Originators: An Entrepreneurial Podcast: Recent Episodes

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In this episode of the Originators Podcast, host Zak Leedom sits down with Britt Lefkoe, a leading business and personal development coach. Britt shares her story of how, from a young age, she grew up with her father's work of helping people shift their mindset and limiting beliefs. Britt honors her late father's legacy by evolving the work he started and becoming an expert in her own right. Together, Britt and Zach explore how powerful our minds and beliefs are and how with proper guidance, we can remove the roadblocks holding us back from being our best selves. Britt shares that life is both extremely short and long enough at the same time and that we must take action to maximize our time on earth.

Britt Lefkoe is one of the top business and personal development coaches in her field. She works with high-achieving entrepreneurs, executives, and organizations that understand mindset is key to their success. For over 20 years, she has helped clients achieve unprecedented growth and deep fulfillment. She is also a keynote speaker and leadership development expert who has worked with Fortune 20 companies, including Facebook, and taken hyper-growth tech companies through IPO.

“There's no such thing as a logical decision-maker. It doesn't exist. A logical

person is a person who rationalizes their emotional decisions well. So logic comes when we can explain our emotions. There is no such thing as a logical decision. It's a different part of the brain.” - Britt Lefkoe

This week on Originators:

• The importance of sharing your own experience.
• How to be a really good friend without wanting to help them in the places they don’t ask.
• The importance of being able to relate to the listener.
• The neuroscience of our minds and how to use it to our advantage.
• How has business owner and empath Britt worked to create their ideal life.
• The truth about “motivation issues”.
• Time abundance vs. time scarcity.
• Why it’s important to distinguish between our parents relationship to money and our own relationship with money.

Our Favorite Quotes:

• “With the archetype of an entrepreneur, there is, on average, a large sense of needing to control our outcomes. And that in a lot of ways can be such a blessing, but that sense of control can at times lead to you as the leader being the roadblock, in your business and in your life.” - Zak Leedom

• “I just really encourage everyone to think of your mind as an engine. Do you want a rusty engine? Or do you want to spend the time lubricating and fine-tuning your engine?” - Britt Lefkoe

• “We see ourselves in money. The way that you look at yourself, I think is in a lot of ways the way that you look at money. And so I think that having a good relationship with money is incredibly important.” - Britt Lefkoe

Connect with Britt Lefkoe:

• Website
• Britt Lefkoe on LinkedIn
• Britt Lefkoe on Instagram
• Britt Lefkoe on Facebook
• Email: britt@brittlefkoe.com

About WealthSource and The Originators Podcast

Originators is a show for and about entrepreneurs. In each episode, host Zak Leedom sits down with business builders and the professionals who serve them to talk about the challenges and the opportunities that come with starting something new. Our guests explore what it means to be a successful founder, a good leader, and an effective executive — and whether it’s possible to do all three. Join us to hear their stories and lessons learned — and to get inspired by their tenacity and creativity.

Zak Leedom works for WealthSource, an independent financial advisory firm with offices across the US. All opinions expressed by Zak are his own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of WealthSource. This podcast should not be relied upon for financial decisions.

Email Zak Leedom at zleedom@wealthsource.com with questions, comments, and to schedule a one-on-one conversation.

Follow Zak on LinkedIn.

Subscribe here:

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Lisa Cloutier and Brian Anderson are the husband-and-wife founders and owners of The Whistling Andy Distillery, Montana’s oldest operating distillery that prides itself on producing award-winning spirits and giving back to the community of Montana.

Lisa Cloutier has been in the hospitality industry for over 25 years and has founded several businesses, including a small boutique hotel and The Raven, a Caribbean-style restaurant located on the waterfront of Flathead Lake at Bigfork, Montana. In addition to her functions as Co-founder, Lisa serves as the Marketing Manager of The Whistling Andy. She graduated from The George Washington University, where she majored in Political Science and International Relations.

Brian Anderson serves as a distiller and the Director of Operations at The Whistling Andy. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geohydrology from Montana State University-Bozeman. After working in the environmental and geotech industries, Brian decided to transition to the world of entrepreneurship and join Lisa in expanding their businesses and founding new ones.

Lisa and Brian join me today to describe their journey as a married couple and business partners. They discuss their backgrounds, their beginnings as entrepreneurs, and how they decided to work together as business partners. They provide insight into running a business as a couple and how The Whistling Andy and their other businesses have evolved over the years. They also highlight the importance of balance in relationships, explain why taking trips together is important to them as a couple, and underscore what continues to inspire them to expand their businesses.

“Our businesses are entwined with our daily lives—even when we’re entertaining, it tends to be involved with employees or customers. We mix and match between our personal and business lives, and it all ties in together.” - Lisa Cloutier

This week on Originators:

• How Brian and Lisa met, and their journey as entrepreneurs
• Lisa’s background and ventures into hospitality and entrepreneurship
• Brian’s background and how he started having the entrepreneurial itch
• How they pushed their personal and professional relationship and build more businesses together
• The similarities between marriage and business partnerships
• Managing business-related burnout as a couple
• The characteristics of successful leaders
• The day-to-day of running businesses as a couple
• The importance of balance in relationships, whether it’s in business or marriage
• The evolution of Whistling Andy and what continues to drive them to expand their businesses

Our Favorite Quotes:

• “You have to lead in a certain way, and there will be times where you have to sacrifice for your business.” - Zak Leedom
• “Others’ perceptions can creep into your mind, but what matters is how the two of you operate internally and with each other and how you communicate—both from a leadership and marriage perspective.” - Zak Leedom
• “The hardest parts are right before you open a business. The key is to get through those moments as a couple and ensure that you’re kind to each other.” - Brian Anderson

Connect with Lisa Cloutier:

• Lisa Cloutier on LinkedIn
• Lisa Cloutier on Instagram
• Lisa Cloutier on Facebook
• Email: lisa@sleepeatdrink.com

Connect with Brian Anderson:

• Brian Anderson on LinkedIn

Connect with The Whistling Andy:

• Whistling Andy
• Whistling Andy on LinkedIn
• Whistling Andy on Instagram
• Whistling Andy on Facebook
• Whistling Andy on Twitter

About WealthSource and The Originators Podcast

Originators is a show for and about entrepreneurs. In each episode, host Zak Leedom sits down with business builders and the professionals who serve them to talk about the challenges and the opportunities that come with starting something new. Our guests explore what it means to be a successful founder, a good leader, and an effective executive — and whether it’s possible to do all three. Join us to hear their stories and lessons learned — and to get inspired by their tenacity and creativity.

Zak Leedom works for WealthSource, an independent financial advisory firm with offices across the US. All opinions expressed by Zak are his own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of WealthSource. This podcast should not be relied upon for financial decisions.

Email Zak Leedom at zleedom@wealthsource.com with questions, comments, and to schedule a one-on-one conversation.

Follow Zak on LinkedIn.

Subscribe here:

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And, if you enjoy the show, please leave a review on iTunes to help others discover the podcast.

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Mike Brown is an entrepreneur, US Navy veteran, angel investor, and co-founder of Palmares Energy, an oil and gas company and active buyer of minerals in energy-producing regions across the nation. After completing his undergraduate degree in Political Science at the United States Naval Academy, Mike served as an F/A-18F Super Hornet pilot and flew combat missions in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Mike then worked at Anthem Oil & Gas as an acquisition specialist before co-founding Palmares Energy.

Mike joins us today to discuss building unbreakable wealth. He describes his background and explains what inspired him to become an entrepreneur and a pilot for the US Navy. He shares his ideas on navigating relationships as entrepreneurs and describes the relationship between risk, time, and control. He outlines the three kinds of investment deals and identifies the ideal one to focus on. Mike also explains what it means to increase your ‘luck surface’ and underscores why understanding your relationship with money is paramount to creating success.

“Understanding our relationship with money is an important factor in determining how we’re going to set ourselves up for success.” - Mike Brown

This week on Originators:

• The lessons Mike learned from serving in the Navy and how those lessons helped him in his entrepreneurial journey
• His transition from the Navy into the entrepreneurial world
• The fighter pilot mentality and the importance of knowing your capacity for risk
• The entrepreneurial mindset and navigating relationships as entrepreneurs
• How Mike’s experience at Anthem Oil & Gas helps him operate Palmares Energy
• Why being a good student of history is valuable to being an investor
• The role of time in an investment strategy
• Exiting a business and Mike’s “liquidity crisis”
• The three types of investment deals and the kind of deal you need to focus on
• The three steps of the unbreakable wealth process

Resources Mentioned:

• Book: Patriot Games by Tom Clancy
• Book: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

Our Favorite Quotes:

• “A lot of entrepreneurs break away from the normal system to create their own outcomes.” - Zak Leedom
• “Find out what you need to have to create stability in your life so all the things that are important to you become unbreakable.” - Zak Leedom
• “Time is a non-renewable resource and is an important factor most people don’t think about when making an investment strategy.” - Mike Brown

Connect with Mike Brown:

• Palmares Energy
• Palmares Energy on Facebook
• Palmares Energy on Twitter
• Mike Brown on LinkedIn

About WealthSource and The Originators Podcast

Originators is a show for and about entrepreneurs. In each episode, host Zak Leedom sits down with business builders and the professionals who serve them to talk about the challenges and the opportunities that come with starting something new. Our guests explore what it means to be a successful founder, a good leader, and an effective executive — and whether it’s possible to do all three. Join us to hear their stories and lessons learned — and to get inspired by their tenacity and creativity.

Zak Leedom works for WealthSource, an independent financial advisory firm with offices across the US. All opinions expressed by Zak are his own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of WealthSource. This podcast should not be relied upon for financial decisions.

Email Zak Leedom at zleedom@wealthsource.com with questions, comments, and to schedule a one-on-one conversation.

Follow Zak on LinkedIn.

Subscribe here:

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Google Podcasts

Stitcher

Amazon

TuneIn

And, if you enjoy the show, please leave a review on iTunes to help others discover the podcast.

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Reed Strathdee Lewis is the Founder of Lys CBD Chocolate. Lys’ line of products include smooth organic dark chocolate tempered with full spectrum Colorado hemp extract, as well as recovery creams, balms, and suspensions. He is also the owner of a variety of stores based in Snowmass, Colorado, including the Daly Bottle Shop, Grain Fine Food, and 81615 Inc. Reed graduated from Colgate University.

Reed joins me today to share his journey to becoming a business owner and entrepreneur. He shares what his childhood was like and explains why he decided to leave the “traditional” life and career path to live and work in Snowmass, Colorado. He discusses how he became a business owner and how fear helped him diligently work on his business. He also shares his thoughts on moving to an abundance mindset and underscores the importance of learning from our mistakes.

“Remember to look at where you were and you’ve gotten to, and give yourself a little credit for that.” - Reed Strathdee Lewis

This week on Originators:

• Reed’s journey from committing to society’s “traditional” ways to following his passion
• The power of trust and what encouraged Reed to take risks
• What inspired Reed to settle in Snowmass
• How Reed became the owner of the Daly Bottle Shop liquor store
• What it’s like to transition from being an employee to working for yourself
• How fear encouraged Reed’s work ethic and diligence
• The day Reed received a $50,000 check in the mail
• How Reed’s relationship with money has changed over the years
• Going from a financial scarcity mindset to abundance
• Launching the Lys CBD Chocolate brand

Our Favorite Quotes:

• “The story of entrepreneurs is about having a vision, being driven towards something, and trusting that what you’re doing is going to work out.” - Zak Leedom
• “Abundance doesn’t necessarily come in more money, but could come in the form of less responsibility, more time, more freedom.” - Zak Leedom
• “It’s okay to take care of yourself, and it’s okay to have help.” - Reed Strathdee Lewis

Connect with Reed Strathdee Lewis:

• Lys CBD Chocolate on Instagram
• Lys CBD Chocolate on Facebook
• Reed Strathdee Lewis on LinkedIn

About WealthSource and The Originators Podcast

Originators is a show for and about entrepreneurs. In each episode, host Zak Leedom sits down with business builders and the professionals who serve them to talk about the challenges and the opportunities that come with starting something new. Our guests explore what it means to be a successful founder, a good leader, and an effective executive — and whether it’s possible to do all three. Join us to hear their stories and lessons learned — and to get inspired by their tenacity and creativity.

Zak Leedom works for WealthSource, an independent financial advisory firm with offices across the US. All opinions expressed by Zak are his own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of WealthSource. This podcast should not be relied upon for financial decisions.

Email Zak Leedom at zleedom@wealthsource.com with questions, comments, and to schedule a one-on-one conversation.

Follow Zak on LinkedIn.

Subscribe here:

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Google Podcasts

Stitcher

Amazon

TuneIn

And, if you enjoy the show, please leave a review on iTunes to help others discover the podcast.

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Justin Sharpe is the Co-founder of GrowthInc, an organization that helps businesses and brands conquer digital marketing through training, services, and “done-with-you” strategies. Justin is also a partner at 8Loop, a community platform for marketers and digital agencies with over 150,000 users. Before co-founding GrowthInc and working with 8Loop, Justin served as the Director of Business Development for Focus LLC and the Senior Global Account Manager for WORK[etc]. He holds Bachelor’s degrees in Spanish and Literature and a Master of Business Administration degree from Indiana University Bloomington.

Justin joins us today to discuss how finding your ultimate strength and focusing on it can impact your business’s growth. He shares his entrepreneurial journey and describes how his life shaped his ability to analyze issues and concepts from different angles. He defines the “gating knowledge” concept and explains how 8Loop helps companies optimize their digital marketing. Justin also outlines how he balances his work as a business owner with his family life and underscores why entrepreneurs should devote themselves to improving the customer experience.

“Understanding what you’re good at changes everything; it allows you to create a more cohesive vision and roadmap of where you’re trying to go.” - Justin Sharpe

This week on Originators:

• The beginning of Justin’s entrepreneurial journey
• What starting a business at 19 taught Justin about market trends and optimizing business processes
• Finding your ultimate strength
• Letting go of control and delegating tasks in your organization
• How growing up as an orphan helped Justin see things from different perspectives
• Why entrepreneurs need to devote themselves to customer experience
• How 8Loop helps companies reduce inefficiencies and marketing “waste”
• How Justin balances his growth as an entrepreneur and the growth of his personal relationships

Our Favorite Quotes:

• “Understanding and accepting what your strength is and releasing control is going to optimize the time and the value you drive.” - Zak Leedom
• “Find out what you’re really good at and apply them to profitable businesses and, in return, you create a profitable business for yourself.” - Zak Leedom
• “If you devote yourself to the customer experience, you’ll find success in business.” - Justin Sharpe

Connect with Justin Sharpe:

• GrowthInc
• GrowthInc on LinkedIn
• GrowthInc on Facebook
• Justin Sharpe on LinkedIn
• Justin Sharpe on Facebook
• Justin Sharpe on Twitter
• Email: justin@8Loop.co

About WealthSource and The Originators Podcast

Originators is a show for and about entrepreneurs. In each episode, host Zak Leedom sits down with business builders and the professionals who serve them to talk about the challenges and the opportunities that come with starting something new. Our guests explore what it means to be a successful founder, a good leader, and an effective executive — and whether it’s possible to do all three. Join us to hear their stories and lessons learned — and to get inspired by their tenacity and creativity.

Zak Leedom works for WealthSource, an independent financial advisory firm with offices across the US. All opinions expressed by Zak are his own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of WealthSource. This podcast should not be relied upon for financial decisions.

Email Zak Leedom at zleedom@wealthsource.com with questions, comments, and to schedule a one-on-one conversation.

Follow Zak on LinkedIn.

Subscribe here:

Apple Podcasts

Google Podcasts

Stitcher

Amazon

TuneIn

And, if you enjoy the show, please leave a review on iTunes to help others discover the podcast.

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David DeCelle is the President of Model FA, a family of companies dedicated to helping financial advisors find success in their business. Passionate about helping advisors create a memorable client experience, David leads a team of 18 at Model FA to serve thousands of advisors worldwide. He is the Founder and former CEO of The Financial Advisors’ Alliance, a consultancy firm that later merged with the Model FA family. Before becoming a consultant and entrepreneur, David served as Financial Advisor and Director at Northwestern Mutual.

David joins me today to discuss how Model FA helps financial advisors build businesses around the right kind of clients. He shares his background and journey to building and growing a business. He describes how financial advisors and entrepreneurs can fall in love with their business again and discusses the importance of putting your entrepreneurial ego aside. He also highlights the impact of building relationships with clients and underscores the value of learning outside of your industry.

“Setting aside time to strategically think about how you can do more of the things that you love will benefit your business, employees, and the people you serve with the product and services you deliver.” - David DeCelle

This week on Originators:

• About Model FA and its service offerings for financial advisors
• Model FA’s Energy Audit and how to use it to reignite your passion for your business
• The struggles and challenges David met in his business-building journey
• What led David to branch out and launch his business
• What motivated David to continue working towards his business goal
• Where David found direction and advice on starting a business
• How David collaborated and merged with another consultancy to form Model FA
• David’s advice on shifting from entrepreneur to intrapreneur
• The art of relationship building
• David’s relationship with money and how it has changed over the years

Resources Mentioned:

• Book: Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday
• Book: Crushing It!: How Great Entrepreneurs Build Their Business and Influence–and How You Can, Too by Gary Vaynerchuk
• Book: Three Feet from Gold: Turn Your Obstacles Into Opportunities by Dan John Miller
• Book: Who Not How: The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork by Dan Sullivan
• Podcast: The MFCEO Project Podcast with Andy Frisella

Our Favorite Quotes:

• “When you start something new, there’ll be risk and failure. Hang in there and keep fighting, you might just be three feet away from gold.” - Zak Leedom
• “If you’re going to take advice, take advice from people where you want to be or have gone through what you want to go through.” - Zak Leedom
• “Ensure that you’re spending your time doing activities in the business that give you energy.” - David DeCelle

Connect with David DeCelle:

• David DeCelle Website
• Model FA
• Model FA on LinkedIn
• David DeCelle on LinkedIn
• David DeCelle on Instagram
• David DeCelle on Facebook
• David DeCelle on Twitter

About WealthSource and The Originators Podcast

Originators is a show for and about entrepreneurs. In each episode, host Zak Leedom sits down with business builders and the professionals who serve them to talk about the challenges and the opportunities that come with starting something new. Our guests explore what it means to be a successful founder, a good leader, and an effective executive — and whether it’s possible to do all three. Join us to hear their stories and lessons learned — and to get inspired by their tenacity and creativity.

Zak Leedom works for WealthSource, an independent financial advisory firm with offices across the US. All opinions expressed by Zak are his own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of WealthSource. This podcast should not be relied upon for financial decisions.

Email Zak Leedom at zleedom@wealthsource.com with questions, comments, and to schedule a one-on-one conversation.

Follow Zak on LinkedIn.

Subscribe here:

Apple Podcasts

Google Podcasts

Stitcher

Amazon

TuneIn

And, if you enjoy the show, please leave a review on iTunes to help others discover the podcast.

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Ethan Dewhurst is the Owner of Champion City Media, a full-service media company that bridges the gap between municipalities and citizens. An expert in video marketing, Ethan is highly regarded for helping organizations meet their marketing and communication needs. He is also the Co-Founder and CEO of Vohnt, Inc., an organization that facilitates access to affordable car care.

Ethan joins us today to discuss structuring, running, and growing a company in the creative industry. He shares his childhood explorations in entrepreneurship, how he worked with clients while studying in college, and how he founded Champion City Media. He describes the struggles creatives experience in the industry and explains why — and how — he incentivizes his 1099 workers. He also underscores the value of outsourcing and delegating tasks and highlights how new entrepreneurs can attract their first round of clients.

“Entrepreneurs tend to look in silos. We need to look at the trends beyond us and see how they interact with our silos.” - Ethan DewVohnt

This week on Originators:

• Ethan’s background and his start in the world of entrepreneurship
• How Ethan found clients while attending college
• The founding of Ethan’s company, Champion City Media
• Why creatives should strategically work for free
• The importance of segmenting your target audience and niching down
• The difference between a niche and an industry
• How Champion City Media has evolved over the years
• Avoiding the temptation to show off in business
• Why creatives and workers in the media industry are some of the most interesting people to manage
• How Ethan has structured pay and incentives for his 1099 freelance workers
• How the organization has grown into other industries
• The challenges Ethan has met as a business leader and the importance of delegating tasks
• Ethan’s perspective on money and finances and how it has changed as his business evolved
• Knowing the difference between investments and bills

Our Favorite Quotes:

• “Structuring your pay and designing projects to incentivize employees and maximizing creative work makes clients happy.” - Zak Leedom
• “Making things more efficient for our clients’ sake — even if it means sacrificing money on our end — builds trust.” - Zak Leedom
• “Segment your target audience, find your niche, and know whether your differentiator complements the pain points of your chosen industry.” - Ethan Dewhurst

Connect with Ethan DewVohnt:

• Champion City Media
• Champion City Media on LinkedIn
• Champion City Media on Facebook
• Ethan Dewhurst on LinkedIn

About WealthSource and The Originators Podcast

Originators is a show for and about entrepreneurs. In each episode, host Zak Leedom sits down with business builders and the professionals who serve them to talk about the challenges and the opportunities that come with starting something new. Our guests explore what it means to be a successful founder, a good leader, and an effective executive — and whether it’s possible to do all three. Join us to hear their stories and lessons learned — and to get inspired by their tenacity and creativity.

Zak Leedom works for WealthSource, an independent financial advisory firm with offices across the US. All opinions expressed by Zak are his own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of WealthSource. This podcast should not be relied upon for financial decisions.

Email Zak Leedom at zleedom@wealthsource.com with questions, comments, and to schedule a one-on-one conversation.

Follow Zak on LinkedIn.

Subscribe here:

iTunes

Android

Google Play

Stitcher

Spotify

And, if you enjoy the show, please leave a review on iTunes to help others discover the podcast.

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The powerlifting world-record-holder-turned-entrepreneur Arnold Coleman is the Founder and CEO of Healthy Outlook Worldwide. As a health, wellness, and fitness company, Healthy Outlook Worldwide is dedicated to helping organizations cut healthcare costs and provide wellness programs to employees. In addition to Healthy Outlook Worldwide, Arnold is also the owner of Shape Fitness, a 24-hour fitness gym with locations in Columbus and Pataskala, Ohio.

Arnold joins me today to share his early days in powerlifting and how he became an entrepreneur later in life. He explains why you shouldn’t be afraid of paying people who are smarter than you are and to focus on where you do your best work. He highlights the hard work and perseverance that it takes to do something great and underscores why leaders need to be responsible — even for something that’s not directly their fault. He also discusses the value of working smart and striving to become a better version of yourself.

“Powerlifting is a mental game. It has taught me that if I wanted to be a part of anything, I was going to have to focus and work harder than anyone else.” - Arnold Coleman

“If you want to make something extraordinary, you have to have a certain form of crazy, and you have to have a system behind all your hard work.” - Arnold Coleman

This week on Originators:

• Arnold’s journey from his powerlifting days and lifting in the nationals to starting his business
• What powerlifting has taught Arnold about hard work and diligence
• How failing a powerlifting meet led Arnold to begin training and elevating other athletes
• How Arnold beat a 20-year-old world-record in powerlifting
• The value of working smart and how it has helped Arnold compete against large insurance companies
• The importance of knowing when to quit and when not to quit
• What it means to create organic growth in a way that’s understandable to others
• Creating your own luck and building relationships
• Moving from survival, necessity, and fear to creativity and building legacies
• Why any aspiring entrepreneurs should know themselves first before building something of their own

Our Favorite Quotes:

• “Work hard to get where you want to go. But sometimes, hard work isn’t enough — you have to work smarter, too.” - Zak Leedom
• “It’s not so much about competing to win world records but competing to push yourself to levels you know you can do.” - Arnold Coleman
• “Responsibility is an important leadership component.” - Zak Leedom

Connect with Arnold Coleman:

• Healthy Outlook Worldwide
• Healthy Outlook Worldwide on LinkedIn
• Shape Fitness
• Shape Fitness on Facebook
• Shape Fitness on Twitter
• Arnold Coleman on LinkedIn
• Arnold Coleman on Instagram

About WealthSource and The Originators Podcast

Originators is a show for and about entrepreneurs. In each episode, host Zak Leedom sits down with business builders and the professionals who serve them to talk about the challenges and the opportunities that come with starting something new. Our guests explore what it means to be a successful founder, a good leader, and an effective executive — and whether it’s possible to do all three. Join us to hear their stories and lessons learned — and to get inspired by their tenacity and creativity.

Zak Leedom works for WealthSource, an independent financial advisory firm with offices across the US. All opinions expressed by Zak are his own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of WealthSource. This podcast should not be relied upon for financial decisions.

Email Zak Leedom at zleedom@wealthsource.com with questions, comments, and to schedule a one-on-one conversation.

Follow Zak on LinkedIn.

Subscribe here:

iTunes

Android

Google Play

Stitcher

Spotify

And, if you enjoy the show, please leave a review on iTunes to help others discover the podcast.

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Mike Rosati is the founder of Rosati Windows, a top manufacturer of replacement windows and doors in Ohio. As a child, Mike worked at his family’s grocery store until he was 19—an experience that taught him the value of diligence and giving back to the community. He then set his sights on the construction industry and joined a window dealer based in Central Ohio. After 20 years of rising through the company’s ranks, Mike decided to build Rosati Windows in 2000. The company has been consistently regarded as one of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S., and has received accolades from several organizations, including the Columbus Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.

Mike joins me today to discuss the power of devotion to customer service and experience. He describes how delivering the best customer service builds trust and makes customers advocate for your business. He discusses the importance of including a marketing budget in your business plan and staying involved in your company. He also highlights the value of trusting in your team’s capabilities and underscores why it’s essential to care for your employees.

“Sell by educating and teaching; customers want to be guided, not pressured. You need to be the person that helps them figure out what’s best for them.” - Mike Rosati

This week on Originators:

• Mike’s childhood and what it has taught him about customer service
• Why Mike decided to start his own company
• What working in someone else’s company has taught Mike about running a business
• How Mike felt on the first day he opened Rosati Window
• The biggest challenges Mike faced as he ran and grew Rosati Windows
• The first window Mike sold in his company and how it catapulted their business
• What “give-to-get” offers are and the value of building trust
• Applying the Golden Rule to sales and marketing and why Mike doesn’t believe in the “one-call close” approach
• The power of educating customers and why it’s more impactful than hard selling
• The value of delegating and outsourcing tasks to specialists
• How Mike ensures his employees are passionate about customer service
• What motivates Mike to continue being an important part of his organization
• How Mike balances being a father, a sibling, and a business leader
• How Mike’s views on money have changed since he started his business
• His advice for people embarking on their entrepreneurial path

Our Favorite Quotes:

• “Sell unto others the way you want to be sold onto. And you don’t really want to be ‘sold’ onto—you want to be educated.” - Zak Leedom
• “If you do things right, if you’re a moral, ethical human being, the money will come.” - Mike Rosati
• “Sometimes, to earn business, you have to give a little in the process.” - Zak Leedom

Connect with Mike Rosati:

• Rosati Windows
• Email: info@rosatiwindows.com
• Rosati Windows on Facebook
• Rosati Windows on Twitter

About WealthSource and The Originators Podcast

Originators is a show for and about entrepreneurs. In each episode, host Zak Leedom sits down with business builders and the professionals who serve them to talk about the challenges and the opportunities that come with starting something new. Our guests explore what it means to be a successful founder, a good leader, and an effective executive — and whether it’s possible to do all three. Join us to hear their stories and lessons learned — and to get inspired by their tenacity and creativity.

Zak Leedom works for WealthSource, an independent financial advisory firm with offices across the US. All opinions expressed by Zak are his own opinions and do not reflect the opinions of WealthSource. This podcast should not be relied upon for financial decisions.

Email Zak Leedom at zleedom@wealthsource.com with questions, comments, and to schedule a one-on-one conversation.

Follow Zak on LinkedIn.

Subscribe here:

iTunes

Android

Google Play

Stitcher

Spotify

And, if you enjoy the show, please leave a review on iTunes to help others discover the podcast.