The Unconventional Path: Entrepreneurship and Innovation Stories and Ideas.

Today we are joined by Rytis Lauris - Co-founder and CEO of Omnisend. Omnisend provides e-commerce support for small and medium size companies. In this episode, Rytis and I discuss the importance of "owning" your customer and how in this digital era that is not as easy as it sounds. Rytis tells the story of his journey from starting a marketing consulting business, then launching a product that no one purchased, to learning how to listen to the market and developing a successful product that manages communication between e-commerce companies and their customers. Check out Omnisend here: www.omnisend.com We love to hear from our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at bela.and.mike@gmail.com - we will answer your questions in a future episode. Mike and I would like to thank the law firm of Phillips Lytle LLP for sponsoring this podcast episode. We are proud to partner with Phillips Lytle because of the entrepreneurial approach they take to legal matters and their long history of success with startup businesses. Please reach out to Phillips Lytle Partner Rich Honen at 518-618-1225 or rhonen@phillipslytle.com or check out their website at PhillipsLytle.com. Thanks for listening, Bela and Mike

Today we are excited to be joined by Rich Honen. He is a partner at Phillips Lytle LLP, our show sponsor. In this episode, Rich and I discuss how Phillips Lytle, a medium-size company, has responded to the Coronavirus and how it has changed the way they do business. Rich and I also discuss how this pandemic has very rapidly transformed the way most of us interact. We covered a lot of ground and identified several timely and insightful issues including readiness, innovative and the lasting impacts of this pandemic. We also discussed the critical ways we can all move forward in a proactive and positive manner. Rich is a repeat guest on this show - he also appeared in episode 8 and episode 45. We love to hear from our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at bela.and.mike@gmail.com - we will answer your questions in a future episode. Mike and I would like to thank the law firm of Phillips Lytle LLP for sponsoring this podcast episode. We are proud to partner with Phillips Lytle because of the entrepreneurial approach they take to legal matters and their long history of success with startup businesses. Please reach out to Phillips Lytle Partner Rich Honen at 518-618-1225 or rhonen@phillipslytle.com or check out their website at PhillipsLytle.com. Thanks for listening, Bela and Mike

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is causing havoc all over the globe. Today we are joined by Catherine Hover. This was an impromptu recording of a conversation I had with Catherine. She called me and wanted to discuss how the COVID-19 epidemic is impacting her business and how she is pivoting. Our conversation contains many key points regarding unexpected change. Catherine's focused approach and positive energy are a few of the important aspects we can all learn from. Over the years Catherine and I have had several conversations about her businesses as I have been a very minor mentor to her. I did have to edit out a few things as we discussed a few confidential matters. She is a repeat guest on this podcast as she was on the show in EP-58. Catherine is a serial entrepreneur and has founded Palette, which is a combination cafe, social gathering place, and co-working space. She also founded several Paint and Sip locations. Mike and I decided to release this episode earlier than our typical Sunday evening schedule because of the current COVID-19 crises. You can find more information about Palette Cafe here: https://thepalettecafe.com/ You can find more information about Paint & Sip Studio here: https://www.paintandsipstudios.com/ We love to hear from our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at bela.and.mike@gmail.com - we will answer your questions in a future episode. Mike and I would like to thank the law firm of Phillips Lytle LLP for sponsoring this podcast episode. We are proud to partner with Phillips Lytle because of the entrepreneurial approach they take to legal matters and their long history of success with startup businesses. Please reach out to Phillips Lytle Partner Rich Honen at 518-618-1225 or rhonen@phillipslytle.com or check out their website at PhillipsLytle.com. Thanks for listening, Bela and Mike

Hello listeners, today's guest is Michael Zipursky. Michael is a serial entrepreneur, who started his first business while still a student. On several occasions, Michael partnered with his cousin and they have founded multiple businesses. Their current focus is Consulting Success, a company designed to help consultants build and grow their businesses. Michael and I had a great conversation about the differences between being a consultant and building a consulting business. You can learn more about Michael and his business at the link below. Consulting Success: https://www.consultingsuccess.com/ Michael's book: https://www.amazon.com/Consulting-Success-Proven-Successful-Business-ebook/dp/B07H52N1TX Twitter: @michaelzipursky We love to hear from our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at bela.and.mike@gmail.com - we will answer your questions in a future episode. Mike and I would like to thank the law firm of Phillips Lytle LLP for sponsoring this podcast episode. We are proud to partner with Phillips Lytle because of the entrepreneurial approach they take to legal matters and their long history of success with startup businesses. Please reach out to Phillips Lytle Partner Rich Honen at 518-618-1225 or rhonen@phillipslytle.com or check out their website at PhillipsLytle.com. Thanks for listening, Bela and Mike

Hello listeners, today's guest is Geoffry Merrett. Geoff and I are both on the Ski Patrol at Gore Mt in upstate NY. We have known each other in that capacity for over 20 years. Jeff is a full-time paid patroller and I am a volunteer. In the summer season, Jeff runs a white water rafting company that takes guests on trips down the upper Hudson River. Jeff and I discussed how he got started in the rafting business and its joys and challenges. Check out his rafting company on the link below. Better yet, sign up for one of his rafting trips. It's great fun for young and old! Adirondack Adventures: http://www.adkadventures.com We love to hear from our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at bela.and.mike@gmail.com - we will answer your questions in a future episode. Mike and I would like to thank the law firm of Phillips Lytle LLP for sponsoring this podcast episode. We are proud to partner with Phillips Lytle because of the entrepreneurial approach they take to legal matters and their long history of success with startup businesses. Please reach out to Phillips Lytle Partner Rich Honen at 518-618-1225 or rhonen@phillipslytle.com or check out their website at PhillipsLytle.com. Thanks for listening, Bela and Mike

Hello listeners, today's guest is Brad Svrluga. Brad and Ben Sun co-founded Primary Venture Partners. They have built Primary Ventures into the premiere Seed and Early-Stage VC Fund in NYC with well over $1 Billion under management. In my conversation with Brad, we discuss the challenges of building a venture fund and positioning it in a very competitive market. You can find additional information about Primary Venture Partners on its website. Primary Venture Partners: Primary Venture Partners We love to hear from our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at bela.and.mike@gmail.com - we will answer your questions in a future episode. Mike and I would like to thank the law firm of Phillips Lytle LLP for sponsoring this podcast episode. We are proud to partner with Phillips Lytle because of the entrepreneurial approach they take to legal matters and their long history of success with startup businesses. Please reach out to Phillips Lytle Partner Rich Honen at 518-618-1225 or rhonen@phillipslytle.com or check out their website at PhillipsLytle.com. Thanks for listening, Bela and Mike

Hello listeners, today's guest is Andy Schell, founder of 59º North - a company that offers guided trips for people who want to sail long-distance ocean passages. He has taken his passion for bluewater sailing and has carefully crafted a career and business around it. It is a fascinating story of entrepreneurial focus, navigating the less-traveled path, taking one step at a time, (although a few of the steps were more like leaps), and combining life and work. Andy also has written many articles and has a great podcast about sailing. You can find all of this on his excellent website. Andy Schell's 59 Degrees North: https://www.59-north.com/ We love to hear from our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at bela.and.mike@gmail.com - we will answer your questions in a future episode. Mike and I would like to thank the law firm of Phillips Lytle LLP for sponsoring this podcast episode. We are proud to partner with Phillips Lytle because of the entrepreneurial approach they take to legal matters and their long history of success with startup businesses. Please reach out to Phillips Lytle Partner Rich Honen at 518-618-1225 or rhonen@phillipslytele.com or check out their website at PhillipsLytle.com. Thanks for listening, Bela and Mike

Hello listeners, today's guest is Greg Rex. He has started several businesses and recently wrote a book titled, STOKED: A Spiritual Journey from Employee to Lifestyle Entrepreneur. The title of the book says it all! We had a great conversation about finding balance in one's life and how the choices you make can greatly influence this balance. Learn more about Greg's book and get a free copy in the link below. You can get Greg's book for free here: https://stokedthebook.com/free-copy We love to hear from our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at bela.and.mike@gmail.com - we will answer your questions in a future episode. Mike and I would like to thank the law firm of Phillips Lytle LLP for sponsoring this podcast episode. We are proud to partner with Phillips Lytle because of the entrepreneurial approach they take to legal matters and their long history of success with startup businesses. Please reach out to Phillips Lytle Partner Rich Honen at 518-618-1225 or rhonen@phillipslytle.com or check out their website at PhillipsLytle.com. Thanks for listening, Bela and Mike

Hello listeners, today's guest is Matt Scarchilli. Matt started his career as a pharmacist, then a pharmaceutical rep. As a "soccer dad" he saw an opportunity and that led him to Sports Signup, a company he co-founded with John Haller who was one of the founders of MapInfo. Sports Signup was acquired by Time Inc. in 2015. Matt, being too young to just retire and sit on the beach bought the regional Sandler Training franchise and has been growing it ever since. You can find more information about Sandler here: https://www.winningprocess.sandler.com/ We love to hear from our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at bela.and.mike@gmail.com - we will answer your questions in a future episode. Mike and I would like to thank the law firm of Phillips Lytle LLP for sponsoring this podcast episode. We are proud to partner with Phillips Lytle because of the entrepreneurial approach they take to legal matters and their long history of success with startup businesses. Please reach out to Phillips Lytle Partner Rich Honen at 518-618-1225 or rhonen@phillipslytle.com or check out their website at PhillipsLytle.com. The recording of Matt's talk is provided by Channel Albany Thanks for listening, Bela and Mike

Hello listeners, today's guest is Ron Coury. A former U.S. Marine, Coury has seen and done a lot in his 45 years in Las Vegas. He is an observational entrepreneur, a "niche finder," in his words. With nearly every venture Ron has undertaken, he identified operational nuances that led to enhanced levels of success. This mindset was fascinating to execute in a young, growing town like Las Vegas since his arrival in 1973. Coury has worked as a casino dealer, real estate agent, founder of a limousine service and a partner in bars, restaurants, major graphics and glass companies, along with several automobile dealerships in Nevada and California. He has also written a book titled "Tenacity", which is certainly a fitting title for a book about Ron's life. You can find Tenacity here: https://www.amazon.com/Tenacity-Businessman-Survives-Brooklyn-Corruption-ebook/dp/B07KDLDB66 We love to hear from our listeners, send us your questions, comments, and suggestions at bela.and.mike@gmail.com - we will answer your questions in a future episode. Mike and I would like to thank the law firm of Phillips Lytle LLP for sponsoring this podcast episode. We are proud to partner with Phillips Lytle because of the entrepreneurial approach they take to legal matters and their long history of success with startup businesses. Please reach out to Phillips Lytle Partner Rich Honen at 518-618-1225 or visit PhillipsLytle.com. Thanks for listening, Bela and Mike