building successful brick-and-mortar, digital media, SaaS, and e-commerce organizations from the ground up. She currently serves as CEO of The Ready State, a media-based health and wellness company she founded with her husband Kelly. The Ready State disrupted the fitness industry with the creation of a completely new market category of movement and mobility media content.  Want to grow your online following? Start with this... We all want to have a bigger subscriber base. It’s tempting to get obsessed with the latest platform and ad strategy, but Juliet and Kelly Starrett have a simpler suggestion for us: Start by showing up.  A Doctor of Physical Therapy, Kelly Starrett noticed a lot of movement injuries that could have been prevented with better mobility. He realized that there was an immense need for movement education. Juliet and Kelly began shooting quick videos about mobility and self-care and uploading them to Youtube. Because their information was so valuable, they began getting hundreds of thousands of subscribers…who didn’t bat an eye when the Starretts decided to begin charging for their content. Success begins with readiness.  Juliet’s favorite people show up to life-and work-with their sleeves rolled up, ready to get curious and do what needs to be done. Whether she’s praising her employees for their willingness to get their hands dirty or strategizing high-level offerings for her business, Juliet puts a high price on readiness.  Juliet and Kelly were ready to help people get the movement education they desperately needed. Without getting overly caught up in video editing, process and production, the Starretts began uploading content where and where people needed it: On Youtube, where they were searching for solutions to their mobility problems.  The Starrets challenge YOU to take the same approach to your content strategy-what is a problem your consumers have, and where might they be looking for the solutions you have? The answer will turn into the ultimate business plan. Quotes “95% of {customers’} injuries were because they didn’t understand how to move. They had no tools to figure it out on their own. Most people could avoid getting involved with the medical system at all! They just have nagging pains from hunching over from looking at our phones. So, we started making youtube videos.” “We weren’t trying to start a business…we were trying to solve a problem. If you want to start a business, find a problem and solve it. That’s your business plan!” “We made bad videos and we were doing zero marketing…and people found them!” “Without even trying, we had hundreds of thousands of Youtube subscribers. There was a need for what we were talking about. So we decided to figure out how to monetize the business.” “We were the first people in the health and fitness space doing a subscription. We put all our content behind a paywall and we learned that people are happy to pay for good content.” “We were accidental entrepreneurs. We kept running into this problem and we discovered that no one was doing anything about it. So we decided to do something about it!” Links mentioned in this episode: Check out Juliet and Kelly’s thriving company The Ready State on their website.  Get your FREE trial of The Ready State’s services. Listen to episodes of The Ready State podcast here. Follow The Ready State on Instagram and be sure to watch their daily stories for snippets of mobility education! Connect with Juliet Starrett on LinkedIn here.  

By getting back to the basics, your business will experience explosive growth. It’s easy to get “shiny object syndrome” when it comes to growing our businesses - that is, the belief that we have to be chasing new and expensive marketing tactics all the time.  But Mike Doehla has proven that sometimes, the simplest things will create major opportunities! Mike founded Stronger U Nutrition to create an innovative online nutrition coaching company. In 2020 Stronger U was named one of America's fastest-growing private companies by Inc 5000, landing at #567. Before they were acquired by Anytime Fitness, the company helped tens of thousands of individuals in more than 50 countries through personalized nutrition support. Now, Anytime Fitness is expanding on Mike’s vision. Stronger U is a story of brand loyalty through consistency: And how Mike stuck to the basics to create massive business success. Decide that your vision is worth fighting for. By his own admission, Mike Doehla used to be an “underachiever”. A graduate of his local Community College, Mike realized that he wanted to help people feel better-so committed himself to seeing it through, despite the many discouraging comments he received.  Casting aside the unsolicited advice and criticism of others, Mike tuned into his own capability as an entrepreneur and decided to show up for his clients. This decision would ultimately change the course of his life. Be a problem-solver. Mike’s secret is super simple: Meet the clients where they are! Abandoning fancy ad strategies and expensive branding assets, Mike knew that the key to connecting with people was to show up for them…so that’s what he did! By making his nutrition program personalized and attentive, his customers began trusting him wholeheartedly and spreading the word. He soon began the process of scaling his business to meet the demands of his growing fanbase and support more clients. Connect first, market later. Mike Doehla recognized something important in marketing: Before you invest in branding and advertising, you have to understand your clients’ problems.  By investing in personal relationships and being generous, Mike grew his business through the type of genuine brand loyalty advertising money cannot buy. Quotes “People are turned off by traditional marketing. People always have their guard up. I want to buy a product because it solves a problem, and because someone I like told me about it.” “We just had to multiply what I did. When I could serve our customers very well, I needed people on the staff that could serve them as well or better. We looked for people who aligned with our nutritional philosophies, people with high emotional intelligence who are available to be customer-centric.” “I mostly thought of the challenges people were facing around food. Then, we crafted posts and content for those people.” “I would solve problems people didn’t even know they had. Then, they would start following me and eventually become customers. I would just give, give, give.” “I would go where the people were. People have questions. I would go and give advice, not really to sell stuff. Think about where the customer is! They’re not excited to follow a business that talks about the business.” “Stop worrying about the numbers. Just do the things that will influence the direction of those numbers.” “I had a lot of feelings of being an imposter. I didn’t go to school for this stuff…I had to prove myself. But once the customers were getting great results, I worked to put that out there. I always knew, all I need to do was help people and they’ll put that out into the world.” “I almost didn’t do this because of what people on the internet said…people I don’t even know.” Links mentioned in this episode: Explore Stronger U Nutrition on their website https://strongeru.com/who-we-are/  Follow Stronger U on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/strongeru/  Follow Mike’s personal and entrepreneurial journey on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/mikedoehla/  

Syed Balkhi is incredibly humble, but he has been recognized as the top 100 entrepreneur under the age of 30 by the United Nations. In this interview, we get to learn from his decades of experience building and acquiring tech companies. Syed is on a mission to level the playing field for small businesses. 20+ million websites use his software to grow and compete with the big guys. 100+ million people read his blog posts every year to grow their website traffic, sales, and conversions! As an entrepreneur turned investor, Syed has created and acquired dozens of software companies that have made the Wordpress platform more accessible for millions of users. Your customers are talking-are you listening? Syed is passionate about making technology easier, more accessible and more fun. In order to fulfill his mission and make creative products, he devotes time to reading and considering Facebook posts from users who have struggles and concerns. When he notices a trend in user concerns, he works with his teams to create solutions, ultimately releasing products and updates that his audience loves.  Want to make great things? Go talk to your friends! Despite decades in the software industry, Syed approaches his work with curiosity and open mindedness. Before he launches something, he often asks his friends whether they see any blind spots or areas for improvement. By relying on feedback and support from the people closest to him, Syed knows that he will release programs and plugins that meet the needs of his consumers. How can you be more consistent? One of Syed’s favorite ingredients for growth: Consistency! Despite his accomplishments, Syed insists that it is consistent hard work and small daily actions that have actually created the biggest impact in his journey.  By consistently showing up to meet the needs of his user base, Syed Balkhi has set an inspiring example for us as entrepreneurs to follow.  Quotes “Every single investment and acquisition has been user-driven.” “The Wordpress community is awesome. We’re all committed to empowering businesses to succeed.” “I read a LOT about the struggles that users are having with Wordpress. I am actively reading the struggles people are having there. You cannot build a product to solve a problem that you do not understand.” “When you know who you are and who you are not, it makes it very easy to say no to things that don’t align with your values…and yes to things that do!” “Being proactive and market-leading…that is the secret sauce. And consistency!” “We talk to our customers more than most companies would, in terms of gathering feedback. Then we build better solutions!” “Persistence is a great substitute for talent. I am average at just about everything, but I work harder. And I’m okay with delayed gratification. If you’re persistent for a long time, people might eventually say that you’re doing great things!” Links mentioned in this episode: Sayed Balkhi is active daily on Twitter with inspiring ideas and quotes.  Follow Syed’s personal Instagram for daily inspiration and encouragement. Learn more about Syed and his portfolio on his website.  Check out his company, Awesome Motive, on their website. PLUS: Awesome Motive is Hiring! Apply for a 100% remote position on their hiring page.  Check out The Balkhi Foundation and the work they’re doing to fund education on their website!

Karima El-Hakkaoui doesn’t back down from a challenge and she doesn’t think you should, either.  Karima is the CEO and Co-founder of SixGldn, a botanical Doctor-formulated skincare brand that is currently making waves in the beauty industry.  After having spent many years working with large beauty brands, she and her Co-founders were disheartened by the questionable marketing messages and unethical practices in the skincare industry. They decided to launch something new. The result was SixGldn, a line of beauty products using gorgeous Korean skincare ingredients that have been clinically proven to nourish the skin.  Industry disruptors have a powerful mission. When people find out she founded a skincare brand, people ask Karima: “What lab do you use?” They are stunned to learn that rather than being formulated by a chemist, SixGldn products are formulated by a Physician, vegan, plant-based, 100% refillable and made with a mission: “Spread love and protect the planet.” The powerful mission of SixGldn is the driving force behind their industry success. Industry disruptors overcome obstacles. Karima had barely launched SixGldn as her side hustle when she lost her primary job. Less than 24 hours later, she found out that her husband had cancer!  Having already spent their savings to launch SixGldn, Karima and her family were all-in on her mission to launch the cleanest skincare brand in the world. Since then, SixGldn has been featured by FabFitFun, Well + Good, Byrdie and NewBeauty. They have forged brand partnerships with major companies like Walmart while simultaneously doing direct-to-consumer sales. The success of SixGldn is a testament to Karima’s strength in the face of obstacles. Industry disruptors consider their consumers.  SixGldn packaging is thoughtfully-designed with the customer’s experience in mind. Everything is color-coded, organized and numbered so that their consumers-who are busy travelers with a zest for life-don’t have to spend hours on a complicated skincare routine. Their packaging features images of golden hour in order, guiding customers through the steps while paying homage to their company name. Everything about their branding is supposed to glow-just like the very real people who use it! Quotes “Inclusivity is a huge thing for us. I grew up seeing zero representation of me. I felt so uncomfortable in my own skin! I didn’t see anyone who looked like me. Finally it clicked that diversity is beautiful. Everyone’s uniqueness is beautiful. And travel and being inclusive is at the heart of everything we do.” “Our vibe is about more love, more adventures and experiencing more joy.” “You know when you’re really, really happy? You literally glow. Our packaging all has photos of golden hour at different stages.” “Our power comes from earth-grown products. Artificial fragrance is linked to so many endocrine disruptors.” “Korean herbal medicine has roots that go back 5000 years. Everything in the United States is so new! Korean skincare has been tried and tested. The ingredients have been utilized in clinical studies.” “When people find out we started a skincare company, they ask, ‘what lab are you using’? Because a lot of people buy a formula and repackage it with their own brand and sell it. There is nothing special about that! The person who formulated that is probably a normal American chemist. They don’t have deeply-rooted knowledge about how to formulate ingredients.” “Anything that comes from the earth and that is grown well and grown sustainably is going to provide greater value than something that is processed.” “We believe you can have purpose and profit.” Links mentioned in this episode: Check out the SixGldn website at https://www.sixgldn.com/ Follow SixGldn on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/sixgldn/   Become a following of SixGldn’s Pinterest at https://www.pinterest.com/sixgldn/  Read about SixGldn’s mission to protect the Earth at https://www.sixgldn.com/pages/mission  Connect with Karima on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/karima-el-hakkaoui-48048aa

Senofer Mendoza is on a mission to fund diverse and historically-excluded business owners by using an improved model of venture capital.  Based in Boston, Mendoza Ventures is women-owned and the first LatinX-owned venture fund on the East Coast. The firm is run by Senofer and her husband Adrian Mendoza, entrepreneurs and veterans of the Boston startup ecosystem. They focus on diversity as playing an important role in their investment decisions, as roughly 75% of Mendoza's portfolio consists of start-ups led by immigrants, people of color, and women. Mendoza Ventures seeks to create positive changes in the fields of cybersecurity, technology and artificial intelligence.  Representation matters when it comes to funding businesses.  Senofer Mendoza noticed that businesses founded by women, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals were not being funded. She sought to affect change by choosing projects started by historically-excluded founders in security and technology, ultimately providing a blueprint for the future. Mendoza Ventures shows us the value of diversity in the workplace. Studies show that diverse workplaces outperform homogenous ones, and Senofer Mendoza thinks she knows why. In her experience, diverse teams outperform because they are able to use their rich backgrounds, knowledge and experience to collaborate. Fueled by passion and a common goal, inclusive teams can have difficult conversations and overcome greater obstacles. Senofer Mendoza is flipping traditional venture capital on its head. The goal of Mendoza Ventures is to produce a more thoughtful and holistic approach to venture capital: Doing more work to qualify applicants up front, keeping a smaller niched portfolio and providing hands-on business coaching and support to the founders they’re funding. Rather than just writing a large amount of checks with the assumption that the majority will fail, Mendoza Ventures hand-picks passion projects and goes all-in to ensure their success.  Quotes “If you built an entire VC firm around supporting a healthy company instead of the traditional model of writing a hundred checks assuming that 80% of them are going to go out of business…how can you change outcomes for founders?” “We do a lot of diligence up front. We get on the phone with them and ask, how can we help you this week? We pull from our investor base to help them.” “We coach clients to get to profitability faster or towards getting acquired earlier.” “Only 1% of general partners in VC companies are women…and that doesn’t mean founding partners! The tricky thing about inclusion is that even as you go up the capital stack, it’s still bad. It gets worse. We need to be pulling ourselves up…and we also need to be pulling someone up with us.” “We’re not just talking about inclusion, we’re not just highlighting or amplifying inclusion. We’re proactively making sure that people who are very different from ourselves are in every single layer of our company.” “I love giving women millions of dollars to grow their businesses. And people of color, and LGBTQ people! I am deeply passionate about making sure generational wealth in the United States looks like the population of the United States.” “Inclusion is awkward. It looks good on the posters, but when you’re practicing inclusion, someone always says something offensive or makes a bad joke. You have to sit in that uncomfortable moment and talk through what just happened. When you have a diverse team, they’re capable of doing that together. And if you can do this together, you can do anything! You can talk about sales numbers, you can adjust your strategy, and you share a common goal. I think that’s at the core of what’s making them outperform.” Links mentioned in this episode: Check out the Mendoza Ventures website to see their portfolio and learn more about their work: https://mendoza-ventures.com/   To inquire about a startup or if you have a media request, please reach out to Senofer and her team at partners@mendoza-ventures.com   Find Senofer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/senofermendoza/  

In Part 2 of this important conversation, Rodrigo Garcia Platas encourages us to know ourselves so that we can know business success. During this episode, Rodrigo Garcia Platas provides a more in-depth breakdown of how the 4 Unani BioTypes work and how to know where you fit.  Unani BioTypes are an ancient method of identification and categorization of the different types of Humans. They have been used to treat both physical and mental imbalances by doctors and healers throughout history. Rodrigo was looking for a way to explain his observations about humanity when he discovered the ancient science of Human Design. He quickly realized that BioTypes-which were originally conceived by the Greeks- explained the connections between the personality and biology of people. Rodrigo first ventured into the field of human development at the age of 19. He has worked with television and national radio programs as a human development and Unani BioType expert. He founded his company, RGP Development, to empower others through the art and science of Biotyping. Today, he teaches virtual and face-to-face workshops in English and Spanish on Emotional Intelligence, Human Development, BioTypes, Healthy Masculinity, Infatuation, Leadership, Business Well-being, Sales and Conflict Resolution.  Are you  Choleric, Sanguine, Melancholic or Phlegmatic? Listen to draw your own conclusions! Understanding your BioType can help explain what motivates you, what repels you, how you can improve your communication and where you’ll be happiest within a work organization.  It can also explain tension in your relationships, personality clashes at work and a lack of fulfillment in professional endeavors. Are you ready to see your life in entirely new ways? Find your BioType! Explore a deeper understanding of the people around you: Rodrigo Garcia Platas can help provide a more nuanced view of the people you find frustrating (or even insufferable). What are their motivations and how can we value their contributions to the world? How can we celebrate their strengths and reconnect them to their community? These are questions Rodrigo’s company investigates through their study of Unani BioTypes. Through BioTypes we can develop a more compassionate lens through which to view human beings, business, institutions, relationships and ourselves. Quotes “We’re certifying coaches who will be in different industries. We’re choosing people who are showing that they understand these principles.” “We’ve worked with Walmart, airlines, department stores, universities and governments. What we can do in the corporate world is fascinating. Institutional culture is important. If we get BioTypes into big structures of human beings that work in a specific way, it’s going to impact thousands of people. That’s how you make something embedded in a society.” “[Imagine] if becoming an entrepreneur meant getting to know yourself, and getting to know human beings in order to hire people. Imagine if you couldn’t open a company without knowing how to treat people, because you’ll just hurt the people you hire. Let’s give them this as a tool.” Links mentioned in this episode: Explore the RGP website at https://www.rgpdevelopment.com/  Get your FREE BioTypes PDF Worksheet at https://mailchi.mp/7ba8fdc326aa/unani-biotypes  Listen to Rodrigo’s Podcast BioTypical here:  https://biotypical.buzzsprout.com/  Follow along with Rodrigo on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/rgpdevelopment/  Join the BioTypes mailing list by entering your email at https://rgpdevelopment.us10.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=fb136636d803822bdc695c982&id=bf90e74b09 

Self-understanding is the key to breaking through barriers. Just ask Rodrigo Garcia Platas. Frequently called “The Mexican Human Scanner,” Rodrigo uses a system of the four biological temperaments (Unani BioTypes) to explore potential for human growth and happiness.  Unani BioTypes are an ancient method of identification and categorization of the different types of Humans. They have been used to treat both physical and mental imbalances by doctors and healers throughout history. Rodrigo first ventured into the field of human development at the age of 19 and began his career as a facilitator at the age of 22. Since then he has deepened his knowledge in different elements of psychological, ontological and personal growth. He has worked with television and national radio programs as a human development and Unani BioType expert. He founded his company, RGP Development, to empower others through the art and science of Biotyping. Today, he teaches virtual and face-to-face workshops in English and Spanish on Emotional Intelligence, Human Development, BioTypes, Healthy Masculinity, Infatuation, Leadership, Business Well-being, Sales and Conflict Resolution.  Rodrigo’s family was disconnected and his spirit felt broken when his stress, hyperindividualism and anxiety caused his spine to literally explode. His psychosomatic injury led to the discovery of his BioType and reliance on his personal relationships during his powerful recovery. Finally understanding that his independence was a coping mechanism, Rodrigo realized that his newfound self-compassion was the key to reconnecting with his family, empowering others and ultimately changing the world. PLUS: Be sure to listen to Part 2 of this interview to find YOUR BioType and what it means for your business… How can BioTypes help you recruit talent? Rodrigo Garcia Platas hosts corporate workshops teaching high-level clients how to understand personality types…and how to use those discoveries to improve their hiring practices. BioTypes can lead us to a deeper understanding of what type of person may be suited to a certain type of role, leading to greater chances of happiness and fulfillment in a position. What does a personality test have to do with income potential? A greater understanding of personality and biology can lead you to greater understanding of yourself and your clients. BioTypes can help you explore your compatibility with certain industries, companies or clients, resulting in higher-impact projects! Quotes “When people have certainty about how their body and psychology works, they can do amazing things.” “We’re seeing people tripling their salary, getting their health back, getting their family back together again, and choosing a path that makes them feel joyful with a deep understanding of themselves and others.” “We can transform the world with a lot of compassion…because people are very confused about why they are the way they are.” “We’re trying to give people the right tools to understand themselves, to heal themselves, to treat themselves with compassion, and to understand other people.” “We worked with Walmart. We taught their purchasing department to teach them how to negotiate with every BioType. They’re saving a lot of money…and we became the highest rated workshop in Walmart’s history!” “This ancient knowledge can be scientifically proven today - not only in the psych department but also in the medical department.” Links mentioned in this episode: Get your FREE BioTypes PDF Worksheet at https://mailchi.mp/7ba8fdc326aa/unani-biotypes  Listen to Rodrigo’s Podcast BioTypical here:  https://biotypical.buzzsprout.com/  Follow along with Rodrigo on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/rgpdevelopment/  Join the BioTypes mailing list by entering your email at https://rgpdevelopment.us10.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=fb136636d803822bdc695c982&id=bf90e74b09   

If you’re running an established, enduring and successful company, the past few years have presented some challenges…and some fresh, exciting opportunities for growth.  Huntington Learning Center is a prime example of blending tradition and innovation to support a company’s mission. Anne Huntington Sharma’s parents founded Huntington Learning Center in the 1970’s with the intention of providing excellent education to students across the nation. Since then, it has developed into a franchise company with 300 locations in 42+ states.  Anne Huntington Sharma is the President and a Board Member of Huntington, which has become the nation's leading tutoring and test prep provider. Anne oversees business strategy and growth initiatives, including partnerships, marketing, digital transformation, and franchise expansion. Anne is also involved in the arts as a collector, producer, philanthropist, curator, and founder of AMH Industries, a creative agency for contemporary art and culture. She is an associate producer on the Emmy nominated HBO documentary, ‘The Price of Everything’ and an associate producer on the documentary ‘The Art of Making It’. To date, Anne has curated more than 30 exhibits across the country and raised over $30 million dollars for various philanthropic causes. How are we evolving to support our mission? Anne has used the challenges of the global pandemic and societal change as a golden opportunity to ask, “How do we make this business as strong and focused as possible?” When looking ahead to the future of our brands, we can use Anne’s example to consider what’s working, and what could be developed further. As a mission-based company, Huntington has found solutions to better support students including remote learning, tailored lessons if they need to  catch up academically, and methods of involving parents in their education so that they get an amazing schooling experience. What does scaling your business look like for the future? Huntington decided to pursue the franchise model and has found tremendous success. With the goal of supporting as many students as possible, franchise locations of Huntington Learning Center are overseen for quality control by an assigned Huntington consultant.  When looking ahead, what type of expansion makes sense for your business?  What quality standards do you have for your company? Over time, how could you delegate so that you can share the signature services or products you’re providing with more people? If your goal is to change as many lives as you can, how can you scale your business to fit your mission? These are all important questions for us as entrepreneurs! Can you use remote work for maximum collaboration? Once a primarily in-person company, Huntington Learning Center had to transform their entire business model literally overnight. Instead of focusing on the difficulties, Anne shares some lessons she learned from this experience!  After surveying their educators and administrative employees and franchisees, Anne Huntington Sharma received the message loud and clear: Most workers loved remote work, and wanted to make it a permanent change. Anne also found that remote work enabled Huntington to attract talent across the nation and find the most qualified educators. A collaborative structure also provided ways to give feedback, connect and serve students more effectively.  Quotes: “We’re a 40+ year old startup, because we had to innovate and make these changes really fast.” “We’re a very passionate mission-driven company. We’ve been doing this for a very long time.” “We believe in franchising as a concept. We believe it helps students and franchisees.” “At Huntington, our goal is to help as many students as possible. Our mission has been the same as day one, which is to give every student the best education possible.” “My mark is to take what has been built and make positive change where appropriate. For example, for a cultural perspective, I get different folks who may not work together every day, in the virtual room together. How do we collaborate more, so we can help our students and franchisees? It’s built on communication.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit the Huntington Learning Center https://huntingtonhelps.com/  To explore Huntington Learning Center as a franchise, check out their website https://huntingtonfranchise.com/  Connect with Anne Huntington Sharma on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-huntington-sharma-8720606   

Ron Thurston is on a mission to celebrate the culture, people and legacy of the retail industry. Born into a family of retailers, Ron always knew he wanted to be involved in the industry. Now, he is literally traveling America with the purpose of celebrating the real people of retail and the beautiful stories behind their often “accidental careers.” Ron Thurston is a highly accomplished retail leadership Executive, Board Advisor, and Amazon Bestselling Author with extensive experience leading retail operations for America’s most prominent brands–including The Gap, West Elm, Tory Burch, Yves Saint Laurent and Intermix.  One of Ron’s greatest strengths is turning around underperforming businesses, developing and implementing innovative growth strategies, improving training programs, building high-performing and dedicated teams, launching new brands, expanding brands into new markets, and ensuring customer growth and satisfaction.  In 2021 and 2022, Ron was named one of the top 100 Retail Influencers globally, is a board member of GOODWILL NY/NJ, and currently sits on the advisory boards of several emerging retail technology brands, including Reflex Careers, Job Pixel, and IMMERSS.  As of Spring 2022, Ron is traveling across America in an airstream trailer for a year-long tour called “Retail in America”. He is launching his audio and video platforms for a yearlong exploration of the stories behind retail businesses in America, from family-owned brick-and-mortars to large companies. Ron wants to share their inception stories and provide a platform for them to celebrate their incredible careers. Is your retail career a happy accident? Sitting across from retail workers, Ron hears it all the time: Many people did not intend to pursue a career in retail.  This “happy accident” is exciting, compelling and wonderful. But it is not always understood or honored. As someone who understands what it’s like when friends and family questioned his decision to work in a field that requires long hours, nights and holidays, Ron wants to discover hidden opportunities for rich storytelling in retail. Show up with pride. Ron is not here to tell you how to run your retail business - his mission is to teach you and your team how to show up as your best selves, with pride. His mantra is: “I choose to show up with pride today, in what I do.” Ron sees retail as a great equalizer-providing opportunities for people of all gender identities, orientations and backgrounds to connect and inspire others. He is excited by the future of retail businesses, which he believes is rich for expansion and community.  Tell your story. As Ron travels across America, he is asking retail business owners and workers to share their stories. He wants to help share messages of hope, hilarity and creative inspiration from the industry that fuels America!  By reframing attitudes towards retail, Ron helps us create a better work culture. What are we proud of? How do we show up every day to serve others and engage with them on a human level? And how can we spread more kindness by bettering the experience of shopping? By asking these simple questions, Ron is having a major impact on thousands of retail workers across the globe. Quotes “Retail is not just sales. It’s storytelling. It’s history. It’s community, it’s people. And it’s so much bigger than the average perception of this industry.” “Every part of this business is so exciting and interesting to me. The careers that people have are under-celebrated! It’s an industry full of proud, hardworking people!” “1 out of 4 people in this country work in retail. But it’s almost invisible in some ways.” “The more kind that we can be to each other about the work we do, the more positive impact that has on why this is an important career choice.” “I want to accomplish the momentum behind…new generations of people joining the retail industry. That this can be an industry where no matter how you present yourself, all are welcome here.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit Ron Thurston’s website for his tour, “Retail Pride” https://www.retailpride.com/  Get Ron’s Amazon bestselling book, Retail Pride: The Guide to Celebrating your Accidental Career https://www.amazon.com/Retail-Pride-Celebrating-Accidental-Career/dp/1544515936/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=gOyvd&pf_rd_p=205b21f0-8557-4ea8-a863-e58f77379cf8&pf_rd_r=C8CY7CQEGDC4ZRK05B8Y&pd_rd_r=fdbf7c7d-92a5-48fe-bea9-4d7cbcda688f&pd_rd_wg=ggLtS&ref_=pd_gw_  Follow along with his journey across America on his Instagram, @RetailPride https://www.instagram.com/retailpride/   Subscribe to receive email updates from Ron’s “Retail in America” tour  https://www.retailpride.com/contact  For links to Ron’s Retail Pride sponsors, visit Ron’s Linktree https://linktr.ee/ronthurston

Christine was raised in fear and poverty in a doomsday cult.  She was taught she would never have the opportunity to gain an education, have a family, or have a career. Since her escape, she has been blessed to do all those things and more-including building a 7-figure Strengths Coaching business. Now she is on a mission to help others overcome their fears so they too can live a life that fulfills them. Are you using your business to survive or thrive? After fighting for her freedom and finally achieving stability as a young mom, Christine realized that she was made for more. She had built a successful private security business and she was making money, so why didn’t she feel like she had “made it”?  Despite being proud of the company she grew with her husband, Christine invested in high-level business training with a Gallup Strengths coach. It changed her life forever. Knowing your strengths can change your life. Christine’s business coach helped her discover her Clifton Strengths-a set of innate abilities that each of us possess.  By identifying her strengths, Christine found answers to some of her life’s most important questions. She realized although her current business was lucrative, it was not nurturing her love of human connection. Christine decided to pivot and build a business that helped her share her gift of inspiring and empowering women entrepreneurs to overcome their fears by knowing their strengths.  Use YOUR strengths to build and scale your business! Christine Minh-Minh Garner coaches entrepreneurs, small businesses and large organizations to use their strengths to improve the way they do business!  Christine shows us how appreciating the strengths of others can help you build sustainable teams, create work you’re proud of and collaborate harmoniously, providing excellence to your clients every time. Quotes “I had to start asking myself, if money and time wasn’t an issue, what would I be doing with my life? And it would be to be helping women in business to create a blueprint for their most fulfilling future.” “Fulfillment is about hope, and it’s about overcoming fear. The reason that this is so near and dear to my heart is because I was raised in poverty and fear.” “I have found that knowing your strengths and how to utilize them is the biggest fear-bulldozer I have ever seen.” “How is it that I can aim these strengths to achieve the goal? It’s a beautiful strategy.” “My higher purpose is helping women and helping businesses and organizations create a strengths-based culture where people actually want to come to work.” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit Christine Minh-Minh Garner’s website at www.minh-minh.com   Explore personalized Strengths Coaching with Christine at https://www.minh-minh.com/coaching   Listen to her podcast, The Fulfilled Life, at https://minh-minh.buzzsprout.com/  And lastly, find YOUR strengths by taking the Gallup CliftonStrengths Assessment on their website. https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/252137/home.aspx?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=us_strengths_branded_cs_ecom&utm_term=clifton%20strengths&gclid=CjwKCAjw6dmSBhBkEiwA_W-EoG4YyqX58FFTID53M-s6lRCm4NXCF3w5IuB7ygO0IZT5XZVL3nOAzRoCiIkQAvD_BwE    

Jill Salzman is a masterful creator of community. She has built her successful business by empowering women to chase their goals and show up as their most confident selves. Currently, Jill is growing her third entrepreneurial venture, The Founding Moms, the #1 platform for mom entrepreneurs to build better businesses. A graduate of Brown University and law school, she started a music management firm and then launched and sold a baby jewelry company before creating her current business. Jill is the author of The Best Business Book In The World and the best-seller, Found It: A Field Guide for Mom Entrepreneurs. Jill is the host of the top-rated entertaining business podcast, Why Are We Shouting?, gave her own TED talk on 11/11/11, was dubbed a mommy mogul by CNNMoney, a Cool Mom Entrepreneur We Love by MSN Live, and was recently named one of the Top 50 Women to Watch In Tech as well as a Top 100 Champion Small Business Influencer after Forbes named The Founding Moms one of the Top 10 Websites For Entrepreneurs.  Jill Salzman has shared the stage with Richard Branson, Sheryl Sandberg, Daymond John, Marilu Henner, and Desmond Tutu and she regularly appears on ABC7s Windy City Live TV show. In her spare time, Jill enjoys kloofing, baking, and erasing her daughter’s crayon artwork from the kitchen walls. Visionary entrepreneurs know their why. Jill demonstrates how important it is to meet the needs of the client you’re looking to serve. What are their struggles? What’s holding them back? Answering these questions can pave the way for a thriving and joyful entrepreneurial journey. By understanding the unique needs of mompreneurs, Jill built a business that celebrates community over competition. Business doesn’t have to be bland. In a world of expensive, exclusive networking groups, Jill Salzman created more authentic spaces for mothers to start businesses and network with other visionary moms. Frustrated by traditional boy’s-club marketing tactics, Jill knew that it was time to build the network she wanted to participate in! Embrace learning, always. Sometimes we don’t get it right. In this frank, funny and genuine interview, Jill shares her opportunities for growth as she built her company… including a moment of judgment in a networking group that will forever change the way she views mom entrepreneurs.  This is a must-listen.  Quotes “I can have a lot of fun while I’m building a business. Now I’m busy sharing it. They join because they want that.” “We were raised back in the day to think, ‘business has nothing to do with personal feelings’, but every mom entrepreneur around the world in any city is the same… battling massive fear of failure or guilt that she’s doing something focused on herself.” “We do a lot of encouragement. Get in front of your brand! You’re a small business. We need to see you, get to know you and we need to trust you in order to buy your stuff.” Links mentioned in this episode: Check out Jill’s website: https://jillsalzman.com/  Visit the website for Jill’s growing company, The Founding Moms: https://foundingmoms.com/  Listen to Jill’s Ultra-popular Podcast, Why are we Shouting? https://jillsalzman.com/podcast/  Buy Jill Salzman’s Publications, including her beloved field guide for mom entrepreneurs: https://foundingmoms.com/books/ 

Brian Lofrumento is an entrepreneur, speaker, and author whose businesses have reached over 3.5 million people in over 200 countries. Having built multiple six-figure businesses since 19, Brian has taught over 4,000 entrepreneurs worldwide how to launch and grow businesses online using his Ultimate Profit Model framework. Brian is the author of Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur: What You Really Need to Know to Start Your First Business. He also hosts one of the top business podcasts in the world. In addition, Brian helps students through his engaging, fun, and interactive teaching style, which focuses as much on implementation and mindset as learning and building a customer-center business.  Turning His High School Intern Job into a Marketing Agency  While in high school at the age of 15, Brian landed an internship with a digital marketing company. He soon learned the benefits of using SEO to increase website traffic and built one of the most successful soccer blogs in the world.  With the amount of traction he received from his blog, Brian had the attention of big companies worldwide who wanted to know his secret sauce. As a result, Brian started his own marketing company helping other businesses get noticed on the web. Discover how Brian has used collaboration to grow his business, his best growth strategies, how he uses his personal brand in his company, and how he frames his high status verbiage when sharing personal information with the world.  Podcast Resources Visit Brian Lofrumento on the web Follow the Brian Lofrumento on LinkedIn Connect with The Business of You Visit the Business of You on the web Like The brandiD on Facebook Follow The brandiD on LinkedIn Join us on Instagram Learn more about Branding on The brandiD Blog Show Highlights [03:45] Brian tells his story of how he learned SEO and started his digital marketing company. [06:39] How Brian has taken collaboration to a new level in growing his business. [08:45] Utilizing traffic exchanges with another business website. [10:45] Using the community to spread the word about your platform. [14:07] Drawing the line between sharing his personal life and what Brian decides to keep private. Quotes “Even if you are a solopreneur, you’re never actually alone in your journey.” “Instead of just talking about entrepreneurship, I also talk about my life.” “Everybody talks about business, but at the end of the day, we are all humans and we crave that deep, genuine connection.” “When you take an interest in other people, they will take an interest in you.”

Agapi Stassinopoulos is a best-selling author and speaker and currently conducts workshops for Thrive Global, a company founded by her sister, Arianna Huffington to change the way we live and work.Agapi’s goal: to set you off on an epic spiritual journey. Inspired by connection to the divine, Agapi invites us to explore what divinity means to us as we live our purpose as founders and entrepreneurs. Her latest book teaches us how to invite prayer into our daily lives.  She encourages us to transcend perfectionism, fear, self-doubt and stagnation in order to arrive at a mindset of trust, confidence and abundance.  Struggling with purpose? Agapi was not immediately a successful performer and author, and her struggles threatened to derail her goals.  As she received rejections in the world of creative arts, Agapi began to question her ambitions.  But at the pivotal moment when she could have given up on her aspirations to become an actor, she instead made a decision: to live her life on her terms. She decided to devote herself to innerwork and discover her true values, confidence and voice. Now, she teaches you to do the same.  Are you waiting for permission? We often subconsciously wait for someone to give us permission to live and work as we want to.  Agapi began exploring what it would mean to be her own best ally–and rely on her connection to God as she took personal and professional risks.  Her bestselling books were written to help you cultivate your own relationship with a higher entity and infuse faith into your life’s journey.  The power of prayer… Agapi Stassinopoulos’ NEW book “Speaking with Spirit: 52 Prayers to Inspire and Uplift You” will serve to help you navigate life’s obstacles. Written during the early days of the pandemic, Agapi offers prayers for specific challenges of business, friendship, family, partnership and creative inspiration.  If you feel alone as an entrepreneur, listen to this interview with Agapi to refresh and renew your spirit.  Quotes “If you think you’re doing life on your own, please stop and reconsider. Consider the miracle of your life.”  “I arrived at this place where I am now…because I wasn’t getting what I wanted in the world.” “The purpose is not to gain the degrees, to create businesses and projects… the purpose is, has this been used to wake me up, and to serve others?” Links mentioned in this episode: Visit her website, Wake Up to the Joy of You.  Purchase her latest bestselling book, Speaking with Spirit: 52 Prayers to Guide, Inspire, and Uplift You. See all of her current publications on her website. Explore the Thrive Global website and current offerings. Receive inspiration and VIP event invites from Agapi and her team by subscribing to the mailing list.

Welcome to The Business of You Podcast, where you’ll discover how to turn your big idea into big business. Learn how to grow your personal brand into the business of your dreams. Each week, you’ll hear from the founder of successful companies and find out how they walked their epic journey to achieve a flourishing business. Then, listen to learn how you can use their roadmap to create a thriving company and pave your own road to success! Meet Hope Caldwell Hope is the founder of the KLH Group, which connects clients to social causes that matter most to them and their employees through high-end service events. Hope is also the co-founder of The Spokes Group, a 501C-3 whose mission is to put deserving children on bicycles promoting health and wellness in communities. Her First Big Travel Journey to East Africa Her first time being exposed to a developing country, she quickly realized how broken the people were economically, but how spirited they were in their hearts. From her experience, she found out that she needed to mix her love of travel and contribute to the world. With this experience started the idea of KLH Group. Working in the US for a big resort designing and planning destination events, Hope has the opportunity to interview for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.  The Four Pillars of KLH Group The first pillar of her company is destination management, based in South Carolina. Second, she focuses on event design to build out the session space. Third, Hope implements social impact events and wraps up its pillars with its fourth pillar centering on MKAKATI, “where strategy meets the soul.” Discover how Hope came up with the name for her company, why she had chosen her brand to be a family brand, and how she developed the four pillars of her company. Podcast Resources Visit KLH Group on the web Follow the KLH Group on LinkedIn Connect with The Business of You Visit the Business of You on the web Like The brandiD on Facebook Follow The brandiD on LinkedIn Join us on Instagram Learn more about Branding on The brandiD Blog Show Highlights [02:45] Her first big overseas service project in East Africa. [07:00] Incorporating heart and mission into her events. [11:12] How she developed the four pillars of her company. [13:08] Social impact working for her clients at their events. [14:07] MKAKTI came out of COVID and the need for living fully.  Quotes “I felt that the event industry was stagnant at a time where bigger was better.” “What was new and different for me was touching the hearts of my clients.” “Our productions are national opportunities for us.”

Welcome to The Business of You Podcast, where you’ll discover how to turn your big idea into big business. Learn how to grow your personal brand into the business of your dreams. Each week, you’ll hear from the founder of successful companies and find out how they walked their epic journey to achieve a flourishing business. Then, listen to learn how you can use their roadmap to create a thriving company and pave your own road to success! Meet Monique Wilsondebriano She has been called “A Woman of Distinction” and “The Epitome of the American Dream.” She is co-founder of the Charleston Burger Company, and her company has been featured in Better Homes and Garden magazine and several podcasts. Her new coaching program called Recipe for Retail teaches others how to take their food product from idea to shelf. Growing Up with Entrepreneurial Grandparents Growing up in Neptune, New Jersey, Monique spent a large amount of her childhood around her grandparents. Her grandmother ran one of the few black-owned businesses in town, and her grandfather was also an entrepreneur. With her grandfather as a chef, her family often celebrated with food. Growing up around food, Monique was fascinated by how food was prepared and shared with family and clients. Creating the First Charleston Burger When she and her new husband, Chivalo, moved to South Carolina after they were married, they decided to throw a housewarming party and invite neighbors and friends. With over 100 invited, people started coming down into her backyard for the party.  Monique and her new husband had created a burger for the party with the spices mixed in with the burger meat, so every bite would be flavorful. Monique didn’t realize until her mother drew her attention, but they had a long line of guests waiting in line with their plates to get their hands on their delicious burger. Joking her husband, she told him they should sell their burgers because their guests raved about them. In addition, people asked them to purchase their burgers to take home at future parties, so she and her husband started acquiring materials to package their new burgers.  Discover how Monique created her food business, how her retail background helped her create their first marinade, and how she expanded into her two other companies working with entrepreneurs. Podcast Resources Visit Charleston Gourmet Burger on the web Connect with Monique Wilsondebriano on LinkedIn Connect with The Business of You Visit the Business of You on the web Like The brandiD on Facebook Follow The brandiD on LinkedIn Join us on Instagram Learn more about Branding on The brandiD Blog Show Highlights [03:08] How Monique’s family background pushed her journey toward entrepreneurship. [09:35] Creating their first hamburger for their new housewarming party. [13:38] Starting to test their business model at the farmer’s markets locally. [16:47] Making their first marinade to market to consumers. [21:35] How she branched off to create two additional businesses that help entrepreneurs. Quotes “We needed to bottle the ingredients and create a marinade because people want the flavor of the hamburger.” “We had never seen our new bottle, so we decided to make this a live event on Facebook.” “At night, when I’m at peace, I listen, and I know exactly where to go.”

Welcome to The Business of You Podcast, where you'll discover how to turn your big idea into big business. Learn how to grow your personal brand into the business of your dreams. Each week, you'll hear from the founder of successful companies and find out how they walked their epic journey to achieve a flourishing business. Then, listen to learn how you can use their roadmap to create a thriving company and pave your own road to success! Meet Katie Richardson This week's guest is Katie Richardson, whose first business was a massive sensation! She created a unique baby bathtub that transformed parents' lives, which gave her the recognition of a global entrepreneur and designer. As a result, Katie has been featured on several prominent morning news shows and the cover of Entrepreneur Magazine. Today, clients seek out Katie to assist them in growing their business to the next level.  Solving the Baby Bathtub Design After having two children of her own, Katie soon realized design issues with baby bathtubs and decided to use her product design skills to remedy the problems. After two years of development, Katie decided to go big, and at her first trade show in Las Vegas, every store owner who approached Katie at her booth decided to buy her product.  In her first year of business, her product brought in over $1milliion in revenue. Katie wanted to be intentional when she took her perspective and infused this in every business detail.  Discover how she shared her message into the world, how she used the press and publications to increase her marketing reach, and how Katie gained clarity and used her clarity to skyrocket her sales. Podcast Resources Visit Puj Baby Bathtub on the web Connect with The Business of You Visit the Business of You on the web Like The brandiD on Facebook Follow The brandiD on LinkedIn Join us on Instagram Learn more about Branding on The brandiD Blog Show Highlights [04:30] Her first year of business brought in over $1 million in revenue.  [13:18] Asking buyers to share honest reviews of her product.  [25:42] How Katie works her trade show booths and met an important figure. [37:00] The pain of not experiencing your true full potential [40:41] How Katie is marketing herself today and becoming more successful. Quotes “I believe that our brand, and our values that we infused into the touchpoints had everyone experiencing something.” “When you know who you are, you gain so much clarity in life.” “The pain of not experiencing your true full potential is tremendous.”

Welcome to The Business of You Podcast, where you’ll discover how to turn your big idea into big business. Learn how to grow your personal brand into the business of your dreams. Each week, you’ll hear from the founder of successful companies and find out how they walked their epic journey to achieve a flourishing business. Then, listen to learn how you can use their roadmap to create a thriving company and pave your own road to success! Meet Aaron Walker This week's guest is Aaron Walker, a professional life and business coach as well as a mastermind facilitator. He is the CEO and founder of View From the Top, in addition to being an author and a successful entrepreneur who has launched over 14 businesses. Aaron says that entrepreneurship runs in the family and is a part of his life. Building His First Business at the Age of 18 At 18, Aaron started his entrepreneurial journey opening up his first business with two partners who subsidized the company. At 21, he paid off the debt from the business and repeated this order of operations a number of times when building his other companies. At the age of 27, he sold his business to a Fortune 500 company with enough money to retire.  Life After Retirement Almost two years after selling his business, Aaron decided, at the prompting of his wife, to get back into business again. His next step was buying the first business he created with his two partners.  He believes that faith is the key element to living a good life. In addition, Aaron believes that it’s the type of person that you are that truly matters in life. No matter whether it’s personal or professional, being a good person and using your skills to help other people is what counts at the end of the day. Discover how Aaron came back after killing a man accidentally, his awakening to life after the accident, and why relationships are his #1 priority in life. Podcast Resources Visit View From the Top  on the web Connect with Aaron Walker on LinkedIn Connect with The Business of You Visit the Business of You on the web Like The brandiD on Facebook Follow The brandiD on LinkedIn Join us on Instagram Learn more about Branding on The brandiD Blog Show Highlights [02:18] Aaron’s background and journey into entrepreneurship.  [04:30] Buying his first business back from his two original partners. [13:29] The importance of tangible and intangible items such as relationships. [15:19] Faith and its importance to Aaron’s personal and professional brand.  [17:41] Why he shoots for contentment but not complacency in his life. Quotes “A personal lesson I learned is that there are no limitations in your own business.” “One of the strongest attributes we can have as an entrepreneur is to be consistent..” “Money and things are important. We don’t need to make them our god.” “We built our brand around people that matter the most.”

Welcome to The Business of You Podcast, where you’ll discover how to turn your big idea into big business. Learn how to grow your personal brand into the business of your dreams. Each week, you’ll hear from the founder of successful companies and find out how they walked their epic journey to achieve a flourishing business. Then, listen to learn how you can use their roadmap to create a thriving company and pave your own road to success! Meet Ishveen Anand This week's guest is Ishveen Anand, the founder, and CEO of OpenSponsorship, a VC-backed startup connecting brands to pro athletes, teams, and events. Ishveen, a graduate of Oxford University, was named on Inc's Top 100 Female Founders list in 2019 and on the Forbes30under30 sports list. She has grown OpenSponsorship into the largest and smartest platform globally, completing 6000 deals to date using AI, social insights, and ROI data. Brands that have used OpenSponsorship to find athletes include Anheuser Busch, Verizon, Draftkings, Draymond Green, Rob Gronkowski, and Todd Gurley. Becoming a Disruptor in the World of Sports When Ishveen played sports at university, she found that the agencies who promoted athletes didn't care about change or innovation. So she decided to start her own company to change the environment of sports promotion in 2015. She not only works with big names in popular sports, but Ishveen also includes other non-traditional sports such as Cross Fit. Her current client base is 80/20 male to female, although this is representative of gender in sports. While more than half of the athletes on the platform are signed up by agents, anyone can match up with a deal that is less than six figures because the platform is so simple and easy to use. Discover how Ishveen uses her diversity as a part of her personal brand, how she challenges the norm in the world of sports, and how she overcame the challenges of growing her startup. Podcast Resources Visit Open Sponsorship on the web Connect with Ishveen Anand on LinkedIn Connect with The Business of You Visit the Business of You on the web Like The brandiD on Facebook Follow The brandiD on LinkedIn Join us on Instagram Learn more about Branding on The brandiD Blog   Show Highlights [02:07] Ishveen’s journey and how she became a sports booking agent.  [05:01] How Open Sponsorship works for athletes.  [09:04] Turnaround time and the process of hiring an athlete. [11:04] How she defines her personal brand and how her brand promotes her business. [18:42] Seeing her brand with human elements and what she loves about her brand. Quotes “We’ve created a business that is doing business in the biggest sports leagues in the world.” “We’ve simplified the sponsorship process to be more like recruitment.” “Knowing that even small brands and local businesses can utilize athletes on the platform is amazing.”

Welcome to The Business of You Podcast, where you’ll discover how to turn your big idea into big business. Learn how to grow your personal brand into the business of your dreams. Each week, you’ll hear from the founder of successful companies and find out how they walked their epic journey to achieve a flourishing business. Then, listen to learn how you can use their roadmap to create a thriving company and pave your own road to success! Meet Craig Hewitt This week's guest is Craig Hewitt, founder, and CEO of Castros, a full-service podcast hosting and distribution analytics platform. He started his own podcast five years ago and decided to get into the business of podcasting by starting a podcast hosting company. Two years later, Craig has expanded his company to include all aspects of podcast production to become a one-stop podcast service shop. From One Podcast to One Hundred Podcasts Craig started out with his one personal podcast, Rogue. When he reached episode three, he decided to take on his co-host to share podcast production's responsibilities and creative genius.  Starting out with podcast hosting then adding production services, Craig enjoys helping other podcasters get their voice heard. He is a firm believer in owning your own brand and doesn't produce much content on social media and other platforms outside of his own. Early on, he decided that he wanted to put his content on platforms that he owns and only amplify what he is saying on channels outside of his control. The Importance of Communication in Business Craig believes that his most important personal brand asset is his ability to communicate well with others. He prides himself on building a team with communication as their focus. Craig only hires team members that can communicate well and get the job done. Discover how Craig has used his personal brand to engage others through speaking gigs, how he defines his personal brand, and why he posts his values on their website and their importance in the hiring process. Podcast Resources Visit Castos on the web Connect with Craig Hewitt on LinkedIn Connect with The Business of You Visit the Business of You on the web Like The brandiD on Facebook Follow The brandiD on LinkedIn Join us on Instagram Learn more about Branding on The brandiD Blog   Show Highlights [01:37] Craig’s journey as an entrepreneur owning a podcast production company. [05:53] How Craig went from podcast consumer to podcast producer. [08:27] Why he chose to take on a co-host for his personal podcast. [14:41] Craig speaks about how your personal brand can become a liability to your business. [17:16] How Craig defines his own personal brand attributes. Quotes “Productizing a service or a skill is the easiest way to scale your business.” “We all want to feel a connection to someone’s journey.” “The decision you have to make when you want to grow is if you want to own your own real estate or play in someone else’s sandbox.”

Welcome to The Business of You Podcast, where you'll discover how to turn your big idea into big business. Learn how to grow your personal brand into the business of your dreams. Each week, you'll hear from the founder of successful companies and find out how they walked their epic journey to achieve a flourishing business. Then, listen to learn how you can use their roadmap to create a thriving company and pave your own road to success! Meet Ali Oliyide Ali is the PMO mission lead at Google’s search with over a decade of operations and management consulting experience. Ali has an interesting background both personally and academically as she has lived around the world. Solidifying her expertise in both educational and professional settings and produces her podcast Eat.Plank.Live which features business executives who explore the intersection of fitness and professional success. From Mechanical Engineer to Management Consulting Starting out with a job from Eaton, Aji decided to go this route because she was interested in having a job with a business focus. Her job took her to move around the country and she lived in various states, mostly focused on the aerospace industry. After several years of working in plants as a mechanical engineer, Aji decided to take a couple of years off and attend business school at Duke in North Carolina. While working in management consulting for several years in the financial industry, Google reached out to Aji and asked her to work for the technology giant. As a child, her parents taught her to do well and keep her head down and that she would be recognized. In today’s world, Aji realizes that only doing well isn’t going to get you recognized. In addition to being great at what you do, you also need the ability to speak about yourself, what you do, and your personal brand. Discover how her experience at Duke expanded her understanding of the world, why speaking about yourself is part of your job and personal brand, and why consulting is all about the perception of you and your personal brand. Podcast Resources Connect with Aji on LinkedIn Connect with The Business of You Visit the Business of You on the web Like The brandiD on Facebook Follow The brandiD on LinkedIn Join us on Instagram Learn more about Branding on The brandiD Blog   Show Highlights [03:10] Aji tells her about her interesting background growing up in Georgia. [08:34] Why her experience at Duke business school was life-changing for Aji. [14:53] How growing up as a first-generation American has shaped her identity. [21:54] Why being great isn’t good enough - you have to speak up for yourself. [24:30] Her personal brand attributes and how she brings those into her career. Quotes “My experience at Duke significantly shaped who I am and how I see myself in this world.” “Having your head down just isn’t good enough anymore. You have to be able to speak about yourself for people to recognize you.” “It’s always good to have some level of discomfort and high expectations for yourself.”

Welcome to The Business of You Podcast, where you'll discover how to turn your big idea into big business. Learn how to grow your personal brand into the business of your dreams. Each week, you'll hear from the founder of successful companies and find out how they walked their epic journey to achieve a flourishing business. Then, listen to learn how you can use their roadmap to create a thriving company and pave your own road to success! Meet Robert White Robert is a speaker, author, leadership trainer, and executive mentor who teaches the art and science of mastering executive challenges. Robert joins me today to discuss integrating a heart-centered, results-oriented, and transformational leadership approach to business. In addition, he shares how he fosters entrepreneurial success and helps entrepreneurs build a solid and resilient mindset.  Robert actively supports the Sarvodaya community development organization in Sri Lanka, The Kempe Center for Child Abuse and Neglect, and The Adoption Exchange. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Plant-It 2020 and the Desmond Tutu Peace Foundation.  Expanding BioDynamics Robert was hired at BioDynamics to expand his company on the business side to seven different foreign operations. Moving to Japan on an invitation to work for 90 days and get paid for the entire year, Robert worked for Arc International. His Experience Working in China While building his company, Robert found that over 3000 companies in China copycatted his coaching program. In addition, Robert saw that many entrepreneurs often skip paying attention to their purpose, vision, values, and strategic intent. Robert eventually was banned from doing business in China and is still banned from the country. Discover what Robert did when he lost his business during his semi-retirement, how he created a heart-centered company, and why we need to pay attention to our feelings to be successful in business. Podcast Resources Visit Robert White Coaching on the web Connect with The Business of You Visit the Business of You on the web Like The brandiD on Facebook Follow The brandiD on LinkedIn Join us on Instagram Learn more about Branding on The brandiD Blog Show Highlights [06:53] How Robert became banned from doing business in China. [08:55] The importance of a company’s purpose, vision and values.  [11:00] His decision to semi-retire and reflecting on that decision. [20:32] The purpose of celebrating failure and examples of corporate America. [31:44] Feeling that you’re “not enough” drive decisions that do not maximize their potential results. Quotes “I’ve worked with what I’ve learned from the successes and failures of my own company.” “many entrepreneurs often skip paying attention to their purpose, vision, values and strategic intent.” “Learning through experience is more impactful, lasting and fun.”

Welcome to The Business of You Podcast, where you'll discover how to turn your big idea into big business. Learn how to grow your personal brand into the business of your dreams. Each week, you'll hear from the founder of successful companies and find out how they walked their epic journey to achieve a flourishing business. Then, listen to learn how you can use their roadmap to create a thriving company and pave your own road to success! Meet Hilary Johnson This week's guest is Hilary Johnson, founder of Hatch Tribe. Born from her own experience navigating the complexities of owning a business, Hatch Tribe helps women entrepreneurs grow powerful, purposeful, and profitable businesses while creating a community that thrives on the idea of being better together. The Mission of Hatch Tribe Hilary created Hatch Tribe to help women entrepreneurs be wildly successful in business and build a thriving six-figure company. She understands that many women will figure out what they need to do and then bootstrap the costs.  When women entrepreneurs become overwhelmed is when they seek out Hilary's guidance. Hilary works with women business owners to move into their CEO role to find out what parts of their business can get space.  Discover what three pieces of a business Hilary looks at for clients, the most significant shift that many people must move through to level up their business, and why you need to delegate work if you want to grow your business without burnout. Podcast Resources Visit Hatch Tribe on the web Connect with Hilary on LinkedIn Connect with The Business of You Visit the Business of You on the web Like The brandiD on Facebook Follow The brandiD on LinkedIn Join us on Instagram Learn more about Branding on The brandiD Blog Show Highlights [01:40] Hilary’s background and how she achieved her current business. [04:24] How Hilary helps her clients with her three-part program. [13:52] Give people permission to mess up when they are working for you. [21:20] Why you don’t need high lofty goals with your business. [26:22] Showing off your personality with your company without oversharing. Quotes “When there’s no margin in our lives, our businesses feel very tight.” “There’s a lot of pressure as a business owner to ‘keep up with the Joneses.’ ” “What is on-brand for you to share, and what is extraneous material that you don’t need to share.”

Welcome to The Business of You Podcast, where you’ll discover how to turn your big idea into big business. Learn how to grow your personal brand into the business of your dreams. Each week, you’ll hear from the founder of successful companies and find out how they walked their epic journey to achieve a flourishing business. Then, listen to learn how you can use their roadmap to create a thriving company and pave your own road to success! Meet Lisa Deangelis This week’s guest is Lisa Deangelis, the director for the Center of Collaborative Leadership at the University of Massachusetts. She brings 30 years of corporate leadership experience to the center’s work and prepares leaders to excel in the 21st century. Lisa encourages individuals to step into their uniqueness, claim their power and actualize their vision.  Helping Executives Get Out of Their Own Way Lisa has no easy job - her work entails helping executives and other business leaders work to their potential and breakthrough their glass ceiling by getting out of their own way to achieve success on their terms.  With more than 25 years of corporate leadership experience, Lisa has helped many different types and sizes of businesses in her role. When she first stepped in, she made minor tweaks to the organization. When the pandemic hit in 2020, Lisa had to take a new look at the organization and reframed the entire business to better serve leaders. Leadership Attributes  No matter which vertical you’re in, you will have challenges. Lisa realizes this and coaches her clients on not only how to survive a crisis but how to thrive in hard times. In addition, she teaches that how you deal with a crisis is consistent with who you are as an organization. Discover how Lisa coaches leaders to move through crises, why she teaches her students that showing up authentically is essential, and how to behave differently in different circumstances but be the same person. Podcast Resources Visit Dragon Fly Coaching on the web Connect with Lisa Deangelis on LinkedIn Connect with The Business of You Visit the Business of You on the web Like The brandiD on Facebook Follow The brandiD on LinkedIn Join us on Instagram Learn more about Branding on The brandiD Blog Show Highlights [02:34] Lisa’s journey and how she became a leader at her organization. [08:51] How Lisa followed in the footsteps of the founder when she stepped down. [13:56] What she tells leaders about showing up in public and being interviewed. [15:49] The importance of treating others as human beings and recognizing that when building relationships. [22:01] How Lisa has helped leaders become more effective in their roles. Quotes “How you deal with a crisis is consistent with who you are as an organization.” “I have to decide how to get people that I’m working with to step a bit more courageously into the spotlight.” “Nowadays, folks are faced with the immediacy of information from social media.”

Welcome to The Business of You Podcast, where you’ll discover how to turn your big idea into big business. Learn how to grow your personal brand into the business of your dreams. Each week, you’ll hear from the founder of successful companies and find out how they walked their epic journey to achieve a flourishing business. Then, listen to learn how you can use their roadmap to create a thriving company and pave your own road to success! Meet Kate Erickson This week's guest is Kate Erickson, the engine at Entrepreneurs On Fire, an award-winning podcast where John Lee Dumas interviews inspiring Entrepreneurs who are indeed ON FIRE. She is also the co-author of The Podcast Journal: Idea to Launch in 50 Days. Her goal: to help entrepreneurs achieve financial and lifestyle freedom. Building a Business with Your Significant Other While Kate has loved working with her fiance John for the past decade, she realizes that working with your romantic partner isn't for everyone. She cites that she and John each have ownership in different parts of the company and that neither one is the other's boss, which was an essential aspect for them to work together. Kate notes that each one of them has strengths that complement each other. Kate is the marketing expert and guru, and John is the personality behind the brand. Their differing strengths work well together, giving their business the fire it needs to grow quickly.  Discover how Kate and John have combined their personal and business life together, how her marketing and advertising background play a significant role in the company's success, and what she did when their business went off-line with the business they wanted to create. Podcast Resources Visit EO Fire  on the web Connect with Kate Erickson on LinkedIn Connect with The Business of You Visit the Business of You on the web Like The brandiD on Facebook Follow The brandiD on LinkedIn Join us on Instagram Learn more about Branding on The brandiD Blog Show Highlights [02:28] How Kate started EOF with John Lee Dumas. [07:13] Where Kate inserts her personal brand into Entrepreneurs on Fire. [11:15] What she sees for the future of podcasting. [14:24] Why authenticity is important to Kate and her business. [15:50] How Kate evaluates speaking and podcast opportunities. Quotes “Working together, having the same vision and mission has been incredible for our relationship.” “It’s amazing how opposite our strengths are and how we fill each other’s gaps.” “We want to be in-tune and intentional with how we run our business and how we want to live our lives.”

Welcome to The Business of You Podcast, where you’ll discover how to turn your big idea into big business. Learn how to grow your personal brand into the business of your dreams. Each week, you’ll hear from the founder of successful companies and find out how they walked their epic journey to achieve a flourishing business. Then, listen to learn how you can use their roadmap to create a thriving company and pave your own road to success! Meet Marty Park This week’s guest is Marty Park, a serial entrepreneur who has started 14 businesses in seven different industries. With over 26 years of experience learning business, he teaches others how to succeed in their own endeavors.  How Marty Became a Business Coach At the age of 21, Marty and a friend left their senior year of college to pursue his first journey in entrepreneurship - to start a software company. After six months, he didn’t have a product but was $250,000 in debt. From here, he jumped from vertical to vertical, starting and restarting new business ventures - some on his own and a few with business partners.  When he reached the point of having four businesses, each one in a different vertical and a second baby on the way, his wife asked him which company he wanted to move forward within his life, and he chose to coach. Getting Business Marketing Dialed In Marty offers his clients to apply the “Nike approach” to marketing. When he works with a client, he puts sales and marketing at the forefront of his company.  While running his tech company and networking at events, Marty realized that personal branding plays a vital role in how others associate themselves with you and your company. So he focused on his messaging and how he wanted to show up when working with others and reflected on his company. Discover how Marty dispersed his personal messages in his work-related communications, how he shares his work and private messages with clients, and how sharing with his customers has grown his business brand. Podcast Resources Visit Evolve Business Group on the web Connect with Marty Park on LinkedIn Connect with The Business of You Visit the Business of You on the web Like The brandiD on Facebook Follow The brandiD on LinkedIn Join us on Instagram Learn more about Branding on The brandiD Blog Show Highlights [03:40] The start of his serial entrepreneurship journey into coaching. [11:53] How Marty incorporates personal branding into his business. [18:05] Why his personal brand has boosted his company brand.  [19:16] The five values of Marty’s personal brand. [23:38] How Marty came up with his five values of his personal brand. Quotes “I learned at a young age that I needed to start doing business instead of playing business.” “Figuring out how to run a better business than our competitors to be a leader in the industry is such a fun game.” “I recognized that personal brand was something I needed to be conscious of and promoting as much as my company.”

Welcome to The Business of You Podcast, where you’ll discover how to turn your big idea into big business. Learn how to grow your personal brand into the business of your dreams. Each week, you’ll hear from the founder of successful companies and find out how they walked their epic journey to achieve a flourishing business. Then, listen to learn how you can use their roadmap to create a thriving company and pave your own road to success! Meet Wendy Covy Wendy was named one of Wall Street Journal's 10 Most Innovative Entrepreneurs in America. The CEO of TREW Marketing, a technical marketing agency, and the author of Content Marketing Engineered. Wendy is a contributor to Forbes Magazine and personally holds a fishing record in Texas. TREW Marketing Focus Her company Trew focuses on inbound marketing for highly technical companies. Wanting to be a trusted resource and wanting clients to consider her company part of the team, Wendy decided to meld together trust and crew to create Trew Marketing. How Wendy Uses Her Personal Brand in Her Company Starting her career at a technical company, Wendy she worked in multiple marketing and communication roles. Then, moving over to product marketing, at one point, she was responsible for a product launch for a services line.  With two children and an hour and a half commute one way to work, Wendy and her friend, who had complimentary marketing skills, decided to start a new company together. Knowing that the company's partners they worked for didn't understand marketing, they found a niche market in tech that wasn't being filled. Knowing the trade shows and publications, they narrowed their business to tech, and their business took off to new heights. Discover why she chose the lane of technology content marketing, why one of her core values is laid back excellence, and why the company's voice doesn't need to be a founder. Podcast Resources Visit Trew Marketing on the web Connect with Wendy Covy on LinkedIn Connect with The Business of You Visit the Business of You on the web Like The brandiD on Facebook Follow The brandiD on LinkedIn Join us on Instagram Learn more about Branding on The brandiD Blog Show Highlights [03:31] How Wendy uses her personal brand in her company. [06:46] Why niching down your business is important for marketing. [09:26] What her team says about her personal attributes and strengths. [14:10] How her Texas state fishing trophy starts conversations with clients.  [17:55] Having multiple people play the role of spokesperson for a company. Quotes “It’s wise to bring others into leader roles and be ready to change.” “It’s all about setting up the spokesperson based on their credibility and their experience.” “The tighter you niche your business the more traction you can get in marketing and sales.”

Welcome to The Business of You Podcast, where you’ll discover how to turn your big idea into big business. Learn how to grow your personal brand into the business of your dreams. Each week, you’ll hear from the founder of successful companies and find out how they walked their epic journey to achieve a flourishing business. Then, listen to learn how you can use their roadmap to create a thriving company and pave your own road to success! Meet the Guest  This week’s guest is Kevin Mako, whose life goal is to build optimistic, world-changing businesses, constantly learn, support his family, be surrounded by virtuous friends and colleagues, and give back to education. His design firm aims to take sophisticated, senior-grade physical product design and apply this to hardware startups. Whether they are inventions that are electronics or non-electronics, as long as they are consumer marketable, they are a contender for Mako Design Firm. Mako Design Firm Kevin started Mako Design Firm 28 years ago when he found that getting a product from design to production was almost impossible on your own as an entrepreneur. So with his idea of making the design process through production from big brands and applying them to startups, Kevin started talking to people in the industry.  While not getting a positive response because the big businesses didn’t want to deal with startups, Kevin didn’t stop pushing forward with his idea. After going through college, he was offered many jobs. However, Kevin wanted to build his dream, helping startups design to production. Discover how he has grown his company organically without debt or financing using client value, why customer service is the one item you can do cheaply and exceptionally well, and what he considers his most distinct personal brand attribute. Podcast Resources Visit Kevin Mako on the web Connect with Kevin Mako on LinkedIn Connect with The Business of You Visit the Business of You on the web Like The brandiD on Facebook Follow The brandiD on LinkedIn Join us on Instagram Learn more about Branding on The brandiD Blog Show Highlights [01:40] Kevin’s journey to building Mako Design + Invent. [06:40] His first two early inventions that started his entrepreneurial journey. [10:05] Kevin reviews each one of his organic business’s growth phases. [19:41] How his personal brand has helped his business grow. [27:38] The deciding factor for Kevin to take on a client.  Quotes “A painpoint someone has in their life is the best source of ideation.” “Innovation comes from people, not from big corporate.” “I focused on one core offering - design to production for hardware startups.”

Welcome to The Business of You Podcast, where you’ll discover how to turn your big idea into big business. Learn how to grow your personal brand into the business of your dreams. Each week, you’ll hear from the founder of successful companies and find out how they walked their epic journey to achieve a flourishing business. Then, listen to learn how you can use their roadmap to create a thriving company and pave your own road to success! Meet the Guest  This week’s guest is Ann Sieg, an acclaimed author, and entrepreneur. Nearly losing everything, this life experience opened up a new world of opportunity for Ann. She took a failing business, refocused on doubling-down on her side-hustle, and took her business from $2,000 a month to $90,000 per month in three months.  Starting Out with Direct Sales Ann first started as a new mom with direct sales businesses, her first being Mary Kay. She wanted to earn some extra money. Ann then started exploring other direct sales businesses and later worked together with her husband in several companies together.  Homeschooling her three sons, she taught them about entrepreneurship and business sales. After failing with direct sales, her son suggested that she go online and find her target audience.  Finding a mentor, Ann started moving forward by partnering with her son, and they ended up doing $20 million in sales together over the next ten years. From here, Ann and her son, along with her team, started their first eCommerce business. Discover how Ann built her original sale funnel with a free eBook, how she converts her initial clients into $5K clients and conversion rates, and how she injects her personal brand into her school and teaching. Podcast Resources Visit Ann Sieg on the web Connect with Ann Sieg on LinkedIn Connect with The Business of You Visit the Business of You on the web Like The brandiD on Facebook Follow The brandiD on LinkedIn Join us on Instagram Learn more about Branding on The brandiD Blog Show Highlights [02:03] How Ann created the eCommerce Business School.  [04:45] Finding her target audience online in 2007. [10:42] Why the business Ann and her son created was so successful. [19:52] The science behind the success of her funnel with an application level. [21:54] How her baby boomer female niche develops instant trust with her tribe. Quotes “The partnership with my son was amazing because we turned our business into a family economy .” “Every time you do something in business you have to evaluate what works and what you’ll do differently next time .” “We had the right message to the right people.”

EPISODE 003 Networking for Success With Frank Agin Meet the Guest  This week’s guest is Frank Agin, who works to empower entrepreneurs, sales representatives, and sales professionals around the country to become more successful through networking. He is a sought-after speaker and consultant for his professional networking and business development expertise.  Starting His First Position at a Law Firm Frank was handed clients as they came through the law office door with his first job at a big law firm. He had no idea how these clients were acquired. In addition, he also didn’t know that the small business world was driven by relationships. So, when he decided to go out on his own, he floundered for a month and then asked a female colleague what he should do, and she recommended a business networking group. Digging Into the Science of Networking When Frank first discovered networking and how it works to build relationships, he started to dig into the science of networking. Frank quickly realized that he was able to craft his brand through building new relationships.  He often gets asked about how someone introverted can become a good networker. Frank says that he is an introvert, and when you’re an introvert, you can still be a good networker. “There are many introverts who are successful,” says Frank. You don’t have to go to networking events when you're an introvert. One-on-ones work just as well for building relationships. Discover how Frank has used his own personal brand to grow Amspirit, why doing for others can improve your personal and professional life, and how Frank monetizes his organization. Here’s your highlight guide to the episode: [01:54] Frank’s journey to becoming a networking consultant for business professionals. [04:07] Rebranding his first company to Amspirit Business Connections. [06:33] How Frank has used his own personal brand to grow Amspirit. [09:47] The science behind giving to others and how it improves your life. [12:54] Monetizing his organization to be profitable and help business owners. Quotes “I realized in order to serve my clients I had to become a student of networking.” “Networking is not about being gregarious, networking is about building relationships with other people.” “You need to care about others to be successful.” Links mentioned in this episode: Podcast Resources Visit Frank Agin on the web Connect with Frank Agin on LinkedIn Connect with The Business of You Visit the Business of You on the web Like the brandiD on Facebook Follow the brandiD on LinkedIn Join us on Instagram Learn more about branding and business building on The brandiD Blog How can we help build your business? Tell us a little about yourself so we can schedule a FREE strategy session.

Welcome to The Business of You Podcast, where you’ll discover how to turn your big idea into big business. Learn how to grow your personal brand into the business of your dreams. Each week, you’ll hear from the founder of successful companies and find out how they walked their epic journey to achieve a flourishing business. Listen to find out how you can use their roadmap to create a thriving company and pave your own road to success! Meet the Guest  This week’s guest is Frank Agin, who works to empower entrepreneurs, sales representatives, and sales professionals around the country to become more successful through networking. He is a sought-after speaker and consultant for his professional networking and business development expertise.  Starting His First Position at a Law Firm Frank was handed clients as they came through the law office door with his first job at a big law firm. He had no idea how these clients were acquired. In addition, he also didn’t know that the small business world was driven by relationships. So, when he decided to go out on his own, he floundered for a month and then asked a female colleague what he should do, and she recommended a business networking group. Digging Into the Science of Networking When Frank first discovered networking and how it works to build relationships, he started to dig into the science of networking. Frank quickly realized that he was able to craft his brand through building new relationships.  He often gets asked about how someone introverted can become a good networker. Frank says that he is an introvert, and when you’re an introvert, you can still be a good networker. “There are many introverts who are successful,” says Frank. You don’t have to go to networking events when you're an introvert. One-on-ones work just as well for building relationships. Discover how Frank has used his own personal brand to grow Amspirit, why doing for others can improve your personal and professional life, and how Frank monetizes his organization. Podcast Resources Visit Frank Agin on the web Connect with Frank Agin on LinkedIn Connect with The Business of You Visit the Business of You on the web Like The brandiD on Facebook Follow The brandiD on LinkedIn Join us on Instagram Learn more about Branding on The brandiD Blog Show Highlights [01:54] Frank’s journey to becoming a networking consultant for business professionals. [04:07] Rebranding his first company to Amspirit Business Connections. [06:33] How Frank has used his own personal brand to grow Amspirit. [09:47] The science behind giving to others and how it improves your life. [12:54] Monetizing his organization to be profitable and help business owners. Quotes “I realized in order to serve my clients I had to become a student of networking.” “Networking is not about being gregarious, networking is about building relationships with other people.” “You need to care about others to be successful.”

Welcome to The Business of You Podcast, where you’ll discover how to turn your big idea into big business. Learn how to grow your personal brand into the business of your dreams. Each week, you’ll hear from the founder of successful companies and find out how they walked their epic journey to achieve a flourishing business. Listen to find out how you can use their roadmap to create a thriving company and pave your own road to success! Meet the Guest  This week’s guest is Fabienne Raphael, who helps high-achievers monetize their knowledge, replace their income, fire their day job, and become their own boss so they can live their purpose and change lives by building their coaching businesses.  Switching from Her Day Job to Entrepreneurship Fabienne’s first switch from her day job to her own business was when she moved from physical therapy to consultant, which led her to create her healthcare agency. However, when presented with the idea of online business and coaching, she found herself fascinated by this subject. While studying and following the digital marketing space, she started a podcast and built her network. At this point, she found her calling of helping other coaches become elite business owners to live their purpose and change people’s lives.  Fabienne’s Dream Method Framework When she takes on a client, Fabienne puts them through her Dream Method framework to put together their coaching empire. Each letter stands for part of her framework, which is instrumental in assisting her clients in building a successful coaching company. Discover how she co-created her own TV show, how she built her businesses by learning by doing, and the most significant challenges Fabienne faced when building her businesses. Podcast Resources Visit Fabienne Raphael on the web Connect with Fabienne Archer on LinkedIn Connect with The Business of You Visit the Business of You on the web Like The brandiD on Facebook Follow The brandiD on LinkedIn Join us on Instagram Learn more about Branding on The brandiD Blog Show Highlights [02:07] Fabienne tells her backstory and how she became a coach’s coach. [04:24] When she found her calling to teach coaches how to create their own business. [07:05] She talks about how her background as an athlete helps her to achieve goals. [13:18] How Fabienne attracted and landed her first client in her coaching business. [17:16] Her Dream Method framework, taking her clients from square one to having a thriving business. Quotes “My purpose is helping high-achievers to grow their own coaching business so they can live their purpose and change people’s lives.” “I feel like many people have their genius but don’t know how to make it their business.” “Everyday I get to live my purpose - and that is very gratifying.”

Welcome to The Business of You Podcast, where you’ll discover how to turn your big idea into big business. Learn how to grow your personal brand into the business of your dreams. Each week, you’ll hear from the founder of successful companies and find out how they walked their epic journey to achieve a flourishing business. Listen to find out how you can use their roadmap to create a thriving company and pave your own road to success! Meet the Guest  This week’s guest is Elyse Archer, founder of She Sells. Elyse is an international keynote speaker and host of She Sells Radio. A thought leader whose insights have been featured on Forbes and Inc, Elyse empowers women to sell in a way that leverages their natural gifts and helps them build wealth.  Moving from Corporate World to Entrepreneurship Elyse felt that she needed a corporate job to become successful in her career. So with her first job selling yellow pages ads, she then sold national media for some of the biggest companies on their media strategy. She eventually landed an executive position and had a healthy income, marriage, and a lovely home. While looking successful on the outside, Elyse had several personal struggles. Finally, she decided to leave her marriage and corporate position to find out about her authentic self. Elyse started her business in sales coaching, developed and sold over four companies, and is currently leading her team at She Sells. Discover how she made the leap from corporate to entrepreneurship, how to reconnect with your body for healing, and how she helps her clients tap into their inner guidance to increase their sales. Podcast Resources Visit Elyse Archer on the web Connect with Elyse Archer on LinkedIn Connect with The Business of You Visit the Business of You on the web Like The brandiD on Facebook Follow The brandiD on LinkedIn Join us on Instagram Learn more about Branding on The brandiD Blog Show Highlights [02:06] Elyse’s backstory from starting out in sales to becoming an executive at her own company. [05:45] Unraveling her life to start a journey of finding who she was meant to be. [12:15] The way in which Elyse helps her clients tap into their inner guidance and create sales. [19:49] How females can step into their female receiving energy to sell more. [23:50] Defining your personal brand and how Elyse sees her own personal brand. Quotes “The more I surrender who I thought I needed to be, the more abundance, love and happiness comes into my life.” “When you’re called to do something, it always lead you to do something better.” “I learned that my femininity was my superpower.”

Welcome! I’m Rachel Gogos, Founder of the brandiD and host of the Business of You podcast.  Several years ago I used to work for The Wall Street Journal news desk at the World Trade Center in NYC. I LOVED being at the center of financial news and often pitched stories to the senior editors. My favorite type of story to write was the profile pieces on CEOs because I loved hearing about their journey to the top. I always learned something.  Fast forward and now over decade into launching and leading my own digital marketing business I’ve been steadily working on a plan to hatch a Podcast.  My sole motivation is giving voice to exceptional CEOs and leaders, doing amazing things who are not in the spotlight. The low key, humble, deeply thoughtful and driven leaders motivated to make a difference. To make an impact. Often referred to as “best kept secrets” these leaders have much wisdom to share.   Building strong businesses and organizations requires so much of us. It’s kind of like raising children–there are good days and bad days. It’s unpredictable and at times daunting. A business requires creativity, redirection, nurturing and love. Finding inspiration, finding hope, and learning lessons from another's path can be just what you need to move forward with more ease. Here you’ll find the story behind the story. Real talk! After working with hundreds of people it’s clear that there’s nothing more empowering than being intentional about how you earn a living and structure your work day. Whether an owner or a leader you have the ability to make a difference in the lives of others.  This Show will shine the light on exceptional owners and leaders and give you actionable steps to build a fulfilling and prosperous work life.  Here’s to you and your success. Welcome to the Business of You.  PLEASE SUBSCRIBE, SHARE, AND LEAVE A REVIEW but most importantly TUNE IN and TAKE ACTION!