Beyond 8 Figures

Latest Episodes:

Simplifying Business Operations for Sustainable Growth with Mikael Dia, Funnelytics Nov 29, 2023

As your business grows, chaos and confusion often sneak in, threatening to disrupt your business operations. The solution? Simplify your business. Mikael Dia from Funnelytics sits down with A.J. to discuss the importance of simplicity in business, how to position your business effectively for a successful scale-up, and how simplified processes can help you achieve sustainable growth for your business.

About Mikael Dia:

Mikael Dia is the Founder of Funnelytics, a software company dedicated to helping marketers and agencies visually map and analyze their customer journeys. He is an experienced and savvy growth advisor who helps companies turn strangers into customers.

Aside from being a digital marketing expert passionate about simplifying marketing, Mikael is also a dedicated serial entrepreneur. He has successfully launched and scaled multiple online businesses to 7-figure and beyond. He is passionate about public speaking and sharing knowledge to make a positive impact.

Key Insights:

Shift your focus to positive aspects. Entrepreneurs are often prone to dwell on their losses and lose sleep over bad reviews. But this attitude can inflict greater harm to your business than the actual failures. A simple mindset shift can help. Start perceiving these mistakes as opportunities for growth and use them as lessons to build new sustainable strategies. (06:59)
Working with a mentor is empowering. Building a business can be lonely, so it’s always good to have support and guidance along the way. Working with a trusted mentor can help you put things into perspective when you’re deep into day-to-day business operations. It can help you to take a step back and see the bigger picture, ultimately opening your mind to fresh ideas and opportunities. (18:13)
Journaling is a good way to relieve stress. Trying to avoid stress as an entrepreneur is a losing game. Instead, find ways to relieve stress and transform it into your strength. Mikael suggests journaling as a simple yet powerful tool to channel stress into productivity and self-improvement. Try it out to take those dark thoughts out on paper and decompress since it’s highly important for your health. (20:55)
Strike the right balance in business. According to Mikael, there are four pillars of modern entrepreneurship: profit, impact, freedom, and fulfillment. Many people focus on the financial aspect of business, but each of these pillars is significant for your journey. Striking the right balance between these four pillars will help you navigate the ups and downs of entrepreneurship and keep a clear vision and a resilient mindset. (24:39)
Simplify to amplify. As an entrepreneur, you’ll inevitably get caught up in the chase for growth and scale. But that inevitably leads to complexity, chaos, and confusion in your business, which directly hinders growth. The key is to continuously simplify your business operations. This will allow you to focus on your core goals while your business runs like a well-oiled machine.(41:57)

Mikael’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“Entrepreneurs are always trying to solve problems. We're always trying to iterate and make things better. [...] So for me, I think the one thing that I find is key is just that constant mindset of, can I keep this as simple as possible?” (43:59)

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Resources Mentioned:

Funnelytics

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Incremental Growth for Long-Lasting Success with Eugene Ravitsky, FactoryPure Nov 22, 2023

Overnight success and exponential growth may sound appealing, but incremental growth is the true key to long-lasting success. Eugene Ravitsky from FactoryPure joins A.J. to discuss the importance of incremental business improvements, how to deliberately and proactively build your infrastructure, and why consistent check-ins with your team are integral to your company’s longevity.

About Eugene Ravitsky:

Eugene Ravitsky is the Co-Founder and President of FactoryPure, one of the fastest-growing eCommerce companies in the United States specializing in heavy-duty items such as generators, air purifiers, and water filters. He’s the type of entrepreneur whose passion for business started early on, back when he was in fourth grade, selling fireball candy to his classmates.

Fast forward many years, he and his brother co-founded their first business together. Even though it wasn’t an instant success, it still turned out to be a defining moment for the brothers, who persevered and eventually discovered their niche. That’s how FactoryPure was born. The company has consistently grown since then, doubling sales every year and earning a spot on the INC 5000 list for five years now.

Key Insights:

Always be ready to pivot your business. You need to be ready to change direction if needed. Sometimes, it’s needed when there’s too much competition in your current niche, when you hit the growth ceiling, or when your customers aren’t responding to your offer as you expected. Eugene is a great example of how understanding customer preferences can help you identify a unique opportunity in the market and recognize that it’s time to pivot. (01:47)
Effective employee management is crucial for your growth potential. As your company grows, employee management becomes more critical and challenging because its growth depends on its employees. You need to establish clear communication channels, address issues proactively, conduct regular coaching sessions, and have consistent check-ins with your team to create a supportive environment. (06:33)
Take a deliberate approach to personnel expansion. This will give you a unique opportunity to engage in their training personally, understand the nuances of each team member's personality, and tailor your management style based on individual responses. Ultimately, you will create a culture of open communication where every employee is committed to the company’s long-lasting success. (08:30)
Build your infrastructure proactively. Solid infrastructure is vital for a growing business because it helps lay the foundation for scalability, efficiency, and sustainability. This helps the organization handle increased demands and adapt to changes in the market, setting the stage for incremental growth and longevity. (11:32)
Make automation your ally. When business becomes more complex and requires more time and resources, automation can minimize the effort. It helps streamline repetitive tasks and saves a lot of time. Most importantly, it improves efficiency, a key element for managing the complexities of growth. This ultimately allows the employees to focus on more strategic and high-value activities. (13:37)

Eugene’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“It's like with anything else, the experience helps. So when you've been doing it for so long, a lot of the problems tend to be similar or at least the same, so you can see them a lot farther out. ” (06:20)

Connect with Eugene:

Resources Mentioned:

FactoryPure
About FactoryPure: Call FactoryPure at (888) 978-4993

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Supercharging Business Growth through a Personal Mission with Renee Dua, Together by Renee Nov 15, 2023

Your personal mission is your greatest power. So, as an entrepreneur, it’s your responsibility to embrace it to drive customer value and improve the quality of their lives. Today, Renee Dua from Together by Renee sits down with A.J. to discuss how her personal experiences shaped her business venture, helping her build an innovative health tech product that’s now improving patients’ lives and outcomes.

About Renee Dua:

Renee Dua is the Founder of Together by Renee, an AI assistant that supports patients and their caregivers to achieve better health outcomes by helping them with healthcare tasks. She’s also the Founder and Advisor at Heal, another powerful software to improve health outcomes by providing in-home primary care.

Renee completed her BS in Biochemistry at UC San Diego, her MD at Rosalind Franklin University, her residency in internal medicine at UCLA, and her fellowship in nephrology at USC. Before founding Together by Renee and Heal with her husband, Nick Desai, she built a nephrology practice that was noted for the successful use of electronic health records and practice management.

Episode highlights:

Entrepreneurship tends to be a lonely road. So, having support along the way makes all the difference. It gives you greater confidence to build a product or a service that can change someone’s life. So, if that support doesn’t come to you naturally, look for an experienced and savvy mentor to guide you toward your business goals and help you become a better entrepreneur. (06:43)
Focusing solely on innovation won’t cut it for entrepreneurs aiming at long-term success. The real achievement is creating products that consistently improve people's lives and not just sit on the shelves. That’s why it’s vital to deeply understand your users and focus on solving real-world problems while at the same time ensuring your product is both mission-powered and user-focused. (09:50)
When you combine your personal mission with your business vision, you can draw unique insights to help you innovate in your company. This alignment can help to improve people’s lives and drive meaningful change in society, ultimately skyrocketing your business growth and leaving a long-term legacy behind. (18:40)
Understanding what people need and creating solutions for those needs is super important in business. Your own experiences can be really helpful here. They can help you find gaps in the market and understand what problems people are facing. By putting yourself in their shoes, you can develop creative solutions that connect with them. This makes your product stand out and gives your customers something that really matters to them. (20:28)
Autonomy is an important aspect of building user-oriented products. This is particularly critical in sectors like healthcare, as it puts the control back in users’ hands and makes them feel in control. Empowering users is a win-win strategy that fuels your product’s success by improving user experiences and fostering trust and loyalty toward your product. (29:18)

Renee’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“Everybody has this story. And hearing my patients, having the privilege of being able to still see patients, and then having our parents and me being their caregiver, that has been so instrumental in every aspect of what you see.” (22:23)

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Sustainable Growth through Strategic Course Correction with Philip Blackett, Dream Business Makeover Nov 08, 2023

Gone are the days when business success was measured solely by financial gains. Today's global market demands a new approach - sustainable growth. Today, Philip Blackett of Dream Business Makeover sits down with A.J. to discuss his four core of dream business growth, the importance of course correction in achieving business goals, and his hard-earned lessons that have reshaped his perspective on what it means to run a sustainable and resilient business.

About Philip Blackett:

Philip Blackett is an investor and growth advisor. He helps 6, 7, and 8-figure businesses grow their sales, profit & exit value through his Dream Business Makeover program. His goal is to build sustainable and resilient businesses that can withstand market challenges, reach their full potential, and ultimately thrive in an increasingly dynamic landscape.

Philip has a fascinating background. He is a Harvard Business School graduate with a Master’s degree in Business Administration. He’s also experienced in business ownership, franchise management, and business analysis, making him the go-to person for business growth and strategic planning.

Episode highlights:

Your business purpose and goals are very clear in the initial stages of entrepreneurship. Yet, as time goes by, it’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. Staying in tune with your initial dreams and motivation becomes paramount as they are the fuel that powers your journey forward and helps you overcome any obstacles. If you ever feel lost, remind yourself of that vision to help you get back on track. (03:07)
Entrepreneurship is an unpredictable journey. That’s why it’s fundamental to build resilience and adaptability in your team. This will help you bounce back from setbacks, learn from failures, and keep moving forward faster to create more predictable business growth. (16:12)
Building a resilient business is the ultimate goal of entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs need to understand that their role is not just about getting lost in day-to-day operations; rather, it is about laying the groundwork for continued growth. This will both help reach the business goals and support the entrepreneur’s well-being. (27:26)
Clear goals help your business stay aligned with your vision of success and move in that direction. That said, just articulating where you'd like your business to be in the future is not enough to achieve sustainable growth. It also requires relentless course-correcting, fine-tuning, and adjusting your efforts along the way. If you don’t do that, you might waste your time pursuing the wrong things. (32:23)
Business growth rarely follows a linear path, but you can learn to plan for and anticipate the challenges. Such a strategic practice of course correction ensures your business is well-positioned to weather any storm that comes its way, ultimately leading to more sustainable and resilient growth. (33:43)

Philip’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“Oftentimes business is just a series of experiments until you find the one that works that you're willing to scale it and reap the benefits of. But you have to keep trying, you have to keep testing to find out what works. Otherwise, you're going to be still at point A when you're trying to get to point Z.” (35:58)

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3 Principles for Effective Business Copywriting with Will Green, Copy Road Nov 01, 2023

In today’s dynamic business landscape, where companies constantly compete for customers’ attention, effective business copywriting is your best chance to rise above the noise. Our guest, Will Green, of Copy Road, shares three key copywriting principles that can significantly improve your brand’s impact, help build persuasive messaging, and establish meaningful connections, ultimately driving business growth and lasting success.

About Will Green:

Will Green is the master of copywriting. He’s the Founder of Copy Road, where he’s teaching others to turn content into cash flow for their businesses. Will is one of the few copywriters to earn 7-figures in royalties, making him the best person to talk to about copywriting for businesses.

Will used to work in a Charleston-based independent publishing house, Joggling Board Press, where he was in charge of marketing and platform development. He became a junior copywriter at Stansberry and further honed his copywriting skills at Money Map Press. Now, he’s helping clients with their copy while also sharing his valuable knowledge through his course “The Hunger Games,” where 100% of profits from buying go towards feeding hungry people.

Episode highlights:

Copywriting principles, though effective, can lose their impact when being overused, making them predictable to the audience. Mastering these basics empowers you to refresh your messaging while maintaining relevance with your audience. (06:17)
In business copywriting, less is more. Concise, resonating copy is undeniably effective, memorable, powerful, and persuasive. This minimalistic approach is a crucial principle as it makes your message clear and easy to understand, and ultimately - more memorable. (07:25)
The secret to writing a winning copy is simple - make a big promise to your audience and make sure you deliver on it. The trick is understanding their problem, offering them a practical solution, and convincingly showing that you can and will fulfill that promise. But making the promise is only half the battle; the ability to deliver on that promise is what ultimately distinguishes successful businesses. (08:24)
Building genuine customer relationships is a vital aspect of business copywriting that often gets overlooked. Copywriting is not just about crafting persuasive words; it's about creating a narrative filled with honesty and transparency. This sets the stage for a consistent relationship, trust, and loyalty, ultimately impacting the overall customer experience and business growth. (13:09)
While artificial intelligence has many strengths, achieving consistency at scale with it is still a challenge. For instance, AI isn't up to par yet when it comes to preserving cohesion across different types of content. But paired with human understanding of communication, it can achieve tremendous results. That’s why there’s no reason to fear AI. Instead, embrace it as a powerful business tool for maximizing human potential and accelerating business progress. (26:25)

Will’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“What works in copywriting is you make an offer that people want, and you make it clear, and then you prove that you can deliver it because if you promise me something I want and you prove to me that you can deliver it, and I can afford your price, I'm going to buy.” (07:25)

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Aligning Business Goals and Purpose with Amit Garg, Tau Ventures Oct 25, 2023

Building a purpose-driven company is important, but aligning that purpose with your business goals is the real secret to lasting legacy and success. Today, Amit Garg joins A.J. to discuss the importance of having a plan, a sense of purpose, and a clear mission for your business. He shares his first-hand tips for raising funds as a startup, choosing VC investors, and why picking someone who aligns with your values and goals is crucial.

About Amit Garg:

Amit Garg is an entrepreneur and a venture capitalist. He’s the Co-Founder and Managing Partner at TAU Ventures, an AI-first, seed-first VC fund in the heart of Silicon Valley. Amit has built a remarkable career as a tech professional spanning over 20 years in none other than the heart of innovation, Silicon Valley. As a VC, he has a keen eye on promising startups and specializes in seed-stage applied AI investments in Digital Health, Automation, and Enterprise.

Amit has also made a significant impact through philanthropy, merging his purpose with his business goals. He and his team successfully raised funds through crowdfunding to establish essential facilities in rural India. One of them is a self-sustainable hospital, Hospital for Hope, which provides healthcare in a neglected part of the country and serves a community of 100,000 people.

Episode highlights:

Aligning your business goals and purpose is crucial, especially in the planning stage, where it serves as a strong foundation for your venture. From there, you can use it as a roadmap for deciding on the type of financing model, attracting the right investors, and developing authentic relationships with your clients. In the long run, this alignment fortifies your venture’s position, driving consistent growth and long-lasting connections. (06:13)
When you’re creating value and nurturing a purpose beyond pure profit, success becomes the only option. Products and services that genuinely add value to people’s lives inevitably lead to financial gain. More importantly, they make a difference in the world, which is the ultimate measure of success. (13:14)
Mistakes are a natural part of life. Without them, success wouldn’t be nearly as meaningful. But when these tough moments happen, staying focused on your business goals and purpose matters most. This will help you keep your eyes on the prize, ultimately overcoming any obstacles that come your way and achieving what you’ve planned for from the start. (16:37)
Creating high-quality, valuable content for your audience is fundamental. It fosters customer trust and loyalty, strengthens your company’s reputation, and establishes your brand as a thought leader. Most importantly, this act of giving back to the community through knowledge sharing, education, and empowerment is never without reciprocity. Essentially, the more value you create, the more you receive in return. (29:14)
Success in business goes beyond mere profits. In fact, different factors define a successful business, from brand reputation to employee satisfaction. That said, one less-talked-about indicator of a company’s success is meaningful legacy. To build this long-term impact, aligning business goals with purpose is vital, which will result in positive change in society, not just financial gain for your company. (33:30)

Amit’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“I've always believed that when you create value, you get valuations. It's not the other way around. If you're doing something meaningful, then you will figure out a way to also make money out of it. And I've been able to align this in my life.” (13:16)

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Master Acquisition Entrepreneurship as a Digital Nomad with Bakari Akil, Nomad Noir Oct 18, 2023

Being a digital nomad and an entrepreneur is a match made in heaven. You live on your terms while working from any part of the world you want. Bakari Akil is the perfect example. This week, he joins A.J. to discuss his unique approach to acquisition entrepreneurship and how he’s managing various business ventures remotely, all while exploring the world and building a community of like-minded nomads.

About Bakari Akil:

Bakari Akil is a seasoned entrepreneur and a full-time digital nomad. He’s currently traveling the globe while running his ventures remotely. Bakari is the Managing Director of Graves Hall Capital, an investment firm he founded to acquire businesses. He's also the founder of Nomad Noir, a platform inspiring black digital nomads to pursue this incredible lifestyle.

Bakari is an expert in sourcing, evaluating, and executing multi-million dollar acquisitions. In addition to all his ventures, he’s a visiting lecturer at Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management. He teaches MBA candidates how to buy a business and pursue acquisition entrepreneurship.

Episode highlights:

The digital nomad lifestyle is very popular among remote entrepreneurs. But making such a huge transition may seem daunting. It can be overwhelming, from setting up your business adequately to lacking a support system. However, if you strive to live abroad, you can always seek help from experienced travelers such as Bakari and programs like Remote Year. (01:50)
Despite what some people think, you can become a digital nomad at any age. It’s one of the most liberating and inspiring lifestyles that allows you to travel the world while still working full-time. As long as you have the flexibility to pursue digital nomadism with your job and the income to sustain you, you can embark on this incredible journey anytime. (04:19)
Like other business ventures, acquisition entrepreneurship also has its challenges and obstacles. But what truly defines you during these hard times is your mindset. Perseverance and resilience are key to success in entrepreneurship. You can overcome almost any business challenge by staying resilient and pushing forward. To get better at it, adopt a can-do attitude and start believing that success is the only option. (12:32)
Being a digital nomad is a life-changing experience that impacts you both personally and professionally. It helps to master the technical steps to build a rock-solid business, broaden your perspective, and see the world through new lenses. Ultimately, this gives you a profound sense of fulfillment, making you a more inspired leader and a better entrepreneur. (18:44)
Some aspects of acquisition entrepreneurship require your physical presence. However, in most cases, a stable connection will do the trick. In reality, if you’re considering becoming a digital nomad, effective leadership and strong communication skills are even more valuable for entrepreneurs on this journey. (22:03)

Bakari’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“This has to happen. There's no other way I'm going to make this particular thing happen. If you could pull that kind of energy into a goal, and you have the staying power when things get tough, more often than not, you'll be able to accomplish the thing you're trying to accomplish.” (13:13)

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Using Generative AI to Drive Customer Value with Nick Desai, Together by Renee Oct 11, 2023

Generative AI is redefining the business landscape. This cutting-edge technology is not only driving customer value to new heights, but it’s also transforming the way companies operate across industries. Nick Desai and his AI-driven healthcare app, Together by Renee, are a true testament to the power and potential of generative AI. Today, he joins A.J. again to talk about harnessing AI tools to make a significant difference in both customer experience and business operations.

About Nick Desai:

Nick Desai is a visionary entrepreneur, inspiring inventor, and leading expert in the field of artificial intelligence and healthcare technology. He is the Founder and CEO of Together by Renee, an innovative AI-driven healthcare app that is revolutionizing healthcare solutions. Prior to Together, he also co-founded Heal, a healthcare startup providing on-demand medical house calls.

With a wealth of knowledge and experience in the tech sector, Nick is now committed to leveraging generative AI to offer user-friendly tools and personalized recommendations to health patients all around the country. Given his significant strides in the industry, Nick is an invaluable source of wisdom for both established professionals and aspiring innovators.

Episode highlights:

Generative AI has managed to overcome two of its most significant limitations - the inability to grasp context and the lack of syntax understanding. Fortunately, the newest AI models have successfully bridged this gap. They are now indispensable tools for forward-thinking business owners who want to stay ahead of their competitors. With these AI tools, businesses can now improve customer experience, streamline operations, and ultimately drive more value for their customers. (03:04)
When adopting new AI tools in your business, keep in mind that technology should be effortless and intuitive for the users. Rather than overburdening them with complex features and processes, these solutions should adapt to the users’ needs and behaviors. The ultimate goal of generative AI is to create user-friendly experiences that continually evolve and improve with customer engagement. (10:39)
There are a lot of strong technology solutions available, but the true metric of good technology is its usability and the value it delivers to the users. It’s important to have this in mind when implementing generative AI into your business. Focus on user-friendliness and value delivery to ensure these AI solutions contribute to customer experience and overall business success. (13:15)
The seamless integration of generative AI into businesses is a crucial factor for successful customer experiences. The goal is to provide significant value to the customers but also allow them to interact with AI tools without feeling disrupted in their everyday lives. This harmonious integration is essential because it fosters customer satisfaction, loyalty, and engagement, directly impacting business growth and long-term success. (20:49)
Out of all technological revolutions, such as the PC era, the rise of the internet, and smartphones, AI is certainly the most transformative one. It progresses more rapidly than any of the previous revolutions, so it’s critical for businesses to understand its significant strategic value and potential sooner rather than later. Implementing AI can empower growth, efficiency, and innovation in unprecedented ways, making it a must-have for businesses that want to stay competitive. (29:17)

Nick’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“I would say to any business owner, embrace this sooner rather than later because if you don't use it [ generative AI], it's going to use you and use you right out of business.” (02:35)

Connect with Nick:

Resources Mentioned:

Together by Renee app

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Transform Your Business Through The Power of Storytelling with Karen Eber, Eber Leadership Group Oct 04, 2023

Your customers are not merely purchasing your products or services. They’re buying into your brand’s story and its purpose. This is where the power of storytelling comes into play. Karen Eber of Eber Leadership Group joins us to discuss the profound impact of storytelling on customer engagement, relationships, and the long-term success of your business.

About Karen Eber:

Karen Eber is a thought leader, leadership consultant, author, keynote speaker, and, above all, an exceptional storyteller. She’s currently serving as the CEO and Chief Storyteller at Eber Leadership Group, a consulting group helping companies build leaders, teams, and culture through the power of storytelling.

Karen’s collaborated with some big names in the corporate world, such as General Electric, Facebook, Kraft Heinz, Kate Spade, and Microsoft. In addition, she has served as a guest lecturer at esteemed institutions, including the London School of Business, MIT, and Stanford. Her Ted Talk ‘How your brain responds to stories & why they are critical for Leaders’ has almost 2 million views and counting. On top of that, Karen has a new exciting project going on – her book “The Perfect Story: How to Tell Stories That Inform, Influence, and Inspire” that just came out!

For a comprehensive book review, check out this page.

The Power Of Storytelling For Long-Term Business Success

Stories make us connect to each other and build long-lasting relationships. They’re deeply installed in our DNA, so it’s no wonder that they also greatly impact our purchasing behaviors, decisions, and brand loyalties. This is exactly where the power of storytelling for businesses lies. It has the ability to transform your business and shape your long-term success entirely. It cultivates a genuine bond with your customers and fosters long-lasting loyalty.

So, how do you harness the transformative potential of storytelling in your business? When crafting your brand’s story, it’s vital to keep your audience at the heart of the narrative. They are the main characters of your story. To do this effectively, understand their deepest concerns, needs, and desires. In storytelling, it’s equally essential to stay authentic, so let your mission shine through your stories. This strategic use of storytelling can significantly improve your customer engagement, strengthen brand loyalty, and ultimately transform your business.

Episode highlights:

When it comes to the power of storytelling, there's a romanticized notion among entrepreneurs of having a special origin story for your business. However, the reality is often totally different. There’s never only one story but a series of specific moments in your customers’ lives that connect them with your business. So, it’s essential to address their main concerns and pain points so that your narrative resonates deeply with them and eventually engages them to engage with your company. (05:58)
To leverage the power of storytelling in business, go beyond your origin story. Instead, tell your customer's story, focus on their pain points, and solve their burning issues, one story at a time. This will help you build a strong connection with your audience, ultimately creating a loyal customer base, which is crucial to your overall success. (07:32)
What matters most in storytelling for business is that you continuously dial into your audience's evolving needs and aspirations. You can use social media, ChatGPT, or direct interactions to keep up with their pain points. This will give you a good insight into their actions and motivations so that you craft narratives that truly resonate with them. (12:21)
When crafting your brand’s narrative, start by getting a broad understanding of your audience before narrowing it down to specific interests. This approach will allow you to understand them better and also determine how your business can solve their issues. In the long run, it’ll help you create a relatable brand story and build lasting relationships with your customers. (14:13)
Storytelling isn't a one-off tool or a quick fix. It’s a skill and resource to work on consistently and systematically throughout your entrepreneurial journey. It helps you create magnetic stories that draw people in and connect with them on a deeper level. This makes them more than just customers but loyal advocates of your business. (17:48)
Focus on the main priority and big-picture stuff when crafting your brand story. But also remember that storytelling is flexible, so be free to drill down on your stories as time goes by to refine your approach. This lets you engage with your audience in real time and attune to their ever-evolving needs. (19:30)

Karen’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“That's why storytelling is so key for as an entrepreneur. You have these opportunities to just connect to all of these thoughts, fears, hopes, aspirations, and that's where you are grabbing people. And you know you're doing it well when people say, ‘I feel like you wrote that just for me.’” (09:13)

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Affiliate Disclaimer: Some links in this episode are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Rest assured, we only promote products/services we believe will benefit your entrepreneurial journey.

Leverage AI Tools to Empower Leadership with Sid Pandiya, Kona Sep 27, 2023

AI tools are here to stay, and they’re reshaping numerous aspects of the business world. One area where artificial intelligence is demonstrating its potential for tangible impact is leadership and management. In this episode, Sid Pandiya of Kona joins A.J. to explore how AI tools like Kona are empowering managers and helping them become more effective leaders in the long run.

About Sid Pandiya:

Sid Pandiya is the Co-Founder and CEO of Kona, an AI-powered leadership coach helping remote teams build culture and stay connected through expert-backed advice and daily check-ins. Their goal at Kona is to empower managers and support them as they hone their leadership skills. Prior to founding Kona, Sid worked as an intern at Zumper, where he made significant contributions to the company’s product management, software engineering, and machine learning.

Sid’s remarkable talent for innovation and tech leadership earned him distinctions like the Kleiner Perkins Engineering Fellowship and the role of a Product Management Fellow at Product Space. He has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Greenwood High International School.

Episode highlights:

Using AI can help stay consistent with your business WHY, create structure, and achieve high results. (05:20)
AI takes the guesswork and stress out of leadership. It helps lead more efficiently and uplift the team’s spirit. (15:24)
Making AI more proactive in the future. (19:40)
The importance of coaching and therapy for founders. (26:32)
Managers need safe spaces and supporting communities. (31:11)
AI can make sure that managers do their jobs more efficiently by providing valuable feedback and high-quality advice to their people. (31:58)

Sid’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“I've seen and felt the impact that both a bad manager can have on your well-being, mental health, and overall happiness. On the flip side, how uplifting and energizing, having a great manager can be for your life, your career, your success, and your overall happiness because a big part of your mental health and well-being comes from your work and your work environment and your manager is the most important person that you will interact with at any given job.” (15:47)

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The 6 Key Steps to Selling a Business with Kirk Michie, Candor Advisors Sep 20, 2023

Selling a business is more than just finding the right buyer; it’s about taking the necessary steps to effectively prepare for this major transition. In this episode, A.J. welcomes Kirk Michie from Candor Advisors to discuss the six key steps for a successful business sale. They talk about the importance of understanding your purpose in business, why entrepreneurs need to be more open to outside help, and the indispensable role that trusted financial advisors can play when you’re looking to sell your business.

About Kirk Michie:

Kirk Michie is the Founder and currently the Managing Partner of Candor Advisors, a company providing transaction advisory services to successful founder-led businesses. With 30+ years of industry experience, Kirk has built an exceptional career in strategic planning, investment, and legacy preservation. He has leveraged his entrepreneurial wisdom to guide business owners, entrepreneurs, and high-net-worth families through complex financial decisions. He has an impressive record, having managed over $1 billion in capital allocation and assessed over 2,000 direct investments.

Kirk is also the Founder of EBITDA University, which offers learning programs about selling businesses. Kirk is not just a financial advisor but a thought leader, having spoken at numerous prestigious events and organizations, including Association for Corporate Growth events, Vistage, and Entrepreneurs Organization gatherings.

Episode highlights:

Entrepreneurs often find it hard to seek advice, especially when they’re faced with crucial inflection points in their business growth. However, if you want to achieve the right outcome for you, whether that’s the most money or the best legacy control, asking for help and finding a trustworthy person to lean on throughout the process is a necessary step. (05:09)
Effective communication is essential in every business aspect, and selling a business is no exception. One powerful technique that can significantly impact your business exit outcome is Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP). It offers great tools for comprehending different communication styles and processing modes, leading to better mutual understanding and more successful sales outcomes. (09:52)
When you’re hiring an advisor for a capital event, it’s essential to look for someone whose expertise combines three different skill sets for different parts of the sales process. According to Kirk, the most successful sales outcomes happen with advisors who play these three roles: guru, guide, and gladiator.. (16:10)
There are six key steps that lead to a successful business sale: knowing your why, matching a buyer's why with yours, professionalizing financials, not giving up too much too soon, seeking guidance from experts, and having reasonable expectations. (24:19)
Finding your ‘why’ is essential when preparing to sell your company or take on investment capital. Understanding this will help you optimize your financial sale or process, ultimately leading to a successful sale and a smooth transition. (33:15)

Kirk’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“If you're the entrepreneur and you're selling, you're still Don Quixote, we're Sancho Panza. It is your hero's journey. But the critical thing is pick your Guru Guide Gladiator and lean on them. That doesn't mean stop listening to other good advice that you've used to build your business, but lean on that person for their experience, their scar tissue, their perspective. Because if you've found the right advisor, you're going to get to the right outcome for you, whether that's the most money, the best terms, the best legacy control, you're going to get to the right outcome if you collaborate the right way on your sale.” (05:54)

Connect with Kirk:

Resources Mentioned:

Use the code ‘B8FP’ to receive a 25% discount off any EBITDA University program
Candor Advisors
Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek

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Inspiring Growth Through Intentional Leadership with Adam Sandman, Inflectra Corporation Sep 13, 2023

Intentional leadership is a powerful way of driving success and inspiring business growth. But how do you lead your team with purpose? In today’s episode, Adam Sandman from Inflectra Corporation joins our host, A.J., to discuss this empowering leadership style. They talk about the importance of intentional culture-building, the power of coaching teams, and how value alignment helps drive business in the right direction.

About Adam Sandman:

Adam is the Founder and CEO of Inflectra - a company that develops software testing tools, application lifecycle management, and automation platforms. He is responsible for product strategy, technology innovation, and business development. Adam’s programming journey started when he was ten years old, writing computer games and applications for fun. He then went to Oxford University to study Physics, but after realizing that lab life was not for him, he moved to the US to pursue his other career dreams.

One of his first major jobs was for a consulting firm - Sapient, where he was in charge of development with the U.S. Marine Corps. After a while, Adam decided to jump into entrepreneurship, and that’s how Inflectra was born. Over the years, the company transitioned from a lifestyle business to a growth-focused enterprise and is now a market leader in software test management and enterprise portfolio management space.

Episode highlights:

Bootstrapping has its drawbacks and limitations, but this financing model is a great way to build a business with a clear purpose instead of chasing the hot money. When you choose bootstrapping, you’re more flexible and independent in your decisions. In addition, as you’re growing and scaling up, you’re continuously reminded of your WHY, which is the ultimate fuel that drives your business. (04:06)
Transitioning from a founder-led sales model to a team-led model might seem overwhelming, but it’s a huge step forward for your business. It allows you to focus on other business growth areas and support your team’s professional development as you scale together to new heights. Since sales become a collaborative approach rather than a one-person job, the business can grow sustainably and manageable. (06:53)
It’s important to define your sales process before bringing in new salespeople. By optimizing the sales process and making it as clear as possible, you help new hires understand what steps to follow and how their success will be measured. This allows them to do their jobs more effectively and contribute to the overall growth and success of your organization. (08:10)
Intentional leadership is about supporting your team as they drive your business forward. That’s why coaching is a much better approach than managing in a top-down approach. It helps align their growth with company goals, fosters a purpose-driven environment, and ultimately inspires business growth. (17:00)
Every company has its own unique culture, so it’s important to recognize the importance of intentional culture-building. By intentionally building a company culture that aligns with your values, you can create a more cohesive and motivated team and enhance employee satisfaction. Satisfied employees who enjoy their work environment tend to remain loyal to the company and its objectives, ultimately resulting in higher productivity and lower turnover. (24:08)

Adam’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“The culture was more intentional. [...] When we interview people, we interview them both from a skill fit and a core value fit. When we look at how we do business, we try and align our business practices with our values. One of our values is called build for customers, not for Wall Street. And the idea is we want to be around for the long term, build things that the customers find useful, even if it may be against the grain of where the industry has gone.” (24:08)

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Scaling Your Franchise Business with Brian Beers, Prenlyn Automotive Group Sep 06, 2023

Investing in a franchise is a smart way to diversify your portfolio, build wealth, and achieve financial freedom. That said, it’s important to remember that building, growing, and scaling a franchise business takes a lot of hard work and dedication. As Brian Beers from Prenlyn Automotive Group shares in today’s episode, a franchise is essentially a business that calls for a business-owner mindset. If you want to hear how Brian grew his small family automotive repair shop into a million-dollar enterprise, tune into this episode to hear his valuable insights.

About Brian Beers:

Brian is a seasoned entrepreneur, a podcast host, and an investor. He took his small family franchise auto repair business into an enterprise with 32 locations (and counting) and grew it from $5M to $26M in sales. The company operates franchised Midas shops throughout the Philadelphia and New Jersey region.

After years of experience in scaling a franchise business, Brian is now on a mission to help others do the same. He helps ambitious entrepreneurs build wealth and create freedom through franchising. In addition, he hosts a podcast called Business with Beers, where he shares tips with business owners who want to grow their income by investing in people, processes, and technology.

Episode highlights:

The beauty of franchising is that once you figure out how the franchise model works, you can repeat the process over and over again. It’s essentially a rinse-and-repeat approach that helps you grow more rapidly and add new markets successfully. (05:07)
Successful entrepreneurs challenge themselves, fight their limiting beliefs, and constantly strive to overcome challenges. They aim for progress over perfection, which allows them to get ahead in life and build long-lasting success for their businesses. (07:08)
True leaders elevate and inspire others. They support their professional growth and help them develop the necessary skills to achieve their full potential. This kind of leadership boosts motivation, creates a positive culture, and ultimately increases the team’s performance, leading to unparalleled success and business growth. (08:51)
The best part about franchising is that there's something for everyone. Once you figure out what success looks like for you and what you want to achieve in life, you can find the right franchise opportunity that will fit your long-term goals. (19:30)
Even though franchising has a lot of benefits, it’s not the easiest way to run a business. You can’t invest in it and forget about it. The real work actually starts after you’ve bought it. As an actual business venture it requires constant work and commitment to grow and become a sustainable revenue source. (25:49)

Brian’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“I'm a big believer that the bigger that my world gets, the more opportunities that we create for the people that live within our world. So if I can continue to make our world bigger, I can bring in higher-level people, we can elevate other people, and provide a lot of opportunities. So that's my goal is making my world bigger in whatever direction.” (08:51)

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Diversify Your Portfolio with Franchise Opportunities with Jon Ostenson, FranBridge Consulting Aug 30, 2023

If you want to diversify your revenue streams and get into business ownership without starting a new company from scratch, investing in a franchise might be a good option for you. But how do you find the right franchise opportunities? In today’s episode, Jon Ostenson and A.J. explore franchise opportunities to help you grow your entrepreneurial journey. They also dive into the smartest tactics for matching your long-term goals to your franchise investment, how to prepare to break into franchising, and why investing in a franchise is a wise choice.

About Jon Ostenson:

Jon Ostenson is a Certified Franchise Consultant and a top 1% consultant/broker nationally specializing in non-food franchising. As the Founder and CEO of FranBridge Consulting, he has helped thousands of entrepreneurs and investors understand all aspects of non-food franchising and explore different business ownership opportunities. You’ll find his insightful contributions in well-known publications like Forbes, Inc., The Franchise Journal, and Franchise Connect, where he writes about franchising and franchise investments.

Drawing on his experience as a multi-brand franchisee and his background as an Inc. 500 franchisor, Jon authored the book called “Non-Food Franchising: The Better Path to Business Ownership.” Addressing key topics such as strategic opportunity selection, semi-passive business models, and financial potential, this book is an essential resource for aspiring entrepreneurs, underscoring why non-food franchising is the optimal route to successful business ownership.

Visit our curated collection of Business Books for more enriching reads.

Episode highlights:

Fast food businesses are not the only franchise opportunities you can explore. Non-food franchising could be a much better path to business ownership as they’re often necessities that people can’t go without, like dumpsters, children's apparel, or pet stores, which makes them more lucrative and sustainable. (03:43)
Franchising is a great way to create multiple income streams and diversify your investment portfolio, helping you build long-term wealth and secure revenue. It’s ultimately about not putting all your eggs in one basket but allocating your money across different investments. (05:49)
Having a good manager for your franchise is a game changer. It takes the burden off you without sacrificing the quality of business operations. (07:59)
Every entrepreneur is different. So, it’s important to identify your own business WHY to understand which direction you want to take next in your entrepreneurial path and then unlock a franchise opportunity that will fit those goals. (14:07)
When you’re preparing to invest in a franchise business, it’s critical to first research and identify market gaps where the customers’ needs are not being met. Then, start thinking about how you could solve their pain points with the right business. Only once you’ve uncovered the right opportunity can you start working on the funding piece and the actual paperwork for owning your franchise. (18:13)
Even though some businesses don’t seem that intriguing at first glance, what matters is that they’re necessities on the market. They have real franchise potential and are more likely to stand the test of time. (22:43)

Jon’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“Where we see most of the attention being given today, again, it's these what I would call boring businesses, things like gutters and insulation and floor coatings and dumpsters. We have clients killing it with dumpsters. It's things that, like I mentioned, the senior care, we're still doing a lot of oil changes in most states, but it's pets, it's kids, it's businesses like that, that you don't think of oftentimes until they're in front of me and say, wow, there really is a market need.” (22:54)

Connect with Jon:

Resources Mentioned:

Non-Food Franchising by Jon Ostenson
Sign up for the monthly newsletter to receive a free copy of Jon's book and/or for a free franchise consultation at FranBridge Consulting
Franchise Gator

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Optimize Sleep for Peak Performance with Mollie Eastman (McGlocklin), Sleep Is a Skill Aug 23, 2023

Entrepreneurs often sacrifice their sleep time to grow their businesses and chase their dreams. However, sleep is vital for your mental and physical health. That’s why it’s important to learn to optimize sleep to set yourself up for success and improve your well-being. In this episode, Mollie Eastman (McGlocklin) sheds light on the forgotten skill set of sleep and how we can optimize sleep through technology and behavioral change.

About Mollie Eastman (McGlocklin):
Mollie Eastman (McGlocklin) is the creator of Sleep Is A Skill, a groundbreaking company that helps people sleep better through a unique blend of technology, accountability, and behavioral change. After struggling with insomnia herself for years, she decided to take matters into her own hands and create a place for learning the skill set of sleep.

With a background in behavioral change from The Nonverbal Group and personal experience with overcoming sleep deprivation, Mollie is now on a mission to spread the skill set of Sleep through Circadian Biology. She also hosts her own podcast called The Sleep is a Skill, writes an educational sleep newsletter, Sleep Obsessions, and has a sleep course, Optimize Your Sleep.

Episode highlights:

Healing your relationship with sleep can do wonders for your entrepreneurial lifestyle. Not only can it make you more productive and focused, but it can also help improve your overall health. (06:20)
Successful entrepreneurs are the best problem-solvers. They find a problem, and they become a solution. How do they do that? By staying laser-focused on their niche and fixing its most burning issues. (8:42)
Digital tools are a great way to optimize sleep and outsource self-care, which is a win-win for busy entrepreneurs. For instance, Mollie suggests using the Oura ring as a good starting place for those looking to prioritize their sleep and improve their sleep quality because it tracks your sleep cycle and provides helpful data. (15:18)
Your circadian rhythm dictates your wake-sleep cycle, but it also plays a vital role in your overall well-being and business performance. To stay on top of your game, it’s important to learn to regulate your circadian rhythms by keeping a consistent sleep schedule, getting enough light exposure, and moving your body daily. (21:24)
Exposure to morning sunlight can significantly improve your sleep quality, performance at work, and overall health. By getting at least 30 minutes of sun when you wake up, you can balance your circadian rhythm and kickstart your body’s sleep-wake cycle, leading to positive changes in your sleep patterns. You also set yourself up for a productive day and peak performance. (25:17)
Consistency is key to healthy sleep. Going to bed and waking at the same time every day can drastically improve your sleep, strengthen your body’s immune system, and ultimately help you achieve maximum productivity and focus, that are so needed in business. (31:31)
There are countless ways to optimize your sleep. From shifting your sleep-wake cycle to tracking your sleep, you can leverage different tools and try out different methods to make a huge impact on your sleep efficiency. And improved sleep means better mental capacity to grow your business and guide your decision-making. (45:11)

Mollie’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“[...] what we like to have people do is the bare minimum, create an anchoring system for the start of their day. [...] that allows your body over time, this will feel very uncomfy for the beginning, but over time you're in training your hormones to have proper cortisol pulse on the front half of the day.” (24:40)

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Business Purpose For Growth And Impact with Chris Younger, Class VI Partners Aug 16, 2023

Running a business is not just about making money; it’s also about creating long-term value for your customers. That’s why it’s critical to focus on your business purpose and be deliberate about your growth. In today’s episode, Chris Younger explains why it’s never too early to start planning for exit, how to use your WHY to build a scalable company and the importance of finding the right talent.

About Chris Younger:

Chris is the CEO and Co-Founder of Class VI Partners, a company that provides investment banking and financial advisory services to middle-market businesses and entrepreneurs. He founded the company with a grounding mission to empower and celebrate entrepreneurs he believes are essential to our communities. With over 25 years of growing, acquiring, and selling businesses, Chris brings a wealth of expertise and understands the rocky entrepreneur’s journey well. He is passionate about helping business owners match their personal goals to their business planning and build a business that serves them.

He also co-authored "Harvest: The Definitive Guide to Selling Your Company", a step-by-step resource he crafted with David C. Tolson. This book offers crucial insights for business owners to achieve maximum value and create effective exit strategies, highlighting the immense rewards of thoughtful business planning.

For a comprehensive book review, check out this page.

Episode highlights:

Team building is one of the most important investments that a business can make. Not only does building a team help you scale faster, but it also improves your life as an entrepreneur as it allows you to focus on your area of expertise and maintain a more healthy work-life balance. (02:02)
Identifying talent gaps in your organization is critical to the success of your business because when you do it, you’ll able to bring the right people on board and match them to the right roles. Having the right operating talent by your side is the recipe for success in driving the business forward and making sure it runs smoothly. (04:25)
Running a business is not just about making money; it’s about creating long-term value for your customers. That’s why it’s critical to focus on your WHY and the deeper purpose behind your business while you scale it. (10:32)
It’s never too early to start planning your business exit. Being intentional and deliberate about your business from the start is an effective growth strategy that will help you build a healthy business with a clear purpose. (14:38)
For some business owners, selling a business is not the best idea. There could still be enormous growth and profitability potential in their company, so in those cases, it might be a better idea not to sell and instead continue building wealth within the business. (26:21)
Artificial intelligence is transforming every industry. That’s why businesses need to learn to use it to their benefit instead of turning a blind eye. Depending on the nature of your business, AI can be a practical and cost-effective tool for improving efficiencies, saving significant costs, and speeding up operations. (31:05)

Chris’ best advice for entrepreneurs:

“I think most entrepreneurs will recognize and appreciate that if you're just doing it for the money, that makes it really difficult to get through some of the really stressful periods that every business owner goes through. Every business has a near-death experience. And if you don't have something deeper that's driving you, it's really difficult to get through those times.” (10:32)

Connect with Chris:

LinkedIn
Email Chris at chris@classvipartners.com

Resources Mentioned:

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Leverage Your Professional Growth with Samantha Kempe, IMMO Aug 09, 2023

As a business owner, you’re the heart and soul of your organization. That’s why your professional growth and development are critical to its success. In today’s episode, Samantha Kempe gives her unique insights into the importance of self-reflection, continuous learning, and leadership skills development for business owners and executive leaders.

About Samantha Kempe:

Samantha is the Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer of IMMO Capital. This real estate fintech is disrupting the real estate sector and the residential investment market through groundbreaking technology solutions.

With over a decade of industry experience, Samantha specializes in identifying promising investment opportunities and managing risk in a constantly evolving market. In 2017, she co-founded IMMO to unlock the SFR market for institutional investors. Since then, Samantha has been continuously committed to growing the company through her professional development and growth.

Episode highlights:

For business owners, personal development is a never-ending journey. Running a business requires continuous learning and improvement from the leaders because they need to adapt to the changing environment. If you want to grow your business, you should aim to constantly evolve and improve yourself with it as well as your leadership skills and your overall organization. (02:16)
Self-reflection plays a key part in your personal and professional development. All the best leaders constantly reflect on things that have gone well, but most importantly, things that haven't gone well. This approach helps identify key problems in the business as well as find tailor-made solutions. (03:56)
Other than working with a professional coach on developing your leadership skills, listening to your peers, investors, and clients is equally essential. Transparent feedback can help you identify your key strengths and weaknesses as well as understand how people perceive your impact as a leader. From there, you’ll have a better foundation for further professional development and growth. (05:26)
When things get tough, it’s important to have someone to lean on and ask for advice on your problem, whether that’s a professional coach or someone on your team. When you articulate your thoughts and talk through the process of the problem, you often end up solving the problem on your own. (08:15)
The real estate sector is one of the most undisrupted categories in the market, so companies like IMMO are innovating in this field with unique technology solutions and data tech-focused approaches. They are a perfect example of how much a business is able to grow when is managed by driven entrepreneurs and committed industry leaders. (11:36)
Customer happiness is key to a thriving business, but employee satisfaction is just as important. Satisfied employees are engaged and motivated, so they’re able to go the extra step in delivering a superior customer experience, ultimately leading to happier customers. (24:07)

Samantha’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“I think this is pretty common across most entrepreneurs. You're never sitting still. You're never truly satisfied with what you've built, and you're always hungry and eager to keep improving. And whether it's improving the business or improving yourself personally trying to be that better leader for the business, it never really stops.” (02:04)

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Build a Successful Marketplace Business with Juho Makkonen, Sharetribe Aug 02, 2023

Building an online marketplace platform is easy, but building a successful marketplace business that stands the test of time is another story. In today’s episode, we get to hear from Juho Makkonen as he dives deep into the ins and outs of marketplace business models, from developing your idea into a fully functional marketplace platform to achieving balanced and sustainable business growth.

About Juho Makkonen:

Juho Makkonen is the CEO and Co-Founder of Sharetribe, an innovative software company. This company aims to help aspiring entrepreneurs get their marketplace businesses off the ground in the spirit of sharing economy platforms such as Airbnb, Etsy, and Fiverr.
Moreover, as a co-author of "The Lean Marketplace," Juho equips aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners with indispensable insights to build successful online marketplaces, whether they are startups, cooperatives, non-profits, or established brands, offering a practical roadmap for creating sustainable and thriving businesses in the sharing economy.

For a comprehensive book review, check out this page.

Episode highlights:

Not all entrepreneurs are tech-savvy coders, so it’s important to make marketplace building accessible to everyone and help them turn their ideas into a reality. (02:35)
Prioritizing between purpose and profits is not easy, especially in the competitive market of today. But companies like Sharetribe are still choosing to do so by democratizing the platform ownership and making a great impact. (09:40)
It’s very much possible to build a profitable business that serves the community, which doesn’t have to be a unicorn or the next big thing, as long as it helps solve a problem. (25:30)
The goal of marketplace businesses is to eliminate the middleman and bring buyers and sellers together. So, by taking care of the technology aspect of online marketplaces, we’re actually democratizing platform ownership. (31:15)
Building platforms is easy, but if you don't have the necessary knowledge and a strong team by your side, then it becomes much more challenging. (34:01)

Juho’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“I also always want to remind that it's so much more than just tech. I think that, actually, tech is probably not the most difficult part of this type of business. The most difficult part is kind of like solving the so-called chicken and egg problem, like the supply-demand conundrum, and we have lots of educational resources on that.” (34”01)

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Building Wealth Through Acquisition Entrepreneurship with Ben Kelly, Acquisition Ace Jul 26, 2023

Building wealth through acquisition entrepreneurship is becoming more and more predominant among business owners and those yet to leap into entrepreneurship. Instead of starting a business from zero, acquisition entrepreneurs start by buying an existing operation and then using their knowledge to create a greater impact. In today’s episode, our guest Ben Kelly shares his unconventional journey of entrepreneurship through business acquisitions. He talks about the many benefits of buying a business, why it’s such an incredible business opportunity, and what it takes to become a successful acquisition entrepreneur.

About Ben Kelly:

Ben Kelly is an inspiring acquisition entrepreneur who acquired and scaled five businesses with little to no cash upfront. Ben went from being a former Army Intelligence Officer to serving JPMorgan Bank’s largest clients as a Private Banking Associate. He then took more control of his career by founding a fitness SaaS startup with a fellow army veteran and jumping into entrepreneurship. Currently serving as the head of Acquisition Ace, Ben is committed to building a portfolio of healthy businesses and helping others do the same - all through the increasingly popular acquisition entrepreneurship model.

Episode highlights

Acquisition entrepreneurship is an incredible business opportunity for building true wealth, achieving financial freedom, and finally, living the life you’ve always wanted to live. (02:37)
Anyone can pursue entrepreneurship through acquisitions, but not everyone can make it in the field. But as long as you’re ready to roll up your sleeves, you don’t have to be an expert in everything to thrive as an acquisition entrepreneur. (06:57)
There are many benefits to buying an existing business instead of starting a new one from scratch. You can piggyback off someone else's hard work and vision, get in the driver’s seat, and hit the gas pedal. (13:00)
Success looks different for everyone, especially in business. But you shouldn’t tie your success in acquisition entrepreneurship to just numbers; instead, aim to discover an alternative means to an end to keep yourself going. (27:34)
Anyone can acquire a business, but not everyone can be great at it. Having the right mindset and being open-minded are just some of the traits that show you’re cut out to be an acquisition entrepreneur. (30:22)

Ben’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“It just hit me like a ton of bricks. The clients I'm serving have a hundred times more wealth than I do. And all of them are business owners. I'm serving them because they're the ones who have the wealth. [...] So it just kind of hit me that real wealth was created through assets and having an asset that produced a tangible product that helped people and through that building wealth.” (02:47)

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Simplify Your Business for Growth with Margo Crawford, Business Sherpa Group Jul 19, 2023

As businesses grow, they become more complex and overwhelming (especially for you as the owner), so sometimes, you need to simplify your business to achieve long-haul success and sustainable growth. In today’s episode, our guest Margo Crawford shares her entrepreneurship journey to building effective business processes, developing leadership succession, and reconnecting to her company’s purpose - all by keeping things smart and simple.

About Margo Crawford:

Margo is the Founder & Chair of the Business Sherpa Group, a management consulting firm helping SMEs thrive and succeed. With over 20 years of experience in the field, she is the go-to expert for small and mid-sized businesses looking to build the right foundations and pave their way to the top.

Episode highlights:

Running a business is a team job. Relying on one person for everything creates fragility in the system and leads to stressed-out employees. That’s why it’s so important to put effective systems and processes in place. (05:58)
As a business owner, you want to feel confident you’re passing over the business torch to the right person. So, take your time to find a trustworthy leader because leadership succession takes time. (13:24)
Sometimes all you need to do to take your business to another level is to work with someone who’s been through the reps. You need to work with people who have the knowledge and experience to help you get to the next step in your entrepreneurship journey. (27:49)
Being a business owner is a mug’s game. Over time, you start tying your identity around your business’ financial metrics, successes, and failures. You eventually become your business. (30:05)
It’s important to stay connected to your company’s purpose in all stages of growth. Instead of attaching your identity to the numbers, tie it to the core purpose and values. (31:06)

Margo’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“It's so important to have that purpose [...] and reconnecting with it and saying, ‘Am I achieving that purpose? Am I doing what I set out to do?’ I wasn't setting out to make a 10 million business. I was setting out to create these outcomes, and if I can reflect on those things, that's where I anchor, and that's where I'm authentic too.” (31:19)

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Scale Up Your Business with a Coach with Jess Stewart, Jess Stewart LLC Jul 12, 2023

To scale up your business, consider finding a coach who resonates with you! As Jess Stewart (serial entrepreneur and coach) explains in this episode, there are many different types of coaches out there, and to really get the most out of a coaching experience, it’s important that the person you choose is on board with your mission, understands your business and is willing to meet you where you are at. It is equally important that you truly understand yourself and your goals and you are willing to put in the work!

About Jess Stewart

After moving to a small town with her husband, Murt, a lack of available jobs led Jess to start a medical billing software company from her kitchen table with two young children under her feet. Though she knew nothing about medical billing when she started, those tough times taught her how to assemble a company and leadership team that operated on world-class systems. Fifteen years, two national locations, and one international division later, Jess sold that company at an exceptional price point. Today, Jess is devoted to sharing what she’s learned through her coaching company, Jess Stewart LLC. She brings world-class, proven tools and long-term resources to help leadership teams scale up, run better businesses and live better lives.

Episode highlights:

You don’t have to make all the business mistakes yourself. Many people have been in your position before you; learn from them so that you can make your own mistakes and progress faster! (07:40)
Whatever stage of your business journey you are in, you can benefit from a business coach. But don’t just work with anyone; it’s very important to find a coach who resonates with you and your mission (and this starts with truly understanding yourself!). (09:11)
Business coaching is an investment. To get the most out of the experience, it’s important that you continually show up and do the work. That is how you win in the game of business! (15:12)
Having an operating system is essential for scaling up a business because of the structure it provides. There are a variety of systems to choose from, and it’s essential that you choose the one that suits you where you are currently at in your business. To figure out which one is right for you, make sure you understand the leadership team behind the platform and the kind of businesses they are experienced in working with. (19:48)
From day one of your coaching experience, you should feel like you are getting value out of it. If day one goes well, Jess recommends committing yourself to the process for a year because it takes time to see real changes take place. (26:15)

Jess’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“Success leaves clues. Those that landed on top of the mountain didn’t fall there. So, let’s not recreate the world, let’s just understand what they did. ” (08:20)

Special Offer:
Get 25% OFF Jess Stewart’s mastermind class! Use the code SUCCESS and email her at mastery@jess-stewart.com.

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Achieving Success Through Innovative Thinking with Curro Romero, Vimbu Jul 05, 2023

In this episode, Curro Romero opens up about the humbling experience of transitioning from the world of snowboarding to the world of business, drawing parallels between the two. We explore the importance of continuous growth, both personally and professionally, and the excitement that comes with innovative thinking and doing things differently.

About Curro Romero

Curro Romero is the CEO and founder of Vimbu, an innovative mobile and web app connecting skiers and snowboarders directly with instructors. Considered the "Airbnb of ski lessons", the Vimbu app connects learners with highly qualified instructors in a range of sports, including skiing, snowboarding, and also various summer sports. Vimbu focuses on delivering a personalized and convenient experience for users of all skills. The company raised a VC funding round recently and entered into partnership with Decathlon, the world's largest sporting goods retailer in a bid for global expansion.

Episode highlights:

In life and in business, there will always be more to learn and a new goal to achieve. To progress in the entrepreneurial world, be humble enough to understand that “you don’t know what you don’t know” and never get too comfortable! (8:53)
How the concept of "progression" from a beginner to a pro in snowboarding helped Curro get excited about growing in business and stacking accomplishments while being humbled. (9:31)
Building a thriving business isn’t something that can be done on the fly; it requires a lot of deliberate research! Ensure that you understand your customers, your team members, and yourself so that you can give your company the greatest chance of succeeding. (22:22)
One of the most important things for a business especially in its early stages is making sure the people you add to your team are a perfect fit for your vision. (23:19)
The success of an entrepreneurial journey isn’t only defined by how well your business does or how much you sell it for. The enjoyment that you get out of it is also a valuable measure of success! (36:19)
For Curro, success is all about satisfaction: deriving satisfaction from having fun in your work and being present with family, as well as personal growth and self-development. (37:49)

Curro’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“You have to constantly adapt yourself to where the company is, and not just adapt but also understand the next five steps of where to take it to so that progression keeps happening.” (13:50)

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How to Franchise a Business with Ray Titus, United Franchise Group Jun 28, 2023

If you want to learn how to franchise a business, Ray Titus is the person you want to learn from! In this episode, the CEO of United Franchise Group™ (UFG) talks about the benefits of becoming a franchisee. Ray also shared how he has embraced a practice of lifelong learning to thrive in the franchise space, the value of always maintaining a positive attitude, and why you should build your career around what you are good at, not what you love!

About Ray Titus:

Ray Titus, CEO of United Franchise Group™ (UFG), founded Signarama®, growing it into the leading sign franchise in the world and laying the foundation for what has become United Franchise Group, the global leader for entrepreneurs. Today, UFG-affiliated brands are among the most recognized within multiple industries, from business services to charcuterie boards. Ray’s commitment to franchising helped establish the Titus Center for Franchising, the first university center of its kind. His philosophies on growth, positive attitude, and family influence the core values that have driven success within the award-winning brands he has developed from conception to international expansion.

Aside from leading UFG, Ray has also authored a collection of books that provide immense value to entrepreneurs. These books, including “YOU’RE NOT LISTENING TO ME,” “The Challenge,” “Selling Today,” “Round the Clock,” “Laws of Inevitability,” and “Put a Little JJ In Your Life,” cover various topics such as marketing, selling, communication, and life, offering a comprehensive resource for personal and professional growth.

Visit our curated collection of Business Books for more enriching reads.

Episode Highlights:

Keep looking towards the future. Successful entrepreneurs evolve with the times, so don’t let yourself dwell for too long on the past otherwise you’ll be left behind! (14:53)
Almost everything you need to know about business can be found in a book! To thrive during all stages of your entrepreneurial journey, try to continuously absorb as much knowledge as possible! Ray reads 40 books a year and attributes much of his success to the lessons he has learned and implemented from these transformative resources. (15:55)
If you want to go out on your own but you think you would benefit from having some structure, why not consider franchising? Becoming a franchisee gives you the benefits of both independence and support. (34:04)
Always look for the silver lining! If you maintain a positive attitude in the face of the challenges you are facing, you will always find a way through them! (42:06)
Build your career around what you are good at, not what you love. Save the things you love for your hobbies and vacations, and when it comes to work, play to your strengths (because then you’ll end up loving what you do.) (47:46)
You never know when you’ll meet your next investor, business partner, or client. Keep your eyes and ears open to opportunities; they are all around you, you just need to be open to them! (52:18)
Wherever possible, keep things simple. Business doesn’t need to be complicated, and you don’t need a to-do list of a million things. Set yourself a few goals and work at them until they’re achieved before moving on. (52:53)

Ray’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“Always look for the lemonade out of the lemon. Always look for the silver lining, the opportunity that others aren’t looking at.” (51:20)

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Embrace Networking for Business Success with Shiloh Johnson, ComplYant Jun 21, 2023

Using networking for business is challenging, and it requires deliberate focus and effort. As Shiloh Johnson shares in this episode, if you are willing to put in the time to build a strong network of people around you, it will stand you in good stead for all your future endeavors. Shiloh also talks about the role of a leader, the value of hiring a coach, the importance of doing customer discovery properly, and more!

About Shiloh Johnson

Shiloh Johnson is the CEO and founder of ComplYant, a technology platform offering small business owners and entrepreneurs a simple way to manage their business taxes. Rooted in the understanding that taxes can cause small business owners a lot of stress and anxiety and create barriers for small or underrepresented entrepreneurs, ComplYant’s mission is to ensure that small businesses of all colors, shapes, and backgrounds have access to effective tax support. Shiloh has raised $12.8M in venture capital funding for her digital tax assistant tool, making her one of only a few Black women to raise $10m+ in funding.

Episode Highlights:

Company culture is something you need to intentionally focus on as a business owner. When things are moving quickly (as they usually are when you are building a business), it’s easy for it to fall by the wayside. As a leader, it’s your job to help your team members build thriving careers while maintaining a work/life balance, otherwise, you will lose them! (07:34)
Leverage your network by asking for referrals from people you trust. This is far more effective than a “spray and pray” approach. (10:51)
Be discerning about the investors you work with. Taking money from someone means you are entering into a contractual agreement with them, so you want to be sure that you really understand who they are so that you know whether or not you can trust them. (14:17)
Before you build out your product or service, put a lot of effort into figuring out who will want to buy it and what makes them tick. If you do your customer discovery properly in the early days, you’ll save yourself a lot of time and money because you will have to do less iterating down the line! (17:44)
If you’ve learned anything on your entrepreneurial journey, share it! There are so many people out there who will benefit from hearing your stories and advice. (29:57)

Shiloh’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“Building a product isn’t going to happen because of you, it’s gonna happen because of all the people that are around you that you have been able to galvanize to put in motion.” (16:51)

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Transform Your Business with Mindset Coaching with Elliot Roe, Primed Mind Jun 14, 2023

If you know what you need to do to take your business to the next level, but you aren’t doing it because it makes you feel uncomfortable, mindset coaching could completely change your life! Today’s guest, Elliot Roe, first experienced the power of mindset coaching when a hypnotherapist helped him overcome his intense fear of flying. In today’s episode, he explains how mindset coaching can help you develop a growth mindset and overcome whatever is holding you back from reaching your full potential!

About Elliot Roe:

Elliot Roe is a leading expert in Mindset Optimization for High Performers and is the world’s #1 Mindset Coach for poker players. His poker clients have won over $100,000,000 and nearly every major tournament title, including the World Series of Poker Main Event. Elliot’s clientele also includes Olympic medalists, UFC Champions, Hollywood Actors, Business executives, and Wall Street traders. His unique mindset coaching system leverages the power of hypnotherapy to eliminate fears and breakthrough mental roadblocks, allowing you to operate in a state of peak performance every day. Elliot holds a graduate degree in Clinical Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy and co-founded the mobile mindset app Primed Mind.

Episode highlights:

The best way to test out a product or a service is to use yourself as a guinea pig. Hypnotherapy helped Elliot overcome his fear of flying, and now he uses that method to help other people overcome their own challenges. (01:18)
Staying in your comfort zone is easy, but if you want to grow, you need to push through some discomfort. Enlisting a coach will help you get through this stage quickly and effectively. (14:23)
Business coaching and mindset coaching are two very different things. If you don’t know what strategy to use to take your business to the next level, you will benefit from a business coach. On the other hand, if you know what you should be doing (e.g., asking for investments, firing staff members) but something inside you is holding you back from doing it, mindset coaching is what you need! (20:29)
If you’re wondering whether you need a mindset coach, think about what your discomfort is costing you. If you’re losing money because of the things you aren’t doing because of your fear of doing them, a mindset coach can help you. (28:59)
Take self-care seriously! If you put effort into looking after yourself on a personal level, you will see the benefits in your business. Elliot sees a personal trainer, goes for massages, and sees his own coach regularly, as these are the things that put him in a good mental space. (29:24)
Start your journey of overcoming your fears right now: think about what you hate doing and try to connect it to earlier memories so that you can understand the origins of your fear. This understanding is the first layer of the foundation from which you can switch to a growth mindset. (30:44)

Elliot’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“Anywhere there is this physical tension that’s stopping you doing the thing you should be doing, that’s where a mindset coach is doing to be valuable.” (21:23)

Resources Mentioned:

Primed Mind

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Finding Opportunities in Underrepresented Markets with Billie Simmons, Daylight Jun 07, 2023

Because of her open mind and willingness to say yes to most things, finding opportunities in the business world has never been too challenging for today’s guest, Billie Simmons! Billie is currently using her personal experiences in combination with community input to develop tools and programs that help LGBTQ+ people live their best lives.

In this episode, Billie talks about the potential that lies in underrepresented markets, the value in finding a balance between conviction and flexibility, and why it’s not actually a negative thing that we don’t have very much control over what happens in our lives!

About Billie Simmons:

Billie Simmons is the co-founder and COO of Daylight, a company on a mission to help LGBTQ+ people live their best lives. Previously, she founded a startup to help trans and non-binary people access safe services. Her background is in marketing and software engineering (she taught herself to code when she was 10!) at fintech-focused companies such as Techstars and Anthemis Group.

Episode highlights:

When life presents you with opportunities, say yes! You don’t always need to follow a set plan. Billie’s approach has always been to follow her passions and do what she finds interesting, and it has taken her to incredible places. (01:59)
Lived experiences are the best blueprints for product development. It’s highly likely that whatever your pain points are, others have them too. So, to create something truly valuable, develop a product or service that meets your needs and improve it by listening to community feedback. (10:53)
“Any control you think you have over your life, you don’t.” This can be a scary thought, but if you shift your mindset, it can also be a liberating one. If you stop trying to exert control and instead embrace the fact that anything can happen, you’ll be able to find joy and success in so many unexpected places. (18:50)
Find a balance between conviction and flexibility. Whatever you are doing right now, commit to that 100%, but always be open to pivoting as you learn more about the needs of your target market. (22:05)
If your business doesn’t turn out the way you wanted it to, don’t see that as a failure. Regardless of the outcome, the lessons that you have learned along the journey will always be worthwhile. (26:35)
Sometimes the things you think you want aren’t actually the things that are going to make your life better. Don’t get caught up in external validation; what you think about yourself is far more important than what other people think of you. (33:35)

Billie’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“Progress doesn’t seem linear, but it does stack. So even if you seem like you’re taking steps backwards, you still have all of the history that you’ve accumulated over time and the learnings and skills.” (28:16)

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Continuous Learning for Business Growth with Scot Wingo, Spiffy May 31, 2023

Scot Wingo’s entrepreneurial journey can be characterized by his commitment to continuous learning! In this episode, Scot talks about the various ways in which he has deliberately worked on enhancing his business skills and the success that he has achieved as a result. The world is full of endless opportunities for learning; don’t let them slip past you.

About Scot Wingo:

Scot Wingo is a highly accomplished 4-time serial entrepreneur, currently serving as the CEO of Spiffy, a leading provider of on-demand car care services. With an impressive 25 years of industry expertise, Scot's influence as a thought leader in E-commerce, E-service, and the future of mobility has earned him prestigious accolades, including Ernst and Young's Entrepreneur of the Year and Triangle Business Journal's Businessperson of the Year.

In his book, "eBay Strategies: 10 Proven Methods to Maximize Your eBay Business," Scot shares invaluable insights with both newcomers and seasoned eBay sellers, providing them with proven strategies to enhance success, boost sales, and optimize their businesses with efficiency and ease.

For a comprehensive book review, check out this page.

What Is Continuous Learning?

Continuous learning is the process of acquiring knowledge, skills, and insights throughout one’s life. The more we learn, the more we realize how much more there is to learn! One of the best things you can do for your business is to embrace the practice of continuous learning by seeking out new information, exploring different perspectives, and embracing ever-evolving opportunities for growth! This will ensure that you and your business are more adaptable to change, can better navigate complexities, and you are more likely to stay relevant in your field in the long term. There is no shortage of learning opportunities around you; why not start with our business book recommendations?

Episode highlights:

Don’t neglect customer service! Post-pandemic, companies have been placing less emphasis on this element of business, but your customers are the ones who are going to sustain you. So, look after them as best you can. (21:16)
Consumers can be divided into two broad categories: value-oriented and convenience-oriented. If you choose the one you want to serve through your business and commit to doing it properly, customers will flock to you! With Spiffy, Scot is filling a gap in the market for convenience-oriented car services. (27:10)
Books are one of the best ways to learn lessons from the entrepreneurs who have come before you. Rather than making the same mistakes yourself, learn from the mistakes made by others (so that you can make new ones!) Read our blog for a list of our favorite business books! (33:39)
Work hard on your listening skills so that you can really understand your clients’ needs! Making customers happy can be difficult, but if you are willing to listen intently and really take on board what people are telling you, you are well on your way to success. (34:20)
Don’t let rejections from funders put you off your mission! Use the no’s as a learning opportunity to improve your proposal and come back stronger. (35:01)
Don’t assume that other people understand the value of what you are selling. As a business leader, your ability to develop the skill of persuasion (i.e. sales) will do wonders for your business. To do this, Scott recommends attending pitch events and roadshows (and watching Shark Tank) so that you can learn from others. (39:01)

Scot’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“Making a customer happy is a little tricky. There’s a nuanced way of asking them questions to get to their pain.” (34:39)

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Problem Solving to Serve Needed Audiences with Jo Goodall, Luna May 24, 2023

Entrepreneurs are problem solvers, and Jo Goodall is using her problem-solving skills to achieve her goal of improving access to healthcare education! In this episode, Jo shares the story of how her company, Luna, came into being, how they have leaned heavily on their community to turn Luna into the invaluable resource it is today, the importance of being open to continuous evolution as a business owner, and some of the lessons she didn’t learn in business school!

About Jo Goodall:

Jo is the co-founder of Luna, the UK's first health and wellbeing app specifically for girls and non-binary teens aged 11-17 years old. Prior to founding Luna, she was a Management Consultant at Deloitte and Strategy Manager at the fashion retailer Boden. Fun fact: she cycled solo from Yorkshire to Vienna (over 1000 miles) in two weeks!

Episode highlights:

Being an entrepreneur gives you the opportunity to solve problems. Jo and her co-founder realized that kids are often left to their own devices (literally and figuratively) when it comes to learning about health-related issues, and they decided to do something to change that. A good place to start your entrepreneurial journey is with a problem that you feel passionate about solving! (02:06)
The people in your community are your greatest teachers! Let their feedback guide you to create the version of your product or service that best suits their needs. (11:58)
The world is constantly evolving, and so should you and your business! As an entrepreneur, it’s important to be continuously learning and growing alongside your business so that it doesn’t fade into obscurity. (20:22)
Watch your numbers closely! Business school doesn’t teach you how to manage your finances. Check your bank account, don’t overhire, and make sure you have enough cash flow to keep going - you have a real responsibility to real people when you are running a business in the real world (24:14)

Jo’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“As the business grows, you have to extend your horizons and reach as an entrepreneur.” (20:49)

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Maximizing Business Potential with Global Talent with John Jonas, Onlinejobs.ph May 17, 2023

Finding the right talent can be one of the most complex parts of running a business. But in today’s working environment, business owners have access to a global talent pool! In this episode, John Jonas talks about the advantages of broadening your hiring horizons, why content creation is his main focus, and the value of outsourcing work as quickly as possible.

About John Jonas:

John started his career as a programmer and worked for several companies before realizing that his true passion was in building his own business. He created OnlineJobs.ph, the largest marketplace for finding Filipino workers, with almost 2,000,000 Filipino profiles in the database. To date, John has helped thousands of entrepreneurs succeed by teaching them how to replace themselves through outsourcing, a concept he expertly delves into in his book, “The Outsourcing Lever“, where he shares game-changing strategies for entrepreneurs to effectively leverage virtual assistants, increase productivity, and reclaim their time for business growth.

Expand your entrepreneurial toolkit with our curated collection of Business Books.

Episode highlights:

Don’t give up. You might have to deal with multiple failures and very challenging obstacles on your entrepreneurial journey (for John, this was his struggle to find the talent he was looking for), but if you really believe in your mission, just keep pushing through! (04:05)
To grow a business, you have to be willing to work through the really difficult problems. This often requires the combined skillsets of a visionary and an integrator. As the visionary, John’s role is to think about the things that are hard to think about. As the integrator, his partner’s role is to run with that and find solutions. (13:31)
Knowing that you can always find the talent that you need is a very freeing realization. If you open up your talent pool, the opportunities for progress are endless. (15:26)
It is possible to work 17 hours (or less) in a week; John is living proof of this! Part of how he is able to achieve this is by being fully committed to whatever task he is doing. When he’s working, he is fully immersed in his work (and that means no social media distractions), and when he isn’t working, he completely switches off from everything to do with his business. (18:21)
Content is what drives the growth of a business. So, don’t waste time doing “busy work” (like sending emails) and instead record podcasts, send out regular newsletters, and write blog posts. (21:07)
Contrary to the traditional advice of “stick with what you’re good at and outsource the rest,” John believes that as soon as you’ve mastered a skill to the point where you can teach someone else to do it, get that thing off your plate! This means you can focus on learning even more essential skills. (23:54)

John’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“As soon as you have something in your business that you know how to do, that you feel like you could teach someone else to do, hire someone else to do it. Get that thing off of your plate.” (23:45)

Resources Mentioned:

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The Business of Elderly Care with Annalee Rae Kruger, Care Right Inc. May 10, 2023

For the sake of your relationship with your parents, their and your quality of life, and the well-being of your business, make sure that you are planning ahead when it comes to elderly care. According to research, 30% of family caregivers miss career opportunities or have to leave their businesses, 63% are paying for care in some way, and 42% have to reduce their own contributions to their portfolios or retirement plans. In this episode, Annalee Rae Kruger explains how you can proactively deal with the inevitable fact of aging!

About Annalee Rae Kruger:

For over 28 years, Annalee Rae Kruger has helped families navigate through aging, family caregiving, dementia progression, and care options. Everything Annalee does is with the mission of improving quality of life by helping families and their relatives age as successfully as possible. Her company, Care Right Inc., is a virtual, nationwide consultancy serving families across the US in developing customized Aging Strategies.

In her book, “The Invisible Patient,” Annalee draws upon her extensive expertise to shed light on the often overlooked aspect of self-care for caregivers. Emphasizing the significance of implementing an Aging Plan, she guides readers in alleviating financial burdens and preventing burnout. This invaluable resource equips caregivers with the tools and knowledge needed to prioritize their own well-being while ensuring the best possible care for their loved ones.

Episode highlights:

Starting and running a business is a time-consuming endeavor, so if you want to become an entrepreneur, ensure that you are passionate about the work you are going to be immersing yourself in. Annalee always felt a connection with elderly people, and prior to founding Care Right Inc., she worked for many years in the corporate senior care space. (02:59)
Don’t only take action when a crisis occurs in your business. Be proactive and put plans in place so that you don’t have to scramble when things take a wrong turn. 92% of families come to Care Right during a crisis, but if they came ahead of time, they would spend less, ensure better quality care for their elderly loved ones, and decrease their own levels of stress. (08:15)
A big part of Annalee’s job is to educate families about the aging process, what to expect, and how to plan for it. Education is a vital part of any business. Educating your customers about the pain points that your business is solving will help to build trust and subsequently convert them into paying clients. (16:23)

Annalee’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“Just like we put a business plan in place as a business owner or entrepreneur, we need to put a plan in place for our parents too, with our parents' input preferably, before they are in that crisis mode.” (25:17)

Resources Mentioned:

The Invisible Patient by Annalee Rae Kruger

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Affiliate Disclaimer: Please note that this episode contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase through those links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Mastering Remote Team Leadership with Liam Martin, Time Doctor May 03, 2023

35% of the American workforce is now working remotely, and studies have shown that a remote team is often more productive than its in-office counterpart. Through his company, Time Doctor, Liam Martin is on a mission to help the world smoothly transition to remote work. In this episode, he shares the approach he has taken to ensuring operational efficiency and building a business model based on referrals and why the key to managing a remote team is developing the skill of asynchronous management.

About Liam Martin:

Liam Martin is the CEO of Time Doctor, a leading time-tracking and productivity tool that helps businesses manage remote teams effectively. With his expertise, he has been featured in Forbes, Inc., Entrepreneur, Business Insider, and Fortune. He has been invited as a guest speaker at numerous conferences and events, sharing his invaluable insights on remote work and entrepreneurship.

Furthermore, Liam co-authored the best-selling book “Running Remote,” which provides strategies tailored to business owners. This groundbreaking guide delves into the mindset and strategies of remote work pioneers, empowering readers to build and scale successful organizations with seamless, freeing, and cost-effective remote work approaches.

Browse our curated collection of Business Books for more enriching reads.

Episode Highlights:

In the early days of your entrepreneurial journey, you need to be the one doing everything. However, the quicker you can stop doing so many things inside of your business and transition into a more executive role, the better. “Owning [a business] is much better than running [one].”(02:35)
Ensuring that your operational infrastructure keeps growing at a rate at which it sustains your business requires a force of will, regularly rewriting your software, and dollar investments. At Time Doctor, they invest 7 to 12% of every dollar into improving operations. (04:30)
One of the most effective marketing strategies is one that is based on referrals. People trust people more than they trust brands, so build a product that people love so much that they will recommend it to others. (19:47)
Studies conducted on remote work have found that it leads to an increase in productivity. The key to a successful remote company is asynchronous management, and there are various tools within the remote working stack that can be used to achieve this. (35:45)
When hiring someone, make sure that they are aligned with the mission and vision of your company. To do this, build a Vision Traction Organizer (VTO) (i.e. a core vision document) and ensure that you give it to every potential hire to read and share their thoughts on. (40:40)

Liam’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“Building out those multiple products in your product line; you cannot do that without operations. Nothing works without operations.” (25:38)

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Strategies for Buying a Business with Elliott Holland, Guardian Due Diligence Apr 26, 2023

Due diligence is about more than just the numbers! In this episode, Elliott Holland and A.J. discuss some of the key strategies for buying a business using A.J.’s recent deal that fell through as a case study. Elliott explains why the qualitative elements of a business are as important as the quantitative components, the value of having an advisor during the acquisition process, and how to decide whether a particular business is a good fit for YOU.

About Elliott Holland:

Elliott Holland, “reformed engineer”, the founder and Managing Director of Guardian Due Diligence, is an expert in small and medium-sized business acquisitions. He has over ten years of experience executing middle-market deals, and his company is filling the void of options that exist for smaller acquisitions.

Episode highlights:

If you are thinking of buying a business, create a list of (very specific) dealbreakers. These are the factors that will cause you to walk away from the deal. An example might be: “I don't feel I can run the business from day one without the seller.”(02:33)
A QoE (Quality of Earnings) is traditionally just a quantitative analysis, but in small-medium business deals, the qualitative components are just as important. In this particular case, the downward trend in the numbers wouldn’t have been a dealbreaker if the foundational core of the business had been strong. (13:41)
Don’t underestimate the importance of having an advisor during the acquisition process. The role of an advisor is not to say whether a deal is good or bad but rather to ask you questions that will make you think about whether you feel it is something worth pursuing. (17:56)
Don’t believe everything you are told. Oftentimes, people attribute issues incorrectly. That is why it is so important to have good due diligence on your side. (19:17)
Make sure that the business you buy is a good fit for YOU. There are so many businesses out there you could buy and play some kind of role in, but you need to make sure that it is the role you really want. (25:00)
Just because we are currently in a tougher market doesn’t mean great deals can’t be done; it just means you may need to work a little bit harder, negotiate a bit better, and make sure you are getting updated financials! (37:42)

Elliott’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“People know that they need a QOE. They don’t always know that they need advisory work in the process.” (28:00)

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Resources Mentioned:

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Embrace Change to Create Positive Impact with Michael Kuech, Your Super Apr 19, 2023

Even if things are going well, there’s always room for improvement; that is why Michael Kuech encourages all entrepreneurs to embrace change at every step of their journey (no matter how uncomfortable it may feel). Tune into this episode to hear about Michael’s open-minded, conscious, collaborative approach to business!

About Michael Kuech:

Michael Kuech is an industry leader in plant-based living and transparent supply chains. Over the past decade, Michael and his partner Kristel have built their superfood brand Your Super into one of the fastest-growing companies in America. The company was founded after Michael was diagnosed with cancer at age 24 and realized how powerful food is as medicine. “You can not control everything in life, but you can control what you eat and how you fuel your body.”

Their book, “Your Super Life“, is a comprehensive guide to harnessing the natural healing potential of superfoods. With over 100 nourishing recipes featuring potent healing ingredients, Michael and Kristel empower readers to optimize their health and well-being through delicious and nutritious meals.

Get the Your Super Life book on the website or at your favorite book store!

Episode highlights:

Always be open to change. As hard as it is to transition out of your comfort zone, it’s so important not to get stuck in your ways. When you embrace change, you increase your opportunities for success. (10:34)
There are so many people who have had experiences that you can learn from and who would love to share their knowledge. Don’t be afraid to ask for help; if you focus too much on your own personal journey, it’s easy to lose perspective. (13:07)
Do the right thing. Running a business doesn’t just have to be about making money; it can be a real force for good. Everybody wins if entrepreneurs adopt a conscious approach to business. (20:05)
Cultivate a mission that is greater than yourself, and don’t lose focus! Your north star should be the guiding principle throughout your entrepreneurial journey (Michael’s is to improve peoples’ health); this is how you will create a truly sustainable business. (27:44)

Michael’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“Learn to have other people give you guidance, give you help, other experiences. Be open to change.” (12:50)

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Affiliate Disclaimer: Please note that this episode contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase through those links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Engaging Storytelling for Business with Jude Charles, Jude Charles Co. Apr 12, 2023

Storytelling for business is the way to go if you really want to connect with your audience! In this episode, Jude Charles explains how crafting stories (rather than making statements) can take your business to the next level, what it takes to become a stand-out leader, why entrepreneurship requires a relentless spirit, and more!

About Jude Charles:

Jude Charles is the Founder and CEO of Jude Charles Co, a full-service video production company with a mission to tell your brand’s story through dramatic clarity, leverage, and demonstration. Jude is the youngest of 10 children of a Haitian immigrant family. His passion for film and video production began at a young age, and over the past 15 years, he has honed his skills to become the sought-after storyteller and visual strategist he is today.

Episode highlights:

Being a successful entrepreneur requires the cultivation of a relentless spirit. Let’s be honest, you have to be a little bit crazy to take on the rollercoaster that is entrepreneurship, but if you have the ability to keep moving forward in spite of the challenges that are thrown your way, you’ve got what it takes to build a successful business! (02:57)
To be a successful leader, it is essential to be able to communicate effectively, exercise patience, and bring the best out in others. (05:51)
Take the time to develop your story. People are drawn to stories because they provide a deeper level of connection than statements. So, if you can build a story around your brand, it will allow you to connect with your audience on a deeper level. (21:32)
Create content that you can use over and over again. By doing this, you are extending the value of that content and turning it into an asset. (29:03)

Jude’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“Create [an] asset that makes you money over and over because it gives someone a different connection point on how to understand what you do or understand what makes you valuable.” (35:38)

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Turning Challenges into Business Opportunities with Ben Leonard, eCom Brokers Apr 05, 2023

As Ben Leonard knows from (lots of) experience, all challenges can be turned into business opportunities as long as you are willing to think creatively and put in the work! In this episode, Ben shares some of the challenges he has overcome in his personal and professional life, the value of finding an untapped niche as a business owner, and the importance of taking advantage of the enormous power of e-commerce.

About Ben Leonard:

Ben Leonard is the classic millennial entrepreneur. In his spare time, he built a business on a laptop in a cupboard. The difference? Ben grew it into an international 7-figure business and successfully exited after three years; the business holy grail. Now Ben is doing it all over again and helping others to do the same with his e-commerce consultancy and e-commerce brokerage.

[Fun fact: before starting his first business, he had zero business, product development, or marketing experience. He learned everything by applying his scientific training to the process (he has a background in marine science!].

Episode highlights:

If you aren’t taking advantage of e-commerce, you are doing your business a disservice because of the volume of sales you are losing out on. There are so many affordable, accessible tools and resources available to you, so use them! (07:44)
Find your niche so that your business stands out from the crowd! If you can come up with a unique, untapped business idea, you are well on your way to success; and if you think about it creatively, your opportunities are limitless. (13:37)
Overcoming challenges leads to enormous growth because of the invaluable lessons that you learn through the process. Don’t let hurdles discourage you; jump over them and keep moving forward. No matter how much you may want to give up in the moment, it will be worth it to push through. (27:09)
Long-term, sustainable business growth requires patience. Don’t rush the process; take each phase seriously, and treat your business with the respect it deserves. (31:32)
Making mistakes may not feel good, but it is one of the best ways to learn. If you deal with mistakes as quickly as possible, you’ll be better off for having made them. (39:50)

Ben’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“There’s always going to be new opportunities for those of us who are willing to go the extra mile to take advantage of them.” (31:22)

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Continuous Growth on the Entrepreneurial Journey with Matthijs Welle, Mews Mar 29, 2023

Continuous growth is the foundation of a successful business, which is why Matthijs Welle never misses an opportunity to learn and evolve on his entrepreneurial journey. In this week’s episode, you’ll learn how he and his team are revolutionizing the hotel industry through their remote-friendly, talent-first company Mews!

About Matthijs Welle:

After completing his studies in hotel management, Matthijs joined Hilton's fast-track management program and has since held numerous roles in operations and commercial departments. In 2013, he left his secure corporate job and joined Mews to revolutionize property management systems, reshaping the future of the hotel industry. Today, he serves as the CEO of Mews Systems, and the company has grown its employee count by nearly 5x under his stewardship.

Episode highlights:

As an entrepreneur, you are constantly evolving into different versions of yourself. When this evolution stops, it’s probably time to exit because if you’re not growing, you’ll likely be holding your company back. (05:08)
Coaches provide opportunities for learning and growth. They will open your eyes to things you didn’t know you needed to know and help you become a better leader. So, even if you don’t think you need it, go out there and find a coach! (08:08)
Don’t underestimate the importance of your board members. They can expand your network, provide financial support, and push you to take your business to the next level. (15:46)
By being a remote-friendly company, you open up your talent pool exponentially. If you want to compete in a global market, expand your recruiting horizons and put more emphasis on talent than location. (25:18)

Matthijs’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“Having a really good board member will really push you as an entrepreneur to the next level because you have to find answers, and you’ll dig deep to find them.” (16:35)

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Leadership Strategies for Collaborative Culture with Maxwell Reed, Kingdom of Something Mar 22, 2023

There are a few factors that can help you stand out In the highly competitive working world; exceptional leadership strategies, an attractive company culture that offers both freedom and responsibility, and a leadership style that allows people to tap into their “genius.” Tune in to this episode to hear from Maxwell Reed about the effort that has gone into turning Kingdom of Something into the irreplaceable production partner it is today.

About Maxwell Reed:

Maxwell is a Swedish-Canadian creative entrepreneur based out of Amsterdam. Having worked for one of the biggest companies in the creative advertisement industry, he quit his job and founded his own motion design company in 2016 with four former classmates (one of whom he now runs the company with). With the amazing talent on the team and clients like Adidas, KFC, Nike, and Panda Express, he often looks forward to returning to the office on Monday morning.

Episode highlights:

Find your genius because that’s where you will create magic for your business; and then delegate the rest. Your genius is the skill set that comes naturally to you; the things you can do exceptionally well without needing to try too hard. For Maxwell, it’s networking. For you, it might be anything from organizational skills to coding. (09:25)
A strong, healthy company culture is essential for attracting and retaining great people. Maxwell’s approach has been to create a safe environment that gives people freedom with responsibility (people can take as much time off as they want to, as long as they are delivering high-quality work on time). (14:55)
As a leader, it’s important to find the right balance between being a boss and being a friend. This will help to cultivate a good atmosphere in the work environment and motivate your team members to give their best selves to the company. (22:20)
As a leader, don’t think of yourself as being better than your team members. Flatten the hierarchy in your company by not asking your team members to do things you aren’t willing to do yourself (cleaning the coffee machine, for example). (26:40)
Be a problem-solver, not an order-taker. This approach will get the creative juices flowing, keep you and your team members feeling inspired, and set you apart from your competitors. (28:13)
You don’t have to say yes to every opportunity that comes your way. But if you say no, always try to give clients another solution. This will allow you to avoid burning out and delivering sub-part work while sustaining relationships that may result in more work in the future. (43:20)

Maxwell’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“One of our main cornerstones and mantras is freedom with responsibility.” (16:20)

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Resources Mentioned:

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Navigating Supply Chain Challenges with Daniel Curtis, Vices Mar 15, 2023

For Vices founder Daniel Curtis, navigating supply chain challenges as a business owner is all about letting your “why” drive you, doing everything with love, and surrounding yourself with people whose skill sets complement your own. Tune in today to hear about his journey of curating luxury subscription boxes during the current economic climate.

About Daniel Curtis:

Over the past sixteen years, Daniel has held several executive-level positions, working with some of the world's most prestigious organizations, such as Goldman Sachs and Robb Report. As the Founder & CEO of Vices, Daniel is responsible for spearheading the company's growth and vision. He strives to create a one-of-a-kind experience that truly brings people together and supports moments of thoughtful pause. He is also an avid traveler and has recently had his third child.

Episode highlights:

Even though we are living through one of the most challenging supply chain moments in decades, it is still possible to sustain a thriving business. So, do everything you can to keep your passion alive, and don’t give up! (13:28)
The “why” behind your business makes all the difference to the end product. Don’t just do the work to get it done; do it all with love! (15:28)
To be an effective leader, it is essential that you understand your personal strengths and weaknesses so that you can bring in talented people to fill in the gaps where you are lacking. (17:27)
You don’t have to be everything to everyone; this approach is likely to lead to burnout and a less-than-optimal offering. Instead, define your ideal clients, build a strong relationship with them, and ensure you provide them with the products or services that they really want. (22:09)
Every stage of the entrepreneurial journey comes with its own set of challenges. So, as your business grows and changes, you may need to rethink how you approach everything from funding strategies to marketing plans to make sure you address the new obstacles and opportunities that arise. (26:16)

Daniel’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“Bring on people that really can fly on their own and that bring strengths and ideas that you don’t have.” (13:53)

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Culture-Driven Business Growth with Leon Winkes, IWB Mar 08, 2023

When you and your team love what you do, your clients can feel it, and your business will thrive as a result! Tune into this week’s episode to hear what culture-driven business growth looks like from Leon Winkes, as well as his approach to creating value, building long-term relationships, and finding happiness!

About Leon Winkes:
Leon is the founder and CEO of IWB Agency. He is an entrepreneur, investor, husband, and father of two. After three years of experience working at Google, he started IWB, which currently manages up to €30 million in Adspend for clients in the Netherlands.

Episode highlights:

If your employees are happy and fulfilled, they will be able to provide the most value they possibly can to you and your business. So, focus on building a company culture that prioritizes the well-being of your employees, and you will go far. (09:11)
When hiring, look for people who are passionate and enthusiastic about the mission of your business. Teaching someone a skill is much easier than helping someone cultivate a growth mindset. (13:44)
If you don’t love what you do, change something! Life is short, and there is no point in wasting your time on a job you hate. (20:26)
Clearly define the type of clients you want to work with and the type of relationship that you want to develop with those clients. Don’t be afraid to get very specific about your niche! (25:26)
No entrepreneurial venture is going to run perfectly smoothly all the time, and the sooner you can let go of that expectation, the more enjoyable your journey will be. (37:24)
One of the main differences between being a leader and a manager is that leaders motivate and challenge their team members to move themselves and the company forward. On the other hand, managers often fixate on the nitty-gritty mistakes without thinking about the bigger picture. So, do you want to be a leader or a manager? (39:03)

Leon’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“In order to build something, you really need people to do it with you; people with the same kind of purpose.” (08:55)

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Maximize Your Profitability with Kevin Bees, ProfitHive Mar 01, 2023

If you own a business, the chances are that you are leaking profit somewhere. But don’t fret! Our today’s guest, Kevin Bees, is here to show you how to maximize profitability. From knowing your numbers to changing your mindset, Kevin’s approach will help you uncover the pot of gold that is already waiting at your feet!

About Kevin Bees:

Kevin Bees is Australia’s leading Profit Maximisation Expert. Kevin improves business profitability, cash flow, and net worth through his skills in financial strategy, sales, marketing, and operations. His clients benefit from his human behavior and change management expertise, improving their performance as individuals, teams, and organizations.

Episode highlights:

Your experiences as an entrepreneur can benefit others. Share your knowledge and skills so that other entrepreneurs can maximize their results. And you will see the world around you change. (03:30)
Know your numbers! It might not be the most exciting part of your business, but it is definitely one of the most important. When you understand your financial performance, you can really maximize profitability. (05:34)
There are seven core factors that are responsible for maximizing profitability, including leads, conversions, average dollar sales, and profit margins. The factors you should focus on will vary depending on the stage your business is in. So make sure to check in with your performance regularly to make sure you are focusing on the right ones. (17:38)
The “pot of gold” isn’t at the end of the rainbow; it’s at your feet! Most businesses leak money somewhere. You need to take control of your finances as soon as possible to stop wasting your hard-earned profits. (25:27)
So much of life is about perspective. Changing your mindset can change your whole life. And there’s nothing wrong with asking for help. You can prioritize your mental well-being by bringing in an external party to help you ask the right questions and determine the right answers. (26:36)

Kevin’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“If we can get the right perspective and the right mindset, everything changes.” (26:36)

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How To Make Sustainable Investment Decisions with Felice Verduyn-van Weegen, EQT Feb 22, 2023

As an investor in the biotech industry, today’s guest, Felice Verduyn-van Weegen, brings a different perspective to the podcast as we discuss her approach to making investment decisions! Listen in as she shares some of the key factors she considers before investing in a company and her thoughts on what it takes to be a successful investor and entrepreneur.

About Felice Verduyn-van Weegen:

Felice Verduyn-van Weegen is a Partner at EQT, in the life sciences venture team. She holds an MSc in Neuroscience and an MBA from Columbia Business School. Before taking on her current role, Felice worked as a neuroscientist and statistical geneticist and then as a consultant at McKinsey & Company. She also started a foundation called Healthcare Embassy (Zorgambassade) to improve the healthcare system in the Netherlands.

Episode highlights:

One of the key indicators of acquisition success is cultural fit (i.e. the values and foundational principles of your organization). So, if you are acquiring a company or your company is going to be acquired, ensure that you emphasize the cultural aspects of the transition.(07:25)
Just as investors need to carefully consider where they invest their money, investees need to be discerning about who they take money from. The right investors can benefit a business financially and from a networking perspective, so don’t take the decision lightly. (16:21)
As is the case with investors, your reputation as an entrepreneur is everything. Build your reputation by becoming someone to whom people want to reach out. Network by attending conferences, meeting people for coffee, or doing podcast interviews! (25:58)
No matter how much we know, there is always more to learn. Constantly pursue knowledge but also accept the fact that you won’t be able to know it all. (27:05)
Many investors want to become part of the team they are investing in. So, if you’re looking for investments, ensure that you give them a chance to participate and that your team is an attractive one to work with. (28:32)

Felice’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“A key factor in the investment decision is always the team.” (28:17)

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Building An Effective Mental Healthcare System with Mackenzie Drazan, MiResource Feb 15, 2023

Mackenzie Drazan has made it her mission to ensure everyone has access to effective mental healthcare through her platform, MiResource. During this episode, Mackenzie shares the strategies that have helped her get this far, including her approaches to effective communication, dealing with stress, and building a support system.

About Mackenzie Drazan:

Mackenzie is the Co-founder and CEO of MiResource, a platform that connects patients with mental health professionals. Her goal is to create a world where everyone has access to effective mental healthcare. Mackenzie holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Duke University, as well as a certificate in Innovation & Entrepreneurship. She was also named on Forbes's 30 Under 30 list.

Episode highlights:

“It takes a village.” Guidance and support are essential to the success of an entrepreneurial venture. Surround yourself with mentors and peers who can help shape you into the best entrepreneur you can be.(14:12)
As an entrepreneur, you will constantly be put in situations outside your comfort zone. To prevent the stress of discomfort from becoming overwhelming, reframe those feelings and keep reminding yourself of why you chose to do what you are doing so that you can hold onto your energy and passion. (22:54)
Becoming a successful entrepreneur requires being able to communicate your vision effectively. Be consistent in your messaging, keep it simple, and reiterate it often to yourself and your team. (27:09)
The role of an entrepreneur is to solve problems. Don’t get caught up in titles and expectations; just focus on the impact you want to make in the world. (30:01)
To ensure that you are always moving towards your greater vision, set yourself small, simple process goals that you can remind yourself of every day. (32:08)

Mackenzie’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“Everything is always changing, which makes it so fun, but it can also be stressful. So you’re always having to reformulate how you handle those stresses. That’s always an area of growth for me.” (24:00)

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Finding Your Voice in the Business Acquisition Space with Lisa Forrest, Live Oak Bank Feb 08, 2023

Unlike start-ups, the failure rate of acquired businesses is minimal. As Lisa Forrest explains in this episode, we are currently in the perfect environment for acquisition entrepreneurs to thrive! Tune in today to hear about the factors that are coalescing to create a solid foundation for acquisition success and what it will take to make your mark in the business acquisition space from someone who really knows!

About Lisa Forrest:
Lisa Forrest is a Co-Director of Sponsor Finance/Searchfund Lending at Live Oak Bank. She has over 30 years of experience in the banking industry, in both SBA and Conventional lending products focused on the unique needs of lower middle market businesses. She is widely regarded as one of the industry's "go-to" resources nationally for her expertise in M&A deal structuring for the Searchfund ecosystem. She is also an avid golfer, outdoor enthusiast, and dog lover.

Episode highlights:

The “silver tsunami” (the term that is used to refer to the mass retirement of the baby boomer generation) is upon us, which means that it’s time for acquisition entrepreneurs to step up to the plate. If you’ve been considering this path, take this as your sign to go for it! (08:50)
To make your mark as an acquisition entrepreneur, develop your own voice and point of view in the space, and learn how to do your own cash flow. These are very powerful tools that decrease your dependence on outside parties. (10:52)
Every economic phase has its own unique qualities. During this current phase, cash flow is king. So, make sure you’re not overpaying or overleveraging. (26:49)
The failure rates of starting a business from scratch are huge. In comparison, very few acquired businesses fail. So, if you want to increase your chances of success, acquisition entrepreneurship (particularly via the SBA route if you are based in the US) might be a better option! (29:24)
Just get started! If you’re interested in acquisition entrepreneurship, stop thinking about it and take the leap. One of the best ways to start is to connect with someone experienced in the space (like Lisa if you live in North America). (41:20)

Lisa’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“Cash flow is king.” (27:37)

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Navigating Uncertainty on the Entrepreneurial Journey with Sartou Djibril, Enlight Ed Feb 01, 2023

Choosing the entrepreneurial route requires navigating uncertainty, being prepared for chaos, and being open to continuous learning and adaptation. In this episode, Sartou Djibril, co-founder and CCO of Enlight Ed, explains how building a strong team, listening to your target audience, and remaining humble can make the journey more advantageous for everyone involved!

About Sartou Djibril:

Sartou spent most of her career working for tech companies, helping businesses and organizations to adopt digital solutions to achieve their goals. Today, Sartou is the co-founder and CCO of Enlight Ed, a two-end virtual tutoring platform that increases efficiency for students and teachers.

Episode highlights:

The startup world is a lot more uncertain than the corporate one, and people aren’t always going to be ready for your ideas. Succeeding in this space requires patience, continuous learning, and making the most of the chaos.(12:12)
From the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey, focus on building a strong team. Without this foundation, it will be very difficult to get your business to where you want it to be. (27:51)
Experience is the greatest teacher. You can learn as much theory as you like, but until you actually put something into practice in the real world, you won’t have the full picture. (28:49)
Build your business based on what your target users actually want, not on what you think they want. The only way to do this is by interacting with those users, listening to their insights, and adapting your offering as you learn from them. (30:36)
Despite how it may appear, arrogance and pushiness do not have to characterize your approach to entrepreneurship. You can be strong and still remain humble and treat people with care. (41:20)

Sartou’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“For many startups, the incompleteness of the team is one of the main obstacles. It’s hard to get something off the ground if you don’t have the core competencies in place from the beginning.” (27:51)

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Build a Life Outside of Your Business to Avoid Burnout with Sean Si, Seo Hacker Jan 25, 2023

Revolve your life around your business, and you are destined to suffer. To avoid burnout, build a life outside of your business that feeds your spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical well-being. Sean Si has mastered the arts of counterbalancing and leadership development; tune in today to hear it all!

About Sean Si:

Sean Si is a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, author, blogger, keynote speaker, web developer, SEO specialist & thought leader. He is the CEO and Founder of SEO Hacker, an expert SEO company in the Philippines with a team of over 50 people (mostly millennials and centennials) in-house.

Episode highlights:

When hiring, make sure you have clear job descriptions, KPIs, and examples of “what winning looks like.” Having a process like this in place will ensure that you build a solid team from the get-go. (11:07)
To be more deliberate on your entrepreneurial journey and stay on track with your goals, build consistency into your life. You don’t have to stick to a perfect routine; just do what you can! (22:29)
Work hard, play hard! We all need counterbalances to our work because burnout is unpleasant and unhealthy. So, be mindful of how you spend your time and ensure that you are doing things that fuel you spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically. (27:22)
Invest in leadership development within your organization. A business led by people who are focused on fulfilling their role of serving others will be unstoppable. (46:07)

Sean’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“Work is a rubber ball; usually, when you drop it, it just bounces back up. But family, health, your spiritual life, these are glass balls. When you drop one of them, they’re broken. It’s hard to put them back together.” (29:34)

Resources Mentioned:

Developing the Leader Within You by John Maxwell

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Putting Deliberate Entrepreneurship into Practice with A.J. Lawrence, The JAR Group Jan 18, 2023

This is episode 100! Through personal experience and learning from the guests who have been on the show over the past 99 episodes, A.J. has developed the concept of Deliberate Entrepreneurship, a set of six principles that are key to becoming the best version of your entrepreneurial self. To hear real-world examples of how past guests are putting these principles into practice along their own entrepreneurial journeys, tune in today!

Episode highlights:

Your journey as a Deliberate Entrepreneur starts with clearly defining your vision. This vision is the purpose that will keep you motivated through the ups and downs of your entrepreneurial journey. (03:52)
Set goals (lots of them!). Goals are the things that keep you on track (i.e. moving toward your vision). Without goals, it’s easy to fall into the trap of “shiny object syndrome.” (04:34)
Focus on progressing 1% a day rather than looking for quick wins. If you put in the effort to move your business forward slowly and steadily, you will go much further in the long run. (09:24)
Being a Deliberate Entrepreneur isn’t just about running a business; it’s also about the life you live outside your business. Pay attention to your well-being and happiness, check in with yourself regularly, and make sure that your actions align with your values. (14:51)
Whether you run a large company or you are a solopreneur, the people around you are essential to your success. Your community, your team, your customers, your mentors; make sure that you always prioritize them.(19:00)
When you approach entrepreneurship in a deliberate way, you free up a lot of time that would have otherwise been wasted. With this additional time, you will be able to put more effort into the actions that create the most value. (25:00)

A.J.’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

"As entrepreneurs, there's infinite amount of work and finite amount of resources. And the practice of being deliberate, being a deliberate entrepreneur, allows me to focus more on what's gonna create that value." (21:18)

Guests Mentioned:

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Scaling Success with an Employee-First Company Culture with Justin Fenchel, BeatBox Beverages Jan 11, 2023

If your company culture is strong, your business is well on its way to scaling success. So, don’t just think about what your team can do for you, but also what you can do for your team! In this week’s episode, Justin Fenchel, the co-founder and CEO of BeatBox Beverages (which makes “the world’s tastiest portable party punch), shares his advice on successfully scaling a business.

About Justin Fenchel:

Justin is a disruptor in the alcoholic beverage market. Before starting BeatBox Beverages, Justin spent five years as an equity analyst. Now, as the CEO of a company that combines two of his favorite things, music and parties, he is in his element.

Episode highlights:

Getting from stage one to stage two in business is completely different from getting from stage two to stage three (and so on). Each step of business growth is unique, so find mentors who have been through these stages before so that you can learn from their experiences. (07:29)
People often think they can’t talk about their ideas because someone will steal them. Justin has a different opinion: don’t hide your ideas; shout them from the rooftops because collaboration is vital to the success of an entrepreneurial venture. (08:56)
Create a culture of sharing bad news, not just good news. When you’re scaling, you can hide in the things that are going right. However, to build a sustainable business, you need to address what’s going wrong. (11:57)
Ensure that your team members know that you value them by understanding their goals and helping them reach them. When people feel valued, they will be more motivated, and a motivated workforce will allow your business to thrive. (20:51)

Justin’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“[Our team] feel valued. They’re not a number. They all have their own desires and goals, and we are doing the best we can to help them to get there. And that’s allowed this machine to move really fast forward.” (20:51)

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Stay Motivated with Clear Goals with Lilia Stoyanov, Transformify Jan 04, 2023

When you set clear goals, it’s much easier to stay motivated (and therefore satisfied) on your entrepreneurial journey. In this episode, the CEO of Transformify, Lilia Stoyanov, shares her approach to goal setting, the importance of getting experience before going out on your own, and why you should always pay attention to the numbers!

About Lilia Stoyanov:

Lilia Stoyanov is an angel investor and the CEO of Transformify, a revolutionary HR software and freelance platform. As a visionary leader who built a ”hiring one-stop shop,” Lilia has received many awards, including the 2018 Female Entrepreneur Enterprise Award, the 2017 First Women Award, and the Top 10 Fintech Innovations Award.

Episode highlights:

Ask yourself what you want and get clear on the answer. It's much easier to plan your roadmap to success when you have clarity around where you are heading. (06:57)
Pay attention to the numbers! If you don’t focus on profitability and sustainability, the value of your business can come crashing down overnight. (07:47)
Get as much experience as you can before you start your own business. There are certain things that you need to know to be able to succeed, and you can’t learn those things in school. (24:22)
Fill your life with learning opportunities. Read books, listen to podcasts, and nurture relationships with knowledgeable people; this is how you will grow as an entrepreneur. (26:44)
Goals keep people motivated and motivated people are more satisfied at work. To enhance the level of satisfaction within your business, set measurable, well-defined goals for yourself and your team members that can be achieved within the space of a few months. (37:30)

Lilia’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“It’s impossible to be good at what you do if you isolate yourself. You need to speak with other entrepreneurs, with people who are successfully managing businesses. You need to learn from them.” (27:02)

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End-of-Year Reflection with A.J. Lawrence, The JAR Group Dec 28, 2022

In this final episode for 2022, A.J. shares a brief recap of some of the highlights of the Beyond 8 Figures journey, what you can expect from us in the future, and how to make 2023 your best year as an entrepreneur to date!

Ready to level up as an entrepreneur?

Deliberate Entrepreneurship can help you stay focused, overcome challenges, and achieve your goals. By joining our community, you'll gain access to valuable resources, accountability, and a supportive network. Plus, you can take advantage of our early bird offer to get started with Deliberate Entrepreneurship at a discounted rate!

Don't miss out on this opportunity to reach your full potential - start practicing Deliberate Entrepreneurship and join us today!

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Welcome to the Festive Season with A.J. Lawrence, The JAR Group Dec 21, 2022

Because it's the holiday season, this week's episode is a little different than normal. We wanted to take the time to say thank you for being part of what has been an incredible (albeit challenging) year for us, and to encourage you to celebrate everything you have achieved as an entrepreneur in 2022!

Links Mentioned:

10 Amazing Business-Themed Cocktails for Your Entrepreneurial Journey Blog Post

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Using Community Collaboration for Business Growth with Craig Swanson, CreativeLive Dec 14, 2022

Craig Swanson is a “professional partner” who specializes in helping business owners scale through the powerful tool of community collaboration. In this episode, Craig explains the value of co-creating with your audience, why simpler is better when it comes to scaling, and the importance of embracing experimentation!

About Craig Swanson:

Craig Swanson is an entrepreneur, business coach, and co-founder of CreativeLive, an online learning platform for creatives. Today, he runs a small investment and incubator company with a fund that invests in and partners with a select few online creators per year to build niche platforms. He provides creators, educators, and influencers with the missing piece of their business that will propel them to the next level and help build $1 million dollar businesses one step at a time.

Episode highlights:

When it comes to scaling, simpler is better. Don’t spread yourself too thin by adding on services; rather choose one thing to specialize in and focus on improving that. (11:34)
Entrepreneurs often create things that are bigger than themselves. Despite what it may feel like, you are not actually your business, and your business is not you. Don’t become too entwined in it. (14:24)
Listen to what your market wants, don’t just assume you know. Magic happens when you co-create with your target audience. (26:01)
Don’t become too attached to your ideas. Experiment often; you can’t create the perfect product without testing and iterating. There’s nothing wrong with starting out with a “messy” product! (33:35)
Building a scalable business requires a very different approach to building a small business. Don’t rely on your first 1000 customers as your revenue source when you are scaling a business. Keep them happy and learn from their behaviors, but don’t worry about making money off them because they will make up such a small percentage of your eventual numbers. (44:48)

Craig’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“I see so many people squander the future that they want to have because they’re afraid to take a step into failure, but often failure is actually the first step to start building something.” (55:59)

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Everything Is A Learning Opportunity with Martyna Lewinska, Fiat Republic Dec 07, 2022

As Martyna Lewinksa explains in this episode, everything is a learning opportunity! And to be the best entrepreneur you can be, don’t ever stop learning. This episode is a lesson in the value of having an open mind, being honest and transparent, and asking for feedback!

About Martyna Lewinska:

Martyna Lewinska is the Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer at Fiat Republic. She has over eight years of experience in technical and leadership roles across multiple industries, and most recently, she served as the Head of Platform Engineering at OpenPayd (payments), Ex-Habito (mortgages), GE Digital, and ABB.

Episode highlights:

Being authentic and transparent with potential hires is a much better approach than pretending that everything is perfect. Honesty creates trust, and mutual trust is one of the foundations of a solid team. (15:30)
Never stop learning! Every situation you face and every person you meet offers an opportunity for learning if you are open to it. (19:49)
Failures are inevitable along your journey as an entrepreneur. Rather than trying to avoid them, accept the fact that you will make mistakes and be open to learning from them. (20:33)
You won’t know if you’re good at something until you try, so just go for it! (21:40)
If you want to continuously improve as an entrepreneur, always ask for feedback from the people around you who you trust. That way, you can learn what areas you need to focus on and improve. (22:50)

Martyna’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“We’re constantly evolving so I need to keep learning all the time. I learn from every situation, every problem that I face, every conversation that I have. For me, everything is a learning opportunity.” (16:59)

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The Art of Storytelling with Tracy MacNeal, Materna Medical Nov 30, 2022

The purpose of Materna Medical is to make pelvic health products more accessible and to demonstrate that “when we invest in women, we all win.” The art of storytelling is one of the tools that Tracy MacNeal and her team use to achieve these goals. Listen to the episode to hear why Tracy prioritizes storytelling, self-care, and community as she works towards leaving the United States medical industry better than she found it.

About Tracy MacNeal:

Tracy MacNeal is a healthcare pioneer with an engineering background and leadership expertise at successful start-ups, mid-size companies, and Fortune 100 corporations. She is currently the President and CEO of Materna Medical, whose primary goal is to bring pelvic health solutions to every woman and healthcare specialist in the United States.

Episode highlights:

Whatever product or service you are selling, ensure that you are telling your story in a way that is relatable to your target market. People don’t want technical details; they want to know what value you bring them. (10:22)
As your company moves through different growth phases, your role as a leader will change. From figuring out the business plan to attracting investors to expanding your reach, always be prepared to evolve as your company does. (21:19)
Prioritize self-care! Get enough sleep, exercise, and set aside time for yourself because if you don’t set boundaries, you won’t be able to operate at your best. The same is true of your team, so openly model self-care behaviors for them as much as possible. (23:00)
Even if we want to believe the opposite, human beings are emotional creatures. Most of us need to feel like we are part of a meaningful story bigger than ourselves to keep us motivated and inspired. You can’t make anyone do anything for long without giving them a purpose. (32:07)
Trying to fit in is exhausting. So, as a leader, focus on creating an environment where a diverse range of people can thrive rather than where one demographic dominates. (36:10)
Community is a vital part of any entrepreneur’s journey. Many CEOs struggle with loneliness, but if you surround yourself with people you can learn from and bounce ideas off of, you will never be lonely! If you’re looking for a group of like-minded people to connect with, join our Deliberate Entrepreneur’s Community! (43:20)

Tracy’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“It’s easy to fall in love with your product and think that it’s your product that matters. And it’s never your product. Your product is not the thing that people are buying. Your product is doing something for somebody that they value.” (10:22)

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The Keys to A Successful Business Exit with Laurie Barkman, SmallDotBig LLC Nov 23, 2022

If you’ve built a successful business, you’ll already know that it requires a lot of time, planning, and effort. But do you know what it takes to conduct a successful business exit? Laurie Barkman joins us this week to explain why you should start thinking about your exit many years before you actually want to leave your business and to provide an overview of the steps you need to take to make the transition as smooth and beneficial as possible.

About Laurie Barkman:
Laurie Barkman (the “business transition sherpa”) is the founder and CEO of SmallDotBig LLC (where she is helping owners maximize the value of their company and guiding them through the complex process of letting it go), Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at Carnegie Mellon University Tepper School of Business, and host of the Succession Stories podcast.

In her book, “The Business Transition Handbook,” Laurie provides a clear and practical guide for business owners considering leaving their ventures. With real-life stories, tools, and exercises, this invaluable resource prepares owners to successfully navigate the emotional and practical aspects of the transition process. Her actionable insights empower readers to exit on their terms, avoiding succession regrets and ensuring a smooth and valuable transition of their businesses.

Browse our curated collection of Business Books for more enriching reads.

Episode highlights:

Just like building a business, exiting a business takes a lot of planning and a lot of teamwork. Letting go is a process, and you want to start evaluating and maximizing value while time is still on your side. A lot of businesses never get sold; they just close down. So plan ahead to ensure that doesn’t happen to yours! (05:55)
Before exiting, it’s important to create a vision of what your life is going to look like afterward so that you don’t lose your identity when you sell your business. (31:08)
If you want your business to be transferable, make sure you have a documented process of how your business works so that people other than you can do what you do. (42:08)
Be patient with yourself! Being a business owner means there’s always something more to do, but be easy on yourself; you don’t always have to be in control. (46:53)

Laurie’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“Being a planner, being proactive, is a good thing. If we’re always running our business looking in the rearview, how are we able to move forward?” (11:46)

Resources Mentioned:

The Business Transition Handbook

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The Great Decentralization with Eleanor Beaton, SafiMedia Nov 16, 2022

In this episode, Eleanor Beaton explains the benefits of decentralizing your business and how to do it successfully, why entrepreneurs need to focus on improving their leadership abilities, and the importance of understanding that you are not your business!

About Eleanor Beaton:

Eleanor Beaton is the founder and CEO of SafiMedia, an education and coaching company for women entrepreneurs. Eleanor has been recognized nationally and globally for her work as a women’s leadership expert, business coach, and writer. Foundational to the work that Eleanor does is her belief that small, women-owned businesses have the power to bridge the gap between economic growth and sustainability.

Episode highlights:

If you want to grow your business, there will come a time when you will need to learn to let go of total control. At this point, you will need to decentralize and focus on the areas where you can have the greatest impact. To decentralize successfully, you must ensure that you have equipped a team of people to replace you. (04:20)
Despite what it might feel like sometimes, you are not your business! When you become too entwined with your organization, you leave no room for your team members to bring their own sense of genius to the table. (12:18)
“Economic growth has been linked to a lack of sustainability, and we believe that small (women-owned) businesses are a powerful microcosm to prove that you can have both.” Your small business is making a more significant impact than you think; don’t give up on your dreams! (19:58)
As an entrepreneur, you need to be both a visionary and a good leader. Research has shown that only one in 10 managers are well-equipped for their positions. Learn how to be a more effective manager, and you will see a major difference in your business. (22:52)
Don’t ignore any parts of yourself. The person that you are today is an amalgamation of all the people that you have been along your journey to get here. When you accept yourself wholly as you are, you will enhance your ability to be a great leader. (32:26)
Don’t create limits for yourself. Set goals that are open and inviting, and you’ll be able to achieve so much more. (42:41)

Eleanor’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“Who we are [as entrepreneurs] is very much embedded with the business itself, and when that is fused so tightly, there’s no room for others to truly bring these gifts independently.” (12:30)

Mentioned in this Episode:

Hiro Boga

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Do “Impossible” Things to Scale Your Passions with Mike Smith, Rabble Mill Nov 09, 2022

When Mike Smith puts his mind to solving a problem, nothing can get in his way! To turn Rabble Mill into the youth-focused, life-changing organization that it is today, Mike had to do some seemingly impossible things. In this episode, he shares the story of his journey of “proudly serving the misfits.”

About Mike Smith:

Mike is on a mission to end generational poverty one young person at a time through motivational speaking, consulting, his career education platform (Find Your Grind, and his non-profit organization, Rabble Mill. He works with young people from all walks of life, encouraging them to pursue their passions and live out their dreams.

Episode highlights:

Being an entrepreneur requires making sacrifices; there is no such thing as overnight success. If you really believe in your mission, you may have to give up certain things, but the feeling of fulfillment that you get from achieving your goals will be worth it. (15:30)
When you find a problem that you want to solve, work incrementally towards your big-picture goals. (22:40)
Don’t say yes to things that don’t align with your purpose. When you understand what drives you, you will be a much more effective entrepreneur. (33:03)
You will go through many different stages during your entrepreneurial journey. Embrace seasons of growth as openly as your embrace seasons of reflecting. Slowing down is sometimes the key to speeding up in the long term. (37:02)
KPIs aren’t the only way to measure success; Mike prefers to use Significant Moments of Impact (SMIs). Figure out what strategy works best for you in terms of what you are trying to achieve. (48:37)

Mike’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“Find a problem you are really excited to solve for the rest of your life. Once you solve that problem, find another variation or go duplicate that solution.” (22:40)

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Fighting for Gender Diversity in Tech with Dora Palfi, imagiLabs Nov 02, 2022

A lack of diversity within a company has negative implications for the business and for society as a whole. Through imagiLabs, Dora Palfi is fighting for gender diversity in tech by sparking girls’ interest in coding from a young age. In this episode, she shares the great strides they have already taken in this regard, how she stays motivated and happy, and her approach to improving her entrepreneurial abilities.

About Dora Palfi:

Dora is an impact entrepreneur through and through and believes that technology is our most powerful tool to shape the future. She has years of experience teaching programming to children and teenagers, as well as advocating for women in technology, and she is a yoga teacher. Dora received recognition in 2020 as a Cartier Women's Initiative Fellow, was named on Forbes 30 Under 30 list for 2021, and was awarded Women in Tech Advocate of the Year for 2021.

Episode highlights:

Surround yourself with people who can hold you accountable and keep you on track. This support system will enhance your entrepreneurial abilities, helping you sustain a thriving business. (17:46)
Entrepreneurship is a long-term commitment. To stay motivated in a sustainable way, find something that can keep you mentally healthy and balanced. For Dora, it is practicing yoga. (18:52)
Different population groups will have different responses to marketing strategies. Think carefully about the way you communicate your product or service because it matters. (24:55)
A lack of diversity results in the creation of products and services that don’t serve everyone as well as they could. Whatever field you choose to found a business in, don’t underestimate the importance of cultivating a diverse team. (29:40)

Dora’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“The lack of diversity that we currently have in the tech industry is leading to products that don’t serve all of us as well as they could.” (29:40)

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Enhancing Employee Empowerment with Ray Kimble, Kuma LLC Oct 26, 2022

The working world is a different place compared to 50, 10, or even five years ago, and a business’s success hinges on its ability to adapt to this new environment. For Ray Kimble, adaptation has meant enhancing employee empowerment within his company, Kuma LLC, and during this episode, he explains why this approach has been so beneficial!

About Ray Kimble:

Ray is passionate about leading teams and rethinking how services and organizations can thrive in the 21st century. He is committed to revolutionizing the privacy and security consulting industry by creating a company culture where diversity, innovation, and efficiency drive customized cyber solutions. Additionally, Ray is passionate about reducing the access gap for individuals of all backgrounds seeking careers in STEM fields.

Episode highlights:

Leaders need to be able to adapt to change to ensure their companies stay relevant. Some of the major changes that have taken place in the working world in recent years include the ability to tap into data in real-time, technological advancements, and the rise of distributed workforces. (06:52)
Different ways of thinking help to create better products and services. Because location is no longer an exclusionary factor for many jobs, the talent pool is much wider. Use this opportunity to increase diversity within your organization! (12:29)
By trusting your team to make their own decisions about where and when they want to work, you are allowing them to tap into the best versions of themselves, which will do wonders for your business! (16:24)
To be a good leader, focus on continuous growth in a personal and professional capacity. There are always more books and more people to learn from and be inspired by. (26:00)

Ray’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“You can now bring in all sorts of people to your business; different ways of thinking, different socioeconomic backgrounds, different cultures. You have the ability to tap into that and bring that knowledge to help create better products and services.” (10:21)

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From Big Mistakes to Big Success with Reg Zeller, CaneKast Oct 19, 2022

You can’t get away from big mistakes in business, but what you can do is turn those mistakes into big success! In this week’s episode, Reg Zeller (the founder of the holding company CaneKast) talks about the importance of learning to roll with the punches and look at your mistakes (and the mistakes of your team members) as opportunities for learning.

About Reg Zeller:

After climbing the corporate ladder for many years (and experiencing a lot of stress and unhappiness as a result), Reg Zeller took the leap and became an entrepreneur. Five years after buying his first foundry, he has done six acquisitions and is on track to do another 15 to 20 over the next five years and to settle out at $100 million in sales!

Episode Highlights:

Make sure your business is sustainable in the long term by putting the right people in place. You won’t be around forever, but if you build a strong team, your business could be! (11:55)
It’s inevitable that you will make mistakes along your journey, and if you give your team members autonomy (which you should), then they will too. The way to move forward is to treat all mistakes as learning opportunities. (14:56)
To be a successful entrepreneur, learn to roll with the punches! No entrepreneurial journey is going to be smooth all the time, and you have to be willing to take the hard times in your stride. (18:32)
Take the time to check out from your business and clear your head as often as you can. This will allow you to respond to issues more objectively and effectively. (37:04)

Reg’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“You have to learn to be okay with getting punched in the face and then turning around the next day and smiling and coming back the next day.” (34:16)

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Surround Yourself with Winners with Kevin Lee, eMarketing Association Oct 12, 2022

Kevin Lee credits much of his success in the for-profit and non-profit marketing world to the people in his life, so one of his key pieces of entrepreneurial advice is to surround yourself with winners! During this episode, we also get into the importance of making your plans flexible and why “unsexy” areas are sometimes more fun to pursue than “shiny objects!”

About Kevin Lee:

Kevin describes himself as an “inventor and marketing-mad scientist.” He is the founder of GivingForward.org (a cause marketing nonprofit), Co-Founder of Didit (a marketing/tech firm), and CEO of the eMarketing Association (a digital marketing education platform). His innovative work in the for-profit and non-profit spaces has earned him worldwide recognition, and he is frequently quoted by high-end publications.

Episode highlights:

Surround yourself with a team of people who you trust, who you can bounce ideas off of, and who will hold down the fort so you can take a well-deserved vacation every now and then! (05:02)
Don’t underestimate the importance of Human Resources and the recruiting process. People can either make or break a business, so being able to “pick out the winners” is essential to success (that’s where the HR expertise comes into play!) (07:02)
No matter how far along you are on your entrepreneurial journey, there is always room for growth! Continually seek out opportunities and business relationships that you can learn from. (10:18)
If you want to do good as an entrepreneur, you may want to get into cause marketing. When done well, businesses, consumers, and non-profits will benefit from this marketing approach. (23:33)
You can’t plan for every eventuality, and you don’t know when you’re going to have your next epiphany, so always be open to receiving whatever comes your way and pivoting as need be. (32:56)
Shiny objects may look like good opportunities, but if everyone is chasing the same thing, they may end up not being worth your while. Don’t underestimate the “unsexy” marketing areas (direct mail, for example); they can be the most fun to innovate within! (35:44)

Kevin’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“Entrepreneurship is the ability to choose where to point your mental energies and where to deploy them.” (05:41)

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Experience Entrepreneurial Growth Outside of Your Comfort Zone with Dru Riley, Trends.vc Oct 05, 2022

As with most things in life, the best way to experience entrepreneurial growth is outside of your comfort zone! In this episode, Dru Riley shares what life as an entrepreneur can look like when you are willing to take risks.

About Dru Riley:

Dru has been involved in more than 100 different projects throughout his time as an entrepreneur! Trends.vc, his newsletter with over 35000 subscribers, is his most successful venture to date. His lifelong goal is to engage in one million “comfort challenges” in which he extends himself way beyond his comfort zone.

For entrepreneurs seeking invaluable insights and actionable information on the most critical trends, Dru's "The Essentials" is an absolute must-read. Offering 1,000+ actionable insights, this report is a treasure trove of knowledge that empowers individuals to stay ahead of the curve and capitalize on emerging opportunities.

Seize the chance to supercharge your business growth and success with an exclusive limited-time offer: Get “The Essentials 10 Must-Read Reports” now at 50% off!

Episode highlights:

Sometimes when we get too close to something, we can’t see how to fix it. One of the benefits of attending Mastermind groups or joining entrepreneur communities is that listening to other people’s experiences can help you gain a broader perspective on your own struggles and therefore figure out how to solve them. (04:47)
Don’t be afraid to overcommunicate. Even if some people find it tiring, rather express yourself in multiple ways to ensure you have been understood than risk the opposite. (14:04)
Don’t ignore your health. Entrepreneurs tend to put their needs second when building a business, but your well-being should be non-negotiable. (18:07)
If you’re too comfortable, you’re doing something wrong! Growth happens outside of our comfort zones. Set “comfort challenges” to stretch yourself, and you’ll soon see the benefits. (25:38)
Setting goals is one of the most effective ways to stay on track as an entrepreneur. Set daily, weekly, and monthly goals and regularly reflect on them so that you can continuously improve. (29:38)

Dru’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“When you change your environment on a regular basis, you end up changing your thinking.” (29:56)

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Leverage Your Network for Lasting Business Growth with Neel Parekh, MadeThis Sep 28, 2022

Leverage your network, focus on small steps, and reflect regularly; this is what Neel Parekh sees as the keys to business growth. In this episode, he shares how he has learned not to compare his journey to anybody else’s and what his commitment to continuous learning looks like in action.

About Neel Parekh:

Neel is the founder and CEO of MadeThis, the world’s first and only Airbnb cleaning franchise. Driven by his desire for location freedom, what began as a side hustle is now a thriving business that has generated millions of dollars in revenue. Through the MadeThis Franchise, he helps other entrepreneurs achieve whatever kind of freedom they desire.

Episode highlights:

In the beginning, you may be able to do everything yourself, but there will come a time when you need to shift from doer to manager, and when that happens, you need to make sure you have a solid team. The key to finding the right people is to leverage your network! (01:06)
The best way to progress is in small, steady steps. Develop an abundance mindset and don’t be afraid of failure; test things out, and if they don’t work, try something else! (03:14)
Your entrepreneurial journey is unique; everyone has different goals, motivations, and methods. Don’t compare your story to anyone else’s; you are in your own race! (17:56)
Remember to regularly check in with yourself about whether your actions align with your goals. It’s easy to get caught up in the process, but try to be as mindful of your actions as possible. (20:44)
Your entrepreneurial journey is lifelong, and as you and your business grow and change, there will be new challenges to face and different skills to improve upon. Commit to continuous learning, and you are far more likely to succeed. (37:40)

Neel’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“I’m running my own race, and I have my own goals. There’s no point in comparing people because everyone has different motivations.” (18:18)

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Why You Need A Business Coach to Get Unstuck with Jon Dwoskin, The Jon Dwoskin Experience Sep 21, 2022

Jon Dwoskin has been on the giving and receiving end of many kinds of mentorship, so he is well versed in the reasons why you need a business coach to get unstuck! In this episode, Jon shares why vulnerability is as much of a superpower for entrepreneurs as trusting your intuition is!

About Jon Dwoskin:

Jon Dwoskin is a sought-after coach, mentor, and speaker, committed to assisting C-level executives, managers, salespeople, and professionals from all walks of life. His expertise lies in helping individuals deal with overwhelm, optimize time management, enhance communication skills, and gain deeper insights into human behavior. With an ambitious mission to impact one billion entrepreneurs, Jon is dedicated to empowering others to reach their full potential.

In his transformative book, “The Think Big Movement: Grow your business big. Very Big!“, Jon shares invaluable insights on business growth. Focusing on mindset, overcoming obstacles, and cultivating consistency, this resource becomes a guiding force for readers, encouraging them to shift their paradigm and achieve remarkable growth and success in their businesses.

For a comprehensive book review, check out this page.

Episode highlights:

Be vulnerable enough to ask for guidance, and trust yourself enough to follow your intuition. By surrounding yourself with trustworthy mentors, you are opening yourself up to the gift of constructive feedback. (06:09)
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that because somebody is good at their job, they will be a good manager. People need to be trained to be managers, and if you are managing people (or hiring managers), you need to ensure that you (or they) can help people grow to reach their highest potential. (17:43)
Asking questions is not a downfall. No matter how far along you are on your entrepreneurial journey, you aren’t expected to know it all. Nobody knows everything; we all need an outsider’s perspective every now and then. (19:15)
Approachable, accessible, and kind; are the three words that underpin Jon’s journey to reaching his goal of helping one billion entrepreneurs! (20:41)
If you struggle with time management, you are not alone. The good news is that it is a skill that can be improved, and Jon’s time management training course could save you an hour or two every day! (27:05)

Jon’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“Be open for feedback but still trust your gut.” (07:52)

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Investing for Good with Justin Cochrane, Carbon Streaming Sep 14, 2022

Carbon credits are one of the innovative potential solutions to the climate crisis. Justin Cochrane’s goal is to turn his company, Carbon Streaming, into the world’s largest investor of carbon credits. In this episode, we discuss the process of investing for good, the transitions that Justin has been through on his entrepreneurial journey, and why the people he has surrounded himself with have been integral to the success he has achieved so far!

About Justin Cochrane:

Justin Cochrane has over twenty years of financing and investment experience. He took the learning he acquired from the mining and energy space and is now fully focused on using investments to fight climate change through his ESG-principled company, Carbon Streaming, which provides investors with a way to invest in a low-carbon future.

Episode highlights:

Being a founder and being a CEO are two very different roles that require very different skill sets, and each comes with its own set of challenges. Don’t assume that because you can do one, you will automatically be able to do the other. (00:37)
Managing all the elements that make up a business is an almost impossible ask for one person (unless you are willing to be permanently burnt out) so building a team around you for support is essential. (02:19)
One of the best ways to find quality people who share your vision is through people you trust. Lean on your mentors and advisors; they can help you find the people who will help your company thrive. (06:35)
As you add more people to your team, your capabilities are enhanced. Allow your vision to evolve as your company grows. Justin’s initial vision was to create a public company in the carbon capture space; now, he wants Carbon Streaming to become the world’s largest investor of carbon credits! (12:11)
The voluntary carbon industry comprises a diverse range of projects (e.g. carbon capture projects, reforestation projects, and energy projects), and the fight against climate change requires 9 trillion dollars of annual investment. If you are passionate about altering our current climate crisis trajectory, there are so many opportunities at your fingertips. (15:43)
For Justin, success means knowing that he has created a business that is sustainable in the long term, even when he is no longer at the helm. (33:17)

Justin’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“The mission evolves as the capability of the team evolves.” (14:02)

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Overcoming Your Financial Fears with Melissa Houston, The Fractional CFO Agency Sep 07, 2022

Although accounting may not seem like the most exciting part of running a business, if you properly understand your finances and take the time to put a financial plan in place, you will be doing yourself an enormous favor. Tune in today to hear Melissa Houston’s take on the importance of overcoming your financial fears and taking control of your finances as an entrepreneur!

About Melissa Houston:

As the founder of The Fractional CFO Agency, Melissa’s ultimate goal is to help business owners understand their businesses’ financial side so they can create more profit and live financially secure lives. She is also the host of the She Means Profit podcast and a columnist for large publications, including Forbes.

Melissa Houston empowers entrepreneurs with her book, “Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Creating a Profitable Business.” This book offers a clear, step-by-step framework and practical insights on money management, equipping readers with the knowledge and tools they need to become financially savvy and achieve business success.

For a comprehensive book review, check out this page.

Episode highlights:

Most people don’t think of accounting as something that is going to generate revenue, but 82% of businesses fail due to financial mismanagement. To ensure that you don’t become part of this statistic, optimize profit as early as possible by putting sustainable financial management systems in place. (04:53)
Fear and overwhelm are common emotions that people experience when it comes to looking at their finances. But when you take the emotion out of it, you will unlock the ability to use your money as a tool to your advantage. Your financial information should never be a source of shame. It is just data; treat it as such. (12:20)
As a business leader, every decision you make has consequences for your bottom line. Knowing your numbers will increase your confidence and ability to make decisions that positively impact your company. (15:10)
If you want to succeed as an entrepreneur, get clients in the door! There’s no secret to it and no tricks that will get you there faster. Overnight success is a myth; it takes hard work to achieve big goals (15:46)
“Finance is the backbone of a business.” You’ll be lost if you don’t understand how your business works from a financial standpoint. Success lies in understanding the numbers, so it’s time to get learning! (20:06)

Melissa’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“If you take the emotion out of [your financial information] and you look at it as data, it becomes less fearsome, and you can use the data to your advantage.” (14:20)

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Democratizing Entrepreneurship Through Community Building with Jason Wong, Doe Beauty Aug 31, 2022

Through his 8 years of entrepreneurial experience, Jason Wong has come to realize that community building is one of the key drivers of the success of a business. Democratizing your approach to entrepreneurship helps your business stand out from the competition, ensures that your customers stay invested in your product, and allows you to give people what they really want.

About Jason Wong:

Jason has been an entrepreneur since the age of 16, and over the past 8 years, he has built a portfolio of 7-figure and 8-figure eCommerce brands in beauty, food and beverages, home decor, and apparel! Some of these include Doe Beauty, Wonghaus Ventures, and Saucehaus.

Episode highlights:

Rather than building a business for your customers, build it with them. Democratizing your approach to entrepreneurship will allow you to really tune into what your customers want so that you can give it to them. This will help you stand out from your competition even in a very saturated market! (01:43)
Nobody enjoys getting bad reviews, but here’s a fresh perspective on them: the people who take the time to give you a low ranking are the ones who really care about your company because they want you to do better! Take all negative comments as constructive criticism! (5:53)
Creating a community makes people more invested in your business because they are incentivized by the fact that they are building a better product for themselves. Enhance the sustainability of your community by providing things like early access, discount codes, or programs where members can earn money for promoting your products. (07:12)
Consistency is the key to being a successful entrepreneur. Every now and again you’ll hear about an entrepreneur who rises up and makes millions overnight, but they’re likely to fall just as quickly. Entrepreneurship is a long game, and if you play it right it can be incredibly rewarding in more than just the financial sense. (23:44)

Jason’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“The people that actually join your Discord group, just like the people who give you one-star reviews, are the people who really give a crap about your company.” (05:53)

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Fostering Autonomy for Business Growth with Matteo Cervelli, Urania Aug 24, 2022

Matteo’s “People Gardening” concept is about fostering autonomy through creating fertile business environments that are driven by purpose. During this episode, he explains the importance of focusing on company culture, why the best advice he has ever been given is to “be the dumbest in the room,” and the benefits of focusing on incremental improvements.

About Matteo Cervelli:

Matteo Cervelli is the third generation CEO in Urania Group, a $60M B2B manufacturer of components for the modular construction industry. He initially avoided entering his family’s business because of how it limited the time his family spent together. However, after graduating as an industrial engineer, he changed his mind. He is passionate about helping his teammates become the best versions of themselves.

Episode highlights:

Invest time in developing a company culture that allows people to become the best versions of themselves. This will greatly enhance the efficiency and productivity of your business. (11:52)
As your company grows, there is huge value in being able to create a resonant system in order to enhance cohesion, reduce friction, and achieve success. (23:11)
“Be the dumbest in the room.” Always be open to listening to and learning from other people. Your network will be one of the most powerful tools on your entrepreneurial journey. (26:55)
Don’t try and solve all the problems in the world; there are too many, and you’ll end up not achieving anything substantial. Instead, focus on doing small experiments and trying to improve by 1% every day. (28:13)
Autonomy enables productivity and scalability. As a leader, it is your job to foster autonomy so that your employees are able to operate at their best, and subsequently help your business operate most effectively. (36:54)

Matteo’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“Test your ideas faster with small experiments.” (29:38) Don’t try to solve all the world’s problems at once. Choose wisely where you focus your efforts and don’t be afraid of iterating.

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Maximizing Marketing Power to Create a Thriving Business with Tyson Koska, OnTrajectory Aug 17, 2022

Finance and fun are two words that don’t often find themselves in the same sentence. But Tyson Koska is on a mission to change that through maximizing marketing power, networking, and making his business stand out from the competition. Tune in to hear the valuable insights that he has gained through the founding of OnTrajectory, a personal finance startup.

About Tyson Koska:

Tyson Koska is a software engineer by training and entrepreneur at heart. He knows firsthand the struggles of being in debt and wants to bring financial peace of mind to as many people as possible by providing the world with an easy, accurate approach to financial modeling that doesn’t require a financial advisor.

Episode highlights:

There comes a time on most entrepreneurs’ journeys where the best thing you can do for your business is to make yourself replaceable. As your business grows, you can’t be everywhere at once so you need to learn to let go of certain elements and empower other people to make important decisions. “Work on your business, rather than in your business.” (01:34)
Strong relationships are foundational to every successful business. Network, talk to people, host a podcast; do whatever you can to form connections with as many people as possible. (03:42)
Being a startup in the competitive world of personal finance is an expensive, challenging endeavor. To succeed, you have to stand out. OnTrajectory stands out because they are bringing a fun element to a characteristically un-fun industry. Put effort into thinking about how to make your business unique. (04:40)
Learn from your current and/or potential customers. You don’t have to come up with every new idea yourself. Let your community guide you to a degree by encouraging their feedback and suggestions (and then take action on them!). (17:05)
Just because you build a great product, doesn’t mean you’ll have a successful business. Don’t underestimate the importance of marketing. If it’s not your forte, hire someone to do it for you. Don't keep adding features until you know your audience! (30:09)

Tyson’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“The relationships that you make are absolutely foundational and key to any successful business.” (4:03) Form connections with as many people as possible on your entrepreneurial journey, you never know what opportunities may present themselves as a result.

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Gain Traction Through Business Mistakes with Roman Beylin, DueDilio Aug 10, 2022

Strategy, at its heart, is about choices. In this episode, Roman Beylin explains trying and failing is the quickest way to gain traction in your business. Rather than overanalyzing your ideas, put them out into the world, allow yourself the space for continuous iteration, and learn on the go!

About Roman Beylin:

Roman Beylin is the founder of DueDilio, an M&A digital marketplace, and the publisher of The Business Inquirer newsletter. The idea for DueDilio arose out of a desire to solve the pain points he experienced when buying and selling companies, and the newsletter is his creative outlet.

Episode highlights:

Just go for it! Making mistakes is the quickest way to learn. Rather than overanalyzing your ideas, bring them to life, get feedback, and iterate as many times as you need to. (15:18)
Get comfortable sharing your ideas through newsletters and platforms like Twitter. This will help you to form valuable connections and get feedback on your ideas. It may be uncomfortable at first, but the more you do it the easier it gets. (21:42)
Creating a product without engaging with customers is a common first-time entrepreneur mistake. In the early stages of your business, focus on market-fit and customer sales first, and building and refinement of the product later. (22:17)
For Roman, success is all about lifestyle: being able to wake up and feel excited about what he’s going to be doing that day, and helping other people through that. (26:08)

Roman’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“I think you have to fail a little bit in order to push forward.” (02:53) We learn our biggest lessons through the mistakes that we make.

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Building More Inclusive Business Systems with Hana Mohan, Magic Bell Aug 03, 2022

Creating fair, just, inclusive business systems is Hana Mohan’s ultimate goal, but she is as pragmatic as she is idealistic. In today’s episode, Hana speaks openly about how her transgender identity has shaped her journey as an entrepreneur, why she doesn’t believe in a product-led approach, and the importance of focus and continuous learning.

She also shares her thoughts on bootstrapping versus capital raising approaches (both of which she has done herself). As Hana knows from personal and business experience, growth can be very painful in the moment but it is worth it in the long term.

About Hana Mohan:

Hana Mohan is the CEO & Co-founder of MagicBell, a plug-and-play notifications inbox aimed at app developers. Prior to this, she founded two other startups: SupportBee and Muziboo. Hana was the first openly transgender woman to go through Y Combinator and she has written extensively on transgender issues and entrepreneurship, covering topics like cis-passing, gender dysphoria, and HRT (hormone replacement therapy).

Episode highlights:

Don’t just assume that if you have a good product, you will do well. Success comes through focus, so focus on what is important to you and what will take your business forward. (4:04)
Experience can make people cynical. That’s why there is so much value in maintaining a “beginner’s mind.” Read, listen to podcasts, and spend time with people who you can constantly learn from. (05:14)
Raising money (as opposed to bootstrapping, which also has its benefits) allows entrepreneurs to expand their horizons. Through the capital raising process, you can gain a better understanding of money, and the more money you have, the more you can achieve. Sell your vision! (11:30)
There is so much money and so little churn up-market which means it is important to have a dedicated sales team and focus on up-market sales, rather than adopting a product-led approach. (19:56)
You can’t fight every battle. Dream big but also be pragmatic about what it takes to be successful. (26:40)

Hana’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“You achieve what you focus on.” (04:04) Don’t assume that just because you have a good product or service, people will buy it. Success comes through being intentional about what you do with your time and energy.

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The Do’s and Don'ts of Acquisition Entrepreneurship with Elliott Holland, Guardian Due Diligence Jul 27, 2022

If you’re interested in acquisition entrepreneurship, this episode with Elliott Holland will help you understand what it takes to be successful in this space. He explains how to differentiate between genuine red flags and workable problems, why trusting your gut is not the right approach to making decisions about buying a business, and the importance of having a “walk away” list.

About Elliott Holland:

Elliott Holland, “reformed engineer” and the founder and Managing Director of Guardian Due Diligence, is an expert in small and medium-sized business acquisitions. He has over ten years of experience executing middle-market deals, and his company is filling the void of options that exist for smaller acquisitions.

Episode highlights:

When considering an acquisition, it’s essential to understand when something is a real red flag (and the deal should be avoided) or just a potential red flag that is worth trying to work through. Being too risk-averse or too gung-ho can cause you to end up accepting a bad deal or losing a good one. (17:51)
Don’t trust your gut! Yes, you read that right. Trusting your instincts is a dangerous game for an acquisition entrepreneur because deals can look much sweeter than they really are if you’re feeling dissatisfied (which is often the case for people looking to buy a new business). Instead, focus on the data; “if the numbers don’t jive, you should run.” (20:54)
If you want to buy a business, make sure you decide upfront on the point at which you will walk away from a deal (i.e., your “line in the sand”). Otherwise, you leave yourself vulnerable to entering into deals that will not serve you. (26:34)
The only way to get clients is through marketing, so it’s important to be laser-sharp when defining your ideal client and to be discerning about whose feedback you are listening to. (37:29)
There are countless definitions of success. Be very specific about what success means to YOU so that you don’t judge your progress based on someone else’s definition. (42:28)

Elliott’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“Be very specific about what you call success and how you define it so that you can actually hit it and you don’t get confused by the “universal” definitions of success and grade yourself on somebody else’s ruler.” (42:31). Success is unique to each individual; build the life you want, not the life of someone else’s dreams.

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The Realities of Scaling A Small Business with Callum Laing, MBH Corporation PLC Jul 20, 2022

The entrepreneurial landscape is full of challenges for founders and CEOs, particularly those with the intention of scaling a small business. In this week’s episode, Callum Laing explains why entrepreneurs benefit from actively seeking discomfort, having an exit strategy, and accepting that painful moments are part of the journey!

About Callum Laing:

Callum Laing is the co-founder and CEO of MBH Corporation PLC, a publicly listed holding company that allows small business owners to swap their private stock for public stock without losing control of their business. He has been an entrepreneur for more than 20 years, has started and built businesses in multiple countries and industries, and is the author of 3 best-selling books!

Episode highlights:

The scale paradox refers to the struggle that many small businesses face when trying to grow because big businesses prefer giving contracts to other big businesses. This is part of what motivated Callum to found MBH Corporation PLC, a publicly listed holding company wherein small business owners can swap private stock for public stock while retaining control of their business. (03:45)
Come up with an exit plan for your business as soon as possible. Having a long-term goal will keep you focused and will make your business more attractive to investors. (11:40)
Growing a business from a lifestyle business to a performance business is a challenging (potentially painful) transition because of culture clashes, business model adjustments, and systems upgrades. There’s no way to avoid it, just accept that it will happen so it doesn’t come as a shock! (21:06)
You will likely make many mistakes along your journey as an entrepreneur. Keep in mind that often when your biggest fears come true, they aren’t nearly as bad as you imagined they would be. (24:00)
Where you are right now on your entrepreneurial journey is not the end, it’s a stepping stone. So seek discomfort at every stage because this is where the biggest learning happens. (25:38)

Callum’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“All businesses should be thinking about the end game.” (13:35) When you have a clear direction, everything along the journey becomes a lot more manageable.

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A 5-Step Framework for Intentional Growth with Ryan Tansom, Arkona Jul 13, 2022

“If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll end up someplace else.” Ryan Tansom learned the hard way what can happen if you don’t find your “why” or have a clear direction for your business. That’s why he has focused his career on helping you create success on your own terms through his 5-Step Intentional Growth Framework, which we discuss in today’s episode!

About Ryan Tansom:

Ryan is an entrepreneur, speaker, podcast host, and Co-Founder and President of Arkona. Before founding Arkona, he revived his family business and then sold it for 8-figures in 2014. He is passionate about helping business owners create strategies that allow them the freedom to build the business the way they want.

Episode highlights:

There are so many different pieces involved in growing and exiting a business. It’s important to understand all the options that exist so that you can make an informed decision that will fulfill your long-term goals. (09:00)
Success means something different to everyone. Step one on the journey of achieving it is to understand what you really want, and why because if you don’t have a clear direction and motivation, you are likely to get lost along the way. (16:05)
The 5 principles of the Intentional Growth Framework: personal drivers, financial targets, exit options, increase value, and a team of advisors. Understanding each of these principles will help you get the most out of your business. (17:12)
Business partnerships are often fraught with challenges (as Ryan knows from experience) but creating frameworks can help to mitigate them by ensuring that everyone knows where they stand. (30:01)
Entrepreneurship (and life) is a continuous learning journey. Always be open to absorbing more knowledge because the more you know, the better your decision-making capabilities will be. (42:30)
Fun, wealth, impact; working at the intersection of these three factors is what Ryan sees as the recipe for a fulfilled life. (44:45)

Ryan’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“If I’m more clear on what I want long term, and the multidimensional goals, then it’s more clear what I should be doing TODAY to get there .” (05:23) Without direction or intention, it’s easy to get lost in the multiple pieces that make up the entrepreneurial journey.

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Taking Risks to Create Impact with Nik Tsoukales, Realtop Jul 06, 2022

One of the keys to being a good leader is to be comfortable with taking risks. That means being humble enough to get your hands dirty, and being prepared for the long haul. In this week’s episode, Nik Tsoukales explains why this, along with getting into the trenches, delegating, and slowing down your sales cycle are essential to running a successful business!

About Nik Tsoukales:

At the age of 18, Nik began his sales and marketing career as the youngest real estate agent in Boston. Today, Nik is a 3-time INC 5000 winner, the founder of Realtop (one of the fastest-growing digital marketing agencies in North America), and host of the Realtop podcast. He has big dreams for the future, including signing on 100 clients and creating a stronger bridge between the analog and digital worlds.

Episode highlights:

Businesses are multifaceted and if you try and do everything on your own, you and your business will suffer. Letting other people take over some aspects of your business from you will lighten the load, which is essential for preventing burnout and building a sustainable organization. (05:39)
Get involved in everything! To be a good leader, it’s important to connect with your team at every stage of the business. To connect with people you need to understand what they are going through, and to understand what they are going through you need to have experienced what they are experiencing. (05:09)
The sales side of a business is about so much more than encouraging people to buy things. It’s about creating relationships, building trust, and solving pain points. (15:18)
Don’t rush your sales cycles. The longer your sales cycle, the more time you have to build relationships with your customers. This is likely to result in a higher conversion rate because when people trust you, there is a greater chance they will choose to work with you. (25:14)
When we are operating in “scarcity mode” we tend to try to hold onto every penny, but playing it safe isn’t a good strategy for business growth. Being a successful entrepreneur involves taking (big) risks. (28:51)

Nik’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“You end up becoming super disconnected unless you’ve been in the trenches with everybody.” [5:35] Be humble enough to do the dirty work alongside your team; it will pay off.

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Embrace Adversity to Grow as a Leader with Annie Hyman-Pratt, Leading Edge Teams Jun 29, 2022

Anxiety, fear, stress (and other negative emotions) are an unavoidable part of the entrepreneurial journey. It’s how we handle them that matters. Our returning guest, Annie Hyman-Pratt, is an entrepreneur and author with a passion for psychology. During this episode, she explains why we need to embrace adversity to grow as a leader, why we should never make decisions when we are in an emotionally triggered state, and the power that lies in choosing compassion.

About Annie Hyman-Pratt:

After 10x’ing her family business in seven years, Annie is now the CEO of Leading Edge Teams, a business consulting firm that guides companies through every challenge imaginable. Annie believes that the success and sustainability of a business can largely be attributed to the people involved and she has recently released a book on this subject titled The People Part.

Episode highlights:

Entrepreneurship can be a lonely journey. Be sure to surround yourself with people who can support you during the tough times, and share the joys with you during the good times.(05:39)
Learning how to control your emotions is a powerful skill for an entrepreneur because challenging, stressful situations are an inevitable part of the journey. Acknowledging your feelings and speaking about them are two of the most effective ways to manage them. (20:40)
Welcome challenging situations into your life. Growth occurs through adversity. (25:45)
Entrepreneurs know how to get results, but being too fixated on getting quick results will more often than not leave you feeling disappointed. Rather than focusing on the end result, enjoy the journey. (27:00)
Fight, flight, freeze, please; these automatic responses don’t work in business. Business problems can only be solved when we are thinking clearly and not being driven by our emotions. Don’t make decisions when you are feeling triggered. Take a step back, get some perspective, and then act. (30:33)
To release anxiety, embrace compassion. (40:00)

Annie’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“Our ability to grow is based on what challenges we can endure so that we can learn. If we can’t endure it, we don’t have any chance to learn from it.” (25:45) Our comfort zones are dangerous places because they hinder our ability to progress. Learn to appreciate the challenges that you encounter along your entrepreneurial journey.

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Resources Mentioned:

The People Part by Annie Hyman-Pratt

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Scaling Innovation for Future-Oriented Growth with Krish Ramineni, Fireflies Jun 22, 2022

Humans and technology are converging more and more, and the only way to stay relevant in the technology industry today is by continuously scaling innovation. Join us this week for a discussion with Krish Ramineni from Fireflies on why quality is more important than speed when it comes to innovation and why work ethic is more important than talent when it comes to employees.

About Krish Ramineni:

Krish Ramineni is the co-founder and CEO of Fireflies.ai, an AI assistant for note-taking in meetings to help users gain the most valuable insights from their conversations. Krish was featured on the cover of Entrepreneur Magazine: 12 Founders Changing Business 2020 and was named one of Forbes' 30 Under 30.

Episode highlights:

Iterating quickly is valuable in the early days to establish your business as a key industry player. However, as your company grows it becomes more important to focus on the quality and sustainability of execution if you want to continue to thrive. (04:30)
Listen carefully to what your customers say about your product/service. Feedback from users is the most valuable guide for how to innovate going forward. (11:44)
Customers don’t want to change much about how they do things. If you want people to choose your product/service, you need to provide value without asking them to change too much about the way they are currently doing something. (22:00)
Keep this in mind when hiring people: Work ethic, hustle, and drive are more important factors than talent, knowledge, and skill. In an innovative industry, the ability to learn quickly and be adaptable is invaluable; you don’t have to be an expert from day one. (25:00)

Krish’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“The day you stop innovating is the day that I believe the company really stagnates.” (07:05) To keep growing, keep innovating!

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Reducing Business Complexity with Profit Platforms with Rob Braiman, Cogent Analytics Jun 15, 2022

As your business grows, it becomes more and more complex. Rob Braiman has made it his mission to reduce business complexities and help entrepreneurs become the best versions of themselves. In this episode, he shares some examples of how he does this, as well as what it takes to run a thriving business.

About Rob Braiman:

Rob Braiman is a serial entrepreneur. He is currently the CEO of Cogent Analytics, a business management consulting firm that he founded, which is changing the face of consulting. Honor, courage, wisdom, faith, perseverance, and loyalty are foundational to everything that Rob does in his life and in his business.

Written by Rob Braiman, the book “Mission Matters: World’s Leading Entrepreneurs Reveal Their Top Tips To Success,” is a valuable resource for business owners and entrepreneurs. With contributions from 26 top professionals, it offers valuable insights on leadership and provides practical tips for achieving success in the business world.

For a comprehensive book review, check out this page.

Episode highlights:

Every business is built on 4 foundational pillars: business development and marketing, organizational engineering, operational engineering, and measurement. Neglecting even just one pillar will destabilize the entire business so all of them require equal focus. (11:11)
Human behavior is driven more by recognition and having a voice than by financial gain. If you have employees, keep this in mind, because the best-run businesses are those within which everyone has a vested interest. (15:23)
The journey of entrepreneurship is full of challenges, and it is those challenges that empower you and help you to grow as an entrepreneur. Don’t run from them, embrace them. (18:58)
If you are running a business on your own, there will come a point where you will keep doing the same thing and getting the same result. This is the breaking point where you may need an extra set of eyes to point out the faultlines which are preventing you from growing. (19:16)
Profit Engineering explained simply: rather than thinking about profit as a residual thing (i.e. revenue less cost = profit) think in terms of “Revenue less profit = what you can spend.” (23:20)
As you progress along your entrepreneurial journey, the dynamics become more complex. It requires a lot of heart and soul to push through each threshold; success does not happen overnight. (27:45)

Rob’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“The best run businesses are the ones where there is a vested interest from the employees, true leadership, true measurement and operational guidance.” (14:24) As a business owner, it is up to you to ensure that your business is being run in the most effective way possible and these are the areas that require your attention.

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How Changing Perspective Creates New Opportunities with Craig Cecilio, DiversyFund Jun 08, 2022

There is never just one way to do something, and Craig Cecilio has always been someone who thinks differently and who is not afraid of changing his perspective. In today’s episode, he shares how his open-minded approach to learning from others, his daily rituals, and his love of a challenge have allowed him to flourish as an entrepreneur.

About Craig Cecilio:

As the founder and CEO of DiversyFund, Craig’s mission is to disrupt the traditional real estate investment space by providing investors from all socioeconomic backgrounds the chance to build wealth.

Episode highlights:

The life of an entrepreneur is busy, and when you are moving all the time, it can be hard to pause and look back. However, getting that perspective can help you assess if you are still heading in the right direction (whatever that means to you). (01:34)
Everyone has something to teach, and if you are open to meeting new people, you will be able to accumulate a lot of knowledge over time. (04:00)
You don’t have to do things the same way other people do them. If you think differently, see it as a blessing, not a curse.(9:43)
It’s important to understand your strengths so that you can build a team around you who can fill in the gaps and you can focus on what you do best. (19:23)
Choosing three things to focus on every day will make you a more effective entrepreneur because you will be less distracted. There are always lots of things to do, but time blocking will ensure that you have time for all of them. (24:35)

Craig’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“It’s not just about yourself, it’s about how you build a team around your strengths.” (19:33) Being an entrepreneur is not a solo journey. The better you understand yourself, the more equipped you will be to surround yourself with a team of people who complement your skill set.

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Get Your Business Back on Track with John F. Kettley, Sales Masters Guild Jun 01, 2022

It’s easy to get distracted by “shiny objects” along your entrepreneurial journey and veer off course. John F. Kettley is a master at helping entrepreneurs get back on track so they can achieve what they set out to. In this week’s episode, John explains why having a purpose, being comfortable in your own skin, and taking a “helicopter view” are the keys to extraordinary success!

About John F. Kettley:

John Kettley's expertise lies in guiding business owners facing critical decisions at a junction, providing clarity for their path forward. With a career centered around building businesses to sell, he is the founder of the Sales Masters Guild, driven by a mission to inspire, educate, and support entrepreneurs in their business growth journey. John's profound interest in human psychology and understanding "what makes people tick" adds depth to his approach.

In his book, "How to Build a Business that Creates WEALTH," John extends his expertise to empower entrepreneurs with seven crucial components that underpin a thriving business. This indispensable read equips business owners to generate sales, attain financial prosperity, and achieve an exceptional work-life balance, making it invaluable for anyone starting a new venture or seeking transformation for an underperforming business.

For a comprehensive book review, check out this page.

Episode highlights:

The corporate environment and the entrepreneurial environment are very different. If you’ve spent a long time working in corporate settings, it’s important to understand that you will need to shift your mindset and do a lot of unlearning and relearning if you are going to be a successful entrepreneur. (8:49)
If you’re running a business and you constantly have a lot of stuff to do but your business isn’t growing, it would be beneficial to bring in a third party to help give you a “helicopter perspective” (i.e. looking at your business with a broader lens) so that you can get back on course. (11:02)
Sales, service delivery, and financial engineering are the three areas that you need to master as an entrepreneur, and your focus should be equal across all three. If you try to overtrade as you scale, you are likely to fall flat. (15:20)
There is huge value in looking backward in order to move forward. Look at your original business plan and rework it, taking into consideration what you know now that you didn’t know then. (22:08)
If you aren’t passionate about the purpose of your business, you are more likely to veer off-course. It’s vital that you ensure that your company culture and mission resonate with you and your team. (24:13)
Being comfortable in your own skin is one of the keys to extraordinary success. When you know what you want, and are not influenced by external factors, you will go far because the internal drive is a very powerful force! (27:43)

John’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“The mission statement needs to resonate with the business owner, and everyone who is in the business.” (29:00) It’s important that you feel a strong affinity with the purpose of your company because that is what will keep you and your team on track!

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Overcoming the Fear of Failure with Chris Shipferling, Global Wired Advisors May 25, 2022

The journey of an entrepreneur is full of very high highs and very low lows. It requires a lot of sacrifices but it is also very rewarding. As Chris Shipferling shares with us in this episode, it is vital to find ways to overcome your fear of failure and push through the hard times to reach your full potential!

About Chris Shipferling:

Chris’s career began in customer product sales, and he has held sales and digital marketing executive roles at a wide range of companies. Today he is the Managing Partner at Global Wired Advisors, a digital investment bank that focuses on optimizing the business sale process.

Episode highlights:

When you are building something with other people, or have a responsibility to others, they will help you mitigate “shiny object syndrome” which will keep you on track with your goals. (23:26)
It’s important to know what you are good at (and what you are less good at) so that you can plan from day one to replace yourself in certain areas of your business. (24:02)
Keep pushing! You will go through very high highs and very low lows on your journey as an entrepreneur. There’s a big difference between the low 7-figure stage and the low 8-figure stage, and it’s worth it to push through the hard times. (26:16)
If your business model isn’t working, don’t be afraid to pivot. Change isn’t failure. (32:07)
Successful entrepreneurship involves risk. If you are risk-averse, find a mentor who can help you overcome this so that you can reach your full potential. (32:32)

Chris’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“Push through. Push, push, push. Don’t give up. If you’ve got the lows, fight through the lows. Know that where you’ve made it today, at that mid 6 figure to low 7 figure, is dramatically different from a financial perspective than having that mid 7 figures to low 8 figures. ” (31:00) From where you are now, it may be difficult to imagine how you are going to get to where you want to be, but don’t give up!

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Innovative Disruption for a Better World with Nima Sophia Tisdall, Blue Lobster May 18, 2022

When confronted with the unsustainable and unjust model of commercial fishing in Denmark, Nima Tisdall co-founded Blue Lobster to disrupt the industry innovatively while also bringing in a profit. In this episode, Nima shares some key insights from her journey as an impact entrepreneur, including the importance of practicing self-care, understanding your strengths and weaknesses and staying sharply focused on one goal.

About Nima Sophia Tisdall:

Nima is a conscious consumer whose role in the founding of Blue Lobster earned her a place on the Forbes 30 under 30 list. She is also a Global Shaper with the World Economic Forum, was named one of the Top 100 Women in Denmark, and was part of the Obama Foundation as a European Leader.

Episode highlights:

As an impact entrepreneur, Nima combines capitalistic market forces and the values of the non-profit sector. By doing this, she ensures that her business contributes to making the world a better place. (02:21)
Communicating your story so that people can easily connect with it is a vital part of rallying support amongst your target audience. When people understand your mission, they are more likely to stand with you. (07:22)
When you are driven by a greater mission than yourself, rather than by money, you are more likely to push through difficult times. Money can be made anywhere, but the true purpose will keep you anchored. (15:08)
Trying to solve too many problems is a recipe for disaster because it will be too overwhelming, and you will likely not get anything done. Instead, hone in on your main goal and stay focused on achieving that. (18:59)
It is vital to ensure that you practice self-care as an entrepreneur. You will only be able to operate effectively in your workplace if you look after yourself. (24:35)
It is important to understand your own strengths and weaknesses and be open to delegating work to others as a leader. This way, you can focus your energy where it will be most effective, and your team can handle the rest. (29:54)

Nima’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“Find one thing. Find one thing that you can change in the world and focus on that because you can’t change the whole world at once.” (18:58) You probably won't get anywhere if you try and do too much, so stick to your main goal!

Connect with Nima:

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Rebranding Yourself from Founder to CEO with Jamie Lieberman, Hashtag Legal May 11, 2022

When you reach a certain degree of success in your journey as a founder, it’s important that you focus on rebranding yourself as a CEO. This will allow you to take your business to the next level! In this week’s episode, Jamie Lieberman, founder, and CEO of Hashtag Legal, shares what she has learned as one of the few lawyers working in the entrepreneurial space.

About Jamie Lieberman:

Jamie is an accomplished lawyer and an entrepreneur. She founded Hashtag Legal to fill a gap that she noticed in the digital business world. Jamie is driven by her desire to serve her clients in the most meaningful way possible, and she always aims to leave things better than she found them.

Episode highlights:

By really listening to the issues that your customers/clients are experiencing, you will be able to respond in the most impactful way because you will understand exactly what they are experiencing. (06:22)
Hiring the right people and finding a community will help you deal with the loneliness and fear of being an entrepreneur. (11:20)
Building and running a business is a marathon, not a sprint. Don’t rush any part of the process, and ensure that you build strong foundations from a legal, data, analytics, and people perspective. These will set you up for success from the early days, and will help you avoid making mistakes in the future. (13:28)
To take your business Beyond 8 Figures (and be a guest on Beyond 8 Figures), you need to stop thinking of yourself as a founder and start thinking of yourself as a CEO. One of the most valuable things you can do as a CEO is to learn to delegate. (18:58)
Jamie defines success as leaving things better than you found them. We agree with her; your entrepreneurial journey should be about helping others in some way, and this mindset will allow you to be more empathetic towards your clients. (24:18)

Jamie’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“You need to reassess your role as founder, and stop thinking of yourself as someone who has just created something that is happily moving along, to reframe your brand as CEO.” (20:34) Once your business is up and running, it’s important that you step into the role of CEO, which requires you to think and act differently than you did when you were a founder.

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Building a Boundary-Breaking Business with Dominnique Karetsos, The Healthy Pleasure Group May 04, 2022

Breaking boundaries in business takes more than just hard work. It takes courage, support systems, and a lot of resilience. Dominnique Karetsos, CEO of the Healthy Pleasure Group, is driven by her life mission to shape the future of the sexual health and technology industry. This journey has required her to break many boundaries along the way, and in this episode, she talks about the tools that have allowed her to do so successfully.

About Dominnique Karetsos:

Dominnique’s entrepreneurial journey started when she was 13, selling alcohol-free perfume balms. Since then, she has worked in over 30 markets globally, helping start-ups and market leaders improve and increase their sales, marketing, and distribution channels. Today, she is CEO of the only ecosystem dedicated to sexual health and technology!

Episode highlights:

In order to make a meaningful impact (while also making a profit), listening to your consumers should be a foundational value of your company (11:51)
Because of the high level of competition, being scrappy and thinking outside the box are essential for building brand loyalty. Just trying to own a community is not enough. (22:54)
It’s impossible to break boundaries on your own. You will have a higher chance of success if you surround yourself with people with whom you share a mission. (30:24)
Having compassion as an entrepreneur will allow you to better connect with your partners, your employees, and your customers. This will allow you to better handle the challenges that are faced on your journey. (34:05)
Finding joy in the entrepreneurial journey, rather than being fixated on the outcome, will make it easier to deal with inevitable hard times. (36:12)
There is always room to learn and grow. Being able to engage in a process of continuous learning is what Dominnique considers a success.(40:08)

Dominnique’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“Surround yourself with the people that are going to share the vision with you.” (34:46) It takes a team to build a business and change the world!

Connect with Dominnique:

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Customer Centric Brand Building with Kelley Higney, Bug Bite Thing Apr 27, 2022

If you want to grow and improve your business, put your customers first! Kelley Higney, founder, and CEO of Bug Bite Thing, has achieved incredible success through continuously improving her brand by listening and responding to the needs and wants of her customers. If you’re interested in what it takes to build a customer-centric brand, this episode is for you!

About Kelley Higney:

Kelley Higney is a third-generation women entrepreneur who is on a mission to provide as many people as possible with her chemical-free solution to insect bites. Kelley put everything into her business, and it paid off: Bug Bite Thing is Amazon’s best-selling product for insect bite relief, and Kelley is only aiming up!

Episode highlights:

Bug Bite Thing is a customer-oriented business; listening and responding to customer feedback is what Kelley sees as the key to the success that they have achieved. (04:10)
Publicity can come from unexpected sources. For Bug Bite Thing, it came from Shark Tank; the show took them to the next level by raising awareness about the business. (10:15)
Every business is unique and faces different challenges. As a leader, it is so important to be able to think outside the box and pivot when necessary. (12:28)
In order to build a sustainable business, make sure that every element of it is scalable and relevant to your goals, otherwise, you may lose your ability to grow. (14:37)
Being data-driven does not mean you have to be data-heavy. Collecting data should be a selective process, otherwise, you end up using resources unnecessarily. (18:31)

Kelley’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“Being customer-focused has been the driving force of everything for us.” (04:42) Kelley has always put her customers needs and wants at the core of every decision she has made with Bug Bite Thing

Connect with Kelley:

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Outsourcing As A Growth Strategy For SMEs with Max Fisch, Real Estate Project Solution Apr 20, 2022

Recruiting and retaining talent are essential for growth strategy, but they are common pain points for many companies. Today’s guest, Max Fisch, has built a successful business around the art of outsourcing, and in this episode, he shares what his journey as the founder and CEO of Real Estate Project Solutions has looked like to date.

About Max Fisch:

Throughout Max’s real estate career he has worked in mortgage origination, financing, wholesale acquisitions, rehabbing, and investments. Max’s own experience of working with virtual assistants inspired him to found a virtual assistant outsourcing company for the real estate industry. His latest venture, Liberty Business Solutions, will provide the same service to companies in other industries. Max is driven by his desire to have a positive impact on others.

Episode highlights:

Building and sustaining a business is an incremental, deliberate process, and as long as you are continuously moving forward (no matter how slowly), you are on the right track. (13:50)
Max believes that the people who work alongside him in his businesses have been the key to his success. (16:52)
In order to sustain a successful business, don’t rush the hiring process, and don’t be afraid to fire people if they aren’t a good fit. (22:25)
Technology has changed the way we work, and companies should all be taking advantage of the fact that so many people are now working remotely. (29:58)
Success is more than just financial status. It is also about how you feel when you’re working, and how much of an impact you are having on other people. (34:42)

Max’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“Always be improving. I don’t care how much or how little, but always be better than the day before.” (15:29) Building a business is hard work and it may take a lot more time and effort than you were expecting, so celebrate the small wins and always look ahead.

Connect with Max:

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Why Timing Is Key When Building A Brand with Fran Maier, BabyQuip Apr 13, 2022

When it comes to the success (or not) of an entrepreneurial venture, timing is key. In this episode, Fran Maier shares how her understanding of trends, her women-focused perspective, and her attitude towards risk, have allowed her to build multiple thriving businesses over her 25-year career.

About Fran Maier

Fran has been involved in the creation and running of 5 different startups, including the world-renowned Match.com. She is a legendary entrepreneur, and brand builder who has won numerous awards for her work, including AlwaysOn’s “Top 25 Women in Tech to Watch in Silicon Valley,” and Hot Topic’s “100 Most Influential Women in Technology.” BabyQuip, Fran’s latest founding achievement, is a company that provides a platform where other entrepreneurs can rent baby equipment to traveling families.

Episode highlights:

So much of a business’s success depends on timing, which is why it is so important to keep up to date with the trends that are taking place around you and make sure that your business ideas align with those trends. (04:59)
Forming partnerships with other trusted brands is a great way to build the credibility of your business. (15:55)
The entrepreneurial realm has been male-dominated for so long, and bringing in a woman's perspective opens up a whole new world of possibilities. (21:05)
BabyQuip’s appearance on Shark Tank occurred on the eve of the COVID-19 pandemic, but Fran and her team managed to keep afloat by cutting down on marketing spending and branching out in terms of their offerings, and now they are reaping major rewards. (24:05)
Because the millennial generation has a strong desire for travel, is comfortable with renting, and looks for specialization, the current environment is an ideal one for BabyQuip (and other businesses utilizing a similar model) to thrive within. (28:57)
The BabyQuip business model cultivates entrepreneurship because the providers of the baby gear are all running their own small businesses through the platform. (30:24)

Fran’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“Sometimes being ahead of the curve is not always the best thing. Timing is everything.” (07:39)

Connect with Fran:

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Delegating Tasks To Sustain Success with Michelle Penczak, Squared Away Apr 06, 2022

Business owners often find it difficult to delegate tasks because they feel like they have to do everything themselves. Michelle Penczak has a message for you: you don’t! Michelle is the co-founder and CEO of Squared Away, a virtual assistance provider that solely employs military spouses. In this week’s episode of Beyond 8 Figures, she shares what her inspirational journey of building and sustaining a business (alongside long stints of solo parenting while her husband is away on deployment) has looked like!

About Michelle Penczak:

Michelle’s successful career as a virtual assistant, combined with her personal struggles of finding a job because of the frequent relocation that is required of military spouses, inspired her to start her own business. Today, Squared Away employs over 200 military spouses, and Michelle is doing an incredible job of balancing solo parenting (while her husband is away on deployment) and running her ever-growing company!

Episode highlights:

Michelle’s approach to leadership is one that embraces and encourages curiosity and involves her being open about the things that she doesn’t know. (04:19)
By making sure that her team members are working in roles that they love, Michelle has built a sustainable organization. (05:32)
It is so important to pause on your entrepreneurial journey; there is always work to be done, but taking time off and learning to delegate work to other members of your team is essential. (08:43)
The military spouses who make up the staff complement at Squared Away may not have cookie-cutter resumes, but sometimes the ‘perfect fit’ is not who you would expect. (19:35)
Success for Michelle is her ability to balance solo parenting (while her husband is away on deployment) and running a successful business. (21:46)

Michelle’s best advice for entrepreneurs

“Be curious, always.” (04:33)

“Don’t do everything yourself.” (13:02)

Connect with Michelle

Twitter

Website

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Website

Continuously Adapting To Enable Transformation with Maha Achour, Metawave Corporation Mar 30, 2022

To thrive as an entrepreneur in the competitive, ever-changing world we live in, being adaptable is key! Maha Achour, founder and CEO of Metawave, shares how her clear vision, approach to failure, and systems that she put in place early on have been invaluable on her journey as an entrepreneur who is transforming the mobility sector through disruptive technology.

About Maha Achour:

Before her current role as CEO of Metawave, Maha Achour completed a Ph.D. in physics and spent many years gaining valuable experience at various technology companies. Her work has earned her a place on the Forbes 50 over 50 Vision List. Maha believes that true disruption comes from transforming core technological infrastructure, and she is currently putting this belief into practice in the mobility sector.

Episode highlights:

Our world is continuously evolving, so entrepreneurs need to be dynamic and adaptable to enable truly disruptive transformations. (04:35)
Analog computing has not been used to its full potential in many sectors, and Maha explains why, at Metawave, they are integrating this mode of operation into their technologies. (07:50)
Maha attributes much of her success to seeing failure in a positive light; failure is how we learn, so rather than becoming demoralized, we should respond proactively so that we can do better the next time. (13:01)
Two types of failure exist in the entrepreneurial realm: one caused entirely by the entrepreneur and the other which comes about because of external factors, and Maha’s advice for dealing with each one. (17:39)
One of the most valuable things you can do as a founder is to put processes in place to help you smoothly transition through potential issues that may arise. (22:23)
Having a clear vision, understanding your competition and how to protect your technology, and building a good core team: are the factors that Maha sees as foundational to success as an entrepreneur. (25:43)
Maha shares some details about the three core values that Metawave is built upon humbleness, honesty, and teamwork. (31:25)

Maha’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“As an entrepreneur, you have to keep a dynamic view of your environment and not be focused on one passion in a solid path that you cannot deviate from. You have to adapt to the opportunities.” (06:02)

Connect with Maha:

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Drive Continuous Business Growth By Building The Right Team with Robert Hurst, Bengeho Mar 23, 2022

Building a successful business is not a job for one person. So a founder’s ability to build a team with complementary skill sets to their own is one of the keys to the success of an entrepreneurial venture! In this episode, Robert Hurst shares some of the key lessons that he and his partner learned while co-creating an award-winning international music corporation.

About Robert Hurst

Robert’s corporate experience, the lessons he learned from his entrepreneurial father, and his ethical and customer-focused approach to business allowed him to reach greater heights as a founder and CEO than he had ever imagined. Now, as an investor, he is focused on helping other entrepreneurs achieve their goals and making a positive impact on the world.

Episode highlights:

Robert’s journey from employee to entrepreneur to investor, and how he is now using the lessons he has learned along the way to help other entrepreneurs thrive on their own journey’s. (03:04)
You can’t do everything yourself! The success of your business depends on the team that you, as a founder, surround yourself with; complementary skill sets are key. (06:02)
The growth trajectory of Robert’s company, Bengeho, and the process that he and his partner, Andrew, went through of bringing on board a private equity company when the business got too big for them to manage alone. (08:49)
Shared values and ethics made Robert’s and Andrew’s business partnership thrive as it did for the 20 years they worked together. (18:14)
When Robert and Andrew interviewed potential hires, they always took note of whether they used the word ‘passion,’ because passion is one of the key factors that can carry a business through difficult times. (22:16)
Financial strain that comes with bootstrapping a business (as Robert and Andrew did with Audio Network), and the deeper understanding of your business that you will gain as a result of going this route as opposed to the venture capital route. (24:19)

Robert’s best advice for entrepreneurs

“It’s never about one individual. It’s about a team of people with complementary skills. If you can assemble a great team of people around you, you become very, very investable.” (04:28)

Connect with Robert:

LinkedIn [Robert Hurst]

Twitter [Robert Hurst]

Website [Bengeho]

Additional Links:

Audio Network

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Using Franchising To Invest In Local Businesses with Kenny Rose, FranShares Mar 16, 2022

When most of us think of franchising, major fast-food chains are the businesses that come to mind first. However, you probably didn’t know that many of your local essential service providers are franchises too! Through his company, FranShares, Kenny Rose is giving you an opportunity to invest in these local businesses and, therefore, in your community. Kenny’s approach to entrepreneurship is based on building solid foundations, continuous learning, fair and ethical treatment of his employees, and not cutting corners.

About the Guest

Kenny Rose watched his dad build a business from the ground up, and the challenges that he and his family went through during the lean times gave him all the grit and determination that he needed to create his own success. Kenny’s career began as a financial advisor at Merrill Lynch, after which he went on to found his own brokerage. Today, Kenny is the founder and CEO of FranShares, which has recently closed its first fund and has a fast-growing waiting list for the next one!

In this episode

The career phase that Kenny feels he is currently in, and what his journey up to this point has looked like. (03:01)
What drew Kenny to the world of franchising and his approach to building relationships early on. (07:48)
Kenny explains what his company, FranShares, does and the benefits of investing with them. (10:04)
The two broad categories of franchisees and their differences. (12:05)
One of the biggest problems in the franchising industry, and Kenny’s plans to combat this. (15:02)
The article which kicked-offed Kenny’s entry into the thought leadership realm. (18:30)
How you can contribute to uplifting your local economy by investing with FranShares. (22:28)
Approaches that Kenny has adopted with regard to the franchise management side of the FranShares fund. (24:50)
The mindset shift will enable franchisees to see greater success. (26:02)
Life experiences which have given Kenny the grit to make a push through difficult times. (28:18)
Recklessness and pessimism; the combination of qualities that Kenny believes are required to take your business to the next level. (31:05)
What success means to Kenny. (34:52)

Highlights

There’s a lot more that goes into building a business than just being an expert in your chosen field. Taking the time to understand the other elements involved is the key to success.
Cultivating an environment that promotes staff retention in the long term, even if it is a higher upfront cost, is a far better growth strategy than cutting costs and losing employees as a result.
By investing in local franchises, you contribute to uplifting your community, and there is minimal risk involved.
Entrepreneurship isn’t an easy journey, but if you have an idea that you genuinely believe will work, don’t let anything or anyone stop you from pursuing it.

Best Advice Kenny Would Give to Someone Who is Transitioning from a 6-7 to 8 Figure Business:

Although it may be tempting to cut costs wherever you can, paying your employees well will be some of the best money you ever spend.

“When you start slashing paychecks, people walk out the door. When you start increasing them, people stick around. From a shortsighted point of view, people focus on saving money by the hour, but I want to make more money by the year, and I do that by having the best staff in place.” (16:19)

Being fearless enough to push your ideas, and keeping your cards close so that you aren’t taken advantage of, will help you reach great heights as an entrepreneur. “You need to be a combination of reckless and pessimistic.” (31:07)

How Kenny Defines Success for Himself (34:52)

“I love building, so success is building what I envision. It’s not a dollar amount, it’s a lifestyle.”

Mentioned in This Episode:

FranShares White Paper: https://franshares.com/passivefranchiseinvestingwp/

Fundrise: https://fundrise.com/

Why it only costs $10k to “Own” a Chick-fil-A franchise: https://thehustle.co/why-it-only-costs-10k-to-own-a-chick-fil-a-franchise/

Connect with Kenny:

Web
- FranShares: https://franshares.com/
- Semfia: http://www.semfia.com/
LinkedIn
- Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennyrose/
- Company:
FranShares: https://www.linkedin.com/company/franshares/
- Semfia: https://www.linkedin.com/company/semfia/
Facebook
- Personal: https://www.facebook.com/kennymrose
- Company:
- FranShares: https://www.facebook.com/FranShares/
- Semfia: https://www.facebook.com/investlocally/
Twitter:
- Company:
- FranShares: https://twitter.com/FranShares (582 Following, 235 Followers)
- Semfia: https://twitter.com/investlocally (776 Following, 39 Followers)
YouTube
- FranShares: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEU3n6svoEkVK_mSsBcrCjw
Instagram
- Personal: https://www.instagram.com/kennyrose28/
  - Company:
- FranShares: https://www.instagram.com/franshares/
- Semfia: https://www.instagram.com/investlocally/

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyond-8-figures/

Solving Difficult Problems With Curiosity with Kushal Nahata, FarEye. Mar 09, 2022

Kushal Nahata had no formal business education and almost no industry experience when he founded his logistics company, FarEye. What he did have though, in abundance, was an unrelenting curiosity, a passion for learning from those around him, and a desire to solve difficult problems to improve people's lives. In today’s episode, Kushal shares what he loves about being an entrepreneur, how he has grown FarEye into what it is today, and what success means to him at this stage of his career.

About the guest

Kushal Nahata is on a mission to democratize delivery systems so that everybody, everywhere, can seamlessly access the goods they want. He has an engineering degree, and his past work experience includes training engineering students and heading up business development and strategic planning. The Software Report has mentioned him in the coveted 40 under 40 list by Business World and The Top 25 Software CEOs of Asia for 2020.

In This Episode:

Why Kushal sees his journey as an entrepreneur as one of his greatest gifts. (02:15)
Where Kushal has learned everything he knows about business. (05:47)
Qualities that have allowed Kushal’s logistics company, FarEye, to grow the way it has. (07:16)
Milestone moments for FarEye. (09:16)
Why you should put your customers’ happiness first. (13:15)
Character traits that Kushal believes have been instrumental in his success, and an example highlights this. (15:00)
How FarEye has evolved over the years. (18:11)
What you should and shouldn’t be focusing on as an entrepreneur building a business. (20:20)
Advice for building a great team. (22:19)
How Kushal’s definition of success has changed as his business has grown. (26:39)
Goals that Kushal has for the future of FarEye. (31:17)

Key Takeaways:

The entrepreneurial journey is a rollercoaster, full of ups and downs, and that is exactly what makes it such a gift. So let go, and enjoy the ride!
Although educational institutions have a lot of value, sometimes the best way to learn is by experience and through understanding the experiences of others.
Don’t let other companies intimidate you just because they are doing things on a bigger scale; as long as you are flexible and adaptable, you can grow as large as you want to.
Keeping your customers happy should be your number one priority, and to do so, you need to look after your team.

Best Advice Kushal Would Give:

Continuously learn from the people around you who have different knowledge and skillsets. “[I learn by] reading people. That’s the school I’ve been in for the last 8 to 10 years, and it’s the school I want to stay in forever. Meet people, learn from them.” (06:01)

How Kushal Defines Success for Himself (29:48)

“Delivering promises to [my team] and making them get wealth from that, that’s something I look at as a great success for myself. The other is from creating a benchmark.”

Connect with Kushal

Web: https://www.getfareye.com/
Product pages:
LinkedIn:
- Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kushalnahata/
- Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fareye/
Facebook:
- Personal: https://web.facebook.com/kushal.nahata
- Company: https://web.facebook.com/GetFarEye/
Twitter:
- Personal: https://twitter.com/kushalnahata
- Company: https://twitter.com/FarEye
YouTube:
- https://www.youtube.com/FarEyeInAction
Instagram:
- Personal: https://www.instagram.com/kushal.nahata/

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyond-8-figures/

Changing Lives Through Purpose-Driven Entrepreneurship with Kara Goldin, Hint Mar 02, 2022

After replacing her insatiable appetite for sugary drinks with an unstoppable passion for health, Kara Goldin founded Hint. It is now an award-winning, multibillion-dollar unsweetened flavored water brand! This self-proclaimed ‘accidental entrepreneur’ joins us on today’s episode to talk about her transformative journey of building a purpose-driven beverage company. Take note, she has no prior experience in the industry. Kara also discusses what keeps her motivated and her ambitious goals for the future of the company.

About Kara Goldin:

Kara Goldin spent many years working in the technology and media industries, including for giants like TIME Magazine, CNN, and AOL. After struggling with health issues due to being a diet soda addict, she decided to create an alternative drink. It was named “Hint”, a drink that is both healthy and delicious. Despite her lack of experience in the food and beverage industry, Kara’s passion for the life-changing capabilities of her product kept her going. She has since been listed as one of Huffington Post’s Six Disruptors in Business, Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs, and Forbes’ 40 Women to Watch Over 40! She is also the host of The Kara Goldin Show.

In her powerful book, “Undaunted,” Kara provides invaluable insights and lessons drawn from real stories and personal experiences. She encourages readers to confront their fears, overcome challenges, and achieve long-term success by breaking down barriers and forging ahead.

For a comprehensive book review, check out this page.

In this episode:

Kara explains why she refers to herself as an ‘accidental entrepreneur,’ and what her career journey has looked like to date. (03:09)
How Kara has built her brand, Hint, from the ground up for the past 16 years. (06:56)
Some of the key factors that Kara believes will lead to a successful entrepreneurial venture. (10:09)
What effective leadership looks like, according to Kara. (13:38)
The purpose that drove Kara to found Hint. (15:44)
Why, as an entrepreneur, it is essential that you fully believe in the mission behind your brand. (22:09)
Kara shares the valuable lesson she learned when interviewing for a job in Silicon Valley. (26:04)
What Kara believes to be her calling in life. (32:00)
Goals that Kara has for the future of Hint. (34:10)

Highlights / Key takeaways:

Your company should be built upon your interests and values.
Always prioritize your health!
Understanding the needs of your team is essential to good leadership.
Combining different types of knowledge and skills can have a hugely positive impact on your business.

Best Advice that Kara would give to someone who is transitioning from a 6-7 to 8-figure business:

Avoid groupthink and be open to engaging with people whose way of thinking differs from your own. “People don’t have to be just like you and have your same experience. When they are coming from a different journey, they may add more value to what you’re doing and help you think differently.” (29:57)

How Kara defines success for herself:

“Being able to make a difference. I don’t think I could just go and be an entrepreneur just for the sake of being an entrepreneur once I’ve seen how you can create products or services that change people’s lives. I think that’s my calling.”

Connect with Kara:

Website:
- Company: https://www.drinkhint.com/
- Personal: https://karagoldin.com/
LinkedIn:
- Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karagoldin/
- Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/drinkhint/
Facebook:
- Personal: https://www.facebook.com/KaraGoldin/
- Company: https://www.facebook.com/hint
Twitter:
- Personal: https://twitter.com/karagoldin
- Company: https://twitter.com/hint
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGdgc3KcalWbLTxommrEgYQ
Instagram:
- Personal: https://www.instagram.com/karagoldin/
- Company: https://www.instagram.com/hint/

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyond-8-figures/

Value Creation with the Future in Mind with Gabe Galvez, Verde Holdings Feb 23, 2022

Long-term value creation lies at the foundation of everything Gabe Galvez does as an entrepreneur and investor. Rather than focusing on deploying capital, he aims to preserve it, with the intention of creating businesses that are sustainable for multiple generations to come.

In today’s episode, we delve into the reasoning behind his strategy, what he sees as the key factors that make an entrepreneurial venture successful, and how we need to change the way we think about success!

About the guest

From the age of 10, Gabe Galvez knew he wanted to be an entrepreneur. So far, he has founded 12 companies (3 of which he sold) and is currently the CEO of CapTarget, Managing Partner at Verde Holdings, Partner at Lambeau Financial, and a board member at Merger Labs and Fluid MSP. Gabe’s skills lie in mergers and acquisitions, business development, and strategy in the private equity and startup spaces, and he is known for his ability to turn big picture thinking into real-world results.

In this episode

Valuable lessons Gabe has learned over the past few years, and how these have improved his entrepreneurial abilities. (01:14)
Comparing capital deployment to capital preservation, and why Gabe focuses on the latter. (08:16)
How Gabe decides where to invest his money. (16:16)
Why, as an investor, you should be asking yourself, “What’s the point?” (22:06)
Gabe explains the problem with putting too much emphasis on selling your company as a money-making strategy. (26:23)
What Gabe sees as one of the fundamental keys to success. (31:38)
Advice for hiring the right people. (33:18)
Environments and cultures that Gabe thinks entrepreneurs should be cultivating within their companies. (39:51)
How people in management positions view their employees and what needs to change. (44:35)
How Gabe defines success in his personal and professional life. (49:21)

Highlights / Key takeaways

Focusing on capital preservation rather than capital deployment is a way to create value in the long term.
On your entrepreneurial journey, the people you surround yourself with are some of your most significant assets, so choose them wisely.
Creating environments wherein team members have autonomy and feel valued is of the utmost importance.
By reframing our definition of success, we can change the world for the better.

Best Advice Gabe would give to someone who is transitioning from a 6-7 to 8 figure business:

“With great people, we can do anything.” (32:54)

People are the cornerstone of business success. Surround yourself with people whose values align with your own, who are passionate and deliberate in their efforts. Those people will help you create the most value.

How Gabe defines success for himself (50:11)

“Being here is the success. Not to minimize the challenges that human existence produces, but being engaged with your community, working toward something, anything, as long as it’s not harmful, I think that’s a success, and I would argue that almost all of us, globally, we need to really start rallying around our successes and our ability to succeed.”

How are you creating long-term value in your business?

Tell us on our social media, and don’t forget to say hello if you would like to share your entrepreneurship story on our podcast.

Mentioned in this episode:

Good to Great by Jim Collins: https://www.amazon.com/Good-Great-Some-Companies-Others/dp/0066620996

Connect with Gabe

Website:
- https://www.captarget.com
- https://www.mergerlabs.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mergerlabs
Twitter:
- CapTarget - @CAPTARGET
- Merger Labs - @MergerLabs
Instagram:
- CapTarget - https://www.instagram.com/captarget/
- Merger Labs - https://www.instagram.com/mergerlabs/
LinkedIn:
- Gabe Galvez - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabe-galvez-5aa9b62
- Merger Labs - https://www.linkedin.com/company/merger-labs/
- CapTarget - https://www.linkedin.com/company/captarget/about/
- Verde Holdings, LLC - https://www.linkedin.com/company/verde-holdings-llc/about/
YouTube: Merger Labs - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQXVYgluMU3mSN5Q43vYrpQ

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyond-8-figures/

Reverse-Engineer Your Entrepreneurial Success with Ramon Van Meer, Alpha Paw. Feb 16, 2022

Start with the exit strategy in mind and work your way back to where you are today - this is how you lay down the path to your entrepreneurial success. In today’s episode of Beyond 8 Figures, Ramon Van Meer joins A.J. Lawrence to talk about his own entrepreneurial journey to success after running multiple outstanding companies that have brought in millions.

Ramon believes it is his duty to help others succeed in the way he did. He made it his mission to help 500 people start their own businesses, so he is here today to share his best advice for the new and experienced entrepreneurs.

About our guest:

Ramon is a serial entrepreneur who has created, grown, and sold many successful businesses like the multi-million dollar Soap Hub and Growth Hacker TV. He is the founder and CEO of Alpha Paw, a pet-focused company that creates products made from sustainable and biodegradable materials that enhance the well-being of pets everywhere. Ramon has an incredibly inspiring story. An immigrant from The Netherlands, he was homeless as a teen. He was a single dad who started with nothing and overcame his past challenges to become an incredibly successful businessman.

On Today’s Episode:

Where Ramon is on his entrepreneurial journey. -2:46
Why Ramon always has an exit strategy in mind for his businesses. -5:18
How Ramon’s business methods allow him the freedom to live his life the way he wants.- 9:35
The events that had the most significant impact on Ramon's success. -10:22
Why failure isn’t always a bad thing. -10:50
Ramon’s approach to authentic networking. -12:45
The difference between starting at the beginning of a business and starting in the middle. -19:50
Maintaining company culture when your business has grown beyond 20 employees. -21:21
The importance of understanding where your skillset is as an entrepreneur. -25:06
How “overnight successes” actually take years. -28:50
How Ramon defines success. -30:00
Why Ramon prioritizes his son over his business success. -33:28

Key Takeaways:

When starting a business, it can be beneficial to think about the outcome you want and reverse engineer from there. This keeps you focused on the goal and more likely to succeed.
Failure doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Failure will happen more than success; you just have to learn from it instead of letting it defeat you.
It’s instrumental to your success as an entrepreneur if you focus on making you happy and then hire help for the rest. You are more likely to succeed if you aren’t caught up doing tasks you don’t enjoy.
When looking for help in your business, you can get a lot of support when you just approach people authentically.
When you have a new idea in business, it is helpful to move fast and optimize along the way. However, delaying and waiting for it to be perfect will only delay your success.

Failure doesn’t have to be a bad thing. On the contrary, it can be the best way to learn and grow in your business.

[10:49] “I was willing to take risks and have no ego about failure. It’s okay to fail.”

What lessons have you learned from failing? Tell us in the comments, and don’t forget to say hello if you would like to share your entrepreneurship story on our podcast.

Mentioned in this episode:

Clarity – An online source for startup advice from world-class experts.
Dynamite Circle – An online network for entrepreneurs.
Trends.co – Insights, analysis, and research resource.
Design Pickle – About the founder’s interest in creating more balance in life.

Connect with Ramon Van Meer:

Website: https://www.alphapaw.com/
Twitter: @ramonvanmeer
Company Twitter: @alpha_paw
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alphapawofficial
Instagram: @ramon.vanmeer
Company Instagram: @alpha.paw
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramon-v-a19a01144/
Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alpha-paw/

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyond-8-figures/

Team Building For Business Growth with Anthony Hayes, The Hayes Initiative. Feb 09, 2022

Team building is often overlooked by new entrepreneurs but it is an important aspect when it comes to business growth. In this episode of Beyond 8 Figures, Anthony Hayes from The Hayes Initiative talks with us about hiring, adaptability in business, entrepreneur routines, setting boundaries, and so much more.

Anthony puts a lot of effort and attention into his business and he is sharing why team building for business growth matters to him, and how we can focus more on building the right team and treating them well for lasting business success.

About our guest:

Anthony has an incredibly impressive background. He is a huge advocate for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community and strives to bring inclusivity into everything he does. He has some truly remarkable experience in his belt including working on Secretary Hillary Clinton’s campaign in 2016 and helping to launch programs that help immigrants affected by the pandemic. His firm, The Hayes Initiative, does stakeholder management, government management, and relations

On Today’s Episode:

Where Anthony sees himself in his entrepreneurial journey. -3:23
How Anthony’s job has changed year over year as an entrepreneur. -6:22
Why it’s so beneficial to have a smaller “boutique” group of employees and how it allows you more flexibility. -8:58
What has had the biggest impact on Anthony’s entrepreneurial journey. -10:21
Why Anthony has struggled to get out of the nitty-gritty of his business. -14:45
Finding balance in business. -21:20
Why Anthony feels that routine is so important for business owners. -21:37
How Anthony defines success in his entrepreneurial journey. -30:21
The way Anthony structures his business so his team benefits when they do well financially too. -32:49

Key Takeaways:

When hiring, it is important that we slow down, be very intentional, and think about the long-term so that we can find the right people for each role.
When you grow your business, it is essential that you learn to adjust and change your job to fit what your business needs. Being flexible and rolling with the transitions in business will help you push past it.
As entrepreneurs, establishing a routine can be the key to sustainable success. It is important that we take time to set up a routine so that we can focus on what’s important for us.
Setting boundaries in our business can be a very beneficial thing as entrepreneurs because it sets clear rules and expectations for those we work with.
The bottom line is not always the most important thing in business. As entrepreneurs, we can instead focus on whether or not our team is making a good living.

When we start a business, it is vital that we adapt and transition as our business grows.

[14:45] “As a leader, your job has to change when you start something new.”

How has your role changed in your business as it has grown? Tell us on our social media, and don’t forget to say hello if you would like to share your entrepreneurship story on our podcast.

Connect with Anthony Hayes:

Website: https://hayesinitiative.com/
Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/HayesInitiative/
Twitter: @AnthonyJHayes
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anthonyjhayes/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyjhayesnyc/
Hayes Initiative LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thehayesinitiative/

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyond-8-figures/

Connect with Insights Lab:

Website: https://insightslab.ai/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheInsightsLab/
Instagram: @insightslab.ai
Email: weare@insightslab.ai
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/insightslab-ai/

Alternative Investments and Acquisition Entrepreneurship with Stefan von Imhof, Alts.co Feb 02, 2022

Alternative investments have been gaining much interest in the past few years. So today, we are talking to an alternative investing expert and inspiring entrepreneur Stefan von Imhof, founder of Alts.co, a leading alternative investing community. He’s no stranger to failing and learning along the way to build a business that not only brings success but also points you towards your true north.

About our guest:

Stefan has always had a passion for analysis and valuations and had years of successful experience in companies like Flippa and HG Insights. He started his first business right after college, he has bought and sold many websites and newsletters., and now is the CEO of Alts.co. Stefan is originally from Boston but now lives with his wife and Boston Terrier, Charlie, in Australia.

On Today’s Episode:

Where Stefan sees himself on his entrepreneurial journey. -3:15
Why Stefan was temporarily afraid of entrepreneurship. -5:55
How and why Stefan started The Alternative Investments Newsletter.-8:15
The biggest challenges that Stefan faces as an entrepreneur. -12:40
Why Stefan feels that there is absolutely no room for the ego as a startup CEO. -14:48
Why slow and steady doesn’t always win the race. -15:30
Why Stefan still has constraints in his business even though it is successful. -17:10
Why the biggest growth hack that Stefan knows is acquisition entrepreneurship. -18:35
How hiring and taking on a co-founder had the biggest impact on Stefan's business. -21:37
What entrepreneurs need to know about alternative markets. -37:21
How Stefan defines success for himself and his business. -42:15

Key Takeaways:

It’s good for entrepreneurs to go through things that don’t work out because you learn how quickly things can happen and what to watch out for in the future.
As entrepreneurs, sometimes we have to let go of that “bootstrapper” mentality of doing everything yourself. We can’t grow the way we need to unless we are willing to delegate specific tasks to focus on the bigger picture.
There is no room for ego in business. When people are only interested in pushing their own agendas and not listening to others, they stop working as a team.
As entrepreneurs, we can deviate from the path from time to time, but to find success, we must keep pointing to our own true north.

As entrepreneurs, we must protect our time to focus on the bigger picture and achieve more success.

[13:23] “One of the biggest mistakes I made as a bootstrapper in my first business is that I was so caught up in the day-to-day that I wasn’t seeing the value of where my time was going.”

How do you protect your time in your business? Tell us in the comments, and don’t forget to say hello if you would like to share your entrepreneurship story on our podcast.

Connect with Stefan Imhof:

Website:
- https://alts.co
- Personal: https://stefanvonimhof.com/
- Company:https://alternativeassets.club/
Twitter:
- @stefanvonimhof
- @altassetsclub
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpmgk4gzQ56QvpyegBJJVQA
Instagram: @alts_co
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alt-assets-inc/

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyond-8-figures/

Connect with Insights Lab:

Website: https://insightslab.ai/
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Instagram: @insightslab.ai
Email: weare@insightslab.ai
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/insightslab-ai/

The Secret To Intrapreneur Success with Andres Moran, Wunderkind Jan 26, 2022

Yes, yes, this is not a typo. Today we’ll touch on the topic of being an Intrapreneur - how it fits into the concept of modern entrepreneurship and what you can do to set up yourself for success. Our guest this week is Andres Moran, a successful entrepreneur and intrapreneur, who loves to get inside start-ups and come up with innovative ways to find business success.

Andres is all about working with others for a stronger business. Tune in to hear his top business tips and why he feels the value you bring is the strongest indicator of your success.

About our guest:

As the Vice President of Sales and General Manager of Wunderkind Advertising, he knows a thing or two about marketing a successful business and has more than proved that he is an entrepreneur worth learning from. He is highly experienced in starting successful businesses and isn’t afraid to share his knowledge and help the next entrepreneur in line.

On Today’s Episode:

Where Andres sees himself on his entrepreneurial journey. -3:16
Andres’s role at Wunderkind now and the benefits of working with this company. -6:41
Why you should consider having a co-founder in your business. -7:44
Why one of the biggest threats to start-ups in their infancy is co-founder disputes. -9:07
The experience that had the biggest impact on Andres as an entrepreneur. -10:05
Why entrepreneurs struggle with traditional employment roles -10:44
How Andres’ company handles ads in a way that is different from the rest and how it can be more effective. -16:00
What Andres finds interesting about the advertising methods of the world’s biggest companies. -20:15
How Andres defines success on his entrepreneurial journey. -25:37
The value that you deliver to your clients is the ultimate measure of your success. -26:02

Key Takeaways:

Entrepreneurship can be a lonely journey. Having a champion in your corner can give you someone to help solve any problems that come up and celebrate success with.
Gaps in your skill sets as an entrepreneur could be filled by a co-founder because they bring a fresh perspective and their own skills.
Business advertising doesn’t have to follow the same rules as everyone else's ads. Sometimes thinking outside the box with the way you present your ads can make a huge difference in your results.
Watching the moves of the world’s biggest companies can teach you many things that can benefit your business because it can teach you what works for them.
It’s important to expand on the value you can bring your customers. Focusing on this will bring your customers back again and again.

Finding a business partner or co-founder can give you a companion to share your business success and struggles with.

[7:44] “I always advise entrepreneurs to get a co-founder. Solo-entrepreneurship can be a lonely path.”

How do you provide value to your clients? Tell us on social media, and don’t forget to say hello if you would like to share your entrepreneurship story on our podcast.

Connect with Andres Moran:

Website: https://www.wunderkind.co
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeWunderkind
Twitter: @DreMoran
Wunderkind Twitter: @Wunderkind
Instagram: @bewunderkind
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andresmoran/
Wunderkind LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bewunderkind/

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyond-8-figures/

Connect with Insights Lab:

Website: https://insightslab.ai/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheInsightsLab/
Instagram: @insightslab.ai
Email: weare@insightslab.ai
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/insightslab-ai/

Innovating relationship wellness with Jenny Holmström, Coupleness Jan 19, 2022

As entrepreneurs, it’s easy for us to get swept up into all of the work tasks we need to complete and forget to nourish our personal relationships in the process. Today's guest, Jenny Holmström, CEO of Coupleness, is here to share some relationship advice for entrepreneurs. Jenny shares how we can strengthen those relationships that may have been put on the backburner using active love and the Coupleness app.

Make sure to tune in to hear more about the app and how building better relationships can help you become a better entrepreneur.

About our guest:

Jenny is the CEO and co-founder of Coupleness, an innovative communication platform that seeks to promote relationship wellness for couples. She is a strategic and creative entrepreneur who isn’t afraid of a little hard work to achieve her goals. She thrives while working on her own or as a team to reach business success. Jenny is a high-energy person who is highly driven to create value in everything she does.

On Today’s Episode:

Where Jenny is on her entrepreneurial journey. -2:55
What active love is and why entrepreneurs could benefit from practicing it. -4:19
What the onboarding process for Coupleness looks like. -7:36
How Jenny applies the concepts from Coupleness into her own relationships as an entrepreneur. -10:07
How staying curious in our relationships can help strengthen them and give us a stronger foundation. -12:21
Why believing in herself helped Jenny become a better entrepreneur. -14:16
What happened to cause Jenny to start Coupleness. -15:03
The importance of surrounding yourself with the right people to find business success. -17:15
How to fit more active love into your busy day as a business owner. -22:48
How Jenny defines success in her business journey. -24:42
The stigma around mental health and couples therapy. -25:11

Key Takeaways:

When our core relationships are strong, we have a stronger ability to be an entrepreneur because we have a solid foundation.
Having designated time to work on our relationships as entrepreneurs can help us take better care of ourselves as well because it helps us grow stronger as a whole.
Working on your relationship doesn’t have to be a huge task. Doing small things for your partner each day can have a positive impact.
Surrounding yourself with the right people can make a difference in your business success because they will bring their own skill sets to help you grow.
Taking care of your mental health is important as an entrepreneur because if you are not strong, it is more difficult for your team and business to grow.

Creating good habits in our relationships with active love builds a more solid foundation so that we can grow and succeed in all aspects of our lives.

[5:16] “My mission is to get people on board with the active love journey and have good habits in their relationships.”

What do you do to keep your relationships strong while growing your business? Tell us in the comments, and don’t forget to say hello if you would like to share your entrepreneurship story on our podcast.

Connect with Jenny Holmström:

Website: https://en.getcoupleness.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coupleness
Twitter: @Jennyholmstrm
Instagram: @docoupleness
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennyholmstrom/
Coupleness LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/coupleness/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBy7Jo9nb0JQSVqYxa6TC0Q

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com

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Email: weare@insightslab.ai
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/insightslab-ai/

Helping Employees Thrive in Tech Sector with Joseph Fung, Uvaro Jan 12, 2022

Tech sales is an industry with a surprisingly high turnover due to the lack of sufficient training. A better system for finding the right candidates and providing adequate training will help business owners find employees who are in it for the long run and ready for more fulfilling careers. Today's guest, Joseph Fung from Uvaro specializes in making this whole process easy and effective for business owners and employees.

Tune in to hear more about the process of finding the right employees for your company and how to keep them long-term.

About our guest:

Joseph Fung is the founder of Uvaro, a company that creates a better way to grow careers. He is known for his skills and knowledge in Entrepreneurship, SEO, Business Development, User Interface Design, Web Development, Startups, and others.

On Today’s Episode:

Where Joseph sees himself on his own entrepreneurial journey-2:23
The importance of pushing boundaries in business for growth. -4:48
Recognizing boundaries in business and chances to bring your A-game. -6:23
How to improve the process of meetings to make them more effective. -10:44
The series of events that have made the biggest impact on Joseph's career as an entrepreneur. -13:05
What a good business coach can do for you. -16:05
The process Joseph’s company uses to find the right people and train them to perform and succeed. -18:50
The power of forming a peer group or network when job searching and how Joseph provides that for his customers. -23:15
The difference between direct hires for companies and Uvaro members. -26:11 ● How Uvaro gives members an advantage when transitioning into the tech industry. -28:17
The new set of problems businesses are seeing and what we need to pay attention to. -30:27
How Joseph defines success in his business. -32:45

Key Takeaways:

As entrepreneurs, sometimes we need to strategically pump the breaks so that the
outcome is stronger, especially when hiring. Paying extra attention to the details will help you focus on the qualities you need in an ideal candidate.
To have more effective team meetings, go into them with a specific outcome in mind and plan accordingly. This will help you stay on task and complete the meeting in a timely manner.
Sometimes it’s the negative interactions that make you a better entrepreneur and leader because they end up being learning experiences.
A network or circle can be a huge benefit for your employees because they get support and build long-lasting careers.
As entrepreneurs, we must pay attention to societal or economic realignments going on in the world so that we can adjust and come up with new opportunities.

Empowering our employees to succeed is a key component of retention. Pushing boundaries and finding new ways to do things is a great way to do this.

[4:51] “I like to play with those edges and push those boundaries. Sometimes you fall, but sometimes you surprise yourself with greatness.”

How do you inspire greatness in your employees? Tell us in the comments, and don’t forget to say hello if you would like to share your entrepreneurship story on our podcast.

Connect with Joseph Fung:

Website: https://uvaro.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uvaro.life
Twitter: https://twitter.com/josephfung
Instagram: @josephfung @uvarolife
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephfung

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com

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Website: https://insightslab.ai/
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Email: weare@insightslab.ai
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/insightslab-ai/

Putting Profit First In Your Business with Rocky Lalvani, Profit Answer Man Jan 05, 2022

As a business owner, do you ever dream of one day hitting all of your financial goals so that you can sit back and enjoy the ride? To do so, you need to manage your business finances well. One way to do that is to really understand your business’s numbers and prioritize your profit first. Today’s guest is Rocky Lalvani, a certified Profit First Professional, joins A.J. to talk about the importance of prioritizing your business profit to hit those business goals you have always dreamed of.

About our guest:

Rocky Lalvani is a certified Profit First Professional and host of the Profit Answer Man podcast, where he shares his best tips for setting your businesses up for success and maximum profit.

He sees money as a tool that can open countless doors if used well. Rocky is passionate about managing finances. His mission is to educate and help small business owners prioritize their profit to achieve the wealth and lifestyle they want at a fraction of the cost.

On Today’s Episode:

Where Rocky is on his entrepreneurial journey -2:02
Why do the smallest changes add up to the biggest success? -4:27
The steps Rocky takes to further his business education. -5:41
The power of testing ideas and carving into niches as entrepreneurs. -10:56
The types of customers that Rocky works within his business -12:16
The usual process for Rocky’s program. -13:25
Why accountability and discipline create results. -16:50
The importance of sitting down and doing the math to determine your business moves. -18:57
Why do business owners need to understand what their break-even point is. -22:27
How to look at your business and determine how best to prevent mistakes. -24:21
Why you need to decide how much is enough so that when the time comes, you can sit back and enjoy the ride. -27:15
How to teach your kids about money in a way they will actually learn from in a simple and understandable way. -29:41

Key Takeaways:

You can deal with sucker punches in life and business if you have cash reserves.
You need to focus on your numbers and remember to pay yourself a fair wage if you want success in your business.
You can get yourself off of the hamster wheel by working less and making more.
It is important to know how much is really enough so that you can finally step back and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Making money is important, but it is just as important to learn how to keep the money.

Everyone has their own definition of success. For some entrepreneurs is freedom over profit.

[26:39] “For me, success is time freedom first and foremost.”

What does financial freedom mean to you? Tell us in the comments, and don’t forget to say hello if you would like to share your entrepreneurship story on our podcast.

Connect with Rocky Lalvani:

Website: https://profitcomesfirst.com
Website: https://richersoul.com/
Podcast: https://profitcomesfirst.com/podcast/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/richersoul/
Twitter: @rockylalvani
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richer.soul/

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com

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Website: https://insightslab.ai/
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Email: weare@insightslab.ai
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/insightslab-ai/

Creating Generational Wealth with Mike Boyd, The Business of Family Dec 15, 2021

One of the many perks of owning a business is an opportunity to pass your business and wealth down to your family. Multigenerational businesses are a great way to do some long-term family planning. Our today’s guest is Mike Boyd, the host of The Business of Family. He interviews successful families and their advisors to learn how they steward their wealth across generations and manage succession issues to "keep it in the family.”

Tune in to hear how you can create a family enterprise that can last your family for generations to come.

About our guest:

Mike Boyd is a serial entrepreneur with an impressive business portfolio. He specializes in helping entrepreneurs grow their family businesses into family enterprises that can stand the test of time. Unfortunately, most companies don’t last longer than three generations, and Mike is on a mission to help educate entrepreneurs on this topic through his podcast, The Business of Family.

On Today’s Episode:

Who is Mike Boyd? - 0:36
Where Mike sees himself in his entrepreneurial journey. - 4:02
Mike's calmer approach to business and portfolio entrepreneurship. - 4:55
What had to change for Mike with his business portfolio. - 6:50
One of the biggest mistakes in his career and the lesson he had to learn from it. - 9:07
The biggest impact on Mike’s experience as an entrepreneur. -11:28
Using digital intangibles in business to keep costs low. - 14:48
The benefits of automating operations. -16:57
Risk types in business. - 18:54
The importance of having a long-term view on business and life. -21:41
Having a family constitution, family meetings, and a family value system. -23:30
How most family wealth is gone by the third generation. -24:14
Generational storytelling and passing down wisdom is a powerful force. -28:09
The difference between a family business and a family enterprise. -35:41
How Mike plans to continue educating entrepreneurs on managing generational wealth while keeping families together. -38:51
The importance of staying in the game when it comes to business. -40:46
The impact of bringing meaning and purpose to your business. -42:58

Key Takeaways:

Generational storytelling and passing down business wisdom can significantly impact the strength of your family and their success going forward.
If you inherit a family business, think of yourself as a steward to grow it and leave it even better than before and provide a way for future generations to thrive.
Focusing on the profit motive and staying in the game can bring a tremendous amount of success and help you weather the storms that life brings.
Diversifying your family wealth can give it even more staying power for multiple generations.
Giving your business purpose and meaning beyond yourself can light you up when you feel lost.

You can create family enterprises that last for multiple generations.

[37:45] “We’re not trying to diminish the wealth, we are trying to grow it. As a result, we are stewarding whatever we inherited and passing it down to the next generation in a better condition than when we inherited it.”

How can you create a family business that will continue to thrive through each generation? Tell us in the comments, and don’t forget to say hello if you would like to share your entrepreneurship story on our podcast.

Connect with Mike Boyd:

Web: https://mikeboyd.com.au/
Podcast: https://www.businessoffamily.net
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeboyd08/
Twitter: @MikeBoyd

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com

Connect with Insights Lab:

Website: https://insightslab.ai/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheInsightsLab/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insightslab.ai/
Email: weare@insightslab.ai
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/insightslab-ai/

Driving Profit with Mergers and Acquisitions with Jeremy Harbour, The Harbour Club Dec 08, 2021

Starting a business from scratch isn’t the only way to create profit. Acquiring a business, growing it, and selling it could be a much simpler way to achieve your wealth goals. Jeremy Harbour, the world-leading expert on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), joins A.J. to discuss how you could build more wealth than you ever dreamed of by acquiring businesses and selling them for a profit.

Tune in to hear how Jeremy grew his wealth exponentially by doing this and how you can too.

About Jeremy Harbour:

Jeremy Harbour is an accomplished entrepreneur known for his expertise in attracting investment and creating opportunities for small and medium businesses to scale. As the founder of The Unity Group of Companies, he has paved the way for entrepreneurs to thrive in the world of mergers and acquisitions. He is also the visionary behind The Harbour Club, an exclusive invite-only M&A training seminar designed to equip students with the tools and strategies to buy and sell businesses without the need for capital or taking on excessive debt.

Drawing upon his extensive knowledge and experience, Jeremy has authored insightful books, including “Go Do Deals“, “Agglomerate“, “Why You Should Never Buy A Company That’s For Sale“, “Go Do!”, and “Democratizing Wealth“, that offer valuable insights on successful acquisitions, challenging conventional wisdom, and offering guidance for starting and growing your business.

For detailed reviews of these exceptional books, please visit: Go Do Deals, Agglomerate, Why You Should Never Buy A Company That’s For Sale, Go Do!, and Democratizing Wealth (Book Reviews)

On Today’s Episode:

Who is Jeremy Harbour? - 0:59
Where Jeremy sees himself in his entrepreneurial journey. - 4:01
How entrepreneurs are the change agents in society. - 4:49
The disconnection between global capitalism and small businesses. - 6:26
The three fundamental problems that institutional investors have. - 9:09
The challenges with search funds. -10:29
The funding strategies in Jeremy’s program. - 13:08
Why the best time to sell your business is now. -15:25
The series of epiphanies Jeremy has had on his entrepreneurial journey. -16:05
How acquiring a business just for key people can be a great move. - 18:50
What happens when you sell a company. -20:20
How private wealth banking has exponentially grown Jeremy’s wealth. -21:26
The criteria Jeremy met to qualify for Private Wealth Banking -26:23
How Jeremy structures his programs so that his students get the most value. -29:22
The importance of researching mentors before you invest. -35:21

Key Takeaways:

There are many types of business funding, and they aren’t all created equal. Securing capital for your business ventures can be difficult and time-consuming.
Acquiring a business can be more beneficial than starting one from scratch because you can take the company that was already built and grow it exponentially and sell it later on.
Selling your business can provide you with opportunities you didn’t realize existed. You can get so much time back and the money to invest in opportunities that can grow your wealth.
You can turn the profits from selling your business into passive income. There are many ways to do this. You will gain so much of your time back to focus on growing what you have.
Investing in business education can give you an enormous advantage. Of course, you should always research mentors before spending money. The right one can hugely impact your success.

You don’t have to build from the ground up to own a successful business.

[18:37] “You can stick another engine on the plane. You’ve got the organic stuff- your sales, your marketing. The other engine you can add is acquiring business to either give you the product, revenue, or the talent.”

How can you apply this principle in your business practice? Tell us in the comments, and don’t forget to say hello if you would like to share your entrepreneurship story on our podcast.

Connect with Jeremy Harbour:

Website: https://harbourclubusa.com/
E-Book: https://harbourclubusa.com/ebook/
Facebook: Jeremy Harbour
LinkedIn: The Harbour Club

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast

Connect with Insights Lab:

Website: https://insightslab.ai/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheInsightsLab/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insightslab.ai/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/insightslab-ai/

Using Delegation to Drive Business Growth with Chris Ronzio, Trainual Dec 01, 2021

How do you create a multilevel business positioned for growth? Chris Ronzio, founder and CEO of Trainual, joins A.J. to discuss how mapping out the roles and responsibilities in your organization can help you delegate and scale. And of course, maintaining and enjoying your work-life balance.

About Chris Ronzio:
Chris Ronzio is the founder and CEO of Trainual, EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2021, and Phoenix Business Journal 40 Under 40.

He is also the author of the #1 Amazon bestseller, “The Business Playbook“, where he shares a proven framework for business owners to create a good playbook that codifies their company’s culture, empowers their team, and enables them to relinquish day-to-day responsibilities. This invaluable resource equips leaders with strategies to foster growth without being tied to every operational detail.

For a comprehensive book review, check out this page.

On today’s episode:

Meet Chris Ronzio, Author, and Founder of Trainual – 01:11
Chris’s shares where he is in his life and on his entrepreneurial journey – 04:13
How Chris’s approach to things as an entrepreneur has changed over the years – 05:35
What has had the most impact on his growth as an entrepreneur – 06:30
How people are using his book, “The Business Playbook,” and his company Traniual to improve their businesses – 08:21
How to map out your roles and responsibilities in your business so you can hand them off to somebody else – 9:21
The easy way to navigate the connections in your business – 13:27
The four buckets you need to document for your business – 17:26
What is trainable and what is not and how to speed up someone's time to productivity – 20:46
What Chris is finding cool right now in business – 25:23
How the global audience is speeding up the success of today’s businesses – 28:18
Chris shares the fast track to creating a successful multi-level business structure – 30:23
How Chris defines success and how that definition has changed over the years – 31:07

Key Takeaways:

The idea of creating the processes and procedures in your business can seem monumental. So start small by documenting the static stuff.
Building a company positioned for growth without allowing it to take over your life begins with delegation. First, map out your roles and responsibilities in the company. Then determine which things are trainable, so you can hand them off to somebody else.
Ready to get started? Chris’s book, The Business Playbook, offers a framework for building the blueprint that includes your people, policies, and processes.

What can you delegate in the new year?

“The first piece of actually being an entrepreneur was to stop doing the work inside the business.”

Share with us how you plan to delegate in 2022 and follow Beyond 8 Figures on social media – we share a ton of helpful content there!

Connect with Chris Ronzio

Website: Chris Ronzio: Official Website
Website: Trainual
Twitter: @ChrisRonzio
LinkedIn: Chris Ronzio on LinkedIn
Instagram: @ChrisRonzio
Facebook: Chris Ronzio

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast

Connect with Insights Lab:

Website: https://insightslab.ai/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheInsightsLab/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insightslab.ai/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/insightslab-ai/

The Life-Changing Impact Of Mission-Driven Companies with Nick Desai, HeyRenee Nov 24, 2021

What are mission-driven companies and why should you create one?

Nick Desai, of HeyRenee, sits down with A.J. to discuss how ideas are just a fraction of what goes into products and platforms. And what really impacts people’s lives long term. Listen as Nick, the former CEO of Heal, shares insight into his new venture, HeyRenee, a one-stop healthcare concierge.

About our Guest:
Nick Desai is a successful serial entrepreneur with the mind of visionary and mission-driven ideas that change the world. He is well-known for his role as the Founder/CEO of Heal. Today, he’s creating a new venture with his best friend and wife, Dr. Renee Dua, called HeyRenee, the patient-centric healthcare concierge that will allow people to manage their health through one platform.

On today’s episode:

Meet Nick Desai, Founder, and CEO of HeyRenee – 01:11
Where does Nick see himself on his entrepreneurial journey today? – 03:01
How he views the opportunity to create something out of nothing – 04:01
How reevaluating your measure of success from a money-only measurement helps you grow (and how Nick measures his success now) – 05:00
The realization that changed his entrepreneurial journey – 07:00
How Heal transformed the future of primary care – 07:35
Why your incredible idea is one fraction of resolving customer pain points and where your focus should be – 08:43
Why “best” isn’t always best when it comes to finding the right fit for your entrepreneurial team – 13:54
Why everyone needs a Renee, and how his team came up with the name HeyRenee – 17:06
Three things that have helped Nick take the most difficult steps in his entrepreneurial journey – 20:13
Lessons from the trenches in the life of a successful repeat entrepreneur – 24:40
How HeyRenee is pulling together the pieces of the healthcare puzzle for the most connected generation in history – 28:41
The two ways Nick defines his success as an entrepreneur (it’s not about Lamborghinis and mansions) and his definition of using his money for good – 37:31
Nick’s advice to any aspiring entrepreneur out there (and how every no brings you closer to yes) – 41:35.

Key Takeaways:

Don’t let action get in the way of efficiency. Unfortunately, entrepreneurs often operate out of a jack-of-all-trades mindset. But learning what you are truly good at opens the door to more successful ventures.
Entrepreneurship is full of the high highs of “I'm changing the world'', and the lows of “we just crashed and burned,” sometimes all in the same day. Bad times are a part of the journey—don’t let them keep you from taking the next step.
Success is all about execution. Ideas are common, but the magic happens when you create an actual, life-changing product, platform, or service. Without execution, ideas are worth nothing.
To make the world a better place, you have to get specific about what that means to you. Everyone has a “cause” that is near and dear to their heart. Determining what yours is will help you to create more impact.
Listening to your “true partners” is even more important than assembling your team. Advice, guidance, and insight from those who know you best can help you make better business decisions. This is why it is crucial to surround yourself with people who inspire and motivate you.

How do through tough times as an entrepreneur?

[25:55] – “If you assume there’s not going to be bad news, you shouldn’t be an entrepreneur. The bad days are the important days.”

What is the most important thing you’ve learned from failure? Share with us how you grew against all adversities and follow Beyond 8 Figures on social media – we share a ton of helpful content there!

Connect with Nick Desai:

Website: HeyRenee
LinkedIn: @NickDesai

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com

Connect with Insights Lab:

Website: https://insightslab.ai/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheInsightsLab/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insightslab.ai/
Email: weare@insightslab.ai
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/insightslab-ai/

Why Personal Growth Is The Cornerstone Of Business Success With Russ Perry, Design Pickle Nov 17, 2021

Why do successful entrepreneurs continue to focus on their personal growth even when they already seem to have it all?

Russ Perry, the founder and CEO of Design Pickle, joins A.J. to discuss your personal growth can accelerate business growth and help you make things happen. Russ went from an owner of a struggling brick and mortar business to the founder and CEO of the #1 flat-rate creative services platform.

How’d he get there? Tune in to find out all about the tools, tips, and life hacks he used to get where he is today.

About Russ Perry:
Russ Perry is the Founder and CEO of one of the world’s most successful flat-rate creative services companies, Design Pickle. Under his leadership, Design Pickle has grown from 2 team members to over 700 globally, completing over 1 million creative requests.

Russ also penned the book “The Sober Entrepreneur: Change Your Family Tree,” where he shares his personal journey from battling addiction to building a seven-figure empire. This powerful tale reveals the precise steps he took to transform his life, providing insights as well as inspiration for entrepreneurs looking to reach their fullest potential.

For a comprehensive book review, check out this page.

On today’s episode:

Meet Russ Perry, Founder, and CEO at Design Pickle - 01:16
Where does Russ see himself on his entrepreneurial journey today? - 03:40
How focussing on personal growth helped Russ grow tremendously in his journey as an entrepreneur - 08:04
How the Wake Up Program in California helped Russ push himself out of the comfort zone - 12:33
The kind of balance you need for personal and business development (according to Russ) - 15:54
Why Ray Dalio’s principle of making a practical list of the things you want to achieve is essential in your personal and business growth - 19:33
How do reevaluating and resetting your goals help you to move forward? - 21:57
Why Russ thinks unified and holistic experiences are the next big thing in the business space - 27:23
What is the difference between the Shiny Object Syndrome and Value Continuity? - 31:08
How Russ defines his own success as an entrepreneur (and why choosing his challenges is a big part of it) - 34:51

Key Takeaways:

Involving yourself with the right business groups can give you a wider view of what’s possible in the world. Russ went from being chained to in-person meetings to a business in the online space.
To map out where you want to go next, ask yourself what you need to do to get there and be willing to course-correct if you’ve gotten off of the path.
By leveling up your own personal skills, you can build a better business and be of more value to others.
The key to setting your future state is working on your present state. A good way to do this is to make a list of the real things you want and then determine who you need to work on becoming today to set yourself up for what you want.
Dedicating yourself to the process of self-improvement not only benefits you, but also your business, and the other people in your life.

How do your personal skills create value in business?

“The more that I am able to level up my own personal skills the better that I can build a business and build value to others which is really what a business is all about.” [9:00]

What is the one skill that you value most in your business? Share with us what personal skills helped you grow your business and follow Beyond 8 Figures on social media - we share a ton of helpful content there!

Connect with Russ Perry:

LinkedIn: @Russ Perry
Website: https://designpickle.com/
Twitter: @russperry
Instagram: @russperry
Facebook: @Russ Perry

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast

Connect with Insights Lab:

Website: https://insightslab.ai/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheInsightsLab/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insightslab.ai/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/insightslab-ai/

Fighting Climate Change With Finance and Technology Solutions With Alex Wright-Gladstein, Sphere Nov 10, 2021

Have you been investing in fossil fuels and climate change without realizing it?

Alex Wright-Gladstein, Founder, and CEO of Sphere, sits with A.J. Lawrence to discuss how the investment holdings of most people’s 401(k)s support the financing of fossil fuels. They also talk about her journey in climate change and sustainability, transitioning from being CEO of Ayar Labs to starting Sphere, and all the entrepreneurial lessons along the way.

Listen to this episode to learn more about climate change, entrepreneurship, and understanding where the finance in your investment holdings actually goes.

About our guest:

Alex Wright-Gladstein is an entrepreneur with a passion for addressing climate change. She is also the Co-Founder of Ayar Labs founded in 2015, formerly OptiBit, a company transforming computing performance by moving data with light.

On today’s episode:

Meet Alex Wright-Gladstein, Founder and CEO of Sphere – 00:50
Alex shares where she stands in her entrepreneurial journey – 03:51
The difference switching from technology to finance – 08:18
The importance of developing a community focus when creating a movement – 12:08
The approach for advocating climate-friendly practices in companies today – 16:19
Alex explains the impact of each person's “pocketbook” – 17:41
Alex talks about what had the most significant impact on improving her growth as an entrepreneur – 20:52
The intentionality required for building the right team – 23:29
Alex shares about what she currently finds really interesting – 27:42
How Alex defines success – 33:01

Key Takeaways:

Understanding the need for systemic change is really important for tackling climate issues. There are so many factors that keep things in place and are root problems for why an issue exists. It will be tough to make a significant difference if you don’t understand the deeper problems and hidden forces behind why they still exist.
It is so crucial for entrepreneurs to be intentional. Intentionality is about where you focus your time and energy. Being intentional about building the right team that can run with your vision is time worth spending. Do not make the mistake of quickly filling gaps in your team and stunting long-term growth with the wrong people in the driver’s seat.
Have clear, measurable goals towards your success. Do not make the journey towards success and progress vague or arbitrary. Some things have to be made black and white. The clearer and more measurable you make your goals, the better you will have insight into what you need to do to reach them.
The next seven years are a crucial window for climate change action. Scientists predict that the global warming impact will cross the 1.5 degree Celsius threshold in seven years if things continue as they are. This can lead to irreversible damage to the planet. The good news is 80% of Americans are concerned about climate change, and the correct systemic change can avert this problem. (Read about the Sunrise Movement for more information)

What do entrepreneurs need to be intentional about and focus on?

[22:39] “Be really intentional about hiring. It can be so easy to take shortcuts and bring someone on because you desperately need to fill a gap, but it is very hard to reverse mistakes.”

Are you on the journey of growing as an entrepreneur? Let us know how you are building your knowledge and developing intentionality. Also, don’t forget to drop a hello if you want to share your entrepreneurship story on the podcast.

Connect with Alex Wright-Gladstein:

Sphere: https://www.oursphere.org
Ayar Labs - https://ayarlabs.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ga1ex
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/alexwrightgladstein/

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com

Connect with Insights Lab:

Website: https://insightslab.ai/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheInsightsLab/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insightslab.ai/
Email: weare@insightslab.ai
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/insightslab-ai/

Giving Up Control For Greater Business Growth With Brett Gilliland, Elite Entrepreneurs Nov 04, 2021

Do you think you can grow your business to the best of your abilities?

Brett Gilliland, Founder and CEO of Elite Entrepreneurs, sits with A.J. Lawrence to discuss how to grow your business when you’ve reached a point of saturation with it. They talk about giving up control of business operations, sharing responsibilities, and optimizing hiring strategies to achieve the end goal or vision.

Listen to this episode to learn the mindset, skills, and tools to grow your business to the next level.

About Brett Gilliland:

Brett Gilliland is the Founder and CEO of Elite Entrepreneurs, a company specializing in giving 7-figure business owners the knowledge, processes, and tools to grow even further. He’s an expert in organization development, leadership, and strategy and has spent 10 years of his career helping Infusionsoft grow from $7M in revenue to over $100M.

On today’s episode:

Meet Brett Gilliland, Founder, and CEO of Elite Entrepreneurs - 00:50
Brett shares where he stands in his entrepreneurial journey - 03:15
How to relinquish control as a business owner and why Brett thinks it’s instrumental to business growth - 11:00
Brett shares how they teach the mindset, skillset, toolset, and actionable insight to help entrepreneurs make the significant shift to growing their business beyond 7 figures - 16:01
How the Elite Ignition program (of Elite Entrepreneurs) provides businesses the foundational tools to scale beyond seven figures - 20:19
Brett explains why they assign an accountability partner for businesses signing up for their program and how it helps them set aside an hour or two every week for their business - 25:14
The most crucial reason why Brett finds the ‘growth niche’ interesting to continue exploring - 28:24
Why it’s essential to hire and build a team for your company - 29:14
Why defining your purpose could be a key step to success - 31:30
Why Brett wants to grow his business to an extent where he doesn’t have to get involved in its operations directly - 35:26
Episode Overview - Finding work that’s right for you - 38:11

Key Takeaways:

Growing your business beyond seven figures is easier when you stop being the central role for every operation. A powerful vision ensures your business is no longer about you but your purpose.
Organization and hiring the right people are essential for your business growth. Your company benefits the best when you find people fit for it.
As an entrepreneur or business owner, you shouldn’t necessarily wear yourself out to ensure growth. Instead, the key is to upskill, hire, and strategically bring a shift to your existing model to fast-track growth.
Inviting or teaming up with an accountability partner or coach is an excellent way of showing up regularly to evaluate and think about your business and its future. They also help you see whether you’re on track with your vision.

Why is it hard for entrepreneurs to give up control of their business?

“Entrepreneurs have a hard time relinquishing control. And it's not necessarily an ego-driven thing. It's sometimes a fear-driven thing.”

Are you planning on growing your business beyond seven figures? Let us know how you measure your business growth and whether or not you would give up control of your business. Also, don’t forget to drop a hello if you want to share your entrepreneurship story on the podcast.

Connect with Brett Gilliland:

Email: info@GrowWithElite.com
Website: https://growwithelite.com/
Podcast: https://growwithelite.com/podcast

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast

Connect with Insights Lab:

Website: https://insightslab.ai/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheInsightsLab/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insightslab.ai/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/insightslab-ai/

Using Intelligent Debates To Drive Innovation With Clea Conner, Intelligence Squared US Debates Oct 27, 2021

Why are debates essential for you in life and business?

Today, Clea Conner, CEO of Intelligence Squared US Debates, joins A.J. to discuss what makes an intelligent debate and how it offers a structured format for your ideas and arguments. In addition, they discuss beginner’s mindset and incremental experimentation as skills to continually lead and grow your company and see why debates are an excellent means to drive innovation in business.

Tune in to this episode to learn about the power of intelligent debating.

About our guest:

Clea Conner is the first and current CEO of Intelligence Squared US Debates, a nonprofit organization that promotes healthy debates in the media today. She developed "Up For Debate" and "That's Debatable" as television programs on Bloomberg, PBS, and Newsy and produced the first debate between artificial intelligence and a human debater in partnership with IBM's historic Project Debater. Clea also holds multiple awards for her outstanding achievements, including eight Telly Awards, seven Clarion Awards for Women in Communications, serial New York Festival awards for Best Public Affairs Programming, and one of Crain's New York "40 Under 40".

On today’s episode:

Meet Clea Conner, CEO at Intelligence Squared US Debates - 00:44
How a beginner’s mindset could help you in your entrepreneurial journey (and how it allows Clea to feel 20 years new in her career) - 02:42
Clea on how Intelligence Squared promotes structured, healthy debates and opinions - 04:41
Clea on why it’s hard to make people stick to a debate structure when they have the freedom of belief - 08:58
How to use distribution partners for broader debates - 12:13
How to grow yourself as an entrepreneur leading a small, tight-knit team - 17:49
What is incremental experimentation? How did it help Clea reach 50 million people through direct mail marketing? - 22:12
How Intelligence Squared keeps away provocative debating and provides a structured format to the debaters’ ideas and arguments - 25:12
The role of advocacy groups and invested audiences in positively amplifying a cause or subject - 34:23
How Intelligence Squared uses motion language, framing, and research to prevent debates from becoming aggressive or unhealthy - 36:11
How to view success as delivering quality performance (and how Clea achieves the same) - 38:54
How debating helps entrepreneurs develop open-mindedness and drive innovation - 43:55

Key Takeaways:

Having a beginner’s mindset can help you continually adapt to changes and fuel your company’s growth. It also nurtures learning and keeps innovation alive.
It is possible to disagree without being disagreeable. Debates are, in fact, a way of listening to both sides of a topic and evaluating your agreements and disagreements.
Amplification of opinions occurs when people are the most curious about a subject and open to hearing something new. To help your message reach larger audiences, engage with audiences most suitably and efficiently.
Incremental experimentation can significantly increase your chances of success as a marketing professional. You start with what you know and continue developing and building on using channels that generate a response from newer audiences.
Debates are a healthy way to broaden your views, collect and evaluate public opinions, and give a structured format to ideas and arguments. It helps you learn new perspectives and rethink where you stand as an individual.

Is there a right way to amplify opinions?

[14:00] “Amplification is really about capturing people when they are most open to hearing something new, and when they're most interested and curious, and that's not a formula that any media company has perfected.”

What are your views on intelligent debating? Let us know what role debates play in your business and how you make sure that all opinions are heard, and don’t forget to say hello if you would like to share your entrepreneurship story on our podcast.

Connect with Clea Conner:

LinkedIn: @Clea Conner
Website: https://intelligencesquaredus.org/
Twitter: @Clea Conner
Facebook: @clea.conner
Podcast: Intelligence Squared US Debates Podcast

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com

Connect with Insights Lab:

Website: https://insightslab.ai/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheInsightsLab/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insightslab.ai/
Email: weare@insightslab.ai
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/insightslab-ai/

Aligning Your Team With The Company’s Vision with Kathy Hannun, Dandelion Energy Oct 20, 2021

Having a solid vision for your company is an excellent kick-starter, but what happens when you cannot convey it to your workforce as they continue to grow in numbers?

Serial entrepreneur Kathy Hannun joins A.J. in this episode to explore why you should write things down to streamline your journey as an entrepreneur. They also discuss navigating the different stages of the entrepreneurial journey, including finding answers to existential questions initially, why you cannot do everything on your own in a growing company, and how to always keep your workforce aligned with your company’s vision.

Tune in to learn how to bring more clarity to your goals by recording every critical point in writing.

About our guest:

Kathy Hannun is the Founder and President of Dandelion Energy, a home geothermal systems company that spun out of Alphabet's X in 2017. The company helps install home geothermal systems affordable for their customers so that renewable energy is accessible to anyone who wants it. Kathy has been mentioned in Albany Business Reviews 40 under 40, Fast Company's Most Creative People in Business, and MIT's Technology Review 35 under 35.

On today’s episode:

Meet Kathy Hannun, Founder and President at Dandelion (Home Geothermal) - 00:40
Where does Kathy see herself on her entrepreneurial journey today? - 02:47
Two reasons why you cannot do all of your company’s processes by yourself as it continues to grow - 04:04
How to make sure if all your co-workers and employees are on the same page with the company’s vision - 11:12
Five things Kathy learned on her entrepreneurial journey (including how to discover answers to existential questions) - 13:18
How does Dandelion Energy help in battling environmental issues, including climate change? - 16:28
The specifics of Dandelion Energy - is it a regulatory or an engineering delivery? Or is it all the above? - 18:33
What do Dandelion’s consumer marketing and referral programs look like? - 21:42
Does Dandelion Energy aim to expand beyond geothermal? - 23:37
How does Kathy view her success today? - 27:12
What does success mean to Kathy? - 29:29
Is there a thing as a failure? How do you distinguish it from learning and exploration? - 31:44

Key Takeaways:

Your business idea can develop from a problem space, just like Kathy’s idea of starting her company developed out of a strong need to solve a problem - how to bring in cost-effective geothermal heating and cooling for people.
It's a great privilege to be able to work full-time on a problem that you deeply care about, and if you can make it your full-time profession, then that’s a bonus.
At the start of your entrepreneurial journey, you feel like you can tackle any problem that arises. But as you progress, you realize that the idea is limiting for two reasons - 1. It isn’t an efficient way to run a company, 2. You’re limiting your company’s growth.
Cultivating a habit of writing important things down can help you in the long run. It can also help keep your organization’s vision intact when your company starts outgrowing a manageable number.
Using tools like monday.com to record OKRs, Confluence to maintain shared documentation, and document everything that can act as a reference or help others can help keep the workforce aligned with the company's goals and vision.

What causes disorganization in companies?

[09:47] - “If you do have a process that's important to the business and it's not written down anywhere, it's pretty likely that everyone is doing the process differently because things tend towards disorganization.”

How do you align your team with your company’s vision? Tell us what role vision and mission play in your company, and don’t forget to say hello if you would like to share your entrepreneurship story on our podcast.

Connect with Kathy Hannun:

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com

Connect with Insights Lab:

Website: https://insightslab.ai/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheInsightsLab/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insightslab.ai/
Email: weare@insightslab.ai
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/insightslab-ai/

Building An Effective Brand Strategy with Ray Mendez, Masa&Boz Oct 13, 2021

Ray Mendez, Partner at Masa&Boz, joins A.J. in this episode to discuss how to make your brand come alive as an entrepreneur with innovative ideas.

They dig into several topics, including how to utilize branding and marketing methods to bridge the gap between your business and its customers, why working with agencies can be limiting, the vital link between technology and creativity, and the three areas every business needs to focus on.

Tune in to learn first-hand about building effective brand strategies for the sustainable growth of your business.

About our guest:

Ray Mendez is the Partner at Masa&Boz, a transformation-innovation consultancy that helps turn your business idea into reality. He's a genius at brand prototyping, workshop design, brand strategy, product design, and communication strategies and helps integrate and transform brands across four continents.

On today’s episode:

Meet Ray Mendez, our guest and Partner at Masa&Boz- 00:40
Ray gives a brief overview of his journey in life and how he got into entrepreneurship - 03:22
Ray explains the exciting backstory behind coining the name “Masa&Boz” - 06:52
What are the two things to keep in mind for deep branding and marketing? - 8:50
Why the ego of the branding and marketing industry should not exist and how they should instead move forward - 09:00
How do Ray’s business tools help the producer (the business) and the user interact more seamlessly? - 10:26
What is the traditional concept of an agency? - 11:26
Ray explains the vision behind his agency and his thoughts on life going forward - 14:04
What is a legacy business? - 21:06
How does the transition from a B2B to a B2C business model look like? - 22:50
The three significant focus areas of any CEO and why they are essential - 31:30
How does Ray define his success? Why is it not focused on material goals? - 37:41
Ray talks about his experience working on the rebranding of the Empire State Building - 41:35

Key Takeaways:

Business sustainability involves keeping your business running through all ups and downs.
Working with a traditional agency could mean you’re handing over your power to another body.
Traditional agencies add more services to their clients’ billable even if it adds no extra value to the latter’s time.
A legacy business is a type of business that has evolved over a long time. It involves coming up with a physical product.
The three focus areas of Masa&Boz include its vision, culture, and revenue.
Shifting from a B2B to a B2C model involves a lot of planning and careful thought because you need to head to a completely different culture and operations.
Marketing isn’t merely about selling a product or service; it’s also about keeping your customer in the loop and understanding and improving their product cyclically.

Is there a right way to approach marketing?

[43:27] - “The kind of approach we like to take marketing - it shouldn't just be about selling, it should be about understanding the customer and improving your product, and then selling and understanding your customer and improving a product.”

How important do you think branding is for your business? Tell us on Facebook or any social media platform of your choice (and don’t forget to say hello if you would like to share your story with us)!

Connect with Ray Mendez:

LinkedIn: @Ray Mendez
Website: https://www.masaboz.com/about
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/masaboz

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com

Connect with Insights Lab:

Website: https://insightslab.ai/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheInsightsLab/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insightslab.ai/
Email: weare@insightslab.ai
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/insightslab-ai/

Seamless Process Automation for Smarter Business Growth With Neeti Mehta Shukla, Automation Anywhere Oct 06, 2021

What automation tools do you utilize to make your work more meaningful?

Neeti Mehta Shukla, Co-Founder of Automation Anywhere joins A.J. to discuss the power of process automation in enabling smarter business growth. They explore the past, present, and future of business process automation, how to combine accessible automation and artificial intelligence for more efficiency and productivity, and the different processes to evaluating business growth. They also talk about the entrepreneurial spirit, why it revolves around problem-solving, and what it takes to navigate the transition points of an eight-figure business.

Tune in to learn how to make your life easier by leveraging the power of automation.

About our guest:

Neeti Mehta is the Co-founder and SVP of Brand and Culture at Automation Anywhere, where they provide robotic process automation enhanced with both cognitive and analytics technology in leading Financial Services, BPO, Healthcare, Technology, and Insurance companies (to name a few)—across more than 90 countries. In addition, Neeti has been on the Advisory and Founding Boards of many companies, advocating strongly for female Founder-CEOs.

On today’s episode:

Episode Overview - How to make your work more meaningful - 03:03
How does problem-solving form the core of entrepreneurship? How have Neeti’s problem-solving skills progressed over time? - 04:38
Why is automation cumbersome? Has AI influenced the level of intelligence from automation? - 07:02
How Automation Anywhere’s a breakthrough product, IQ Bot utilized artificial intelligence to automate human-centric processes, including invoice-generation - 08:53
The two things to look forward to the most through technology and automation - 10:33
How do you navigate the transition points of growing a business? - 14:55
How can you develop a good understanding of your business and customers? - 17:08
The processes to evaluating business growth - 18:46
The reason why Neeti is greatly involved in women empowerment programs and where her drive for the same comes from - 19:58
Are there similarities between the US and India in the involvement of female entrepreneurs? - 21:21
What success means to Neeti - 24:06
How can you build a legacy for your children on what is possible? - 25:55

Key Takeaways:

Entrepreneurship is all about problem-solving, pushing the limits to enhance the problem in different ways, and continuing to grow every step of the way.
Entrepreneurship is exciting because you don’t have predefined answers to the problems that arise.
Technology enablement is necessary to deliver the next level of products and services to the world at large.
Using AI and process automation, businesses can develop systems to ease their immediate process requirements or deal with the challenges they are facing at any point in time.
The secrets to building a beyond-eight figure business are - hard work, falling in love with the problem (and not the solution), and intertwining business needs and challenges with technology development.
The closer you are to the customer in terms of understanding their psyche, their requirements, and problems, the more informed your processes will be in helping them.
Organizations, especially the technology industry needs to continue to work to bring more women to the spotlight.

How has artificial intelligence pushed the limits for business process automation?

[09:08] - “The combination of accessible automation and artificial intelligence [has] really changed the landscape for businesses and what they could accomplish in process automation.”

What do you expect to achieve for your business using process automation? Tell us on Facebook or any social media platform of your choice (and don’t forget to say hello if you would like to share your story with us)!

Connect with Neeti Mehta:

LinkedIn: @NeetiMehtaShukla
Facebook: Automation Anywhere Software
Website: https://www.automationanywhere.com/
Twitter: @NeetiShukla

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com

Connect with Insights Lab:

Website: https://insightslab.ai/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheInsightsLab/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insightslab.ai/
Email: weare@insightslab.ai
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/insightslab-ai/

What if Your Business Was Your Joy Box? With Amy Ransdell, REVA Global Sep 01, 2021

Serial entrepreneur Amy Ransdell joins A.J. to explore why you should turn your company into your joy box. If you think back to the very beginning of your entrepreneurial journey, you’ll reconnect with the desires that made you want to become an entrepreneur. Now that you’re on the journey, are you staying true to these desires?

Tune in to learn how to rethink your role in your business and mold it into one that brings you JOY!

About Amy:

Amy Ransdell is a performance coach at her business Peak Performance. Over the years, she has coached more than 1000 clients. She is also the CMO of REVAGLOBAL, a company that matches business with highly skilled virtual assistants. Amy is also a real estate investor amongst other things.

On today’s episode:

Who is Amy Ransdell? - 0:39
Where is Amy at in her entrepreneurial journey? - 02:11
How you can keep profiting from the same asset multiple times. - 03:15
Why you should start a global company with international talent (and how it’s going for Amy Ransdell). - 05:34
Why Amy Ransdell hires international talent from the Philippines. - 12:02
Is it possible to only work for four hours a day as an entrepreneur? - 15:30
The ONE thing that may be holding you back from leveling up your entrepreneurial game. - 19:02
How unexpected transition moments can push you to be creative. - 22:55
Two ways to assess the health of your business (and what happens if you don’t use both) - 27:23
Why the word SHOULD can be ABUSIVE. - 30:30
The power of practicing your company’s intention. - 34:15
Thinking of success as a positive impact. - 36:14

Key Takeaways:

Having global talent with international talent can help you create scalable and efficient systems for your company. There can also be cost savings to doing that.
As an entrepreneur, you have to learn to let go of the things that don’t bring you joy in your entrepreneurial work. You can delegate tasks that don’t bring you joy. You have to remember why you became an entrepreneur in the first place and try to stay true to these desires rather than let work consume you and the intentions you had set.
Your belief system has to prepare you for where you want to go next in your entrepreneurial journey rather than just keep you where you are. You have to get out of your own way. It’s not going to be simple or easy. It will not work itself out. Your environment will change from around you as your belief system changes. This new environment will give you new tasks and a new role.
A positive mindset will allow you to see unexpected transitions for what they are: fuel for creativity. It is easy to get complacent when things are going well in your business. It takes more shaky periods for you to make changes in your business that were perhaps overdue.
The measurables and metrics of your company won’t tell the full story of how your business is doing. They won’t necessarily measure how on track you are to achieving your purpose. They won’t give you the full picture.

You can make a profit from the same asset multiple times:

[04:14] “In business, as you grow, you start to realize how assets that you’re creating can create other streams of income or solve other problems.”

How are you using your assets to multiply your profits? Tell us in the comments, and don’t forget to say hello if you would like to share your entrepreneurship story on our podcast.

If you are looking for a virtual assistant (in any industry) hire one here from REVAGLOBAL.

Book mentioned in the episode: Winning by Tim Grover

Connect with Amy Ransdell:

Real State Virtual Assistance: REVA Global
Coaching Website: https://bepowerhouse.com/
Instagram: @amyransdell_bepowerhouse
LinkedIn: Amy Ransdell
Twitter: @amyransdell

Connect with A.J.Lawrence:

Website: ajlawrence.com
Email: aj@b8fpodcast.com
Instagram: @ajlawrence
LinkedIn: A.J. Lawrence
Twitter: @ajlawrence
Medium: @a.j.lawrence

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com

Your Business Needs You To Go On Vacation with A.J. Lawrence, Beyond 8 Figures Aug 25, 2021

In this episode A.J. and Timi discusses why your business needs you to go on vacation. They talk about how to avoid staff burnout, why talking to strangers hones your entrepreneurial skills, and why you should tell your clients about your holiday escapades.

Vacations are a time for you to recharge your body and refresh your perspective. Tune in to the episode to learn why vacations will make you a more effective and well-rounded entrepreneur.

On today’s episode:

How vacations fuel creativity in entrepreneurs. - 0:49
How where you live impacts how often you need to recharge. - 03:15
Is there really a work-life balance when you are an entrepreneur? - 05:04
A.J.’s next vacation goal. - 06:44
Why you should actively appreciate where you currently live. - 07:19
How hotels can go the extra mile to make you special and valued. - 10:54
One of the most underused tools that can dramatically increase productivity. - 14:23
How talking to strangers changes you and how it can help you in business. - 15:48
Why you SHOULD talk about your vacations with your clients. - 18:52
What is the bartender’s choice (and A.J.’s awesome drinking experience in NYC)? - 21:22

Key Takeaways:

Where you live determines how much time you actually need off work. Some places are much more stressful than others.
If you don’t spend at least a whole week in a place while traveling, you don’t fully get the feel of the place.
Sometimes, we don’t fully explore and appreciate the places where we live. Being a tourist in your own city can be a rewarding experience.
It is extremely important to take time off work. If you are overworked, you will not be able to produce your best work.
Employers that do not give their staff time off can alienate them and make them feel undervalued.

Do entrepreneurs really have a work-life balance?

[05:04] “We jokingly said, being an entrepreneur, there is no real-life balance. It’s just making sure you find things that are the appropriate mix so that you’re doing the things you like.”

Are you able to fully disconnect from work while on vacation? Tell us in the comments, and don’t forget to say hello if you would like to share your entrepreneurship story on our podcast.

Bar mentioned in the episode: https://www.barelydisfigured.com/

Connect with A.J.Lawrence:

Website: ajlawrence.com
Email: aj@b8fpodcast.com
Instagram: @ajlawrence
LinkedIn: A.J. Lawrence
Twitter: @ajlawrence
Medium: @a.j.lawrence

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com

What Does It Mean to Build an Intention-led Business with A.J. Lawrence, Beyond 8 Figures Aug 18, 2021

In this episode, Timi and A.J. discuss why you should build an intention-led business. They talk about the experiences and lessons learned from several other entrepreneurs in building mission-led ventures and the challenges that one might face.

Tune in to learn about starting and scaling a business that not only helps you nurture a better team but also allows you to attract clients you are excited to serve.

On today’s episode:

Episode Overview: intention setting (between woo-woo and practicality). - 0:40
Successful entrepreneurs who have built intention-led businesses. - 03:30
What does it mean to build an intention-led business? - 06:19
How feeling impactful can drive your business (and vice versa). - 10:08
How you can build a business that is meaningful to you. - 14:35
Do you need experience with intention setting to build an intention-led business? - 15:43
How do you know when is the right time to reset the path your business is on? - 17:35
How building an intention-led business is very personal. - 23:03
Building an intention-led business DESPITE being extremely busy. - 24:39
Don’t just SAY what your business intentions are, you must DO this. - 28:08
Don’t copy other entrepreneurs, steal from them (explained). - 32:26
Why you should center your business intentions around your team. - 34:20
What type of client will your business intentions attract? - 42:11
Our research on how to transition from being a 7 figure to 8 figure entrepreneur. - 46:16

Key Takeaways:

To start building an intention-led business, ask yourself what it is you genuinely feel passionate about? What problem would you like to fix? Then think about how you can use your business to contribute to fixing that problem.
Finding the right type of customers and the right team is integral to building an intention-led business.
You don’t need to have experience with intention setting, all you need to have is the drive to create a business that is meaningful to you.
Having an intention-led business is building a business that people you work with and for will get more value from over the long-term than if you only focused on profit generation.
Every company goes on its unique path and thus each company has different looking inflexion points. These crossroads can be good moments to reflect on the state of your business and decide on whether it's a good idea to reset the path your business is on.
Building an intention-led business alters the very foundations your business is built upon.
Don’t just settle with saying what your intentions are for your business. Instead, you have to elaborately describe what that intention means and how it can realistically and practically be manifested within your business. You have to make your intentions structurally part of your business.
Your team comes before your client. Without a happy team, you will be unable to serve your clients well.

This is what the thought process in building an intention-led business looks like:

[14:56] “If I want to do this, and I know I can provide the value that I believe is necessary for this part of the marketplace that I want to enter, I can do it the way that I think it worthwhile”

What intentions lead your business? Tell us in the comments, and don’t forget to say hello if you would like to share your entrepreneurship story on our podcast.

Entrepreneurs on Our Show Who Built Intention-Led Businesses:

Hack Business Growth By Building a Product You Would Use with Jeff Epstein, Onboard.io

Building a People-First Company with Natalie Nagele, Wildbit

What Does the Future of Work Look Like with Stephanie Nadi Olson

Connect with A.J.Lawrence:

Website: ajlawrence.com
Email: aj@b8fpodcast.com
Instagram: @ajlawrence
LinkedIn: A.J. Lawrence
Twitter: @ajlawrence
Medium: @a.j.lawrence

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@beyond8figures.com

Establishing Financial Well-Being as an Entrepreneur with Henry Daas, FQ: Financial Intelligence Aug 11, 2021

Making money is an integral part of entrepreneurship, but knowing what to do with the money you make is a whole other story. In this episode, A.J. is joined by entrepreneurial coach Henry Daas to discuss how to figure out what money or financial wellbeing means to you in life and business. Their discussion is based on one succinct principle: money has no inherent value other than giving us the ability to do what we want to do.

Tune in to this episode to learn how to plan for and think about your financial wellbeing.

About Henry Daas:

Henry Daas is an entrepreneurial and personal finance coach. According to him, he has reinvented himself 10 times so far throughout his life. Henry Daas is the author of “FQ: Financial Intelligence.” In this book, Henry presents a comprehensive exploration of personal finance, guiding readers with essential knowledge and insights. This book empowers individuals to navigate the various factors influencing their financial well-being, enabling them to make informed decisions and unlock their path to lasting financial success.

Visit our curated collection of Business Books for more enriching reads.

Signs that you need an entrepreneurial coach

Are you unsure if you need an entrepreneurial coach to guide you on your business journey? Here are several indicators that suggest you may need a coach:

Feeling Stuck or Overwhelmed: If you’re feeling stuck, unsure of your next steps, or overwhelmed by the challenges of running a business, it could be an indication that you need an entrepreneurial coach. They can assist you in gaining clarity, identifying solutions, and developing a plan for moving forward.
Need for Skill Development: To succeed as an entrepreneur, you may need to learn new talents or hone existing ones. If you notice gaps in your skill set or a lack of experience in particular areas crucial to your company’s success, an entrepreneurial coach can help you develop those skills efficiently.
Business Decision Challenges: Making significant business choices can be difficult, especially when faced with uncertainty or conflicting options. An entrepreneurial coach can assist you in navigating challenging issues, providing objective insights, and guiding you to make informed decisions that are consistent with your aims and values.
Need for a Fresh Perspective: When you’re fully immersed in your business, it’s easy to lose sight of opportunities or potential blind spots. An entrepreneurial coach provides a unique point of view, offering useful ideas and challenging your assumptions. They can assist you in seeing things from a different perspective and identifying new possibilities.

Remember, seeking an entrepreneurial coach is not a sign of weakness but a proactive step towards enhancing your skills, mindset, financial wellbeing, and business success. It shows a willingness to invest in your professional and personal growth as an entrepreneur.

On today’s episode:

Who is Henry Daas? - 0:40
Getting to a point in your journey where you don’t need to sell anymore. - 04:29
Being content with having just one gig going. - 11:06
Where can you find company secrets? - 12:56
What’s the difference between being rich and having a lot of money? - 17:27
The downside of the gamification of money.- 21:34
How rich do you actually want to be? - 24:02
An analogy that might help you understand what cryptocurrency is. - 32:14
Why you can’t fully predict the future from reading financial charts. - 37:06
Thinking of success as having freedom. - 40:59
Who becomes rich when new opportunities happen? - 42:55
The likelihood of making more than a million dollars in your business (and why people don’t want to be entrepreneurs). - 46:48
The risk of being an employee. - 50:12
Why are the rich not being taxed in the US? - 57:50

Key Takeaways:

Your entrepreneurial journey will not be linear. There will always be ups, downs, rights, and lefts. You might even get to a point when you no longer want to do any client-facing work.
Low attention spans in the internet age have led to misinformation. People rely on headlines without doing their research. To get the full picture of events and markets, you must put in the work and read full pieces.
You don’t need to have a lot of money to be rich. Being rich is having enough to be content and comfortable with your life. Having a lot of money is just living in excess for the sake of it.
You can think of bitcoin as similar to gold. It is a store of value but it is a long way off from having enough liquidity.
You can think of the definition of success as having the freedom to do what you choose.
You have to think of your exit strategy as an entrepreneur. Ask yourself what you want from your business. If your business does not have lots of barriers to entry, it can be a great thing for you but it can also mean that you can be easily replaced.
The risk of working for other people can be a lot riskier than working for yourself.

Who becomes fabulously rich?

[45:29] “People who became fabulously rich in the 1800s were the Vanderbilts and the Carnegies who actually built the railroads but since then the ones who have become fabulously rich are the people who have used the networks...who has made the money? Amazon. Facebook. Netflix. Google. None of them owns a stitch of the actual network.”

How can you leverage this thinking to create wealth for yourself? Tell us in the comments, and don’t forget to say hello if you would like to share your entrepreneurship story on our podcast.

Connect with Henry Daas:

LinkedIn: @HenryDaas
Facebook: Daas Knowledge
Website: https://henrydaas.com/
Newsletter: https://fqupdate.daasknowledge.com/

Connect with A.J.Lawrence:

Website: ajlawrence.com
Email: aj@b8fpodcast.com
Instagram: @ajlawrence
LinkedIn: A.J. Lawrence
Twitter: @ajlawrence
Medium: @a.j.lawrence

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com

Building A Stronger Business By Doing Less With Pete Martin, AskMyBoard Aug 04, 2021

Serial Entrepreneur Pete Martin joins A.J. to discuss how you can go from entrepreneur, to enterprise, to empire, to exit by doing less. They talk about the importance of having the right team, why not all business is good business, escaping the rainmakers dilemma, and how co-innovating with your customers can maximize your growth and business income.

Tune in to learn how to build a business around what’s important to you to create long term value.

About our Guest:

Pete Martin is the founder of Ask My Board, which is the sixth company he has started. In AskMyBoard, he coaches businesses using the Four Pillars of Power and the Catapult Method, ensuring they grow to be resilient and financially healthy businesses. He has sold his other 5 businesses with an average return of 11x to his investors. He is the author of the upcoming book, "Sparking a Mobile Revolution; How Mobile Voting Will Change the World as We Know It.”.

On today’s episode:

Who is Pete Martin? - 0:47
How Pete Martin was doing this work pro bono before starting his company. - 02:11
How he grew his company without outside capital (and how he learned about organic growth). - 04:21
Who is his ideal client? -06:58
The four transition points of the entrepreneurial journey (where are you on this scale?). - 07:48
The four pillars of power explained (and how he turned down a $5 MM dollar contract).- 10:24
How the four pillars of power work together and influence each other. - 17:04
99% of the problems that entrepreneurs have are THIS kind. - 18:05
What is the rainmaker’s dilemma? (and how to make a plan that actually sticks). - 24:01
What is the Catapult Method? - 27:27
How Pete Martin defines success. - 30:26
Did you know Pete Martin has an awesome band? - 32:55
Takeaways from today’s show (and a HUGE discount on Pete’s services)- 37:29

Key Takeaways:

The decisions you take when growing your company largely depend on whether you have external funding or are growing organically.
There are four key stages of the entrepreneurial journey: entrepreneur, enterprise, empire, and exit. Moving between these stages, and within these stages, requires different skill sets, different strategies, and different investments.
The four pillars of power are: team, customers, capital, and strategic execution. Strategic execution is when you are co-innovating with your customers and when you are co-innovating with your customers you’ve got an extremely valuable business and have the maximum amount of options with what you can do with your company.
People problems constitute the large majority of problems that an entrepreneur faces. So, a great way to overcome this challenge is to ask yourself: what is my dream employee like?
The Catapult Method is about maintaining a healthy business from the outset so that it is set up for growth but can also be a lucrative exit.

Are you using your time strategically?

[26:19] “How we approach entrepreneurs as they create this growth plan is, it literally comes down to ’what are you doing on a day to day basis?’, literally, because that’s where the rubber meets the road. And if you say ‘hey I want to grow and I want to scale’ and you’re spending 8 hours filling RFPs I can tell you that you’re going to hit your limit. And frankly, a lot of ego gets in the way.”

How does the way you use your time facilitate or hinder your growth? Tell us in the comments, and don’t forget to say hello if you would like to share your entrepreneurship story on our podcast.

Connect with Pete Martin:

LinkedIn: @petegmartin
Twitter: @askmyboard
Website: https://askmyboard.com/

Connect with A.J.Lawrence:

Website: ajlawrence.com
Email: aj@b8fpodcast.com
Instagram: @ajlawrence
LinkedIn: A.J. Lawrence
Twitter: @ajlawrence
Medium: @a.j.lawrence

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com

Building a First to Market Business with Marcello Leone, Bevcanna Jul 28, 2021

Marcello Leone, CEO of Bevcanna, joins A.J. to discuss his experience of running a company with a first-to-market product: cannabis beverages. They converse about several topics including what it is like to run a heavily regulated business, whether or not you should be open to selling your company, and how to align your personal goals with your business goals.

Tune in to learn about the challenges of running a company with a first-to-market product.

About our Guest:

Marcello Leone is the CEO of Bevcanna, an up and coming cannabis beverage company that is heavily involved in the health and wellness space. Bevcanna provides whitelabel cannabis drinks to other businesses. It is a publicly registered company. Previously, Marcello was CEO of RYU apparel.

On today’s episode:

Who is Marcello Leone?- 00:39
How Marcello became an unconventional cannabis entrepreneur. - 02:57
The journey of innovating a completely new category of drinks (being first to market) - 06:17
The toughest part of being first to market and going into uncharted territories. - 10:46
Planning international expansion when you are first to market. - 14:19
Why compliance is a full time in the cannabis industry. - 16:27
How attached should you be to your business and should you be open to sell? - 19:12
Should you pay yourself as an entrepreneur? - 25:16
2 key things Marcello has learnt by being an entrepreneur. - 26:38
Does Marcello want to be an angel investor? - 29:08
What legacy does Marcello Leone want to leave behind? - 30:19
Lesson #1: Leveraging your past. - 33:52
Lesson #2: Build a moat. - 36:27
Lesson #3: Your goals vs. your business goals. - 40:08

Key Takeaways:

Building the foundation of your business pre-revenue is the most challenging part of creating a first-to-market product.
It is a great business opportunity that the U.S. legalization of cannabis is not complete yet. You can be early in a new space and position yourself very well in the market.
The job of ensuring compliance is integral to the structure and successful operation of businesses in the cannabis industry. You cannot successfully run a cannabis business in the current environment without a sharp focus on ensuring compliance.
Being open to all opportunities including not being too attached to your business and being open to sell allows you to consider what’s best for you more fully and therefore avoid missing out on lucrative opportunities.
Not being willing to risk everything in itself is the first risk.

Will it work out?

[11:26] “Crazy entrepreneurs that we are, saw the opportunity, believed in it, didn’t necessarily know how it was going to work out, leveraged everything that I owned, borrowed from my family members, raised capital, and went all-in into this new category where we are today. You never know, especially when you are charting uncharted territory”

What was the toughest challenge for you when you were first building your business? Tell us in the comments, and don’t forget to say hello if you would like to share your entrepreneurship story on our podcast.

Connect with Marcello Leone:

LinkedIn: @Marcello-Leone
Twitter: @BevcannaEnt
Instagram: @Bevcanna
Website: https://www.bevcanna.com/

Connect with A.J.Lawrence:

Website: ajlawrence.com
Email: aj@b8fpodcast.com
Instagram: @ajlawrence
LinkedIn: A.J. Lawrence
Twitter: @ajlawrence
Medium: @a.j.lawrence

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com

Turning Leads into Customers with Shaun Clark, High Level Jul 21, 2021

Shaun Clark, co-founder of High Level, joins A.J. to discuss the biggest problems businesses have: getting customers. In their conversation, they delve into many interesting questions like why SaaS on its own is not enough, what most businesses get wrong in their lead generation processes, and how being a bootstrapped company helps you better connect with your ideal customer.

About our Guest:

Shaun Clark is the co-founder of High Level. High Level offers a full suite of services to clients to help them turn leads into customers. His product is focused on conversions rather than clicks. Previously, Shaun founded InvoiceSherpa amongst other businesses. He used his past experiences to inform his current journey, helping businesses do what is most important to them: get clients.

On today’s episode:

Who is Shaun Clark? - 00:49
Asking customers what they need can give you your product idea. - 05:21
The biggest challenge bootstrap SaaS founders in growing their business. - 10:22
How to overcome Google and Facebook Ad challenges (if your ads aren’t converting well enough). - 11:35
What is Shaun Clark’s High Level business growth plan? - 12:41
Why every small business needs an agency by its side. - 15:09
Will High Level run a certification program? - 16:44
The one thing most businesses get wrong with their leads. - 18:08
Why having a community for agencies is the way to go. - 21:43
A business model focused on actual conversions, not clicks (platform walkthrough)- 22:39
Should you build your business piece by piece or all at once? (what they did at high level) - 29:32
This is what the future of lead nurturing will look like. - 31:42
Can one company do everything? - 35:54
Does being a bootstrapped company help you better understand your customer? - 37:54
Should you 10x your previous numbers? - 39:00
How can you learn more about High Level? - 41:50
Lesson #1: learning your customer inside out. - 43:47
Lesson #2: Ask who not how - 45:41
Lesson #3: Paid advertising is not enough, build a word of mouth campaign. - 47:56

Key Takeaways:

Distribution is the biggest issue for bootstrapped SaaS founders. Digital ads are the main distribution mechanism and big players flood the ad pipelines with huge budgets which creates a large barrier to entry for new businesses who don’t have a large ad budget.
Creating a great niched-down product can help grow your customer base without spending too much money on ads.
Lead capture methods change all the time, but what a lot of businesses keep getting wrong is lead nurturing. It can take up to 30 touches with your lead to convert them into a customer.
It is not always important to 100x or 10x your previous achievements. Building something sustainable that helps others in their journey is in itself a very worthy goal.

What every business gets wrong about their leads:

[18:46] “Lead capture methods expand and mutate all the time. But ultimately, where we find the biggest drop-off is in the nurture. It’s one thing to capture a lead but leads aren’t customers and getting them from lead to customer - that nurture journey - that’s the place where everybody falls down.”

How do you nurture leads? Tell us in the comments, and don’t forget to say hello if you would like to share your entrepreneurship story on our podcast.

Connect with Shaun Clark:

LinkedIn: @shaunclarkhighlevel
High Level: https://www.gohighlevel.com/
High Level Twitter: @gohighlevel
High Level Instagram: @gohighlevel

Connect with A.J.Lawrence:

Website: ajlawrence.com
Email: aj@b8fpodcast.com
Instagram: @ajlawrence
LinkedIn: A.J. Lawrence
Twitter: @ajlawrence
Medium: @a.j.lawrence

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com

Hack Business Growth By Building a Product You Would Use with Jeff Epstein, Onboard.io Jul 14, 2021

Jeff Epstein, the founder of Onboard.io, joins A.J. to discuss how he restarted his entrepreneurial journey after finding a problem that he personally relates to. They discuss his lessons from his previous business and he explains why business is better this time around.

Tune in to learn different aspects of what it takes to be more intentional when starting a business including how to select a great business partner and why you should have a clear data gathering vision.

About our Guest:

Jeff Epstein is the founder of Onboard.io. Onboard.io is a solution that streamlines the customer onboarding process by integrating many different onboarding tools in one package. Previously, he founded Get Ambassador.

According to him, what makes Onboard.io a more successful and enjoyable journey for him is that he relates to the problem!

On today’s episode:

Who is Jeff Epstein? - 00:43

Having a remote team and using flexible scheduling - 02:10
The most intentional he has been about building a company (and what that means)- 03:38
Buying a business for all the wrong reasons in 2007 - 05:43
How having an internet business used to be more than a decade ago (an expensive learning experience) - 08:30
Most business partnerships don’t work out, so make sure you do this.- 10:33
Sharing responsibilities with a partner instead of doing everything yourself- 12:30
The main reason they lost customers (and how they turned that around).- 14:43
Knowing that there is a huge opportunity but hesitating to start a business - 17:05
Why starting a company that fixes a pain YOU’VE experienced is a whole other ball game - 19:26
How having a clear vision of why and how you gather data makes you more effective. 21:47
Will Jeff be creating a channel program for Oboard.io? - 24:03
Going from getting ZERO personal time to establishing a healthy work-life balance - 25:33
How he’s structuring his company to give himself and his team a better balance. - 28:42
How he was blown away by the possibility that you can actually love your job - 29:57
Using bad experiences to create better businesses - 35:17

Key Takeaways:

Being intentional about building a business is all about anticipating possible challenges and figuring them out before they happen. Being intentional includes anticipating both personal and business challenges that the work may present.
Most business partnerships don’t work out. When establishing a business partnership, it is important to align expectations.
One of the main reasons you might be losing clients is because they may not be getting a taste of your product.
Building a company that fixes a problem you know inside out is much easier than building a company where you are disconnected from the problem and don’t feel, yourself, the pain of the problem.
Overworking yourself to make your business succeed can exert a heavy toll on your personal life. Part of the sustainability of a business relies on having a healthy work-life balance. Allowing for remote work and flexible hours are one way to promote a healthier work culture.
Don’t fret if you’ve had unfavorable business experiences. Rather, keep iterating. Use every experience as a stepping stone to the next.

Building a company where you’ve EXPERIENCED the problem:

20:02 “When I’m speaking to investors and other folk and they say ‘why this time’ and then I say listen, in the most honest way I can answer, this is actually a problem that I understand. I built a company in a problem that I didn’t really understand...this is a lot easier that I actually felt pain.”

How do you relate to the problem your company works on solving? Have you personally experienced that problem?

Tell us in the comments, and don’t forget to say hello if you would like to share your entrepreneurship story on our podcast.

Connect with Jeff Epstein:

LinkedIn: @epsteinjeffery
Twitter: @jeff_epstein
Instagram: @jeff_epstein
Onboard.io: https://onboard.io/

Connect with A.J.Lawrence:

Website: ajlawrence.com
Email: aj@b8fpodcast.com
Instagram: @ajlawrence
LinkedIn: A.J. Lawrence
Twitter: @ajlawrence
Medium: @a.j.lawrence

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com

How Being Flexible Can Trigger Business Growth with A.J. Lawrence Jul 07, 2021

In this episode, the tables are turned! Instead of being the interviewer, A.J. is interviewed. He extracts insights he has learned from the previous guests and shares the nuggets of reflection from his experience about business growth.

In this episode, you will learn:

How to evaluate the state of your business.
What should trigger you to pivot your business direction.
How to avoid getting lost in data and make the most out of it for the success of your business.

On today’s episode:

Why oday’s episode is different - 00:37
When should you change up your business model? - 04:29
Why do entrepreneurs sometimes take risks against all the odds? - 07:47
How important is it to align your expectations with your business? - 09:23
The right time to pivot your business model vs. the wrong time to pivot your business model. - 10:46
Finding the meaning behind running your business (why it’s important). - 13:21
How often should you reevaluate your business venture? (and what to evaluate beyond operations) - 15:37
What data do you need to grow your business (a key question to ask). - 19:12
This is how you find out if your business is headed in the right direction. - 22:26
Before considering new opportunities for your business, listen to this. - 25:10
Are you wearing too many hats in your business (capitalizing on abundant resources)? - 29:17
Why data-driven organizations perform better than non-data driven organizations. - 33:30
Using the MacGuffin technique in business. - 35:00
The formula you need to rebuild your business after a plateau. - 36:16
The main question to ask when you check in with yourself - 42:00

Key Takeaways:

To get past your comfort zone as an entrepreneur, you have to be willing to be flexible. You will need to experiment with what you deliver for your core avatar.
Pivoting is overemphasized. Are you looking to pivot because you are frustrated, or are you looking to pivot because the opportunity is truly there?
Listening to demand, listening to your audience, is a strategic way to shift the direction of your business.
Running a 7-8 figure business can enable you to have a wide and far reaching impact that goes beyond improving the well-being of your family and trickles down to the communities you interact with.
You should reevaluate your business regularly. Reevaluating on a quarterly basis is a suitable guideline. You can also set the main revaluation date around your birthday.
When you reevaluate your business, don’t only reevaluate business operations, also reevaluate what your business personally and meaningfully adds to your life.
Guide your growth by asking yourself: what type of data do you need at what point of time and how does that change over the course of your growth.
Look at your business and ask yourself: what is the likelihood that my business can be scaled up?
It is not only about what you should be doing. Ask yourself: what does success mean at each step on your way to where you want to get to.
Data-driven organizations outperform non-data-driven businesses.
You have to do what you can to isolate the weaknesses in your business. Isolate the reasons you are drifting, then build once again.

Reality checkpoint (ask yourself this):

Where are you compared to where you started? Too often we have amazing end goals in place, but it is a journey...it’s about where you go compared to where you started, not to where you are by itself.

How far are you on your journey compared to where you started? Tell us in the comments, and don’t forget to say hello if you would like to share your entrepreneurship story on our podcast.

Connect with Insights Lab:

Website: https://insightslab.ai/
Email: weare@insightslab.ai
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/insightslab-ai/

Connect with A.J.Lawrence:

Website: ajlawrence.com
Email: aj@b8fpodcast.com
Instagram: @ajlawrence
LinkedIn: A.J. Lawrence
Twitter: @ajlawrence
Medium: @a.j.lawrence

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com

Building a People-First Company with Natalie Nagele, Wildbit Jun 30, 2021

Natalie Nagele, CEO of Wildbit, joins us to discuss building a successful people-first company with a 32 hours workweek. Speaking from her own experiences, as a leading people-first employer, we talk about how you can measure your success as an entrepreneur, how to stay guided by your purpose throughout your entrepreneurial journey, and what it takes to stay committed to your business.

Three things you will learn from this episode:

Why you should think of your business as a tool rather than an end in itself.
Whether you should pay yourself as a founder or reinvest to build towards a great exit.
How to avoid burnout by setting the optimum pace for the growth of your business.

About our Guest:

Natalie Nagele is the co-founder and CEO of Wildbit. Her priority is creating a happy and positive work culture at Wildbit and the world. This stems from her core belief that businesses are tools designed to create a better world for people everywhere.

On today’s episode:

Measuring your entrepreneurial journey in decades. - 03:10
How slow growth changed our entrepreneurial vision. - 06:43
Should you service yourself or your business? (the beginning of a people-first philosophy) -09:48
You don’t have to choose between building a lifestyle business or a unicorn business. - 10:16
How important is fundraising to your success as an entrepreneur? (the answer may surprise you). - 12:55
How do you know if your business is moving at the right pace? - 16:01
The cost of doing more than you planned for in your business. - 22:34
A good question to ask yourself instead of comparing yourself to others. - 26:04
Don’t copy, steal: entrepreneurship vs. being a copycat. - 26:52
Should founders pay themselves, or should you reinvest everything in your business? - 29:03
Living your best life BEFORE you sell your business. - 30:03
The trouble with the concept of the entrepreneurial legacy. - 32:22
Check out these companies with People First Jobs. - 36:04
Lesson #1: Using moments of tension as opportunities. - 39:25
Lesson #2: Pay yourself well. - 41:32
Lesson #3: How you impact who you interact with. - 42:49

Key Takeaways:

Entrepreneurs should look at and evaluate their lives in decades because it takes a decade to build and scale.
Building your business outside trend bubbles can make you stand out and not stick to the trends.
When your business plateaus, it is crucial to reevaluate what you are doing and why you are doing it. It is an excellent opportunity to evaluate what your long-term goals are.
It is becoming much easier to start a business and gain traction, especially in terms of cost.
Entrepreneurship is not about fundraising. It is about building value for customers and finding ways to do that in which you are making more than you spend.
Frequent change in your business makes you lose out on so much momentum. You must set priorities and stick to them instead of measuring yourself against others.
Hero worship is ultimately going to fail you. You are better off measuring against yourself than you measure yourself against others.
As an entrepreneur, you have to keep assessing how your company fits within who you are and what your goals are in life.
Paying yourself as a founder secures your commitment to building a meaningful business. It ensures that you would not leave your business behind for ‘the next big thing.’
Paying yourself well is the best way to keep yourself engaged in your business.

Building a people-first company while providing a good life to your family:

[31:27] “I tell the team this all the time: if this business gets harder, and I make less money, it does not make sense. Which it doesn’t, like why would I do that? And that’s Ok. But I’m not torturing my team, and I do that while simultaneously providing 32 hour work weeks. I’m not embarrassed to say that out loud because I believe you can equally do both things: you can build a people-first company while also providing wealth for your family.”

How do you think building a people-first company would improve your life balance as an entrepreneur?

Tell us in the comments, and don’t forget to say hello if you would like to share your entrepreneurship story on our podcast.

Connect with Natalie Nagele:

LinkedIn: @natalie-nagele
Twitter: @natalienagele
People First Jobs: https://peoplefirstjobs.com/
Wildbit: https://wildbit.com/

Connect with A.J.Lawrence:

Website: ajlawrence.com
Email: aj@b8fpodcast.com
Instagram: @ajlawrence
LinkedIn: A.J. Lawrence
Twitter: @ajlawrence
Medium: @a.j.lawrence

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com

Ending Poverty Through Entrepreneurship with Dr. Velma Trayham, Thinkzilla Jun 23, 2021

Today’s episode is about the impact you can potentially have as an entrepreneur on your communities. Dr. Velma Trayham joins us to discuss how she is helping ending poverty through building her 3-winged business.

Three things you will learn this episode:

How to run multiple businesses effectively;
How to use your business to help your community;
How to use self-care and self-development to grow as an entrepreneur.

About Dr. Velma Trayham:
Dr. Velma Trayham runs a three wing operation: ThinkZilla, a brand engagement firm; Millionaire Mastermind, a business education platform for women; and she is a hotel investor as well. Her three businesses synergistically feed off each other. She has mentored over 5000 women in her career and is an award-winning entrepreneur.

She also wrote the book, “After the Pivot: Real advice on how to survive a business pivot and make money.” In this book, she shares insights on how to navigate the aftermath of a pivot. Drawing from her own experiences and highlighting successful examples like PayPal, she provides business owners with practical guidance to move forward, make informed decisions, and ultimately thrive in the face of change.

Expand your entrepreneurial toolkit with our curated collection of Business Books.

On today’s episode:

Dr. Velma Trayham’s entrepreneurial journey (she’s hiring 25 new employees!)- 01:55
Why she’s working on many different businesses instead of just one OR Why having many different businesses can be the solution you need -03:35
Why Dr. Velma Trayham built Millionaire Mastermind Academy and has run it every single month since - 07:40
Is everyone ready to own a business? (and an interesting definition of ownership) - 09:54
Why your business will suffer without self-care (and why self-care is central to every entrepreneur’s success)- 12:06
What is supplier diversity and how it can help communities get out of poverty - 14:52
What does a community-focused legacy look like? - 19:34
Lesson 1: How to run multiple businesses effectively - 21:04
Lesson 2: How to use your business to help your community - 22:17
Lesson 3: Your business is only a tool on your journey - 23:44

Key Takeaways:

Having many different initiatives does not mean you have to do all the work running all of them. All you have to do is put the right systems, processes and people in place to make sure the business runs well.
If you want to have many different businesses, one strategy you can adopt is to make sure that one business feeds onto the next. Dominate a space.
“Ownership is not a pursuit, it is a result”
Professional development and self-care are extremely important for entrepreneurs: “you cannot pour from an empty cup”.
Working with small minority-led businesses can help communities get out of poverty.
Whoever you are, you are brought on this earth to solve a problem.
Money coming into small businesses flows into their communities 7x, the number is just 1.5-2x for large corporations. In short, small businesses uplift their communities financially considerably more than large corporations do.

Why sometimes having several ventures is more effective than having just one:

“When you look at ending a systemic issue, a systemic problem, and you’re looking at poverty, you need different elements in order to do that so along the journey I have been understanding what the problem is, I am not waiting on other people to provide solutions. I am actually along the way putting things in place to be the solution to the problem” - Dr. Velma Trayham

What are your pro tips for successfully running multiple businesses at the same time? Tell us in the comments and don’t forget to say hello if you would like to share your entrepreneurship story on our podcast.

Connect with Dr. Velma Trayham:

LinkedIn: @VelmaTrayham
Instagram: @Velma_trayham
Millionaire Mastermind Website: https://millionairemastermindacademy.org/
Thinkzilla Website: https://thinkzillaconsulting.com/

Connect with A.J.Lawrence:

Website: ajlawrence.com
Email: aj@b8fpodcast.com
Instagram: @ajlawrence
LinkedIn: A.J. Lawrence
Twitter: @ajlawrence
Medium: @a.j.lawrence

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast

Build a Better Business Using Psychology with Aaron Hurst, Imperative Jun 16, 2021

In this episode, Aaron Hurst discusses how his business, Imperative, is transforming mentoring and corporate relationships with psychology. His company uses psychology and neuroscience to help people build more meaningful relationships at work.

Tune in to learn how to assess the value you produce, how to foster an environment of meaningful engagement at work, and how to leverage psychology to gain more market share.

About Aaron Hurst:

Aaron Hurst, the visionary CEO of Imperative, leads a psychologically designed peer coaching company, providing invaluable support to business owners and entrepreneurs. As the founder of Taproot Foundation, he created a powerful link between not-for-profit organizations and business executives, offering pro bono work and igniting a transformative movement.

In his book, “The Purpose Economy”, Aaron blends personal memoir with a transformative blueprint. His profound insights illuminate the potential of purpose-driven entrepreneurship, showcasing how businesses, markets, and careers can be reimagined to better serve people and the world. This book serves as an indispensable guide for navigating the evolving landscape of purposeful business and social change.

Visit our curated collection of Business Books for more enriching reads.

On today’s episode:

The 2 existential threats to the world that Aaron Hurst is solving.- 04:00
A new way to get career coaching (4 questions). - 06:09
Has remote work strengthened relationships at work?- 08:18
Why reverse the corporate culture around relationship building at work (two inflection points). - 09:13
Why mentoring usually fails (and how Aaron’s company fixes that). -10:27
Aaron’s journey as an entrepreneur in many different spaces. - 11:23
What kinds of companies need venture capital and why he chose the VC route. - 13:00
How does your role as a founder change when you become VC backed? (the 3 main things you have to focus on). - 14:39
What is the biggest driver of value in our economy? - 16:14
The dark side of using psychology to grow your company and what needs to change. - 18:08
Creating the foundation for grassroots change vs. getting involved in the political world. - 21:45
“Repair the world” how that principle guides him and keeps him humble.- 24:53
Why you shouldn’t get too attached to the concept of legacy. - 28:54
What is your value above replacement? (a good way to make decisions AND assess if you are adding enough value) - 31:03
Lesson 1: Looking at your efforts with more detail (more on value above replacement)- 35:35
Lesson 2: Removing fear from our environments - 36:35
Lesson 3: What are you doing that pushes you on your journey and what do you do to elevate your standards? - 37:47

Key Takeaways:

Sustainability and lack of social cohesion are the two largest existential threats to our human race.
According to a Microsoft study, people’s connections with their immediate team have strengthened during covid. However, it was found that their broader networks have been decimated.
According to an MIT article, traditional mentoring has been proven not to be terribly effective while mentoring that is based on relationship building reaps better results.
Mentoring usually doesn’t tend to work well because the workplace is asymmetrical.
When you are looking to make a big change, not just build a x million dollar company, but rather be an integral part of lots of people’s lives you need venture capital to get there.
The only way you scale as a venture backed business is by building systems and by building a team. As a CEO, you must be the person who plays a major role in defining the vision, creating the company culture and allocating the resources strategically.
Psychology is the biggest economic driver of value. Most successful companies leverage psychology and neuroscience to grow. A good example is Facebook.
The use of psychology to grow businesses has a dark side where businesses can negatively impact and manipulate their customers. Effectively, it almost makes businesses into drug dealers. Regulation is needed to keep the psychological influence of companies under control.
In buddhist belief, you are taught to let go of attachment. The concept of legacy can be an attachment. Getting too fixated on legacy may prevent you from focusing on your happiness.
Removing fear from our environments helps us build more meaningful and stronger relationships.

The biggest driver of economic value in 2021 is leveraging psychology to capture the market:

“There is a tremendous opportunity, which we’ve seen across every sector, to innovate and capture more market by meeting the human need for meaning, the human need for these positive psychological attributes in the market but also exploiting the negative ones...which is the dark side of this whole industry” - Aaron Hurst (17:57)

How does your business leverage psychology to capture the market? Tell us in the comments and don’t forget to say hello if you would like to share your entrepreneurship story on our podcast.

Connect with Aaron Hurst:

Aaron Hurst’s LinkedIn: @aaronhurst
Aaron Hurst’s Website: https://www.aaronhurst.us/
Imperative website: https://www.imperative.com/
Taproot Foundation website: https://taprootfoundation.org/
The Purpose Economy
Email: emma@imperative.com

Connect with A.J.Lawrence:

Website: ajlawrence.com
Email: aj@b8fpodcast.com
Instagram: @ajlawrence
LinkedIn: A.J. Lawrence
Twitter: @ajlawrence
Medium: @a.j.lawrence

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com

What Does the Future of Work Look Like with Stephanie Nadi Olson Jun 04, 2021

Today, we talk about the future of work with Stephanie Nadi Olson, who is reshaping the marketing industry. The future of work is independent, flexible, remote, and non-hierarchical. Stephanie is creating it with her company We Are Rosie and joins us today to tell us all about it.

If you are interested in challenging the existing structures, and if you don’t want to be left behind in the past, tune in to today’s episode to find out how you can build a business that makes your employees' and clients' lives more fulfilled.

About our Guest:

Stephanie Nadi Olson is the founder of We Are Rosie - a network of 6,500 marketing professionals who are already experiencing the future of work. She started her business with $10,000 and turned it into a 7 figure machine. When Covid-19 hit, she lost 80% of the business overnight. However, by staying determined and faithfully betting on the success of her team the company doubled in size by the end of 2020.

On today’s episode:

How working at Microsoft helped Stephanie reimagine work. - 01:52
How she spent her time after quitting her high-paying job. - 03:16
The moment she realized how she can change the way work is. - 05:48
How ignorance can be your best friend. - 07:03
3 big challenges that agencies and brands must deal with (and how she solved them through We Are Rosie). - 10:00
Why remote work is the right thing to do and why you should do it too. - 11:38
How you can take inclusion further and how to avoid wage theft. - 13:44
3 things that stop traditionally employed people from becoming freelancers. - 15:06
If you want to run a global operation, listen to this first. - 16:40
The mindset needed to move from $10,000 to a business that transforms the way work is - 20:18
How COVID took away 80% of her business overnight, yet she doubled the size of her business by the end of 2020 - 21:44
The biggest challenge of business growth is about people management- 22:45
The conversation about the future of work must center around THIS key issue. - 26:14
Why Stephanie Olson’s company is called We Are Rosie and her vision for more humane work - 28:50
How your responsibility and your legacy are tied together - 32:25
Thinking of giving back as giving back to family - 34:03
The future of We Are Rosie: Global Expansion and more - 35:28
Are you freelance curious? - 37:49
Amazing lessons from today: having beginner eyes - 38:30
Amazing lessons from today: Leveraging challenging situations- 39:28
Amazing lessons from today: Centering legacy around family - 41:50

Key Takeaways:

Getting paid a high salary at a young age can be a curse and make you afraid of taking entrepreneurial risks.
Building with ignorance, building without preconceived notions, can allow you to be more creative and forward-thinking.
There is a massive mistrust between brands and agencies that runs both ways.
People want to work in a more agile capacity.
Remote work is inclusive. When you insist that people come into the office, you exclude lots of talent from your pool.
The foundation of how we insist work happens is very exclusionary. COVID-19 has proven that remote work is effective. This is an opportunity for companies to reconsider how they work.
The biggest impediment to traditionally employed individuals who want to become freelancers is the consistency of pay, the consistency of work, and insurance.
The operational lift required to run an equitable and inclusive business globally is heavy. For example, there are 1,800 laws in the US governing labor. Navigating this is a large challenge.
The bigger you get, the more fear may play in your decision-making.
Even if not everyone in your team agrees on the same thing, it is vital that everyone feels heard. In environments where people don’t feel heard, creativity and innovation will be stifled.
When we talk about the future of work, if we are not discussing freedom of choice then we are not approaching it correctly.

How ignorance can be a gift when building fresh ideas

“I used a lot of common sense to build this business. I know it sounds really simple but I didn't have any of these kinds of ideas in my head about things that were immovable. Like, “we have to do it this way, and we have to scope this way, and the talent has to be structured this way, and this has to be billable, and all of these ideas. All the stuff I've learned about agencies over the last three years, I didn’t know! Using the amazing gift of ignorance and being slightly naive to say, if I was going to build something to replace an agency or to be the next iteration of an agency today based on everything I know - what would that look like? And I got to just build it from scratch with none of these preconceived notions and I think there were some heavy learnings from that but I would say by far if you talk about our growth that we've grown so fast last 3 years I think it's to do with this idea of being able to build without having any ideas of what it should look like or even bias” - 08:28

How do you imagine the future of work? What do you do in your business to create a fulfilling work environment? Tell us in the comments and don’t forget to say hello if you would like to share your entrepreneurship story on our podcast.

Connect with Stephanie Nadi Olson:

LinkedIn: Stephanie Nadi Olson
Twitter: @StephanieNOlson
We Are Rosie: https://www.wearerosie.com
Join We Are Rosie: https://www.wearerosie.com/join/

Also mentioned this episode:

Design Pickle: Website

Connect with A.J.Lawrence:

Website: ajlawrence.com
Email: aj@b8fpodcast.com
Instagram: @ajlawrence
LinkedIn: A.J. Lawrence
Twitter: @ajlawrence
Medium: @a.j.lawrence

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com

Making the Most of Your Entrepreneurial Journey with A.J. Lawrence May 26, 2021

In this solo episode, your host A.J. Lawrence reflects on the concept of the entrepreneurial journey. He talks about why thinking of entrepreneurship as a journey is a powerful way to stay resilient, the many entrepreneurs he has learnt from, and how to build a legacy for yourself. Tune in to discover how to create a mindset that will keep you on the right track as you build your business and improve your life.

On today’s episode:

What is the concept of the entrepreneurial journey? - 01:40
Why the best opportunity in life is entrepreneurism. - 2:16
What makes the entrepreneurial journey different.- 2:46
How using the term ‘journey’ will help you avoid toxic self-talk. - 3:13
Where do you want your entrepreneurship journey to lead you?.- 04:15
How you can reset your thinking using the journey framework. - 05:25
What is the legacy you want to have? - 06:16
Curate your mindset through other entrepreneur journeys. -10:09
What all entrepreneurs forget, even though we know it really well. - 12:45
Two things you must accept before you are able to improve as an entrepreneur.- 15:18
This is when we learn and enjoy ourselves. - 16:18
How to learn from mistakes without actually making them. - 16:46
What A.J. learned from other entrepreneurs on the show- 17:00
Are there entrepreneurism cheat codes you can use and should you use them? - 19:40
What A.J. is doing for his new business - 21:40
How you can shut out the noise and focus on the insights. - 23:24
Use this method to build towards your legacy. - 25:56
Get tickets to the Group Think festival. - 28:55

Key Takeaways:

Of all the opportunities in life, entrepreneurism is the best way to create the life you want for yourself.
It is not that our journeys are simply different, it is more so that we are presented with different opportunities and use them in different ways.
Using the term journey to describe your life as an entrepreneur will help you realize that forward movement is what matters rather than the destination.
You determine the destination you want to get to. Your destination does not have to be like everyone else’s.
Take solace in the fact that even entrepreneurs who made 8 figures have low moments and learn from them.
What we want others to think of us is usually what we think is important to us.
Use what resonates with you in other people’s stories to solidify your mindset.
Listening to other entrepreneurs helps us try on ideas and concepts.
It is not only about the risks we do take as entrepreneurs, but the risks we don’t take. It takes lots of hard work and preparation to know how to select what risk to take on.
Entrepreneurism is a process, but there is no set process.
Being able to choose your own path is the beauty of being an entrepreneur. Use entrepreneurism to create the life that you want.
See what resonates, attempt it, and take it on.
Think about the legacy you want to leave, consider what matters the most to you, and the impact you want to leave on those closest to you. Use the birthday of someone you are close to to check in on how you are progressing towards the legacy you want to leave.

What is an entrepreneur’s journey?

“An entrepreneur journey is just, to me, a framework of helping me look where I want to go; listening to other people about what they are doing on their journey so I can see what resonates with me even if it isn’t directly related to what I am doing. It could be something that helps me a better look at where I want to be going. Or even at time put in context things that I consider failures in my past to help me put into better context so that it doesn’t drag me down” - 05:25 - 05:54

Do you believe you are on a journey as an entrepreneur? What is the destination you hope to progress towards? Tell us in the comments and don’t forget to say hello if you would like to share your entrepreneurship story on our podcast.

Buy a ticket to the Group Think Festival and learn from the smartest strategists out there.

Some entrepreneurs you can learn from (mentioned in today’s episode):

Walker Deibel: Make Acquisition A Part Of Your Strategy

Mac Lackey: Build an Exit Strategy Mindset Today

Chris Guerriero: $18M Exit, Chris Guerriero, Executive Fitness Club

David Schottenstein: Use Consumer Accessibility to Your Advantage

Nathan Hirsch: How to Delegate Work and Hire Effectively

Adam Hergenrother: It Starts Inside You

Diane Prince: Scale Your Business by Knowing the “Why”

Marek Zmyslowski: Creating an 8-figure Business in the Renewable Energy Industry

Connect with A.J.Lawrence:

Website: ajlawrence.com
Email: aj@b8fpodcast.com
Instagram: @ajlawrence
LinkedIn: A.J. Lawrence
Twitter: @ajlawrence
Medium: @a.j.lawrence

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com

Sell More While Spending Less Through Channels with Stewart Townsend May 20, 2021

In today’s episode, Stewart Townsend takes us on a journey exploring what it took for him to transform his idea into a mature business. He shares insights on how you can sell more while spending and hiring less through channels. Tune in to learn more about channels and how you can start using them to grow your business.

About our Guest:

Stewart Townsend is the founder of Channel as a Service, and he is on his journey towards 8-figures. He helps grow companies by guiding them in setting up indirect sales forces, also known as channels. Previously, Stewart held leadership roles at ZenDesk, DataSift, and Sun Microsystems.

On today’s episode:

How today’s show is different - 00:57
Stewart’s journey: from selling steel to million-dollar deals with Spotify - 03:49
Oracle didn’t believe in startups 11 years ago - 07:42
Living corporate life and start-up life at the same time - 10:04
An offer he can’t refuse to have enough of it - 11:58
How Stewart found his way after losing his savings - 14:33
What is channel building? - 18:41
Why you shouldn’t pay attention to the misinformation around channels - 19:30
How did the business take off? (there was no grand plan) - 21:35
What is Stewart’s vision for his business...and why he is not exiting- 25:07
How Stewart sets himself up for a nomadic lifestyle - 29:42
Do you have to be young to be nomadic? - 33:28
How products transform from their original purpose - 34:28
Revolutionary video service that will save you days of work - 35:21
Write like this if you are making videos - 37:09
How Stewart automates his content cycle - 37:54
How channels help you scale your business and reduce your costs - 39:38
How much you can grow your revenue through channels - 41:52
What you need before you can start using channels - 42:43
One of the first things that ever went viral - 46:00
Before any company invests in you, you need to have this - 47:13
What are the points? - 49:14
How are multiple routes to market created (the marketplace model)? - 51:44
How you can now create a one-man million-dollar business - 54:23
Is it still true that 80% of businesses fail? - 55:31
What today’s fast entrepreneurship culture needs - 58:36
How to get on a free call with Stewart - 1:01:16

Key Takeaways:

You have more of an impact working within entrepreneurial spaces than you do in large corporations.
At corporate spaces you get marching orders with instructions telling you what to do, in software, as a service startup spaced there is more experimentation and excitement
It takes longer than 6 months to start driving revenue through channels when you are starting from scratch; founders have difficulty understanding this strategically.
Using channels is basically selling through third parties (affiliates, resellers, distributors) - it is an indirect sale.
Channels are looked at as second class, this is a misconception. Affiliates are a powerful mechanism to get a product out to a market at a low cost.
At its core, channels are about relationship building and strategic development
90% of Microsoft’s business goes through a channel, top corporations are heavily involved in selling through a channel
Channels are a way to grow revenue without growing a headcount around that revenue.
You can expect 23% more revenue within one year when using channels
Companies who want to use channels must have a belief that indirect sales will add value to their business.
Your customers tell you who your partners should be.
Marketplace models such as Shopify reduce barriers to entry and make life easier for entrepreneurs. However, this makes it more competitive to come out on top. That being said, each person defines what success means to them. For some people, setting up a lifestyle business and being happy is the success they aim for.
Without structure, methods, and processes that you can repeat, it is very hard to grow as a business.

What channels are (in their simplest form):

“You have a product and you want to get it to a consumer or a business. How you get it there at the lowest cost is just a method. That method is you hire a lot of direct salespeople and do a lot of marketing, or you can blend that with going through affiliates, referrals, resellers, third parties, etc. Give them a cut of the margin, pay them something, and get that deal in...affiliates are just a powerful mechanism to get a product out to a market at a low cost...that’s it.”

Have you used channels before? Have you seen success using them? Tell us in the comments and don’t forget to say hello if you would like to share your entrepreneurship story on our podcast.

Connect with Stewart Townsend:

Channel as a service website: channelasservice.com/
Stewart Townsend’s personal website: stewarttownsend.com/
LinkedIn: Stewart Townsend
Stewart’s email: stewart@stewarttownsend.com
Stewart’s Desert Rat Van on Instagram

Other links:

Dynamite circle: tropicalmba.com/join-the-dynamite-circle/

Raptor paint: raptorcoatings.com

Connect with A.J.Lawrence:

Website: ajlawrence.com
Email: aj@b8fpodcast.com
Instagram: @ajlawrence
LinkedIn: A.J. Lawrence
Twitter: @ajlawrence
Medium: @a.j.lawrence

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com

This episode is about YOU (a 5-minute update) May 18, 2021

Beyond Eight Figures is going through a makeover, and we want to know what you need from us to better help you build your empire.

Tune in to find out what’s changed and all the new things we have in store for you and don’t forget to join the conversation and let us know how we can be better for YOU.

On today’s episode:

00:45 How we’ve changed and how we’re improving.
01:58 This show is about helping you achieve your goals, so help us do that!
02:30 The real reason we run our podcast.
03:40 [Announcement] The new community we are building for YOU.
04:23 This is not a monologue, this is YOUR show.
04:57 A small favor you can help us with.

Make this show YOURS. What is one thing we can do to help you more effectively? How can we make our show more vibrant and interactive? Any guests you’d like us to host?

Tell us in the comments and don’t forget to say hello if you would like to share your entrepreneurship story on our podcast.

Connect with A.J.Lawrence:

Website: ajlawrence.com
Email: aj@b8fpodcast.com
Instagram: @ajlawrence
LinkedIn: A.J. Lawrence
Twitter: @ajlawrence
Medium: @a.j.lawrence

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com

Make Acquisition A Part Of Your Strategy with Walker Deibel May 12, 2021

Walker Deibel tells us why acquisition entrepreneurs outsmart the startup game. If you’re wondering whether you should make acquiring businesses a part of your overall plan, don’t miss the face of acquisition entrepreneurship discuss how Acquisition Lab can help. Tune in to another episode with Walker Deibel to find out more.

About our Guest:

Walker Deibel has acquired 7 companies over 10 years, co-founded several startups, and has written the best selling book Buy Then Build. He currently works as an M&A advisor with Quiet Light where he helps online-based businesses exit, as well as sharing his experiences and frameworks to help entrepreneurs learn why buying an existing company is often a better route and how to do it, through his flagship program, Acquisition Lab.

On today’s episode

Starting his own acquisition entrepreneurship journey - 2:11
Why he felt the MBA program was lacking - 4:44
The genesis for Buy Then Build - 5:33
Becoming the face of acquisition entrepreneurship - 9:04
Creating Acquisition Lab - 11:56
Pricing strategy for Acquisition Lab - 14:44
The story of John Malone & EBITDA - 18:19
The biggest mistake he made - 22:05
The 2 ways to grow: organic & acquisition - 24:28
The biggest opportunity when acquiring a baby boomer business - 31:18
The steps to becoming an acquisition entrepreneur - 36:52

Key Takeaways:

The genesis for Buy Then Build was because Walker’s MBA program didn’t teach entrepreneurs how to run small businesses, it focused on running a team at a large organization.
He wanted to build the best program possible with Acquisition Lab - something with an MBA base, but designed for acquiring businesses rather than just running them. To create a community and offer the best suite of tools possible for buyers.
If you're growing at over 20% year over year, you don’t necessarily need an acquisition strategy right now because you've got really good organic revenue growth.
If you're between $1-10 million in revenue and you're growing at 10% or less a year. Start to think about acquisition strategy, because the amount of value that you can create for your company is immense.
$10 trillion in baby boomer business value, just in the US alone, needs to transfer in the next nine years. 43% of the US economy needs to switch hands. To truly maximize value, as an acquisition entrepreneur, you need to bridge their old economy business with a new, online economy business.

Memorable Quotes by Walker Deibel:

“You get access to this curriculum and community and tools, and be fully equipped with the inspiration and environment to succeed on this path. And then if you go through it, and you decide, it's not for you, that's still a great deal. I mean, it's cheaper than an MBA class at a top university anyway.”

Are you an acquisition entrepreneur? Share your story with us in the comments. And don’t forget to say hello if you would like to share your entrepreneurship story on our podcast.

Connect with Walker Deibel:

Website: Buy Then Build
Personal website: Acquisition Lab, www.searchlist.com
Youtube: Buy Then Build
LinkedIn: Walker Deibel

Connect with A.J. Lawrence:

Website: ajlawrence.com
Email: aj@b8fpodcast.com
Instagram: @ajlawrence
LinkedIn: A.J. Lawrence
Twitter: @ajlawrence
Medium: @a.j.lawrence

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com

Why Outsourcing Work Will Help Grow Your Business with Kevin Ashcroft May 06, 2021

Kevin Ashcroft tells us why you should outsource the work necessary to grow your company and talks about his book, Outsourcing For Success, where he shares his secret sauce for growing a business by using global talent.

About our Guest:

Kevin Ashcroft started his first business when he was just 19 years old. He had no idea what he was doing when it started, but it grew and he sold it in 2011. Today, he uses the concepts he learned from his first business to not only run his new companies, Blinkered Media and WP Support Specialists, but to support and mentor other entrepreneurs. He’s also the author of Outsourcing For Success.

On today’s episode

The decision to write Outsourcing For Success - 3:21
How to build a business by outsourcing work - 5:30
The benefits of a location independent business - 11:37
How to start outsourcing work - 12:44
The different ways to use the freelancing model - 15:32
How to balance quality of deliverable vs cost - 18:44
Why you shouldn’t go for the cheapest freelancer - 19:52
How to find the diamond in the rough - 23:04
Balancing a mixed team of full time and freelancers - 27:00
How Covid is changing the image of outsourcing - 30:37
How Kevin gives back - 35:15
Inside Outsourcing For Success - 39:01

Key Takeaways:

When you begin outsourcing, start small, don’t overthink it. It’s safe, it doesn’t cost you and it doesn’t take much time, but it gives you the confidence to move forward with outsourcing bigger projects.
Focus on quality of outsourced talent rather than getting the cheapest available. Paying more for talent actually lowers your overall business costs while giving you better overall ROI.
Set the expectations of freelancers up front, to build a level of trust that flows both ways.
If you’re starting a business or you’re looking for a mentor, Kevin is offering 4 entrepreneurs every 6 months mentorship, as well as choosing one business a month for a site makeover.
The premise of Outsourcing For Success is to give business owners and entrepreneurs insight into outsourcing, how they can use it to scale their business, and to get access to skills and services they find hard to come by.

Memorable Quotes by Kevin Ashcroft:

“It's getting it done right the first time by someone who's experienced. When you deal with specialists, you get a different level of feedback, you get ideas, you get communication that can actually help you with your services and your client, it can help you get more business from your clients, and you get happier clients. You're not employing someone full time, you're bringing them in as and when you need them. And so you've got that flexibility.”

What’s been your experience of outsourcing work or hiring freelancers? Share it with us in the comments. And don’t forget to say hello if you would like to share your entrepreneurship story on our podcast.

Connect with Kevin Ashcroft:

Connect with A.J. Lawrence:

Website: ajlawrence.com
Email: aj@b8fpodcast.com
Instagram: @ajlawrence
LinkedIn: A.J. Lawrence

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com

How To 7X Your Business’ Value with John Warrillow May 04, 2021

Creating business value is one of the fundamental goals of entrepreneurship. In this episode, John Warrillow advises not to wait until you want to sell the company and develop its value. Instead, you should develop it from the very beginning. John shares his know-how in 7x your business’ value and provides a bit more insight into the entrepreneur’s mentality.

About John Warrillow:

John Warrillow, an award-winning entrepreneur and advisor, boasts an impressive track record of starting and exiting four successful companies, one of which was acquired by a public company. He is renowned as the mastermind behind The Value Builder System™, a powerful software that empowers business owners to enhance the value of their companies. Through his network of Certified Value Builders, Warrillow’s system leverages diagnostic tools like the Value Builder Score, a metric that has seen companies achieving scores of 90 or higher being valued at twice the average-performing business.

In addition to his pioneering work, Warrillow is also a celebrated author with notable contributions to the business world. His books, including “Built to Sell,” “The Automatic Customer,” and “The Art of Selling Your Business,” help business owners create valuable, sellable companies, harness recurring revenue streams, and master the art of successful business exits. These invaluable resources provide actionable strategies and proven hacks that can elevate any business to new heights of success and profitability.

Browse our curated collection of Business Books for more enriching reads.

Episode highlights:

John Warrillow believes that business should be structured in a way that doesn't depend just on the owner. You do not always need to be present. This will help you to build a tremendous value for your company and make it resistant to any major changes. [09:56]
Building a company from scratch might change the angle you look at it. Occasionally it turns out that the value is not what you think it is. On the other hand, that revelation can trigger the understanding of what actually can drive the value of your company. [17:20]
John claims that for most entrepreneurs their first business is often like training wheels. Their goals are to understand what the full life cycle of a business looks like and what potential outcomes are. [20:05]
To become a better entrepreneur you need to figure out what type of entrepreneur you are now. John highlights 3 types of them: those who are driven by competition; the ones for whom independence plays a major role in everything; and entrepreneurs who want to master their craft and be recognized for their expertise. [23:25]
John mentions the freedom point as the one where entrepreneurs realize that the sale of their business created enough wealth they never need to work again. It does not necessarily mean you will not work again but you simply do not have to. [29:48]

John Warrillow’s advice for entrepreneurs:

“As a buyer, you want a company that’s going to succeed without the owner. You’re going to write a check to the owner, and they’re going to go off into the sunset, you’re going to want a business that continues after he or she leaves. Buyers, not surprisingly, pay a huge premium for companies that can run without the owner, which is the premise behind the book, Built To Sell.”

Connect with John Warrillow:

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Build an Exit Strategy Mindset Today with Mac Lackey Apr 29, 2021

In this episode, Mac Lackey tells us why being proactively preparing your business to be sold is vital even if you do not plan to exit. Are you adding the strategic value your business needs to be sold? Tune in to another episode with Mac Lackey to find out.

About our Guest:

Mac Lackey has started and sold 6 businesses beyond 7 and 8 figures since 1995. Today, he runs ExitDNA which is a 90 day coaching program for entrepreneurs. The program helps entrepreneurs add strategic value to their companies to ultimately increase their exit valuation.

On today’s episode

Reimagining how we do business during covid-19 - 2:00
How to detect business trends early? - 3:50
When to prepare your business exit strategy? - 6:55
This is the reason entrepreneurs buy existing businesses - 11:33
Who would pay most to buy your business? - 14:03
Is your business ready for exit coaching? - 15:50
When is the best time to get exit coaching?- 19:20
Signs you are ready to exit your business - 21:17
The most exciting business opportunity of 2021- 26:00
Here is why the early exit is the best exit - 30:20
You do not have to choose between family and business - 33:10

Key Takeaways:

To detect trends early, ask yourself: What is new in the world (eg: Covid-19)? what’s going to change as a result of this new dynamic? What’s going to remain the same? What are other people doing?
1 - 3 years away from an exit is the best time to start working towards your exit.
Preparing your business to be sold is crucial regardless of whether or not you plan to sell it.
Creating value quickly and exiting early is usually easier than selling in more mature stages.
Technology today makes it much easier for entrepreneurs to create significant value fast in the early stages of the business.
Large corporations often acquire small businesses in their early stages. They can focus on distribution and scaling, as the intellectual work and product-market fit has already been established by the small business.

Memorable Quotes by Mac Lackey:
“It doesn’t matter if you ever want to sell your company or not, what you really want is you want the option. One of the ways to create the option is to decide immediately that you’re going to be proactive about it. Once you make that mental shift those things start to happen”

Do you have an exit story? Share it with us in the comments. And don’t forget to say hello if you would like to share your entrepreneurship story on our podcast.

Connect with Mac Lackey:

Exit DNA website:Exit DNA
Personal website: https://maclackey.com/
Instagram: maclackey
LinkedIn: Maclackey

Connect with A.J. Lawrence:

Website: ajlawrence.com
Email: aj@b8fpodcast.com
Instagram: @ajlawrence
LinkedIn: A.J. Lawrence

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com

The Rise of Acquisition Entrepreneurship with Parham Parastaran Apr 27, 2021

Parham Parastaran returns to Beyond 8 Figures to talk about acquisition entrepreneurship, shifting focus and his philanthropic work. Since his last visit, Parham exited his business for over $10M and now independently acquires mom and pop automotive stores. He’s also an advocate for entrepreneurs’ mental health. Catch up with Parham Parastaran on this week’s episode.

On today’s podcast:

Catching up with Parham since his last visit - 1:59
Acquisition entrepreneurship and how Parastaran is acquiring independent stores - 6:51
Merging acquired companies within your business - 9:34
Activity in acquiring mom and pop businesses- 12:28
How to find businesses that are selling - 17:00
How the focus of an entrepreneur has changed for Parastaran - 22:23
Being comfortable with not restructuring your acquisitions - 26:21
Working by yourself vs working with partners/ a team - 29:33
Learning from quitting and failures - 31:12
How Parham stopped his limiting beliefs - 34:40
How to dream big - 36:52
If your business is built off of fire and not in organized steps, it will crash - 41:18
Trends Parham is paying attention to - 42:36
Parham’s philanthropy - 46:54
Parham’s legacy - 49:14
“The better psychologically sound I became, the better businessman I become.” - 51:33

Key Takeaways:

The goal is to make little change as possible when acquiring a business
Your second round of entrepreneurship will feel different
Until you quit something, you don’t see what it is
Don’t dream too low
Take care of your mind

Connect with Parham Parastaran:

Website: Perfect Pain
Instagram: @perfectpainbook
Facebook: Parham Parastaran

Connect with A.J. Lawrence:

Website: ajlawrence.com
Email: aj@b8fpodcast.com
Instagram: @ajlawrence
LinkedIn: A.J. Lawrence

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com

Gaining Clarity as an Entrepreneur with Matthew Korban Apr 22, 2021

Business and health coach Matthew Korban returns to chat with A.J. about binding the different parts of the entrepreneurial journey. Korban talks about accountability, motivation, gaining clarity, and creating value that can make our lives better. Listen to his experiences and how he delivers promising results in harmony.

On today’s podcast:

Catching up with Korban since his last visit - 1:56
Helping people find clarity in the new normal - 3:57
Korban helps people find the real answers to their problems - 9:22
How people are getting clarity amid Covid-19 - 12:50
Incorporating yoga into business efforts - 19:01
Why Korban decided to incorporate business and life/health coaching - 22:56
What is happiness? - 30:07
“Fear will never go away…it really depends on how we perceive fear and how we let fear follow us.” - 36:22
How to use fear to build a life for your children - 39:10
”You should be worried if you’re indifferent.” - 41:28
How Korban looks at his legacy - 42:56
“You can play with products, but do not play with humans.” - 47:14

Key Takeaways:

Ask yourself the why’s and hold yourself accountable
A lot of times we do not consider the pressure around us
It's not about being happy, it's about the actions you take to fulfill what does
Happiness is subjective
Let the element of fear be on your side help and fuel you towards something better

Connect with Matthew Korban:

Website: Matthew Korban
Instagram: @matthew_korban
Twitter: @mazey27
Facebook: Matthew Korban

Connect with A.J. Lawrence:

Website: ajlawrence.com
Email: aj@b8fpodcast.com
Instagram: @ajlawrence
LinkedIn: A.J. Lawrence

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com

How to Delegate Work and Hire Effectively with Nathan Hirsch Apr 20, 2021

The importance of learning how to hire the right people and how to delegate work cannot be underestimated. It helps your business thrive and sustain a robust company culture. Nathan Hirsch is back to the show to talk about the stages of hiring effectively. He also shares his expanded knowledge on how to delegate work in the easiest way.

About Nathan Hirsch:

Nathan’s mission is to help busy online entrepreneurs to build more while working less with Outsource School. He sold his previous company, FreeUp, and used his experience together with all his knowledge of delegation, to help others hire the right people for the job.

Episode highlights:

Nathan Hirsch believes that devising the strategy of hiring is a great way to save time on taking on people. If you break this process into stages and manage them properly you will be able to go through all the stages in the fastest way. [09:03]
Another good strategy to drive your business forward is to elaborate the tools to build communication within the chain of your business in the simplest but clear way. [13:43]
Nathan states that not only does good hiring contribute to the professionalism of the team but it helps you opt for people you can count on. Trust is another core component in building a team since people you cannot trust can literally crash the business. [22:10]
Although many people focus on their future goals, Nathan believes that it can be more helpful to take it one day at a time. [27:20]
Nathan sees success as the freedom to do whatever you want whenever you want without being controlled. He also highly values the ability to help others and contribute to improving their businesses and lives. [32:10]

Nathan’s advice for entrepreneurs:

“Getting on top by yourself is not much fun. You should make sure that other people will get there with you. You should definitely take care of yourself first since it is difficult to help other people while you are in debt.”

Connect with Nathan Hirsch:

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How to Have a Happy Life as an Entrepreneur with Will Moore Apr 15, 2021

Will Moore, serial entrepreneur, life coach and happy expert, returns to the show to talk about happiness and wellness. Moore brings his professional experience and passion to the table to help entrepreneurs succeed in the most important business they’ll ever run: their lives. Listen to Moore share how to find and use core pillars, his upcoming wellness app and how to have a balanced, happy life.

On today’s podcast:

What Moore has been up to since his last visit - 1:55
Becoming aware and creating an accountability system - 4:17
Creating consistent feedback loops of positivity - 7:38
The importance of authenticity - 12:33
About Gamify Your Life, Moore’s new app - 13:23
Moore being ahead of the trends - 19:37
You’re starting to see businesses understand that their employees need to be happy - 21:35
What does success look like when it comes to the five pillars? - 27:10
Moore creating and sharing his legacy - 30:35
Moore’s upcoming programs - 35:26
Wellness and technology in the future - 37:00

Key Takeaways:

You need to have an effective accountability system
If you don’t change your habits and routines, you have no chance
Success is about figuring out what it is that you love, that you’re really good at, and making sure you’re incorporating and taking action on those things every day
Find balance in all core areas of your life

Connect with Will Moore:

Connect with A.J.Lawrence:

Website: ajlawrence.com
Email: aj@b8fpodcast.com
Instagram: @ajlawrence
LinkedIn: A.J. Lawrence

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com

Creating Owner Independence with David Finkel Apr 13, 2021

David Finkel returns to the show to share practical advice on how to create owner independence through enhancing the strategic depth of your business. He casts light on the factors that impede progress and how to mitigate them. Listen today to hear David highlight the key factors that will help your business efficiently achieve its goals.

About David Finkel:

David Finkel is the CEO of Maui Mastermind, a leading coaching company dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs on their path to success. With a passion for helping business owners, he focuses on helping them not only build thriving companies but also regain valuable time for themselves.

Beyond his role as CEO, David is a best-selling author with 12 business and financial books. His books, including "The Freedom Formula," "Making Big Money Investing in Real Estate," "Scale," "The Real Estate Fast Track," and "Making Big Money Investing in Foreclosures," offer practical guidance on achieving business success, gaining personal freedom, and mastering real estate investing, making them essential reads for anyone looking to grow their companies without sacrificing their time and well-being.

Browse our curated collection of Business Books for more enriching reads.

Episode highlights:

The FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt) Factor, results in tunnel vision, which interferes with your ability to grow your business. To counteract this, make sure that you surround yourself with people who can help you see the bigger picture (and if you are a leader, make sure that you do this for your team). [07:33]
Grow players constantly seek new challenges while role players desire to grow within a specific position. Understanding which category each of your team members falls into is vital for keeping them motivated. [15:21]
As a leader, it is your job to find the balance between flexibility and momentum within your organization. To do this, choose only 2 or 3 priorities per quarter (these should include your biggest growth-limiting factor and your biggest opportunity). [23:42]
You can’t be successful if you spread yourself too thin. As CEO, focus only on a few high-impact tasks and delegate the rest to your team. [27:13]
Celebrating your successes in business is vital for keeping your team inspired. Don’t become “the parent that your staff can never please.” [34:36]
Advice for staying focused on your quarterly plan: have an internal “check-in” process at regular intervals, bring in an outside set of eyes (e.g. a coach), build a company culture around your plan, and find people to hold you accountable. [38:42]
To have strategic depth in a business context means to have multiple people responsible for functions so that the survival of a business is not dependent on one person. Enhancing your strategic depth and owner independence will allow you to build a truly scalable company. [48:52]

David Finkel’s advice for entrepreneurs:

“You need to build a community. You need to have meetings with your clients where you can hold each other advisable. Although many entrepreneurs are like lone wolves, you are still social beings and you perform so much better when you want the respect and affirmation from a group of people who we admire.”

Connect with David Finkel:

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Creating an 8-figure Business in the Renewable Energy Industry with Marek Zmyslowski Apr 08, 2021

An accomplished entrepreneur and best-selling author, Marek Zmyslowski, returns to share his passion for renewable energy. Listen to him talk about solar energy, online business, and his goal of leaving the world in slightly better shape than it was when he arrived.

About Marek Zmyslowski:

Marek Zmyslowski is a successful entrepreneur and co-founder of Jumia Travel and HotelOnline.co, Africa's largest hotel booking portals. Recognized as one of the Ten Most Important People in Tech by IT News Africa Magazine, Marek serves as a Lead Mentor at Google's Launchpad and the World Bank's XL Africa Program. His hiring approach values individuals raised in challenging environments or those with a resilient spirit from overcoming adversity. Marek thrives in the early stages of business, focusing on ventures with exponential growth potential and continuously seeking the "unfair advantage."

Marek shares his captivating journey of entrepreneurship and adventure in his memoir, "Chasing Black Unicorns", where he offers valuable insights into the challenges and triumphs of building a groundbreaking business in Africa, making it a must-read for business owners seeking inspiration from an extraordinary journey.

For a comprehensive book review, check out this page.

Episode highlights:

Marek Zmyslowski reckons that one of the key tenets of success in business is commitment. You can build something significantly big if you stick to something for at least 5 to 10 years. It takes time to build a good team that aligns with the interests and goals of your business, and gain experience in a certain field. [07:31]
The comfort zone is the challenge a successful entrepreneur should overcome. While you are in your comfort zone, you are losing every business muscle that helped you achieve success previously. The complex system of tools and skills you have worked out on your path in your business journey will start degrading at some point and you might lose your growth opportunities. [17:20]
One of the most valuable skills is a solution-oriented mindset. Use it to dig into the understanding of business growth, the grasp of building a brand, the skill to scale the business faster, and everything that might make your business stand out among the others. [21:49]
Marek sees an ecological lifestyle as something that doesn’t clash with a luxury lifestyle. A compromise between luxury, comfort, and emotions is his direction in the solar business. [39:21]
Marek claims that it is important to find the balance between what you are lacking and what you are good at. In order to cooperate with people better than you, you have to achieve a certain level of maturity. [47:01]
Creativity comes from the constraints you put around. As an entrepreneur, you need the constraints when you play in the same sandbox for so long and you lose the ability to grow. The sandbox becomes an endless desert when there are no walls [50:03]

Marek Zmyslowski’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“It’s better to be a king of a village than a minister in Rome.”

Connect with Marek Zmyslowski:

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How to Grow and Scale Your Business with Chris Guerriero Apr 06, 2021

Business advisor, investor and mentor Chris Guerriero returns to the show to catch up A.J. and team on life since his last visit. Listen to Guerriero share advice on how to help listeners grow their business and create teams, culture, and business systems that yield multiple multimillion dollar businesses.

On today’s podcast:

A process for handling obstacles - 2:07
Guerriero’s business investments and main drivers for growth- 2:48
“My companies are built to fill my buckets for my life.” - 4:18
How do you know when you have the right person for you business? - 5:30
Core competency - 9:20
“The biggest obstacle in everybody’s life is lack of clarity.” - 10:48
An evolutionary journey - 14:10
Finding the right group of people working for your business - 17:00
The marriage of online and offline tactics - 18:44
Growing a business instead of searching for money - 23:41
The definition of happiness - 25:42
“The best thing you can do for your money is keep it where you understand it.” - 31:44
Process org charts - 35:17
Learning from numbers - 39:46
Finding the right people that take ownership- 41:40
Mentorships within businesses - 45:07
Mapping org charts - 46:07
Meetings run companies - 48:35
Communication in business - 58:55
Leave your ego at the door and ask for help - 1:06:32

Key Takeaways:

A majority of businesses that failed because of Covid were in shock initially
The main thing that drives growth in business is people
Don’t judge people by what they think or say, only by what they do
If you put the right people together, then you’re not going to have an obstacle come up

Connect with Chris Guerriero:

Connect with A.J.Lawrence:

Website: ajlawrence.com
Email: aj@b8fpodcast.com
Instagram: @ajlawrence
LinkedIn: A.J. Lawrence

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com

Share What You Know With the World with Mitch Russo Apr 01, 2021

Mitch Russo comes back to the show to tell how sharing everything you know with the world can come in handy in building and what marketing trends are worth watching right now. He shares his thoughts on business transformation and development.

About Mitch Russo:

Mitch Russo is an entrepreneur with a background in business. He started his journey by creating a software company in his garage and selling it for 8 figures. He then worked directly with Tony Robbins and Chad Holmes having built a 25 million business together. Mitch’s philosophy is deeply rooted in building relationships with his clients and the idea that knowledge and experience should be shared with others.

As a renowned author, Mitch has penned influential books, including “Power Tribes,” “Coach Elevation,” and “The Invisible Organization.” These comprehensive blueprints empower readers to achieve exponential growth, elevate coaching sessions, and establish thriving virtual companies.

For detailed reviews of these exceptional books, please visit: Power Tribes, Coach Elevation, and The Invisible Organization (Book Reviews)

Episode highlights:

Mitch Russo shares why communication and feedback enable you to build proper rapport with your clients. Staying persistently involved in the clients’ lives is the gateway to successful cooperation and progress in your business. [10:06]
Since Covid-19 started, Mitch was looking for ways to help entrepreneurs overcome the new challenges. As a result, Mitch started working with speakers, and different companies to transform all the intellectual properties into online programs and recover revenue. [18:43]
Relationships are everything. [20:25]
Mitch believes that “marketing is never a matter of why but a matter of what”. As an entrepreneur, you need to explore what works and what does not by experimenting and testing. That is the best way to find the techniques, approaches, and strategies to make your business thrive. [39:21]
Credibility is something you earn. You do not get it simply because you are surrounded by luxurious things. [43:30]

Mitch Russo’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“You start with the assessment, because the assessment is going to tell you a lot about who you are dealing with, and the assessment starts with always the same most successful question ever invented: what kind of CEO are you, what kind of analyst are you, what kind of specialist are you? People want to know about themselves.”

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It Starts Inside You with Adam Hergenrother Mar 30, 2021

You might wonder what do your feelings have to do with business management? Adam Hergenrother shares his thoughts on what success is and states that it arises from something that starts inside of you. What you feel inside when you reach your goals and your personal fulfillment are just as important as your achievements.

About Adam Hergenrother:

Adam Hergenrother is an entrepreneur and a coach whose principles are based on balancing success, spirituality, and relationships between people. In 2020 Adam’s business was among the top 5 hundred in 5000 with over 1000 percent growth over the past 3 years.

In his book, “The Founder & The Force Multiplier,” co-authored with Hallie Warner, they offer invaluable insights into forming successful partnerships with Executive Assistants or Chiefs of Staff. This groundbreaking resource equips business owners and entrepreneurs with the tools to accomplish goals, scale growth, and achieve more as individuals and a united force.

Visit our curated collection of Business Books for more enriching reads.

Episode highlights:

In the beginning, as an entrepreneur, you are the core of the organization. As your business grows, you need to be open to growing your team and getting help. And one day you will realize that you have amazing people who drive your business. [05:55]
The hardest decisions in business are always about money and people. You should make the decisions that are best for the organization. If you cannot do that, it will be tough to be a leader from the very beginning. Clear understanding and clear expectations can help you to set the exact direction for your company and its team. [10:46]
20 % of your time equals 80% of your result. You cannot spend your time on all people equally. Instead, you have to focus on those who add more value, who can give you the biggest return. [18:46]
The truth is some people will love or hate your business just because of their personal preferences. It does not have to do anything with the quality of your work. As an entrepreneur, you still should build the business according to your standards, be yourself, and focus on people who share your philosophy. [60:27]

Adam Hergenrother’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“You’ve got to be willing to be authentic. Give yourself permission to be you. There will always be people who love or hate you. You should not let other people’s flavors rule your own path in life and business with your standards and your culture.”

Connect with Adam Hergenrother:

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Experience Outweighs Enthusiasm Every Time with Steven Sashen, Xero Shoes Mar 25, 2021

Episode highlights:

Steven casts light on some interesting research that contradicts popular beliefs around footwear. According to doctors, the injury rate nowadays is almost the same as it was 50 years ago, which means that current models of sports footwear do not serve their cause to help. [11:02]
Experience outweighs enthusiasm, but you need to be able to shape that and get your message across to your customer either way. [27:38]
The trend of looking for real business that makes real money by helping real people is already starting to happen. Steven is intended to demonstrate there is a value in it and that you can build something that will last and bring practical feck. [29:38]
To attract people to what you do, you have to produce something of great value for your clients, to make a really fantastic show for them to get interested particularly in your projects. If you cannot do that, there is something wrong with your business. [38:26]
Steven explains that shoe size is a relative measure depending on different variables such as personal preferences, measure length, types of material, brand, your own ideas on size, etc. There is no true size. [1:20:25]

Steven Sashen’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“To make people stop you need to do something to get their attention. The biggest thing is that you should provide something of value, give people a really great experience.”

Connect with Steven Sashen:

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Affiliate Disclaimer: Please note that this episode contains affiliate links, and if you make a purchase through those links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Get a Clear Picture of What You Actually Do with Jonny Cooper Mar 23, 2021

A.J. and his team welcome returning guest Jonny Cooper, the creator of Jonny Hates Marketing. Since Cooper’s first chat in 2018, the demand for coaching, training and therapy has increased. Supplying these services has also evolved. Listen to Cooper share his insight on business foundations and why you shouldn’t dive into marketing too quickly.

On today’s podcast:

What’s new for Jonny - 2:36
Jonny Hates Marketing - 3:31
Divided by a common language - 6:20
How did Jonny start “Jonny Hates Marketing” - 10:00
Know what you actually do in your business - 14:30
“You haven’t started marketing yet” - 17:08
The value of personal brands - 18:07
The trend Jonny is excited about right now - 20:06
Ikigai - 20:40
A brief walk-through of Jonny’s program - 28:30

Key Takeaways:

There’s a higher demand for coaching, training, and therapy
Client Attraction Blueprint has been selling out since its launch in March 2018
Get a clear picture of what you actually do
Lay down a business foundation before you start marketing
Everyone with a social media account has a personal brand
Online business is turning from sensible to mandatory

Connect with Jonny Cooper:

Connect with A.J.Lawrence:

Website: ajlawrence.com
Email: aj@b8fpodcast.com
Instagram: @ajlawrence
LinkedIn: A.J. Lawrence

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com

Use Consumer Accessibility to Your Advantage with David Schottenstein Mar 18, 2021

A.J. and his team chat with David Schottenstein, founder of Privé Revaux, an affordable, high quality sunglasses and eyeglasses brand. Approached by Jamie Foxx, Schottenstein took his idea and turned it into a 9-figure business. Acquired by Sofilo in 2020, Privé Revaux continues to sell affordable, quality products.

Listen how Schottenstein grew and sold his businesses by using consumer accessibility and celebrity influence.

On today’s podcast:

The disruption business model, here to stay - 3:22
“As consumers are much more better informed and much more savvy they are more willing to shift their brand loyalty” - 4:50
How dropping prices keeping quality will affect your audience - 6:47
Why partnering with celebrities was part of his strategy to build his company - 8:31
“We live in a world where crossing the ocean isn't so far away anymore” - 10:06
“During your entrepreneur journey you build skill sets that can take you to the next level” - 12:05
The hardest thing to achieve in his businesses - 12:31
A successful business he won’t do again - 14:16
SM and instant communication: the easy access to consumers to sell products or tell stories without spending a large amount of money - 16:38
What is the main differentiating factor for making a successful business and scale it - 18:16
His option nº1 in terms of investment - 20:48
The story behind starting disruption businesses - 23:26
Business first or family first? - 24:45
Why having charitable goals will keep you motivated as a business owner - 28:54

Key Takeaways:

Informed consumers and their impact on today’s businesses
Create the ability to sell a product using social media
Giving back, one of the most important parts of the entrepreneur journey.
Aligning business journeys and family.

Connect with David Schottenstein

Connect with A.J.Lawrence:

Website: ajlawrence.com
Email: aj@b8fpodcast.com
Instagram: @ajlawrence
LinkedIn: A.J. Lawrence

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com

Scale Your Business by Knowing the “Why” with Diane Prince Mar 16, 2021

A.J. and his team chat with Diane Prince, founder and entrepreneurial coach, who has 25 years of experience creating and scaling businesses. Now building a business to help founders make the journey easier, Prince shares how she grew and sold her company within 6 years, what made her decide to start coaching and why people should know their “why” when it comes to starting businesses and scaling them.

On today’s podcast:

Diane Prince helps entrepreneurs and founders make the journey to 8 figures easier
Prince has 25 years of experience in learning what worked and what didn’t
Half of her clients are pre-revenue and the other half are revenue around $1M looking to scale
It’s difficult to build an 8 figure business without having a strong connection to your “why”
Part of what helps scale is not being a perfectionist
Diane Prince explains why you should hire people who know their "why"

Connect with Diane Prince:

Website: dianeprince.co
LinkedIn: Diane Prince

Connect with A.J.Lawrence:

Website: ajlawrence.com
Email: aj@b8fpodcast.com
Instagram: @ajlawrence
LinkedIn: A.J. Lawrence

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com

Our Vision For Beyond 8 Figures Jan 02, 2021

Connect with A.J.Lawrence:

Website: ajlawrence.com
Email: aj@b8fpodcast.com
Instagram: @ajlawrence
LinkedIn: A.J. Lawrence

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email:team@b8fpodcast.com

We Bought B8F! Jan 01, 2021

Who is A.J.? (2:31)

A.J. has been a fan of the show for quite a while, and he was too excited when he heard that Steve was looking for an opportunity for the podcast. A.J. was looking to create a new kind of show to reach out to people on the journey past eight-figures, and this podcast was it.
A.J. has been playing around with the internet since the ’80s. He sold a company back in the ’90s about doing web development when people were still trying to figure out how to close h1 tags. A.J. has had some good luck over the years and a lot of stupidity, and he learned a few things from experience.
He has been trying to build concepts for a long time and, at the end of the day, has built a few agencies. He has sold most of them into web development, media buying, and dealing in New York.

What makes A.J. so bullish about podcasting, and where do they see it going? (15:36)

A.J. has spent a lot of his career working in developing communities for brands, basically how to get people to be interested in what brands they were talking about and have done in the past.
A.J. and his team see it as a media business where you are acquiring audience members because the audience is where the value lies. It’s the community that you build for your podcast that is truly important.

Connect with A.J. Lawrence:

Website: ajlawrence.com
Email: aj@b8fpodcast.com
Instagram: @ajlawrence
LinkedIn: A.J. Lawrence

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email:team@b8fpodcast.com

8 Figures with Matthew Korban from protecting his house with a rifle in Lebanon to an award winning business Aug 25, 2020

8 Figures with Matthew Korban from protecting his house with a rifle in Lebanon to an award winning business

From protecting his home in Beirut with a rifle to winning multiple awards & international success.

Today you’ll find Matthew coaching and helping entrepreneurs to restore balance to their lives without compromising their career. His journey to 8 figure success was anything but an easy ride. From protecting his home in Beirut with a rifle to winning multiple awards & international success then to almost die of health complications, Matthew Korban has been through a lot.

Matthew was born in Lebanon, Beirut, but on the move his entire life. Planning since childhood to leave Lebanon, he eventually settled in the USA, and chose Ohio to raise his kids. He enjoyed success in the corporate world; but realizing that his knowledge of languages and cultures of the middle east was a great opportunity to set himself apart in a crowded entrepreneurial world; he jumped headfirst into building his consulting business to 8 figures. A near death experience and a wake up call of having 5 months to live gave him the incentive to pivot; from the high stress business consulting business, into the wellness industry.

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Matthew discuss:

3 golden rules
Asking ourselves if we are willing to compromise our friends, family and health just to build a big company just to be under the spotlight.
If you don’t take risks, you are going to say where you are.

Key Takeaways:

You can still achieve your dream, while maintaining a work life balance, it might just take a little longer

Best Advice I Ever Received: Trust your feelings, trust yourself, you always have your own best unconditional interests

Best Advice I’d Give To Someone Who Wants To Build A $10m+ Business: Ask for help. It takes real courage and overcoming your own pride to do so.

Connect with Matthew:

Website: MatthewKorban.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matthewkorban

Instagram: @matthew_korban

LinkedIn: Matthew Korban

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com

$321 Million Dollar Exit From Restaurant Delivery, Will Moore CEO of Moore Momentum Jun 10, 2020

$321 Million Dollar Exit From Restaurant Delivery, Will Moore CEO of Moore Momentum

$321 Million Dollar Exit, Will Moore | Restaurant Delivery | Moore Momentum

$321 million exit: doorstep delivery. Imagine having WIll Moore’s ”nothing can stop me” attitude, and wondering what kind of problems do people have right now, that need to be solved. But it wasn’t always that way, rewind to college where he described himself as having a typical victim attitude until a serendipitous event changed his life forever. Now he’s the guy known for catching sight of and observing trends, in a big way.

Rolling back a few years; he had graduated from Rollins College and was enjoying success in real estate. Looking for trends and problems that needed solving. The answer flashed, the need for quality college-friendly housing. Arise Rollins Rentals, the solution for his alma mater and the momentum for his financial success.

Business was booming. Like many, he was working long hours and ordering a lot of take out. Takeout wasn’t new but a variety of choices were, making ordering in food a little bit sweet and a little bit sour. Tiring of Pizza or Chinese food options spawned his next venture, the restaurant industry’s first doorway delivery company.

Growth was hydrated with influxing franchise dollars and gobbling up small town USA delivery businesses. Fast food forward a decade to cash out at $321Million!

Will’s latest message is ripe today. When the current climate is one where, the rubber meets the road. Whether you’re speaking your truth, taking the moral high ground or worried about alienating people, you are damned if you do and damned if you don’t. But it makes us who we are, and it’s part of our core.

What he knows for sure? Money is not the secret to happiness. In fact, Will believes our greatest entrepreneurial business is one’s life. Balancing mindset, emotional and physical health, building relationships and giving back to the world. Spending time with people you love and building momentum in all 5-core areas of your life.

After exiting Doorway Delivery, WIll’s purpose is to Shine his spotlight and expertise into the latest trend of self awareness. Will has discovered financial and career makes up only ⅕ of our happiness quotient. Real happiness requires us to fire on all cylinders in the 5-core areas of life. The first part is building momentum; and he offers a gamified experience that helps one stop the failure habits in each of the five core areas of their life, replacing them with success habits. The second: teaches how to use your five cores so you too, can fire on all cylinders.

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Will discuss

Backlash
It’s not about words it’s about actions
A polarized nation struggling for answers.
Lessons on scale and looking for an exit.
Barriers to entry: If you have a good product, the key is to develop loyal customers through great consistent experience is your best barrier to entry.
5 core areas of your life
Rollup strategy

Key Takeaways:

Moremomentum.com Download your “What’s your core”
Trade: WTRH and accompanying disclaimer

Best Advice I Ever Received:

Stop talking about and do it. Fail beautifully and improve every single day.

Connect with Will:

Twitter: @mooremomentum1

Website: http://www.mooremomentum.com

Email: will@mooremomentum.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBBnybi_zZquxqB9rZIP6Zw

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mooremomentum

Instagram: @mooremomentum and @5scorelife

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email:team@b8fpodcast.com

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Steve Olsher, Liquor.comOctober 16, 2019
$140M in Revenue – Dave Woodward, ClickFunnelsOctober 9, 2019
$100M Exits – Kevin Harrington, several companiesSeptember 18, 2019
$200M+ Annually – Chris Cicchinelli, Pure RomanceSeptember 12, 2019
$20M Annually – Dr. Angela Lauria, The Author IncubatorAugust 28, 2019
$50M Exit – David Schottenstein, Astor & BlackAugust 14, 2019
$13M in Annual Revenue – Steven Sashen, Xero Shoes August 7, 2019
$37M+ in Revenue – Adam Hergenrother, Adam Hergenrother CompaniesJuly 31, 2019
$16M+ in Revenue – Doug Morneau, Real Marketing Real FastJuly 24, 2019
$100M+ in Annual Revenue – Klee Irwin, Irwin NaturalsJuly 3, 2019
$50M+ in Annual Revenue – Dr. Lori Barr, The Doctor’s MentorJune 26, 2019
$100M+ Exits and IPOs – Kenneth Aldrich, multiple companiesJune 18, 2019
$2.5B+ in Assets – Dwayne Clark, Aegis LivingJune 11, 2019
$300M+ in Revenue – Cameron Mitchell, Cameron Mitchell RestaurantsJune 4, 2019
$1B+ in Assets – Andres Pira, Blue Horizon DevelopmentsMay 28, 2019
$20M+ in Annual Revenue – Steve Gray, Primal LabsMay 21, 2019
$5B Exits – Jeff Saling, Exited 3 CompaniesMay 14, 2019
$10M+ in Annual Revenue – Aaron Young Runs Multiple CompaniesMay 7, 2019
$80M+ Exit – Michael Coles, Great American Cookie CompanyApril 30, 2019
$10M+ in Annual Revenue – Nathan Hirsch, Freee UpApril 23, 2019
$10M+ Exit – Mark Timm Exited 7 BusinessesApril 16, 2019
$10M+ in annual revenue – Chalene JohnsonApril 9, 2019
$100M+ Figure Exit – Michael Houlihan, Barefoot WinesApril 2, 2019
$10M+ in annual revenue – Ryan Levesque, ASK MethodMarch 26, 2019
$40M+ in annual revenue – Tony Falkenstein, Just Water Intl.March 19, 2019
$25M in annual revenue – Kisha Mays, Just FearlessMarch 12, 2019
$40M Exit – Frank Shamrock, Strike ForceMarch 5, 2019
$10M+ in annual revenue – Jonathan Cronstedt Runs KajabiFebruary 26, 2019
$10M+ in annual revenue – Garrett White Runs Wake Up Warrior Which GeneratesFebruary 19, 2019
$30M in annual revenue – Mark Evans, American Wealth Builders, Cash Flow Lead GenFebruary 12, 2019
$30M in annual revenue – Mike O’Hagan, MiniMovers, Shore360, and MikesBusinessToursFebruary 5, 2019
$10M in annual revenue – Lee Richter, Richter Communication & Design GroupJanuary 29, 2019
$10M in annual revenue – Nyasha Gwatidzo, BanyaJanuary 22, 2019
$10M+ Exit – Parham Parastaran, Car-X Tire and AutoJanuary 15, 2019
$10M Exit – Björn Öste, DynasoftJanuary 8, 2019
$2B Exit – Stuart Taylor, Taylor Nelson and AssociatesDecember 24, 2018
$50M in annual revenue – Mike McDerment, FreshbooksDecember 17, 2018
$10M+ Exit – Chip Conley, Joie de Vivre Hospitality December 11, 2018
$10M+ in annual revenue- Sabri Suby, King KongDecember 4, 2018
$36M in annual revenue- Marx Acosta-Rubio, OnestopNovember 27, 2018
$83M Exit- Sharran Srivatsaa, TelesNovember 20, 2018
$30M Exit- David Hauser, GrasshopperNovember 13, 2018
$30M in annual revenue- Colin Wayne, Redline SteelNovember 6, 2018
$50M in revenue- Steve Layton, Layton GroupsOctober 30, 2018
Multiple 8 and 9 Figure Exits – Roland FrasierOctober 23, 2018
$34M in revenue- Antonio T. Smith, Jr. ATS Jr CompaniesOctober 15, 2018
$10+ M Exit- Dan KuschellOctober 8, 2018
$10+ M Exit- Melissa Krivachek, Melissa Krivachek CompaniesOctober 1, 2018
$11M Exit- Viki Winterton, Expert Insights PublishingSeptember 24, 2018
$10.5M Exit- Mitch Russo, Timeslips CorporationSeptember 17, 2018
£11.2M Exit- Jonny Cooper, Money DeskSeptember 10, 2018
$4.5B Exit- Christopher Lochhead, Mercury InteractiveSeptember 3, 2018
$100M in Annual Revenue – Reid Tracy, Hay House, Inc.August 29, 2018
$20M in Annual Revenue – Anik Singal, LurnAugust 29, 2018
Billionaire Naveen Jain, ViomeAugust 26, 2018
Brian Smith | UGG AustraliaAugust 24, 2018
Introducing Beyond 8 FiguresAugust 22, 2018

View more episodes HERE Recent Comments

Podcast Reviews

Awesome! by from United Stateswmoore07
Steve does an amazing job of extracting the best of the best out of his guests allowing me as the listener to take the insights and put them into actionable items in my own life. I particularly enjoyed the episode on 6/10/20 with Will Moore of Moore Momentum. Keep it up!

Archives

$300M+ Houston Curtis, The Billion Dollar Hollywood Heist May 27, 2020

$300M+ Houston Curtis, The Billion Dollar Hollywood Heist

$300M+ Houston Curtis, The Billion Dollar Hollywood Heist | Kardsharp Media & Creator of Many Multi – Million Dollar Entertainment Brands

Do what you love and the money will come

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Houston Curtis joins the crew on Beyond 8 Figures, he has some great stories of life as a Former MTV network executive and Creator of niche-driven multi-million dollar entertainment brands, Houston Curtis has been called a “Visionary” and “trail-blazer” by his peers. Houston brings with him over 20 years of success and experience as a Producer, EP, Show-runner, Direct Marketing expert, independent Label President, writer, speaker, and entertainment consultant. Houston has built multi million dollar after multi million dollar business all in the entertainment space.

One of Houstons stories was about how he had created backyard wrestling, pre youtube, how he had to get people to mail him VHS tapes of the crazy backyard stunts, even MTV deemed these too much for TV. If Houston looked back now he says he would have put all his content on Youtube as soon as it launched and waited for a revenue model to be created.

Houston Curtis’s Founder and CEO positions have included start-ups Backyard Wrestling Inc., Xtreme Entertainment Group, Big Vision Entertainment and Legend Group Studios. Collectively, these companies have grossed over 100 million dollars in revenues from exploitation of all content rights since their 1999, 2001, 2003 and 2014 inception.

Houston has created and executive produced shows, films and a variety of television programming for FOX, MTV, CBS, A&E, GSN, G4, DirecTV, Warner Brothers, Sony Studios, and Twentieth Television among others.

Most notable Houston co-founded of the largest private poker game in Hollywood history along side actor Tobey Maguire. As they engineer behind the events that inspired the book and film Molly’s Game, Curtis new book Billion Dollar Hollywood Heist, tells the true rise and fall story of this now legendary poker game, and how when it all came crashing down, Curtis crashed hardest.

In this episode, Steve, Richard, and Houston discuss:

Content Content Content
From MTV to Backyard Wrestling to Professional Poker
Say Yes to Opportunities
Don’t let anyone take over your content
Find what you love and the money will come

Key Takeaways:

Keep your content, make sure you own it
If Youtube was starting over today he would have put every piece of content on there and waited for a revenue model
If you are blessed to find something you love so much and you can make money doing it, do it

Best Advice I Ever Received:

“Do what you love and the money will come”

Best Advice I’d Give To Someone Who Wants To Build A $10m+ Business:

“I’ve always taken an aim for the stars, land on the moon approach to growing a company. If you want to build a 10 million dollar business, set out to build a billion dollar business instead”

Connect with Houston:

Twitter: @Houston_Curtis

Website: https://www.kardsharp.com

Email: stacked@KardSharp.com

YouTube: youtube.com/user/buildmybusiness

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/houstoncurtis

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kardsharp89

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com

Search for:

Recent Episodes

8 Figures with Matthew Korban from protecting his house with a rifle in Lebanon to an award winning business
August 25, 2020
$321 Million Dollar Exit From Restaurant Delivery, Will Moore CEO of Moore Momentum
June 10, 2020
$100 Million Business | Marek Zmyslowski, Investing in Africa
May 5, 2020
$10M+ | Mac Lackey Started, Scaled & Sold 6 Businesses and Raised Over $75 Million in Capital
April 28, 2020
$10M+ 2 Businesses – Susie Carder, CEO | SD Consulting
April 7, 2020
$10M+ Annual Revenue – Annie Hyman Pratt, CEO | Executive Consultant Leading Edge Teams |The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Family
March 24, 2020
$10+ Million in Annual Revenue – Rich Schefren, Strategic Profits
March 5, 2020
$10+ Million in Annual Revenue – Rod Khleif, Lifetime Cash Flow Podcast
February 20, 2020
$11.5 Million Annual Revenue – Nick Bogacz, Caliente Pizza & Drafthouse
January 23, 2020
$18M Exit, Chris Guerriero, Executive Fitness Club
January 18, 2020
$10M+ Exits – David Finkel, Multiple Companies
January 16, 2020
$100M+ Exit – Minnie Ingersoll, Shift
November 13, 2019
Rebecca Costa, Dazai Advertising Inc.
November 6, 2019
$10M in Annual Revenue – TK Kader, ToutApp
October 30, 2019
Recapping the Quarter
October 23, 2019
Steve Olsher, Liquor.com
October 16, 2019
$140M in Revenue – Dave Woodward, ClickFunnels
October 9, 2019
$100M Exits – Kevin Harrington, several companies
September 18, 2019
$200M+ Annually – Chris Cicchinelli, Pure Romance
September 12, 2019
$20M Annually – Dr. Angela Lauria, The Author Incubator
August 28, 2019
$50M Exit – David Schottenstein, Astor & Black
August 14, 2019
$13M in Annual Revenue – Steven Sashen, Xero Shoes
August 7, 2019
$37M+ in Revenue – Adam Hergenrother, Adam Hergenrother Companies
July 31, 2019
$16M+ in Revenue – Doug Morneau, Real Marketing Real Fast
July 24, 2019
$100M+ in Annual Revenue – Klee Irwin, Irwin Naturals
July 3, 2019
$50M+ in Annual Revenue – Dr. Lori Barr, The Doctor’s Mentor
June 26, 2019
$100M+ Exits and IPOs – Kenneth Aldrich, multiple companies
June 18, 2019
$2.5B+ in Assets – Dwayne Clark, Aegis Living
June 11, 2019
$300M+ in Revenue – Cameron Mitchell, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants
June 4, 2019
$1B+ in Assets – Andres Pira, Blue Horizon Developments
May 28, 2019
$20M+ in Annual Revenue – Steve Gray, Primal Labs
May 21, 2019
$5B Exits – Jeff Saling, Exited 3 Companies
May 14, 2019
$10M+ in Annual Revenue – Aaron Young Runs Multiple Companies
May 7, 2019
$80M+ Exit – Michael Coles, Great American Cookie Company
April 30, 2019
$10M+ in Annual Revenue – Nathan Hirsch, Freee Up
April 23, 2019
$10M+ Exit – Mark Timm Exited 7 Businesses
April 16, 2019
$10M+ in annual revenue – Chalene Johnson
April 9, 2019
$100M+ Figure Exit – Michael Houlihan, Barefoot Wines
April 2, 2019
$10M+ in annual revenue – Ryan Levesque, ASK Method
March 26, 2019
$40M+ in annual revenue – Tony Falkenstein, Just Water Intl.
March 19, 2019
$25M in annual revenue – Kisha Mays, Just Fearless
March 12, 2019
$40M Exit – Frank Shamrock, Strike Force
March 5, 2019
$10M+ in annual revenue – Jonathan Cronstedt Runs Kajabi
February 26, 2019
$10M+ in annual revenue – Garrett White Runs Wake Up Warrior Which Generates
February 19, 2019
$30M in annual revenue – Mark Evans, American Wealth Builders, Cash Flow Lead Gen
February 12, 2019
$30M in annual revenue – Mike O’Hagan, MiniMovers, Shore360, and MikesBusinessTours
February 5, 2019
$10M in annual revenue – Lee Richter, Richter Communication & Design Group
January 29, 2019
$10M in annual revenue – Nyasha Gwatidzo, Banya
January 22, 2019
$10M+ Exit – Parham Parastaran, Car-X Tire and Auto
January 15, 2019
$10M Exit – Björn Öste, Dynasoft
January 8, 2019
$2B Exit – Stuart Taylor, Taylor Nelson and Associates
December 24, 2018
$50M in annual revenue – Mike McDerment, Freshbooks
December 17, 2018
$10M+ Exit – Chip Conley, Joie de Vivre Hospitality
December 11, 2018
$10M+ in annual revenue- Sabri Suby, King Kong
December 4, 2018
$36M in annual revenue- Marx Acosta-Rubio, Onestop
November 27, 2018
$83M Exit- Sharran Srivatsaa, Teles
November 20, 2018
$30M Exit- David Hauser, Grasshopper
November 13, 2018
$30M in annual revenue- Colin Wayne, Redline Steel
November 6, 2018
$50M in revenue- Steve Layton, Layton Groups
October 30, 2018
Multiple 8 and 9 Figure Exits – Roland Frasier
October 23, 2018
$34M in revenue- Antonio T. Smith, Jr. ATS Jr Companies
October 15, 2018
$10+ M Exit- Dan Kuschell
October 8, 2018
$10+ M Exit- Melissa Krivachek, Melissa Krivachek Companies
October 1, 2018
$11M Exit- Viki Winterton, Expert Insights Publishing
September 24, 2018
$10.5M Exit- Mitch Russo, Timeslips Corporation
September 17, 2018
£11.2M Exit- Jonny Cooper, Money Desk
September 10, 2018
$4.5B Exit- Christopher Lochhead, Mercury Interactive
September 3, 2018
$100M in Annual Revenue – Reid Tracy, Hay House, Inc.
August 29, 2018
$20M in Annual Revenue – Anik Singal, Lurn
August 29, 2018
Billionaire Naveen Jain, Viome
August 26, 2018
Brian Smith | UGG Australia
August 24, 2018
Introducing Beyond 8 Figures
August 22, 2018

View more episodes HERE

Recent Comments

Podcast Reviews

Awesome!
by from United Stateswmoore07
Steve does an amazing job of extracting the best of the best out of his guests allowing me as the listener to take the insights and put them into actionable items in my own life. I particularly enjoyed the episode on 6/10/20 with Will Moore of Moore Momentum. Keep it up!

Archives

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

$100 Million Business | Marek Zmyslowski, Investing in Africa May 06, 2020

Joining us today is Marek Zmyslowski, a private investor, top 10 person in tech, and co-founder of Jumia Travel. In this episode, Marek shares his insights on the importance of having your hands in many things. He also discusses why you should explore various opportunities and diversify your ventures.

Get ready for an enlightening discussion that will inspire you to embrace a multi-faceted approach to business to unlock success.

About Marek Zmyslowski:

For a comprehensive book review, check out this page.

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Marek discuss:

You need to have your hands in many things
The further you are in business the more opportunities you have
Launched a new product in telemedicine in a few days
Always looking for the low hanging fruit

Key Takeaways:

More opportunities – more chances for success
Leverage relationships
Partner with the right people

Best Advice I Ever Received:

“Don’t listen to too much advice”

Best Advice I’d Give To Someone Who Wants To Build A $10m+ Business:

In order to get from $1 mIllion to $10 million, you will have to unlearn many things that got you from $0-$1 Million

Connect with Marek:

Twitter: @marekchinedu
Website:https://marekzmyslowski.com/
Email: letsworktogether@marekzmyslowski.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mzmyslowski/

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast

$10M+ | Mac Lackey Started, Scaled & Sold 6 Businesses and Raised Over $75 Million in Capital Apr 28, 2020

$10M+ | Mac Lackey Started, Scaled & Sold 6 Businesses and Raised Over $75 Million in Capital

Mac has been an entrepreneur his whole life. He has built, scaled and exited 6 businesses, 5 of them were at an 8 figure exit or 8 figure in revenue so he has touched the 8 figure mark many times in his career. This week on Beyond 8 Figures the crew reminisce with Mac about the dot com crash, the 2008 real estate crash and Steve and Mac both shared that they were stunned at the amount of businesses who were not able to navigate the 30-60 days so far into this current crisis and have had to close.

Mac shares that the real role of a founder is to navigate turbulence and to have the ability to have staying power. What it means to have staying power is the ability to pivot to another way of serving your customers who may not be buying your current product, if you can sell a different product to an existing audience then you have given yourself staying power. Mac shares his experience in his first internet company in the mid 90’s starting it in a space where no one knows they need what you are trying to sell, having to educate a new industry and hire for jobs that don’t exist and then finally selling the “what is possible” vision to exit this company for millions in his 20’s.

Now’s the time, here is the neon sign, go do it and try something new but be careful of the “new” founders mistake don’t try to sell a market, find a product for a market that already wants it says Mac. If you have an idea, test for demand in the market and is that demand in cash? Mac suggests, you raise the capital to turn up the volume on something that is already working not the opposite. So many great nuggets in this interview be sure to tune in to get the rest!

Mac Lackey is an American entrepreneur who has started, scaled and sold six companies. Mac and his companies have been featured on CNN, The Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, Business North Carolina, USA Today and The New York Times. Notable ventures include: KYCK (acquired by NBC Sports), Mountain Khakis (acquired by Remington) and Internet Soccer Network (acquired by division of News Corp/Sky).He additionally served as a member of the Board of Directors for Lending Tree (NASDAQ: TREE) for over five years. Mac was a collegiate All-American and played professional soccer before starting his first Internet company in 1995.

[spp-tweet tweet=”Founders, your number one job is to figure out how to manage turbulence” @maclackey

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Mac discuss:

Make your clients chemically dependent on you, offer many services to fewer clients
What are the opportunities when you reinvent yourself from a super star in one industry to unknown in another?
What business was like on the internet in 1995
How do you sell a business and enhance value “selling what’s possible”

Key Takeaways:

Lessons from previous pivots from economy downturns
What is the process and system to replicate an 8 figure business
Founders need to manage turbulence
Selling without a multiple

Best Advice I Ever Received:

Helping people achieve their goals and dreams is great business.

Best Advice I’d Give To Someone Who Wants To Build A $10m+ Business:

The fastest way to scale is through leveraged distribution. Finding someone who already has the customers you are trying to reach with your product/service.

Connect with Mac:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lackeymac

Twitter: @MacLackey

Website: http://maclackey.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/maclackey

Email: mac@maclackey.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maclackey/

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: team@b8fpodcast.com

Search for:

Recent Episodes

8 Figures with Matthew Korban from protecting his house with a rifle in Lebanon to an award winning business
August 25, 2020
$321 Million Dollar Exit From Restaurant Delivery, Will Moore CEO of Moore Momentum
June 10, 2020
$300M+ Houston Curtis, The Billion Dollar Hollywood Heist
May 27, 2020
$100 Million Business | Marek Zmyslowski, Investing in Africa
May 5, 2020
$10M+ 2 Businesses – Susie Carder, CEO | SD Consulting
April 7, 2020
$10M+ Annual Revenue – Annie Hyman Pratt, CEO | Executive Consultant Leading Edge Teams |The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Family
March 24, 2020
$10+ Million in Annual Revenue – Rich Schefren, Strategic Profits
March 5, 2020
$10+ Million in Annual Revenue – Rod Khleif, Lifetime Cash Flow Podcast
February 20, 2020
$11.5 Million Annual Revenue – Nick Bogacz, Caliente Pizza & Drafthouse
January 23, 2020
$18M Exit, Chris Guerriero, Executive Fitness Club
January 18, 2020
$10M+ Exits – David Finkel, Multiple Companies
January 16, 2020
$100M+ Exit – Minnie Ingersoll, Shift
November 13, 2019
Rebecca Costa, Dazai Advertising Inc.
November 6, 2019
$10M in Annual Revenue – TK Kader, ToutApp
October 30, 2019
Recapping the Quarter
October 23, 2019
Steve Olsher, Liquor.com
October 16, 2019
$140M in Revenue – Dave Woodward, ClickFunnels
October 9, 2019
$100M Exits – Kevin Harrington, several companies
September 18, 2019
$200M+ Annually – Chris Cicchinelli, Pure Romance
September 12, 2019
$20M Annually – Dr. Angela Lauria, The Author Incubator
August 28, 2019
$50M Exit – David Schottenstein, Astor & Black
August 14, 2019
$13M in Annual Revenue – Steven Sashen, Xero Shoes
August 7, 2019
$37M+ in Revenue – Adam Hergenrother, Adam Hergenrother Companies
July 31, 2019
$16M+ in Revenue – Doug Morneau, Real Marketing Real Fast
July 24, 2019
$100M+ in Annual Revenue – Klee Irwin, Irwin Naturals
July 3, 2019
$50M+ in Annual Revenue – Dr. Lori Barr, The Doctor’s Mentor
June 26, 2019
$100M+ Exits and IPOs – Kenneth Aldrich, multiple companies
June 18, 2019
$2.5B+ in Assets – Dwayne Clark, Aegis Living
June 11, 2019
$300M+ in Revenue – Cameron Mitchell, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants
June 4, 2019
$1B+ in Assets – Andres Pira, Blue Horizon Developments
May 28, 2019
$20M+ in Annual Revenue – Steve Gray, Primal Labs
May 21, 2019
$5B Exits – Jeff Saling, Exited 3 Companies
May 14, 2019
$10M+ in Annual Revenue – Aaron Young Runs Multiple Companies
May 7, 2019
$80M+ Exit – Michael Coles, Great American Cookie Company
April 30, 2019
$10M+ in Annual Revenue – Nathan Hirsch, Freee Up
April 23, 2019
$10M+ Exit – Mark Timm Exited 7 Businesses
April 16, 2019
$10M+ in annual revenue – Chalene Johnson
April 9, 2019
$100M+ Figure Exit – Michael Houlihan, Barefoot Wines
April 2, 2019
$10M+ in annual revenue – Ryan Levesque, ASK Method
March 26, 2019
$40M+ in annual revenue – Tony Falkenstein, Just Water Intl.
March 19, 2019
$25M in annual revenue – Kisha Mays, Just Fearless
March 12, 2019
$40M Exit – Frank Shamrock, Strike Force
March 5, 2019
$10M+ in annual revenue – Jonathan Cronstedt Runs Kajabi
February 26, 2019
$10M+ in annual revenue – Garrett White Runs Wake Up Warrior Which Generates
February 19, 2019
$30M in annual revenue – Mark Evans, American Wealth Builders, Cash Flow Lead Gen
February 12, 2019
$30M in annual revenue – Mike O’Hagan, MiniMovers, Shore360, and MikesBusinessTours
February 5, 2019
$10M in annual revenue – Lee Richter, Richter Communication & Design Group
January 29, 2019
$10M in annual revenue – Nyasha Gwatidzo, Banya
January 22, 2019
$10M+ Exit – Parham Parastaran, Car-X Tire and Auto
January 15, 2019
$10M Exit – Björn Öste, Dynasoft
January 8, 2019
$2B Exit – Stuart Taylor, Taylor Nelson and Associates
December 24, 2018
$50M in annual revenue – Mike McDerment, Freshbooks
December 17, 2018
$10M+ Exit – Chip Conley, Joie de Vivre Hospitality
December 11, 2018
$10M+ in annual revenue- Sabri Suby, King Kong
December 4, 2018
$36M in annual revenue- Marx Acosta-Rubio, Onestop
November 27, 2018
$83M Exit- Sharran Srivatsaa, Teles
November 20, 2018
$30M Exit- David Hauser, Grasshopper
November 13, 2018
$30M in annual revenue- Colin Wayne, Redline Steel
November 6, 2018
$50M in revenue- Steve Layton, Layton Groups
October 30, 2018
Multiple 8 and 9 Figure Exits – Roland Frasier
October 23, 2018
$34M in revenue- Antonio T. Smith, Jr. ATS Jr Companies
October 15, 2018
$10+ M Exit- Dan Kuschell
October 8, 2018
$10+ M Exit- Melissa Krivachek, Melissa Krivachek Companies
October 1, 2018
$11M Exit- Viki Winterton, Expert Insights Publishing
September 24, 2018
$10.5M Exit- Mitch Russo, Timeslips Corporation
September 17, 2018
£11.2M Exit- Jonny Cooper, Money Desk
September 10, 2018
$4.5B Exit- Christopher Lochhead, Mercury Interactive
September 3, 2018
$100M in Annual Revenue – Reid Tracy, Hay House, Inc.
August 29, 2018
$20M in Annual Revenue – Anik Singal, Lurn
August 29, 2018
Billionaire Naveen Jain, Viome
August 26, 2018
Brian Smith | UGG Australia
August 24, 2018
Introducing Beyond 8 Figures
August 22, 2018

View more episodes HERE

Recent Comments

Podcast Reviews

Awesome!
by from United Stateswmoore07
Steve does an amazing job of extracting the best of the best out of his guests allowing me as the listener to take the insights and put them into actionable items in my own life. I particularly enjoyed the episode on 6/10/20 with Will Moore of Moore Momentum. Keep it up!

Archives

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

$10M+ 2 Businesses – Susie Carder, CEO | SD Consulting Apr 08, 2020

$10M+ 2 Businesses – Susie Carder, CEO | SD Consulting

$10M | Susie Carder, CEO SD Consulting, Single Mom Hairdresser to $10 Million in TWO businesses.

Susie Carder started out as a low paid hairdresser trying to support her 2 little girls but working for someone else became a challenge (to say the least). Susie decided to do whatever it took to create her own business. After much blood sweat and tears (mixed with cheap mascara) according to Susie, she went on to create, not one, but two $10 Million companies!

Cut the fat and make sure you're the meat to your clients

Tweet This

As a serial entrepreneur, she is no stranger to starting and scaling. Susie has built and sold 9 businesses, two were good learning experiences and expensive hobbies and the other 7 were multiple millions of dollars in revenue and exit. The two $10 Million dollar businesses were her Spa and a Training and Development Company in the Spa Industry. The first person she always hired was an operations person, they are the foundation, how do we create a business that doesn’t rely on the super star or technician? She took Lisa Nichols company from $800,000 as Lisa Nichols to $10 Million as Motivating the Masses and as Lisa Nichols said “Just do for me as you did for yourself” and that is how Susie built that business for her client. Listen in as Susie shares so much great advice for serious entrepreneurs.

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Susie discuss:

Make your clients chemically dependent on you, offer many services to fewer clients
What are the opportunities when you reinvent yourself from a super star in one industry to unknown in another?
How do you take a personal brand and scale?
90% of Entrepreneurs are undercharging because they just make up the price, instead plan for the profit

Key Takeaways:

Can you rise above and launch in a recession?
How can I serve right now, what does the market need right now
Who is your Key Hire when starting and scaling

Best Advice I Ever Received:

Micheal Gerbers eMyth book says build it like you are going to sell it and that is exactly what she did

Best Advice I’d Give To Someone Who Wants To Build A $10m+ Business:

That there is a roadmap to building a 7-8 figure business. 88% of small business fail in the first 5 years, and only 1.7% of the businesses reach 1 million dollars in their business.

Connect with Susie:

Twitter: @SusieCarder

Website: https://www.susiecarder.com

Email: susie@susiecarder.com

YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/user/bootstrappassion8

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susiecarder

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email:team@b8fpodcast.com

Search for:

Recent Episodes

8 Figures with Matthew Korban from protecting his house with a rifle in Lebanon to an award winning business
August 25, 2020
$321 Million Dollar Exit From Restaurant Delivery, Will Moore CEO of Moore Momentum
June 10, 2020
$300M+ Houston Curtis, The Billion Dollar Hollywood Heist
May 27, 2020
$100 Million Business | Marek Zmyslowski, Investing in Africa
May 5, 2020
$10M+ | Mac Lackey Started, Scaled & Sold 6 Businesses and Raised Over $75 Million in Capital
April 28, 2020
$10M+ Annual Revenue – Annie Hyman Pratt, CEO | Executive Consultant Leading Edge Teams |The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Family
March 24, 2020
$10+ Million in Annual Revenue – Rich Schefren, Strategic Profits
March 5, 2020
$10+ Million in Annual Revenue – Rod Khleif, Lifetime Cash Flow Podcast
February 20, 2020
$11.5 Million Annual Revenue – Nick Bogacz, Caliente Pizza & Drafthouse
January 23, 2020
$18M Exit, Chris Guerriero, Executive Fitness Club
January 18, 2020
$10M+ Exits – David Finkel, Multiple Companies
January 16, 2020
$100M+ Exit – Minnie Ingersoll, Shift
November 13, 2019
Rebecca Costa, Dazai Advertising Inc.
November 6, 2019
$10M in Annual Revenue – TK Kader, ToutApp
October 30, 2019
Recapping the Quarter
October 23, 2019
Steve Olsher, Liquor.com
October 16, 2019
$140M in Revenue – Dave Woodward, ClickFunnels
October 9, 2019
$100M Exits – Kevin Harrington, several companies
September 18, 2019
$200M+ Annually – Chris Cicchinelli, Pure Romance
September 12, 2019
$20M Annually – Dr. Angela Lauria, The Author Incubator
August 28, 2019
$50M Exit – David Schottenstein, Astor & Black
August 14, 2019
$13M in Annual Revenue – Steven Sashen, Xero Shoes
August 7, 2019
$37M+ in Revenue – Adam Hergenrother, Adam Hergenrother Companies
July 31, 2019
$16M+ in Revenue – Doug Morneau, Real Marketing Real Fast
July 24, 2019
$100M+ in Annual Revenue – Klee Irwin, Irwin Naturals
July 3, 2019
$50M+ in Annual Revenue – Dr. Lori Barr, The Doctor’s Mentor
June 26, 2019
$100M+ Exits and IPOs – Kenneth Aldrich, multiple companies
June 18, 2019
$2.5B+ in Assets – Dwayne Clark, Aegis Living
June 11, 2019
$300M+ in Revenue – Cameron Mitchell, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants
June 4, 2019
$1B+ in Assets – Andres Pira, Blue Horizon Developments
May 28, 2019
$20M+ in Annual Revenue – Steve Gray, Primal Labs
May 21, 2019
$5B Exits – Jeff Saling, Exited 3 Companies
May 14, 2019
$10M+ in Annual Revenue – Aaron Young Runs Multiple Companies
May 7, 2019
$80M+ Exit – Michael Coles, Great American Cookie Company
April 30, 2019
$10M+ in Annual Revenue – Nathan Hirsch, Freee Up
April 23, 2019
$10M+ Exit – Mark Timm Exited 7 Businesses
April 16, 2019
$10M+ in annual revenue – Chalene Johnson
April 9, 2019
$100M+ Figure Exit – Michael Houlihan, Barefoot Wines
April 2, 2019
$10M+ in annual revenue – Ryan Levesque, ASK Method
March 26, 2019
$40M+ in annual revenue – Tony Falkenstein, Just Water Intl.
March 19, 2019
$25M in annual revenue – Kisha Mays, Just Fearless
March 12, 2019
$40M Exit – Frank Shamrock, Strike Force
March 5, 2019
$10M+ in annual revenue – Jonathan Cronstedt Runs Kajabi
February 26, 2019
$10M+ in annual revenue – Garrett White Runs Wake Up Warrior Which Generates
February 19, 2019
$30M in annual revenue – Mark Evans, American Wealth Builders, Cash Flow Lead Gen
February 12, 2019
$30M in annual revenue – Mike O’Hagan, MiniMovers, Shore360, and MikesBusinessTours
February 5, 2019
$10M in annual revenue – Lee Richter, Richter Communication & Design Group
January 29, 2019
$10M in annual revenue – Nyasha Gwatidzo, Banya
January 22, 2019
$10M+ Exit – Parham Parastaran, Car-X Tire and Auto
January 15, 2019
$10M Exit – Björn Öste, Dynasoft
January 8, 2019
$2B Exit – Stuart Taylor, Taylor Nelson and Associates
December 24, 2018
$50M in annual revenue – Mike McDerment, Freshbooks
December 17, 2018
$10M+ Exit – Chip Conley, Joie de Vivre Hospitality
December 11, 2018
$10M+ in annual revenue- Sabri Suby, King Kong
December 4, 2018
$36M in annual revenue- Marx Acosta-Rubio, Onestop
November 27, 2018
$83M Exit- Sharran Srivatsaa, Teles
November 20, 2018
$30M Exit- David Hauser, Grasshopper
November 13, 2018
$30M in annual revenue- Colin Wayne, Redline Steel
November 6, 2018
$50M in revenue- Steve Layton, Layton Groups
October 30, 2018
Multiple 8 and 9 Figure Exits – Roland Frasier
October 23, 2018
$34M in revenue- Antonio T. Smith, Jr. ATS Jr Companies
October 15, 2018
$10+ M Exit- Dan Kuschell
October 8, 2018
$10+ M Exit- Melissa Krivachek, Melissa Krivachek Companies
October 1, 2018
$11M Exit- Viki Winterton, Expert Insights Publishing
September 24, 2018
$10.5M Exit- Mitch Russo, Timeslips Corporation
September 17, 2018
£11.2M Exit- Jonny Cooper, Money Desk
September 10, 2018
$4.5B Exit- Christopher Lochhead, Mercury Interactive
September 3, 2018
$100M in Annual Revenue – Reid Tracy, Hay House, Inc.
August 29, 2018
$20M in Annual Revenue – Anik Singal, Lurn
August 29, 2018
Billionaire Naveen Jain, Viome
August 26, 2018
Brian Smith | UGG Australia
August 24, 2018
Introducing Beyond 8 Figures
August 22, 2018

View more episodes HERE

Recent Comments

Podcast Reviews

Awesome!
by from United Stateswmoore07
Steve does an amazing job of extracting the best of the best out of his guests allowing me as the listener to take the insights and put them into actionable items in my own life. I particularly enjoyed the episode on 6/10/20 with Will Moore of Moore Momentum. Keep it up!

Archives

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$10M+ Annual Revenue – Annie Hyman Pratt, CEO | Executive Consultant Leading Edge Teams |The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Family Mar 24, 2020

$10M+ Annual Revenue – Annie Hyman Pratt, CEO | Executive Consultant Leading Edge Teams |The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Family

Business from Mom and Pops Stores to 70+ International Locations in 7 Years

Annie more than 10x’d her family business – The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf – taking it from seven domestic “Mom & Pop Shops” to an International Brand of 70+ stores, all in seven years time. She then lead the company through a highly successful sale.

Annie spent the next two decades as a top-tier business consultant specializing in “rapid growth and change.” She has since worked with 50 plus entrepreneurial companies—in diverse industries—guiding them through virtually every challenge and and stage of growth imaginable.

Annie Hyman Pratt, is the master at developing leaders and teams that drive rapid growth and sustainable results – so Entrepreneurs can work on the strategic and visionary aspects of their business – and have the time, freedom, and impact they desire.

No other leadership or team development consultant comes close to Annie’s level and scope of experience. Her track record of success stems from her unique approach to business strategy, structure, systems, finance, and the “missing link” of human behavior that brings it all together.

Whatever challenges you may be facing in your business, Annie has likely seen it—and solved it.

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Annie discuss:

The Family work dynamic
The Coffee Revolution was on in the 90’s
Outmanned Locations Vs Family members
Download Annie’s Free G (www.leadingedgeteams.com/beyond)

Key Takeaways:

Hire a super competent leadership team
Want to scale but you are stuck in the weeds?
Focus of building Functions

Best Advice I Ever Received:

Judgement is an emotional reaction, which clouds your thinking, diverts your focus, and steals your energy. Gaining the skill and discipline to release judgements is the single most beneficial behavior to increase your success in business and in life. = What I learned at USM

Best Advice I’d Give To Someone Who Wants To Build A $10m+ Business:

You can’t be an “A Player” and run a 10MM business. At that point you MUST be an A+ Leader, because you will no longer be doing 95% of the task type work, and you will be leading, mentoring, structuring and cultivating a culture where people step up and do their best work

Connect with Annie:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anniehymanpratt/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnieHymanPratt

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anniehymanpratt/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdFmarmCnd8ePWNbLo5myWA

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anniehymanpratt/

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email:team@b8fpodcast.com

Search for:

Recent Episodes

8 Figures with Matthew Korban from protecting his house with a rifle in Lebanon to an award winning business
August 25, 2020
$321 Million Dollar Exit From Restaurant Delivery, Will Moore CEO of Moore Momentum
June 10, 2020
$300M+ Houston Curtis, The Billion Dollar Hollywood Heist
May 27, 2020
$100 Million Business | Marek Zmyslowski, Investing in Africa
May 5, 2020
$10M+ | Mac Lackey Started, Scaled & Sold 6 Businesses and Raised Over $75 Million in Capital
April 28, 2020
$10M+ 2 Businesses – Susie Carder, CEO | SD Consulting
April 7, 2020
$10+ Million in Annual Revenue – Rich Schefren, Strategic Profits
March 5, 2020
$10+ Million in Annual Revenue – Rod Khleif, Lifetime Cash Flow Podcast
February 20, 2020
$11.5 Million Annual Revenue – Nick Bogacz, Caliente Pizza & Drafthouse
January 23, 2020
$18M Exit, Chris Guerriero, Executive Fitness Club
January 18, 2020
$10M+ Exits – David Finkel, Multiple Companies
January 16, 2020
$100M+ Exit – Minnie Ingersoll, Shift
November 13, 2019
Rebecca Costa, Dazai Advertising Inc.
November 6, 2019
$10M in Annual Revenue – TK Kader, ToutApp
October 30, 2019
Recapping the Quarter
October 23, 2019
Steve Olsher, Liquor.com
October 16, 2019
$140M in Revenue – Dave Woodward, ClickFunnels
October 9, 2019
$100M Exits – Kevin Harrington, several companies
September 18, 2019
$200M+ Annually – Chris Cicchinelli, Pure Romance
September 12, 2019
$20M Annually – Dr. Angela Lauria, The Author Incubator
August 28, 2019
$50M Exit – David Schottenstein, Astor & Black
August 14, 2019
$13M in Annual Revenue – Steven Sashen, Xero Shoes
August 7, 2019
$37M+ in Revenue – Adam Hergenrother, Adam Hergenrother Companies
July 31, 2019
$16M+ in Revenue – Doug Morneau, Real Marketing Real Fast
July 24, 2019
$100M+ in Annual Revenue – Klee Irwin, Irwin Naturals
July 3, 2019
$50M+ in Annual Revenue – Dr. Lori Barr, The Doctor’s Mentor
June 26, 2019
$100M+ Exits and IPOs – Kenneth Aldrich, multiple companies
June 18, 2019
$2.5B+ in Assets – Dwayne Clark, Aegis Living
June 11, 2019
$300M+ in Revenue – Cameron Mitchell, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants
June 4, 2019
$1B+ in Assets – Andres Pira, Blue Horizon Developments
May 28, 2019
$20M+ in Annual Revenue – Steve Gray, Primal Labs
May 21, 2019
$5B Exits – Jeff Saling, Exited 3 Companies
May 14, 2019
$10M+ in Annual Revenue – Aaron Young Runs Multiple Companies
May 7, 2019
$80M+ Exit – Michael Coles, Great American Cookie Company
April 30, 2019
$10M+ in Annual Revenue – Nathan Hirsch, Freee Up
April 23, 2019
$10M+ Exit – Mark Timm Exited 7 Businesses
April 16, 2019
$10M+ in annual revenue – Chalene Johnson
April 9, 2019
$100M+ Figure Exit – Michael Houlihan, Barefoot Wines
April 2, 2019
$10M+ in annual revenue – Ryan Levesque, ASK Method
March 26, 2019
$40M+ in annual revenue – Tony Falkenstein, Just Water Intl.
March 19, 2019
$25M in annual revenue – Kisha Mays, Just Fearless
March 12, 2019
$40M Exit – Frank Shamrock, Strike Force
March 5, 2019
$10M+ in annual revenue – Jonathan Cronstedt Runs Kajabi
February 26, 2019
$10M+ in annual revenue – Garrett White Runs Wake Up Warrior Which Generates
February 19, 2019
$30M in annual revenue – Mark Evans, American Wealth Builders, Cash Flow Lead Gen
February 12, 2019
$30M in annual revenue – Mike O’Hagan, MiniMovers, Shore360, and MikesBusinessTours
February 5, 2019
$10M in annual revenue – Lee Richter, Richter Communication & Design Group
January 29, 2019
$10M in annual revenue – Nyasha Gwatidzo, Banya
January 22, 2019
$10M+ Exit – Parham Parastaran, Car-X Tire and Auto
January 15, 2019
$10M Exit – Björn Öste, Dynasoft
January 8, 2019
$2B Exit – Stuart Taylor, Taylor Nelson and Associates
December 24, 2018
$50M in annual revenue – Mike McDerment, Freshbooks
December 17, 2018
$10M+ Exit – Chip Conley, Joie de Vivre Hospitality
December 11, 2018
$10M+ in annual revenue- Sabri Suby, King Kong
December 4, 2018
$36M in annual revenue- Marx Acosta-Rubio, Onestop
November 27, 2018
$83M Exit- Sharran Srivatsaa, Teles
November 20, 2018
$30M Exit- David Hauser, Grasshopper
November 13, 2018
$30M in annual revenue- Colin Wayne, Redline Steel
November 6, 2018
$50M in revenue- Steve Layton, Layton Groups
October 30, 2018
Multiple 8 and 9 Figure Exits – Roland Frasier
October 23, 2018
$34M in revenue- Antonio T. Smith, Jr. ATS Jr Companies
October 15, 2018
$10+ M Exit- Dan Kuschell
October 8, 2018
$10+ M Exit- Melissa Krivachek, Melissa Krivachek Companies
October 1, 2018
$11M Exit- Viki Winterton, Expert Insights Publishing
September 24, 2018
$10.5M Exit- Mitch Russo, Timeslips Corporation
September 17, 2018
£11.2M Exit- Jonny Cooper, Money Desk
September 10, 2018
$4.5B Exit- Christopher Lochhead, Mercury Interactive
September 3, 2018
$100M in Annual Revenue – Reid Tracy, Hay House, Inc.
August 29, 2018
$20M in Annual Revenue – Anik Singal, Lurn
August 29, 2018
Billionaire Naveen Jain, Viome
August 26, 2018
Brian Smith | UGG Australia
August 24, 2018
Introducing Beyond 8 Figures
August 22, 2018

View more episodes HERE

Recent Comments

Podcast Reviews

Awesome!
by from United Stateswmoore07
Steve does an amazing job of extracting the best of the best out of his guests allowing me as the listener to take the insights and put them into actionable items in my own life. I particularly enjoyed the episode on 6/10/20 with Will Moore of Moore Momentum. Keep it up!

Archives

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

$10+ Million in Annual Revenue – Rich Schefren, Strategic Profits Mar 05, 2020

Today, we are joined by Rich Schefren, the Founder and President of Strategic Profits, a company that has surpassed $10 million in annual revenue. In this episode, we delve into an important principle that Rich embodies: different is always better than better. Listen in as Rich shares his experiences and strategies for creating lasting value and making a positive impact on the lives of others.

About Rich Schefren:

Rich Schefren, Founder and President of Strategic Profits, is a highly regarded figure known as the “guru to the gurus.” With a track record of adding over 15 billion dollars in revenue for his clients, he has established himself as a trusted authority in the business world. Rich’s expertise has been featured in renowned media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, ABC, NBC, FOX, MSNBC, and The Discovery Channel. From turning around his family’s struggling clothing business to creating a thriving hypnosis center and leveraging his marketing prowess in the online world, Rich’s entrepreneurial journey is a testament to his ability to drive results and share his knowledge with aspiring entrepreneurs.

Drawing on his extensive experience and passion for empowering entrepreneurs, Rich has authored several books, such as “Internet Business Manifesto,” “A Dent in the Universe,” and “Reality Check: Desires, Beliefs and What ‘Value’ Really Means to Your Prospects.” Through these works, he shares invaluable wisdom on personal growth, unleashing individual strengths, and effectively communicating value to target markets.

Browse our curated collection of Business Books for more enriching reads.

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Rich discuss:

Different is always better than better
Benefits of combining the past with the future
Leave people better off than when you found them
That which is most personal is most general

Connect with Rich:

Twitter: @richschefren
Instagram: @therealrichschefren
Website:https://strategicprofits.com
YouTube: youtube.com/user/richschefren
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-schefren-4945471/

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast

$10+ Million in Annual Revenue – Rod Khleif, Lifetime Cash Flow Podcast Feb 21, 2020

$10+ Million in Annual Revenue – Rod Khleif, Lifetime Cash Flow Podcast

Rod Khleif, Director of Lifetime Cash Flow Podcast, with Annual Revenue of $10M+

Rod Khleif is a multiple business owner and philanthropist who is passionate about entrepreneurship and giving back. As one of the country’s top business, real estate, and peak performance luminaries, Rod has owned over 2,000 homes and apartment buildings, building over 22 businesses in his 40 year career, several which have been worth tens of millions of dollars.

Focus on cash flow. @RodKhleif

Tweet This

Soaring from humble beginnings as a young, impoverished Dutch immigrant to incredible success, Rod’s experience involves both remarkable triumphs and spectacular failures, which he affectionately calls “Seminars”. He explains the mindset required to recover from losing $50 million in the crash of 2008 to the success he enjoys today. Rod can speak to the psychology of success, mindset for taking action, and any business or real estate topic in great depth, contributing firsthand knowledge and skills to the discussion.

Rod also founded the Tiny Hands Foundation, which has benefited more than 75,000 community children in need.

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Rod discuss:

His rags-to-riches-to-rags-to-riches story
Living on the Compound
He lost everything in 2008 – $50 Million
Spectacular Failures: Seminars
Due diligence checklist for multi-family unit

Best Advice I Ever Received:

From an old man in Denver that owned lots of free and clear apartments: To buy real estate and let other people pay if off. When free and clear it would equate to “buckets of money”

Best Advice I’d Give To Someone Who Wants To Build A $10m+ Business:

Create a business plan, do a SWOT analysis, learn everything you possibly could about that potential business and barriers to entry. Look for equity investors, execute on the plan and utilize the EOS system from the book Traction to run the business like a well oiled machine.

Connect with Rod:

Twitter: @RodKhleif
Website: http://Rodkhleif.com , https://rodsbootcamp.com , https://www.tinyhandsfoundation.org/
Email: rod@rodkhleif.com
Facebook: facebook.com/rodkhleifofficial
LinkedIn: rodkhleif
Instagram: Rod_Khleif

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email:team@b8fpodcast.com

Search for:

Recent Episodes

8 Figures with Matthew Korban from protecting his house with a rifle in Lebanon to an award winning business
August 25, 2020
$321 Million Dollar Exit From Restaurant Delivery, Will Moore CEO of Moore Momentum
June 10, 2020
$300M+ Houston Curtis, The Billion Dollar Hollywood Heist
May 27, 2020
$100 Million Business | Marek Zmyslowski, Investing in Africa
May 5, 2020
$10M+ | Mac Lackey Started, Scaled & Sold 6 Businesses and Raised Over $75 Million in Capital
April 28, 2020
$10M+ 2 Businesses – Susie Carder, CEO | SD Consulting
April 7, 2020
$10M+ Annual Revenue – Annie Hyman Pratt, CEO | Executive Consultant Leading Edge Teams |The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Family
March 24, 2020
$10+ Million in Annual Revenue – Rich Schefren, Strategic Profits
March 5, 2020
$11.5 Million Annual Revenue – Nick Bogacz, Caliente Pizza & Drafthouse
January 23, 2020
$18M Exit, Chris Guerriero, Executive Fitness Club
January 18, 2020
$10M+ Exits – David Finkel, Multiple Companies
January 16, 2020
$100M+ Exit – Minnie Ingersoll, Shift
November 13, 2019
Rebecca Costa, Dazai Advertising Inc.
November 6, 2019
$10M in Annual Revenue – TK Kader, ToutApp
October 30, 2019
Recapping the Quarter
October 23, 2019
Steve Olsher, Liquor.com
October 16, 2019
$140M in Revenue – Dave Woodward, ClickFunnels
October 9, 2019
$100M Exits – Kevin Harrington, several companies
September 18, 2019
$200M+ Annually – Chris Cicchinelli, Pure Romance
September 12, 2019
$20M Annually – Dr. Angela Lauria, The Author Incubator
August 28, 2019
$50M Exit – David Schottenstein, Astor & Black
August 14, 2019
$13M in Annual Revenue – Steven Sashen, Xero Shoes
August 7, 2019
$37M+ in Revenue – Adam Hergenrother, Adam Hergenrother Companies
July 31, 2019
$16M+ in Revenue – Doug Morneau, Real Marketing Real Fast
July 24, 2019
$100M+ in Annual Revenue – Klee Irwin, Irwin Naturals
July 3, 2019
$50M+ in Annual Revenue – Dr. Lori Barr, The Doctor’s Mentor
June 26, 2019
$100M+ Exits and IPOs – Kenneth Aldrich, multiple companies
June 18, 2019
$2.5B+ in Assets – Dwayne Clark, Aegis Living
June 11, 2019
$300M+ in Revenue – Cameron Mitchell, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants
June 4, 2019
$1B+ in Assets – Andres Pira, Blue Horizon Developments
May 28, 2019
$20M+ in Annual Revenue – Steve Gray, Primal Labs
May 21, 2019
$5B Exits – Jeff Saling, Exited 3 Companies
May 14, 2019
$10M+ in Annual Revenue – Aaron Young Runs Multiple Companies
May 7, 2019
$80M+ Exit – Michael Coles, Great American Cookie Company
April 30, 2019
$10M+ in Annual Revenue – Nathan Hirsch, Freee Up
April 23, 2019
$10M+ Exit – Mark Timm Exited 7 Businesses
April 16, 2019
$10M+ in annual revenue – Chalene Johnson
April 9, 2019
$100M+ Figure Exit – Michael Houlihan, Barefoot Wines
April 2, 2019
$10M+ in annual revenue – Ryan Levesque, ASK Method
March 26, 2019
$40M+ in annual revenue – Tony Falkenstein, Just Water Intl.
March 19, 2019
$25M in annual revenue – Kisha Mays, Just Fearless
March 12, 2019
$40M Exit – Frank Shamrock, Strike Force
March 5, 2019
$10M+ in annual revenue – Jonathan Cronstedt Runs Kajabi
February 26, 2019
$10M+ in annual revenue – Garrett White Runs Wake Up Warrior Which Generates
February 19, 2019
$30M in annual revenue – Mark Evans, American Wealth Builders, Cash Flow Lead Gen
February 12, 2019
$30M in annual revenue – Mike O’Hagan, MiniMovers, Shore360, and MikesBusinessTours
February 5, 2019
$10M in annual revenue – Lee Richter, Richter Communication & Design Group
January 29, 2019
$10M in annual revenue – Nyasha Gwatidzo, Banya
January 22, 2019
$10M+ Exit – Parham Parastaran, Car-X Tire and Auto
January 15, 2019
$10M Exit – Björn Öste, Dynasoft
January 8, 2019
$2B Exit – Stuart Taylor, Taylor Nelson and Associates
December 24, 2018
$50M in annual revenue – Mike McDerment, Freshbooks
December 17, 2018
$10M+ Exit – Chip Conley, Joie de Vivre Hospitality
December 11, 2018
$10M+ in annual revenue- Sabri Suby, King Kong
December 4, 2018
$36M in annual revenue- Marx Acosta-Rubio, Onestop
November 27, 2018
$83M Exit- Sharran Srivatsaa, Teles
November 20, 2018
$30M Exit- David Hauser, Grasshopper
November 13, 2018
$30M in annual revenue- Colin Wayne, Redline Steel
November 6, 2018
$50M in revenue- Steve Layton, Layton Groups
October 30, 2018
Multiple 8 and 9 Figure Exits – Roland Frasier
October 23, 2018
$34M in revenue- Antonio T. Smith, Jr. ATS Jr Companies
October 15, 2018
$10+ M Exit- Dan Kuschell
October 8, 2018
$10+ M Exit- Melissa Krivachek, Melissa Krivachek Companies
October 1, 2018
$11M Exit- Viki Winterton, Expert Insights Publishing
September 24, 2018
$10.5M Exit- Mitch Russo, Timeslips Corporation
September 17, 2018
£11.2M Exit- Jonny Cooper, Money Desk
September 10, 2018
$4.5B Exit- Christopher Lochhead, Mercury Interactive
September 3, 2018
$100M in Annual Revenue – Reid Tracy, Hay House, Inc.
August 29, 2018
$20M in Annual Revenue – Anik Singal, Lurn
August 29, 2018
Billionaire Naveen Jain, Viome
August 26, 2018
Brian Smith | UGG Australia
August 24, 2018
Introducing Beyond 8 Figures
August 22, 2018

View more episodes HERE

Recent Comments

Podcast Reviews

Awesome!
by from United Stateswmoore07
Steve does an amazing job of extracting the best of the best out of his guests allowing me as the listener to take the insights and put them into actionable items in my own life. I particularly enjoyed the episode on 6/10/20 with Will Moore of Moore Momentum. Keep it up!

Archives

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

$11.5 Million Annual Revenue – Nick Bogacz, Caliente Pizza & Drafthouse Jan 23, 2020

$11.5 Million Annual Revenue – Nick Bogacz, Caliente Pizza & Drafthouse

Nick Bogacz, President & Founder of Caliente Pizza & Drafthouse, Annual Revenue of $11.5 Million

With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Nick opened his first location in the fall of 2012 and has grown quickly to his 5 current locations, with the 6th one coming in this first quarter of 2020.

He started in the industry as a delivery driver in 1996 and fell in love with the team atmosphere and high energy that the pizza business provides. He worked his way through many levels of corporate chain pizza companies, always having his eye set on opening his own independent stores.

You've got to care about your people before they'll care about you. @nick_bogacz

Tweet This
Nick has grown his company to over 200 employees through leading by example, having won numerous awards in the industry, including World Championships at the Pizza Expo in 2016, 2017 & 2018. They won the Best American Pizza 2019 at the World Pizza Championships in Parma Italy. He’s also a part of the International Pizza Expo’s family of speakers as well as being a member of the esteemed World Pizza Champions Team.

Nick was successful in bringing together pizza and craft beer within his company. Each of his restaurants boast over 24 taps and a bottle selection of over 150 beers. His stores specialize in hard to source craft beers from across the country and around the world. He has also taken a unique approach to craft beer by setting up collaboration brew’s with breweries. Nick and his team go to breweries where they brew special recipe beers to be served at his locations. He has collaborated with local breweries and world class breweries across the country.

Nick’s goals in the Pizza Industry continue to be met by being committed to excellence with focus and positive vibes. His wife Angie has been his biggest supporter and is proud to be a Pizza Wife for Life. His teenage kids have grown up in the industry and have taken a keen interest in the business. When not in the grind and every day hustle that he craves, he enjoys good quality fun and relaxing with his family.

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Nick discuss:

Started delivering pizza at 17
Fourteen years clean and sober after bad drug addiction
Worked five jobs to save money to open his own pizza shop
Flipping restaurants overnight

Best Advice I Ever Received:

From my dad: ” Whatever you do, do it for yourself.”

Best Advice I’d Give To Someone Who Wants To Build A $10m+ Business:

When you feel like you should give up, work harder and faster, the tipping point is right around the corner.

Connect with Nick:

Twitter: @nick_bogacz
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nick.bogacz
Website: thepizzaequation.com , pizzadrafthouse.com
Email: pizzadrafthouse@gmail.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-bogacz

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email:team@b8fpodcast.com

Search for:

Recent Episodes

8 Figures with Matthew Korban from protecting his house with a rifle in Lebanon to an award winning business
August 25, 2020
$321 Million Dollar Exit From Restaurant Delivery, Will Moore CEO of Moore Momentum
June 10, 2020
$300M+ Houston Curtis, The Billion Dollar Hollywood Heist
May 27, 2020
$100 Million Business | Marek Zmyslowski, Investing in Africa
May 5, 2020
$10M+ | Mac Lackey Started, Scaled & Sold 6 Businesses and Raised Over $75 Million in Capital
April 28, 2020
$10M+ 2 Businesses – Susie Carder, CEO | SD Consulting
April 7, 2020
$10M+ Annual Revenue – Annie Hyman Pratt, CEO | Executive Consultant Leading Edge Teams |The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Family
March 24, 2020
$10+ Million in Annual Revenue – Rich Schefren, Strategic Profits
March 5, 2020
$10+ Million in Annual Revenue – Rod Khleif, Lifetime Cash Flow Podcast
February 20, 2020
$18M Exit, Chris Guerriero, Executive Fitness Club
January 18, 2020
$10M+ Exits – David Finkel, Multiple Companies
January 16, 2020
$100M+ Exit – Minnie Ingersoll, Shift
November 13, 2019
Rebecca Costa, Dazai Advertising Inc.
November 6, 2019
$10M in Annual Revenue – TK Kader, ToutApp
October 30, 2019
Recapping the Quarter
October 23, 2019
Steve Olsher, Liquor.com
October 16, 2019
$140M in Revenue – Dave Woodward, ClickFunnels
October 9, 2019
$100M Exits – Kevin Harrington, several companies
September 18, 2019
$200M+ Annually – Chris Cicchinelli, Pure Romance
September 12, 2019
$20M Annually – Dr. Angela Lauria, The Author Incubator
August 28, 2019
$50M Exit – David Schottenstein, Astor & Black
August 14, 2019
$13M in Annual Revenue – Steven Sashen, Xero Shoes
August 7, 2019
$37M+ in Revenue – Adam Hergenrother, Adam Hergenrother Companies
July 31, 2019
$16M+ in Revenue – Doug Morneau, Real Marketing Real Fast
July 24, 2019
$100M+ in Annual Revenue – Klee Irwin, Irwin Naturals
July 3, 2019
$50M+ in Annual Revenue – Dr. Lori Barr, The Doctor’s Mentor
June 26, 2019
$100M+ Exits and IPOs – Kenneth Aldrich, multiple companies
June 18, 2019
$2.5B+ in Assets – Dwayne Clark, Aegis Living
June 11, 2019
$300M+ in Revenue – Cameron Mitchell, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants
June 4, 2019
$1B+ in Assets – Andres Pira, Blue Horizon Developments
May 28, 2019
$20M+ in Annual Revenue – Steve Gray, Primal Labs
May 21, 2019
$5B Exits – Jeff Saling, Exited 3 Companies
May 14, 2019
$10M+ in Annual Revenue – Aaron Young Runs Multiple Companies
May 7, 2019
$80M+ Exit – Michael Coles, Great American Cookie Company
April 30, 2019
$10M+ in Annual Revenue – Nathan Hirsch, Freee Up
April 23, 2019
$10M+ Exit – Mark Timm Exited 7 Businesses
April 16, 2019
$10M+ in annual revenue – Chalene Johnson
April 9, 2019
$100M+ Figure Exit – Michael Houlihan, Barefoot Wines
April 2, 2019
$10M+ in annual revenue – Ryan Levesque, ASK Method
March 26, 2019
$40M+ in annual revenue – Tony Falkenstein, Just Water Intl.
March 19, 2019
$25M in annual revenue – Kisha Mays, Just Fearless
March 12, 2019
$40M Exit – Frank Shamrock, Strike Force
March 5, 2019
$10M+ in annual revenue – Jonathan Cronstedt Runs Kajabi
February 26, 2019
$10M+ in annual revenue – Garrett White Runs Wake Up Warrior Which Generates
February 19, 2019
$30M in annual revenue – Mark Evans, American Wealth Builders, Cash Flow Lead Gen
February 12, 2019
$30M in annual revenue – Mike O’Hagan, MiniMovers, Shore360, and MikesBusinessTours
February 5, 2019
$10M in annual revenue – Lee Richter, Richter Communication & Design Group
January 29, 2019
$10M in annual revenue – Nyasha Gwatidzo, Banya
January 22, 2019
$10M+ Exit – Parham Parastaran, Car-X Tire and Auto
January 15, 2019
$10M Exit – Björn Öste, Dynasoft
January 8, 2019
$2B Exit – Stuart Taylor, Taylor Nelson and Associates
December 24, 2018
$50M in annual revenue – Mike McDerment, Freshbooks
December 17, 2018
$10M+ Exit – Chip Conley, Joie de Vivre Hospitality
December 11, 2018
$10M+ in annual revenue- Sabri Suby, King Kong
December 4, 2018
$36M in annual revenue- Marx Acosta-Rubio, Onestop
November 27, 2018
$83M Exit- Sharran Srivatsaa, Teles
November 20, 2018
$30M Exit- David Hauser, Grasshopper
November 13, 2018
$30M in annual revenue- Colin Wayne, Redline Steel
November 6, 2018
$50M in revenue- Steve Layton, Layton Groups
October 30, 2018
Multiple 8 and 9 Figure Exits – Roland Frasier
October 23, 2018
$34M in revenue- Antonio T. Smith, Jr. ATS Jr Companies
October 15, 2018
$10+ M Exit- Dan Kuschell
October 8, 2018
$10+ M Exit- Melissa Krivachek, Melissa Krivachek Companies
October 1, 2018
$11M Exit- Viki Winterton, Expert Insights Publishing
September 24, 2018
$10.5M Exit- Mitch Russo, Timeslips Corporation
September 17, 2018
£11.2M Exit- Jonny Cooper, Money Desk
September 10, 2018
$4.5B Exit- Christopher Lochhead, Mercury Interactive
September 3, 2018
$100M in Annual Revenue – Reid Tracy, Hay House, Inc.
August 29, 2018
$20M in Annual Revenue – Anik Singal, Lurn
August 29, 2018
Billionaire Naveen Jain, Viome
August 26, 2018
Brian Smith | UGG Australia
August 24, 2018
Introducing Beyond 8 Figures
August 22, 2018

View more episodes HERE

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Podcast Reviews

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Steve does an amazing job of extracting the best of the best out of his guests allowing me as the listener to take the insights and put them into actionable items in my own life. I particularly enjoyed the episode on 6/10/20 with Will Moore of Moore Momentum. Keep it up!

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$18M Exit, Chris Guerriero, Executive Fitness Club Jan 18, 2020

Chris Guerriero is an entrepreneur, business advisor, speaker, and best selling author.

Business owners around the world have come to rely upon Chris when they require an edge to breakthrough growth obstacles.

Expertise and proven track record of success differentiate Chris. He’s grown teams, culture, and business systems that yield multi-million-dollar companies. During his career devoted to health, wellness, and business growth, Chris has built four 8-figure businesses of his own and helped generate millions in revenue for his clients. He has served as a business advisor, mentor, board member and investor for businesses and executives who desire additional business growth.
Chris was featured in Entrepreneur as one of the top entrepreneurs of the time and his companies have been featured in print, video, and on live stages domestically and around the globe. Chris is focused on building culture, systems, and teams that scale smart and galvanize growth.

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Chris discuss:

When do you stop saying Happy New Year?
First health club sold for just under $18M
It’s hard to build a business with all independent contractors
Choose key metrics carefully

Best Advice I Ever Received:

Seek wise counsel so you can fast pace your growth and don’t have to learn lessons the hard way.

Best Advice I’d Give To Someone Who Wants To Build A $10m+ Business:

Build your company to sell, straight from the start. Companies that are sellable, are far more efficient, scalable, and duplicatable.

Connect with Chris:

Twitter: @ChrisGuerriero
Website: chrisguerriero.com, 360review.com, buildtogroreview.com
Email: emily@chrisguerriero.com
YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UC08IA_CVgpA2dwTNB3mnw9A
LinkedIn: chrisguerriero
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisguerriero_/

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email:team@b8fpodcast.com

$10M+ Exits – David Finkel, Multiple Companies Jan 17, 2020

David Finkel’s clients enjoy an average annual growth rate five times higher than the average privately held company in the United States, and at the same time, these business leaders have dramatically decreased their working hours.

Over the past 20 years, David and the other Maui coaches and advisors have personally started and scaled companies with an aggregate value of $63 billion.

About David Finkel:

David Finkel is the CEO of Maui Mastermind, a leading coaching company dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs on their path to success. With a passion for helping business owners, he focuses on helping them not only build thriving companies but also regain valuable time for themselves.

Beyond his role as CEO, David is a best-selling author with 12 business and financial books. His books, including “The Freedom Formula,” “Making Big Money Investing in Real Estate,” “Scale,” “The Real Estate Fast Track,” and “Making Big Money Investing in Foreclosures,” offer practical guidance on achieving business success, gaining personal freedom, and mastering real estate investing, making them essential reads for anyone looking to grow their companies without sacrificing their time and well-being.

Browse our curated collection of Business Books for more enriching reads.

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and David discuss:

You make the path by walking
3-steps for getting started
US National Soccer Team moment and how it helps in business now
The Sweet Spot Analysis (www.FreedomToolkit.com)

Key Takeaways:

Hire better, smarter people so I don’t have to rely on me
How can you put a team in place when the cash flow isn’t there
What keeps David up at nights

Best Advice I Ever Received:

When presented with a challenge, ask the question, “I don’t know, what do you think we should do?”

Best Advice I’d Give To Someone Who Wants To Build A $10m+ Business:

Narrow your focus. Most business owners try to do too many things and spread resources over too many opportunities and initiatives. The most successful companies I’ve ever built and ever coached have narrowed their resources to focus on their very best opportunities so that they put more of their best time, talent money and attention on those fewer opportunities that have a bigger impact and can make a bigger difference.

Connect with David Finkel:

Twitter: @DavidFinkel
Website: http://www.mauimastermind.com
Email: david@mauimastermind.com
YouTube: youtube.com/user/buildmybusiness
LinkedIn: maui-mastermind

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

$100M+ Exit – Minnie Ingersoll, Shift Nov 14, 2019

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Minnie Ingersoll discuss:

The process of raising money as your business grows
The value of a strong team
The future of entrepreneurship and whether working toward a billion-dollar status is worth it
Where the next big opportunities lie

Key Takeaways:

Show up, tell the truth, hope for the best
People, product, and market- people will invest in the person if you show them you are worth the investment
Venture capital when used in the right way can be extremely beneficial for society as a whole
Having a product and customers are vital for investors

“When there aren’t spreadsheets with years of history to look at, people are looking at people, product, and market.” — Minnie Ingersoll

About Minnie Ingersoll: Partner at TenOneTen actively investing in great teams. We are operators who invest early (pre-seed, seed, seed+) and love working with technical founders who are passionate about what they’re building.

Prior to TenOneTen, I was founder and COO at Shift, an online marketplace disrupting the $1.2T car industry by providing a better experience for buying and selling used cars. Grew to a $100M+ business and a recent Series D.

Started my career as an early product manager at Google. In my spare time, I volunteer for city government, surf baby waves, and raise baby people.

Connect with Minnie Ingersoll:

Twitter: himinnie
Website: tenoneten.net
Email: minnie@tenoneten.net
Show: la-venture
LinkedIn: mingersoll

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: feedback@beyond8figures.com

Rebecca Costa, Dazai Advertising Inc. Nov 07, 2019

Rebecca Costa Exited Dazai Advertising Inc.

Best Advice I Ever Received: If you don’t fail big then maybe you haven’t aimed high enough.

Best Advice I’d Give To Someone Who Wants To Build A $10m+ Business: The most important advice is to differentiate! Differentiating yourself, your product and services, translates to commanding higher prices.

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Rebecca discuss:

How to prepare for an exit
Finding your focus as a company
Branding and diversifying
The future of technology

Key Takeaways:

If you don’t fail big then maybe you haven’t aimed high enough
Owning your own business will always require you to be there, no matter how many people you hire
Your brand is the most important differentiator
Look for what is obvious in human behavior, even if it seems trivial

“The number one differentiator, is a perceived differentiator. That is the enduring differentiator that you can have. Perception is reality. So, the perceived differentiator that is worth investing in, is your brand.” — Rebecca Costa

About Rebecca Costa: World renowned sociobiologist and futurist, Rebecca Costa, shows how artificial intelligence-powered predictive models can predict future events with unprecedented accuracy, paving the way for leaders to act before-the-fact. Using real world examples, she demonstrates how the certainty of future outcomes is changing the way businesses and governments solve problems and preempt danger. Costa’s work has been heralded by Richard Branson, John Sculley, E.O Wilson, Jim Lehrer, George Mitchell, Alan Dershowitz and Nobel laureates such as James Watson, and featured in The Washington Post, USA Today, New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, etc.

Connect with Rebecca Costa:
Twitter: rebeccacosta

Facebook: rebeccadcosta/
Website: rebeccacosta.com
Email: kathy@rebeccacosta.com
Youtube: TheRebeccaCosta
LinkedIn: rebecca-costa

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: feedback@beyond8figures.com

$10M in Annual Revenue – TK Kader, ToutApp Oct 31, 2019

About TK Kader:
TK Kader, an entrepreneur, international best-selling author, and angel investor, believes in the power of belief, discipline, and an unstoppable strategy to achieve success. With a background at Bridgewater Associates and founding ToutApp, he has an impressive track record in the business world, including the successful sale of ToutApp to Marketo.

TK now leads the Unstoppable movement, empowering entrepreneurs and business owners through his books, such as “How to Punch the Sunday Jitters in the Face” and its second edition, offering actionable steps and valuable insights to unlock their potential, clarify their vision, set goals, adopt peak performance habits, and conquer hidden fears of success.

Visit our curated collection of Business Books for more enriching reads.

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and TK Kader discuss:

How the idea of Tout came to be and how it evolved
TK’s journey as an owner
Key hires as the business grew
When to know it is time to exit

Key Takeaways:

When your race car is spinning out of control, focus on the road and the direction you want to go, not the barrier the car is spinning out into.
Sometimes things seem simple and you discount it; take a step back and look at the whole picture
Always share your journey as the founder
Never bet against email

Best Advice I Ever Received:

When your race car is spinning out of control, focus on the road and the direction you want to go, not the barrier the car is spinning out into.

Best Advice I’d Give to Someone Who Wants to Build A $10m+ Business:

Belief and Discipline

“What is the core product that is generating the most revenue? What is the type of customer generating the most revenue? How do you improve the internal operations of the business?” — TK Kader

Connect with TK Kader:

Twitter: Tawheed
Facebook: getunstoppable.com/facebook
Website: getunstoppable.com/
Email: tk@getunstoppable.com
Instagram: tkkader/
Youtube: getunstoppable.com/youtube

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast

Recapping the Quarter Oct 24, 2019

In this episode, Steve, Mary, and Richard discuss:

Entrepreneurs that stood out
Learning from failure to allow a business to succeed
The transformation of companies
Pick your chakra

Key Takeaways:

Everything starts with the offer
It is never too early or late to start
Continue to evaluate if you are staying on your original purpose
Hire before you need the help immediately

“Build a business that is good with your personality.” — Richard Otey

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: feedback@beyond8figures.com

Steve Olsher, Liquor.com Oct 17, 2019

In this episode, Steve, Mary, and Richard discuss:

The History of Liquor.com
The trials, tribulations and lessons learned in being the Founder of Liquor.com
Family vs. Business – A family business is not always the right business
Rebuilding and reinventing – what happens after ‘IT’ happens…

Key Takeaways:

Always believe in who you are and your vision
Desire is often more important than ability
One bad chapter never tells the whole story
Essentials for life — having clarity on what you want versus what you need

“NEVER, EVER sign away your management rights.“ — Steve Olsher

Connect with Steve Olsher:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveolsher

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: feedback@beyond8figures.com

$140M in Revenue – Dave Woodward, ClickFunnels Oct 10, 2019

About Dave Woodward:

Dave Woodward is the Chief Revenue and Business Development Officer of ClickFunnels. He’s also the host of the weekly ClickFunnels Podcast and ClickFunnels Radio.

ClickFunnels is an incredibly helpful platform that helps businesses of all sizes create and manage marketing funnels. A marketing funnel is essentially the path a potential customer takes to becoming an actual customer, from initial awareness of a product or service all the way to the final purchase. A marketing funnel concept allows businesses in understanding the customer journey, identifying areas for growth, and creating targeted strategies to successfully move prospects through each stage. Also it emphasizes the significance of fostering relationships, offering value, and helping clients convert.

ClickFunnels simplifies this process by offering a drag-and-drop editor that lets you easily create landing pages, sales pages, order forms, and more, all with a user-friendly interface that requires no coding or design experience. The platform also includes built-in analytics and A/B testing tools, allowing you to track the performance of your funnels and optimize them for maximum conversions. It is a powerful tool for businesses looking to streamline their marketing and sales processes and increase their bottom line.

However, picking the right pricing plan can be difficult as there are multiple options available, each with its own features and costs. If you want to learn more about how ClickFunnels can supercharge your business and pick the best option for your company, visit funnelpricing.com and start a free trial today!

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Dave Woodward discuss:

How the founders, Russell Brunson and Todd Dickerson, created ClickFunnels
Marketing strategies for a large company
Best strategies for finding and signing users
Building the community of ClickFunnels

Key Takeaways:

The greatest way to decrease churn is making sure customers have success quickly
Webinars were key in signing users the first year
Acquisitions are the next step in expanding as the business grows
Making the customer feel like you are speaking directly to them and connected is how you create a community

“We want our customers to ascend and continue to ascend. It means their business is growing and that is what we want for them.” — Dave Woodward

Connect with Dave Woodward:

Facebook: dave.woodward.3954
Website: clickfunnels.com
Email: dave@clickfunnels.com
Instagram: @daveswoodward

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast

$100M Exits – Kevin Harrington, several companies Sep 19, 2019

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Kevin Harrington discuss:

Getting started, seizing opportunities
Why do you still do this?
Equity and Investments
Projects that didn’t turn out, what to look for

Key Takeaways:

What you vividly imagine, ardently desire, sincerely believe & enthusiastically act upon must inevitably come to pass.
Digital entrepreneurship is the future
Products that solve a problem uniquely
Get your dream team and build your brand, don’t give up too early

“Surround yourself with the best experts you can’t afford.” — Kevin Harrington

About Kevin Harrington:

Kevin Harrington is an original shark from the hit TV show Shark Tank and a successful entrepreneur for more than forty years. He’s the co-founding board member of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization and co-founder of the Electronic Retailing Association. He also invented the infomercial. He helped make “But wait… There’s more!” part of our cultural history. He’s one of the pioneers behind the As Seen on TV brand, has heard more than 50,000 pitches, and launched more than 500 products generating more than $5 Billion in global sales. Twenty of his companies have generated more than $100 million in revenue each. He’s also the founder of the Secrets of Closing the Sale Master Class inspired by the Master of sales—Zig Ziglar. He’s the author of several bestselling books including Act Now: How I Turn Ideas into Million Dollar Products, Key Person of Influence, and Put a Shark in Your Tank.

Connect with Kevin Harrington:

Twitter: HarringtonKevin
Facebook: KevinHarrington.tv
Website: kevinharrington.tv
Email: kevin@kevinharrington.tv
Phone: 727-410-0243
Youtube: Kevin Harrington Official
Instagram: realkevinharrington

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: feedback@beyond8figures.com

$200M+ Annually – Chris Cicchinelli, Pure Romance Sep 12, 2019

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Chris discuss:

The history of Pure Romance, how they judge success, and, the need for women to ask questions privately about relationships
Product offerings in 2000 and margins
The value of media and what works
The culture inside: “Grace, class and respect”

Key Takeaways:

Taking that pay cut and career change was the best decision in the long term
The consultants add value to the product
Model what is already successful
The key to starting a conversation is to make it organic

“I don’t think the most successful business owners know, they take chances and they take risk. “ — Chris Cicchinelli

About Chris Cicchinelli

Few people possess the extraordinary skills to grow a small, family business in Cincinnati into the world’s largest in-home party company specializing in relationship enhancement products. As CEO and President of Pure Romance, Chris Cicchinelli has achieved just that – not only as the strategist and engine behind one of the most successful woman-to-woman, direct-sales brands, but as an educator and motivator of its independent consultants around the globe, a passionate advocate for aspiring female entrepreneurs everywhere.

Cicchinelli leads business development, operations, sales and marketing for Pure Romance, as well as product development and distribution, overseeing more than 200 corporate employees worldwide. Hard work and strategic risk-taking have been at the core of his success across the nearly two decades since he joined his mom’s venture in 2000. He says that anyone who wants to become a Pure Romance consultant needs to know how to tell a story. Cicchinelli’s own has been a rugged switchback journey…

Born in Naperville, Illinois, Chris Cicchinelli grew up in Milford, a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio, the first of four children raised by a single mother. As the oldest, he often bore responsibility for taking care of his siblings, especially when his mother, Patty Brisben, then a pediatrician’s assistant, decided to launch a home-based intimacy product venture in 1983. Inspired by his mother’s perseverance as she slowly built her business while raising four children on her own, Cicchinelli was himself motivated by athletics: baseball, basketball, and especially football.

While studying business at Mount Union College, Cicchinelli found his critical thinking and leadership skills honed not in the classroom, but on the gridiron. An All-American defensive back, he played NCAA football for four years and led his Purple Raiders to two back-to-back national titles in ‘96 and ‘97. The crucible of college football taught him to be self-disciplined, to perform a specific role on a team, and to study and conquer an opponent.

Driven to teach these essential life skills as a high school football coach, Cicchinelli took a job in merchandizing after college to pay the bills, but soon became drawn into a new field. Working for the Atlanta-based Maxim Group, the largest publicly traded retail floor covering franchise in North America, he swiftly tacked into management and a senior position as a regional manager. Still in his early 20s, he embraced the learning curve that came with it, working to create trust with his team as a young manager. He ran a $29 million region for Carpetland USA, then took his skills to an early web commerce site, EverythingDecor.com.

At age 24 Cicchinelli got a call from his mother. She knew his expertise and needed him to help catalyze her company to the next level, developing longer-term brand marketing and business development strategies. Cicchinelli was earning well over $100,000 a year – his mom said she could pay him $22,000. In 2000, wanting to remain in the floor covering industry and assuming it would take only a few months away, he joined Pure Romance.

Given the intimate nature of the business, Cicchinelli developed a person-to-person model built on discreet, women-only home parties. Through well-taken risks, long hours, and serendipity – a front-page feature story in the St. Louis Dispatch on “The New Tupperwares of the 2000s” – he engineered explosive growth for Pure Romance, steadily taking the company from $3 million in 2001 to more than $200 million in revenues today. In 2010, he led its global expansion with the launch of operations in Canada, Puerto Rico, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Cicchinelli spends over 200 days a year on the road giving motivational seminars and personally training and meeting Pure Romance’s independent consultants worldwide, which now number more than 26,000, including those in every U.S. state and abroad. The New York Times wrote that “the company message of empowerment resounds” among its consultants. From how to lead a safe-space home intimacy party to how to network and market themselves, Cicchinelli helps women develop all the tools needed to become successful entrepreneurs.

A natural motivational speaker who also regularly speaks to corporate leaders and nonprofits, Cicchinelli has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Inc. 5000 and Smart Business, and has been interviewed by Bloomberg, MSNBC and many other national outlets. Serving as a board member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) in Cincinnati, he has amassed countless honors and awards as a business leader and role model.

In 2018, in the wake of their eight-year-old coming out as transgender, Cicchinelli founded the Living with Change Foundation to help trans youth and their families. The Foundation pledged $2 million to create a Center of Excellence for LGBTQ Health at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, also partnering with dozens of Greater Cincinnati public schools to train principals and teachers and eventually bring education about transgender youth into classrooms.

Like his decision to leave the lucrative floor covering business to help his mom, Chris Cicchinelli deeply believes that strong family ties matter, and that none of his success would mean much without the love of his wife Jessica and their three children: LC, Max, and Macie.

Connect with Chris Cicchinelli:

Twitter: @pinkcollarceo/
Facebook: Chris Cicchinelli
Website: pureromance.com
Email: chris@pureromance.com
Youtube: Chris Cicchinelli
Instagram: Chris Cicchinelli

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: feedback@beyond8figures.com

$20M Annually – Dr. Angela Lauria, The Author Incubator Aug 29, 2019

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Angela discuss:

How she built her business to $3M originally with no website
Her journey through education, into academia, and into creating The Author Incubator
What Angela learned from her first $60K coach
Moving from a solopreneur with 17 years of experience to a repeatable process and a company

Key Takeaways:

Be willing to suck
Practice every single day. Do your personal growth work every single day
However someone shows up in the sales process is how they’ll show up when you work with them
What determines your success or failure is your commitment to serving others and actually making a difference with your message, your product, your movement

“If you only work with exemplary people, you will have exemplary case studies, which will lead more exemplary people to want to work with you.” — Dr. Angela Lauria

About Angela Lauria: Dr. Angela E. Lauria is the founder of The Author Incubator™ and creator of the Difference Process™ for writing a book that matters. In 2018, The Author Incubator was ranked #275 on the Inc. 500 fastest growing companies and #87 on Entrepreneur Magazine’s Entrepreneur 360. Dr. Angela won the Stevie Award’s Coach/Mentor of the Year Award and her program, The Author’s Way was named Coaching Program of the Year and was named, by Entrepreneur Magazine, as one of the top 10 most inspiring entrepreneurs to watch – one of only 2 women on the list.

Dr. Angela has been helping people free their inner author since 1994, she has helped over 1,000 authors-in transformation write, publish, and promote their books. Her clients have been seen everywhere from Vanity Fair to O Magazine to the Today Show, and their books have been responsible for over $100 million in cumulative revenue.

She has a B.A. and an M.A. in Journalism and Media Affairs from The George Washington University and a PhD in Communications from The European Graduate School. She is the author of Make ‘Em Beg to Be Your Client: The Nonfiction Authors’ Guide to Selling, Serving, and Funding a Movement, Make ‘Em Beg to Publish Your Book: How To Reach A Larger Audience & Make A Full-Time Income In The Extremely Overcrowded World of Personal Development, The Incubated Author: 10 Steps to Start a Movement with Your Message, and The Difference: 10 Steps To Writing A Book That Matters. She lives at The Author Castle in McLean, Virginia with her son Jesse and her Castle cat Princesses Feathers & Foxy McFuzz Bucket.

Connect with Dr. Angela Lauria:

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: feedback@beyond8figures.com

$50M Exit – David Schottenstein, Astor & Black Aug 15, 2019

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and David Schottenstein discuss:

How Astor & Black started
The investments that David made after selling Astor & Black
What inspired him to create Viewabill and what led to him despising the company
The art behind naming a business and the design of a product

Key Takeaways:

Rome wasn’t built in a day and successful people are willing to do the things that unsuccessful people are unwilling to do.
After selling a company, consider immediately investing in small businesses
Source high quality materials and sell them at a reasonable price
Be willing to make less in order to charge a fair price.

“My mentality was pretend like this money does not exist, put it away pretend like you’re never gonna make another buck again and this has to tie me over for years to come “ — David Schottenstein

About David Schottenstein:

At the age of 21, Mr. Schottenstein founded Astor & Black, which quickly became the fastest growing custom clothing company in the US. In 2009, he was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year; 2010, Inc.’s 30 Under 30; and in 2011, Mr. Schottenstein sold a majority stake in Astor & Black to a private equity group. In 2012, Mr. Schottenstein and a childhood friend founded Viewabill, a cutting edge, rapidly growing cloud-based transparency tool that allows clients to view their legal work in progress in real time. In addition, Mr. Schottenstein has invested in several business ventures; Mizzen+Main, a men’s clothing company that focuses on performance material dress garments; Hilflint, a men’s clothing company specializing in higher-end collegiate and professional sports knitwear; Farm Hill, a food startup delivering healthy delicious meals directly to the customer; Mellow, a new robotic sous-vide cooking machine, made for the convenience of home cooking.

In 2017, Mr. Schottenstein set his sights on reframing the luxury eyewear market with the launch of Privé Revaux Eyewear. Mr. Schottenstein, along with an elite team including celebrity visionaries and partners Jamie Foxx, Hailee Steinfeld and Ashley Benson as well as VP of Celebrity Relations Dave Osokow and Creative Directors Rob Zangardi and Mariel Haenn have redefined the luxury sunglasses market with high-quality, on-trend frames retailing for $29.95/pair.

Connect with David Schottenstein:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dschottCEO
https://twitter.com/priverevaux
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/david.schottenstein
https://www.facebook.com/priverevaux/
Website: https://www.priverevaux.com
Email: ds@priverevaux.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dbschottenstein/
https://www.instagram.com/priverevaux/

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Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: feedback@beyond8figures.com

$13M in Annual Revenue – Steven Sashen, Xero Shoes Aug 08, 2019

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and David Schottenstein discuss:

How Astor & Black started
The investments that David made after selling Astor & Black
What inspired him to create Viewabill and what led to him despising the company
The art behind naming a business and the design of a product

Key Takeaways:

Rome wasn’t built in a day and successful people are willing to do the things that unsuccessful people are unwilling to do.
After selling a company, consider immediately investing in small businesses
Source high quality materials and sell them at a reasonable price
Be willing to make less in order to charge a fair price.

About David Schottenstein:

Connect with David Schottenstein:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dschottCEO
https://twitter.com/priverevaux
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/david.schottenstein
https://www.facebook.com/priverevaux/
Website: https://www.priverevaux.com
Email: ds@priverevaux.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dbschottenstein/
https://www.instagram.com/priverevaux/

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: feedback@beyond8figures.com

$37M+ in Revenue – Adam Hergenrother, Adam Hergenrother Companies Aug 01, 2019

Adam Hergenrother runs Adam Hergenrother Companies for $37M+. In this episode, Adam reveals his strategies for setting clarity and expectations on how to win in business. Learn how to create a winning mindset that drives success!

About Adam Hergenrother:

Adam Hergenrother is the founder and CEO of Adam Hergenrother Companies, which includes KW Vermont, Hergenrother Realty Group, BlackRock Construction, Adam Hergenrother Training, and Hergenrother Foundation. His business achieved remarkable success, ranking among the top 500 in the 2020 Inc. 5000 with astounding growth of over 1000% in the past 3 years. As both an entrepreneur and coach, Adam’s principles revolve around harmonizing success, spirituality, and meaningful relationships.

Co-authoring the transformative book, “The Founder & The Force Multiplier,” he offers invaluable insights into forming successful partnerships with Executive Assistants or Chiefs of Staff. This groundbreaking resource equips business owners and entrepreneurs with the tools to accomplish goals, scale growth, and achieve more as individuals and a united force.

For a comprehensive book review, check out this page.

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Adam discuss:

How to think like a CEO
The power of vision, clarity, and removing roadblocks
Setting clarity and expectations on how to win
Developing your own emotional fitness

Key Takeaways:

We are spiritual beings having a temporary physical experience. Embrace each moment and experience (good or bad) because they all help you grow
Vision doesn’t always mean 5+ years down the road – it can mean the next 5 minutes, hour, or week
Success is sequential, not simultaneous
Take the time up front to learn about hiring, about leverage, about personal growth

Best Advice I Ever Received:

We are spiritual beings having a temporary physical experience. Embrace each moment and experience (good or bad) because they all help you grow.

Best Advice I’d Give To Someone Who Wants To Build A $10m+ Business:

Follow the model. Master the boredom of lead generation. Business building is hard. It is a grind. Master the boredom of the small activities. Stick with it. Enthusiasm is everywhere. Endurance is rare. Get comfortable with that. Hire a coach if you need additional accountability. Do not get distracted by the next shiny object. Success is simple, but not easy. Don’t need all the lead gen sources…just need to work the ones you have. Build relationships and they will pay off ten-fold long term, even if they don’t right away.

“You always want to provide as much clarity as you can. The more clarity, the faster people operate. It’s not just clarity for your people, it’s clarity for you.” — Adam Hergenrother

Connect with Adam Hergenrother:

Twitter: @ahergenrother
Facebook: Adam Hergenrother
Website: AdamHergenrother.com
Instagram: @ahergenrother
Youtube: Adam Hergenrother Companies
LinkedIn: Adam Hergenrother

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$16M+ in Revenue – Doug Morneau, Real Marketing Real Fast Jul 25, 2019

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Doug discuss:

Leveraging direct mail, email, and other “old” marketing tools
Renting email lists
Knowing your customer avatars
How he took his business from home office to $16M

Key Takeaways:

Never ask someone for advice who hasn’t done what you want to do or is willing to pay the price you’re are willing to pay
Test, test, test to get the very best information you can
Develop relationships with those who can help you move forward
Nothing beats meeting people face to face, pressing the flesh, having a drink, having a cup of coffee, going for a run, and hanging out

“It was less about selling them stuff, and more about solving their problems.” — Doug Morneau

About Doug Morneau: Doug is an Author, Speaker, Podcaster, and Media Buyer – specializing in Sponsored Email, a CrossFit & Olympic Weightlifting athlete, husband, dad, and granddad.

His first book “THREE BIG LIES – The Real Truth About Renting Email Lists to Generate Targeted Leads and Sales” became an International Best Seller.

He helps his clients with strategy and as a Media Buyer. This has helped his venture capital and investment banker clients raise in excess of $100 million dollars in the USA. He does this by leveraging email marketing, renting/sponsoring third-party permission-based email lists, online PPC advertising, and paid influencer marketing.

Connect with Doug Morneau:

Twitter: @dougmorneau
Website: DougMorneau.com
Book: Three Big Lies: The Real Truth About Renting Email Lists to Generate Targeted Leads and Sales
Show: Real Marketing Real Fast Podcast
Instagram: @dougmorneau
LinkedIn: Doug Morneau

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Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: feedback@beyond8figures.com

$100M+ in Annual Revenue – Klee Irwin, Irwin Naturals Jul 04, 2019

About Klee Irwin:

Klee Irwin is an accomplished author, physicist, and entrepreneur, primarily focused on his institute, Quantum Gravity Research, which he established in 2009. As the founder and owner of Irwin Naturals, a global natural supplement company, his products can be found in major retailers such as Walmart and Whole Foods. He has also invested in notable causes and companies, including Change.org, Upworthy, Moon Express, the X PRIZE Foundation, and Singularity University, where he holds the position of Associate Founder.

Klee’s expertise extends to the medical field, as evidenced by his book “Pain Nation“, which explores the science and applications of CBD, offering insights into its potential to alleviate various medical conditions.

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Klee discuss:

Klee’s personal and professional journey that fueled his current company and ventures
The power of creativity and thinking outside the box
Importance of branding and selling that brand
Running a private versus public company

Key Takeaways:

The name of the game for the future is to start creating artesian brands that are top heavy on cost of goods and very light on advertising
Have an obsessive, over the top, built in drive
You have to have an X factor, not just a drive and hard work
We live in a world that is more stressful than we are genetically made to cope with
CBD can help with recreating a balance within the human body

“I think the secret weapon really is the ability to take idea A, B, and C and synthesize them in a new, powerful way.” — Klee Irwin

Connect with Klee Irwin:

Facebook: Klee Irwin
Website: KleeIrwin.com & IrwinNaturals.com & QuantumGravityResearch.org
Medium: Klee Irwin
Youtube: Quantum Gravity Research
LinkedIn: Klee Irwin

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$50M+ in Annual Revenue – Dr. Lori Barr, The Doctor’s Mentor Jun 27, 2019

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Lori discuss:

Lori’s professional journey to becoming a pediatric radiologist
Working with partners and competitors to better serve others
Staying ahead of trends
Having an alternative or a pivot point at any point

Key Takeaways:

Discover the one thing around which your entire life revolves, your North Star. Make each decision by asking if this choice moves you closer to or farther away from your North Star
There are ways to leverage money to make a bigger impact, even in academics
Be a good partner with those you serve
The job is not what’s important, it’s your relationships with the people you love

“It was critical that the CEO not view us as a commodity, as something to be sold, because we’re professionals, we own the practice, and we never wanted to lose that.” — Lori Barr

About Lori Barr: Dr. Lori Barr aka The Doctor’s Mentor, is an internationally recognized medical imaging expert and author of the international best-seller, Think and Grow Well. She assists about 18,137 patients each year in her 9 figure diagnostic imaging practice she owned with other Austin radiologists until they decided to sell it and become partners in a national practice, a win-win for both parties. An active community volunteer, she assisted the Children’s Hospital of Austin Foundation to leverage an imaging department renovation grant into 72 million in funding that built the Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin. She mentors those who seek more freedom and vitality on her podcast, in masterminds and on implementation getaways.

Connect with Lori Barr:

Twitter: @DrLoriBarr
Facebook: Money, Power & Time Off with Dr. Lori Barr
Website: DrLoriBarr.com
Book: Think & Grow Well: Create and Preserve Your Total Health & Money, Power, Time Off: The Luxurious Path to Better Patient Care
Show: The Doctor’s Mentor Show
Pinterest: The Doctors Mentor, LLC
Youtube: Lori L. Barr, M.D.
LinkedIn: Lori Barr MD, FACR, FAIUM
Instagram: @drloribarr

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Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: feedback@beyond8figures.com

$100M+ Exits and IPOs – Kenneth Aldrich, multiple companies Jun 19, 2019

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Kenneth discuss:

Building a business around biotech from embryonic stages through exit
Finding good investments
Building out teams and advisory boards
How Dream Toolbox got started and who it can best serve

Key Takeaways:

Never look at obstacles as barriers to success, but as puzzles to be solved
There is no multiple on future hopes
The most critical factor to any company starting out is the people running it
The greatest technology in the world is worthless unless you have the people to drive it to revenue or to an exit point

“By and large investment opportunities, if you’re known at all as being an investor, will come to you and then it’s a sorting process.” —Kenneth Aldrich

About Kenneth Aldrich: Ken Aldrich is an investor in start-up companies, a serial entrepreneur, and the author the Amazon best seller “Dream Toolbox: Building and Entrepreneurial Mind and Financial Abundance”. He was a first round investor in Green Dot Corporation (NYSE:GDOT), the world’s largest provider of prepaid debit cards and related financial services that provided investors a return of more than 100 times their invested capital. Ken was also a Founder, and for several years was Chairman and CEO, of a publicly traded regenerative medicine company and was a Founder of WaveTec Vision Systems, a maker of optical measurement systems used in vision corrective surgery that was eventually sold for 70 times the initial invested capital.

Prior to devoting full time to the investment business, Ken was a real estate developer and property owner in California, Arizona and Texas. He co-developed the first Wind Energy Park in the Palm Springs, California area and co-founded the company that designed and built the first major post-tensioned concrete high-rise building West of the Rocky Mountains, the first such building ever to meet California earthquake standards.

Currently, Ken is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council for the Harvard Graduate School of Education and creator of DreamToolbox.com, which houses a series of audio blogs dedicated to helping young people realize their entrepreneurial potential.

Ken holds degrees from both Harvard University and Harvard Law School.

Connect with Kenneth Aldrich:

Facebook: Dream Toolbox
Website: DreamToolbox.com
Book: Dream Toolbox: Building an Entrepreneurial Mind and Financial Abundance
Instagram: @dreamtoolbox

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: feedback@beyond8figures.com

$2.5B+ in Assets – Dwayne Clark, Aegis Living Jun 12, 2019

For today's episode, we have the privilege of sitting down with a true industry titan, Dwayne Clark. As the founder of Aegis Living, a company with over $2.5 billion in assets, Dwayne has not only revolutionized the senior living industry but has also built an empire that stands as a testament to his leadership and unwavering dedication. Dwayne shares the importance of having employee-first culture and how he was to grow Aegis.

Tune in to Dwayne Clark's extraordinary journey and gain insights into his strategies for business success.

About Dwayne Clark:

Dwayne Clark is a visionary entrepreneur and founder of Aegis Living, the nation's premier assisted living communities. With over 60,000 residents served and 30 locations nationwide, Dwayne's expertise in senior care and business management is unparalleled. Alongside his achievements, his philanthropic efforts and support for over 70 charities demonstrate his commitment to making a positive impact on society.

In addition to his remarkable success in the business world, Dwayne is a published author. His books, including ‘A Big Life,’ ‘30 Summers More,’ ‘My Mother, My Son,’ ‘Saturdays with G.G,’ and ‘Help Wanted: Recruiting, Hiring, and Retaining Exceptional Staff,’ provide practical strategies and inspiration for personal and professional growth.

Browse our curated collection of Business Books for more enriching reads.

Best Advice I Ever Received: Love all, trust few, always paddle your own canoe.

Best Advice I’d Give To Someone Who Wants To Build A $10m+ Business: Assume all the risk and hire best talent possible.

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Dwayne discuss:

Having an employee first culture
Growing Aegis and raising capital through the embryonic stages
The Potato Soup Foundation and having a community of sustainability
Living at Aegis and the family culture

Key Takeaways:

Love all trust few always paddle your own canoe
You can wallow in the quagmire of your life, or you can turn it into rocket fuel and launch yourself out
Accept ideas from your workers. Don’t just say no without consideration
Take care of yourself, physically and mentally. Without your health, you cannot help others

“It’s the people that touch the clientele that make the difference.” — Dwayne Clark

Connect with Dwayne Clark:

Twitter: @dwayneclark
Facebook: Dwayne J. Clark
Website: DwayneJClark.com
Instagram: @dwaynejclark
Youtube: Aegis Living

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast

$300M+ in Revenue – Cameron Mitchell, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants Jun 05, 2019

Best Advice I Ever Received: I was at a YPO forum meeting/retreat and a member asked why I wasn’t taking the approach of slowing down and focusing instead of being all things to all people. That coincided with my reading From Good to Great and it hit like a ton of bricks. The result was we built 19 more Mitchell’s Fish Markets and sold for $92M and I don’t think we would have done that without that comment.

Best Advice I’d Give To Someone Who Wants To Build A $10m+ Business: I was mentoring a Young Entrepreneur member who was talking about taking his business to $20M and I asked him “why not think big?” Every year, we set a goal and every year we don’t hit it. It doesn’t matter to me. $3.7B in 10 years is CMR’s goal and we may not hit that goal. So what if it takes 11 years, 12 years? If you don’t aim high, if you’re not driving your business hard, you won’t know what the possibilities are. Being a great restaurateur is difficult, if it was easy everyone would do it. It takes everything you have, inertia is behind you, and you’re going against the current. You have to set your goals, paint your vision and tell everyone. Believe in yourself. If you don’t, who else will? And it’s not even confidence, it’s belief. People can feel it. It runs to the deepest depths of your body. Run the walk. Having this core belief and the price you have to pay to get there, and then the commitment and resolve is where the rubber meets the road.

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Cameron discuss:

His professional journey from Dishwasher to Restaurateur.
His exits and the scaling of his past and current company.
Deciding on appropriate locations and generational sites.
What keeps Cameron up at night.

Key Takeaways:

If you don’t aim high, if you’re not driving your business hard, you won’t know what the possibilities are.
Keep your culture present and alive even as you expand your business or locations.
Build something you want to make great.
Live within your goals and your values and everything will be okay.

“A restaurant company is built buy its people for its people.” — Cameron Mitchell

About Cameron Mitchell: Cameron Mitchell is the Founder and CEO of Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Cameron Mitchell Restaurants (CMR) celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2018, and Mitchell has enjoyed success as a lifelong entrepreneur, accomplished businessman, culinary expert and nationally recognized restaurateur.

Cameron’s rise has been called “a dish room to board room story,” as he began his career in the restaurant industry almost forty years ago as a dishwasher at a local Columbus steakhouse in 1980 as a senior in high school. A few years later, when he was working as a line cook during a chaotic shift change, time stood still amidst the pandemonium and Cameron had an epiphany. He realized then he loved the restaurant business and set out to make it his lifelong career.

After that shift, he put pen to paper to map out his career goals, waking his mother in the middle of the night to share them with her. Those goals – to attend the prestigious Culinary Institute of America (CIA), to become an executive chef by age 23, to be a restaurant general manager by 24, and ultimately to be president of a restaurant company by the age of 35 – eventually were the benchmarks that would set the course of Cameron Mitchell’s restaurant industry career.

At the age of 22, Cameron graduated from the CIA and started his professional career with the 55 Restaurant Group based in Columbus, Ohio. He rose through the company’s ranks until he was directing all restaurant operations of the six-unit restaurant company. But eventually, his corporate ladder ran out of rungs, and in 1992, he mapped out his ideal restaurant company, including first and foremost, an associate centered culture which provides guests genuine hospitality and extraordinary dining experiences. This set Cameron forth on his final career aspiration – to become the president of a restaurant company.

In October of 1993, after going 14 months without a paycheck and overcoming numerous obstacles along the way, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants began with the launch of Cameron’s, an intimate, contemporary American bistro in northwest Columbus. Through the development of new concepts and the expansion of several of his most popular concepts, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants grew to become a 33-unit, multi-concept operation with locations in nine states and sales exceeding $120 million annually in 2007.

In 2008, Cameron’s prominence in the industry increased exponentially when he guided the sale of two of his most popular concepts – Mitchell’s Fish Market and Mitchell’s Steakhouse, a total of 22 restaurants – to Ruth’s Hospitality Group for $92 million. Mitchell has spent the years since that sale continuing on his culinary journey to develop and introduce innovative dining concepts. Today, CMR remains independent and privately held, with 37 units and 16 different concepts in 12 states, as well as a separate and highly successful catering division, Cameron Mitchell Premier Events. Furthermore, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants also and manages the growth and development of its sister company, the rapidly expanding, Rusty Bucket Restaurant and Tavern with 23 locations in six states.

With an entrepreneur’s energy, vision and passion, Mitchell’s sights are set on the development of new restaurant concepts, and the expansion of concepts currently in his company’s portfolio, particularly Ocean Prime (known in Columbus, OH, as Mitchell’s Ocean Club). Plans include the continued introduction of this concept in major metropolitan markets across the country such as Chicago, Houston, Boca Raton, Florida and more. Additionally, Cameron has published his new book Yes is the Answer! What is the Question? The book chronicles Mitchell’s rise in the restaurant industry from troubled youth to the highs and lows of growing his multi-unit, multi-concept, nationwide, associate-centered restaurant company.

Cameron Mitchell’s successes in business and keen understanding of the restaurant industry have earned him countless awards and acknowledgements. He has been recognized as Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst and Young, as a Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration and as one of 50 New Taste Makers by Nation’s Restaurant News. He also received the Richard Melman Concepts of Tomorrow Award in 2005; a prestigious Silver Plate award from the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association; a Commitment to People Award from the Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers (CHART) in 2007, and in 2008, was inducted into the Junior Achievement Hall of Fame. Mitchell was honored to be named one of five Golden Chain Winners by Nation’s Restaurant News in 2009. Fast forward to 2015 and he was named CEO of the year by Columbus CEO.

Cameron is regularly sought after for speaking engagements and by national business and industry publications. He has been featured in publications including Restaurant Business, Nation’s Restaurant News, Restaurant Hospitality, Chain Leader, Restaurants and Institutions, and People. He also completed a “Behind the Brand” interview, which ran on Huffington Post and Entrepreneur.com.

Cameron is committed both to his profession and to the community he calls home. He completed a two-year term as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the CIA, the first alumnus to do so, and actively recruits and mentors current and prospective students. Today, he is the school’s largest alumni donor, having established a $500,000 scholarship fund. Among his service to numerous local charities and committees in Columbus, Ohio, where he lives with his family, is his dedication to The United Way, Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation, and the Columbus State Community College Foundation. Cameron recently announced the lead pledge of $2.5 million towards a new, $40 million, state-of-the-art Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts School at Columbus State. He is also an active member of the Young President’s Gold Organization, the Columbus Partnership, and he serves on the board of directors of the charter school, KIPP Columbus.

Connect with Cameron Mitchell:

Twitter: @camsaysyes
Facebook: Cameron Mitchell
Website: CameronMitchell.com
Book: Yes is the Answer. What is the Question?
Instagram: @camsaysyes
LinkedIn: Cameron Mitchell

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: feedback@beyond8figures.com

$1B+ in Assets – Andres Pira, Blue Horizon Developments May 29, 2019

About Andres Pira:

Andres Pira, a Swedish billionaire entrepreneur, defied the odds and rose from being homeless on Thailand's beach at 20 to becoming a real estate tycoon in Phuket by the age of 36. As the founder of Blue Horizon Developments and a prominent figure in Southern Thailand, Andres has built a business empire of 19 companies with 249 employees and counting.

Andres shares his incredible journey and 18 transformative principles for wealth attraction, opportunity creation, and personal growth in his inspiring book “Homeless to Billionaire“, guiding readers to conquer fear, dominate the competition, and create a lasting legacy.

Visit our curated collection of Business Books for more enriching reads.

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Andres discuss:

How changing his mindset helped him move from Homeless to Billionaire.
Andres’ habits that are non-negotiable in his day.
The principles of Wealth Attraction.
The importance of your business culture and how you lead your team.

Key Takeaways:

Take action. Don’t give up at first sign of rejection.
See what you want as it is happening – take your mind into the future and bring it back into the present.
Plan small goals as well as big goals. As you accomplish small goals it makes the big goals feel more achievable.
Study your competitors and learn from them and recruit them when they fit your culture.

“Today I know that we create our own reality outside of our self, with the images of our mind and the emotions that we bear inside of us.” — Andres Pira

Connect with Andres Pira:

Twitter: @realAndresPira
Facebook: Andres Pira
Website: AndresPira.com
Youtube: Andres Pira Official
Instagram: @andrespira.official

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast

$20M+ in Annual Revenue – Steve Gray, Primal Labs May 22, 2019

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Steve discuss:

The role Primal Labs takes in addressing the health concerns of baby boomers.
The starting days of Primal Labs in 2012 and its pivot point.
The recurring revenue model and how it is working for Primal Labs.
How the changing landscape in society affects marketing and advertising.

Key Takeaways:

Be the board.
Learn what you can and get better at your craft from every project you do.
Hindsight is 20/20 – pivot from where you are when you realize it is not what is working.
When selling, it’s not just about value, it’s also about vision and where you see your company going.

“I want to sleep at night. I want to know that the marketing I do, the products I make, and what we provide as a company are good for the consumer, they’re good products, and they give a result.” — Steve Gray

About Steve Gray:

42, married for 20 years, with two kids. 15, & 13. Live in Allen Tx.
Went to UT Austin and dropped out in ’97 to work as 5th employee for Cybercorp, a day trading software firm. 3 years later we were bought by Schwab for $488M.
https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2000/01/31/daily11.html
Went back to school to finish my degree. 5-month study abroad in Europe. Hit 13 countries and 40+ cities.
Broke by 27 (2004). Had to go back and work for my dad.
Full time marketing online in 2007.
Started Primal in 2012. Crazy growth. $600K – 12, $3.5M – 13, $5.5M -14, $11M – 15, $33M – 16, $30M – 17, $20M – 18.

Connect with Steve Gray:

Website: PrimalLabs.com
Email: Steve@PrimalHealthLP.com

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Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: feedback@beyond8figures.com

$5B Exits – Jeff Saling, Exited 3 Companies May 15, 2019

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Jeff discuss:

His professional journey through three companies that went public and were acquired.
Lessons he learned from his first three companies and how he got started with StartUpNV.
The business setup of StartUpNV.
Spreading your bets when investing.

Key Takeaways:

Stay focused and manage your cash
You don’t have to stay all the way to the end to get a payday from it.
The importance of an early-viable product.
You’re going to be distracted, be ready to pivot as needed, but stay focused.

“I want to stay long enough to have an impact, but not so long that I overstayed my welcome.” — Jeff Saling

About Jeff Saling:

Jeff is a start-up founder and early stage public company executive with more than 25 years’ experience. Since 1998, Jeff has been part of successful startup exits with 3 IPO’s and 1 private sale.

As an executive, Jeff’s experience includes running worldwide sales, professional services, SaaS operations, and product development. As a founder / angel, Jeff’s experience includes three B2B SaaS cloud companies and 1 business / tech incubator.

Connect with Jeff Saling:

Website: StartUpNV.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeffreysaling
Email: jeff @ startupnv.org
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtzyQRccQ5tF4efOc571M2w
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsaling
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StartUp_Nevada (@StartUp_Nevada)

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: feedback@beyond8figures.com

$10M+ in Annual Revenue – Aaron Young Runs Multiple Companies May 08, 2019

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Aaron discuss:

Fixing the culture to rejuvenate a business.
Steps to be taken if you are acquiring an existing company.
C-Corp versus S-Corp versus LLC.
How to set up a company for success.

Key Takeaways:

Seek first to understand, then to be understood.
You don’t have to be a one-stop-shop.
Begin with the end in mind, don’t just grab whatever company type you think is best.
Keep score in a very visual way so everyone knows where they are at every day.

“I’m a big believer in not trying to be everything to everybody in one place. I’m not a superstore. We have had success by remaining a boutique operation that has a lot of technology behind the high touch.” — Aaron Young

About Aaron Young:

Aaron Young is chairman of Laughlin Associates and a renowned entrepreneur with more than 35 years experience building companies and over a dozen multi-million dollar companies under his belt. Aaron has made it his life’s work to arm business owners with success formulas that immediately provide exponential growth and protection. Fully embodying the concept of the unshackled business owner, he inspires others to create wealth and freedom by empowering them to build strong companies while proactively protecting their dreams.

Connect with Aaron Young:

Twitter: @aaronscottyoung
Facebook: Aaron Scott Young
Website: LaughlinUSA.com & AaronScottYoung.com
Youtube: The Unshackled Owner

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: feedback@beyond8figures.com

$80M+ Exit – Michael Coles, Great American Cookie Company May 01, 2019

About Michael Coles:

Michael Coles is a business expert, serial entrepreneur, and education advocate. He co-founded Great American Cookie Company and served as the former CEO of Caribou Coffee. From starting three businesses to setting transcontinental world cycling records and running for public office, Coles' journey is defined by true grit and perseverance.

In his captivating memoir, “Time to Get Tough: How Cookies, Coffee, and a Crash Led to Success in Business and Life,” Michael reflects on his life, recounting both failures and successes, and showcasing his personal and professional journey of resilience and growth.

Browse our curated collection of Business Books for more enriching reads.

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Michael discuss:

The growth to exit of The Great American Cookie Company.
Being disruptive in your industry to be standout.
Hiring based on where you want to go, not where you are.
Finding ways to change the game and get a brand following.

Key Takeaways:

Success in business is about taking risk. Take as many risks as you can while you’re young. As you get older, life gets more complicated and your ability to take risk gets complicated.
You will make mistakes, just learn from them and grow.
Make sure you’re happy with what you get on the exit, you never know what the future will bring.
Finding the answer doesn’t necessary change the dynamic that you need changed.

Best Advice I Ever Received:

Success in business is about taking risk. Take as many risks as you can while you’re young. As you get older, life gets more complicated and your ability to take risk gets complicated.

Best Advice I’d Give To Someone Who Wants To Build A $10m+ Business:

If you want to build a great business, surround yourself with really smart people who are experts in their area of expertise and learn from each other.

“Once I took those efficiencies from the store that had not done well and I put them back into the other store, we started making even more money. The whole model of the business changed because we opened the store that didn’t do as well.” — Michael Coles

Connect with Michael Coles:

Facebook: Michael Coles
Website: MichaelColes.com

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast

$10M+ in Annual Revenue – Nathan Hirsch, Freee Up Apr 24, 2019

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Nathan discuss:

How and why he started Freee Up and how it compares to competitors.
Levels of hires to help scale their business to $10M and proactive hiring.
The future of Freee Up and freelancer marketplaces.
Always trying to improve as a manager and a leader.

Key Takeaways:

Work hard, play hard.
Build a solid referral system that will help do your marketing for you.
Turnover crushes business – do everything you can as a business owner to crush that turnover.
Hire people before you need them – you don’t want to miss out on big opportunities!

“The number one way to really protect yourself is to just build relationships with the people that you work with. There’s no substitute for that.” — Nathan Hirsch

About Nathan

Nathan Hirsch is a 29-year-old long-time entrepreneur and expert in remote hiring and eCommerce. He started his first eCommerce business out of his college dorm room and has sold over $30 million online. He is now the co-founder and CEO of FreeeUp.com, a marketplace that connects businesses with pre-vetted virtual assistants, freelancers and agencies in eCommerce, digital marketing, and much more. He regularly appears on leading podcasts, such as Entrepreneur on Fire, and speaks at live events about online hiring tactics.

Connect with Nathan Hirsch:

Twitter: @Nathan Hirsch & FreeeUp
Facebook: Nathan Hirsch & Nathan Hirsch & Freee Up & Outsourcing Masters
Website: FreeeUp.com
Youtube: FreeeUp
LinkedIn: Nathan Hirsch & Freee Up
Instagram: @realnatehirsch & @freeeup_

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: feedback@beyond8figures.com

$10M+ Exit – Mark Timm Exited 7 Businesses Apr 17, 2019

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Mark discuss:

Having an elegant exit where it’s a win-win on both sides.
Practical selling strategies.
Mark’s relationship with the Zigler family and the lessons he has learned and is still learning.
Dos and don’ts of exiting a company.Key Takeaways:
“You can have everything in life you want if you just help enough other people get what they want.” Zig Ziglar
Being an entrepreneur is about failure, the question is, are you going to get back up.
No is the 2nd best word you can hear when selling because you are talking to a decision maker. If they can say no, they can say yes just as easily.
Nothing meaningful happens without a sale.“Every successful entrepreneur that you see, they didn’t get there by themselves, they had somebody along the way that was inspiring them and encouraging them.” — Mark Timm

About Mark Timm: Mark Timm has been a serial entrepreneur and exponential thinking practitioner for over two decades. He has started more than a dozen companies, several of which have multiplied and been sold, and has consequently participated in several equity events. His businesses have been built with international footprints in more than a dozen countries and powered by global supply chain connections and across diverse industries from retail to wholesale and from product manufacturing to digital marketing and real estate.

Mark has spoken professionally for over twenty-five years, giving thousands of speeches to over a million people in forty-eight states. In addition to his entrepreneurial efforts, he has worked with a wide range of organizations including at The White House, Kellogg’s, and USA Today.

Mark’s considerable success in business and the digital marketplace led to his partnering with Kevin Harrington to 100X Kevin’s own digital brand. Mark is now CEO of Xponential, Inc., a partnership with Kevin Harrington and his son Brian Harrington.

Mark’s greatest value comes from being a master collaborator who brings people together to accomplish far more than anyone imagined. His strategic vision enables him to see future possibilities and strategically position assets and systems to take full advantage of what’s next.

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: feedback@beyond8figures.com

$10M+ in annual revenue – Chalene Johnson Apr 10, 2019

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Chalene discuss:

Being thankful for setback years and the joy that comes from getting through those.
Developing Chalene, the brand.
The first step to monetize your expertise in the new media world.
Co-creating with your audience, not in a test tube.

Key Takeaways:

Sometimes you have to slow down to speed up.
You have to embrace new media, the old ways aren’t coming back.
It’s not about a huge following, you have to have your foundation in place first.
People want to be successful – they don’t value a lot of content as much as they value their time.

“Today, if you have 10 people who will engage with you online when you go live, you have the most valuable focus group ever.” — Chalene Johnson

About Chalene Johnson:New York Times Best Selling Author of Push, Chalene Johnson is a lifestyle and business expert, motivational speaker, and podcast host. She and Bret, her husband of over twenty years, are the founders of the SmartLife movement. Today, with her husband, Chalene runs a fun loving, collaborative team focused on helping others live a healthier, more simplified life through their online academies, membership sites, and live, sold-out seminars.

Chalene, with the help of top dietitians, doctors, researchers and experts, she founded the 131 Method and new Book – a nutritional program that’s turning the diet industry upside down. She hosts two top-ranked podcasts, The Chalene Show and Build Your Tribe.

Connect with Chalene Johnson:

Twitter: @ChaleneJohnson
Facebook: Chalene Johnson
Website: ChaleneJohnson.com
Book: Push: 30 Days to Turbocharged Habits, a Bangin’ Body, and the Life You Deserve! & 131 Method: Your Personalized Nutrition Solution to Boost Metabolism, Restore Gut Health, and Lose Weight
Show: Build Your Tribe & The Chalene Show
Youtube: Chalene Johnson
Instagram: @chalenejohnson

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: feedback@beyond8figures.com

Being resourceful with Michael Houlihan, Barefoot Wines Apr 03, 2019

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Michael discuss:

How Barefoot Wines started on accident and grew to the internationally known brand it is today.
Being resourceful to become innovative.
Worthy cause marketing and how it can help grow your business.
Timing can make or break a business – make it work for you.
Strategic value of a business.

Key Takeaways:

Do what needs to be done – even when it’s not what you signed up for!
Do not underestimate the cost of sales.
Ask before you do.
Don’t scale fast to fail fast, scale slow and don’t fail at all.
Have all of your documents together before you look to sell.

“Follow your opportunity passionately.” — Michael Houlihan

About Michael Houlihan:

Michael Houlihan is the Co-Founder of the world’s largest wine brand, international Keynote Speaker, and New York Times Bestselling authors of The Barefoot Spirit, How Hardship, Hustle, and Heart Built America’s #1 Wine Brand and The Entrepreneurial Culture, 23 Ways to Engage and Empower Your People.

From humble beginnings in a laundry room of a rented farmhouse to the boardroom of the world’s largest wine company, E&J Gallo, he learned valuable lessons crucial to any business. He consults and trains startups and Fortune 500’s on brand building and company culture.

He is highly recommended by companies seeking to increase their sales, and engage, empower, and inspire their people. He is a regular contributor to The Business Journals in 43 cities nationwide, Entrepreneur, and contribute articles & interviews to INC, CEO Forum, Forbes, and other major business publications.

He is a regular media guest on radio, television, and podcasts.

Connect with Michael Houlihan:

Twitter: @barefoot_spirit
Facebook: Michael Houlihan
Website: TheBarefootSpirit.com & ConsumerBrandBuilders.com
Instagram: @thebarefootspirit
Book: The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle, and Heart Built America’s #1 Wine Brand
Youtube: SpiritOfBarefoot

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:
Website: Beyond8Figures.com

Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: feedback@beyond8figures.com

$10M+ in annual revenue – Ryan Levesque, ASK Method Mar 27, 2019

Get ready to uncover the story behind the renowned ASK Method as we sit down with Ryan Levesque. Learn how he stumbled upon this groundbreaking approach and how it has since transformed the way entrepreneurs around the world connect with their audience and skyrocket their businesses.

About Ryan Levesque:

Ryan Levesque is the Inc. 500 CEO of The ASK Method ® Company, and the #1 national best-selling author of “Ask”, recognized by Inc. as the #1 Marketing Book of the Year. His work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Forbes, and Entrepreneur and over 250,000 entrepreneurs subscribe to his email newsletter offering business advice. He is also a co-founder and investor in bucket.io®, a leading marketing funnel software for entrepreneurs.

In his latest book, “Choose“, Ryan helps readers avoid making the single biggest mistake when starting a business and guides people through answering the all important question: What type of business should you start?

Expand your entrepreneurial toolkit with our curated collection of Business Books.

Best Advice I Ever Received:

Name of the game, is to stay in the game, until you win the game.

Best Advice I’d Give To Someone Who Wants To Build A $10m+ Business:

Become your mentor’s #1 student

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Ryan discuss:

How his childhood and parents influenced the entrepreneur he has become.
Selecting evergreen markets versus fad markets.
How Ryan discovered the ASK Method and has since taught it to the world.
The catalyst point in his life that saved his life and changed how he decided to do business.

Key Takeaways:

Name of the game, is to stay in the game, until you win the game.
Google Trends can help you identify if your industry is trending up, trending down, is cyclical, or just a fad.
Over $450M per day is spent on information online.
Look at your ratio of what you invest in salary to your revenue, not just a price per employee.

“The type of market you want to be going into is a metronome market – a market that’s going to stand the test of time. A market that’s here today and it’s going to be here 10 years from now and it’s going to be here 100 years from now. You can build your future and your foundation on a market or business like that.”— Ryan Levesque

Connect with Ryan Levesque:

Facebook: Ryan Levesque & The ASK Method Company
Website: ASKMethod.com & bucket.io
Instagram: @askryanlevesque

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast

$40M+ in annual revenue – Tony Falkenstein, Just Water Intl. Mar 20, 2019

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Tony discuss:

The start of Tony’s entrepreneurial journey.
Keep your eyes open – that’s when things happen.
The start of Just Water and the life cycle of Tony’s side companies.
The power of people.

Key Takeaways:

“Slay the dragon”, meaning face up immediately to any challenge; don’t dwell on it. Better to make a mistake than doing nothing at all.
Always look ahead. The numbers of history are behind you. Look at what’s happening in the next month, the next quarter, the next year, and beyond.
Creating a brand has power.
Post-acquisition is so important.

“Focus – there are opportunities every day, but stay on track with the one that is going to be the core of the business.“ — Tony Falkenstein

About Tony Falkenstein:

Tony Falkenstein ONZM is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Just Water International Ltd. He was instrumental in launching New Zealand’s first Business High School, at Onehunga High, resulting in ‘business’ being added into the New Zealand curriculum.

Tony was inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame in 2008, and in 2010 was appointed as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM). In 2012 Tony received the Award for New Thinking in the World Class New Zealand Awards, in 2013 he was appointed a Distinguished Alumni of the University of Auckland, and in 2014 he received the Alpha, Beta, Gamma distinction.

Connect with Tony Falkenstein:

Website: JustLifeGroup.co.nz & JWI.co.nz & HomeTech.co.nz
Email: tf@jwi.co.nz

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: feedback@beyond8figures.com

$25M in annual revenue – Kisha Mays, Just Fearless Mar 13, 2019

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Kisha discuss:

Being the change you want to see.
How she created the structure of her business and continues to plan on growing it.
Being fearless and getting out of your own way.
Finding the model that fits you and your business.
The power of diversification.

Key Takeaways:

Just do it!
Have multiple streams of income so you aren’t dependent on just one income if something goes wrong.
Focus on the content, not on the celebrity, of your events.
Take your time and stay focused – don’t go too big too fast.

“You can still do this. You’ve got a bigger goal. The end result is way bigger than where you’re at right now.” — Kisha Mays

About Kisha Mays

Kisha Mays is a Successful Serial Entrepreneur, Visionary Global Business Development Strategist, Best Selling Author, Angel Investor, and Philanthropist. Her primary focus is on helping to develop 1,000,000 Fearless Female Entrepreneurs generating a minimum of $1,000,000+ in annual revenue. Turning them into unicorn global businesses through the Just Fearless Angel Fund which is a fund exclusively for female-founded companies. She pays it forward by supporting non-profits worldwide that specifically support & empower women and girls.

Kisha and her team are developing strategic partnerships for 2019 and beyond to make this international business and brand to an explosive level bringing Just Fearless from behind the scenes to the forefront. In 2019 they are launching HERstory Connections for Women in Business, Women in Creatives, and Women in Literary to help them increase their revenue and help us reach our 1,000,000 goals mentioned above. She and her team are excited for the abundance of opportunities, expansion, and partnerships to be announced very soon. She has been featured in the Business Insider, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, and Forbes to name a few. The Just Fearless team has worked with Pepsi, GE, and Home Depot to name a few.

Kisha released her Best Selling book “From Failure to Fearless: Still Completely Flawed BUT Thriving Fearlessly” to rave reviews. Most successful people only talk about the good parts of their journey. In her book, “From Failure to Fearless,” Kisha details her many, some very public, failures and how she overcame them in a transparent and vulnerable way. Based on the many positive reviews readers can relate to this from both a personal & business perspective.

Her major influences are Madam C. J. Walker, Oprah Winfrey, Sara Blakely, Malala Yousafzai, Nelson Mandela, and Richard Branson, for their fearlessness, exceptional courage, drive, and ambition, willingness to go after what they desire & believe in all while setting the standard and breaking through any and all ceilings. Even with all the success, she has achieved, Kisha still feels like she is only getting started. Based on her early success at a young age and her drive and ambition, her future and continued success are undoubtedly going to leave a major mark in history.

She is Just Fearless and Building Her Global Just Fearless Empire!

Connect with Kisha Mays:

Twitter: @IAmJustFearless & @KishaMays
Facebook: Just Fearless Inc & Kisha Mays
Company Website: www.justfearless.com
Event Website: www.justfearlesswomen.com
Press page: www.justfearless.com/press.html
Instagram: @iamjustfearless & @kishamays
Book: From Failure to Fearless: Still Completely Flawed BUT Thriving Fearlessly

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Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast
Email: feedback@beyond8figures.com

$40M Exit – Frank Shamrock, Strike Force Mar 06, 2019

Learning how to keep to your what and face your fears in the heat of the fight with Frank Shamrock.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

$10M+ in annual revenue – Jonathan Cronstedt Runs Kajabi Feb 27, 2019

Solving your business needs and growing your company with Jonathan Cronstedt.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

$10M+ in annual revenue – Garrett White Runs Wake Up Warrior Which Generates Feb 19, 2019

Finding your Warrior authenticity and honesty within yourself with Garrett White. As the driving force behind Wake Up Warrior, Garrett has built an empire that generates an impressive $10M+ annual revenue. Join us as we uncover the secrets behind his entrepreneurial journey and how he overcome the challenges along the way.

About Garrett White:

Garrett White is the founder of Wake Up Warrior and author of the Best Selling Book WARRIOR BOOK, Creator of Warrior Week. Additionally, he hosts the top-rated podcasts Warrior On Fire, Warrior Wealth, and Date Your Wife.

What started as a desire to set himself free from the bondage of his own failing life after the banking crisis of 2008, soon transformed into the launch of a Global Movement in Late 2012. The Warrior Movement is quickly changing the business world we have known for decades. It uses an unconventional method for living and producing as a modern man known as the Warriors Way.

Garrett co-owns DKW Styling Salon and BMS Training systems in the beauty industry with his wife Danielle. They live in Laguna Beach, CA with their three children Parker, Bailee and Ruby.

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Garrett discuss:

How Garrett moved from being a teacher, to a mortgage broker, to the CEO of his current company.
Garrett’s transition to finding the 4 B’s – Body, Being, Balance, and Business.
Becoming committed to your message and to marketing.
Finding a way to let you know everyday that you are winning in everything.

Key Takeaways:

It is a superpower to be able to hide nothing.
If you do not know and accept yourself – the brilliant and the crazy.
Know what you are trying to do and know what you are willing to commit.

“The difference between a guy that does $100K and $1M a year is the identification of his roles and his skillsets and who he sees himself to be.” — Garrett White

Connect with Garrett White:

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast

$30M in annual revenue – Mark Evans, American Wealth Builders, Cash Flow Lead Gen Feb 12, 2019

Mark Evans Owns American Wealth Builders And Cash Flow Lead Gen for More Than 30 Million Dollars.
In this episode, Mark Evans shares a rags-to-riches adventure in building a real estate empire.

About Mark Evans:

Mark Evans, known as “The DM” (The Deal-Maker) and “The DN” (The Digital Nomad), defied expectations by building a successful career as an entrepreneur and author. From starting his first real estate company at 18 to acquiring multiple cash-flowing businesses, Mark has become a renowned expert in systems, team building, and running businesses remotely.

As a 10x bestselling author, his books such as “Virtual Real Estate Investing Made Easy“, “Trifecta Profits“, “MEconomy“, “The 10-Minute Business Owner“, and “Magician vs. Mule” provide invaluable insights on mastering real estate deals, achieving time freedom, scaling businesses, and transforming your mindset for success.

Visit our curated collection of Business Books for more enriching reads.

Best Advice I Ever Received:
You don’t need to know/do everything.

Best Advice I’d Give To Someone Who Wants To Build A $10m+ Business:

Find the who to do the how.

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Mark discuss:

Getting your start in the real estate business and real estate marketing.
Taking risks to gain opportunities that can grow your business.
How the power of decision making can make or break your business.
The effects of online marketing for your business.

Key Takeaways:

You don’t have to know everything and be an expert to learn and succeed.
Anyone can get started in creating a business, regardless of your background.
Making the right decisions is much bigger than just what is right for your business. Your business can only succeed if you are living your values.
Learning when to exit can start early in the stages of a business, or later when the business has fledged.

“Let’s make an impact.” — Mark Evans

Connect with Mark Evans:

Twitter: @markevansdm
Facebook: @markevansdm
Website: markevansdm.com
Instagram: @markevansdm
Youtube: @MarkEvansDM

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

Website: Beyond8Figures.com
Twitter: @beyond8figures
Facebook: Beyond 8 Figures
Instagram:@b8fpodcast

$30M in annual revenue – Mike O’Hagan, MiniMovers, Shore360, and MikesBusinessTours Feb 05, 2019

Mike is a sought after presenter for business & industry events across Australia and the World – where he shares his unique insights about Business growth models, including improving Business Cash flow and Profits through a principle of “World’s Best Value”. Mike’s business career started with buying and selling goods as a second-hand dealer. Four years later, the entrepreneur in Mike surfaced when he launched a short distance furniture removal business. This evolved into MiniMovers.

What businesses does Mike have? (3:56)

Mike has a business in Australia called Mini-Movers, he started this business about 35 years ago with only $200. Today it has almost 450 people working in it. The annual revenue it makes is about $23 Million.
Mike then has a workspace and people business in the Philippines. It is a new business he has had for three years, the current revenue for that is about $7 million.
The business is called Shore 360. They tap into Filipino wages being much lower than Western World wages. They hire Filipinos into workspaces, and Western Businesses tap into that to build their team workers.
Mike’s third business is a marketing business called Show Marketing. They have a separate business group, and they do digital marketing. There are about 40 people currently working there in the Philipines. It is a relatively new start-up of about two years, and three offices are running in that area.
Mike also has a web building business which is running with about 20 people, and it is also a 2-year startup. Then he also has an integration business of about 15 coders, and they make a computer program to talk between all of the companies and integrate them.

How do these businesses integrate? (9:28)

Mike uses his Australian mini-movers business because it got a little rocky around the time of the recession. They move furniture from door to door or caseloads. With the significant downturn moving was scarce and Mike had to step in to save the company.
He moved a lot of the back end processes to the Philippines. The tour is the story of how Mike managed to save Mini-Movers, including the mistakes he made along the way before everything worked out.
Some people on the tour use Shore 360. Mike and his managers visit a lot of other places that clients can use as well. It depends on what suits the client and their particular business.
Each person has a different tack, a separate business niche, so you have to line up with those niches to help clients in what they want to do.
Mike started his first business when he was 28, which was buying and selling furniture. He had a store that bought and sold furniture and Mike was very naive in many ways. Mike had wanted to be his boss like many people who quit their jobs to start a business, and he does not believe that is the best way.

How did Mike get outside capital for his businesses? 17:05)

When Mike started the business, it was in the middle of a downturn. It was at the market, and the overall economy was terrible. People were going broke everywhere, and there were a lot of people who had gone and finance trucks for various reasons but had no actual work for them.
What Mike discovered was that he could go and rent these trucks but not the drivers themselves because they did not suit Mike needed. Mike would find a guy with financial difficulty who was behind with their payments and rented the truck off from them.
He rented only from people who were struggling, creating a help them, help me business dynamic. Mike never had to extend or borrow any capital or take any risks during this time. He did this for about ten years.
One of the guys got clever and bought a few trucks, and after ten years of his trucks doing so well, the bank did not hesitate to give the guy the capital needed, and he became Mike’s competitor.
That triggered Mike to go to the bank and say he has been doing well for ten years, he asked them to finance him to buy the trucks instead of renting them, and after his record of 10 years the bank did not hesitate to fund him, and Mike bought a brand new fleet of trucks for his business.

Shore 360

Shore360 Inc. is a 100% Australian owned enterprise based in Clark Freeport Zone, Philippines. They are a dynamic BPO – incorporated in 2014 – with a team of Owners and Leaders rich in Outsourcing and Offshoring enterprise experience.

They operate in a professional and corporate ecosystem. Their facilities include the mandatory meeting and breakout areas for staff amenities and onsite training activities. Options range from a single seat lease in a shared office environment, teams in private office spaces, to “build your own” business places.

Resources

Connect with Mike: LinkedIn

Shore360: Website

Beyond 8 Figures: Website

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

$10M in annual revenue – Lee Richter, Richter Communication & Design Group Jan 29, 2019

Lee Richter

Lee Richter is an award-winning, dynamic business innovator and a visionary recognised for the 7th consecutive year by the San Francisco Business Times as one of their Top 100 Women Business Leaders in 2019. For more than 25 years, she has launched a dozen successful businesses in the financial, education, and lifestyle sectors. Her unique vision and drive revolutionise the industry as her companies produce hundreds of jobs, educate tens of thousands of people and make millions in revenue.

What exits has Lee had previously? (4:42)

The first exit that Lee had was working as a stockbroker at Merril Lynch in 1984-1998.
She stayed with them for around 14 years. She took a 1-year sabbatical after training many people and decided that she wanted to take a break.
She spent her year of sabbatical in Key West Florida. Goldie Hawn was filming a movie called Criss-Cross.
The film happened to be in the hotel that Lee was staying in at the time.
Lee had the opportunity to get to know the crew over that period.
Lee asked the hotel owner what he was planning to do with the restaurant after the movie, and he said he did not have any plans.
Lee bought the business and during her 1-year sabbatical ran the business in Key West because she thought it would be a fun thing to do.
She had the restaurant for a year before selling it to her chef who made a massive success of it.
It had cost about $100,000 to buy the business, and Lee ended up walking away with seven figures.

What were some of the things from a marketing perspective that Lee did to bring attention to her businesses? (22:30)

Lee created a marketing team inside the organisation.
So within her PR and marketing company, she had a team specifically on the veterinary hospitals and in the veterinary industry.
A critical moment was in 2007-2009 when they had a market crash around them, especially in Silicon Valley.
Lee’s business was thriving more than others during that time.
Their vendors go to many hospitals, drug wraps, cardiologists and radiologists,
Some of them would go up to 100 hospitals and mention how busy Lee’s business as compared to all the others.
This made Lee evaluate her business, and she realised she was consistently connecting with the community regularly.
Having started in 2001, she did marketing plans and figuring out what their non-profit was going to do next and how they would do it.
They started meeting with the community, and they would apply for awards. They wrote a book and published it. They had about 13 different tactics.
They had 13 weeks for each quarter and decided to implement and try each strategy each week.

Which business was most exciting to Lee and which one has the potential for the largest exit? (44:47)

50% of Lee’s enterprises are in her Husband’s wheelhouse.
This was because they were in the veterinary and pet industry.
The other half is in her wheelhouse, which is PR marketing.
Even her veterinary hospitals and other business pay her PR marketing company as a vendor.
The PR Marketing business is legit. When she sold the veterinary hospital, there was a $250,000 line item just for the logo.
They created a package in the brand, for a $250,000 line item to the PR company just for the IP.
The pet concierges have products that they have launched. They just passed their 4th month launching a product that has done successfully so far and is considered valuable.
The product is called NutriaThrive, and they have sold 90,000 units in their 4th month of launching.
It is mostly about word of mouth and people are validating that the product works the way it says it’s supposed to.
They are planning four more products next year, so lee believes that they are headed for the 9 figure range with Pet Concierge.
They are adding a lot of value to the community as well by coming up with products that help pets.

Richter Communications

Richter Communications and Design Group comprises industry-transforming companies and organisations ranging from Pet Health Care, Event Planning, Marketing Consulting, Business Scaling, and Personal Growth.

Resources

Connect with Lee: LinkedIn

Richter Communications: Website

Beyond 8 Figures: Website

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

$10M in annual revenue – Nyasha Gwatidzo, Banya Jan 22, 2019

Nyasha Gwatidzo was born in a rural village in Zimbabwe and came over to the UK in the 1970s. Nyasha is a distinguished businesswoman, social entrepreneur, and philanthropist who has, over a 30-year career, launched and built successful multi-million-pound businesses and social enterprises in the United Kingdom, generating a cumulative $130 million turnover. Nyasha is a qualified psychotherapist, social worker, coach, and mentor.

What does Nyasha do and how did she get to this point? (1:45)

About 32 years ago, Nyasha was running a children’s home for children in need of therapeutic care.
It was the first of its kind to be set up by someone independent of the local authority and charities in London.
During that time, Nyasha saw a remarkable behavioural change in the children receiving therapeutic care.
She asked her staff if they would look after the children in their own homes and they said yes.
After years of looking after the children, Nyasha thought that every child has a right to live in a home and not a children’s home.
They were tiny with only six children at the time.
Nyasha’s first foster carer was a member of her staff who started working in her kitchen in her house in South London.
Now the agency is a vast National Agency all over England.
They look after and manage over 300 foster families, and annually they look after more than 300 children.
Each child has developed and grown into functioning adults, and recently they have registered as an adult placement agency as well.

What led Nyasha to this in the first place? (9:26)

Nyasha’s late mother always said she was not surprised that Nyasa was doing what she was.
Nyasha has always loved children.
She grew up in Zimbabwe, and the first memory she has is when she was four years old, carrying a baby to her bed.
Her love for children has stayed throughout her life.
When she was 12, she left Zimbabwe and came to the UK for university.
She was going to become an academic, studying chemistry and math. She left all of that her tutor pointed out how much Nyasha lit up when talking about children.
So Nyasha ended up training to become a social worker or child psychotherapist. She also did a PhD in chemistry.
The comment from her tutor sparked the idea, and Nyasha’s passion for children kept it alight.

Did Nyasha have any competitors? (16:21)

In London, other similar agencies have appeared since Nyasha started.
There were only around 11 national agencies in the whole of England.
The other agencies were supportive of Nyasha, some of them mentoring her during startup.
The first few months Nyasha just asked all of the agencies how they did what they did.
Even though most of the agencies had different models, they were all pretty similar.
Nyasha collected all the information she needed from these agencies, the structure, damage to the church, local authorities, how much they pay, how much they care, etc.

Banya

Banya is an independent fostering provider. Banya supports foster carer households in Greater London and beyond. Hundreds of children and young people have benefited from placements with our foster carers since Banya was founded in 1997. They aim to provide a high standard of foster care for a range of children and young people. Banya has developed specialisms in placing sibling groups, unaccompanied children and young people from overseas, children with special needs, and troubled teenagers.

Resources

Connect with Nyasha: LinkedIn

Banya: Website

Beyond 8 Figures: Website

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

$10M+ Exit – Parham Parastaran, Car-X Tire and Auto Jan 15, 2019

Parham Parastaran discusses how personal growth is the key to growing and succeeding in business.

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$10M Exit – Björn Öste, Dynasoft Jan 08, 2019

Bjorn Oste, CEO of Good Idea Exited Dynasoft for More Than 10 Million Dollars.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

$2B Exit – Stuart Taylor, Taylor Nelson and Associates Dec 24, 2018

Think long term and strategy building for a strong exit.

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$10M+ Exit – Chip Conley, Joie de Vivre Hospitality Dec 17, 2018

In this episode, Chip Conley shares his inspiring journey of starting a company from scratch and eventually exiting for $10 million. Discover how Chip transformed inner-city motels into the second-largest chain of boutique hotels and helped guide the Founders of AirBnB to create the world’s most valuable lodging brand.

About Chip Conley:

Rebel hospitality entrepreneur and New York Times bestselling author, Chip Conley disrupted his favorite industry… twice, first with Joie de Vivre Hospitality (JdV) where he transformed a small motel into one of America’s largest boutique hotel brands, and later as Airbnb’s Head of Global Hospitality and Strategy, playing a crucial role in shaping the company’s growth. Recognized as the “Most Innovative CEO” by the San Francisco Business Times and honored with the Pioneer Award in hospitality, he continues to make an impact as Airbnb’s Strategic Advisor for Hospitality and Leadership.

Chip has authored several influential books including “Learning to Love Midlife“, “Wisdom at Work“, “Emotional Equations“, “PEAK“, “Marketing That Matters“, and “The Rebel Rules” providing valuable insights on personal growth, leadership, and marketing strategies. Through his writings, he inspires entrepreneurs to achieve success, find fulfillment, and embrace their individuality in the business world.

Visit our curated collection of Business Books for more enriching reads.

Best Advice I Ever Received:

Richard Branson, who wrote the Foreword for my first book, told me when he’s creating a new company, he always repeats the mantra, “I am the market, I am the market, I am the market” as a reminder that he wants to thrill himself as a customer.

Best Advice I’d Give to Someone Who Wants to Build A $10m+ Business:

Focus on a niche that you can own with clear differentiators.

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Chip discuss:

How Chip got started in the hospitality business and getting investors to invest.
How to handle an unstable market and shrinking revenue due to recession.
Hiring and building the team you need to better manage your own time and your business’ growth.
How hospitality has changed in current culture and what changes have occurred in businesses.

Key Takeaways:

Be a part of your market so you can always stay in tune with the desires of your clients and industry.
Understanding investments will help you grow your business and flourish.
Building a company that people want to work for makes a stronger team and smoother process.
Balancing your consumer base is the key to growing your businesses.

“People liked our company.” — Chip Conley

Connect with Chip Conley:

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

$50M in annual revenue – Mike McDerment, Freshbooks Dec 17, 2018

Mike is the co-founder and CEO of FreshBooks, a provider of accounting software in the cloud for self-employed professionals. Built-in 2003 after he accidentally saved over an invoice, Mike spent 3.5 years growing FreshBooks from his parents’ basement. Since then, over 10 million people have used FreshBooks to save time billing and collect billions of dollars.

What did Mike find didn’t work while starting up? (3:52)

There are trade-offs. Pricing is one of the things you can do to do your business, and business model work differently depending on which customers you are seekings.
Mike’s company started with a freemium model before moving to a free trial. They could change it up again according to what objectives they had at the time.
They also like to focus on what would be best for their customers.
They found that having a free trial is an excellent way to have people experience the product before actually buying it.
They are giving people time to experience their product to be sure that they do want to adopt it and change their behaviour coming from Word or Excel.
It helps people find value in your product and give them a goal to work towards. Many people then choose to stay a customer for years after if their experience is positive.

What started the idea in Mike’s mind? (6:32)

Mike was using Microsoft Word one day and his clients, and he saved over a prior invoice for reasons unknown.
Mike snapped and figured there must be a better way to do this.
So he started building on that idea mostly for his convenience.
It was a scratch your itch, write your book endeavour.
He did not have global ambitions, but today they have to pay customers in over 120 countries, more than 20 million people have used the software since Mike started it.
He was just building it for himself to get invoices in front of clients, and he made a simple web application to do that.
Over time he figured other people could use the software too. So he figured out how to market it towards them, and now Mike’s company is a successful Software as a Service business.

How did Mike differentiate himself from competitors? (19:01)

They did and are still playing the field with competitors.
What they do is they are invoicing and accounting software that solves your billing issues.
Firms with billing problems related to invoicing, not point of sale or retail restaurants can find use from Mike’s software.
When they started, they were only doing online invoicing. Mike felt like an Attack Vector on a big platform. He found a sliver of the tech and made it better.
Some people did not like the desktop software, but no one else was doing online invoicing as comparably well as FreshBooks were.
That was their hook that got customers coming back and eventually. They grew to know their customers and what they expected from the software.
They adjusted it accordingly and started adding other things customers might need like estimates and quotes.

What was the most challenging period for Mike? (26:46)

Challenges change according to each stage of your business.
You need to morph and contort yourself to solve the different problems that arise.
It is always challenging, and the challenges will always be present.
The whole, while you learn how to lead and what running a company, is really like.
There are many different problems to solve many other vectors, but it is also the fun of starting a company.
It is not for everybody, but it can be a gratifying process.
If mike went back and did it again, he knows he would be able to do it so much faster than before, and that is why so many people back repeat entrepreneurs.

FreshBooks

FreshBooks is an online invoicing and accounting software designed for self-employed professionals and small business owners and their teams. As a cloud solution, it is highly accessible but secure enough for sync and integration with banks, credit card companies, payment centres, and other cloud productivity apps.

Resources

Connect with Mike: Twitter

FreshBooks: Website

Beyond 8 Figures: Website

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

$10M+ in annual revenue- Sabri Suby, King Kong Dec 07, 2018

Sabri Suby is a serial entrepreneur who runs Australia's fastest-growing end-to-end digital marketing agency. Having originally founded King Kong in 2014 from his bedroom, Sabri has bootstrapped his company since day one and in under five years has successfully built a team of 54 specialists now achieving $14 million+ in revenue. As a pioneer in the digital marketing arena, his business has impacted 250,000 businesses in 42 different countries and has generated more than $400 million in sales for him and his clients.

What are Sabri and his company about? (3:27)

They are an end to end marketing agency.
They help clients grow their revenue by increasing their traffic leads and sales.
It could be anything from building a high converting landing page to running Facebook ads or building out a sales funnel or a webinar for clients.
It’s all about getting traffic to some asset online and then helping that traffic convert into actual sales and leads for their clients.

Examples of companies Sabri worked with and what he managed to help them do. (3:53)

One of Sabri’s clients is a pilates instructor business; in other words, he teaches people to be pilates instructors.
They took him from a struggling 200k at most a year to do about $3 million yearly now.
They work with anyone from small to medium sixers businesses.
One of their clients is the most prominent home builder in Australia, ranking somewhere around a $1 billion company.
No two days are the same. They are always working on entirely different projects.
They took a property client to $250 million within their first three months with King Kong.
It’s crazy the results you achieve once you find something that works and you can then scale it quickly.
They took a client in a niche property market where he was selling houses to a specific demographic market, and they built him a landing page as a primary funnel and took him from zero to $50 million in under three months.

Where did Sabri come from before founding King Kong? (10:03)

Sabri started when he was 16. He was doing direct selling, telemarketing, and everything in between.
Sabri failed miserably at that in the beginning, but it was the only job he could find at the time.
It was his first full-time job, and the business owner saw something in Sabri even though he was doing terrible at the time.
It was the combination of believing in Sabri and being back into the corner from possibly losing his job, something snapped within Sabri, and the very next day he approached the sales game in a completely different way.
He quickly became the top salesperson for the company. Over the next few years, he travelled the UK and the U.S selling, and He was always the best salesperson at each company he worked at.
After spending 2-3 years abroad, he returned to Australia and went off to university.
He had a part-time job where he was selling Google AdWords for a company.
One of the clients had said he did not want Google AdWords, and he wanted to be on the left-hand side of the page with SEO.
This got Sabri thinking and being the ambitious person that he is he said he could do that for that person.
He told his manager that he had just sold SEO and his manager said that it was not a service that they offered.
Sabri figured out how to supply this service to the client, and that was how he started in the world of digital marketing.
After figuring out SEO, he thought that he could run the company better than the person currently running it.
And so Sabri started his own business from his bedroom, he was mostly cold calling clients during that time.
He decided to drop out of university and focus solely on his business. With his business partner, he managed to grow the company up to $1 million in revenue in 18 months.
He sold that business and founded a few more, some of which he exited successfully and others that ran into the ground.
He did a few joint ventures with AFL, which is the Australian equivalent of the NFL.
With all of those businesses and the time he had spent in them, he realised there were fundamental problems in trying to acquire new clients that other people just weren’t solving.
This is what led him to start King Kong.

King Kong

King Kong is a digital marketing agency that specialises in social media marketing. It offers services such as traffic generation, conversion, retargeting, and nurturing. It provides custom digital marketing plans by analysing its client’s target market, competitors, sales, and goals.

The company provides services such as search engine optimisation, conversion rate optimisation, social media marketing, web design, Magento web design, and landing page design. King Kong was founded by Sabri Suby in 2014 and is headquartered in Prahran, Victoria.

Resources

Connect with Sabri: LinkedIn

King Kong: Website

Beyond 8 Figures: Website

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

$36M in annual revenue- Marx Acosta-Rubio, Onestop Nov 28, 2018

Marx Acosta

Marx Acosta is the founder of Onestop, a company that makes 30+ million dollars in annual revenues selling print cartridges. Marx dropped out of law school to become an entrepreneur. He is also an investor and consultant who shares his wisdom with other entrepreneurs to save them from falling into traps that might paralyse them and keep them from living the life they want to be living. Marx believes that family comes first, and they became his inspiration for rising again.

How did Marx’s company get value? (4:43)

Businesses sell for a multiple of revenue rents usually EBITDA, so EBITDA was about six times multiple.
The challenge with these kinds of businesses is that there are no contracts by which you can have customers.
When the business crashed, they sold it. Later on, they repurchased the assets, which they had to build once again from scratch.

Marx’s secret sauce which he figured out himself. (10:46)

He was voted least likely to succeed when he was in high school. He is an introvert and would be happy if you sit him in a corner and give him a book.
The thing that he figured out early was that he was doing something different. He was utilising things that others weren't doing.
His secret is in the way that he speaks to the other person. He puts forth a good ego and authoritative character. He uses the term “assume” which puts him in that position.

What makes or breaks the business? (33:11)

You're only one to three moves away from greatness or disaster, it’s not 50 or 100 but as little as up to three movements, and this is not always noticeable.
The one move that caused the downfall of Marx’s organisation was a wrong hire.
He realised that he had made the mistake of advocating and neglecting four areas at some point.
Once he got a hold of that, everything started to change for him.
The purpose of building an organisation is to grow it. If you succeed, it will be “attractive.” At some point, someone will come and knock on your door if it's a good company.

Marx’s vision around particular businesses. (33:11)

Marx’s vision right now is around his kids as they are all heading to college.
Some entrepreneurs keep making the same mistakes over and over again, and the reason for this is because they're not working on their mindset.
What drives results are behaviour, so if you want results, you need the right actions, and what drives behaviour is belief.

Marx Acosta-Rubio

Marx Acosta-Rubio helps you with creating a selling system. They help owners transform average salespeople into extraordinary income producers using their predictable sales system that never fails.

Resources

Connect with Marx: LinkedIn

Marx Acosta: Website

Beyond 8 Figures: Website

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

$83M Exit- Sharran Srivatsaa, Teles Nov 22, 2018

Sharran Srivatsaa

Sharran Srivatsaa is the CEO of Kingston Lane, a push-button technology execution platform for real estate. Sharran is a serial entrepreneur, sought-after keynote speaker, and a respected thought-leadership resource for publications such as The Wall Street Journal, SUCCESS magazine, Huffington Post, and Forbes.

What income range does Sharran have, and where does it come from? (2:21)

Sharran exited a business around the 8 figure mark, although he is not allowed to disclose the final sales amount due to selling to a public company.
He chose to share some of the other exciting stats.
They owned a real estate brokerage which Sharran fell into.
They grew it to 10x the size it was when Sharran started in five years.
They had over 600 agents and did about 3.6 billion in top-line sales, which were about $83 million in revenues, and they had 22 offices.
By the end of 2017, they had been acquired by a public company out of New York called Douglas Elliman.
It was the largest transaction Douglas Elliman had ever done.
Even though the sales number is a $3.6 Billion number and the one published the most, Sharran wants people to know that that is not what he walked away with. Gross revenues for the firm were $83 Million.

Was there a unique way that Sharran acquired customers? (7:20)

At some point, the business was in red ocean waters.
It is a commoditised business, and everyone believes a brokerage is a brokerage.
You have to figure out whether you are going to get clients and hand leads to your agents or how you are going to get great agents and support them.
You have to figure out your business model from the start.
The industry is primarily based on an agent to client relationships. An agent to client relationship is tough to displace.
Sharran did not go down the path, worried about how he was going to acquire new clients. He decided to instead focus on how he would build an operating model that can support an agent trying to gain more clients.
This was the core value proposition of the company.
So for the first six months, it was all about how to get to the heart of building a value proposition.
Sharran wanted to be able to give a one-sentence pitch to clients which would make them like the offer they were getting.

How did Sharran get a foothold in the market? (37:17)

Sharran has no people on the ground. They started building a partner model.
They have someone in every country, promoting them.
They have a major real estate network in Australia which had a substantial real estate conference.
Sharran was there as a keynote speaker, and that grew into a 3D keynote that eventually developed the brand.
They found the right kind of person to become partners with.
It could be a portal, a coaching company, or even another brokerage, but it’s mainly about helping with the delivery of your service.
In Australia, there are no buyer side commissions, so the company quickly realised that buyers are not taken care of in Australia.
There is no incentive to look after buyers in Australia because they are not getting paid.
It ruined half of Sharran’s original pitch about understanding agents well.
Therefore learning local market nuances is super powerful.

What does Sharran recommend entrepreneurs do to address a shortage of listings? (42:14)

You have to have a singular focus which is what you wake up and obsess about every single day.
You need to have a cadence of accountability.
You have to have a fair process that drives good results.
A lot of entrepreneurs will hack stuff.
Teles’ singular focus was recruiting agents that were selling at least ten homes a year or more.
They incentive their agents even more by saying if you get seven or more listings a year you get 52 days off in that year.
Sharran would also tell all his sales managers and recruiting managers the same thing.
Once Sharran managed to get the employees on board, he could deliver the service.

Teles

Teles Properties is a full-service, luxury real estate firm headquartered in Beverly Hills. They have 21 offices strategically located in California’s most prestigious markets. From the highlands of Carmel to the island of Coronado as well as a presence in Boulder, Colo. Recognized for four consecutive years by the prestigious Inc. 500|5000 lists as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America, Teles has become an industry disruptor, attracting top broker talent and elite leadership from invaluable and complementary sectors such as marketing, technology, finance, and law.

Resources

Connect with Sharran: LinkedIn

Teles Properties: Website

Beyond 8 Figures: Website

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

$30M in annual revenue- Colin Wayne, Redline Steel Nov 07, 2018

Colin Wayne is a 30-year-old Millionaire from Huntsville, Al who has accomplished more in the past 10 years than most will in a lifetime. To include being a prior Army Combat Veteran, Former Top Fitness Model with 50+ Magazine Covers, Social Media Savant with over 3.6M followers across Social Media, Husband, Father of 3, and currently an Entrepreneur scaling his company, Redline Steel into a Billion Dollar company within the next decade.

How Colin started out. (5:01)

Manufacturing was something he had zero experience in.
Prior to getting involved with this business, Colin wanted to partner with a guy who offered a marketing opportunity.
At some point, Colin made his partner an offer to get 51% of the business if he was able to do six times the revenue of what his partner was making. In which he backed out when they got to that day.

Getting into doing steel decor. (14:34)

He was working out at the gym with a good friend of his, and he showed him a steel baseball figure with a name engraved into it.
Colin figured that he also wanted a gift like this for his own son, he phoned, and the opportunity showed itself.
Colin and the owner that did the steelwork developed, spoke, and built a business plan, once again, Colin made the same proposal, and for a second time, the other party backed out.
He decided to get his own equipment the very next day even though he didn’t know what he was getting himself into.

How Colin scaled his business. (22:19)

He officially started his business in 2016 when he completed the big purchase order.
They had three or four employees full time doing 50 to 60 orders per week. It was noting substantial, and he could only pay the bills and not himself.
Colin used Facebook marketing which helped with the boost. He continued to do soft scaling for quite some time.
They used different channels to market so that they don’t solely depend on just Facebook alone.
They are launching other brands to stretch the LTV even further like selling candles as well.

Advice for someone wanting to scale or potentially exit a business. (48:13)

Colin’s biggest advice for anybody wanting to get started is to execute.
Don’t let the fact that you have zero experience stop you from doing what you want to do. Believe in yourself and in your abilities to move forward.
If you continue procrastinating you might end up regretting that you did not take initiative, simply execute what it is you want to do.

Redline Steel

Redline Steel is a customized decor manufacturing company inspired by design and relentless innovation to bring a level of quality unprecedented to what's been seen in home decor. They are proudly veteran owned and operated and 100% manufactured in the United States.

Resources

Connect with Colin: LinkedIn

Colin Wayne: Website

Redline Steel: Website

Beyond 8 Figures: Website

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

$50M in revenue- Steve Layton, Layton Groups Oct 30, 2018

Steve Layton is the founder of the furniture business The Layton Group. Supplying furniture to large Australian retailers such as John Cootes and Harvey Norman since 1998. Layton started the business in Hong Kong in 1990, exporting furniture to Australia, the US, and Europe.

Layton’s new, reworked venture Sofa Brands is a three-way supply and retail agreement with Italian furniture business Calia Italia and leading Chinese furniture retailer, De Rucci, which has more than 2000 stores.

What was the first transaction for Steve? (13:39)

The very first transaction would have been a container of sofas shipped to Auckland in New Zealand.
The tough thing was finding the factories, finding the manufacturers, finding the product, and then developing the product.
Back in the day, they had to be on the ground, shaking hands and making relationships with the Chinese manufacturers.

How did Steve go about hiring his first employee? (20:51)

The first hire was in Hong Kong in 1991.
They had the shipping person who handled all the logistics and the paperwork for the export.
They had a PA who was handling all his travel and various other things.
The people they focused on most, which they spent most of their money on was quality control. They had four quality control inspectors based in China.
Steve believes that focusing on good quality products from the start is what helped his business grow.
They did not own the manufacturer; they were only developing the product and then sold that.

Roland’s mistake which ended up making everything move faster? (7:12)

They committed to material back in 2009, which was a new material called bonded leather.
They put together a collection of furniture, presented it to one of the biggest retailers in Australia and they took it up.
Everyone was telling him that he can’t use that material since no one would be interested. However, it became a $12mil category of leather material.
By taking such a big risk, it ended becoming a huge success.
Since the pivot, the IP that they have, and the business models that they're actually growing is going to have a real value.
There are huge upsides on average transaction values now, as they’re racing back up to the middle and having the exclusive production and distribution rights on the two big Italian brands.

The Layton Group

The Layton Group has been one of Australia’s premier furniture supply and manufacturing businesses, supplying furniture and homewares to the majority of Australia’s largest retailers since 1998.

Resources

Sofa Brands: Website

Beyond 8 Figures: Website

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Multiple 8 and 9 Figure Exits – Roland Frasier Oct 23, 2018

Roland Frasier talks about business from an equity and acquisition standpoint. He also shares how thinking outside the box can bring success and fulfillment in the business world.

About Roland Frasier:

Roland Frasier, a serial entrepreneur, co-founder, and principal of multiple rapidly growing companies, possesses an extensive background in diverse industries, ranging from e-commerce and e-learning to industrial machine manufacturing. With a remarkable track record of founding, scaling, or selling two dozen businesses, Roland is currently the CEO of War Room Mastermind, advising over 150 companies on digitally-centric growth strategies. Additionally, he serves as a principal in several prominent ventures, including DigitalMarketer.com, Traffic & Conversion Summit, Praxio.com, Plattr.com, TruConversion.com, and Real Estate Worldwide.

His relentless passion for business and deal-making is reflected in his book “Zero Down: 5 Proven Steps to Quickly Acquire Businesses + Unlimited Leads for Zero Money Out of Pocket“, where he provides entrepreneurs with practical strategies to acquire businesses without relying on personal funds or credit.

Visit our curated collection of Business Books for more enriching reads.

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard, and Roland discuss:

Getting started with equity
How to invest for a good return
What risks are good to take, and which are dangerous
How to acquire a business

Key Takeaways:

Choose a business where you would do what you’re doing for free and find another job to earn money to allow you to do the business you are starting. And… try to find a business that you can sell for a multiple of sales and not a multiple of earnings. SaaS companies are currently one such business
Taking a risk on a deal to invest can grow your return if you manage your time well
It’s better to invest small in the beginning, then invest everything later and lose it all
Keep yourself open to all opportunities and what they may present you

“I try to stay in the strategy lane.” — Roland Frasier

Connect with Roland Frasier:

Facebook: @rolandfrasier
Website: http://www.rolandfrasier.com

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

$10+ M Exit- Dan Kuschell Oct 09, 2018

Dan is the founder of Growth to Freedom, ProsperityBasedLiving.com, creator of Millionaires Mindset, bestselling author of Bootstrap Business as well as A Champion in the Making: Awaken the Champion Within Your Life, Business, and Relationships, and more.

Dan is a Dad, Thought Leader, Humanitarian, Angel Investor, and Business Growth Specialist. Dan started his first company at 22 years old, has owned multiple companies, and has over 22 years of experience helping businesses grow exponentially.

How did Dan get started? (2:35)

Dan says that it has been quite a journey.
Dan has always been fascinated by direct response marketing since the late ’80s.
He worked in a direct mail company before starting his own company that he built up.
The company ended up not doing too well because Dan was young and didn’t understand enough about being young, dumb, and made a bunch of mistakes.
Pre Internet, they were able to take messages and put them in the mail, and people would respond and send them money.
They would also put ads on TV and people would respond to those and also send them money. And so it was with radio as well.
Dan build a version of a business, and after a bad breakup with a business partner, Dan had to regroup. He got into the seminar business.
He started to learn about selling from the stage and event model type businesses.
He then started a company where they sold business opportunities, and he found it enjoyable.
He loved watching people start up their businesses, taking their dreams, and creating freedom for them and their families, and making a difference in the communities they plan to impact.
While doing that, Dan was also notating the experiences into a journal so he wouldn’t forget where he came from.
He journaled certain strategies into one particular journal, and a friend saw it and asked if he could check it out.
Reading it, his friend said that he should consider turning it into a book.
This was in the mid-’90s, and Dan was not sure how to publish a book or even write one.
But he decided to go for it and published his book all by himself, the first few sets of copies cost him something like $50.

What did Dan do next? (5:52)

TV was not like it is now. Now it is relatively inexpensive to start a TV production facility compared to back then.
Dan decided to go to the other section, which was radio infomercials.
He created a Radio Infomercials business where he took 30-minute presentations he had that converted to generate leads that fed to the audience.
This was in the late ’90s to early 2000s. What would then happen is that these would feed into the education programs through an automated teleseminar.
Today these are called quite a few things, including a webinar.
Dan figured out how to merge different technologies to automate it.
They hit a winner when they saw that they could create leads for almost no cost.
Dan started to mass-air his product on all different networks, including ESPN, before it was famous.
They were generating thousands of leads which drove into their automated teleseminar process to sell their education.

How did Dan and his team keep up with the growth? (7:42)

In the process of building the leads, they required more people to supply and support them.
They needed people to talk to the people receiving their leads and enrol them.
They quickly outgrew their 400 square foot office.
They started with 4 people in the original office. They rented an adjunct space next to their first office, which added another 300 square feet of space.
They grew to include 10 more people working for them and started to build the online filament to their teleseminars.
Other employees generating leads mused about parlaying the eduction to be able to provide it to their clients.
So these people would hand over their leads to Dan increasing his number of them.
The team grew from 10 to 40 rapidly, which is when Dan realized that the business was starting to become a little overwhelming but was amazed by what they had accomplished at that point as well.
Panicking at projected growth data, Dan did not want to have to hire more people and so he jumped to thinking up solutions.
He started to work on copy online. He was convinced you could take a sales message and put it online.
With some help from people who joined the company a little later, Dan managed to eventually pull it off.

Prosperity Based Living

In this new power program, Prosperity Based Living™. Dan Kuschell gives the specific tools, resources, and strategies that he's used to transforming the lives of others who truly desire to begin immediately to attract abundance, wealth, and prosperity.

Resources

Connect with Dan: Website

Prosperity Based Living: Website

Beyond 8 Figures: Website

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

$10+ M Exit- Melissa Krivachek, Melissa Krivachek Companies Oct 03, 2018

Melissa Krivachek has been honored with enthusiasm for training people, groups, and organizations over the globe who wind up lacking energy, losing cash, and feeling lost in the everyday cycles they've made for themselves, their organizations, and families.

Beyond the ability to create systems, scale, and develop teams as well as increase bottom lines and help people with discovering genuine feelings of serenity Melissa has been given various awards, handling her on the front page of Evolution Magazine as their Top Power Player Under 40.

What helped Melissa to grow the business? (9:46)

Everyone should find themselves a protector, a guard dog, someone that's going to keep the doors shut for you, accessing clients that aren't in your realm of expertise.
She has a CEO that does a phenomenal job of telling people when Melissa can’t do certain things.

Melissa’s definition of fun, doing sales. (14:01)

She believes that it is a conversation that people have.
Melissa is more interested in finding out what the other person is like so that she can put emphasis on that during a sales conversation.
In company culture, people spend way too much time being serious and not enough time doing the things that bring them joy and fulfillment.
Melissa has done tons of things with her clients such as going skiing, running and splashing in puddles, etc.
If you can create an experience for someone from start to finish, they're much more likely to spend their money on your company.
Other business owners that don't quite make as much revenue, generally don't know what fun is since they are just stuck in the mundane task of trying to figure out how to generate more revenue.

Melissa’s advice for business in terms of starting scaling or exiting? (28:43)

Melissa advises not to look to do things for yourself and your own division of revenue, you must look to do things for other people.
The first thing you do is to find something that makes you happy, then the price tag should not matter.
The better energy that you have, the more you can do with it. You can contribute to charities, you can be philanthropic, you can give back and just do good.
Melissa makes sure to fulfill her promises, she does not set goals, instead, she sets requirements.

What's the overall vision in terms of revenue around the first year? (33:21)

Melissa is already cash-flow positive, it is well over 10 million
It is important to get out of startup mode as quickly as possible, which is only achievable if you have money to invest back into companies.
The majority of salespeople do not have great sales talents.
The second category is people that might not be the best at sales, but have experience with it.
These are people that Milisa knows she can call and sell tickets to.

Melissa Krivachek

Melissa Krivachek runs her own business which is in business and sales. She does financial analysis, total business evaluation as well as helping you to develop management roles. It is important to organize the workflow and to outsource low-level tasks. In order to maximize the cash flow, she also focuses on hiring the right people and helps you to develop daily routines.

Resources

Connect with Melissa: Instagram

Melissa Krivachek Companies: Website

Beyond 8 Figures: Website

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

$11M Exit- Viki Winterton, Expert Insights Publishing Sep 25, 2018

Viki Winterton is the founder of Expert Insights Publishing, home of best-selling and award-winning books and magazines, where visionaries and those on the rise come together to create immediate impact.

Viki is also a multiple #1 International Best-Selling Author and Award-Winning Publisher, founder of Bestselling Authors International Organization, Write Now! Broadcast and Write Away, Write Now!, the global community where writers find everything they need at each stage of their journey

How involved was Viki in the firm? (2:41)

When Viki hit her 20s, she started working part-time for an ad agency between her modelling gigs.
There was a fierce desire to be more in control of life.
Modelling is somewhat manipulated by a lot of different factors.
When you get to the age of 24 it is time to retire, for a lot of models, which Viki decided to pursue.
A lot of recruitment and general advertising was done during the time that there was a bad recession.

Who were Viki’s partners at that current point? (5:06)

She acquired a number of other smaller agencies and then approached a full-service agency about sharing a space and sharing their creative department.
Three years later the owner of that department was interested in Viki’s part and made her an offer to acquire her portion of the agency.
He ended up buying her portion of the agency for the big sum of $12M.

How her business grew and what Viki would’ve done differently (7:12)

Since she was so young, all of Viki’s energy was going into billing and getting bigger numbers.
As they grew, they had to take contracts several times, which almost doubled their size. This meant that they also needed to nearly double their headcount.
In her mature years, she could see people planning for growth without planning how to grow.
If she would have had any regrets, it would probably be that she tampered with their growth to be a little less dramatic.
When they acquired two businesses, she would have changed that, some of the people would also change along with the business, because it would’ve resulted in the way that the business was run.
When Viki initially worked in the business, she loved it, but as it got bigger she realized that she preferred a more entrepreneurial background or environment.
In this day and age, it would be wonderful to talk about profitability as there is a movement behind that. Those in bigger businesses or those starting out should be looking at profitability.

Viki’s advice for entrepreneurs? (32:44)

First and foremost you must follow your bliss. If you do what you love, everything comes naturally.
All information is free on the internet and people have access to this information to make their business successful. But one thing they can’t replace is passion and the bliss that they find by doing what they are passionate about.

Expert Insights Publishing

Expert Insights Publishing has helped more than 100 companies, experts, writers, and entrepreneurs to successfully define their dreams and their businesses to achieve success for over 30 years. They are a 23-time #1 International Bestseller and award-winning publisher.

Resources

Connect with Viki: LinkedIn

Expert Insights Publishing: Website

Beyond 8 Figures: Website

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

$10.5M Exit- Mitch Russo, Timeslips Corporation Sep 19, 2018

In this episode of Beyond 8 Figures, Steve, Mary & Richard sit down with Mitch Russo founder of Timeslips Corporation who exited for 10.5 Million dollars.

About Mitch Russo:

Mitch Russo, a seasoned entrepreneur, began his remarkable journey by founding a software company in his garage, which he later sold for a staggering eight figures. Collaborating with industry titans Tony Robbins and Chet Holmes, he successfully built a 25-million-dollar enterprise. At the core of Mitch’s philosophy lies the belief in nurturing client relationships and the importance of sharing knowledge and experience with others.

Renowned for his expertise, Mitch Russo has authored a collection of influential books that offer tremendous value to business owners and entrepreneurs. Among his notable works are “Power Tribes,” “Coach Elevation,” and “The Invisible Organization.” These comprehensive blueprints empower readers to achieve exponential growth, elevate coaching sessions, and establish thriving virtual companies.

For detailed reviews of these exceptional books, please visit: Power Tribes, Coach Elevation, and The Invisible Organization (Book Reviews)

In this episode, Steve, Mary, Richard and Mitch discuss:

How Timeslips Corp got started and the process for getting it off the ground
The importance of PR, Marketing, and Sales in the Technology Business
How and why the Timeslips Certified Consultant Program got started
Things Mitch learned from Timeslips Corp and how he is using them in his projects now

Key Takeaways:

Stay focused on your client’s needs, deliver it better than anyone else and you have to win.
Always ask yourself what can you sell next after you’ve made the first sale.
Figure out your vision, stay the course, but be willing to adapt.
It doesn’t happen the way you think it will. Learn from what didn’t work.

“How can we reinvent what we have to be something better, different, and serve a greater need?” — Mitch Russo

Connect with Mitch Russo:

Website: http://www.MitchRusso.com

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

£11.2M Exit- Jonny Cooper, Money Desk Sep 10, 2018

Jonny Cooper is a British entrepreneur, piano player, international racing driver, and business coach. He’s the founder of JonnyHatesMarketing.com, where he helps coaches, trainers, and therapists find more of their ideal clients more efficiently.

What businesses does Jonny run, their current revenue, and what were some of his previous exits? (1:27)

Jonny exited a business about ten years ago. They had just cleared £10 Million in the last year and walked away with about £1 Million.
Jonny’s current business is in the growth stage, and he is enjoying it. He is working on the company because he wants to instead of because he needs to.
The business has just hit the mid-six-figure revenue mark and is working its way up to a 7 figure mark.
The exit ten years ago was Jonny’s most significant sale outcome.
When a business moves into the 7th Figure net profit, it puts your business into a whole different multiple in its value.
His former business was within the financial service sector. They were advising people on pension strategies and investments.

What was the original idea for Jonny’s business, and where did he find the opportunity? (4:08)

At the time, Jonny was working as an insurance salesman.
He was a bit bored working for the man in an insurance company, and he thought he could better himself.
The UK has a concept called an independent financial advisor, which is a broker in the U.S.
Jonny saw an opportunity and started his own business with another guy from the original insurance company.
Putting heads together was an excellent way to start a business because the more perspectives are involved, the more ideas can come into the business.
Jonny considers their superpower at that time to have been their combined understanding of the market and how to create leads to their business.
These days most insurance salespeople are bumping around on the bottom, finding it very difficult to find clients.
Jonny felt like he and his partner cracked the code at the time, and when they did not, there was a completely separate division to their business that was solely devoted to marketing.
They got so good at what they were doing that they started marketing for some of their competitors as well.
So the catalyst for growing the business was that they could create leads and thereby attract salespeople to go and work for them.

What were some problems that Jonny ran in to and how did he overcome them? (14:33)

Jonny says they were hopeless when it came to human resources.
They had no idea how to manage a workforce of people, and they were continually bewildered at some of the things that would happen.
So they had to build an HR department from scratch.
That obstacle felt like a complete blackhole to both of them. They never went into the office and left HR to do what they did.
It turned into a complete blackout. They winged it to about 20 employees and at least during that time managed to get to the £1 Million turnover.
The thing about putting someone else in charge made them realize that they weren’t good at it, and they didn’t want to do it either.
This is something that Jonny sees within business owners because they force themselves to do things that they aren’t very good at just because they feel like they have to.
One of Jonny’s core teachings is that you should only ever do what you love to do, and if you’re not enjoying it, get someone else who does want to do it.

Jonny Hates Marketing

Jonny Hates Marketing is a coaching platform on which professional coaches, therapists, trainers, or consultants can find information, tips, and genuine advice on how to build, manage, and scale their businesses.

Resources

Connect with Jonny: LinkedIn

Jonny Hates Marketing: Website

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

$4.5B Exit- Christopher Lochhead, Mercury Interactive Sep 04, 2018

Christopher served as a chief marketing officer of software juggernaut Mercury Interactive which was acquired but Hewlett-Packard in 2006 for $4.5 Billion. He has co-founded marketing consulting firm Lochhead, was the founding CMO of Internet Consulting firm Scient and served as head of marketing at Vantive, a CRM software firm.

How did Christopher get involved with Mercury Interactive? (2:12)

Chris joined the company when it was approximately $350 Million in zie.
So it was already a 6 figure company. The interesting thing is that they took it to $1 Billion.
They repositioned the company around a whole new category and they set a whole new agenda for their space.
They crushed a bunch of their competitors by doing that and that increased their market cap materially.
Eventually, Hewlett Packard gave them an offer that they couldn’t refuse.
Chris started as an outside advisor for the company for a little over a year.
Chris considers that his ‘dating’ phase with the company.
After that and he ended up coming on board in the actual company, Chris considered that the ‘marriage’ stage.
He built a great relationship with Amon Land and the CEO and the rest of the executive team.
There are certain times in your life where you meet a group of people and you just know. Chris felt very comfortable within the culture of the company and so quickly fit in and helped propel the business upward.
He felt like he just fit in instantly.

How did Christopher approach things when the big influx of cash came in from exiting Mercury Interactive? (7:05)

Chris decided to retire.
He started his first business at 18 after being thrown out of school for being stupid.
He found out at age 21 that he was dyslexic and suddenly his education experience finally made sense to him.
He started his first when he was 18 but he started many companies at the start of his career.
He was living in Canada and his second company turned out to be a wonderful exit.
With that exit, he moved to Silicon Valley. He sold his boutique consultancy at the time to a Silicon Valley tech company that was already public and became their head of marketing.
At 28 years old, he was living in Silicon Valley and he was on the entrepreneurial path.
By the time the mercury exit happened, Christopher had been working non-stop from 18 to 38.
The end of Mercury was super challenging and Chris go to that point in his life where he thought he might as well hit the reset button.
He went through a divorce, moved to Tahoe. He had purchased a vacation home in Tahoe several years prior.
He did what some people do, but backward, he did not have time in his 20’s to go and backpack Europe.
He always had this dream of being a ski-bum and so he moved to his ski-house in Tahoe and is now what he considers a Ski-Bum.

What was something that Christopher had to ‘break’ to grow the company to where it was for the exit? (20:15)

The company’s economic buyer for the company at the time was a sort of community audience.
An extremely well-known company, with its software quality managers, or leaders within large organizations, people were depending on the size and already existing success of the company to keep growing it.
However, Chris says even though they had a good economic buyer involved who was spending $40-70,000 with the company in order for them to execute the vision of a new category.
The category being Business Technology Optimization. They had to go from selling that at a marketing level.
Building products from that level to selling to the C-suite, somebody with a board seat who typically reports to the CEO with the gigantic budget.
Christopher was not well known to that person and they did not know much about them either. This person knew them as a Niché player.
They had to figure out a way to have the moxie to walk into that person’s office and say they have a strategy on how she should run the business going forward.
They also offered her the technology to do it and so Chris ended up breaking 2 or 4 levels of the organization to be able to have conversations like those.

Mercury Interactive

Mercury Interactive is a former Israeli company that has been acquired by the HP Software Division. Mercury offered software for application management, application delivery, change and configuration management, service-oriented architecture, change request, quality assurance, and IT governance.

Resources

Connect with Christopher: LinkedIn

Mercury Interactive: LinkedIn

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$100M in Annual Revenue – Reid Tracy, Hay House, Inc. Aug 29, 2018

Reid Tracy is the president and CEO of Hay House, Inc. Reid has played a crucial role in the strategic development of authors such as Dr Wayne Dyer, Dr Christiane Northrup, Jerry, and Esther Hicks, and Anthony William’s The Medical Medium”. Reid is also directly responsible for establishing Hay House’s offices in New York, London, Sydney, and New Delhi.

Reid is also the president of the Hay Foundation which is a non-profit foundation founded by Louise Hay dedicated to the empowerment of women, children, and animals.

What were some of the jumping-off points for Reid that led to his initial success? (3:10)

Louise Hay founded hay House when she was only 16 years old.
Reid started working at Hay House in 1988 as a CPA and a financial director for the company.
In 1988 they have three books and five tapes and about $1 Million in revenue. This grew steadily by the year until they hit $100 Million in 2008.
Louise wrote her first book in 1976, it was called Heal Your Body. She printed about 5,000 copies of the book and sent them out to Religious Science and Unity churches.
Within a year she sold the first 5,000 for a very small amount of money.
Over the next few years, she became more and more well known before writing her next book in 1984 titled ‘You Can Heal Your Life’ which turned into the backbone for Hay House and her work.
In 1987, Louise started Hay House so that she could publish some of her friends’ books.
If Louise hadn’t wanted to publish her friends’ books too, she would have never started a publishing house.
More and more people came to Louise to have their books published and over the next few years she happened to also go on Oprah and Donahue’s tv shows and in March 1988 She was on both of those shows in the same week.
Those interviews took the company from zero to a million very quickly.

How did Reid end up transitioning into the Leadership role? (5:48)

The company was growing quickly at that point and like a lot of companies starting out, everyone thought the initial success was very easy.
Everyone figured that it would just continue the way it has been. Then they started adding more employees and moved their office down to the beach in Santa Monica.
They started to release other people’s books and these books did not have the same success that Louise’s did.
As Financial Director, Reid was telling the president and other employees that they should control their costs better and no one really wanted to hear this from a 25-year-old kid.
One morning he had to tell the president of the company that Reid was not sure how he would make payroll and the president ended up telling Louise who then told a friend of hers at Max Factor.
The guy helped start Max Factor and so he called a meeting with their 42 employees and 30 vice presidents. The man asked each employee what they could do to get the business out of its crisis.
Reid replied and said they should fire all of the people, including himnself.
The Max Factor man agreed and they fired everybody in the room. Louise asked Reid if he would run the company for them.
Reid initially said no because he did not know enough about book publishing but he would run it with another guy named Jim who did know about book publishing.
So Jim and Reid ran Hay House together for a year or two and then Jim left and Reid was left to run it himself as he has done so alongside Louise for the last 26 years before she passed in 2019.

How much of Reid’s success came down to his willingness to learn and timing? (19:13)

The biggest thing that helped them when they started Hay House was that there wasn’t a self-help section in bookstores yet.
In Louise’s books, you can hear her life went into either a call or an alternative message. She did not like the usual kind of categories you would find in a bookstore.
Then a bookstore came into existence called BHorder’s Books, the standard bookstore before Border’s had about 10,000 books in it.
Border’s then came and made stores with over 100,000 books in them. Border’s would take every single book that Hay House published into their shops.
Whereas other bookstores would make take three or four of their books into their stores.
The expansion of Border’s superstores at that time had a huge impact on Hay House and many other publishers.
Border’s started noticing that the self-help books were selling the best in the non-fiction section of the bookstore.
They decided to create a huge self-improvement section that housed a lot of Hay House’s books.
They also started a section called New Age books which Hay house again had the most books in and ended up selling a large amount of.
Those two sections became huge selling points for Border’s and so that really helped Hay House start to become recognized.
Barnes and Nobles Books then appear and along with it the exponential growth Hay House was riding on from Border’s only expanded more.
Eventually, somewhere in 2009, Border’s went bankrupt and that was the first year that hay House’s sales went down.
Hay House had to rebuild from that again but that is where the initial success came from.

Hay House

Hay House is a publisher founded in 1984 by author Louise Hay, who is known for her books on New Thought. Hay House has its headquarters in Carlsbad, California, and is run by Reid Tracy. Hay House describes itself as a "mind-body-spirit and transformational enterprise".

Resources

Connect with Reid: FaceBook

Hay House: Website

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$20M in Annual Revenue – Anik Singal, Lurn Aug 29, 2018

Anik Singal

Anik Singal is an online entrepreneur. He is best known for his company, Lurn. Anik Singal has sold over $100 Million worth of products online, all by just using a computer and simple systems. He has made it his personal mission now to teach his secrets to Entrepreneurs around the world looking for true financial freedom.

How would Anik define what he is doing? (1:58)

Anik is working against people assuming he only does internet marketing, and that’s the only thing he has accomplished.
He loves digital marketing, and it has been an obsession and hobby since he was very young.
His bigger goal, however, is actually to not just do digital marketing but rather to serve entrepreneurs.
Today, Anik will do something like work with a baker who owns a bakery shop or he will help the person who does his car’s detailing scale their business, etc.
Anik’s business does not have a mission or a vision, but rather a purpose statement.
The statement is that they want to be a transformational home for entrepreneurs.
They have a physical and virtual home for entrepreneurs that acts as a ‘playground’ for them as they can run through several training courses to further their businesses and build their network.
Being an entrepreneur is a lonely and tough business. As a developer, you have to work every day and your people surround you.
But as an entrepreneur. You just do not have the time for those people, and so Anik made it his company’s purpose statement to make that community available for entrepreneurs all over the world.

Where did Anik come from, and how did he get to where he is now? (3:44)

When Anik started to get interested in digital marketing, he didn’t understand nor care for the concept of scaling.
All Anik wanted was to get started. But with $100 on his name he wasn’t about to go and just buy a franchise.
What initially attracted Anik to the online world was the fact that the startup capital was so minimal.
Especially today, there are so many tools that can do the hard, heavy lifting for you in the online business world.
What really addicted Anik to digital marketing, however, were the margins.
He didn’t have to deal with physical production, warehousing, design, prototyping, or patenting as a virtual product.
An online virtual product is delivered instantaneously when someone buys it. So those profit margins help you advertise more as you grow and upscale, faster.
The scalability of an online, virtual product is amazing, Lurn’s customer base is now 56% outside of the United States.

What did Anik sell and how did he do it? (13:06)

Anik tried many different things and he felt that some things he had, he had to reshape and put them together differently.
Anik likened it to building your own pizza. You take all the ingredients but if you don’t assemble them in the right order and do it right, it’s not going to be a pizza.
So what Anik was able to do was find out that he had to stop driving traffic to the sales page of someone else.
He was trying to be an affiliate, he did not have his own product. He was trying to promote software he had already has gotten good at using and he was trying to send traffic straight to the person he was an affiliate to.
The affiliate asked Anik to mix things up a bit and write an actual page. Using a took called Microsoft front page, which Anik reveres highly, he wrote an ugly page.
Essentially what he did was write a review page for the product rather than sending people straight to the product.
He wrote a pre-sale page and before bonuses were even a thing, the affiliate asked Anik to write a bonus page too.
Anik’s bonus at the time was, that if you bought his software you got his cellp[hone number for free, and he would offer support on the software for free.
This strategy only lasted a few days before that offer was taken off of the table.
But the strategy did end up working and it gave Anik a creative way to create traffic for his product.

Lurn

Lurn is an online (and offline) transformational home for entrepreneurs everywhere.

Founded by Anik Singal in 2004, our approach has always been a straight forward one:

To empower others to create and grow passion-based businesses, to encourage big ideas that will change the world. To educate people about how to be the best entrepreneurs they can be.

Resources

Connect with Anik: LinkedIn

Lurn: Website

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Billionaire Naveen Jain, Viome Aug 27, 2018

Naveen Jain is an entrepreneur driven to solve grand global challenges through innovation. He is the founder of several successful companies, including Moon Express, Viome, Bluedot, TalentWise, Intelius, and InfoSpace. Naveen is a director of the board at the Singularity University and the X PRIZE Foundation.

Naveen Jain has been awarded many honors for his entrepreneurial successes, including “Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year,” “Albert Einstein Technology Medal” for pioneers in technology, Recipient of “Ellis Island Medal of Honor,” and many more.

How did Naveen come to be so successful? (0:54)

Naveen does not define success by how much money you have in the bank but rather by how many people’s lives are positively impacted by what you do.
Naveen likes to instead focus on what people can learn from one another.
It’s not just about money. When people start focusing on money, they always end up falling into the same trap.
If you focus too much on making money, you’re never going to get it. You have to enjoy the process, and that means doing things that you care about.
After that, everything will start falling into place.
Naveen grew up poor, never really having a place to eat or sleep, and this shows that anyone can make something of themselves, and it all comes down to finding your true passion or obsession in life.
You have to find out what you would die for and then live for it, and the money will come.

What did Naveen do to make a positive impact on so many people through his business workings? (5:32)

Naveen is a firm believer that to have a good life; you need to do a tremendous amount of good first.
The bigger the problem, the bigger the opportunities. If you can find a product that is will help a billion people, there is nothing that can stand in your way to make an enterprise from it.
The reason for this is that doing good and doing well are not mutually exclusive.
That is why Naveen encourages us to focus on the most significant problems currently facing humanity. If you start working on fixing those problems, those are multi-hundred billion-dollar problems.
So to be a billionaire, you have to solve a $10 billion problem.
These problems are what humanity should be thinking about; even if you can only solve a tiny part of it, you still make a difference.
The reason people get so focused on things like money is that they believe in scarcity and that there is only a finite number of what they seek.
Naveen said, and so forth.
Naveen used his savings to start his first business, and it turned out quite successful because they tackled a major problem.
The business was about seven years before smartphones came out around 2003. Naveen had an interview with Leslie Walker in Washington Post about how soon there would be phones you can carry around you.
That would also have your email, calendar, weather, stocks, and even using your phone to make a payment without a credit card.
The interviewer did not believe Naveen. But Naveen started a company solely on the premonition that was going to happen, and it did seven years later.
When you notice a problem, you have to ask yourself if this is the problem everyone wants to solve, and then you know it will have a massive market.
Once you find the root cause of problems, it becomes straightforward to see the patterns of what you need to do to solve them.
You don’t have to make the technology yourself. There are plenty of qualified people you can get to make your technology. Your job is to define the problem and the solution clearly.

Moon Express

Moon Express is a company with the mission to redefine possibilities by returning to the Moon and unlocking the many mysteries and resources for the benefit of humanity. Moon Express was the first company to receive U.S. government approval to send a robotic spacecraft beyond traditional Earth orbit and to the Moon.

Resources

Connect with Naveen: LinkedIn

Moon Express: Website

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Brian Smith | UGG Australia Aug 24, 2018

Brian Smith was born in Australia. As a chartered accountant, he used $500 startup money and founded UGG Imports to bring sheepskin footwear to America. After 17 years, as sales reached $15 Million, he sold the business to Deckers Outdoor Corporation. The UGG brand has since exceeded over $1 Billion in international sales.

Brian is a passionate innovator and entrepreneur, and he is considered one of the most sought-after business leaders in the country today. As a media guest and an Inspiring speaker, he is committed to teaching his breakthrough business strategies to new entrepreneurs.

How did Brian start UGG? (1:12)

Brian had just graduated after studying for ten years to become a chartered accountant, and he quit the job the same day.
Brian hadn’t wanted to give up before graduating, wasting all that time he had spent studying, but he did hate it the whole time.
Something inside of Brian wanted to be entrepreneurial.
After a lot of meditating on his way back to Australia, Brian figured he would go to California and find the next big trend.
He chose California because all the big brands like Levi’s, waterbeds, and surfing brands were going there and doing well, so it seemed the natural thing to do.
He spent the first few months surfing and making friends in Malibu. It was when it started getting cold in late October, and he was pulling on his sheepskin boots from Australia that Brian realized no one in America has sheepskin boots.
That was the lightbulb moment for Brian and started the journey of building the UGG Brand.
UGG is now a brand so widely recognized that almost anyone brings up the brand with a fond memory as soon as they find out Brian is the founder.
There was an initial rejection from Americans as they found the idea of sheepskin footwear alien. A friend of Brian mused that the weather in California was too hot, and Brian reasoned that California and Australia were identical in climate.
Brain realized it was the American’s lack of knowledge of sheepskin footwear; that was the real problem. Australias innate knew sheepskin footwear, and how rugged it is, you cannot rip sheepskin, you can get it wet, even when it’s wet it insulates so your feet stay warm even in snow, etc.
To be a good entrepreneur, you have to have a level of ignorance when you start because if you knew your obstacles, you wouldn’t have gone for it.
Brian was faced with really considering giving up. Still, he kept brainstorming; he realized the reason all of his friends in Malibu thought it was such a good idea was that they had already been to Australia and had come back with a couple of pairs of boots for their buddies as well.
So it was through the surfing community already knowing sheepskin footwear and spreading the word that UGG boots eventually started picking up speed.

How did Brian procure funding once he had a demand going for the footwear? (9:02)

Brian and his friends borrowed around $500 to send to Australia to get samples, so they were initially underfunded.
The samples arrived back while Brian still had zero orders, but he and his friends were sure they would be instant millionaires with how good the stores were that would be selling them.
That’s when they realized they needed money to get the ball rolling. Brian’s roommate overheard them talking and told Brian about some guys in his office looking for investments.
They received $20,000, which is like $75,000 by today’s standards, and they sent $15,000 of that down to Australia and ordered 500 pairs, which arrived swiftly.
Buying pairs at about $30 a pair and planned on wholesaling them for $50 - $65, the retail price was usually $60-70-80 a pair.
However, once they had the inventory and went back to the store manager that said he loved the footwear and idea but could not sell it in his store. Going store to store after that, every store ended up rejecting the boots.
So all the stores initially excited about the concept wouldn’t actually try and sell any of the footwear.
In their first year, they sold 28 pairs, making only about $1,000. To make a living, Brian and his friends did any job they could find.
Obviously feeling somewhat disappointed, Brian decided not to give up, likening starting up a business to raising a child. He states, “You can’t birth adults.”
And so the birth of UGG was those initial six samples, every store rejecting the idea and the business went into this horrible ‘infancy’ where it laid dormant for a while and Brian had to nurse it and care for it through it not giving anything back.
So eventually, the boots started to pick up speed with Briand and his friends, never giving up on the idea.

What does Brian think is the most critical strategy that helped him leap from idea to enterprise? (13:50)

In Brian’s case, he knew how popular the footwear was in Australia, and he knew how big the American market is.
He also knew how similar Americans and Australians are, so he had to figure out precisely what causes the aversion Americans were feeling to the product.
Brian was at a trade show in Las Vegas, the Ski show, and after five days of talking to ski shop owners, they still did not have a single order.
On the last day of the show, a woman came up to Brian talking about Madden Slash, and he told her to try on the footwear. She slid one boot on before getting really excited and saying she could sell them as after ski boots.
She ended up ordering 60 pairs from them, which was the most significant order they ever received.
And Brian finally realized that you should never try and sell a shoe to a sales representative without insisting they try on the shoe themselves first.
He considers this his most significant breakthrough for UGG in the 20 years that he owned it.

UGG

Founded in 1978 by an Australian surfer on the coast of California, UGG® is a global lifestyle brand renowned for its iconic Classic boot. First worn by Hollywood royalty, fashion editors, and then the world, UGG® designs and retails footwear, apparel, accessories, and homewares with an uncompromising attitude toward quality and craftsmanship.

Resources

Connect with Brian: LinkedIn

UGG: Website

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Introducing Beyond 8 Figures Aug 22, 2018

Beyond 8 Figures is a podcast that takes you through accomplished entrepreneurs’ stories as they share their knowledge, advice, and history about starting their businesses, scaling them, and exiting them in a lucrative state.

The Ins and Outs of Beyond 8 figures (0:13)

Beyond 8, Figures focuses on sitting down with outstanding entrepreneurs as they share their tools, tactics, and strategies that they used to get to where they are now.
Starting a business is hard, but lately, it’s easier than ever to start. Scaling and selling your business is where the real challenge appears.
They also speak about mistakes that you might make and how they could discourage you, and how to tackle objectives that discourage you.

Some exciting guest stories (1:09)

Some entrepreneurs had to literally break everything, from their business to their mindset, to learn how to thrive in the business world.
Sometimes starting a business, especially one that’s never existed before in the business sector, can feel like throwing spaghetti at the wall, waiting to see what sticks.
Real success comes from focusing your time and energy on your business, figuring out your business plan, and pushing for that growth.

Sharing Success (3:27)

Many of the guests are very transparent and honest about what went down in their personal lives while they were in the process of scaling their businesses.
They were sharing the ups and downs and how they persevered through it. Sometimes they wanted to give up, and that shows that even if someone is a millionaire or a billionaire, we are all still human, and that means anyone can reach success.
That willingness to share that Beyond 8 Figures manages to pull out of their guests ensures audience members are receiving quality advice.
The guests on the show try and share as much advice as they can, bar violating confidentiality agreements from exiting businesses, on how they started, scaled, and eventually exited the business.

Types of guests Beyond 8 Figures try and procure for each episode (5:13)

Beyond eight figures tries and bring you successful entrepreneurs that have hit or gone over the $10 million marks with their businesses.
They look for passionate people willing to share both the business and personal side of starting, growing, and exiting a business successfully.
They get accomplished entrepreneurs who will spill the beans some millionaire/billionaires try and keep to themselves.

Resources

Beyond 8 Figures: Website

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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