Anything But Typical: Recent Episodes
Gary Frey & Ben McDonald
Gary Frey & Ben McDonald host round table conversations discussing entrepreneurship, leadership, and success on your own terms.
From Corporate Banking to Physical Copper: Allen Cates on Trust, Failure & ReinventionAllen Cates’ entrepreneurial journey has taken him across countries, industries, and some incredibly difficult business lessons. Growing up in Canada, Australia, England, and the United States taught him how to adapt quickly, appreciate different perspectives, and become comfortable entering unfamiliar environments.
In this episode of Anything But Typical, Allen shares how his career in banking prepared him to purchase and operate a small business—and why he eventually knew it was time to move on. He also opens up about investing with a trusted business leader who was later discovered to be forging financial records. That experience forced Allen to confront failure, forgive himself, strengthen his approach to due diligence, and rebuild his confidence.
Allen also explains the mission behind Kilo Reserve and how the company gives investors access to physical industrial metals. The conversation explores copper’s role in electrical infrastructure, electric vehicles, AI data centers, and the power grid, along with the differences between owning physical metal and investing through mining stocks, ETFs, or futures.
In This Episode* How an international childhood shaped Allen’s adaptability and leadership * Why every piece of feedback deserves consideration * The value of learning “on someone else’s dime” * What Allen learned from buying and selling a small business * Why entrepreneurs must become comfortable with failure * Recovering emotionally after betrayal by a trusted business partner * The importance of understanding the asset behind an investment * How Kilo Reserve makes physical industrial metals more accessible * Why following the process matters more than one final result
Key TakeawayFailure does not have to become your identity. Allen’s story demonstrates the importance of acknowledging what happened, learning from it, forgiving yourself, and carrying those lessons into the next opportunity.
Connect With Allen and Learn More* Kilo Reserve: Official website * Allen Cates on LinkedIn * Kilo Reserve on LinkedIn * BizBuySell: Explore businesses available for purchase
Subscribe to Anything But Typical for more honest conversations with entrepreneurs about the successes, failures, pivots, and lessons that shaped their journeys.
Brief Summary
Kari Warberg Block joins Gary Frey and Ben McDonald to share her anything-but-typical journey from growing up in an entrepreneurial family to founding EarthKind, a nationally recognized plant-based pest-prevention company.
Kari discusses the near-death experience that changed the direction of her life, the challenges of creating a new product category, and why she temporarily removed her products from major retailers to protect customer trust. She also shares how she learned to release control, build a diverse leadership team, and transition out of the CEO role without selling her company.
Resources Mentioned* EarthKind * Kari Warberg Block * Plant-based pest prevention * Regenerative and organic agriculture * Environmental Protection Agency
Calls to Action Learn more about EarthKind: earthkind.com * Connect with Kari Warberg Block: kariwarbergblock.com * Subscribe to Anything But Typical* for more real stories from entrepreneurs. * Like, share, and send this episode to a business owner or founder.
Alex Harris — explorer, mountaineer, speaker, entrepreneur, endurance athlete, and creator of The Munga, a 700-mile nonstop bike race across South Africa.
Brief SummaryIn this episode of Anything But Typical, Gary Frey and Ben sit down with Alex Harris, a South African explorer whose life has been shaped by curiosity, risk, faith, and the pursuit of what most people would call impossible. Alex shares how a childhood dream of becoming a Jedi and astronaut eventually led him into mountaineering, Everest expeditions, entrepreneurship, ultra-endurance racing, and the creation of The Munga.
From surviving the deadly 1996 Everest season to hearing God speak in a tent at 22,000 feet, Alex’s story is about more than adventure. It is about learning when to push forward, when to turn around, how failure forms us, and why the greatest exploration may be discovering how God uniquely made you.
Book Alex Harris as a speaker:
Alex Harris – Texas Speakers Bureau
Learn more about The Munga:
The Munga MTB
Follow The Munga on social media:
Instagram – @mungamtb
Facebook – The Munga
YouTube – The Munga MTB Race
When venture capital takes over your family business, you can do everything right — and still lose. Randy Golenberg lived it. He spent 14 years in his family's caulk manufacturing business before private equity involvement triggered its collapse into bankruptcy.
That bankruptcy became the catalyst for his next chapter: building Spark Your Brand from scratch, running it for 25 years, and ultimately selling it to AdCom Group.
In this episode, Randy shares the unfiltered story — from sweeping floors in his dad's factory to negotiating a multi-million dollar exit. No hype. Real lessons on resilience, knowing when to sell, and why "you don't control outcomes, you only control actions."
Randy Golenberg
Randy Golenberg is an entrepreneur, brand strategist, and business leader based in Cleveland, Ohio. After rebuilding from the collapse of his family business, Randy founded and grew Spark Your Brand over 25 years. Today, he is part of the AdCom Group, where he focuses on business development, integrated brand strategy, and helping clients create meaningful return on their investment.
Connect with RandyLinkedIn: Randy Golenberg
Instagram: @JewInThePew
Company: AdCom Group
In this episode of Anything But Typical, Gary Frey and Ben McDonald sit down with Ben Kinney, publisher of Business North Carolina, SouthPark Magazine, and North Carolina Tribune.
Ben shares how growing up as the son of a journalist, moving from city to city, and constantly being the new kid shaped his ability to communicate, adapt, and connect with people. What started as a life of transition eventually became a career built around storytelling, leadership, media, and relationships.
The conversation explores Ben’s unexpected path from studying history and planning to become a teacher, to working in advertising sales, to stepping into leadership at Business North Carolina during a difficult season for the company. Ben also talks about the evolution of media, leading through uncertainty, surviving the Great Recession and COVID, and why authentic storytelling still matters in a world increasingly shaped by digital noise and AI.
This episode is a thoughtful conversation about resilience, connection, leadership, and the power of having a real voice in business.
In This Episode Gary, Ben McDonald, and Ben Kinney discuss: * Ben’s childhood moving through Burlington, Winston-Salem, New York City, South Florida, and Charlotte * How being the “new kid” helped Ben learn communication, adaptability, and connection * Why Ben originally planned to become a high school history teacher * How he fell into classified advertising and business media * What it was like stepping into leadership at Business North Carolina* after tragedy * The challenges of working in a family business * How media has changed across print, digital, newsletters, podcasts, video, and social platforms * Why great content still matters, even as distribution continues to evolve * How Business North Carolina adapted through the Great Recession and COVID * Ben’s leadership philosophy and the importance of hiring the right people * Why authenticity, voice, and storytelling still matter in the age of AI * The value of strong editing, concise writing, and human connection
Key Takeaways* Connection is often built through life experience. Ben’s ability to connect with people came from years of adapting to new environments, new schools, and new communities. * Leadership sometimes begins with simply stepping in to help. Ben did not enter publishing with a perfect master plan. He stepped in when the family business needed him and learned through pressure. * Content is still king, but distribution has changed. Strong journalism and storytelling still matter, but today’s media companies have to think across print, email, social media, podcasts, video, and digital platforms. * Survival requires thoughtful reaction. Ben explains that small businesses have to move quickly, but leaders still need to respond with care, perspective, and intention. * Authenticity creates trust. Ben’s personal writing in The Daily Digest connected with readers because it felt genuine, human, and different from typical business commentary. * AI cannot replace real storytelling. AI may help generate information, but it cannot replace voice, judgment, perspective, editing, and authentic human connection.
Memorable Quotes“He knows a lot of folks. He’s got a great sense of humor. And he really can connect people.”
“I always like to talk about myself growing up as my parents and I grew up together.”
“I was always the new kid at every school.”
“It was trial by fire. It was trial by volcanic fire.”
“You gotta kinda react to things in a thoughtful way.”
“But it can’t replace storytelling, and that’s what we’re all doing, is telling stories.”
“The key is be entertaining, be engaging, and have a voice.”
“Good editing is so hard to find.”
Connect with Ben KinneyLinkedIn: Ben Kinney
Business North Carolina: businessnc.com
SouthPark Magazine: southparkmagazine.com
North Carolina Tribune: nctribune.com
Email: bkinney@businessnc.com
X/Twitter: @BenKinneyBNC
Discover the story of Mark McLean’s impressive journey from early influences to leading a multi-billion-dollar company. Learn how culture, relationships, humility, and strategic growth propel organizations through transitions and challenges.
Main topics:
Building a career in insurance and financial services, rooted in mentorship and family lessons
Navigating growth: from founding to billion-dollar company, merger, and acquisitions
The importance of company culture, relationships, and core values in long-term success
Personal resilience through life's challenges including health, family, and entrepreneurial pivots
Timestamps:
00:00 - Defining what takes Mark McLean out in public
00:29 - Interests beyond work: sports, golf, and family
01:54 - The role of sports and family fun in shaping his values
02:40 - Favorite golf locations and social activities
03:10 - Humble introduction and the significance of titles
04:13 - Career overview: from Senior Managing Principal to Senior VP
06:46 - The importance of faith, family, and friendships in reputation
07:49 - The influence of Jeff Warner and mentorship connections
08:42 - Early motivations: lessons from family and mentors
09:30 - Growing up in Florence, South Carolina, and early career influences
11:12 - College journey, changing majors, and love for insurance
12:42 - Industry insights: relationship building, trust, and reputation
15:36 - Industry trends, industry change, and mentorship in risk management
17:45 - Industry challenges, trust, and business growth
20:04 - Licensing, early sales experiences, and building business foundations
22:02 - The role of creativity and relationship management in success
23:11 - Industry evolution and personal insights into trend anticipation
24:46 - Handling life’s challenges, family, and career pivots
25:36 - The importance of good culture and team alignment
27:24 - Transition from employment to entrepreneurship: the leap into owning and growing businesses
32:51 - Building Turnkey Benefits, sale, and subsequent ventures
36:16 - Growth from 25 to 170 employees, industry innovation
40:54 - Navigating partnership changes, relationships, and success
44:11 - Transition into digital organizations, culture, and values
50:46 - Building a unified message, controlling quality and trust
54:45 - Personal experiences: family, loss, and professional resilience
56:55 - Adapting to industry and market changes post-Obamacare
58:26 - Balancing growth, personal life, and company focus
62:22 - About joining One Digital, the corporate culture, and long-term vision
66:00 - The role of private equity, strategic capital, and maintaining independence
70:01 - The secret sauce: company culture as a competitive advantage
73:51 - Leadership values: integrity, humility, and people first
77:08 - The importance of intentional culture, talented leadership, and long-term vision
78:45 - Family, blended families, and parenting insights about nurturing strong values
79:03 - Final thoughts — being discerning, strategic, and building legacy
Resources:
Connect with Mark McLean
OneDigital
In this episode, Stacey Brown Randall shares her inspiring journey from business failures to becoming a trusted referral expert, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and intentional branding. Discover her tactics for building meaningful relationships, protecting your IP in the age of AI, and shifting the traditional mindset around referrals.
Key topics:
- Stacey’s entrepreneurial journey: from failed startups to strategic branding
- The significance of being intentional about brand consistency, especially with signature colors
- How understanding your “why” fuels resilience through business setbacks
- Reevaluating success: shifting from financial milestones to personal fulfillment
- Practical strategies for generating referrals without asking
- Distinction between word-of-mouth, introductions, and true referrals
- How building relationships with referral sources differs from prospecting and marketing
- Adapting business models over time based on market shifts and personal life changes
- Protecting intellectual property in a rapidly evolving AI landscape
- The impact of consistent content like books and podcasts on long-term trust-building
Timestamps:
00:00 – Welcome & Stacey’s background: from embarrassment to branding
02:07 – What others might say about Stacey at her kids’ baseball game
03:29 – The importance of being on brand and intentional with style choices
04:34 – Stacey’s book: Generating Business Referrals Without Asking & Referable Client Experience
05:49 – The pivotal moment: learning from her first business failure
06:46 – The evolution from corporate America back to entrepreneurship
07:16 – Why entrepreneurship is in her blood and the desire for control and freedom
08:32 – How Stacey’s lifestyle aligns with her brand values
09:23 – Defining success beyond revenue: family, fulfillment, and authenticity
10:13 – The yearly reset ritual to realign goals and priorities
11:12 – How setbacks and life surprises shape her resilience and business approach
12:26 – The importance of understanding your true “why”
13:51 – Navigating businessduring life changes and market shifts 14:19 – Developing her core strategies: referrals, client experience, and new client acquisition
15:50 – Lessons from her first HR consulting firm & the value of scaling
16:47 – Why she returned to corporate America before launching her second business
17:13 – Recognizing opportunity in necessity & the power of strategic niche selection
18:55 – Building a productivity coaching business through genuine relationships
20:19 – Transitioning into her current focus: referral systems and relationship building
22:08 – Overcoming the early hype and misconceptions around referrals
23:29 – The three-legged stool approach: referrals as a separate, relationship-based pillar
24:54 – Humanizing referral conversations and avoiding gimmicks
26:16 – Tracking referral sources accurately and avoiding self-referrals
27:57 – Finding your niche and leveraging your personal network for referrals
29:26 – Creating scalable programs that meet clients where they are
30:56 – Adjusting business models based on market preferences
32:41 – Protecting your IP in a digital age & AI considerations
36:46 – Authentic connection strategies: permission, intentionality, and specificity
38:19 – The evolution of her business offerings & online vs. in-person strategies
41:23 – Teaching clients how to get referrals without asking directly
44:47 – Moving away from traditional “ask for referrals” tactics
47:31 – Reframing referrals as part of the core relationship-building process
49:35 – The “Go-Giver” mindset & serving genuinely for the long term results
51:52 – Strategic introductions & the importance of context & permission
54:36 – How true referrals differ from word-of-mouth buzz or accidental introductions
56:08 – The importance of data in understanding referral dynamics
57:23 – Overcoming objections to referral strategies and unlearning misconceptions
58:52 – The influence of books and podcasts on long-term trust-building
62:19 – Planning future content and strategic themes for ongoing growth
63:21 – The process of writing her latest book & foundational referral strategies
66:01 – Combining book, podcast, and relationship-building for sustained growth
67:32 – Diversifying client acquisition channels to reduce risk
68:22 – The “why” behind her entrepreneurial drive: from freedom to meaningful impact
70:49 – Lessons from setbacks: blessings in disguise and resilience
73:00 – Protecting your business in the AI era: authentic human connection matters
76:21 – Ensuring confidentiality & IP protection in today’s digital world
77:55 – The future of AI: leveraging tools without compromising core values
78:48 – The irreplaceable role of human emotion & intuition
79:33 – Final thoughts & how to connect with Stacey
Resources & Links:
Generating Business Referrals Without Asking by Stacey Brown Randall
Referable Client Experience by Stacey Brown Randall
Roadmap to Referrals Podcast
Stacey Brown Randall on LinkedIn
Stacey’s Website
In this episode, hosts sit down with Stephen Phelan, Chief Spiritual Integration Officer at Faith-Driven Entrepreneur, to unpack a powerful idea: what if business wasn’t just about profit—but about people?
Stephen shares the story behind Movement Mortgage and how a bold vision during the 2008 financial crisis led to a company built on love, purpose, and impact. From redefining leadership to transforming communities through education and service, this conversation challenges the way we think about success in business.
If you’ve ever wondered how faith, purpose, and entrepreneurship can actually work together—this one hits deep.
Core Takeaways* Love can be operationalized in business — it’s not just a feeling, it’s systems and structure * Great companies meet human needs, not just market needs * Purpose scales culture faster than profit ever will * You don’t have to separate faith and business—but you also don’t force it * Real leadership development happens outside comfort zones * Generosity + boundaries (financial finish lines) unlock impact
The 4 Needs of the Human Heart (Framework)1. Help in crisis – People want support when life hits hard 2. Friends at work – Belonging and relationships matter 3. Purpose – People want their life and work to mean something 4. Faith / deeper meaning – An opportunity to explore something bigger
Notable Quotes* “We exist to love and value people.” * “If your teammates thrive, your business will thrive.” * “Don’t run from broken systems—redeem them.” * “Set a financial finish line. Decide what ‘enough’ looks like.” * “Put people on a plane. That’s the best leadership development.”
Calls to Action Reflect: What’s your business really built on—profit or people?* * Identify one way you can serve your local community this month * Share this episode with another entrepreneur or leader * Leave a rating/review if this conversation impacted you
Brief summary of show:
Jamie Ledford, President of Golf Pride, shares his journey from growing up in
Walla Walla, Washington, to leading a global brand. Through stories of farm life, mentorship,
international experiences, and career pivots, Jamie reflects on leadership, humility, and the importance
of people in shaping both personal and professional success. This episode explores how life’s
unexpected turns often lead to the most meaningful opportunities.
Key topics discussed & time stamps:
• Early life in Walla Walla and farm influences (00:08)
• Lessons from Jamie’s grandfather and work ethic (00:10)
• Leadership mindset and desire to lead (00:22)
• Career pivots and unexpected opportunities (00:25)
• International experience in Italy and global perspective (00:32)
• Consulting, Starbucks, and business growth strategies (00:38)
• Transition into Callaway and Golf Pride (00:45)
List of resources mentioned in episode:
• Golf Pride
• AT Kearney Consulting
• Johns Hopkins SAIS
Calls to action:
• Follow the Anything But Typical Podcast
• Share this episode with a friend or colleague
Brief summary of show:What can Navy SEAL training teach you about leadership, business, and life?
In this episode of Anything But Typical, Gary and Ben sit down with retired Navy SEAL Lieutenant Commander Tim Cruickshank, founder of Bone Frog Coffee Company, to break down the mindset, discipline, and team-first philosophy that shaped his journey.
Tim shares how elite military training—including BUD/S and combat deployments—built the mental toughness and adaptability he now uses as an entrepreneur. More importantly, he reveals how his business was born out of a deeper mission: honoring fallen teammates and supporting Gold Star families.
This episode is a powerful conversation on leadership, resilience, entrepreneurship, and what it truly means to put others first—in business, family, and life.
Key topics discussed:* 00:01:00 – The “heartbeat question” and defining your legacy * 00:05:00 – Military upbringing and lessons in integrity and trust * 00:09:00 – How Tim decided to become a Navy SEAL * 00:18:00 – What BUD/S training is really like (mental + physical) * 00:29:00 – Building mental toughness: “30 seconds at a time” mindset * 00:33:00 – Combat lessons: adaptability, leadership, and trust * 00:38:00 – Transitioning from military to entrepreneurship * 00:39:00 – The origin story of Bone Frog Coffee Company * 00:41:00 – Starting a business with no experience + finding mentors * 00:47:00 – Building during COVID and learning from customers * 00:49:00 – Leadership lessons from Navy SEAL training applied to business * 00:54:00 – Scaling impact and giving back to Gold Star families
Key takeaways:* Leadership starts with serving others first, not yourself * Mental toughness is built through small, repeatable wins under pressure * The best teams are built on trust, accountability, and shared hardship * Entrepreneurship requires adaptability, humility, and constant learning * Purpose-driven businesses create deeper loyalty and long-term impact * Surrounding yourself with mentors accelerates growth significantly
Common questions answered in this episode:What is BUD/S training like?BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training) is one of the most intense military training programs in the world, designed to push candidates mentally and physically. It focuses heavily on teamwork, resilience, and mental endurance, with extremely high attrition rates.
How do Navy SEALs build mental toughness?Navy SEALs develop mental toughness by breaking overwhelming challenges into smaller time increments (like 30 seconds at a time), controlling their mindset, and learning to operate under extreme stress and discomfort.
What leadership lessons come from Navy SEAL training?Key leadership lessons include:
- Put your team before yourself
- Adapt quickly under pressure
- Communicate clearly in chaos
- Earn trust through consistency and action
How do you start a business with no experience?Tim’s approach:
- Surround yourself with experts and mentors
- Start small and iterate quickly
- Listen to customer feedback
- Stay consistent and adaptable
What makes a purpose-driven business successful?A purpose-driven business builds deeper customer loyalty by aligning its mission with impact. In this case, giving back to Gold Star families and honoring fallen heroes creates emotional connection and long-term brand trust.
Keywords:Navy SEAL mindset, leadership lessons, mental toughness, entrepreneurship journey, purpose-driven business, startup advice, team culture, business leadership, resilience training, Bone Frog Coffee, veteran-owned business
Resources mentioned:* Bone Frog Coffee Company – https://www.bonefrogcoffee.com * GovX (military & first responder discounts)
Calls to action: Visit: https://www.bonefrogcoffee.com * Get 10% off your first order * Military & first responders: 20% off via GovX * Support a mission that gives back to Gold Star families * Follow Anything But Typical* for more real conversations on leadership & business
Social handles:Instagram: @trustbgw
Facebook: BGW CPA, PLLC
TikTok: @bgw.advisors
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/trustbgw/
Episode live date:
March 10
Name of show:
Anything But Typical Podcasts
Episode number and title:
Episode 164: The Power of Relationships in Business and Life with Ashley Tison
Brief summary of show:
What if the most important business question has nothing to do with business? In this episode, Ashley Tison shares the powerful question he returns to over and over again: “If I were given six months to live, what would be my regrets?” Through years of walking alongside entrepreneurs navigating growth, exits, and major life transitions, Ashley has seen how success often gives way to a deeper realization — that time, relationships, and meaning matter more than most people expect. This conversation explores the tension between building something significant and not losing your life in the process.
Bullet points of key topics discussed & time stamps:
0:00 – Opening reflection: the question that changes everything
1:12 – Why entrepreneurs eventually start asking deeper questions
2:48 – The hidden cost of building, growing, and chasing success
4:15 – Why founders often realize too late what mattered most
5:42 – Family, experiences, and meaning in the next chapter
7:03 – How the “six months to live” question reframes priorities
8:21 – Why the next chapter people want is often the one they’ve delayed
9:37 – Closing thought: sometimes business conversations become life conversations
List of resources mentioned in episode (including sponsors):
OZ Pros
OZPros.com
Annie Dillard quote: “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.”
Calls to action:
Learn more at OZPros.com
Visit trustbgw.com
Follow Anything But Typical and BGW on social media:
Instagram: @anythingbuttypical
LinkedIn: BGW CPA, PLLC
“It’s not about us.” – Joe Cherry IV
Long before Cherry & Associates was a three-man team, it was a father at 39, staring down the risk of starting over.
New city. Commission-only real estate sales. Kids who could sense that the math at the kitchen table didn’t quite add up.
Joe Cherry III’s sons didn’t understand spreadsheets or market cycles. But they knew this: there were opportunities that would have paid well — and their dad said no.
They heard late conversations about faith & risk. About whether protecting a client’s long-term future mattered more than protecting their family’s short-term comfort. About what it means to live with your name on the door.
And they saw what conviction costs: Discount groceries. Honest family meetings. The quiet weight of doing the right thing.
Then they left.
One entered Ranger School. The other commanded tanks.
Different arenas. Same refining fire.
When they came back, it wasn’t to inherit something easy. It was to join something tested.
Today, when the three of them sit across from a client, the conversation doesn’t sound like three salesmen competing for airtime. It sounds like three men asking what’s right for the client — & then doing the work to make it happen. To learn more, visit CherryAssociates.com.
“I’ve been poor before. That doesn’t bother me.” – Cathy Maday
Cathy didn’t grow up around startup jargon or leadership books. She grew up on the Bad River Indian Reservation in northern Wisconsin.
Work wasn’t a phase. It was how you made things possible.
You did chores, took odd jobs, & learned early that no one was coming to rescue you. There was freedom in that.
By 12, Cathy was holding her first paper paycheck.
She hasn’t stopped working since — not always because she had to, but because work meant agency. Motion. A steady sense of “I can handle what’s next.”
That assurance followed her from childhood into college, into technology, & into corporate environments where she saw it clearly: systems weren’t failing. The people inside them were carrying too much, alone.
Eventually, Cathy did what entrepreneurs do. She chose the harder path & built the solution — Wingspan — from the same instinct that had always guided her: if you want options, you create them.
This episode isn’t about hustle or reinvention.
It’s about knowing when the instincts that made you strong are asking for something completely new.
To learn more, connect with her at WingspanPerformance.com.
Entrepreneurship isn’t about escaping where you come from. It’s about carrying what made you — and knowing what to set down.
As Wendell Berry wrote, “It may be that when we no longer know what to do, we have come to our real work.”
“I closed the biggest deal of my life playing Candy Crush on my phone over Zoom… I could do this in my sleep at this point.” — Lauren Goodell
One moment, Lauren Goodell was operating at the highest level — thriving in corporate tech, leading the room, closing deals most people never touch.
And then, something became clear.
The work wasn’t hard anymore. The risk was gone. The challenge had faded.
What once demanded everything she had now required very little.
In that moment, her future shifted.
Not because she failed — but because she succeeded. And she knew that mastery without growth is just another form of standing still.
So, she walked away.
What followed wasn’t instant clarity.
It was friction. Failure. Momentum earned the hard way.
Today, Lauren is building technology that handles the prep work she got bored of — so people can focus on the conversations that actually matter.
That moment — the quiet realization — is where her story really begins.
Connect with her on LinkedIn & learn more at getZinnia.ai
Success doesn’t always signal arrival. Sometimes, it’s the cue to begin again.
Anaïs Nin said it best: “And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”
“I’d like people to say this guy lived life with no regrets.” – George El-Hage
There are moments in life when something small reveals something big.
For George, it was a note on his desk praising his performance… along with a $5 Tim Hortons gift card.
It wasn’t the amount that bothered him.
It was the message underneath.
Years of effort reduced to something transactional. Something polite. Something small.
That’s when he knew.
Not that he needed a new job — but that he needed a different path, one that matched how he works, how he connects, & how he shows up every day.
That recognition became direction.
What emerged was Wave, a digital business card platform — not just another cool tech tool, but an answer to connections that deserved more than a polite exchange, a quick goodbye — or a toss in the trash.
Turns out, George’s “no regrets” isn’t just about risking everything. It’s about paying attention — and taking action — when the truth shows up quietly.
To learn more, head to wavecnct.com.
Wayne Dyer once said, “Don’t die with your music still in you.”
George won’t.
“It’s the fleeting moments of bliss — being connected to your family in a real, meaningful way.” – Daniel Hearl
Dan has a big job. Really big. He leads a 300+ person sales organization inside a Fortune 100 company.
It’s not what he talks about most.
In fact, he rarely talks about titles, quarters, or wins at all.
What he talks about is time — with his kids, with his family, & in life outside the day-to-day grind.
It’s not by accident.
Dan grew up watching his parents work hard to provide, doing everything right but often letting work take over the life they were trying to build.
What he learned wasn’t to chase more. It was to guard the moments work can quietly steal.
So he’s intentional about where his energy goes, who gets it, & how not to let “success” quietly replace presence.
Because in the end, there are only a few relationships that truly shape a life.
And you don’t protect those casually. You give them everything you’ve got.
To learn more, connect with him on LinkedIn.
Not all legacies are loud.
Some are built quietly — right where you are.
As Audrey Hepburn once said, “The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.”
“Belief isn’t a feeling — it’s a decision.” – Dean Otto
One moment, Dean Otto was living life on his terms — an avid cyclist, athlete, & high-achieving leader.
And then, everything changed.
On what should have been a routine morning bike ride, an F-150 — a truck weighing more than two tons — struck him from behind.
The impact shattered his spine. Doctors gave him a 1–2% chance of ever walking again.
In that instant, his future was rewritten. Not by the accident — but by the decision he made next.
Dean didn’t put his faith in percentages. He put it in belief — in himself & what persistence could unlock.
Months of grueling rehab followed. Pain. Setbacks. Uncertainty.
And then, miraculously, steps.
One year later, Dean crossed a half-marathon finish line. Not alone, but alongside two unlikely partners: the surgeon who helped him walk again & the driver who hit him.
Together, they raised nearly $100,000 for spinal cord injury patients — turning trauma into hope & recovery into something bigger than self.
Dean could have stopped at survival.
Instead, he chose impact. Connect with him at DeanOttoSpeaking.com
Strength doesn’t always look like winning.
Sometimes, it looks like getting back up — and bringing others with you.
As Albert Camus wrote, “In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.”
“I like to solve problems, & I never give up.” – Martin Kenneth Lopez
Most founders talk tough. Kenneth grew up in a place that required it.
Lima, Peru — beautiful on the surface, unforgiving underneath. Corruption. Precarity. An environment built to break entrepreneurs.
There’s no help desk in a place like that. You either solve problems… or you get swallowed.
That wiring became his operating system.
So, when he launched his first company in his early 20s, he didn’t seek the easy path — he sought a bigger arena.
“Forget local,” he said. “I’m building for the U.S.”
No connections. No warm introductions.
Just hunger, a laptop, & LinkedIn.
And his pitch wasn’t polite — it was legendary: “Give me the project nobody wants. The ugly, neglected, impossible one. If I don’t deliver, you don’t pay me.”
All the risk on him. All the upside for them.
That’s how a kid from Lima ended up solving Perl script nightmares for Bank of America… & earning a reputation as the one-man A-team you call when everyone else slinks away.
Today at Equals 11, the stakes are higher — Salesforce chaos, global teams, stalled initiatives — but Kenneth’s ethos hasn’t budged:
Run toward the hard. De-risk it for the client. Solve — don’t whine.
If you’re the kind of person who gets stronger when the work gets messy, this episode is for you.
Connect with him through Equals 11.
Kenneth doesn’t quote Churchill — he proves him right: “Difficulties mastered are opportunities won.”
“I think if I’m gonna be remembered some way, it’s for the way I’ve served & helped others.” – Jim Marascio
Seven-year-old Jim dreamed big — Notre Dame quarterback, Heisman, NFL Hall of Fame.
But he grew up in Augusta, ME, where you chose something steady & respectable. His parents were educators; the path was predictable.
So, when it came time for a career, accounting felt “right.”
Until he looked around & thought, “I can’t imagine working with these people for the rest of my life!”
So, he pivoted — to Computer Science, to late nights, to challenges that made him feel alive.
Then came the moment that set his trajectory: the CEO of a global media distributor handed him a mandate & a budget — build the entire digital music platform from scratch.
No roadmap. No safety rails. Just overheating servers & a cliff-steep learning curve.
Jim didn’t say yes for glory.
He said yes because he saw a way to serve — the company, the team, the people who’d never know his name but would rely on his work.
That’s still his compass at Equals 11.
If stories of leaders who build quietly & serve deeply make you feel alive, connect with him through Equals 11
Jim reminds us of what Albert Schweitzer wrote: “The only ones among you who will be truly happy are those who have sought & found how to serve.”
“Entrepreneurship is scary as well as compelling in a weird way.” – Shay Prosser
That’s the quiet admission of someone who’s lived the tension of building something that matters—between fear & purpose, risk & reward—and kept moving anyway.
Shay started in chaos: a newborn on the floor, the economy unraveling, & a business idea that couldn’t wait for permission.
It wasn’t perfect timing; it was purpose knocking early.
When her one-to-one financial coaching couldn’t reach enough people, she rebuilt the model—bringing financial education into workplaces & later onto military bases with the USO.
That pivot became her pattern: find the gap, build the bridge.
So when business owners began coming to her not just for answers but for direction, she created spaces to think differently—to set bold goals, make smart moves, & scale with clarity, courage, & connection.
Today, she helps business owners do what she’s always done—move forward, even when the path isn’t clear.
Not with ten-year dreams, but ninety-day wins.
Progress, not perfection.
Because growth doesn’t come from having it all together—it comes from showing up anyway.
To learn more, connect with her through North 12 Partners or Birthing of Giants.
Shay reminds us what Amelia Earhart said best: “The most effective way to do it is to do it.”
“I don’t give advice to my kids. I lead by example.” – Mark Fujiwara
Mark’s compass isn’t a slogan on a wall—it’s lived.
Born to a Japanese father and Chinese mother, he grew up between two worlds that both valued humility, presence, & community.
✨Wabi-sabi: embrace the cracks & fill them with gold.
✨Ichigo ichie: the sacredness of one moment.
✨Kaizen: one small improvement, every day.
✨Ikigai: doing work that gives life meaning.
Those ideas shaped not just his mindset—but how he leads.
In boardrooms, he’s the calm in the storm.
In life, he’s the guy who turns struggle into connection.
As a wealth advisor, speaker, & founder of Sanctuary 88, he doesn’t preach balance—he models it. He builds spaces where honesty is strength & leadership begins with stillness.
Because in a world obsessed with hustle, Mark reminds us that the rarest power is peace.
The kind that leads quietly, listens deeply, & lifts everyone in the room.
If you’ve ever needed a reminder that leadership can sound like silence…
Connect with Mark through Sanctuary 88 & markfujiwara.com.
Lao Tzu said, “To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.”
Mark listened.
“I don’t take no for an answer, & I’m kind of a warrior for kids in foster care.” – Susanna Kavanaugh
That line doesn’t come from a podium. It comes from a mom who’s loved, lost, & chosen to love again.
At 18, Susanna placed a child for adoption, a wound so deep it could have ended her story.
Instead, it fueled her purpose—to shoulder the ache of kids in broken systems & fight to change their stories.
Years later, she & her husband fostered a little boy, loved him for nine months—then watched him leave. The heartbreak dimmed her fire, & she swore she’d never do it again.
But conviction has a way of roaring back.
And when it did, Susanna swung the door wide open.
From babysitting “just for a weekend” to launching Least of These Carolinas, she kept saying yes. Yes to heartbreak. Yes to risk. Yes to kids who need more than a trash bag to carry their lives in.
She hasn’t just built a nonprofit. She’s built a movement—by refusing to stay quiet when the system says no, & by relentlessly saying yes to kids who just need a champion.
Get involved at LOTCarolinas.com.
Susanna proves what Albert Schweitzer said:
“Wherever you turn, you can find someone who needs you. Even the smallest act of caring has the potential to turn a life around.”
“You have an opportunity to take your natural skills and put ’em in a place that they aren’t naturally found.” – Rob Norris
That’s not advice.
That’s a dare.
Because it’s easy to keep your talents where they stack neatly, to stay in the aisle with the labels facing forward. Safe. Predictable. Comfortable.
Rob refused the shelf.
He dropped sales skills into technology.
Made early websites usable before usability was a word.
Turned the chaos of employee benefits into a platform big enough for Aflac.
Even saw the promise of blockchain before most people could spell it.
That’s what he does: He takes complexity, makes it human, & builds businesses from the translation.
Every entrepreneur faces a moment where their skills feel out of place.
Rob shows us that’s not a weakness.
It’s the opportunity.
To learn more, connect with Rob on LinkedIn & Launch Key.
Rob’s story reminds us to create bravely—to place your gifts where the map says “not here.”
Or, as George Bernard Shaw put it: “Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”
“I am staying.” – Jack Barsky
Three words on a dirt road. Three words that ended one life & cemented another. Three words that turned a mission into a calling.
Because by the time Moscow ordered this KGB agent home, Jack wasn’t just a spy with a cover story. He was a college valedictorian, a successful corporate executive, a father raising a little girl who’d stolen his heart.
Piece by piece, he had built a life in America.
Not perfect. Not easy. But real. A life that didn’t come from forged documents or coded radio signals. One built like any other—by late nights, failed ventures, second chances, & love discovered.
So, when the KGB told him to run, he stayed. He chose the life he’d built over the life he’d been assigned.
And that’s the real story here. Jack’s tales of espionage may make headlines, but it’s the everyday work of building something that lasts — a business, a family, a future — that defines his legacy.
And it’s exactly what defines yours.
To stay—to keep building, to redefine yourself again & again—that’s what sets you apart as an individual & an entrepreneur.
Ready for more? Connect with him at JackBarsky.com.
Jack proves what C.S. Lewis said best: “Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point.”
“I became an American & said goodbye to them [the KGB].” – Jack Barsky
Sounds like the opening line of a spy thriller.
Except this one’s real.
For a decade, Jack lived undercover in the U.S. as a KGB agent.
His mission wasn’t excitement. No tuxedos. No martinis. Just the discipline to disappear — and never get caught.
And he did it so well that he not only avoided capture — he built a whole new life. A college valedictorian. A corporate exec. A family man no one suspected.
Until one day, the story broke on 60 Minutes.
That’s when Jack faced the choice every entrepreneur knows too well:
– Start over.
– Reinvent yourself.
– Risk failing again & again.
He wrote a book that flopped until he rewrote it from scratch.
He gave speeches so bad he wanted to “jump in a lake”… and kept at it until Microsoft put him on stage.
He built a business that went nowhere — and had the guts to kill it when no one showed up.
Every failure became fuel. Every dead end, a redirection.
This isn’t just a peek into espionage. It’s a raw look at resilience, reinvention, & the grit it takes to survive when the plan collapses.
Winston Churchill said it best: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.”
Connect with him on LinkedIn
"I thought my calling was to be a Catholic priest." – Ryan Monk
It wasn’t a whim. Ryan devoted years — undergrad, master’s, a year of theology in seminary — to answering what he believed was his life’s purpose.
But somewhere along the way, a quiet unease began to grow. His head said priesthood but his heart whispered his gifts might belong in a different kind of service — one with a family at the center & a new way of walking alongside people in their most important moments.
So, he traded vestments for brick dust, late-night restaurant shifts, & finally, law school — chasing a career that could both provide for his young family & serve others.
Then 2008 hit.
The economy tanked. A Big Law offer disappeared. And that mortgage, those babies… they were staring him down.
Ryan took one last leap of faith — starting from a borrowed desk in a warehouse. Little by little, he built his own law firm on three values you can’t fake: humility, gratitude, & joy — the kind that shows up in grief, uncertainty, recessions, pandemics, & all the moments in between.
If you’ve ever wondered whether changing course can bring you closer to your true calling…
Connect at monklegal.com
Joseph Campbell said it best of journeys like Ryan’s: “Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls.”
“That’d be impossible… unless?” – Andrew James
How do you respond when life throws a punch?
If you’re like most people, when you hit a wall, you just push harder—longer hours, more stress, hoping brute force will somehow get you through.
If you’re like Andrew, you stop. Take a breath. And then ask the simple question that’s carried him through every tough season: “What would have to be true for this to work?”
That single question has shaped everything he’s built—taking him from a scrappy kid flipping diet plans on eBay (& later hustling affiliate offers & imported products) to the founder of Eyeball Division & Cerebro Analytics, two companies helping brands grow smarter and faster.
And it’s the same mindset that’s pulled him through the messy middle: the clients ready to walk, the pivots that felt terrifying, the nights where the easy answer would’ve been to quit.
If you’re ready for an episode that part wake-up call, part permission slip to do things differently:
Download Andrew’s episode of the Anything But Typical Podcast (link in 1st comment) Connect at cerebroanalytics.com Andrew has built a life out of tackling challenges most people walk away from—and actually enjoys the climb. Which is why Walt Disney’s words feel spot on: “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.”
“It’s me just wanting freedom… freedom to make my own choices & live life on my terms.” - Ron Weatherly
Ron didn’t start his waterproofing company, Dry Pro Foundation and Crawlspace Specialists, with a business plan, angel investors, or even a clue how to fix a foundation. He started with a crawlspace, raw knees, whatever tools he could scrounge, & a spark of rebellion.
Because he knew what he didn’t want…
Another layoff. Another week waiting on a paycheck. Another life ruled by someone else’s calendar.
So, he built something of his own.
He gave up his salary to hire his first manager. Went back into sales when the numbers didn’t add up. Grew the business past $29 million—and walked away when the values lined up, not just the dollars.
That’s not luck. That’s freedom built on purpose.
Today, he’s not stuck in meetings. He’s mentoring founders, investing in people he believes in, & home by 3:30—because that’s the life his business was built to protect.
If you’re growing fast but feel trapped, maybe it’s time to ask: what am I really building?
Connect with him at ronweatherly.com
Chris Brogan said it best: “The goal isn’t more money. The goal is living life on your terms.”
"I’m not in charge… & it’s a really nice feeling.” – David Amigo
Most entrepreneurs chase control.
David finds peace in letting go.
Because when you’ve been a factory scab at 11, a product manager slinging cookies in your 20s, & a minority owner pushed out of your own family’s business — you learn fast: control is an illusion.
What isn’t?
Character. Integrity. Showing up. Doing the next right thing, even when the plan falls apart.
That’s where purpose is forged — not in the wins, but in the wreckage.
When you dust off, serve others, & keep building anyway.
That mindset built his landscaping business, G & G Landscaping, one of the most respected in the Carolinas, where ego gets weeded out & excellence takes root.
There, he’s not CEO. He’s CEB: Chief Errand Boy. Clearing the path. Serving first. Doing what needs doing.
Because for David, leadership isn’t about being out front — it’s about being all in.
For the builders, the rebuilders, & the ones who never quite fit the mold, this episode’s your mirror.
Connect at GANDGlandscape.net
David took Albert Einstein’s charge to heart: “Try not to become a man of success but rather try to become a man of value.”
That’s some great wisdom!
"Business… is the best way for me to reach my full potential & see who I can become." – Behdad Jamshidi (Bee)
Growing up doing math drills at the kitchen table, Bee didn’t dream.
Structure, discipline, grit—that was his operating system.
When he became an engineer, it wasn’t out of passion. It was logic. A clear, safe path.
But underneath it all?
A relentless curiosity & yearning for connection were quietly simmering.
So, while climbing the corporate ladder, he quietly built something else.
Not because he was desperate, but because something inside him wanted more.
More agency. More alignment. More room to grow into the next version of himself.
What started with one website grew into a successful business built on vetting & matching top marketing talent.
He built patiently, not for growth’s sake, but for his own: a business that could support him, his wife, & the life he wanted to live.
This isn’t a story about going all-in.
It’s a story about knowing when the time is right--& trusting you’ll be ready when it is.
Learn more at cjammarketing.com
Wayner Dyer urged: "Don’t die with your music still in you."
That’s no danger for Bee.
"Vanilla is a great flavor." – Austin Palmer
Austin may have raised some eyebrows as a kid at 31 Flavors, but he’s always known one thing: flashy doesn’t equal better.
So, whether he’s picking ice cream or building financial portfolios, his approach is the same:
Simple. Steady. No sprinkles required.
His path started predictably—son of a CPA, became a CPA, climbed the ladder at Morgan Stanley & Merrill Lynch.
He never chased “fastest-growing advisor” titles. He just kept showing up, doing the right thing, & putting clients first.
Then one day, he walked away from corporate comfort to become a partner at Destination Wealth—and suddenly, vanilla had a twist.
Consistency? That came naturally.
Entrepreneurship? That was rocky road.
If you’ve ever done everything “right” & then found yourself wondering, “What else am I capable of?”—this one’s for you.
It’s a story of rewiring. Of risk. Of letting go of the familiar to build something that’s yours.
Because leadership doesn’t have to be loud.
It just has to be real.
To learn more, find him at destinationwealthadvisors.com, or reach out to him at austin.palmer@dw-advisors.com
George Eliot told us, "It’s never too late to be what you might have been."
Austin proves it.
“I take people as a story… I can see their higher self before they can.” – Carlos Salum
Carlos grew up under Argentina’s military dictatorship—surrounded by uncertainty, but also by entrepreneurs, poets, and principled people who knew how to thrive despite it.
That tension didn’t crush him. It sharpened his vision—so much so that, by adulthood, traditional paths like law & medicine felt like cages, not callings.
So he did what most people won’t: He bet on himself.
On a handshake, he pitched a partnership to the world’s top tennis coach. No credentials. No fancy title. Just conviction.
Then he flew to Germany, crashed on a friend’s couch, & hustled up a seven-city speaking tour with no internet, no safety net, & no backup plan.
Eight months later, the world’s biggest sports agency called him “Houdini” as he coached legends like Agassi, Seles, & Sampras.
But it was never just about tennis. It was always about helping people live with alignment, intention, and impact.
Today, he brings that same fire to business owners.
Ready to align with something deeper?
Find him at SalumInternational.com.
Joseph Campbell said, “The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.”
Carlos helps people remember that.
“I want to know what I'm capable of… but I'm not an adrenaline junkie. I just want to know how far I can take it—because I want to know what my greatest potential is.” – Perry Gladstone
At 8, Perry was selling comic books at flea markets. At 15, he opened a skateboard shop that pulled in $100K that summer. By 24, he launched a snowboard company in his kitchen that became Canada’s biggest—& sold it before he turned 30.
But it was never about the money.
For Perry, business has always been about access—to adventure, freedom, & experiences no one else would hand him. If he wanted to do something, he built a way to do it.
That’s how he became a record-setting free diver, a coach to high-powered CEOs, a musician, & a master at intentional reinvention.
The common thread?
Radical self-awareness. He knows exactly what drives him—& he helps others find the emotional through-line that connects everything they’ve ever done.
What Perry builds isn’t just business. It’s identity. It’s legacy.
To learn more, find him at PerryGladstone.com.
Poet Rainer Maria Rilke said, “The only journey is the one within.”
Perry’s been on that journey all along.
"If I can be good about business, & I can do my business well—but then also care about my people & have that noticed in the marketplace—that’s way more important to me." – Greg Lafferty
At 27, Greg seemingly had it all: the pedigree, the projects, the prestige of a big job at NASA.
But what he really wanted was a life of impact. So, he retired (yes, at 27!) from the confines of government & began a decades-long journey of entrepreneurship rooted in faith, grit, & people-first leadership.
Years later, that same spirit would draw Christina Wright to him.
A few referrals & persistent follow-ups later, she landed a meeting with Greg—who was launching a company with no name, no business plan… & no investor relations lead.
She jumped in anyway.
Today, this mission-minded duo is building Branch Wealth Partners—an education-driven real estate firm helping people build real wealth with wisdom, heart, & long-term vision.
They’re not chasing “get rich quick.” They’re building something that lasts.
To learn more, learn more at branchwealthpartners.com.
It’s like Tony Hsieh said: “Chase the vision, not the money. The money will end up following you.”
“So, it's not just about your business growth. It's also about … creating value & meaningful relationships.” – John Hall
In third grade, John launched a lunch brokerage business. By college, he was building a student housing empire.
And today?
He’s a keynote speaker, investor, & co-founder of multiple companies — wildly different ventures but all rooted in one thing: adding value to others.
He didn’t start out this way.
Early in his career, he admits he was ego-driven & always worked an angle.
Over time, he learned that the true measure of success isn’t power or profit. It’s the number of lives you elevate along the way.
That belief shows up in everything he does, from how he hires, to who he partners with, to the companies he builds & invests in.
For John, kindness is strategy. Relationships are capital. And success is leaving people better than you find them.
From ego to impact, this story is about building a business that puts people first without sacrificing growth.
To learn more, find him at Relevance.com & ArticleX.com.
John was listening when Zig Ziglar said, “You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want.”
“I believe that the more my clients know I care about them, the more I can nudge them toward success.” – Natalia Worthington
Natalia wasn’t supposed to be here—literally.
As her parents rode a bus to make a life-altering decision, her father had a change of heart. That choice sparked a life defined by curiosity, compassion, & quiet rebellion.
Born in Soviet Russia, she came of age in a system that crushed curiosity & rewarded obedience. But at home, things were different. Her father, an English professor, championed critical thinking & lifelong learning—lessons that would one day save her.
Years later, as a young mom in a new country, Natalia battled isolation, depression, & weight gain.
But instead of giving in, she channeled her hunger to learn & took control of her story. She healed—& then made it her mission to help others do the same.
Today, Natalia helps clients thrive in six areas of deep health—from fitness to purpose. Her goal isn’t just a workout. It’s total transformation.
To learn more, find her at customfitcoaching.com.
Arthur Ashe once said, “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”
Natalia did just that.
“One sip of alcohol literally leads to prison...there’s nothing in between anymore.” – Robbie Shaw
For years, Robbie tried to outmaneuver the consequences of addiction—until the day the truth hit him like a bus. No more negotiating, no more "just one more time." His choices were death, jail, or life.
We’re so grateful he chose life.
That choice set him on an unexpected path. From addiction to recovery coach, mental health advocate, & entrepreneur, he didn’t just rebuild his life—he built a business to help others share their stories.
Now, as the founder of EVRYBDY Studios, he’s proving that the best way to transform pain is to turn it into purpose. Whether it’s podcasting, coaching, or even ice baths in his driveway, Robbie is all in on the power of storytelling, vulnerability, & doing hard things.
If you’ve ever felt stuck in a cycle you couldn’t break or just love stories of redemption, resilience, & redefining success on your own terms: follow him @evrybdystudios & check out his podcast Champagne Problems.
It’s been said that "Your greatest test is your greatest testimony."
We don’t know who said it, but Robbie proves it.
“If you’re not uncomfortable, you’re not doing the job correct.” – Dan Flaherty
With a career that has ventured from the disciplined halls of corporate American to unconventional sales & management consulting, Dan’s story comes with a powerful lesson: Growth comes from embracing calculated risk, stepping out of our comfort zones, & learning not to do more but to do it differently.
But it’s not all work & no play. This passionate family man & Hellcat racer understands that success is not just about business milestones. It’s about work-life harmony —enjoying breakfast & dinner with his kids while fueling his passion for race car driving.
In a world where many cling to a scarcity mindset, Dan embraces abundance—championing collaboration, knowledge sharing, & servant leadership. Whether on the racetrack, in the boardroom, or in the living room, Dan welcomes trial & error as part of his journey.
Uncomfortable? Sometimes, but this approach turns every setback into a steppingstone for growth, & that has made all the difference.
Are you ready for the blueprint on building a life that’s balanced, impactful, & rewarding? Connect with him on LinkedIn.
Both Dan and Dolly Parton remind us: “Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life."
“People don’t manage people. People lead people.” – Jamey Boiter
Growing up, Jamey was blessed by a father that didn’t just raise him. He led him. In doing so, he gave Jamey a blueprint for servant leadership that would shape his entire career.
From an early passion for architecture to pivoting into graphic design, Jamey learned that the true essence of creativity isn’t just making things, it’s solving problems. That mindset led him to Bolt Group, where he’s spent decades helping companies like Chick-fil-A, Lowe’s, & IZOD bridge the gap between brand, product, & purpose.
But he’s not just a designer. He’s a builder of businesses, leaders, & legacies. His unique approach integrates brand strategy with product innovation, turning companies into category leaders. Now, he’s doing the same for his own team, ensuring the future of Bolt Group is as bold as its past.
If bold leadership, design thinking, & culture building drive you, find him at Boltgroup.com
Great design isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s about solving problems that matter.
It’s like Steve Jobs said, “Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works."
"I’m not a greedy guy. I don’t chase money—it follows me." – Donald Baker
What does success look like to the average entrepreneur? For most, it’s all about wealth. For Don, it’s about impact.
From the beginning, he’s sought to empower his employees & do the right thing, no matter the cost. Whether transforming air quality standards in pools to protect swimmers or creating ESOPs to give his employees a financial stake in their futures, Don shows us that perseverance, purpose, & innovation can exist in any business.
Shaped by his father’s lessons, he shares why he believes “most people don’t know what they’re capable of,” and that hands-on, creative leadership leads to breakthroughs that redefine industry.
Don builds pools. More importantly, builds opportunities, legacies, & futures where hard work & innovation are rewarded.
If you’re seeking inspiration & looking to make a difference in your industry, this episode will challenge you to rethink what it means to succeed.
Learn more about his work Paddock Pool Equipment Company, Pure Aqua Products, and Paddock Construction Company.
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “You don’t chase success—you create it with the right mindset.”
Don’s a living example.
"Everyone you meet is somebody's hero—even though you don't think they are." – Gerard "Jay" Woelkers
Born into a family of 15 children, Jay learned at a young age what it means to serve. At 18, he joined the Navy, starting as an E1—the lowest rank—and rose to O6 over 39 years, commanding thousands of sailors.
But his decades-long journey wasn't about climbing the ranks or pinning awards on his own lapel; it was about lifting others up along the way.
His secret?
A people-first philosophy. Whether building trust on the battlefield, mentoring young sailors, or transforming the culture at Walter Reed, Jay's focus is simple: value people, build trust, & pursue excellence. Amazing results will follow.
This episode isn't just about leadership—it's a playbook for how to show up for your team, your family, & your community.
To learn more about Jay's ongoing mission as a leadership speaker & how you can take a page from his playbook, connect with him on LinkedIn to learn more about his leadership talks.
Zig Ziglar said, "You don't build a business. You build people, and people build the business."
Jay Woelkers is living proof. It’s also a great way to live.
“So, this is a story I like to tell. We're in the office. The phone's not ringing. It's just a regular workday. We're just sitting there, & I said, ‘Well, I'm going to go out and find some work.’” – Billy Austin
What happens when an engineer from Charlotte, NC buys an engineering firm in 2007, only to face the Great Recession a year later?
For Billy Austin, it wasn’t spreadsheets or strategy that saved him — it was his willingness to try anything, including a blind car ride into the unknown.
With no clients calling, Billy got in his car, drove to an industrial park, & started knocking on doors. That bold move sparked a partnership with Duke Energy, giving his fledgling engineering firm the lifeline it needed to thrive.
His self-made journey serves as encouragement to all entrepreneurs who need to remember that trust doesn’t come automatically, growth starts with humility, & when in doubt, just take the first step – even if you don’t know where it’s going.
To learn more, visit ShultzEngineering.com.
You can’t help of think of Helen Keller when you hear Billy’s story. “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.”
"The essence of an entrepreneur is you can build whatever you want — come up with an idea for goodness' sake & get started!” – Lloyd Reeb
At 16, Lloyd did just that – he got started. When he overheard his dad say, "Our kids will never be able to afford a house at the beach," he didn’t accept it. Instead, he asked his dad to co-sign a loan so he could buy land near Atlantic City. That moment sparked a passion for business & freedom that fuels him today.
He’s not alone. His wife, Linda, is equally driven, empowering everyday moms to lead their families & communities with purpose.
Lloyd & Linda aren’t ordinary entrepreneurs. Yes, Lloyd built retirement communities for 37+ years & Linda transforms women into leaders. But it’s not businesses they build — it’s legacies.
As for measuring success? Freedom, impact, & legacy are the only metrics that matter for them. And in this episode, they’re sharing their blueprint for how YOU can do it too.
Find them at Halftime.org & MomsMentoring.com.
David Frost said, "Don't aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally."
The Reebs were listening.
"We just try to do good work & have that lead to the next introduction." – Justin Cunningham
What happens when a former investment banker & food allergy app creator joins forces with a corporate operations expert who left Berlin, Germany, for Disney (yes, Disney!) to bring big ideas & investment strategies to business owners? Magic…eventually!
Like all good entrepreneurial journeys, the story of Justin’s & Daniel’s success comes with unexpected twists – including COVID hitting just as they launched their business. For two young guys starting out, they faced a tough choice: slow down & potentially close shop, or double down & work even harder to help clients in an unprecedented time.
They chose the latter.
In doing so, they not only created a successful advisory business that clients deeply trust & endorse, but they set the stage for an unbreakable partnership built on trust, resilience, & complementary strengths.
To learn more, Find them at KlarVentures.com.
Transparency, teamwork, & unwavering commitment to clients & team.
It's like Henry David Thoreau said, "Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it."
"I want to build a platform, and my team wants to build a platform that blesses people—not a business empire, but a platform to bless people." – Charlie Workmon
When you picture logistics companies, what do you see? Gruff individuals scrambling around hectic warehouses, driven only by tight deadlines? That's definitely the norm.
But not in Charlie's logistics company, Riverstone Logistics. White glove service, purpose-driven culture, bold community service initiatives, & faith-driven leadership mark his.
"Neat," you might say, "but I'm sure he's lagging behind his competitors."
Hardly. In fact, he's blown them out of the water, scaling from $13M in annual revenue to over $400M in just four years!
From humble beginnings in Atlanta's moving industry to now leading an industry powerhouse, Charlie shows that faith & purpose can guide decisions and be the catalyst for success.
So much for conventional wisdom.
To learn more, find him at RLX.us or on LinkedIn.
The echoes of Henry Ford are so evident in Charlie's perspective on business.
"The purpose of business is to produce happiness, not to pile up millions."
“I’m not sure I ever really wanted to be an entrepreneur.” – Fabi Preslar
Ever turned your biggest fear into your proudest achievement? That’s Fabi’s story. Inspired by her father’s ambitious (but unsuccessful) business ventures—from running a French restaurant in rural South Carolina to raising chinchillas—Fabi saw firsthand the risks of entrepreneurship. As her father’s ventures failed, her family lost everything, leaving Fabi to grow up a guest in someone else’s home. Why would she ever dive into entrepreneurship herself? For Fabi, it started with a need—an extra $100 a month when she was home with her baby.
But soon she was all in, & good mentors helped her overcome her fears around entrepreneurship & embrace the idea of “failing forward.” Today, after more than two decades of learning, Fabi’s built one the southeast’s most regarded publishing companies, reminding us just where tenacity & authenticity can lead, even when the journey begins in the most unexpected way.
To learn more, find her at FabiPreslar.com.
Can’t help but think of what George Addair said: "Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear."
"My life is being a navigator and helping navigate people just get started." – Brian Ondrako
Listening to Brian now, it's hard to imagine him as a young child in small-town NY, struggling with feelings of inadequacy & lack of self-belief, but those are his roots. A persistent negative mindset & placing blame on others were his defense mechanisms of choice, & they left him stuck in a cycle of procrastination & self-doubt through adulthood.
That is until the shame & regret overcame his fear, & he told those mechanisms to take a hike!
Embracing a mindset of action & growth, Brian set out to "just get started" – making small, incremental changes one step at a time.
So transformative was it for him that he just couldn't keep it a secret. Today, through his coaching, podcast, & books, Brian encourages everyone to move past their doubts, take the first step, & navigate life with confidence.
We could all use some of that.
To learn more, find him at BrianOndrako.com.
Brian's journey & leadership is captured perfectly by Zig Ziglar: "You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great."
“We just really love living life with other people.” – Monica Hickman
Rural Tennessee might not seem like the obvious place to birth a business, but that’s just where David & Monica Hickman’s radical love for community – & their eventual business --was born. Neighbors helping neighbors & new faces at the dinner table were the norm & solidified the idea that connecting with other people was what made “home” great.
Today, David & Monica’s luxury events in countless communities across Charlotte, NC look very different than the humble meals served at mom’s kitchen table, but the idea the is the same: The people in your community bring life to where you live. Know & love them well.
Whether it’s at rooftop charcuterie night or ballpark bash, this story of hard work, servant leadership, & a shared vision to make Charlotte (and beyond!) a “sticky” place for young professionals to find a home and community & put "people-first" values into place will leave you inspired.
To learn more about community-building as an art form, find them on SocialHubCompany.com.
Greek philosopher Aristotle said, “Cities are made of friendships.”
He’d sure love this.
"I really do want to be known for getting the most out of the people around me and helping them grow."— Danny Mizrahi
From New York's breakneck pace to building powerhouse companies, Danny Mizrahi is the ultimate growth champion.
Whether launching tech startups or scaling businesses to the Inc. 5000, his approach is all about helping others reach new heights—personally and professionally.
It's how he built his own companies, Contango and Sunbird Messaging App and helped 46 entrepreneurs hit that coveted million-dollar mark in revenue.
His secret? Building relationships, hustling hard, & always giving more than you get.
So simple but so impactful.
If you're looking for common sense entrepreneurial inspiration that values people over everything (delivered by one of the most unstoppable guests we've ever hosted):
Find him on LinkedIn or by Googling "Danny Sunbird."
Danny's style is reminiscent of a quote by John C Maxwell…
"Coaching is not just about giving advice; it's about building relationships that empower others to discover their own solutions and grow."
“The thing that most excites my soul is creating, establishing, developing, & then making sure it doesn’t die.” – Titus Bartolotta
Locals in the Lake Norman area of Charlotte, NC know the name Bartolotta. That’s because Titus & his wife, Christina Bartolotta (also a podcast guest!), do more than run businesses there. They’re community builders, investing in projects that richly improve lives.
That alone would make for a good interview. But what makes Titus’ journey exceptional is how difficult & diverse it was. Raised in poverty & trained in an unlikely mix of culinary arts, seminary, & big screen TV sales, he eventually became a business owner & mentor when the call to create & sustain something purposeful became too great to ignore.
From consulting to authoring a book to running two restaurants, Titus blends business acumen with deep personal conviction, humor, humility, & passion as he lifts others up & leads authentically.
To learn more, find him at RiseCafe.com & CollaborativeSolutionsGroup.com.
John C. Maxwell said, "Leadership is not about titles, positions, or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another."
"You have to make decisions to really do the hard things… that's what leadership is." – Will Jones
When Will was chosen to lead a well-known Charlotte, NC, philanthropy, he was thrilled. Service to others is woven into the fabric of his life.
But he inherited a problem that too often plagues nonprofits: an unwavering passion for service hamstrung by little to no business acumen. Big dreams, not enough money. In his first year as leader, Will faced a $5 MILLION deficit.
The solution? Seek more donations & drastically cut costs? Not a chance.
Using the perspective he'd gained in the private sector, Will opted to embed a familiar yet powerful business strategy into the organization – laser-focused priorities, leadership training, culture building, & a proper growth strategy.
The result?
20% year-over-year growth in the 12 years he's been in charge – results ANY organization would be proud to claim.
To learn more about Will's epic perspective, find him on LinkedIn and ThompsonCFF.com
Management consultant & author Peter Drucker said, "The best nonprofits are run more like businesses than most businesses are."
We have an example here.
“It’s all about the opportunity to inspire people.” – Johan Koornhof
On the surface, Johan has much in common with the executives, business owners, and leaders he serves. He’s smart, successful, & entirely self-made. He owns his own company and serves as an ambassador to several organizations.
But what sets him apart is that none of those things capture the most interesting parts of his journey, one that started in South Africa, spread to Scotland and the United States, and nearly ended tragically twice, once on the side of a mountain and later in an ICU battling COVID-19.
He is no stranger to the lows of life, yet in them, he gained life-giving perspectives on purpose, intentional leadership, and personal character that have transformed his own life and the lives of countless others he chooses to serve selflessly.
Much to our benefit, he shares them openly in all he does, including this podcast.
What a gift.
To learn more: Check out Be Real and connect with Johan on LinkedIn.
C.S. Lewis said, “Hardship often prepares an ordinary person for extraordinary destiny.”
He was right. Johan is living proof.
“People don’t think big enough.” – Tamara Bunte
Growing up in the Midwest, Tamara assumed she’d follow the same path as everyone else: go to college, get a job, and work until retirement. She was smart, safe, and secure, the very values her community shared.
But those values weren’t hers. Even as a young child, she was curious. Why are some people happier and more successful than others? What makes the difference?
So nagging were those questions that, at 12 years old, she asked for the tapes of famed motivational speaker Tony Robbins and set goals to work for Dale Carnegie & Robbins himself.
And that’s exactly what she did.
Today, Tamara runs her own company, teaching unique sales strategies to companies of all types (and gives some great tips in this podcast!). She also leads a thriving non-profit and a faith-fueled Etsy shop. Her passion and purpose in life underscore them all and fuel her (self-made) success.
To learn more, find her at TamaraBunte.com & on LinkedIn.
Hard work matters, but start with a plan and make it a big one. That’s Tamara’s story.
It’s like Emeril Lagasse said, “If you think big, it’s going to be big.”
“Creative nerdery is my personal brand.” – Mike Montague
Imagine for a moment you’re an HR rep reviewing resumes. Along comes a successful web designer turned DJ who later became an acclaimed sales expert, podcast host, and author, who later became an improv comedian—all while being a smash at each thing.
Where would you put this person in your organization?
If you’re completely stumped, join the club. No one has ever known exactly where to put Mike.
That never stopped him.
Like many entrepreneurs, Mike’s resume is long and varied. But what makes him unique is that, whether inside a massive organization like Sandler or within his own company, his “creative nerdery”—best defined as playful intelligence—shines through. Every job becomes uniquely his own, whether it was asked for or not.
And that’s made all the difference.
If stories of challenging the status quo & imparting your personal brand on your work make you happy, this is the episode for you.
Famed author Dodinsky said, “Be there for others, but never leave yourself behind.” It sums Mike up perfectly. It’s also great advice for each of us.
Find him on LinkedIn or at PlayfulHumans .
“I’m just generally curious about a lot of things.” – Hollis Carter
Entrepreneurs, inquisitive & risk-tolerant by nature, tend to have diverse backgrounds. Hollis’ is almost dizzying.
This master of the side hustle has started more companies than you can count, beginning in early childhood. But it’s the SAAS company he built into a 7-figure virtual business in less than a year & becoming a (very young) founding investor in one of the nation’s most unique ski resorts that grabs your attention.
Then, of course, there’s his membership-based community for entrepreneurs (with arguably the funniest name you’ve ever heard) that makes you wonder.
Is he just skipping randomly from one thing to the next?
Hardly.
Coursing through the heart of every one of Hollis’ companies is community, & his knack for building it in the most natural & mutually beneficial ways will leave you wondering why it’s ever been tried any other way.
To learn more: Find him at BabyBathwater.com or @HollisC on Instagram.
Hollis’ endeavors are proof of Akio Morita’s assertion: “Curiosity is the key to creativity.”
“I’m a relationship person at my core.” – Todd Hirschfeld
Growing up, Todd had a seat at some impressive dinner tables, a perk of being the son of a celebrity attorney. Athletes, movie stars, and even the legendary Muhammad Ali graced his family’s dinner table on many occasions.
For most people, kids especially, that kind of limelight would be blinding. For Todd, it illuminated a vital lesson: Connections and genuine personal relationships, over everything else, open doors & bring life to new opportunities.
It’s a lesson he’s carried with him ever since.
Whether trying to break into NASCAR as a driver, becoming a team liaison, or now marketing and directing over-the-top experiences for sporting and special event guests, Todd has prioritized people and relationships to conceptualize new businesses and overdeliver on expectations.
The result?
He’s created one of the most unique, successful, and diversified companies his customers adore, and he’s not done yet.
To learn more, find him at HMSworldwide.com or LinkedIn.
Looking at Todd, it’s easy to see that Alan Cohen was right. “Success in business depends more on relationships than spreadsheets.”
"Business… that's just a vehicle to make community impact." -Chris Moxley
Those of us lucky enough to call Charlotte, NC, home often joke about how rare it is to meet a native Charlottean (so many of us moved here for new opportunities). But Chris is one of those unicorns, born and raised in Charlotte, and his love for his city and its people has inspired one of its most unique brands.
Chris and his former UNC roommates co-founded a lifestyle brand that merges hometown pride and premium apparel. But it's what 704 Shop does outside its South End storefront that makes it so unique: radical community building that promotes upward mobility and connecting community members who love the city as much as they do.
Chris' entrepreneurial journey is rooted in a pay-it-forward philosophy, a lesson he imbibed while growing up in some of Charlotte's most challenging neighborhoods. His belief is simple yet powerful: Every hurdle can be surmounted when good-hearted individuals invest in one another.
To learn more:
Find him at 704shop.com & connect on LinkedIn.
When President John F. Kennedy said, "One person can make a difference, & everyone should try," Chris must have been listening.
“I get a real sense of purpose out of providing for others.” – Marc Hutto
Expensive, frustrating, and typical—these are the words most employers and job seekers use to describe their experiences with recruiters. Sure, the position is eventually filled, but it costs a fortune, and there’s no guarantee the new employee will stick around.
That’s why Marc turned traditional recruiting on its ear.
Forget aggressive recruiters desperate to earn their placement fees. Forget overinflated profiles of unemployed job seekers desperate to find “anyplace” to land. Forget it all.
It doesn’t work.
Uncovering people’s purpose, values, and individual “career drivers” and then introducing them to the employers who share them does.
Marc has made it his life’s mission to help businesses & employees find their perfect long-term match & do it in the most cost-effective way possible. Talk about a noble purpose.
To learn more:
Find him at RevealGlobal.com & connect on LinkedIn.
Tom Rath said, “Make work a purpose, not just a place.”
In such a typically cut-throat industry, seeing someone take that idea to heart is refreshing.
“I want someone when they look at what I’m doing, to say, ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant.’” – Chris J. Loucy
For many years, Chris’ entrepreneurial journey was the stuff of dreams. Following a successful stint in sales, he rolled the dice on his own flooring company & won…big time. He blew his competition out of the water & experienced almost unreal growth.
Until one day, when the dream became a nightmare. An unfair lawsuit filed against his company eventually became too big to fight. Chris was forced to close his doors.
Which is where the story would end if he was a “typical” entrepreneur. Of course, he’s anything but!
Today, you’ll find Chris helping small business owners mitigate their financial risk in their own companies by establishing business credit & the company’s financial foundation.
His mission? To prevent others from experiencing the kind of heartache & ruin he personally experienced.
Service & purpose. Well done, indeed.
To learn more:
Check out how Chris is impacting others at JGalt.io
Serving others instead of wallowing in self-pity... It’s like Rick Warren said, “Don’t waste your pain; use it to help others.”
"We think that we are providing benefits to somebody and incentives. Actually, we're creating little fires and warring factions." - Kevin D. Monaghan
Most organizations incentivize key employees with creative pay & perks like equity splits. Better pay + better benefits = obviously happy employees who stick around, work hard, & grow the company.
t's easy and great math, except for the fact that it doesn't work. As Kevin can speak to personally, equity splits often produce arguments, jealousy, and resentment. Key employees are left at risk.
It's a tough pill he was forced to swallow, sleeping on the floor of a 9'x9' apartment, rebuilding his life after losing everything to a work "family" who promised him the moon & then burned him badly.
So, what's the alternative to splitting equity & keeping good people? Kevin knows now, & he's on a mission to tell the world.
Check out IntuitiveCompensation.com for more info & download his FREE book at BucketsBook.com.
“I hated it, hated it with a passion.” — George Ramsay
When George looks back on music lessons of his youth, he remembers only misery. Stuffy piano teachers, monotonous scales, and the dread of upcoming recitals made faking sickness a weekly occurrence. Music lessons were the enemy, and he’d do anything to miss them.
But watching a high school friend learn from a teacher who taught improvisation & the rock music he loved changed his perspective. Music instruction could bring students alive, not just “make them better.” It could be FUN!
He picked up the guitar with that teacher in mind and fell in love. Then he knew, “I just had to do something in music.”
Together with his business partner, George has turned in-home music instruction on its ear. Equally as important, his business model provides a level of financial security for gig workers (his instructors) unheard of in the industry.
People, passion, perspective. It’s all here!
To learn more:
👉Find him on LinkedIn & at BoldMusicLessons.com
Robert Ballard said, “Follow your own passion—not your parents’, not your teachers’—yours.”
George did.
“It’s important to us to help people see that they matter.” – Christina Bartolotta
Christina & her husband, Titus, are no strangers to business success. From car sales to consulting, this dynamic duo seemingly does it all & very well. Today, you’ll find them in the kitchen of their newest endeavor & one of Lake Norman, NC’s newest & deeply loved restaurants, Rise Cafe.
Serial entrepreneurs with a passion for growing their bank accounts?
Not even close.
Behind every business the Bartolottas own & operate, a deep passion & love for people resonates. They simply have a heart for building businesses that richly improve lives & communities.
It’s a noble cause, one made even more exceptional once you hear Christina’s journey. With no exaggeration, she has endured & found purpose in one of the most traumatic childhood journeys we’ve ever heard.
Both Christina & Titus embody a favorite quote by Simon Sinek: “Profit isn’t a purpose; it’s a result. To have purpose means the things we do have real value to others.”
This one will leave you speechless.
To learn more:
👉Find her & Titus at Rise Cafe & Collaborative Solutions Group.
“I love our business model. It’s one where we can be truly honest with our clients.” Broc Buxton
When cousins Jeffrey Wanner & Broc Buxton were growing up together, neither of them imagined that Broc would eventually join Jeff in building a company that would revolutionize the way other small businesses select professional employer organizations (PEOs).
But as they matured, they recognized important qualities in each other that would fuel that endeavor: diligence, integrity, & a mutual love for solving problems that plague business owners.
(If PEOs are unfamiliar to you, take heart. This episode will show you how you can outsource important HR functions, drive down costs, & how Jeff & Broc do it so differently.)
Jeff & Broc turned their love for people & business into their passion for simplifying clients’ lives. Their one-of-a-kind, free (yes, free!) service helps business owners just like you sift through the marketing noise & select the best option for their workforce.
Family, friendship, passion. How often do those collide?
Check out Pair PEO and try out their calculator.
“I want people to recognize my passion for things – my passion for living, my passion for ensuring other people’s success.” — Reece M. Arlin, MBA
When this car-loving, fitness-focused, self-proclaimed “terrible employee” graduated from college, he was certain buying & operating a gym was the path before him.
But like most entrepreneurs, his first big plan never materialized. When a good friend suggested they start a marketing company focused on fitness sales, Reece took the chance & said yes. Together, they’ve built something extraordinary.
Marketing geniuses? Not necessarily (though they certainly have the chops!). Passion for finding their niche, hiring the right people, staying true to their voice, pivoting in the face of adversity, & seemingly effortlessly growing a company with a totally remote workforce?
Absolutely.
Reece wasn’t born with all the answers. He was gifted with the passion to find them. And that has made all the difference.
Check out Business Marketing Solutions Group.
“I just want to be known as a good guy.” – Palash Desai
Most Ivy League business school graduates turned Silicon Valley execs aren’t known for their big hearts. Big profits, yes, but compassion & love for others take a distant back seat.
Not so with Palash. In the middle of a very lucrative engineering career, he dropped it all to buy a two-person cleaning company in Charlotte, NC.
Did he love cleaning? No. Was Charlotte home? No again. But that tiny cleaning company offered Palash a unique opportunity: to build a highly profitable & sustainable business that could address income inequality in a city known for lacking social mobility.
Purpose-driven capitalism. That’s the heart of The Organic Maids, which now employs over 30 cleaning professionals making more than the average new college graduate -- bringing people out of poverty & changing their families’ & communities’ futures.
That’s the work of a very good guy.
Palash must have been listening when Leonardo DaVinci said, “Make your work to be in keeping with your purpose.”
Connect with Palash on LinkedIn and check out The Organic Maids.
“So much of what I gain is from helping people in bad situations. Our clients, 95% of them are going through the worst time in their life.” – Jan Barefoot
It isn’t unusual to hear firefighters or police officers talk about serving others on their worst days. Still, Jan Barefoot doesn’t wear a uniform or jump into action following a 911 call. She isn’t a first responder at all.
But she just might be the brains behind figuring out who’s to blame for the chaos.
This former legal secretary with a passion for detective work & justice is the woman behind one of the Carolina’s most established & rapidly growing private investigation firms. Suspected adultery, fraud, missing persons, extortion, you name it, Jan’s team tackles it all & has earned the respect & admiration of clients & top law firms alike.
What’s her secret? Serving clients with humility & never allowing ethics to take a back seat to financial success. That’s a lesson for any entrepreneur.
Check out Barefoot PI and connect with Jan on LinkedIn.
“I love life. I love to make people smile.” – Wilton Rogers III
Growing up on a farm, Wilton got his very first taste of entrepreneurship: selling eggs to his mother’s friends at church.
But it wasn’t the money that made his heart soar ($2 was his weekly profit!). It was the happiness he felt providing something people needed. That joy became his greatest form of payment.
Multiple business opportunities would come & go throughout his life, but getting to know people, identifying their pain, & providing real solutions to better their lives was the common thread to them all. It still is.
But what makes this story unexpected is that Wilton applied the same passion for people & service that inspired him as a kid to one of the coldest, most robotic industries on the planet: artificial intelligence.
If stories of infusing purpose into unexpected places make your heart soar:
Find him on LinkedIn, on his web site at Simply Automate, or listen to his podcast, Automation Nation.
“When you don’t have a choice…the one thing you do get to choose is who you get to do it with, so don’t do it alone.” Robert F Williams
In the 1990s, when financial deals & payouts came easy, Bob’s life looked like a page from a storybook: beautiful family, a booming investment business, and thousands of successful deals.
But his story, like any good one, contained a plot twist: Struggling with frequent travel away from his family, Bob lost everything when a trusted entrepreneur made off with millions he’d personally invested & encouraged others to invest. The suspect then died, dodging all accountability. Bob was crushed financially & his zest for life was destroyed.
Thankfully, another plot twist was coming in the form of a good friend who wouldn’t let Bob “do it alone.” He got him back into business & life.
Now for the ultimate surprise: Bob did the same for Gary years later when troubles came his way.
“People follow me for advice, but when I get feedback, it’s more about something business unrelated.” – Damon Burton
If you don’t know Damon, you may be wondering why over 32,000 people follow him for advice on LinkedIn or flock to read his book, “Outrank.”
If you do know him, you’ll know why seeking his advice is a no-brainer. This SEO expert has beat million-dollar companies at their own game & offers proven strategies for his audience to grow their companies.
But good SEO advice isn’t all. That “something” he speaks of makes being in his presence genuinely unique, & it’s the absolute love, adoration, & praise he shares for his wife & children, mirrored in how he sees, commends, & nurtures his team.
If you’re encouraged by industry leaders who not only upset their industry but unabashedly honor their lives & the people in it, this is the episode for you.
It’s easy to look at Renee & think that the comforts of Easy Street & a golden parachute allowed her to build the 13th largest woman-owned business in the Charlotte area & the only woman-owned industrial business in Union County (not to mention authoring a book & forming a foundation), but nothing could be further from the truth.
A small-town girl introduced first to banking & then manufacturing sales, Renee created a name for herself in a male-dominated industry by working hard & maintaining her integrity. Where others took shortcuts (morally & otherwise), she sought higher ground.
Amidst incredible challenges, including domestic violence, a brain tumor that put her in a wheelchair, and the harsh economies of the Great Recession and COVID lockdowns, Renee forged her business into the industry forefront. Perhaps most importantly, she retained her humanity, positivity, & love for good – qualities fueling the purpose of her life’s next chapter: giving back.
A quick message first: We had audio issues for the first 16 minutes of the show. We cleaned it up as much as possible, but you'll notice a difference. Apologies for that!
"It's really about fit & relationship." — Brad Batten
When Johannes Zwick & Bradley Batten first met at Davidson College, neither imagined a future as partners in private equity. But these fraternity brothers turned friends had important partnership traits in common: integrity, ambition, diligence, & love for people.
Most importantly, they recognized & respected those qualities in each other.
(By the way, if you can't believe these traits are being used to describe private equity investors, you're in for a treat. These guys are unexpected—you know, “anything but typical!”)
Johannes & Brad turned their love for business & their focus on fit & relationship into a one-of-a-kind private equity firm. Today, they invest financially & operationally in small businesses eager to scale & do so while preserving each company's employees, culture, & core values.
Forget everything you know about rip, strip, & flip private equity firms. These guys represent "investment with heart & purpose."
“I would love for people to one day, potentially, say that Mike put a piece of God in them… This is the goal of my life.” — Michael Metcalf Jr. Mike doesn’t mince words when it comes to his perspective on life. Maybe it’s because he witnessed the unthinkable as a young child or faced physical adversity on the football field at App State. Maybe his grandmother, “the smartest person I ever met”, provided much inspiration. We’ll never know.
What we do know is this: Mike is a transparent, vulnerable, reflective leader who seeks out the good in individuals as he builds effective teams, & his perspective is so refreshing & life-giving to organizations that companies big and small chomp at the bit for a sliver of his time.
Is now a good time to mention he’s a NASCAR pit crew leader by trade? (Bet you weren’t expecting that!)
If you love stories of unexpected journeys & finding purpose in all you do:
NOTE: Mike is providing the special pricing for his book, “12 Second Culture” and running it for 12 days. $8.88 down from $24.99. Use promo code “anythingbuttypical” upon checkout to get the discount! Link to the website for the book in comments.
Ty Harmon, Founder and President at Harmon Construction, overcame hardship and instability growing up. His mother was never able to own a home. Ty went onto the construction management industry. When he was ready to step out on his own, Ty made sure to never forget his childhood. Ty's company is focused on giving clients "the exceptional construction experience." In addition to commercial and retail construction, Harmon Construction also specializes in complex single & multi family development, construction of schools, and non profit construction.
In this episode, Ty shares how he navigated an industry with very few minority business owners. We talk about the importance of having an elite management team. Harmon goes into the focus of surrounding himself with high quality and talented people.
Check out Harmon Construction, and follow Ty on LinkedIn.
“It’s OK if I have a day where I work for 15 min.” – Chris Claflin.
That’s a mind-blowing statement coming from a successful entrepreneur in property management, where words like “hustle” & “growth” flow with ease, but that’s the heart of Chris Claflin.
It wasn’t always.
One of 7 children born to a blue-collar household, Chris was schooled in the virtues of hard work & company loyalty. He followed those teachings all the way to Boeing, working double overtime for 9 years & finding joy in corporate life.
But when ugly company culture reared its ugly head (sound familiar?), Chris knew the next step was entrepreneurship. It was up to him to design a life worth living.
With his wife, Chris has done just that, & he’s learned some incredible lessons about living in your thrive zone & fiercely protecting what matters – all while growing a company & preserving his ultimate goal: the freedom to do whatever he wants.
This is a special episode of the Anything But Typical Show. Our own Gary Frey has published a book titled: Silence The Imposter Syndrome- 7 Weapons To Silence Imposter Syndrome. In this episode, Gary takes us behind the scenes of what it takes to get a book published.
We talk about the options to publish such as self publishing, an independent publisher, and a large publisher. We go into what Gary's book writing journey looked like. Gary shares his experience with different interactions. He tells us some of the best advice he was given along the way.
Be sure to grab Gary's book, and let him know how it impacted you or changed your mindset!
Devan overcame childhood struggles with the help of baseball being a driving and motivating force in his life. It helped him stay out of trouble, strive for freedom early in life, and get to college. When Devan made the pros, everything was on track. So when he got released, Kline needed to figure out what was next.
With no money and no ability to get a lease, Devan began holding boot camp workouts in parking lots and abandoned theaters. He and his wife, Morgan, saw the impact they were creating and the opportunity in front of them. Burn Boot Camp was born.
Devan shares with us how they've grown so successfully. He talks about why they didn't bring investors on or make other deals giving up control. He goes into how and why he is constantly working to get away from job titles. This is a must listen episode to learn, be inspired, and grow.
Follow Devan on Instagram @Devan.Kline
Subscribe to his YouTube Channel @Devan.Kline
“Have the courage to suck.” – Brian K. Anders
That’s uncommon advice coming from an engineer, but not every engineer has a heart like Brian. Nor do they have his experience.
Brian gained his grit loading trucks at night to pay for school & his passion for client service watching his wife change lives as a private investigator. He rejected corporate life to relentlessly pursue his dream job in forensic engineering, despite having no previous experience in it.
I don’t use the word relentlessly lightly. Brian used a supply closet as an office & showed up to job sites without the promise of pay just for the chance to be helpful & prove himself.
His willingness to try & fail, combined with the question, “How do I add more value?”, propelled him both then and now.
Today, Brian’s forensic engineering companies serve clients in 49 states & 5 countries. He is a valuable, one-of-a-kind resource to all he serves. In this episode, Brian shares lessons learned along the way and plenty of entertaining stories!
In this episode, co-hosts Ben McDonald and Gary Frey discuss imposter syndrome in business and in life. Gary has written a book titled Silence The Imposter Syndrome, coming out October 2023. We talk about how imposter syndrome has been present in each of our lives. Ben shares what it was like being a 22 year old athletic director surrounded by 60 year old career academic leaders. Gary shares a freeing moment he experienced through a conversation with a boss at Bank of America.
This is a special Anything But Typical episode! Entrepreneurship runs in the family, as we interview co-host Gary Frey's son, Zach Frey. As a child, Zach would constantly be drawing. He had a fascination with drawing and designing shoes.
This hobby turned into a career, with Frey working at brands such as Reebok, Puma, and Wolf & Shepherd. But the vision of creating a better shoe was too strong. In this episode, Zach shares his journey from the big corporations to the launching and growing of Flux Footwear. We go into what differentiates their shoes. We talk about hurdles faced. And we hear insights about branding and marketing a quickly growing company.
Check out the shoes at FluxFootwear.com and connect with Zach on LinkedIn.
On the surface, Jeff Conway looks like a typical successful restauranteur: passionate about food, pursuing growth, dedicated to his family and community, but certainly living on “Easy Street”.
What lies beneath, though, in an unbelievable tale: wild success followed by a false accusation & 13 months federal prison time, reflection, redemption, & ultimately rebuilding with the unwavering support of family, friends, & faith.
You can’t afford to miss this one. Jeff shares his insights from his time in public companies. He discusses his experience in prison. Jeff goes into how he rebuilt afterwards. And we go full circle into the successful restaurant businesses Conway is running today.
After listening to this episode, go follow Jeff on LinkedIn.
“Just because you live in that environment doesn’t mean the environment has to live in you.”
That perspective has served this week's guest, Emilio Guevara, well.
Born to immigrant parents & growing up in one of the toughest & most devastated neighborhoods of the Bronx, Emilio’s path to success wasn’t handed to him.
Seven children, the youngest four in a one-bedroom apartment, a blind and alcoholic father, little money, tough streets. The excuses for failure were there.
But the underlying spirit in the house was one of devotion, commitment, hard work, & a “find a way” attitude that lives in Emilio today.
Emilio now leads ENYADA INC. & Capitalist Conversations promoting free enterprise through conversations & partnerships with successful entrepreneurs. His humble beginnings are never far from his mind though, & he continues to seek new opportunities, true connection, and joy in all he does.
David Zerfoss' first lessons came from a farm in Western Pennsylvania. When Zerfoss was tasked with being the President of Husqvarna Professional Products North America, those lessons came in handy. He built a culture of leadership, focus, and purpose. "People want to be a part of something bigger than themselves that they can be a part of." His leadership helped pave the way to a 1700% growth in sales.
Zerfoss serves business leaders at a Master Chair at Vistage Worldwide. In the episode, he talks about the benefits of surrounding yourself with like minded individuals. He speaks to the importance of constantly growing and learning. He shares many more lessons that are invaluable to business leaders.
Alignment and Priorities. That is how Chris Torchia wants to be known. That may explain how Chris has changed from his microbiology background to tech CEO with experiences running companies in different countries. This wide ranging conversation goes into how Torchia had his cryptocurrency mining equipment seized in Russia due to U.S. sanctions. He shares stories and lessons from his business experience in the Czech Republic. And Chris discusses the type of technology they are creating that is helping the Department of Defense train the United States military. After enjoying this episode, be sure to go follow Chris on LinkedIn.
Kara Taddeo is not one to shy away from a challenge. In 2002, she became the General Manager of Hotel Belleclaire in New York City. To say this was a turnaround would be quite the understatement. What Kara could best describe as a "crack hotel", she turned into a 4 star hotel in uptown Manhattan. Her story of de-roaching the hotel and getting rid of squatters shows unbelievable tenacity and perseverance.
Starting a tap room and beer hall in a city with almost no craft beer scene was another challenge Kara stepped up to. Charlotte, today known for its craft beer and outdoor seating, was not that way in 2011. Kara saw the vision of what could be. They have now been running VBGB Beer Hall & Garden for over 12 years; and have added event venue The Hamilton as well. Be sure to check out VBGB and The Hamilton, and follow Kara on LinkedIn.
Most entrepreneurs dream about growing their businesses, having a successful exit, taking a company public, and much more. Today's guest, Roger Braswell, has done it all. Roger was the Founder & CEO of Compact Power Equipment. In this episode, we talk about how Roger created and grew the business. He discusses the obstacles faced along the way and how that ultimately led to even greater success. Roger IPO'd Compact Power, and eventually sold to Home Depot for 9 figures.
You may think Roger sailed off in the sunset after that. Instead, we find Roger being the Owner & Chairman of The Southern Shade Tree Company, Chairman of The Integra Group, Chairman of Give Hope Global, and serving as a business advisor. Check out Give Hope Global after this episode.
One episode was not enough to cover Reebok Founder Joe Foster's story. So here we are with Part 2. In this episode, Joe shares about Reebok's expansion from women's aerobic shoes to other sports and lines. He talks about how they had to be strategic with their expansions. Joe also shares one of his biggest business regrets.
We discuss Reebok going public and Joe's transition out of the operations of the business. Joe talks about how he began serving as an ambassador of Reebok, and how now he is a digital nomad.
Check out more about Joe HERE.
As a grandson of the legendary J.W. Foster growing up in Bolton, England, running seemed to be in Joe Foster’s blood.
Little did Joe know that winning an American “Webster’s New School & Office Dictionary” in a race at age seven would make a South African antelope synonymous with a multi-billion-dollar international shoe brand – Reebok.
Joe proved that while he may not have been blessed with the DNA of a world-class runner, he was blessed with the DNA of a world-class “improver,” & his book, “Shoemaker,” is an excellent testimony of that fact.
If you love shoes or, more importantly, stories of positive ripple-makers who’ve run their unique race against all odds, multiple setbacks, heartaches, & challenges, this episode is for you! Enjoy Joe's story of starting, establishing, and growing Reebok.
As a Blackhawk helicopter pilot stationed in South Korea in the late ‘90s, Chris Videau took off for an R&R weekend with his buddies in search of a little fun and relaxation.
What he found turned out to be his life’s calling.
Instead of white sands and glistening water, the Army veteran instead found a horribly polluted beach, littered with plastic waste that had been discarded in the China Sea.
This was nothing like the beaches back home.
Chris never forgot that image or that ruined weekend, and years later in Iraq, watching tons of plastic waste literally go up in flames as U.S. troops sought to eliminate their trash, Chris’ next step became abundantly clear
He was going to dedicate the next phase of his life to eliminating plastic waste.
But how?
Where he ended up is as unexpected as his enlistment decision: the laundry detergent space, a fiercely competitive industry dominated by big brand names producing water-rich products in heavy plastic containers.
How could a 20-year Army veteran, with no marketable skills other than flying helicopters, break into such a market, let alone aim to completely transform it?
Chris did and still is with his company, Sheets Laundry Club, and its simple, effective, sustainable, and cost-effective alternative to everyday laundry detergent.
If you love stories of positive ripple-makers who followed their passions and turned impossible dreams into reality (all while developing a genius new product), this episode is for you!
Check out Sheets Laundry Club to see more about what Chris and the team are doing.
Manny Ohonme never wore a pair of shoes for the first 9 years of his life. When missionaries visited his village in Nigeria, they held a basketball shooting contest. The winner would receive a pair of sneakers. Manny won that competition, becoming the first person in his village to own a pair of shoes. More importantly, he was set on a path that would impact millions of lives.
Ohonme was offered 5 basketball scholarships, eventually accepting a scholarship to the University of North Dakota. When he went back to Africa and saw kids playing basketball in bare feet, he knew he had to make a difference.
In this episode, we go through the incredible story of how Manny Ohonme went from the 9 year old winning his first pair of shoes, to the man running Samaritan's Feet and approaching his 10 millionth pair of shoes donated.
Follow Manny on LinkedIn and check out Samaritan's Feet.
Author of 50 Marketing Secrets of Growth Companies in Down Economic Times, and Me, Myself, & Inc., Sherre' DeMao has a plethora of writing experience. In between, Sherre' fixes businesses with her free time. DeMao is the Founder and CEO of BizGrowth. She has also been a fractional COO and CMO for multiple businesses.
In this episode, Sherre' gets very tactical for us around creating strategies for clients. She shares some of the biggest mistakes she's seen. We discuss how she pulls ideas and visions out of business leaders.
DeMao also has a component of giving in every business plan she does with her clients. We talk about why that is so important, and how giving can also be an excellent business strategy. Be sure to check out BizGrowth and learn about Sherre' as an author and speaker on Her Site.
Steered by faith and authenticity, Jim Dunn has been helping businesses grow for many years. After running his own Sandler Sales Franchise, Jim is now the Director of BGW Growth Services. A common hurdle Jim has faced when working with business owners is their fear of failure. “You cannot grow unless you’re willing to fail.” In this episode, Jim shares how he gets leaders out of their comfort zones and out of their own ways.
Jim began his entrepreneurial ways in a way you see in movies or read about in books. Jim sold lemonade and cut yards. He learned how to save money early. He studied vocabulary cassettes to improve how he communicated. The self development has yet to stop for Jim Dunn.
In this episode, not only will you learn through Jim’s experience. You will also hear Jim discuss specific strategies and tactics he uses with business leaders like yourself.
Angel Rutledge was an educator. Her first career choice, teaching 7th graders, was the path Angel envisioned for herself. Through a passion of adoption, Angel and her husband, Dan, adopted two kids from Liberia. Along that journey were many other families trying to do the same thing. The problem was, it was unorganized chaos. Angel and Dan solved their own problem, and the problems of many hopeful families.
This experience led to software solution company SignUpGenius. Angel discusses her transition into entrepreneurship, her experience exiting SignUpGenius, her multitude of advisory and board experience, and her Angel Investing experience. We also discuss Angel's most recent venture, Meetify.
Check out Meetify and be sure to follow and connect with Angel on LinkedIn.
Phillip Lanier didn't realize he even started a business until years in. This accidental entrepreneurship journey almost came with an early exit. Lanier wasn't enjoying the business and was thinking about a way to sell. Instead, with business coaching and a voracious appetite for personal development, Phillip Lanier built a company that he loved working in. The renewed passion led to significant business growth. So when Lanier did sell the business, it was in a completely different mindset. Enjoy this story and the lessons Phillip learned along the way.
Scott Dunstan, Owner & President at The Dunstan Group, has helped businesses utilize custom apparel and promotional merchandise to build their brands for years. So it may come as no surprise that when they started a podcast they named it the Brand Builders Podcast.
Scott talks with us about how they go about understanding their audience. Figuring out budgets and goals of companies, then executing branding plans to accomplish those goals. Dunstan takes us into his mindset and shares how he tries to personify honesty and doing good for the community. Scott also discusses how they've used the podcast to add more value, engage more with clients and community, and build their own brand.
Be sure to follow Brand Builders Podcast, check out The Dunstan Group, and connect with Scott on LinkedIn.
Ketan Patel was exposed to business ownership helping out his parents as a kid in their business. Today he owns and runs Pop the Top Craft Beer Shop. Ketan took a year and a half to put together a business plan. He factored in what he was passionate about and what he wanted in his life. Ketan discusses how he gets out of his bubble to gain perspective. He shares what it was like going back to 80+ hour weeks during the Covid pandemic. We also get into future growth and expansion.
Ketan and Kathy have created an environment in Pop the Top where people can come, hang out with a group of friends or hold a business meeting, and enjoy a craft beer. Then be sure to take home your favorite hard kombucha or cider from their market section. Check out Pop the Top.
Mike & Cindy Praeger sold their first business together in their 20s. They looked at this sale not as a finale, but as a building block. Cindy learned that is was her job to find people's super powers and bring the right people into a company. One of Mike's takeaways was "Everybody tries to boil the ocean right at the beginning." Instead, Mike said, we must solve a narrow pain point.
Mike went on to co-found Avid XChange, which he has since taken public and remains Chairman and CEO. Cindy co-founded and is Managing Partner at Rhythm Systems, where she helps CEOs and their companies achieve their strategic goals. This episode is filled with advice and lessons from both of their journeys.
Follow Mike on Instagram @MikePraeger, and connect with him on LinkedIn. Connect with Cindy on LinkedIn, and check out Rhythm Systems.
Matt Pozda and Mike Mike met in the corporate world doing investment banking. With consistency and purpose, the two created MM Capital. Today they acquire, operate, and grow businesses. In this episode, we talk about how they choose businesses to acquire. We discuss the qualitative aspects that make a company or industry attractive. And we dive into how they balance running a business together while getting their time with families. Check out MM Capital and connect with Matt and Mike on LinkedIn.
"It was like going 200 miles per hour and somebody pulling the emergency brake and spinning out for months." That was Helen Edwards description of Covid-19 hitting. The pandemic hurt many businesses. But when you own and run an event planning company, business screeched to a halt. In this episode, Helen describes how they responded to the pandemic. Spark By Design was able to adapt so well, they did as much revenue in 2021 as they had in 2019.
Want to know how a company can lose all of its revenue in 2 months and bounce back stronger than ever? Then this is the episode for you. Check out Spark By Design and connect with Helen on LinkedIn.
Jack Burke is the CEO & Chief Visionary Officer at BRK Global Marketing. He’s been running the business for almost 32 years. In addition, Jack is the Founder and President of A Big Heart Foundation. Yet, it all started with a $3,000 limit Sears credit card. From his days playing Division 1 Tennis, Jack learned to keep a tight schedule, balance multiple responsibilities, and master his time management. Jack also posed the question: When you lose the first set, how do you walk of the court a winner?
Jack has taken this mentality to flourish in the world of business and entrepreneurship. Seeing his father be self employed, Burke began his entrepreneurial journey shoveling driveways, cutting lawns, and stringing tennis rackets as a kid. He began a t shirt company is college. Follow along this episode to hear the rest of his journey and share in the lessons he learned along the way.
When Steve Wohlenhaus was in his early 20's, he started Weatherology. He has run the business for over 35 years. In this episode, Steve discusses working an unpaid internship for 2 years to learn from a mentor. He maintained his priorities and refused to give up his workouts, even when that meant 2:00AM wake ups to get a run in before working.
Today, in addition to running the business, Steve is an author, speaker, podcast host, and LinkedIn influencer. He has shifted some of his time to help others find joy and fulfillment in their lives. Steve spends 6 hours a day on self care, reads 60-70 books each year, focuses on getting the greatest amount of life satisfaction.
Check out Steve's podcast, Anatomy of Success, on every podcast platform. Follow him on LinkedIn.
Jim & Sandy Forbes, owners of Rinnovare Inc, have been running businesses since 1989. From trying to make a living with their first business to trying to make a positive impact today, the Forbes' entrepreneurial path is filled with stories and lessons.
Jim and Sandy discuss how they now use vision boards to increase their focus and accomplishments of their goals. They go into their differentiators and how they stand out in their industry. Sandy describes their process of disappearing for a few days at the end of the year to plan out the next. Jim shares some of their favorite business books, including The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek.
Check out Rinnovare to learn more about how Jim & Sandy run their business.
Brian Parsley is a keynote speaker, Managing Partner of The Constance Group, and an Angel Investor. In our episode, we talk about how Brian figured out his first entrepreneurial endeavor in 5th grade. We discuss how speaking engagements and content have led to business. Brian shares how he struggles with and overcomes imposter syndrome.
This episode is the perfect example of how we all deal with similar hurdles throughout our business careers. Brian does a phenomenal job articulating these points and how they come up in his life.
Be sure to check out Brian's Site and find him on your favorite social media platform @BrianParsleySpeaker.
How do you balance running a profitable business and impacting the world? Enter Liz Ward. Liz is the founder of Give Impact- an advisory services firm focused on affordable housing and upward mobility solutions. Companies have capital or resources and a desire to impact their communities. But nobody was out there to support or help them put those resources to good use. Liz and her team help businesses navigate the complexities of affordable housing to use those resources to support the communities these business owners are passionate about.
Liz talks about why she didn't go the nonprofit route. She shares how she's shaping working for give impact to be a journey and experience. We discuss putting up boundaries in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle and not burn yourself out. And we go well into how business leaders can help change their cities or communities. This conversation will get you thinking about how you can use your lot in life to make positive changes around you.
Follow Liz on LinkedIn and check out Give Impact.
Torrey Wood, Founder & CEO of M&A Financing Services, finishes the podcast talking about making it easy to prioritize what's most important in your life. Whether it's family and faith in Torrey's case, or whatever it may be for you, prioritization is a key theme in this episode.
Torrey learned early on in his career not to listen to other people. He believed in his vision and set out to achieve it despite those doubting him. Part of how Torrey had success was through building an elite network. Yet, his style of networking isn't the transactional manner you associate with the word. Torrey Wood has build his network through authenticity, generosity, and providing value to others without expectation of reciprocity.
Enjoy this episode to learn more about how you can do well while doing well for others. Connect with Torrey on LinkedIn and check out M&A Financing Services.
Greg Artzt grew up around entrepreneurs. So it will come as no surprise to hear that early in his career, Greg left being a trader at a hedge fund to start his own business. After the Sandy Hook school shooting, Greg and the other founders of PunchAlert came together to create a solution that would save lives during active shootings and other emergencies.
In this episode, Greg talks about the evolution of PunchAlert. He discusses having the purpose behind the brand. This being recorded shortly after the Uvalde school shooting in Texas, Greg walks us through exactly how their system would have came into play in that scenario.
Enjoy an episode filled with lessons you can carry over into your business. Be sure to check out PunchAlert and connect with Greg on LinkedIn.
Joe Farrell has owned Quality Data Systems, a cash automation company, for over 39 years. Now Sean is CEO. In our conversation, we discuss the dynamics of Sean coming into the business after playing professional baseball. Joe shares his background and how QDS was founded. Sean talks about the awkward size of a company with 85 employees that's leaving the small business arena and moving up to a medium sized business.
Both discuss building and maintaining the culture in a growing company. How transparency with employees leads to loyalty and empowerment. Joe talks about the creation of Lionheart Charities and how they are positively impacting their communities.
Be sure to check out Quality Data Systems, and connect with Joe and Sean on LinkedIn.
Roddey Player worked in his father's business as a kid. As a young professional, he moved into the business full time. Roddey then proceeded to work up the company, before taking over as CEO 14 years ago. In this episode, Player shares the insight of growing up in a family business.
Today, Queen City Audio Video & Appliances is a flourishing retail business. We dive into the difficulties and evolution of retail businesses. We go into leadership styles and decision making. Player shares what he learned in his early years of the business that helped shape how he acts as CEO. Player talks about how the customers, suppliers, and people are the 3 legs of the stool in his business.
Check out Queen City Audio Video & Appliances and connect with Roddey on LinkedIn.
Andy Hilliard, CEO at Accelerance, was in a banking career that was draining his energy. On a cross country skiing trip, Hilliard decided to leave banking to join the Peace Corps. It was in there Peace Corps where he saw first hand how different cultures achieve happiness, as well as business development mistakes and opportunities he could apply to his future.
Today, Hilliard runs a global organization that helps companies find the right outsourcing partners. Hilliard works with businesses in countries throughout the world, where he blends cultures today and enhances everybody's experience. He also takes what he learns with interactions throughout the world to differentiate Accelerance.
Check out Andy's book Outsource or Else, and connect with him on LinkedIn.
Mike Reimels, owner of Reimels, Miller, Pattera Dentristy, may be one of the most efficient guests we've had on the Anything But Typical Podcast. In this episode, Mike lays out what his day looks like. He minimizes travel time and said "time in the car is wasted". He only does meetings if they are absolutely necessary, and then it needs to be somebody coming to him or via Zoom. Reimels goes well beyond those two nuggets in how he's able to get significantly more done than most business leaders.
Reimels has also grown his business through acquisition. We spend a lot of time discussing how he's ironed out his acquisition process. Mike shares what the things are in the business that he is looking for in order for it to be a good and profitable acquisition. Dr Reimels packs this episode with phenomenal information. Be sure to to check out Reimels Dentistry, or reach out to him at mreimels@yahoo.com.
"You've got to show up in a chicken costume at their front door if you want them to notice you." That was Andy Pfeiffer's sentiment when talking about all of the distractions and things that are vying for our attention today. Andy, Founder and Principal of Arthur Elliott Marketing Group, approaches marketing and branding with his clients in a manner that gets to the root of how you want to be known. He talks in this episode about how they get insight, ideate, and create for their clients.
We also go into Andy's evolution of Arthur Elliott. The entrepreneurial journey alone is packed with lessons. So whether you're at a pivotal point in your company's journey, or you're looking to spark ideas around your brand, this is the episode for you. Check out Arthur Elliott, and connect with Andy on LinkedIn.
David Redding's sophomore year of college he had to figure out how to pay for school. On the table was a flyer about ROTC that his roommate received. David joined the Army, and later the Green Beret.
In this episode, Redding shares his lessons and experiences from his military days. "Take the blame, pass the praise." This was his most important lesson learned. Redding also created F3- Fitness, Fellowship, Faith. F3 is a no cost workout group. What began as an invitation to a small group of men has turned into an organization in 7 countries and 48 states. David talks through the story of F3 in this episode.
Be sure to check out F3, David's law firm TLG Law, Redding's site CollisionLearner.com, and connect with David on LinkedIn.
Jason Tuttle had commercial real estate in his blood. Working for his father in the industry, Jason built up his knowledge and understanding. During the Great Recession, Tuttle's resiliency was tested. Yet, he came out the other side stronger than ever and prepared to build and grow his own firm.
In this episode, Jason shares some of the things he looks for when investing in commercial real estate. He talks about deal making, growing rapidly and aggressively, and continuing to move forward. Jason also shares how he navigates prioritizing things like family, health, and fitness with his business.
Connect with Jason on LinkedIn.
Jennifer Guthrie, Founder and CEO of In-Flight Crew Connections, knew she wanted to be a business owner at 16. After trying her hand in multiple industries, she founded In-Flight.
Jennifer shares with us how she got the business started and evolved from a regional corporate flight attendant service. We go into Jennifer's growth mindset and how she goes about thinking big. We discuss how they handled COVID, which dramatically impacted her business and industry.
In-Flight Crew Connections has also won Best of Staffing Client Satisfaction and Talent Satisfaction awards for 9 straight years. Jennifer shares how they maintain such high quality and with such consistency.
Check out In-Flight Crew Connections and connect with Jennifer on LinkedIn.
Mike Estramonte started his first business at 14 when he and a buddy began painting barns in Upstate New York. Estramonte become a chiropractor and went into business. Today, Dr. Estramonte is the CEO of Starmount Healthcare, a healthcare management company supporting practices with services such as human resources, recruiting, accounting, and more.
In this episode, we talk about how Estramonte took a jackhammer to his garage floor and built a 6 foot deep cold plunge. We dive into what he is doing to maintain his health and biohacking through things like sauna and red light therapy.
When it comes to business, the story we discuss about how Starmount pivoted during the pandemic to be a major player in COVID testing is unbelievably impressive. Dr. Estramonte also shares how he hired 6 former Navy Seals to help with the organization, planning, and execution of testing throughout the state.
Be sure to connect with Dr. Estramonte on LinkedIn.
Omar Jorge was born into a family of entrepreneurs with Dominican Republic roots who owned supermarkets in New York. He started actively working in the grocery stores in his early teens. He seemed destined to be in the family business.
But as he grew older, he thought the way he could best serve the family business & his community would be through law. So, he left the supermarket business at age 20 to go to law school & became an attorney.
Even in law school, his entrepreneurial DNA & love for the supermarket business couldn’t be suppressed. He was one of the first website developers for supermarkets in the late 1990s.
Little did he know that he’d leave his law practice at age 28, leave his community in New York, move to Charlotte, NC & serve a new community as Chairman of Aurora Grocery Group & CEO of Compare Foods Charlotte.
Omar created Aurora Grocery Group, a shared services company, to serve 25 supermarkets. The model Omar oversees with Aurora is to maximize the economies of scale by serving 25 locations instead of each business having to fend for themselves individually.
Be sure to check out Aurora and Compare in the links above, and connect with Omar on LinkedIn.
Bethany Miller grew up around entrepreneurship. When she saw her father go through battles such as embezzlement and bankruptcy, she chose a safer path. But her passion for doing good for people shined the light on how she could run a business better than what her clients in the home care industry were currently getting. Today, she owns and runs Aroga Home Care Services.
Bethany is the epitome of strength and courage. She is completely transparent and vulnerable in this episode as she shares her own trials and tribulations. This is not an entrepreneurship through rose glasses episode. Bethany discusses how she battled cancer, loss, and multiple other hurdles while building her company. She talks about mentorship, peer groups, and how surrounding yourself with others will allow you to succeed.
Connect with Bethany on LinkedIn, check out Aroga Home Care, and follow Aroga on Instagram @aroga_care.
Think big, dream big, be big. That is today’s guest’s motto. Many people go around life and can point out flaws or inequities. Few do something about it. Christopher Dennis is the Principal of E-Fix Development and E-Fix Housing Solutions. He’s also the Founder of the nonprofit Community Dream Builders. Dennis has been a long time community leader in revitalizing what used to be one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the Charlotte, NC area. He also has served for over 22 years in the Air Force National Guard.
Christopher Dennis is a lead by example individual. He goes way beyond talking about getting things done. If you want to learn from somebody who has created positive community impact while running successful businesses, this is the podcast for you.
Check out E-Fix Housing Solutions and E-Fix Development and follow Christopher on LinkedIn.
Brent Hulderman is the owner of Absolute Recovery and Pitbull Keys. But before Brent was in the repossession business, he was in the mortgage industry. And Brent experienced the brunt of the financial recession. You're faced with a crossroads in your life. How do you handle it? Brent was proactive and:
- Did some research on a recession-resistant industry (like vehicle repossession)
- Found someone who was in that business
- Joined them in their tow truck for some “ride-along” experiences
- Bought a tow truck – even though he'd never driven a tow truck before
Brent has come a long way since those early days in the cab when he darted in to pick up vehicles delinquent in their payments (while encountering substantial risk) and running his two businesses today. His journey is enlightening, insightful, & anything but typical.
After years of working for other CPAs, Matt Andersen chose to run his own CPA firm. He set out to create a lifestyle business where he could still enjoy things like time with his family and mountain biking. What transpired was very different. Years of stress passed by before Matt realized he was running a growth business; not a lifestyle company.
Andersen made strategic moves, including getting rid of almost all individual clients to focus solely on businesses. He built a strong company with significant intrinsic value. But he also wasn't enjoying life the way he wanted. So when Anything But Typical's own Gary Frey had Matt complete something called the Thrive/Wither, Matt's eyes were opened and something clicked. Less than a year later, Matt chose to sell his firm to BGW CPA and join as a director in BGW.
Connect with Matt on LinkedIn and check out what he's doing with BGW CPA.
Brian Koch is a disruptor of ideas. His goal is to help you rethink things in your life. That could be fishing, work life balance, or anything else that is important in your life. Brian does this through how he leads his life.
Brian has been around hunting most of his life. In an experience he discusses during this episode, Brian grew a passion around educating others on hunting, specifically bird hunting. In order to truly feel like he was an outlier in the industry, Brian immersed himself in a 90 day hunting trip. He and his dogs hunted every single day over 7 states, no matter the weather or conditions. This has led to his adventure, experience, and bird hunting content company- Ultimate Upland.
Check out Ultimate Upland, subscribe to them on YouTube to see their latest season of Way Upland, and connect with Brian on LinkedIn.
Russell Huntley chose to leave the family business to create his own. That decision has led to multiple companies: Caliber Construction, East Coast, Straightline Pumping, and Caliber Associates. Huntley has built his brands on the foundation of the highest quality work.
But Russell Huntley's path from starting his first business to today is riddled with great successes and impossible difficulties. Huntley comes onto Anything But Typical completely transparent and vulnerable.
Enjoy learning lessons that go beyond business and hear how Huntley won a brick laying record.
Reach out to Russell at RHuntley@caliber-co.com or check out their Web site.
Mary Dawn & Joe Hewitt grew close hang gliding during their early dating years. They've been experiencing high flying success ever since.
Both Mary Dawn and Joe had successful careers in corporate America. Joe broke out and got into entrepreneurship first, while Mary Dawn was the COO for a global corporation. They've since come together to create a company together. Groupeasy is a tech platform solving the issues related to running and organizing groups.
In this conversation, we cover philosophy, outsourcing responsibilities in a tech firm, solving your own problems, working together in a partnership, and much more!
Check out Groupeasy and connect with Mary Dawn and Joe on LinkedIn.
Tanner Fritz and his partners each brought their unique backgrounds together to create Anduin, an artificial intelligence for billing. Started in the middle of the COVID lockdown in the United States, it was time for Tanner to change from employee to entrepreneur.
In this conversation, Tanner discusses how his career in college basketball at Florida Gulf Coast has carried into running a startup. He also discusses the juggling of his priorities; including 3 kids, a family, basketball, fly fishing, church, and more. We go through the rapid growth of his company and discuss strategies inside the business.
Check out Anduin and connect with Tanner on LinkedIn.
Casey Catoe knew it was time for him to stop working for others and create his own business. Nicole took the $700 worth of coins they collected in their 5 gallon water jug to the bank and opened a business account. They mapped out all of their finances and bills to give them the runway they needed for the company to succeed. From this, Carolina Civil was born.
Today they husband/wife duo run an extremely successful civil construction company. On top of that, they have a farm of miniature animals. Listen to their story about prioritizing what was most important to them, finding their passion, and positively impacting the world.
Check out carolinacivil.com and connect with Casey on LinkedIn.
Kim & Erika came together to take over Crossfit Huntersville from different backgrounds. But they shared a vision of creating a community to people to become healthier versions of themselves. They shared the vision of positively impacting their communities. They shared the vision of building a holistic health and fitness experience.
Despite neither owning a business prior, Kim and Erika doubled revenue in the first 3 months of buying the gym. They attribute much of their early success to their social media efforts. Instead of highlighting themselves, @CrossfitHuntersville Instagram profile is all about highlighting their members and community. In addition, they have raised thousands of dollars where 100% of what they raised went to local nonprofits. This mix of rapid growth, supporting the local community, and creating an environment for their members to flourish is certainly Anything But Typical.
Check them out on Instagram at @CrossfitHuntersville and on their Web site.
When Jimmy Molina came to the United States for college from Colombia, he was only able to work on campus since he was an international student. Jimmy takes us through his journey of having to get different internships and multiple Master's degrees simply to stay in the United States while trying to get residency.
Jimmy grew up in Colombia without disposable income. There were many days when he had to choose how to spend the money his mother gave him. Does he eat dinner or does he take the public transportation home? So when he faced hurdles in the United States, Jimmy was prepared for the hard work and hustle it would take to succeed.
From childhood to homesick college student-athlete, to owner of a real estate investment company and the restaurant The Local Room. Jimmy talks about the lessons he's learned, how he prioritizes what is most important to him, and how he has been able to navigate all of the hoops he has had to jump through.
Check out Jimmy of Twitter @JDMolina398, The Local Room @LocalRoomLocust on Instagram, and Jimmy on LinkedIn.
Dianna Bock and Destiny Wellenreiter met competing for the same coaching job. But they came together on a chance run-in at Trader Joe's. Each had a vision to offer an experience in the fitness world that didn't currently exist. Together, they have manifested that vision into Hustle House Fitness.
Learn in this episode of how they differentiated themselves in a crowded industry. How they navigated the COVID shutdown- which happened to come about shortly after they opened their doors. How they have focused on building a brand bigger than the facility itself.
Check out Hustle House Fitness and connect with Destiny on LinkedIn.
Can you imagine a typical restauranteur stating, “We’re in the people business. 95% = people. 5% = food & booze.”
Joe & Katy Kindred are hardly typical restaurateurs. They are "anything but typical" in so many ways.
If you’ve been to either of their restaurants, “Kindred” or “Hello, Sailor,” you know that there has to be something to their non-traditional approach. Their food is exceptional, the ambiance is unique, and the service is attentive.
Given the challenges of 2020 & 2021 that have impacted so many businesses (especially the restaurant & hospitality industries), building upon solid foundations while being nimble enough to pivot has been critical.
If you love learning from others who have navigated such challenges well, this episode of the Anything But Typical podcast is for you.
“From a young age, I’ve always embraced a punch in the face.” That sounds like a true New Yorker whose dad was a New York City Fire Department firefighter.
That’s one reason why we’re releasing Robert Maynard’s episode of the Anything but Typical podcast this week as we prepare for the sobering 20th anniversary of 9/11.
An understanding of Rob’s roots provides some much-needed perspective on his success. Rob is a fascinating entrepreneur who has achieved success in real estate development, real estate investing, & as CEO/Founder of Famous Toastery.
If you’ve ever felt like your experience in life, or as an entrepreneur, doesn’t align with the sexy images portrayed on Instagram, THIS episode is for YOU.
Too many people walk into a room wondering, “How can I sell you?” When he’s not out fishing or on one of his wild adventures, Todd Buelow walks into a room wondering, “How can I help you?”
That’s not a typical perspective you’ll find in every entrepreneur & CEO running a company of 200 people. Then again, Todd isn’t a typical CEO.
Todd is a humble, authentic, positive ripple-maker who leads by serving from his heart. He shares in this episode how they differentiate by measuring success differently. Todd discusses balancing exploring life, running businesses, time with family, volunteering, and so much more. And we dive deep into having meaning within businesses.
If you liked his wife’s episode on our podcast, you’ll love this one too. (Go back & listen to Michelle Tunno Buelow’s episode – another positive ripple-making CEO.)
Connect with Todd on LinkedIn and check out Dualboot Partners.
Gloria Nelund retired as the highest female executive at Deutsche Bank at the age of 42. She wanted her life to have meaning. What followed was what Gloria calls her "2 year wilderness journey." She discovered that she was designed to accomplish. Yet, she wanted her accomplishing to lead to change. What ensued was Gloria's way of using capitalism to solve social problems.
Gloria shares how she went from a teaching degree to navigating the financial corporate world. We discuss ESG investing. We go into B Corporations. We discuss how vital business culture is when a company is aligned with a cause at its core. We prove wrong the either/or mentality of business vs impact.
Be sure to check out TriLinc Global and connect with Gloria on LinkedIn.
Adam Boatsman left a Big 4 accounting firm to start a CPA firm. That startup has grown into BGW CPA, where Boatsman is the Managing Partner. In this episode, we go in to how BGW has thrived by focusing on a niche of business owners and creating a unique experience tailored for that niche. Adam shares how he, as well as the company, differentiate themselves and stand out.
We also dive into growth strategies in order to maintain quality while pursuing a bigger vision. Be sure to check out BGW CPA on their site to see all of the unique things they're doing. And connect with Adam on LinkedIn.
Want a peak into a a young company experiencing explosive growth? Want to know how creating a unique offering can solve a problem and make you stand out? Then this episode is for you.
What Managing Partner Aaron Bock is doing at Opkalla is exciting, industry shaping, and worth learning about. Aaron takes us inside the company and gives us the transparent view.
Check out Opkalla and connect with Aaron on LinkedIn.
Dana Jacoby filled this entire episode with insights and tactics. You want to know things that are considered while selling or merging a company? Dana is here for you. Want to know how to prioritize what's most important to you while making change and impact? Once again Dana is here.
From studying political science to selling a healthcare company, mentoring entrepreneurs to being a keynote speaker, we go through Dana's stories and lessons in depth. Be sure to connect with Dana on LinkedIn and follow along her incredible journey!
One of the most common causes for CEO burnout & their company’s growth to stall is EASY to identify but oftentimes very HARD for the CEO (especially if they’re the founder) to face it…
WAY too many roads dead end at the CEO’s office.
Oftentimes, they don’t have anyone inside who they feel like can do things as well as they can so they end up doing way too much.
Before you know it, the company looks more like a one-man-band sideshow than a finely tuned symphony.
That may have been the case in the very early days at Doerre Construction but Karl Doerre & his son, Matt, have demonstrated how to escape that growth-limiting trap & scale Doerre Construction Company in a healthy & fun way.
No one-man-bands here. They've got a symphony playing.
Connect with Karl and Matt on LinkedIn.
Esbith Andaya lost his mother as a young kid. His father moved back to Mexico and Esbith went into foster care. Throughout school, he was told that he would never succeed. Teacher told him that he was dumb, that he would be a fast food employee for his entire life. That takes people to a fork in the road. You're either going to listen to what everybody is saying about you and accept your fate, or you're going to prove everybody wrong.
Esbith became a voracious reader, soaking up information and constantly expanding himself. He took refuge in the lessons of the books he got his hands on. He found mentors to help guide him along the way. And he never let go of the motivation of being told all of the things he couldn't do.
Today, Esbith owns and runs Insight Automation, the premier choice for Charlotte home theater installations and home automation. His journey to this point is extremely interesting, entertaining, and riddled with lessons.
Connect with Esbith on LinkedIn and check out Insight Automation.
John Espey was working in a mailroom when a coworker was complaining about a coding issue. John was able to solve the problem. The next day, the head of IT told him that he would no longer be working in the mailroom and would be coding instead.
Fast forward to today and John just had an exit from a company he co-founded, Levvel, has a plethora of C-suite and advisory experience, and is the CEO & Co-Founder at Defiance Ventures. John also hosts the Defiance Ventures podcast.
John may be a long ways removed from the mailroom, but the path from there to today is still clear. He shares his journey and lessons in this episode. We discuss hurdles of growth in the tech world and hiring and placing the right people in the business. John talks about building the future and innovation.
Be sure to listen to Defiance Ventures podcast where you listen to Anything But Typical, connect with John on LinkedIn, and check out Defiance Ventures.
Brandy Milazzo, the founding and managing partner at Ascension Law, has a wealth of knowledge around corporate law, mergers, and acquisitions. We get extremely tactical this episode with Brandy as she walks us through each aspect of an acquisition.
Brandy talks about leaving a firm and mentor to create her own law firm. She shares common mistakes in the M&A world. She even shares lessons from growing up around NASCAR.
This episode is an incredible weaving between Brandy's story and the vast knowledge she has gained over her career. Be sure to check out Ascension Law and connect with Brandy on LinkedIn.
Brandon Lindsey is the Founder & CEO at Dream on 3, as well as VP of Operations at Hoopaugh Grading. Throughout the conversation with Brandon, he talks about the pivotal point where he changed his priorities and what was most important in his life. Brandon is helping lead the way to the future at Hoopaugh by being early adapters of technology such as Virtual Reality. Brandon discussed the HGC Academy, a 20,000 square foot facility that houses simulators to train on, training rooms, a podcast studio, and more. By utilizing cutting edge technology, they are able to train employees in a safer, more cost effective, and incredibly effective manner.
Brandon also discusses growth strategies and lessons learned. We talk about company culture and how to handle integration through an acquisition.
Check out Hoopaugh and connect with Brandon on LinkedIn.
Over 19 years ago, Amy Pack and Patty Comer had a vision for a company. Today, they are still running AccruePartners together, taking vacations together, and maintaining a great relationship through it all.
In this episode, we walk through the creation and founding of AccruePartners. We discuss the dynamics of a partnership from co-founding to growing the business. We learn about innovation and forward thinking strategies.
Amy and Patty also take us behind the scenes on things such as culture, people, and values. Be prepared to take away many lessons on how to work with others on a vision and have fun while succeeding along the way!
Check out Accrue Partners , reach out to them at info@accruepartners.com, patty@accruepartners.com, or amy@accruepartners.com, and connect with Patty and Amy on LinkedIn.
What happens when a business grows beyond its current capacity? Jackrabbit Cofounder Mark Mahoney talks about the growing pains of 20-30 employees. He was wearing significantly more hats than he should.
Finally, Mark and Jackrabbit brought in COO Darin Soll. Darin and Mark complemented each other and allowed each to do what they enjoyed the most and were best at. Their roles were defined as Visionary and Integrator. In this episode, Mark and Darin share what their business structure is, what a Visionary and Integrator actually do, and how this change allowed the company to flourish.
This is a must listen for anybody looking to provide structure, consistency, and growth to their company!
Check out Jackrabbit on their Web site, connect and follow Mark and Darin on LinkedIn. And head over to abtpodcast.com for past episodes and clips.
After a 26 year career in the US Army, Chris Nadeau began the next phase of his career. That military experience steered Chris to prioritize leadership, team building, clear communication, and culture.
When Chris was suddenly given only 4 hours to choose between uprooting his family again or losing his job, he knew it was time to stop relying on others. And from that, Haversack was born.
Chris has built Haversack to disrupt the logistics industry. The culture and processes breed innovation, all the way down to explaining to potential employees how they will be expected to fail because they will be pushing the envelope to innovate.
So the question is, how can we innovate instead of imitate? How can we become a company of 1 instead of a commodity. Check out Chris' episode to find out.
Check out Haversack and connect with Chris on LinkedIn.
What would it take for you to leave your current situation and take a leap into a new and exciting venture? This episode, Ben is thrown into the hot seat as Gary interviews him. In a matter of 10 days, Ben has announced becoming an owner of BGW Wealth as well as Crossfit Huntersville.
Gary takes Ben through his entrepreneurship journey of starting a company in college, handling employees for the first time, navigating an exit, and buying businesses. Ben shares mistakes, low points, and lessons throughout the episode. He also goes into his transition from running a successful financial advising office to owning and operating a wealth management firm.
As you listen, ask yourself what things you would need in your life to make a change? What are those "must haves" that are important in your life?
Be sure to check out BGW Wealth, and follow Ben on LinkedIn and @BenMcDonaldNC on Instagram.
Jimmy Coleman left a successful medical sales role to start his own company teaching businesses how to generate prospects and leads for their businesses. Frustration with leaders learning from Jimmy only to go back to their old bad business habits led Coleman to figure out a better solution.
He knew he was on to something when 2 companies, one of which being the social media platform TikTok, called Jimmy up and told him to turn off the lead generator. Each company had more leads than they could handle. This was the beginning of a year that would take the 27 year old from overseeing a small company with only a few employees to 30 employees.
Jimmy shares strategies to use, mistakes to avoid, and much more surrounding marketing for your business.
Check out Coleman's company Lead Baller, follow Jimmy on LinkedIn, and find more episodes and clips of Anything But Typical at abtpodcast.com.
As a final lookback on Anything But Typical's 2020, we have our 4th highlight episode. Vanessa Vaughn Mathews discusses being willing to share struggles and help each other over our business hurdles. Mark Linsz shares the power of giving and receiving feedback. Michelle Tunno Buelow dives in to using a business to give back, create a positive impact, and how to bring your customers in the experience with you. Nick & Gio Gallo go into laying the foundation of a culture in doing the right thing and doing things the right way. Spencer Lueders gets tactical on leading an organization through empowerment and serving those within the company. And our own Gary Frey shares a story about impactful leaders in his career and how important highlighting your team members can be.
Thank you again for an amazing 2020 and all of the support. be sure to check out abtpodcast.com for more clips from past episodes.
Looking back again at Anything But Typical's 2020, we're sharing more highlights from our guests. Mac Lackey talks about looking at talent differently, and how it isn't a bad thing to have authentic and open conversations about your employee's future after working for you. Colin Pinkney gives us permission to fail and encourages us to do so. Hilary Porta guides us on how we can learn ourselves to create the future we want. David Privitera harps on the importance of who you surround yourself with and discusses Bottom Up Leadership. Erin Connair discusses how she handles goal setting and how different timelines achieve different results. Greg Barnes takes us through his early lessons as an entrepreneur and how we can learn from what he's lived.
Enjoy another lookback on 2020 and be sure to check out the show at ABTpodcast.com.
Hylaine CEO Adam Boitnott and Director of Employee Engagement Chrissy Reed join us to share how they built a culture that attracts and retains top talent. Hylaine is a software consulting company that was named The Best Place To Work In Charlotte.
In this episode, Adam discusses the creation and growth of Hylaine. Chrissy provides insight to creating a culture where employees can feel truly comfortable and valued. Both go deep on what they do differently and how they set themselves apart.
Anybody who has ever been interested in tangible strategies around culture, employee retention, talent attraction, or business growth better get their pens and paper ready for this episode.
Check out Hylaine at their Web site, connect with Adam and Chrissy on LinkedIn. And be sure to check out the Anything But Typical Web Site.
Looking back again on 2020, we have 6 more amazing guests to highlight.
Jeffrey Gitomer, The King of Sales, lectures on the importance of putting your focus on what matters instead of getting caught up with the color of your logo or what font you use in a holiday card. Daniel McCollum differentiates between going all in on a niche and having a plan B. Jeni Bukolt shares her second favorite F word, failure. Chris Elmore shares his process that allows him to create an immense amount of writing content. Stacy Cassio shares the value of the fresh eyes and the issue with most corporate mentorship programs. Jeff Wolfberg talks about how important it is to be a cheerleader once your business gets to a certain size.
We're checking out the best of Anything But Typical's 2020. In this first highlight episode, we have Jesse Cole taking us deep on creating unbelievable fan experiences for your customers or clients. Tana Greene discusses the importance of real core values. Robert Fish corrects us on pivots and what it truly should look like to change directions. Chad Jenkins guides us on knowing people, discovering strengths, and using that to head the right direction. Landon Eckles dives into putting the ego aside and surrounding yourself with people who are better than you at certain things so you can become a better version of yourself. And Caleb Musser differentiates gift giving in business for appreciation and for prospecting.
If you are in sales or running a business, there's a good chance you've heard on Jeffrey Gitomer. You've probably read one of his 16 #1 Best Sellers, heard him speak, or more recently go live every day on social media. Jeffrey discusses how going live on his platforms at 9:59am EST until 10:30 every day has doubled his following and increased his sales.
Jeffrey has a new book coming out called Go Live, Turn Virtual Connections Into Paying Customers. In this episode we dive in to the lessons within the book, his writing process, mistakes most salespeople and business leaders make, and much more.
Jeffrey also gets tactical by offering specific resources to connect on a deeper level with customers, becoming more memorable, and being able to achieve on your terms.
Check out Jeffrey at www.gitomer.com to pre-order his new book, listen to his podcast Sell or Die, and follow Jeffrey on LinkedIn, as well as Instagram @JeffreyGitomer and Twitter @Gitomer.
Then head over to www.abtpodcast.com to check out every episode, business clips from the show, and much more.
Sitting in a Five Guys burger restaurant in August 2013, Erin Padgett began scribbling a business plan for her first company on the back of her receipt. The top half of the receipt focused on the four things she needed: a name, logo, web site, and making it a legal entity. The bottom half of the receipt was who she wanted to be as a business owner and who she wanted to serve. What was going to differentiate her and her business?
Now going in to her 8th year as a business owner, Erin owns and runs Erin Padgett Events as well as Bluebird Bridal. In this episode, she talks about balancing the day to day operations of a service business and a retail company. We dive in to how her team has allowed her to focus on the business that needs her most in that moment without worrying about the other falling apart. Erin walks us through her rebranding of Bluebird Bridal. And with companies serving the events and wedding industries, she shares how she has led her businesses through the pandemic.
Have a pen and notepad ready to take notes on this one. Erin is an unbelievable example of an anything but typical entrepreneur.
Check her out on Instagram @Erinpadgettevents and @BluebirdbridalNC. Check out the web sites of both Bluebird Bridal and Erin Padgett Events.
Check out more on Anything But Typical at our site abtpodcast.com.
Greg Barnes began his entrepreneurial journey in his early 20's by purchasing a tow truck on credit. He had a vision, created a plan, and took the leap that so many are too afraid to take. Fast forward to today and Greg has created 6 businesses, 4 of which he was able to sell. Now he is the CEO at Transworld Business Advisors Charlotte Downtown. He uses his past experience and success to help others fulfill their dreams of buying or selling a company.
In this episode, Greg takes us through some of his stories as a young business owner. He gives us key lessons learned. Greg discusses negotiating a business transaction on the buy and sell side. We also get in to marketing and business growth strategies.
Be sure to check Greg out on LinkedIn and on his Web Site.
The failure rate for small businesses is astronomical. The failure rate for first time entrepreneurs is even higher. Michelle Tunno Buelow beat those odds while also having her business, Bella Tunno, donate a meal to a child in need for every product they sell since day one!
Today, Bella Tunno has given almost 5 million meals to children. In this episode, Michelle shares about the differences of an impact driven company. We go deep in to what a B-Corporation is. She talks about systems in place in the company to ensure integrity and commitment to the mission. Michelle also discusses the perks of a purpose centered organization from things such as loyalty, employee motivation, and culture.
This is a must listen for anybody in a leadership position as well as anyone with a passion to have a positive impact on the world. Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn, check out Bella Tunno and follow them on Instagram @BellaTunno.
Jeff Wolfberg has built two startups that turned in to industry leaders. He's been able to successfully exit each company. With Jeff's experience overseeing companies from 1 employee to over 1,000, he shared many thoughts and lessons on leading companies of all different sizes.
Today Jeff runs CEO Focus of the Carolinas, where he conducts business advisory boards as well as coaches and consults for companies. In this episode, Jeff takes us through his journey of starting and selling his first business. We dive in to mistakes and misconceptions that has shaped his journey. Anybody who is in a leadership position will be able to take a lot away from this episode.
Check out Jeff on LinkedIn, and check out CEO Focus of the Carolinas.
"Finding what you have energy for is where you need to be" Spencer Lueders is the founder of the nonprofit 24 Foundation, has had a 21 year career as an attorney, is the owner and President of State Building Services, is the Founder of Ride Rock Hill, and is a husband and a parent. If anybody understands prioritizing focus and spending time where you get the most energy, it's Spencer.
Spencer shared with us habits such as his morning routine, which starts at 4:20am. He discusses some of the most pivotal points in his life and the lessons he has taken away from them. We discuss scalability of organizations and how important it is to have the right people in the right seats. We hit on this and much more.
Enjoy the lessons found throughout Spencer's journey. Be sure to follow him on LinkedIn and on Instagram @Spencerlueders. Check out 24 Foundation and State Building Services.
When looking to discuss scaling and exiting companies, Mac Lackey immediately comes to mind. Mac has had 6 exits, including multiple 8 figure exits. He has now created a community called The FENX to help entrepreneurs escape the grind and pursue what matters most to them. He has a mastermind focusing on scaling and selling companies called ExitDNA.
In this episode, Mac talks through his journey of businesses and exits. He provides a plethora of advice on how to prep your company to sell. We discuss why it is so important to be in a position to be able to sell, even if that is not your goal. Mac shares how he gets valuations well above industry averages.
To learn more about Mac, go to The FENX , maclackey.com , and connect with Mac on LinkedIn.
Vanessa Vaughn Mathews was sitting in her car, when within seconds the winds picked up, things were flying past her windows, and a lady was holding on to a lamp post to prevent herself from flying away. This experience changed Vanessa's perspective on crises and led her down a career path of risk management.
After working for The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Lowe's, and Gulfstream Aerospace, Vanessa founded a business resilience advisory firm. In this conversation, Vanessa lays out how companies should be preparing for crises ahead of time, how to handle an unexpected issue, and how to appropriately build a diverse and inclusive work culture.
Vanessa also dives in to the racial discrimination within our country, what we can be doing about it, and how business leaders should be responding.
To learn more about Vanessa, connect with her on LinkedIn , check out Asfalis Advisors, or on social media @AsfalisAdvisors.
It's difficult building a business and selling it. It's difficult coaching and helping mid market CEOs steer their companies. It's difficult being a pro mountain bike racer. It's even more difficult to become pro at age 40 racing against people half your age.
This episode's guest, Robert Fish, has done all of those things at an elite level. Robert shares about changing directions in your life, why the word pivot is typically the wrong way to think about making a change, and how to build upon your passions. Robert also takes us through his incredible journey of becoming a pro mountain bike racer at 40 years old after having tremendous business success and still being in his career.
If you are looking for a great business book about achieving epic wins, Robert's book The Break Away Move is the book for you.
Reach out to Robert at Robert@InsightCXO.com, or check out his company here.
Hilary Porta took a massive pivot from a successful corporate strategist career to starting her own company helping others shape the life they desire. But it didn't stop there. Hilary saw the value in topics most coaches ignore. Hilary took years to develop in areas such as neuropsychology, neuroscience, cognitive behavior, and metaphysical anatomy. The result was a practice where Hilary is able to help individuals shatter their deepest limits and architect their best lives.
In our conversation, Hilary discusses the biggest hurdles she sees in her clients. She talks through specific stories and scenarios to give you a peek behind the curtain. Hilary addresses how you can play big while also staying in the present.
This episode with Hilary dives in to topics that are on most of our minds every day. The struggles and internal conflicts we all experience. Buckle in for this episode and open your mind to how what she is discussing can apply to your life.
Follow Hilary on LinkedIn, Facebook, or on Instagram @hp_the_life_architect. Her site was hacked and they are working on it, but you can still check it out at hporta.com.
Chris Elmore has been with AvidXChange, the first unicorn (billion dollar valuation of a private company) in Charlotte, NC.
Stacy Cassio is the Founder & CEO of the Pink Mentor Network, which is a high growth female mentorship community, and the first of its kind in Charlotte.
So when these two accepted coming on to Anything But Typical together to discuss mentorship, we knew it would be a powerful episode. Chris & Stacy packed this episode with nuggets of wisdom. Stacy shared her 6 Mentorship Levels. Chris, who has published 9 books and over 500 articles, gave us insight on his writing process. Each went in depth on each side of mentorship- including how to approach getting a mentor and what the mentor can get out of the relationship.
Be sure to check out TheChrisElmore.com and follow Chris on LinkedIn. Also check out PinkMentorNetwork.com, follow Stacy on LinkedIn. Follow @PinkMentorNetwork and @TheChrisElmore on Instagram.
Mark Linsz helped safely steer Bank of America through the worst of the financial crisis as Corporate Treasurer. He now uses this experience, along with leadership roles within Bank of America on 3 continents, as Co-Founder and Senior Managing Partner at My Next Season.
My Next Season serves individuals that are going through a transition in their lives and careers. In this podcast episode, Mark shares the most important tips for anybody attempting to navigate a transition. He breaks down his large corporate America leadership experience and what has played a role in his startup.
Mark dives deep on lessons learned from living and working on different continents. He elaborates on purpose and how that can serve as a north star in your career.
Tune in for priceless insight on how you can retrain your mindset around your career and life.
Check out Mark on LinkedIn and look in to My Next Season as well.
Colin Pinkney has a passion for lifting up others and creating positive impact that is at a level most never reach. Colin is the Executive Director at The Harvest Center in Charlotte, NC where he leads the nonprofit in the battle on homelessness. Colin is also the chaplain for the Charlotte Hornets.
Colin created a book club at Olympic High School in Charlotte which has led to 350 young men graduating with a 100% success rate. Inspired by the mentoring Colin was doing at Olympic, he authored the book Blueprints: Mentoring Designs for Young Black Males.
In this episode, we dive in to the transition from corporate America to the nonprofit space. We discuss the hurdles faced in nonprofits. We discuss leadership, failure, culture, and vision.
Unique to the Anything But Typical show, we talked about racial discrimination and what is going on in our country today. Colin shared his perspective as well as thoughts on how we can be moving forward in a positive direction.
To check out more on Colin, go to his Facebook page. Be sure to look in to The Harvest Center as well.
Enjoy this wide ranging conversation!
This episode's guest, Daniel McCollum, runs Torrent Consulting as a Purpose-Driven Company. Torrent is a Salesforce Platinum Consulting Partner focused on serving mid-market companies in the US. We dive in to creating and growing a successful business while maintaining a focus on the core purpose of the organization.
Daniel also shares their in depth 3 year vision planning process. The thought and organization behind this is certainly worth emulating.
Prior to starting Torrent, Daniel was a Economic Development Consultant in Africa for a year. He calls this a "life clarifying" experience in his life.
In our conversation, Daniel also goes deep in to micro niching. Be sure to pay attention to how he has grown and succeeded by decreasing his potential client size.
Check out Daniel on LinkedIn and look in to Torrent Consulting on their Web Site.
Chad Jenkins began his entrepreneurial journey before most people were reading chapter books. Throughout elementary and high school, Chad ran multiple successful business ventures while employing his friends. Today, Chad owns and operates many businesses in different industries. In this episode he discusses how owning a technology company and a waste management company intersect and relate.
One of Chad's superpowers is replicating himself to spark growth and find opportunities. In this episode, we dive in to how SeedSpark, Chad's technology solutions company, takes empowering employees to a level I've never seen before.
The attention to detail, creativity, ingenuity, and problem solving we discussed in this episode makes this a must listen.
Check out Chad on LinkedIn and be sure to look in to SeedSpark.
This episode is a throwback to when Ben and Gary first met in 2018. In this episode, Gary shares the lessons he has picked up throughout his journey. We hit on an array of topics such as company culture, CEO responsibilities, leadership traits, and more.
Although this was recorded a couple of years ago, the lesson still apply and will carry forward. Enjoy the insight and a peek in to Gary's mind!
Running a business can be extremely difficult. But running a business with your brother, while making sure the primary focus is serving others at all times, that is another level. This is exactly what this episode's guests, Nick & Giovanni Gallo, do. These brothers own and run ComplianceLine as Co-CEOs.
In this wide ranging episode, we get to hear about the leadership heritage of these brothers, back to their entrepreneurial grandfather to had to flee Cuba and their grandmother who held the standard in the family for serving others.
Nick & Gio dive in to the dynamics of running the company together, the 2 year process of searching all over the country for the right business to buy, why they didn't go the startup route, the effects of their decision to utilize an outside investor group, and so much more.
Be sure to check out Nick and Giovanni on LinkedIn, as well as ComplianceLine on their Web site.
As technology progresses, we have all seen the nonstop gimmicks and marketing strategies to win business or close a sale. This episode is throwing the gimmicks away as we discuss how to be thoughtful, attentive, and meaningful in business.
Caleb Musser founded Craftom.io because he believed that growing a business should not be done by sending cheap swag that instantly ends up in the garbage. His business takes gift giving to an entirely new level with their hyper-personalized gifts to prospects and clients.
Even after hearing sayings such as business being all about relationships or providing a unique experience, we see businesses try the manipulative sales techniques from the 80's. This episode will open your eyes to the power of personalizing your process and the success that comes along with thought and meaning.
Check out Caleb on LinkedIn and be sure to head to Craftom.io for more inspiration and ideas on gift giving in business.
Jeni Bukolt created Haven Creative, a multimedia marketing agency, in 2012. Jeni started the business like most do, with a laptop and figuring things out by herself as she went. Haven Creative has morphed in to a leader of creating communities using branding and digital marketing. And she certainly is not figuring things out by herself anymore.
Jeni has created a culture inside Haven Creative that rivals any business out there. She is intentional about everything within her company. In this episode, we dive in to the "why" behind brands, how their 5 values have led to creating a winning culture, and mistakes made around building the right culture. We also go deep on tactical advice for branding. Jeni shares about her "8 to Great Maven Method".
Enjoy this episode packed with information and authenticity!
Find Jeni on LinkedIn and check out Haven Creative on their Web Site.
When Clean Juice was still only an idea, Kat & Landon Eckles had an audacious goal of opening 10 stores. Today, with over 90 locations and over 50 more in development, the vision for the company has evolved.
In this episode, Landon shares the journey of starting the business, what things are like running a company with a spouse, how to create and adjust a vision for a business, and much more. Landon discusses how profit is not the goal, but it is the outcome. That is due to creating an experience that focuses on the guest instead of the profit margins.
Even as Clean Juice continues to grow, they have never strayed from aligning themselves with the right franchise owners who fit what the brand represents. That is probably why the company has hundreds of thousands of followers and fans.
Enjoy the wide ranging conversation that goes well beyond business, and be sure to check out Clean Juice on Instagram @cleanjuice . The best place to find Landon is on his LinkedIn.
If you're in an airport and you see a yellow blur run past you, that's just Jesse Cole on his way to his next speech. This episode will open your eyes to how you can set yourself apart from your competition and industry. Jesse's stories, lessons, and experiences all empower you to stand out by being different and focusing on your fans and clients.
Fresh out of college, Jesse took over a college wooden bat league baseball team that had no money in the bank account and made it one of the most successful and profitable baseball teams in the country. He did that by realizing that he wasn't in the baseball business, he was in the business of creating memories and experiences.
Jesse now owns the Savannah Bananas baseball team. After going in to a stadium that has hosted professional teams that have failed for almost 100 years, the Bananas sell out every single game and have achieved recognition on the national level with ESPN, CNN, and MSNBC featuring their story.
The experience their fans receive interacting with the Bananas brand is all the marketing the company needs. If you're ready to find a better way to give your clients the experience they deserve and eliminate your marketing budget, this is the episode for you!
Check out Jesse's book, Find Your Yellow Tux. You can hear him on his podcast, Business Done Differently. Be sure to reach out and ask questions after this episode on his LinkedIn. If you want to transform your business, you can book Jesse for speaking engagements and more at findyouryellowtux.com/.
A young David Privitera happened in to the construction industry. Having a tangible result from projects caught his interest and kept the pursuit for more opportunities alive. So when David was moved from Western New York to Charlotte, NC for a potentially great opportunity, he was ready for the challenge.
Today, David is the President and CEO of Concorde Construction Company. This episode takes us through David's journey, the hurdles he's faced, and lessons he's learned along the way. He shares why Concorde's 3 Words are Execution, Communication, and People. David goes in depth on flipping the pyramind structure you see in most businesses and having "bottom up leadership". His examples as a leader show how David is truly there to serve those in the company and those working with Concorde Construction.
Find David and reach out to him on LinkedIn. Check out Concorde Construction, and be sure to look in to and support The ROC Charlotte Nonprofit, of which David is a board member.
Please subscribe, share, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Feel free to reach out to Ben@SkywardVenture.com with any questions or comments.
The journey of Tana Greene, from her beginnings to owning and running a 5 Time Top Fastest Growing National Company by Inc Magazine, is nothing short of awe inspiring. Tana is the Co-Founder and CEO of MyWorkChoice, a company that builds localized communities of highly productive, engaged, W-2 employees, transforming the way companies meet their contingent workforce needs through an easy to use mobile app.
She is also the author of Creating A World of Difference, in which Tana shares her philosophy and approach to business, creating a culture of engagement that results in high performance. On top of running an unbelievably successful business and being a published author, Tana finds the time to share her story and lessons through speaking engagements.
In this episode, we dive in to finding your competitive advantage, understanding and utilizing your strengths, and how people and culture breed competitive advantage. Tana expands on how core values act as a north star. She hits on the mentality of choosing to be a victim or a survivor. This is a must listen as Tana not only is an incredible example, but you will finish the episode motivated and energized!
Check out My Work Choice and Tana on LinkedIn.
Subscribe and leave a review. If you have additional comments, feel free to email Ben@SkywardVenture.com. Check out other episodes on your favorite podcast platform or here.
Today's episode is all about Growing With Purpose. We couldn't have asked for a better guest than Charlie Malouf, CEO of Broad River Retail, DBA Ashley HomeStore.
Charlie takes us through his journey and gets authentic about the difficult decisions that come with running a business with a purpose. He shared how the culture of Broad River has led to a purpose focused business; not a company growing just for the sake of growth.
A theme throughout the episode is taking responsibility as a leader of an organization. Charlie stressed the need of having a pulse on what's going on inside the business with employees as well as the customer experience.
Be sure to reach out to Charlie on LinkedIn. Also see how Broad River Retail is living their purpose.
Connect with Gary Frey and Ben McDonald
In our first episode, Ben and Gary have a conversation about the Anything But Typical podcast. Anything But Typical is designed to highlight different paths, decision making, and leadership to share how you can go against the norm and be successful. In this episode you will hear about Ben and Gary's background story, how we connected, and more. Enjoy the first episode and subscribe to the show to be notified about the release our full episodes with guests starting mid January.