The Liquid Lunch Project

Do you have a killer business idea and have considered approaching an angel investor for financing? Are you interested in becoming an angel investor yourself? No matter which side of the table you’re sitting at, today’s guest is here to give us an inside look at the process's inner workings.   Jonathan Hung is a successful VC Partner, Entrepreneur, and prolific angel investor with over 90 pre-SEED and pre-IPO investments under his belt. He’s also a leader in the FoodTech industry and runs Grudge Ventures, focusing on B2C & Consumer Tech and B2B Tech.   For Jonathan, when he decides to invest (or not invest) in a person’s idea, it comes down to the team and their story. Do they have the grit and the drive to be relentless? Are they willing to listen and pivot when needed? Are they going to be a good steward of his money? It’s not always about handing over a 50k check; it’s about finding somebody you want to work with.    What You’ll Learn: The best investment he’s made What makes a good investment stand out What he looks for when investing in a person or idea The difference between SAFE and Convertible Notes The one sector he would focus on investing in right now What revenue amount does a B2B needs for an exit …and much more!   Favorite Quote: “Any great entrepreneur will tell you it wasn’t what he or she did, it’s who he or she surrounded themselves with.”   How to connect with Jonathan: www.jonathanhung.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanhung/ Twitter: @JonathanhungVC YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj-B3T8YNEjiPmSHpecDLmw     How To Get Involved: Matthew Meehan and Luigi Rosabianca use their combined experience to provide insight and strategic advice to help small and medium-sized businesses in America have the same opportunities as corporate 500 companies. If you’re looking for tailor-made solutions to grow your small biz, learn more at www.shieldadvisorygroup.com.   Stay Connected: Connect with Matt and Luigi on Instagram: @matthew.r.meehan @luigi_rosabianca, @theLiquidLunchProject @ShieldAdvisoryGroup. Visit The Liquid Lunch Project website and subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more. www.theliquidlunchproject.com Make sure you never miss an episode — check out The Liquid Lunch Project on Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review.

Professional development opportunities: It doesn’t matter if you’re running a three-person operation or have hundreds of people on the payroll - this is something every business and corporation should offer to their employees.    Don’t believe us? In the last year, the number one reason people left their company to pursue another job was a lack of career development. And on the Top 500 Best Places to Work list, 72% of employers who made the cut offered learning stipends. Educational resources have gone from being a fringe perk to a necessary benefit.    But all that takes time, energy, and resources. Enter today’s guest, Steve Gilman. Steve is co-founder and CEO of OneRange, a professional development platform that helps business owners retain and grow top talent.    Their cloud-based application is a central hub where employees can access any training resource they want. Gone are the days of manual enrollment or issuing cost reimbursement, or back-and-forth between boss and employee. OneRange empowers individuals to choose the learning tools they want to continue to upskill and reskill with just a click. It not only gives employees more freedom to discover what they are interested in and passionate about - but also helps employers identify potentially hidden strengths and opportunities for growth in their workers. It’s a win-win for all parties involved. What you’ll learn: Why retaining top talent is critical for your bottom line and productivity How OneRange simplifies and streamlines the training process How their data-driven system is changing the game in professional development How Steve’s background (military, professional ball, startups) influenced his current venture Pros and cons of taking on investor capital What founders and investors can learn from one another …and much more!   Favorite Quote:   “A small team with high accountability can get a lot more done with ownership and choice than large teams with low accountability and less talent that’s willing to learn.”   Connect with Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevegilman26/ https://www.instagram.com/sgilman26/ www.Onerange.co     How To Get Involved: Matthew Meehan and Luigi Rosabianca use their combined experience to provide insight and strategic advice to help small and medium-sized businesses in America have the same opportunities as corporate 500 companies. If you’re looking for tailor-made solutions to grow your small biz, learn more at www.shieldadvisorygroup.com.   Stay Connected: Connect with Matt and Luigi on Instagram: @matthew.r.meehan @luigi_rosabianca, @theLiquidLunchProject @ShieldAdvisoryGroup. Visit The Liquid Lunch Project website and subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more. www.theliquidlunchproject.com Make sure you never miss an episode — check out The Liquid Lunch Project on Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review.

Those bitten by the entrepreneurial spirit love dreaming big. Brainstorming, strategizing, and setting ambitious goals - it’s what gets them up in the morning. The trouble so many run into, however, is implementing the systems needed for long-term scalability and success. And one of those systems that fall by the wayside is sales.   Jim Padilla, Owner and Founder of Gain the Edge, is on the show today to talk about how he helps business owners rapidly grow their sales without you having to make a single sales call or hire another sales person…ever.    If sales just aren’t your thing - or you don’t have the time to hire, train, or babysit a sales team, Gain the Edge can step into that role for you. You still get to strategize and plan, but the implementation is handled by Jim and his team of experts, so you can keep your focus on other matters. If you’re in a service-based industry and looking for some help, tune into this episode and then contact Jim to get started.   What You’ll Learn: How he sets up a structure to make sales over time The advantages of having a “hands-off” role when it comes to sales How his team becomes an extension of you and your business How his background (foster care, prison) shaped him into the person he is today His favorite passive income plays …and more! Favorite Quote: “If you don’t have a system, you are the system. That means you’re not replicable. That means you’re not scalable.”   Connect with Jim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimpadilla/ https://www.facebook.com/jimpadilla02 https://www.instagram.com/jimpadilla_/ https://www.jimp360.com/   How To Get Involved: Matthew Meehan and Luigi Rosabianca use their combined experience to provide insight and strategic advice to help small and medium-sized businesses in America have the same opportunities as corporate 500 companies. If you’re looking for tailor-made solutions to grow your small biz, learn more at www.shieldadvisorygroup.com.   Stay Connected: Connect with Matt and Luigi on Instagram: @matthew.r.meehan @luigi_rosabianca, @theLiquidLunchProject @ShieldAdvisoryGroup. Visit The Liquid Lunch Project website and subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more. www.theliquidlunchproject.com Make sure you never miss an episode — check out The Liquid Lunch Project on Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review.

“There’s nothing more challenging or rewarding than a successful pivot.” - Luigi   Today’s podcast guest is no stranger to the concept of pivoting. Dr. Angela Mulrooney, aka The Arsonist, went from a successful dentist with a thriving practice in Canada to a personal brand expert living in Nicaragua.   It wasn’t an easy journey -- or a journey by choice, for that matter. Life was good. But after sustaining an injury that left her unable to practice, life went up in smoke, and everything she had built for herself was gone in the blink of an eye. So, she pivoted. She used her experience and expertise in niching and branding to build a successful business. Today she’s helping others realize and pursue their goals during their own pivots by looking at what’s not working in their lives and handing them the match to burn it down.    If you’re feeling stuck in your career or going through a pivot of your own, tune into our conversation with Dr. Mulrooney for some words of encouragement, practical advice, and actionable steps you can start right away.    What You’ll Learn: The steps she took to get where she is today. Why LinkedIn is one of the best personal branding platforms out there. How to reach and connect with your audience. What she believes to be the most underutilized feature on LinkedIn How her company, Unleashing Influence, can help you leverage the power of personal branding. …and much more!   Favorite Quote: "If you’re really passionate about your work, your work and your identity are going to be closely intertwined."   Connect with Dr. Angela Mulrooney https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelamulrooney/   How To Get Involved: Matthew Meehan and Luigi Rosabianca possess, between them, a treasure trove of insight and strategic advice for ambitious business owners. Get in touch with the guys at ShieldAdvisoryGroup. You can also connect with them on Instagram at The Liquid Lunch Project, Matthew Meehan, Luigi Rosabianca, and Shield Advisory Group. Make sure you never miss an episode — check out The Liquid Lunch Project on Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review!

Digital marketing. Affiliate programs. Optimization. Lead generation. We’re talking about all these topics and more in this 30-minute episode, so we suggest following Luigi’s lead and bringing a pen a paper because you’re going to want to take notes.   Meet Jon Weberg, a two-time self-published author, speaker, and top 1% business and marketing consultant. With over 11 years of experience helping 2,000+ entrepreneurs, companies, and businesses scale their operations, he knows a thing or two about marketing and optimization for growth and success.    He sits down with Matt and Luigi to discuss how he got his start with affiliate marketing, his tips for email marketing, his 80/20 rule, why you should Educate, Entertain, and Entice your customers, how to successfully redirect and/or upsell, and the importance of building relationships. As we said – we cover a LOT, and we wouldn’t be surprised if you replay it as soon as you’re finished. (We did.)    What You’ll Learn: Which form of media has the highest conversion His preferred social platform - and why he thinks it’s going to replace Google Which practices and spaces are seeing the most lead generations Why more leads aren’t always a good thing The one thing that’s responsible for closing almost 97% of deals …and much more!   Favorite Quote: Every business needs to include way more high-quality, engaging, educating, and entertaining follow-ups. Your job is not to sell. Your job is to build an actual relationship with your leads and customers.   Connect with Jon:  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JonnyWebes/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonweberg/ Website:https://jonweberg.com/   How To Get Involved: Matthew Meehan and Luigi Rosabianca use their combined experience to provide insight and strategic advice to help small and medium-sized businesses in America have the same opportunities as corporate 500 companies. If you’re looking for tailor-made solutions to grow your small biz, learn more at www.shieldadvisorygroup.com.   Stay Connected: Connect with Matt and Luigi on Instagram: @matthew.r.meehan @luigi_rosabianca, @theLiquidLunchProject @ShieldAdvisoryGroup. Visit The Liquid Lunch Project website and subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more. www.theliquidlunchproject.com Make sure you never miss an episode — check out The Liquid Lunch Project on Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review.

What’s the simplest yet most complex problem that small businesses face on a daily basis? One word: Marketing.   You know you need to do it, but where do you start? It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with information overload, and how do you know which strategy is the best strategy for your business?  If this is something you’re facing, well, you’re in luck because today’s guest is bringing all the answers to our burning questions…and some freebies!   Tim Fitzpatrick is the Founder and President of Rialto Marketing. He and his team specialize in helping B2B professional service firms grow both their revenue and attract more clients through strategic marketing. In his experience, he has found that most people want to jump right into tactics - but without any strategy “driving the marketing vehicle,” you don’t have the fuel to finish the job. He discusses the importance of an online presence (regardless of industry), how to determine a budget, and why you should only go with tactics and social channels that resonate with you.   What You’ll Learn: Why there’s no one-size-fits-all marketing strategy The number one thing EVERY business should have, regardless of industry How to identify your target market and ideal clients How to replace nonideal clients with ideal clients to increase revenue Why content creation is so essential for those in the expertise space Tim’s number one recommended social platform The difference between marketing strategy and marketing tactics …and much more!   Favorite Quote: When you think about marketing, it is like a bridge. It helps people get from where they are to where they want to be.   Connect with Tim https://www.rialtomarketing.com/ https://www.facebook.com/rialtomarketing/ https://twitter.com/rialtomarketing https://www.linkedin.com/company/rialto-marketing/ And make sure you visit www.growthmarketingplan.com for a FREE 90-Day Marketing Plan Worksheet!   How To Get Involved: Matthew Meehan and Luigi Rosabianca use their combined experience to provide insight and strategic advice to help small and medium-sized businesses in America have the same opportunities as corporate 500 companies. If you’re looking for tailor-made solutions to grow your small biz, learn more at www.shieldadvisorygroup.com.   Stay Connected: Connect with Matt and Luigi on Instagram: @matthew.r.meehan @luigi_rosabianca, @theLiquidLunchProject @ShieldAdvisoryGroup.   Visit The Liquid Lunch Project website and subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more. www.theliquidlunchproject.com Make sure you never miss an episode — check out The Liquid Lunch Project on Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review.

Inflation is hitting the American consumer on all fronts. It’s frustrating to walk into a store or pull up the pump, and the same product now costs 25% more. But if what we told you there was a silver lining and you could actually use inflation to your advantage? Meet Bronson Hill, Founder and President of Bronson Equity; he’s on the podcast today to talk about the power of income-producing assets, specifically real estate.  Born out of a desire to make his money work harder for him and achieve true passive income, Bronson turned his attention to real estate investing. Fast-forward several years, and he has 20x his net worth and is now coaching and teaching other professionals how to leave their jobs and reach their investment goals. He also shares his method of buying assets using debt that can actually help you come out ahead in the long run. If you’re looking for true financial freedom - and an opportunity to use the current economic state to your advantage, you won’t want to miss this episode.   What you’ll learn: What Bronson looks for in real estate prospects How he structures deals How it’s possible to reduce (or even eliminate) taxes by using real estate tax benefits to your advantage How syndication works and why it results in better returns …and much more!   Favorite Quote: “How you really use inflation to your advantage is you buy assets using debt - even though interest rates have risen a little bit - so over time, you pay off these debts for these income-producing properties or assets with money that is worth less; the asset is worth more because you’re paying off in future dollars. “   Connect with Bronson at www.bronsonequity.com and download his free guide, “How to Use Inflation to Your Advantage.”   How To Get Involved: Matthew Meehan and Luigi Rosabianca use their combined experience to provide insight and strategic advice to help small and medium-sized businesses in America have the same opportunities as corporate 500 companies.  If you’re looking for tailor-made solutions to grow your small biz, learn more at www.shieldadvisorygroup.com.    Stay Connected: Connect with Matt and Luigi on Instagram: @matthew.r.meehan @luigi_rosabianca, @theLiquidLunchProject @ShieldAdvisoryGroup.   Visit The Liquid Lunch Project website and subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more.  www.theliquidlunchproject.com   Make sure you never miss an episode — check out The Liquid Lunch Project on Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review.

In this episode of The Liquid Lunch Project, Matt and Luigi sit down with Brenden from MasterTalk. If you’re not already familiar with who he is, we can promise you’ll want to know more after these 30 minutes.  Brenden runs a wildly successful YouTube Channel (MasterTalk) and is in the top 1% of communicators in the industry. He teaches tech execs and small business owners how to get ahead through the art of communication, and he’s giving our listeners a TON of fantastic takeaways, absolutely free. Communication is one of the most important tools we have at our disposal, and yet, so many of us fail to treat it as anything more than a chore. We set goals for every other area of our life (health, relationships, finances), but when was the last time you sent goals for your communication skills? Brenden teaches us that as your business scales, those skills need to scale with it. His advice will help you with everything from running successful meetings, doing presentations, giving speeches, closing sales, and being confident in yourself and your abilities. Grab some paper and get ready to take notes!   What You’ll Learn: How he overcame imposter syndrome An exercise he recommends to become a more effective communicator A simple, 5-minute drill that will make you bulletproof when it comes to your industry, products, or services How to decide and package the content you want to speak about …and much more!   Favorite Quote: “Competence comes from confidence. You learn it over time.”   Connect with Brenden: Check out his YouTube Channel, MasterTalk, for hundreds of free videos and exercises. You can also register to attend a FREE coaching call here: www.rockstarcommunicator.com   How To Get Involved: Matthew Meehan and Luigi Rosabianca use their combined experience to provide insight and strategic advice to help small and medium-sized businesses in America have the same opportunities as corporate 500 companies.  If you’re looking for tailor-made solutions to grow your small biz, learn more at www.shieldadvisorygroup.com.    Stay Connected: Connect with Matt and Luigi on Instagram: @matthew.r.meehan @luigi_rosabianca, @theLiquidLunchProject @ShieldAdvisoryGroup. Visit The Liquid Lunch Project website and subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more.  www.theliquidlunchproject.com Make sure you never miss an episode — check out The Liquid Lunch Project on Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review.

There’s not much that can’t be automated these days. But in our quest for efficiency and cost-saving solutions, we’ve forgotten a very crucial aspect of business relationships: Human connection.   The days of the liquid lunch are long gone; deals are made through online exchanges -- not over a drink and some conversation downtown. In this episode of The Liquid Lunch Project, Matt and Luigi sit down with Bryan Kramer, business coach, speaker, author, and CEO of PureMatter. To Bryan, “being human” is THE biggest competitive advantage - yet, many business owners are removing their “humanness” from the equation.    But people still crave connection. And it’s those companies that go above and beyond to cross the digital divide to connect with their costumers on a human level that will come out as victors in the end.    What You’ll Learn: How to improve the customer journey How to create “delightful surprises” and why it’s so important How Bryan helps business owners with purpose-driven marketing consulting If you need a marketing degree to be a successful marketer How he prepared for his interview with Ted Turner ...and much more!   Favorite Quote: “We can and should reach out to people, not just when we deliver something or need something, but when they least expect it.”   Connect with Bryan! Website: https://bryankramer.com/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheRealBryanKramer Instagram: @bryankramer1 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryanjkramer/ Twitter: @bryankramer     How To Get Involved: Matthew Meehan and Luigi Rosabianca use their combined experience to provide insight and strategic advice to help small and medium-sized businesses in America have the same opportunities as corporate 500 companies.  If you’re looking for tailor-made solutions to grow your small biz, learn more at www.shieldadvisorygroup.com.    Stay Connected: Connect with Matt and Luigi on Instagram:@matthew.r.meehan@luigi_rosabianca,@theLiquidLunchProject@ShieldAdvisoryGroup.   Visit The Liquid Lunch Project website and subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more.  www.theliquidlunchproject.com   Make sure you never miss an episode — check out The Liquid Lunch Project on Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review.

As a teenager, Darren Paltrowitz started writing for music publications in exchange for free albums and concert tickets. Having been at it for over 20 years, Darren has seen the music industry go through a lot of changes. One of the biggest changes has been how artists get paid. They used to tour in order to promote their album, which was their biggest moneymaker. Now, an album is usually just an excuse to tour, where they make money off of tickets and merchandise, all while growing their influence. Then they take that influence and start side hustles, from fashion to alcoholic beverages.    The music industry has done a great job at consolidating and reinventing itself. Many artists are cutting out the middleman and using social media to promote themselves. They’ve even tapped into things like Kickstarter, where fans are funding the production of an album. Groups like AC/DC have gotten good at making money off of a younger generation that may not even know any of their music, simply by creating a cool brand and image. In fact, t-shirts have become far more lucrative than albums. Tapping into various streams of passive income, artists have become very business savvy over the years.   What You’ll Learn: How the music industry has changed over the years. How music streaming services have altered album sales. How managers sometimes hurt the artists they represent. And much more!   Favorite Quote: “When you’re not good looking, you gotta know stuff.” -Darren Paltrowitz   How to Connect With Darren: Instagram Facebook Paltrocast Podcast   ______________________________________________________________________   How To Get Involved:   Matthew Meehan and Luigi Rosabianca possess, between them, a treasure trove of insight and strategic advice for ambitious business owners.   Get in touch with the guys at ShieldAdvisoryGroup.    You can also connect with them on Instagram at The Liquid Lunch Project, Matthew Meehan, Luigi Rosabianca, and Shield Advisory Group.   Make sure you never miss an episode — check out The Liquid Lunch Project on Apple Podcasts, and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review.