Mike Beckham built Simple Modern into a $200 million/year e-commerce brand. I chat with him about how he got started, another business ventures he had (including talking his brother out of buying $1 million of Bitcoin in 2012).Mike teaches entrepreneurship and business to students and others, so watch this entire episode if you want to start a business. Mike will show you the way!0:00 Intro5:17 How did Mike become an entrepreneur?9:10 Mike's entrepreneurship lessons18:22 Entrepreneurial parenting22:31 How to start a business25:48 His brother's auction website ($1 billion in sales)32:38 Almost inventing Candy Crush35:15 Amazon suspending his account42:06 How Simple Modern changed over the last 4 years43:58 Treating employees well59:04 Who does Mike look up to?👉 Connect with SievaWebsite: www.sievakozinsky.comX: twitter.com/SievaKozinskyLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/skozinsky/Substack: www.thebusinessacademy.substack.com/👉 Connect with MikeX: https://x.com/mikebeckhamsmCompany: https://www.simplemodern.com/

Khai Nguyen, founder of Powers Gymnastics and a savvy investor, shares his transformative journey from homelessness to owning over 20 businesses. He discusses early struggles on Wall Street, the importance of building rapport with fellow business owners, and innovations like the Ninja Warrior program. Khai candidly reveals the ups and downs of the gymnastics industry, emphasizing strategic growth and community engagement. His resilience and insights offer a fresh perspective on entrepreneurship and the potential of youth sports.

Ankur Nagpal, founder of Teachable, sold his ed-tech company for $250 million and now focuses on tax optimization strategies through his new venture, Carry.com. He reveals the art of knowing when to sell and navigates the complexities of acquisitions. Ankur shares insights on tax loopholes, investment strategies, and how to structure businesses for maximum benefits. He emphasizes the importance of a dedicated team and innovative marketing while reflecting on his entrepreneurial journey and financial platforms tailored for small business owners.

David Rodnitzky, a serial entrepreneur known for his successful marketing agency, shares his incredible journey of selling his agency for $65 million and reacquiring it for just $5 million. He delves into the nuances of agency valuation, revealing how much one can sell an agency for and the importance of profitability. David discusses the significant price hikes he implemented, from $5k to $25k monthly, and the strategies he used to scale. He emphasizes the critical role of mentorship in navigating business growth and the importance of focusing on operational efficiency.

Jameson Haslam, a former private equity professional, discusses his surprising leap into the deck building industry in San Diego, where he now generates $1.5 million annually. He shares how he secured his first project before even launching his business and the challenges of navigating competitive markets. Jameson reveals his innovative team structure, leveraging bilingual talent to cut costs, and emphasizes the significance of social media—particularly Instagram—in building trust and generating high-ticket sales.

In today’s episode Boring Businesses, I’m joined by Josh York, founder and CEO of GymGuyz, the largest in-home and on-site personal training company in the world.Josh’s entrepreneurial journey is a testament to relentless grit, vision, and an unwavering commitment to innovation. He offers insights into leadership, scaling a franchise, and maintaining a strong company culture, all while motivating others to push past limits—both in fitness and life.Timestamps:00:00 Trailer00:31 Creating a culture with fuel and drive04:21 Sending a tire to Nike founder Phil Knight08:31 Building resilience10.41 Getting obsessed with competition17:24 Negative experiences fuel career change19:53 Creating career paths for personal trainers to succeed27:35 Scaling a fitness franchise32:49 Core requirements of success37:15 Learning from our mistakes40:26 Owning multiple locations46:16 Company culture, being present, and balance54:25 Leading by example👉 Connect with SievaWebsite: www.sievakozinsky.comX: twitter.com/SievaKozinskyLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/skozinsky/Substack: www.thebusinessacademy.substack.com/ 👉 Connect with JoshX: https://x.com/joshyorkggInstagram: www.instagram.com/joshyorkgg/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/joshyorkgymguyz/If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a review to support the show. 🙏

Exploring the complexities of business acquisition, the discussion highlights whether to keep the original owner or bring in a new operator. Retaining the existing owner can preserve valuable community ties and knowledge, but there are pitfalls to avoid as well. Real-world examples shed light on when maintaining continuity is beneficial and when it may hinder progress. The conversation is a must-listen for those navigating the often tricky waters of business investments.

Dive into the secrets of selling your business for top dollar! Discover essential strategies for preparing your business, from organizing financials to building a solid leadership team. Learn how to enhance profitability and boost appeal to potential buyers. With insights from someone who's bought over 20 companies, this conversation offers valuable tips for maximizing your sale. Whether you're planning a sale now or in the future, these strategies could help you make that million-dollar leap!

I spoke with Aaron Harper, who's turning a boring business into a national franchise. He found Rolling Suds, a pressure washing business that does $2 million in annual revenue with 37% margins, and has sold 200+ franchise territories in less than 2 years. And he's done this twice before, with a drywall patching company and a carpet cleaning business.Highlights:0:00 Introductions0:35 Aaron's background11:30 Turning around a franchise business14:40 Generating leads for franchises23:02 Economics of a franchising business27:30 Rolling Suds' moat41:30 How to operate a Rolling Suds franchise54:40 Structure of his deal with Rolling Suds👉 Connect with SievaWebsite: https://www.sievakozinsky.com/X: https://twitter.com/SievaKozinskyLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/skozinsky/👉 Connect with AaronX: https://x.com/AaronHarperCEOIf you enjoyed the episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to support the show. 🙏#entrepreneur #business #personaldevelopment

Johnny Robinson, an expert on the home cleaning business model, shares his incredible journey of acquiring a $250k/year cleaning company for just $1,000 down. He discusses the economics behind starting a cleaning business and offers insights into building referral partnerships. Johnny explains how to effectively hire reliable cleaners and leverage social media for growth. He also dives into his education business that generated $2.8 million in just nine months, revealing strategies to teach others about the cleaning industry.