Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Introduction In today’s fast-paced and highly competitive world, many aspiring entrepreneurs struggle tlöo carve out their niche and make a lasting impact. The challenge of building a standout brand, navigating complex startup ecosystems, and maintaining authenticity can seem insurmountable. In this episode of the Entrepreneur Ethos podcast, host Jarie Bolander sits down with Dan Gonzales, an author and seasoned podcast host, to explore these challenges and uncover the keys to entrepreneurial success. Dan’s journey from an uncertain young professional to a venture capital analyst and soon-to-be author with Penguin Random House SEA offers a wealth of insights and practical advice. Discover how resilience and authentic storytelling can transform your entrepreneurial journey. Learn about the importance of building meaningful connections and leveraging networks for startup success. Dan shares his firsthand experiences, highlighting the highs and lows of Silicon Valley’s dynamic startup culture. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to navigate the complexities of professional growth and stay ahead in the ever-evolving landscape of innovation. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of how to build a brand that stands out and truly resonates with your audience. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from Dan’s unique perspective on thriving in a globally connected world. Listen now and elevate your entrepreneurial journey! Links Dan Gonzales on LinkedIn Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or Get Story-Driven Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are you struggling to rise above the noise in a world saturated with content and competition? In this episode of the Entrepreneur Ethos podcast, Jarie Bolander sits with Bryan Wish, the founder of Arcbound, to discuss the critical importance of building a personal brand in today's digital age. Bryan shares his inspiring journey from a young writer to a successful entrepreneur dedicated to helping others tell their stories authentically. You'll hear about the challenges Bryan faced, including nearly running out of money and learning to listen to his intuition, and how these experiences shaped his approach to personal branding. This episode offers valuable insights into why trust and authenticity are more important than ever, especially for business leaders and entrepreneurs looking to make a meaningful impact. Tune in to discover actionable advice on developing a brand that resonates, creating impactful content, and navigating the complexities of personal and professional growth. Don't miss Bryan's unique perspective on the future of marketing and how you can stay ahead of the curve. Listen now to learn how to build a brand that stands out and truly connects with your audience. Links Bryan Wish on LinkedIn Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or Get Story-Driven Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Introduction Adam Robinson, CEO of Retention.com, shares his compelling journey from a high-pressure career in investment banking to the dynamic world of entrepreneurship. Adam offers a unique perspective on the challenges of making such a significant career shift and provides valuable insights into the lessons learned along the way. He discusses how his background in trading credit default swaps at Lehman Brothers equipped him with the skills and resilience needed to navigate the startup landscape. Adam delves into the innovative strategies he has employed to build and grow his business, emphasizing the power of leveraging LinkedIn for networking and brand building. He talks about the critical moments that shaped his entrepreneurial journey and the importance of creativity and adaptability in overcoming obstacles. His approach to building a personal brand and establishing a robust online presence offers practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to make their mark. The episode also highlights the significance of having a dedicated and motivated team. Adam shares his insights on team building and leadership, discussing how a cohesive team can drive a startup towards success. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to understand the intricacies of startup culture and the resilience required to thrive in the entrepreneurial world. Tune in to gain actionable insights and be inspired by Adam Robinson's remarkable story. Timestamps 00:00 - Work experience feels like a movie scene. 04:57 - Financial success inspires entrepreneurship. 07:30 - Learn skills and observe for success. 12:06 - Challenges and rewards of starting a startup. 14:40 - Successful startup collaborations through experience. 19:09 - Hardships and uncertainties in starting a company. 23:08 - Boosting product success with LinkedIn strategy. 24:02 - Providing scripts and leads, facing mixed reviews. 29:25 - Personal branding and offering free value. 32:19 - Effective onboarding and customer service approach. Key Topics Movie-like work experience: Discuss how early work experiences felt cinematic. Financial success and entrepreneurship: Unexpected financial gains sparking entrepreneurial ambitions. Skill acquisition and observation: Importance of learning and observing in achieving success. Startup challenges and rewards: Navigating the difficulties and triumphs of launching a startup. Collaborative success in startups: Leveraging experience for successful collaborations. Hardships in founding a company: The difficulties and uncertainties of starting a business. LinkedIn strategy for product success: Utilizing LinkedIn to boost product visibility and success. Mixed reception to scripts and leads: Providing scripts and generating leads amidst varying feedback. Personal branding and free offers: Emphasizing personal branding and the value of offering freebies. Customer service and onboarding: Ensuring effective onboarding and exceptional customer service. Links Adam Robinson on LinkedIn Retention.com RB2B.com Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or Get Story-Driven Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dive deep into the profound significance of water-related challenges and the monumental impact of water in our everyday lives. Have you found invaluable insights into the art of building a business, attracting investors, and the pivotal role of a deeply personal mission in nurturing successful companies? This is the path Brian Sheng took. From the realm of software automation to the transformative potential of AI and technology, explore how these groundbreaking innovations are addressing pressing global issues such as the water crisis. Jarie Bolander sat with Brian Sheng of Aquria and discussed the resurgence of hardware, the transition away from SaaS models, and the burgeoning frontier of renewable infrastructure. Learn from the firsthand experiences, challenges, and triumphs of transitioning from investor to founder, and understand the indispensable role of human engagement in driving impactful, top-tier outcomes. This episode intricately weaves together personal anecdotes, industry insights, and unwavering optimism for the transformative synergy of technology and human ingenuity. Don't miss out on this captivating episode brimming with actionable wisdom and inspiring narratives that will leave you motivated to break through perceived boundaries and make a meaningful impact. Tune in now on The Entrepreneur Ethos! Links Brian Sheng on LinkedIn Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or Get Story-Driven Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Introduction Have you ever looked around and wondered why some obvious problem or opportunity hasn't been addressed? Why hasn't someone created a product or service to fill that gap? That's exactly the situation Alexis Eizinas found herself in when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. As women around her stopped dyeing their hair due to lockdowns, Alexis noticed many embracing their natural silver and gray hair. But they had questions - what to do about eyebrows, how to prevent yellowing, and more. Despite having over 30 years of experience in the beauty industry, Alexis realized there were no dedicated hair care products for women going gray gracefully.  From that light bulb moment was born SILVERING, Alexis' company celebrating and amplifying the beauty of silver hair. In this inspiring conversation, Alexis shares her entrepreneurial journey - identifying an unmet consumer need, finding the courage to fill it herself after corporate life, and pushing past pandemic hurdles to get her brand off the ground. You'll hear how sometimes the most innovative ideas come from simply looking around with fresh eyes at the problems we've all learned to live with. Alexis' story showcases the power of challenging assumptions and believing in the authentic beauty of people's natural selves. Links LinkedIn Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or Get Story-Driven Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Introduction Brace yourself for a brutally honest and eye-opening look into the world of startups with "The Entrepreneur Ethos" podcast's latest episode featuring the legendary Startup Shinobi. In this no-holds-barred conversation, Jarie Bolander invites the outspoken Shinobi to shatter the rose-tinted illusions surrounding entrepreneurship and startup culture. Get ready for a dose of harsh reality as Shinobi pulls no punches, delivering a much-needed reality check for aspiring founders and investors alike. With years of experience navigating the treacherous waters of the startup ecosystem, Startup Shinobi offers a refreshingly candid perspective on the challenges and pitfalls that often go unspoken. From the harsh truth about raising capital and the perils of thought leadership to the importance of grit, resilience, and intellectual honesty, this episode is a must-listen for anyone considering or already on the entrepreneurial journey. Shinobi's no-nonsense approach and biting wit cut through the noise, providing invaluable insights and advice that could make or break your startup's success. Join Jarie Bolander and Startup Shinobi as they explore the realities of founding a startup, debunk common myths, and lay bare the skills and mindset required to thrive in this competitive landscape. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur, an aspiring founder, or simply curious about the startup world, this episode is a powerful wake-up call that will challenge your preconceptions and equip you with the tools to navigate the "radioactive wasteland" of startups with clarity and resilience. Don't miss this unforgettable conversation – subscribe to "The Entrepreneur Ethos" podcast today and get ready to embrace the harsh truths that could propel your entrepreneurial journey to new heights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Introduction In the ever-evolving food industry, where consumers demand healthier alternatives without compromising taste, one entrepreneur is making waves with his innovative approach to reinventing the classic cookie. Nicholas Naclerio, the founder and CEO of mhmm.Ly, shares his inspiring journey of turning a personal struggle with an eating disorder into a mission to make delicious, nourishing foods accessible to all. Naclerio's story is a testament to the power of perseverance, resilience, and a deep-rooted passion for creating positive change. From his humble beginnings in a small New York apartment to securing investments from industry heavyweights like Andrew Yang and the former CFO of Oatly, Naclerio's path has been paved with challenges and triumphs. In this thought-provoking episode, Naclerio candidly discusses the arduous yet rewarding process of fundraising, navigating the complex world of investors, and the importance of selecting the right partners who understand the unique demands of the food industry. He also delves into the intricacies of marketing and distribution, offering valuable insights into the strategies that have proven successful for his brand. But Naclerio's mission extends far beyond mere business success. His unwavering commitment to creating a sustainable, ethical, and inclusive food system is a driving force behind his endeavors. With a focus on using simple, nourishing ingredients like nuts, root vegetables, and apple sugar, Naclerio's cookies are not only delicious but also cater to a wide range of dietary needs, promoting overall well-being. Join us as we explore the intersection of entrepreneurship, food innovation, and personal growth, and discover how Naclerio's journey is paving the way for a healthier, more conscious approach to indulgence. Links Nicholas Naclerio on LinkedIn Mmmly Website Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or Get Story-Driven Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Introduction Strap in for an insightful journey with Mike Trigg, a true Renaissance man who has carved a unique path spanning entrepreneurship, government, investing, and fiction writing. In this thought-provoking episode, host Jarie Bolander picks Mike's brain on his multifaceted career. From his early days working on Capitol Hill to diving headfirst into the dotcom boom, Mike offers a veteran's perspective on the roller-coaster startup world and the high-stakes venture capital game. He unveils his criteria for angel investing, emphasizing the importance of simplicity, clear target markets, and strong founding teams. But Mike's talents extend far beyond the tech realm. As a published novelist, he artfully draws parallels between the creative processes of building a business and crafting fiction - both require turning abstract ideas into tangible realities while incorporating user/reader feedback. Through his critically-acclaimed book "Burner," Mike uses the power of storytelling to examine thorny societal issues like political tribalism, online extremism, wealth gaps, and the erosion of truth. He delves into these complex themes, providing unique commentary born from his varied life experiences. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, literature lover, or simply someone fascinated by the intersection of technology and social commentary, this conversation is not to be missed. Tune in as Mike Trigg shares his unconventional wisdom acquired on the frontlines of Silicon Valley and the creative writing world. Links Mike Trigg on LinkedIn Burner on Amazon Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or Get Story-Driven Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Introduction Do you struggle with imposter syndrome or self-doubt as an entrepreneur? Feel like your success is a fraud? This podcast episode explores how to overcome these mental roadblocks. Kim Olver, founder of Olver International, shares her innovative "Mental Freedom" framework to help entrepreneurs eradicate self-limiting beliefs and negative self-talk. Learn about the 5 core human needs driving behavior and how understanding your motivations boosts entrepreneurial confidence. In this insightful discussion, get actionable tips for cultivating a success mindset using self-directed therapy techniques. Discover how taking responsibility for your desires empowers you to stop taking others' actions personally. Find tools for overcoming impostor feelings, self-sabotaging thoughts, and achieving your full potential as a business owner. Whether just starting your entrepreneurial journey or an accomplished professional, this episode provides strategies for mental freedom, resilience and innovative thinking. Overcome self-doubt and unlock your entrepreneurial self-belief. Links Kim Olver on LinkedIn Website Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or Get Story-Driven Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Introduction In this raw and eye-opening episode, we go beyond the surface to uncover the often unspoken struggles plaguing the mental health of modern men. Our special guest, Anson Whitmer, brings rare vulnerability as he recounts his personal journey from teenage depression to launching Mental, an innovative app providing tailored solutions for men’s wellbeing.   Whitmer pulls no punches exposing the tragic impacts of repressive masculine norms as he transparently shares his own painful story of masking inner turmoil. We travel with him to the breaking point where he finally rejects the delusion that seeking help betrays strength.  You’ll discover how societal pressures constrain men’s humanity and leave their cries for relief disregarded. And you’ll learn how Mental flips the script with practical support and guidance attuned to guys just like you.  Join us for straight talk dismantling barriers that have long blocked men from embracing help. Gain tools to foster life-saving conversations in your own circles. And come away inspired to cultivate communities where men can stand together, authentic and unashamed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to another engaging episode of The Entrepreneur Ethos, the podcast that delves deep into the inspiring stories and effective strategies of distinguished entrepreneurs. Today, our insightful host, Jarie Bolander, engages in an enlightening conversation with the innovative Jason Malki, founder and CEO of the renowned Strtupboost and Superwarm.ai. This episode takes us on a journey through Jason's transformative path from spearheading a start-up sales team to establishing his own thriving agency. The discussion centers on the crucial impact of events and community building as catalysts for business development.  As we navigate through this episode, we unlock a treasure trove of invaluable insights into sales, marketing, and the essence of the entrepreneurial spirit. Learn firsthand about the significance of fostering a community and mastering the art of sales from someone who's lived it. This episode is an indispensable resource for both budding entrepreneurs and seasoned business veterans, brimming with practical tips and real-life experiences that will both enlighten and inspire your own entrepreneurial path. Links Jason Malki on LinkedIn StrtupBoost Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or Get Story-Driven Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Introduction Welcome to The Entrepreneur Ethos! In this captivating episode, our host Jarie Bolander sits down with the dynamic entrepreneur and esteemed author, Joe Sanok, for a riveting exploration of the entrepreneurial journey. Joe, with his profound expertise, unfolds the narrative of his journey to establishing a flourishing counseling practice and spearheading a highly acclaimed podcast tailored for counselors in private practice.  The conversation takes a deep dive into the intricate balance between honing clinical acumen and mastering the business acumen required in the field of therapy. They engage in an enlightening dialogue about the critical role of self-care and achieving a harmonious work-life equilibrium for entrepreneurs. This episode is an illuminating exploration into effective strategies to boost productivity, ignite creativity, and carve out time for essential relaxation. Tune in to this as we navigate the core attributes, values, and competencies that are pivotal in fostering ethical entrepreneurship and cultivating a successful business in the contemporary digital landscape. Links Joe Sanok on LinkedIn Practice of The Practice Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or Get Story-Driven Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Introduction Welcome to The Entrepreneur Ethos, where we explore the meaningful values, beliefs, and skills that allow entrepreneurs to drive positive change. In this episode, host Jarie Bolander and guest Chuck Chiodo delve into sales psychology insights for business owners and marketers. Together, we discuss timeless principles of persuasion dating back to Aristotle's rhetorical triangle - ethos, pathos, and logos - and why these concepts still very much apply when making an emotional appeal to modern clients. Chuck shares guidance around addressing client frustrations and keeping core needs central when making a pitch. He provides perspective on virtual marketing collaboratives as safe spaces for entrepreneurs to exchange transparent feedback devoid of traditional sales pressure. The conversation enlightens on the difficulties entrepreneurs face when collaborating within bigger corporate structures. I hope you gain as much value from listening as we did from exchanging in this engaging dialogue that offers invaluable strategies for entrepreneurs navigating today's complex marketing landscape. Links Chuck Chiodo on LinkedIn Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or Get Story-Driven Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Introduction The skilled trades are facing a massive shortage of workers to meet demand. At the same time, digital platforms offer new opportunities for tradespeople to build their brands and recruit more talent. In this timely episode of The Entrepreneur Ethos, hosts Jarie Bolander and Roger Wakefield have an illuminating discussion on how to leverage online media as a tradesperson. We dive into Roger's fascinating journey from plumbing expert to influential YouTube creator with over 550,000 subscribers. By producing informative and engaging videos, Roger has built a highly loyal audience for his plumbing advice while shining a light on the importance of skilled trades. He provides a blueprint for tradespeople to grow their personal brands digitally. Tune in to learn how Roger took his plumbing business online, keys to creating captivating content, and his empowering mission to inspire the next generation into skilled trades. It’s an essential listen for any aspiring tradesperson or any tradesperson looking to stand out and recruit talent through social media and digital content. Links Roger Wakefield on LinkedIn Roger Wakefile on YouTube Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or Get Story-Driven Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Introduction The healthcare industry stands on the cusp of transformation by innovative technologies like artificial intelligence and big data analytics. In this episode of The Entrepreneur Ethos podcast, host Jarie Bolander has a compelling discussion with Ittai Dayan, co-founder and CEO of Rhino Health, an exciting AI healthcare startup. With his own experiences navigating his late wife's battle with leukemia, Bolander engages Dayan in an illuminating dialogue about his background and Rhino Health's pioneering work leveraging AI and federated learning to unlock siloed healthcare data while maintaining privacy. Rhino aims to become the premier platform for building the next generation of AI-powered healthcare applications. However, disrupting such a conservative industry comes loaded with challenges that Rhino has worked diligently to overcome. Tune in to gain insider perspectives into Rhino's inspiring journey to transform healthcare through innovative uses of data and AI. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Welcome back to The Entrepreneur Ethos, the podcast that delves into the minds and experiences of successful entrepreneurs, in today's episode we have a special guest, Eliran Bar, the co-founder of Jorny. Eliran will be sharing his experiences as an entrepreneur and offering valuable insights on finding balance, taking breaks, and staying resilient. In this captivating episode, we dive into how Eliran deals with being overwhelmed, the importance of disconnecting from work, and the power of taking breaks to prevent burnout.  Eliran also discusses his unique approach to problem-solving, drawing inspiration from endurance athletics. He reminds us of the significance of finding our own "sweet spot" and not succumbing to the pressure of being an entrepreneur. Additionally, Eliran shares his thoughts on criticism, the role of authenticity in marketing, and the challenges of building a business from scratch. Stay tuned to discover Eliran's fascinating journey and gain valuable insights to apply to your own entrepreneurial endeavors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Introduction Welcome back to The Entrepreneur Ethos, the podcast that delves into the minds and experiences of successful entrepreneurs, in today's episode, we have a very special guest joining us: Leland Chee, also known as the "Keeper of the Holocron" in the Star Wars universe. Leland takes us on a fascinating journey through his career, sharing insights into the unique challenges of managing and expanding the vast Star Wars lore.  From his early days creating content on CDs to the evolution of databases and the changing landscape of storytelling, Leland provides a behind-the-scenes look into the world of Star Wars. Join us as we explore the intertwining of different platforms, the introduction of iconic characters, and the never-ending quest for expanding the Star Wars universe. So sit back, relax, and let's dive into the entrepreneurial ethos of Leland Chee on this captivating episode of The Entrepreneur Ethos. Timestamps 00:02:49 Principal's office booth - hidden excitement unleashed. 00:06:53 ILM revolutionized effects industry with computer animation. 00:09:47 Shared history: childhood in Belmont, Marine World. 00:14:06 Kids inspiring me to try stop motion. 00:17:23 UC Davis: Major in rhetoric, community involvement. 00:21:33 Working on Cantonese news without fluency. Various roles for 3 years in the industry. 00:24:22 Desire for theater, rejection letters from Lucasfilm. 00:26:57 Realized I'm not the biggest Star Wars fan. 00:30:43 I had a good day, no more waiting. 00:35:07 New licensee for RPG, miniatures, and cards. 00:36:29 Create database, track info, Star Wars knowledge. 00:42:14 "Star Wars: cohesive universe across platforms" 00:46:06 Franchise stands out with unique AAA game. 00:46:58 Books between films hint at Luke-Leia romance. 00:51:42 Enjoyed Entrepreneur Ethos Podcast? Share, review, follow! Links Leland Chee on LinkedIn Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or Get Story-Driven Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Introduction Welcome back to The Entrepreneur Ethos! In this episode, we have the pleasure of welcoming Jodi Lasky, a self-proclaimed highly functioning introvert and an expert in coaching introverted entrepreneurs and leaders. Get ready to gain valuable insights as we explore the dynamics between introverts and extroverts in the business world, the power of frameworks in maximizing productivity, and the importance of building trust in professional relationships.  We'll also dive deep into Jodi's personal journey as an entrepreneur, from navigating the defense industry to the chaotic world of tech startups. So whether you're an introvert seeking guidance or an extrovert looking to understand your introverted counterparts better, this episode is for you. Stay glued as we unravel the intricacies of introverted entrepreneurship and discover the unique powers introverts bring. Let's dive in! Links Jodi Lasky on LinkedIn Introvert Founder Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or Get Story-Driven Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Introduction Welcome back to The Entrepreneur Ethos! In this episode, we have the pleasure of welcoming Parker Olsen, the founder and CEO of Forij to the show. Parker has a diverse background in management consulting and discovered the value of skills such as project management and organization along the way. However, the lack of autonomy in his job left him feeling bored and seeking new opportunities. Today, Parker shares his journey from being an entrepreneur in college to participating in the Ironman race, and ultimately diving deep into the fascinating world of mushrooms.  We'll explore the range of mushrooms, from edible varieties to those with medicinal properties, and discuss their potential benefits. Additionally, Parker delves into their experiences with AI and its potential in the world of computer science, sharing his thoughts on training AI models to generate higher quality copy. Stay tuned as we dive into Parker's unique background and his curiosity about neuroscience and its impact on the brain. Let's jump right in! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Introduction Welcome back to another episode of The Entrepreneur Ethos! We sat down to discuss with a truly inspiring guest, Stephany Lapierre, the founder of TealBook, a cutting-edge technology company revolutionizing supplier relationship management. In this episode, Stephany shares her incredible journey from starting a consulting business to creating a platform that helps companies find true innovation in their suppliers. She discusses the importance of financial stability, the need for diversity in the procurement process, and the power of AI and machine learning in streamlining business operations.  We also delved into the entrepreneurial lessons she's learned along the way, including the significance of having a supportive partner. This episode is packed with valuable insights and actionable advice for anyone on the entrepreneurial path. So, without further ado, let's dive in and hear from the remarkable Stephany Lapierre of TealBook! Timestamps 00:01:40 Started TealBook to help find innovation in companies. Discovered lack of visibility and data in supplier relationships. Aimed to digitize and unify supplier information. Saw huge opportunities for companies to improve results. Started building a platform using cloud technology. Introduced AI and machine learning for automated data collection. Facing challenges in educating customers on AI. Capitalizing on market trends and opportunities. 00:10:19 TealBook: transparency and optimization for 3rd-party providers. 00:15:40 Early focus on suppliers evolved to AI. Educate suppliers, automate reporting, leverage technology, visibility for businesses, self-certification. 00:20:39 Level playing field for small businesses. [00:22:36 Equality enables success, stimulates growth, and impacts communities. 00:25:50 Driving spend towards small diverse businesses, sometimes volunteering. Organize, improve data, champion, educate, motivate, and impact. [00:29:35 Risk and financial stability for entrepreneurs. 00:35:21 Choose a partner wisely for a solid foundation. 00:38:09 Entrepreneur podcast: learn, share, improve, connect, follow. Key Topics - The company's shift from focusing on suppliers to utilizing AI technology - Suppliers managing their own profiles and adding information - Helping customers understand their spend with small diverse businesses - Beneficial for obtaining funding or contracts from the federal government - Automating the process of verifying and reporting small diverse suppliers - Providing a clean and accurate baseline - Identifying suppliers that qualify as diverse-owned but are not certified - Offering them the opportunity to self-certify at no cost - The competitive advantage of certification in certain bids - Providing educational resources to suppliers - Automating the process for tier 1 suppliers to determine their spend with small diverse businesses - Making it more accessible to implement a supply diversity program - Recognizing and accepting self-certification as a means of promoting inclusivity - Avoiding high certification costs on suppliers. Links TealBook Stephany on LinkedIn Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or Get Story-Driven Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Introduction Welcome back to The Entrepreneur Ethos! In today's episode, we have an inspiring interview with Jeanette Small the founder of Lucid Cradle, a remarkable individual who has overcome numerous obstacles and is now on a mission to revolutionize the field of psychology using innovative approaches like psilocybin therapy. Jeanette's journey started in the Soviet Union, where she experienced firsthand the repercussions of being considered an outsider. Her family's transgenerational trauma and the collapse of the Soviet Union shaped her early years, but Jeanette's resilience and thirst for knowledge led them to overcome adversity. After finding herself in San Francisco, Jeanette embarked on a path of discovery, using education as a safe haven to excel in the challenging immigrant experience. Her talents were recognized by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, leading to exciting opportunities in the art world. However, her true passion lies in the realm of psychology, and her experiences with psilocybin have been transformative on a personal level.  Determined to make a difference, Jeanette aims to establish industry standards for the responsible use of substances like psilocybin and create a sustainable business that prioritizes the well-being of clients. Join us as we delve into Jeanette's extraordinary story and explore the future of psychedelic therapy in this thought-provoking episode of The Entrepreneur Ethos! Timestamps 00:02:45 German Jewish family in Soviet Union struggles. Survives war, civil war, and immigrates to the US. Finds opportunities in art and education. 00:12:07 Psychiatrist specialized in opioid addictions, prescribed SUBOXONE. 00:16:05 Exploring psychology through research and clinical work. 00:20:35 Long-selling book, importance of entrepreneurship, pioneering psychedelic research. 00:23:00 Personal experience with psilocybin for healing trauma, advocating responsible exploration. 00:27:30 Unethical government program creates mind control. Powerful psychedelics can be beneficial. Concerns about business model and industry growth. 00:31:19 State provides choice, regulations and opportunities. Starting own business without compromises or investors. Using personal savings to fund company. Creating sustainable business while paying bills. Ethical concerns raised by others. 00:36:02 Taking risks is applauded; entrepreneurial experience. Personalized, intensive 3-day psilocybin therapy. Confidential and safe. 00:42:08 Transformational, grateful, Conclusion Links Lucid Cradle Jeanette Small on LinkedIn Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or Get Story-Driven Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Introduction On this episode of The Entrepreneur Ethos, host Jarie Bolander interviews Chris Troka, an entrepreneur who believes that the idea of AI causing the end of the world is not accurate. Chris compares AI to previous technological advancements like personal computers and the internet, seeing it as a tool that can increase productivity and automate mundane tasks. He believes that AI can be used for research and understanding problem spaces, and overall, thinks that AI will help accelerate strategic and thoughtful work. In the conversation, Chris acknowledges the tension between sales and marketing, noting that many businesses do not understand the value of marketing and tend to cut it during a downturn. He highlights the importance of effective marketing in driving business success, even if the product itself may not be exceptional. Chris emphasizes that sales and marketing need to be aligned for success, and he expresses fascination in the challenge of understanding the workings of marketing. Links Chris Troka on LinkedIn Focused Biz  Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or Get Story-Driven Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple On this episode of The Entrepreneur Ethos, host Jarie Bolander interviews Michael Barnett, the founder of Loanspark Marketplace. Michael shares his insights on the importance of finance for small businesses and startups, highlighting the difficulties they face in obtaining capital. He explains that Loanspark's marketplace model connects small businesses to lenders or individuals with capital or lines of credit. Michael emphasizes the need for clear and simple language when explaining these concepts for better understanding.  Moving on to Loanspark Marketplace, Michael explains that they specialize in serving a wide range of small businesses, from startups to companies that have been established for a century. They primarily focus on main street businesses like coffee shops, pizza stores, and clothing stores. Loanspark partners with various companies, including platforms, banks, finance companies, and business services companies, to offer their services to customers. Michael praises his marketing team for their blogging efforts on loanspark.com and highlights the importance of feeling comfortable with the person assisting in the loan process. He also warns about unscrupulous individuals and companies in the loan industry. Michael emphasizes the need for thorough consultations and understanding the business needs of clients before providing loans.  He mentions that Loanspark differentiates itself by having sales staff who act as advocates for small business owners. These staff members conduct interviews with clients to understand their needs, goals, past experiences, and financial considerations, in order to create a personalized plan and strategy for obtaining the best loan product at the best price. Michael believes that building relationships with customers is crucial and values having a specific person that customers trust at Loanspark. Customers often call their original agent for advice and potential future loans. Loanspark Marketplace also allows other businesses, like banks, to utilize their platform as a marketplace. Links LoanSpark Michael Barnett on LinkedIn Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or Get Story-Driven Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Introduction On this episode of The Entrepreneur Ethos, we have a fascinating interview with Priyanka Vazirani. The discussion covers a wide range of topics related to entrepreneurship and building successful ventures. Priyanka shares her experiences and insights as a co-founder of a social startup and her current role in creating a platform for content distribution. The conversation starts with an exploration of how her team curates and summarizes content from trending topics on social media. Utilizing Chargebee and AI technology, they work 16 hours a day to provide scheduled and non-time-sensitive content for their users.  Priyanka emphasizes the importance of complementary co-founders and the need for trust and shared vision in building successful partnerships. During the interview, the importance of discoverability and instant visibility in capturing users' attention is discussed. Priyanka highlights the unique selling point of her platform, providing a glimpse of content to help users decide if it's worth investing their time in. She also shares statistics on user engagement, with 50% of daily active users clicking on at least one piece of content. The conversation then shifts towards Priyanka's journey as an entrepreneur.  She shares her experience starting a social startup called Benefactory, which successfully ran campaigns in India and the US. However, negative media portrayal led to a decline in participation in one of their campaigns. The discussion explores different business models, successful book strategies, and the value of building a community for entrepreneurs. Towards the end of the episode, the host expresses gratitude to Priyanka for sharing her insights and experiences. They invite listeners to share and review the podcast, join the email list, and check out the host's book "The Entrepreneur Ethos." Timestamps [00:01:14] Finance journey led to social impact startup. [00:03:40] Epsilon appeals to both Gen Z and Millennials. [00:10:11] High school friends turned cofounders in startup. [00:11:15] Friends start endurance events, fascinating cofounder dynamics. [00:16:54] Dashboard curates, AI summarizes, content scheduled. 24/7 coverage. [00:18:55] Everyone is a media company; find distribution. [00:21:37] Longer content still important for browsing. Discoverability key. Preview before committing. [00:25:33] Different skills, divided tasks, shared vision. Volv: Gen Z and millennial go-to app. [00:31:52] Sanpar's newsletter had a powerful referral engine. [00:35:33] Involving customers in the product development process. [00:37:39] Great convo, thanks for being on show Links LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/priyanka-vazirani/ Volv: https://volvmedia.com/ Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or Get Story-Driven Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Introduction On this episode of The Entrepreneur Ethos, our guest Charlie Meaden shares their insights on various topics ranging from martial arts to AI to entrepreneurship. They draw parallels between the calm and confidence of individuals in wrestling or martial arts after a good performance and the mindset required for entrepreneurship. They emphasize the importance of being hungry, humble, and a team player in the entrepreneurial journey. The guest speaker also discusses the application of generative AI in understanding market dynamics and making better investment decisions, as well as the lessons they learned about leadership and decision-making from esports and gaming. They stress the need to focus on a few defining decisions that can be game-changers and share their experiences in martial arts, highlighting the importance of learning from different disciplines and body types. Additionally, our guest speaker reflects on the uncertainties of the future and the role of AI in predicting outcomes. They discuss their journey from goldsmithing to technology and their experiences in starting an esports platform. Finally, they talk about their vision to help people become financially literate and make regular contributions through their wealth management platform. Tune in to this episode of The Entrepreneur Ethos for valuable insights and perspectives from our guest. Timestamps 00:01:50 Goldsmith turned gamer and programmer starts investing platform. 00:07:14 Markets and investing are not linear; financial literacy and generative AI can help understand historical dynamics for trading opportunities. 00:12:09 Advancements in PCB design improve productivity. 00:13:47 AI offers ownership and income uncertainty. 00:18:55 Ethics, optimism, uncertainty in the goldsmithing industry. 00:22:27 Esports and gaming taught me leadership and decision-making. Communication and detachment from outcomes are key. Make the best decision with available information. Avoid decision fatigue by minimizing choices. 00:27:12 Entrepreneurs appreciate Game Theory and learning from losses. 00:29:22 Blue belt in jujitsu, big guy, humbled. Wife died, found purpose in jujitsu. 00:34:27 Learn from different body types in jiu jitsu 00:37:07 Different games, different rules, fascinating martial arts. 00:40:59 Podcast: Learn, share, review, improve, follow, connect. Key Topics - The correlation between wrestling/martial arts and entrepreneurship    - Being calm and confident after a good performance    - Constant learning and remaining humble - Key traits for entrepreneurship    - Being hungry, humble, and a team player - Importance of helping others in training and not relying solely on physicality - Linear compounding in investing and its limitations - Understanding market dynamics and history through financial literacy and generative AI Links https://gembot.ai/ Charlie on LinkedIn Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or Get Story-Driven Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Introduction On this episode of The Entrepreneur Ethos, Jarie Bolander speaks with Gboyega Adebayo about his journey as an entrepreneur. Adebayo shares his experience of pursuing three business ideas simultaneously and realizing it was unsustainable. He talks about his podcast, the Be Helpful podcast, and his startup, Yensil, both aimed at helping aspiring entrepreneurs. Adebayo emphasizes the importance of solving problems that one is passionate about, rather than just trying to make money. He encourages experimentation and learning from others. Adebayo also shares his thoughts on the importance of community among entrepreneurs and how cities like New York, Chicago, and San Francisco are good environments for entrepreneurship. Finally, he discusses the significance of community and the ecosystem, using the example of the many coffee shops in his town and promoting entrepreneurship. Timestamps 00:02:00 Entrepreneurial drive led to current career. 00:05:56 Entrepreneurship is lonely without coworkers. 00:09:24 Introverted editor reflects on pandemic work changes. 00:13:02 Entrepreneurs need shared experience and support. 00:16:27 Friend's coffee shop promotes community and entrepreneurship. 00:19:45 Work at United disrupted by 9/11. Entrepreneurship important. 00:23:41 Startup Yensil: sell professional docs on Etsy. 00:27:35 Obsessed with solving problem, launched product late. 00:30:43 Engineer struggles with selling own creations. 00:33:15 Learn from others, podcast is my experiment. 00:38:25 Inflection points at 1k, 10k, 100k. 00:39:58 Boyega's evolution leads to self-improvement. 00:42:55 Entrepreneur Ethos podcast, learn, share, improve. Key Topics Topics covered in the audio session: - The speaker's learning style and how it influences their podcast and startup - The importance of focusing on problem-solving and experimentation - The speaker's introverted nature and their thoughts on working with others - The speaker's background in business and entrepreneurship - The speaker's startup, Yensil, and its inspiration and purpose - The speaker's personal growth and advice for embracing challenges - The speaker's experience launching a product and the importance of building an audience - The shared struggle and sense of mission among entrepreneurs - The importance of having a community of like-minded individuals - The benefit of entrepreneurship for communities and the greater world - The speaker's thoughts on coffee shops and the entrepreneurial ecosystem Links https://yencil.com/ Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or Get Story-Driven Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Introduction On this episode of The Entrepreneur Ethos, the host, Jarie Bolander, talks with Nick Spoors and Mike Mills about their mathematical investing aggressive growth fund and the importance of knowing your target audience. The discussion covers topics such as creating machine learning algorithms from scratch, expanding networks, and navigating heavily regulated industries. Nick and Mike share their history and discuss their interest in applying mathematical theories to investing. The speaker also delves into the importance of pure mathematics and explores concepts such as the Axiom of Choice and hypercomputing. Overall, this episode provides insight into the intersection of mathematics and investing, as well as the challenges and innovations in the industry. Timestamps [00:02:40] College friendship led to successful fund. [00:04:35] Nick found investing applied abstract mathematics [00:10:36] Researching pure math for novel applications. [00:12:43] "Axiom of choice: Math's fundamental principle" [00:17:16] Inventing investment strategy into a business product. [00:19:06] Learning from Nick; sometimes needs help. [00:22:44] Know your audience to target effectively. [00:28:24] Launching investment firm through regulated industry. Communication hurdle. [00:31:14] Mathematical investing fund seeks aggressive long-term growth. [00:36:30] Hypercomputing: A new frontier beyond Turing machines. [00:38:42] Accelerating advancements in computing and imagination's limits. [00:42:34] Small steps add up to exponential change. [00:45:49] Podcast outro: Learn, share, follow, read, get better. Key Topics - Explanation of the mathematical investing aggressive growth fund - Analyzing the short term past to predict the long term future - Use of own machine learning algorithms rather than overcrowded public ones - Plan to hire 100 mathematicians to replicate old think tank - Differential advantage in using math and investing together - Importance of knowing target audience and dialogue responses to potential investors - Expansion of network over the years - Specific dialogue responses and ability to discern conversations not worth pursuing - Encounter with potential investors who seem like a good fit but do not like what they do - Challenges faced by the speaker's company - Navigating a heavily regulated industry - Communicating message to appropriate audience - Fine-tuning message to potential clients' interests - Background and shared interest of Nick Spoors and Mike Mills - Nick's interest in applying mathematical theories to investing - Mike's introduction of the Banach-Tarski paradox - Appreciation for entrepreneurs who think differently and take risks to create new categories - Speaker's learning from interactions with Nick Spoors - Nick's ability to explain things in a way that fits the listener's learning style - Learning to communicate without Nick's help but knowing when to bring him in for technical and deep conversations - Interest in researching pure mathematics for new applications in investing - Discussion of mathematics principles and concepts - Importance of mathematics in understanding the physical world and foundational principles of AI and machine learning - Axiom of choice and its connection to complex adaptive systems - Hypercomputing and its potential for the future with advancements in AI and quantum computing Links https://www.infinitaryfund.com/ Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or Get Story-Driven Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Introduction On this episode of The Entrepreneur Ethos, host Jarie Bolander invites guest Matt Shields to discuss the importance of a blue-collar work ethic for success in various fields, including entrepreneurship. Shields shares personal anecdotes that emphasize this point, as well as the need for humility and responsibility in leadership. The discussion also covers the impact of current economic challenges on businesses, the importance of instilling foundational values in oneself, and the benefits of being a servant leader. Throughout the episode, Shields advocates for taking a positive outlook on life, even during difficult times. Timestamps 00:01:24 Real estate experience since childhood, electrical apprenticeship, technology company, multi-family real estate investment. 00:07:06 Blue collar work ethic drives entrepreneurship success. 00:09:06 "Servant leadership" concept: Lead by serving. 00:14:36 Boss doesn't have to do "drudgery stuff". 00:17:23 Early service jobs build empathy for people. 00:21:10 Businesses impacted, tech disruption minimal, investment opportunities. 00:25:39 Capitalism and democracy are important for human thriving. 00:28:54 Find positives in every situation, avoid negativity. 00:32:16 Loss led to positive changes in life. 00:38:50 Core values as verbs improve collaboration dynamics. 00:44:02 Podcast creator encourages feedback and sharing. Key Topics Topics covered in "The Entrepreneur Ethos - Matt Shields" episode: Personal experiences with blue-collar work Impact of economic situation on businesses Entrepreneurship and societal progress Importance of being a humble leader Core values and their importance Speaker's eclectic background and podcast Spreading positivity and creating a ripple effect Benefits of being a servant leader Criticisms of entitlement and lack of work ethic. Links Invest in Sqft Instagram (@investinsqft_) https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewshields Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or Get Story-Driven Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, James Swanwick, founder of Alcohol Free Lifestyle, a program for high-achievers, executives and entrepreneurs to learn how to live alcohol-free.  As you might expect, James' program originated in his own experience. For him, alcohol didn't have huge consequences, but it also didn't help him any either. He realized he was living a life of mediocrity, and targeted his daily drinking as one of the prime reasons. He wanted to feel better physically, think more  clearly, advance in his professional life, and have better relationships. So in March 2010, he decided to  give up drinking, and he hasn't had a drink since.  Soon after James decided to give up alcohol, he got an offer to be a SportsCenter anchor, a huge career step. He also lost weight, found himself thinking more clearly and having better relationships.  After a few years, James found himself giving advice to others on how to stop drinking, which led to the creation of a program to help people quit drinking in 90 days. James now runs two businesses that bring in $2 million —  and he credits becoming alcohol free for a big part of his success. He also says his ability to be compassionate and empathetic has grown, and his relationships and health are much improved, and he sees similar results in his clients.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights If you want to quit alcohol - or anything - start with a doable frame of time. James started with 30 days, because a longer time seemed "unbelievable." If you're trying to change a habit, get accountability. For his 90-day program, mentoring and accountability are key aspects of the program.  Some benefits James identifies with going alcohol free include: weight loss, better sleep, increased clarity, less irritability, and an overwhelming improvement in managing day-to-day life.   Links to Explore Further James Swanwick | LinkedIn Alcoholfreelifestyle.com  The Alcohol-Free Lifestyle Podcast Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or The Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Will Sacks, CEO and founder of Fulcrum Venture Accelerator and Kindara, a femtech company.  Will studied engineering in college; he says he loved making things. He was also interested in creating environmentally sustainable solutions. His first company was Lumetro, which sold energy-efficient lighting solutions. Kindara came about when he fell in love and was introduced to using tech to help with fertility tracking. Kindara was acquired in 2019, and Will started Fulcrum, a fundraising accelerator for mission-driven entrepreneurs.  Will explains in this episode that of all the jobs an entrepreneur has to do, fundraising is one that can't be delegated. Unfortunately, many entrepreneurs are not very good at it, so that's where Fulcrum helps. Fulcrum is now working with its seventh cohort to help entrepreneurs raise money. Will explains that getting funded is like dating as well as sales —it's all about doing your research, connections, and finding the right fit. The areas where Fulcrum helps is in storytelling, organization and persistence, and identifying what he calls the intangibles — the energy behind the ideas and people. While he's an engineer and businessman, Will is also a musician and has learned that tuning into how he feels when meeting someone new — whether it's to play music or to hire someone — has been key in making better choices. Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Will says the conviction of the entrepreneur is vital — but also says nobody can ever get to 100% conviction. Instead, aim for as much conviction as you can get to — say, 70% — and work off that energy to get excited and share your vision.  Will says a common issue he sees are entrepreneurs who don't listen to feedback. If several people are telling you the same thing, you need to listen.  Sometimes you need to put the analytical mind on the back burner and tune into what your sense or instincts are telling you.   Links to Explore Further Will Sacks on LinkedIn Fulcrum Venture Accelerator Fulcrum on Facebook Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or The Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Andrei Zinkevich, cofounder of FullFunnel.io.  Andrei, the son of a salesman, started playing soccer when he was four. When his soccer career was cut short by injuries in his teens, Andrei decided to follow in his father's footsteps. After five years in sales, he'd found success, largely through networking and building personal relationships. But this was a strategy that didn't scale well. Andrei moved into marketing, where he tried to keep the focus on personalization. Andrei began a blog sharing what he knew, offering courses and publishing a book. Eventually his recognition grew to the point where he was being invited to speak at conferences, like the one he attended in Spain. This is where he met one of his followers who had taken his first course. Vlad, a software engineer and musician, eventually joined him in cofounding FullFunnel.io.  With FullFunnel, Andrei helps sales and marketing teams be more effective. He offers a lot of content online, mainly through LinkedIn, in addition to courses from his site. He focuses on helping companies grow by playing the long game. Growth hacks can help early on, but growing companies need more sustainable strategies. Andrei credits his training in sports with instilling in him the discipline needed to consistently continue to generate content, which helps him to connect with others and get noticed. Andrei advises businesses to think beyond sales and to continue to ask for feedback and nurture relationships with existing customers. He also stresses the importance of being able to withstand losses and failure, of knowing there will be some bad days, learning from them and moving on. Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Losing is part of the game. When you have a loss or failure, treat it as a lesson to teach you how to do better next time.  It takes time and practice to build skills. Don't expect to be able to immediately apply and see results when trying a new strategy. This is a common mistake he sees people make. Take the time to learn and cultivate skills and experience. Build relationships. As much as possible, personalize your interactions. Vet the people you work with.   Links to Explore Further Andrei Zinkevich on LinkedIn Fullfunnel.io  Andrei on Twitter Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or The Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Pete Huang, co-founder of The Neuron, a daily newsletter dedicated to the latest news about artificial intelligence.  Pete started writing online when he was a teenager as a copywriter. After college he worked as an analyst at McKinsey then with a number of startups in tech. Throughout the interview, Pete expressed how exciting and interesting he found working in tech, and is particularly excited to see what will happen as AI becomes mainstream.  How, ultimately, will AI affect business and entrepreneurship? Pete's not sure yet, but he's excited to see what happens next. Some of the questions and thoughts he shared in our talk: A new wave of businesses where AI comes first will emerge.  AI has the potential to change how fast businesses evolve and adapt. Pete wonders if it might be possible to shorten the cycle of founding to exiting from 10-15 years to under 10.  Think of ChatGPT as an "a very smart intern who doesn't know anything." People will need to "teach" ChatGPT before it can make a difference in how we work.  Companies will have to come up with their own strategies and models for the use of AI.  For now, Pete recommends a "wait and see" approach; at the same time he recommends companies who want to incorporate AI tools be nimble. Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights If you're interested in building a business around AI: Know that it's still in the early stages. Be willing to try, to experiment, and to fail. This is a long game, not a shortcut, though Pete thinks things will become clearer in a matter of months.  To help get you through the uncertainties of this moment, consider adopting Pete's attitude: he finds everything that's happening fascinating, and expresses gratitude for getting to be part of a moment that will likely radically transform what our future looks like. Be willing to be part of the conversation. Know that there may not be answers yet.   Links to Explore Further Pete Huang | LinkedIn The Neuron (theneurondaily.com) Pete's Web3 Pals (pallet.com) Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or The Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Bryan Clayton, CEO and cofounder of GreenPal, an app that connects homeowners with lawn care specialists.  Bryan has been in the lawn care business since he was a kid mowing lawns for his neighbors. He eventually grew his lawn-mowing business into a successful landscaping company that he eventually sold — a rarity for that industry. His next venture was to figure out how to harness tech to help both service providers and their customers. As someone experienced in the field, he understands the challenges providers face, from finding customers to getting paid, but starting a tech company was new to him. He started by focusing on building a roster of service providers, and then went about finding customers to use the app. With some trial and error and lots of feedback, GreenPal has grown over the last 11 years to being recognized as the "Uber of lawn care" and runs thousands of transactions daily.  While Bryan understood the lawn care business, founding a tech-based company was definitely out of his comfort zone. In this episode he explains how he had to "go back to kindergarten" and realize there was a lot he still didn't know. One critical action Bryan and his cofounders took was asking for feedback on their app when they first developed it, so they would know how to tweak and change it. They also had to work on themselves and "level up" alongside learning how to build the company. Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Having experience working in the field you're trying to serve can give you an edge in helping you understand the problems you'll be helping to solve. Don't discount the experience of "blue-collar" work.  "The least sexy your business, the greater your chances of success," Bryan says. Because there is less competition in fields like plumbing and contracting, if you find the right problems and the right solutions, you'll have a shot.  You need to be willing to do whatever it takes early on, and you'll need to be a generalist until you can build up an infrastructure of people around you, getting good enough in areas like marketing, sales, and other basics of running a business.  Links to Explore Further Bryan Clayton on LinkedIn GreenPal GreenPal on Facebook Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Jordan Crawford, founder of Blueprint, helping businesses scale by improving their outbound outreach.  Jordan didn't really find his "thing," until 2016, when he started working on helping businesses grow. In this episode Jordan provides a lot of insights into his strategy and how he uses data.  Jordan's approach is to focus on problems, not personas. He uses data about people to identify the problems his client is trying to solve. For this he culls data from LinkedIn and looks at people in relevant roles to figure out what the pain points are. He then uses this critical information to help businesses compose outbound messages to target potential customers. Jordan says that there are a lot of great tools that can help businesses, but what it comes down to is figuring out what to say to someone and how to say it - something only a living breathing person can do.  Ultimately, Jordan says, a business's understanding of the market must match what customers in the market actually want. To do this, Jordan recommends getting into discussions with customers to really understand what their pain points are as well as using the data. One unique thing about Jordan’s data is that he looks at job openings. This is a clear sign of a problem or pain point that a company wants to solve because they are willing to spend money to solve it.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights According to Jordan, AI and other martech tools can be helpful, but they'll only take you so far. You need to be able to have dialogues and to use critical thinking to get the information you need to craft a message that will lead to sales. The most important questions to ask are: "What can I say that none of my competitors can't? What is unique about me and what counter-intuitive insight do I have about the problem?" Then do research to figure it out and get a clearer picture of what your potential customers struggle with.  Research and use keywords. Keywords can help you figure out the pain points and how to best craft your message. Potential customers are looking to solve pain points and the faster you understand their pain, the easier it will be to get them to talk to you.  Links to Explore Further Blueprintgtm.com Jordan Crawford on LinkedIn Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Jeff Greenfield, a serial entrepreneur who has worked as a magician, chiropractor, and product placement guru, among other roles. His current venture is Provalytics.  Jeff started out wanting to be a magician when he saw one perform at Disney World when he was just five years old. And that's what he did, putting on shows while he was still in grade school.  He went to college for biochemistry and while he considered trying to be a magician professionally, instead he became a chiropractor. He had a thriving practice until an injury forced him to find another career. This gave him the opportunity to dive into professionally performing as a magician, getting gigs on college campuses.  At the time, the internet was in its infancy, but he realized the importance of having a website in order to market himself. After trying to hire someone to build one who failed to do so, he figured out how to do it himself in a weekend. Before he knew it, he was being hired to build websites for other businesses. The next step was to figure out how to get businesses on the web to rank higher, which led him to develop an understanding of how SEO works. He worked with a developer to create an automated SEO platform.  Though he'd found success and was having fun, Jeff wasn't content to stay where was. He worked in product placement and branding, but soon his projects led him to ask how to better measure the efficacy of the marketing he was doing. The result was C3 Metrics, a platform that's worked with companies like JP Morgan, Hertz and Nestle. Jeff next tried joining a company's management team, but while he learned a lot, it didn't suit him. He realized that new challenges in the area of marketing measurement brought about by new regulations was an untapped opportunity. So Jeff founded Provalytics to help companies find new ways to approach marketing analytics without the benefit of cookies and other tracking tools.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights While he earned an advanced degree to become a health professional, Jeff clearly has not let anything stop him from learning the information and tools he found he needed. By jumping in and learning new technology, he made himself invaluable to others while being at the forefront of innovation.  Jeff sees opportunity where others might see difficulties. Rather than lamenting his injury, he built a business instead. When that wasn't satisfying, he pursued his passion in magic. More recently, seeing what was happening with marketing metrics, he jumped in to help figure out how to respond. Jeff has many accomplishments, but it's clear he values family time. He spoke of wanting to be with his wife and daughter, and making choices so that he could do so. He found ways to build the kind of life he wanted, even when unexpected events forced him to jump tracks.   Links to Explore Further Jeff Greenfield on LinkedIn Jeff Greenfield on Twitter Provalytics Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, John Li, cofounder of PickFu, an online tool for market research.  John and his cofounder met as college students and both got jobs in high tech, but they were always interested in starting their own business. Two businesses they started were Menuism, a place where restaurants can offer menus, and Wedding Lens, a place where participants and attendees of weddings could share pictures. In the course of starting these businesses, they developed PickFu on the side to help them with market research. The business grew out of a need to get better feedback about products and marketing. As they saw it grow, they decided to turn their attention to building it as their central business.  PickFu is built on existing consumer research panels to provide users with fast feedback on business collateral like websites, logos, and ads and products sold on ecommerce platforms. While they started out with providing ways for businesses and entrepreneurs to ask open-ended questions, PickFu has built a resource of templates and best practices businesses can use to create polls. Through the use of such feedback, businesses can gain valuable insight and validate ideas and strategies.  In this episode John and I talk about the importance of market research and consumer feedback when building a business and how PickFu can help entrepreneurs quickly and easily get the feedback they need.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Small things can make a difference. PickFu is good at helping you figure out decisions about seemingly minor things like website design and colors and logos.  Use what's there. Instead of trying to reinvent the wheel, John is interested in finding ways to integrate already existing systems in place. They've used an existing framework and system, drawing on tools for consumer and political polling. They have built on top of these platforms to offer a fast, easy service. Always ask for open-ended feedback. Providing space for the people you are asking to give comments, other than simply answering a poll, can make a huge difference in the insight polling provides.  Links to Explore Further Pickfu.com Sample polls Which product insert flyer would make you want to signup and give your email the most? | PickFu online consumer research This product is a premium anti-aging & skin beauty supplement. Which image do you most connect with and would convince you to purchase? Why? | PickFu online consumer research John Li on LinkedIn Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or The Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Chad Price, CEO and founder of Life Grows Green and co-founder of Kettlebell Kings.  Chad was a competitive football player and earned a scholarship to Rice University. After college, he brought that competitive spirit to the business world. He was always interested in entrepreneurship, but decided to join an existing company at first. Once in corporate America, though, he realized it wasn't for him. He didn't want to just go to the office and draw a paycheck; he wanted to make things happen.  Now over 11 years old, Kettlebell Kings is being acquired by a larger company. In 2019, Chad founded Life Grows Green, which sells alternative health products.  While he didn't know it when he started, Chad's businesses have become successful lifestyle brands. Kettlebell Kings cultivated a community by offering a good product and partnering with organizations that sponsor lifting competitions. He believes strong connections and positive partnerships are key to building a lifestyle brand. With Life Grows Green, Chad wants to shift the perspective of CBD and hemp products as being "hippie," to being embraced as healthy and viable alternatives to pharmaceuticals.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Chad draws his strong work ethic from his competitive spirit and the drive to be the best he can. He believes employees are inspired by seeing leaders have that drive and that a positive work culture grows by facing challenges together.  Chad did not know where his ventures would end up; he didn't set out consciously trying to build a lifestyle brand or a company that would be acquired. You may not always know where your road is going to take you, and you don't have to have it all figured out, but you do have to have the drive to succeed. In building Kettlebell Kings, Chad learned the importance of fostering positive connections and building a community to create a strong brand people will be loyal to.   Links to Explore Further Chad Price on LinkedIn Life Grows Green Life Grows Green - Facebook Kettlebell Kings Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or The Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Brent Freeman, founder of Stealth Venture Labs, a full-service growth marketing agency that has worked with such companies as Home Chef, Factor, and MUD\WTR.  Brent has had his share of failures. He's been an entrepreneur for 15 years, has been involved in 20 startups, and is founder of eight of those. He describes his experiences as "failing forward," taking what lessons he's learned to eventually find success.  Before starting Stealth Venture Labs, he was using this knowledge to help other entrepreneurs, too. Nine years ago, he realized he wanted to do more than just advise others; he wanted to be part of business-building again. Originally founded as a studio to help e-commerce brands go to market, Stealth Venture Labs evolved into an agency that provides growth marketing services. However, Brent explains, the company is more like a "staff augmentation team," differentiating itself from other agencies by focusing on performance rather than time spent, where each team focuses on a company to help them grow. His agency provides a month of free onboarding and then contracts on a month-by-month basis to ensure clients are getting what they need. He says this unique approach is key to their success. Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Brent's attitude is to treat each failure as a learning experience. See failures as just another part of the process and keep persevering. In evolving Stealth Venture Labs to what it is today, Brent looks at the pain points of clients and seeks to differentiate the company from others. This has led to developing a different way of working to serve his clients better. Find a way to be unique and differentiate yourself, whether it's a product, service, or process.  Embracing the unknown and discomfort is key. Companies that have been around a long time that are willing to evolve and change are those that will continue to innovate. Sometimes taking a risk helps you to break out of a rut.  Links to Explore Further Stealth Venture Labs Brent Freeman on LinkedIn  Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Krish Ramineni, CEO and founder of Fireflies.ai, a tool that takes notes - and more - to help knowledge workers be more productive.  Krish got his start with Microsoft as a product manager after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania. He explains that his primary responsibility was having a lot of meetings. With meetings costing a lot in terms of money and time, Krish wanted to find a way to more easily record what happened during the meetings and be able to easily refer back to the conversations. For people who have 5-7 meetings per day, as much as 50% of the information gained from those meetings is lost.  With the rise of Zoom and virtual meetings during the pandemic, it's no surprise that Fireflies AI took off. But, Krish says, it's actually seeing faster adoption now. The tool accrues value over time, Krish explains, as it builds up information and knowledge that you can go back to to analyze patterns and find key details. Krish is also dedicated to providing transparency with the product, explaining that everyone in the meeting knows the tool is being used. In fact, it is its visibility that has helped make it such a success. Another tool, Ask Fred, takes the usability of Fireflies even further by providing a way to easily search for information from the knowledge base created by Fireflies.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Krish noticed something in how he and others worked that he thought he could improve on. While ultimately the company may branch out, he is currently focused on helping people in similar experiences as himself - the business professional.  While Fireflies AI is not the only notetaking AI tool out there, Krish and his cofounder are clearly steered by their values, which means they provide a transparent solution for business meetings in order to help people be more productive and creative. While Krish also sees opportunities for branching out in order to grow in the future, he is focusing on what they can do right now.  The time of simply churning out content is giving way to offering unique content. Krish sees Fireflies and other AI tools help access more unique content to help different brands stand out.   Links to Explore Further Krish Ramineni on LinkedIn  Fireflies on Twitter Fireflies AI website Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guests for today, Aakash Shah and Damian Felchlin, founders of High Time Foods, a company that provides meat alternatives to the food industry. They met in business school at Babson College. Aakash is from India and Damian is from Switzerland, and both have backgrounds in the food industry. They saw a need for an alternative, shelf-stable protein source, so they played to their strengths. They won money at pitch competitions, enabling them to launch their company last year, with their first customer being a Mexican restaurant in Boston.  The mission of High Time Foods is, as Damian says, very data-driven. They want to turn around the high level of carbon emissions caused by the meat industry while also helping people in circumstances where they don't have access to or can't afford refrigeration. They see their product as being attractive to "flexitarians," meat-eaters who are exploring plant-based alternatives. They ultimately hope that their product will be an affordable, sustainable option for meat, regardless of whether their customers are vegan, vegetarian, or flexitarian. Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Draw on your strengths. While both founders express some disenchantment with working in the food industry, finding a way to solve a problem around food was a good fit for their experiences and interests.  Start where you know. They started focusing on the sales process they know — selling to chefs and restaurants — though they hope one day to go beyond that.  Educate your customers. They understand the importance of educating the public about the environmental impact of meat while also providing a product that people will buy. They acknowledge the work other businesses have done in this area that have helped pave the way.  Links to Explore Further High Time Foods  High Time Foods on Instagram Damian Felchlin on LinkedIn Aakash Shah on LinkedIn And if you want to check out the vegan Mexican restaurant in Oakland I mentioned: Vengazafoods.com Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Eleanor Beaton, a business coach for women entrepreneurs and former CEO of a communications consulting company.  Eleanor explains how she went from journalist to starting her own business. Both of her businesses were prompted from someone else's suggestions, and in both cases she was skeptical but did it anyway. As she ran her business and sought ideas and support for growing it, she noticed that the coaching and training that existed seemed to mainly speak to men or were too superficial, what she calls "Cosmo-ification." The kinds of discussions male entrepreneurs were having were different from the discussions women were having, and she wondered why, and what women might be missing.  Eleanor saw the issues women founders faced in her communications business, and she decided women needed support and help in ways that most of them were not getting. One observation she makes is that most of the teachings around entrepreneurship have come out of Silicon Valley and tech entrepreneurship. But service-based businesses, of which many women have, aren't being served well by these teachings.  Eleanor's observations, questions and frustrations led her to starting a podcast and developing other resources for women entrepreneurs, which has become Safi Media. She seeks to make a space where women can talk to other women entrepreneurs and learn from each other, breaking out of the "bro" culture of entrepreneurship.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Eleanor describes how she met suggestions from others with skepticism. However, she tried out starting her own business and hasn't looked back. Sometimes what might be holding us back is our own discomfort and judgments.  There are limits to scaling a service-based business. If you're not sure how to grow your business, it might be time to approach things differently. Get help.  Consider if there's a segment of the market whose needs aren't being met. How can you help that segment? What might you need to do differently?   Links to Explore Further Safi Media Podcast: Power+Presence+Position Eleanor Beaton on LinkedIn Eleanor on Twitter Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Kim Sorrelle, a longtime entrepreneur, director of the humanitarian organization Rays of Hope for Haiti and author. Kim's first and second book were written in wake of tragedy. In this podcast, Kim opens up about her experiences with her husband being diagnosed with cancer, followed by her husband's death just six weeks later. Married out of high school, Kim built a life and family with her husband by her side. To cope with the experiences and grief, Kim wrote and shared her writings by email. That resulted in her first book, Cry Until You Laugh.  Her second book, Love Is, draws on Kim's experiences of losing her husband and also her humanitarian work in Haiti after its disastrous earthquake. It was written in response to her search for the real meaning of love, using the famous Biblical verse from 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 that starts, "Love is patient, love is kind" as a guidepost. While there's no magic answer for getting over the devastating loss of someone you love, Kim offers some good insight into how she has coped with grief, including deciding to choose the things you can control and being of service, which gives her purpose.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Kim says, "You have permission to live a great life." She emphasizes that crying is a natural expression of grief, and that it's also okay to laugh, too.  Getting cancer and losing a spouse are not things anyone can control. Instead Kim focuses on things she can control, and focuses on what she needs to do to be happy.  Being of service can be the greatest healer. It's also good business.   Links to Explore Further Kim's website Kim Sorrelle on LinkedIn Book link for Love Is Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello everyone and welcome back to a miniseries I’m doing called A Personal History of Silicon Valley Recessions. This is a five part series of what it was like to go through two (and now starting three) recessions in Silicon Valley. This is part five titled Supply Chain Woes + War Spikes Inflation. If you’re just turning in, I’d highly recommend listening to the first four episodes to get a sense of what I’m talking about. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello everyone and welcome back to a miniseries I’m doing called A Personal History of Silicon Valley Recessions. This is a five part series of what it was like to go through two (and now starting three) recessions in Silicon Valley. This is part four titled Global Pandemic Recession and it’s about the recession that the COVID-19 created when the world shut down overnight. If you’re just tuning in, I’d highly recommend listening to the other three parts so you get the Full Monty so to speak. Most of you listening know this one since you’re living through a version of it now. More on that in part 5. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello everyone and welcome back to a miniseries I’m doing called A Personal History of Silicon Valley Recessions. This is a five part miniseries of what it was like to go through two (and now starting three) recessions in Silicon Valley. This is part three titled The Great Recession and it’s about the lead up and bursting of the housing bubble that also burst the always sunny in startup land Silicon Valley. If you’re just tuning in, I’d highly recommend listening to part 1 and part 2 so you get the Full Monty so to speak. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello everyone and welcome back to this miniseries I’m doing called A Personal History of Silicon Valley Recessions. This is a five part miniseries of what it was like to go through two (and now starting three) recessions in Silicon Valley. This is part two titled We’ll Make it up on Volume and it’s about the lead up and bursting of the dot com bubble. If you’re just tuning in, I’d highly recommend listening to part 1 so you get some context as to my perspective on this. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hello everyone and welcome to a bonus series I’m doing called A Personal History of Silicon Valley Recessions. This is a five part miniseries of what it was like to go through two (and now starting three) recessions in Silicon Valley. Part 1 is all about who I am and how I grew up in the most creative place in the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Josh Adler, a serial entrepreneur and founder of Convrtx. Convrtx offers help to startups in four ways: through strategic support, help in raising capital, product development, and launch strategy.  Josh comes from a family of successful entrepreneurs in Canada. He started out as young as eleven in accounting and worked his way through various aspects of business, which has given him unique insights into how to build and run a company. He attended the University of Toronto for business and MIT, where he earned a certificate in cybersecurity. He has launched several other businesses, including Open Advisor, a support network to help startups globally and in particular in developing countries.  In our talk, Josh shares insights into the ways in which Dubai, where he now lives, contributes to a flourishing culture of entrepreneurship. The government offers financial support for people who go from working for the government to launching a startup. When COVID hit, providing free, regular testing along with tight restrictions around people who tested positive helped the area, which relies heavily on tourism, to stay resilient.   Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights While Josh had the privilege of starting early by working for his family company, he stresses that ultimately it's about putting in the work and continuing to do so until you see results. Though it might not seem like a great time to try to raise money for a business, Josh says it's actually a good time to do so, especially for startups in the early stages. There's a lot of investment to be had for founders in this stage.  While not previously an avid reader, Josh now reads two books a week, saying it's important to learn from others as much as possible. Below are the four books Josh recommends for all entrepreneurs, noting that these cover the important areas that entrepreneurs should focus on: The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation To Create Radically Successful Businesses, by Eric Ries The Titanic Effect: Successfully Navigating the Uncertainties That Sink Most Startups, by Tood Saxton, M. Kim Saxton, and Michael Cloran The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future, by Chris Guillebeau Secrets of Sand Hill Road: Venture Capital and How To Get It, by Scott Kupor  Links to Explore Further Convrtx Convrtx on LinkedIn Josh Adler on LinkedIn Convrtx on Facebook Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Jordan Wehe, director of marketing at Jade Communications, an internet service and security provider in Colorado. Jordan's first job was in an obesity prevention program in Denver, where he drew on his background in the sciences. But he found himself more interested in the marketing piece and decided to get a master's in marketing. When his brother asked him for help promoting the family business, he joined him at their father's company, Jade Communications..  In just a few years Jordan has helped make Jade Communications the internet service provider of choice for many customers in rural Colorado - despite having seven competitors. The company believes in putting the customer first by engaging in "practical empathy," where they listen to the customers' problems and help them figure out solutions. Jordan believes that marketing needs to be part of the job of every employee, no matter what their role.  With COVID requiring so many people to start working remotely — and many continuing to do so — having reliable internet is important and invaluable when building a community. Jordan's view of seeing their service as part of community building and making people's lives better is a key part of what makes Jade successful.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Instead of looking at business as selling a product or service, change the way you talk about it through the lens of empathy: what is the customer struggle, and how can you help?  Consider everyone in your business as part of marketing, no matter their role, and give them the support and tools they need to be good representatives of the company, whether it's how they talk to customers or what they do when they are at their homes.  Let the best idea win. Jordan explains that when he and his brother have different ideas, they try to hash it out and recognize who has the best idea, putting aside ego for the sake of the business.   Links to Explore Further Jade Communications Jordan Wehe on LinkedIn Jordan on Twitter Jordan’s Website Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Aliza Knox, a "non-executive" director, former executive at financial services and tech companies, and author of Don't Quit Your Day Job: The 6 Mindshifts You Need to Rise and Thrive at Work. Aliza characterizes herself as "an American with a sense of adventure." She's lived in Australia and now makes her home in Singapore. Aliza explains that she's gone through three stages, which she likens to software upgrades: 1.0 was her work at financial services companies like Charles Schwab and Visa; 2.0 was as an executive in sales and operations at Google, Twitter and Cloudflare, and 3.0, where she is currently, is taking all she learned and helping others while spending time doing things she loves.  Aliza wrote Don't Quit Your Day Job after experiences mentoring others. People regularly seek her out for advice on their professional lives. She's distilled some of her wisdom and insight into the book, organized around six mindshifts. Using stories from the people she's helped, she illustrates ways ambitious professionals can shift their perspectives in order to get to where they want to go.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Aliza recommends that entrepreneurs as well as professionals looking to climb the ladder assemble a team of advisors, your own personal board of directors. Friends and family provide moral support, but your advisors can better provide perspective and advice that will genuinely help you move forward.  Aliza believes a diversity of perspectives is important for boards in business. Diversity in external characteristics is a "proxy" for this.  Aliza shares her "equation" for success: Stamina = Perseverance + Enthusiasm.  Grit can only carry so far. Finding passion for what you're doing will keep you going.   Links to Explore Further Aliza Knox website Aliza Knox on LinkedIn Forbes column Aliza Knox on Twitter Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Fred Joyal, cofounder of 1-800-DENTIST and author of the book Superbold: From Under-Confident to Charismatic in 90 Days.  Fred started out wanting to be a screenwriter in Hollywood, but instead moved into advertising. While he liked the industry, he didn't like the future he saw in it. He also wanted to start his own business, and took up an opportunity presented to him by a friend who had bought the 1-800-DENTIST number and offered to license it to him. Fred and a stockbroker friend decided to start the business in 1986 using the number for dental referrals. They successfully built and ran the business together for over 25 years and became the largest dental referral company in the country.  After the company took in private equity and Fred stepped down as CEO, he focused on building his own brand, one that had already started as the spokesperson for the brand, having appeared in their TV commercials. He also built up his authority by writing and publishing two books on dental marketing and became a sought-after speaker. His book Superbold draws from his own journey as an introvert to someone who learned to take risks and try, one who embraces failure for the lessons it teaches.  As the head of a successful business for so many years, Fred has a lot of insight to share, especially about marketing and the importance of being bold.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Fred's core advice for advertising anything is that it's all about appealing to people's emotions. Find out why people care and how it makes them feel, and connect with them there.  To be successful, don't just focus on the money. There were times Fred could have made more money, but he was more interested in having a good life, living with integrity, and serving others. By putting your clients first, you'll be better off in the long run, for both yourself, your employees, and the people you serve.  Show appreciation for the people who support you and work for you. This was something that Fred made a priority while CEO as well as having fun. He believes 1-800-DENTIST was a great place to work because he and his co-founder believed in these principles.   Links to Explore Further Fred Joyal website Fred Joyal on LinkedIn Fred Joyal on Facebook Fred Joyal on Twitter Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Diane Primo, CEO of the award-winning public relations and marketing agency Purpose Brand and author of ADAPT: Scaling Purpose in a Divisive World.  Before opening her own agency, Diane acquired significant experience working as a marketing executive for corporations, including Pepsi and what became AT&T, and was CEO of an e-commerce home-services company. When she decided to strike out on her own, she sought to combine her passion for purpose-led businesses and her experience and love for marketing.  In addition to working with a variety of companies, both well-established and startups, Diane is passionate about solving problems and helping others using a business process framework. She's used this strategy in helping address homelessness in Chicago, where she's based, as well as being part of a technology board that provides access to capital and mentoring for black and brown entrepreneurs.  Diane believes articulating and aligning with your purpose is essential for any business - the earlier, the better.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights It's never too soon to start working on your brand. Once you have a good product, start developing your brand and story. "People invest in brands," Diane says.  To define your purpose, Diane suggests figuring out what it is you do best and then connecting it with making the world a better place. She also advises entrepreneurs, especially those in tech, to sit down and figure out what some unintended consequences of the business might be and plan how to address them.  When making a pitch for investment as well as when building your brand, be sure to incorporate the dream for the future. Initially, you need to prove that you can do what you say you'll do, but people also buy the vision and the promise of what's to come.   Links to Explore Further Purposebrand.com  Book: ADAPT by Diane Primo Diane Primo on LinkedIn Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Jason Azevedo, Chief Strategy Officer at the Manufacturing Revitalization Corporation of America, a private equity firm that acquires, builds up and modernizes established manufacturing companies, eventually giving all ownership back to the employees.  Jason's experience with entrepreneurship started when he was 15 and he began a business printing T-shirts. The business did not last long, however, due to the impact of the recession of 2008. Yet Jason didn't give up; he went on to found his own companies and eventually cofounded MRCA. In this episode, Jason and I talk about how far manufacturing has come and how it's not the picture many people think it is. Companies are finding it more efficient and less expensive to build products in the U.S. The main challenge is finding employees - not because the work isn't fulfilling or well compensated, but because of outworn stereotypes of working in manufacturing. Manufacturing, says Jason, is one of the only industries that allows someone to start without a college degree, be trained, and work their way up into management. The work that MRCA does also seeks to help turn around the devastation wrought on many towns throughout America when companies closed their plants and left. MRCA focuses on helping to grow the company and keeping communities strong while also valuing employee wellness and input. Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Automation has not eliminated jobs per se, nor does it have to. What it does mean is that people are needed for doing jobs only people can do, involving critical thinking and problem solving.  The best way to change the perspective on working in manufacturing is by ensuring employees are happy and fulfilled, showing that manufacturing can be a route to a fulfilling work life.  One early lesson Jason learned was to not listen to others' fears, especially those who haven't been entrepreneurs themselves. Once he started seeking advice from successful business owners, he found a lot more support, encouragement, and help.   Links to Explore Further Jason Azevedo on LinkedIn MRCA website Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Chris Clews, author of Raised on the 80s and a speaker who draws on movies from the 80s to illustrate lessons for business and life. After 20 years working in marketing, Chris was wondering what else life had in store for him. He found inspiration in watching one of his favorite movies from the 80s, The Breakfast Club. He began writing about insights he gained from 80s movies, first finding popularity on LinkedIn. He self-published a book, built a website, and became a speaker. He's since written two more books where he draws on 80s pop culture to relate lessons on work and life.  Chris shares some examples of these lessons for entrepreneurs and leaders. In Coming to America, Eddie Murphy plays an African king who journeys to Queens, New York. He hides his royal background and takes a job at a fast food restaurant. Chris explains how this is an example of humble leadership over earned leadership and how this can provide a better model for others. Another example he shares is the wisdom of Mr. Miyagi from The Karate Kid where he reminds his student to "remember to breathe." Chris and I talk about how these lessons are as apt now as they were when they were made, why 80s movies have an enduring appeal to younger generations, and why the 80s were such an exciting, experimental time in popular culture.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Chris's advice to entrepreneurs is to take time to breathe. Like Ferris Beuller, it's okay to give yourself a break and take some time off. Stress, he points out, rolls downhill; how you react to stress is going to affect those around you.  Chris believes 80s movies are appealing to younger generations simply for their great storytelling and relatability. You don't have to have all the special effects, bells and whistles, to make something people like. Chris notes that he has more memories from his travels than he does from things he's bought. He advises younger people to focus on making experiences, not just acquiring things.    Links to Explore Further Chris Clews website Chris Clews on LinkedIn Chris on Twitter Chris on Facebook Chris on Instagram  Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Sunny Han, CEO of Fulcrum, a cloud-based software platform for manufacturers. Sunny describes his journey into entrepreneurship as more like listening to a "gnawing" rather than experiencing a sudden bolt of lightning. He made the decision to leave his job and strike out as an entrepreneur because he knew he'd regret missing the opportunity. He first thought of it as trying to "do" something; ultimately, he found himself creating something, which he now sees as an important distinction. He did not see where he would end up, but had a strong belief that with hard work he'd get somewhere. Fulcrum was the outcome of an interest and knowledge in the areas of small businesses, manufacturing, technology, and software. Much of his success, Sunny says, is from learning a lot from mistakes and failures.  Like health care, manufacturing tech is ripe for innovation. The challenge, however, is that you can't just jump in and offer Band-Aid solutions. You need to look at the root, says Sunny. Most people give up, disheartened, when they get halfway there. But what matters in the end is that you ultimately solve a problem. He also cautions against trying too quickly to change something when some aspect isn't working. Sometimes it takes awhile for a change to come fully into effect. It's easy to get caught up in the latest thing, a new strategy or tool, when sometimes you need to just be patient and endure the hardship until things get better, trusting that the decision you made is the right one. In this episode we also talk about the role of luck in the entrepreneurship journey. Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights When you're a CEO, it's important to not give in to FOMO and react to every new opportunity or problem. You need to make decisions strategically, and have faith that things will work out.  We all have limited resources and limited time. It's vital that you figure out the most important thing to focus on first. One thought experiment you might do is to ask, if everyone wanted to hire me/buy my product, who would I work with first? How would I manage it? This can help you prioritize and target your market.  Use the theory of constraints. Sunny recommends identifying what the constraints are, ranking them, and then directing investment toward decreasing the risks that come with those constraints.  Links to Explore Further Sunny Han on LinkedIn Fulcrum Sunny Han on Twitter Fulcrum on Twitter Sunny Han on Instagram Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Yaro Starak, cofounder of InboxDone, a virtual assistant service for managing email.    All Yaro knew when he started university in Queensland, Australia was that he didn't want a traditional job. It was the late 1990s, and the internet was opening up new, exciting opportunities. Yaro created a website on Magic The Gathering, a competitive card game and made a modest income by selling cards, in the days before PayPal even existed. Within a few years, he'd launched another business offering translation and editing services to students whose first language wasn't English. This business grew to the point where Yaro could make a living. From there he tried blogging, eventually also growing that into a business where he offered courses around blogging and ultimately building Blog Mastermind and the Laptop Lifestyle Academy. As a busy entrepreneur, Yaro was spending a lot of time answering emails. He decided to come up with a way to delegate these tasks, which helped him to build a business while freeing up more time. Eventually, he decided to develop the system he'd set up into a business idea. He invited one of his assistants to cofound this new company, InboxDone, which has since grown to now having 45 team members working for CEOs and managers around the world. In this episode, Yaro and I talk about how to build a service-oriented business, the challenges of scaling, and the power of delegation.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Like many of my other guests, Yaro's original idea came from a problem he faced. But, he still spent time trying out and validating the idea to make sure it was marketable before jumping in headfirst into offering it at scale.  Yaro describes some of the processes he and his cofounder use to scale. They ask what it would look like and what they would need to take on more clients. As the company grows, they know they need to also add managers in order to coordinate and oversee teams.  InboxDone illustrates the power of delegation in order to grow a successful business. The more you can delegate, the more you can focus on the work that only you can do. While it may take some time up front to put the systems in place, eventually you can free up more of your time for other things.   Links to Explore Further Yaro Starak on LinkedIn Yaro's Blog (formerly Entrepreneurs Journey) InboxDone InboxDone on Facebook InboxDone on Instagram Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Jason Cohen, founder and chief innovation officer of WP Engine, the sixth-largest public-serving website platform.   Jason is no stranger to startups. He's been launching businesses for two decades and previously founded Smart Bear, a company that makes professional-grade peer code review tool that was bought by AutomatedQA. Jason's businesses have started out as ideas that he then explored to see if they had potential. With WP Engine, he explains, he was able to use a more "thoughtful" process, a process he's developed and refined to grow WP Engine into a successful mid-size company with over 1,500 employees. Jason explains how asking the right type of questions are critical in the idea validation process, noting that just identifying a problem is not enough to start a business. He first writes down his hypotheses then formulates open-ended questions of potential customers, looking for commonalities among answers. With WP Engine, the answers have been and continue to be overwhelmingly the same, which helps considerably in guiding the business. Once you start to really identify and understand your market, you can not only understand how to better build a product, but also how to market effectively as well as build other products. Jason also explains the "three horizon model" and how it applies to his mission to grow and innovate as his company grows even bigger.   Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights To validate your idea, Jason suggests using a spreadsheet and writing down your hypotheses about who your customer is and what their pain points are. Then, ask open-ended questions so as not to bias them to test your hypotheses.  Understand the different challenges of a startup versus a successful, growing company. A startup is still struggling to make a viable business and needs to have one focus, while a business that has already achieved some success needs to look at more diverse long-term growth strategies. Bigger companies also need to weigh the long-term cost of developing their own ideas versus acquiring another company that already offers a similar product or service.  Jason finds that writing is a way that helps him to think through his ideas. In writing out his ideas, he comes to see if they make sense or not, and is able to build on them. Regularly writing out ideas, even in a journal, can help you get clearer on your thinking.    Links to Explore Further Jason Cohen on LinkedIn WP Engine Jason Cohen on Twitter Book mentioned: The Innovator's Solution Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Steph Nasser, founder of OpenVC, a platform for entrepreneurs to more easily connect with VCs. Steph's first job out of business school in Paris was at a Microsoft startup accelerator. Like so many entrepreneurs, he saw where something was needed. In this case, it was a comprehensive database of venture capital firms that entrepreneurs could search to find potential matches for their funding needs. Surprised that it didn't already exist, he set out to build it.  Still in its early stages, OpenVC is already making a mark by building its database, filtering out the "noise," and also offering education for entrepreneurs. They have started hosting "roasts" where several founders pitch their businesses and get "roasted," giving them feedback on how they can do better.  Steph believes that the old way of getting funding is changing. He sees younger VC managers as being more open to using technology to connect, as opposed to the old way of going through introductions. OpenVC is on the road to becoming a powerful tool to do just that. Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Know and build on your strengths. Steph reflects that he is drawn toward making things more efficient, and he prefers to build products. Both these attributes drove him to create the idea and platform for OpenVC. Don't be afraid of automation. As we discuss in the show, creativity only comes in at about 20% of the process; strive to automate as much of the 80% as you can so you can focus on that 20%. Looking for funding? Know best practices for pitching. Use resources like OpenVC to help you refine your pitch and don't be afraid of feedback. Feedback, even if it's hard to hear, will only help you improve.   Links to Explore Further Stéphane Nasser on LinkedIn OpenVC Steph at OpenVC on Twitter Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Carl Robinson, founder of Rumble Studio, which offers technology to help podcasters cut down on the time needed to make a show.  Carl studied computer science in England and first worked as a management consultant, then moved to China to found a startup with a friend. They had success with one app but not so much with the other. Carl went back to being an employee, and returned to school to pursue a master's in data science in France, where he still lives.  While doing an internship for his studies, Carl started a podcast that focused on voice technology and AI. Though it was a lot of work, Carl acknowledges that all the conversations he's had with his guests have helped him to better understand the landscape of voice technology and the possibilities for AI. He combined this knowledge with a problem he identified: the amount of time and work it takes to put into creating a podcast. When Carl was approached by an entrepreneur incubator, he jumped at the chance to develop the idea he had for making podcasts more efficient. He joined forces with co-founder, and they developed the technology that became Rumble Studio. This technology allows podcast hosts and their guests to have asynchronous conversations and provides a streamlined solution for recording, editing, and promoting the episode. We also talked about the potential the technology has for helping companies obtain customer feedback, among other possibilities.   Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Carl's advice to entrepreneurs is to always be curious and always be learning. His own curiosity and drive to learn helped him connect with people in the industry through his podcast, ultimately helping him see opportunities.  Carl also stresses the importance of being able to see into the future and not just paying attention to the now. The key is finding that innovative idea - and having the guts to follow through with it.  Thinking of starting your own podcast? I offer the advice I was given, which Carl attested was good advice: Do at least 5 interviews before publishing your podcast. Be consistent by doing one interview a week, do them for one year, and don't worry about the numbers.  Links to Explore Further Carl Robinson on LinkedIn Rumble.Studio - In addition to a free trial, they offer free templates and articles to help start a podcast. Voice Tech Podcast Carl on Twitter Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Richard Lau, founder of Logo.com and Resume.com.  Richard started out 20 years ago registering domain names, working at home in his bunny slippers. After growing the company to $4 million, he sold it and moved to California, but unfortunately the deal went south and he ended up with a severance check and took his wife and infant back home to Canada.  After that, Richard took what he learned and started over. He worked for 10 years as a domain name broker, specializing in tracking down hard-to-find contacts and buying domain names that he then sold, or kept for his own inventory. Eventually he started developing websites for the domain names he bought. He and his partner built Resume.com into a full-fledged business offering resume services and eventually sold it to Indeed. They also built up and sold domains.com, selling it to the company that became GoDaddy. Richard also founded and produced a conference for domain name brokers. His current project is logo.com, where entrepreneurs can have a logo built for free. He plans to grow the site by offering other services for businesses as they grow.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Richard learned from experience it's important to do your due diligence from the very beginning, giving the example of using fonts that aren't licensed. Even such minor-seeming issues can make a difference if and when you eventually sell your business.  Business is about relationships. Richard believes that people pay you in gratitude for being given something of value. If the customer doesn't believe he received something of value, then he doesn't want to take their money. For making connections in business, he also believes strongly in face-to-face interactions. Richard's own brush with cancer has helped him re-evaluate what's truly important in life."Life is too short to work for a bad boss," Richard says. He notes that particularly in the U.S., most people have the freedom to move somewhere where the cost of living is lower, or where you can find a better opportunity. With so many opportunities available online, there's no excuse for not building a life you love.  Links to Explore Further Logo.com Richard Lau on LinkedIn  Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, David Perry, cofounder and CEO of Carro, an e-commerce networking company that is upending e-commerce by bringing together brands and influencers to work together to increase sales.  David is a serial entrepreneur who started out in video game design. He grew up in Northern Ireland but left at a young age to go work in the video game industry, eventually ending up in California. Some of his most successful ventures in video games were those that paired up with well-known brands, the first of these being a game featuring the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. After starting his own company, he experienced this phenomenon from the other side, when a character his company created for a game was licensed out for other products. He later was involved with a game associated with The Matrix movies.  With Carro, David has brought his understanding of the importance of branding to the world of e-commerce. David explains that after "retiring" from the video game industry, he just wanted to learn how to do various things and explore questions. He noticed that his daughter was very loyal to particular brands of clothing and wondered how to get influencers and brands to do more for each other. The basic premise of Carro is that it gives brands the ability to connect their inventory with influencers, and gives influencers the ability to sell products without losing the customers to another platform. They now have over 30,000 brands connected through the Shopify platform so influencers and partners can sell inventory from other brands right in their own online store. Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Go where there is opportunity and action. David did this physically, moving to where there were opportunities, as well as harnessing opportunities when they came along to work with brands."There are so many opportunities in e-commerce," David says. One key question David always asks is "how could someone beat this?" He looks at the potential in the future for what something could become and what a competitor might do and works toward it. For example, he sees that eventually all media will be streamable, and one of his companies built a way for PlayStation games to be played through the cloud. David's advice to entrepreneurs is that their job is to find the gold. That's the point where you bring in investors, who will help you "dig up" the gold.   Links to Explore Further David Perry on LinkedIn Carro  Carro on Instagram Carro on Twitter Carro on Facebook Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This bonus episode is an experiment in asynchronous podcasting. The concept is that guests can record answers to host questions anytime they want, via a SaaS tool called Rumble.Studio. It's a different way than I normally do the show but I wanted to experiment with it to see how it works. I think this method of making podcasts has a lot of merit. I'm not going to change the format of my show to this method but for what you're about to here, it makes a ton of sense. The reason I was inspired to give it a go is because I interviewed the founder of Rumble.Studio, Carl Robinson. This first episode is the answer to the question: What are the intangibles that make you want to be on a show?The answers were super interesting and insightful. If you're a podcaster, this is definitely worth a listen. The guests on this bonus episode are listed below. Thanks again for helping with this experiment and your awesome insights. I really appreciate it. 01:17 – Asha Wilkerson: Personality and Energy. 01:57 – Swire Ho: Target Audience and Potential Outreach. 02:18 – Roger Nairn: Uniquely Excited and Do Your Homework. 03:10 – Christina Eanes: Professional and Enjoyable. 03:45 – Steve Christensen: Authenticity and Energy. 04:20 – Phillip Hughes: Build a Relationship and Interesting. 05:56 – Tom Schwab: Powerfully Interesting and No Robo Emails. 06:33 – Douglas Kadlecek: Passionate and Make Me Think. 06:55 – Dr. Steve Yacovelli: Exposure and Practice My Story. 07:28 – Cathy Nesbitt: Share my Message and Insights About Myself. 08:02 – David A Conatser: Help Tell Your Story and Expose Your Creative Talents. 08:12 – William Branum: Ask Difficult Questions and Make Me Think. 09:03 – J. Thorn: Warm, Inviting, and Listens. 09:25 – Tejaswi Gautam: Credibility and Visibility. 10:19 – Marvin Raab: Fun and Publicity. 10:35 – Farzad Rashidi: General Popularity and Educate the Audience. 11:40 – Rachel Michelberg: Recommended and Personal Relationships. 12:02 – Brenden Kumarasamy: Find Small Ways to Add Value That Excite People. 12:59 – Grant Faulkner: Professionalism and A Good Experience. As usual, I also put some of the Actionable Insights I learned from the interviews below. Actionable Insights Be excited about your show. Challenge your guests to think in a way that makes them give unique and interesting answers. Really want to add value to the listener and the guest. Make it fun and enjoyable Let the guest talk. Be interesting in what they have to say and ask follow up questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Troy Bannister, founder of Particle Health, an API platform that collects and integrates health data.  Troy's interest in entrepreneurship was sparked when he was growing up on an island near Seattle, where he made money cleaning boats. He saw firsthand the opportunity entrepreneurship provided, with income possibilities and time flexibility, as opposed to most other jobs his friends had. His interest in medicine led him to first becoming an EMT in college, where, he says, he learned a lot. He went to medical school but dropped out, leaving with a master's degree. He moved to New York City, where he did research at hospitals, then moved to working with a venture capital firm that focused on health care companies. Troy started to ask questions about the use of data in the healthcare industry, where fax machines are still used to share patient files. Using Stripe, Plaid, and Twilio as models, he founded Particle Health four and a half years ago. Troy's timing for founding Particle Health was strategic. He knew that health care was in need of better data access for providers as well as consumers, and that legislation was passing to make this more of a possibility. While companies are supposed to share data when it is legally requested, they often don't. New legislation now mandates fines for companies who don't comply. Much of the future success of Particle Health will rest on how the legislation will be enforced and how companies choose to comply. Meanwhile, Troy and Particle Health are offering data integration solutions to health care companies that understand the importance of being able to collect patient data in order to better serve them. Eventually, Troy sees Particle Health also offering consumers the opportunity to collect and keep their data in ways where it can be used more effectively, in order to give them more choice and power in their own health care.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Troy says when he saw the legislation coming through, he knew he had to act. "It's better to be early than late," he says.  Troy discusses the importance of aligning incentives. He doesn't think it will be the fines so much that will change institutional behavior, but the fear of looking bad. The legislation, he believes, will go a long way to incentivizing hospitals to share data. Consumers are starting to want more flexibility, and being able to easily access their data from various providers will enable more freedom of choice. Learn the various sides of the industry. Though his experiences in working in the medical field, then in working with startups in the venture capital firm, Troy has fairly quickly gained significant insight into being an entrepreneur in this industry.   Links to Explore Further Particle Health Troy Bannister on LinkedIn Particle Health on YouTube Particle Health on Twitter Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Richard White, founder and CEO of two SaaS companies, Fathom and UserVoice.  An engineer who develops tools to "scratch an itch," Richard founded Fathom to solve a problem he was facing: how to take good notes on Zoom calls. As he was frequently talking to customers on Zoom, he wanted a better way to capture those insights while in conversation. Fathom uses a combination of tools to address this problem, which became a top-rated app on the Zoom app marketplace.  Richard's experience provides insight into the process of founding a startup - and how doing it the second time around can be a bit easier. Richard says, while his first endeavor was a journey in just figuring out what he was doing, with his second one, he came in with a better idea of what to expect. While his first company was mostly bootstrapped, Fathom has had funding from the start, which Richard acknowledges was essential for this particular product. He also had people he could tap to develop the product and start selling it, another advantage of being a serial entrepreneur. Richard is a strong believer in the power of good customer service and of soliciting customer feedback in order to make the best product possible. Indeed, UserVoice is a tool that enables companies to get feedback. In our conversation, Richard explains the ways he collects the feedback and puts it to use to make better products and customer experiences.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Richard emphasizes the importance of making a standout product. "You never get a second chance to make a good first impression," he says. That doesn't mean he isn't always trying to improve and make the product even better.  Richard wants to make people "love" his product, not just like it. "People don't refer products they like, they refer products they love."  Fathom is an example of a company that makes customer care an integral part of its business; this is key for making connections and building a loyal fan base.   Links to Explore Further Richard White on LinkedIn Fathom Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or The Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today. Dr. Wayne Visser, a "pracademic," is a professor at Cambridge University and Antwerp Business School, and the author of 41 books. His forthcoming book is Thriving: The Breakthrough Movement to Regenerate Nature, Society and the Economy. He's also a consultant who has worked with numerous companies and served as Director of Sustainability at KPMG. Wayne is also a published poet, and shares one of his poems on the show. Wayne's interest in sustainability and business was sparked when he was an undergraduate in Cape Town and when the largest gathering of heads of state took place in Rio, resulting in a lot of questions and efforts around incorporating more sustainable practices into business. Wayne has since made it his mission to find ways for businesses to become more sustainable.  In Thriving, Wayne explains, he observes that the movement for sustainability has ultimately failed. His book provides a different paradigm: thriving. Part of the problem is that the end goal of sustainability is not enough for people and businesses to get excited about. We need a bigger target than just surviving.  Despite this assessment, Wayne does see a lot of positive change happening. We've now reached a point, for example, where solar and wind energy are cheap and widely available. He also believes entrepreneurship is key to innovation toward helping to turn the tide and make the world more environmentally sustainable. Wayne sees change as happening on multiple fronts: in the use of resources, in how something is made, in the distribution of wealth, and the need to cultivate resilience in the face of crisis. He believes that entrepreneurship and business are best poised to lead the way to solve these problems and make a better world. Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Below is some of Wayne's advice to entrepreneurs who want to make a difference: "It's no longer enough to make customers happy and make money," says Wayne. Strive to be part of a solution to a bigger problem. When developing your product or service, consider the impact environmentally and socially, and how you can build a company that can not only survive but also help make things better.  Wayne recommends looking at the various systems that need changing, then focusing on one or two areas to make improvements.  For a solution to take hold it must be as convenient, affordable, and high quality as current solutions.   Links to Explore Further Wayne Visser's Website Wayne Visser on LinkedIn Wayne Visser on Facebook Wayne Visser on Twitter Wayne's Podcasts: Thriving and Purpose-Inspired Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or The Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Alyssa Colton, a freelance writer, editor, and book coach. Alyssa also writes the show notes for this podcast, and for our 200th episode, I wanted to have her on to talk about what she's learned from working on the show. Alyssa always knew she wanted to be a writer. Her first love is for writing fiction; she's completed two contemporary novels and a novel based on the life of Queen Anne. Her challenge has been how to make a living at it. She studied English as an undergraduate, worked in publishing for a few years, then went to graduate school, eventually earning a PhD. She realized as she was finishing up her degree that full-time academic jobs were hard to come by. At the time, she was also married with a baby. Her husband was an entrepreneur and owned his own store, and she helped him by taking on bookkeeping and paperwork tasks. After working in various part-time and temporary roles teaching writing and literature, Alyssa moved to writing and editing work in governmental communications and at a nonprofit association. All along the way, she's been writing and taking on freelance work in both writing and editing, learning about marketing and growing as an entrepreneur.  As might be expected, Alyssa has especially liked listening to the shows that feature writers, citing Joanna Penn as being one of her favorites. That early interview with Joanna was the first time she'd heard the term "authorpreneur" and it has made her rethink the longstanding tradition of having to have your work vetted by an agent and publisher. She's also been fascinated by the stories of entrepreneurs who have found interesting problems and are trying to solve them.  In this show Alyssa and I talked about the challenges and parallels of entrepreneurs and authors, and how some of the same skills and attitudes can be invaluable for both.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Some of Alyssa's recommendations about writing include:  Don't feel you have to know exactly what you want to say before you write. Many people figure out what they are trying to say through the writing. The organization of your ideas can come later.  Similarly, don't feel like you have to start at the beginning when you start. Just start by brainstorming and writing down ideas as they come to you. Most writers rewrite their beginnings, because it is so crucial to getting the reader interested.  Good writing is about connecting with your reader. One key tool for making a connection is being specific and using sensory details when describing events. Another tool writers use is to get input from readers and/or editors to help them see where their blind spots are.  Links to Explore Further Alyssa's website  Alyssa Colton on LinkedIn Alyssa on Twitter  Alyssa on Instagram  Alyssa on Facebook  Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or The Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Tejaswi Gautam, founder and CEO of Career Engine, a performance automation platform designed to improve how workers are evaluated. Its aim is to ultimately "democratize the performance ecosystem."  Tejsawi started out flunking computer classes, but ended up getting an MBA and learning as much as he could about building a tech company, becoming a VP at a major company and launching Career Engine, drawing on his own experiences as a manager.  As many managers and employees know, most evaluation tools are antiquated and ultimately unproductive. Tejaswi's goal is to transform not only how employees are evaluated but also how to improve workplace culture as well as identify good managers. He talks about the necessity of trust between managers and employees and how to improve that, noting that frequent check-ins are one hallmark of a good manager-employee relationship.  Tejaswi has also started to build a community through his substack newsletter called Future of Work, Future of You, where he shares ideas about good leadership and building a better workplace based on his own experiences. He also writes about how becoming a father to a baby born in difficult circumstances with multiple disabilities transformed his approach and attitude toward leadership in business. Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Certain personality types are more likely to be good managers, but managers can also learn to be better by improving skills in communication and feedback and building trust with their employees.  Tejaswi recommends that managers and leaders should encourage their employees to have an aspirational, long-term goal. It doesn't necessarily have to be linked to the company; it may mean that the employee eventually leaves, but the result will be a higher-performing worker.  Another way managers can help their teams improve is by making sure to be explicit about the steps to be followed. Many managers make assumptions about what is obvious. Check in with your employees and make sure they have the information they need.  Links to Explore Further Tejaswi Gautam on LinkedIn Futurexwork on Substack Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or The Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is a special episode of the show where I had the honor of interviewing my friend, Jane Enright, on the launch of her book, Butter Side Up. Jane and I talk about the challenges and struggles of life and how we (and you) can overcome them. It's a heartfelt and emotional conversation that really strikes at the heart of overcoming adversity. We also talk about Josie's Place, a non profit that helps Bereaved Youth and Families.  Butter Side Up Endurance Tweet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Steve Taylor, partner with the Franchise Consulting Company and former franchise owner. Steve grew up in Fresno and started his career in the Navy. After that, he worked in Silicon Valley, but always felt like "a square peg in a round hole." He bought a flooring franchise and owned that business until recently, when he sold it and joined the Franchise Consulting Company. The firm represents over 300 companies to help develop and promote their franchises and connect them with franchisees. Steve also meets with franchisees to help and advise them on setting up their own franchises.  The concept of franchising is as old as the first private corporation, East India Company, which was basically a franchise of the king. Franchises come in a variety of models. While people usually think of fast food restaurants as the most common type of franchise, Steve says that 70% of franchises are actually not restaurants.  The major benefit of a franchise is that there is reduced risk involved: you are buying the rights to set up a business using a particular brand and process that's already proven to work. The classic model of a fast food restaurant retains their flag stores to test out new products, but most of the business is generated through the franchises. Franchisees also benefit from the help and support from not only the company but also other franchisees.   Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights A franchise requires upfront capital, but buying a franchise can be a good way to start a business if you don't have a specific product or service already to offer, provided you're willing to work hard, follow a process, and accept help.  Franchises are generally more successful than other types of startups. Steve notes that franchises were well suited to pivot quickly when the pandemic hit. Corporations can provide tools and brain power to help make this happen.   Franchising can help businesses grow once you've reached a certain point, so consider this as part of your growth strategy. Links to Explore Further Steve Taylor on LinkedIn The Franchise Consulting Company The Franchise Consulting Company on Facebook Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or The Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Quinn Osha, founder of Topmarq, an online tool for used car sellers to find the best price for their cars.  Topmarq is the result of Quinn's skills, interests, and passion. He grew up around cars and car auctions, acquired skills in tech, and was interested in entrepreneurship. Topmarq began as an online market to bring together private sellers with private buyers. In the course of setting this up, Quinn realized that a way to easily and quickly survey dealers about specific cars they might be interested in buying was something that was needed - and didn't yet exist.  Topmarq is different from platforms like Carvana, Quinn explains, because it connects sellers with local dealers as well as national ones. It also allows sellers to keep their information private so they don't have to withstand repeated outreach from local dealers. Essentially, Topmarq is a service that dealers subscribe to but that sellers benefit from. "When my mother can sell her car confidently without calling me," Quinn says, "I know I'll have succeeded."   Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Look for gaps in existing industries you know something about. While some areas of car sales have gone online, there is still a lot of opportunity to enter this space and provide tools and services that don't exist online.  Be ready and willing to pivot. Quinn had to change his original idea when, in the course of working on his original business idea, he found a need. When he approached potential clients about this, he found them much more receptive to his new idea.  Simple sells. The more simple and easy you can make a product or service, the more likely you'll gain and keep customers.  Links to Explore Further Topmarq Quinn Osha on LinkedIn Topmarq on Instagram Topmarq on Twitter Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Portia Asli, founder of Optimyzed Brain. Portia works with high achieving executives and entrepreneurs to apply science-based strategies to improve their performance and reduce stress and burnout. An engineer and entrepreneur, Portia attended business school at the university of Cambridge surrounded by elite athletes and business people. She knew from her own experience and observing others that working 80-hour weeks with little sleep was not optimal for health, but also was not optimal for success. She spent years researching brain science and the proven strategies for improving performance and becoming more efficient. She applied them to herself, and she now helps others improve their lives and reach their goals through applying them, too.  The central principle, Portia, explains is neuroplasticity. This means the brain can rewire and change. She works with her clients on three fronts: physiological - addressing issues in sleep, diet and more; psychological - addressing thought patterns; and environmental - addressing lifestyle issues and your environment and how they affect performance. One client was able to go from being able to focus and concentrate for just 20-30 minutes a day to 2-3 hours a day. Another client found ways to reduce the number of meetings he took, creating more space in his schedule and life. Yet another overcome limiting beliefs to secure funding to compete in a billion-dollar industry. Portia also has a free Masterclass where she goes over the three ways you can optimize your brain for high performance. You can sign up for that over at Optimyzed Brain dot com slash masterclass. That link is also in the show notes. Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Don't think it's a weakness to ask for help, and to find someone who can help you improve in those areas. The high performers of the world hire coaches to help them all the time. Portia recommends having a team to help coach you in all the essential areas of your life, including your physical and mental performance. Working all the time is not the answer; it's costing you sleep and your health. In fact, paying attention to what you need is going to help your brain work better, help you save time, and be more efficient.  Find a community of people who are striving for success. You can support and challenge each other. One aspect Portia's clients like is becoming part of a like-minded community of high achievers.  Links to Explore Further Optimyzed Brain Portia Asli  Free Mastermind Class Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Tyler Robertson, founder and CEO of Diesel Laptops, a company that provides truck owners with the tools to more efficiently diagnose and repair their own vehicles as an alternative to going to the dealer. Tyler grew up in the upper middle class, but the summer he finished seventh grade, his father informed him that he would start working at the family business - a concrete manufacturing plant. It was miserable work, but Tyler learned to shift his attitude and learned the value of work. His parents agreed to help him go to college for computer engineering, but Tyler failed out and returned home, where he started working at a company his family had recently acquired: a truck dealership. Tyler quickly learned about the business, staying on even after his family sold it, though finding himself without a job a year later. Tyler took a job in another state and was working his way up the ladder when he saw an opportunity to provide a solution to a problem he saw: helping truck drivers and owners diagnose and repair their trucks. With the move to a higher reliance on computers for this work, many truck drivers had no option but to go to the dealership. Tyler found a way to provide them what they needed. When his company demanded he drop the side business, Tyler, with his wife's support, took the leap into full-time entrepreneurship.  Diesel Laptops has grown exponentially in just seven years; it now employs 200 people and is looking to provide more streamlined solutions to help truck owners more easily and quickly diagnose and repair their trucks, vehicles which can't be easily replaced. You lose the use of a mixer truck, Tyler explains, you are out thousands of dollars until it can get repaired. Tyler's story shows how listening to what customers want and finding a way to provide it can be the key to success.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Most of us probably give little thought to diesel trucks, but they are a huge and essential part of our economy. Tyler says he "came late" to his industry but it's one where there's a huge need for what he has to offer. Electric vehicles are another market segment Robertson sees as an opportunity for growth. Tyler’s company is not so much about offering the right widget, but about offering a package of products and services. Tyler points out that many people who have built successful businesses simply learned a trade, acquired customers, and grew from there. You don't need a college degree to find a product or service; you just need to find a need and fill it.  Be ready to change, shift, and let go as you grow. Tyler sees smaller businesses trying to grow by continuing to do the same thing, but some shifts are required for growth. For instance, he now employs 10 people in marketing in order to help identify more customers and grow his market, as he found he'd reached a plateau. Links to Explore Further Diesel Laptops Tyler Robertson on LinkedIn Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Will McKissick, Chief Strategy Officer for mePrism, a company striving to give consumers more control over their personal data. mePrism offers an app that allows consumers to learn how their data is learned, secure it, and control it.  Will joined mePrism while he was still studying economics at Middlebury College. His first year of college, he interned at an investment firm, thinking he'd follow the path many of his fellow economics majors were on. Then, after reading an article on Medium and doing some soul-searching, he realized he wanted to take a different path. In his coursework he was exploring the issues around the use of private data and serendipitously met the CEO of mePrism, which was working on a solution to the problem.  Will explains that he sees mePrism as offering a way for companies and consumers to "walk the line" between controlling personal data and sharing it with companies. Our personal data is our property, something that nobody else can own, and up until now companies have had nearly total free rein to collect and use the data for marketing. mePrism wants to give control over their data back to consumers: how it's collected, used, and shared. With a growing movement for more control over personal data, businesses will need to develop other strategies for marketing. Building trust with consumers will need to become paramount. Will doesn't think he or his company has all the answers, but he sees the entrepreneurial journey about figuring it out as you go. Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Will credits reading "Climbing the Wrong Hill" by Chris Dixon as being instrumental in his decision to change course from the path he thought he'd follow. When he got a clearer vision of where he wanted to go, a path opened up to him.  If you (or your company) currently use ads or other methods that depend on tracking and collecting data without permission, ask if this is something that's most useful to your long-term goals. Consumers are already expressing a desire to have more control over their data. Will predicts that in the future the sharing of data will be "more collaborative" between consumers and companies. Focus instead on providing good content and building a relationship with potential customers.  Links to Explore Further  Will McKissick on LinkedIn www.mePrism.com mePrism Podcast Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Anthony Orisses, CEO and founder of Rare Cut, a lifestyle brand built around pocket squares.  The idea for Rare Cut pocket squares came to Anthony after he witnessed his manager prepare himself to go onstage for an award and speech. Anthony tried to help him with his pocket square and then later noticed in pictures that the pocket square was nowhere to be seen. He realized that here was a problem to be solved: how to keep the pocket square from falling. The result was the Rare Cut pocket square, which has the tag line, "the pocket square that stays up."  After college, Anthony went into medical devices sales. He had no intention of starting a lifestyle brand. But he's clearly embraced the journey. He documented his challenges and successes of starting his company and when he launched in 2020, he quickly raised the funds he needed. Based in his garage in Queens, Anthony recognizes the importance of community, using his company to shine a light on the struggles small businesses have faced through the pandemic. In answer to the lack of a need for pocket squares with so many people staying home, he made and sold a T-shirt, with part of the proceeds going toward a fund to help small businesses. He also developed a campaign to raise money for breast cancer research.  Anthony credits his success with consistency and just showing up. He also acknowledges the sacrifices made by others, in particular a grandfather who emigrated from Greece.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Even during the pandemic, Orisses never lost sight of his vision of making and selling pocket squares, something there wasn't a big need for when people were staying home. Without sacrificing that vision, he's also found ways to meet his community where they need him by selling T-shirts and tuning into their challenges and struggles. Orisses describes how he works with local artists, entrepreneurs, musicians, and more. He sees these relationships as integral to building his business and generating authenticity and trust.  Show up consistently. Orisses credits his successful Kickstarter campaign with the three years he spent documenting his journey. Not only did he build fans this way, he's been able to look back and see what progress he's made. He recommends everyone record where they are at at least once a month to document and track their progress. What you learn can also be shared to help others on earlier steps of their journey.   Links to Explore Further  Rare Cut website Anthony Orisses on LinkedIn Rare Cut on Instagram Rare Cut on Twitter Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Robbie Samuels, networking and virtual event expert, podcast host, community creator, and author of Croissants vs. Bagels: Strategic, Effective, and Inclusive Networking at Conferences and Small List, Big Results: Launch a Successful Offer No Matter the Size of Your Email List.  Robbie Samuels started out working in nonprofits and developing expertise in networking. He wrote his first book, launched a group coaching program and podcast, and was a TedX speaker. His specialty was helping people with their networking skills at conferences. So when COVID hit, he had to do some major rethinking. The question he asked was: “How do I show up and add value?”  His answer was to become skilled in hosting virtual events and doing virtual networking. He launched the free virtual #NoMoreBadZoom networking happy hour and soon was being called upon to help organizations host and facilitate virtual events with a focus on increasing engagement and participation. From there, his business really took off. His second book, Small List, Big Results, is based on his experiences building a business and helping others do so, too. Robbie explains how his vision of being of service is key to business-building and networking and how it’s helped him to succeed. Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Robbie says that the pandemic enabled him and other entrepreneurs to try things out without worrying too much about failing, because “nobody else was looking.” Consider how this might apply to your own ventures. What would you do if nobody else was looking?  Robbie explains his marketing strategy as being “anti-funnel” in that he offers a variety of programs that allow people to get value when and where they are ready to do so. The cost of a lower-tier program can be applied to a higher-tier program, if the customer decides it’s right. If not, that’s fine with him. Building trust in relationships is paramount.  Talk to and learn from the people you are trying to serve. Do your research and ask questions while you’re in the process of building your service or product. Don’t just build it and expect people to come.  Links to Explore Further  Robbiesamuels.com/ethos Contentandconnectionclub.com  Podcast: On the Schmooze Robbie Samuels on LinkedIn Small List Big Results No More Mad Zoom Meetings Croissants vs Bagels Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Jane Enright, author of Butter Side Up: How I Survived My Most Terrible Year and Created My Super Awesome Life. Jane and I will be appearing together on June 8 at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco for more conversation and we hope you will join us. The link for a free ticket is in the show notes. Jane's journey starts with what most would consider a crisis: she was laid off from her job at a nonprofit. But her boss, a creative thinker, offered to work with her on a freelance basis. That was the start of a successful career that led to speaking and helping businesses, a career that would come to a halt after another crisis. One day, while at a volleyball tournament, an angry athlete hit the ball into the stands, hitting Jane hard on the head. Jane consequently suffered a traumatic brain injury. She experienced a decline in cognitive function, affecting her memory and speech and putting a stop to her previous activities. That same year, Jane's fiancé also suffered a traumatic brain injury that left him unable to walk - or to remember who Jane was.  Jane's book, Butter Side Up, chronicles her journey and the key ideas that helped her to successfully re-invent her life as an author. Now instead of speaking, she writes her message. A forthcoming book, Jane's Jam, provides further ideas and inspiration for others to create their own "super awesome life." In our conversation, Jane and I talk about the importance of deciding to step back and inventory your strengths, cultivate resilience, and get comfortable with being uncomfortable.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights When you are confronting a challenge:  "Acceptance is the first step to navigating change," Jane says. Acceptance will help you to move beyond denial and resistance.  Try to step back and look at what's happening objectively. See it as a project to manage or a problem to solve rather than engaging in self-pity or blame. Jane talks about how she takes stock of her strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities. She learned to apply what she'd learned working in business to the rest of her life. Another technique is to ask yourself, If I were my friend, what would I say?  Strengthen yourself for challenges by cultivating a positive attitude and noticing what you are grateful for in your life. Purposely challenge yourself by trying new things to build resilience. This will help you better navigate the hard times.    If you're in the San Francisco area, please join Jane and me for an in-person conversation at the Commonwealth Club on June 8, 6-8:30 p.m. You can still get your free ticket here. Links to Explore Further  Jane Enright Website  My Super Awesome Life Website  Jane on LinkedIn Jane on Instagram Author page for Butter Side Up: How I Survived My Most Terrible Year and Created My Super Awesome Life and Jane's Jam: Inspiration to Create Your Super Awesome Life  Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Matt Wool, CEO of Acceleration Partners and coauthor of the book Moving to Outcomes.  Matt started out working in the movie business, first working on story development then moving into the business side. He realized he liked to make sense of things, to pull together disparate strands and implementing structure and order to them. He left the film industry to go to business school, where he met and worked with the entrepreneur Robert Glazer. After business school and some years working at other companies, he returned to working with Glazer, eventually moving up in Acceleration Partners to becoming CEO.  In Acceleration Partners, Matt works on helping businesses grow by building relationships. He helps them set up affiliate, influencer, and other similar types of programs. Once established, businesses can expect to see 10 to 15% of their online sales come from affiliate partnerships. In order for a company to benefit from affiliate marketing, they need a good site and good conversion rates in order to maintain the partnership. Matt also explains why selling products through Amazon can be a major problem when trying to pursue successful partnerships.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights One major benefit of using partnerships is that, unlike paying for ads, the business gets to set the price. You offer a particular percentage in commission, for example, and this number can change as your needs change. Interested in exploring affiliate marketing for your business? It’s all about relationship-building, which is a long-term growth strategy. It’s not a quick fix. If you’re a startup doing under $5 million, Matt recommends starting with between 10 and 20 partners. Having a good website and good conversion funnels are two must-haves for affiliate marketing to work. Just as important, of course, is having a product or service people want and others will want to recommend.   Links to Explore Further Matt Wool on LinkedIn Acceleration Partners Moving to Outcomes: Why Partnerships Are the Future of Marketing  Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Mekkie Bansil, CEO and founder of Nonfik, which helps companies create, publish, and promote ebooks. Mekkie studied journalism yet came to believe that most books simply retold the same message. When assigned to write an ebook in a marketing job, she was dismayed that it was just thought of as a tool and that it didn’t really matter that it was any good. An expert in branding and marketing, she created Nonfik in order to help businesses create good-quality ebooks for marketing and lead generation. Nonfik is both a service and a marketplace, offering business books for free on its own platform so people can continue to return to and learn from them. Mekkie believes connecting with customers on an emotional level first is key. When working with companies, she encourages them to be open about their story and message, and to stand up for what they believe in order to set themselves apart. She uses both words and design to help tell their story and promote their brand, and Nonfik is the latest iteration in this project to help businesses do just that.   Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights “There’s no right answer,” Mekkie advises. Go with what you believe is right at the time. And it’s okay to change your mind once you have more information.  Someone else can’t define your brand; only the people who lead the business can do that. Marketers can help you figure out how to best tell your story, what tools to use, and how to refine how your brand is communicated. But ultimately, only you can say what you stand for. Focus first on connecting emotionally, whether it’s with a prospective client or simply someone you are getting to know. Then move on to logical, intellectual discussion.  Links to Explore Further  Mekkie Bansil on LinkedIn Nonfik Nonfik on TikTok Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Noah Healy, founder of Coordisc, an alternative market algorithm called the Coordinated Discovery Market (CDM). Noah refers to himself as a “recreational mathematician,” part of a tradition of thinkers going back centuries interested in thinking about mathematical questions. He studied a wide variety of subjects at the University of Virginia, focusing on engineering and economics, but always anchored by an interest in math. He became interested in applying his curiosity to the problems inherent in current economic markets and proposes that what we need now is a change in the algorithm that forms the basis for our current market economy.  Currently, Noah explains, the market operates as an information and communication system. However, there is a lot of noise in that system. A healthy market processes signals to reduce noise, but that is not currently happening. In fact, he says, the noise in the market is “off the scales.” The basic problem is that with the rise of computerization, industries have vastly increased their ability to be more efficient. But the cost of that efficiency is that one error in the system can lead to catastrophe. It also fosters the rampant corruption we now see in our economy. While Noah acknowledges he’s still in the early stages of promoting this idea, there’s been a lot of receptivity to it, because even those businesses that are “status quo” are seeing that problems are structural and can’t be simply “papered over.” This episode just scratches the surface of a much bigger idea, but it is packed with some food for thought on what's at stake and offers some solutions on how we might re-invent our economy. Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Noah refers to his strategy of entrepreneurship as “energetic serendipity.” This view acknowledges the role that luck and opportunity play when putting out a new idea, but at the same stresses the importance of putting yourself in the way of opportunities and being prepared to take advantage of them. Noah notes that two ways to improve the system are to become more efficient or to redo the algorithm. While most businesses focus on the first, he’s focusing on the second. Becoming more efficient has its own risks and limits because of the potential for problems when an error is introduced. Don’t discount the value of simple curiosity, solving problems and asking questions for its own sake. One example Noah gives is how a mathematician in the 19th century who worked out large prime numbers never saw any purpose for it - but it’s now become the backbone for computer security.  Links to Explore Further  Noah Healy on LinkedIn Coordisc YouTube Video about Noah Healy’s CDM model Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Alper Cakir, founder of Xtensio, a SaaS platform tool that enables users to easily create and share documents and deliverables. Alper moved to L.A. from Istanbul in 2003 to pursue a career in music. To make money, he began to offer his services as a designer, primarily in web design, eventually making that his full-time career and starting a design agency with his wife. Xtensio came about from a tool that he and his team built in order to solve the problem of document sharing and visibility across various platforms and devices. It grew out of his work with his clients as they collected information, asking them key questions such as: what problem are you trying to solve and who are your primary customers? He began offering the templates his team developed for in-house use as a lead generator and tool for his clients. In 2015, he decided to make it the focus of his business. Xtensio’s popular “User Persona” template page now has ten-thousand plus downloads a month.  Alper still plays guitar, but he enjoys simply playing for himself. From the very beginning Alper has looked for ways to be his own master: from seeking work that enabled him to still play his music; to starting his own agency; and to building a company without outside funding. He channels his creativity into problem-solving and strategizing on how to continue to offer solutions for other companies and to continue to grow and innovate on his own terms.   Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Alper identifies the three essential building blocks for a company: 1-a problem to solve 2 - a solution that people will pay for and 3 - good storytelling to sell your product or service. Alper recommends focusing on one small specific niche to start; even five customers can be a starting point.  Xtensio is “data inspired” rather than data driven. More than simply collecting the data about what people say they want, Alper says it’s important to ask why they want it. This will give a better picture of what the actual problem is you’re trying to solve.   Links to Explore Further Xtensio.com Alper Cakir on LinkedIn Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Kison Patel, an expert in mergers & acquisitions. He is the CEO and founder of DealRoom (which is part of M&A Science), a platform to help manage the M&A life cycle; podcast host of M&A Science; and author of the book Agile M&A: Proven Techniques to Close Deals Faster and Maximize Value, A Practitioner’s Guide. Kison started out working as an advisor in mergers & acquisitions in Chicago, first with private clients and working up to corporations in various industries. He began his entrepreneurial journey with a tech startup, where he found he enjoyed working with engineers and also saw an opportunity to apply project management tools to the M&A industry.  With DealRoom, he learned to face all the challenges of a tech startup, from working with a team, figuring out product market fit, and strategies for going to market. In 2017, a friend encouraged him to start a podcast. His show, M&A Science, seeks to help those working in the field to better understand the process and learn from others. The show gradually grew and Kison realized there was a demand for more information and resources. He wrote his book and created the M&A Science Academy, for corporate team members to more quickly learn insights and skills others usually take years to learn on their own.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Kison places a lot of emphasis on the importance of simply being curious and asking questions. If you’re involved in a merger or acquisition, find out as much as you can about the company you’re partnering with. Similarly, as an entrepreneur, figure out where you want to get to and ask, “What would it take to get there?” Being agile means having the flexibility to respond as new information emerges, allowing you to iterate and reiterate until you get to a place that works best for all. The agile approach to mergers and acquisitions also helps align the people who will be most affected by the changes. Software companies, Kison notes, are often successful at M&A because they already have a more agile approach built into their company culture.  Links to Explore Further M&A Science Podcast M&A Science Academy DealRoom Kison Patel on LinkedIn Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Allen Adamson, cofounder of Metaforce, the “special forces” of marketing, and author of several books on branding and marketing. Allen studied filmmaking in college but realized he didn’t have the drive for making films he saw in others. This realization - that you need to have both passion and talent for what you spend your life doing - has been a guiding principle. After earning an MBA at NYU’s Stern School, he went to work in advertising, starting with Unilever, then moving into agency work and eventually leading Landor Associates, a global branding firm. Allen made the leap to entrepreneurship six years ago when he decided to write his next book. At Metaforce, Allen seeks first to listen and understand what his clients’ problems are, and then work with them on finding a solution, rather than simply offering a service that may or may not be effective. As someone who has worked for years in advertising and marketing, Allen has found himself at the intersection of creativity and business, straddling the line between offering innovative solutions but also recognizing the constraints of budgets and deadlines. Key to succeeding in this area, Allen says, is embracing non-linear thinking. In writing his books, Allen has found he connects naturally with a community of colleagues and potential clients while also learning and then sharing what he’s learned.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights First, seek to understand. Listen to what your client or customer is struggling with before starting to figure out solutions. Another key factor is company culture. A consensus-driven, risk-averse company culture is not usually going to embrace anything cutting-edge.  Allen recommends that businesses focus on those one or two areas they do well to stand out, rather than trying to do it all. This means focusing on the marketing strategies that you do well, rather than trying to spread yourself too thin.  Allen’s recommendations for young entrepreneurs:  Don’t wait too long. Spend some time in your industry learning “on someone else’s dime,” but after five or so years, strike out before it gets too comfortable. This will also give you time to try and fail, which is inevitable for most entrepreneurs.  Be honest with what you’re good at and what you like doing. If you’re not thinking about your business in the shower or on a run, then you probably don’t have the passion to see it through. Links to Explore Further Metaforce Allen Adamson on LinkedIn Allen Adamson’s Column in Forbes  Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Craig Doig, cofounder of Markee, a new communications platform for companies to communicate and collaborate under their own brand. Craig is now on his seventh startup. He started out wanting to be an artist and earning a degree in animation. This was partially motivated, he says, by wanting to rebel against his father’s more “boots on the ground” worldview. Craig was soon tapped for management and soon moved into founding his first company working in the film business in operational consulting. When his future wife got a job in Delaware, Craig moved with her from L.A., where by chance he ran into one of his previous co-founders, who invited him to work with him in his current company. Craig was soon helming a spin-off company specializing in digital signage. When COVID hit, though, he had to pivot. Markee was born as a way to to provide more secure ways for teams to communicate online. After obtaining venture-capital funding, Markee has been figuring out its path to growth, at first by trying to enter a variety of markets. Craig believes right now focusing on a niche - telehealth - is the way to go because of what Markee can offer that industry.    Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights While Craig didn’t end up being an artist as he’d first imagined, he believes his initial time around artists and creatives has given him the perspective to better understand the creative process, key for developing products as an entrepreneur.  Craig recommends taking some time to get to know the people creating the product in your company. Understand how you can best support them and give them what they need to flourish.  Passion for what you’re doing can come from unexpected places. Craig finds satisfaction in helping his customers solve problems and the “little wins” in his day-to-day.  Links to Explore Further Markee.io Markee on Twitter Craig Doig on LinkedIn Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Kehan Zhou, founder of Terrascope, an AI-driven platform that helps buyers find rural properties.  Kehan was born in China and came to the U.S. to study economics at Wesleyan University. After college he went to work on Wall Street and became a municipal bond trader, learning skills in portfolio and risk management. After a few years of doing that, he felt the pull to pursue his own business, wanting the freedom it offers. Like so many entrepreneurs, he went to work trying to solve a problem. In his case, the problem he’s trying to solve is helping potential buyers find rural properties.  Having gone through this process myself, I know firsthand how challenging looking for - and buying - a rural property can be. It’s much more complicated than simply buying a house or condo in the city. Kehan has been able to put his finger on what’s not working in the current process and has developed an online platform that uses AI to help people more effectively filter out potential properties based on various factors. Right now Terrascope serves five states and has had over 30,000 users but hopes to expand to all of the U.S. as well as ultimately be the go-to resource for rural property owners. Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights In order to solve a problem, study what works and what doesn’t. Terrascope looks at what’s not working with existing tools and applies what does work - how real estate agents interact with potential buyers - to building their AI tool. They continue to hone and develop the tool based on user feedback.  Start with one piece of the puzzle, and expand from there. Kehan and Terrascope are focused right now on helping people buy rural properties, but he hopes one day to build that out and be the “ecosystem” for people who buy properties, offering an array of services and resources.  Links to Explore Further Terrascope Kehan Zhou on LinkedIn Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Louise Carnachan, an expert on workplace communications and author of the forthcoming book, Work Jerks: How To Cope With Difficult Bosses and Colleagues.  Louise came of age in the “Mad Men” era when options for women were limited. Interested in what makes people tick, she majored in psychology and graduated from college intending to work with children with autism in an institution. But, beginning a pattern she would encounter again and again throughout her life, she had to go in another direction.  She moved to Seattle from California, taking a job as a waitress and eventually earning a master’s. Her career trajectory took another turn when she was again shut out from doing what she intended, but she took a job with a team that was training school staff to work with developmentally delayed children. Through this work she found her calling in helping teams work together more effectively.  From there Louise went on to work at a hospital and eventually started her own business. When the recession hit, she turned back to being an employee, getting hired in her late 50s but continuing to grow her skills in helping people work together and communicate more effectively.  Louise’s book helps people work with difficult supervisors and coworkers by encouraging them to focus on their own behavior and communication skills. She also talks about the importance of understanding cultural differences, whether those differences are caused by work environment or identity, and how we can all handle our own inner “jerks.”  Now let’s get better together. Actionable Insights  Louise says that there are two main questions to ask yourself: How do I manage myself? How do I manage my interactions with others? More effective relationships rest on good management in both areas.  It is possible to interrupt those moments when we find ourselves going into “fight” mode by stopping and taking deep breaths and also knowing what your triggers are and coming up with tactics before they happen. If you have to, walking away is nearly always an option.  Understand the culture. Whether you’re the leader of a company or you are working with people from different cultural backgrounds, cultural differences and the environment we work together in can have an effect on how people interact. Leaders who invite honesty and respond well to it will have employees who are unafraid to tell the truth.  Links to Explore Further Louise Carnachan Website Work Jerks book site Louise Carnachan on LinkedIn Louise Carnachan on Facebook Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Perry Zheng, founder and CEO of Cash Flow Portal. Perry started working as a software engineer in 2010, working for fast-growing companies like Twitter and Lyft. Five years into his career, having reached the position of engineering manager, he started investing in real estate. First he bought a house and lived in it, renting out the other bedrooms. He repeated this a few times and gradually accumulated more properties. Ultimately he decided to take a bigger step of investing in a multi-unit property, which required bringing on other investors. He found, however, the process of basic tasks like obtaining signatures and transferring money was inefficient. This led him to hire a team to develop a software program that people like himself could use, ending up with Cash Flow Portal.  Perry didn’t dive head-first into being an entrepreneur. As a manager at Lyft, he could afford to invest in the company and pay employees while continuing to work. He bootstrapped the company for the first year and a half until he saw that he had a viable product. Once he started to work on attracting investors in order to grow his company, he decided it was time to become a full-time entrepreneur, and he now has a clear vision of where he and his company are headed. Now let’s get better together. Actionable Insights  Perry had funds to finance his startup, but he waited until he saw it could be a viable business to quit his job. This might not be an option available to everyone, but he found this strategy enabled him to start the company without the immediate pressure of having to find and satisfy investors.  Perry notes that by working at both a job and his company, he sacrificed emotional stability for financial stability. What kept him going was passion to the point of obsession for making his idea a reality. In order to achieve your goal, you will need to become someone different than what you are. This doesn’t mean necessarily sacrificing your values, but it does mean recognizing that you may have to learn and acquire new skills to be successful. In short, move out of your comfort zone; if you fail, take the lessons you learned and move on.  Links to Explore Further CashFlowPortal.com Perry Zheng on LinkedIn CashFlowPortal on Facebook Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now on to my guest for today, Mike Lingle, a tech entrepreneur and creator of Rocket Pro Forma, a tool to help entrepreneurs get a handle on their financial picture and help draw investors. Mike has always been interested in linking engineering and design. Early on he started pursuing architecture, but moved into learning to code to build 3-D models. He developed a presentation software for companies to use in sales.  After 15 years, his company was acquired and he took a couple of years off to pursue his interests in music - during which time he met and married his wife and started a family. He figured out that music wasn’t his future, so he returned to tech, mainly advising and teaching entrepreneurs.  Mike reflects on his first experience having a company, when he realized after his partner left that the company wasn’t financially stable. He realized he needed to better understand the numbers and now believes this skill is essential for a business and business owner to be able to make good decisions for your company.  Rocket Pro Forma is the result of his desire to help entrepreneurs with their financial decision-making and, while his customers usually come to him for a tool to help with presentations for potential investors, he hopes that it will help them in running their business, too.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insight “You have to radically change your behavior in order to radically change your circumstance,” Mike says, noting that he had to learn a new skill in order to be able to get a hold on the finances of his business.  Putting together a financial plan is important to set up and draw investment into your business, but it’s also vital so you can run your business effectively. Mike says having this plan gives him “a map in his head” to follow for making decisions for his business. Own your story, and use numbers to tell the story. While you can get help and outsource tools, ultimately you have to have a clear vision of your story, and be able to tell it effectively. Links to Explore Further Rocket Pro Forma Mike Lingle on LinkedIn Mike Lingle on Twitter Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now on to my guest for today, Kelley Holland, a financial empowerment coach for women and author of the forthcoming book You Are Worthy, a guidebook for women to help women take charge of their own money.  Like many entrepreneurs, Kelley struggled with the problem she helps others solve. She was for a long time a reporter focusing on business and money. More recently she began writing about personal finance and started seeing how many women have struggled with money, leaving otherwise successful women feeling incompetent or ashamed. Kelley recounts her own struggles with money when she was in her 20s and what motivated her to take charge and confront the barriers holding her back. The services and programs she offers are what she wished she’d had at that time of her life.  Because she only recently became a coach, Kelley has learned the art of the pivot as she’s confronted the realities of having to offer her services during COVID. While she’s had training in speaking and coaching, she’s been limited in what she can do, so she’s going back to her roots as a writer to help spread her message. She now offers a six-week program in both a virtual group format and individually. Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights While acknowledging the need for societal change, Kelley focuses on where she can help: that is, helping women remove their internal barriers around managing money. Whether it’s for yourself and for those you’re serving, identifying what emotional hurdles need to be overcome is a critical step toward transformation. Watch your words. Language can be powerful shapers of thought. Kelley gives the example of how different thinking about money might be for women if, for example, they thought of “knitting” a portfolio rather than “building” one. Sometimes tweaking a word or phrase can make a big difference.  Don’t fall in love with the product. Keep your eyes on the end goal and pivot until you find products that work.  Links to Explore Further Own Your Destiny Coaching  Kelley Holland on LinkedIn Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now on to my guest for today, Michelle Douglas, a brand and marketing consultant and author of the forthcoming book, Don’t Wear Shoes You Can’t Walk In: A Field Guide for Your Twenties. Michelle worked for several years as a brand and marketing manager for an athletic sportswear company. One day on her long commute she started asking herself two key questions: “What did you do today, and how did it do good in the world?” While she found some satisfaction in her job, she realized it wasn’t enough and decided to take the leap into founding her own agency, Ladder, where she works with nonprofits and small businesses. She also decided to write a book based on her daily journaling to help others figure out their own way in the world.  Michelle’s focus in her business and in the book is helping others articulate their mission, vision, and values. The litmus test for seeing if something is in alignment, she says, is to check your gut and look for a rallying cry - a sense of excitement. As a marketing and brand consultant, Michelle is excited to be applying all she knows to marketing her own book, due to be published in April of 2022.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights The springboard for Michelle’s book was a daily journaling practice where she reflects on what happened and what she learned that day. She recommends it as an invaluable tool for processing your life and for ensuring you carry lessons forward into the next day.  In trying to clarify values and check for alignment with mission and vision, Michelle asks her clients to do “a gut check” and look for a “rallying cry.” Does it feel right? Does it feel exciting?  If you want to share a “lesson learned,” be sure to include details about what was going on and what it meant. Michelle’s original vision for the book was simply to share the lessons learned, but she realized she had to add these elements in order to communicate her message more effectively.  Links to Explore Further Michelle Douglas on LinkedIn Ladder  Don’t Wear Shoes You Can’t Walk In from She Writes Press  Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now on to my guest for today, Matthew Hunt, founder and CEO of AutomationWolf, which helps B2B businesses increase leads through strategic content.   Matthew founded AutomationWolf after selling his previous marketing company and taking some time off to decide what he wanted to do next. Ultimately he focused on trying to solve the problem of how to help businesses and entrepreneurs leverage their time with more impact while also building their network. The result? He developed a strategy for creating a month of LinkedIn content in 1 ½ hours.  Matthew drives home the point that success in business comes about from building relationships and creating community by earning trust. Ultimately, sales and marketing should be a long game, but one that can be done with minimal time and money while making a big impact. Matthew thinks of marketing as happening in three tiers: one, through short-from content, two, through long-form content, where you demonstrate your skills, and third, through a controlled form, where you provide the structure to engage with potential clients and build relationships. Matthew shares his own unique networking strategy for bringing people together and sharing ideas. Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights You don’t need a big advertising budget to sell, nor do you need to rely solely on referrals. Instead, focus on ways to build relationships and community by offering help, being of service, and providing spaces where people can problem-solve together. Encourage input from team members who may be low in rank but may be able to provide perspective and ideas that might otherwise be overlooked or unheard.  Matthew encourages entrepreneurs to focus on being of service by posting thoughtful comments and content in social media instead of engaging in cold outreach strategies: get yourself seen by having something valuable to offer.   Links to Explore Further AutomationWolf.com Matthew Hunt on LinkedIn Matthew Hunt on YouTube Mentioned: Gift•ology by John Ruhlin Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now on to my guest for today, Rachel Michelberg, author of the book Crash: How I Became a Reluctant Caregiver.  Rachel was an actor, singer, mother of two, and in a troubled marriage when her husband suffered a plane crash that left him severely diabled. Crash is a memoir about the choices she made when faced with no choice - she thought - about having to become a full-time caregiver, a story that she found needed to be told. In this intimate talk, Rachel and I share reflections on the difficult experience of becoming caregiver to a spouse, the vital need for caring for oneself first, and practicing compassion for even the harshest critics.  Rachel also relates her journey of learning to run a business, first as a voice teacher when she had to leave performing behind, and then as an author promoting her book, and the vital necessity of learning to value yourself.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Rachel observes that taking care of yourself is “the most unselfish” thing you can do. Once you take care of yourself, you can truly give to your family, your business, or anything else that needs your attention.  Learn to value your offerings and your time. Rachel identifies this as key to building a business and becoming better at what she does. Everyone carries a burden, whether it’s obvious or not. Compassion is key to building better relationships while also protecting your own peace. Links to Explore Further Rachel Michelberg Rachel Michelberg on Facebook Rachel Michelberg on Instagram  Crash from SheWrites Press  Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now on to my guest for today, Paul Fairweather, co-host of The Common Creative podcast, author, architect, artist, and more.  Paul exemplifies living a multi-dimensional creative life. He’s had a successful career as an award-winning architect; has been a painter for much of his life; has done stand-up comedy and hosted TedX talks; been a property developer; and now divides his time among co-hosting a podcast on creativity and business, writing books, speaking, and pursuing his art.  Paul defies the maxim of “jack of all trades, master of none.” Instead, you can create a life of multiple interests,though, he cautions, you still have to impose limits, boundaries, and discipline to your craft, whatever it is you’re doing at the time.  Paul’s experiences and the lessons he provides are wide-ranging as he reflects on leaving his successful career as an architect behind, discovering almost by accident that he could write, and exploring performance, including what happened when he tried to tell a joke to Robin Williams.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Paul believes success can be defined as not just being one of the best in one field - you can define success as the freedom to pursue multiple interests. He is able to find focus partly by finding a common theme among his different activities.  Paul learned as a writer to “murder your darlings,” a concept that can be applied to business, too. Be willing to let go of words or ideas that aren’t working, no matter how attached you might be to them.  Get curious. Paul shares how one serial entrepreneur struck up a conversation with someone at a party, which inspired him down a road that led to a successful business solving the problem of coconut depletion.  Links to Explore Further Paul Fairweather Paul Fairweather on LinkedIn The Common Creative Podcast Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now on to my guest for today, Lucinda Jackson, a scientist and former corporate executive who has found her calling in writing, speaking, and consulting.  Lucinda has written two books based on lessons she’s learned in life. Her first book, Just a Girl: Growing Up Female and Ambitious, chronicles her experiences as a female scientist and corporate executive when she often found herself the only woman in the room. The book includes advice for women on building self-confidence and how to navigate male-dominated fields, but it also includes her thoughts on raising boys (she has three sons).  Lucinda’s second, forthcoming book, Project Escape, came out of her experiences with her husband building a business in wine-making, joining the Peace Corps in Micronesia and becoming science teachers in Mexico. Lucinda decided then she wanted to have her own business, and her first book was the launching-off point.  Lucinda provides a lot of insight into the various roads she’s traveled, including the importance of figuring out your core values. Now, whenever she’s presented with an opportunity, she asks, “does this meet my core values?” Not one for missing any opportunity to learn, she also credits her success to the skills and discipline she developed working for corporations.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Lucinda says one of the key moves she made when becoming an entrepreneur was figuring out her core values. Whether it’s for yourself or your company (or even better, both), these values will provide a compass to keep you on track and help get you where you want to go.  Treat everything, bad or good, as a learning experience. Lucinda credits her years in the corporate world as valuable for teaching her a process she now applies to her own business. When bad things happen, she tries to figure out what the lesson is.  Links to Explore Further Lucinda Jackson  Lucinda Jackson on Facebook Lucinda Jackson on LinkedIn Business Basics for Entrepreneurs | 7 PR Secrets All Founders Should Know Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now on to my guest for today, Jenn Graham of Inclusivv, formerly Civic Dinners. Jenn trained in design but describes herself as a community organizer at heart. She helped start TedX Atlanta and while she saw a lot of value in the messages the speakers brought, she found herself getting frustrated by the limitations of a model that was speaker-centered. Her search for other models of fostering discourses around significant topics led her to exploring models like salons, Jeffersonian dinners, and focus groups. From here she formulated what became Civic Dinners - a structure to bring a small group of diverse people together to discuss topics of importance in their community. The idea took off, generating interest from local governmental groups and nonprofits that were looking for a way to engage millennials. This is when Jenn realized she needed to start thinking of this project as a business.  Civic Dinners - now Inclusivv - has hosted numerous gatherings, providing the greater Atlanta community ways to talk, offer input, and share stories. It’s given organizations at various levels critical feedback they haven’t been able to get anywhere else. It has been a way to elevate consciousness around social issues, and that has been the most gratifying result for Jenn.  The organization successfully pivoted to going virtual in 2020 and has developed a library of 50 different topic series as well as a structure to ensure a sense of safety, trust, and connection. Jenn reflects on how learning to listen - and how to disagree with empathy - has made an impact on her community, but also on her understanding of how to be a good leader.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Graham recommends that leaders “walk toward” conflict instead of away from it. As your business grows, start to welcome and value a difference of thought. Recognize that every conversation operates on two levels: the spoken and the unspoken. Graham notes that when a group of people are diverse, the spoken - the content of the conversation - needs to be more explicit.  Graham offers data that points to a heightened sense of belonging after six months of participating in Inclusivv conversations. A sense of belonging can translate to partners and employees who feel more invested and are more productive.  Links to Explore Further Inclusivv  Jenn Graham on LinkedIn Inclusivv on Twitter  Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now, on to my guest for today, Janet Luongo, an artist, educator, speaker, and author of a book on creativity and most recently a memoir, Rebellion, 1967.  Janet grew up with a love for art as well as writing; her mother was an artist. Her father, a New York City police officer, instilled in her a sense of justice cultivated in response to the prejudice he grew up with and saw around him. These three interests - art, writing, and racial justice - form the backbone of Janet’s creative journey.  Janet first found success as an artist after moving to Europe with her husband; at the same time she started her memoir about a seminal year of her life as a young art student, a memoir she would return to again and again. Most of her career has been devoted to teaching and working in museums, but she eventually decided to try speaking, and wrote a book on creativity. Since then she’s focused on writing, publishing, and promoting her memoir. While her journey is not one of a typical entrepreneur, there is much that entrepreneurs can learn from her story about how to create a life from following your passion.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights While Janet doesn’t fit the conventional stereotype of entrepreneur, she exhibits many of the qualities necessary for entrepreneurial - and creative - success. She gets a clear idea of what she wants and takes action toward it, trusting that everything else will fall into place while accepting and learning from any failures along the way. Janet suggests aspiring entrepreneurs ask why: why do I want to do this? Why am I the person to do it? And also, how will it help the world?  Learn from the lessons but also enjoy the journey - enjoy the successes, the people you meet and the experiences you have.  Links to Explore Further Janet Luongo (author website)  Janet Luongo on LinkedIn Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or The Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now, on to my guest for today, Steve Christensen, cofounder of Neuwly, an app for live-streaming events around the world and a platform for tour guides to connect with travelers.  Steve and his cofounder Greg believe that when people connect with others from around the world, we all become better for it. While Neuwly originally only provided virtual experiences, it’s building out to become a platform for guides and travelers, to help people explore other parts of the world both virtually and in-person. Steve came to really respect what tour guides have to offer when he went on a tour in Lithuania and realized how much can be learned and experienced when you have someone knowledgeable to show you around.  Steve sees Neuwly as becoming a place where guides can start to build a following and deepen relationships in order to grow their businesses in a world where both in-person and virtual experiences are in demand. He also envisions Neuwly being a site where people can connect with their “herd,” where they can find out what their friends have done and seen in order to find out more about places they visit. With Neuwly, like many entrepreneurs we’ve talked to, the founders are finding a way to use tech to bring together the best of both the old and the new. I also wanted to note that Neuwly is raising a round of funding. This is not investment advice or anything like that but I figured I’d let you know just in case what they are doing interests you. Feel free to email Steve at [email protected]. Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights One aspect that stands out when speaking to Steve is the simple clarity of Neuwly’s mission: to help people connect from around the world, because it makes for more compassionate, more empathetic people. The founders are passionate about their belief that learning about other cultures is vital to making the world a better place.  Look ahead. While participating in live-streaming events is one way people can connect and learn while travel is restricted, Steve is also building the platform for what comes next, offering a way for guides to build a following and advertise their events for real-world experiences, too.  Links to Explore Further Neuwly Neuwly on Instagram Steve Christensen on LinkedIn Get in touch at [email protected] Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or The Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now on to my guest for today, Michael Epstein, principal at PostPilot, a marketing company that’s helping e-commerce use direct mail to scale their businesses.  Michael has years of experience in digital marketing, having worked with a variety of big companies. In many of them, though, direct mail was always part of the equation. What he and the founder of PostPilot realized was that there needed to be a way for e-commerce to use direct mail more efficiently. Currently the company offers postcard campaigns for e-commerce companies to encourage customer retention and loyalty.  Michael explains how direct mail can be part of a company’s strategy to retail customers who are inundated with emails and online advertising. Direct mail allows a brand to reach out in a more personalized way, and it’s an approach that’s been reliably successful. They are now working on developing more tools to help businesses scale while retaining personalized outreach strategies. Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Don’t discount the importance of customers who have already bought from you; be creative in figuring out ways to reach out to them. By developing a strategy to keep customers, not just attract them, you’ll get ahead of the competition. The advantage of using direct mail? Postal charges are the same, whether it’s holiday season or whether you’re mailing to a specific demographic or not. While direct mail can be more expensive than email, when done right, it can be more effective. If you’re wondering if you should make the jump into entrepreneurship, ask yourself: If not now, when? Michael says that we can always find an excuse, so in most cases, the time is now. And if you fail? It’s all part of the learning process.   Links to Explore Further PostPilot Michael Epstein on LinkedIn  Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or The Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Co-founders Ravi and Jarie talk about how they came up with the Story Funnel Framework that hit 7 figures of revenue in ~12 months and then doubled that after 6 months. You can give the method a try for free at https://thestoryfunnel.co Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now on to my guest for today, Dalton Jensen, author of Sales Genius and  host of The Thinking Project. Growing up, Dalton was the kid who was selling candy on the playground. He sold neckties on the street corner. And while he was voted “Most Likely To Be a Con Artist,” his approach to sales is not about the con, but about establishing relationships.  In this episode Dalton and I talk about misconceptions around salespeople and the importance of checking your ego. Dalton’s mantra is “passion not pressure.” He teaches salespeople to ask questions up front to find out your competition and what reservations the customers have. He has taken a lot from the book Never Split the Difference by hostage negotiator Chris Voss, who recommends always asking questions first to find out as much as you can to establish a rapport with the person on the other side of the table and learning what concerns they have. Also key is having a lot of possible leads; knowing you have potential customers in the pipeline enables you to walk away and handle inevitable rejection. Dalton further points out how asking potential customers if you can ask questions helps ease the friction, and 99 out of 100 times, they’ll say yes.   Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Become resilient to inevitable rejections. Dalton uses a Stoic technique of imagining possible rejections before the sale to train yourself to be more resilient.  Ask these two important questions up front: Who is my competition? What would prevent you from buying?  Don’t slam the competitor. Instead, focus on educating the customer about differences your product or service offers over others.   Links to Explore Further Dalton Jensen  Dalton Jensen on LinkedIn Dalton Jensen on Twitter  The Thinking Project on YouTube Sales Genius E-book Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now on to my guest for today, Ryan Warriner, a communications professor, founder of Professional Presentation Services and author of the forthcoming book The Effective Presenter: The Winning Formula for Business Presentations.  Ryan’s pitch to me was so good I used it as an example in a webinar on pitching, so I knew he was someone I needed to have on the show. I share that pitch in the show.  Ryan’s interest in understanding how to better communicate is rooted with his own feelings of frustration when he was a kid with not being understood. He went on to study and try to understand the principles of effective communication, earning a PhD and becoming a professor. While visiting friends who had founded a startup, he helped them prepare their presentation for potential investors. From there the ball got rolling as he realized he had valuable insight to offer. He now offers his services helping entrepreneurs and professionals prepare better presentations. His research and findings are put together in a forthcoming book, The Effective Presenter.  Ryan walks us through the keys to preparing and delivering presentations. Listen to find out how you can prepare a more effective presentation, be it for a potential investor or for colleagues at the office.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights One of the most important things to do when preparing a presentation is to think about your audience. What are their values and interests? What are they interested in knowing more about? Do your research and also try to put yourself in their shoes.  Figure out what you want your outcome to be. Do you want investors to ask for that second meeting? Do you want people in your company to better understand a concept? This will help guide your organization of ideas.  Use devices like introductions, providing roadmaps, and talking through transitions to diminish how much effort listeners have to put into it. Listeners have limited capacity to absorb information, so you want to make it as easy as possible. Be sure to check in and assure people that some of the content may be harder to grasp so they get the message that they might need to pay closer attention.  Don’t rely on your presentation slides; use them as aids. Limit how much text you put in each one.  Practice, practice, practice. Warriner also recommends mentally rehearsing your talk, and going back over it to see if there are words that can be cut out.   Links to Explore Further Ryan Warriner on LinkedIn Professional Presentation Services Ryan Warriner on Thrive Global  Book - The Effective Presenter The 10/20/30 Rule of PowerPoint Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now on to my guest for today, Mario Nawfal, founder of NFT Technologies.  Mario may not have the “Midas touch” but he’s certainly discovered some of the secrets of growing successful businesses. He started out selling blenders by knocking on doors in 2012. There he honed his skills in how to effectively walk potential customers through a sales funnel, from getting their attention, having them try the product, then selling it. His company hit seven figures in the first year, and grew exponentially from there. He believes one of the keys to success is timing. That doesn’t mean everything he’s tried has been a phenomenal success; he’s had some failures too. Four years after launching his first business, Mario started GoGlobal, the precursor to what is now the Athena Group, a consulting services group that helps companies scale and grow.  Mario’s latest venture, NFT Technologies, is now getting ready to go public, the first of its kind to do so. NFT invests in and creates businesses in the metaverse space that specialize in cryptocurrency and NFTs (non-fungible tokens). The metaverse, he explains, is an alternate digital reality space, with huge potential for growth. The metaverse now is what the internet was to the 1990s. Mario sees huge potential in this space over the long term.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Mario advises trying a lot of different things until you find what works.  Good timing is one of the most critical predictors of success. Mario relies a lot on studies and evidence - the facts - when he’s making decisions; this type of research can also help figuring out what might be timely.  When asking for advice, look for people who are self-aware and humble. Mario explains that someone who is self-aware knows the limits of what they know; someone who is humble will acknowledge when they’re wrong.  Links to Explore Further Mario Nawfal on LInkedIn NFT Technologies Athena Group Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now on to my guest for today, Jay Magpantay, a marketing expert and founder of AuthorJump. Jay came to me through one of the best cold emails I’ve received, and we talk a bit about his process in this episode.  Jay started out in the military, and then a corporate job. His first business as an entrepreneur was in making and selling T-shirts. The company grew bigger than he ever imagined, but he found that what he really enjoyed - and was good at - was marketing. He left the T-shirt business and focused on learning all he could about effective online marketing, even moving to Thailand to live and work with a mentor.  Jay has since developed a marketing campaign strategy based on nonfiction books. He helps experts, coaches, and others to write and then market their books as a way to gain clients and build their business. Himself a lifelong learner, he’s a big believer in experts sharing their knowledge with the world through books and sees them as an ideal lead-generation tool.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights For cold pitching, which Jay excels at, do your research. Do just enough research so your readers know they are not just names, but someone you’ve specifically decided you’re interested in connecting with.  You don’t have to be the ultimate authority to write a book. A book can be a great jumping-off point for starting a dialogue and engaging potential clients.  If you have a book you’re not entirely proud of, see if you can repackage it. Jay also suggests offering add-ons to update it; instead of redoing the book, for example, you can offer a recorded training as a bonus.  Links to Explore Further AuthorJump.com Jay Magpantay on LinkedIn Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now on to my guest for today, Carlyn Montes De Oca, author of Dog as My Doctor, Cat as My Nurse: An Animal Lover’s Guide to a Healthy, Happy, and Extraordinary Life. Carlyn had previous careers as a film editor and then as an acupuncturist and nutritional consultant. While these were satisfying jobs, she kept having a nagging feeling that there was something else she was supposed to be doing - namely, writing. So one day, she finally decided to hire a coach to help and she started writing. Carlyn has embraced the concept of the authorpreneur.* In addition to making time for writing, she schedules in time for marketing and for learning as much as she can about the craft of writing, marketing and promotion. She didn’t just leave the promotion for her book up to her publicist; instead, she and the publicist split up the country. As a result, Carlyn got herself out there, by talking to as many people and organizations as she could and presenting at conferences and giving a TedX talk.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Don’t ignore that voice inside you. Carlyn says she “spent a lot of years not doing what she really wanted to do.” However, she takes what she learned in those experiences, like being really organized and self-disciplined, to keep her on track.  Be of service. Carlyn has connected with numerous animal welfare organizations and given back a portion of the proceeds from her book to help animals. The connections she’s made has also given her a network to tap into for speaking engagements and events. Strive for balance and joy. Find other ways to be creative and be physically active. This can help you get out of your own head and come up with ideas and solutions you might not get to otherwise as well as help keep things in perspective.   Links to Explore Further Carlyn’s Website  Carlyn Montes De Oca on LinkedIn Carlyn’s TedX talk  *For more about being an authorpreneur, see my conversation with Joanna Penn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now on to my guest for today, Avi Levine of Star Funding.  Avi grew up in a family of successful entrepreneurs, and he knew for a long time he wanted to help businesses grow. In college he pursued marketing but soon figured out this wasn’t quite the right fit for him. After college he worked for a few different businesses, doing sales and operations and helping them build, but he wanted to help businesses even earlier in the game.  He took up a side hustle in affiliate marketing and specifically in driving leads to an online business lender. He found he liked the idea of helping businesses find capital. With a strong grasp of finance, he started knocking on doors to companies where he could help businesses get financed. He was turned down because he didn’t have the kind of experience or education they wanted, but he was able to convince one of them otherwise. He’s now been at Star Funding for over 7 years, unusual for his type of work, where people move around every couple of years.  Star Funding helps businesses by lending them capital in order to fulfill orders. They lend a business money specifically to help them fulfill the order, then get paid back when it’s done. Avi also helps businesses in other ways as his side hustle, whether it’s helping secure a contract or figuring out a supply chain issue. Sometimes it’s just a matter of providing another perspective or encouraging an entrepreneur to do something they don’t think they can do.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Know where you’re strong and where you’re weak. Levine is comfortable talking to people one on one or over the phone. His ability to get leads was largely why he was taken on at Star Funding. But he confesses to having a weak spot when it comes to social media and email - so he’s hired someone to help in those areas.  Be open to outside perspectives. Sometimes someone coming in from the outside can point out an issue or solution that those in the business can’t see. Even though Levine doesn’t do his own social media, he recognizes its importance; having your name out there in conversations is a powerful way to be validated and to give people a better understanding of who you are and what you do.  Links to Explore Further Avi Levine on LinkedIn Star Funding Avi Levine on Twitter Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now on to my guest for today, George Boutsalis, cofounder of a new app for social voting, Cast.  George comes from a family of successful entrepreneurs in Toronto, and from a young age he engaged in the typical entrepreneurial activities - shoveling snow, lemonade stands, and selling his younger siblings’ toys. After graduating from college he went to work in the family business, a commercial cleaning company, starting as a custodian and working his way up with the aim of some day running it.  While he liked the work, in 2017 he began to wonder if there wasn’t something else for him. He set out on what turned out to be a 13-month sabbatical travelling the world. George shares that he became a more self-aware, empathetic person in the process - traits that will serve him well as a leader.  George returned to his work managing the cleaning business, but he’d also started thinking about the problem of social media and the difficulty of sharing honest opinions and engaging in a civil discourse. While he was travelling, he texted his idea to his friend, who would become his cofounder. Over the years they evolved his initial idea and then, when covid hit, causing a slowdown in the commercial cleaning business, George found an opportunity to develop the idea.  Cast emerged as a result and it’s what George now focuses on. Cast is an app that gives people the opportunity to vote anonymously, which George believes will give people a more honest perspective on what people are really thinking and feeling, creating a better starting point for discussions and arguments than the current social media options. Even though he’s less financially secure, George says he feels freer and is the happiest he’s ever been.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights George talks at length about the impact his travels had on him. By seeing the wide range of differences out there, and becoming more self-aware as he found himself places all alone where he didn’t speak the language, he’s acquired a sense of empathy and a desire to engage with different perspectives. Even if you can’t go on a sabbatical and travel the world, just getting out of your comfort zone, putting away assumptions about others and getting curious -as well as practicing more self-awareness - can do a lot to help you grow as a person.  George shares that he feels happier and free than he’s ever felt. Finding a passion project to engage in, and working with people he loves to work with are what he cites as major factors. The lesson? Find something you love to do, and find people you enjoy doing it with.   Links to Explore Further Cast The Pal’s Podcast  George Boutsalis on LinkedIn Operation Charlie Tango -CAST RV Road Trip on YouTube George on Instagram Breaking Points The Sabbatical Project Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now on to my guest for today, Jesson Bradshaw, founder of Energy Ogre, a company that helps Texans find the best energy plan for them in a sea of hundreds of options.   Jesson came from the corporate energy industry and seems to have surprised everyone around him when he made the move to entrepreneurship. Before founding his own company, he worked for a small company in the electrical industry when the markets opened up in the 1990s, which put him in the unique position to take advantage of new opportunities. When Enron “imploded” in the early 2000s, he became cofounder of his first company, Fulcrum Energy. Then in 2013 he started Energy Ogre.  Jesson explains how free markets in Texas have enabled entrepreneurs to come in and set up a wide range of options, particularly in renewable energy, which has made Texas one of the largest producers of renewable energy not only in the U.S. but in the world. Rather than seeing the free market as the problem that caused the devastating problems that happened as a result of Winter Storm Uri in February 2021, Jesson explains how the industry builds for statistical probability, not to handle rare weather events such as that one. Jesson is a huge believer in innovation and the power of the market to solve problems, predicting that it will be tech innovation, not government regulation, that will provide solutions. Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Jesson’s approach is to align with the customer, rather than to react to what others are doing. Sometimes this can be a starting point for solving a problem in a unique way.  Similarly, don’t be intimidated by the big players. Look for an opening or where something might be missing and focus on that.  Jesson acknowledges that entrepreneurship can be lonely. Mentors, coaches, support networks - and podcasts like this one - can help make the road less lonely.   Links to Explore Further Energy Ogre  More about Jesson Bradshaw  Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now on to my guest for today, William Branum, founder of Naked Warrior Recovery and a former Navy SEAL.  William learned about the Navy SEALs when he was a Boy Scout in Mississippi and decided that - and becoming a pilot - was what he wanted to do. He entered the Navy after high school and, after some “tactical errors,” eventually became a SEAL.  After 26 years in the Navy, he retired. At that point, he was struggling with a lot of stress and physical injuries and was using alcohol to cope. When a buddy offered him some CBD oil, he decided to try it. It wasn’t a magical overnight transformation, but he saw gradual improvement, and he became interested in finding out more.  Eventually he found himself at a conference where he was encouraged to start his own business creating and selling high quality CBD products. Naked Warrior Recovery offers CBD products for recovery specifically for veterans, athletes, and first responders.  William talks in this episode about the challenges of military training, especially “Hell Week,” when he realized that those who didn’t quit were not necessarily the most skilled or the strongest - they were the ones who had the right mindset, who didn’t let failure keep them down, and who understood the importance of teamwork. He’s used these principles for his own business venture which he’s set down as “5 SEAL Secrets.” He also talks about the importance of coming face to face with your fears as a road to mastering them.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Marketing is key. Don’t believe “if you build it they will come.” You have to let people know you exist.  Break it down into smaller parts. Focus on the next step in your journey rather than the big goal at the end.  Do the work and resist distractions that pull you away from your focus. Aim to be the best at what you do.  Links to Explore Further William Branum on LinkedIn Naked Warrior Recovery 5 SEAL Secrets   Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now on to my guest for today, angel investor and business consultant Marjorie Radlo-Zandi.  Marjorie shares that entrepreneurship “is in her blood,” with great-grandparents who ran brokerages in Russia and Manhattan. Her first project was establishing a sailing program at 19 in her home town of Burlington, Vermont. She saw a white space, where there was a need and she had an idea to fill it. This is the foundation for her attitude toward building businesses, which she’s made her life’s work.  Marjorie earned an MBA from Northeastern University then moved to Silicon Valley, where she helped businesses grow globally. She then took on the challenge of helping a food diagnostic company to grow and scale and moved back to the Boston area. She’s taken what she’s learned from these experiences to become an investor, consultant, and a mentor. She’s part of both the Launchpad Investor Group and the Branch Investor Group, which focuses on investing in food companies.  Marjorie sees a lot of growth in food and food safety, especially anything that helps us live healthier lives, which she calls “better for you,’ as well as in online learning and health diagnostic testing at home for both people and pets.  Marjorie believes that successful entrepreneurs need to have a lot of grit and passion, as success rarely happens overnight, and a high tolerance for ambiguity, so you’re ready for anything that gets thrown your way.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights If you’re at the stage of seeking investors, Radlo-Zandi offers some tips:  Under-promise and over-deliver. Establishing credibility by meeting or exceeding expectations in initial rounds so the subsequent funding rounds are easier.  Prepare projections for five years, and, if applicable, budget in time for FDA approval. Have an exit strategy that shows that investors will get a return.  Be open to advice and input, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.  Links to Explore Further Marjorie Radlo-Zandi on LinkedIn Jazzas    Launchpad Investor Group Branch Investor Group  Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now on to my guest for today, Mike Audi, founder of TIKI, a new company that aims to help empower people to control their own personal data. He calls such data the “raw material of the internet.” Mike has long been concerned with how the types of companies he’s built software for have used people’s data. In 2020, when more and more people were voicing dissatisfaction with the ways companies have used people’s data, he saw a way to make a change and he came up with a solution. That solution is to “flip the paradigm on its head” by instead giving the power to the people. TIKI’s approach is to build a means for people to control how their data is shared, as well as to be able to make money off the data they do choose to share. TIKI’s founding principle is that they must be a company that builds loyalty and trust. Therefore, they are making everything about the company public and transparent, from the code they write to their financial statements. They set out to do a beta test with 1,000 users - and have ended up with over 120 thousand who have signed on to try out the software, which is still in development. Mike recognizes it’s an ambitious project, and it won’t be easy, but he’s optimistic that, even if they don’t succeed, they’ll be contributing to finding a solution. Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Building trust with your customers is essential, no matter what your industry. TIKI’s approach to building trust is by being completely transparent in everything they do. Mike sees this as their brand differentiator.  Mike recommends that aspiring entrepreneurs ask themselves what’s motivating them and cautions that the motivation must be strong enough to see you through the challenges and difficult periods. Like many of my other guests, Mike’s advice is to make sure you have passion for what you’re doing and to be motivated by more than just money. Sometimes the market needs time to catch up with your idea; recognizing when the time is right can be crucial, but also be willing and ready to take the leap when it is right. Once Mike saw the time was ripe for his idea, he started soliciting feedback, and, seeing there was indeed tremendous interest, he acted quickly to lay the foundation for TIKI.  Links to Explore Further Mike Audi on LinkedIn  Mytiki.com TIKI on Tik Tok Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now on to my guest for today, Eric Dickmann, founder of The Five Echelon Group, which helps small and medium-sized businesses create and implement marketing strategies. He also hosts The Virtual CMO Podcast and a YouTube show on work-life balance.  Eric climbed the ladder of the corporate world, becoming senior marketing director for Oracle. While it was a great experience, after over 30 years in the corporate world he became disenchanted with the values he saw driving big companies. He resolved to instead go out on his own and help smaller companies grow and scale. Eric now offers his expertise as a “fractional chief marketing officer,” working as a consultant to help companies with their marketing strategy. Eric explains that businesses that don’t think marketing is worth the investment have often lacked a coherent strategy and are usually just employing tactics, so an overall vision for a company’s marketing can be vital - and yet many companies don’t have one senior person just for marketing. His fractional/virtual CMO service is a way to fill this gap.  We’ve talked before on the show about the importance of marketing, of telling a good story, and of finding the right product-market fit. Eric adds some important insights for both new founders and business owners looking to scale, including why it’s important to have a strategy and not just tactics; why consistency is key; and why some testing and experimentation at the beginning is vital.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Hone your elevator pitch. Be ready and able to clearly and concisely tell someone what you do and/or sell. Eric suggests pitching to a family member and then testing them a few days later by asking them to tell you what you do.  Build a good network - the sooner, the better. Create a good network of people you can turn to for advice, referrals, and support. All successful businesses are built on strong networks.  Allocate part of your budget to marketing as early as possible so you can start testing out your product and figuring out your market. Sometimes businesses discover their market is not who they originally thought, so be ready to pivot when the data steers you in a different direction.  Links to Explore Further Eric Dickmann on LinkedIn The Five Echelon Group Virtual CMO Podcast Work-Life show  Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now on to my guest for today, Brian Wallace, founder of NowSourcing, an award-winning infographic design agency.  Brian, who has had his business for 15 years, is in the third iteration of his company’s focus. He started out in tech but moved into marketing when he realized that people needed more guidance on how and why to use the tech. When he set about to provide social media, he realized he needed to  get more focused, and has since built a successful company based on the creation of infographics. He’s now sought out by big brands to create their infographics.  Brian emphasizes the importance of putting in the work to attain mastery and observes that it’s better to be unknown until you have done so so people aren’t watching you, enabling you to keep your focus on the work. Brian encourages entrepreneurs to consider how they can help, rather than focusing on what they want, and to focus on building authentic connections. He also cautions against quitting your day job until you have some traction in your dream job.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Don’t spam potential connections. It’s better to take your time building relationships instead. Show that you are truly interested in and care about the people you reach out to.  Know that being an entrepreneur is different from being a subject matter expert or being a freelancer. Being an entrepreneur means taking control of - and responsibility for - all aspects of your business.  Failing often at first can help you figure out your sweet spot. Once you’ve found that, work hard to create mastery, keeping in mind that, as articulated by Zig Ziglar, “You can’t take an elevator to success; you’ve got to take the stairs.”  Links to Explore Further Brian Wallace on LinkedIn NowSourcing  NowSourcing on Twitter  Zig Ziglar Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now on to my guest for today, Taha Elraaid, CEO of Lamah, a tech startup in Libya. Taha grew up in an entrepreneurial family that runs a successful food service business. Taha figured he’d eventually join the family business, but after traveling and spending time in San Francisco, Canada, and Australia, he realized he wanted to do something to have more of an impact in his homeland.  Taha’s current project is to help create a national addressing system in Libya. Currently, other than a few major streets, most streets don’t have official names, and people often use descriptions to give directions. Without such an address, it’s harder for people to access services many of us take for granted. Constant power outages and lack of internet access outside of the home also limits Libyans’ ability to use smartphone apps, debit and credit cards, and other conveniences that many of us take for granted. Deliveries have to be picked up at a warehouse rather than being sent to a residence. However, Taha has found some people need to be shown that this is an issue, so Lamah did a trial run of helping people more easily obtain cash from their paychecks, because the banking system is undependable and often inaccessible. This encouraged people to identify their locations and thus be matched up with an address. Clearly, Taha is looking at existing problems and using some creative thinking to get where he wants to go.  Taha also founded and runs a co-working space that he sees as being a more welcoming, positive space where people can come together - something of an oasis in Libya.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Start where you can. Building a national addressing system is a huge undertaking but Elraaid and Lamah are finding a way to get it started, in part by showing people why and how they might benefit from such a system.  Taha didn’t actually finish college, but he thinks making an impact is more important. He lets his purpose and passion lead and motivate him.  Leadership is about bringing people together. Once people work together for a common purpose, everyone benefits.  Links to Explore Further Taha Elraaid on LinkedIn  Lamah Misaha Coworking Space Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now on to my guest for today, Stephanie Slocum, founder of Engineers Rising and author of She Engineers: Outsmart Bias, Unlock Your Potential, and Create the Engineering Career of Your Dreams.  Stephanie has a degree in architectural engineering and worked as a corporate engineer for 15 years, achieving executive-level status. At that point she realized that she had a passion for helping and mentoring others, particularly women engineers. While still employed, she wrote She Engineers and then quit her job to start her own company to coach and support female engineers. One of her motives is to show her three daughters what is possible.  Stephanie says that there are different rules for women in both the engineering industry and in entrepreneurship, and she helps women navigate those differences. She believes it’s important for executives to become aware of and check their biases, because promotions often get handed to people who remind them of themselves. Stephanie also explains why the “work harder” mentality is not necessarily going to help when it comes to being a successful executive or entrepreneur.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights While working hard is obviously important, there’s a time when you also need to start cultivating a different mindset than simply “work harder.” Slocum learned that she needed to ask for help, rather than trying to figure it all out herself.  Cultivate skills in listening and self awareness. Part of asking for help is also learning how to listen and becoming more self-aware of your biases as well as your strengths and weaknesses. The security of a corporate job is an illusion.The only way to truly be empowered is to find a way to use your own unique talents, whether it’s through a side hustle, your own business, or your own foundation.   Links to Explore Further Engineers Rising Stephanie Slocum on LinkedIn Stephanie on Instagram  The book: She Engineers Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now on to my guest for today, Allison Mahmood, founder of fair, a brokerage focused on ethical trading and financial education.  Allison’s early experiences with entrepreneurship including borrowing money to buy clothes in Paris and then selling them back home in Prague and selling fidget spinners. He says he “always had something going on on the side.” One area of expertise he quickly developed was an understanding of trading and finance. He found he enjoyed sharing this knowledge with others and has made it his mission to provide free financial education to as many people as possible. Allison is also pursuing a degree in physics while building his company.  Allison’s current venture, fair, was founded during the pandemic when he and his cofounder were brainstorming ideas for something to do. The original idea was to develop a hedge fund built on the principles collectively called ESG, or environmental, social, and corporate governance. They also developed a platform to teach financial literacy. In this episode, Allison shares some insights into how entrepreneurs should think about risk by looking at where they are in the journey.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights One of the key takeaways for aspiring entrepreneurs Mahmood offers is how to think about risk.  How much of a risk something is depends somewhat on your age. Someone who is in their 20s can afford to take bigger risks.  Risk can compound, so be aware of areas where you are taking unnecessary risks. While going into business is certainly risky, that risk is compounded even more if you sacrifice all of your safety outlets and burn yourself and your support systems out in the process. In addition, Mahmood also encourages entrepreneurs to ask the question of what success looks like other than just producing a successful product. Using principles of social, environmental, and community impact, as well as looking at the work culture you create, what outcomes do you want to achieve?  Links to Explore Further fair  Allison Mahmood on LinkedIn Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now on to my guest for today, Seth Erickson of Storify Agency.  Storify Agency uses principles of storytelling to help startups communicate. Seth’s agency was originally a website design agency - a successful one at that. But Seth realized that ultimately the website designs weren’t bringing in customers for his clients, so he went on his own hero’s journey to figure out why. He dove into the science and art of storytelling, and what he learned is documented in his book, How to Hack Humans: Storytelling for Startups.  What Seth found is that there is scientific proof for why and how stories are the optimal way to connect with others. When his agency takes on a client, they find out who they are and what their story is, and then work with them on reshaping their messaging to best communicate their story. Seth is heavily influenced by Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey, and he explains how often a company fails to understand that they need to position themselves as the mentor rather than the hero, the one who goes out and learns something, and then brings it back to help others.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Erickson offers the following advice: Ask yourself how risk averse you are. Entrepreneurs must be ready to take risks and know that nothing is guaranteed.  Ask yourself, “How can I be a better communicator?” Erickson acknowledges that he wishes he’d asked himself this question much sooner.  Learn to be a better storyteller. Ultimately, learning how to tell a story will help you connect with investors, customers, the people you work with and the people who work for you.  Links to Explore Further Storify Agency Seth Erickson on LinkedIn  Download a free chapter of How to Hack Humans Other books mentioned:  Winning the Story Wars: Why Those Who Tell - and Live - the Best Stories Will Rule the Future  Soft-Wired: How the New Science of Brain Plasticity Can Change Your Life Find out more about Joseph Campbell, author of Hero with a Thousand Faces, here.   Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now on to my guest for today, Tino Go, CEO of Baru, a company that enables customization of furniture while reducing inefficiencies in the manufacturing process. The idea for Baru was formed when Tino was trying to find a bookcase in 2014. Not finding what he wanted, he researched customization, which, he discovered, is a “medieval” process. Tino, who has a background in operations logistics and corporate finance, sought out a more efficient route to customizing furniture. The result is a digital platform that enables customers - whether individuals or businesses - to put in an order directly to a local manufacturer. The process is a win for manufacturers since, as Tino explains, furniture manufacturer machines generally sit idle for much of the day. By enabling this type of customization, shipping and packaging costs are reduced as well as easing the complexity of putting together a customized order.  Baru currently offers furniture customization in 22 regions in the United States. Customers must live within an hour of the manufacturer in order to make the shipping cost effective, so  Baru is working on expanding. Tino also plans to eventually offer customizable kitchen cabinets, recognizing these are in high demand right now.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable InsightsGo encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to ask themselves the following questions: Ask yourself if you really love doing what you are building a business around.  Use the five why’s, a questioning technique developed by a leader at Toyota to dig deeper and help prevent problems.  If you’re convinced you can survive the challenges, continue to test the data as you go to see if it’s truly viable, because ultimately it’s about whether or not you can make a profit.  Links to Explore Further Baru Tino Go on LinkedIn Here’s some info on the five why’s.  Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now on to my guest for today, Betsy Graziani Fasbinder, an author, writing coach, speaker, and public-speaking trainer.  Betsy started out as a teacher, then became a therapist, and is now a published author and public-speaking trainer. The common thread she sees behind her various forays is storytelling. Whether it’s trying to get your kid to do a chore or explaining your company’s latest gadget, storytelling needs to be at the core of your communications.  While Betsy’s latest book is about public speaking for authors, public speaking did not come naturally to her. In this episode she shares that she actually had a phobia of public speaking and would get physically ill before having to speak. When she started writing and publishing books, she realized she would have to acquire some skills in speaking in order to better promote herself and her work. She shares the skills and strategies she learned in her book From Page to Stage: Inspiration, Tools and Public Speaking Tips for Writers. She shares some of these insights in this episode.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Creation “is only half the story.” Whether you’re an author promoting a book or an entrepreneur selling a product, how you share that creation with the world is critical, and the key to getting people to listen is using story. While some people come more naturally to public speaking than others, a large part of it is a skill that can be learned. And like any skill, it requires practice.  Use empathy to create connections, especially with people who ask challenging questions. Listening first, and showing empathy, are important to maintaining control and creating authentic connections. Links to Explore Further Betsy Graziani Fasbinder on LinkedIn Betsy Graziani Fasbinder Website Book: From Page to Stage   Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHello everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now on to my guest for today, Vinay Raman, CEO of CAARMO and host of the Business Blind Spots Exposed podcast.  Vinay grew up around engineers and earned a master’s in artificial intelligence and machine learning. He also grew up in the Hindu faith, and has always been interested in the intersections and relationship between science and religion.  What he’s most passionate about is bringing data together with stories. He uses hard data to help companies see where they need to take a closer look and find out the story behind what’s happening. This helps companies build a better culture and lead from a heart-centered, rather than simply a numbers-driven, place.  At CAARMO Vinay helps businesses improve performance by gathering data, studying it, and then encouraging managers to find the story behind the numbers. So, for example, instead of simply firing an employee who is not meeting standards, data can show specifics about where he or she is lacking and then use that data as a springboard for a conversation that will invite the employee to become better. It may also point to ways the company itself is getting in the way of performance, too.  Vinay encourages leaders to use questions to achieve better understanding and to invite employees down the road of improvement, flipping the traditional management model. In this model, data becomes critical information, but it’s information that forms a basis for a conversation, rather than the last word.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable InsightsVinay’s vision is of a world where business leaders are heart-centered and dedicated to fostering a work culture that is empathetic and resilient. He has the following recommendations for aspiring entrepreneurs: Get aligned with your purpose. Does what you want to do align with your purpose? Make sure you’re following your passion - because willpower will only get you so far.  Real intelligence is about more than learning what others have learned; it’s also about learning things for yourself by asking questions and learning from mistakes and failures. Also ask, what do you need to unlearn?  Core values matter. Company culture affects, he estimates, 30% of the results you get. Take the time to develop and articulate what the core values are for your company and use those as a foundation for everything you do.   Links to Explore Further Vinay Raman on LinkedIn CAARMO   Business Blind Spots Exposed Podcast  Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now on to my guest for today, Jonathon Hensley, chief creative officer of EMERGE Digital Transformation, which helps empower businesses to build better products and companies. Jonathon grew up in the Bay Area, where he was exposed at an early age to the emerging computer industry. He took his parents’ interest in psychology and combined it with his fascination with tech. He became “obsessed” with understanding the connection between the new technologies and human behavior, an obsession that has grown and changed, just as the tech industry has grown and changed. EMERGE has grown through several iterations, starting with helping to solve the problems of infrastructure, then to applications, to now, with a focus on empowering companies and their teams to grow and be resilient using alignment as the core principle of success. Jonathon’s desire to help companies, and his recognition of the high failure rate among startups, led to a deep dive into understanding why so many companies fail and what they can do to increase their chances to succeed. It’s all about alignment, he explains, an argument he develops in his most recent book, Alignment: Overcoming Internal Sabotage and Digital Product Failure (2021). A company needs to be in alignment on multiple levels to succeed. These are: product-market fit; organizational; within and among teams; and on an individual level, where everyone in the company has a clear understanding of the company’s mission and what their role is in contributing to its success. Jonathon also explains why “failing fast and often” might not be the best strategy for an aspiring entrepreneur.    Now, let’s get better together. Actionable InsightsHensley says that businesses that are successful are in alignment in all of the four areas. To help you get more aligned, he recommends the following:  Get clear on your vision. Make sure your product vision has a clear destination and is measurable.  Recognize problems as they arise and embrace them as opportunities for improvement. Don’t fall in love with ideas or strategies: fall in love with the problem.  Links to Explore Further Emergeinteractive.com Alignment (book)  Jonathon Hensley | LinkedIn Jonathon Hensley on Twitter  Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now on to my guest for today, Alan Silvestri, founder and CEO of Growth Gorilla, a content promotion and distribution agency for the SaaS space.  Alan put in nine years as an electrical engineer in Italy before making the jump to entrepreneurship. He quickly learned that he didn’t like working at an office job; he also wanted to be able to take time off to tour with his band. He turned to the internet and started learning skills in SEO and website building. One of his course teachers took him on as an apprentice, enabling him to further develop his expertise, particular in link-building. He created efficient processes and eventually started his own agency so he could finally quit his day job. Alan credits his interest in American popular culture with helping “push him over the edge” into entrepreneurship. He also believes that for an entrepreneur, “the stress of staying the same is more than the stress of change.”  Growth Gorilla has a very specific mission: to provide content promotion and distribution through SEO and backlinking for SaaS companies. Alan believes that having a specialization is key. He also encourages companies to keep their language simple if they want to engage new clients.  Now, let’s get better together Actionable Insights Alan shares the questions he’s asked himself, and periodically asks himself, to make sure he is heading where he wants to go: Picture yourself where you want to be in a few years and ask why. Getting in tune with your why will help you to stay the course.  What are you good at? What are your strengths and weaknesses and how are they serving you?  What are your values? When making decisions about what projects to pursue, Alan assigns a score according to his values to make sure he’s doing what he most wants to and will most help him get where he wants to go. Our values change over time, so it’s a good question to periodically check in on.    Links to Explore Further Growth Gorilla  Alan Silvestri on LinkedIn  Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now on to my guest for today, Ginni Saraswati, founder of Ginni Media and host of an award-winning podcast about life as a gay Sri Lankan-born woman growing up in Australia. Ginni’s first entrepreneurial attempt was an art show which she advertised on a foam board. Twenty years later, she found herself in traffic on her way to a corporate job and realizing she wanted something else. Having already cultivated a strong interest and skills in media and production, she started Ginni Media, a podcast production company. Ginni leads a team of 27 freelancers from around the world to produce content for thought leaders, influencers, and more. Leading a diverse team remotely is not without its challenges, but Ginni always puts people first. She approaches her business clients in the same way, by shooting for exceptional customer service and cultivating loyalty. Ginni plays the long game - focused on retaining clients - rather than the quick sale. While she’s willing to give away services to some extent, she’s also keenly aware of the importance of boundaries. Ultimately, for Ginni, being a successful entrepreneur is about self-awareness, the willingness to acknowledge mistakes, and always striving for the best.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Not surprisingly, Ginni thinks self-awareness is critical for anyone going down the entrepreneurial road, which she calls a journey of “profound self discovery.”  Ginni’s philosophy is to “shoot for exceptional,” because even if you fall short, you’ll still be doing better than most. Success is a long game. In order to cultivate a strong customer relationship and loyalty, be helpful and don’t focus on just the immediate gain.  Links to Explore Further Ginni Saraswati on LinkedIn Ginni Media The Ginni Show Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now on to my guest for today, George Chasiotis, founder of the Greece-based content marketing agency MINUTTIA.  George got his start on Upwork, a freelancer’s job site, when he couldn’t find a job. He did anything he could, from data entry to Facebook ads. Of all the jobs he’d done, he found he liked and had the most talent for content and SEO and started working as a consultant. He started his own company last year, which now has six employees. MINUTTIA focuses on working with SaaS and tech companies in the growth stage.  George explains how he is building a reputation for success by being selective about what companies he works with. A company just starting out would not be the best fit for what he has to offer; instead, a new company should focus on building content and an audience; then, once they hit a certain point and are poised for growth, they should then seek help with their SEO and content. George believes that your story and perspective are key to hooking customers and getting them engaged. He also stresses that when it comes to SEO, you can’t expect overnight results.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Find something you like to do and are good at. George did a lot of different types of things but eventually found his niche.  George advises starting with an audience rather than a product. Work on cultivating a voice and audience and then figure out what you can offer that people need. It’s doubtful that you can offer anything sIgnificantly unique; instead, focus on cultivating loyalty and trust. Looking to have influence and impact? Have a voice and a strong point of view. This will help you get attention, engage and retain an audience, and secure a following. Links to Explore Further Georgios Chasiotis on LinkedIn MINUTTIA MINUTTIA on YouTube Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now on to my guest for today, Brooke Yoakam. At 19, Brooke has already been at the helm of her company, Gift Pocket, for seven years.  Brooke comes from a family of entrepreneurs, yet when her mother first proposed the idea that she join the Young Entrepreneurs Academy, she balked. But she agreed to try it out and found she loved it. It was at the academy that Brooke came up with the idea for Gift Pocket as a solution to a problem she had, which was that her grandfather kept giving her gift cards to stores she didn’t want to go to. The app she created, enables users to store gift cards digitally and to exchange them for ones from different stores. The app also solves the common problem of people losing gift cards. Brooke sees her company as innovating in an industry that has long been stagnant and helping companies build revenue. Brooke continues to run her company while she attends college, where she’s learning skills in finance and computers as well as building an invaluable network. She talks about balancing being a CEO with being a college student, the frustrations of working with funders, and how she sees everyone who comes to work with her as potential collaborators in making the company even better.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Be open to trying out new things; if you’re a parent, encourage this in your child. Even if that thing doesn’t end up being something you’re interested in, you’ll never know until you try. While Yoakam’s entrance into entrepreneurship was perhaps inevitable, it was her mother pushing her to try out the Young Entrepreneurs Academy that was the jumping off point for her. While your idea needs to be a solution that solves a problem, it’s imperative that it’s something you’re passionate about - because you don’t know how long you might have to work at it. Make sure it’s something you can feel proud to be a part of.  Yoakam’s attitude is “every no leads to a yes.” She believes that things are always working out for the best and doesn’t see “nos” as failures.  Links to Explore FurtherGift Pocket Brooke Yoakam on LinkedIn Gift Pocket on Instagram Young Entrepreneurs Academy  Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Jeroen Corthout is the cofounder of Salesflare, a CRM that automates sales leads, the program he realized he needed to track his own sales.  Jeroen was bitten by the entrepreneurial bug as a teenager when he started designing websites. He went on to study biomedical electrical engineering at university but realized it wasn’t ultimately the kind of work he was drawn to. Instead he took a job in pharmaceutical marketing but knew he wanted to eventually start his own company. Within a year, he moved to a consultancy, where he was able to learn a lot more about what having his own business would be like. After diving into various ventures, he and his cofounder of Doctura, originally a service that offered personalized readers for doctors to help them stay on top of the latest developments, to offer sales and marketing to tech and healthcare companies. It was in the process of selling for Doctura that Jeroen found the issue that Salesflare seeks to solve - how to effortlessly automate data collected in the sales lead process.  Jeroen sees selling as a process that requires empathy and that is a key part of the process of solving problems. Selling is basically collaboration, the quintessential element that has helped humanity solve problems for centuries.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable InsightsThe two questions Jeroen recommends asking yourself when starting a business is: Am I solving a problem that matters to me? You need to have interest in and passion for the issue you’re working on to keep you going when things get tough. Do I like the type of people I will need to talk to in order to sell this product or service? All entrepreneurs need to talk to potential customers at some point in the process, so you should be able to connect with and enjoy talking to them.   Links to Explore Further Salesflare Jeroen Corthout on LinkedIn Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. As Always, Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now on to my guest for today, Tim Young, CEO of Naturally Grateful, Small Farm Nation, and Techmar Communications and author of several books, including Accidental Farmers and Start Prepping.  Tim first built a career in marketing, first as a division head for a Fortune 500 company and then as founder and CEO of his own marketing services firm for tech companies. After 22 years, though, he realized he had a longing to do something else, and finally settled on trying his hand at farming. He and his wife bought land in Georgia and started a livestock farm; Tim even learned to make artisan cheese and earned awards for it. But when he and his wife had their daughter, they decided they wanted to have more time to focus on her. They scaled back, turning to homesteading and homeschooling.  Tim describes how he and his daughter have a daily practice of writing something they are grateful for on a gratitude tree. It was one day after doing this, when Tim and daughter began talking about ideas for a business as a learning project, that they came up with the idea of an apparel company featuring slogans about gratitude. That grew into the family-run company they now call Naturally Grateful.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Practice gratitude. Nothing can help lift your spirits and give you perspective like stopping and reflecting on what you have to be grateful for.  Ask, what will make you happy? Any project you embark on should be in service of making yourself happy, Tim says.  Embrace the chaos - and be prepared. Young shows how, as a “chaos creator” entrepreneur, it’s important to jump in and take risks. At the same time, he advises looking ahead and being prepared for what may come that is out of your control. Work on becoming both resilient and self-sufficient.  Links to Explore Further Naturally Grateful  Blog post on making a gratitude tree  You can find more information about Tim’s book, Start Prepping, and his other books at his website, Author Tim Young. Tim Young on LinkedIn Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple  SummaryHey everyone. Aw always, stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest today, Antonio Thornton of Fearless Impact and Money Mouth Marketing.  Antonio recalls his first venture into entrepreneurship in candy sales at school. He was so successful that he was kicked out of school, and so learned early on that entrepreneurship wasn’t a conventional path, but that he had a talent for it. He’s had a number of businesses, but eventually realized that what he was best at was selling, which led to the founding of Money Mouth Marketing 20 years ago.  Fearless Impact stems from a period in Antonio’s life when he was held back by fear after being involved with a company that was indicted for illegal activities. He worked on his mindset and started a group devoted to learning about law of attraction and visualization as tools. He’s built on this work to form Fearless Impact, a program that helps entrepreneurs, as well as a podcast by the same name. Antonio’s mission to help entrepreneurs is grounded in helping people identify and face their fears. He extols the importance of asking yourself what you fear and challenging beliefs about what might be holding you back. Now let’s get better together. Actionable Insights One of the single most important things one can do, according to Antonio, is asking yourself: What do I fear? What am I afraid of? What’s holding me back? Identifying your fears is the first step to challenging false beliefs. (FEAR: False Evidence Appearing Real)  Focus on yourself first and foremost. Each individual contributes to a collective whole, and the more you grow yourself, the more you will have to offer.  Links to Explore Further Fearless Impact  Fearless Impact Podcast Money Mouth Marketing  Antonio Thornton on LinkedIn Video: “You Worry About Yourself!” Fearless Impact: The Power of Vulnerability Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple  Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest today, Terry McDougall, executive coach and author of Winning at Work: Career Happiness and Success on Your Own Terms.    Terry coaches executives who have been exactly where she was just a few years ago: successful but not satisfied. As the head of marketing at a national bank, she started to think about doing something else. She’s always liked “helping others figure things out” so she decided to get a coaching certification and now helps executives get clarity, shift their mindset, and find balance.  Aspiring entrepreneurs as well as anyone climbing the corporate ladder can benefit from Terry’s insight and approach. Terry describes how, after she graduated from college, she was given the book What Color Is My Parachute?, from which she takes two key questions everyone should ask themselves: What do I like to do and what am I good at?  She starts her coaching by helping her clients gain clarity on their goals, shifting to a positive mindset, then taking action. One of the main challenges she often sees is the reluctance by high achievers to delegate and put systems into place so their staff can take over some of their work. While it might seem faster or somehow better to take care of business themselves, executives - as well as entrepreneurs - need to eventually find ways to delegate tasks and implement systems that allow them to take on new challenges and grow themselves and their company. Letting go of perfectionist tendencies is often one important shift her clients need to make. But once you move from being stuck with what’s in front of you and step back to take a look from a different perspective, you will find opportunities and options you didn’t realize were there.  Now let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Questions to ask yourself when you’re feeling stuck, contemplating a career move or starting a business: What do I like to do? What am I good at? What’s keeping me from doing what I want to do?  What am I afraid of?  Work on believing in possibility. If you believe something is possible, then it is.  Take a step back and look for the bigger picture. Open up to other options, and more options will appear.  Links to Explore Further Terry McDougall Coaching  Terry McDougall on LinkedIn Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Paul Baron, an entrepreneur with over 50 years of experience whose latest venture is The Wall Printer.  Paul studied to become a math teacher but soon found his real calling as an entrepreneur, at first following his passion for tennis. He opened a string of tennis stores before eventually selling to his partner and entering corporate life. While he learned a lot working for others there, he decided it wasn’t for him and embarked on a series of entrepreneurial projects, some that failed and some that succeeded.  Paul’s businesses have included a successful restaurant in New York City - which promptly failed when he moved it to Florida - and a dog-washing franchise. He follows what interests him and what he thinks serves a need in the market. In 2019, he became intrigued by the wall printer, hardware that allows one to actually print on walls and other vertical areas. Finding that they did not exist for sale in the U.S., he researched the best company offering the machine, ordered some, and obtained licensing rights to sell them in North and South America as well as in the U.K. He sees selling wall printers as a good business opportunity for entrepreneurs, and even though he started the business at the start of the pandemic, he already has 50 people who want to sell wall printers, too.  Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Do your homework. Baron stresses the importance of researching companies and markets before embarking on a business venture.  It all comes down to relationships. Entrepreneurship can be lonely, but with a good network of mentors, advisors, and supporters, as well as people with the skills and knowledge to fill in the gaps, you’ll have a much better chance of success. Find your passion and be ready to tolerate some risk. If you’re going to be up at night worrying, entrepreneurship is probably not for you.  Links to Explore Further Paul Baron on LinkedIn The Wall Printer  The Wall Printer on Facebook Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening.  Now on to my guest for today, Brandon Cullen, cofounder and chief concept officer of MADabolic, a fitness training system and franchise.  Brandon, like his co founder, is a former professional hockey player from Canada who played on farm teams for the New York Islanders. After 10 years of playing, he suffered a concussion, ending his career. He’d already been working as a fitness trainer in the off-season so he and his cofounder developed a fitness training system they call MADabolic. MADabolic also franchises gyms and has over 10 locations to date. Their loyal following has kept them afloat even during COVID.  Brandon explains that the idea for MADabolic grew out of realizing that there was a gap in the fitness industry. MADabolic is designed to specifically appeal to athletes as they age, focusing on ages 25 to 50, offering clients a unique strength-based conditioning program. While Brandon and his partner, both athletes, bring key skills from sports to business, they also realized that some of those skills don’t always cross over. Learning to lead a company comprised of people with different perspectives is one key area he points to. Taking on a partner to handle the logistics of franchising the company has also been key in helping him to focus on leadership in the areas where he excels. Now, let’s get better together. Actionable Insights It’s all about “the fail”. Cullen points to his experiences being cut from teams over and over again as crucial in teaching him to tolerate failure - and not to give up.  Keep moving. A lot of people give up too soon, Cullen says.  Focus on what you can control and the areas you can improve. Cullen’s journey into fitness training started when he was 16 and he started putting his energy into off-ice conditioning in order to strengthen his abilities and be able to play with high-caliber hockey players.  Links to Explore Further Brandon Cullen on LinkedIn MADabolic  Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple  SummaryHey everyone. As always, stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest today, Jonathan Aberman, managing director of Amplifier Advisors and dean of the College of Business, Innovation, Leadership and Technology at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia. Jonathan also hosts the show What’s Working in Washington. Jonathan comes from a family of entrepreneurs, but his parents wanted him to go to college and join a profession - which he did. But the entrepreneurial bug caught up with him. As a lawyer he’s worked with many startups and entrepreneurs and has started a venture capital fund. And now he’s helping to redesign education by leading an innovative new program at Marymount University.  Jonathan has a lot of insight into the life of an entrepreneur and what qualities entrepreneurs can offer larger companies. Entrepreneurs need to be motivated by more than just money; most entrepreneurs have a strong belief that they can make a difference. Entrepreneurs can, contrary to what many people believe, work in larger structures, as long as they are treated with respect and are appreciated for what they have to offer. In fact, entrepreneurs as leaders can be really good “culture creators” for a business, especially if they employ a servant-leader model. As dean of the School of Business, Innovation, Leadership and Technology at Marymount, Jonathan is also aware that companies are not so much interested in a graduate’s degree as their skills. And with the increasing automation of tools, creativity is going to play a bigger role than ever in both an individuals and a company’s success. Now let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Be coachable. Whether you’re just starting out or at a point where you’re ready to scale, being able and willing to listen to the advice of mentors and advisors can make a difference in your success.  Assemble your team as you would a music group. You need to share a vision and purpose, but everyone should offer something different. Empathy and respect for each other are critical for effective teamwork.  Know that entrepreneurship is a messy journey with a lot of curves, so be willing to adapt and enjoy the ride.  Links to Explore Further Jonathan Aberman on LinkedIn Amplifier Advisors What’s Working in Washington Show College of Business, Innovation, Leadership and Technology, Marymount University  Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple  SummaryHey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest today, Mike Harvey of Business Growth Domination.  Mike comes from a family of entrepreneurs and got his start working with his dad on a farm. He and his dad both moved into other ventures and Mike wound up in IT services, working with a friend and eventually taking over the business. He now has a wealth of experience as an entrepreneur, which he puts to work helping others grow their businesses.  Like all entrepreneurs, Mike had to learn that he didn’t know what he didn’t know. He reached out to others who had done what he wanted to do, and learned from them. He also learned that a successful business is all about solving problems. When working with clients, Mike says, there are two major issues he usually helps with: helping entrepreneurs get to the point where they are not trying to do everything - and slowing the business down - and helping them identify what their real challenges are.   Now let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Growing a business requires the ability to step back and let others do some of the work when the time is right. Letting go of control can be pretty challenging for many entrepreneurs. Mike points out that if you invest your time up front in training someone to do the work the way you want it done, this will free up your time down the line to work on other areas that require your energy and focus.  Another area we talked about was the problem of losing your passion and becoming depressed and burned out as an entrepreneur. One question to ask yourself is if the type of client you serve is who you most want to work with. Then find the most efficient way to run the business.  Links to Explore Further Mike Harvey on Facebook  Business Growth Domination Facebook Group MikeHarvey.co Books mentioned: Getting Everything You Can Out of All You’ve Got, Jay Abraham  Selling From Scratch: How To Sell More By Simply Being Human, John Hill The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumphs, Ryan Holiday  Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple  SummaryHey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to today’s guests, Patrick Frank and George Kramb, cofounders of a new digital healthcare solution, Patient Partner.  Patrick and George have been friends since second grade. They pursued separate careers but came together to start Patient Partner. George had a successful career as a medical device representative and Patrick has worked in a variety of industries developing consumer technologies.  After seeing a patient struggle with questions and concerns before an operation, then seeing how a postoperative patient was afterwards, George suggested putting them together so the more experienced patient could offer advice and insights. He went to Patrick and asked how they might implement a system where patients could be matched up with mentors to help them through their procedures. That’s how Patient Partner was born.  Patient Partner matches up patients with mentors and physicians in their area and also helps them determine insurance coverage. While it has not been around very long, the two friends are finding much interest in the platform, with patients frequently coming back to volunteer to be mentors. They also saw firsthand with a family member how well the program has worked.  George and Patrick credit their successful working relationship to a long history with each other, knowing each other’s styles and attitudes, and trusting that the other won’t give up. These qualities more than anything else, they believe, help them to continue to effectively run and grow the business together.  Now let’s get better together. Actionable Insights If you are committed to your idea, ignore the naysayers. “Everyone’s going to tell you not to do it.” Tune those voices out.  Surround yourself with people who also believe in your dream and will push you to do better.  The one most important thing? Take action. Mistakes are inevitable, but you’ll learn from your mistakes, and eventually, you’ll get there.  Links to Explore Further Patrick Frank - LinkedIn George Kramb - LinkedIn Patient Partner Patient Partner on Instagram Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple  SummaryHey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest today, Santi Bibiloni, CEO and founder of COR, a project profitability solution for creative and professional services.  Still in his 20s, Santi already had built a successful advertising agency in Argentina when he started to think about how to help make service agencies like his be more profitable and able to pay their employees more. Not one to give up after one no from 500 Startups, a startup accelerator in San Francisco, he went to work raising money and then moved to the Bay Area, where he finally got his yes and started building COR.  Like any business with potential, Santi identified a problem that nobody has yet found a solution to and went to work. COR harnesses the power of AI and machine learning to help service-based businesses track their hours more efficiently and be able to create better cost estimates. Since service-based businesses mostly provide human labor, estimating time is a hugely critical task, and one that is often problematic. By using AI to help with this process, Santi says, service-based businesses will be better positioned to charge with more accuracy as well as better compensate their employees.  Now let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Be bold and always take risks. Santi explains that moving to California was a big risk - but it was only one of many he’s taken.  Don’t give up; keep pushing even when things get tough. “There are only two kinds of entrepreneurs,” Santi says, “the ones who quit and the ones who don’t.”  Appreciate what you have and where you’ve succeeded, even as you keep striving for more.  Links to Explore Further Santi Bibiloni on LinkedIn COR  500 Startups Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple  SummaryHey everyone. As always, stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest today, Mark Kerzner,  who is cofounder of Scaia-Scalable AI and Elephant Scale, which offers training in using artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and more.  Mark emigrated to Texas from Russia after earning a degree in computer systems in the late 1970s and started working in computer applications with oil companies. He became an independent consultant, specializing in AI and machine learning because he knew he needed a special skill to offer. He also started offering training and co-authored a book on Hadoop.  Mark offers insight into the evolution of AI and machine learning and explains why Facebook’s facial recognition program was a turning point, leading to a huge leap in how we search and interact online and the implications for the future. Mark is now applying similar principles to helping lawyers more quickly find what they need for discovery while continuing to write and teach.  Now let’s get better together. Actionable Insights “Just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean you should run a business doing it,” Mark cautions. Be ready to learn the ropes and acquire skills in other areas if you want to start a business.  Don’t wait until your product is perfect. Mark emphasizes what many of our guests have recommended: get it to market, test it out, and then, once you’ve gotten feedback from your customers, keep reiterating.  Don’t stop learning or trying to do better, and teach others. Mark has been around a number of years, but he’s constantly learning and growing while also teaching others.  Links to Explore Further Mark Kerzner on LinkedIn  Elephant Scale Scaia More on BERT  Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple  SummaryHey everyone. As always, stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest today, Devin Miller, an attorney who practices intellectual property law and who is also an entrepreneur. Some people learn by doing; others learn in school. Devin has done both, having earned four degrees, starting out in engineering, where he quickly realized he didn’t want to be a “cog in the wheel.” He went on to earn an MBA and a JD, graduating with both degrees in the same year. As a business student, he regularly competed in business competitions and he has founded several companies. He was also an intellectual property attorney, working for such big companies as Apple, Amazon, and Intel. It’s no surprise that Devin decided to strike out on his own and start his own law firm, Miller IP, where he focuses on helping startups and entrepreneurs with intellectual property issues. Navigating the terrain of patents can be tricky for an entrepreneur. When do you file? Devin offers some insight into the process, including why you don’t want to wait too long, and when you might want to think about applying for patents in other countries. Since his primary focus is on helping startups, he’s also developed a less expensive alternative for businesses and entrepreneurs who need a more affordable option but don’t want to risk just doing it themselves. Snap Legal offers a bridge between the do it yourself legal solution and hiring an attorney. Always looking to be of service, Devin also offers free strategy sessions to help companies determine if hiring an IP attorney is the right step for them.  Now let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Devin’s business strategy is focused on his clients: who they are and what they need. He doesn’t just offer one service; he seeks to meet his clients where they’re at. In this way, he’s building a relationship with potential clients even before they might be in the position to hire him.  Protecting intellectual property is a crucial step in the startup phase; you can’t do it too early, when you don’t yet know what you’re protecting, but you also don’t want to wait too long, when it might be too late. Find out early when and what you need to do to protect your company.  Devin cautions entrepreneurs not to buy into the myth of overnight success. All successful businesses have years of blood and sweat behind them.  Links to Explore Further Miller IP Law  SNAP Legal | Automated Legal Services (milleripl.com) Devin Miller | LinkedIn Podcast: The Inventive Journey    Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple  SummaryHey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest today, Brandon White, whose first venture, Worldwide Angler, was an early internet success, grew into Tidal Fish Ventures, and sold to a publishing company in 2013. He’s been involved with various projects since and currently hosts the podcast called Build a Business Success Secrets.  Brandon’s idea for a fishing magazine began when he was a graduate student in psychology living on the Chesapeake Bay. He enjoyed fishing and wanted to share information about the sport. When he found out how much it would cost to put out a magazine, he turned to the internet, which was just emerging in the mid-1990s, hiring a programmer and working on a spinach farm to pay for it. He eventually drew the attention of the major investment firm Sequoia Capital. Things took off from there, and he built it into a successful online subscription site.   Since then, Brandon’s been involved with various projects, starting other companies and investing in others. He’s used his expertise in business to create a 13-slide business plan he teaches to aspiring business owners. Most recently, he started a podcast, going back to his roots in media, this time sharing his insight and expertise in how to build a successful business.  Now let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Brandon says some of the best advice he received was to just get out of his own way and do it. He tends to overanalyze everything, he says, and recommends you just get started.  Rather than finding your passion, Brandon says, find something that you’re good at and enjoy doing.  He also recommends focusing your time and energy on doing what you do well, and finding people who can do the other tasks. You’ll be more efficient when you’re not wasting time trying to do those things you’re not suited for.  Links to Explore Further Build a Business Success Secrets Podcast  Brandon W. | LinkedIn Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple  Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest today, Zac Stern, founder of Official, a different kind of “dating app.”  Zac started working in the world of venture capital while still a college student at NYU. He was promoted to associate after he graduated and also started investing on his own. A chance conversation allowed him the opportunity to share his idea for a new kind of dating app, and he’s just launched Official. Even though he’s young, Zac has a lot of insight to offer.  Zac’s idea for Official started with a desire to “gamify” dating apps and to also serve people already in relationships. The main problem with dating apps, he explains, is that once someone has found someone, they don’t need the app any longer. He wanted to create something for people already in relationships. The app provides a way for couples to deepen their connections, providing ways for them to come up with things to do, communicate better, and build community as a couple.  What started out as an idea in a pitch deck on his computer has taken off in a big way; in the beta launch, the app got so many users that the server shut it down.  Now let’s get better together. Actionable Insights As someone who has been on both sides of the venture capital game, Stern has some suggestions.  In the pitch deck, be consistent and organized and tell a clear, coherent story. The viewer has to come away with a clear idea of what you do within the first 30 seconds.  Be mindful and realistic about numbers. Make sure what you charge for what you’re offering can sustain and grow your business. Know who or what you’re competing with, even if it’s not a direct competitor. Saying you have no competition is a red flag for investors considering you.  Links to Explore Further Official - Relationship App for Couples  Official on TikTok Zac Stern | LinkedIn Zac on Matchmaker.fm Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple  Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest today, Jon Scott, cofounder of ScopeStack. Jon started out as an engineer working in IT services, providing configuration and installations for businesses. He moved into presales, where he became intimately acquainted with not only the sales process but also the preparation of documents providing the scope of work. This is a time-consuming process full of potential problems, and Jon set out to solve this. He cofounded ScopeStack, which provides a SaaS solution for statements of work for IT services companies, helping streamline the process and thus saving a lot of money and time in the sales process.  Now after over three years since starting his own business, Jon believes his success so far is due to his understanding of the problem his product solves. As someone who was in the industry, he can go to potential clients and explain how he was in their shoes, and how their software helps. He calls this “earning the secret.” He became a “nerd who can talk to people,” pushing himself further to do what he needed to do to close the sale.  Now let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Scott recommends:  Get a job in the industry you want to be in. This will give you firsthand insight into its problems and ideas how you might solve them.   Start selling early. Don’t wait until you have a perfect product.  Think of the sales process as helping to solve a problem. Links to Explore Further Jon Scott on LinkedIn ScopeStack Jon on Matchmaker.fm Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple  Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest today, Peter Goldstein of Exchange Listing, who helps companies go public.  Peter admits that what he does now isn’t something he could have planned out. He started out in the restaurant industry in New York, but, he says, has always been an entrepreneur, picking up odd jobs when he was a kid to earn money. He bought his first business at the age of 24 when, seeing an opportunity, he took it. Now Peter draws on his decades of experience in helping emerging growth companies enter public markets. For entrepreneurs who are at this stage of growth, you may want to find someone like Peter to help you navigate this complex process.  Peter explains that there are a lot of opportunities right now for companies to access capital on public markets. His task is to evaluate whether or not a company is ready to go public, analyzing it from a number of angles both qualitative and quantitative. At times he works with companies for a year or more to help them prepare for this step. And just as a company needs to know its ideal customer and how to tell their story, so too does a company need to craft its story for potential investors.  Now let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Here’s some advice from Goldstein for rising entrepreneurs:  You need to have passion for what you’re doing. Combining your areas of strength with that passion will be your leverage for success.  Identify areas where you need help or need advice, and don’t be afraid to ask for it.  Taking stock quarterly can help business owners get a wider perspective. Goldstein recommends examining how things are going, looking at the analytics, and changing course as needed.  Links to Explore Further Peter Goldstein on LinkedIn Exchange Listing LLC Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple  SummaryHey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest today, Author Bruno Cignacco.  I asked Bruno on my show because I was intrigued by his book, The Art of Compassionate Business: Main Principles for the Human-Oriented Enterprise. After years as an accountant, Bruno moved to business consulting, helping companies navigate strategies and processes and also teaching courses. His book came about, after he read an article that prompted him to think about the importance of people and relationships in business. He argues that businesses should not be just concerned with profits; that they should also be concerned with people and the planet, and that by focusing on the latter two, businesses will grow and be sustainable as a result.  According to Bruno, research demonstrates that in companies where stakeholders are valued and relationships are given priority, rather than the bottom line, businesses do better. Employees, customers, partners, and community members will go the distance to support and reciprocate when they see a company respecting and valuing them. Similarly, a company that cares only about profit at the expense of people and the community, will ultimately suffer, and it will impact their profit margins. Empathy, compassion, gratitude, generosity, and, above all, love, all have a part to play when building a business.  Now let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Business is about relationships, not simply economic exchange. Focus on providing value and being of service, not how you can make the next sale.  Be empathetic and compassionate. Empathy is putting yourself in someone else’s shoes; compassion is when you take action based on a desire to help.   To help implement these principles, Bruno says it’s important to cultivate awareness. Don’t be so busy that you’re not paying attention to the people around you. Stop and put your attention on others instead of just focusing on yourself and the bottom line.  Links to Explore Further Website - Bruno Roque Cignacco  Bruno Roque Cignacco on LinkedIn The Art of Compassionate Business  Humanorientedenterprise.com Bruno on Matchmaker.fm Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple  SummaryHey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest today, Indiana “Indy” Gregg of WeDo. Indy has built a career as both a tech entrepreneur and a singer. She made a name for herself in tech when she set out to fight music piracy. As a musician, she believes musicians and other artists should be remunerated for their work. As a result, she founded kerchoonz, a platform that paid musicians when their music was downloaded, a forerunner of today’s streaming music platforms. Indy’s most recent venture is WeDo, a neo-bank for the freelance economy. Consistent with her mission to ensure people get paid for their work, she sees WeDo as a platform that breaks down barriers for entrepreneurship and freelancers by providing access to the tools today’s online knowledge workers need, like platforms that help them deliver their services and get paid to do so.  Now let’s get better together. Actionable Insights As a seasoned entrepreneur in different industries, Indy believes in sharing her experience and knowledge, but, she says, be ready to “make your own mistakes.”  Indy also firmly believes that the future is freelance and entrepreneurship; that the right to make a living sharing and teaching what you know “is a human right.”  Indy’s experience also demonstrates that you can build a business based on principles; Kerchoonz began with a desire to take a stand against piracy. WeDo similarly is based on a belief that entrepreneurship should and can be available to all.  Links to Explore Further Indiana Gregg on LinkedIn  WeDo Book’s Mentioned: Right to Start Indiana Gregg on Spotify Indy on Matchmaker.fm Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple  SummaryHey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest today, Cory McKane, founder of WeStrive, an app for personal trainers. Cory first got interested in developing an app for personal training while he was in college in Washington State, where he worked on it with a roommate. After a few iterations, he’s now the sole founder of WeStrive, having taken the idea from being an app for consumers to a tool for personal trainers to help them grow their business.  Cory has a background in personal fitness, but it’s his commitment to talking to trainers and finding out what they need that has most helped shape the app. He’s continually honing the platform based on input from his current and potential customers, and seeks to make the app the all-in-one solution for personal trainers. Finding the right people to work with is also clearly important to the growth of his business; Cory describes his journey through working with different development teams and talks about how he’s had to learn to delegate and let go of other tasks, once he’s put the right people in place.  Now let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Talk to as many potential customers as possible to find out what their pain points are. He’s talked to over 500 personal trainers just in the past year.  Record and make notes of your conversations so you can quickly pick up on what recurring themes are and what people are saying they need.  If you’re building a SaaS product, Cory recommends focusing on one aspect or feature and making it really good. You can go on to grow it out and become the all-in-one solution once you have a good understanding of your market and you’ve proven yourself.  Links to Explore Further Cory McKane on LinkedIn WeStrive App Cory on Matchmaker.fm Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Ge the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple  SummaryHey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest today, Will Kintish, an international trainer in networking. Will was an accountant for over 35 years before moving into his second career as a trainer in networking skills. He began as a part-time trainer for Dale Carnegie Training and was recruited to do a presentation on networking at a bank. In 2000, he left accounting after his firm was bought out by a bigger firm. He’s been speaking about and training people in networking skills both in-person and online ever since.  Will addresses the fears many people face when entering a networking function and gives easy, actionable tips for meeting people, talking to them, and setting a foundation for growing a relationship. Everything rests on building relationships with people who like and trust each other, he explains. He also tells us why arriving early gives you an edge.  Now let’s get better together. Actionable InsightsKintish offers a lot of advice on how entrepreneurs can network and explains the importance of networking in order to build a business.  Be visible. Grow your presence online in addition to going out and meeting people.  Start with small talk. The first step is making a connection and building a relationship. People want to help and do business with others they like and trust. Don’t go straight in trying to make a sale.  Ask intelligent questions. Look for areas where you connect or you might be able to offer help.  Prompt follow-up is key. Set up a time to get to know each other better while you’re still fresh in their minds.  Links to Explore Further Will Kintish on LinkedIn Will Kintish on the web Will on Matchmaker.fm Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple  SummaryHey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest today, Michael DeAloia, CEO of Evergreen Podcasts.  Micheal holds an MBA in finance from Case Western Reserve, but he’s earned his chops as a business leader and entrepreneur by his involvement with a variety of successful entrepreneurial projects. While he didn’t “study” entrepreneurship - such a track didn’t exist when he was in grad school - he grew up with grandfathers who ran their own businesses. Michael co-founded BlueBridge Networks and EmergingChefs.com. He also served as the “tech czar” for the city of Cleveland. Currently, as CEO of Evergreen Podcasts in Cleveland, he has taken on the challenge of how to monetize the booming podcast industry.  Evergreen has gone from starting with 17,000 downloads in all of 2018 to 4.2 million in the last year - and Michael hopes to see that number double next year.  Evergreen Podcasts started with radio shows designed to help parents at home with their kids on topics like literature and history. The company has taken this “evergreen” idea and is growing it into a much larger podcasting platform, to become what Michael sees as “the Jan Brady” of companies. Michael works closely with his Chief Creative Officer, who he’s shared an office with and who he hopes to go back to working closely with in person once everyone is back in the office. He values human interaction and sees the importance of being able to share ideas and thoughts throughout the day in order to see creative growth. Now let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Creative growth happens through the impromptu interactions you have with others throughout the day. Michael spoke of the importance of those moments, moments many of us have come to see the value of as so many have gone to remote work.  Use every opportunity to tell your story. Michael reflected on a missed opportunity to do this.  You don’t have to be the one and only. Michael recognizes that there’s plenty of room for more than one company in his industry; it’s carving out your own place in it that’s important.  Links to Explore Further Michael DeAloia on LinkedIn Evergreen Podcasts Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple  SummaryHey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest today, Greg Demetriou, founder of Lorraine Gregory Communications, an integrating marketing company that’s been around since 1992.  Greg’s career in marketing began after he retired from the New York City police force and went into the direct mail business with his brother. The death of his brother and a divorce drove him out of the business. After a few different jobs, he bought himself a job: he found a direct mail company up for sale and started Lorraine Gregory. Greg’s company has survived a recession, the tech boom, and COVID. Around 2010, he realized that in order to survive he’d need to evolve. While it took some upfront investment, he’s grown into a full-service integrated marketing solutions provider, offering not only direct sales but also other marketing services.  In 2017, Greg started interviewing CEOs and sharing what he learned online; this evolved into the “Ask a CEO” show. “Talking to CEOs is my passion,” Greg says. The one thing he hears over and over again? The importance of creating a strong, positive work culture.  Now let’s get better together. Actionable Insights If there’s one thing Greg’s story demonstrates, it’s the importance of adaptability. While he’s stayed with what he knows, he’s not been afraid to evolve and expand to meet the changing needs of the market.  Don’t be afraid to tell your clients no. They are hiring you for your expertise; don’t just do something because they ask for it.  When you’re growing your company, culture is key. The consistent takeaway he’s learned from CEOs is the importance of respecting and valuing your employees.  Links to Explore Further Greg Demetriou - LinkedIn Greg’s Corner Office Ask a CEO  Lorraine Gregory Communications Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple  Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest today, Nick Cianfaglione, founder of Artist Republik, an online platform for musicians to distribute and market their music.  Nick got his start as an entrepreneur selling duct-tape wallets in fifth grade and moving on to producing music concerts in high school. By the time he graduated from high school, he’d put on 75 shows. He went to business school and focused on music marketing, working in the field and developing his skills in direct sales. While he had hopes of being a DJ, he realized he was better behind the scenes.  Artist Republik was born after a lot of listening and research into what artists were needing. What they were unhappy with, he found, was not so much the distribution but what was happening before and after that. Artist Republik offers access to everything an artist needs from a record label to get known at an affordable price. While they’ve only been in business a little over a year, Nick says that the demand is outpacing what they can offer.  Now let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Want to learn entrepreneurship? Put on a concert, Nick suggests. There’s a little upfront cost, so it’s not a lot of risks, and you’ll learn a lot in the process. You need to respond to what the market demands; you can’t just decide what the market needs. Learn as much as you can and be willing to adjust as needed. Nick’s company has focused on rap and Afropop because there’s a low barrier to entry and because of their wide popularity. In sales, establish a connection by demonstrating that you’ve done your research and have an authentic voice. Nick credits two years in a theater program for also helping him hone the skills he’s used in sales.  Links to Explore Further Nick Cianfaglione on LinkedIn Artist Republik Artist Republik on Instagram  Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple  SummaryHey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest today, Dima Syrotkin, founder of Panda, a chatbot coaching company based in Finland.  The origins of Panda start with Dima joining a student leadership organization, where he became interested in self-growth. He became a trainer and ran for president of a national organization, where he drew the attention of his co-founder Lauri, a philosopher who had an idea to start a marketplace for coaching. This was the genesis of Panda, but the founders would pivot twice before making it the company it is now. Based on the feedback they got, Dima and Lauri moved from the marketplace concept to providing analytics to then developing a chatbot service for coaching employees.  Coaching, Dima explains, helps people to apply principles learned in training. However, person-to-person coaching can be cost-prohibitive, and most companies only hire coaches for executives. Coaching through chatbots offers an effective alternative. If chatbots are something you’re interested in using in your own business, you’ll want to hear what Dima has to say about how coaching and chatbots are a natural fit and why using the “Wizard of Oz” model is key for making AI work.  Dima is also cofounder of Launch Club, which was a friend’s idea that similarly evolved. It’s a platform that brings together aspiring entrepreneurs so they can talk to each other, ask questions, share challenges, and get feedback. He calls it “automated networking.”  Now let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Sell first, grow later. Dima stresses the importance of testing the idea in the market before building it. Focus on creating your product or service before seeking investors. It’s likely you’ll need to have a fairly solid foundation and proven idea before you’ll be able to attract investors anyway. Having the pressure of investors can also make it harder to pivot, which was critical for Panda. Get Ramen profitable before scaling. This does two things. First, it gives you an idea of your unit economics, and second, allows you to not have to take as much money.  Links to Explore Further Dima Syrotkin on LinkedIn Panda website Dima’s article: Don’t Raise Money. Don’t Hire. Don’t Build. Sell Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple  SummaryHey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest for today, Asha Wilkerson. Asha is a lawyer and entrepreneur in the Bay Area who helps people open and run their business. She sees her work as teaching at its heart, and that’s what gives her joy. Her mother was in education, and she always saw herself there, too, but then decided to pursue law. She practiced employment law for several years before burning out. She shifted to teaching and running a program for paralegals, and eventually found her way back to practicing law, but this time by combining her love of teaching with helping new entrepreneurs navigate the legal terrain of setting up a business.   As a legal advisor, Asha has a lot of insight into all sorts of aspects of business. She stresses the importance of forming a legal business entity, no matter how small you are, in order to protect yourself and to be able to access advantages like business loans or taking investment. Now let’s get better together. Actionable Insights First things first: form an LLC or corporation. Educate yourself about what’s best for your business and consult an attorney about the pros and cons of each.  Stay in your zone - and ask for help and advice from others for those areas that are outside of it. You don’t have to figure it all out on your own. Find the right people to mentor you, advise you, and cheer you on.  Embrace change. Don’t stick with one path just for the sake of sticking with it. If you feel called to make a turn, don’t be afraid to follow it.  Do business with who you feel good about doing business with. This will go a long way toward avoiding expensive and time-consuming litigation in the future. Links to Explore Further Asha Wilkerson on LinkedIn http://www.ashawilkerson.com Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple  SummaryHey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guests today, Gaby Israel Grinberg and Mike Grinberg, founders of Proofpoint Marketing in Minneapolis. They also host a podcast, Mixing Business With Pleasure, where they interview couples -like themselves- that run a business together.  Six years ago, Gaby and Mike had flourishing careers when their infant daughter was born four months premature. Gaby was let go from her job and became a stay-at-home mom to care for their daughter while Mike continued to work and also took on freelance clients. Less than two years later, Mike’s company declared bankruptcy. Gaby wanted to get back to work, and Mike realized he already had a strong foundation with his freelance clients, so they formed Proofpoint Marketing.  From the beginning, Gaby and Mike knew they wanted to offer a different kind of workplace culture. They are fully remote and offer the kind of flexibility often missing in corporate workplaces - something they committed to well before COVID made remote working a norm. When they hired someone they had high hopes for and found out she wasn’t the right fit for the company, they went the extra mile to help her get a job with a company that was a better fit.  Having experienced several layoffs between them, Mike and Gaby point out that working in corporations may seem safer, but that it’s really the ambiguity that people have a hard time with when becoming an entrepreneur or working for a startup - it’s not necessarily any safer. With clear core values and principles in place, it’s clear these two founders offer a different vision for the future of work. Now let’s get better together. Actionable Insights “Play the long game,” says Mike. Work for payoffs down the road by building relationships, not the immediate sale.  Find your inner kindergartner. If you work on being a good human being, you can likely be a good entrepreneur,too, says Gaby. If you’re starting a business, or already have one, give some thought about what kind of culture you want to create. Don’t just default into what you know. What kind of workplace do you want to foster? How do you want to show up to support your employees and show that they’re valued?  Links to Explore Further Proofpoint Marketing Show Me The Proof, Get to the Point Podcast Mixing Business with Pleasure Podcast  Gaby Israel Grinberg on LinkedIn Mike Grinberg on LinkedIn Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple  SummaryHey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest today, Dom Einhorn, CEO and founder of UNIQORN, a business incubator located in a small French village. Dom grew up in France on the border of Germany where he learned early the necessity of hard work and taking the hard knocks needed to be resilient as an entrepreneur. From the time he started selling calendars, outselling any other kid around, he was hooked.  Dom founded UNIQORN when he and wife moved back to France from L.A., settling in France and looking for a way to be of service. UNIQORN helps tech entrepreneurs grow their businesses. He’s also the mastermind behind Startup Supercup, a tech conference that will be bringing together thousands of potential investors, hundreds of startups, and media in October of this year. Having been an entrepreneur since the tech boom of the 90s, Dom has seen a lot, and advises that entrepreneurship isn’t for the faint of heart. Entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone; if you’re not able to answer the question “Do I have what it takes?,” Dom says, it’s probably not for you.  Now let’s get better together. Actionable InsightsAs an angel investor and business advisor and mentor, Dom has critical advice for entrepreneurs looking for help, support, and investment:  First, get your inner circle on board. Demonstrate that you have something worthy of investing in by recruiting people around you to invest first.  Make sure your idea provides solutions to an existing problem. Don’t offer a solution in search of a problem.  Do your research before you ask for help. If you want to apply to work with someone, find out what they are interested in and what they are looking for. Have a hook to get their attention so you can stand out. Pain is part of being an entrepreneur so embrace it and don’t let pain and discomfort distract you. It’s the struggle that will lead to greatness. Links to Explore Further Dom Einhorn on LinkedIn UNIQORN Incubator Startup Super Cup  Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple  SummaryHey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest today, Lauren Saunders, business mentor, and coach.  Lauren attended university for visual arts and teaching and started a teaching career in Australia. When she came back home to Toronto, she struggled to find work and started thinking about other options. Having seen a friend build a successful business doing eyelash extensions, she decided to try it out as a side business. Lauren “fell in love with being a business owner,”  and the business quickly took off. She quit her part-time teaching gig and focused on growing her business, teaching others how to build a similar business, and then expanding out to coaching and guiding online entrepreneurs. She also hosts the podcast The Aligned Entrepreneur.  Lauren is a prime example of a creative who overcame her limiting beliefs to find a way to be of service while also building a life she loves. She believes if you come from a place of abundance, being of service, and believing in yourself, you will connect with the right people and find your way. She teaches entrepreneurs to first find what their areas of competence are, so they can show up with confidence and then figuring out a way to offer that in a way that people need in order to create a thriving business.  Now let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Whatever your business, it’s important that you get comfortable telling your story. Everyone needs to start somewhere. Lauren laughs about her early attempts at YouTube videos but understands it was a beginning that brought her to where she is now.  Be the person you need to be, even if it means breaking out of your comfort zone. Be willing to explore and try something out. Ask what’s the next step that feels exciting, and have the courage to take it. Apply what you know to a different industry or sector. Business is business but how you approach it can also be innovative. Links to Explore Further Lauren Saunders  The Aligned Entrepreneur podcast  Lauren Saunders on Instagram Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple  SummaryHey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest today, Niall Murphy, CEO, and founder of EVRYTHNG Product Cloud.  Niall is a serial entrepreneur in the technology and communications space. He’s Irish-born but grew up in South Africa and trained as a computer scientist. He was an advisor under the transition to the African National Congress in the early 90s and learned to plan by going backward from what would be needed in the future. His other ventures have included one of the first ISP companies in South Africa and a wifi company in Europe in the early 2000s.  Niall came up with the idea for EVRYTHNG after hearing someone ask, “Why can’t I Google my shoes?” The mission of EVRYTHNG is to provide data and information on products all around the world, providing insight into where a product comes from, what it’s made of, where it ends up, and much more. He sees this mission as inextricably tied to the project of sustainability as, for example, we can better understand what’s in a piece of clothing so that it can be recycled instead of incinerated. It can also be used for tracing food at a time when people are increasingly wanting to know exactly where their food comes from and how it was grown or made. Niall also talks about the challenges in starting a business whose market hasn’t been found yet, and what to do to ensure you’re ready to jump in when demand hits.  Now let’s get better together. Actionable Insights “Just get out there and get on with it,” Murphy says. “Don’t wait for permission.”  Murphy also advises that you stick with your vision, but be ready to adapt. You might need to change your strategy or product but keep your vision always in mind.  Try to be a pioneer, but be careful not to overcapitalize too soon. Read the market, and make sure you have enough to keep you going until the market opens up.  Links to Explore Further EVRYTHNG Website  Niall Murphy on LinkedIn Productive AI Podcast Gartner Hype Curve Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple  SummaryHey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest today, Cathy Nesbitt, who has a dual mission: to help save the Earth with worm composting, and to help us all feel better through laughter.  Cathy didn’t see herself as an entrepreneur for many years. She was a secretary, where she was “one of the annoying ones” who enjoyed her work and sought to create a more positive work culture and bridge divides. In 2002, when nearby Toronto closed its landfill, she became curious and bothered by the realization that all that garbage was being trucked away. She dove into vermicomposting - the use of worms for composting, which enables apartment-dwellers to do composting indoors. It wasn’t an easy sell - even though she had a solution to a problem, people still weren’t buying. She began telling her story and educating people, garnering interest from local media and eventually one of the larger Toronto newspapers.  Ten years in, she was getting discouraged. She was introduced to laughter yoga and got hooked. She now teaches laughter yoga and trains others to do so, too. As Cathy explains, laughter is a potent antidote to stress because it replaces badly needed oxygen to the brain. When we’re stressed, we literally are not in our right minds, because blood and oxygen get funneled to the rest of the body. When we laugh, we can’t help but take deeper breaths. Smiling and laughter also send messages to the  brain telling it to replace cortisol with dopamine, the “love drug.” Laughter yoga, a movement founded by a doctor and yoga teacher in India who believe laughter is one of the keys to world peace, teaches people activities and practices to make them laugh, helping to reduce stress and spread more joy. Now let’s get better together. Actionable InsightsNesbitt’s story offers a lot of kernels of wisdom, including:  A key to being successful is in-person connection. Pick up the phone, or even better, meet face to face, to help spread your message. Of course, all of this is when it’s safe to do so. Cultivate and follow your joy. What turns you on? Do more of what you like to do. Also, instead of striving to have more, strive to have more joyful moments in a day.  Find one problem and help solve it. No one person can solve everything, but you can make a difference. Don’t underestimate the gatekeepers like assistants and those that help who you want to talk to. They do hold the keys to the castle. Links to Explore Further Cathy’s Crawly Composters TEDx talk on vermiculture: Wonderful World of Worms   Cathy Nesbitt on Twitter Cathy’s Chuckle Club (weekly Zoom laugh meetings) Laughter Yoga  Laughology - documentary  Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple  SummaryHey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest today, Christopher Fox, founder of Syncresis, a communications strategy firm. Chris earned a Ph.D. in French literature but after two years of teaching, he realized it wasn’t for him. He took his research and communication skills and put them to work into digital communications and strategy, eventually founding his own firm. He’s evolved his focus to fintech and particularly to working with thought leaders in this niche, finding that his passion and skills for analyzing the complexity of French literature translate well to peeling back the layers of the complex discourse of fintech. One key factor in getting to really understand a concept, Chris explains, is to understand its context.  Chris’s main objective when working with clients is to help them connect with or rediscover theirs why. This not only connects them to their passion, it helps him shape their story for the external world and for their target audience. For his clients and for his own business, Chris focuses more on crafting the message and getting it in front of the right people than on trying to game SEO and algorithms.  Tune in to find out what French books Chris recommends as well as his insight into why it’s easier for people to understand credit cards than bitcoin.  Now let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Your why is your fuel. Keep asking yourself why, even after several years. This will help drive you and keep you motivated and passionate. Chris does this for himself as well as eliciting it from his clients.  SEO and ads can be a solid starting point, but eventually, you’re going to want to focus on who you’re reaching - not how many. Don’t be afraid to learn new things -- even when they are far afield from what you studied in school or did in a past career. Learning is an important part of seeing the gaps in your thinking. Links to Explore Further Syncresis Christopher Fox on LinkedIn Chris’s reading recommendations: (They are all in the public domain, including some older translations, while newer translations are not): Honoré de Balzac: Lost Illusions/Les illusions perdues Emile Zola: Money/L'Argent Gustave Flaubert/Sentimental Education/L'Éducation sentimentale Marcel Proust: Remembrance of Things Past/À la recherche du temps perdu (for the more ambitious reader)  Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple  SummaryHey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest today, Darrin Schenck of TriageNow. When the relocation business took a nosedive with the recession of 2008, Darrin started looking for another opportunity. That came when he was invited to join a startup to lead sales for a telephonic triage service for employees injured on the job. When TriageNow formed in 2012, they joined a small market with three other competitors who’d been around for 12 years. They positioned themselves a little differently and Darrin focused on listening and learning about what potential clients needed. The first few years were tough, but once they landed a big client, Darrin says, “it’s all been downstream.”  Darrin’s approach to sales differs from the conventional “close the deal” approach. He strives to get to know and educate potential clients, to learn about their needs and provide a service. He sees it more as opening a relationship rather than closing a deal. He stresses that by prioritizing building relationships, his clients turn to him for advice and referrals, and in turn help promote his company. New entrepreneurs are advised to start out in a way that will differentiate themselves and to remember that you’re laying the groundwork for future sales and customer relationships.  Now let’s get better together. Actionable InsightsDarrin’s advice for aspiring entrepreneurs:  Know what you’re getting into and plan for a gap of time between when you start and when you’ll be making money. This means either keeping your day job or ensuring you have enough funding to keep you going for a few years.  Plan to spend three times more than you think and to make half of what you hope to.  The market will tell you if you have something worthwhile, but the only way to learn that is to put it out there and give it time.  Links to Explore Further Darrin Schenck on LinkedIn TriageNow Closer speech from Glengarry Glen Ross https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4PE2hSqVnk Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple Summary Hey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guests today, Brett Cooper and Evans Kerrigan, cofounders of Integris Performance Advisors. Brett and Evans met through their work as process improvement specialists. They came to realize that improving a company’s productivity ultimately comes down to also addressing the issues that come up in working with people. When the company they worked with wasn’t interested in going that route, they struck out on their own, forming Integris and learning all they could about how to help make more effective leaders and how to teach people to work better together.  Their ideas are broken down in their recent book, Solving the People Problem: Essential Skills You Need To Lead and Succeed in Today’s Workplace. They’ve also developed an app so employers can assess their own strengths and weaknesses, learn some new practices, and also see the various styles of their employees in order to understand better how to connect with and relate to them.  The foundation of Brett’s and Evans’ philosophy is based on an understanding of emotional intelligence and how to better work alongside people with different styles. We all have our own styles of working, dictated by how we get energy, what stresses us out, and, especially, how we communicate. The more we can learn and understand not only how we tick, but how the others around us tick, the better off we’ll be. We’ll be more productive and foster more understanding. We’ll also appreciate what other people can bring and find people to work with that complement our skills. Ultimately, finding the right people to work with is often finding someone with common values, as Brett and Evans note in the podcast. Now let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Understanding your EQ - your emotional intelligence quotient - and making a point of improving on your interpersonal skills can be two of the important things a leader or entrepreneur can do. You can get started by taking the DISC-EQ assessment at Solving the People Problem. Use the code ETHOS to take it for free. One of the most common reasons startups fail is because of a breakdown in relationships. Make a point of learning about others’ differences and appreciating what they can bring to the table.  A strong leader is someone who is willing to be vulnerable and acknowledge the mistakes you make - and then learn from them. Links to Explore Further Brett Cooper on LinkedIn Evans Kerrigan on LinkedIn Solving the People Problem Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest today, Erin McCullough, a speaker, presenter, and “joy coach” who works with leaders and entrepreneurs to address anxiety and to find their joy.  Erin’s journey  started with developing an anxiety disorder that became so extreme that she couldn’t leave her house. After a year, she found some relief from a homeopathic psychiatrist and moved to Hawaii. There she built a thriving business and started a family. Yet she realized she was still living a life that had her constantly stressed out and overwhelmed and she started searching for answers, reading self-help books and attending seminars.  After her divorce, she found herself looking for tools to help her, but nothing seemed to stick. She credits her turning point when she started reading A Course in Miracles, particularly where she was encouraged to start living a life of joy. She also attended a visualization workshop which taught her the tools she needed to transform her life, enabling her to sell her business and move to a new stage of her journey. It was then that she started a business teaching and coaching others about how to live a more joyous life.  As  a “joy slinger,” Erin teaches that we create our own experiences, and that in recognizing that we are not our thoughts or feelings, but a being who can focus on creating a life we love, and living in joy. Joy, distinct from happiness, is not dependent on external factors, such as who or what is in our life. She stresses that the pursuit of making money cannot be our end goal; that we need to find our alignment with our purpose in life.   Now let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Acknowledge that you can’t control other people or events. Focus on what you can control - which is really only yourself - and let the rest take care of itself.  There’s no guarantee of success and the sooner you drop that belief, the better.  Don’t rely on external people, events, or things to be happy. Instead, cultivate joy in the present moment experience.  Get 100% aligned on a deep level around your business or vocation. Live your purpose. Your body keeps the score when it comes to stress, strain, and trauma. Find the time to move around to downregulate your body so you can have more joy in your life. Links to Explore Further Erin’s Website Erin Mac on LinkedIn Erin on YouTube Love and Peas Foundation Facebook page Erin Mac on Instagram Book mentioned: The Body Keeps the Score Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. If you like the show, please give it a rating and view on Apple Podcasts or Spotify! Now on to my guest today, Sam Harris, whose latest venture is Syncify, a social networking app for podcasts. Sam started off as an entrepreneur at University in England, where he was a biology major and wanted to take action to address the environmental issues he was learning about. He won a grant to start his first venture and has been launching new businesses ever since, sometimes failing, sometimes succeeding, but learning a lot along the way.  With Syncify, Sam is hoping to fill in the gaps for podcasters who want to connect more with their listeners, and for listeners to be able to talk about and recommend podcasts. Built on the web and as a mobile app, he envisions it becoming multi-functional, providing more useful data for podcasters as well as ways for listeners to learn about new podcasts and how to support them. Sam also hosts the Growth Mindset podcast, where he shares insight on how people have used various processes to succeed, and co-hosts the Wiser Than Yesterday podcast, where he talks about nonfiction books he’s read and what he is learning from them.  Now let’s get better together. Actionable InsightsHarris reiterates what we’ve heard from many other entrepreneurs, including:  Keep trying. You’ll fail, but learn from those failures, and success is inevitable.  The data on successful entrepreneurs shows that the only commonality is that the more you try, the more likely you are to succeed — so start now.  Enjoy the journey. I hear this one a lot and agree with it as well. I think that the whole point of doing something entrepreneurial is to see if you can do it and that sometimes does not work out. Podcasting is changing. The interview format is moving aside to more storytelling and long form content. This does not mean that the interview is dead but podcasters have to start sharing what they have learned. Sound familiar? All of you told me the same thing. Links to Explore Further Sam Harris on LinkedIn Syncify Growth Mindset podcast Wiser Than Yesterday podcast Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest today, Rahul Aggarwal, cofounder of Designhill.  Rahul comes from a family of business owners. After earning degrees in chemical engineering and business, he struggled with finding good designers. His younger brother Varun, a freelance designer, was having trouble finding good clients and getting paid. The two decided to build a business to solve the problem. The result was Designhill, which now boasts over 250,000 design professionals connecting with over a million businesses. The platform offers a way for businesses of all levels to find good design services at a price point they can afford, whether it’s an inexpensive do-it-yourself logo or customized printed products.  Rahul works on business development and branding while Varun oversees the technical side. The brothers make their partnership work by recognizing the different skill sets each brings to the table, having a common vision, and making decisions together on long-term strategies. Rahul stresses the importance of learning as much as you can about areas of the business you might not know much about and that “you need to know a little more than a little” so you can be sure to hire the right people and make well-informed decisions.  Now let’s get better together. Actionable InsightsAggarwal’s advice for aspiring entrepreneurs:    Listen and absorb advice from others, but in the end it’s up to you to determine the best path to take.  Don’t be afraid to try different things in pursuit of your goal. We learn a lot from our failures.  Don’t aim for perfection when you’re starting out. Test your product or service, listen to feedback, and then improve from there. You won’t be good at everything required to be an entrepreneur. Don’t worry. Do the best you can and explore how to get better like Rahul does with public speaking. Rahul founded the company with his brother Varun. His advice on cofounders is to have complementary skills and to be honest with each other. Being brothers, give them another level of honesty that might lack with non-family members. Links to Explore Further Designhill Designhill on LinkedIn Designhill on Twitter Rahul Aggarwal on Twitter Designhill on Instagram Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. Stay tuned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest today, Dan Emery, founder of the New York City Guitar School, who talks about the challenges of pivoting in COVID.  In early 2020, the New York City Guitar School was going strong with five physical locations and thousands of students. Dan and his team were starting to explore possibilities in online learning. When COVID hit and shut down in-person classes, the school had to go fully virtual. It wasn’t easy but Dan was prepared: he’d put aside emergency savings and already was onboarding teachers into virtual platforms before the city went into lockdown. They did have to lay off office staff and close locations, but now they teach students all over the world and he sees online learning as a core aspect of their offerings.  With a master’s in teaching from Columbia, Dan has developed a unique methodology to teaching students how to play music, encouraging his teachers to help students find their “sweet spot” - that place where they are challenged but can also achieve mastery and move on to harder lessons. Raised in Idaho on a farm, he also loves the way music connects people from different backgrounds and builds community.  Now let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Dan struggled at first with whether his business should be a nonprofit. He’s since adopted the belief that he can change people’s lives through businesses, and indeed it’s one of the best ways to effect change in the world. Find your own sweet spot: focus your energy on what you uniquely have to offer, and lean on others’ expertise for the rest. Whether it’s implementing a project management system or a marketing strategy, someone has learned how to do it effectively, so you can focus on your own unique offering. Be prepared. Emery’s far-sightedness in having savings and then acting fast when he saw a crisis coming helped him to more effectively pivot and, while the business still struggled, they were able to come back strong in a new form that has enabled them to grow to offering lessons to students all over the world. If you want to be in a band, Dan suggests being a bass player especially if you can sing. Those are in high demand. Links to Explore Further NYC Guitar School  Dan Emery on LinkedIn NYC Guitar School on Instagram Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. Stay turned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest today, Noah Labhart, cofounder of Veryable and host of the podcast Code Story.  Noah graduated from Texas A&M with degrees in math and computer science. He worked for years at Alcon Labs in Fort Worth while also playing in a rock band. After earning an MBA, he started to “get the itch” to build his own company, but didn’t have a specific idea about what to do. It was his cofounder, Michael Kinder who brought the idea that would eventually become Veryable.  Veryable is a unique platform that offers on-demand labor solutions for manufacturing companies and warehouses. Companies can contract workers as they need them, and workers can find work that is more flexible than traditional manufacturing jobs. Noah sees the platform as part of a larger vision where manufacturing has seen the downside of outsourcing and is also working with software that is more integrated and universal. He can see it eventually becoming linked to other new developments like on-demand warehouses for e-commerce businesses.  In his podcast Code Story, Noah interviews tech innovators to bring to light the stories behind their ideas and how they came to fruition.  Now let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Noah’s advice for anyone aspiring to start their own business? “Just do it.” His only regret is that he didn’t start building his own business sooner.  Even if you fail or things don’t work out as you expect, the experience of learning and doing better next time can be very satisfying.  Don’t dismiss the traditional blue-collar work ethic of putting the hours in and doing the hard work, no matter what kind of work you’re doing. The discipline of hard work matters. Links to Explore Further Veryable Noah Labhart - Co-Founder & CTO - Veryable (LinkedIn) Noah Labhard Code Story podcast Dirty Jobs (reality TV show)  Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I’m trying something new based on your feedback. Stay turned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guests today, Mark Amouzgar and Bita Ilahifar of Captain Well, a new app in femtech, one of the hottest areas of software development. This is a first for the show -- two guests a once. Like many other entrepreneurs, Mark saw a problem and set about trying to solve it. He started developing the app in response to his wife’s experiences with severe menstrual pain. As he was already working in femtech, he decided to apply his knowledge to developing something that would help her and the millions of others who cope with similar issues. The app, an AI assistant called Anna, also includes information to help partners of the people experiencing the pain better understand their partners’ experiences.  Bita, a former English teacher, works on business development and outreach, helping the company find investors and partners. As she has also coped with period pain, she is excited to be working toward offering personalized solutions. Mark and Bita see the technology as having the potential to help doctors working with patients suffering from endometriosis and fibroids.  One of the major obstacles is not so much the technology as the taboos around discussing menstruation, especially in the developing world. Understanding how important education is to this project, the company donates 1% of its profits to NGOs focused on providing education for girls and women around the world.  Now let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Listen to what your customer needs and wants. In developing the tech, Mark also made sure to listen to the feedback from those who used it, adding features to improve it.  Bita jumped into this project because she felt passionately about helping others. She does anything and everything she can to help make it a success. Focusing on being impactful is what keeps her going.  Learn as you go, advises Mark. If something  comes up he needs to learn, he researches it and then implements what he’s learning. But he doesn’t let not knowing something stop him from moving forward. Bita is a first time entrepreneur and while a little scary, she figured why not give it a try. If you’re new to being an entrepreneur, her advice is don’t wait. Give it a go and see what happens. Links to Explore Further Mark Amouzgar on LinkedIn Bita Ilahifar on LinkedIn Anna & CaptainWell  Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I’m trying something new based on your feedback. Stay turned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest today, Dr. Steve Yacovelli, the “gay leadership dude.” Steve started out in and quickly left academia, moving to doing training and communications work for corporations, including Disney. It was while he was working for Disney he started a side business with a coworker that eventually morphed into his full-time business, Top Dog Learning Group. A meeting with a publisher prompted him to write and publish a book on leadership for the gay community, in the process taking on the moniker “the gay leadership dude.”  Steve provides training for leaders in corporations and large nonprofits to be better communicators, with a focus on fostering a more inclusive environment. He explains how anyone starting a business should give some thought to their core values so that you can then articulate those values to the people you work with, be they employees, partners, or customers. These values also can provide guidance for navigating difficult situations. He also urges the people he works with to purposely put themselves in uncomfortable situations where they will interact with people different from themselves. Among the many other recommendations Steve offers, he drives home the point that above all, empathy for others, no matter what their position or situation, should be paramount.  Now let’s get better together. Actionable InsightsI asked Dr. Steve what his advice is for new entrepreneurs. Here are some takeaways: Take some time to look at the big picture. This will help you articulate your values. Where do you want to go? Who do you want to serve? What impact do you want to have?  Learn how to effectively market yourself. Start small: write a blog, be a podcast guest, or give presentations. Focus on being of service and making connections.  The secret to leadership? Trust. Work on building and earning the trust of others who will then want to work with and for you. Have empathy for others and try and see things from other perspectives. Links to Explore Further Dr. Steve on LinkedIn Top Dog Learning Book site for Pride Leadership Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I’m trying something new based on your feedback. Stay turned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from the interview. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest today, Mark Herschberg, experienced CTO, MIT lecturer, and author of the book The Career Toolkit.  Mark graduated with an engineering degree from MIT and started working in startups. A mentor suggested he also do consulting work for corporations, and he soon realized he lacked some critical skills. He has made it his mission to teach these skills - which include networking, management, and leadership - as both a teacher and an author. His book, The Career Toolkit, offers some insight into what many colleges fail to teach.  One of the biggest challenges for an entrepreneur, as well as anyone looking to advance in their career, is learning the “soft” skills of networking, management, and leadership that enable them to move from a worker to a manager and then a leader. Mark describes what managers do as supporting others, of anticipating barriers and getting them out of the way, of fostering collaboration and negotiating. Moving from a contributor - one who goes to work at figuring out how to make the product or service solve a problem - to a manager means helping others find solutions, ensuring a good flow of communication, and helping people work together more effectively. While learning these skills requires a shift in mindset, anyone can acquire them.    Now let’s get better together. Actionable InsightsYou’ll probably want to check out Herschberg’s book and website, but here are some insights to start: Start shifting your mindset by learning more about the soft skills. If everyone improved in these areas just a little bit, the cumulative impact could be huge.  If you’re looking to become a manager or are a manager, think of yourself as the person who supports the people doing the work. Herschberg sees the traditional pyramid as inverted, where the managers are the support, lifting up the contributors.  The best way to learn these skills is through peer groups. Form a group to share experiences and brainstorm in order to get exposed to a wide range of possibilities. Since there is no one right answer to the types of problems managers encounter, the more you learn about others’ experiences, the better off you’ll be.  Links to Explore Further The Career Toolkit Mark Herschberg on LinkedIn Alchemy by Rory Sutherland  Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I’m trying something new based on your feedback. Stay turned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest today, Dan Salehi, a patent lawyer who shares his observations about business growth, particularly about the new phenomenon of SPACs.  Dan studied engineering in college but decided to switch to law, entering the world of patent law. He became curious about the big picture of why businesses choose to build what they built. He gradually transitioned to helping corporations close deals, but patent law remains an integral part of what he does. Dan explains that he never wanted to be one-dimensional and was always interested in understanding the bigger picture. In this episode Dan provides his insider view of SPACs - Special Purpose Acquisition Companies - which are an alternative to the traditional route of going public. He also talks about why patents are an important part of building a business when done correctly.  Some of the questions Dan addresses are:  What are SPACs? Who are the key players and how does it work? When should a company consider going that route? Why might now be the optimal time to explore it?   What purpose does a patent serve in building a business? When and how should you patent an idea? How do patents play a role in business growth?  You should also know that Dan and I both worked at Ion Torrent and then Life Technologies when Ion got bought by them. To all my Ion friends, I hope you enjoy this walk down memory lane. Now let’s get better together. Actionable InsightsDan provides some advice for entrepreneurs who are ready to take the next steps in growing and scaling their businesses: First, prepare your “exit” strategy - the way you will move out of the startup phase.  Protect your ideas with patents and trademarks. Spend your money wisely and appropriately. You don’t have to patent everything but should have a “picket fence” approach where you patent the broadist ideas you can. Narrow down your priorities; prepare a pitch deck and start fundraising. Ensure your ideas are protected through patents since investors will ask.  Prepare for your exit by exploring opportunities like going to an IPO or SPAC. You can also look at getting acquired. Links to Explore Further Dan Salehi on LinkedIn Spectrum IP Law Group Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I’m trying something new based on your feedback. Stay turned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. For this part, remember one thing. All of your answers need to be in the form of a question. I’ll take monumental achievements for 1,000 Alex. Answer: The person that’s the 100th interview on the best podcast for entrepreneurs on the planet, at least according to the host. Ding: Who is Shaun Gold? That’s correct! Shaun Gold, you got your wish. You’re my 100th guest!  Congratulations. Now, let’s hear a little bit more about Shaun. Shaun mastered the art of networking as a nightlife promoter in Miami for 15 years, a time in his life he calls “a great experience he’ll never do again.” He met people of all kinds and learned how to talk to people and earn their trust. Many of those people, some of whom are business leaders and celebrities, are still part of his network.  Shaun is a serial entrepreneur and has been an advisor for startups. He now focuses on writing and speaking, sharing lessons learned. Shaun believes you learn, grow, and eventually succeed by failing and never, ever, giving up. He cites the book Hagakure and its lesson on focusing and persistence. He encourages entrepreneurs to have the courage to step outside the box, to do the thing nobody else is doing, reminding us that AirBnB and Uber were once ideas others thought were crazy.   Now let’s get better together. Actionable InsightsGold shares many words of wisdom, including:  Don’t care what others think about you. Stay focused on your dream.  Don’t just copy what someone else is doing. Find something new to bring to the world.  Doing nothing leads to nothing. Even if an action doesn’t bear fruit, you have to keep trying.  Links to Explore Further Shaun Gold’s Website Gold’s Code Website Book: Better Be U Shaun Gold on LinkedIn Twitter Instagram Movie & book we discussed: Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai  Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I’m trying something new based on your feedback. Stay turned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from my guest. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest today, Angel Ribo of the CEO Confidant and founder of the nonprofit Wisdom for Kids.  Six years ago, Angel had a spiritual experience that led him to leave corporate America and found both a business and nonprofit. Originally from Spain, Angel’s parents encouraged him to learn other languages, which led him to pursue a career that took him all around the world. He now helps CEOs and successful entrepreneurs expand their businesses on a global scale.  Founded with friends in Mexico, Angel started Wisdom for Kids because he wanted to help the high numbers of kids living in poverty that he saw frequently in the course of doing business. Drawing on the insight gained from the work of one of his cofounders, a well-known professor of education in Mexico, and the work they subsequently did, he’s developed programs to connect with kids and help them build skills in entrepreneurship.  Now let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Whether you’re in business or in philanthropy, learning about and understanding the community you want to serve is absolutely essential. There is no one-size-fits-all solution.  Connect first. Angel and his cofounders start out their work with kids by connecting with them at their level through music, movement, and conversation.  Collaboration can be the key to growth and success. Angel helps foster partnerships and collaborations to help businesses grow. This is so important when you’re expanding internationally. Links to Explore Further Angel Ribo on LinkedIn Wisdom for Kids Divine Human Ventures Angel on Matchmaker.fm Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I’m trying something new based on your feedback. Stay turned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from the interview. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest today, Sydney Wong of VenturX. Sydney started by working in tech marketing after graduating from college. Curious to know more about the startup world, she moved to San Francisco to try to learn all she could about tech startups and entrepreneurship. Driven to help solve the problems startups face, when she returned to Montreal, she started VenturX, a platform that provides tools and support to startups and they also do their own angel investing.  Sydney explains how VenturX is different from other platforms like Angel’s List in that it provides more analytics to help both startups and investors understand each other better. In the last year, during the pandemic, the company also started its own investing branch, which has given her even more insight into the startup funding journey, some insights which she shares here. Now let’s get better together. Actionable InsightsIf you’re a startup thinking about finding an investor, you’ll want to keep in mind some of the best practices revealed in this conversation. Tailor your pitch to your audience. Research the investors you’re pitching to so you can more clearly connect with them and explain why they should invest in you. Keep in mind that different areas of the world have different expectations on how to pitch. Make a pitch that passes the “grandma test.” Be sure it’s clear and understandable, and you explain what problem your service or product solves.  Practice, practice, practice. You likely won’t get another chance, so be prepared the first time. Links to Explore Further Sydney Wong on LinkedIn VenturX on LinkedIn Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. A couple things before we get going. First, please take the survey to let me know what you think of the show. It’s on the top of the show notes. Second, stay tuned to the end and I’ll give you the actionable insights I learned from this episode. Thirdly, you can support the show by buying the audio version of the book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. Thanks so much for listening. Now on to my guest today, Jacob Wedderburn-Day, cofounder of Stasher.  Jacob and his cofounder were friends at Oxford, where they studied economics and brainstormed ideas for possible businesses. After moving to London, they came up with the idea for Stasher after seeing how people they knew were looking for places to put baggage temporarily while visiting and travelling. Inspired by Uber and Airbnb, they put up a website and started offering storage solutions in their own flats. Eventually they found an investor, a storage company in the UK, which enabled them to build the business and form partnerships. Through SEO, partnerships with travel businesses, and online reviews, they were growing strong until COVID hit last March.  With everyone in lockdown, Jacob and his cofounder decided to go into hibernation. They were able to keep their team and preserve their capital through a government furlough scheme which Jacob describes as going “on pause,” so they can be ready to start up again as soon as restrictions on travel are lifted. The support has been invaluable in enabling them to keep their team together and keeping the business viable until people are traveling again.  Now let’s get better together. Actionable Insights One key to Stasher’s success has been to do one simple thing and to do it well. This means they can easily meet people’s expectations, garnering referrals and good reviews.  Use downtime wisely to prepare for the next stage. While Stasher has obviously been hit by the pandemic, the company is focused on getting ready for when restrictions will be lifted again. Microeconomics is way more useful than macroeconomics. The reason being that local conditions matter more than anything when it comes to business. Go global by focusing on local.  Links to Explore Further Stasher Treepoints Jacob Wedderburn-Day on LinkedIn Morality of Everyday Things Podcast Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Take the Survey Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. A couple things before we get going. First, please take the survey to let me know what you think of the show. It’s on the top of the show notes. Second, stay tuned to the end and I’ll give you the actionable insights I learned from this episode. Now on to my guest today, Nick “the Lamb” Dais, a sports podcaster on the Blue Wire Network.  Nick calls himself “the sports dude” – the one in his friend group who is in the know about sports and who gets asked about sports betting. In 2014, he joined a friend’s podcast and has been doing podcasts ever since while also running the family business. Nick attended college, earning an associate’s in business from Nassau Community College and intending to finish a four-year-degree and become a police officer.  He juggled classes, podcasting, and working the family business in Manhattan, travelling back and forth between Long Island, Queens, and Manhattan multiple times a day on only a few hours of sleep a night. When a friend pointed out that he spent more time and energy on planning podcasts than on his coursework, he realized podcasting was what he really wanted to do. He walked out of class and didn’t look back.  A self-described hustler, Nick teaches himself anything he needs to know through YouTube tutorials and spends any time he’s not working on the family business creating and disseminating content through his podcasts and social media.  On his podcast Veteran’s Minimum, Nick talks about sports and other topics he’s curious about, such as his obsession with the Colombian drug cartel. He has also been featured in a documentary about sports betting on PlayUSA News. Nick and I also talk about the origins of Blue Wire and how we both met Kevin Jones, CEO of Blue Wire. If you want to know the origins of Blue Wire, this is the episode to listen to. Now let’s get better together. Actionable Insights Play to your strengths and learn everything you can. Nick takes his lifelong interest and insight into sports and betting to his content. A better speaker than writer, Nick concentrates on content that is audio and video, funneling any income from podcasting into building his studio.  Trust the process. Nick is is a great example of how when you put in the work and stay focused on what you want to do, you’ll eventually find opportunities.  Nick and I discussed what it means to have freedom. While some people who are successful have a lot of what they want, one thing they give up is freedom. Enjoy the journey and keep focused on the kind of life you want, rather than the possessions success will bring you.  Follow up and be helpful. This is one thing I really like about Nick. He follows up, does what he says, and is super helpful. Being helpful and keeping your word is such an important part of being an entrepreneur. Links to Explore Further PlayUSANews feature on sports betting featuring Nick Dais Veteran’s Minimum The Lamb Show Nick Dais on LinkedIn Nick on Twitter Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I’m trying something new based on your feedback. Stay turned to the end of the interview where I’ll give you some actionable insights that I learned from the interview. These insights are also in the show notes. As always, thanks for listening. Now on to my guest today, Sarah Beth Perry, founder of With the Band.  Sarah Beth grew up in Nashville surrounded by people in music, so the music industry seemed a natural fit. She recalls going to shows and fan events for bands that she and her sister followed and being disappointed that there was little engagement with the actual artists. When she went to college to prepare for a career in the music industry, she decided she wanted to be part of improving fan engagement. While still a student Sarah Beth hatched an idea and won a pitch contest. She went on to participate in many pitch contests, eventually winning enough money to start her company, With the Band.  With the Band started out as an app that helps plan activities to foster deeper fan engagement, such as having fans create a rainbow during one show. When the pandemic shut down live shows, Sarah Beth went to work figuring out alternative ways for artists and fans to connect online, looking at what the existing tools lacked and developing a platform that filled the needs of fans and artists alike. In particular to help fans feel a part of something bigger. She looks forward to using the tools she’s developed over the past year to bring to live shows when they eventually come back while continuing to foster engagement in the virtual world. Now let’s get better together. Actionable InsightsPerry’s already learned some key lessons as a young entrepreneur, including: You can’t do it alone. She talked to as many people as she could find and has a circle of trusted advisors. But, she says, “you don’t have to do everything people tell you to do.” Do your research. Perry spent time researching the industry and what was out there before she honed in on what was needed and missing.  Go inward. Perry talks about how she’s had to “dive deep” to figure out how to support herself to give her the strength and courage to reach out and persist; she’s also thinking through her options of where she might eventually want to go with the company.  Links to Explore Further With the Band Website Sarah Beth Perry on LinkedIn With the Band on TikTok Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I’m going to try something new today. At the end of the interview, I’ll share some actions to try or Advice to Take that I learned from the interview. You can also read these same thoughts in the show notes. Now on to my guest today, Farzad Rashidi, founder of Respona.com. Farzad emigrated from Iran as a teenager. After college he took an internship with Visme, which has fast become a major competitor to Canva, offering visual tools for businesses. There he learned and honed strategies in marketing and SEO, becoming its director of marketing. Noting that only 10% of what a marketer does ends up being productive, he learned that SEO and backlinking have been key to helping Visme become more visible and attract more traffic to their site without having to pay for a lot of advertising. It also requires a lot of labor. Like many entrepreneurs, the idea for Respona arose out of a need that wasn’t being filled; in this case, an effective tool for effectively doing personalized outreach to scale for PR and marketing. Respona is still in its early stages but shows promise. As Farzad explains, much of learning how to be a successful marketer is simply learning, experimenting, and reassessing. One constant he has found is the necessity of building relationships. Unlike other tools, Respona seeks to harness the efficiency of automation and put it to use for personalized connections. Respona makes it more efficient to practice the principles behind marketing: producing good content, building relationships, and being of service. Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to TakeRashidi and I share some valuable insights on best practices for PR and marketing, including:  Start early when planning a campaign for your launch; a few weeks is not enough time. Rashidi is starting to build awareness now to launch in six to seven months.  Build authority and credibility by writing blog content, connecting with experts, and showing up on influencers’ podcasts.  There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to marketing. Part of a marketer’s job is experimenting and figuring out what works.  Links to Explore Further Respona.com Visme Farzad Rashidi on LinkedIn Book mentioned: Free PR: How To Get Chased by the Press Without Hiring a PR Firm by Cameron Herold and Adrian Salamunovic Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Take the Survey AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. Thanks for listening to the podcast. I was wondering if you could do me a favor. I’m doing some research on Podcast Market Fit and would love it if you could fill out a quick survey. Should take no more than 3-5 minutes. The link is at the top of the show notes. Thanks in advance. Now on to my guest today, Dallen Reber, CEO of Realizations, a company that produces self-mastery journals. Dallen played baseball in college and became interested in sports science, earning his master’s and working for a research company in Tampa. He soon realized, however, that he wanted more from life. Journaling was the tool he used to gain insight and clarity on moving from figuring out what he wanted to do to figuring out the man he wanted to be.  Inspired by the insights he found in journaling, Dallen developed a journal product using a print-on-demand service, soliciting feedback and learning from customers how to make the product better. When he and his wife realized they were expecting their second child, he decided he needed to be an example for his kids and follow his dreams. He got more serious, revamped his product, put it up for sale on Amazon, and then started his podcast, Realizations: Defining Success Beyond Dollars.  Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to TakeReber is still early in his entrepreneur journey but some actions he’s taken that keep him moving toward success are:  He launched his first product on a small scale and actively solicited feedback. The quality wasn’t perfect, but it helped him understand how to make a better product.  He invested in training and mentoring. A class he took taught him how to journal; he also hired a mentor to help him bring his business to the next level.  He keeps showing up. As a former athlete, Reber knows just showing up every day no matter what lays the foundation for success.  Links to Explore Further Realizations with Dallen Reber Podcast Realizations Dallen Reber on Twitter Dallen on Matchmaker.fm Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes.  Now on to my guest today, Swire Ho, cofounder of Garuda Promo and Branding Solutions, a promotional merchandise company.  With a name that many people don’t remember, Swire calls himself “the promo guy.” He and his wife had another business they sold in order to open this one, which focuses on providing branded merchandise. When covid hit, Swire worried about what would happen. But he did as many others did: he pivoted.  First he started sourcing face masks and then started selling the idea of dropshipping kits for virtual events. The idea came from watching his kids in virtual school, where they were given breaks to do activities and play games.  As the director of sales and marketing, Swire credits his love of talking to others for his success. He has realized that connecting with the gatekeepers in companies, such as the secretaries and assistants, have been the secret to networking. He makes himself available, asks them what they need, and follows up to make sure they are happy with the service.  Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take The key to good networking is knowing your buyer. In Ho’s case, he knows that while they may not be the actual decision-makers, the gatekeepers are the ones to connect with to offer his services.  Similarly, if you’re ordering branded merchandise, consider the audience and what they might do with it. Ho tells the story of a company that offered bottles in exchange for people at a marathon event who succeeded at doing a number of pull-ups. The “winners” promoted the brand by taking pictures of themselves with the bottles.  Follow up to make sure your customer is happy, and don’t be shy about asking for referrals and offering to help others with similar needs.  Links to Explore Further Swire Ho on LinkedIn Garuda Promo and Branding Solutions Garuda Promo on Instagram Swire on Matchmaker.fm The Small Business Show on YouTube Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. Thanks for your continued support of the show. It’s pretty darn awesome to see how much people are enjoying these conversations. Now on to my guest today, Tracy Lamourie of Lamourie Media.  Tracy’s beginning as a publicist was through her activism alongside her husband. Together they worked on a campaign demanding for the release of Jimmy Dennis, who was found innocent in 2017 after being in prison for over 25 years. They managed to bring international attention to the campaign, and Tracy realized she could use her skills to start her own business. She began as a freelancer and eventually made a name for herself, ultimately becoming Lamourie Media, with her husband as cofounder and COO.  Like many business owners, Tracy found herself losing a lot of clients when Covid hit, but she quickly managed to recover, finding other ways to do the work she does and help her clients gain exposure.  Tracy and I talked about the challenges of being in public relations and of explaining its value, especially to entrepreneurs. Tracy stresses the importance of trusting in the PR person you hire because it’s their expertise and connections you’re hiring. Going for the “low-hanging fruit” coverage is never a waste of time; it can inevitably lead to something bigger. Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to TakeIf you’re a an entrepreneur, here’s what you need to know about public relations:  It’s common to want to know what results you’ll see when doing public relations or hiring a publicist, but often the value is unquantifiable. Find someone who has helped others succeed, then trust their expertise.  When seeking publicity, don’t scoff at the smaller markets. You need to start small and slowly build, just as you do in other parts of your business.  If you’re looking for someplace to pitch your business, Lamourie recommends that you first come up with your story, then study the markets you want to get into. Does this show or publication run the type of story you’re offering? Make sure you understand what they’re looking for and how what you have to say might fit.  Links to Explore Further Tracy Lamourie on LinkedIn Lamourie Media Tracy on Matchmaker.fm The Best Tips for Getting and Using Testimonials in Business The difference between confidence and arrogance Jimmy Dennis Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes.  Now on to my guest today, Roger Nairn of JAR Audio.  Before he started JAR Audio, Roger worked in advertising, where he built a career he loved managing clients. But he was also drawn to the idea of starting his own company, and after some efforts that failed, he and two friends started talking about starting a podcast company. Before they’d even figured out a name, they’d landed a client through a connection -- talk about market validation. In the last three years they’ve taken on such clients as Lululemon and Expedia, helping to build their brands through podcasts. Roger shares that he still struggles with the uncertainty of entrepreneurship, and how he is coming to terms with just having to push past the fear.  While Roger and JAR Audio focus on branded content, they follow the principles of good content marketing. These include telling a good story and knowing your audience. The best podcasts, Roger explains, aren’t advertisements, but take into consideration the audience’s needs and challenges. As an example, a podcast produced for a bank helps people navigate the economy in the time of COVID. Another produced for a wellness company offers information on holistic health. While podcasting isn’t at a point where you can really assess its ROI, one of the advantages is what Roger calls “the halo effect,” where brands become respected and known through the high-quality information and engaging stories they offer.  Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Podcasting is one of the hottest iterations of content marketing right now, offering a high level of engagement. Whether you’re thinking of starting a podcast, or just being on one, focus on telling a good story and engaging the audience.  Even successful entrepreneurs have a fear of failure and fears about letting others down. To succeed, have courage and get comfortable being uncomfortable.  Don’t get bogged down in the details before you try out your idea. This is just a way to keep yourself from jumping in and taking risks. Roger and his cofounders got an idea, put it out there, and then just figured it out from there.  Links to Explore Further JAR Audio Roger Nairn on LinkedIn JAR Audio on Twitter Roger on Matchmaker.fm Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes.  Now on to my guest today, Ugi Djuric, founder of Contenthorse.  Ugi may be only 21, but he’s already experienced failure as well as success in building a business. After trying to help market bars and restaurants in Belgrade, he found his niche in writing content for SaaS companies and then launched his own content marketing agency, Contenthorse. His newest venture is Podino, which seeks to incorporate podcasting into their clients’ content marketing strategy; not surprisingly, soon Ugi will be launching his own podcast. Ugi shared some of the strategies they use at Contenthorse to produce good content that entices possible buyers to a site, stressing that it needs to be of high value and highly actionable. His team aims to set their content apart by doing their due diligence in researching what’s out there, crowdsourcing experts, and remembering that in the end, it’s people you’re trying to reach — not Google. He sees the promise of artificial intelligence in helping to do research, but believes that it’s only people that can make good copy.   Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Look for the gold when preparing content. Djuric’s company has a process for researching and connecting with potential customers and experts to find the “nuggets” that others miss.  Good, effective content can bring potential customers to your site, but it can’t necessarily convert them into paying customers. Make sure your content strategy includes a strategy for conversion as well as attraction.  Is there something your  clients want or need? Consider if it’s something you can provide. When Djuric’s clients started asking for help with podcasts, he realized there was a need he could fill.  Links to Explore Further Ugi Djuric on LinkedIn Contenthorse Ugi on Matchmaker.fm Podino Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryThanks for joining me today. I’m so thankful that you listen to the show. Now on to my guest today, Bharat Kanodia, a professional appraiser who has a great YouTube Channel called What’s It Worth? In this episode, he’ll demystify the appraisal process.  Bharat graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering, but opted to go into the world of finance, where he learned about appraising. He has spent his career building expertise in appraising businesses, portfolios, real estate, and more. He also hosts a YouTube series where he gives insight into how business owners can assess and improve the value of their business. In our conversation, Bharat provides invaluable insight into how valuations are made, especially from a venture capitalist perspective. He jokes that he’s one of the few people in the world getting paid to give his opinion, but he also follows a process and asks some key questions when doing his work. One key takeaway is what venture capitalists are really looking for when they value a business, and why not all investors are going to come up with the same number.  Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to TakeUnderstanding how a business (or anything else) is valued is key to attracting investors or buyers.  Valuations will be different depending on who it’s for. An insurance company will be looking at a business differently than a potential investor, for example.  Figure out the key factors that define value in your field. What are the dominant trends? Detach from ego and emotion; sometimes you’re better off taking an offer from an investor who offers you less.  Links to Explore Further Bharat Kanodia on LinkedIn “What’s It Worth?”: Bharat Kanodia’s YouTube channel Veristrat Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. Thanks for listening and getting better with me. I’m always impressed as to how much great feedback I get from both the guests and listeners. So, please keep it up. I appreciate all of it. Also, I wanted to quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes.  Now on to my guest today, Sedale Turbovsky, CEO and founder of several start-ups, including Open Grants, which we’ll be talking about today.  Sedale dropped out of college to become a river guide. Finding he had a lot of downtime, he learned how to write code and build websites to make money. Soon he was working for big businesses, which led him to the startup world. His first business was a collaboration with someone who was also travelling the world and who recognized Sedale as someone he could work with. Currently Sedale heads Open Grants, a site dedicated to providing more transparency and ease in the grant-funding process.  Many of you might know that finding and applying for government grants and bidding on projects can be a frustrating, complex process. Open Grants is trying make this process easier and more transparent by providing a centralized platform to bring together potential grantors and grantees. In this conversation, Sedale and I talk about how entrepreneurs can start navigating the maze of governmental bureaucracy and, eventually, help change it.  Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Look for and cultivate relationships with people who you’re excited to work with. Turbovsky’s first startup came about when he collaborated with a fellow adventurer. He’s worked with the same group of people over several ventures.  Make connections with civil servants and elected officials. Civil servants want to help but often lack the tools to do so. Offer to help and connect with those in a position to use your skills, to share your ideas, and to lay a foundation for working in partnership. Recognize that change, especially on the governmental level, happens slowly. Find where you can make a difference and trust in the process.  Links to Explore Further OpenGrants Sedale Turbovsky on LinkedIn For info and resources on advocacy toward entrepreneur-friendly legislation: Center for American Entrepreneurship (Go here to check out the episode featuring John Dearie at CAE) Engine Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes.  Now on to my guest today, Kuda Biza, cofounder of Nunbelievable. Kuda’s story is like something you would see in a movie. Growing up in a lower-middle-class home in Zimbabwe, he soon realized he was better off than a lot of other kids whose parents couldn’t even afford to send them to school. At the age of ten he vowed to some day help those kids. Despite friends and family who told him that his dream of going to college in America was unrealistic, Kuda found a way to not only access what he needed to take the SATs and apply to colleges; he also earned a scholarship to an American college, passing on an offer for a free ride from a university in Zimbabwe.  In college Kuda started a business selling T-shirts and used the profits to help fund kids’ education in developing countries. While his original dream was to be a pilot, he opted to take a job as a business innovator with a Fortune 500 company. There he learned how to build and scale a business. When a former colleague was thinking about starting a business that would give back to help feed the hungry, he immediately thought of Kuda. That business became Nunbelievable,which sells cookies and donates part of the profits to food banks. True to his spirit, when his partners wanted to hunker down and wait out the pandemic, Kuda recognized that they were needed more than ever, and in the last year, the business has grown exponentially. His goal now is to fund 10 million meals over the next three years.  Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Instead of focusing on what you don’t have, focus on being resourceful. Biza found creative ways to ask for what he needed to get him where he wanted to go. Look for opportunities where others see obstacles.  Take risks if they might lead you to where you want to go. Biza took a risk turning down an offer from the university in Zimbabwe and kept his hopes up. He also turned down a job as an airline pilot to work for a company that gave him opportunities to grow as a businessman and entrepreneur.   Know that it is possible to combine service with business. Consider how you can help to lift up others while also pursuing your dream. Start with one cause, organization, or mission. Links to Explore Further Kuda Biza’s Website Kuda Biza on LinkedIn Nunbelievable Kuda on Matchmaker.fm The S.P.E.A.R method Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes. Also, thanks for listening and supporting the show. It means a lot to me that you’d spend your time trying to be a better entrepreneur. Now on to my guest today, James Mulvany, founder and CEO of MatchMaker.fm, Podcast.co and Radio.co. If you’ve been listening awhile, you probably know I connect with a lot of my guests through Matchmaker.fm, an easy-to-use platform that helps podcasters find guests and guests find podcasts. In just a year, MatchMaker has already grown to over 22,000 users.  Like many businesses, Matchmaker.fm grew out of a passion. In this case, James’ passion was radio and he intended to pursue a career in it. He eventually realized the odds were low that he’d ever be a successful DJ, so to make money he started an online business, first in design and then offering streaming services. By the time James graduated from university, he already had a growing business, which evolved into Radio.co. Since then, he’s added Podcast.co and Matchmaker.fm to his successful ventures.  James and I talked a lot about what it takes to be a podcaster and we offer a lot of suggestions for anyone who might want to try to be a guest on a podcast, so if you are even thinking about starting a podcast or being a guest on one, you won’t want to miss this one. Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to TakeFor anyone who wants to give podcasting a try: James suggests planning out your first series, and not just a few episodes. Many podcasters give up after a few episodes partly because they don’t have content. Find guests to tap into their expertise. (Matchmaker.fm is a great place to connect with potential guests.) Know that it’s going to be a lot of work at first, but eventually as you find a process and a rhythm, you might find it fun. Being a guest on a podcast is a great way to get the word out about your product or service, but keep in mind: Approach it like an opportunity to talk with someone, not a sale or an interview. Just focus on telling your story.  It doesn’t matter how big the podcast audience is; use every and all opportunity to talk about what you offer. At the very least, you might have an interesting conversation.  Check out James’ YouTube channel for more tips on starting a podcast and being a guest.  Links to Explore Further MatchMaker.fm Podcast.co James Mulvany on Instagram James Mulvany on YouTube James on Matchmaker.fm Jarie’s Post on How to be A Rockstar Podcast Guest and Host Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes. Also, thank you so much for listening to the show. I really appreciate it. Now on to my guest today, Johnny Crowder, singer for the band Prison and founder and CEO of Cope Notes.  Johnny is not your typical CEO. He was recently featured in Forbes with his shirt off displaying all his tattoos. He’s also the singer of the metal rock band Prison. Cope Notes grew out of Johnny’s own struggles with abuse and mental health conditions as well as being a mental health peer mentor and advocate. He wanted to create something that would help kids like him that hang out at metal shows. He was surprised when his creation, a text messaging program to help people rewire their brains, worked for all kinds of people. He’s proof that you don’t have to be a “techie” to have a tech start-up.  Johnny shares how being a musician has helped him not only better understand what the kids in his own community needs, but how it’s helped him connect with the people who have helped his company succeed. Ultimately his goal is to bring the discussion of mental health out from the dark and to encourage people to take a more preventative approach to being mentally healthy. Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Meet your customers where they’re at. Crowder realized he needed something that didn’t require people to log in. After signing up, his subscribers receive random text messages that help them rewire their brains for mental health - nothing else required.  Keep it simple. A successful start-up doesn’t have to have complicated tech.  Mine your community. Crowder was able to meet with people that were connected to organizations that have bought his product through his shows. Tell your story. Everyone has a story and it’s important that we share our experiences. It’s the only way to help others that might be struggling with the same things you are.  Links to Explore Further Cope Notes Prison (band) website  Johnny Crowder on Instagram @JohnnyCrowderLovesYou Johnny on Matchmaker.fm Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes.  Now on to my guest today, Phil Michaels, CEO of Tembo and a business and life coach. Forbes has listed him as one of the top 30 social entrepreneurs under 30.  Before he’d even heard the word, Phil was an entrepreneur. He began his career selling lemonade on the soccer fields out of his sister’s puppet playhouse. He moved on to selling Pokemon cards, taking football bets in high school, and promoting nightclubs as a college student. He loved the hustle, yet he never considered being his own boss. He pursued a pre-med program, intending to become an ophthalmologist. Then he read Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad, Poor Dad, and his life changed completely.  Phil went on to co-found a company that built one of the first fitness apps, going on Shark Tank to promote his idea. He’s now CEO of Tembo Educational Group, a company that helps parents all over the world educate their kids using text messaging. Most recently, he’s started a coaching business for high achievers and CEOs. In this podcast, Phil shares thoughts on the importance of fostering creativity in kids, how to tap into their motivation, the keys to building good daily habits for success, and the important questions everyone needs to ask themselves.  Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to TakeMichaels says the three most important questions one can ask yourself are: Who are you spending the most time with? He believes in the adage that you are the sum of the five people you spend your time with.  Where are you spending most of your time? Does your environment nurture, support and inspire you?  What content are you consuming? Are you reading and learning how to become better, or are you mindlessly scrolling through social media? The books we read and the shows we watch and listen to directly impact our thoughts and attitudes.  Links to Explore Further Phil Michaels on LinkedIn Phil Michaels on YouTube iamphilmichaels.com Tembo Phil Michaels on Instagram Books mentioned:  Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What Rich People Teach Their Kids That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!  by Robert Kioysaki The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results, by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, by James Nestor Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes.  Now on to my guest for today, Katie Stoddart, business and performance coach. As a student Katie showed promise in math and physics, so going into engineering seemed like the right choice. But while she liked the work, Katie felt it wasn’t quite the right fit for her and that she needed to be working more with people.  After some searching, she landed on coaching and knew right away it was for her. As an “all or nothing” type of person, Katie gave up her job four months into coach training to launch her own coaching business.  Katie works with solopreneurs and entrepreneurs committed to growing their business and looking to increase their productivity as well as find more balance in their lives. Coaching gives her the opportunity to apply what she knows about analysis and discipline while also allowing her to be creative and work with people, elements she misses as a scientist. Like many entrepreneurs, Katie has coped with moments of low self-confidence, and she shares some strategies for how to keep going despite what the voices in your head might be saying.  Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Stoddart shared a technique called “sugar cubes”: track all the positive feedback you get, put it in a place you can easily go back to, and periodically review it, especially when you’re feeling uncertain about your services. It will remind you of the contributions you can make to others’ lives.  Be confident in your value when setting your rates. Charging what you’re worth affects both you and the client. Lowering your rates to try to gain clients will not only diminish your sense of self-worth, it will send the message that you aren’t offering that much value, and clients may not step up and do the work.   Another approach for when you feel unsure about yourself is to focus less on yourself and more on others and how you can be of service. This eases nervousness and connects you to your why.  Links to Explore Further Katie Stoddart on LinkedIn Katie’s Website, The Focus Bee Thought Leadership Academy Katie on Matchmaker.fm Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes.  Now on to my guest for today, Peep Laja, an internet marketing expert and founder of CXL and Wynter.  Peep started out as an entrepreneur when he took a remote work opportunity and moved to Panama to learn Spanish. When he found himself without a job, he started offering his services in internet marketing.  In 2011, he started CXL marketing, which now offers e-learning in marketing and last year he founded Wynter to provide messaging testing and optimization.  Like many successful entrepreneurs, Peep saw a need and aimed to fill that need. In working on marketing for CXL, he searched for a service that provided insight into marketing copy in order to improve conversion rates. Not finding any that offered what he was looking for, he decided to start a business that filled that need.  Wynter pays people to participate in panel testing of marketing copy for both B2C and B2B businesses, providing invaluable feedback to companies looking to improve their messaging. He envisions building Wynter out to providing other services that will help businesses improve and automate their marketing. Full Disclosure: I’m on the Wynter platform as a tester and I have paid for landing page feedback as well. Let’s just say I’m a big fan! Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take So many great business ideas begin with someone looking for something to fill a need and not finding it. What tool or service is missing in your field; what would it take to offer it? Don’t assume it already exists. Even if it does, you might be able to do it better.  Laja stressed the importance of clarity over everything else in marketing copy. Words are even more important than design in engaging and converting customers. Remember, too, that even when you’re marketing to businesses, that a human being will be reading it.  Get feedback. Wynter is premised on the idea that getting feedback by potential customers is key to refining your message. Always search for honest, constructive feedback on campaigns and messaging from people in your target market.  Links to Explore Further Peep Laja on LinkedIn  Wynter.com CXL.com Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes.  Now on to my guest for today, Cody Simmons, CEO at DermaSensor, a health technology company in Miami focused on helping support clinical decisions around skin cancer. DISCLAIMER: The DermaSensor device is currently CE Marked and is also registered and available for sale in Australia and in New Zealand, It is investigational and not currently approved or available for sale in the U.S. Cody comes from a family dedicated to helping others, and he sees his work with DermaSensor as helping people in a big way. After studying bioengineering and business at Brown, he did graduate work at Stanford, and followed his interests in science and business by working for various companies and cultivating his leadership skills at a large, established company.  His role at DermaSensor is to oversee bringing a product to market that will help primary care providers detect skin cancer. This, Cody explains, will save thousands of lives, as currently many people with skin cancer are either misdiagnosed or do not follow up with a specialist.  By making the detection of possible cancer easier and more accessible, DermaSensor is poised to help more people find out earlier whether they have cancer, making a huge difference in mortality and quality of life for many skin cancer patients.  As CEO of a medical device company, Cody has a lot resting on his shoulders, from overseeing product development to pursuing funding opportunities. He says that his experiences as a competitive tennis player, in addition to his motivation to help people, has taught him to pick yourself back up and keep going when things get rough.   Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Everyone has their part to play. Simmons recognizes that while he’s not a teacher or doctor, he can use his skills and interests to make a difference and help others.  Always keep your why in mind. Simmons’ motivation to help save lives not only keeps him going, it’s also an important part of convincing others – like investors – to get on board. Know when you need to call in the experts. Simmons realized that the product the company’s founders envisioned would need people with specific expertise to make it happen. Once he brought in those experts, the development process went more quickly.  Links to Explore FurtherDermasensorCody Simmons on LinkedIn Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes.  Now on to my guest for today, John Dearie. If you’re an entrepreneur or venture capitalist or angel investor, this one is a must listen to. John Dearie is founder and president of the Center for American Entrepreneurship, a research, policy, and advocacy organization dedicated to promoting policies that promote entrepreneurship. John has made a career of studying and working on policies and legislation to grow economies.  After the Great Recession ended in 2008, John set out to understand why the economy was not bouncing back as quickly as everyone had hoped. That led him to leaving his job as CEO of the Financial Services Forum to founding his own organization dedicated to the promotion of entrepreneurship.  According to the latest research, entrepreneurship and startups are one of the biggest factors in growing an economy and in creating more jobs. Yet until recently, legislators in D.C. didn’t have anyone seriously advocating for and teaching them about the importance of entrepreneurship.  The legislation passed in response to Covid is just one example of the short-sightedness; while many businesses have been helped by the Paycheck Protection Program, a lot of startups and new businesses were left scratching their heads on how it could help them. John and his group have helped educate legislators on this and many other issues. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, thinking about a startup, an investor, or even if you’re anyone concerned about the future of the American economy, this is information you’re going to want to hear. Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to TakeIf there’s one takeaway from this discussion with Dearie, it’s that we all have to make our voices heard. Dearie’s organization has stepped up to be a conduit and provide expertise and advocacy for entrepreneurs and startups, but they need everyone’s input to help them set their agenda. Armed with the research that shows we have a big part to play in recharging our economy, our voices are more important than ever. Here are some actions you can take:  Get educated about policies and legislation that affect startups. Learn the research that points to the importance of nurturing entrepreneurship to grow the economy and share this information with the public and policymakers.  Reach out to your local representative or volunteer to serve on a citizens’ board to help make an impact locally and make sure the views of entrepreneurs are represented.  Sign up for lists to be notified of hearings at the local, state, or national level. Advocacy organizations are always looking for people to come testify so lawmakers can better understand their challenges.  Links to Explore Further Center for American Entrepreneurship John Dearie on LinkedIn Books mentioned:  Where the Jobs Are: Entrepreneurship and the Soul of the American Economy by John Dearie (Wiley) Start-Up Nation: The Story of Israel’s Economic Miracle by Dan Senor and Saul Singer (Twelve) Information on Current Legislation:  New Business Preservation Act The Endless Frontier Act Ignite American Innovation Act Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes.  Now on to my guest for today, Nir Bashan. Nir is a world-renowned creativity expert who has worked with many big companies and clients, including Woody Harrelson, Rod Stewart, AT&T, Microsoft, Suzuki, and jetBlue. His recently published book, The Creator Mindset, was named one of Porchlight’s top 40 business books of 2020. He offers lectures, workshops, and consulting to help businesses tap into their creativity to solve problems and grow.  Nir has been working on cracking the creativity code since he was nine. He refused to believe that creativity is “just something people are born with” and after many years he’s come to believe that everyone can access their creative potential, no matter what their field. It is, in fact, the key to success.  He teaches people that they have the capability to solve problems if they access their own unique abilities. Numbers and data only give a snapshot of what’s already happened. By accessing our creativity and focusing on the big idea, we can instead see what’s possible as opposed to what has already been. Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take There’s value in honesty. Bashan scoffs at “get rich quick” strategies. He values being honest above all, even if it affects his bottom line. Still, he’s been able to make a good living and clients clearly value what he brings to the table.  Stop looking outside for answers. The real solutions come from within, says Bashan.  Strive for a balance between creativity and logical thinking. Most businesses put emphasis on hard data, but it’s creativity that will help you solve problems and move forward.  Links to Explore Further Nir Bashan’s Website The Creator’s Mindset Nir on Matchmaker.fm Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes.  Now on to my guest for today, Sam Kamani, tech innovator, CEO of ProductDone and most recently the co-founder of Ensydr, an app that helps people in learning about investing without risk. Sam grew up in India and moved to New Zealand to attend college. After college, he made himself useful by offering to help businesses wanting to do e-commerce when only 1% of businesses were doing online sales. He quickly made a name for himself as the go-to person to help businesses gain traction online.  From there he started several businesses, first selling supplements online and then turning his attention to digital products. His company ProductDone helps entrepreneurs identify and build a marketable product in the SAS and mobile app spaces. In addition to running his companies, Sam has authored two business books and also hosts the podcast Want Money Got Money.  Sam’s advice for entrepreneurs is to start small and to build a minimum value product first. Finding your buyers before building to scale is key. He also believes playing the long game and getting people engaged and interested in your product is more important than making the quick sale.  Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take “You have to start somewhere,” Kamani says. “Give yourself permission to fail.” Starting small and testing market demand will ensure you can do so with less risk.  When Kamani decided he’d stop worrying about what people thought and gave himself permission to engage on social media, he exponentially increased his personal brand.  You’re only limited by what you think you can’t do. Become aware of your passions and what you have to offer, and follow that path. Kamani says one of the most important lessons he’s learned is that “you must be what you can be.”  Links to Explore Further Sam Kamani on TikTok Sam Kamani on LinkedIn   Kamani’s personal website BuildMyMVP Ensydr Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes.  Now on to my guest for today, Dan Chan, The Billionaire’s Magician.  Dan became interested in magic at a young age, learning from the pros and frequenting Misdirections, a magic shop in San Francisco that offers lectures and guests. After working in the finance department in Paypal in its early days, he embarked on a full-time career as a professional magician. Dan has dubbed himself the “billionaire’s magician” because he performs for some of the highest-profile figures and companies, including Google, Netflix, LinkedIn, Salesforce, and Zillow. He also gives talks to companies and organizations on such topics as avoiding scams and pickpockets.  In this show, Dan provides a lot of insight and tips into being a creative entrepreneur. First, he believes in reverse engineering success. When he wants to achieve something, he assesses his goal to make sure it’s realistic and achievable, then figures out the steps he needs to take to get there.  When COVID hit, while he at first feared for his future, he quickly learned what it took to do shows online and now finds himself regularly booked for acts he performs from his own theater. He also believes in the value of learning from others, and copying techniques to make them your own. Succeeding in the entertainment business is as much about authenticity as it is about learning your craft.  Dan refers to himself as an “improv artist,” one who can quickly respond to the audience and environment no matter what it throws at you. He credits his many experiences just getting out there and doing his thing to be one of the most important ways to learn. Dan started teaching his son James magic tricks at an early age, and at 13 he is also already achieving some success.  Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take If you’re a creative, learn all you can from others. Take skills and techniques and add a new twist to them. This is one of the keys to earning followers and respect.  Ignore the hecklers and learn to put aside your ego. Chan notes that magicians who keep performing and become successful have all dealt with hecklers; learning how to respond and keep going anyway are vital to success.  Look for ways to provide value and for the hidden sources of value in others.  When a potential client whom he saw as a good connection couldn’t offer him his going rate, he recognized how she could provide value in other ways, and that’s paid off.  Links to Explore Further Dan Chan Magician Website Dan Chan Facebook page Misdirections Magic Shop Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes.  Now on to my guest for today, Jan Cavelle, author and entrepreneur. Jan Cavelle ran her own furniture company in England for 19 years before giving it up. She now shares her insight and expertise with the world through writing and speaking. Her book, Scale for Success, is forthcoming from Bloomsbury in February.  Jan grew up on a farm and took a series of sales jobs. Once she became a single mom, she was motivated to earn enough to support her family. She tried her hand at buying and selling wares to interior designers. When she found she couldn’t obtain what the market was demanding, she took out a loan to start a furniture company.  Jan talks about the tough times she went through that almost broke her -- something a lot of entrepreneurs go through but rarely talk about. After some years, she became burned out, and eventually decided to leave the business that was no longer satisfying her desire to live with purpose. She found that she loved writing, so much so that she faced her fears of being an imposter to publish her writing online and eventually land a book contract to write about the entrepreneurial journey.  Scale for Success shares insights and stories from her own journey as well as that of other entrepreneurs across the globe.  Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take No matter what your goal is, learn how to sell. It’s an essential skill whether or not you want to be an entrepreneur. And if you’re an entrepreneur, learning your customers’ struggles is imperative.  Most entrepreneurs need a purpose other than making money. When Cavelle realized she needed something more to motivate her, she made the leap to leave her business.  Be a risk-taker.  Cavelle shares that she started her business on credit “with a loan advertised from the back of a Sunday paper” and later, when she wanted to write a book, she called Bloomsbury – and they said yes.  Links to Explore Further Jan Cavelle’s Website Information about Jan’s forthcoming book, Scale for Success: Expert Insight Into Growing Your Business Jan Cavelle on LinkedIn Jan on Matchermaker.fm Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to quickly jump in and let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes.  Now on to my guest for today, Trav Bell, the self-proclaimed #1 bucket list expert in the world.  Trav first found success as an entrepreneur with a personal training franchise. Then depression struck. He started looking for answers, mainly through taking seminars, attending events, and trying out experiences. Eventually, he decided to take what he learned and start teaching it to others. At his very first seminar, when he shared that he had a bucket list, someone in the audience said, “You’re the bucket list guy.” Trav took the label and ran with it.  Trav has been keeping a bucket list since he was 18. When he realized that many people don’t have a written down list of what they want to do and accomplish in life, he latched onto this as a tool to teach people how to live more happy, purpose-filled lives. In the last 10 years, he’s traveled all around the world giving talks and now has a cadre of certified bucket list coaches in 22 countries. His goal is to share his teachings with 10 million people so as many people as possible can live a regret-free life.  Now, let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take If you don’t already have a bucket list, write one down (Bell recommends using pen and paper). For Bell’s 12-step bucket list blueprint, see his Ted Talk (link below). M.Y.B.U.C.K.E.T.L.I.S.T Bell talks of your bucket list as being a life plan. Your career plan should be in service to that plan, giving you time and money flow to do what you want to do. Does your current job allow you to do the things you want to be doing? Does it allow you to live life in a way that Bell calls “hitting your internal rule book” — living by your values?  If not, a bucket list can help you get clear on some ways you can move in this direction.  What have you learned that you can share with others? Bell stresses to thought leaders he works with that they have an obligation to share their insights. What wisdom or lessons can you impart that might help someone who is now in the same or a similar situation you were at one time? Whether it’s through a talk, an article, book, video or course, consider the best way to deliver that teaching.  Links to Explore Further The Bucket List Guy website TedX Talk: Live Your Bucket List Life Trav on Matchmaker.fm Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to quickly jump in and let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes.  Now on to my guest for today, Dylan Ogline, founder of Ogline Digital, a digital marketing company.  Dylan’s route to entrepreneurship started at 14, when he started selling cell phones on EBay after reading the book Rich Dad, Poor Dad. He scraped his dreams of winning a college scholarship as a hockey player and instead dropped out of high school to educate himself on becoming a business owner. After many different starts and failures after his initial success selling cell phones, he was advised by a mentor to focus on one thing. That one thing was his digital marketing company, which he has built over just a few years into a seven-figure business. Though still young, Dylan has put in the time to try and fail, and it’s through the lessons he’s learned through both coaches and mentors as well as his own experiences that has brought him to finally achieving success.  He reinforces the teaching that you can’t ever give up, drawing on the wisdom of the Stoics. He also thinks the most important lesson to learn is to never lose touch with what it’s like to struggle. It’s getting through the difficult times that gives you strength, tolerance, and growth to eventually succeed. He practices gratitude daily and wants to pay it forward and help others, and now also offers programs to help people start their own agencies.  Now, let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Practice gratitude for the hard things, because they teach important lessons and help you get to a better place.   Regularly put yourself in an uncomfortable situation. Stoics taught that at least once a month, you should live as if you’re poor. It helps you be grateful for all you have and teaches you the strength to endure.  Keep going, no matter what. You might have to change direction or strategy, but assess what you’ve learned from your failures and always be moving forward toward your dreams.  Links to Explore Further Dylan Ogline’s Website Ogline Digital Dylan on Matchmaker.fm Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR or Story Funnel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to quickly jump in and let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes.  Now on to my guest for today, Christina Eanes, a leadership coach who has used her love for escape rooms to teach personal and professional growth through her writings, courses, and speeches.  Christina got her start as an analyst in law enforcement, moving from California to Washington, D.C. to take a job with the FBI. After moving up the ranks there, she became a leadership trainer, and then left to start her own company. Four years ago she and her husband discovered escape rooms, and they’ve been hooked ever since, participating in upwards of 500 escape rooms. Christina uses escape rooms to teach concepts and help people become more aware of their beliefs and limitations, ideas she outlines in the book she co-wrote with her husband,  Life Is an Escape Room.   In this podcast, Christina and I talk about how escape rooms can also teach you a lot about ourselves as well as other people: how we handle stress, what we do when the going gets rough, and whether or not you should give up when you’re nearly out of time.  Christina focuses on helping leaders become more transformational, rather than transactional. One parallel to escape rooms is that when a leader is done getting through their escape room, is their team ready to follow him or her into the next challenge, or do they want to cut and run?  Now, let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Escape rooms are more than just a fun challenge. Some of the advantages are that they bring people together; they challenge you without requiring outside knowledge; and they test and show how your perceptions shape your beliefs about how life will treat you. They have been used for corporate events, hiring, and even for people testing out a potential romantic partner.  “The  best way to learn is to have fun,” says Eanes. People get so much more out of lessons if they’re engaged and having fun. Since she can’t offer escape rooms online, Eanes has found other ways to engage people with different kinds of puzzles and problem-solving scenarios.   While Eanes has focused more on moving people toward a transformational style of leadership, she acknowledges that there needs to be a balance of both transaction (results-driven) and transformation (people-centered). Assess your own skills and abilities; where might you improve in your own life and career or business? How could, say, improving your communication skills help make you more effective at what you do?  Links to Explore Further Christina Eanes Website Book: Life Is an Escape Room: Applying Lessons Learned from Successful Escapeletes to Achieving More in Life  Podcast: Quit Bleeping Around Christina Eanes YouTube Channel Christina Eanes on Matchmaker.fm Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to quickly jump in and let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes.  Now on to my guest for today, Dustin Miller, polymath innovator.  I’m sure you’re wondering what a “polymath innovator” is. Dustin explains that it’s someone who becomes an expert and innovates in various areas. Dustin rejects the idea that you should focus on one skill or domain. With enough focus, time, and  drive, we can learn and master skills in a number of areas. Dustin proves this by his “omnimedia” concept, where he produces content on a variety of platforms and in multiple ways — from writing blogs and producing videos, to mastering social media and producing podcasts —  or what he prefers to call “polycasts.”  Dustin has always been one to create on his own terms. While he clearly loves to learn, he’s always preferred finding his own path for learning and educating himself. And it’s worked. He’s taught himself how to use a plethora of tech tools. We talk about which tools he likes and why, the ones he wants to try, the one tool he hopes to develop some day, and what he’s doing to stay consistent in his learning and creating.  Now, let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to TakeDustin Miller offers a lot of tips for anyone wanting to produce content on various channels. Here are just a few:   Repurpose and repackage content. Miller explains how he is able to start out with one blog post and reuse and repurpose it many times by using text, video, and audio so he gets himself on many different platforms, putting his content in front of more people. This saves considerable time from having to constantly create new content.  You can eventually learn it all — just not all at once. Learn enough so you can use a tool — or decide not to — and then decide what tasks you can farm out to others so you can move on to learn something new or focus on the bigger picture.  Take a break. Miller finds breaks are essential to keeping him focused and productive.  Links to Explore Further Dustin Miller’s Website: https://polyinnovator.space/ The Polycast TeleInnovator, Miller’s YouTube channel Dustin Miller on Matchmaker.fm Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to jump in quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes.  Now on to my guest for today, Eric Twiggs, a speaker, coach, and author of the book The Discipline of Now: 12 Practical Principles To Overcome Procrastination.  Eric first realized he needed to find his purpose and stop wasting time after a college friend died in a car accident. After becoming successful in his career, he had another epiphany: he wanted to make a difference in people’s lives. So he became a speaker and author, inspiring people to make change in their own lives.  In April, he and three partners started the What Now Movement, a platform on Facebook to empower people to pivot in response to the pandemic.  When it comes to procrastination, Eric offers a three-part framework in his book, The Discipline of Now: what’s the cost, what’s the cause, and what’s the cure?  Eric also shared many insights into what it takes to be a successful speaker, from being prepared and showing up early to get to know people before the talk, to never ending on a Q and A session. Cultivating a positive mindset by reframing thoughts, counting wins, and learning from failures are three principles Eric espouses and lives by.  Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to TakeTwiggs offered many pieces of advice in our talk; here are just a few tips he gives when preparing a presentation:  Remember the rule of three. People remember best when information comes in three.  Think of yourself as the messenger; “you’re just the mailman,” Twiggs says. This will help you be less invested in how the message is received. Focus on the positive. Whether it’s appreciating the good things in life, or just looking at what you can learn from mistakes or failures, always look for the positive.  Links to Explore Further Eric Twiggs’ website  What Now Movement on Facebook The 30-Minute Hour Podcast The Discipline of Now Eric on Matchmaker.fm Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to jump in quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes. To those of you who already got yourself a copy, thanks so much. It means the world to me that you want to support the show but also build a better world through entrepreneurship. Now on to my guest for today, Tim Sprinkle, founder of Layup Content and author of Screw the Valley: A Coast-to-Coast Tour of America’s New Startup Culture. Tim is a former journalist who grew frustrated with the quality of the content businesses were trying to pitch in order to get stories written. So in 2014 he started his own PR company, Layup Content, where he helps companies figure out and tell their stories.  Tim shares my vision of making the core of selling a product figuring out its story. For Tim, he usually finds the story he wants to tell after talking to his client for 20 minutes. Having a good story, not getting out as much content as possible, is key for building a brand. You never want to compete with noise by producing more noise. That isn’t the way to success. One of the writers Tim admires is John McPhee, a writer who has been able to gain access to all kinds of situations by being just a bit quirky and disarming. Similarly, sometimes finding that one little thing that makes a person or company different can be key to telling their story.  Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Sprinkle’s main objective is to find what’s interesting. Before you even go to market, ask why your customer will care. Don’t be afraid to be a little different. It’s the quirky ones who get attention.  Find and use templates that work. Sprinkle started using templates as a journalist and continues to use them as frameworks for much of the content he produces. The template provides the structure so you can add in your own voice and message.  Links to Explore Further Tim Sprinkle on LinkedIn Layup Content Loonshots (the book Jarie mentions)  Screw the Valley Tim on Matchmaker.fm Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to jump in quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes.  Now on to my guest for today, Nelly Yusupova, founder of TechSpeak for Entrepreneurs, a coaching program for entrepreneurs.  Nelly founded TechSpeak for Entrepreneurs after a career as a CTO for Webgrrls International, where she started out as a developer fresh out of college with a bachelor’s degree in computer science. After a brief stint in the corporate world, she found she liked the world of startups better and went back to Webgrrls, a company that has provided support and networking to women to learn how to better leverage technology. She founded TechSpeak in 2012 in order to help entrepreneurs better understand how to manage the technical side of their business. Nelly’s story is one of hard work and determination. She was thrown into a job where she had to quickly learn English after emigrating to the United States with her family at the age of 13, where she also learned the value of service and helping others. Even though she knew nothing about computers when she entered college, she graduated within three years.  Nelly came up with the idea for TechSpeak after speaking to many entrepreneurs about frustrating experiences with technical development. She realized she needed to share what she’d learned about the importance of building and following a process when building a company. These are the lessons she shares in TechSpeak, originally a live bootcamp and now available online. Nelly wants to help as many entrepreneurs to succeed as possible by giving them the tools they need to better understand and communicate the technical implementation process of building a company.  Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Before building your product, iterate. “Fail early, fail often, fail cheap,” Yusupova says. Building a prototype and trying it out first is key to long-term success without breaking the bank.   Don’t just leave everything up to the “tech people.” Learn enough so that you can ask the right questions and set down a process to follow. Developers are not trained for project management.  If you’re a tech person who aspires to leadership, take business classes. Learn how to communicate with everyone and see things from others’ perspectives. Don’t dictate: ask for feedback.  Links to Explore Further Nelly Yusupova on LinkedIn TechSpeak for Entrepreneurs Nelly on Matchmaker.fm Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to jump in quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes. You can also support the show by leaving a rating and a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Thanks to everyone who has left a review. I really appreciate it. Now on to my guest for today, Brenden from MasterTalk.  Brenden has caught the attention of corporate executives through his YouTube videos, where he teaches public speaking skills on his MasterTalk channel. Billing himself “the youngest public speaking coach in the world,” Brenden coaches managers who want to move up the ranks by teaching them how to improve their communication skills. Brenden honed his skills as a public speaker in college, where he participated in competitions and coached other students. Wanting to find a way to give back, he started recording videos in his mother’s basement to help people become more confident speakers.  I asked Brenden why so many people fear public speaking. Find out why he believes schools are primarily to blame for so many growing up with a lot of anxieties around giving presentations, which often connects to the poor communication skills. Being able to quickly tell the story of your business can be one of the most important skills to learn. Brenden shares some of the insights he’s learned about teaching others to do presentations and tell their stories.  Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to TakeHere are some tips from Brenden about how to make stellar presentations:  Start with the corners, as you would a jigsaw puzzle. Good beginnings and endings are key, and these are the parts people often don’t pay much attention to because they’re too caught up in the content they’re delivering. Practice your introductions and endings. Kumarasamy recommends practicing both at least 50 times. He also suggests having one presentation that you do 100 times, so you get really good at it.    Always have a one-sentence pitch ready so you can talk about your business or your story to anyone you meet.  Links to Explore Further MasterTalk on YouTube MasterTalk on Instagram Brenden on LinkedIn Brenden on Matchmaker.fm Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to jump in quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes.  Now on to my guest for today, Lee Chambers of Essentialise Coaching in England.  What would you do if you woke up one morning and found you couldn’t walk? Lee’s journey to becoming an environmental psychologist and functional life coach is rooted in his experience with developing a chronic illness where he suddenly found himself without the ability to walk.  The father of a young child with his wife expecting another, he had to summon up the determination to face up to what had happened, become aware of his limits and failures as growth opportunities, and take ownership of his own path to wellness and recovery. He now shares what he learned about the importance of cultivating a healthy lifestyle to living your best life.  Lee got his start as an entrepreneur not long after graduating from university, after he found himself unemployed in the recession of 2008 and he started what would become a successful video game company.  By the time he developed the illness that took away his ability to walk, though, he realized he wanted to find another path, and in recovering from his illness and summoning up the determination to be able to walk again, he found a new calling as a health and wellness coach. He believes strongly in the vital link between physical health and well-being and finding joy and fulfillment in life, encouraging his clients to experiment with ways that best build and harness their energies.  Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take One key lesson Chambers learned early on was that pushing out of your comfort zone is essential to finding your path and finding success on your own terms. As the first in his family to go to university, this was a lesson he had to learn early on his own.  Be grateful for all you have. It wasn’t until he was in the hospital that Chambers took the time to feel and express his gratitude for all he had in life.  You don’t have to have it all figured out. When Chambers returned to university after losing his direction and going home for several months, he did some inner work but he also realized that he just had to work through the discomfort, instead of thinking a clear path would just open up for him.  Links to Explore Further Essentialise Lee Chambers on LinkedIn Essentialise on Instagram Lee Chambers on MatchMaker.fm Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to jump in quickly to let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes. You can also leave a rating and review if you like. I really appreciate all those that do. It means a lot to me that you’d take the time to support the show in that way.  Now on to my guest for today, Nicole Brassington, cofounder of Camp Bespoke, a new year-round upscale camping destination in Kentucky.  Nicole’s story starts with her successful career as a nurse practitioner in the high-pressure setting of heart and lung transplants. She and three friends, also African American nurses, have been a source of support for each other for many years. They first came up with the idea of starting a nonprofit to help girls in Sierra Leone reach their potential by providing them with menstrual hygiene products. When they realized they’d have to raise a lot of money to do so, they set to work coming up with a business plan. The business they started grew out of their love for travel as well as for their home state of Kentucky. Their first idea for a retreat center was replaced by a “glamping” campground for practical reasons and so began the rocky journey to building Camp Bespoke.  Nicole speaks again and again of their determination to see it through, despite having to come up with their own money to fund the first phase and having to cancel reservations because a bank insisted on a feasibility study. But they’ve also found partners and cheerleaders along the way who share in their dream and vision for a place for people visiting Williamstown, Kentucky to stay. They’ve stayed true to their principles of sustainability and supporting the local economy, principles that have earned them key supporters on the local and state levels. Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Don’t give up. This seems obvious advice, but Brassington’s story shows that despite all the challenges put in their way, she and her team refused to give up. For each challenge, they regrouped and strategized and went forward, doing whatever needed to be done.  Recruit your cheerleaders. Brassington and her partners connected with the local authorities and they’ve been their biggest cheerleaders and supporters in making their dream a reality.  Draw on your strengths and recognize the areas where you need to learn more. Don’t discount skills and abilities you’ve cultivated in other arenas. As a nurse practitioner for a heart and lung transplant institute, Brassington learned how to build her endurance and keep going when things are hard.  She and her partners have harnessed what they’ve learned in their careers in medicine, but have also taken steps to fill in the gaps to learn what they don’t know about running a campground.  Links to Explore Further Camp Bespoke  Nicole Brassington on LinkedIn Nicole on WhoWeAreNow2020 Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to quickly jump in and thank all of you for listening to the show -- especially those that gave me a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. So thanks Year of the Harris, mngrwl, and Roy Harmon for the reviews. It means a lot to me that you’d take the time to leave a review. If you like the show, I’d appreciate it if you would leave a review.  Now on to my guest for today, Robert Middleton of Action Plan Marketing. Robert has 35 years of experience in marketing. And he learned it all old-school - through reading books and applying what he learned. He started out offering seminars in time management and working as a business consultant. When he realized most businesses wanted help with their marketing, he made that his focus.  Robert has rolled with the times, moving from in-person networking and seminars to selling his services through the internet back before most businesses were still trying to figure out how to put a website together. He’s been writing and sending out a weekly newsletter, The Fearless Marketer, for over 20 years and now focuses on offering group coaching and training to self-employed B2B professionals. You’ll want to hear how he’s developed his offerings to successfully enroll clients into his program at rates of nearly 90 percent using 13 essential questions all prospective clients have. Now, let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Be responsive to market changes. One of Middleton’s secrets to success is that he doesn’t stick to any one way. When one strategy no longer works, he moves to the next one that does. Always be learning and strategizing. Create a presentation as a marketing tool. You don’t have to make it fancy, but make sure to practice, practice, practice! Middleton offers a free template at his website.   Learn how to ask for something from your audience that prompts them to take action. Middleton gives an example of how he ensures that people at his seminars would hand in their business cards easily and effortlessly.  Links to Explore Further Action Plan Marketing Go here for the free downloads : Robert’s free marketing report and a presentation template  Robert Middleton on LinkedIn Robert on MatchMaker.fm Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to quickly jump in and let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes.  Now on to my guest for today, Priya Amin. Priya is cofounder of Flexable, a company dedicated to help with child care when your regular child care falls through. She calls it the “911” – or the “bat signal” – of child care.  Priya started out in corporate marketing for IBM and then Nestle. In 2010, she had her first child and realized that the corporate world was not very friendly for working moms. She quit her job and became a stay-at-home mom. When she attempted to return to the workforce after a few years, she found herself at a disadvantage because of the “motherhood penalty,” so she launched her own marketing consulting company. Then she and another Pittsburgh mom got together and hatched the idea for Flexable. They won a spot in a business accelerator program and began by providing “pop-up” child care at events like conferences and networking meetings.  Like so many impacted by the pandemic, Priya found she had to pivot drastically when covid hit. Seeing a great need to help parents working from home alongside their children, Flexable now provides virtual child care. Parents can arrange for their child to be led virtually in an interactive activity for an hour while they participate in a meeting or get some work done.  It’s just the beginning for Flexable as the company navigates new terrain while trying to meet a very real need. As Priya notes, the problem of child care has a huge economic impact, and it’s a problem that requires everyone to work together to find solutions.  Now, let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to TakeAmin and Flexable demonstrate how some problems may be too big for one person or company to solve. Here are some tactics Amin has used:  Consider attacking just one piece of a problem, or the place where there’s the most urgent need. Flexable focuses on the need for backup child care on short notice.  Look into partnerships and collaborations. Amin found her cofounder through a Facebook group. Flexable has partnered with other organizations to provide onsite child care and is looking into opportunities to collaborate with other agencies in areas where there is a high need for child care. Now more than ever our society is in need of innovative ideas and solutions, and some aspects of the economy are growing exponentially. While times are hard for some, it may also be the best time to start your own business because of new opportunities.  Links to Explore Further Flexablecare.com  Priya Amin on LinkedIn Priya on Matchmaker.fm Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to jump in quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes.  Now on to my guest for today. Stan Rymkiewicz, founder and CEO of Orapa, a lead generation agency out of Poland.  Stan’s start as an entrepreneur began when he was training to be an Olympic snowboarder. He couldn’t get a traditional job, so he had to think outside of the box and try to have some fun, so he went into sales. Snowboarding didn’t ultimately pan out, but Stan took what he’d learned as a sales rep and founded a lead generation company. His company, Orapa is a platform that helps companies land sales meetings.  Stan’s approach to sales is straightforward: work the process every day, ultimately building up successes and experience. It’s important for entrepreneurs to get clear on their product and messaging and land some of their own clients first. Stan sees the role of his company as taking over once the founders have figured out their messaging so they can help close more sales and scale the business. His own goal right now is to be able to soon convert his part-time sales reps to working full time so they can have what he was looking for when he started.  Now, let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to TakeDo you dread thinking about having to prospect and make sales? Here are some of Rymkiewicz’s tips: It’s a numbers game. As you reach out to more prospects, you’ll gain more experience, and eventually, you’ll get a yes. So don’t give up.  Keep it short and sweet. Use succinct, straightforward messages.  Try to stand out. Use pictures or a cartoon to try to elicit a response.  Put aside what you want to do or what you think should work, and try out different techniques until you find something that works, or follows a proven formula. Selling is part of the game; “if you don’t want to do it, pick a different game.”  Links to Explore Further Stan Rymkiewicz on LinkedIn Orapa Stan on Matchmaker.fm Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to jump in quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes.  Now on to my guest for today, Jaryd Krause, founder of buyingonlinebusinesses.com. Jaryd dropped out of college and became a plumber, moving quickly into supervision, sometimes supervising workers who were much older than him and didn’t appreciate being told what to do. He worked hard but was always looking for an escape. He went through a cycle of working hard for a while and then traveling for months at a time.  One day he finally decided to figure out a way he could work while he traveled. He learned how to evaluate, buy, and build online businesses, and now shares what he’s learned in his podcasts and through his community at buyingonlinebusinesses.com, where anyone can learn how to find and evaluate an online business for sale. He calls what he teaches the “due diligence” framework, enabling potential buyers to research and analyze the potential risks and benefits of buying a particular online business. Jaryd clearly likes helping others, describing it as “teaching someone to fish.”  Now, let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take “Due diligence” is key to Krause’s framework. He and his team help people evaluate potential businesses; if they can’t find anything to reject, they advise to buy. Make sure you do your due diligence before investing in an existing online business, just as you would before investing in physical property.  Small actions toward a goal can help with anxiety about a project. Krause eases anxiety by keeping the goal in sight and evaluating the steps he needs to take to get there. Challenge the “funnel.” Krause believes that we are born with infinite choices and opportunities, but society often forces us into a “funnel,” choosing a college, or a trade. There’s a mindset shift that needs to happen to break out of this conditioning, but once you do, the sky’s the limit.  Links to Explore Further Buyingonlinebusinesses.com Buying Online Businesses Podcast Jaryd Krause on Facebook Jaryd on Matchmaker.fm Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to jump in quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes.  Now on to my guest for today Michelle Fishburne, who turned her job loss into an opportunity building Who We Are Now, a glimpse into the life of Americans in 2020.  Michelle started out professionally as a high-powered attorney, traveling around the world. When she started a family, she opted to stay home and delved into homeschooling. This led her to get curious about education and alternatives to traditional education.  Most recently she worked as an executive for the Brian Hamilton Foundation’s Inmates to Entrepreneurs program. Ever unconventional, when Michelle found herself out of a job and her children gone earlier this year, she opted to hit the road. Since July she’s been traveling the country, documenting and sharing stories and pictures of how people around the country are living and coping with the pandemic, sharing them at Who We Are Now online.  A recurring theme in Michelle’s stories and in our conversation was how vital the local community is, especially downtowns, and how people can really step up and find creative solutions to current challenges when they work together. Michelle’s stories attest to the power of ingenuity and compassion for others you can find all around the country, no matter your political stripe.  Now, let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Looking for a dose of hope on a dark day? Check out Fishburne’s stories at WhoWeAreNow.com. Fishburne highlights some remarkable stories of people and businesses coming together to save and preserve their local communities.  While big businesses have a place, local businesses help keep a community connected and can help foster a feeling of belonging. Whether you’re a consumer or an entrepreneur, look at your own local community. How can you help those who are struggling close by? Supporting just one business can have a ripple effect. (And if you have a story to share, Fishburne invites people to message her @ [email protected].) Get curious. Fishburne says entrepreneurs are insatiably curious. Curiosity can be an antidote to fear and can help keep you going during your biggest challenges.  Links to Explore Further WhoWeAreNow2020 WhoWeAreNo on Instagram  Michelle Fishburne on LinkedIn Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to jump in quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes.  Now on to my guest for today is Ozzy Flowers, co-founder of The Good Fight. Ozzy knew in college he wanted to do something to make a difference. After earning an MBA, he soon came to the conclusion that he needed to be an entrepreneur and founded and ran a marketing agency. When Covid hit, though, he realized he had to make a change, as his agency focused on leisure travel. He’s used the opportunity to go back to his desire to find solutions for problems in the world. He applies what he’s learned in marketing to figure out how to improve the digital marketing space, help companies, and also help causes he cares about.  The Good Fight has developed a method to both engage consumers and also give both businesses and consumers ways to donate to charitable causes. Ozzy and his cofounder developed their business to address three problems: one, the weariness factor for consumers in online marketing; two, the struggle for charities to raise funds; and three, the need for companies to stand out.  By combining company advertising with people’s desire to help others, The Good Fight hopes to be a solution to all three of these problems. Ozzy is a prime example of entrepreneurs looking at the current crisis and taking on the challenge of doing better, and finding solutions to problems. Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take It’s all about mindset. “We have an option in times of chaos to either decide that we're going to move forward and see an opportunity or revel in the miseries of the past,” says Flowers.  If you’re experiencing discomfort about some aspect of growing, consider the bigger picture. Keeping the end in mind will help you meet challenges and keep moving forward.  Flowers believes the majority of people want to help others. How might this attitude be used to improve what you have to offer? How are you helping others in what you do, whether it’s directly or indirectly? How would that change how you approach each day? Links to Explore FurtherThe Good Fight Ozzy Flowers on LinkedInMatchmaker.fm Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to jump in quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes.  Now on to my guest for today, Aman Agarwal. The world took notice of Aman Agarwal when he started publishing blog posts explaining technology to “non-techies.” People liked the way he easily broke down complex topics into understandable forms. He’s an engineer who now teaches tech to executives through his company, Sanpram, to help them better understand what’s going on in their own companies and to encourage them to find ways to better manage and scale their businesses. Aman’s explanation of how he breaks down and teaches his content illustrates the effectiveness of his approach. From starting out at a bird’s-eye overview to building up knowledge using the “I plus one” approach, Aman’s process can be useful for anyone looking to understand or teach a complex system. And the process is key for Aman; he’s come to see that ultimately, if you don’t enjoy the process, then what’s the point?  Now, let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Whether you’re teaching or learning a complex topic, try using Agarwal’s “I plus one” approach. Start where you’re comfortable, and then start layering new ideas one at a time.  Start approaching your business or projects from the point of view of getting all you can out of the process. Instead of focusing on the end goal, you hope to achieve, focus on being consistent about taking all the steps you need to take daily. If you’re not enjoying the process, you might want to rethink what you’re doing.  If you’re struggling to explain how something works, try breaking it down and putting it into terms a layperson will understand. (Agarwal uses “grandmother” and also tries to target an eighth-grade level)  In doing so, you’ll not only become clearer yourself, you’ll be able to more effectively communicate it to others.  Links to Explore Further Aman Agarwal’s Blog on Medium Aman Agarwal’s Website Aman Agarwal on LinkedIn Sanpram Transnational (company website) Aman Agarwal on MatchMaker.fm Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to jump in quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes.  Now on to my guest for today. Belle Niba. Belle runs two businesses, Udora Marketing and African Vibes. An immigrant from Cameroon, she started out first building a media company to portray African culture and news in a more positive way. That venture has evolved into African Vibes, a digital media company. It wasn’t a direct route getting there. After achieving some success when she started out after business school, she put her business on hold to start a family. She then took corporate jobs but, wanting more of a challenge and to do something that she was passionate about, she opted to dive back into entrepreneurship. Belle speaks openly about her fears and self-doubts, and how reading, tracking progress and taking stock of what’s she’s done before have helped her. One thing Belle believes strongly is that there are no excuses and that any challenge can be overcome. One lesson Belle shares is how the philosophy of “one thing at a time” has helped her build her businesses and ensure she always stays in alignment with her truth. Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Niba references The One Thing as giving her the idea to pare down and focus on one thing at a time. This doesn’t mean you can’t do it all--you just can’t do it all at once.  Having people to bounce ideas off and help keep you on course is vital for many successful entrepreneurs. Niba talks about how a business coach and a mastermind group have both been helpful in giving her guidance and reminding her of all she’s accomplished, so she has the confidence to keep going.  Stay aligned with your truth. If something doesn’t feel right, consider if it’s worth doing. Links to Explore Further Belle Niba on LinkedIn Ubora Marketing African Vibes The One Thing (book and website) David Goggins Belle on Matchmaker.fm Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to jump in quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes.  Now on to my guest for today, Ash Cintas, founder of City Shoppe. Ash started her journey as an entrepreneur in her twenties when she had an idea for a fabric that didn’t exist: one that was odor resistant but also eco-friendly. From there she went on to work on various start-ups and, most recently, founded City Shoppe. City Shoppe is an e-commerce platform to showcase local businesses. Right now it features local businesses from Portland, Oregon, but will soon be showcasing local businesses in Los Angeles, New York, and more. Ash wanted to find a way to make local shopping more convenient and more easily marketed online, to provide small businesses and their customers an alternative to Amazon. She’s built her business by using her contacts, but also by researching and reaching out to potential partners. Ash stresses she’s learned the vital importance of creating and relying on your team as well as talking out her ideas with others. Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Cintas provided her secret sauce to cold “calling”: research to find potential partners, hook into a mutual interest, and send a concise, friendly message inviting them to talk.  Cintas says one of the most important lessons has been learning the importance of having a team and a plan. Partnering with others to bring in different skills has been vital to her success so far. The passion for being of service, for helping local businesses gain more exposure and connect with more customers, drives Cintas and helps her pitch the platform. Consider how you approach others with what you have to offer; how can you be of service to those you work with as well as to your community?  Links to Explore Further City Shoppe Ash Cintas on LinkedIn Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to jump in quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes.  Now on to my guest for today Doug Kadlecek, CEO of software development company GRIO. Doug grew up in Silicon Valley and was drawn to programming and computers when he was young. In college, he shifted to an interest in biology and he became a biological researcher. Eventually, he found his way back to software programming, joining the programming team at a company where he worked. This gave him a unique understanding of the programs he was working on needed to do for the researchers. His focus ever since has been making sure the programs he builds work for the people who use them.  Doug’s worked at several companies as a software engineer, leading teams to develop programs. Twelve years ago he and some of his colleagues took the leap and founded Grio.  Grio focuses on developing software for the Internet of Things (IoT), a growing segment of the industry that connects the things we use in our daily lives to the internet. Doug’s approach is to keep things as simple as possible. He develops by iteration, having users test products, and fine-tuning the programs until they work well. He approaches sales with a similar attitude of curiosity: take an interest in a potential client’s problem and figure out a way you can help.  Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Kadlecek talks about keeping things as simple as possible and only adding complexity as it’s needed. Whether it’s building a product or building a business, start simple.  Kadlecek, who does marketing and sales for Grio, approaches sales like an engineer, finding out what the problem is and getting interested in how to solve it.  Test, iterate and retry. Getting user feedback and adjusting is a key part of producing a quality product.  Links to Explore FurtherDouglas Kadlecek on LinkedIn Grio Doug’s Blog Post - An Introduction to IoT Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to jump in quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Enterpenreuer Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes.  Now on to my guest for today, Jerry Abiog, one of the cofounders of Standard Insights, a marketing platform that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help businesses grow.  As we’ve seen with some of my other guests, Jerry’s latest venture grew out of failure. Several years ago, Jerry worked with an AI machine learning startup that bombed. But Jerry saw there was great potential in AI software, and when he met an Indian developer working on a customer engagement platform using AI two and a half years ago, he saw an opportunity, and Standard Insights was born.  Jerry describes the platform as providing businesses with information to help them target the right product or service to the right customer at the right time. The company focused on e-commerce at first and has moved to finance and other industries. While an earlier application for restaurants didn’t pan out, the shift to online ordering and delivery in the time of COVID has rapidly changed the potential for using AI in the restaurant industry, too.  Like myself, Jerry is also a jujitsu practitioner and we shared some thoughts on some of the similarities between the sport and startups, like understanding how your competitor’s youthfulness may give them some advantages, but the challenge is adapting and drawing on other skills, strengths, and experience to succeed.  Now let’s get better together Actions to Try or Advice to Take Treat every failure as a lesson. Instead of writing off AI when his first venture with it failed, he saw its potential and took what he learned to find a service that solved problems. Sometimes the best strategy to beat the competitor and succeed is not to go at them with the same strategy. Instead of trying to be stronger or something you can’t be, adapt to harness your own strengths.  Remember that a large percentage of future sales come from existing sales. The more you can meet the needs of current customers, and perhaps even predict them, the stronger your business will be.  Links to Explore Further Standard Insights Jerry Abiog on LinkedIn MatchMaker.fm Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to jump in quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Enterpenreuer Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes.  Now on to my guest for today Phil Pelucha. Phil is the founder of Billionaires in Boxers, unique business services, and coaching company that helps entrepreneurs get their message out through podcasting and relationship-building. Phil started out playing football – what we in the U.S. call soccer –  but had to quit for medical reasons. After earning a degree in architecture and surveying, Phil went to South Africa. There he found his skills in real estate in high demand, and eventually became a head talent recruiter for the second-largest real estate company in Africa, traveling the world.  Phil eventually grew tired of life on the road and wanted to start a family, so he started his own company. The first challenge he faced was how to get clients on his own. Rather than going for the usual routes like cold calling and social media, Phil decided to draw on his experiences as a sports podcaster. He began inviting people he thought he might want to work with onto podcasts to talk about themselves and to learn more about their background and pain points. His love for having conversations eventually earned him a reputation as an expert and media and businesses started turning to him for expertise and advice. Phil is most in his element when he’s helping entrepreneurs share their knowledge and experience with the world so others can see what they’re all about.  Phil is a COVID survivor and he shared the struggles he faces everyday coping with the long-term effects of COVID as well as the hidden gifts it’s brought, with insights about working smarter, not harder; the benefits of working remotely; and finding community.  Now let’s get better together Actions to Try or Advice to Take Whatever tools or strategies you use, the most successful businesses understand the value of building relationships. Assess your own strategies. Whether it’s speaking on a podcast, cold calling, or using social media, how are you building relationships?  COVID has shown many entrepreneurs that they don’t need to limit themselves to their own area or region. Where are the potential clients who most need your business? They might be across town or across the world.  Cut the clutter. Take a step back and look at what activities take your time that isn’t really important or doesn’t serve your bottom line. You’ll increase your earning power exponentially.  Links to Explore Further Billionaires in Boxers (BiB) BiB Podcast Remote Work Revolution- a Facebook group for software and IT professionals Phil Pelucha on LinkedIn Matchmaker.fm Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to jump in quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes Now on to my guest for today, Philip Hughes, host of the Find Your Side Hustle podcast. Phillip Hughes may be the ultimate side hustle guy. A software developer and podcast host based in Stockport, England, Phillip has had to push outside his comfort zone to learn how to market and sell products. He’s developed several programs, including apps to help English football fans find the right place to go to watch the latest game to a fishing log app that helps fishermen, as well as a mail merge program for Outlook. Like many developers, his ideas have grown out of a problem he wanted to solve for himself and his own interests.  In our talk, he revealed that he’s shifted from a “build it and they will come” approach to a “sell first, build it later” one. He credits the ideas of others he’s learned from, like Tim Ferris, Seth Godin, and Pat Flynn, who opened up the idea of testing and validating an idea before building it out. He also shared the important lessons he’s learned from training for endurance events: keep going. His podcast, “Find Your Side Hustle,” offers ideas and inspiration for others doing side hustles. Now let’s get better together Actions to Try or Advice to Take Getting out of your comfort zone is probably advice you’ve heard before, but Hughes stresses that consistency is key; endurance training has taught him that persistence in testing those boundaries is what’s going to keep you going. There are always lessons in failures; they tell you what you need to work on strengthening.  If you’re someone who builds something and then tries to sell it, try inverting it. This is called validating: put your idea out there and see if there’s interest before spending hours on development.  Links to Explore Further Website: Philliphughes.co.uk Hughes’ Medium post about what he’s learned doing side hustles Phillip Hughes on LinkedIn Baitcamp Outflash Keep In Touch Book or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to jump in quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes Now on to my guest for today, Donteacia Seymore, founder of Creation Nation. Donteacia Seymore’s goal is to help a million people develop their ideas into products. In the midst of campaigning for local office in Florida, Donteacia realized she had an idea for a marketable product: a glove that holds your smartphone while working out. She dropped out of politics and instead devoted all her time and energy to developing her product. She eventually succeeded and, after selling the patent, went on to create a system to help other inventors build and patent their ideas. While she previously “followed all the rules,” she realized that she was better off throwing all those old, outdated rules about product development “into the trash bin.” As an African American woman, Donteacia helps others like her by setting an example and providing support, encouragement, and guidance to go after their dreams and make entrepreneurship a reality. Donteacia credits the help of Kickstarter campaigns and a business accelerator, which has helped her grow her business and take the next steps.  Now let’s get better together Actions to Try or Advice to Take A big takeaway from our conversation was that people worry too much about protecting their ideas. Work on developing your idea; worry about the patenting later. The truth is, many people can have the idea, but very few will actually execute it.  Question the established rules when it comes to business-building. Innovation comes from looking at what’s needed and what works, not what you’re “supposed to do.”  You don’t have to go it alone. Seymore brought a lot of skills, experience and a positive mindset to the table, but she has found tremendous value in participating in a business accelerator. Her own business is there to help inventors and provides a step-by-step process to help them and well as encouragement and support.  It’s all about the journey. Seymoure has found that for some of her clients, even if they did not go on to sell their product, they found enormous satisfaction in getting it built.  Links to Explore Further Creation Nation Lifebeforethetank.com Donteacia Seymore on LinkedIn Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to jump in quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes. Also, If you want to know who I copied this style of intro from, then listen on. Now on to my guest for today. Chris Tarry of Gen Z Media. Canadian-born Chris Tarry is co-founder and chief production officer of Gen Z Media, an award-winning podcasting production company that produces family-friendly audio stories. As one of three writers who founded the company, Chris brings his talents in music and production to help create an immersive audio experience for their listeners. He’s also the author of the acclaimed book of short fiction, How To Carry Bigfoot Home, as well as a respected jazz bass player.  Chris describes the origins of Gen Z when he and his co-founders set out to produce old-time family-friendly radio plays. Their first venture, The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel, a serial mystery for middle-graders, proved successful, and they’ve gone on to produce other shows. Mars Patel is now being made into a TV series.  Chris talks about how they strive to create shows that the whole family can listen to, where the adults aren’t bored and the children don’t feel like they’re being talked down to. The story and the audience are the two key ingredients that he feels are essential to success in the world of entertainment today.  Now let’s get better together Actions to Try or Advice to Take Tarry’s development of Gen Z Media, like other entrepreneurs I’ve talked to, involved people in his community. Drawing on people you know and like, and who can bring different skills and talents to the table, can be vital to success.  Make something old new again. Many popular trends are actually updated versions of old trends. For Gen Z, they took the enduring popularity of storytelling and the fun and shared experience of listening to radio plays, to create engaging new content.  Take a break. Listening to stories (or reading stories) can give you a break from the stresses and worries of the world today. Links to Explore Further ChrisTarry.com Gen Z Media Chris Tarry on LinkedIn How To Carry Bigfoot Home Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to jump in quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes.  Now on to my guest for today. Nate D’Anna, founder of Dumpling. When Nate D’Anna was thinking of his next steps after working in corporate acquisitions, he realized that the companies with lasting success endured because of the grit and passion of their founders. He’s found that passion through the business he co-founded, Dumpling, which is based around the question of helping those who are often invisible to the typical Silicon Valley entrepreneur.  First Nate tried crowdsourcing data from workers to help companies improve but found that the market for that data was not ultimately helping the people he wanted to help. After crossing the country and talking to an array of people working in blue-collar jobs and trying out gigs like Instacart shopping, Nate and his co-founders decided to build tools that would help gig workers take charge of their own businesses. Dumpling seeks to be the solution to the recent rise of underpaid, exploited gig worker and to help aspiring entrepreneurs be the decision-makers about the services they provide.  Nate has drawn on his experiences working in technical customer support, product management, and corporate acquisitions in National Instruments and Cisco to develop and build Dumpling. Nate clearly is motivated by more than just wanting to build a successful business: he is driven by his passion to help others take charge of their own success.  Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Like many entrepreneurs, D’Anna and his co-founder went out of their comfort zone by trying out gig work himself and going out and talking to many blue-collar workers and then developed a process to help them. Getting out of your comfort zone and looking for unexplored areas might just be the key to your unique selling proposition. D’Anna stresses the importance of passion and grit for long-term success. Are you passionate about your business? If not, how might you bring passion into your business? What can you get so passionate about that you can see doing it for the next 10-20 years?  Dumpling is based on the idea that delivering a service is more than just an action: it’s the building of a relationship. Are you focused on the sale, or on building relationships? The person providing the service is part of the relationship, too.  Links to Explore Further Dumpling.us Dumpling’s Facebook page Nate D’Anna on LinkedIn Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to jump in quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes.  Now on to my guest for today. Janet C. Hogan founder of The Fifth Door. Janet C. Hogan has had it all: a multi-million dollar home, a family, and a string of successful ventures, including an advertising company. Then the recession of 2008 hit, and Janet found herself facing her biggest fear and challenge: finding her own true gift and getting clear on what success really means among all of her loses. After years of exploring the deepest realms of her inner life and facing a simulated near-death experience, Janet realized her gift was to help others root out their core destructive belief in order to find genuine happiness. As a serial entrepreneur, Janet enjoys working with entrepreneurs to help them examine the gap between the core destructive belief, the result of childhood trauma, and the compensating behaviors that we as adults do to make up for it. She strives to provide a process and the tools to help others find their gifts through her programs and coaching at The Fifth Door.  Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Reflect on how you define success. Is the definition your own or others’? Take some time to listen to your own voice and desires. Hogan believes that people need a guide to help unearth their core destructive belief, so consider working with a counselor or coach on this journey.  Hogan relates that she realized that her lifelong quest for success was not motivated by selflessness. She came to realize that holding back her gifts from the world was, instead, a selfish act. Finding your true passion can be the key to locating what gifts you have to offer.  Think of prosperity as a by-product of success, instead of the end goal. Hogan believes prosperity comes from the abundant flow of giving and receiving.  Links to Explore Further Janet C. Hogan, The Fifth Door The Fifth Door on Facebook Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to jump in quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes.  Now on to my guest for today. Manu Cinca, founder of Stacked Marketer.  Manu Cinca shares his journey from an aspiring coder in Romania to a professional poker player and entrepreneur. After moving to Vienna, he and his poker buddies started a business together, first trying their hand at software development. After several years, Manu turned his focus to marketing, eventually starting the popular curated daily newsletter The Stacked Marketer.  We talk about how skill and luck play a role both in poker and starting a business, and how even if you do everything right, you can still lose. Manu developed the idea for the newsletter from being a subscriber to other newsletters like it and seeing a need for a daily newsletter in the marketing space.  Manu and his co-founders have grown the company through getting feedback, shared networks, and putting the time and energy into delivering a daily update of the latest trends and information in digital marketing in a friendly, personable voice -- a combination that has quickly grown its subscriber base.  Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Cinca shares that he and his cofounders faced challenges and differences by talking about them, assessing what’s fair, and acknowledging mistakes.  Accept that failure is part of building anything new; learn from your experiences and be ready to try something else. Look for an idea that’s working well and apply it to a new industry or area. Cinca and his cofounders saw what other newsletters were doing and found their niche in online marketing.  Don’t stretch yourself too thin. Sometimes focusing on the one thing you do well is better than trying to try too many things.  Links to Explore Further Stacked Marketer Newsletter Manu Cinca on LinkedIn Education of a Modern Poker Player Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to jump in quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes.  Now on to my guest for today. Neville Medhora, one of the best copywriters out there and creator of Copywriting Course. Neville Medhora is best known for his copywriting company and course, Copywriting Course. Born in Texas to Indian immigrants, Neville relates how he first learned about the potential for entrepreneurship when someone in his community took him under his wing and taught him about his real estate business.  Neville went on to build a successful online company selling rave supplies before he even graduated from college. An avid reader, he’s learned from many successful business people and entrepreneurs. He sees the secret of copywriting to be both educational and entertaining, with the goal of installing information into the reader’s head.  He’s also recently published the book You’re Going to Die: A Framework for Happiness, where he describes planning his life around his probable age of death and working backward, to live the life you truly want to live.  Now, Let’s get better together Actions to Try or Advice to Take Is someone in your community or network doing what you want to do? Get acquainted; he or she might be willing to mentor you.  Try Neville’s approach to planning your life: estimate your probable age of death and plan backward. What do you most want to do or experience? When in your life would be the best time to do those things?  Copywriting is about more than just writing; it’s about strategizing the best way to communicate information to the most people. It might include other mediums, like videos and audio, for example.  Links to Explore Further Neville’s Blog Copywriting Course Neville on LinkedIn You’re Going to Die: A Framework for Happiness Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to jump in quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Entrepreneur Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes. Now on to my guest for today, Roy Harmon, founder of Advertoscope. Digital marketer Roy Harmon recounts how he went from law school to marketing by way of political campaigns. After running for office himself, he learned that he loved marketing and he’s since built a career helping companies plan and execute marketing campaigns. When COVID hit and work for his employer dried up, Roy struck out on his own, founding Advertoscope, a digital marketing campaign company. According to Roy, finding you why – the inner motivations for doing what you do –  can make the difference between success and failure, whether you’re a politician or entrepreneur. We also talk about the limits of metrics in marketing and the importance of simply establishing a baseline for public relations and marketing before looking at analytics. Since many of the businesses he works with are about solving problems, one of the first challenges of good marketing often starts with educating people about the problem and then offering solutions. Now let’s get better together Actions to Try or Advice to Take Ask: What’s my why? If you’re feeling stuck or unclear, this can be the anchor that brings you back. Even if you try and fail, knowing your why will give you perspective. Remember not everything can be measured. Some things need a strong foundation, and that might take more than just ticking boxes. What solutions are you offering? Be a problem-solver. When sharing your solution, be sure your audience clearly understands the problem. Be sure to talk about your successes as well as your challenges. Links to Explore Further Advertoscope.com Roy Harmon on LinkedIn Draw A Box Some of Roy’s Old Cartoons Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to jump in quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Enterpenreuer Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes. Now on to my guest for today, Shana Cosgrove, CEO of Nyla Technology Solutions. Shana Cosgrove has blazed a trail through the male-dominated industry of software engineering, finding her niche in government work. Frustrated by working for others, she eventually realized that the only thing stopping her from founding her own business was the paperwork. As CEO of Nyla Technology Solutions, she provides the federal government with software engineering services in a cloud-based architecture. Shana built Nyla from the ground up at the same time she was starting a family. Her husband is Chief Information Officer and lends expertise in cybersecurity; their kids are already showing an interest in entrepreneurship, too. Shana is also a founder and creative strategist at VitalUP marketing.  Shana shares her frustrations at having to correct the common misperception that she works for her husband’s company as well as the push and pull of building a business, working from home, caring for young children, and negotiating household and caregiving work with her husband. Now, Shana is grateful that she can focus on doing the aspects of work she loves, working for herself, and being able to be there for her family. Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Even in the world of government contracting, Cosgrove advises that successful entrepreneurs aren’t afraid to be authentic and tell their stories. When Cosgrove advises her clients on social media marketing, she recommends they start with something easy and small, like commenting and sharing posts.  It’s hard to mess it up, and you can always delete it.  Sometimes paying for help can make a big difference in having a more peaceful family life and achieving success in the long run. Like many busy couples with young children, Cosgrove and her husband found that the extra cost of having someone else do laundry and buying take-out for dinner was worth it. Links to Explore Further Shana Cosgrove on LinkedIn Nyla Technology Solutions VitalUP Marketing  Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to jump in quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, The Enterpenreuer Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes. Now on to my guest for today, Claudius Taylor, CTO of Gambix. Claudius grew up aspiring to be a tech guru and keynote speaker because he is obsessed with watching and listening to CEOs talk about tech, especially TED Talks.  He’s currently CTO of Gambix, a platform for AI-driven web and marketing design, though he envisions building a company that can eventually “build anything.”  He’s also a music producer and musician and says that music, like building a business, harnesses creativity, collaboration, and technology to create something from scratch.  He sees the work of Gambix as harnessing AI to go beyond human limitations, to help business owners expand their reach and scope quickly and easily. He ultimately hopes to be able to build a prototype for businesses to make it easier and cheaper for them to develop their products. Claudius also shares one of his secret weapons -- getting plenty of sleep.  Now let’s get better together Actions to Try or Advice to Take Taylor’s advice for overcoming nervousness before presentations is to “prepare, prepare, prepare” and to throw in some “charisma.”  Harness the power of the basics of sleep and water. Taylor makes getting 8 hours of sleep a day a priority and drinks plenty of water to ensure optimal brain function. Make a list of tasks in order of importance. Taylor prioritizes customer services above all his other tasks, so he tackles any pressing customer service issues first.  Links to Explore FurtherGambix Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryHey everyone. I wanted to quickly let you know about the release of the audio version of my book, the Enterpenreuer Ethos, narrated by David A. Conatser. If you want to support the show, you can buy it wherever audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes. Now on to my guest for today. Adam Kipnes collects information, data, and strategies so he can help businesses map out a process to success. He traces the beginning of his career as a business coach to the recession of 2008 when he and his wife started attending business seminars for professional and personal development. He soaked up all he learned and realized that he could use the information with the experiences he already had to help businesses improve their processes.  Adam embraces the term “coach,” explaining that he sees a good coach as one who gives someone real-time, authentic feedback and asks good questions as well as offers possible solutions. He relies on his network of successful entrepreneurs to help bolster the advice and plans he offers. Adam is all about planning and process, challenging the entrepreneurs he works with to make goals into expectations and then to map out the action steps they’ll take to get there, anticipating both worst- and best-case scenarios. Adam practices what he preaches, as he employs coaches to help keep him accountable as well. Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take One critical step Kipnes has business owners do is to acknowledge and be more transparent about how their business is doing, so they can figure out a way to get everyone on the same page.  Don’t just set goals -- reset your expectations. We tend to achieve what we think we can.  Make a plan with someone objective (like a coach). Write down every step of that plan, accounting for possible different scenarios. The goal should be what’s most likely.  Links to Explore Further Adam Kipnes’ Website (Go here  for the book download he mentions)  The Entrepreneur’s MBA Podcast Adam Kipnes on LinkedIn Adam Kipnes on Facebook Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Support the Show. Get the NEW AudioBook! AudioBook: Audible| Kobo| Authors Direct | Google Play | Apple SummaryDavid A. Conatser describes what he does as being part of “making a good story happen.” David is a voice-over actor who narrates audiobooks, including my book The Entrepreneur Ethos.  I was struck, in particular, by how David brought the right emotional tone and depth to my book. You’ll hear what I mean when you listen to the audiobook, which you can get everywhere audiobooks are sold. Links are also in the show notes. Making Stories Come to LifeDavid always loved acting and making funny voices, but it wasn’t until later in life that he decided to pursue being a voice-over actor. He started out contributing to a local radio station, then pursued training in his hometown of Nashville. He’s now narrated a number of audiobooks and continues to grow his company, Storyline Voice Over, after being advised that cultivating a career in the arts means also building your own business.  In this episode, David and I chat about what it means to be both an entrepreneur and an artist and how both involve taking risks and maybe being just a little “awkward.” We also talk about how being an entrepreneur doesn’t have to be “all or nothing” since not all entrepreneurs can quit their jobs and dive right in. I also wanted to say special thanks to Joanna Penn who told me about Findaway Voices, which is where I connected with David and created the audio version of The Entrpenreuer Ethos. It was pretty painless and I really like how the audiobook came out. You can hear a sample of it at the end of this episode. Now, Let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Ask if you’re being authentic and do what you need to do to get there. Conatser shares a lesson he learned from a voice-over actor who does a lot of villains that it’s important to take time to ground yourself and disconnect from the role you’re acting in. To some extent, we all play roles in our lives and it’s important to take some downtime to just be ourselves.  Jump in and commit: Conatser talks about how narrating audiobooks requires vulnerability and courage to take on the role of narrator of someone else’s story and the best way to do this is to simply “jump in and commit.”  You don’t have to “risk it all” to achieve your dreams: make a commitment to do what you can while fulfilling responsibilities. Like other entrepreneurs, Conatser is building his business while working a 9-5, recognizing that he also has to learn the tools of his trade as well as marketing and business. Have a Side Hustle: Expanding on what David said, having a side hustle is a great way to dip your toe into the entrepreneurial pond. As you build and grow your side hustle, you’ll know when it’s time to jump. How is that? When you have so much work that your side hustle is creeping into your main hustle. Links to Explore Further https://www.storylinevoiceover.com/ https://www.facebook.com/StorylineVoiceOver @StoryLinewith David Conatser on LinkedIn Findaway Voices Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of the podcast, I speak with Denise Shiffman who discovered the power of group therapy after experiencing chronic anxiety when she was an executive at multi-billion-dollar companies where her hectic lifestyle was starting to catch up with her. Having grown up believing that only weak people went to counseling, she realized that therapy, and in particular group therapy, can be a key element in someone’s overall health. That’s why she’s now developing a means for professionals and therapy-seekers to find groups that work for them through an online, data-driven platform, called GroupWell.  She believes that a virtual way for people to connect, but also experience well-constructed and well-run group therapy is an idea whose time has come, especially now that healthcare is embracing more online tools to deliver care. Critical to GroupWell’s success will be combining the age-old need for connection with technological innovation. Launching this product poses many challenges, but it’s a project that she believes meets a great need at a time when people are feeling more isolated than ever. I agree with her since I have had my fair share of challenges with grief and loss and therapy helped me navigate it. What Denise is doing is sorely needed and will only become even more relevant as COVID-19 continues on. Now, let’s get better together Actions to Try or Advice to Take Always be a student. Shiffman, the author of The Age of Engage, has over 25 years of experience in product development and marketing, but she’s still learning every day.  Share stories: Shiffman realized the need for GroupWell after sharing her own story, hearing others’ stories of finding help and healing in group situations, and realizing there was a need for more people to have access to it. Sharing her story has also been key to attracting interest from investors as well as removing the stigma around seeking therapy.  Trust in the process, and be ready to have to do more. Shiffman shares that as she’s spoken with investors, she’s had to do “one more thing” to get them to invest.  Links to Explore Further https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisess/ https://www.groupwell.net/ Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After 25 years of teaching, J. Thorn wanted more -- he wanted more challenge and more money. So he did what he warns people exactly not to do: quit his job with only a month’s salary to survive.  At first, he thought he’d devote himself full-time to writing. But he found he couldn’t spend all day doing the same thing. So he channeled his expertise and energy into a different kind of teaching—through podcasts and other venues to help writers.  He’s co-authored two series of science fiction books, Dustfall and Final Awaking as well as several books on writing, including The Three-Story Method and 9 Things Career Authors Don’t Do. I actually met J through a Story Grid seminar a couple of years ago and I really like how he approaches writing. In this episode, J shares his struggle with wanting to act quickly on his ideas before testing them out, and how getting feedback from new followers helps him to determine how to build his next new service. He’s found teaching has also been an invaluable way to connect with and grow his audience. He also stresses how important diversification is not only for his own work but also for his bank account. He also shares his key to productivity -- something he calls time-blocking.  Now let’s get better together Actions to Try or Advice to Take Try time blocking. Instead of making to-do lists, Thorn blocks out sections of his days and weeks to work on various projects. Then, there’s no excuse for not getting it done. This is especially important for doing creative or “deep” work that requires focus for an extended period of time.  Focus on providing value, and you’ll get more comfortable asking for a sale.  Asking for a sale is all about mindset. Expose yourself to teachers and writers who teach how to sell what you have to offer so the idea is continually reinforced.  Links to Explore Further The Author Life The Career Author Podcast The Writer’s Well  Writers,Ink: The Business of Writing J. Thorn’s Amazon Author Page J. Thorn’s Author Services Page The Story Grid Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today I talk with Mark McGuiness who hosts the 21st Century Creative Podcast, where he interviews creatives and entrepreneurs of all types, because in this day and age, “there's a lot more opportunity for creatives and a lot fewer excuses for playing small.” Mark’s also a poet who finds that poetry helps him relate to the creative struggles his clients face. I have known Mark for the better part of ten years and at one point, he was my creative coach. He has authored several books, including 21 Insights for 21st Century Creatives and Productivity for Creative People.  Mark has always wanted to find out a way to make a living helping others, first through hypnotherapy, and then through coaching creatives, years before the idea of a “life coach” was even heard of.  He now coaches entrepreneurs in creative industries who are well into their careers and are looking to further develop their potential. Rather than holding his clients accountable, Mark explains, he makes a space for them and encourages them to enlarge their perspective, and most of all, helps them break through the wall of fear.  Mark believes there is more than one way to grow as both an entrepreneur and a creative and has found that working with a specific type of client, rather than trying to scale up his business, has worked well for him. Mark also talks about the intimacy of podcasting and the importance of listening to feedback to make a podcast that the creatives who listen to him can respect and appreciate.  Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take In order to sustain a business, you need to love your work. The best way to grow a business might not be the same for everyone.  Stop trying to play by the old rules. There are more opportunities than ever to build a successful creative career.  One thing McGuinness tells his clients is that some people might have slow, gradual breakthroughs, while for others it might be quick and intense. There’s no right way to grow as a creative. Find someone who can hold space for you to do so.  Links to Explore Further Website (Lateral Action) The 21st Century Creative Podcast The Creative Penn Podcast  Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

My guest today is Japanese graphic designer and entrepreneur Ryo Kikuchi. Ryo credits a research fellowship at the Rhode Island School of Design with completely changing how he looked at Design. Now, he hopes his company, ZeBrand, will change how entrepreneurs and business owners look at branding.  Using algorithms, ZeBrand develops a branding plan in minutes for anyone. As Ryo explains it, ZeBrand does about 70% of the work, so more effort can be allotted to the creative side of branding. He also makes it part of his mission to teach entrepreneurs about the vital importance of branding and explains that while art is “zero to one,” design is “one to ten” and can be broken down into a process that repeatable. We talk about how the shared core values of his leadership team and an appreciation of each other’s strengths help them work in harmony to deliver an innovative platform that helps companies create great branding. Now Let’s get better together Actions to Try or Advice to Take Branding should be done as early as possible, as it forms the foundation for a business.  When building your leadership team, establish the core values for your company; once you agree on these, you’ll have laid the groundwork for a fruitful working relationship.  Seek feedback. Kikuchi shares that their team is always listening to their customers and incorporating their feedback as they evolve their business.  Art is “0 to 1” while design is “1 to 10” which means that a lot of design is a process or a method that’s repeatable while Art creates something from nothing. Links to Explore Further Ryo Kikuchi on LinkedIn ZeBrand  Rhode Island School of Design John Maeda Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

My guest today is Melinda Wittstock who was dubbed “disruptive” by her grandmother at a young age, and it’s a label she’s proudly lived up to as the enterprising female founder of several companies.  While a business reporter for the London Times in her early 20s, she gained a lot of insight into entrepreneurship and building a business from scratch.  After climbing the ranks of the news media world, she helmed the development of a crowdsourcing app, NewsiT, founded and ran Capitol News Connection, and is CEO and founder of Verifeed, a company that helps businesses leverage social media to grow.  Most recently, she founded Wings Media and hosts the Wings of Inspired Business podcast, where she interviews women entrepreneurs. Seeing a need for podcasters to better monetize their businesses, her company developed Podopolo, an app to help podcasters grow and monetize their audiences.  While she’s always been involved in the world of media, Wittstock sees herself primarily as a problem-solver and innovator, hallmarks of any entrepreneur. In the podcast, we talk about how working from a mindset of abundance, rather than scarcity, is one of her primary motivators.  Now Let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Despite being a former journalist, Wittstock acknowledges that we need to limit the amount of information we consume. Find a few trusted sources, but don’t limit yourself to just your own bubble. Try to find the facts everyone agrees on.  Like many entrepreneurs, Wittstock identified a problem that needed to be solved in the industry where she worked. Innovation isn’t about ego; it’s about finding solutions.  Sometimes collaboration and community, rather than competition, might be the answer. Podopolo relies on these concepts to create monetization opportunities for podcasters.  Work from a mindset of abundance rather than scarcity. For Wittstock, it’s as simple as asking, “how can everyone win?”  Links to Explore Further www.melindawittstock.com www.melindawittstock.com/wingspodcast https://podopolo.com/download/ www.verifeed.com Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today, I talk with John Burton who has been on and off the entrepreneurial track but definitely now prefers being an entrepreneur. John started his career as an electrical engineer and was tapped to run a start-up in Ireland, where he learned how to build a company from the ground up. He’s founded and ran several businesses, most recently a fast-growing software services company which he cofounded with two Apple veterans, called UrsaLeo.  UrsaLeo comes from the central idea of a company providing a “digital twin” that allows for virtual monitoring. UrsaLeo is uniquely positioned to help companies manage buildings in the time of social-distancing with the use of 3D technologies.  John is finding that some companies are eager to use this time to implement new processes and strategies, proving that there might be hope for a quickly rebounding economy. John has seen his fair share of dealing with hard times, having had to settle in mediation with a former partner at this old company. He talks candidly about how he handles stress, and how yoga and classical guitar are keys to helping him get through his day.  Now let’s get better together Actions to Try or Advice to Take John works hard but is also sure to take breaks at times when it feels right. He usually plays classical guitar, because it engages a different part of his brain.  Though John didn’t know exactly what his new company would do, he found people he wanted to work with and explored what was needed and what they had skills, talent, and interest in.  The only thing you can manage is your response to what happens. Entrepreneurship is full of highs and lows; find a way to manage how you respond to stay your course.  Links to Explore Further https://ursaleo.com/ John Burton on LinkedIn Founders Network Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode, I speak with Nadine Cino, who drew on her experience in design to develop a sustainable, cost-effective moving box and system called Tyga Box. She’s now turning her attention to solving the next set of problems because of COVID -- ones that she hopes will save lives.  Nadine came up with the idea for more sustainable moving boxes when she was attempting to move her design consultancy business. She and her husband, Marty cofounded the company together and have now expanded what they offer via Tyga Tracks, a system to track all sorts of things, including their boxes. The idea for Tiga Box came about when moving companies pointed out that they needed something different than the traditional throwaway cardboard box. They got to work building and designing reusable boxes and invented a new kind of dolly to help movers, move things quicker.  Nadine continues to look for problems to solve, seeing them as opportunities to get to work. On the podcast, she shares her challenges of developing viable businesses that are both cost-effective and environmentally sustainable, as well as her latest idea for pivoting to a business that addresses the needs in the time of COVID-19. Now, let’s get better together Actions to Try or Advice to Take See problems as opportunities. Most successful inventions are created to solve a pressing problem.  Believe in your vision, even if the world doesn’t. The world will eventually catch up.  See how you might adopt other ideas to apply to the problem you’re trying to solve.  Keep your perspective. While it’s great to have passion for your work, keep in mind that in most cases, the world won’t end if we fail.  Links to Explore Further www.tygabox.com Nadine Cino on LinkedIn Nadine Cino on Twitter: @nadinecino Founders Network Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode, I speak with Jeremiah Adler, the founder of UP(st)Art Creative Living, a unique co-living community for artists, musicians, and other creatives in Los Angeles. He recently founded Agile Medical Systems, which takes the living pods his company developed for Up(st)Art for use in hospitals and as shelters to address COVID-19 challenges.  Jeremiah has always been an entrepreneur, starting from when he was doing yard and agricultural work as a teen in Portland, Oregon. After writing and shooting a TV pilot, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of working in television. He became a leasing agent to make money and soon found himself in the lucrative Los Angeles real estate market. Dissatisfied with having to turn down young, creative people because of their incomes and credit, he developed an affordable, cohousing community for young creatives, adopting Japanese-style pods for individual living spaces.  He has now redeveloped these pods for use in hospitals to address the challenges of COVID-19 under the new business, Agile Medical Systems. Full disclosure, I’m an investor in Agile Medical Systems and also advise them. We talked about what makes an entrepreneur different from being self-employed, and how being a CEO of a company is as much about telling its story as it is about ensuring its growth and stability.  Now let’s get better together Actions to Try or Advice to Take The key to a company’s success is the story you tell. Make the emotional appeal part of the story of your product or service.  Adler reminds entrepreneurs that they are not their business; if a business fails, that’s part of the entrepreneurial journey.  Draw from your own experience and longings to find your passion. Adler’s first TV pilot was based on his own experiences in college. When developing his idea for a cohousing community, he was drawing on his own experiences as part of various communities growing up and how vital those have been for him.  Links to Explore Further Jeremiah Adler on LinkedIn Agile Medical Systems Up(st)Art Creative Living Entrepreneurs Organization Founders Network Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on the podcast I speak with Dilip Venkatraman, CEO and cofounder of VideoTap, a video experience management platform. He reflects on breaking free of the one-sided experiences of news delivery to engaging consumers with video experiences, and how belief in a vision, luck, and humility are all critical factors for success.  Dilip credits much of his success so far to luck, but also in believing in a vision. After working in cable news for many years, he saw a need for a more personalized, targeted means of delivering content, one that disrupts the linear narrative of standard video.  He and his wife cofounded VideoTap in 2016 to solve one of the biggest challenges for companies now—engaging their audience. The company works with advertisers and other types of companies to design a more interactive experience for consumers in order to keep them engaged and help them make the best use of their most valuable resource—their time.  Dilip says the “secret sauce” of success is that he and his wife have a shared vision, commitment, and excitement for innovation that keeps them going every day. Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Learning to fail is a critical lesson toward success.  Don’t take rejection too personally. You are not your idea; if someone doesn’t like it, move on to someone else.  “Luck happens to everyone. Lucky are those who know how to utilize it.” Do your due diligence, and you’ll be ready to take advantage of opportunities.  Links to Explore  Dilip on LinkedIn VideoTap  Founders Network Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Overcast ContextThis bonus episode is a bit of an experiment to sharpen my skills in machine learning. You see, I ran Anji and I’s original interview through a speech to text program to get the transcripts. I then took a look at the keywords and found this gem about complementary cofounders skills. Find a Cofounder that Complements YouAnji and I were talking about how to figure out if you can work with a cofounder. That’s where this starts off at 29:10 in the original interview. The transcript is below. It has been edited for length, clarity, and typos. TranscriptAnji: I'm really lucky. So Dilek, my current cofounder, is amazing, and we definitely were complementary to each other. And she's, you know, she’s coming from the design and jewelry background, so very creative. But she's quite She's quite analytical for a creative person, and I'm the more analytical side. But I feel like I have a very heavy creative side, and so we're very complementary to each other. And so what? Even I may not be as creative as her, but I get it, and I also know what good creative looks like. And she may not be as analytical as me, but she also knows these things need to be done like profit margins, financials, this all that stuff is really important. She may not be the one running the spreadsheet, but she understands the importance of it and so that has been great to.  Complementary skills, I think are so so important. It's not an either-or it's both are needed. I have to say I'm very also very lucky with my prior cofounder. I did two of my startups with him.  He was on the engineering side. That was probably where I was. The more creative one is the more analytical one. But he too. We have very complementary personalities. I'm probably a fierier person. He's calmer.  I do feel like when, especially when you're looking at a cofounder, you want someone that kind of compliments you, And then you also appreciate that skill, right? You don't feel that my skill is better than yours or, you know, that one is superior to the other. You realize how they work well together.  I think also when you build out the rest of the team like everybody is like a piece of this puzzle rate, And so what? What what are they what? Peace or they fit. I've learned so much from both of them. Um and I have to. I have to, you know, like a lot of people. You know, this is about a lot of founders where they have cofounder issues or you don't agree on a lot of stuff until," I've been really lucky. I can't say that doesn't mean we agree on everything. But I think where you're able to kind of discuss it, not take it personally, not be mad at each other." I also think that's important as you grow the team. Like your team needs to be able to come to you and have an open discussion … You're not going to do this alone, no matter how smart you are, no matter how much you know. Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode, I talk with Brady Morgan who founded Financial Automation in February of this year after working as a financial analyst. He, his partner, and his team of twelve build automated systems for businesses to manage their money so they can free up time to focus on the aspects of their businesses they know best. Brady also hosts a podcast, Budget Trek, where he covers personal finance and interviews entrepreneurs about finding financial freedom.   Brady talks about his why, the vital element every entrepreneur needs to know to keep them going. After realizing his parents struggled to get by financially when he was growing up, he put his focus on earning enough money to provide for his family in the future without sacrificing time. He studied finance in college and worked as a financial analyst before deciding to start his own business at the age of 24.  Brady explains why he believes in “work-life harmony” rather than balance, and how his determination to provide for and spend time with family has prompted him to start his own business and also help other entrepreneurs save their most valuable resource -- their time. Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Know your why and always keep a reminder close by. Brady keeps a picture of his wife on his desk to remind him why he wants to build a strong financial future. If you’re looking for a way to increase profitability, the easiest and fastest way is to examine your expenses and cut down any that you can do without. Work-life harmony might mean having to put more time and work in at some times than others. Links to Explore Further Article: “Brady Morgan: The Next Big Thing in Finance”, Kivo Daily Brady Morgan on Instagram  Financial Automation Website Budget Trek Podcast Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today I talk with Jo Lynn Clemens is CEO and Founder of I’ve Been Vetted, a company that helps companies improve risk management of employees with a risk scoring platform, Risk Karma. Like many other successful startups, Clemens found a need and sought to fill that need by providing a scoring system to help companies reduce risks in one of the most expensive areas of risk management -- employee behavior.  Jo Lynn came to entrepreneurship after the death of her father, when she sought more work flexibility while she settled his estate. Using what she learned in her previous jobs in insurance and risk management and as an auditor with Lloyd’s of London, she set about developing tools to help companies better manage their risks in human resources.  Clemens finds one of the keys to her success is employing efficient processes and building relationships with clients.  Now Let’s get better together Actions to Try or Advice to Take Customer service and building relationships is key to business success. I’ve Been Vetted ensures companies have the resources they need to implement the platform and plans a regular follow-up to move them forward.  Employ process management. Documenting and automating processes can be one of the keys to startup success. If you’re an employee looking to make the shift to entrepreneurship, use knowledge, expertise, contacts, and opportunities in your current workplace to find out where there is a need and figure out how to fill it.  Links to Explore Further Jo Lynn Clemens on LinkedIn I’ve Been Vetted Founders Network Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode, I speak with Jennifer LeBlanc who started out as a scientific researcher in Canada but soon found she preferred doing research on people and their projects. She moved from writing about people to being part of corporate launches, having been “bitten by the tech bug” when she came to the Bay Area. In 2003, despite being told she was “crazy” for starting a business during a recession, she founded ThinkResults Marketing, recognized by the Silicon Valley Business Journal as one of the top ten fastest-growing companies in Silicon Valley back in 2017.  Her experiences led her to share the ten key elements she sees as essential for new companies in her book Launching for Revenue: How to Launch Your Product, Service or Company for Maximum Growth, which she published in 2018. At the same time, as she was working on the book, she was drawn to the emerging movement of women taking on harassment in the tech industry.  As a result, she collected and published a book of essays titled Changing Tides: Powerful Strategies for Female Founders. She also founded the Changing Tides Movement, which offers support, networking, and resources for female founders, to give them a safe space to exchange knowledge and learn strategies for finding funders. Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take LeBlanc has always led a remote workplace, noting that this gives her access to a greater pool of talent not limited by geography.  Cultivate a vision of where you want to be and don’t let anyone keep you from achieving it. LeBlanc attributes her success to her ability to do this, and she helps others do this, too. It helps if you find someone with a similar background who can be a mentor.  Women very rarely consider investing in start-ups. LeBlanc encourages more women to invest, and to invest in female-founded companies, both to support other women and because women-owned companies are proven to be statistically more likely to succeed.  Links to Explore Further http://jennifersleblanc.com/ www.changingtidesmovement.com www.thinkresultsmarketing.com Launching for Revenue: How to Launch Your Product, Service, or Company for Maximum Growth (HAL House, 2018) Changing Tides: Powerful Strategies for Female Founders (HAL House, 2018) Founders Network Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today I talk with Kurt McIntire who is a San Francisco-based software engineer and entrepreneur. His first business was a mobile app development company he co-founded with his college roommate, called Vektor Digital. After five years of successfully developing applications for clients, he and his cofounder decided to go separate ways to explore other avenues. Kurt then went to work for Meraki, which is part of Cisco. While there was much he learned at Meraki, such as standardized processes, he decided entrepreneurship was better suited for him. He and his wife both quit their jobs and embarked on a month-long road trip throughout the Southwest, just before the Covid-19 pandemic was starting to shut down cities. In addition to bonding with his wife, Kurt made his daily tasks to  “read, write, and sweat”. He used journaling as a tool to help him figure out what he wanted to focus on. After returning home, he decided to focus on machine learning and co-founded SharpML.  SharpML is currently focusing on consulting with companies to develop AI solutions in the form of image, video, and data analysis. One important takeaway Kurt shared was that he and his co-founders learned that they needed to acknowledge and work with their different communication styles. The key, Kurt found, was being open about their fears and working to understand each other’s different worldviews. In addition to having weekly sales and tech meetings, he and his co-founders also make time to share their thoughts and fears.  Now let’s get better together Actions to Try or Advice to Take We like Kurt’s approach to figuring out his next steps in his professional journey: “Read, write, and sweat.”  Even if you aspire to be an entrepreneur, working for a large company can give you a lot of insight and lessons to help you, so you’re not figuring it all out on your own.  Don’t make assumptions about what you think you can or cannot do. Once Kurt realized that AI didn’t have to be reserved for PhDs working on campuses, he was able to zero in on what he most wanted to do in his new venture.  We all communicate through our own perspectives of the world. Instead of simply compromising, ask what the other person fears. Try to understand what they are saying from their worldview. Links to Explore Further Kurt McIntire on LinkedIn SharpML.com Book mentioned by Jarie: Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It by Chris Voss with Tahl Raz Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today I talk to veteran and entrepreneur Tom Schwab, founder and CEO of Interview Valet. In this noisy digital world, if you can’t break through the noise, you just add to it. Instead, you need to get in on the conversation where your ideal customers are already listening. As a Navy veteran who ran nuclear power plants, and an inbound marketing engineer, Tom Schwab has a refreshingly unique approach.  He focuses on time-proven strategies, then supercharges them with today’s technology and podcast interview marketing. As an author, speaker, and teacher, Tom helps you get more traffic, leads, and raving customer fans by being interviewed on targeted podcasts. Tom founded Interview Valet after seeing a need for a workable system for entrepreneurs, authors, and thought leaders to market themselves through podcast interviews.  Tom references his time in the Navy as good training for the pandemic as well as building a business, instilling in him a mindset that looks at the journey instead of the end. Instead of approaching every day as the same as the last, he chooses to embrace each day’s challenge and to learn something new, one of the hallmarks of being an entrepreneur. Another lesson Tom has applied from his military career is the value of having an efficient process and always assessing it. He believes in hiring good people, building a good system, and then trusting in his team to make good decisions. This is why he calls himself a Chief Evangelist Officer. he’s an evangelist for the company, his clients, and his employees, who all work remotely. Remote teams are one of the only ways to respond to clients that are all over the world. As an entrepreneur, Tom strives for “work-life integration” rather than “work-life balance.” This enables him to schedule his time to focus on his business when he needs to, and to schedule time for his family or other pursuits. While he feels like he only works ten hours a week, that’s because the rest of the time he’s “working,” he’s having fun and that’s what being an entrepreneur is all about.  Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Don’t be a manager. Be a leader. Hire good people, implement a process, and if something breaks down, assess where the process needs tweaking. Trust that people are trying to do their best work, and they will.  For anyone wanting to go on a podcast, Tom recommends establishing a connection with the show host and coming to it with your heart. listeners will hear you as authentic and trustworthy. Conversion rates for podcast interviews are 25 times higher than blogs, therefore providing an invaluable platform.  Go to the podcast interview with heart and authenticity. Do something good and arrive in the spirit of serving others, rather than simply selling yourself.  Strive for work-life integration. Work-life balance is a myth.  Links to Explore Further Tom has made a free download of his book available for listeners of the podcast at www.interviewvalet.com/ethos LinkedIn: Thomas M Schwab - Chief Evangelist Officer - Interview Valet Twitter: @TMSchwab The Story Grid The Solopreneur Hour Podcast w/ Michael O'Neal Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today’s show, I talk with Tom Geary, an entrepreneur who started a successful marketing agency, School of Thought, in 2008, on the eve of a recession. Tom shares insights about the importance of creativity, taking risks, and having empathy even during scary times. Tom has been combining his creative impulse and entrepreneurial spirit since the age of 10 when he started a newspaper while traveling around the world with his parents. Tom shares the experience of surviving a typhoon on his father’s boat, and how he learned from his father to think outside of the box and take each problem as they came.  Tom stresses the importance of working with companies to help them see past what they think they know and put themselves in the customer’s place. He creates campaigns that don’t just “play by the book,” but that stand out from the crowd. His company’s motto is “Make them care,” and that’s what he endeavors to do for every project he works on. How a company communicates its offering is as important to think about as the product or service.  Now, with everyone in lockdown during the pandemic, Tom says that business leaders should take this opportunity to demonstrate their understanding and empathy while also being creative. He points to campaigns by Reddit and Frito-Lay as examples of how companies can be different while also demonstrating understanding and empathy. Having the courage to take chances and try things out is essential to succeeding as an entrepreneur. The best practice for companies to survive rough times is to the exact opposite of what many do - to pull back. Instead, Tom recommends that we take the opportunity to stand out, to invest, and build up.  Tom strives to create a workplace where employees feel invested and care about the company. He encourages employees to practice self-care and to have boundaries between work and personal lives, which is particularly difficult right now. Employees, like marketing, should not just be an afterthought in business.  Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Show empathy and sensitivity. Acknowledge what people are going through, but don’t just follow the same playbook as everyone else.  Don’t be afraid to take risks. Success is built on trials and failures, not playing it safe.  Put yourself in your customer’s shoes. Try to identify their desire or need. Be surprising.  Take time to rest and recover. Safeguard your mental health.  Links to Explore Further Schoolofthought.com  #MakeItBetter Frito- Lay Reddit Tom Geary on LinkedIn Founder Network Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on the podcast, I talk with Gregory Roufa, founder and CEO of Sodalis, a company that is transforming the way we interact with each other. Gregory started off in the mortgage brokerage business where he learned how to work with others to get stuff done. Gregory then went on to form Corrigo, a platform to help manage facilities with wireless work orders back in 1999. His time at Corrigo was a wild ride. At one point, it went from 200 people down to 16 in a single day. That taught him a lot about how to manage a business during a downturn but also the toll that stress and strain can take on you. One of Gregory’s proudest technical achievements was keeping Corrigo’s cloud service up and running during the early 2000’s -- which was the very beginning of cloud computing. To put that in perspective, Amazon Web Services did not even exist back then. Gregory also learned during those 20 years of ups and downs to take things one step at a time, prioritize, and to find good people. His team was what really made it all work. Without a good team that’s aligned to the goals, works well together, and can trust each other, Corrigo would have folded a long time ago. Gregory’s new venture, Sodalis, is totally different from real estate management. Sodalis is focused on helping people heal through deep connections with others through VR. It’s a fascinating idea whose time has come and if you’re interested in how to have transformative experiences without using drugs, this is one to listen to. Now let’s get better together Actions to Try or Advice to Take You can be too early to a market -- especially when the industry is a laggard like real estate management. Switching to a recurring revenue model is what saved Corrigo in the early days. Being able to have customers pay for the service allows you to do continuous development. Team communications are essential. A shared background can help speed this up since the communications can be short and clear. Customization vs Configuration:  It’s better to configure instead of doing a lot of customization.  Selling into the Expense side is the lowest rung of the corporate hierarchy. It’s always better to sell into the revenue side since they (Sales, HR, Finance) always want to make more revenue or be more productive. You need an easy Return on Investment (ROI) story and it has to relate to generating revenue. Links to Explore Further Greg’s Company Sodalis Inc. Ring Central Corrigo -- the world's most powerful facilities management platform Greg on LinkedIn Founders Network Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of the podcast, I talk with Ben Simon-Thomas, co-founder and CEO of W3LL or Well which is Connecting people With Effective, Evidence-Based Solutions That Improve Wellbeing.  Early in his career, he worked in preventive medicine to try and change people’s lifestyles so they can be more healthy. That inspired him to come back to healthcare and form W3ll. Ben’s by nature an optimistic person and sometimes that can get him into trouble, especially when it comes to picking a co-founder. What he has learned about picking a co-founder is that you have to have the attitude that anything is possible while not dwelling on the past. It’s also important to feel at ease with your potential co-founder, which has a lot to do with transparency of both actions and being honest that you won’t have all the answers. It’s the ability to hear options, good or bad, and then come together to solve the problem that’s the hallmark of a good founder pairing. Ben has a Masters in Buddist Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies that is driving what he is doing at W3LL, which relates to Health, Happiness, and Holding Space. What that all boils down to is how our thoughts affect our wellbeing. We cover a lot of ground from 3D printing to mindfulness to a person’s wellbeing. It’s a fascinating conversation about how to be more healthy, happy, and hopeful. You will not want to miss this one if you want more wellbeing in your life. Now let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Learn Something New Every day: the advantage of being an entrepreneur is that you actually have to learn new things daily or you’ll soon fall behind. Founders Problems: Ben has had his fair share of founder problems -- like so many people.  The two most common reasons startups fail: Run out of money + Founder problems. Transparency and collaboration (or lack of ego) are the two things Ben looks for in a co-founder. Theology vs Religious Studies: Theology is about how to apply religion whereas religious studies is more the history of religion. Health, Happiness, and Hold Space. The three things he wants to achieve at W3LL. Links to Explore Further Ben on LinkedIn Ben’s Company W3LL Founders Network Transformative Technology TT’s mission is to permanently move a billion people into a state of wellbeing and flourishing by 2030. The Transformative Technology Conference is the only conference focused on tech for mental wellness, emotional wellbeing, and human flourishing. We sit at the intersection of neuroscience, psychology, tech, entrepreneurship, and innovation. We leverage exponential technologies like AI, AR/VR/XR, networks and sensors, biotech, neurofeedback, robotics, and more to build tech to enable human wellbeing at scale. Check out the TT network (free). Health, Happiness, and Hope. Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley - They are doing some great work. Singularity University. Preparing Global Leaders & Organizations for the Future - another innovative group doing good work. Lots of very important conversations RE: post COVID world. Paul Tillich -- Being religious means asking passionately the question of the meaning of our existence and being willing to receive answers, even if the answers hurt. California Institute of Integral Studies Bessel van der Kolk Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of the podcast, I speak with Joanna Penn, Award-nominated, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She is a podcaster, international speaker, and award-winning creative entrepreneur. Her site, The Creative Penn is regularly voted one of the Top 100 blogs for writers by Writers Digest. If you want to figure out how to write books and even make money writing, then this interview is a must-listen. Joanna studied theology in school and then went into IT consulting where she learned all about business but was miserable doing it. She went through a cycle of working and quitting until she realized that she should start her own business. It took stints in real estate and then a scuba diving company, all of which she hated and “failed” at to realize she needed to do something she loved.  These “failures” also gave her the insight that she did not want to manage people or assets. Rather, she wanted to do high-profit margin work that she loved that could be done anywhere in the world on a laptop. That led her to become a writer where she could do the things she loved -- read, write, and travel.  Joanna loves reading Thrillers and Dan Brown inspired her to combine her fascination with religion to write her highly successful ARKANE series. This following your interests approach is a great way for entrepreneurs to figure out a way to create an independent life that completes them. If you’re an author, chances are, you don’t make a whole lot from your writing and that’s why Joanna has multiple streams of income -- selling books is only one of them. This allows her to do what she loves while also making a living -- an important part of being an entrepreneur. Now let’s get better together Actions to Try or Advice to Take Freelancing: A good way to see if you have the entrepreneur mindset is to freelance either on the side or if you’re bold, fulltime. Business Overhead (office space, insurance, employees, etc.) is one thing that can sneak up on you. Make sure you have a handle on that. Try different paths: You never know what will work for you so try things and don’t be afraid to “fail.” What you learn early in life may come back and be useful someday. Case in point Joanna’s knowledge of theology is throughout her novels. Your work environment will impact your physical health -- especially if you’re an introvert. Make sure that you understand what affects you and build an environment around you that feeds you. Most authors are not entrepreneurs because they don’t think of themselves as business people or rather they are not business people. This is a big hurdle to get over as an author because you do have to do the business side of authorship in order to be successful. If you struggle with something or learn something, it’s important that you share that knowledge with the world.  When you exchange time for money, you lose a certain amount of freedom. It’s best, if possible, to create products or services that can generate money for you. Digital, Global, and Mobile First: That’s how Joanna thinks about her businesses. Links to Explore Further The Creative Penn Joanna on Twitter and LinkedIn Jarie’s Episode on Joanna’s Podcast. AI Superpowers Book. 7 Figure Small Stone of Fire and Valley of Dry Bones part of the ARKANE series. Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today I talk with Richard Reis, co-founder of Most Recommend Books, a website that tells you which books have shaped the world’s most successful people. Before Richard learned to code at Lambda school and started Most Recommended Books, he worked in LA at a movie studio with his dad, which was his first experience at a startup. Those five years working with his dad making movies was a baptism by fire to the realities of what it’s like to create something from nothing. He learned that distribution is something that is really tough to get right -- even tougher than creating something from nothing. He learned that once you build it, you’re only half done. Then you have to sell it. This is why having a co-founder that complements you is so important. If one of you can build it, then the other should be able to sell it. That’s a powerful combination. that’s rare to have in one person. He learned to make sure you think about how to sell what you create sooner rather than later. He is also a big believer in doing lots of small projects to see what sticks. We talk about how he came up with the idea for Most Recommend Books and how he has built it into a nice business. Most Recommend Books is a perfect example of scratching your own itch and testing an idea by just trying things and seeing what happens. Now let’s get better together Actions to Try or Advice to Take Making movies is the ultimate serial entrepreneur job. You have to be able to build and sell all of your ideas. Think about selling sooner rather than later. Experiment: Build lots of different projects and see what hits. Try them for 3 months or so. Then, double down on the ones that work. Atlas Shrugged and Fountain Head were the two surprises to his list. Success has a lot to do with luck and being able to take advantage of it. The one book that everyone reads Man’s Search for Meaning and Sapiens. Most tech founders read the same books but with Steve Jobs he was completely different from everyone else. Most of his list was not common to these other tech founders. Patterns: Richard likes to look for patterns among the archetypes of people. That’s what fascinates him about what people recommend to read since if you can see, for example, what writers read, then you can become a better writer.  Build a skill stack: Always be learning new skills that can build on each other and stack up to something better. Links to Explore Further Most Recommended Books Richard on LinkedIn Lambda School DataDrivenTransit Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of the podcast, I speak with Anupam Kundu, founder of RealValue.ai, which is building a visual intelligence platform to measure and optimize human experiences. He is a trained engineer and soon realized that he was not that great at programming but loved thinking up new ideas, building products, and solving problems.  After taking an AI course at MIT, he realized that he wanted to build his own company so he quit his job to pursue that dream even though he did not have a product in mind. That led him to start offering consulting services to figure out the problems that customers were running into and how AI could solve them. He soon realized that the rat race of silicon valley was not making him or his family happy. That realization led him to move to France where his lives now and runs his company with his co-founder and wife. We talk about the challenges of running a company with your spouse as well as living in a foreign country all while trying to build a company. Now let’s get better together Actions to Try or Advice to Take You have to figure out what’s important in your life and adjust your life around what’s important to you. If you want to start a company, go find a group of customers that has a problem and solve it. Sounds obvious but not a lot of entrepreneurs do that. If you work with your spouse, you have to have boundaries to keep your personal and professional lives as compartmentalized as possible. It’s actually super hard to do but it does make life a lot smoother. The best co-founders complement each other’s skills and the same goes if your spouse is also your co-founder. All startups have to figure out where to spend their money and it can be a difficult conversation if you’re not aligned on shared goals. You might go faster alone but having more people around will allow you to go longer. Don’t do anything your spouse is against. They are one of the few people who have your best interest at heart. Links to Explore Further RealValue.ai Anupam on Linked In ThoughtWorks Founders Network Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today I talk with Nathan Beckord, co-founder and CEO of FounderSuite as well as a podcaster over at How I Raised It, which I had the honor of being on -- episode 5 to be exact. We talk about the fundraising process and why he feels it’s just like any other B2B sales process that needs to be nurtured. His background in investment banking is what led him to build products around how to help founders raise funds. Raising money is all about building and cultivating relationships with investors. It’s a lot of nurturing and letting investors know what you are up too even when you’re not raising. When you are raising, then things switch to a traditional sales process of trying to close the deal with a little bit of FOMO. It really is all about the process you use. We talk about how to nurture leads and the power of a respectful cold email to get you on an investor’s radar. For Nathan, it’s all about communications, consistency, and being helpful. Now let’s get better together Actions to Try or Advice to Take Elizabeth Yin’s Series on raising money. Startups go into accelerators to learn how to raise money, so Nathan goes to them and talks to them about how to raise money. Raising money is a nurtured sales process. In the vast majority of cases, investors will invest in you once they get to know you. One school of thought is to go all-in for months for the raise. Others suggest a slow burn as a constant nurturing process. Regular Updates: It’s critical to do a regular update to investors and potential investors. You always want to add to your distribution list and have regular updates. Ask for advice, get funding. Ask for funding, get advice. Be useful and pay it forward to investors. Realize that they are running a business as well and you want to be valuable to them as well. If you limit your work hours, you’ll figure out what is important. Work expands with the time given. Nathan is a big believer in loading up your subconscious with a couple of problems to solve. Links to Explore Further FounderSuite Nathan on LinkedIn How I Raised It Podcast Founders Network Pinewood Social Barista Parlor Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of the podcast, I speak with Amandeep Khurana. Right now, he’s helping me out with the San Francisco Chapter of Founders Network while he is plotting his next move. We talk about as a kid, how he wanted to be an industrialist, which back then, he didn’t even know what that meant.  He came to the US for grad school (in Computer Science) and decided that he wanted to build stuff instead of getting his PhD. His first job was at AWS when it was around 100 people and as it grew, he realized he wanted to do more. That led him to found his first company to solve the problems he saw customers facing. His curiosity, hunger to solve problems, and more importantly, the chip on his shoulder to be successful, is what led him to the entrepreneur path. That inner force, which is hard to see, is what drives him to this day to build solutions to customer problems. The hunger to succeed has been with him since he was a kid. His peer group is what brings it out in him. Being around other people who have the “we can do this” is one of the most powerful motivators for an entrepreneur. He also feels that his secret to success is that he is coachable and solicits feedback from people around him. This is especially important when you don’t know what you don’t know and you’re a pathfinder blazing a trail forward. This is both a gift and a curse because he does not know when to stop. Now let’s get better together Actions to Try or Advice to Take Even though he went to engineering school, he did not enjoy the actual engineering. What he really enjoyed was solving problems for customers. Being in front of customers is what drives me. It’s his favorite part of the business. You can’t tell if someone will be successful but you can usually tell if an entrepreneur will not be successful because they lack hunger or curiosity or desire. Solicit Feeback: Be active in soliciting feedback from the people around you. Be open to what they have to say even if it’s hard to hear. This feedback, from trusted sources, will help you get better. Have people you trust to give you input in tough moments. These coaches are invaluable to tell you when you’re being an ass. Trust needs to be built over time. A new manager will be tested by the current staff to see how far they can push it. It’s hard to be open as a boss. What you say as a boss will be amplified by 10 worst than you except. Every word you say is going to be amplified and taken out of context every time. Context is extremely important. As a leader, you need to make sure to meter your comments when it’s a work in progress. Links to Explore Further Amandeep on LinkedIn Cloudera: We deliver an enterprise data cloud for any data, anywhere, from the Edge to AI. Anandeep’s company Okera: Enable self-service analytics responsibly to unlock the full potential of your company’s data. Founders Network Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode, I speak with Amy Wister, co-founder of RevShopp. RevShopp is a platform that helps retailers and customers reduce the number of returns on clothing. They do this with their unique shape intelligence software that makes it easier to know ahead of time if something will fit. Amy and I talk about her journey from ski bum to MBA to Intel to windows to fashion. It’s a fascinating discussion about how our lives can take us to unexpected places doing unexpected things. The many forks in the road that her career has taken have been a source of inspiration as well as some great opportunities. We discuss the roadmap that she helped develop to help stylists and their clients find their right clothes that fit your ideal body type and how that idea created RevShopp. We talk about how to find the right co-founder for your company, especially if it’s a technical co-founder. We talk about how hard it is to introduce a new concept into an established market where they really don’t want to change -- even if it’s in their best interest. Her experience working retail at an early age gave her some great insights that she never knew she would use until later on. Amy’s experience as a B2B customer also gave her the knowledge to know that your B2B customer might not be the same at every company.  You’ll also hear some household background noise in this one since we’re both working from home. So apologies for that in advance.  Now let’s get better together Actions to Try or Advice to Take Persistent and Persuasive are key traits of entrepreneurs that Amy learned on her eclectic journey to co-founding a fashion company. Fashion Fit is more important than size. The end customer is going to be the one who gives us the laundry list of what is required. It’s a fools errand to think you know what to build without pressure testing it. Do Your Homework: You’ll need to figure out who to actually talk to when doing a B2B sale is because everyone’s titles are so different. Building a network is supercritical -- no matter where they work or what they do. You never know who might be able to give you an in. Authenticity and Reciprocity are critical to cultivating relationships.  You never know where you might land so be open to all sorts of opportunities. Do you really need the money to build something or do you need a co-founder that can build it with you? Most companies fail because the founders don’t agree along with running out of money. What to look for in a Technical Founder  Can they explain technology in kindergarten terms? If not, then it’s probably a bad fit. Do they focus on why it won’t work? Do all they do is “bag” on the last person? Compassionate person Get’s what you’re talking about True to their word Never Speak Ill of the Dead: You never know what others went through to get to where they got. Links to Explore Further RevShopp: Deliver the right purchase the first time with shape intelligence. Amy on LinkedIn Founders Network Dezen -- Anj’s fashion startup. Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today I’m talking with Mark Strathdee, founder of Sherpa Digital Media, a video platform designed to engage and entertain your audience. Think of a webinar platform that’s engaging and catered to the individual. Mark and I talk about some of his daily habits, notebooks, his background in journalism, and how COVID-19 has made Sherpa insanely busy. We discuss the history of video and how it’s changed over the last ten years. As an example, YouTube has taught us that content does not need to be perfect to make an impact. Everyone can have a voice and that voice can come from anywhere. His passion is to make tools for people to find and share their voice. We talk about why he still likes quality journalism as well as the importance of being responsible for using your voice and influence. Now more than ever, COVID-19 is accelerating the move to more media experiences that are customized and streamed right into your living room. Attention is the most valuable commodity that media creators need to try and capture. At Sherpa, they use Artificial Intelligence to look for trends and opportunities to craft a unique experience for individuals that are looking for information about a brand or product. Mark uses physical notebooks and time management to make sure that he’s working on the right things. In particular, he likes to write down the night before what he has to do the next day so that he’s focused on that instead of the 100’s of emails in his inbox. Mark does not want his inbox to dictate his day. He also uses his notebook as something that’s just for him and will not distract him when he’s creating something in it. Now, let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Time management is all about where your boundaries are. You need to manage your endless todo list. Literally schedule the time to turn off your work and remind you to spend time with those you love. Write down your next day’s focus: Before bed, write down what you need to focus on the next day and what you are concerned about. Then, focus on that before you read any email. An email is a communication tool (kinda cold) as opposed to a physical notebook that allows you to use your free hand to create something for you and only you. Read a physical book at night: A physical book is for you and only you. It won’t distract you and will calm your mind. There are no distractions in your notebook. Your notebook is only for you. Get out and walk the dog in the fresh air and leave your phone behind. Sherpa takes a consultative approach and they never demo during the first contact. This takes longer to work with Sherpa but this allows them to figure out what keeps them up at night. Video and live events are stressful and unique moments in time for most people and that makes it fearful. Sherpa wants to reduce that. Links to Explore Further Sherpa Digital Media Mark on LinkedIn Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn or JSYPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on the podcast, I interview my good friend Marvin Raab, who is doing something pretty amazing stuff with of all things Bridge. Marvin is an avid board and card gamer with a collection of over 250 games in his living room and recently discovered Bridge as an avenue to increase his social circle. He relocated to Las Vegas in 2014 after 26 years in Silicon Valley.  When not thinking about how to start the best bridge club on the west coast, he’s the IT Manager for a startup in the SF Bay Area and is the owner of Genarian Tech, a one-man tech consulting company where he provides on-demand support to small businesses and individuals all over Las Vegas and the country. Marvin and I have been at four startups together so we have been through some tough times together. Right now, he’s into the card game Bridge and is trying to bring all his bridge friends online to play. I consider Marv an expert in genarian technology or how all those silver surfers use technology and the internet. This is especially important now that we have to be physically distant from each other and a lot of our socializing is online. This is particularly hard for seniors since they are used to getting together -- especially if they play bridge. We talk a lot about Bridge and the challenges he has seen getting the older generation to use technology and play online. In particular, some of the assumptions that us Gen-Xers make about simple things like how to use a mouse, browser, or even right-clicking. I always like talking with Marv and this conversation is a great one to understand how the older generation is handling shelter in place, what opportunities there might be, and why you should play bridge. Now, let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Patience is an important trait to have when dealing with folks that don’t understand technology as well as you do. Bridge is a large part of some older people’s lives. For some, it’s their only source of community and connection. Poker is a lot more popular that Bridge and the main reason is probably the complexity of Bridge and the fact that you need a partner. Marv’s trying to figure out how to make it more accessible. Many Bridge players don’t have smartphones or if they have a smartphone, they don’t know how to use it. A lot of what Marv has done is educate them on how to use technology to do things online. The challenge in getting older people online is many don’t have computers. Mostly, they have smartphones or even tablets. For Bridge, you must have a partner. This provides a unique challenge for online playing because some partners don’t want to play online. Links to Explore Further Marv on LinkedIn and Genarian Tech American Contract Bridge League Trends.co Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode, I speak with Jerod Morris. Jerod is a podcaster, entrepreneur, and all-around awesome community organizer. I met Jerod as a member of The Unemployable Initiative which is a place to build your perfect business in a community of like-minded people and expert coaches. Jerod runs it along with Brian Clark of Copyblogger fame for those of you who are Gen-Xers like me. Jerod and I cover a lot of ground about how to be productive while working from home and for yourself. The real cool story is how he got to be working with Brian Clark as well as how his podcast has evolved over time. We talk about the power of community and the best ways to build an audience and the value of an audience that finds what you do helpful and valuable. If you’re wondering how to build great online communities, then Jerod is your guy. The unemployable initiative is a master class in how to build a community and give those community members value as well as a sense of belonging. Community building has always been important. It’s now even more important in a world with all these digital distractions. We also talk about the four things that are important for a podcast to do as well as the three reasons someone listens to a podcast. I’m always fascinated about how people come to do what they do. Jerod’s journey is fascinating and filled with all sorts of great lessons and insights about how to take your own path -- all while serving a community. Now, let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Unemployable people are folks that can get a job but choose not too. These people tend to be solopreneurs and creatives who want to do their own thing. Prioritize what’s important by thinking about what’s the most important 3 things to get done today. Be ruthless on what’s important. Communities matter and belonging is the most important part of being a community member. Have a level of self-compassion if things don’t always go according to plan. Your plans might not always work out. Be able to change. Find things to do that build momentum. Allow the day to flow as it flows. Each day is its own thing. If you’re on a roll, get the minimum done so you have a place to start when you get back to it. How will this community help me get better? That’s the question to ask. A sense of belonging is what keeps people around in the long term. How can I be helpful, useful, and valuable? Then, how can I take it to the next level of belonging? Four important things for a podcast: Authentic, Useful, Sustainable (show up over time), and profitability, which does not mean money. People come to a podcast for three reasons: Education, Inspiration, and/or Entertainment. Links to Explore Further Jerod’s Linked In A podcast about IU Basketball Assembly Call A community for those that seek their own path Unemployable A better what to think with Thinkers Notebook Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on the podcast, I have a conversation with Greg Marcus. Greg and I have known each other for the better part of ten years. Greg is one of the most thoughtful and introspective people I know. I always love talking to him about life. Currently, he’s studying to be a Rabbi after a career in biotech that left me struggling to find balance. His website, American Mussar, is a great resource for the Jewish self-help tradition of Mussar. Greg talks about the soul traits of Mussar and why the goal is never to be at extremes -- it’s all about balance. Our discussion goes deep into the various spiritual traditions and some of the things people can do today to strive towards balance. His approach to life always gives me the inspiration to strive for balance in my own life. Greg’s Molecular Biology background is relevant to what we’re going through right now and he gives us some ways to determine what might information to trust. I think the best part of our conversation was around how to handle stressful situations, like what we were going through when we recorded this episode. Greg’s approach is kind, considerate with a little kick in the rear to challenge you to be your best self. He wants to reach out to those of all faiths but in particular, the people who identify as Jewish but don’t participate in the religion. I always find these discussions about the deeper meanings of life to be the ones that change me for the better. We’re all a work in progress and Greg’s approach to life and American Mussar gives us the tools to strive to be our best selves. Now, let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take So often a crisis in one’s life turns into a turning point. The hope is that you can not have a crisis to turn yourself around. Mussar teaching you how to look inside and strive to achieve balance and healing. Mensch: A person of integrity and honor. Listening is the greatest gift you can give someone. Mussar is not just for Jewish people. About a third of Greg’s email list is non-Jewish. Greg’s approach has had mixed feelings -- like so many “entrepreneurs” trying to change the status quo. Links to Explore Further Greg’s website American Mussar and LinkedIn Busting Your Corporate Idol The Spiritual Practice of Good Actions Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of the podcast, I speak with Kevin Homes, founder, and CEO of Founders Network, a peer mentoring network for tech founders. We talk about his journey from history major to semiconductors to almost going to Guatemala to founding Founders Network nine years ago. We talk about how hard it is to be a startup founder and how that inspired Founders Network. As an aside, I’m a member of Founders Network and also this year, the San Francisco regional director, so you can say I’m a fan of what he’s doing. The reason I’m such a fan is that I know first hand the power of peer mentorship and why it’s vital for all entrepreneurs to have a kitchen cabinet to help them out. Being an entrepreneur is one of the hardest jobs out there. It’s borderline insane to think that your new-fangled gizmo is going to change the lives of customers or even change the world. There is a lot of failure in being an entrepreneur and having a consistent, like-minded set of peers helping each other out is what The Entrepreneur Ethos is all about. In fact, you’ll hear during the episode the essence of what Founders Network is and part of Kevin’s fantastic forward to my book. If you want to take a deep dive into how peer mentorship works or you’re interested in what a group like Founders Network is all about, then this one is a must-listen. Now, let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take If I knew then, what I know now is the guiding principle behind how Founders Network tries to help out people. The values of the Founders Network includes AUTHENTICITY, RECIPROCITY, HUMILITY, and INCLUSIVITY. Culture is such an important piece of any city and company. It’s the water that you swim in. It eases communications and lowers the overhead of getting things done. If you give yourself 60 or 80 hours of work time, you’ll fill it. There is an endless list so pick the top 3 things to get done and don’t overwork. It’s a scary time right now. Everyone is freaking out about the future. It’s okay to admit that and have fear about it. The trick is to then move on from it and do something daily to do something about it. Links to Explore Further Founders Network Kevin on LinkedIn Ciocca Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship The Traitorous Eight Traitorously Leave Shockley Semiconductor Silicon Valley Genealogy Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode, I speak with Nathan Rose, entrepreneur and author. We dig into crowdfunding and how lots of people use it to fund their ideas. Nathan is a world traveler who now lives in the country of Georgia. His experience with the digital nomad lifestyle has given him some great insights on how to stay productive. Nathan has lived and worked all over the world. This has made him appreciate being regular and orderly in his life, so that he may be violent and original in his work. One of his productivity hacks is that he sets daily goals as well as using the desktop background to display these goals so that he always sees what he needs to work on. He also focuses on one thing at a time to get away from working on random things that might pop up like dirty dishes. If you’re looking to crowdfund an idea, Nathan’s upcoming book, Rewards Crowdfunding, will shed some light on the process including what category of products do the best.  Rewards crowdfunding is a great example of what one has to do to be successful in any type of creative project -- be it a book, product, company, or even a nonprofit. We also discuss what he feels is the most beautiful type of art to create. Now, let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Use a tool like Calendly to schedule your meetings across time zones. You need to learn how to pitch yourself when you’re a digital nomad. It’s really hard to be a digital nomad for a long period of time. A lot of people find it as well. Having some stability in your life can allow you to achieve some of those higher-level goals. Rewards crowdfunding is a great way to figure out if your idea is what someone wants to buy. This allows creatives to not have to be a starving artist. Georgia does have a big startup scene. There is a rich pool of talented young people who speak English and are eager to build SaaS products. Links to Explore Further Nathan's new book Rewards Crowdfunding Nathan Rose on LinkedIn and on Amazon Startup Funding Secrets The JOBS Act. Gustave Flaubert quote Kickstarter Indiegogo Startup Grind Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today I talk with Marc Guberti, author, podcaster, and all-around online media guru. We talk about how he got into writing books, doing podcasts and YouTube -- all while going to college. He has published over 27 books and hosts 3 podcasts. In fact, he starting podcasting before he went to college and he just recently graduated with a finance degree even though he’s known for marketing. Marc tells us how he cranks out 7 episodes a week for his podcasts and why if he wants to know anything about marketing, he’ll just interview someone. He breaks down his daily routine to stay so productive. We talk about why he feels now is the time to start creating. He also gives us some insights into how he actually comes up with all the content. If you ever wanted to write a book, do a podcast, or get on YouTube, then you need to listen to Marc’s advice. He’s at the vanguard of all this and the one thing that I find the most interesting is his virtual summits, which in today’s world, is even more important. Now, let’s get better, together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Take a look at what’s popular for you and dive deeper into the topic. Look at older content and refresh it with new information or a different take on what you learned. Set standards for yourself and then try and figure out how to get better, incrementally. Be better than who you were yesterday. Virtual summits take the Joint Venture idea and combine the podcast medium so that attendees then get something out of it. Discipline is the key to entrepreneurial success. This is my standard now how do I rise about that. Always Upleveling Yourself. If I was to start from scratch, I’d do podcasting because it’s a quick way to go to meet interesting people and get more speaking gigs. There are few things that are truly better than podcasting to get to know someone and build a relationship with them. Business is all about relationships. Want to start out in content creation? Go create content. Lots and lots of content. Marc tried to run at least an hour a day sometimes two hours.  Links to Explore Further Breakthrough Success Podcast Profitable Public Speaking Marc on YouTube and LinkedIn Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on the podcast, I interview DJ DiDonna entrepreneur and author. We talk about why sabbaticals are a powerful tool for both organizations and individuals. I met DJ at the Story Grid Nonfiction workshop in Nashville, TN right before the COVID-19 shelter in place. DJ’s journey to taking a sabbatical goes directly through his experience as an entrepreneur and the struggles he had with burn out. We explore the benefits of a sabbatical and some surprising data on who takes them. He is also working on a book from the findings of the research collected from the Sabbatical Project, an organization that’s looking to champion the idea that sabbaticals add a lot of value to both people and organizations. His research has revealed, among other things, that sabbaticals are not only for the privileged but can benefit all sorts of people.  We also talk about how a life disruption gives us the same type of perspective as a sabbatical and in some cases, that’s too late to do anything about. That’s why he wants to change the culture surrounding sabbaticals and get more people to take them. Now. Let’s get better, together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Sabbaticals, defined as “extended time spent intentionally off of routine work.” Imposter Syndrome: Even wildly successful people still don’t think that their doing is good enough. Your’s family orientation towards work has a big impact on how you view work and whether or not you’ll take a sabbatical.  The big question to answer is how do you approach work and is this the work I want to do? Functional Workaholic: Like an alcoholic, you don’t know you’re one while you are living in it. It takes stepping back to see it. Sabbaticals are not just for privileged people. Nonprofits are increasingly giving sabbaticals to their team to fight burnout and as a perk.  You can save for a sabbatical just like you save for a vacation. Links to Explore Further The Sabbatical Project DJ on LinkedIn Story Grid Durfee Foundation -- Gives Sabbatical Awards Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

My guest today is Candice Smith, co-founder, and CEO of Caregiven. She founded Caregiven after her experience caring for her father during his end of life. Her experience was similar to mine while I was a caregiver for my late wife Jane. Her vision is to get caregiving away from the transactional communications that dominate the end of life to a more meaningful experience. I first met Candice at a Founders Network retreat and we bonded over our shared experience with grief and loss. This conversation is going to do deep into grief, loss, caring for a sick loved one and a lot of points in between. We also talk about the challenges of being a non-technical founder, being a first-time for-profit founder, and how talking about end of life is tough for a lot of people. She also talks about her experience being isolated in a hotel on self-quarantine for COVID-19 before she could fly back to her home to be with her family. Before we jump into it, if you’re troubled by a conversation about loss and grief, then you may want to skip this one. I know that for some, it’s hard to talk about these sorts of things and I can respect the fact that everyone is on their own journey. I would encourage you to listen even if it’s a bit uncomfortable because by talking about loss and grief, we can get better at dealing with it. Now. Let’s get better, together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take It’s hard to rise to the task when it’s unclear exactly what has to be done. For caregivers helping loved ones, it’s even harder. We will all go through the end of life experience so we need to be educated on what it’s all about. If you go through a painful experience and learn something, then you should share your knowledge. Memento Mori: The one perennial truth – rich or not, successful or not, religious, philosophical, it doesn’t matter – you will die Know Your Why: It’s critical that you and your company have a reason for being that transcends the fame, fortune, and prestige that might be bestowed on you for your efforts. Know your market: Caregivers search for information from trusted sources as opposed to searching online or another place. The learning curve for her keeps on going up and will never stop. Knowing what you’re going to do the next day allows her to wake up for confidence. Pomodoro Technique: Break tasks into 25-minute chunks. While she was in self-isolation, she would stop at 10 minutes to the hour and walk around her floor. It’s important to have the discipline for both your mental and physical health. Links to Explore Further Caregiven Founders Network Candice on LinkedIn Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of the podcast, I speak with Khiry Kemp, founder, and CTO of Oppti, a SaaS platform that gives high school students access to opportunities like internships and volunteering. He got the startup bug after a brief stint in consulting. He’s also a Guinness Book of World Records holder along with his co-founder Weston. That world record led them to actually form Oppti. Khiry and I met through Founders Network, which is a peer-mentoring community for startup founders. We talk about the importance of a co-founder that complements you and why it’s important to set a daily intention to make things happen. He’s also a HUGE oatmeal guy for a surprising reason for someone his age. We talk about how easy it is for him to do the same thing day in and day out and why that’s a powerful habit to have, most of the time. He tries to do the same thing every day to reduce his cognitive load so he can make important decisions. He also uses his daily workouts to do a mental cleanup so that he can reprioritize what he has to do as well as getting bursts of ideas for problems he needs to solve. I had a great time chatting with him and it was great to hear what it was like to break a world record. Now. Let’s get better together Actions to Try or Advice to Take Assess your resources daily: What do you have the capacity to do and what should you put on hold for later. Find a co-founder that complements you Reduce the number of simple decisions you make a day so you can simplify your cognitive load. He uses working out to get in his head to think about problems and solutions. Have your own time so you can clear your mind and do some mental cleanup. Have a physical routine: Moving your body will get you out of your head and reduce stress and strain. Get Out in the World: It’s hard for people to ignore you when you’re on their doorstep. It’s also great for focus. Links to Explore Further Oppti Building Bloc Steel Cut Oatmeal from CostCo Founders Network SPANX founder Sara Blakely Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of the podcast, I talk with Anji Desai the co-founder of Dezen, a planet-friendly fashion brand that’s championing the idea that fashion can be sustainable. Anji has been at a wide variety of startups -- all of which had nothing to do with fashion. That wide variety of experiences has made the challenge of learning fashion a lot easier. I first met Anji at Founders Network which is a peer mentoring network that I have been part of since 2017. It’s a great group of founders that help each other through the good and the challenging times. Anji and I talk about a wide variety of topics including what she does daily to be successful as well as the Indian art of mind-body connection. What I loved about this conversation is how Anji embraced being uncomfortable about her lack of knowledge in fashion and how she and her co-founder work together to complement each others strengths. Now, let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Side Hustles: They are a great way to learn and expand your experiences with little risk. Fashion is the #2 contributor to global pollution so find out where your fashion comes from. Your mind and body are connected. Both need to be taken care of. Breath daily + Yoga at least once a week Be realistic about what you can accomplish in a week and even in a day. Focus on the one thing that needs to be accomplished. Learn how to deal with people by figuring out their physical traits and their personality so you have reasonable expectations for what to expect. Creativity is not 9 to 5: You have to be accommodating to creatives since creatives work at all different hours and inspiration strikes when it strikes. Links to Explore Further Dezen -- Planet Friendly Fashion Ayurveda -- Mind and Body Connection Anji on LinkedIn Dana Thomas’ book Deluxe Keep In TouchBook or Blog or Twitter or LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, I talk with Marvin Liao, who is a recovering startup, big tech company, and VC guy. He worked at Yahoo for over a decade during its heyday and most recently left 500 startups where he was a venture partner and in charge of their San Francisco accelerator program. I first met Marvin at 500 startups when my company, Lab Sensor Solutions, was part of Batch 14. I learned a lot from Marvin and the other mentors at 500 start-ups. The most important thing was the power and art of pitching, which is all about telling better stories as well as practice, practice, and more practice so you didn’t have to drink Marvin’s infamous punch. In our conversation, we explore Marvin’s daily routine and how it allows him to calm his mind and think deeply about the world. We talk about how the minor gains build-up to bigger gains over time. His LinkedIn posts about startups and the world are epic and one of the most valuable reads to see what’s going on in the startup and the rest of the world. It’s his deep learning and monitoring of the world that has made Marvin a successful investor in the world of startup alchemy.  Now, let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Have a Daily Routine & stick to it Have a Meditation Practice: Successful people tend to mediate. Marvin does 10 minutes in the morning and sometimes at night. Flex Time: Set aside blocks of time for reading and reflection to keep yourself sharp. Have time to think. Naps: A 30-minute to 90-minute nap in the afternoon helps his performance. No devices 2 hours before bed. Read a physical book before bed. A startups default is to failure. If you try your best, that’s all anyone can ask of you. You only have about 4 hours of creativity a day. Getting 8-9 hours a sleep a night is his goal. The only advance you’ll have in the world of robots and AI is your creative deep work. You hide from yourself when you’re too busy. Links to Explore Further Marvin Liao on Linked In Nootropics Oak Meditation App 500 Startups Cal Newport’s Deep Work Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today I’m talking to Mark ‘Ski’ Struczewski (“Mister Productivity”). He helps entrepreneurs & executives get the right stuff done in a distracted world. In addition to being a productivity expert, Mark is a speaker, host of The Mark Struczewski Podcast and an online trainer. His strategies have guided CEO’s/Executive Directors, business owners, business corporate specialists and entrepreneurs to get back control of their time. You can find out more about how to connect with Mark and his mission to create confident leaders at misterproductivity.com. On the podcast, We talk about the power of daily habits and how now, more than ever, is the time to learn something new. Mark’s attitude on life and opportunities is infectious and it was great to be able to share our experiences and what we’re doing to make ourselves better. If you’re looking to be more productive or learn some new habits during the COVID-19 pandemic, then go check out Mark’s website and productivity challenge. Now, let’s get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Your Day Starts the Night Before: Make sure that you get enough rest and decompress before you go to bed. Stay Informed Not Obsessed: Watching the news constantly will stress you out. Stay informed but also disconnect. Have a Daily Routine: It’s vital that we have a healthy daily routine to anchor us in times of stress and chaos. We will always revert back to our training or habits when under stress. During COVID-19, learn a new skill: Skill-building should be a life long endeavor but now more than ever. If you have some free time, learn a new skill to keep your mind sharp. Links to Explore Further Mark’s 7 Day Productivity Challenge Mark’s Podcast | Instagram | Twitter Keep In TouchBlog or Twitter or LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today, I have a conversation with Leslie Watts, an author and Story Grid Certified Editor. Leslie and I are in Nashville where we’re learning how to tell better non-fiction stories and to launch her new book, What’s the Big Idea?, which she wrote with Shelley Sperry. We talk about the three things she tries to do every day to be happy, productive, and be at her creative best.  I first met Leslie in 2016 at the first every Story Grid event in New York City. After that, we kept in touch via a study group that morphed into the Story Grid Editor Roundtable Podcast. She’s also the captain of Writership, which is her blog + podcast + editing services. She’s also active in the Story Grid community on both their blog and on the Story Grid Editor Roundtable, which I was a proud member of and left to start this podcast.  One of the reasons Leslie is such a great editor, among other things, is because of her editing philosophy. Quote:  I believe writers become better storytellers through study and practice and that editors owe a duty of care to help writers by offering specific and supportive guidance. Leslie not only takes us through the three daily habits she tries to do to stay happy and productive but also talks about the writing process and how Natalie Goldberg’s writing retreats give her a creative edge. She also happens to be my editor for my memoir, so I can attest that she lives by her words. I’ll someday share the memoir with everyone once it’s done. You’ll probably hear some background noise and a siren or two since we were recording this in the common room at the Stay Alfred at The James in The Gultch neighborhood of Nashville.  Now, let’s get better, together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Have Daily Habits: Leslie has three and her day is much better if she does all of them. Keep Your Creative Edge: Go on a creative retreat to help you get inspired. Read wide and Deep: Read all sorts of books and stories from all over the place. Don’t limit yourself. You’ll find some gems. The Problem is the Problem: Don’t beat yourself up about challenges or messing up. Focus on the problem and only the problem. You are not the problem, the problem is the problem. Links to Explore Further Writership Natalie Goldberg and Writing Down the Bones What’s the Big Idea? The Story Grid Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Ravi Kurani and I talk about startups, aliens, and why it’s important to have persistence when trying to bring a new idea into the world. Ravi’s company, Sutro Connect, is transforming the way pool and spa owners take care of their water. Their smart water monitor automatically measures water parameters and sends it to the cloud. With these measurements, pool and spa owners can know what chemicals to put in their water to keep it safe. If you have a pool or spa, you should check it out. Ravi has been working on this idea for the past five years and it’s near and dear to his heart because as a boy, he worked at his father’s pool store and as a pool boy. I met Ravi a couple of years ago through The Hustle Ambassador Facebook group and now help him with Sutro’s PR & Marketing. We talk about a wide range of things including impact investing, safe water, aliens, coronavirus, and persistence. The one practice that we dig into is how to take time to get clarity on what you’re working on by cleansing the mind and getting rid of your mind’s TV static. Doing that can help you open your mind to new things. You might hear some voices in the background. No, those are not aliens but a lively meeting in the next conference room. For some reason, our soundproof room did not mute it out. I guess that’s what you get when you record live and in person. Now, let’s get ready to get better together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take It’s not a good idea to try to sell your startup idea to a government agency. Cleanse your mind by breathing and take care of your back and neck. Dealing with the Chaos: Break it down into small parts and attack each one. What’s the Problem: Find the problem and ask why do you need to solve the problem instead of having a solution looking for a problem. Why do you want to solve the problem? There will be a big push for better infrastructure in the future. There is a lot to do all over the world. Keep an Open Mind: Get out of your bubble and experience what others think by keeping an open mind to other points of view. The CORVID-19 situation is making companies rethink their supply chains since China has been shut down for a month (at the time of recording). Links to Explore Further Ravi’s Company Sutro Connect Get your neck and back right with Yoga by Adriane. Medication that’s not too culty at Art of Living by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Zen Center mediation Bikram Movie and Wild Wild Country FOCUS Innovation Studios Take a Sound Bath at the Integratron Keep In TouchBlog or Twitter or LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today on the podcast, I’m talking with Grant Faulkner, executive director of NaNoWriMo. He talks with me about how writing a novel in a month is a great metaphor for being a productive leader and artist.  NaNoWriMo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides tools, structure, community, and encouragement to help people find their voices, achieve creative goals and build new worlds — on and off the page. Their claim to fame is in their namesake -- National Novel Writing Month, which happens every November. I personally have done NaNoWriMo twice -- once for a yet unpublished novel and once for the memoir I’m working on right now. Writing a Novel is a lot like any other kind of project where you’ll have a crisis of confidence in what you’re working on. We all have the shiny new object syndrome when that happens and Grant gives some advice on how to handle that along with insights on how to jump-start your creativity. I interviewed Grant at the 2020 San Francisco Writers Conference at the Hyatt Regency in Downtown San Francisco. I’d like to thank them for letting me crash a conference room. They are some great people. You’ll hear why during the interview. You might hear some background noise and me fumbling a bit with the microphone. Apologize ahead of time for that.  Now, let’s get better, together. Actions to Try or Advice to Take Do a Time Hunt: Take a week and figure out where all your time is spent. Log in all and see where you might have some free time confetti. Find your Time Confetti: Small blocks of time (~10 minutes) to achieve progress towards your goals. Look for them around checking email and social media. Make Your Creative Time: wake up early, go to bed late, don’t watch NetFlix, or stop reading the news. Start Everyday Anew: The past is the past. Try and start your day fresh from what happened yesterday. What’s the most important thing: What prioritizes to you have in a day and what’s the most important thing to get done independently of whether or not it’s fun for you. Renew your self-confidence: You cannot make or even market something if you don’t believe in it. Renew your self-confidence even when things are not working out. Links to Explore Further National Write a Novel in a Month San Francisco Writers Conference Ray Dalio’s Principles Grant on Twitter and his website NaNoWriMo on Twitter Author Hugh Howey -- self-publishing success and self-confidence. Keep In TouchBlog or Twitter or LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices