Interviews with CEOs and Entrepreneurs about the frameworks they are using to build and scale their businesses.
Episodes
Monday Oct 11, 2021
Monday Oct 11, 2021
Steve Hoffman (Captain Hoff) is the CEO of Founders Space, one of the world’s leading startup accelerators. We talk about the platform mentality in business, the process of venture capital financing, and define “Growth Hacking”.
Timestamps
[00:41] Steven's entrepreneurial journey
[02:13] The birth of Steven's startup accelerator
[03:30] The most entrepreneurial countries in the world
[05:52] Steve's experience with management blueprints
[10:31] Why businesses need to focus on providing maximum value for their customers
[11:48] How to choose the right business model for your startup
[15:51] The benefits of having flexible frameworks in business
[19:19] Breaking down the platform mentality in business
[20:47] Tips for growing business accounts in your existing customers
[22:12] How to build a simple business model from the ground up
[23:12] How to build a scalable business and attract venture capitals
[28:15] The process of venture capital financing
[33:01] What is growth hacking?
[38:45] How to build a company using the "Game Design Workshop" strategy
[40:25] The Founder's Dilemma: Bootstrap Startup versus Funded Ventures
[44:39] Why MailChimp is the perfect example of companies that successfully bootstrapped
[47:02] The scary future of AI
[48:46] Parting thoughts
Links and Resources
Make Elephants Fly: The Process of Radical Innovation by Steven Hoffman
The Five Forces That Change Everything by Steven Hoffman
Surviving a Startup by Steven Hoffman
Game Design Workshop by Tracy Fullerton
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Monday Oct 04, 2021
Monday Oct 04, 2021
Brian Burke is the founder and chief “Mac Man” at SellYourMac.com, the world’s most trusted and highest-rated Apple trade-in company. We talk about the booming market for second-hand Apple products, the benefits of exceptional customer service, and LinkedIn profile optimization strategies.
Timestamps
[00:34] Brian’s entrepreneurial journey
[02:21] The booming market for second-hand Apple products
[03:32] The type of Apple products Brian and his team purchase and the ones they don’t
[04:28] Brian’s experience with management blueprints
[06:50] The benefits of exceptional customer service
[08:42] Scaling customer service in a growing organization
[09:48] The average lifespan of Apple products
[12:32] How to know when it’s time to upgrade your computer or laptop
[12:47] Brian’s ideal buyer persona
[15:41] How personal touches drive repeat business
[16:50] Brian’s formula for building a solid company culture
[17:42] Sell Your Mac’s company purpose
[18:59] Brian’s 10-year vision for Sell Your Mac
[20:17] How to optimize your LinkedIn profile like a pro
[23:36] Parting Thoughts
Links and Resources
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Monday Sep 27, 2021
Monday Sep 27, 2021
Matthew Devost is the CEO and co-founder of OODA LLC, a strategic consulting firm that helps clients identify, manage, and respond to global risks, uncertainties, and emerging opportunities. We talk about hack-thinking, the OODA loop decision-making framework, and the predominant cyber security threats targeting small to medium-sized businesses.
Timestamps
[00:44] Matthew’s entrepreneurial journey
[04:24] Why the talent gap in the cyber security space is an industry crisis
[06:15] What is hacking, and how is it different from ethical hacking?
[08:50] Matthew’s experience with management blueprints
[12:40] Mathew’s opinion on “success is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration”
[14:19] The OODA loop concept and fast decision-making practices
[16:34] Hack think: Making decisions for the future
[19:10] Effective problem-solving techniques and chaos thinking
[21:11] Balancing risk and opportunity in cybersecurity
[25:00] How Matthew and his team provide tools to help clients make cyber security decisions
[29:02] The biggest cyber security risks targeting small to medium-sized businesses
[32:16] Cyber security and business process exploitation
[33:45] Parting Thoughts
Links and Resources
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https://StevePreda.com
Monday Sep 20, 2021
Monday Sep 20, 2021
Alinka Rutkowska is the CEO of Leaders Press, a USA Today and Wall Street Journal best-selling press. We talk about how writers can turn their books into bestsellers, the benefits of using books to grow your business and the differences between self-publishing and traditional publishing.
Timestamps
[00:52] Alinka’s entrepreneurial journey
[02:52] Why few people enjoy success with their first book
[03:47] Alinka talks about her first book
[05:13] Alinka’s experience with management blueprints
[08:27] Asana App: What is it and how to use it
[11:29] EOS integrators and the critical role they play within an organization
[15:08] How to use books to grow your business
[20:07] Why your books don’t have to be bestsellers to help you grow your business
[21:48] The different types of best sellers and how they are ranked
[25:56] Self-publishing versus traditional publishing
[29:30] The advantages of using a traditional publisher
[32:50] The pros and cons of setting up a book with IngramSpark
[34:01] The benefits of using Simon and Schuster to publish and distribute your books
[36:06] Parting thoughts
Links and Resources
Alinka’s Website: LeadersPress.com
Outsource your Book by Alinka Rutkowska
Asana Project Management Software
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Monday Sep 13, 2021
Monday Sep 13, 2021
Steve Salis is a serial consumer brand entrepreneur and investor. His company, Salis Holdings, has ownership interests in 14 companies in a diverse spectrum of industries, including technology, food and beverage, hospitality, and real estate. We talk about why the private equity business model is broken, what millennial employees want from their jobs, and the key differences between a specialist and a generalist in your business.
Timestamps
[00:39] Steve’s entrepreneurial journey
[05:44] How Steve launched and scaled his pizza business
[13:41] Why Steve believes the private equity business model is broken
[18:32] Steve’s experience with management blueprints
[24:16] The benefits of having an intelligence engine in your business
[30:19] The business maturation process and why you must understand it
[31:19] How to differentiate the rockstars and the superstars in your business
[33:30] How to professionalize your business growth trajectory
[35:28] The key differences between a specialist and a generalist
[37:40] Why not everyone in your business is meant for leadership
[40:05] What millennial employees want from their jobs
[43:22] Steve’s new consumer platform: Catalogue.co
Links and Resources
Salis Holdings Company Website
The Catalogue Consumer Platform
Complete the Buyability Assessment for Your Business
https://StevePreda.com
Monday Sep 06, 2021
Monday Sep 06, 2021
Mfon Akpan is an Assistant Professor of Accounting at Methodist University. He’s also the author of ten books and three audiobooks on business, technology, and innovation. We talk about virtual reality’s influence on today’s businesses, why social media is crucial for business success, and the Eisenberg Earned Media Value Index.
Timestamps
[00:42] Mfon’s journey from finance into being a professor and an author
[04:22] The common thread in most of Mfon’s books
[07:35] Summarizing Mfon’s book: A Hitchhiker’s Guide to Virtual Reality
[12:11] Practical examples of virtual reality’s influence in modern businesses
[14:51] Verizon’s plan to save lives using mixed reality
[15:28] The future of social media for businesses
[17:31] Why social media is crucial for business success
[18:13] How to measure social media effectiveness
[19:52] The Eisenberg earned media value index
[26:35] What is social capital, and how can it benefit your business?
[28:14] How much of your marketing budget should go into social media?
[31:20] Social media campaigns and earned media
Links and Resources
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Virtual Reality
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Monday Aug 30, 2021
Monday Aug 30, 2021
Jim Barnish is the Founder and Managing Partner at Orchid Black, a growth services firm that helps tech-forward companies build better game-changing businesses. We talk about finding your ideal client profile, value creation strategies for flatlining companies, and dissect Aaron Ross’ Predictable Revenue.
Timestamps
[00:29] Jim’s entrepreneurial journey
[01:49] Jim’s exit from the family business and launching Orchid Black
[04:58] Orchid Black’s mission to grow and maximize exit value for tech business
[06:49] How to define, measure, and assess value creation in companies
[09:11] Value creation strategies for flatlining companies
[13:31] What is Predictable Revenue?
[16:21] Dissecting Aaron Ross’ Predictable Revenue
[18:44] The Three-Tier Organizational Sales Strategy
[22:31] Product-market fit: What is it and why is it important
[24:42] Key Differences between product-market fit and minimal viable product
[26:48] How to find your ideal client profile
Links and Resources
Predictable Revenue by Aaron Ross
Orchid Black’s Market Insights
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Monday Aug 23, 2021
Monday Aug 23, 2021
Harsha Rajasimha is the founder and CEO of Jeeva Informatics Solutions, a company that provides SaaS products to clinical researchers and biotech sponsors to help accelerate remote patient recruitment. We talk about key metrics that define a successful SaaS company, the common issues that affect patients during clinical trials, and the FDA vaccine testing and approval process.
Timestamps
[01:05] Harsha’s entrepreneurial journey
[04:30] Harsha’s experience with The Startup Owners Manual
[07:50] The nine components of the Business Model Canvas
[10:25] How to get better at listening to your customers
[11:20] The FDA vaccine testing and approval process
[15:10] Patient recruitment, enrollment, and retention in clinical trials
[20:03] Enhancing clinical trial enrolment strategies
[21:31] Tackling the common issues among patients during clinical trials
[24:10] The key metrics that define a successful SaaS company
[27:10] Harsha’s go-to resources for SaaS entrepreneurs
[28:26] Jeeva’s five-year strategic vision for growth
Links and Resources
Jeeva Informatics Solutions Website
Platform Revolution by Geoffrey G. Parker
Startup Owners Manual by Steve Blank and Bob Dorf
Steve Preda’s Book: Buyable
Steve's blog
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Monday Aug 16, 2021
Monday Aug 16, 2021
Daniel Blue is the owner of Quest Education, a company that helps entrepreneurs obtain capital, pay off high-interest debt, and use self-directed retirement accounts to invest in alternative assets. We talk about self-directed investing, the Wall Street trap, and how to use retirement money for investments with zero penalties or taxes.
Timestamps
[00:39] Daniel's entrepreneurial journey
[02:30] How to use retirement money for investment
[04:25] Daniel's experience with management blueprints
[06:39] Implementing EOS for healthy business growth
[08:31] What is self-directed investing, and why is it important?
[09:41] How to use retirement accounts to invest in real estate
[12:49] How to avoid the Wall Street trap
[16:08] Dissecting the Solo 401K
[18:28] Quest Education's Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals
[20:54] Quest Education's network of financial planners
Links and Resources
Complete the Buyability Assessment
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Monday Aug 09, 2021
Monday Aug 09, 2021
Lynn Whitbeck is the President and CEO of Future Forward Sales, a specialist B2B sales consulting business focusing on the process, methods, and psychology of sales development. We talk about the customer journey map, emotions during the sales process, and the ever-evolving relationship between sales and marketing.
Timestamps
[00:40] Lynn Whitbeck's entrepreneurial journey
[02:35] The links between sales and leadership
[04:19] Lynn's experience with management blueprints
[07:28] How to create a practical customer journey map
[10:22] How to address the gaps in your customer experience strategy
[11:45] Think like your customer or lose the sale
[13:40] Driving sales with powerful emotional triggers
[16:40] The ever-evolving relationship between sales and marketing
[19:30] Understanding the customer 'why' and why it matters
[22:20] Why asking the right questions is crucial for the sales process
Links and Resources
The Future Forward Sales Podcast
The Guest Podcasting Master Class
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