That Will Never Work

Marc’s guest today, Seville, is a singular talent. She’s been making her own jewelry by hand since she was 12; over the years, her unique works have become favorites of such icons as NYC fashion magnate Patricia Field and singer Alicia Keys. Now, as a bi-coastal business owner, she’s focused on how to expand what she does without changing who she is. She and Marc have an amazing discussion about authenticity, content marketing and why she doesn’t have to worry too much about copycats.Want to be a guest on "That Will Never Work" and get help with your business issues? Head to https://marcrandolph.com/guest (https://marcrandolph.com/guest), fill out the form, and leave a voice message right there on the site. While there, you can also sign up for Marc’s newsletter – or else connect with him on Twitter (@mbrandolph) or on Instagram (@ThatWillNeverWork). 

Today’s show is a doozy. Weatherman-turned-insurance adjuster Mark calls in to discuss the app he’s developed to help victims of extreme weather events ​​more easily identify their losses and streamline the replacement process. Ironically, he’s calling in while under a tornado watch! And no, this isn’t some cheap marketing gimmick, it’s real life. Fortunately, Marc is able to bestow some solid, go-to-market guidance before the funnel descends. Want to be a guest on "That Will Never Work" and get help with your business issues? Head to https://marcrandolph.com/guest (https://marcrandolph.com/guest), fill out the form, and leave a voice message right there on the site. While there, you can also sign up for Marc’s newsletter – or else connect with him on Twitter (@mbrandolph) or on Instagram (@ThatWillNeverWork).

"Many years ago, broke and hungry, I found myself panhandling for spare change in Hartford, Connecticut," recalls Marc. "It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do but it was an incredible learning experience, because after that, asking an investor for $250,000 was nothing."There comes a time for every entrepreneur when you need to put your hand out and ask for support, which is exactly the subject of this week's podcast. Leanne has an idea for a life changing non-profit that will provide counseling to victims of sexual assault. But despite being convinced that her idea is a sound one, she’s having a problem getting anyone else to support her financially. Marc quickly recognizes some flaws in her approach and gives her a few suggestions for things she can do -- steps that will benefit anybody who might find themselves in that situation.Want to be a guest on "That Will Never Work" and get help with your business issues? Head to https://marcrandolph.com/guest (https://marcrandolph.com/guest), fill out the form, and leave a voice message right there on the site. While there, you can also sign up for Marc’s newsletter – or else connect with him on Twitter (@mbrandolph) or on Instagram (@ThatWillNeverWork).

Robert is a veteran in the biotech industry, so when he tells Marc he has a new, potentially life-saving medical device to bring to market, one takes him at his word. And like any entrepreneur with a track record and an exciting invention, Robert is figuring out how to work with the mainstream pharma industry, and when to pull the trigger. As he advises Robert, Marc also touches on the larger topic of what motivates entrepreneurs. A great conversation all around.Want to be a guest on "That Will Never Work" and get help with your business issues? Head to https://marcrandolph.com/guest (https://marcrandolph.com/guest), fill out the form, and leave a voice message right there on the site. While there, you can also sign up for Marc’s newsletter – or else connect with him on Twitter (@mbrandolph) or on Instagram (@ThatWillNeverWork).

Kemar wears many hats. A sneakerhead-turned-software engineer, his site Flip boasts 80,000 users who buy, sell and obsess about high end sneakers. He’s come to Marc to discuss how to continue to grow his business, but, through the course of their insightful conversation, the duo end up focusing on _who_ his customers are, which takes things to a whole new place. Want to be a guest on "That Will Never Work" and get help with your business issues? Head to https://marcrandolph.com/guest (https://marcrandolph.com/guest), fill out the form, and leave a voice message right there on the site. While there, you can also sign up for Marc’s newsletter – or else connect with him on Twitter (@mbrandolph) or on Instagram (@ThatWillNeverWork).

Today’s guest, Claudia, is on a mission to create a more equitable transit system for people with disabilities. And, like many a successful entrepreneur, her business was inspired by personal experience; blind since childhood - in fact, the first-ever blind woman elected to public office in Colorado - Claudia has experienced the deficiencies in the current systems first-hand. In her conversation with Marc, they tackle one of the thorniest issues for a new business: funding. The conversation is a good road map for anyone who’s ready to take that step. Want to be a guest on "That Will Never Work" and get help with your business issues? Head to https://marcrandolph.com/guest (https://marcrandolph.com/guest), fill out the form, and leave a voice message right there on the site. While there, you can also sign up for Marc’s newsletter – or else connect with him on Twitter (@mbrandolph) or on Instagram (@ThatWillNeverWork).

Don’t let Chris’ nickname - “The Architect” - intimidate you. He may be one of the kindest-hearted guests the show has had to date. And this spirit imbues his business, a consultancy that designs and executes one-of-a-kind urban adventures for individuals and companies. There’s only ONE Architect - and that’s just the issue. After a COVID-inspired lull, Chris needs to scale, quickly. Listen in as Marc helps him work through the thought process for determining how and when he should delegate.Want to be a guest on "That Will Never Work" and get help with your business issues? Head to https://marcrandolph.com/guest (https://marcrandolph.com/guest), fill out the form, and leave a voice message right there on the site. While there, you can also sign up for Marc’s newsletter – or else connect with him on Twitter (@mbrandolph) or on Instagram (@ThatWillNeverWork).

In many ways, Markian is the model of a successful, young entrepreneur. His social media brand, Smile Squad, boasts over 13 million followers and a healthy cash flow. Now, this top-tier influencer is focusing on how to keep his staff smiling. Marc is more than willing to provide some guidance on how to create a culture of transparency and trust - and he isn’t too shy to probe Markian for insights on how to increase his own social footprint.Want to be a guest on "That Will Never Work" and get help with your business issues? Head to https://marcrandolph.com/guest (https://marcrandolph.com/guest), fill out the form, and leave a voice message right there on the site. While there, you can also sign up for Marc’s newsletter – or else connect with him on Twitter (@mbrandolph) or on Instagram (@ThatWillNeverWork).

Jessica didn’t let some pandemic stop her. Drawing on years of experience in the fitness industry, she launched a new kickboxing studio business and, despite all the restrictions and uncertainty, brought 35 franchises online, with plans for hundreds more. She’s looking for some guidance from Marc on her best next steps - and he has a lot to say about where to focus, and, most importantly, where NOT to. Want to be a guest on "That Will Never Work" and get help with your business issues? Head to https://marcrandolph.com/guest (https://marcrandolph.com/guest), fill out the form, and leave a voice message right there on the site. While there, you can also sign up for Marc’s newsletter – or else connect with him on Twitter (@mbrandolph) or on Instagram (@ThatWillNeverWork).

It’s not often you meet aspiring royalty, but today’s guest, Mike, has his heart set on disrupting the high-end spice dispensing industry with his invention, Pepper King. An amiable fellow, Mike shares his plans to create the Rolls Royce of pepper mills, and the methodical ways in which he’s going about it. Marc offers up some great strategies - including a first-of-its-kind  recommendation. But you’ll have to tune in to find out what it is.Want to be a guest on "That Will Never Work" and get help with your business issues? Head to https://marcrandolph.com/guest (https://marcrandolph.com/guest), fill out the form, and leave a voice message right there on the site. While there, you can also sign up for Marc’s newsletter – or else connect with him on Twitter (@mbrandolph) or on Instagram (@ThatWillNeverWork).

Today’s guest, Tim, is already getting real-world feedback on his concept. He and his colleagues have developed Clicker, an app that makes sure you can watch what you want in a crowded bar. But, as he goes through a real-time brainstorming exercise with Marc, Tim begins to realize that the opportunity for his company is bigger than he initially thought; it may just be a matter of re-thinking who Clicker’s target customer is. If you want to be a guest on “That Will Never Work” and get help from Marc with your business issues, leave a message at: 1 888 MARCPOD / (888) 627-2763. You can also connect with Marc on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thatwillneverwork/), Twitter (https://twitter.com/mbrandolph) and on his website (https://Marcrandolph.com), where you can also sign up for his newsletter (https://www.marcrandolph.com/newsletter).

Joe's company, 12 Traits, has found an interesting niche: using AI to help gaming companies find and retain users. Joe, whose background includes clinical psychology as well as marketing, is now looking inward – and is focused on creating the sort of company culture that attracts the very best employees. Fortunately, Marc's experience at Netflix has given him some insights – and some strong opinions – about how Joe might be able to use HIS corporate culture to take 12 Traits to the next level.If you want to be a guest on “That Will Never Work” and get help from Marc with your business issues, leave a message at: 1 888 MARCPOD / (888) 627-2763. You can also connect with Marc on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thatwillneverwork/), Twitter (https://twitter.com/mbrandolph) and on his website (https://Marcrandolph.com), where you can also sign up for his newsletter (https://www.marcrandolph.com/newsletter). 

Joseph, a best-selling author, is pretty far along with his business: a vertically integrated hypnosis brand comprised of a podcast, an app and some a la carte offerings. But like many an entrepreneur, he’s ready to take on the big fish in the space. Could a subscription model be the way to go? Tune in to hear Marc’s thoughts on the subject.If you want to be a guest on “That Will Never Work” and get help from Marc with your business issues, leave a message at: 1 888 MARCPOD / (888) 627-2763. You can also connect with Marc on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thatwillneverwork/), Twitter (https://twitter.com/mbrandolph) and on his website (https://Marcrandolph.com), where you can also sign up for his newsletter (https://www.marcrandolph.com/newsletter).

CFO-turned-entrepreneur Erik dreams of a world in which clueless men don’t have to guess what jewelry to buy for their partner, as their beloved has already called ‘dibs’ on their preferred items. So he’s laying the groundwork to commercialize this simple but profound concept, with an app called “Dibbsi” that lets you lay claim to a bounty of consumer goods. As Marc counsels him, though, the first step is figuring out what the market’s appetite truly is for solving this problem.If you want to be a guest on “That Will Never Work” and get help from Marc with your business issues, leave a message at: 1 888 MARCPOD / (888) 627-2763. You can also connect with Marc on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thatwillneverwork/), Twitter (https://twitter.com/mbrandolph) and on his website (https://Marcrandolph.com), where you can also sign up for his newsletter (https://www.marcrandolph.com/newsletter).

Adriel had put the plans for his business - Riveter, which provides networking and services for the unemployed - in place before COVID hit. And then HE lost his job, enabling him to focus on his vision full time. Now he finds himself competing with bigger fish in the outplacement space, and Marc has some ideas about how he can continue to grow the company in this uncertain environment.If you want to be a guest on “That Will Never Work” and get help from Marc with your business issues, leave a message at: 1 888 MARCPOD / (888) 627-2763. You can also connect with Marc on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thatwillneverwork/), Twitter (https://twitter.com/mbrandolph) and on his website (https://Marcrandolph.com), where you can also sign up for his newsletter (https://www.marcrandolph.com/newsletter).

Marta is on a mission to create the ultimate marketplace for erotic art - and she’s well on her way. Now she just has to fine-tune her strategy to make sure she reaches the right audience. Marc dives in to learn all about this sector, from her dalliance with blockchain to the very real challenge that today’s social networks pose to a business focused on the innate beauty of the human body. This one’s an eye-opener for sure.If you want to be a guest on “That Will Never Work” and get help from Marc with your business issues, leave a message at: 1 888 MARCPOD / (888) 627-2763. You can also connect with Marc on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thatwillneverwork/), Twitter (https://twitter.com/mbrandolph) and on his website (https://Marcrandolph.com), where you can also sign up for his newsletter (https://www.marcrandolph.com/newsletter).

Evan is a young man who dreams of houses built by robots. But he’s not some silicon valley disruptor looking to replace human labor with AI-powered machines; he’s a contractor and builder himself, all too familiar with the inefficiencies in traditional construction. Now he wants to turn his dream of robot-assisted development into a reality, and he’s turning to Marc to find the best way to fund this vision - starting with the building of his own home. If you want to be a guest on “That Will Never Work” and get help from Marc with your business issues, leave a message at: 1 888 MARCPOD / (888) 627-2763. You can also connect with Marc on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thatwillneverwork/), Twitter (https://twitter.com/mbrandolph) and on his website (https://Marcrandolph.com), where you can also sign up for his newsletter (https://www.marcrandolph.com/newsletter).

To be honest, Marc wasn’t overly enthusiastic about Caitie’s product idea when she first pitched it to him. But, one year later, she (and her mom!) have secured both a patent and a huge order from Walmart for her Socket Lock-It phone accessory. Now, in addition to fulfilling this order, she has to focus on her next steps, and that’s where the rubber will really hit the road. Marc’s got some great advice for her.If you want to be a guest on “That Will Never Work” and get help from Marc with your business issues, leave a message at: 1 888 MARCPOD / (888) 627-2763. You can also connect with Marc on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thatwillneverwork/), Twitter (https://twitter.com/mbrandolph) and on his website (https://Marcrandolph.com), where you can also sign up for his newsletter (https://www.marcrandolph.com/newsletter).

David has proven that his COVID-friendly recreation business - on-demand table tennis - can thrive in one of the most expensive cities in the world: New York. Now, it’s time to scale. So what’s the best way forward? Is it real estate investment, franchising or something completely different? Tune in to hear how Marc plays it out.If you want to be a guest on “That Will Never Work” and get help from Marc with your business issues, leave a message at: 1 888 MARCPOD / (888) 627-2763. You can also connect with Marc on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thatwillneverwork/), Twitter (https://twitter.com/mbrandolph) and on his website (https://Marcrandolph.com), where you can also sign up for his newsletter (https://www.marcrandolph.com/newsletter).

Today Marc advises Paul - a first-time entrepreneur who hasn’t let the pandemic tank his ambitious and well-funded business plan. But as he races towards the opening of his indoor adventure park (with beer!), Paul needs some insight on how to make all the parts of his life work -- experience that Marc has in spades.If you want to be a guest on “That Will Never Work” and get help from Marc with your business issues, leave a message at: 1 888 MARCPOD / (888) 627-2763. You can also connect with Marc on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thatwillneverwork/), Twitter (https://twitter.com/mbrandolph) and on his website (https://Marcrandolph.com), where you can also sign up for his newsletter (https://www.marcrandolph.com/newsletter).

London-based Nick has a leg up on many an entrepreneur; he’s already launched his dream business: a subscription-based premium content platform for SciFi superfans. Not only that, but his small-but-engaged audience is lapping it up - and begging for more. So now that he knows he can move his users to tears of joy, he’s come to Marc to find out how to take that all-important next step: scaling up his audience without dumbing down his product.If you want to be a guest on “That Will Never Work” and get help from Marc with your business issues, leave a message at: 1 888 MARCPOD / (888) 627-2763. You can also connect with Marc on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thatwillneverwork/), Twitter (https://twitter.com/mbrandolph) and on his website (https://Marcrandolph.com), where you can also sign up for his newsletter (https://www.marcrandolph.com/newsletter).

Inspired by many trials over the past year (a global pandemic as well as her mom’s ailing health), Gurpreet, a veteran care provider, has envisioned a better model for procuring home health care but needs to determine her best first step to make her vision a reality. And while it’s tempting to dive into a tech build, after her call with Marc, she realizes that the answer lies in doubling down on her own unique experience to really move forward.If you want to be a guest on “That Will Never Work” and get help from Marc with your business issues, leave a message at: 1 888 MARCPOD / (888) 627-2763. You can also connect with Marc on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thatwillneverwork/), Twitter (https://twitter.com/mbrandolph) and on his website (https://Marcrandolph.com), where you can also sign up for his newsletter (https://www.marcrandolph.com/newsletter).

Introducing a new podcast by Netflix co-founder and first CEO Marc Randolph.