Firing The Man

What will you leave behind when your entrepreneurial journey ends? It's a question few business owners ask themselves early enough—but one that can transform how you build, grow, and eventually transition your company.In this profound conversation with legacy planner Angelina Carleton, we explore the crucial distinction between simply building wealth and creating a meaningful, enduring legacy. Angelina shares how her observations of successful real estate entrepreneurs who lacked long-term planning led her to pioneer a specialized coaching practice helping leaders craft legacies that reflect their values and vision.The discussion delves into practical strategies entrepreneurs can implement today, regardless of where they are in their business journey. From adopting a "100-year plan" to identifying core values that guide decision-making, Angelina offers a roadmap for thinking beyond quarterly profits. She explains how legacy planning influences everything from business structure to succession planning, highlighting how legal instruments like trusts can protect what you've built while supporting your broader impact goals.Perhaps most valuable are the mindset shifts Angelina describes—moving from success to significance, from control to stewardship, and from outcome-focused to principle-driven leadership. Through examples of successful multi-generational family businesses worldwide, she demonstrates that lasting impact isn't reserved for the ultra-wealthy but is accessible to entrepreneurs at any level who approach their work with intention.Ready to start thinking about your legacy? Angelina concludes with three actionable steps anyone can take today: define your legacy vision (perhaps by writing your own obituary), document and live your values, and invest in your personal development. These foundational practices can transform not just your business's future but your understanding of entrepreneurial success itself.How to connect with Angela?Website: https://www.angelinacarleton.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJZrjhleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHb98js1oWtTnsDlMOWRSV0SlcJby_yAN3TYy2M9jYJPv0pv5DbJmhMW3dw_aem_cOxHCnNzPOBO6yM8Ep4tFQPodcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/design-your-legacy/id1562218846YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Your-LegacyFacebook: facebook.com/DesignUrLegacyLinkedin: linkedin.com/in/angelinacarletonTwitter: twitter.com/DesignUrLegacy Ready to scale your Amazon business? Click here to book a strategy call.  https://calendly.com/firingtheman/amazon Support the show

What does true entrepreneurial freedom look like? Roy  Coughlan  embodies this answer through his remarkable journey from washing cars at age 9 to building an empire spanning 20 companies across five countries.Roy's entrepreneurial instinct emerged early. While other kids played, he delivered newspapers, washed cars, and by 14, had purchased his own lawnmower to start a neighborhood grass-cutting service. Despite formal education in construction management, Roy found corporate employment frustrating—watching dedicated colleagues mistreated and experiencing firsthand how companies reduced incentives for top performers.The pivotal moment came when Roy spotted property investment opportunities in Poland. Gradually transitioning from his corporate role, he eventually made the complete leap to entrepreneurship—a status he's maintained for 18 years. This freedom allowed him to spend a month by his grandmother's bedside during her cancer battle and arrange his schedule around co-parenting his son—opportunities impossible within corporate constraints.Through building his business empire, Roy learned crucial lessons about hands-on financial and legal management. "Don't outsource your legal side or accounting," he advises. "It's your business. You're the one that's going to suffer." This philosophy guided him through over 100 court cases and countless business negotiations.Roy's journey eventually led him to podcasting, where he's established six successful shows, four reaching the global top 0.5%. His innovative approach uses podcasting as both a business itself and as a marketing tool—interviewing potential clients rather than making cold calls. His company VA World grew from his own need for reliable virtual assistant services, now helping entrepreneurs maximize productivity while maintaining proper oversight.For anyone dreaming of entrepreneurial freedom, Roy's story offers inspiration and practical wisdom: develop a resilient mindset, never tolerate failure, and remember that entrepreneurship isn't just about financial success—it's about controlling your time, energy, and ultimately, your life.How to connect with Roy?Website: https://roycoughlan.com/Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speaking-podcast/id1443652346YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk5CEEWZ2KgUTYJOTXNL8lQFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/roycoughlanLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roycoughlan/Twitter: https://x.com/poleireSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5zg8fJBSvBCY0oWdoF7mkP#login Ready to scale your Amazon business? Click here to book a strategy call.  https://calendly.com/firingtheman/amazon Support the show

What happens when the safety of a corporate job no longer aligns with your deepest aspirations? Steven Pemberton faced this crossroads in 2020 when anxiety attacks signaled he needed a dramatic change. Despite being on track for a six-figure salary as one of the youngest managers at a Fortune 100 company, Steven took the leap into full-time entrepreneurship—only to have Amazon shut down his account shortly after, leaving him $100,000 in debt with a warehouse full of unsellable inventory.Rather than retreating to corporate security, Steven and his wife pivoted to Shopify with Facebook Marketplace as their acquisition channel. The results speak volumes: from $5,000 in their first month to over a million dollars annually within 18 months. Along the way, they've built Elevatum, an e-commerce growth consultancy helping brands scale holistically, while creating a giving program that provided Christmas for 137 underprivileged children.Steven offers refreshingly practical advice on entrepreneurial resilience: "You can have emotions—they're like warning lights on your dashboard indicating problems—but you're still holding the steering wheel." He emphasizes the power of systems over individual effort, sharing how they automated their seven-figure business through strategic delegation and spreadsheets before incorporating AI tools that now supercharge their decision-making and client analysis.For those considering a business partnership with their spouse, Steven reveals how complementary roles became their secret weapon—he handles vision and marketing as CEO while his wife excels at systems and operations as COO. The mindset revelation that transformed their approach? Understanding that building a business for impact beyond personal financial needs eliminates the dangerous plateau many entrepreneurs hit when bills are covered but growth stagnates. As Steven puts it, "The amount of good you can do with a million-dollar business is just a small fraction of what you could do with a $10 million business."Ready to break free from limited thinking and build a business that scales beyond your personal capacity? Discover the mindset shifts, strategic pivots, and practical tools that can transform your entrepreneurial journey today.How to connect with Steven?Website: https://elevatum.digital/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stevenkpembertonInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevenkpemberton/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skpemberton/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenkpemberton/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJ2zbhleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFWcVN6QUJjeWZUOTBneHhsAR5JI6uD1rIJHhJ9nAhMLYCrIg0z9iG1LuSQJCTJDMlFIQxM0UHGVlyNAHpGZg_aem_2m8L-7RZCI5KJkJ9y5DIIw Ready to scale your Amazon business? Click here to book a strategy call.  https://calendly.com/firingtheman/amazon Support the show

What happens when you quit your bartending job, book the largest event space in Las Vegas, and only sell two tickets? For most, that would signal the end of an entrepreneurial journey—but for Steve Werner, it was just the beginning of a remarkable transformation from failure to seven-figure success.Steve pulls back the curtain on his journey from working seven days a week in a Vail ski town to building a thriving business helping entrepreneurs craft signature talks, high-converting offers, and emotionally resonant content. The turning point? A Tony Robbins event that forced him to confront the uncomfortable truth about where his life was heading if he continued on the same path.What sets Steve's story apart is his refreshing approach to failure. Rather than retreating after his disastrous first event, he developed a powerful methodology: "Take action, learn without emotion. Did this work? Did this not work? What can I learn from it?" By removing emotional attachment from his analysis, he could iterate rapidly, holding progressively more successful events and crossing the million-dollar mark within just three years.For e-commerce entrepreneurs struggling to create emotional connections with "ordinary" products, Steve offers two practical pathways: either align your brand with a meaningful cause (like TOMS Shoes) or incorporate authentic personal storytelling into your marketing. He emphasizes that everyone has a story worth telling—it's about finding the right angle that resonates with your audience.The conversation takes a fascinating turn when Steve reveals the dramatic shifts in the post-COVID event landscape. Virtual events have surged in popularity but suffer from abysmal attendance rates, while traditional conferences are struggling as consumers increasingly demand solutions to specific pain points rather than generalized content. This explains why even established events like Traffic and Conversion Summit are canceling shows that would have been considered successful by previous standards.Ready to transform your message into a movement? Steve's insights will help you build deeper connections with your audience while avoiding the pitfalls that derail most entrepreneurs. The question isn't whether you'll face obstacles—it's whether you'll have the mindset to turn those obstacles into opportunities.How to connect with Steve: Website: https://stevenphillipwerner.com/Steve.coffee.com Book a call with Steve: https://bookacall.reachingmillions.co/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-phillip-werner/Podcast: Grow Your Impact, Income & Influence Podcast - [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grow-your-impact-income-influence/id1532299107]Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevenphillipwerner/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SteveWernerStoriesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/StevenPhillipWerner Ready to scale your Amazon business? Click here to book a strategy call.  https://calendly.com/firingtheman/amazon Support the show

What happens when getting fired becomes the best career move you'll ever make? Steve Preda, founder of SummitOS and host of the Management Blueprint podcast, shares the remarkable story of walking across the street from the bank that just terminated him, opening his own office, and systematically winning back every client his former employer had.Steve's journey from his "golden cage" of prestigious corporate roles to entrepreneurial freedom offers powerful lessons for anyone feeling trapped in traditional employment. Despite coming from a family of professionals and earning impressive credentials including the rigorous CFA designation, Steve discovered his true calling lay in building businesses and helping others do the same.The conversation explores the critical distinction between entrepreneurial functions (marketing and innovation) and execution functions (operations) that allow businesses to become truly self-managing. Rather than chasing the myth of passive income, Steve advocates for entrepreneurs to focus their energy on value creation while building systems that handle day-to-day operations. His SummitOS framework, which he describes as "EOS on steroids," provides a customizable, scalable approach that helps business owners harvest low-hanging fruit quickly while building for long-term success.We dive deep into practical strategies for attracting and retaining top talent, including Steve's three-tiered approach to compensation that evolves as employees demonstrate their value. His insights on defining culture through behaviors rather than abstract ideals and measuring outcomes through function-specific KPIs offer actionable frameworks for listeners at any stage of business growth.The interview concludes with Steve's powerful formula for entrepreneurial success: desire provides the motivation to overcome challenges, resilience enables bouncing back from inevitable setbacks, and curiosity drives continuous learning and improvement. With these qualities and the right systems in place, entrepreneurs can achieve what Steve calls the ultimate gift: owning your time.Ready to transform your business into a fast-growing, high-profit, self-managing organization? Discover Steve's frameworks, books, and coaching at summitosco.com or connect with him on LinkedIn.How to connect with Steve?Website: https://SummitOS.coApple Podcast: https://bit.ly/MBPpodcast YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/MBPodcastPlaylistYT LinkedIn Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevepreda/LinkedIn Summit OS: https://www.linkedin.com/company/77938145/admin/feed/posts/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steveipreda/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevepreda/TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@summitos_creatorTwitter: https://twitter.com/StevePredaCom Amazon: amazon.com/author/stevepredaEmail: steve@stevepreda.com  Ready to scale your Amazon business? Click here to book a strategy call.  https://calendly.com/firingtheman/amazon Support the show

Meet Brandon Davis, the college senior who's turning the collections industry on its head with his AI startup, Interval. While most of his classmates are polishing resumes and stressing over job applications, Brandon is running a growing tech company with multiple employees—all before graduation day.Brandon's entrepreneurial journey began early, watching Shark Tank with his father and seeing ordinary people building extraordinary businesses. From selling fidget spinners to classmates to running a landscaping service as a teenager, his path to founding Interval was paved with the hustle that defines true entrepreneurs. After cycling through nearly 20 different startup ideas during a university incubator program, Brandon and his co-founder landed on a solution that businesses were actually willing to pay for: automated collections.What makes Interval AI fascinating isn't just the technology—it's the problem it solves. Every business struggles with accounts receivable at some point, whether it's from expired credit cards, forgetful customers, or those deliberately avoiding payment. Traditional collection methods are expensive, inefficient, and frankly, nobody wants to make those awkward calls. Interval's AI automation tackles this universal pain point, delivering results at a fraction of the cost of human collection efforts.Perhaps the most thought-provoking aspect of Brandon's story is his perspective on risk. While conventional wisdom paints entrepreneurship as the risky path and traditional employment as secure, Brandon argues the opposite. In an economy where recent graduates might submit hundreds of job applications before landing a position, building your own business offers a different kind of security—one where you control your destiny rather than hoping to survive the next round of corporate layoffs.Whether you're a seasoned business owner looking to improve cash flow or an aspiring entrepreneur searching for inspiration, Brandon's journey demonstrates that success comes to those willing to persist through failures and pivot until they find what works. Check out interval-ai.com to learn how AI might transform your collections process, or connect with Brandon through his podcast "Get Over Yourself" to follow his entrepreneurial journey.How to connect with Brandon?Website: https://getoveryourselfpodcast.com/Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/get-over-yourself/id1586568369YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC03QFF2URssz6Q1awVk1FhQFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/dodgerdavis16/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-davis-bba062223/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getoveryourself_podcast/ Ready to scale your Amazon business? Click here to book a strategy call.  https://calendly.com/firingtheman/amazon Support the show

Trust is the currency of online success, and DJ Sprague has mastered the art of building it systematically through strategic reputation management. As the Chief Marketing Officer of Shopper Approved and a veteran with 25+ years in digital marketing, DJ reveals the hidden psychological triggers that turn browsers into buyers.The conversation opens with a fascinating exploration of what DJ calls "brand schizophrenia" – when your communication touchpoints contradict each other, confusing potential customers and eroding trust. He explains why reviews must extend beyond your website to create a consistent presence across Google Ads, Google Shopping, organic search results, and third-party review platforms. This distribution strategy doesn't just build credibility; it drives significant traffic increases, with one client experiencing an astonishing 8,000% traffic growth.Perhaps most surprising is DJ's revelation about the perfect star rating – and it's not 5.0. The sweet spot falls between 4.2 and 4.7 stars, with perfect scores actually triggering consumer skepticism. Even more counterintuitive: negative reviews can dramatically boost conversions when handled properly. Studies show conversion rates increase by up to 118% when shoppers thoroughly read negative reviews, as they demonstrate transparency and authenticity.The episode covers tactical approaches for both established businesses and newcomers with limited reviews. Beyond review collection, DJ shares complementary trust signals like prominently displayed contact information, industry affiliations, and optimized Q&A content that captures featured snippets in search results. His response strategy for reviews provides a dual benefit – demonstrating customer care while strategically incorporating keywords for SEO advantage.For e-commerce entrepreneurs looking to differentiate in increasingly competitive markets, this masterclass in reputation management offers immediately applicable strategies to build trust, increase traffic, and dramatically improve conversion rates. Whether you're just starting out or scaling an established operation, DJ's insights prove that how others perceive and talk about your business might be your most valuable marketing asset.How to connect with DJ?Offer: free digital and audio copy of our book "Reputation King" to your listeners as well: https://www.reputationking.com/download/ Website: https://www.shopperapproved.com/Podcast: https://trafficandconversionpodcast.com/ LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/duanesprague/  Ready to scale your Amazon business? Click here to book a strategy call.  https://calendly.com/firingtheman/amazon Support the show

Ever wonder what happens when a potential client Googles your name after a meeting? The truth might shock you. In this eye-opening conversation with Jason Barnard, CEO of KaliCube and digital brand intelligence expert, we discover why your digital footprint matters more than ever in the age of AI.Jason reveals his unconventional path from street musician to cartoon creator to digital marketing authority, showing how he's consistently seized and created opportunities throughout his career. But the most valuable insights come when he explains the fundamental shift happening in how people research businesses and individuals online. As Jason puts it, "Your brand is not what people say about you when you're not in the room—it's what Google and ChatGPT say about you when you're not in the room."Through practical examples and memorable analogies, we learn how to build what Jason calls an "entity home"—a central hub for your digital brand that helps machines understand exactly who you are and why you matter. This hub-and-spoke model creates a cohesive digital ecosystem that works across all AI platforms, allowing you to control your brand narrative regardless of which technology dominates the landscape.The stakes couldn't be higher. With conversion rates from AI recommendations potentially 100 times higher than traditional search results, mastering your digital brand isn't just about reputation—it's about business survival. Jason demonstrates how even small businesses can compete with industry giants by optimizing for the right audience and leveraging AI's increasing influence on buying decisions.Ready to take control of your digital brand? Listen now to discover practical steps for managing how search engines and AI platforms represent you when you're not in the room. Your future opportunities may depend on it.How to connect with Jason?Website: https://kalicube.com/Podcast: https://fastlanefounders.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KalicubeFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/kalicubeLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonmbarnard/Twitter: https://x.com/TeamKalicube Ready to scale your Amazon business? Click here to book a strategy call.  https://calendly.com/firingtheman/amazon Support the show

In this episode of Firing the Man, we sit down with Kurt Elster, founder of EtherCycle and host of The Unofficial Shopify Podcast. Kurt shares his journey from flipping Beanie Babies and Furbies on eBay to becoming one of the most trusted Shopify experts. He discusses key strategies for building and scaling a successful Shopify store, including the importance of branding, storytelling, and optimizing your website for conversions. Kurt also highlights the biggest mistakes store owners make—like neglecting their checkout page and cluttering their navigation menu—and offers practical solutions to fix them. Whether you're just starting out or looking to scale, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you grow your e-commerce business.We also dive into customer acquisition strategies, including the role of Amazon vs. direct-to-consumer sales, how to drive traffic beyond Facebook and Google ads, and why content marketing is a game-changer. Kurt shares his take on the value of trying things yourself before hiring experts, the importance of understanding your unit economics, and how to build trust with potential customers. Plus, in our signature Fire Round, Kurt talks about his favorite book, his passion for e-biking and restoring vintage cars, and what sets successful entrepreneurs apart from those who struggle. Don't miss this conversation filled with expert advice and behind-the-scenes insights from one of Shopify's top consultants!How to connect with Kurt?Website: https://kurtelster.com/               https://ethercycle.com/Podcast: https://unofficialshopifypodcast.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/kurtincLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurtelsterYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ethercycle Ready to scale your Amazon business? Click here to book a strategy call.  https://calendly.com/firingtheman/amazon Support the show

Bill Carlin takes us on a fascinating journey from his early days as an eBay seller to becoming a fulfillment logistics innovator and podcast host. What began as a part-time wholesale business in college evolved into a $10 million Amazon enterprise, eventually leading him to found Shipmate Fulfillment when he spotted critical gaps in the 3PL industry.Through his experiences interviewing disruptive entrepreneurs, Carlin has identified two distinct paths to e-commerce success: the magnetic marketers who captivate customers with compelling messaging, and the innovative product developers who create truly original solutions. Both paths, he notes, share one crucial element – grit in the face of inevitable challenges.Carlin's "digital real estate" concept provides a powerful framework for e-commerce diversification. Just as physical retailers aim to get their products into multiple stores, online entrepreneurs should establish their presence across various platforms rather than relying solely on Amazon. This multi-channel approach creates resilience against platform-specific disruptions while expanding customer reach through marketplaces like Walmart, eBay, TikTok Shop, and Wayfair.For those struggling with analysis paralysis, Carlin offers his "B+ principle" – launch when something is good enough rather than pursuing perfection. This mindset prevents the inertia that kills so many entrepreneurial dreams before they begin. "When you aim for the B+, you can celebrate the A's," he explains, highlighting how lowering the bar for "ready" allows entrepreneurs to start generating real-world feedback.Ready to optimize your fulfillment strategy or explore 3PL options? Check out Racklify, Carlin's free platform dubbed "Zillow for warehouses," where you can explore logistics providers without the commission-based matchmaking that typically drives up costs for sellers. Ready to scale your Amazon business? Click here to book a strategy call.  https://calendly.com/firingtheman/amazon Support the show