TGIM

Ann Handley wants you to be bigger, bolder and braver. Ann is the world’s first Chief Content Officer and Forbes called her the most influential woman in Social Media. She explains how you can make your business more successful by using your brand’s voice to differentiate yourself from your competitors. Then meet an entrepreneur who took his startup from a campus project to a 25 million dollar Google acquisition in only 18 months. And find out how one entrepreneur found the balance between passion and profits by shaking up from the frozen dessert business making gelato from exotic ingredients like eggplant, roasted parsnip and crisp cricket. Yes… cricket. Ann Handley: Get a Bigger, Bolder, Braver Brand Voice Like Freaker USA Ann Handley is the world’s first ever Chief Content Officer. She’s also a marketing guru who champions content as a way to connect with potential customers at her company Marketing Profs. She’s the best-selling author of the book “Everybody Writes” and has been cited by Forbes as the most influencer woman in social media. She walks us through everything you need to know about developing a major competitive advantage - your brand’s voice. Ann digs into the amazing and creative brand of Freaker USA and gives you advice about how to make sure your brand’s voice is heard. Bufferbox: From Lean Startup to Google Acquisition in 18 Months Businesses and entrepreneurs are often faced with the question of, if I build, it will they come? How do you arrive at an answer? It’s tough, especially when you’re just getting started, when you have no money, and you have no time. This is the story of one startup and how they answered that question as they went from a campus project to a 25 million dollar Google acquisition in only 18 months. Death in Venice Gelato The theme of TGIM this episode is how to be bigger, braver, and bolder to succeed with your business and there is perhaps no better example than an upstart gelato company in Toronto called Death In Venice. The company has earned rave reviews from foodie bloggers and restaurant critics alike. So how does a gelato company act big, brave, and bold? By designing gelato flavors NO ONE else in the world has thought of yet. Anyone care for a scoop of Thai Peanut Soy Fish, a cup of Chocolate Crisp Cricket or perhaps a cone of Mealworm?

Ryan North’s vision of success includes having a lot of irons in the fire. Find out how he turned his passion into a business combining comics, an ad network, bestselling books and some of Kickstarter’s most successful campaigns. Cameron Herold is obsessed with having a vision, but he thinks everyone is doing it wrong. He explains what you should do instead. And Doug Stephens has a vision of a retail world that moves seamlessly from offline to online. He shares how to get beyond coupon codes and start making meaningful customer relationships. Ryan North: Turning Your Passion Into a Business Ryan North is a computer programmer, humourist, and New York Times bestselling author. He writes a comic for Marvel, owns an ad network and has run some of Kickstarter’s most successful campaigns ever. He’s a DIY entrepreneur who’s managed to turn his passion into a business. Find out his secret to keeping so many irons in the fire and how he’s turned all of those projects into a successful business. Ryan North on Twitter Tracking Offline Customers Using Online Tools Once you've got an online store, you might start thinking about expanding into bricks and mortar retail. Maybe a booth at a trade show or one of those small-scale, temporary pop-up stores. But how do you connect digital information to your physical business? Find out how to get beyond coupon codes and start making meaningful customer relationships. Creating a Vivid Vision For the past 20 years, Cameron Herold has had a hand in some of the most successful businesses in North America. He helped grow 1-800-GOT-JUNK from $2 million dollars to over $100 million dollars in annual revenue. He helped build College Pro Painters into the largest residential house painting business in the world and Boyd Auto Body into the largest collision repair shop in North America. So, it’s safe to say that Cameron knows a thing or two about running a business. And he’s also got some pretty strong opinions on how you should run yours. Cameron believes that if you want to grow your business quickly, you need to develop a vision for the future. But his recipe for writing a vision statement is probably very different from anything you’ve ever done before. Sample Vivid Vision documents Vivid Vision worksheet SolidCore: Running Your Business Like Your Workout Anne Mahlum believes running a business is a lot like a good workout. Learn how she used that philosophy to build a chain of fitness studios that cater to over-achievers in the nation’s capital, including first lady Michelle Obama.

Sometimes the secret to succeeding in business is simpler than you think. For Brian Scudamore, it comes down to just simply asking for what you want. That simple principal helped him build 1-800-GOT-JUNK into a multi-million dollar business. For Ross Simmonds, it’s the secret of the side hustle, a business you can run in your spare time. He’s got advice on how to do it, some pitfalls to watch out for, and how you know when it’s time to take the plunge. And for Phil LeBlanc, the secret is to never giving up, it’s how he pivoted his company and saved it from bankruptcy. How to Get on Oprah, Dr. Phil, and Build a Multi-Million Dollar Business Brian Scudamore is the business mind behind the incredibly successful, multi-million dollar franchise 1-800-GOT-JUNK. And he attributes a lot of his success to a very simple principle, the power of dreaming up big goals and rallying your team to make the seemingly impossible possible. Brian Scudamore on Twitter The Secret of the Side Hustle - How to Start a Part-Time Business If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur but you’re not quite ready to give up your day job, you might be thinking about a ‘side hustle’ - a business you can run in your spare time. We’ve got some advice on how to do it, some pitfalls to watch out for, and how you know when it’s time to take the plunge and make your side hustle your full-time job. This Ain’t a Charity, Ya Know! There’s a line in the movie It’s a Wonderful Life where Old Man Potter, who runs the town’s bank, says to George Bailey about his savings and loan, “Are you running a business or a charity?” Well as it turns out, the two aren’t so different. There are payrolls to meet, bills to pay, products to get to market, competition literally in the field, and a hundred and one problems you never see coming. Meet a reality TV producer and a music biz veteran who learned some key lessons about being entrepreneurs by starting their own African water charity. Drop in the Bucket on the web What To Do When a Competitor Beats You to Market - A Lesson in Never Giving Up Flixel is a successful tech startup that makes mesmerizing hybrids of videos and photographs called cinemagraphs.The company was honoured with an Apple Design Award and Best of 2014 in the App Store, and they’re integrated into Facebook. They are thriving… but they almost didn’t make it. Like many tech startups, they got to where they are today by persevering through a roller coaster ride full of unexpected twists and turns, including a competitor with the SAME idea that beats them to market. Here’s how they did it… Flixel on the web

Swimming with sharks. Most of us would probably be too scared to ever try it. If you’re brave enough to do it, you might just get an experience you’ll never forget. The same could be said for entrepreneurship. So let’s go swimming with a real shark - Shark Tank’s Daymond John. We’ll find out how he overcame amazing odds to found the FUBU clothing brand and then he’ll give you insider tips on how to overcome amazing odds to impress the investors on Shark Tank. You’ll also dive into some other scary situations. If you’re not a full-blown extrovert, is there anything more terrifying than social business events? Fear not - we’ve got the TGIM guide to networking for introverts. And finally - talk about scary - find out how to making millions by giving away your product... for free. Daymond John on How to Market Your New Product Successfully Daymond John has launched a lot of products over the years, both as one of the founders of urban fashion line, FUBU, and an investor on Shark Tark. These are his essential lessons to marketing your new product. Daymond John on Twitter Networking For Introverts Networking is an important part of business. It’s pretty much essential if you’re an entrepreneur. So what do you do if it doesn’t come naturally to you? Or what if it downright terrifies you? Well here’s the thing, dear introvert - maybe you’re just looking at it the wrong way. Marsha’s Top 10 Networking Tips for Introverts and Followup Email Template How an Unemployed Veteran Turned His Badass Beard Into a Multimillion Dollar Business Charlie Moyer was an unemployed military veteran with absolutely no ecommerce or online marketing experience. But in one year he grew his men’s grooming company from $3000 to $375,000 in monthly sales. And it started with a simple $20 investment. He shares the secret formula behind his remarkable success. Badass Beard Care Badass Beard Care on Facebook

No one said success would be easy. Almost every entrepreneur has to face down major challenges, overcome hurdles, and rebound from failure. You’re about to meet your new role models for perseverance. Dov Baron fell 120 feet while rocking climbing and shattering his face - his near-death experience taught him how to work through pain to find success. Jeff Philipp had to figure out how to build his multi-million dollar business in one of the most remote places in North America. Angela Mader had to convince massive retailers like Target and Walgreens to put her products on their shelves... before the products were even designed. None of it was easy. But as every entrepreneur knows, few things worth doing ever are. Dov Baron Literally Fell off a Cliff - Here’s How It Changed His Life and His Business Back in 1990 Dov Baron’s career and life almost ended. He was rock climbing when he fell 120 feet and landed on his face. The impact shattered his face, disintegrating some of his upper jaw and fracturing his lower jaw in four places. Dov went through 9 reconstructive surgeries and the experience changed his life. Today, Dov Baron is an author and mentor. Inc Magazine put him on their list of top Business speakers and thinkers. The lesson his accident taught him? Entrepreneurship is about facing and working through pain to find the path to success. Dov Baron’s Full Monty Leadership Dov Baron’s Leadership & Loyalty Podcast Dov Baron on Twitter Dov Baron on LinkedIn How to Build a Multi-Million Dollar Business in the Middle of Nowhere Some say that it’s smart to zig when everyone else zags. It’s not easy to do, but it’s worked for Jeff Phillips. Unlike the hordes of hopeful entrepreneurs who decide to decamp to tech hubs like Silicon Valley and San Francisco in search of success, Jeff Philipp decided to do the opposite. He didn’t go anywhere. The problem is that his home is in a remote area of the Canadian arctic. And he’s built a company with tens of millions of dollars in revenue, literally in the middle of nowhere. His company’s motto? Innovation doesn’t care where you live. How to Give Your Brand a Makeover What do you do when your look is out of date? Get a makeover. The same goes for your business. There comes a time in the life of every company when you need a brand refresh. But how do you know when it’s time? And what exactly do you do next? Well, a marketing agency in Austin, Texas, that focuses on re-branding recently underwent some rebranding of its own. And we got them to break down the process, step by step, as they put themselves through their own process. Door Number 3 5 Logo Design Tips for Ecommerce Websites 5 Easy to Use Online Logo Makes to Design Your Brand The Secret to Getting Your Product on the Shelves of Big Retailers For a lot of entrepreneurs, the moment they knew they’d arrived was when they got their products into retail giants like Target and Walgreens. It’s almost never easy. So how does that process actually work? What we usually see is the end result— products on the shelves — so it’s tough to get a sense of how hard it can be for small companies make that happen. We followed one entrepreneur for several months, got a behind-the-scenes look at working with mass retailers, and returned with some great advice for anyone looking for retail placement success. Fitlosophy Fitlosophy on Facebook Angela Mader on Twitter

Entrepreneurs thrive when they think differently than everyone else. So in this episode of TGIM, we’re going to change the way you think. You’ll learn how to disrupt your industry with Christine Day, who’s transformed the world of coffee at Starbucks and female apparel at Lululemon. You’ll find out how to channel your passion into a great business by learning about a business focused on sneakers. And you’ll meet a business owner who proves that doing almost everything antithetical to success is in fact a great recipe… for success. It’s time to think differently. How to Become an Expert at Market Disruption (from the former CEO of Lululemon) Christine Day has a unique specialty - she blows up stagnant industries with big, exciting ideas. She helped disrupt the coffee industry at Starbucks. Then she turned the downward-dog female sports apparel industry into a glowing sunrise salute as the CEO of Lululemon, where she grew the stock by over 400%. And today, she’s rethinking healthy eating at a new startup called Luvo. Want to know how to you can do it, too? Listen up - Christine’s going to share all her expert advice on how to disrupt the market with your business. Luvo Christine Day on Twitter Luvo on Twitter Luvo on Facebook Luvo on Instagram Luvo on Pinterest The Best Ways to Combat Stress as an Entrepreneur You’d be hard pressed to find someone who ISN’T dealing with stress of some kind. For entrepreneurs, though, it’s a major concern. A recent survey found that entrepreneurs say that maintaining a small business causes twice as much stress as maintaining a healthy relationship, nearly three times as much stress as raising children, and more than four times the stress of managing their personal finances. And for those who run businesses, that stress needs to be managed, or there can be consequences...not just for the founder, but for the business itself. So close your eyes, breathe deeply, and prepare to learn how to relax when it comes to your business. The Science of Working Smarter: 8 Stress Hacks for Entrepreneurs 7 Cups 7 Cups on Twitter 7 Cups on Facebook One Entrepreneur’s Creative Approach to Cashing in on the Sneaker Business Matt Halfhill has a passion - sneakers. He LOVES new shoes. So much so that he decided to follow his passion and open his own business in the sneaker industry. Matt’s hasn’t decided to compete again Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour by making his own sneakers, though. Instead, he’s assembled a team of experts to WRITE about sneakers. Nice Kicks Nice Kicks on Facebook Nice Kicks on Twitter Matt Halfhill on Twitter Meet the Reluctantly Successful Hatmaker With a 6-Month Waiting List Stephen Tempkin makes fedoras. Each hat is custom made by hand. One at a time. In his home. He could make his business bigger. He could make his hats faster. But he doesn’t, because Stephen makes hats because he loves doing it. Conventional business wisdom would say that’s not a great business. But, Stephen is convinced that NOT trying to be successful is what has made his business such a huge success. Meet the reluctantly successful hatmaker. Leon Drexler Hats

Your business may have a great story, but is anyone listening? This week, TGIM is chock-full of ways to use the power of narrative to build your business: storytelling secrets from GoDaddy's Shawn Pfunder, inbound marketing advice from Hubspot’s CMO Kipp Bodner and the remarkable story of a homeless entrepreneur who started a cookie business. The Homeless Entrepreneur There are a million reasons to put off starting a business. But Jason Mercado doesn’t believe in excuses. He started his business in extreme conditions, while he was homeless and living in a shelter. Sweet Mission Cookies on Facebook Hubspot’s CMO on the Power of Inbound Marketing HubSpot is the world’s largest inbound marketing agency, and they have a reputation for getting results. Kipp Bodnar is Hubspot’s CMO and he explains how to use inbound marketing to accelerate the growth of your business, and turn strangers into customers. Hubspot Kipp Bodnar on Twitter Inbound Marketing for Ecommerce How to tell a GREAT story Successful businesses need to tell compelling stories. Think of brands like Apple or Nike and how important the stories of those companies are to their identities. So what’s the story of your business? Shawn Pfunder is the Editor-in-Chief at GoDaddy and he’s got a few simple steps to help you become a great storyteller. Shawn Pfunder on Twitter Ripped Bodice Bookstore Starting up a bricks-and-mortar bookstore in 2016 might not seem like a strong business play, considering the uncertain future of many booksellers. But sometimes the best plays are unexpected. This is the story of The Ripped Bodice, a new bookstore in Culver City, California. Two sisters are trying to bring a popular genre of fiction out of the shadows, and they’ve found a market waiting for them, longingly, with beating heart and bated breath. The Ripped Bodice - A Romantic Bookstore

This week, TGIM is all about success. Discover how the founders of SoulCycle built a hugely success business by creating a movement around their brand. Learn how to use neuroscience to make successful content. Hear how one company’s success was built using bulldozers to create an adult playground. And meet one entrepreneur with a very unusual problem - too much success. Start Using Neuroscience So People Remember Your ContentDid your team start drifting off during your last powerpoint presentation? Is your latest blog post still looking for its first reader? And - gasp - are your tweets not being retweeted? Sounds like you could use some cutting-edge neuroscience to help you make things that people will never forget. Dr. Carmen Simon on Twitter Rexi Media SoulCycle’s Founders on How to Build a Movement Around Your Brand Elizabeth Cutler and Julie Rice founded SoulCycle because they wanted to have more fun while working out. So they put a new spin on spinning classes and built a business with a fanatical following. They share their tips on how to create a movement around YOUR brand. SoulCycle SoulCycle on Twitter How Great Customer Service Turns First-time Shoppers into Lifetime Fans How to Exceed Customer Expectations and Over-Deliver Every Time 6 Creative Ways to Surprise And Delight Your Customers 5 Ways to Take Charge of Your Ecommerce Customer Service How To Read Your Customers' Minds With One Email How To Turn Your Negative Reviews Into Lifelong Customers How to Start a Loyalty Program That Keeps Customers Coming Back Referral Marketing 101: 7 Tactics to Launch Your Own Referral Campaign The Best Worst Problem - What To Do When You’re TOO Successful When you start a business, you want it to be successful. But what happens if your business becomes TOO successful? This is a cautionary tale about a business that did so well...it actually fell victim to its own growth. Here’s what you need to know so the same thing doesn’t happen to you. Getaway Farm Getaway Farm on Twitter Why You Need to Stop Worrying About Profit and Start Worrying About Cash Flow Can You Dig it? Yes, You Can. (But Only In Vegas) Have you ever walked by construction site after hours, seen some machinery, and had the urge to jump in and start it up? A thriving business in Las Vegas will help you satisfy that urge... without getting hurt or arrested. And you just might be surprised to learn who their customers are. Dig This Vegas Dig This Vegas on Twitter Dig This Vegas on Facebook

Great businesses solve tough problems. In this episode of TGIM, you’ll meet an entrepreneur who created a successful company to solve his own back pain, you’ll hear if a social media makeover can save a toy company’s online store and you’ll learn the one piece of advice you need to know before getting a mentor. Oh yeah - we’ll also show you how to get a rapper to lay down rhymes about your company... for five bucks. Read the full show notes.

This episode of TGIM is all about how a great story can help you grow your business. Danae Ringelmann, the co-founder of crowdfunding giant Indiegogo, shares the 3 secret ingredients to a successful crowdfunding campaign. Meet two moms who started a business that takes the stress out of buying birthday gifts and raised millions of dollars for charity along the way. Discover the secret technique every jazz musicians knows, and every salesperson needs to learn. And meet a woman who founded a successful business not by competing on price, but by telling a better story.

Episode 5 of TGIM connects you with some inside advice to help your business thrive. Guy Kawasaki is a Silicon Valley legend and former Chief Evangelist at Apple. He shares the essential advice from his 13 books in two minutes flat. We’ve got the three simple steps to naming your business from the man who named Sirius Satellite Radio, Cingular Wireless and Mach III Razors. And we meet a guy who started his clothing business as a school project and leveraged his connections to get his shirts on the backs of Ed Sheeran and Ghostface Killah.

Episode 4 of TGIM will help you hit the bullseye for your business. You’ll hear three essential success secrets from social media superstar, Gary Vaynerchuk. We have an amazing story about an elaborate ad campaign for ONE person. Seriously. And you’ll meet two women who learn how to find the right target market for their unusual subscription box service.

Sometimes you need to break away from the pack, think differently, zig when everyone else zags. This episode is all about unconventional wisdom and how it can help you become a more successful entrepreneur. We start with marketing legend Seth Godin, who makes the case for why bigger isn’t necessarily better, we learn why you should make friends with failure and travel to Texas to meet a baker who learned the recipe for success... from a tech wizard.

This episode is all about the ingredients you need to become a successful entrepreneur. Start with 3 servings of Pat Flynn who’s got some great advice about standing out from the crowd and testing your products, mix in a unique pricing strategy, add a dollop of mindfulness and blend with a healthy work/life balance. Plus the definitive answer to the age old question - are entrepreneurs born or made. Episode 2 of TGIM is the recipe you’ve been looking for.

Welcome to the first episode of TGIM, from Shopify. How much do we LOVE entrepreneurship? Let’s put it this way - Mondays are our favorite day of the week. We’re putting all our passion, excitement, and knowledge to work, because we want this podcast to be the essential audio guide for ambitious entrepreneurs like you. And we’re kicking off this series with some of the most inspiring and unusual stories about starting a business that you’ll ever hear. And you’ll also learn essential lessons from some of the smartest business minds in the world. Sound too good to be true? Listen on and prepare for Monday to become your favorite day of the week, too. #TGIM

Coming soon… Most people can’t wait for the week to end, but we can’t wait for the week to start. It’s TGIM from Shopify. The essential podcast for ambitious entrepreneurs. Like You. Subscribe now. We launch February 8th.