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The Quiet Light Podcast

Latest episodes

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Sep 20, 2022 • 29min

Hollywood Executive Turned Entrepreneur (and EXITpreneur) Part 2

Dan Smith is the Founder and former CEO of an e-commerce brand that sells iPhone wallet cases. In 2022, Dan sold his self-financed company for 100 times the invested capital. Dan is a former Hollywood executive, turned entrepreneur, turned EXITpreneur who spends his time consulting for major brands such as Fred Segal, Wired, Macworld, Beams (Japan), and AT&T. In this episode… Dan Smith spent over 10 years as a Hollywood executive before converting an idea into a thriving e-commerce brand. How did he do it? For eight years, Dan grew and nurtured his multimillion-dollar company, even gaining customers like Tom Hanks and members of Coldplay. But as the adage goes, “all good things must come to an end,” and Dan was ready to sell. After consulting with his wife and accountant brother, Dan knew he needed the expertise of a business advisor. Enter Quiet Light’s own Chuck Mullins, who brokered a deal that Dan couldn’t say no to. In this episode of Quiet Light Podcast, Joe Valley sits down with entrepreneur-turned-EXITpreneur Dan Smith in part two of a two-part discussion about the process of selling a profitable company. Dan explains what led him to sell, the steps taken prior to selling, and the post-sell transition. Finally, Dan talks about his latest venture and how he’s helping other entrepreneurs grow their businesses as a consultant.
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Sep 13, 2022 • 31min

Hollywood Executive Turned Entrepreneur (and EXITpreneur) Part 1

Dan Smith is the Founder and former CEO of an e-commerce brand that sells iPhone wallet cases. In 2022, Dan sold his self-financed company for 100 times the invested capital. Dan is a former Hollywood executive, turned entrepreneur, turned EXITpreneur who spends his time consulting for major brands such as Fred Segal, Wired, Macworld, Beams (Japan), and AT&T.  In this episode… You’re happy with your career, but there’s a million-dollar idea burning inside you. How should you move forward? Dan Smith was flourishing in his career and having fun while doing it, but as the corporate world goes, a shift in operations forced him to re-evaluate his next career move. Leaning on the years of experience and talents he accrued along the way, Dan realized he could monetize that into his own business.  In this episode of Quiet Light Podcast, Joe Valley sits down with EXITpreneur Dan Smith in a two-part discussion about leaving a career as a Hollywood executive to bootstrapping his own business. From conceptualizing an idea then converting it into a multimillion-dollar e-commerce brand, Dan offers his best advice on how to self-fund a business. Plus, Dan shares how e-commerce brands can benefit from using Google Analytics. 
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Sep 6, 2022 • 46min

Quiet Light's Home Page Gets Audited (Yours Should Too)

Shaun Brandt is the Co-founder of Oddit, a CRO solution for direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands wanting to increase their conversion and brand loyalty. He is an experienced entrepreneur and the Co-founder of Kulin, where he helps DTC e-commerce brands scale revenue through smart strategy, Google ads, paid social, email/SMS, and creative. Shaun is an Investor at Triple Whale and the Founder of Nowhere Else Inc. Previously, he was a Partner for Wilfred’s, Partner and Creative Director for MAST Hair, Co-founder and Creative Director for Versett, Co-founder of Federal Moto, and Principal for ONST Creative.  In this episode… Are you worried your website is missing strategic opportunities to attract new growth? What steps can you take to increase your conversion rate?  While you’re growing your brand, it can be difficult to gauge what draws or repels new consumers. Knowing your website’s weakness can only help you on the path to reducing friction and creating a greater strategy to grow, which is why Shaun Brandt created a brand-first conversion that reviews the face of your brand. Removing the clutter provides brands a better foundation to showcase their story — and makes their products more accessible to consumers. In this episode of the Quiet Light Podcast, Joe Valley sits down with Shaun Brandt, Co-founder of Oddit, to discuss how Conversion Rate Optimization can elevate your brand. Shaun talks about how building successful consumer relations scaled his agency, why examining the statistics of your website can generate higher conversion rates, and connecting with other professionals to increase your revenue. Stay tuned!
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Aug 30, 2022 • 36min

Mindset Coaching for Entrepreneurs

Benjamin Easter is the Founder, CEO, and Head Coach at Lucid Shift Coaching, where he helps cultural renegades and early-stage entrepreneurs manage their minds, increase awareness, expand possibilities, and take strategic action. Benjamin has over a decade of experience in individual and group coaching, and his coaching style is a blend of strategic planning, practical exercises, and laser-focused playful curiosity.  Before Lucid Shift Coaching, Benjamin was the Owner of The Power of Purpose Coaching, LLC. Before beginning his career as a business coach, Benjamin was an Account Manager for Jama Software and Notion and the Owner of Eastern Medicine, LLC. He has a BA in religion, a BA in philosophy, and an MS in traditional Chinese medicine and herbology. Additionally, Benjamin is a Certified Coach licensed in acupuncture and oriental medicine. He has also taken coaching development courses from Tony Robbins, Thomas Leonard, and Rich Litvin.  In this episode… What is holding you back from achieving your vision and the reality you desire for your brand? Strategically thinking about your business model may seem like a daunting task, but does it need to be? With over a decade of business coaching experience, Benjamin Easter warns against becoming stuck in a cycle of self-doubt and weighing your sense of satisfaction on the types of results you create. When you hold your self-worth hostage, it can be difficult to see through a dissatisfied state of mind. That’s why Benjamin says it is valuable to have a coach to guide and engage you through feelings of uncertainty to become an effective entrepreneur. Business coaches are great for exploring your actual situation, identifying any limiting factors that might be holding you back, and creating a unique strategy to tap into your authentic power. In this episode of the Quiet Light Podcast, Joe Valley sits down with Benjamin Easter, Founder, CEO, and Head Coach at Lucid Shift Coaching, to discuss how having a coach can help you break free from what’s holding you back in your life and growing your business. Benjamin talks about aligning your values as an entrepreneur, transcending a balanced male-female dichotomy within your work, and producing desired results through the natural learning process. Stay tuned! 
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Aug 23, 2022 • 48min

Former CMO for Thrive Market (and GM for JustFab) Talks Subscriptions (for Anything)

Evan Padgett is the Chief Operating Officer at Stealth Venture Labs, a team of veteran marketers with full-stack experience who are focused on driving profitable, high-lifetime value customers at scale. He has over 20 years of experience working in the internet and market research. Prior to his work with Stealth Venture Labs, Evan was the General Manager for JustFab and ShoeDazzle brands in North America, the Director of Analytics for Intelligent Beauty, and the Marketing Manager for Fox Interactive Media: Alena Division.  In this episode… How can you build a subscription model with a healthy customer service base? Is it possible to create consumer desire and demand for your products? When you take care of your customer, the dominos fall in place to generate a better business and greater profits. How? According to Evan Padgett, the key is engaging with consumers over social media to create lasting connections. By developing a consumer need for your product — and with a good customer service department — you can succeed with a recurring revenue model for your subscription service.  Join Joe Valley in this episode of the Quiet Light Podcast as he sits down with Evan Padgett, Chief Operating Officer at Stealth Venture Labs, to talk about developing a rich subscription model for your brand. Evan discusses the evolution of the subscription model, the revenue power behind a customized model, and connecting and establishing an enduring relationship with your clients. Stay tuned!
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Aug 16, 2022 • 24min

Part 2: Brandon White Joins Two Venture Cap Firms

Brandon White is the Host of the EDGE podcast, where business owners share their stories and behind-the-scenes tips to scale their businesses. Brandon has been an entrepreneur for over 20 years and unlocked the solution to greatness: align your body and health — and create a plan for success!  Brandon is the founder of two business exits, an angel investor, former venture capitalist, and worked in marketing management at America Online (AOL). Previously, he was the President and CTO of Tidal Fish Ventures, an Associate at Updata Partners, and CEO at Worldwide Angler. He graduated from Washington College with his master’s in psychology and UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School with his MBA. In this episode… How can you turn your business into an enduring enterprise? Is it possible to connect with your audience through the brand-building process?  As an emerging brand, it can be difficult to reach your audience, especially if you’re new to the entrepreneurial world. For Brandon White, it was about setting expectations for yourself and balancing work and life. It was not always smooth sailing, but he discovered a competitive advantage that raised his brand and still resonates with his audience: work hard and don’t stop. Brandon actively curates a paper newsletter to remain connected and generate a better response rate. Listen to this episode to learn how.  In this episode of the Quiet Light Podcast, Joe Valley sits down with Brandon White, entrepreneur and Host of the EDGE podcast, to discuss how to keep the momentum and growth of your brand scaling upwards. Brandon talks about engaging in work-life balance, regulating realistic expectations for your brand and yourself, and why a paper newsletter isn’t just a thing of the past. Stay tuned! 
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Aug 9, 2022 • 41min

Part 1: Brandon White Raises $1M for an Online Fishing Newsletter

Brandon White is the Host of the EDGE podcast, where business owners share their stories and behind-the-scenes tips to scale their businesses. Brandon has been an entrepreneur for over 20 years and unlocked the solution to greatness: align your body and health — and create a plan for success!  Brandon is the founder of two business exits, an angel investor, former venture capitalist, and worked in marketing management at America Online (AOL). Previously, he was the President and CTO of Tidal Fish Ventures, an Associate at Updata Partners, and CEO at Worldwide Angler. He graduated from Washington College with his master’s in psychology and UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School with his MBA.  In this episode… Every business starts with an idea. Where can you go to build that thought into a blossoming and scalable business?  For Brandon White, it began with a hobby — and he cast the line and reeled in a success story. He promoted his fishing website through unique methods that drove traffic and invested in stocks to grow his capital. By creating a business plan (and remaining authentic and humble), Brandon knew the value of recognizing the difference between a successful company and creating wealth. Eventually, he was able to turn his idea into an enduring enterprise.  In this episode of the Quiet Light Podcast, Joe Valley sits down with Brandon White, entrepreneur and Host of the EDGE podcast, to talk about firsthand experience and lessons learned from turning a thought into an actionable plan. Brandon shares an innovative way to cultivate online engagement, how he built a business plan that hooks, and an in-depth look at venture capital for a rising entrepreneur. Stay tuned!
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Aug 2, 2022 • 30min

Acquisition Funding — No Personal Guarantee (And Not SBA)

Juan García is the CEO of Boopos, a revenue-based financing facility.  He has a history as an entrepreneur and experience working with investments, transactions, and equity. He was previously the Chief Financial Officer at Cabify, a Private Equity Associate at Portobello Capital, and an Investment Banking Analyst at Merrill Lynch. Juan graduated from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid with a degree in telecommunications.  In this episode… Where can you turn when a typical SBA loan is not the right fit for your brand? Are you using the best approach to fund your business loan? Juan García had entrepreneurs in mind when he founded Boopos. Creating revenue-based financing is an alternative for entrepreneurs who want to maximize their lending amount for acquiring a business without long waiting periods. If you want to be a better buyer without risking your personal growth, this episode is for you! In this episode of the Quiet Light Podcast, Joe Valley sits down with Juan García, CEO of Boopos, to discuss acquiring a business through asset purchase funding. Juan talks about the due diligence process of acquiring a loan, why revenue-based financing can be the best option, and how to maximize your lending amount to purchase a business. Stay tuned!
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Jul 26, 2022 • 37min

Using an Omnichannel Approach To Maximize Sales

Shane Hohenstein is the Founder and CEO of Voyageur Group, an e-commerce agency that supports consumer brands across Amazon, Walmart, and Target through merchandising, marketing, content creation, and advertising services. As an expert in retail advertising, Shane spent 10 years in Target’s marketplace where he held a variety of roles including Lead Strategic Account Executive, Omnichannel Partnership and Negotiation Expert, and Merchandise Planning Analyst. Shane is also the Co-founder and CEO of Paddle Commerce. In this episode… In today’s dynamic e-commerce marketplace, it’s essential to have an omnichannel strategy to sell your products. Target creates a viable opportunity for brands to expand their services. So, how can you leverage the potential of this marketplace to maximize growth?  One of the advantages of selling on Target is that they guarantee product authenticity by curating their assortment and preventing resellers. Their detailed vetting process for each product and brand helps you mitigate competition and ensure customer trust. And, with Shane Hohenstein’s guidance and expertise, you can develop a selling strategy for Target’s developing marketplace.  In today’s episode of the Quiet Light Podcast, Mark Daoust talks with Shane Hohenstein, Founder and CEO of Voyageur Group, about optimizing your growth prospects using Target’s online marketplace. Shane explains Target’s customer categories, their mass-market strategy for product quality and authenticity, and the benefits and criteria of selling on Target.
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Jul 19, 2022 • 52min

Why Jay Campbell Sold a Great Business

Jay Campbell was the Co-founder of Aseir Custom, a cosmeceutical skincare company that uses the revolutionary copper peptide GHK-Cu to create the healthiest and youngest looking skin possible, that he recently exited. He is an international best-selling author of four books, including The TNT TRT MANual and The TOT Bible, and he’s the Founder of the Jay Campbell Brand and Podcast. In this episode… As an entrepreneur, how can you push through the challenges and achieve positive cash flow? Do you want to get away from the hustle and grind of ownership and enjoy time with family and relax in the sun — but you’re not sure how to exit? Exiting your business is not as simple as closing a door. It takes time, dedication, and a clear path toward your exit goals. First-time exitpreneurs may find this challenging. Jay Campbell had already hurdled partnership problems, shipping, and supply-chain issues and was ready to slow down the pace. That’s why Jay enlisted the team at Quiet Light to assist in his valuation and receive higher offers for his brand. Are you ready to achieve your amazing exit today? In this episode of the Quiet Light Podcast, Joe Valley sits down with Jay Campbell, Co-founder of Aseir Custom, to discuss optimizing your exit strategy. Jay talks about avoiding partnership difficulties, why he negotiated an equity exit, and the importance of insurance when things go awry.

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