Inter:views | Cracking The Entrepreneurship Code

Many entrepreneurs get stuck in the day-to-day operations of their businesses and struggle to take their skills to the next level. The reason? They have become the bottleneck in their businesses.   Growing your company and scaling yourself out starts with hiring people and delegating to allow more time for strategy and identifying opportunities in your way. Initially, you must handle most of the work and leverage your network to build strong relationships and expand.   However, to scale your business, you need a leadership team that can take the work off your plate to give you more time to focus on research, strategy, and preparation. As an entrepreneur, time is a precious commodity, and doing too much can leave little room for doing things that matter to scale to the next level of growth. Start hiring a management team, and position yourself for scale. Growth and scale are inherent parts of your vision.  Join the conversation with Aron Clymer, the founder, and CEO of Data Clymer, a Next-gen data and analytic Consulting firm that empower every client's success by unlocking the value of data. The Data Clymer team helps their client get data-driven answers quickly, write data silos, address a lack of reporting capabilities, and provide more data engineering resources.  Aron previously established and built the product intelligence team at Salesforce for seven years to support all data and analytics needs of 400-plus product managers. Then he headed data at PopSugar, where his team democratized data and supported analytic science across the company. Aron has grown Data Clymer over the past six years into a nationwide team of deeply experienced data professionals.  Let’s jump in! Key Highlights From The Show: [00:01] Episode intro and a quick bio of the guest; Aron Clymer [01:53] A bit about Aron's journey and his love for data [05:42] Aron's experience running a company in the service industry [11:18] When Aron knew it was time to take a leap from the corporate [13:40] How to leverage your network when starting your business to grow  [15:06] People that have made a big difference in Aron's company [16:35] When Aron knew that it was time to scale himself out of his company [18:30] Aron's big dream and vision for Data Clymer [20:25] Aron’s entrepreneurship journey stages and his next phase  [24:26] What Aron has learned about himself from six years of entrepreneurship  [27:47] Delegation and empowering your team in decision-making  [29:34] The accomplishment that Aron is really proud of [31:11] The importance of investing in people and relationships in your company [32:00] Aron’s one practical recommendation to all aspiring entrepreneurs [33:12] How to reach out and connect with Aron [33:29] Ending the show  Notable Quotes:  When starting out, you will need your network, and that is how you will succeed at the beginning. When you want to scale yourself out, you need a leadership team and to delegate a lot of what you're doing to start focusing more on strategy. When you start hiring a management team, that’s when you are ready for scale. When you delegate, as long as something can be done 80% well as you could do it,  just leave it alone, It’s never going to be 100%. Failure is where you learn the most, and you're going to fail at something no matter what.  Connect With Aron Clymer:  Company website: https://dataclymer.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aronclymer/ ----- Help me inspire more (wannabe) entrepreneurs. Leave me a 5-star review. Go to https://ratethispodcast.com/interviewscrackingtheentrepreneurshipcode and follow the simple instructions. 

When building something that aligns with your passion, work can feel more like a joyful experience rather than chores. However, as a business owner and founder, to ensure that your company continues to thrive, you must take care of yourself, visualize your success, and bring the right people to help you carry your vision forward.  Getting the right people in your team is crucial to your success and scalability. You have to be careful when hiring new team members because if you get the wrong person in your company, they are like a virus and can spread negativity and toxicity very quickly, which is hard to eliminate.  So, ensure you find individuals who align with your desired company culture to enhance your scalability and growth. It's not enough to hire for skills. You need people who are passionate about your vision. Join the conversation with Alex Neist as he shares more about building a business that you are passionate about, taking care of yourself as an entrepreneur, and hiring the right people to propel your vision forward.  Alex is the founder of Hostage Tape and a former American football professional. He used to play in the Indiana football league and has been a football coach since he graduated from college. After football, Alex founded two companies, one of which he exited. Hostage Tape is Alex's new adventure. Their specialty, Mouth Tape, will help you sleep and breathe better. Key Highlights From The Show: [00:01] Episode intro and a quick bio of the guest; Alex Neist [02:03] Alex's journey and transition from sport to founding two successful companies [09:22] How Alex has been able to grow his second company in just 12 months [11:07] Alex’s company culture of hiring and managing people  [14:18] Possessing technical skills versus human skills as a leader [16:39] The secret to scaling that has enabled Alex to scale very quickly  [20:55] Alex's losing himself after he stopped playing and how he changed his identity [27:15] The relationship between being fit, taking care of yourself, and business success  [29:25] Time blocking your self-care and keeping it as a visual reminder to balance [31:28] Visualization: lessons from a story on the importance of visualization  [34:58] Alex’s one practical recommendation to all aspiring entrepreneurs [35:45] How to reach out and connect with Alex [36:10] Ending the show  Notable Quotes: When you build something you are passionate about, it will not feel like work.  Hire the right people that fit the kind of culture that you want your company to have so you can continue to scale and grow. As a leader, you deserve your people and have to ensure they have what they need to do their job; it is not about you telling your work what to do.  Put yourself first in everything you do; put more work into yourself and take care of yourself to increase your output.  Connect With Alex Neist: Website: https://hostagetape.com/products/buy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexneist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hostagetape/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HostageTape/ ----- Help me inspire more (wannabe) entrepreneurs. Leave me a 5-star review. Go to https://ratethispodcast.com/interviewscrackingtheentrepreneurshipcode and follow the simple instructions.   

Zeal stands for great energy or enthusiasm in pursuing a cause or an objective. And entrepreneurs must display great energy and enthusiasm at all times if they want to succeed! In this final episode of The Entrepreneur Alphabet, I discuss ways zeal can support you in your entrepreneurial journey, and I share 6 practical tips to cultivate zeal.  Enjoy!  ----- Help me inspire more (wannabe) entrepreneurs. Leave me a 5-star review. Go to https://ratethispodcast.com/interviewscrackingtheentrepreneurshipcode and follow the simple instructions.

Entrepreneurship is about recognizing opportunities and taking risks to solve problems. It all begins by researching customer needs and creating solutions that fill existing gaps in their industry to give them a competitive edge.  With the right strategy, entrepreneurs can develop new products or services that customers need and make money in return.  Join this conversation and learn how Stefan Debois saw an existing gap in companies and how he combined his engineering expertise to come up with a software that solves a critical need of a business.  Stefan Debois is the CEO at Pointerpro. For 14 years, Stefan worked in consulting and discovered that most professional services companies had decently digitized their back-office processes (timesheets, invoicing,…).  However, very few have taken advantage of technology to automate what is perhaps their most important process: delivering advice to clients.  So in 2012, Stefan decided to found a software company called Pointerpro to solve precisely that problem. Pointerpro helps consultants - and any other expert advisor - to automate their advice delivery. This is achieved by converting the consultant's expertise into online assessments that generate personalized reports. Let’s jump in! Key Highlights From The Show: [00:01] Episode intro and a quick bio of the guest; Stefan Debois [02:10] Stefan’s journey into an entrepreneurship  [04:52] How do you know entrepreneurship is for you? [06:31] How Stefan knew he had a market fit for his software product [09:33] Bootstrapping his company and why [12:59] Where Stefan plans to take his business  [16:47] Business culture of unity that Stefan employs in his company [19:20] Valuable lessons Stefan has learned by being an entrepreneur [21:28] The most difficult thing he has had to learn [24:10] The last time Stefan was a bottleneck in his business [26:51] Stefan’s other hobbies, apart from entrepreneurship [31:13] Stefan’s one recommendation for entrepreneurs  [34:17] How to reach out and connect with Stefan [34:57] Ending the show  Notable Quotes: Never say never when you decide to bootstrap your business. Do not log yourself out of partnerships that can level you to the next level.  At the beginning of the entrepreneurship journey, you have to be all-round and involved in every faculty of the business. As an entrepreneur, you have to do something until you find someone else who does it better than you, then hand it over to them. Connect With Stefan Debois: Website: https://pointerpro.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefandebois/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stefan.debois Twitter: https://twitter.com/sde77 ----- Help me inspire more (wannabe) entrepreneurs. Leave me a 5-star review. Go to https://ratethispodcast.com/interviewscrackingtheentrepreneurshipcode and follow the simple instructions.   

What’s the relationship between yarn and entrepreneurship? Simple: Just like a ball of yarn, a business comprises many interconnected threads woven together to create a cohesive whole.  Each thread is unique, but they are all connected and contribute to the business’s overall success. Join me on this episode to better understand the analogy between yarn and entrepreneurship and hear a practical example of business interconnectivity.  ----- Help me inspire more (wannabe) entrepreneurs. Leave me a 5-star review. Go to https://ratethispodcast.com/interviewscrackingtheentrepreneurshipcode and follow the simple instructions.   

As an entrepreneur, it can be easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of running a business and forget to take care of yourself. Taking time out of your day to focus on your mental health, physical health, and emotional well-being can pay off in the long run with improved performance and overall happiness.  Learn how to change the outlook of the table, put yourself first, tell your story more powerfully, and bring more success to your business.  Success is the ultimate goal in business, but many other things matter just as much. Taking a step back to gain perspective and seeking help can be invaluable in helping you focus on what truly matters and break through barriers to find true fulfillment. Join this conversation with Jeff Greenfield shares his entrepreneurial journey, the lessons he has learned, and what helped him to be a success. Jeff is an entrepreneur with three decades of strategy, growth, and marketing experience and building terms emphasizing innovative marketing enabled by new technology. He is the CEO and founder of Provalytics, an ad measurement tool that uses Agile Impact Modeling. Jeff also works with the marketing advisory council of Suffolk University and Sawyer business school in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.  Before Provalitics, Jeff founded several companies, and the last one was called C3 Metrics, a leading MTA platform with clients including JP Morgan, US Bank, Nestle, Peapod, Edward Jones, and Fender. Jeff's technical innovations include real-time digital viewability measurement, integrated linear and OTT television measurement, and creating a cookieless identifier. He has also developed & led all GTM strategies and grew the team to 55 with 171% YOY growth leading to being named to Deloitte's 2018 Technology Fast 500. Let’s jump in! Key Highlights From The Show: [00:01] Episode intro and a quick bio of the guest; Jeff Greenfield  [02:26] Jeff’s journey, magician and chiropractor turned into an entrepreneur   [08:32] Learning on the fly and Jeff's experience from the pre-Google era [10:28] Jeff’s perspective on Chat GTP evolution and job creation   [14:41] How technology is supposed to make our life and business easy  [17:10] Why Jeff didn’t stop when he exited C3 Metrics  [20:10] Jeff’s self-care practices in his journey as an entrepreneur [27:55] How knowing what Jeff knows now about self-care would have impacted C3 [31:11] The importance of having a coach and an outside perspective  [32:53] Key lessons that Jeff has learned from his journey as an entrepreneur  [38:58] Jeff’s one recommendation for entrepreneurs  [39:40] How to reach out and connect with Jeff  [40:08] Ending the show  Notable Quotes: We think we’ve to ramp up the game and intensify, but the reality is we need to step back a little bit from technology to enjoy our lives.   You’ve to get out there, move your body every day and be physically active. What you do in the beginning is entirely different from what you do in the end because they have different requirements. You have to develop and enhance your story and what you are selling. As entrepreneurs, we’re like sharks; if we stop moving, we die. Keep moving, and you will live. Connect With Jeff Greenfield: Website: https://jeffgreenfield.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffgreenfield/ ----- Help me inspire more (wannabe) entrepreneurs. Leave me a 5-star review. Go to https://ratethispodcast.com/interviewscrackingtheentrepreneurshipcode and follow the simple instructions.

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is an essential tool for any business wanting to advance in the digital age. It can help your business get more online visibility, drive more website traffic, and improve your search engine rankings.  However, SEO is not as mystical or magical as most business owners perceive, and you don't have to play around with some SEO gods to get the results. SEO is a practice that helps you rank on google, and keywords are a huge part of it. When you place the keywords in the right place, you can win, and with just that, you have done 60% of SEO. Don't overthink it. Join this conversation with Kyle Roof as he shares simple SEO strategies you can implement to increase your online visibility and tips on how to build your business beyond you. Kyle is an American living in Thailand best known for his SEO skills. He has dedicated his life to helping business owners and marketers overcome common SEO challenges using scientifically proven SEO methods. Kyle is the Page Optimizer Pro inventor, built on more than 400 scientific tests he has conducted. Over the years, Kyle has developed a fine-tuner method to test whether single variables are ranking factors in Google's algorithm. This method was officially granted a patent in 2020, validating Kyle's technique and distinguishing him from all the SEO professionals. Kyle is also the co-founder of Internet Marketing Gold, a global community of 3000 + SEO professionals who test and prove cutting-edge SEO techniques. Many SEO Professionals and business leaders follow Kyle's SEO techniques and discoveries. He has been featured in many publications and is a rigorous speaker in SEO and SEO testing at conferences and worldwide. Let’s jump in! Key Highlights From The Show: [00:01] Episode intro and a quick bio of the guest; Kyle Roof [02:22] Kyle’s career background and his entrepreneurial journey   [05:42] Kyle’s exit plan and how he sold his high-voltage SEO agency  [08:41] How Kyle turned their company into a product for sale  [11:02] The challenges that Kyle faced in replacing himself from his company  [15:30] Critical SEO strategies you should know as an entrepreneur  [17:37] How to come up with the keywords for an SEO  [20:58] What the Page Optimizer Pro (POP) offers in the SEO space [22:01] Why POP exists and how it’s different from Kyle’s previous agency  [26:41] Key lessons that Kyle has learned from his entrepreneurial journey  [33:10] Why Kyle moved to Thailand and the community they have built [35:01] Kyle’s one recommendation for entrepreneurs  [39:09] How to reach out and connect with Kyle  [39:19] Ending the show  Notable Quotes: Replacing yourself in your business allows you to build something beyond yourself. The top four places to put a keyword are in the URLs, page title, title tag (H1), and paragraph tags. If you can properly optimize for primary keywords, you can win for secondary keywords. Don't stop people from giving you money; give them the opportunity to pay you the most they want to pay.  If you can acknowledge your mistake and that somebody else can do better, you can put yourself in a better situation. When people are making decisions on partnerships or JVs, the people they will go to first are those around them, so be active and present.  Connect With Kyle Roof:   Website: https://kyleroof.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-roof-411166a4  ----- Help me inspire more (wannabe) entrepreneurs. Leave me a 5-star review. Go to https://ratethispodcast.com/interviewscrackingtheentrepreneurshipcode and follow the simple instructions.   

The X-Factor is your 10 to 100x underlying advantage. It’s usually invisible to your customers but underpins your strategy and blocks your competitors from trying to copy you. Finding your X-factor can be a daunting task. Still, it's essential if you want to build a successful and sustainable business. Do you have one? In this episode, I'll define the X-factor for businesses and provide practical recommendations for entrepreneurs to find their X-factor. ----- Are You Stuck? Book a FREE call with me now 👉 https://tinyurl.com/book-your-free-call

Being an entrepreneur can be a tough job with many ups and downs. Building up your brand, developing a business plan, executing marketing tactics, and managing marketing budgets are all difficult tasks requiring enormous amounts of time and energy.  These demands can lead to burnout and failure in business, but coaching can help you achieve these goals. Coaching provides insight into how to make the most of your time and resources as you set up your business. Join this conversation with Paul Baker, a return guest in our podcast, to talk more about his entrepreneurship journey and the testimonials of the importance of coaching in growing his business, exiting it, and starting a new venture.  Leaving a business you have built and handing it over to somebody else can be emotional. It’s like losing your baby, so you need a coach to help you with a clear path, support, and guidance. Paul Baker bankrupted his first business at the age of 17, and it took ten years before he got back to entrepreneurship. He acquired St Pierre Groupe in 2002 and one day decided to conquer the American market, which he did. He successfully exited it in October 2022.  Let’s jump in Key Highlights From The Show: [00:01] Episode intro and a quick bio of the guest; Paul Baker [01:42] What Paul has been doing since 2021 [04:40] Paul’s entrepreneurship bottleneck necessitated him to seek coaching [08:22] Why Paul exited his successful business [11:58] How Paul was prepared to bounce back after exiting his business [14:33] Benefits of coaching and his expectations in the current coaching sessions [25:45] Why coaching? [26:43] One of Paul’s best “aha moments” in the past two years [35:40] Paul’s advice to anyone who wants to know more about coaching Notable Quotes: Exiting a business you have built and handing it over to somebody else can be emotional. It’s like losing your baby.  You must learn to say NO as a business leader and entrepreneur.  Being an entrepreneur can be a tough job with many ups and downs.  Coaching helps you address the nitty-gritty details of how you think and operate personally. As an entrepreneur, never stop learning. Resources Mentioned: Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek  Past podcast episodes with Paul Baker https://www.laurentnotin.com/podcast/episode/230541cd/interviews-46-or-paul-baker-or-saint-pierre-group-or-uk https://www.laurentnotin.com/podcast/episode/f2ea6ccc/how-can-entrepreneurs-stay-motivated-or-special-episode Connect With Paul Baker: Website: https://rapaid.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-baker-7847aa11/ The Business He Sold: https://stpierrebakery.com/ ----- Are You Stuck? Book a FREE call with me now 👉 https://tinyurl.com/book-your-free-call

It is no secret that staying competitive in the current market requires more than just a good idea. You must have a robust business model, a great marketing strategy, systems, and many other things that can be challenging for any business owner.  Systems are a proven way to grow your business. They can help you increase revenue, reduce costs, and even manage your operations.  But what if you don't know the best system for your company? Can you still take it to the next level? Join this conversation with serial entrepreneur Benjamin Johnson and learn more.  Ben Johnson is the founder and CEO of Particle41, a development firm providing businesses with integral applications development, data science, and DevOps projects.  Finding new talent to execute new projects can be a hassle, but Ben and his team want to strengthen yours, as he explains in this episode.  Ben is also a serial entrepreneur with over $30 million raised across his five startups. He also has over 20 years of experience in software development. He is passionate about applications and modernization. He finds it as much fun as coaching soccer teams. Let’s jump in! Key Highlights From The Show: [00:01] Episode intro and a quick bio of the guest; Benjamin Johnson [02:56] Ben’s entrepreneurial backstory  [06:30] Ben’s definition of an entrepreneur [07:09] Why he loves entrepreneurship [09:10] What Ben means by going back to the basics of entrepreneurship [14:01] Where the name “Particle41” came from, and what is the company about [16:20] Strengthening talents to execute new projects [20:10] Best business practices [24:58] Can too many systems kill a business system? [27:16] Systems are good, but customers have the final say [27:57] What Ben has learned about himself as an entrepreneur [31:41] What would he do differently than when he started entrepreneurship [33:06] The one recommendation Irina gives to all entrepreneurs [36:10] Best ways to reach out and connect with Ben [36:44] Wrap-up and calls-to-action Notable Quotes: Entrepreneurship is the true test of value.  In entrepreneurship, you are only as good as your balance sheet.   You must create business systems that embrace rapid change. If you are not evolving as a business, it will die. Change is natural and normal for growth. Systems are good, but customers come first. Never underestimate the power of mentors and coaches in your entrepreneurship journey. Resources Mentioned: Influx by Daniel Suarez Connect With Benjamin Johnson: Website: https://particle41.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminrjohnson/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/benjohnson77 #founders #entrepreneurship #entrepreneurmindset #podcast #devops ----- Are You Stuck? Book a FREE call with me now 👉 https://tinyurl.com/book-your-free-call 

I know many entrepreneurs who neglect their family, their health, and their life.  Is it worth it, though?  Imagine it’s your last day on earth; what legacy would you like to leave behind you? I certainly don’t want to look at a life spent working.  You need to learn that, despite finding it counter-intuitive, maintaining a work-life balance is crucial for your well-being and business success. Work-life balance refers to balancing the demands of work and personal life. It's about finding a healthy equilibrium that allows you to meet both your professional and personal responsibilities and limiting the sacrifices on both sides of the spectrum. In this episode of The Entrepreneur Alphabet, I explore some reasons why work-life balance is crucial for entrepreneurs.  Let’s jump in now!  ----- Are You Stuck? Book a FREE call with me now 👉 https://tinyurl.com/book-your-free-call

Are you feeling unsatisfied in your current job and dreaming of a life of freedom as an entrepreneur? With the right planning, knowledge, and attitude, you can find your freedom through entrepreneurship.  Knowing what to expect and preparing for the journey will help you maximize your chances of success.  Join this conversation with Irina Poddubnaiar and hear her backstory, how she transitioned from a corporate job to entrepreneurship, and the lessons she has learned. Get the insights, tips, and strategies for business success as an entrepreneur. Irina Poddubnaiar is a SAAS founder and business consultant specializing in operations and process optimization. Over the past few years, she has worked with 50+ small and large companies worldwide, helping them design systems that effectively align the right people, processes, and tools to achieve outstanding results. Irina has a wealth of experience in the eCommerce industry, having spent 2.5 years running a fulfillment center in China and launching her own software, TrackMage. Her mission at TrackMage is to make life easier for eCommerce entrepreneurs by automating as many routine tasks as possible. Key Highlights From The Show: [00:01] Episode intro and a quick bio of the guest, Irina Poddubnaiar [01:34] Irina’s entrepreneurial backstory and how TrackMage came about [06:23] Why TrackMage would not exist without China [07:39] The power of automating your business systems [09:15] When and why did Irina leave her 9 to 5 job [10:58] Why the experience from the first job made her keep into entrepreneurship [12:58] Freedom is the cornerstone of entrepreneurship [16:20] Key insights before starting your entrepreneurship journey [19:49] Paul’s advice to anyone who wants to know more about coaching [22:10] Why Irina did not give up despite hitting a wall in business [25:42] Has Irina ever thought of going back to a 9 to 5 job [28:40] Why most women entrepreneurs struggle and Irina’s advice [32:41] The one recommendation Irina gives to all entrepreneurs [34:05] Best ways to reach out and connect with Irina [35:20] Wrap-up and calls-to-action Notable Quotes: When you automate systems in your business, then you get the time to focus and work on the things that truly matter.  Entrepreneurship gives one the freedom to be what one wants to be.  If you want to start a successful business, the best way is to start with something small that is manageable and that you can do yourself. Entrepreneurship is a calling and a contagious virus. Start selling first, test your idea in the market, and see people's responses, then build the business around it. Resources Mentioned: Magical Selling: Engineering Enterprise Sales Success on Any Team, in Any Industry, and in Any Economy by Raju Bhupatiraju Connect With Irina Poddubnaiar: Website: https://trackmage.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irina-poddubnaia/ ----- Are You Stuck? Book a FREE call with me now 👉 https://tinyurl.com/book-your-free-call 

Validation is the process of testing an idea to determine if it's worth pursuing. It's a crucial step in the entrepreneurial journey because it helps entrepreneurs save time, money, and resources on a wrong or irrelevant idea. Entrepreneurs who validate their ideas before they start are more likely to succeed because they better understand their customers' wants and needs. They can then make informed decisions about how to move forward with their business. In this episode, we cover the following: > What is validation? Why is it important? > What are some methodologies you can use to validate your idea?  ----- Are You Stuck? Book a FREE call with me now 👉 https://tinyurl.com/book-your-free-call

Entrepreneurship is a lifelong journey and not a destination to aim for. While entrepreneurs exist to solve problems in the world, it is not always a walk in the park. It is a cause that demands a different mindset, behavior, and skills.  Jay Bousada, an entrepreneur since 1999, joins us in this entrepreneurship podcast to discuss his journey, the pivots he has made, his mistakes, and his lessons. He has all the information for you if you want your business to be bulletproof in any environment or market. Jay founded Thrillworks in 1999 to help organizations take full advantage of the potential of digital. He’s a born problem solver, beginning his career as an Engineer before turning his attention to technology. As CEO, he’s now driven by a passion for solving problems others may fail to see. This courage is at the core of who he is and the driving force behind everything Thrillworks creates. Among the things Jay shares in this episode include the power of having a vision as an entrepreneur. You must have a business vision that should also be well ingrained in the minds of the people who work for you.  All entrepreneurs also need to understand the importance of boundaries. Let your employees know the values, expectations, ethics, morals, and culture you uphold and ascribe to. Boundaries are the only ways to create a healthy environment in your business. Tune in and learn more. Let’s jump in! Key Highlights From The Show: [02:26] Jay’s journey of entrepreneurship since 1999 [08:04] The different stages of his business’ growth [14:42] How the covid pandemic demanded a pivot in business [15:43] The bottleneck concept [16:44] Why Jay’s early success in business was both a blessing and a curse [18:40] How losing the original ‘why’ of the business brought failure [23:25] How automation can be a disadvantage to trust building with customers [27:15] What Jay has learned about himself as an entrepreneur [32:00] The future of Jay’s business [35:17] Jay’s takeaway tips for entrepreneurs  [35:24] Achievements that Jay is proud of [37:28] Best ways to reach out and connect with Jay Bousada Notable Quotes: The real power of an organization comes from its people.  Any product or solution you put in place has to include a good deal of quality. That’s not negotiable if you want to stay in business. If the business vision is not clear in the minds of the people working for you, the secret success formula will require you to be there every day. Never assume anything in business. First, seek to understand before you are understood. As an entrepreneur, boundaries are the only ways to create a healthy environment in your business. Resources Mentioned: Rethink: The Surprising History of New Ideas by Steven Poole:  Connect With Jay Bousada: Website: https://thrillworks.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jbousada/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaybousada/ ----- Are You Stuck? Book a FREE call with me now 👉 https://tinyurl.com/book-your-free-call 

Technology is advancing rapidly, and entrepreneurs need to keep pace because they are changing how business is done. Entrepreneurs can leverage these innovations to develop a competitive edge and save time, energy, and money. It is about how entrepreneurs take advantage to grow their businesses. The internet, for example, is evolving and has gone from web1 to web2, and now we are moving towards the future of web3. In the new age of technology, entrepreneurs need to know how they can embrace and tap into the opportunities of web3. The opportunities are endless. You just need to figure out how your business fits in with this new era.  Join this conversation with Adrienne Ravez and learn about technology's past, current, and future and how an entrepreneur can be well-informed to maximize opportunities.  Adrienne Ravez is a Web3 Entrepreneur, Digital & Innovation Specialist, intercultural Clinical Psychologist, DEI Practitioner & Advocate, and trade advisor for France (CCE). Adrienne has been featured in Asia-Pacific's top rising talent in the 2020 Campaign’s 40 under 40 lists and named Entrepreneur of the Year Asia Pacific at the 2019 Women Leading Change Awards. Let’s jump in! Key Highlights From The Show: [00:01] Episode intro and a quick bio of the guest, Adrienne Ravez [02:24] How Adrienne ended up being an entrepreneur [05:18] What has it taken her to be an entrepreneur [08:07] What is web 3.0? [10:20] Does web3 look like blockchain?  [12:10] Helping clients identify and tap into web3 opportunities [13:55] How entrepreneurs can make conscious decisions without forgetting web3 [19:10] A case study of a client she helped implement web3 tools in their business [26:38] Why you don’t need to rush in implementing the tech tools [30:34] A bit about chatGPT [38:42] Things Adrienne has learned about herself since she became an entrepreneur [43:08] Golden nuggets and tips for the success of an entrepreneur [44:10] Best ways to reach out and connect with Adrienne Ravez [44:38] Ending the show and call to action Notable Quotes: The most important aspect of entrepreneurship is creativity and value creation.  Being an entrepreneur means stepping back and assessing whether your resources can achieve your goals.  Technology tools are there to help you serve the business’ vision. They are not a means to an end.  Entrepreneurs must always adapt to changes. As an entrepreneur, never stop learning. Always remain human-centric in business despite advancing social norms and technological changes. Connect With Adrienne Ravez: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrienneravez/ ----- Are You Stuck? Book a FREE call with me now 👉 https://tinyurl.com/book-your-free-call

Salespeople are key to a business’s success, but many entrepreneurs make hiring mistakes. They select candidates based on how well they interview but often end up with people who just don't work out in the field. Hiring people who are passionate about your product and organization, who will stay with you over the long term, and who have a high level of technical expertise is essential.  The key to picking a successful sales candidate is not just making sure that they interview well--it's personality traits. So, what personality traits are shared among the best performers?  Join this entrepreneurship education podcast with Christopher Croner as we discuss how entrepreneurs can become perfect in hiring top-producing salespeople. Christopher Croner, Ph.D., is a Principal with SalesDrive, a cutting-edge sales management consulting firm. He developed the SalesDrive assessment system, including the Drive Model of salesperson motivation. Using this system, he has helped numerous companies to hire and develop top-performing salespeople. Key Highlights from The Show: [00:01] Episode intro and a quick bio of the guest; Christopher Croner [02:44] Chris’ backstory and how he got into the sales and marketing space [04:49] What is selling, according to Christopher [06:11] The most significant problem that salespeople have [07:24] Bad patterns that companies make when recruiting salespeople [11:28] An ideal client that Christopher works with [12:40] How the process of working with a client looks like [14:23] Meaning of “drive” and how it relates to salespeople [17:20] How to instil and nurture the sales drive in your sales team [23:22] What it means to be an entrepreneur to Chris [25:00] Valuable lessons Chris has learned in the entrepreneurship journey [29:16] How to avoid being in the trap of dishonest salespeople during the hiring  [31:48] The last time Chris was a bottleneck in his business and what happened [34:25] Chris’ tips for the success of an entrepreneur [37:18] Best ways to reach out and connect with Christopher Croner [37:50] Ending the show and call to action Notable Quotes: Anyone who communicates for a living is selling.  Whether a salesperson can sell is different from whether he will sell.  Recruiting people for your company is an art.  Your destiny is always in your hands. As an entrepreneur, never stop learning. Anyone who communicates for a living is selling. If you are communicating an idea and then having people accept it, that is also selling. Get Christopher’s Book: Never Hire a Bad Salesperson Again: Selecting Candidates Who Are Absolutely Driven to Succeed: https://www.amazon.com/Never-Hire-Bad-Salesperson-Again/dp/0974199613. Connect With Christopher Croner: Website: https://salesdrive.info/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/SalesDriveLLC LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophercroner/ ----- Are You Stuck? Book a FREE call with me now 👉 https://tinyurl.com/book-your-free-call 

There 4 entrepreneurship stages. Stage 1 – Pre-launch: When you wonder how to do it Stage 2 – Start: When you get it done yourself Stage 3 – Growth: When you make sure it is done Stage 4 – Maturity: When you build an entity that gets it done If you are successful, your business will expand through these stages. At the beginning of the journey, as your resources are limited, you’re running everywhere, involved in every little thing.  However, as your company grows, you should gradually remove yourself from the day-to-day operations to focus on hiring people, creating efficient processes to strengthen your business’ foundations, and working on your company’s strategy.  There comes a point in time when you need to let others build the business for you. That’s why your role must evolve; you must upgrade yourself. And to successfully do so, you need to learn to let go.  That’s what this episode is about: letting go!  ----- Are You Stuck? Book a FREE call with me now 👉 https://tinyurl.com/book-your-free-call 

Entrepreneurs are bold and risk-takers. They do not allow themselves to be held back by the fear of the unknown. They pull the trigger, make mistakes, fail, learn and bounce back better and bigger. Though most of them face a lot of challenges, they never give up. However, the better they get informed before going into the startup space, the easier they will navigate the murky waters. Sometimes, they will be compelled to make hard decisions, and their business culture is one of the key skills that will help them. Successful businesses have a strong culture, and the founders have the greatest influence. Culture is important to a business because that makes it different and unique from others. Culture is the go-to method they apply to handle customers and solve problems when they arise. But how do you develop a sound business culture? How do you measure if the culture of your business is correct, and what do you need to do to pivot? Join this conversation with Sophie Theen and get all your questions answered and the entrepreneurial motivation you need to push forward as a startup founder. Sophie Theen is an award-winning HR and diversity & inclusion professional. In this episode, she delivers an insightful and eye-opening discussion of the importance of culture in the vibrant and, sometimes, chaotic world of startup enterprises. Let’s jump in! Key Highlights From The Show: [00:01] Episode intro and a quick bio of the guest; Sophie Theen [01:40] Sophie's backstory and how she got into her space [03:15] The untold stories of how founders affect culture [05:14] Why startup founders need to be informed before embarking on the journey [06:16] Why did you start the journey? [07:18] Things that are common among all founders [08:29] Why startup founders need to have a high level of Emotional Intelligence [09:32] The importance of a business culture [12:07] How to know if you are in the correct culture as an entrepreneur [14:28] Vulnerability among founders and where to draw the line [18:22] What motivates Sophie to wake up in the morning to do what she does [19:33] What she discovered about herself through the entrepreneurship journey [22:17] Why it’s important to have a coach as a business owner [26:59] What it means to be an entrepreneur to Sophie [28:10] Sophie's favorite question to clients as a coach [29:37] The number one recommendation to entrepreneurs from Sophie [30:42] Best ways to reach out and connect with Sophie Theen [30:55] Ending the show and call to action Notable Quotes: There’s always light at the end of the tunnel on your decision.  Entrepreneurs are bold and risk-takers.  Culture is what makes a business different and unique from others.  Business culture is the DNA behind a business logo. Everybody has a bad day at some point in their life, and that’s why the presence of a mentor or coach is imperative. People always have answers in them. All they need is someone to help them uncover. Learning to ask for help goes a long way. Get Sophie’s Book: The Soul of Startups: The Untold Stories of How Founders Affect Culture: https://www.amazon.com/Soul-Startups-Stories-Founders-Culture/dp/1119885590 Connect With Sophie Theen: Website: https://www.sophietheen.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/sophietheen/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophietheen/ ----- Are You Stuck? Book a FREE call with me now 👉 https://tinyurl.com/book-your-free-call 

The beauty of time is that we all have the same amount available to us: 24 hours, 1,440mn, 86,400 seconds per day. However, it seems some people use their time better than others… that’s because they literally use it better than you. Time is a resource, and like any other resources available to you (e.g. people, equipment, money, etc.) you need to manage it.   The thing is when it comes to time management, the biggest hurdle is you; dare I say it: you’re your own bottleneck!  So, the real question is how can you become better at managing all the time that is available to you? Find out my top 3 Time Management Rules on this new episode of The Entrepreneur Alphabet.  ----- Book a FREE call with me now 👉 https://tinyurl.com/book-your-free-call 

There are many business models, each built on a specific premise. If, as an entrepreneur, you want a recession-proof business model, you may want to go into real estate. However, if you want a business with time-tested systems that guarantee profits from the first day, you must choose a franchising model.   In franchising, an entrepreneur sells the rights to market and sell their products or services within a certain territory to independent business owners (franchisees) for a set period of time. The franchisor also provides the necessary training, equipment, and management to the franchisee to use their system, who in return pays royalties or license fees for the right to represent the franchisor's products.  If this business model excites you, David Weaver has some entrepreneur motivation tips and strategies for that cause. This podcast is for entrepreneurs like you who want to find their freedom, control their futures, and fuel their vision through franchise ownership. David Weaver has a diverse and comprehensive background to draw on as a franchise expert and a FranChoice consultant. Having honed his business skills in a variety of ways, he now looks forward to sharing his knowledge and experience with others. His intimate knowledge of franchise systems, years of interaction with franchise candidates before and after they opened for business, and personal experience investing in Franchise Assets with his wife, Ann Marie, offers David a true understanding of what works and what doesn’t in franchising. Key Highlights From The Show: [00:01] Episode intro and a quick bio of the guest; David Weaver [02:56] David’s backstory and what he has been doing in his space [07:06] Largest franchise brands in the world apart from McDonald's [08:15] What makes the franchising business model work? [11:00] When should you go for a franchise instead of starting something new from scratch? [18:20] Ways through which franchisors make money [19:44] Is it wise to buy or start a franchise business in the current market condition? [23:00] What does it mean to be an entrepreneur, according to David [25:25] Key entrepreneur lessons David has learned along his journey [28:58] The current failures of startup founders [32:31] How to reach out and connect with David [33:08] Ending the show and call to action Notable Quotes: There are over 4,000 companies in the US alone selling franchises.  Many people are manipulative because they have needs and do not know how to address them.  When you buy a franchise, you reduce the time you would take to build successful systems. Every entrepreneur who aspires to succeed must do two things. They must find and attract quality customers and get them to want to come back over and over again. Also, they have to find quality employees that do excellent work in driving the customer experience. The joy of entrepreneurs is knowing that they are unemployable. Connect With David Weaver: Website: https://franchiseyourfreedom.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/FranchiseFree1 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daviddweaver YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChMUeVCexUlp4CegJRb54Tg  ----- Get my FREE ebook > https://www.laurentnotin.com/get-my-ebook