The Unconventional Path: Entrepreneurship and Innovation Stories and Ideas.

In this episode of the podcast, we are joined by Jim Senall.  Jim runs the Rochester Angel Network, (RAN) in Rochester NY.  We discussed how angel investing plays a critical role in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.  Jim also described how RAN has evolved during the last 20 years, both in terms of its structure and the characteristics of the investments it makes. So give the episode a listen! You can find more info about RAN here: http://www.rochesterangels.com/ If you know of someone who would be a good guest for the show, let us know and we will try to get them as a guest.  We also 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. Thanks for listening, Bela and Mike

In this episode of the podcast, we are joined by Mark Drager.  He is a branding expert and helps entrepreneurs and companies refine their brand strategy and ensure their brand is consistent across everything they do. Your brand is how the world views you.  We had a great conversation about how to make sure your brand is not an afterthought.  It is exceptionally important and once established, not easy to change.  Mark emphasized how important it is to give branding some critical thought on day one of starting your business. So give the episode a listen! You can find more info about Mark Sheperd here: https://www.phanta.com/ If you know of someone who would be a good guest for the show, let us know and we will try to get them as a guest.  We also 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. Thanks for listening, Bela and Mike

In this episode of the podcast, we are joined by Billie Shepard.  She founded Billie Shepard Associates, where she leverages her acting experience and training methods in the business sector.  Her one-on-one coaching and group workshops help transform corporate speakers into influential leaders. We had a fascinating conversation on how many leadership speaking skills can be learned.  Unless you are a communications major, it is something most of us have no training in.  She has also written a wonderful book, “The Billie Shepard Presentation Method”. So give the episode a listen! You can find more info about Billie Shepard here: http://www.billieshepard.com/intro/ Check out Billie’s book here: https://www.amazon.com/Billie-Shepard-Presentation-Method-Relationships-ebook/dp/B084WZZMNM/ If you know of someone who would be a good guest for the show, let us know and we will try to get them as a guest.  We also 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. Thanks for listening, Bela and Mike

Episode OverviewIn this heartfelt episode of The Unconventional Path, co-host Bela Musits shares a deeply personal and transformative experience: the passing of his 95-year-old mother. This episode takes listeners on a profound journey through grief, acceptance, and ultimately, embracing the beauty of life and death.Key Topics Discussed by Bela and Mike:* Confronting the fear of death: How Bela transitioned from avoiding thoughts of mortality to accepting and understanding the process.* The power of reflection: Gaining wisdom and clarity through the loss of loved ones.* Supporting others in grief: How personal experiences can help others navigate their own losses.* The evolving perspective on life and aging: Finding peace and purpose as we grow older.Memorable Quotes:* "I went from fearing death and trying to ignore it to fully embracing the experience."* "One of the things about getting older is that you gain more experience in dealing with the loss of people you love."Why You Should Listen:* This episode is not only an intimate look at Bela’s emotional journey but also offers valuable insights for anyone dealing with the loss of a loved one. Whether you're seeking comfort, understanding, or simply want to hear a genuine and authentic conversation, this episode is a must-listen.Keywords and SEO Tags:Coping with lossDealing with griefPersonal growth through lossAccepting mortalityLife and death reflectionsEmotional healingPodcast on griefPersonal stories on death and dyingCall to Action:If you found this episode meaningful, please share it with a friend who might benefit from Bela’s story.Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform!By integrating SEO-friendly keywords and phrases, these show notes aim to increase discoverability while resonating with listeners who are seeking comfort and understanding during times of loss.Thanks for listening, I would love to hear your thoughts about this episode. Drop us a line at bela.and.mike@gmail.com.Our next episode will be back on topic.Bela and Mike

In this episode of the podcast, we are joined by Andy Binns.  Andy is a corporate innovation guru, co-founder of Change Logic, and the co-author of “Corporate Explorer:  How Corporations Beat Startup at the Innovation Game”.  We had a fascinating conversation about innovation and entrepreneurship, both in large corporations and start-ups. So give the episode a listen! You can find more info about Change Logic here: https://changelogic.com/team/andy-binns/ Check out Andy’s book here: https://www.amazon.com/Corporate-Explorer-Corporations-Entrepreneurs-Innovation/dp/1119838320 If you know of someone who would be a good guest for the show, let us know and we will try to get them as a guest.  We also 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. Thanks for listening, Bela and Mike

This is another pre-podcast discussion episode.  As mentioned before, these episodes were inspired by a listener.  When Mike and I get together, to record a podcast, before we hit the RECORD button, we typically have a conversation about what's going on in our lives and the world.  It’s basically, two good friends catching up. Back in EP 128, Mike and I did an experiment and we hit the record button as soon as our conversation started and we included this part of the conversation in the regular podcast. After receiving some positive comments from listeners, we decided to make separate episodes out of our pre-podcast conversations.  That way, those listeners who are only interested in Sailing and Cruising can easily skip over them. Not sure what we are going to label these episodes, but for now, we will call them, “Pre-podcast discussion”. In this episode, Mike and I talk about his trip back to the USA during the Christmas holiday in the midst of a large COVID - Omicron surge in the US.  We also talk about COVID regulations and political donations and how Germany and the US each deal with these issues very differently.  Hope you enjoy the episode! If you know of someone who would be a good guest for the show, and we will try to get them as a guest.  We also 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. Thanks for listening, Bela and Mike

This is our second, pre podcast discussion episode.  As mentioned before, these episodes were inspired by a listener.  When Mike and I get together, to record a podcast, before we hit the RECORD button, we typically have a conversation about what's going on in our lives and the world.  It’s basically, two good friends catching up. Back in EP 128, Mike and I did an experiment and we hit the record button as soon as our conversation started. We included this part of the conversation in the regular podcast. After receiving some positive comments from listeners, we decided to make separate episodes out of our pre-podcast conversations.  That way, those listeners who are only interested in Sailing and Cruising can easily skip over them. Not sure what we are going to label these episodes, but for now, we will call them, “Pre-podcast discussion” Also, we are not sure how often we will release these episodes, as sometimes our conversations are not podcast-worthy. Hope you enjoy the episode! If you know of someone who would be a good guest for the show, let us know and we will try to get them as a guest.  We also 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. Thanks for listening, Bela and Mike

In this episode of the podcast, we are joined by Matt Kopko, the VP of Public Policy at Daily Pay.  We have a great conversation about on-demand pay and how it can positively impact the ability of employees to receive their pay daily and not have to wait 2 or 3 weeks for a paycheck. It’s an industry I did not know existed.  Also, for the first time ever, you can hear Mike rant a bit about how the less fortunate often get the short end of the stick in life.  And it is something that can easily be remedied if we have the will. So give the episode a listen! You can find more info about Daily Pay here: https://www.dailypay.com/ If you know of someone who would be a good guest for the show, let us know and we will try to get them as a guest.  We also 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. Thanks for listening, Bela and Mike

Today’s episode was inspired by a listener.  When Mike and I get together, to record a podcast, before we hit the RECORD button, we typically have a conversation about what's going on in our lives and the world.  It’s basically, two good friends catching up. Back in EP 128, Mike and I did an experiment and we hit the record button as soon as our conversation started. We included this part of the conversation in the regular podcast. We received some nice comments from listeners who said they enjoyed the episode. In addition, John sent us a very nice email, he suggested we make our pre-podcast conversation part of the podcast.  Thank you John for the thoughtful email and suggestion. Mike and I discussed John’s suggestion and we decided we will make separate episodes out of our pre-podcast conversations.  That way, those listeners who are only interested in Sailing and Cruising can easily skip over them. Not sure what we are going to label these episodes, but for now, we will call them, “Pre-podcast discussion” Also, we are not sure how often we will release these episodes, as sometimes our conversations are not podcast-worthy. Hope you enjoy the episode! If you know of someone who would be a good guest for the show, let us know and we will try to get them as a guest.  We also 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. Thanks for listening, Bela and Mike

In this episode of the podcast, we are joined excited to be joined by James Quinn.  He is a managing director at JLL, a Fortune 500 company that assists organizations in developing and implementing their real estate strategies in the ever-changing world.  He also recently wrote a book titled “Tech Trends 24/7”.  We have a great conversation about technology and how COVID has impacted the pace of technology development and implementation. Give the episode a listen! You can find more info about James here: https://www.us.jll.com/en/people/james-quinn You can find his book, Tech Trends 24/7 here: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=9781736648100&i=stripbooks&linkCode=qs If you know of someone who would be a good guest for the show, let us know and we will try to get them as a guest.  We also 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. Thanks for listening, Bela and Mike