The Necessary Entrepreneur

In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, host Mark Perkins sits down with Mario Baddour, CEO and President of Intelogix (formerly GC Services), one of North America’s largest privately held BPO and customer experience providers. Mario shares how he rebranded and transformed Intelogix into a global leader at the intersection of technology, human connection, and customer experience. From embracing AI, digital twins, and automation to embedding ESG practices into everyday business, Mario proves that growth and responsibility can go hand in hand. He also opens up about the moments where technology falls short, especially when human empathy and life experiences are irreplaceable. This conversation dives into leadership, scaling across continents, building resilient teams, and why technology should amplify, not replace, the human touch. If you want to understand the future of customer experience, global outsourcing, and leadership in a rapidly changing business world, this episode is a must-listen. 📌 Find Out More About Mario Baddour & InteLogix:https://intelogix.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/intelogix/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariobaddour/ 📌 Connect With Us:Website: https://www.thenecessaryentrepreneur.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenecessaryentrepreneur Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenecessaryentrepreneur/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNecessaryEntrepreneurPod X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/MPerkinsTNE LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tnepod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tneclips Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6xhGUE1yzy2N0AemUOlJPx?si=d1c5c316af404f15 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/the-necessary-entrepreneur/id1547181167

What’s the #1 reason salespeople fail? Jeb Blount, legendary sales strategist and author of Fanatical Prospecting and The AI Edge, joins Mark Perkins on The Necessary Entrepreneur to deliver an unfiltered masterclass on what it takes to thrive in today’s hyper-competitive sales landscape. Jeb unpacks how emotional intelligence, consistency, and human connection remain your greatest assets, even in a world being reshaped by AI. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur, sales leader, or just starting your journey, this episode is packed with hard-earned insights on prospecting, sales frameworks, field cold calling, and how to become an apex performer in 2025 and beyond. 🔥 Learn why human-to-human selling is making a comeback 📞 Discover why empty pipelines are killing your business 🤖 Understand how to leverage AI to become more human, not less 🚪 Reclaim the power of face-to-face cold calling and field sales 🧠 Build emotional discipline and self-awareness to unlock your potential 📚 Get the story behind Fanatical Prospecting and how it became the “Harry Potter of sales books” 💡 Find out how Jeb stays grounded, productive, and balanced, even with 300+ days a year on the road This is not theory. It’s practical, boots-on-the-ground wisdom from one of the most respected voices in modern sales. 📌 Find Out More About Jeb Blount & Sales Gravy:  https://jebblount.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jebblount/ https://salesgravy.com/ https://www.salesgravy.university/ https://www.instagram.com/salesgravy/ https://www.facebook.com/SalesGravy/ https://x.com/salesgravy https://www.youtube.com/@salesgravy https://www.tiktok.com/@salesgravy 📌 Connect With Us:Website: https://www.thenecessaryentrepreneur.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenecessaryentrepreneur Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenecessaryentrepreneur/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNecessaryEntrepreneurPod X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/MPerkinsTNE LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tnepod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tneclips Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6xhGUE1yzy2N0AemUOlJPx?si=d1c5c316af404f15 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/the-necessary-entrepreneur/id1547181167

From broke at 24 to building a multimillion-dollar flashlight empire on the shelves of Walmart and Target, Cody Grandadam's story is one of grit, mindset, and relentless drive. In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, Mark Perkins sits down in-studio with the man known as The Flashlight Guy to uncover how a small-town hustler from Illinois created jobs for hundreds, revitalized a massive abandoned clock factory, and turned a side hustle into a national brand, all without outside investors or a roadmap. Cody opens up about what it really takes to get into big box retail, and why personal development, not capital, was the most important ingredient in his success. He shares his thoughts on working with family, building culture, what young entrepreneurs often get wrong, and how manifestation, discipline, and full ownership of your life can shape your future. If you've ever wanted to create something out of nothing or wondered how far pure belief and action can take you, this conversation is your blueprint. 📌 Find Out More About Cody Grandadam:https://www.instagram.com/codygrandadam https://www.tiktok.com/@therealflashlightguy https://www.youtube.com/@flashlightguy https://www.linkedin.com/in/cody-grandadam-1992b984/ https://litezall.com/ https://www.instagram.com/litezall/ 📌 Connect With Us:Website: https://www.thenecessaryentrepreneur.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenecessaryentrepreneur Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenecessaryentrepreneur/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNecessaryEntrepreneurPod X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/MPerkinsTNE LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tnepod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tneclips Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6xhGUE1yzy2N0AemUOlJPx?si=d1c5c316af404f15 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/the-necessary-entrepreneur/id1547181167

In this conversation, Tansel Ali, a four-time Australian Memory Champion and bestselling author, shares his journey from memorizing the Yellow Pages to mastering creative visualization techniques. He emphasizes that memory is a skill that can enhance decision-making and problem-solving in entrepreneurship. Tansel also discusses how music can aid memory retention and the importance of personal boundaries while helping others. Furthermore, he highlights the need for innovative approaches in education to improve memory techniques in today's distracting world.

In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, Mark Perkins sits down with email marketing powerhouse Jay Schwedelson to unpack the mindset and strategies behind today’s most effective marketing. Jay shares why your email database is your company’s most valuable asset, how to craft subject lines that demand attention, and why perfectionism kills momentum in business. He dives into the psychology driving consumer behavior and explains how authenticity and consistency build lasting relationships with your audience. From adapting to constantly changing platforms to leveraging AI in marketing, Jay offers practical, no-fluff advice for entrepreneurs and creators looking to scale their impact. Key Takeaways: ✅ Don’t wait—start sharing valuable content now. ✅ Perfection is the enemy of progress. ✅ Your subject line’s first word can make or break open rates. ✅ Marketing success comes from understanding psychology, not chasing hacks. ✅ Give value first, ask later. 📌 Find Out More About Jay Schwedelson:https://jayschwedelson.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/schwedelson/ https://www.instagram.com/jayschwedelson/reels/ https://x.com/worldata https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelson 📌 Connect With Us:Website: https://www.thenecessaryentrepreneur.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenecessaryentrepreneur Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenecessaryentrepreneur/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNecessaryEntrepreneurPod X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/MPerkinsTNE LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tnepod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tneclips Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6xhGUE1yzy2N0AemUOlJPx?si=d1c5c316af404f15 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/the-necessary-entrepreneur/id1547181167

In this powerful episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, host Mark Perkins sits down with Jon Giganti, keynote speaker, executive coach, and USA Today bestselling author of With Intention, for a deep, vulnerable, and inspiring conversation on intentional living, leadership, mental health, and resilience. Jon shares his journey from corporate leadership to personal transformation, emphasizing how starting your day with intention, embracing struggle, and leading with a service mindset can radically change your personal and professional outcomes. From navigating mental health challenges to cultivating high-performance cultures, Jon unpacks how adversity, vulnerability, and communication shape great leaders. Whether you're an entrepreneur, executive, coach, or someone seeking personal growth, this episode will help you reset your mindset, strengthen your relationships, and lead with clarity and compassion. Jon Giganti is a keynote speaker, executive coach, and USA Today bestselling author of With Intention. With over 25 years of experience in sales leadership and personal development, Jon helps individuals and teams unlock high performance through intentional living, emotional intelligence, and resilience. He’s passionate about bridging personal growth and professional excellence, and is the host of The With Intention Podcast. 🔑 Topics Covered: Why self-intention is just as critical as serving others How struggles build resilience and sharpen performance The connection between mental health and high achievement Setting clear expectations as a leadership advantage Building relationship capital and finding strength in support Creating safe spaces and navigating vulnerability The hero’s journey as a model for growth Embracing continuous improvement in work and life 📌 Find Out More About Jon Giganti:https://www.jongiganti.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-giganti-3173172/ https://www.instagram.com/jongiganti/ https://www.facebook.com/jon.giganti 📌 Connect With Us:Website: https://www.thenecessaryentrepreneur.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenecessaryentrepreneur Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenecessaryentrepreneur/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNecessaryEntrepreneurPod X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/MPerkinsTNE LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tnepod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tneclips Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6xhGUE1yzy2N0AemUOlJPx?si=d1c5c316af404f15 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/the-necessary-entrepreneur/id1547181167

In this high-impact conversation, Scaling Up author and Entrepreneurs’ Organization founder Verne Harnish sits down with Mark Perkins to unpack the real mechanics behind scaling a business that lasts. Verne shares powerful insights on why sustainable growth requires more than just execution—it demands the right mindset, strategy, people, and purpose. From unlocking bottlenecks to leveraging advisory boards, Verne reveals the most overlooked growth levers and explains why understanding the soul of your business is just as critical as knowing your numbers. The conversation dives into the evolving role of education, the value of continuous learning, and how timing the market can shape your trajectory more than talent alone. Whether you’re leading a fast-growing startup or recalibrating a legacy company, this episode is packed with actionable wisdom to help you scale smarter, lead better, and build with intention. Key Takeaways: Why mindset matters as much as skillset in scaling a business How to identify constraints that quietly cap your growth The power of people and culture in driving performance Why great entrepreneurs read, learn, and adapt constantly What it means to align your business with its core purpose The strategic role of advisory boards and timing in building wealth 📌 Find Out More About Verne Harnish: www.scalingup.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/verneharnish/ https://www.instagram.com/verne.harnish/ https://www.facebook.com/vharnish/ https://www.youtube.com/user/GazellesTV https://x.com/thegrowthguy/ 📌 Connect With Us:Website: https://www.thenecessaryentrepreneur.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenecessaryentrepreneur Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenecessaryentrepreneur/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNecessaryEntrepreneurPod X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/MPerkinsTNE LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tnepod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tneclips Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6xhGUE1yzy2N0AemUOlJPx?si=d1c5c316af404f15 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/the-necessary-entrepreneur/id1547181167

In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, Mark Perkins sits down with dynamic keynote speaker, coach, and leadership strategist Dr. Karim R. Ellis to unpack what true success really looks like. Together, they dive deep into the power of mentorship, the role of character development, and the value of serving others on the path to purpose. Dr. Ellis shares powerful personal stories and hard-earned wisdom about rising through adversity, mastering your message, and building influence through strategic networking. From unforgettable speeches to transformational life lessons, this conversation is filled with insights for anyone looking to lead with clarity, elevate their craft, and make meaningful impact. Whether you're an entrepreneur, speaker, or purpose-driven leader, this episode will challenge and inspire you to keep growing—with intention. Dr. Karim R. Ellis is a nationally recognized speaker, leadership trainer, and mindset expert known for helping individuals and organizations unlock their full potential. Whether he’s on stage delivering a keynote or coaching behind the scenes, Dr. Ellis brings energy, clarity, and heart to everything he does. 📌 Find Out More About Dr. Elliswww.karimellis.com www.instagram.com/karimellis2.0 www.linkedin.com/in/karimellis www.facebook.com/karimellis2.0 www.youtube.com/karimrayellis www.tiktok.com/@karimellis1 📌 Connect With Us:Website: https://www.thenecessaryentrepreneur.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenecessaryentrepreneur Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenecessaryentrepreneur/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNecessaryEntrepreneurPod X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/MPerkinsTNE LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tnepod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tneclips Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6xhGUE1yzy2N0AemUOlJPx?si=d1c5c316af404f15 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/the-necessary-entrepreneur/id1547181167

In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, bestselling author Craig Johnson joins host Mark Perkins to discuss the creation and evolution of the Longmire series—one of the most iconic modern Western literary franchises. Craig shares the real-life inspiration behind Sheriff Walt Longmire, the role of Wyoming's rugged landscape in shaping his storytelling, and how life experiences continue to fuel his creativity. The conversation dives into the entrepreneurial side of being a full-time author, from navigating the publishing industry to maintaining creative control. Craig reflects on the early challenges of writing, the value of reader connection, and how perseverance and authenticity helped him build a devoted fanbase. They also explore how the Longmire series transitioned from page to screen, the cultural impact of the Longmire TV show on Netflix, and the ongoing influence of rural life, solitude, and community in Johnson’s work. This episode is a must-listen for writers, creatives, and anyone who values grit, storytelling, and the long game of building something meaningful. 📌 Find Out More About Craig Johnson:https://www.craigallenjohnson.com/ https://www.facebook.com/OfficialCraigJohnson/ https://www.instagram.com/ucrosspop25/ https://x.com/ucrosspop25  📘 Get His New Book:  Return to Sender 📌 Connect With Us:Website: https://www.thenecessaryentrepreneur.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenecessaryentrepreneur Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenecessaryentrepreneur/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNecessaryEntrepreneurPod X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/MPerkinsTNE LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tnepod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tneclips Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6xhGUE1yzy2N0AemUOlJPx?si=d1c5c316af404f15 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/the-necessary-entrepreneur/id1547181167

In this episode of The Necessary Entrepreneur, Amanda Goetz joins Mark Perkins for a candid conversation about ambition, self-worth, and the evolving definition of success. Amanda unpacks the concept of "toxic grit"—the relentless pursuit of achievement without intention—and why it's time to replace blind hustle with aligned, purpose-driven action. They explore Amanda’s transition from chasing titles and ego to building meaningful, mission-led ventures. She shares lessons learned through hardship, the power of process over outcome, and the value of having “coaches and pacers” along the journey. With a strong focus on intentional hustle, real-world experience, and systems for success, Amanda encourages entrepreneurs to think critically, work smarter, and embrace the roles they play in life with clarity and grace. Whether you're scaling a startup or redefining your personal goals, this conversation offers practical tools and perspective for building a life—and business—that actually works for you. 🎯 Topics Covered: The myth of hustle culture and the rise of toxic grit Intentionality in career and personal development Building mission-driven brands The value of mentorship, coaching, and collaboration Balancing ambition with fulfillment Creating systems that support growth 📌 Find Out More About Amanda Goetz: https://www.amandagoetz.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandagoetz/ https://www.instagram.com/theamandagoetz/ https://x.com/AmandaMGoetz https://www.youtube.com/@goetzam 📌 Connect With Us: Website: https://www.thenecessaryentrepreneur.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thenecessaryentrepreneur Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenecessaryentrepreneur/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNecessaryEntrepreneurPod X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/MPerkinsTNE LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tnepod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tneclips Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6xhGUE1yzy2N0AemUOlJPx?si=d1c5c316af404f15 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/the-necessary-entrepreneur/id1547181167