Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Side Hustle to Small Business

Payroll is one of the trickiest parts of running a business, but for Christina Hageny, it became her calling. She first discovered payroll while working as an administrative assistant, and despite encouragement to move into HR, she stuck with it. In 2020, Christina launched her own firm, Valor Payroll Solutions, and today she helps small businesses handle payroll with ease and confidence.

 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and background

11:19 Payroll across different industries

13:31 Scaling the business 

17:58 Bootstrapping the business

20:34 Balancing work and life

25:32 Reflecting on the business

29:39 Advice for other entrepreneurs 

30:39 Closing and contact

Garden guru Nick Cutsumpas, better known as Farmer Nick, is a Michigan-based plant coach, urban gardener, and landscape designer. He talks about how his mom encouraged him to start a garden, sparking a deep love for greenery that quickly blossomed into a full-time career and an impressive social media following. He hosts several Netflix shows and has been featured on the Food Network.   Chapters

00:00 Introduction and background

5:27 Overcoming nerves

8:15 Creating Farmer Nick

14:33 Managing a large business

19:49 Cause-based marketing

21:38 Building a National business

26:47 Reflecting on the business

29:18 Advice for other entrepreneurs

29:56 Closing and contact

Matt Remuzzi entered the accounting industry twenty-five years ago when he founded CapForge. What began as a solo venture launched from a spare bedroom in his home has since evolved into a thriving business. Today, CapForge employs a team of over 90 people who help more than a thousand clients grow their businesses and meet their obligations with professional bookkeeping support.

 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and background

13:30 Overcoming nerves

17:34 Maintaining quality while scaling

20:03 Pricing

23:27 Work-life balance

29:39 Reflecting on the business

31:48 Advice for other entrepreneurs

34:05 Closing and contact

Cat Lepetit has always had a deep love for the beach. After spending 20 years in the cosmetics industry, she felt it was time for a new chapter. That’s when the idea for Sun Drunk was born, a beach goods company focused on simplicity, peace of mind, and sustainability. With a mission to help protect our oceans and keep beaches clean, Sun Drunk is all about making it easier to enjoy the coast while caring for it too.

 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and background

7:48 Overcoming nerves

11:23 Designing the products

16:23 Building a customer base

19:56 Giving back

22:25 Overcoming stress

25:32 Looking back

28:02 Advice for other entrepreneurs 

29:57 Closing and contact

Justin Abrams is a lifelong salesman, with a career in the industry spanning over a decade. However, when Justin and his friend Michael tried to pivot into the tech startup space, they found they were facing challenges getting into market. It was at that point that the two were asked to design a web application. This opportunity turned into what would become Cause of a Kind, a successful web development company.

 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

8:22 Overcoming nerves

11:25 Building the business

14:52 Using AI

19:23 Balancing life and work

26:26 Advice for other entrepreneurs

30:23 Closing and contact

Nikky Wainwright has been reselling anything since she was in college - books, clothing, shoes, you name it. However in 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, she noticed that while some businesses were suffering, reselling was going strong. It was at this point that she went all in on Diva’s Treasure Closet, a a luxury, designer, and vintage e-commerce business. Starting out online, Nikky has now opened her own boutique in Atlanta. 

 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and background

6:46 Choosing your inventory

10:38 Social media strategy

15:50 Balancing life and work

20:24 Growing the business

22:53 Reflecting on the business

25:19 Advice for other entrepreneurs

27:42 Closing and contact

When Jaya Iyer couldn’t find science-themed dresses for her daughter, she realized that other parents must be feeling the frustration. Wanting to empower her daughter and others, she launched Svaha USA, a STEAM-based fashion brand that creates clothing for the entire family. What started as a mission to challenge gender stereotypes in kids' clothing has grown into a thriving business known for its bold, brainy designs.

 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and background

7:00 Challenges when starting the business

14:13 Creating the clothing

20:30 Fulfilling orders

23:18 Building a mission-driven brand

25:31 Balancing family and work

30:16 Reflecting on the business

31:34 Advice for other entrepreneurs

33:11 Closing and contact

Brittane Rowe is an off-Broadway actress by trade, but when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down Broadway, she found herself with time for deeper, more meaningful conversations with her family. Inspired by those moments, Brittane teamed up with her brother Brandon and sister-in-law Jane to create Awkward Games, a card game company designed to spark joy and strengthen relationships.

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction and background

8:10 Getting the first sales

9:31 Getting the product into stores

11:56 Overcoming nerves

14:48 Shark Tank

24:09 Game development

26:40 Balancing work and life

28:50 Running the business in NYC

31:43 Reflecting back on the business

34:07 Advice for other entrepreneurs

35:28 Closing and contact

Kwadwo Som-Pimpong founded Crafted Glory, a handcrafted furniture company, after buying his first home in Asheville, North Carolina. Drawing on his engineering background, he mastered the mechanics of furniture making and honed his craft. What began as a personal project has grown into a business that serves customers across the country. Today, Crafted Glory is known for its commitment to quality, craftsmanship, and thoughtful design.

 

-Chapters-

00:00 Introduction and background

6:29 Overcoming nerves

8:12 Pricing your work

10:22 Training as a woodworker 

16:30 Viewing the business longterm 

20:56 Balancing work and life

25:31 Finding a coach

31:50 Reflecting on the business

33:18 Advice for other entrepreneurs

34:37 Closing and contact

Erica Levin is a serial entrepreneur, having started three businesses in her life. During the pandemic, while her daughter was starting to eat solid foods, Erica decided to start making her own baby food that incorporated flavors from around the world and introduced allergens early. From there, she has built Globowl, a baby and toddler food company with a mission to inspire adventurous eating for life.

 

-Chapters-

00:00 Introduction and background

4:45 Starting Global

12:05 Overcoming nerves

13:05 Funding the business

16:23 Making mistakes

20:55 Entering the food space

23:41 Plans to grow the business

27:02 Mission-oriented brands

29:02 Work-life balance

32:25 Reflecting on the business

34:47 Closing and contact

Jo Skillman is a Houston-based Creative Director and the Founder of Jo Skillman LLC. Known for her thoughtful, cause-driven work, she’s partnered with clients like the City of Houston. With expertise in both design and copywriting, Jo brings a well-rounded, strategic approach to every project.

 

-Chapters-

00:00 Introduction and background

6:35 Overcoming nerves

13:20 Working across multiple industries 

18:21 Balancing two sides of the business

21:44 Using AI in your work

25:58 Balancing work and life

29:20 Reflecting back on the business

31:18 Advice for other entrepreneurs

33:20 Closing and contact

Jennifer Bower is a mom of two, a veteran, grad student, and the Founder of Fortuna Money. After a career in the Air Force, Jennifer got into the banking world which gave her the knowledge and know how to launch Fortuna Money, a financial coaching service. On this episode, she shares tips and tricks on how small businesses can better manage their money, identifying bad spending habits, and keeping personal and business expenses separate. 

 

-Chapters-

00:00 Introduction and background

5:54 Building the business

11:48 Overcoming nerves

13:31 Choosing the right clients 

20:25 Financial mistakes as Founders

22:26 Work-life balance

25:37 Reflecting on the business

28:20 Advice for other entrepreneurs

30:55 Closing and contact

After the birth of her first child, Courtney Boylan quickly discovered that postpartum essentials, such as nipple shields and nursing pads, were typically not made with aesthetics in mind. She believed that with everything that mothers were going through postpartum, they deserved beautiful products. It was then that she founded Le Lolo, a postpartum brand thoughtfully designed to support and celebrate new mothers.

 

-Chapters-

00:00 Introduction and Background

9:43 Overcoming nerves

11:17 Designing the right product

14:19 Naming the company

16:01 Brand evolution

18:24 Running the business

21:09 Setting boundaries

23:36 Reflecting on the business

26:05 Advice for other entrepreneurs

26:43 Closing and contact

Kathleen Minogue is a creative at heart and a former educator who never imagined a future in finance. But during the dot-com boom, an unexpected opportunity at JP Morgan changed her trajectory. While working there, she noticed a striking gap: those seeking venture capital rarely came from creative fields. It wasn’t until she helped crowdfund a film she produced that she discovered the power of crowdfunding and found her true calling.

 

-Chapters-

00:00 Introduction and background

5:31 Entrepreneurial background

7:03 Overcoming nerves

10:12 Going from side hustle to small business

20:06 Mistakes in crowdfunding

23:34 Setting boundaries

25:55 Reflecting back on the business

31:05 Advice for other entrepreneurs

32:03 Closing and contact

After several years working as a licensed psychotherapist, Arianna Smith launched a copywriting side hustle in 2019. Her goal was to help fellow therapists write copy that feels clear, human, and approachable. By simplifying clinical language and focusing on genuine connection, Arianna has grown that side hustle into a thriving business, one that now surpasses her therapy practice.

 

-Chapters-

00:00 Introduction and background

6:55 Finding clients

8:45 Growing a side hustle while working full-time

14:46 Why this business is essential

18:01 Balancing a side hustle

21:14 Expanding the business

23:50 Advice for clients

27:15 Structure of the business

30:15 Reflecting on the business

33:47 Advice for other entrepreneurs

35:04 Closing and contact

With a background in college athletics and academia, Dr. Carrie Graham pivoted her career after earning her Ph.D. in Adult Education. As a professional, she had attended many training programs, and realized that these programs were lacking any sort of personalization to the attendees. It was then that she became an Adult Learning Strategist and Consultant, who specializes in helping small businesses creating more engaging and tailor-made training programs. 

 

-Chapters-

00:00 Introduction

4:50 Starting the business

9:50 Overcoming nerves

11:32 Identifying effective training

16:06 Treating your employees right

19:24 Using training to develop company culture

23:10 Finding your first client

25:14 The future of the business

27:18 Reflecting back on the business

30:24 Advice for other entrepreneurs

31:21 Closing and contact

D’Nai Walker is not a naturally organized person. It wasn’t until she discovered professional organizer Marie Kondo that she got into the practice. When she was laid off, she started doing it on the side, until she was encouraged to go all in. She founded D'Clutter by D'Nai, an organizing company that specializes in senior downsizing, home organization, and productivity solutions.

 

-Chapters-

00:00 Intro

5:52 Overcoming nerves

7:49 Determining your path

8:31 Finding your first clients

10:04 Navigating client work

13:58 Marketing tools

16:41 Staying organized in your small business

20:52 Setting boundaries

22:53 Health and Wellness

26:08 Technology and apps

27:37 Reflecting on the business

29:21 Advice 

30:25 Closing and contact

Doug Bard and his father, Bob, have been inventing for most of their lives. However, their greatest idea yet is that of tape. Specifically, moving tape where you can always find the end of the roll. It’s called Wave Tape. Now, as they reimagine a simple solution to a universal issue, the duo is continuing to find success in the market.

 

-Chapters-

00:00 Intro

6:02 - Entrepreneurial background

7:17 The history of Wave Tape

11:25 Sales and distribution

18:14 Overcoming nerves

19:28 Balancing full time work with a side hustle

21:48 Exercise routines

22:53 Helpful technology and apps

23:53 Marketing the product

27:34 Long term vision

29:19 Reflecting back on the business

30:22 Advice for other entrepreneurs

31:18 Closing and contact

Jordan Lawson has always loved drawing, coloring, and creating art as a whole. When he was in college, he was inspired by an art entrepreneurship class to start his own business. However, when he graduated, he started working for the government instead. After nine years there, he was ready to make the leap. Jordan founded Ground Zero Studios, a branding studio that helps organizations stand out from their competition.

 

-Chapters-

00:00 Intro

7:26 Overcoming nerves

11:36 Making the leap into entrepreneurship

14:16 Building a branding studio

18:37 Getting clients

22:31 Managing stress

25:11 Using AI as an artist

28:39 Reflecting back on the business

30:34 Closing and contact

After spending many years as an Executive Assistant, Ethan Bull unexpectedly faced layoffs, forcing him to reconsider his career path. With his severance package as a financial cushion, Ethan and his wife, Stephanie, launched ProAssisting, a fractional EA company. Their business focuses on connecting highly skilled EAs with top-level executives, offering flexible, high-quality support without the need for a full-time hire.

 

-Chapters-

00:00 Intro

4:32 Entrepreneurial background

6:35 Starting ProAssisting

14:51 Keeping up with technology

16:16 Using AI in the company

19:44 Delegating tasks to an assistant

22:16 The future of the business

28:17 Work-life balance

31:51 Looking back on the business

34:27 Advice to other entrepreneurs

36:23 Closing and contact

While browsing the Golf subreddit, David Paxton saw a lot of people posting deals on golf gear. Looking through these deals was fun, but it was also time-consuming if you were looking for a specific item. So Paxton created Daily Golf Steals, automating the deals to help golfers find what they wanted faster. He still runs the business as a side hustle while working a full-time job.

 

-Chapters-

00:00 Intro

2:52 - Entrepreneurial background

4:53 Building DailyGolfSteals 

9:14 Overcoming nerves 

10:27 Keeping costs low 

12:13 Using  automation tools

16:30 Marketing tools

18:17 Managing work-life balance and setting boundaries

24:34 Looking to the future

27:07 Advice for other entrepreneurs 

28:55 Closing and contact 

Kris Louis entered the world of audio/visual by chance while job hunting during the 2008 recession. After several years in the industry, his frustration with the way his employer operated pushed him to take the leap of quitting to start his own successful AV company. Kris credits failure for shaping his journey, teaching him to stay open to multiple paths rather than limiting himself to a single direction.

 

-Chapters-

00:00 intro

3:26 Entrepreneurial background

5:57 Starting the business

9:20 Failure within the business

11:45 Staying innovative in the AV industry

14:23 Transitioning from employee to business owner

17:09 Revenue

18:31 The impact of COVID-19

20:38 Challenges in the business

22:44 Team culture

27:31 Managing stress

30:05 Reflecting back on the business

31:06 Advice for other entrepreneurs

31:50 Closing and contact

Rachel Donnelly was just starting her career and raising two small children when her parents passed on. As she struggled with settling estates, bank accounts, and other various paperwork, she knew there had to be a better way. It was at this time that Rachel thought of the idea for After Light, an end-of-life and legacy planning service. With six years under her belt, Rachel has now written the book “Late To Your Own Funeral” which is out now.

 

-Chapters-

00:00 Intro

8:05 Finding the first client

10:13 Transitioning from side hustle to small business

11:42 Overcoming nerves

13:32 Balancing life and work

15:26 AD

15:48 Entrepreneurial past

16:43 The future of the business

20:02 Building potential competitors 

23:48 Advice for other entrepreneurs 

25:53 Reflecting on the business

26:52 Dealing with burnout

27:49 Contact and Rachel’s new book

Monisha Longacre has many titles. She is an author, a fractional COO at two different companies, and the founder of priorigami, a productivity app aimed at helping entrepreneurs be the most productive they can be. As an expert in productivity, Monisha shares her insights on timeblocking, managing multiple roles, and being transparent with your employees. Monisha is the author of "Practical Productivity: A Guide to Surviving Life's Juggling Act" which is out now!

 

-Chapters-

00:00 Introduction

4:26 Launching a side hustle

6:18 Advice on delegating work

8:10 Balancing multiple part-time jobs and side hustles

9:53 Learning to say no

13:06 Timeblocking

16:30 Looking ahead in the long term

17:26 Comparing small and large organizations

19:39 Overcoming nerves

22:33 Managing time in a day

25:41 Advice to those wanting to start a side hustle

27:32 Reflecting back

28:56 Closing and contact

Bobby Aldridge, a sports kinesiologist based in California, has been an athlete and has worked with athletes for as long as he can remember. After having two hip replacement surgeries, Bobby was inspired to create his business BAMmetrics Systems, and within that, “The Bobby Aldridge Method”, a method he uses to help athletes alleviate pain, avoid injury, increase mobility, and improve functional movement.

 

-Chapters-

00:00 - Intro

4:30 - First entrepreneurial experience

9:36 - Starting BAM metrics

12:28 - Managing your time with a side hustle

14:51 - Exercise and wellbeing 

16:05 - Details of BAM Metrics

 20:34 - Marketing the business

22:45 - Moving the business online

24:35 - Building partnerships in business

25:45 - Overcoming nerves

28:00 - Reflecting on the business

32:38 - Closing and contact 

As an experienced marketer, Amy Moudy Comeau has seen her fair share of marketing emergencies. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit while Amy was working in health care marketing, it seemed like every day brought a new crisis. It was at this time that Amy started sending out weekly inspirational emails to her team, which lead to her writing the book Every Storm Runs Out of Rain, which offers a peek behind the curtain of these challenging times.

 

Chapters

00:00 - Intro and background

7:23 - Making the leap into entrepreneurship

16:08 - Building a personal brand

19:42 - Avoiding a personal crisis when leaving your company

21:31 - Overcoming nerves

23:15 - Dealing with self-doubt

26:07 - Advice for leading through a crisis

29:14 - Closing and contact

00:00 - Intro

7:38 - Entrepreneurial History

8:51 - Transition into a full-time business

10:56 - Finding your first customers

12:40 - Overcoming nerves

14:54 - Hiring staff members

18:47 - Balancing speed and creativity

21:23 - Implementing sketching into your business

23:24 - William’s favorite stories

26:12 - Work-life balance

28:10 - Technology recommendations 

30:12 - What would you do differently?

31:54 - Advice for other entrepreneurs

33:44 - Closing and contact

With a background in the nonprofit and fundraising space, Grace Nelson was pursuing her MBA when she started taking on consulting jobs on the side. After graduating, what started as a few side projects quickly grew into a full-fledged business. Now she is the CEO of Magenta Strategy, a consulting firm that specializes in helping nonprofits develop strategic, sustainable fundraising solutions that drive long-term impact. 

00:00 intro

3:09 - entrepreneurial background

11:09 - Navigating the nonprofit world

13:35 - Challenge Forecast

17:25 - Nonprofits vs. For profit’

22:20 - Reflecting on entrepreneurial journey

24:38 - Growing as a leader

26:20 - Establishing boundaries

28:30 - What is one thing you would do differently?

30:20 - Advice for other entrepreneurs 

32:34 - Closing and contact

Joselyne Walter has seen her fair share of corporate jobs. In these environments, even with large budgets, she found that there was a gap in resources. It was then that she got the idea for The Digg Agency, a marketing agency that helps organizations execute high scale projects. By leveraging AI, Joselyne efficiently scaled her business during its early stages, paving the way for long-term success.

 

Chapters

00:00 - Intro 

4:44 - Starting the Digg Agency

9:03 - Managing work-life balance

10:12 - Maintaining exercise practices

12:17 - The impact of AI

13:52 - Challenges of incorporating AI 

14:58 - Upcoming trends and tools in AI

16:10 - Impact of AI on teams

17:18 - Reflecting on past mistakes

18:18 - Advice from Jocelyn

 20:45 - Encouraging words

21:53 - Closing and Contact

Candess Correll started her career as a Software Engineer by day, and NFL cheerleader by night. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Candess found she was ready to retire from cheerleading. Around the same time, inspired by the reality television series “Selling Sunset”, she decided to make the leap into entrepreneurship by launching her real estate career. Now, Candess is a successful realtor with over $6 million in sales and mentors other young realtors.   - Chapters - 

00:00:00 Introduction and Background

00:02:55 Computer Science to Cheer Captain

00:06:25 Transparency for Flexibility

00:08:53 Selling Sunset

00:11:03 Confidence in Corporate

00:14:44 Security in the Unknown

00:18:08 Building Hustle with Brand

00:19:56 Empowering Young Women

00:21:52 Opportunities Worth Chasing

00:24:34 Managing Expectations

00:26:58 Define Your WHY

00:28:38 Closing

Diane Helbig, the Founder of Helbig Enterprises and host of the Accelerate Your Business Growth podcast, specializes in helping small business owners achieve success. As an expert in business growth, Diane helps businesses that struggle with sales, accountability, systems and productivity. Tune is as she joins Sanjay to explore common business mistakes, how to decide whether to expand your business, hiring the right help, and more.   - Chapters - 

00:00:00 Introduction and Background

00:03:55 Facing a Startup Head on

00:06:07 Systems and Structure for Growth

00:12:24 Common Revenue Mistakes

00:15:06 How to Let Go of the Reigns

00:17:14 Market Expansion 101

00:21:10 Slow-Walk Responsibilities

00:26:26 Be Particular with Partnerships

00:30:55 Closing

In 2007, Sarah Martin McConnell founded Music for Seniors, a Nashville-based nonprofit, inspired by her mother’s diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease. Recognizing that older adults often experience greater isolation than other groups, Sarah, a musician herself, saw an opportunity to make a difference. The organization offers live, interactive music programs designed to engage, entertain, and educate seniors, fostering health and well-being.   - Chapters - 

00:00:00 Introduction and Background

00:03:09 Writing with Walter Hyatt

00:06:22 Caroling for Profit

00:08:17 Tumbling Staircases

00:14:28 Charge for Your Creativity

00:18:13 Follow Your Bliss

00:21:24 Support of Music City

00:25:27 COVID Courtyard Concerts

00:28:45 Finding the Experts

00:31:00 Closing

Today we are joined by two entrepreneurs to discuss work-life balance. Dr. Alice Rizzi is a Psychologist based in New York City, specializing in helping individuals overcome fear and self-doubt, manage their stress, and gain confidence. Adam Walker is a long-time entrepreneur, having founded multiple companies over his career. Join us as we discuss determining your values, setting boundaries, and useful tips on achieving work-life balance.

 

- Chapters - 

00:00:00 Introduction and Background

00:04:58 Defining Work-Life Balance

00:06:33 Personal Values Impact Life

00:08:38 Getting Out of Sync

00:09:41 Physical Health Issues

00:12:52 Does Tech Affect Work-Life?

00:15:03 Finding Balance in Busy-ness

00:17:22 Tools for Task Management

00:19:55 Less Work = Higher Quality

00:20:38 Reflect for Successful Balance

00:21:36 Closing

Kevin Sandlin is a Serial Entrepreneur based in Atlanta, Georgia. Over the course of his career, he has started eleven businesses, and as a result, is no stranger to failure. Currently, Kevin is the Chief Operating Officer of Transcend LV, a low-voltage wiring and cabling business. In today’s episode Sanjay and Kevin take a deep dive into what failure means for an entrepreneur, how to overcome it, and mistakes to avoid going forward. 

 

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction and Entrepreneurial Background

3:33 - History of Failure

10:14 - Changing outlook on failure

13:15 - An investor's role in overcoming failure

18:00 - Support for entrepreneurs around failure

22:36 - Managing risk

27:03 - Closing and contact

 

 

Josh Russell is a musician-turned-photographer. After touring for ten years in the country rap space, building his skills as a musician, as well as photographer and videographer, Josh decided to go all in on photography. Now he owns Josh Russell Photography, a photography company based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Plus, through his coaching business, Josh teaches other photographers on how to overcome Imposter Syndrome and build their businesses. - Chapters - 

00:00:00 Introduction and Background

00:04:33 The Hustler Mentality

00:06:28 Genres of Entrepreneurship

00:07:56 Shedding a Business

00:11:07 Get Rid of Imposter Syndrome

00:13:34 “If You’re Not Terrified, You’re Not Charging”

00:17:04 Entrepreneurialism and ADHD

00:22:14 Comfort in the Uncomfortable

00:24:33 Extensions of AI

00:26:45 Side Hustling with an iPhone 

00:27:51 Focus = Fast Growth

00:31:08 Closing

Ashley Mikkelsen is passionate about teaching Spanish. However, when she had her first child, she realized that it was difficult to balance teaching and motherhood. It was at this point that she transitioned her side hustle of creating educational resources for other Spanish teachers to her full-time job. Srta Spanish looks to provide Spanish teachers with resources to amplify their classes through reading, games, lesson plans, and more. - Chapters -

00:00:00 Introduction and Background

00:02:23 Long Lines of Educators 00:04:30 Impact of Great Teachers

00:06:20 Professional Learning Communities

00:08:49 Budgeting in Your Side Hustle

00:12:34 Side Hustle to Full-Time Hustle

00:15:18 Data Tools for SEO

00:18:15 Learning other Languages

00:22:07 Bumping Elbows with Elites

00:27:03 Balancing Business at Home

00:28:59 Outsourcing for Optimization

00:32:24 Closing

This episode kicks off a three-part series where we take a deep dive into a topic alongside seasoned professionals. In this episode, we’re focusing on marketing strategies for small businesses. We are joined by Jon Katinsky, the President of Hothouse, a branding and design house, as well as Javier Santana, the Chief Experience Officer of Chemistry Agency. We discuss social media marketing, influencer marketing, and emerging marketing trends.   - Chapters - 

00:00:00 Introduction and Background

00:07:44 The Attention Economy

00:09:02 Unify Your Marketing Voice

00:13:44 Balance Between Branding and Performance

00:20:08 Competitive Audits and Analysis

00:25:39 The Affect of Influencer Marketing

00:34:28 Enhancing Customer Experience

00:36:07 Marketing Mistakes

00:39:39 QA & QC for Marketing Process

00:42:46 Emerging Strategies

00:45:38 Closing

Brian Parenteau never wanted to work weekends. However, when he found himself bartending at a local restaurant, he quickly fell in love with the industry. As he rose the ranks within the restaurant space and found himself helping organizations open new restaurants, he realized he could do it on his own. Fast-forward to today, Brian is the owner of four restaurants and bars in Florida, with hopes of expanding into other states.   - Chapters- 

00:00:00 Introduction and Background

00:05:13 Humbling Roots

00:07:55 Buying VS Starting Businesses

00:10:04 First Year Losses

00:12:42 Pandemic Pivots

00:16:14 Elevated And Edgier Concepts

00:18:36 Bartender to Entrepreneur

00:23:34 Sam Malone at Cheers

00:26:42 Living Humble

00:29:07 The Best Apps

00:30:29 Closing

D.R. Fay is the Founder of Mouthy Broad Media, a podcast production company that specializes in editing, graphic design and strategy. Beginning her career as a musician, D.R. travelled Asia for close to a decade before coming home to the States and transitioning into corporate roles. When she was 62, while those around her were retiring, D.R. ventured into entrepreneurship and hasn’t looked back.

 

- Chapters -

00:00 - Introduction

06:59 - First entrepreneurial venture later in life

09:37 - Overcoming nerves

11:29 - Managing stress & health problems

21:00 - Advice for other entrepreneurs

23:21 - Closing and contact

 

Matt Gluckman has worn many hats. From working at a produce stand to running a real estate company, Matt has always had an entrepreneurial spirit. Now, Matt owns Think Fitness Life, a remote personal training company, with his business partner Eric. From his past job experiences, Matt has mastered the skills of communication and thrives on helping individuals become their best selves through personal training.

 

- Chapters -

00:00 - Introduction

04:49 - Matt's work history and transferable skills

11:14 - Overcoming nerves

12:47 - Having a business partner in a different state

15:32 - Balancing stress

17:33 - Setting boundaries

22:37 - What Matt would have done differently

26:02 - Advice to other entrepreneurs

26:35 - Closing and contact information

Aaron Ryan loves all things creative, but has found that writing has been his number one source of inspiration and drive. He is the author of The Dissonance series, a science fiction series based on the idea of aliens visiting earth. Since having started writing a year ago, Aaron has already penned six books in the series. Writing has not only become his creative passion but also the driving force that propels him forward in his life and career.   - Chapters -

00:00:00 Introduction and Background

00:03:35 What’s A Kool Aid Stand?

00:05:57 The 80’s Comic Books

00:11:29 Writing A Book Every Sixty Days

00:15:24 Dissonance: The Lack Of Harmony

00:17:19 Do You Believe?

00:21:48 Pear-Shaped Men

00:25:36 Entrepreneurial Blurred Lines

00:27:02 Listening To The Voice Within

00:30:15 Endorsement Does Not Equal Trajectory

00:33:10 Closing Remarks

Kate Wallace and Blake Chasen first met while working at the same startup. Through their work together, not only did they come to realize that they have great synergy in the office, but also personally as well. With a background in writing, Blake found his niche in custom storytelling online during the pandemic. Now, the couple owns Avenue Stories, an AI-powered storytelling app for children that allows you to custom build characters and stories.    - Chapters - 

00:00:00 Introduction and Background

00:02:24 Side Hustle, Small Business, Marriage

00:05:41 Peddling Up The Ladder

00:09:57 Excitement Outweighing Risk

00:10:50 Burning Out And Growing Up

00:14:38 NFTs Are A NO

00:16:51 Shifting The Infield

00:20:43 Failure Will Fix It

00:24:39 Fundraising Frenzy

00:30:52 Opportunity In AI

00:34:08 Closing

Winnifred Tataw has been writing for as long as she can remember, and has been a professional author for eight years. During the pandemic, Winnifred was looking for ways to better support the indie publishing industry. It was then that she decided to launch Win’s Books Publishing, which officially opened in April of 2024. Now, Winnifred and her team support a handful of authors through their publishing process.

Dawn Kennedy is an attorney, author, and podcaster. In 2020, her husband Mike received a roaster and some coffee beans for Christmas. After tasting his coffee, Dawn bet him he could sell it online. Not expecting much, they made a Facebook post and ended up selling eleven bags. From there, Convoy Road Coffee Roasters was born. Fast-forward to this year, Dawn and Mike have five employees and bring in six-figures of revenues annually.    - Chapters -

00:00:00 Introduction and Background

00:02:23 Coffee: The Cottage Food

00:04:40 Bottlenecks of Business

00:08:18 Transitioning from Side Hustle

00:10:10 Illicit Deals

00:12:27 Growing Organically

00:15:33 Certified Coffee Cuppers

00:19:29 Working hard or hardly working?

00:21:10 Origin of the Month

00:23:10 Overcoming Fear, Moving Forward

00:25:10 “Well, that’s cute.”

00:26:58 The ROASTMASTER

00:30:04 Closing

When Michelle Choairy’s son was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder, she found that there were not enough resources out there for parents going through the same thing as her. This is when she founded Wisdom4ComplexKids, an organization focused on providing resources and building community with parents of children with similar needs. Now, Michelle’s goal is to create the best life for her family and other families who have complex children.   - Chapters - 

00:00:00 Introduction and Background

00:03:14 A Lack of Resources

00:05:26 The Catalyst for Change

00:08:55 “This is Awful”

00:10:57 Complex Kids

00:12:18 Deep Dive on Diagnosis

00:15:19 Putting Yourself Out There

00:16:57 The Big Picture

00:19:47 It Takes a Village

00:23:42 Misinformation

00:28:05 They Need You

00:29:40 Closing

Stephanie Shanks has always had an entrepreneurial spirit, from selling livestock in her youth to owning a message therapy practice. It wasn’t until her first child was born that she discovered her passion for photography. With the encouragement of her community, she founded Staphanie Shanks Photography in 2011. When she realized she wasn’t charging enough, she changed her rates and increased her revenue tenfold. 

 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and background 5:56 Photography background 7:54 Going all in 9:17 Setting rates 12:47 Overcoming nerves 14:38 Investing back in the business 16:25 Balancing life and the business 18:04 Finding your personal style 21:11 Managing stress 23:37 Setting boundaries 25:15 Looking back 25:50 Advice for other entrepreneurs 26:28 Closing

Jeff Revilla started his entrepreneurial journey in the early 2000’s by opening a mail order skateboard shop. After that business went under during the 2008 financial crisis, Jeff’s entrepreneurial spirit never went away. In June of 2024, he opened Poduty Live, a podcasting and live event theater based in Tarentum, Pennsylvania. This space allows Jeff to connect podcasters and local and virtual talent to excited audience members.

 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and background 6:02 Finding the right space for your new business 11:43 Overcoming nerves 13:23 Revenue 18:02 Managing a side hustle while working full-time 21:18 Looking back on the business 22:57 Advice for other entrepreneurs 26:28 Technology recommendations 28:07 Closing and contact

Formally a courtroom attorney, Amity Gleason first gained an interest in jewelry design when she was getting married. As someone with an appreciation of gothic style, she found most jewelry on the market didn’t match this style and instead followed the same cookie cutter patterns. This inspired her to start Amity Alexandra Jewelry Design, a jewelry company focused on making one-of-a-kind pieces that don’t break the bank.

 

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction and background

6:57 - Jewelry making process

10:35 - Overcoming fears and finding clients

14:11 - Work-life balance

16:14 - Building your brand

18:58 - Saving money

22:08 - Entrepreneurship and parenthood

25:39 - Setting boundaries

27:36 - Looking back

28:30 - Advice for other entrepreneurs

30:05 - Closing and contact

 

As a military spouse, Bonnie Conrad was tired of starting at a new job everywhere she moved. In 2018, she decided to take the leap into entrepreneurship by founding I Built This, a furniture building company. Through selling furniture, she discovered digital marketing and decided to dive into it full-time by founding Second You. In 2023, she merged her business with Inn8ly, a website technology company, to expand her impact in the digital space.   Chapters  

00:00 - Introduction and background

8:10 - Entrepreneurial background

10:59 - Overcoming nerves and starting the business

13:15 - Balancing life and entrepreneurship 

15:31 - Merging with another business

20:00 - Helpful technology and apps

20:40 - Looking back

23:46 - Advice for other entrepreneurs 

25:53 - Social media strategy advice

26:49 - Closing and contact

Ryan Klee is the Co-Founder of Rootstock, an organization dedicated to helping ambitious leaders and businesses expand their brands and scale their operations. Rootstock achieves this by harnessing the power of strategic thinking, refining compelling narratives, and sharing those stories with broader audiences. With a background in PR, Ryan grew tired of the traditional 9 to 5 routine and, along with a colleague, launched the business in 2021.   Chapters

00:00 - Introduction and background

3:30 - Venturing into entrepreneurship

7:46 - Finding clients

9:18 - Origin of the company name

10:13 - Shifting business models

17:41 - Resonating with clients

22:30 - Looking back

26:31 - Advice for fellow entrepreneurs

28:34 - Closing and contact