Anything But Typical

"Business… that's just a vehicle to make community impact." -Chris Moxley Those of us lucky enough to call Charlotte, NC, home often joke about how rare it is to meet a native Charlottean (so many of us moved here for new opportunities). But Chris is one of those unicorns, born and raised in Charlotte, and his love for his city and its people has inspired one of its most unique brands. Chris and his former UNC roommates co-founded a lifestyle brand that merges hometown pride and premium apparel. But it's what 704 Shop does outside its South End storefront that makes it so unique: radical community building that promotes upward mobility and connecting community members who love the city as much as they do. Chris' entrepreneurial journey is rooted in a pay-it-forward philosophy, a lesson he imbibed while growing up in some of Charlotte's most challenging neighborhoods. His belief is simple yet powerful: Every hurdle can be surmounted when good-hearted individuals invest in one another. To learn more: Find him at 704shop.com & connect on LinkedIn. When President John F. Kennedy said, "One person can make a difference, & everyone should try," Chris must have been listening.

“I get a real sense of purpose out of providing for others.” – Marc Hutto Expensive, frustrating, and typical—these are the words most employers and job seekers use to describe their experiences with recruiters. Sure, the position is eventually filled, but it costs a fortune, and there’s no guarantee the new employee will stick around. That’s why Marc turned traditional recruiting on its ear. Forget aggressive recruiters desperate to earn their placement fees. Forget overinflated profiles of unemployed job seekers desperate to find “anyplace” to land. Forget it all. It doesn’t work. Uncovering people’s purpose, values, and individual “career drivers” and then introducing them to the employers who share them does. Marc has made it his life’s mission to help businesses & employees find their perfect long-term match & do it in the most cost-effective way possible. Talk about a noble purpose. To learn more: Find him at RevealGlobal.com & connect on LinkedIn. Tom Rath said, “Make work a purpose, not just a place.” In such a typically cut-throat industry, seeing someone take that idea to heart is refreshing.

“I want someone when they look at what I’m doing, to say, ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant.’” – Chris J. Loucy For many years, Chris’ entrepreneurial journey was the stuff of dreams. Following a successful stint in sales, he rolled the dice on his own flooring company & won…big time. He blew his competition out of the water & experienced almost unreal growth. Until one day, when the dream became a nightmare. An unfair lawsuit filed against his company eventually became too big to fight. Chris was forced to close his doors. Which is where the story would end if he was a “typical” entrepreneur. Of course, he’s anything but! Today, you’ll find Chris helping small business owners mitigate their financial risk in their own companies by establishing business credit & the company’s financial foundation. His mission? To prevent others from experiencing the kind of heartache & ruin he personally experienced. Service & purpose. Well done, indeed. To learn more: Check out how Chris is impacting others at JGalt.io Serving others instead of wallowing in self-pity... It’s like Rick Warren said, “Don’t waste your pain; use it to help others.”

"We think that we are providing benefits to somebody and incentives. Actually, we're creating little fires and warring factions." - Kevin D. Monaghan Most organizations incentivize key employees with creative pay & perks like equity splits. Better pay + better benefits = obviously happy employees who stick around, work hard, & grow the company. t's easy and great math, except for the fact that it doesn't work. As Kevin can speak to personally, equity splits often produce arguments, jealousy, and resentment. Key employees are left at risk. It's a tough pill he was forced to swallow, sleeping on the floor of a 9'x9' apartment, rebuilding his life after losing everything to a work "family" who promised him the moon & then burned him badly. So, what's the alternative to splitting equity & keeping good people? Kevin knows now, & he's on a mission to tell the world. Check out IntuitiveCompensation.com for more info & download his FREE book at BucketsBook.com.

“I hated it, hated it with a passion.” — George Ramsay When George looks back on music lessons of his youth, he remembers only misery. Stuffy piano teachers, monotonous scales, and the dread of upcoming recitals made faking sickness a weekly occurrence. Music lessons were the enemy, and he’d do anything to miss them. But watching a high school friend learn from a teacher who taught improvisation & the rock music he loved changed his perspective. Music instruction could bring students alive, not just “make them better.” It could be FUN! He picked up the guitar with that teacher in mind and fell in love. Then he knew, “I just had to do something in music.” Together with his business partner, George has turned in-home music instruction on its ear. Equally as important, his business model provides a level of financial security for gig workers (his instructors) unheard of in the industry. People, passion, perspective. It’s all here! To learn more: 👉Find him on LinkedIn & at BoldMusicLessons.com Robert Ballard said, “Follow your own passion—not your parents’, not your teachers’—yours.” George did.

“It’s important to us to help people see that they matter.” – Christina Bartolotta Christina & her husband, Titus, are no strangers to business success. From car sales to consulting, this dynamic duo seemingly does it all & very well. Today, you’ll find them in the kitchen of their newest endeavor & one of Lake Norman, NC’s newest & deeply loved restaurants, Rise Cafe. Serial entrepreneurs with a passion for growing their bank accounts? Not even close. Behind every business the Bartolottas own & operate, a deep passion & love for people resonates. They simply have a heart for building businesses that richly improve lives & communities. It’s a noble cause, one made even more exceptional once you hear Christina’s journey. With no exaggeration, she has endured & found purpose in one of the most traumatic childhood journeys we’ve ever heard. Both Christina & Titus embody a favorite quote by Simon Sinek: “Profit isn’t a purpose; it’s a result. To have purpose means the things we do have real value to others.” This one will leave you speechless. To learn more: 👉Find her & Titus at Rise Cafe & Collaborative Solutions Group.

“I love our business model. It’s one where we can be truly honest with our clients.” Broc Buxton When cousins Jeffrey Wanner & Broc Buxton were growing up together, neither of them imagined that Broc would eventually join Jeff in building a company that would revolutionize the way other small businesses select professional employer organizations (PEOs). But as they matured, they recognized important qualities in each other that would fuel that endeavor: diligence, integrity, & a mutual love for solving problems that plague business owners. (If PEOs are unfamiliar to you, take heart. This episode will show you how you can outsource important HR functions, drive down costs, & how Jeff & Broc do it so differently.) Jeff & Broc turned their love for people & business into their passion for simplifying clients’ lives. Their one-of-a-kind, free (yes, free!) service helps business owners just like you sift through the marketing noise & select the best option for their workforce. Family, friendship, passion. How often do those collide? Check out Pair PEO and try out their calculator.

“I want people to recognize my passion for things – my passion for living, my passion for ensuring other people’s success.” — Reece M. Arlin, MBA When this car-loving, fitness-focused, self-proclaimed “terrible employee” graduated from college, he was certain buying & operating a gym was the path before him. But like most entrepreneurs, his first big plan never materialized. When a good friend suggested they start a marketing company focused on fitness sales, Reece took the chance & said yes. Together, they’ve built something extraordinary. Marketing geniuses? Not necessarily (though they certainly have the chops!). Passion for finding their niche, hiring the right people, staying true to their voice, pivoting in the face of adversity, & seemingly effortlessly growing a company with a totally remote workforce? Absolutely. Reece wasn’t born with all the answers. He was gifted with the passion to find them. And that has made all the difference. Check out Business Marketing Solutions Group.

“I just want to be known as a good guy.” – Palash Desai Most Ivy League business school graduates turned Silicon Valley execs aren’t known for their big hearts. Big profits, yes, but compassion & love for others take a distant back seat. Not so with Palash. In the middle of a very lucrative engineering career, he dropped it all to buy a two-person cleaning company in Charlotte, NC. Did he love cleaning? No. Was Charlotte home? No again. But that tiny cleaning company offered Palash a unique opportunity: to build a highly profitable & sustainable business that could address income inequality in a city known for lacking social mobility. Purpose-driven capitalism. That’s the heart of The Organic Maids, which now employs over 30 cleaning professionals making more than the average new college graduate -- bringing people out of poverty & changing their families’ & communities’ futures. That’s the work of a very good guy. Palash must have been listening when Leonardo DaVinci said, “Make your work to be in keeping with your purpose.” Connect with Palash on LinkedIn and check out The Organic Maids.

“So much of what I gain is from helping people in bad situations. Our clients, 95% of them are going through the worst time in their life.” – Jan Barefoot It isn’t unusual to hear firefighters or police officers talk about serving others on their worst days. Still, Jan Barefoot doesn’t wear a uniform or jump into action following a 911 call. She isn’t a first responder at all. But she just might be the brains behind figuring out who’s to blame for the chaos. This former legal secretary with a passion for detective work & justice is the woman behind one of the Carolina’s most established & rapidly growing private investigation firms. Suspected adultery, fraud, missing persons, extortion, you name it, Jan’s team tackles it all & has earned the respect & admiration of clients & top law firms alike. What’s her secret? Serving clients with humility & never allowing ethics to take a back seat to financial success. That’s a lesson for any entrepreneur. Check out Barefoot PI and connect with Jan on LinkedIn.

“I love life. I love to make people smile.” – Wilton Rogers III Growing up on a farm, Wilton got his very first taste of entrepreneurship: selling eggs to his mother’s friends at church. But it wasn’t the money that made his heart soar ($2 was his weekly profit!). It was the happiness he felt providing something people needed. That joy became his greatest form of payment. Multiple business opportunities would come & go throughout his life, but getting to know people, identifying their pain, & providing real solutions to better their lives was the common thread to them all. It still is. But what makes this story unexpected is that Wilton applied the same passion for people & service that inspired him as a kid to one of the coldest, most robotic industries on the planet: artificial intelligence. If stories of infusing purpose into unexpected places make your heart soar: Find him on LinkedIn, on his web site at Simply Automate, or listen to his podcast, Automation Nation.

“When you don’t have a choice…the one thing you do get to choose is who you get to do it with, so don’t do it alone.” Robert F Williams In the 1990s, when financial deals & payouts came easy, Bob’s life looked like a page from a storybook: beautiful family, a booming investment business, and thousands of successful deals. But his story, like any good one, contained a plot twist: Struggling with frequent travel away from his family, Bob lost everything when a trusted entrepreneur made off with millions he’d personally invested & encouraged others to invest. The suspect then died, dodging all accountability. Bob was crushed financially & his zest for life was destroyed. Thankfully, another plot twist was coming in the form of a good friend who wouldn’t let Bob “do it alone.” He got him back into business & life. Now for the ultimate surprise: Bob did the same for Gary years later when troubles came his way.

“People follow me for advice, but when I get feedback, it’s more about something business unrelated.” – Damon Burton If you don’t know Damon, you may be wondering why over 32,000 people follow him for advice on LinkedIn or flock to read his book, “Outrank.” If you do know him, you’ll know why seeking his advice is a no-brainer. This SEO expert has beat million-dollar companies at their own game & offers proven strategies for his audience to grow their companies. But good SEO advice isn’t all. That “something” he speaks of makes being in his presence genuinely unique, & it’s the absolute love, adoration, & praise he shares for his wife & children, mirrored in how he sees, commends, & nurtures his team. If you’re encouraged by industry leaders who not only upset their industry but unabashedly honor their lives & the people in it, this is the episode for you.

It’s easy to look at Renee & think that the comforts of Easy Street & a golden parachute allowed her to build the 13th largest woman-owned business in the Charlotte area & the only woman-owned industrial business in Union County (not to mention authoring a book & forming a foundation), but nothing could be further from the truth. A small-town girl introduced first to banking & then manufacturing sales, Renee created a name for herself in a male-dominated industry by working hard & maintaining her integrity. Where others took shortcuts (morally & otherwise), she sought higher ground. Amidst incredible challenges, including domestic violence, a brain tumor that put her in a wheelchair, and the harsh economies of the Great Recession and COVID lockdowns, Renee forged her business into the industry forefront. Perhaps most importantly, she retained her humanity, positivity, & love for good – qualities fueling the purpose of her life’s next chapter: giving back.

A quick message first: We had audio issues for the first 16 minutes of the show. We cleaned it up as much as possible, but you'll notice a difference. Apologies for that! "It's really about fit & relationship." — Brad Batten When Johannes Zwick & Bradley Batten first met at Davidson College, neither imagined a future as partners in private equity. But these fraternity brothers turned friends had important partnership traits in common: integrity, ambition, diligence, & love for people. Most importantly, they recognized & respected those qualities in each other. (By the way, if you can't believe these traits are being used to describe private equity investors, you're in for a treat. These guys are unexpected—you know, “anything but typical!”) Johannes & Brad turned their love for business & their focus on fit & relationship into a one-of-a-kind private equity firm. Today, they invest financially & operationally in small businesses eager to scale & do so while preserving each company's employees, culture, & core values. Forget everything you know about rip, strip, & flip private equity firms. These guys represent "investment with heart & purpose."

“I would love for people to one day, potentially, say that Mike put a piece of God in them… This is the goal of my life.” — Michael Metcalf Jr. Mike doesn’t mince words when it comes to his perspective on life. Maybe it’s because he witnessed the unthinkable as a young child or faced physical adversity on the football field at App State. Maybe his grandmother, “the smartest person I ever met”, provided much inspiration. We’ll never know. What we do know is this: Mike is a transparent, vulnerable, reflective leader who seeks out the good in individuals as he builds effective teams, & his perspective is so refreshing & life-giving to organizations that companies big and small chomp at the bit for a sliver of his time. Is now a good time to mention he’s a NASCAR pit crew leader by trade? (Bet you weren’t expecting that!) If you love stories of unexpected journeys & finding purpose in all you do: NOTE: Mike is providing the special pricing for his book, “12 Second Culture” and running it for 12 days. $8.88 down from $24.99. Use promo code “anythingbuttypical” upon checkout to get the discount! Link to the website for the book in comments.

Ty Harmon, Founder and President at Harmon Construction, overcame hardship and instability growing up. His mother was never able to own a home. Ty went onto the construction management industry. When he was ready to step out on his own, Ty made sure to never forget his childhood. Ty's company is focused on giving clients "the exceptional construction experience." In addition to commercial and retail construction, Harmon Construction also specializes in complex single & multi family development, construction of schools, and non profit construction. In this episode, Ty shares how he navigated an industry with very few minority business owners. We talk about the importance of having an elite management team. Harmon goes into the focus of surrounding himself with high quality and talented people. Check out Harmon Construction, and follow Ty on LinkedIn.

“It’s OK if I have a day where I work for 15 min.” – Chris Claflin. That’s a mind-blowing statement coming from a successful entrepreneur in property management, where words like “hustle” & “growth” flow with ease, but that’s the heart of Chris Claflin. It wasn’t always. One of 7 children born to a blue-collar household, Chris was schooled in the virtues of hard work & company loyalty. He followed those teachings all the way to Boeing, working double overtime for 9 years & finding joy in corporate life. But when ugly company culture reared its ugly head (sound familiar?), Chris knew the next step was entrepreneurship. It was up to him to design a life worth living. With his wife, Chris has done just that, & he’s learned some incredible lessons about living in your thrive zone & fiercely protecting what matters – all while growing a company & preserving his ultimate goal: the freedom to do whatever he wants.

This is a special episode of the Anything But Typical Show. Our own Gary Frey has published a book titled: Silence The Imposter Syndrome- 7 Weapons To Silence Imposter Syndrome. In this episode, Gary takes us behind the scenes of what it takes to get a book published. We talk about the options to publish such as self publishing, an independent publisher, and a large publisher. We go into what Gary's book writing journey looked like. Gary shares his experience with different interactions. He tells us some of the best advice he was given along the way. Be sure to grab Gary's book, and let him know how it impacted you or changed your mindset!

Devan overcame childhood struggles with the help of baseball being a driving and motivating force in his life. It helped him stay out of trouble, strive for freedom early in life, and get to college. When Devan made the pros, everything was on track. So when he got released, Kline needed to figure out what was next. With no money and no ability to get a lease, Devan began holding boot camp workouts in parking lots and abandoned theaters. He and his wife, Morgan, saw the impact they were creating and the opportunity in front of them. Burn Boot Camp was born. Devan shares with us how they've grown so successfully. He talks about why they didn't bring investors on or make other deals giving up control. He goes into how and why he is constantly working to get away from job titles. This is a must listen episode to learn, be inspired, and grow. Follow Devan on Instagram @Devan.Kline Subscribe to his YouTube Channel @Devan.Kline

“Have the courage to suck.” – Brian K. Anders That’s uncommon advice coming from an engineer, but not every engineer has a heart like Brian. Nor do they have his experience. Brian gained his grit loading trucks at night to pay for school & his passion for client service watching his wife change lives as a private investigator. He rejected corporate life to relentlessly pursue his dream job in forensic engineering, despite having no previous experience in it. I don’t use the word relentlessly lightly. Brian used a supply closet as an office & showed up to job sites without the promise of pay just for the chance to be helpful & prove himself. His willingness to try & fail, combined with the question, “How do I add more value?”, propelled him both then and now. Today, Brian’s forensic engineering companies serve clients in 49 states & 5 countries. He is a valuable, one-of-a-kind resource to all he serves. In this episode, Brian shares lessons learned along the way and plenty of entertaining stories!

In this episode, co-hosts Ben McDonald and Gary Frey discuss imposter syndrome in business and in life. Gary has written a book titled Silence The Imposter Syndrome, coming out October 2023. We talk about how imposter syndrome has been present in each of our lives. Ben shares what it was like being a 22 year old athletic director surrounded by 60 year old career academic leaders. Gary shares a freeing moment he experienced through a conversation with a boss at Bank of America.

This is a special Anything But Typical episode! Entrepreneurship runs in the family, as we interview co-host Gary Frey's son, Zach Frey. As a child, Zach would constantly be drawing. He had a fascination with drawing and designing shoes. This hobby turned into a career, with Frey working at brands such as Reebok, Puma, and Wolf & Shepherd. But the vision of creating a better shoe was too strong. In this episode, Zach shares his journey from the big corporations to the launching and growing of Flux Footwear. We go into what differentiates their shoes. We talk about hurdles faced. And we hear insights about branding and marketing a quickly growing company. Check out the shoes at FluxFootwear.com and connect with Zach on LinkedIn.

On the surface, Jeff Conway looks like a typical successful restauranteur: passionate about food, pursuing growth, dedicated to his family and community, but certainly living on “Easy Street”. What lies beneath, though, in an unbelievable tale: wild success followed by a false accusation & 13 months federal prison time, reflection, redemption, & ultimately rebuilding with the unwavering support of family, friends, & faith. You can’t afford to miss this one. Jeff shares his insights from his time in public companies. He discusses his experience in prison. Jeff goes into how he rebuilt afterwards. And we go full circle into the successful restaurant businesses Conway is running today. After listening to this episode, go follow Jeff on LinkedIn.

“Just because you live in that environment doesn’t mean the environment has to live in you.” That perspective has served this week's guest, Emilio Guevara, well. Born to immigrant parents & growing up in one of the toughest & most devastated neighborhoods of the Bronx, Emilio’s path to success wasn’t handed to him. Seven children, the youngest four in a one-bedroom apartment, a blind and alcoholic father, little money, tough streets. The excuses for failure were there. But the underlying spirit in the house was one of devotion, commitment, hard work, & a “find a way” attitude that lives in Emilio today. Emilio now leads ENYADA INC. & Capitalist Conversations promoting free enterprise through conversations & partnerships with successful entrepreneurs. His humble beginnings are never far from his mind though, & he continues to seek new opportunities, true connection, and joy in all he does.

David Zerfoss' first lessons came from a farm in Western Pennsylvania. When Zerfoss was tasked with being the President of Husqvarna Professional Products North America, those lessons came in handy. He built a culture of leadership, focus, and purpose. "People want to be a part of something bigger than themselves that they can be a part of." His leadership helped pave the way to a 1700% growth in sales. Zerfoss serves business leaders at a Master Chair at Vistage Worldwide. In the episode, he talks about the benefits of surrounding yourself with like minded individuals. He speaks to the importance of constantly growing and learning. He shares many more lessons that are invaluable to business leaders.

Alignment and Priorities. That is how Chris Torchia wants to be known. That may explain how Chris has changed from his microbiology background to tech CEO with experiences running companies in different countries. This wide ranging conversation goes into how Torchia had his cryptocurrency mining equipment seized in Russia due to U.S. sanctions. He shares stories and lessons from his business experience in the Czech Republic. And Chris discusses the type of technology they are creating that is helping the Department of Defense train the United States military. After enjoying this episode, be sure to go follow Chris on LinkedIn.

Kara Taddeo is not one to shy away from a challenge. In 2002, she became the General Manager of Hotel Belleclaire in New York City. To say this was a turnaround would be quite the understatement. What Kara could best describe as a "crack hotel", she turned into a 4 star hotel in uptown Manhattan. Her story of de-roaching the hotel and getting rid of squatters shows unbelievable tenacity and perseverance. Starting a tap room and beer hall in a city with almost no craft beer scene was another challenge Kara stepped up to. Charlotte, today known for its craft beer and outdoor seating, was not that way in 2011. Kara saw the vision of what could be. They have now been running VBGB Beer Hall & Garden for over 12 years; and have added event venue The Hamilton as well. Be sure to check out VBGB and The Hamilton, and follow Kara on LinkedIn.

Most entrepreneurs dream about growing their businesses, having a successful exit, taking a company public, and much more. Today's guest, Roger Braswell, has done it all. Roger was the Founder & CEO of Compact Power Equipment. In this episode, we talk about how Roger created and grew the business. He discusses the obstacles faced along the way and how that ultimately led to even greater success. Roger IPO'd Compact Power, and eventually sold to Home Depot for 9 figures. You may think Roger sailed off in the sunset after that. Instead, we find Roger being the Owner & Chairman of The Southern Shade Tree Company, Chairman of The Integra Group, Chairman of Give Hope Global, and serving as a business advisor. Check out Give Hope Global after this episode.

One episode was not enough to cover Reebok Founder Joe Foster's story. So here we are with Part 2. In this episode, Joe shares about Reebok's expansion from women's aerobic shoes to other sports and lines. He talks about how they had to be strategic with their expansions. Joe also shares one of his biggest business regrets. We discuss Reebok going public and Joe's transition out of the operations of the business. Joe talks about how he began serving as an ambassador of Reebok, and how now he is a digital nomad. Check out more about Joe HERE.

As a grandson of the legendary J.W. Foster growing up in Bolton, England, running seemed to be in Joe Foster’s blood. Little did Joe know that winning an American “Webster’s New School & Office Dictionary” in a race at age seven would make a South African antelope synonymous with a multi-billion-dollar international shoe brand – Reebok. Joe proved that while he may not have been blessed with the DNA of a world-class runner, he was blessed with the DNA of a world-class “improver,” & his book, “Shoemaker,” is an excellent testimony of that fact. If you love shoes or, more importantly, stories of positive ripple-makers who’ve run their unique race against all odds, multiple setbacks, heartaches, & challenges, this episode is for you! Enjoy Joe's story of starting, establishing, and growing Reebok.

As a Blackhawk helicopter pilot stationed in South Korea in the late ‘90s, Chris Videau took off for an R&R weekend with his buddies in search of a little fun and relaxation. What he found turned out to be his life’s calling. Instead of white sands and glistening water, the Army veteran instead found a horribly polluted beach, littered with plastic waste that had been discarded in the China Sea. This was nothing like the beaches back home. Chris never forgot that image or that ruined weekend, and years later in Iraq, watching tons of plastic waste literally go up in flames as U.S. troops sought to eliminate their trash, Chris’ next step became abundantly clear He was going to dedicate the next phase of his life to eliminating plastic waste. But how? Where he ended up is as unexpected as his enlistment decision: the laundry detergent space, a fiercely competitive industry dominated by big brand names producing water-rich products in heavy plastic containers. How could a 20-year Army veteran, with no marketable skills other than flying helicopters, break into such a market, let alone aim to completely transform it? Chris did and still is with his company, Sheets Laundry Club, and its simple, effective, sustainable, and cost-effective alternative to everyday laundry detergent. If you love stories of positive ripple-makers who followed their passions and turned impossible dreams into reality (all while developing a genius new product), this episode is for you! Check out Sheets Laundry Club to see more about what Chris and the team are doing.

Manny Ohonme never wore a pair of shoes for the first 9 years of his life. When missionaries visited his village in Nigeria, they held a basketball shooting contest. The winner would receive a pair of sneakers. Manny won that competition, becoming the first person in his village to own a pair of shoes. More importantly, he was set on a path that would impact millions of lives. Ohonme was offered 5 basketball scholarships, eventually accepting a scholarship to the University of North Dakota. When he went back to Africa and saw kids playing basketball in bare feet, he knew he had to make a difference. In this episode, we go through the incredible story of how Manny Ohonme went from the 9 year old winning his first pair of shoes, to the man running Samaritan's Feet and approaching his 10 millionth pair of shoes donated. Follow Manny on LinkedIn and check out Samaritan's Feet.

Author of 50 Marketing Secrets of Growth Companies in Down Economic Times, and Me, Myself, & Inc., Sherre' DeMao has a plethora of writing experience. In between, Sherre' fixes businesses with her free time. DeMao is the Founder and CEO of BizGrowth. She has also been a fractional COO and CMO for multiple businesses. In this episode, Sherre' gets very tactical for us around creating strategies for clients. She shares some of the biggest mistakes she's seen. We discuss how she pulls ideas and visions out of business leaders. DeMao also has a component of giving in every business plan she does with her clients. We talk about why that is so important, and how giving can also be an excellent business strategy. Be sure to check out BizGrowth and learn about Sherre' as an author and speaker on Her Site.

Steered by faith and authenticity, Jim Dunn has been helping businesses grow for many years. After running his own Sandler Sales Franchise, Jim is now the Director of BGW Growth Services. A common hurdle Jim has faced when working with business owners is their fear of failure. “You cannot grow unless you’re willing to fail.” In this episode, Jim shares how he gets leaders out of their comfort zones and out of their own ways. Jim began his entrepreneurial ways in a way you see in movies or read about in books. Jim sold lemonade and cut yards. He learned how to save money early. He studied vocabulary cassettes to improve how he communicated. The self development has yet to stop for Jim Dunn. In this episode, not only will you learn through Jim’s experience. You will also hear Jim discuss specific strategies and tactics he uses with business leaders like yourself.

Angel Rutledge was an educator. Her first career choice, teaching 7th graders, was the path Angel envisioned for herself. Through a passion of adoption, Angel and her husband, Dan, adopted two kids from Liberia. Along that journey were many other families trying to do the same thing. The problem was, it was unorganized chaos. Angel and Dan solved their own problem, and the problems of many hopeful families. This experience led to software solution company SignUpGenius. Angel discusses her transition into entrepreneurship, her experience exiting SignUpGenius, her multitude of advisory and board experience, and her Angel Investing experience. We also discuss Angel's most recent venture, Meetify. Check out Meetify and be sure to follow and connect with Angel on LinkedIn.

Phillip Lanier didn't realize he even started a business until years in. This accidental entrepreneurship journey almost came with an early exit. Lanier wasn't enjoying the business and was thinking about a way to sell. Instead, with business coaching and a voracious appetite for personal development, Phillip Lanier built a company that he loved working in. The renewed passion led to significant business growth. So when Lanier did sell the business, it was in a completely different mindset. Enjoy this story and the lessons Phillip learned along the way.

Scott Dunstan, Owner & President at The Dunstan Group, has helped businesses utilize custom apparel and promotional merchandise to build their brands for years. So it may come as no surprise that when they started a podcast they named it the Brand Builders Podcast. Scott talks with us about how they go about understanding their audience. Figuring out budgets and goals of companies, then executing branding plans to accomplish those goals. Dunstan takes us into his mindset and shares how he tries to personify honesty and doing good for the community. Scott also discusses how they've used the podcast to add more value, engage more with clients and community, and build their own brand. Be sure to follow Brand Builders Podcast, check out The Dunstan Group, and connect with Scott on LinkedIn.

Ketan Patel was exposed to business ownership helping out his parents as a kid in their business. Today he owns and runs Pop the Top Craft Beer Shop. Ketan took a year and a half to put together a business plan. He factored in what he was passionate about and what he wanted in his life. Ketan discusses how he gets out of his bubble to gain perspective. He shares what it was like going back to 80+ hour weeks during the Covid pandemic. We also get into future growth and expansion. Ketan and Kathy have created an environment in Pop the Top where people can come, hang out with a group of friends or hold a business meeting, and enjoy a craft beer. Then be sure to take home your favorite hard kombucha or cider from their market section. Check out Pop the Top.

Mike & Cindy Praeger sold their first business together in their 20s. They looked at this sale not as a finale, but as a building block. Cindy learned that is was her job to find people's super powers and bring the right people into a company. One of Mike's takeaways was "Everybody tries to boil the ocean right at the beginning." Instead, Mike said, we must solve a narrow pain point. Mike went on to co-found Avid XChange, which he has since taken public and remains Chairman and CEO. Cindy co-founded and is Managing Partner at Rhythm Systems, where she helps CEOs and their companies achieve their strategic goals. This episode is filled with advice and lessons from both of their journeys. Follow Mike on Instagram @MikePraeger, and connect with him on LinkedIn. Connect with Cindy on LinkedIn, and check out Rhythm Systems.

Matt Pozda and Mike Meyer met in the corporate world doing investment banking. With consistency and purpose, the two created MM Capital. Today they acquire, operate, and grow businesses. In this episode, we talk about how they choose businesses to acquire. We discuss the qualitative aspects that make a company or industry attractive. And we dive into how they balance running a business together while getting their time with families. Check out MM Capital and connect with Matt and Mike on LinkedIn.

"It was like going 200 miles per hour and somebody pulling the emergency brake and spinning out for months." That was Helen Edwards description of Covid-19 hitting. The pandemic hurt many businesses. But when you own and run an event planning company, business screeched to a halt. In this episode, Helen describes how they responded to the pandemic. Spark By Design was able to adapt so well, they did as much revenue in 2021 as they had in 2019. Want to know how a company can lose all of its revenue in 2 months and bounce back stronger than ever? Then this is the episode for you. Check out Spark By Design and connect with Helen on LinkedIn.

Jack Burke is the CEO & Chief Visionary Officer at BRK Global Marketing. He’s been running the business for almost 32 years. In addition, Jack is the Founder and President of A Big Heart Foundation. Yet, it all started with a $3,000 limit Sears credit card. From his days playing Division 1 Tennis, Jack learned to keep a tight schedule, balance multiple responsibilities, and master his time management. Jack also posed the question: When you lose the first set, how do you walk of the court a winner? Jack has taken this mentality to flourish in the world of business and entrepreneurship. Seeing his father be self employed, Burke began his entrepreneurial journey shoveling driveways, cutting lawns, and stringing tennis rackets as a kid. He began a t shirt company is college. Follow along this episode to hear the rest of his journey and share in the lessons he learned along the way.

When Steve Wohlenhaus was in his early 20's, he started Weatherology. He has run the business for over 35 years. In this episode, Steve discusses working an unpaid internship for 2 years to learn from a mentor. He maintained his priorities and refused to give up his workouts, even when that meant 2:00AM wake ups to get a run in before working. Today, in addition to running the business, Steve is an author, speaker, podcast host, and LinkedIn influencer. He has shifted some of his time to help others find joy and fulfillment in their lives. Steve spends 6 hours a day on self care, reads 60-70 books each year, focuses on getting the greatest amount of life satisfaction. Check out Steve's podcast, Anatomy of Success, on every podcast platform. Follow him on LinkedIn.

Jim & Sandy Forbes, owners of Rinnovare Inc, have been running businesses since 1989. From trying to make a living with their first business to trying to make a positive impact today, the Forbes' entrepreneurial path is filled with stories and lessons. Jim and Sandy discuss how they now use vision boards to increase their focus and accomplishments of their goals. They go into their differentiators and how they stand out in their industry. Sandy describes their process of disappearing for a few days at the end of the year to plan out the next. Jim shares some of their favorite business books, including The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek. Check out Rinnovare to learn more about how Jim & Sandy run their business.

Brian Parsley is a keynote speaker, Managing Partner of The Constance Group, and an Angel Investor. In our episode, we talk about how Brian figured out his first entrepreneurial endeavor in 5th grade. We discuss how speaking engagements and content have led to business. Brian shares how he struggles with and overcomes imposter syndrome. This episode is the perfect example of how we all deal with similar hurdles throughout our business careers. Brian does a phenomenal job articulating these points and how they come up in his life. Be sure to check out Brian's Site and find him on your favorite social media platform @BrianParsleySpeaker.

How do you balance running a profitable business and impacting the world? Enter Liz Ward. Liz is the founder of Give Impact- an advisory services firm focused on affordable housing and upward mobility solutions. Companies have capital or resources and a desire to impact their communities. But nobody was out there to support or help them put those resources to good use. Liz and her team help businesses navigate the complexities of affordable housing to use those resources to support the communities these business owners are passionate about. Liz talks about why she didn't go the nonprofit route. She shares how she's shaping working for give impact to be a journey and experience. We discuss putting up boundaries in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle and not burn yourself out. And we go well into how business leaders can help change their cities or communities. This conversation will get you thinking about how you can use your lot in life to make positive changes around you. Follow Liz on LinkedIn and check out Give Impact.

Torrey Wood, Founder & CEO of M&A Financing Services, finishes the podcast talking about making it easy to prioritize what's most important in your life. Whether it's family and faith in Torrey's case, or whatever it may be for you, prioritization is a key theme in this episode. Torrey learned early on in his career not to listen to other people. He believed in his vision and set out to achieve it despite those doubting him. Part of how Torrey had success was through building an elite network. Yet, his style of networking isn't the transactional manner you associate with the word. Torrey Wood has build his network through authenticity, generosity, and providing value to others without expectation of reciprocity. Enjoy this episode to learn more about how you can do well while doing well for others. Connect with Torrey on LinkedIn and check out M&A Financing Services.

Greg Artzt grew up around entrepreneurs. So it will come as no surprise to hear that early in his career, Greg left being a trader at a hedge fund to start his own business. After the Sandy Hook school shooting, Greg and the other founders of PunchAlert came together to create a solution that would save lives during active shootings and other emergencies. In this episode, Greg talks about the evolution of PunchAlert. He discusses having the purpose behind the brand. This being recorded shortly after the Uvalde school shooting in Texas, Greg walks us through exactly how their system would have came into play in that scenario. Enjoy an episode filled with lessons you can carry over into your business. Be sure to check out PunchAlert and connect with Greg on LinkedIn.

Joe Farrell has owned Quality Data Systems, a cash automation company, for over 39 years. Now Sean is CEO. In our conversation, we discuss the dynamics of Sean coming into the business after playing professional baseball. Joe shares his background and how QDS was founded. Sean talks about the awkward size of a company with 85 employees that's leaving the small business arena and moving up to a medium sized business. Both discuss building and maintaining the culture in a growing company. How transparency with employees leads to loyalty and empowerment. Joe talks about the creation of Lionheart Charities and how they are positively impacting their communities. Be sure to check out Quality Data Systems, and connect with Joe and Sean on LinkedIn.