Talking Business Now

Excy co-founder and CEO Michele Mehl joins Talking Business Now host Kelly Scanlon to share the story behind her company's 2014 launch and the lessons she's learned as she's steered it into a national brand. The Seattle-based startup develops, manufactures, and sells portable, total-body exercise bikes. Mehl's mission is to eliminate barriers to people getting enough exercise—health conditions, injuries, and lack of time and space—so people can conveniently connect exercise to the circumstances of their everyday lives. The 14-pound bikes provide cardio, strength training, and full-body physical therapy cycling. The company also offers a mobile coaching application. Excy (short for "exercise cycling") grew out of Mehl's own life circumstances, more specifically her personal fitness woes, a challenging work schedule as the owner of a PR company that helped launch brands such as Zulily and OfferUp into market leaders, and a family history of heart disease. As she thought about how to create a better, more convenient way to exercise for a healthier quality of life, she recruited her co-founder, Mike Rector, to begin prototyping a portable stationary exercise bike, one that offered the same quality of exercises people could find at a gym or spin class but that was portable enough to use anywhere. An injury Mehl suffered shortly before product launch, though unfortunate, proved to be timely. Her badly broken leg required a rod, screws, and a plate, and resulted in a blood clot. Facing surgeries, months of wearing a boot, and a crooked leg for the rest of her life, the duo used the injury as inspiration to innovate the bike's design and create a product that has become essential to rehab patients and people with diseases and disabilities that keep them from accessing traditional exercise equipment and routines. Today, the multimillion-dollar company employs dozens of associates and has been featured in Inc., MSNBC, The Huffington Post, the Sacramento Bee, the Seattle Times and several other regional and national media outlets. Tune in to find out: How to use Kickstarter and other crowdfunding platforms to glean important market data, not just funds. Why she abandoned an effort to raise millions of dollars in venture capital and focused instead on an intentional, steady growth trajectory focused on her customers. How she's used content marketing, especially video, as an effective tool to connect with customers and grow sales—and why content marketing requires a longtail approach. Why being "all in" on the company doesn't mean compromising the people and things she values most. The advantages of creating a "universal" product design. Why inclusiveness has been key to Excy's success. WHAT MICHELE MEHL IS TALKING BUSINESS NOW ABOUT Connection, Not Perfection - listen in near the end of the episode to find out why she thinks this is so important. CONNECT WITH MICHELE MEHL Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/excyfit Twitter: https://twitter.com/excyfit LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelemehlexcy RESOURCES Episode Transcript: https://interrobangsolutions.com/exercise-bike-builds-strong-bodies-strong-business/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Talking Business Now, Southern Caramel founder Sarah Smith joins host Kelly Scanlon to share the entrepreneurial journey that has taken her from the Space Coast of Florida to caramel industry entrepreneur. Employed as a project manager and scheduler in the aerospace industry, Smith enjoyed making caramels as gifts for her family and friends. After the birth of her daughter, she decided to launch a business making and wholesaling the caramels. Sales rocketed, and soon she moved from her home-based operation to a commercial kitchen. The Central Florida company's growth trajectory included expanding into local grocery markets, online sales, and eventually retailers across the country. Tune in to discover insights into: How a nearly devastating challenge involving shelf life became a selling point for the caramels. The importance of aligning your business location with your business model. One of the most important considerations when taking on a business partner. Why the company donates at least 10% of total sales dollars to nonprofit organizations. Southern Caramel has been featured in Forbes, Cooking With Paula Dean, Authority Magazine! and several other media outlets. CONNECT WITH SARAH SMITH AND SOUTHERN CARAMEL Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Southern-Caramel-343804439118770 Twitter: @handmadecaramel LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-smith-1a7b78a RESOURCES Episode Transcript: https://interrobangsolutions.com/caramels-launch-entrepreneurial-journey-for-aerospace-worker/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As businesses and individuals struggle with an uncertain future from the coronavirus pandemic, aviation entrepreneur Barry Alexander, founder of Hartford, Connecticut-based Aquiline Drones, has a clear vision for success. Through his latest innovative endeavor, Alexander has created a full-service drone manufacturing and cloud technology company that's poised to change the global landscape as it takes drone technology to the next level. He's also helping others learn a skill and create companies of their own. A native of St. Lucia, Alexander is a veteran aerospace professional who has more than 25 years of experience as an aviator. A licensed aircraft technician for both airplanes and helicopters operating at the highest technical levels, Alexander has more than 20,000 hours of flight time logged in global commercial aviation. He spent most of his aviation career as an airline captain, but he's also served stints as a flight instructor, chief pilot, and director of operations and transport pilot of a Boeing 747 aircraft globally. Alexander migrated to the U.S. as a teenager to pursue his interest in flying. After receiving airplane and helicopter certifications, he returned to the Carribean to establish Aquiline Air Ambulance, an air ambulance transportation network, in concert with the Pan American Health Organization, the World Health Organization, the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, the Caribbean Ministers of Health, the Caribbean Common Market, and regional Governments to help implement a regional project known at the time as Health Sector Reform. A serial entrepreneur, Alexander has owned several businesses over the years in the fields of construction, digital media, and electronic payment services. RESOURCES Episode Transcript: https://interrobangsolutions.com/drones-provide-flight-path-to-entrepreneurship/ Flight to the Future Registration and Details: ADflight.to/future CONNECT WITH BARRY ALEXANDER & AQUILINE DRONES Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Aquiline-Drones-104820991044367/?modal=admin_todo_tour Twitter: https://twitter.com/AquilineD LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/51706826/admin/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stacia Guzzo, founder of SmartyPits, a manufacturer of aluminum-free deodorant, joins Talking Business Now host Kelly Scanlon to discuss her entrepreneurial journey, including the practical growth strategies that allowed the company to evolve from a kitchen sink and sales at farmers markets endeavor to having a retail presence in more than a 1,000 stores nationally. Inspired to create an aluminum-free deodorant after her mother's breast cancer diagnosis, Guzzo began making the formula in her kitchen sink in 2014, used herself as the guinea pig to test its effectivness and started selling the hand-poured and labeled product at farmers markets. Before long, she attracted the attention of major retailers, including HEB, TJ Maxx, Marshall's and others, as she attended national gift shows. Tune in as Guzzo shares her journey from classroom teacher to deodorant manufacturer and her insights into achieving steady, sustainable business growth, including: How to gradually scale so product orders don't overwhelm the stability of the company. Why it's important to look ahead and make important decisions about staffing, warehousing, etc., before you actually may need those resources. How she came up with the SmartyPits name. Balancing "gut" decisions with data and strategic planning. Focusing the company's product line. Doing your due diligence as you choose a "cause marketing" partner. RESOURCES Episode Transcript CONNECT WITH STACIA GUZZO Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smartypitsdeo/ Twitter: @smartypits LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/staciaguzzo/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Retail pioneer Bob Fisch learned a lot about younger generations while at the helm of fashion giants like Casual Corner and rue21. Now, after exiting the industry, he's helping to transform workplaces using the Millennial Baby Boomer concept he developed and explains in his book Fisch Tales: The Making of a Millennial Baby Boomer, featured by ForbesBooks. Fisch made a name for himself in value-priced, fast-fashion retailing, rising to president at Casual Corner and later becoming CEO of rue21, a retailer of women’s casual apparel and accessories. Fisch took took rue21 from bankruptcy to a fast-track winning streak and a hot-stock IPO, Along the way, he built out a national network of 1,200 stores, and a billion-dollar-plus valuation. Bob earned the reputation as a “disrupter” in the retail industry, and he’s at it again as he works to expand what he calls the Millennial Baby Boomer brand and mindset. In this episode of Talking Business Now, Bob discusses his book and how Baby Boomers and millennials can mentor each other in an ever-evolving workplace. Tune in find out: The importance of recognizing that “millennial” is more than the name of a generation—it also characterizes our evolving culture and Age. What a Millennial Baby Boomer actually is—and how any business can apply the concept to foster more ideas, cooperation and profits. How to bridge the generation gap and create a new generation through mutual mentoring. How to avoid labels that get in the way of how people view each other. Millennial traits that serve them well in business. What baby boomers risk missing out on when they are quick to criticize millennials or to dismiss their ideas—and vice versa. RESOURCES Episode Transcript CONNECT WITH BOB FISCH Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bob.fisch.925 Twitter: @fischtales1 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-fisch-mbb-067a44149/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sam Schutte, a software developer, was out of work and studying for his MBA; he and his wife were expecting a baby; and they had their house up for sale. Oh, and it was also 2008. What's the logical thing to add to that mix? Launching a new company. But Schutte saw an opportunity. He had started to question the standard approach to software development that resulted in scope creep, projects being over budget, missed deadlines and "solutions" to business problems that didn't solve anything. He was tired of hearing clients being told, "no, it's not possible." He wanted to be in the business of saying "yes" to developing innovative solutions for business challenges. Schutte started Unstoppable Software to provide clients with ready-to-go software development "factory" that brought the people, processes, tools and resources to the partnership. Listen in as Schutte joins Talking Business Now host Kelly Scanlon to share: His journey to becoming an entrepreneur. His approach and philosophy to serving clients and solving problems—and how it evolved. Technology innovations many business owners don't have on their radar but should—because they are having an impact anyway. Why technology makes it possible for a company in a different industry to become your competitor. RESOURCES Episode Transcript Sam Schutte's Unstoppable Talk Podcast CONNECT WITH SAM SCHUTTE Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unstoppablesoftware Twitter: @UnstoppableSoft LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unstoppable-software-inc./ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elyse Dickerson, co-founder and CEO of biotech company Eosera, which develops ear care products, joins Talking Business Now host Kelly Scanlon to discuss entrepreneurship, lessons learned and women in bioscience. Tune in as Dickerson shares her experiences on: Listening to the market before launching a product. Being "the only woman in the room" and how being a CEO now gives her a platform for opening doors for other aspiring women. The importance of developing a strong relationship with investors—and tips for doing that. Working with major retailers, including understanding your cash flow and when to recognize a deal you should say "no" to. Why it's important to stay true to your product niche as your company expands. Making a personal and company commitment to practice conscious capitalism. ABOUT ELYSE DICKERSON Elyse Dickerson has more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. Before founding Eosera, she managed portfolios with annual revenues of $1.7 billion and drove product innovation and the commercialization of numerous technologies. As a female CEO in the biotech industry, Dickerson uses her position to empower other women in the industry and is recognized as a champion for women’s equality in the workforce. In 2019, Drug Store News named her the Top Women in Health, Wellness, and Beauty. D CEO honored her on the 2019 Dallas 500 list and named her Most Admired CEO. The Fort Worth Business Press recognized her among the Great Women of Texas. Fort Worth Magazine named Dickerson a Fort Worthian to Watch, and FW Inc named her to its list of Top 400 Most Influential People. CONNECT WITH ELYSE DICKERSON Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EarwaxMD Twitter: https://twitter.com/EoseraInc LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/eosera-inc./ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rosabeth Moss Kanter joins Talking Business Now host Kelly Scanlon to talk about her latest book "Think Outside the Building: How Advanced Leaders Can Change the World One Smart Innovation at a Time" and how experienced leaders and aspiring entrepreneurs can apply their knowledge to some of the world's most pressing social, economic and environmental problems. Professor Kanter is one of the foremost names in leadership and business. The former chief editor of Harvard Business Review, Kanter has authored or co-authored 20 books. She holds the Ernest L. Arbuckle Professorship at Harvard Business School, specializing in strategy, innovation and leadership for change. She works with leaders around the world through her teaching, writing and speaking. She is also a consultant to major corporations, governments and start-up ventures. More than 10 years ago, Kanter co-founded Harvard University’s Advanced Leadership Initiative, which became an international model for a new stage of higher education that works with successful top leaders to apply their skills to national and global challenges. Tune in to discover: What it means to "think outside the building"—and why it's so powerful for overcoming establishment paralysis and producing significant innovation for a better world. How to identify the right allies, lead through persuasion, and influence without authority. Why it's important to tell inspiring stories. How to tune into and awaken your purpose and passion for social change. Techniques for noticing gaps that can be filled by new approaches. Resources "Think Outside the Building: How Advanced Leaders Can Change the World One Smart Innovation at a Time" is available for purchase through Amazon and other outlets. Read the full transcript of this episode. Connect with Rosabeth Moss Kanter Facebook: Rosabeth Moss Kanter Twitter: @RosabethKanter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gino Wickman joins Talking Business Now host Kelly Scanlon to talk about his latest book "Entrepreneurial Leap: Do You Have What It Takes to Become an Entrepreneur?" and how entrepreneurs can realize their purpose and live the life they were born to live. At the age of 25, Wickman took over the family business. Seven years later, after turning the company around, he successfully sold it. An award-winning author and speaker, Wickman has delivered more than 1,800 full-day sessions for more than 130 companies. He is also the author of the award-winning, best-selling book "Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business" as well as "Get a Grip," "Rocket Fuel," "How to Be a Great Boss" and "What the Heck is EOS?" Wickman now spends his time and energy helping prospective entrepreneurs get a huge leap on their entrepreneurial journey. Tune in to discover: How Wickman came to realize during his early entrepreneurial ventures that he was “born” to be an entrepreneur. Why Wickman is convinced that "nature" wins the nature vs. nurture argument of entrpreneurship. The six key traits would-be entrepreneurs must possess to be successful: Visionary, Passion, Problem Solver, Drive, Risk-Taker and Responsible. What entrepreneurs can do to increase their odds of success. Tips for starting a business in the midst of a crisis such as a recession or pandemic. Resources "Entrepreneurial Leap: Do You Have What It Takes to Become an Entrepreneur?" is available for purchase through Amazon, all major retailers and many local bookstores. Visit e-leap.com to take the free Entrepreneur-in-the-Making Assessment. Get a sneak peek! Download a free chapter of "Entrepreneurial Leap." Read the full transcript of this episode. Connect with Gino Wickman Twitter: @readLeap Facebook: readLeap Linkedin: readLeap Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Laura Laiben, founder and CEO of The Culinary Center of Kansas City, joins Talking Business Now host Kelly Scanlon, to discuss doing business during the coronavirus pandemic. Laura, like all of us, is trying to cope with the extraordinary challenges that each new day brings. But the particular reason I asked Laura to join me is that although the coronavirus is a challenge on a scale none of us has dealt with before, she has experienced long-term business interruption due to a fire as well as a serious health crisis. Laura is drawing on the lessons she learned in both situations to provide guidance for analyzing and dealing with our current crisis. Tune in to find out why it's important to: For the moment, at least, to let anger about the situation go and not second-guess the decisions you've made. Find your inner cowboy/cowgirl—and ride! Assess honestly where your business is—financially and in other key areas—and why you'll need to do this every day during the crisis. Communicate, communicate, communicate with transparency with employees and customers. Get creative about how to generate cash—now! Continue to embrace community—even if it's from a distance. CONNECT WITH LAURA LAIBEN LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-laiben-90893912/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kcculinary/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kcculinary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dave Farrow, the two-time Guinness World Record Holder for Greatest Memory, joins Talking Business Now host Kelly Scanlon to discuss how to achieve better sales and marketing results by using memory techniques. Tune in to learn: How Dave developed the "Farrow Memory Method" to deal with his own dyslexia, how he used it to set two Guinness World Records for Greatest Memory, and how he teaches his clients at Farrow Communications to use it in business to improve sales and marketing results. Memory techniques you can use in your advertising to connect with potential customers and make your ads more memorable. Memory tips you can use with your sales teams to remember customer names, product details and other important information that can make or break a sale. CONNECT WITH DAVE FARROW Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/farrowmemory/ https://www.facebook.com/farrowcomms/ Twitter : https://twitter.com/FarrowComms LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davefarrowmemory/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Serial entrepreneur Carl Gould, the founder of 7 Stage Advisors and the 7 Stage Growth Academy, joins Talking Business Now host Kelly Scanlon to share five key business lessons he's learned on his entrepreneurial journey. By the age of 40, Gould had built three multimillion dollar companies. He started his first—a landscaping business—while he was still in college and working at UPS. His next business was a construction company. Along the way, he's learned a lot about himself, about entrepreneurship and about business in general. In fact, he's written nine books on those topics. Gould has helped mentor the launch of more than 5,000 companies, and his methodologies are used in 35 countries. Tune in to discover what Gould has to say about these six areas that mean the difference between a company's success or failure: Do's and don'ts for setting your pricing strategy Why passion for your business isn't always necessary for success Understanding when it's time to relinquish control of some parts of your business Knowing how to use your competitors for leverage How to survive the "winter" of your business Why it's important to "keep your foot on the gas" when it comes to your marketing efforts CONNECT WITH CARL GOULD Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecarlgould Twitter: https://twitter.com/carlgould Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Inspired by her mother Lillian and drawing on her experiences as a company founder and journalist, Jan Sokoloff Harness, has written a new book "Look Up: Your Unexpected Guide to Good." Her central message is that if we'd only take the time to "look up," we'll find good that's right in front of us. Harness embraces the broad meaning of "look up." Tune in to this episode of Talking Business Now to be reminded of often overlooked ways to "look up" in business—and life, in general—to discover the good when you do so. The time management lesson Harness learned from a meeting with Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The importance of being fully present. The types of good you can discover when you really focus on listening. How looking up can help us return to the too-often lost basics of communication. Why the physical act of looking up can spark new ideas The question that prompted Harness to "look up" and start her own company 12 years ago—and that she encourages you to ask many times in your own life. Why "looking up" creates more cohesive and productive teams. "Looking up" tools, tips and techniques for jumpstarting your creativity and rekindling your passion. Harness is the founder of Sokoloff Harness Communications, an international agency she launched in Kansas City in 2002. Jan is an award-winning writer, poet and communications coach whose career has run the gamut from agency creative director to radio news director to working with clients of Fortune 500 companies and nonprofits. CONNECT WITH JAN SOKOLOFF HARNESS Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MayYouLookUp/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/SokoloffHarness  @SokoloffHarness LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-sokoloff-harness/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bill George has seen a lot of change during his many decades in the ground transportation industry—he's owned cab companies since 1984. But his journey started even earlier than that, when he grew up working in his dad's Chrysler dealership. Now, George is the one driving the change. The CEO of Kansas City Transportation Group and owner of WHC Worldwide, George joins Talking Business Now host Kelly Scanlon to discuss how he's capitalized on shifting consumer expectations and introduced a disruptive new model to the on-demand transportation sector—and ridden it to success. "Our mission is to use mobility to enhance the lives of our customers, driver partners and employees," George says. Listen in to discover how he: Honed his skills working with his father—and how the father-son duo managed to maintain a strong relationship despite some "knock-down dragout fights." Applied the lessons he learned after selling two businesses—and then buying one of them back. Observed a gap in the cab business—and introduced a solution that exploded company growth. Capitalized on the disruption created by Uber and others in the on-demand transportation industry. Created zTrip to combine the best taxi service model with the best technology to introduce a new hybrid brand of on-demand transportation.  George also offers practical advice on expanding market share, carving out a niche, defining customers, and working with family—including the thunder, wonder and blunder theory of multi-generational family businesses. As the CEO of KCTG, George sets the strategic direction of the country’s largest private passenger ground transportation company. KCTG has grown to include several well-known industry brands and operates in multiple U.S. cities and through affiliates around the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do you do when you've spent your entire career in one industry, and then in an instant, it's over? Such was the case for Scott Ringlein. In 2008, he was a chief engineer for a Fortune 500 auto supplier and was responsible for global product development and launches. In addition to the U.S., he had staff in Europe, Asia and South America. But one Monday morning in June when he arrived at work, Ringlein and thousand of others were told it would be their last day. The Million Mile Flyer was jolted to Earth by the news. He did not have a chance to clean out his office or say goodbye to employees. Instead, the single father of two children, ages 13 and 8, who had two mortgages, was suddenly without a car, computer, phone or job. Ringlein joins Talking Business Now host Kelly Scanlon to explain how the end of his career in the automotive industry was actually the beginning of the greatest experiences he's had, including founding five different companies. Ringlein, who was raised as a farmer and educated as an engineer, founded his most recent company, The Energy Alliance Group of North America, in 2011. EAG develops and deploys solutions to global energy, waste and environmental challenges, including helping businesses find innovative financing solutions so they can implement energy efficiency upgrades. Ringlein is also a technical advisor to the U.S. Department of Energy and conducts technical reviews of applications for technology innovation and commercialization. Listen in as Ringlein talks about how he's grown his business and shares the lessons he's learned from his experiences as a serial entrepreneur, including: The power of networking. The importance of having a mentor Why you must accept the fact you can't do everything if you wish to be truly successful Being ready to change your business plan. The importance of developing and documenting processes in order to scale—and learning how to adapt them on the fly as your business grows. Why collaborating with competitors is a better strategy than competing directly with them. Diversifying income streams. Don't give up! Taking pride in doing good while doing well. CONNECT WITH SCOTT RINGLEIN Twitter: @NRGAllianceGrp LinkedIn Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-energy-alliance-group-of-michigan LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-energy-alliance-group-of-michigan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices