The Liquid Lunch Project

Moving from a small town in South Dakota, Paul Halme planned to train in Jiujitsu in Dallas, TX. Instead, he met his wife and felt like he needed to get a corporate job. He ended up in stock brokering, and continued to train on the weekends. He ended up taking the leap into entrepreneurship and started training others on the side.  One year, Paul’s wife found a space for rent and encouraged Paul to open his own gym. Once that got some traction, Paul quit his day job on the stock market.    Having never won any competitions, Paul was still successful because he knew how to market and manage other instructors. He ended up writing the book How To Make Money With Your Martial Arts Gym: Even If You Haven’t Won Anything Yet. A lot of people started asking Paul for help and advice, so he turned his sights on consulting. Now, Paul focuses mostly on consulting while managing the managers that run his gyms.    What You’ll Learn: The difference between jiujitsu, karate, and taeKwondo.  How Paul’s business made it through the pandemic.  What the key to the gym business is. Why opening multiple gyms can be counterproductive.    Favorite Quote: “I get to work out, train with my friends, and get paid for it.” -Paul Halme   How To Connect With Paul:   Paul's Website   Instagram   ______________________________________________________________________   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!

The small business viking, Roy Osing, joins the show today to discuss what business owners can do in order to thrive. His upcoming book, Be Different or Be Dead, shines a light on the biggest challenge companies of all sizes are facing. With a billion businesses to choose from, how does a company differentiate themselves in the market? Roy says it can be done by making one simple statement, he calls it ‘the only’ statement. He encourages companies to think about what they’re truly good at, what’s unique about them. He says if you can’t figure that out, your business is as good as dead.    Every company should be able to fill in the blank of: we are the only ones that ___________. That statement will definitively tell people why they should do business with you over another company. However, don’t feel like your work is done once you’ve figured that out. The world is always changing, and so your ‘the only’ statement will have to be able to shift along the way. In addition to that, Roy says to set bold objectives, as they’ll really help in fueling your innovation.    What You’ll Learn: The biggest challenge that businesses are facing. What 3 questions every business owner should be asking. How to develop an executable game plan. What it means to be truly innovative.    Favorite Quote: “Every business needs to think through how they’re special, and what their competitive advantage is.” -Roy Osing   ______________________________________________________________________   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!

What does it mean to be count-on-able? Jeff Cohen wrote the book on just that. It’s his way of teaching the next generation of freedom fighters how to succeed in business. Whether you’re just starting out, or have been running a business for years, many entrepreneurs end up feeling shackled to their business. In their fight for freedom, Jeff teaches entrepreneurs how to create teams and teamwork for businesses that grow with them and without them.  One of the perks of being your own business should be the freedom to take that vacation, or spend more time with your family.    Jeff has both successes and failures that he uses to educate fellow business owners. One such learning experience was the fall of his once very successful software business. When the market crashed in 2007, Jeff’s once thriving business came to an end when he had to file bankruptcy.  His next business venture was Granola Gourmet, which he took on the hit TV show Shark Tank. He not only didn’t get any offers, he was told after filing bankruptcy he was now considered radioactive. Jeff didn’t give up though, and he ended up proving them all wrong. Jeff found a way to get his business up and running, and very successfully. Because of this, Shark Tank did their first ever success story on Jeff.    What You’ll Learn: How tough times build perseverance.  What inspired Jeff to write Count-On-Able. How to know when it’s time to pivot your business.  The difference between a boss and a leader.   Favorite Quote: “As entrepreneurs, we are among the most positive people in the world.” -Jeff Cohen   ______________________________________________________________________   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!

Mobile apps are all the rage nowadays. Today we’re talking to the king of mobile apps, Dan Hafner. With a wife in the medical field, Dan found himself moving about every 3 years, which made it hard to hold down a job. He realized he needed to think outside the box, so he tapped into his entrepreneurial spirit. He came up with the idea for a health and fitness app and got to work building it using no- or low-code options. It started as a hobby until people started asking Dan if he could build an app for them.   Dan originally wanted to make it a do-it-yourself option with a low cost, but he didn’t get much interest.  He learned that people are willing to pay more for a shortcut, and so it became a done-for-you option with a higher cost. Working with clients to figure out their ultimate goal, Dan creates apps that build a presence.    The biggest perk of having an app for your company is that it frees you from social media algorithms. Dan has witnessed countless people build up communities on social media just to learn the hard lesson that they don’t actually own it, and it can be taken away at any time. You can pour all the money you want into advertising on social media just to have the algorithms change and all your investment go down the drain. For more information, visit www.dappermobileapps.com.    What You’ll Learn: What questions Dan asks potential clients.  Why Dan turns down some potential clients. Why you shouldn’t rely on social media platforms.  What types of businesses are best suited for their own app.   Favorite Quote: “You can add fuel to the fire very quickly if you set things up right first.”  -Dan Hafner   ______________________________________________________________________   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!

Retail started out as brick and mortar businesses and has recently moved heavily into e-commerce.  Alvin Narsey is a retail business coach that witnessed this shift first hand.  With his beginnings as a pharmacist, Alvin worked with a coach to branch out into owning and selling pharmacies. He was such a great student that his coach recommended Alvin step into a coaching role himself. Alvin took on the challenge and now works to help others increase their cash flow and profit, all while creating more time and freedom in their lives.    Alvin believes the current state of affairs for retail is moving in a positive direction.  While many businesses did move to an online model during the pandemic, Alvin believes there is still a place for brick and mortar businesses. That’s not to say you shouldn’t have an online presence as well.  It’s about becoming more efficient with the times.  Whether online or on Main Street, customer service should still be the main focus.   What You’ll Learn: What the core values of global GDP are. What changes retail businesses had to make during the pandemic. What the great resignation is.  And much more!!   Favorite Quote: “Go through your experiences, embrace them, and try to learn from them.” -Alvin Narsey    ______________________________________________________________________   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!

Video marketing and branding are great tools that every small business should be using.  Everyone has a story that reflects a value, a belief, or a challenge that potential customers can connect with.  Emmy Wu nurtured her love of storytelling with two decades of experience in the Hollywood film industry.  Now she owns Emmy Wu Media, working with small businesses to help them tell their story through video.  She provides her clients with an experience where they feel like they’re supported.  After that trust is built, clients learn to tap into their natural skills.   On this episode of the Liquid Lunch Project, Emmy discusses how to get started with video branding and marketing, including some dos and don’ts. Starting out, she recommends small business owners stay true to who they are, and choose one main platform to focus on.  She stresses making the most of the first 7 seconds of your videos and warns against forgetting to end with a call to action.    For those interested in working with Emmy Wu, she offers two programs.  One focuses on teaching and mentoring entrepreneurs on how to utilize video, while the other is a full service option where they do everything from shooting videos to implementing funnel strategies.  With a great love and passion for helping people to tell their stories, Emmy is excited for what’s to come.   What You’ll Learn: How Emmy’s Hollywood skillset transferred to working with small businesses.  How camera technology has changed over the last decade. Why you should have one main social media platform. What 3 types of videos every business owner should have.   Favorite Quote: “The audience isn’t looking for picture perfect delivery, they’re looking to connect with another human being.” -Emmy Wu   How to Connect: Emmy Wu can be reached via her website www.emmywu.com or on all social media platforms @EmmyWuMedia.   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!

There’s been a hiring problem in America.  Potential employees are getting more selective and employers aren’t asking the right questions.  Author of Healing Career Wounds, host of the Hire Power Radio Podcast, and self-proclaimed hiring geek, Rick Gerard is here to address that problem.  Rick attributes his success with finding more effective ways to do things to his stubbornness.   Where people used to compete for jobs, employers are now competing for new employees. Hiring has become a purely numbers game for the most part, but what really pulls people in might surprise you.  It used to be that people would switch jobs for better pay, now it’s all about a sense of fulfillment.  People are attracted and repelled by the values of a company.  Rick recommends spending time on the front end, via a phone screening, to make sure a candidate is a good fit. Make sure you’re asking questions that extract evidence of someone living up to your company’s core values.  Gain an emotional buy-in by letting them convince you why they want to interview.  What You’ll Learn: Why a company’s core values are so important. What questions employers should be asking potential employees. Why Rick wrote Healing Career Wounds and where you can buy it. What hiring tool Rick is currently working on and when it will be launched.   Favorite Quote: “The reason you’re not hiring people is because you have a sh*tty culture.” - Rick Girard   How To Get Involved: Find out more about Rick through the Website. 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!

In his fifteen years as an entrepreneur, Brent has endured numerous setbacks and come to the realization that “hardships are the seedlings of joy.” Today's podcast features Brent Freeman, the Founder & President of Stealth Venture Labs. He is a serial entrepreneur dedicated to leveraging business to produce financial success and positive social impact. He launched the Stealth Impact Lab as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization to teach the fundamentals of eCommerce, digital marketing, and MVP creation to young, underprivileged inner-city entrepreneurs in the United States. Brent was knighted by the Italian Royal Family, Casa di Savoia, in 2020 for his devotion to philanthropy and giving back. Digital marketing has become increasingly important and valuable in today’s world. In this episode of The Liquid Lunch Project, Brent lends his expertise to help Matthew and Luigi learn more about this field. He even talks about how he developed Stealth, his incredible journey with it, and the difference his enterprises are making in people's lives. Listen up if you'd also like to know how to avoid falling prey to pessimism and the key to becoming a resilient entrepreneur.   What You Will Learn: How Brent achieved enormous success by operating as a completely remote organization. What trends he is presently noticing in the digital marketplace. How he is giving back to society. What he has to say about Nonna Live, the first culinary school in the world to offer online instruction solely from real Italian grandmothers. And much more!   Favorite Quote: “I felt like I was put here on this earth to do something great to make an impact in people's lives.” Brent Freeman   How To Get Involved: Find out more about Brent through the Website, or you may also connect with him on LinkedIn and Instagram. 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!

Is it feasible to form a new habit in just twenty-one seconds? Blaine believes it's absolutely doable and would like to explain how in today’s podcast. “We're creatures of habit,” he says and then goes on to explain how you may create new habits to better your life, health, or even your business in just 21 seconds, and not 21 days! Blaine Oelkers is the sole Chief Results Officer® in the United States and a leading authority on Personal Implementation. He’s a lifetime entrepreneur as well as a TEDx speaker. Blaine feels God placed him on the planet to assist individuals in getting results in their lives and creating more space and time for the things they like to do. He’s well-versed in the habits that may lead to success and can help you create them fast and keep them for the rest of your life. In this episode of The Liquid Lunch Project, Blaine gives Matthew and Luigi a boatload of practical advice on how to leverage your mind's power to obtain what you really want out of your life. He goes over the powerful tools he's designed and how they may help small business owners and many others boost productivity. Tune in to learn how to step up your game and take your business to new heights by adopting some easy yet life-changing ideas.   What You Will Learn: Why Blaine believes it’s possible to create new, long-lasting habits in as little as 21 seconds. How he came to be renowned as America's only Chief Results Officer®. What actions you may take to break a bad habit ( if there’s any you need to quit right away). How you can get an hour's worth of stuff done in thirty minutes. And much more!   Favorite Quote: “There's a systematic way to take your thoughts and turn them into a physical reality.” Blaine Oelkers   How To Get Involved: Visit the Website or click here to learn more about Blaine and his work. He's also on LinkedIn and Instagram if you want to connect with him. 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!  

Now that the pandemic has gone, it's time to resume event planning. However, planning a successful event requires a significant amount of time and effort on your part, and you may be wondering how to go about it. What if you could hire a pro to manage everything for you with grace and ease?   Today, your guest is Shay Wheat, a Certified Event Producer™, as well as the Founder and CEO of Grace & Ease Productions, Inc. With the support of her crew, she puts on amazing events that will have your audience engrossed the entire time. As Luigi puts it at the show's start, “She’s going to gracefully ease us into the skill set needed to organize a successful event.” In this episode of The Liquid Lunch Project, Shay takes Matthew and Luigi on a tour of the event planning world. She also walks them through “the five phases of events”, a wonderful marketing tool she’s introduced to help you scale your business and make more money. Be it a Virtual Live or In-person event, Shay and her team can help you create a memorable one for the attendees.   What You Will Learn: What sorts of events your firm may host and arrange. Why events are one of the best ways to scale your business. What kind of budget should small business owners expect when arranging an event. How to decide which type of event to focus on right now for the growth of your business. How to create a successful virtual event that keeps your audience engaged all the time. And much more!   Favorite Quote: “I had in December one of our clients make $2.1 million from a three-day sales and enrollment event.” Shay Wheat   How To Get Involved: Find more about Shay through her Website, or connect her on LinkedIn and Instagram. Get instant access to The Five Phases of Events to Scale Your Business & Leverage Your Time Guide by clicking here. 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!