INspired INsider Podcast

Dan Meadors is a co-founder of The Wholesale Formula with Eric Lambert. They began selling on Amazon as a hobby with an original investment of only $600. They worked nights and weekends buying products on clearance at local retail stores and selling them on Amazon for a profit. It only took a few months before they saw the potential to turn this hobby into a business as they both left their day jobs to sell on Amazon full-time. Since then they have been able to generate over $20,000,000 in sales on Amazon. Dan and Eric have developed their own unique system to take advantage of wholesale opportunities called The Wholesale Formula. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [1:25] Jeremy introduces his guest, Dan Meadors. [2:30] What is the difference between branded and unbranded wholesale? [4:30] Feedback from using The Wholesale Formula. [8:20] Dan opens up about challenges they’ve faced along the way. [11:45] The proudest moment in business for Dan. [13:45] How to connect with Dan and The Wholesale Formula. In this episode… Have you ever stopped to think about how your efforts impact and influence other business leaders? Are you actively giving back and helping the next generation of leaders in your industry? On this episode of Inspired Insider, you’ll hear from innovator and business leader, Dan Meadors. In his conversation with Jeremy, Dan opens up about the feedback he’s received about The Wholesale Formula, why he loves equipping business leaders to do what they love, challenges they’ve faced along the way, and much more! Don’t miss a minute of this powerful episode featuring Dan and the story behind The Wholesale Formula! One of the most amazing privileges you can have as a business leader is to influence the lives of other people. For Dan Meadors and his team at The Wholesale Formula, it’s not just a privilege, it’s their business model! The Wholesale Formula is a step-by-step process that shows ecommerce sellers exactly how to take advantage of wholesale opportunities on Amazon the same way Dan & Eric have to build their multi-million dollar business. Dan and Eric are passionate about helping others start their own business because they know how freeing it can be! What do you do when everything you’ve planned for comes crashing down around you? Do you give up and throw in the towel or do you learn from those challenges and bounce back? Dan and Eric faced a significant challenge early on in their business when they invested all of their funds into a product that failed. Scrambling, the guys had to find a way to keep a bad situation from tanking their whole operation. Thankfully they were able to find a solution that kept them in business and living to fight another day. Dealing with this challenge had a profound impact on Dan and has shaped the way he views risk and success. What can you learn from Dan’s story? Resources Mentioned on this episode The Wholesale Formula The Wholesale Formula on Facebook The Wholesale Formula on Twitter The Wholesale Formula Blog Intro Music by Kidd Russell Sponsor for this episode Rise25 creates 100% outsourced VIP days for software companies and conference organizers to serve their highest level customers. Rise25 VIP Days have a proven track record of helping companies to get more referrals, increase retention with their VIP customers, and get more engaged new customers without adding extra work to that company’s plate. Rise25 partners and collaborates with entrepreneur-focused communities, with particular emphasis on creating events for high volume Amazon sellers, Walmart sellers, multichannel ecommerce sellers, and founders who want to take their business to the next level. Rise25 has hosted VIP events in cities such as Austin, Chicago, Santa Barbara, San Diego, New York, Sonoma, and Las Vegas to name a few. If your company appreciates the value of bringing your highest level customers together to connect and collaborate, you can learn more and contact us to find out if your company qualifies at Rise25.com. Rise25 was cofounded by Dr. Jeremy Weisz and John Corcoran.

Habib Salo is the CEO of Young Nails. They have been serving the nail care industry for over 20 years. Habib and Greg (Habib’s older brother) run the business and their mom decided to start her own business at the age of 49. She had a passion for the nail industry and they did everything to support her. Greg, the older brother, became a licensed nail technician after switching gears from firefighter training. Habib took a detour from medical school and a life in music. Young Nails Inc., is a professional nail care manufacturing company exporting to over 40 countries worldwide and distributing domestically to over 3000 stores. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [1:40] Jeremy introduces his guest, Habib Salo. [4:00] Reinventing the business & focusing on social media engagement. [9:30] What causes Young Nails videos to get high views? [13:30] Who is the Young Nails audience? [15:30] Getting products into Trade Shows and Salons. [18:00] How Habib’s mom started the business. [24:00] Early challenges in the business. [26:30] How Habib got involved in the business. [31:15] What caused the business to head in the right direction? [33:45] Milestones reached along the way. [36:40] Building the brand. [40:15] What are the future plans for Habib and Young Nails? [43:00] Why Young Nails manufactures their own products. [44:15] How staying connected to social media helps Habib stay on top of trends. [45:20] Habib talks about how he connected with Azriel Ratz. [48:45] Low moments faced along the way. [52:20] What is driving Habib on his journey? In this episode… What does it take to shake up a stagnant industry and lead with social media engagement? How do you ensure long-term success for your business while keeping an eye on reinventing your brand? On this episode of Inspired Insider, you’ll hear from business leaders and innovator Habib Salo. In his conversation with Jeremy, Habib opens up about how Young Nails got started, challenges they’ve faced as the business has grown, important milestones reached, why they pivoted toward social media engagement, and so much more! Don’t miss a minute of this powerful episode featuring Habib Salo’s journey with Young Nails! Have you ever had a moment in your career where you thought things were going one way but you ended up needing to make a pivot? How did you handle that shift? What challenges arose from it? For Habib Salo, the shift came when his mother and brother came to him and asked him to join them in their professional nail care manufacturing company. Making the shift from a career as a musician to nail care wasn’t the most seamless transition but looking back Habib is thrilled how things turned out. What can you learn from Habib’s story? In addition to making a personal shift from what he thought he’d be doing to running a nail care business, Habib Salo had to help the business shift from traditional outreach to social media engagement. The gambit paid off and now the organization has a thriving presence on both Facebook and YouTube. He and his brother have found a sizeable following with their fun and entertaining YouTube channel, YoungNailsInc. Due to their social media success, the guys are even considering how to expand their reach by using a podcast focused on nail care. Their experience goes to show that when you make the risk to change, sometimes it really pays off! Let’s face it, no amount of success comes without a degree of challenges along the way. What challenges have you come across on your journey so far? Habib Salo and his family struggled with their nail care business for many years before things started heading in the right direction. From wrestling with massive debt to dealing with a business partner who stole funds, Young Nails endured more than most. Through all of the early turmoil, the organization continued moving forward because of Habib’s mother, was convinced that business would eventually be worth all the difficulty they faced. As a business leader, you can’t afford to just keep things stable, at some point, you have to be prepared to push the envelope. Too often businesses who were once poised at the top of their industry end up crashing down because they failed to make necessary changes, just ask Sears. It takes a lot of planning, risk, and boldness for a company to go beyond the comfortable and do what is necessary to really thrive. Habib and his family knew that if they wanted to not just keep the lights on but really carve out a name for themselves in the industry, that they’d need to shake things up. Following this attitude, they’ve rolled out some amazing products and approaches that have connected with their audience because they’ve kept up with a robust social media engagement. How will your business stay competitive? Resources Mentioned on this episode Young Nails Young Nails on YouTube Young Nails on Facebook Young Nails on Twitter Vayner Media's 4ds Gary Vaynerchuk Ratz Pack Media Intro Music by Kidd Russell Sponsor for this episode Rise25 creates 100% outsourced VIP days for software companies and conference organizers to serve their highest level customers. Rise25 VIP Days have a proven track record of helping companies to get more referrals, increase retention with their VIP customers, and get more engaged new customers without adding extra work to that company’s plate. Rise25 partners and collaborates with entrepreneur-focused communities, with particular emphasis on creating events for high volume Amazon sellers, Walmart sellers, multichannel ecommerce sellers, and founders who want to take their business to the next level. Rise25 has hosted VIP events in cities such as Austin, Chicago, Santa Barbara, San Diego, New York, Sonoma, and Las Vegas to name a few. If your company appreciates the value of bringing your highest level customers together to connect and collaborate, you can learn more and contact us to find out if your company qualifies at Rise25.com. Rise25 was cofounded by Dr. Jeremy Weisz and John Corcoran.

Tara Bosch is the founder of SmartSweets, her mission is to help you kick sugar! She started SmartSweets after forming an unhealthy relationship with food and seeing the negative effects sugar has on our health. After spending months recipe testing in her kitchen with a gummy bear mold from Amazon, Tara created a healthy gummy bear. Tara and her team were able to raise 3.6 million dollars to get their business off the ground. Today, you can find SmartSweets in over 10,000 stores like Whole Foods, Target, GNC and many online channels.  Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [1:55] Jeremy introduces his guest, Tara Bosch. [3:15] Lessons learned along the way. [6:20] How Tara keeps her products from melting while in transit. [8:00] A low moment in business for Tara. [9:45] Milestone reached, getting on the shelves at Whole Foods. In this episode… How do small business owners get through the challenges of early development to push through their doubts to find sustained success? Is it possible to learn from mistakes and miscalculations along the way? On this episode of Inspired Insider, you’ll hear from entrepreneur and innovator Tara Bosch. In her conversation with Jeremy, Tara opens up about SmartSweets, lessons she has learned along the way, how she overcame doubts, what it took to get on the shelves in Whole Foods, and much more! Don’t miss a minute of this powerful episode featuring Tara’s story! Let’s face it, when you step out in the business world at some point you are going to wrestle with doubts. You might face your own personal doubts about your chances for success or you might run into people who doubt you, the question is, how will you handle those doubts? For Tara Bosch, the doubts didn’t gain power, she was able to regain them in and remind herself that she was pressing forward for a reason. If your vision for success isn’t bigger than your doubts, you’ll never succeed! What path will you take? How can you learn from Tara’s story and silence the power of doubts? One of the best ways to push back against your doubts is to focus on milestones as you plot your career trajectory. Have you taken the time to celebrate milestones you’ve reached along the way? Looking back at the journey she’s been on with SmartSweets, Tara Bosch is especially proud of the moment when they were able to get their product on shelves at Whole Foods. Taking the time to commemorate such an awesome accomplishment can have a huge impact on morale and future goals! How do you place to keep momentum driving forward in your business? Resources Mentioned on this episode SmartSweets SmartSweets on Amazon Giftology Intro Music by Kidd Russell Sponsor for this episode Rise25 creates 100% outsourced VIP days for software companies and conference organizers to serve their highest level customers. Rise25 VIP Days have a proven track record of helping companies to get more referrals, increase retention with their VIP customers, and get more engaged new customers without adding extra work to that company’s plate. Rise25 partners and collaborates with entrepreneur-focused communities, with particular emphasis on creating events for high volume Amazon sellers, Walmart sellers, multichannel ecommerce sellers, and founders who want to take their business to the next level. Rise25 has hosted VIP events in cities such as Austin, Chicago, Santa Barbara, San Diego, New York, Sonoma, and Las Vegas to name a few. If your company appreciates the value of bringing your highest level customers together to connect and collaborate, you can learn more and contact us to find out if your company qualifies at Rise25.com. Rise25 was cofounded by Dr. Jeremy Weisz and John Corcoran.

Steve O’Dell and Robbie Page are the co-founders of Tenzo Tea. They run a matcha tea company based in Santa Monica, CA. Tenzo Matcha Green Tea is grown in Kagoshima, Japan. Their products can be found at various coffee shops and smoothie facilities all over California and online at tenzotea.co and not on Amazon. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [1:33] Jeremy introduces his guests, Steve O’Dell and Robbie Page. [2:45] How did Steve and Robbie meet? What were there future plans in college? [9:30] Steve talks about some early business ventures. [13:50] Where did the idea of Tenzo Tea come from? [16:30] Steve opens up about dropping out of college and his study habits. [21:10] Key leaders and thinkers entrepreneurs should study. [24:50] Preparing for success. [29:20] Recovering from mistakes. [31:30] Discovering Matcha Tea and coming up with the idea of Tenzo Tea. [37:00] Why did the guys decide not to sell their product on Amazon? [38:30] How did the packaging process go? [40:30] The value of connecting with customers directly and using wholesale. [46:30] Making the transition from professional sports to the business world. [50:00] How did the guys connect with Azriel Ratz? [52:30] Closing the information gap about Matcha Tea. [55:30] What are some common uses of Matcha Tea? [57:00] What are the future plans of Tenzo Tea? [59:20] Low points faced along the way. [1:04:50] High points that came with business growth. In this episode… What does it take to perform at the highest level in sports and business? Do you need the right information and training? What role do your diet and your daily habits play in your chances for sustained success? On this episode of Inspired Insider, you’ll hear from high performing athletes and business leaders, Steve O’Dell and Robbie Page. In their conversation with Jeremy, Steve and Robbie open up about how they first met, what they learned from their time playing professional volleyball, how they came up with the idea to start Tenzo Tea, challenges they’ve faced along the way, and so much more! You don’t want to miss a minute of this engaging episode featuring Steve and Robbie! Have you ever performed at the top of your field? What was that experience like? How did you get to that level of competition? For many business leaders, getting to the top is a frustrating and winding road, then there are those who make it look really easy. Steve and Robbie are accustomed to performing in high stakes situations. Both Steve and Robbie played volleyball in college at UCLA, competing at the highest levels. They’ve taken that same dedication and competition to their roles co-founding and leading, Tenzo Tea. What can you learn from Steve and Robbie’s story? Do you have a system that sets you up for success? How has your system changed and evolved over the years in your career and personal life? Coming from a sports background, Steve and Robbie had ritual and routine built into their days from an early age. Now, instead of turning all that planning and preparation to get their body in shape, they are working on getting the competitive edge over their peers. While the guys will be the first to tell you that Tenzo Tea will help you start the day off right, they also do what they can to learn from other leaders, devouring books on leadership and innovation. Did you know that fueling your body with the right ingredients is half the battle when it comes to maintaining high performance? It’s true! Too often the average person will get into a health kick and decide to start working out (which is great!) but they’ll fail to go, “All in” and change their diet. Steve and Robbie want to help men and women start the day off right by putting a clean and natural source of nutrients in the form of a hot cup of matcha green tea. At Tenzo Tea, they say that Matcha green tea is the healthiest drink on the planet, described as a fat-burner and cancer-fighter, Matcha dominates the rest of the world of tea. One of the best ways to stand out from the rest of the competition in the business world is to build a robust and enthusiastic fan base. Its true, some products lend themselves to this business practice better than others, however, many companies are leaving money on the floor by taking a passive approach to customer engagement. Tenzo Tea is taking a much more direct and aggressive approach to cultivating and encouraging their fans to stay connected. They’ve gone so far as creating specialized subscription services, starter boxes, and even an informative blog! Steve and Robbie are really doing an amazing job connecting with their customer base in a meaningful way and the market is rewarding them for it! Resources Mentioned on this episode www.tenzotea.co Follow Tenzo Tea on Instagram www.ratzpackmedia.com The Hard Thing About Hard Things Aristotle Alexander Hamilton Benjamin Franklin Friedrich Nietzsche Leonardo da Vinci Relentless: From Good to Great to Unstoppable The Star Principle Intro Music by Kidd Russell Sponsor for this episode Rise25 creates 100% outsourced VIP days for software companies and conference organizers to serve their highest level customers. Rise25 VIP Days have a proven track record of helping companies to get more referrals, increase retention with their VIP customers, and get more engaged new customers without adding extra work to that company’s plate. Rise25 partners and collaborates with entrepreneur-focused communities, with particular emphasis on creating events for high volume Amazon sellers, Walmart sellers, multichannel ecommerce sellers, and founders who want to take their business to the next level. Rise25 has hosted VIP events in cities such as Austin, Chicago, Santa Barbara, San Diego, New York, Sonoma, and Las Vegas to name a few. If your company appreciates the value of bringing your highest level customers together to connect and collaborate, you can learn more and contact us to find out if your company qualifies at Rise25.com. Rise25 was cofounded by Dr. Jeremy Weisz and John Corcoran.

[One Question] Charting a Way Forward and The Power of Networking with Mike McKim Co-Founder of Cuvee Coffee Mike McKim is the co-founder of Cuvee Coffee Roasting Company. Cuvee Coffee Roasting Company has been providing independent coffee houses and coffee enthusiasts with sustainable artisan blends, single origin, and estate coffees since 1998. Mike is also a board chairman at the non-profit, Operation Supply Drop that supports today's active duty military and their families. Cuvee Coffee is a nationally recognized specialty coffee roaster with its roots firmly established in Texas. Cuvee Coffee and cold brew can be found at their website, Whole Foods, Heb, Central Market, Target, and soon to be limited Safeways. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [1:35] Jeremy introduces his guest, Mike McKim. [3:00] Tools and resources that Mike and his team use to succeed. [4:50] Mike’s lowest moment in his career. [6:30] The power of networking. [8:00] Mike shares some proud moments in his career. [9:45] What led Mike’s son to follow his footsteps? [11:20] What is Operation Supply Drop? [14:00] How to connect with Mike and Cuvee Coffee. In this episode… What does it take to get out of a funk and chart a way forward? What role does networking play in sustained, long-term success? How do you know that you have what it takes to thrive in the business world? On this episode of Inspired Insider, you’ll hear from entrepreneur and business leader, Mike McKim. In his conversation with Jeremy, Mike opens up about helpful tools and resources they use at Cuvee Coffee, how he endured one of the lowest moments in his career, what he has learned about the power of networking, why his son is following in his footsteps, and so much more! You don’t want to miss a moment of this engaging episode featuring Mike and Cuvee Coffee! Have you ever hit rock bottom in life or business? What was it like? How did you recover and press forward with your career? Where you able to turn that difficult chapter into a helpful life lesson? For Mike McKim, that low moment came early in his career when he had recently left college. He had no idea what he was going to do with his life and ended up taking a job delivering pizzas. Through this frustrating time where it seemed like there was no way out, Mike held out a small glimpse of hope. Looking back, Mike can see the thread that led him out of that dead end job and back toward charting a way forward. More often than not, most people achieve the level of success they enjoy in life due to their connections. Not many people are quick to admit that they only have the position they have or the opportunities they’ve enjoyed based on who they’ve been fortunate to know. What about your career? Can you see how your network has helped you get into the position you enjoy today? When Mike McKim looks back at the chapter in his life that he considers the low point, he also admits that the way out was due to his connections. From delivering pizzas to telemarketing with AT&T, Mike was able to chart a path forward with the help of his network. What can you learn from Mike’s story? How will you leverage your network and connections to make a positive impact? Resources Mentioned on this episode Cuvee Coffee Slack Cropster Operation Supply Drop Intro Music by Kidd Russell Sponsor for this episode Rise25 creates 100% outsourced VIP days for software companies and conference organizers to serve their highest level customers. Rise25 VIP Days have a proven track record of helping companies to get more referrals, increase retention with their VIP customers, and get more engaged new customers without adding extra work to that company’s plate. Rise25 partners and collaborates with entrepreneur-focused communities, with particular emphasis on creating events for high volume Amazon sellers, Walmart sellers, multichannel ecommerce sellers, and founders who want to take their business to the next level. Rise25 has hosted VIP events in cities such as Austin, Chicago, Santa Barbara, San Diego, New York, Sonoma, and Las Vegas to name a few. If your company appreciates the value of bringing your highest level customers together to connect and collaborate, you can learn more and contact us to find out if your company qualifies at Rise25.com. Rise25 was cofounded by Dr. Jeremy Weisz and John Corcoran.

Dan Kurzrock is the Co-Founder of ReGrained. ReGrained leverages technology and culinary science to transform beer waste into food. They call this edible upcycling. I was surprised to learn that only about 10% of the ingredients used to brew beer end up in your glass. ReGrained takes the spent grain waste from local brewery partners and they build recipes around it with other locally sourced ingredients to craft delicious, healthy, and inherently sustainable foods. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [1:05] Jeremy introduces his guest, Daniel Kurzrock. [2:30] Daniel talks about the first product he created. [8:30] Venturing into snack bars. [12:45] Daniel talks about all the possibilities available with their experimental flour. [15:00] What is the brainstorming process like for Daniel and his team? [17:30] Connecting with Tom and TerraCycle. [20:00] Daniel talks about the influence of his grandfather. [22:30] Early career interests and the budding entrepreneurial spirit. [30:30] Bootstrapping the business. [33:00] What is equity crowdfunding? Credit investors? [36:30] Daniel talks about expanding the team. [38:50] Connecting with breweries to get their discarded grain. [44:50] How has the process changed over the years? [47:00] What has been the lowest point for Daniel and his business? [48:00] Proud moments in business so far. [50:15] How to connect with ReGrained. In this episode… It seems like every day there is a breaking news story that stresses how fragile our future is due to global warming. What can business leaders do to offer sustainable solutions to the marketplace? On this episode of Inspired Insider, you’ll hear from entrepreneur and innovator Daniel Kurzrock. In his conversation with Jeremy, Daniel opens up about the first product he created, how he got involved with creating snack bars, what they hope to do with their experimental flour, challenges they’ve faced along the way, and so much more. Get a good look at the future of sustainable solutions from Daniel’s expert perspective by listening to this fascinating episode! Don’t you want to be part of a sustainable future? Let’s face it unless we make some significant changes, we are looking at an increasingly dire situation. Thankfully, we have some amazing leaders like Daniel Kurzrock who taking their convictions to the marketplace with helpful solutions! Daniel started ReGrained with his friend and co-founder, Jordan Schwartz with a dream to take discarded beer ingredients and utilize them in a way that was cost effective and appetizing! Since that initial dream, the guys have grown their business and the possibilities with tons of new products coming down the pipeline. What can you learn from Daniel and Jordan’s story? Where do you go to come up with some of your best ideas? Do you have a process that encourages and cultivates creativity? For Daniel Kurzrock, the process starts with going for a bike ride but it doesn’t end there! From dreaming about innovating leftover beer waste to leading a thriving business, Daniel has always had a bit of a creative edge to his thought process. Part of leading that business is making sure that you continue to come up with ideas and innovations that keep the organization on the cutting edge. The last thing a business leader, especially a small business leader can afford to do is to drift into mediocrity! Who had the most impact on your trajectory as a child? Was it your big brother or your hard working mother? Maybe for you, it was the constant encouragement of an uncle or a best friend. Looking back, Daniel Kurzrock is thankful for the positive impact that his grandfather had on his ability to cultivate curiosity. He recalls all the times his grandfather would stop and chase down something interesting or make sure that something wasn’t going to waste. Listening to Daniel talk about his grandfather and his family in general, you really get the sense that it was a group effort to pass on important values that led Daniel to create the organization that is ReGrained. As a business leader, you know that one of the biggest challenges constantly comes back to funding. Established business have to make sure that they are keeping an eye on profits and startups have to make sure they have enough to keep the lights on. It seems that innovation is also needed when it comes to thinking about how startups are funded almost as much as the innovative product they are bringing to market. Daniel Kurzrock and his team at ReGrained have worked hard at making sure they leave no rock unturned or idea unexplored when it comes to funding. In fact, they just recently completed a successful round of equity crowdfunding. This venture allowed Daniel and his team to open up investment opportunities to those who were interested in investing as little as $100. The result from this round of innovative funding netted the company $730,000. Resources Mentioned on this episode Check out the ReGrained website Follow ReGrained on Twitter Connect with ReGrained on Facebook TerraCycle Intro Music by Kidd Russell Sponsor for this episode Rise25 creates 100% outsourced VIP days for software companies and conference organizers to serve their highest level customers. Rise25 VIP Days have a proven track record of helping companies to get more referrals, increase retention with their VIP customers, and get more engaged new customers without adding extra work to that company’s plate. Rise25 partners and collaborates with entrepreneur-focused communities, with particular emphasis on creating events for high volume Amazon sellers, Walmart sellers, multichannel ecommerce sellers, and founders who want to take their business to the next level. Rise25 has hosted VIP events in cities such as Austin, Chicago, Santa Barbara, San Diego, New York, Sonoma, and Las Vegas to name a few. If your company appreciates the value of bringing your highest level customers together to connect and collaborate, you can learn more and contact us to find out if your company qualifies at Rise25.com. Rise25 was cofounded by Dr. Jeremy Weisz and John Corcoran.

Courtney Nichols Gould is the CEO of SmartyPants Vitamins. SmartyPants Vitamins have a gummy obsession which started because they believed that the very best vitamins are an all in one combination of different nutrients that would save money, time and peace of mind for customers. Their products can be found on Amazon, in Whole Foods, Kroger, Target, Costco and many more locations all over the US. Their bottle is the one with the cute owl winking at you. For every bottle sold they make a 1 for 1 grant to Vitamin Angels to provide children in need with nutrients and they have made over 6.2 million nutrient grants to date. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [1:15] Jeremy introduces his guest, Courtney Nichols Gould. [2:45] What led Courtney to take SmartyPants Vitamins to retail stores? [7:00] The value of embracing customer feedback. [9:30] Courtney talks about some of their bestselling vitamins. [11:00] Why did Courtney and her team divide their products based on gender? [12:45] Courtney shares her low and high moments in business. In this episode… What will it take to get affordable vitamins into the hands of men, women, and children all over the United States? How can affordability and accessibility help improve lives? On this episode of Inspired Insider, you’ll hear from innovator business leader Courtney Nichols Gould. In her conversation with Jeremy, Courtney opens up about why she brought SmartyPants vitamins to retail stores, the value of embracing customer feedback, why she decided to market vitamins for teen boys and girls, and so much more! Don’t miss a minute of this engaging and fascinating episode featuring Courtney and SmartyPants Vitamins! Let’s face it, most health foods and supplements like vitamins are usually marketed to the upper middle class and the wealthy. What if that could change? What if vitamins were not just a niche product only those with disposable income could afford? Courtney Nichols Gould and her team at SmartyPants Vitamins are hard at work doing what they can to change this narrative. They’ve intentionally sought to get their product on the shelves of stores that everyday people utilize, like Walmart. What can you learn from Courtney’s story and her drive to get vitamins in the hands of as many people as possible? When you create a consumable product like vitamins, it’s imperative to listen to and take to heart the feedback of your customers. Too often, large companies fail to follow this important advice! Thankfully new companies like SmartyPants Vitamins are leading the way not only with an innovative product but with an approach that values the feedback of its customers. SmartyPants’ founder and CEO, Courtney Nichols Gould speaks very highly of her organization’s approach to reviewing common feedback they receive and adjusting their marketing and outreach accordingly. They’ve shown that in today’s marketplace, the companies that display a willingness to engage and adapt based on their customer’s input will be rewarded! Resources Mentioned on this episode Check out the SmartyPants website SmartyPants on Facebook SmartyPants on Twitter SmartyPants on Instagram Intro Music by Kidd Russell   Sponsor for this episode Rise25 creates 100% outsourced VIP days for software companies and conference organizers to serve their highest level customers. Rise25 VIP Days have a proven track record of helping companies to get more referrals, increase retention with their VIP customers, and get more engaged new customers without adding extra work to that company’s plate. Rise25 partners and collaborates with entrepreneur-focused communities, with particular emphasis on creating events for high volume Amazon sellers, Walmart sellers, multichannel ecommerce sellers, and founders who want to take their business to the next level. Rise25 has hosted VIP events in cities such as Austin, Chicago, Santa Barbara, San Diego, New York, Sonoma, and Las Vegas to name a few. If your company appreciates the value of bringing your highest level customers together to connect and collaborate, you can learn more and contact us to find out if your company qualifies at Rise25.com. Rise25 was cofounded by Dr. Jeremy Weisz and John Corcoran.

Kailey Donewald is the co-founder of Sacred Serve, a Chicago-based company innovating ice cream that is fully organic, raw vegan gelato made from whole coconuts. All flavors are dairy-free, vegan, and paleo and strictly free of gluten, dairy, corn, soy, GMOs, stabilizers, fillers and preservatives. They are challenging the conventional route of pint-sized packaging with their super unique looking 10oz containers. They have 40 locations across Chicago. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [1:15] Jeremy introduces his guest, Kailey Donewald. [2:30] What was the first iteration of Sacred Serve? [4:00] How Kailey ended up in Bali. [7:00] Lessons learned from working in an organics company. [9:45] Experimenting with different batches at home and perfecting the recipe. [18:00] Dealing with slow production and getting the product in retail stores. [21:50] Setting the right cost and figuring out the right packaging. [27:15] Playing to strengths and setting the right roles. [33:00] Different distribution options that Kailey and her team are exploring. [35:20] Tackling the challenge of logistics. [37:20] Finding new ways to market and engage with the right audience. [39:00] Good advice that Kailey has received. [42:00] The biggest mistake made so far. [43:15] Low point - financial restrictions. [44:20] Milestone - signing on with the first distributor and going to vegan events. In this episode… Let’s face it, we’ve been conditioned to think that if something tastes great then it’s usually not a healthy food option, right? From snack foods like chips to frozen treats like ice cream, if its an easy choice, it’s likely not a healthy choice. What if there was a way to turn that type of thinking around? On this episode of Inspired Insider, you’ll hear from innovator and entrepreneur, Kailey Donewald. In her conversation with Jeremy, Kailey opens up about her efforts to create great tasting vegan gelato, what she learned from the process, challenges she has faced along the way, why it’s important to put together the right team, and so much more! Don’t miss a minute of this engaging episode featuring Kailey’s story! Do you ever find yourself reaching for that one dish of comfort food only to find that you kind of hate yourself for eating it after you’ve finished? It’s past time that we had more healthy food options on the marketplace so we can enjoy snack foods and dessert without the guilt! Creating healthy alternatives was a huge reason behind the work of Kailey Donewald and her team at Sacred Serve. They wanted people like you to find a product that is good for you on store shelves without feeling like they were doing something terrible to their body. From coconut meat to raw dark chocolate, the Sacred Serve team is committed to making their products using the very best ingredients, check them out! One of the most common aspects of life as a startup entrepreneur is dealing with round upon round of experimentation. Often using friends and family as test subjects, the innovator can quickly find themselves testing the patience of those closest to them. That is of course unless your product is gelato. While the testing phase wasn’t without its challenges, Kailey and her team were finally able to hammer out a solid recipe for their vegan gelato. Soon, Kailey was able to enjoy the fruits of her labor seeing her natural and guilt-free product on the shelves of stores all over the Chicago area. When you create a solid product from scratch as a small business, a huge hurdle that you often face is getting your product into the hands of the average consumer. What hope do you have to make it big if you can’t compete with the big box names? The truth is, it takes a determined leader who is convinced that their product is worth the struggle to get it across the finish line and in a position to compete. Luckily for Sacred Serve, they had the likes of Kailey Donewald leading the way and doing everything she could to give her fledgling product a shot, and it worked! What can you learn from Kailey’s story? It has been said that a leader is only as good as the team they’ve built around them. Have you found that to be true in your business career? Do you work with a competent and innovative team? Kailey Donewald knew that if she wanted to scale Sacred Serve from a small and nimble organization into a rolling and productive business, she’d need a top-notch team around her. It’s imperative that a leader knows their limitations for a business to succeed. Kailey knew her limitations and hired a team to work with her that addressed her weaknesses and played to her strengths. Learn from Kailey’s story and make sure that your team is on the right track! Resources Mentioned on this episode http://sacredserve.com/ Bread SRSLY I Heart Keenwah Intro Music by Kidd Russell Sponsor for this episode Rise25 creates 100% outsourced VIP days for software companies and conference organizers to serve their highest level customers. Rise25 VIP Days have a proven track record of helping companies to get more referrals, increase retention with their VIP customers, and get more engaged new customers without adding extra work to that company’s plate. Rise25 partners and collaborates with entrepreneur-focused communities, with particular emphasis on creating events for high volume Amazon sellers, Walmart sellers, multichannel ecommerce sellers, and founders who want to take their business to the next level. Rise25 has hosted VIP events in cities such as Austin, Chicago, Santa Barbara, San Diego, New York, Sonoma, and Las Vegas to name a few. If your company appreciates the value of bringing your highest level customers together to connect and collaborate, you can learn more and contact us to find out if your company qualifies at Rise25.com. Rise25 was cofounded by Dr. Jeremy Weisz and John Corcoran.

Nathan Resnick is a sourcing pro and the founder of Sourcify. He has built multiple ecommerce companies, 7-figure Kickstarter projects, and speaks fluent Mandarin. Sourcify is the fastest growing sourcing platform backed by YCombinator that helps hundreds of companies manufacture products around the world. Nathan even managed to get a cease and desist from Connor McGregor, yes, the UFC competitor. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [1:15] Jeremy introduces his guest, Nathan Resnick. [2:20] A low moment in business for Nathan. [8:15] Nathan talks about milestones he’s proud of. [10:30] How did Nathan get a cease and desist letter from Connor McGregor? In this episode… What does it take to weather the storm of adversity and personal loss to come out the other side ready to build a business? Most people don’t have what it takes to start a business under the best circumstances let alone personal and professional losses! On this episode of Inspired Insider, you’ll hear from business leader and entrepreneur, Nathan Resnick. In his conversation with Jeremy, Nathan opens up about co-founder backing out of the business, struggling with the loss of his grandmother, professional milestones in business, legally wrestling with Connor McGregor, and much more! Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from Nathan’s fascinating story! How would you respond if you had a close family member pass away and had a business partner back out of your startup plans on the same day? Sounds like too much for anyone to endure! Somehow, through all the pain and adversity, Nathan Resnick went on to start Sourcify and grow it to one of the most successful sourcing platforms backed by YCombinator that helps hundreds of companies manufacture products around the world. Nathan looks back at those early days of adversity and is thankful that he found the strength to push through the pain, due in large part to what he knew his grandmother would have wanted him to do. What can you learn from Nathan’s story? What fires you up about the work you do? Does your business provide a service or product that helps people? Are you able to use your business to fund your passion projects? Nathan Resnick’s work with his organization, Sourcify is his passion project! They are able to help ecommerce leaders all over the world follow their dreams by bringing a product they’ve dreamed of to the marketplace. Nathan takes great joy in his ability to maintain a powerhouse of a platform for creativity. Don’t waste your time doing something you can’t be proud of, make sure to connect your passion to your work. Resources Mentioned on this episode Sourcify's website GoFundMe DropBox How I Built This Michael Dell Connor McGregor Intro Music by Kidd Russell

Dame Stephanie Shirley, known to business contacts as Steve because in a male-dominated business world she would sign letters with her pen name. She has an amazing book called, "Let It Go" where she documents her life and starts with her experience as an unaccompanied child refugee at age 5 where her parents wanted to protect her from perishing in the Holocaust. Her early experience of the 'glass ceiling' at work because of gender discrimination encouraged her to set up her own business which, she did in 1962 with only 6 pounds. Dame created one of UK’s first software startups. She forged the path for not only women but the whole computing industry. While planning to start a family, Dame hit on the idea of offering part-time employment to professional women with dependants. Essentially, she had pioneered freelance driven business and wanted it to be woman-owned. The IT business prospered with a lot of hard work and, in 1996 the company was floated on the London Stock Exchange earning hundreds of millions of pounds and had employed 8,500 people. This wealth has enabled her to devote her time and resources to giving something back to society, Dame ranks among the world's leading philanthropists. In 2013, she appeared on BBC Radio and discussed why she had given away more than £67 million of her personal wealth to different projects. She has supported strategic projects in the fields of autism (her son, Giles was autistic) and IT. Her focus on autism is done via The Shirley Foundation. They facilitate scientific research aimed to understand what Autism is as opposed to what it looks like.   Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [3:00] Jeremy introduces his guest, Dame Stephanie Shirley. [6:30] Dame Stephanie opens up about her parents sending her on the Kindertransport. [17:15] What is Holocaust guilt? How has it impacted Dame Stephanie? [19:30] How Dame Stephanie got into business ownership and why IT. [24:50] What did the early years of computer coding look like? [27:00] Enduring challenging times and how Derek supported her through it all. [30:50] How fixed prices helped the business grow. [34:00] Why co-ownership was so important to Dame Stephanie. [36:00] What were some of the largest projects Dame Stephanie & her team worked on? [39:00] The challenges of growing the team and building a solid staff. [41:15] What led Dame Stephanie to bring on a CEO? [43:40] Dame Stephanie talks about caring for her son, Giles. [47:45] What is the Shirley Foundation? [50:10] How has the field of autism research advanced over the years? [53:30] AI is the future. [55:00] Why we should embrace the perspective of autistic individuals. [58:40] Dame Stephanie’s high point in her career. In this episode… Imagine what it would be like to have door after door of opportunity closed in your face? Would you be able to preserve and find a way to succeed or would it discourage you beyond hope? On this episode of Inspired Insider, you’ll hear from the renowned philanthropist and entertainer, Dame Stephanie Shirley. In her conversation with Jeremy, Dame Stephanie opens up about her early life as a child refugee, how she got started in the IT sector, what led her to start her own business, challenges she has faced along the way, and much more! Don’t miss a minute of this powerful and intriguing episode featuring Dame Stephanie! How have you responded to adversity and challenges in your life? Have they made you stronger or do they continue to inflict pain? Do you find yourself somehow walking the line between both? Dame Stephanie looks back to her early childhood as a refugee fleeing Germany during World War Two as a source of both pain and strength. The memory is understandably painful as it is tragic, having to say goodbye to her parents and embark on a new life in England, the event has caused Dame Stephanie to live with survivors guilt for most of her life. In spite of all this pain, she also finds a way to draw strength. She views her life as a gift and one she is not willing to waste! The resilience and perseverance that pushed Dame Stephanie forward from her painful childhood years also fueled her rise as an entrepreneur. Getting told to sit out of certain conversations and areas of influence due to her sex did not sit right with Dame Stephanie, she was determined to forge her own way forward. With the support and encouragement of her husband, Derek, Dame Stephanie went on to start her own organization in 1962 offering part-time employment to professional women with dependants. It’s amazing to hear from someone who was so driven and passionate about paving the way forward, not only for herself but for others as well. Let’s face it, no one is a powerhouse of success unto themselves. Often behind every wealthy and efficient leader is a team of men and women who keep the organization running. What steps have you taken to build a solid team around you? Dame Stephanie knew that she couldn’t succeed all on her own, she would need to choose the right people to bring on her team and keep the business headed in an upward direction. Though she had some significant struggles with some close individuals leaving her organization, she was able to bounce back. Dame Stephanie also came to the point in her career where she stepped out and placed her trust and the direction of her organization in the hands of a CEO! As you’ve progressed through your career, have you considered how you can give back to those who are less fortunate than you? In what ways can you leverage your success to give back? For Dame Stephanie, the impulse to give back came from two sources, her career in IT and her son Giles. As a successful businesswoman, Dame Stephanie utilized her authority to empower the women in her organization through her co-ownership strategy. Then she went to work pouring her time and resources into advocacy and research work in the field of autism to help individuals like her son, Giles. What can you learn from Dame Stephanie’s story? Resources Mentioned on this episode Dame Stephanie's website The Oxford Internet Institute Let It Go Autistica Dame Stephanie’s TED Talk The Shirley Foundation Intro Music by Kidd Russell Sponsor for this episode Rise25 creates 100% outsourced VIP days for software companies and conference organizers to serve their highest level customers. Rise25 VIP Days have a proven track record of helping companies to get more referrals, increase retention with their VIP customers, and get more engaged new customers without adding extra work to that company’s plate. Rise25 partners and collaborates with entrepreneur-focused communities, with particular emphasis on creating events for high volume Amazon sellers, Walmart sellers, multichannel ecommerce sellers, and founders who want to take their business to the next level. Rise25 has hosted VIP events in cities such as Austin, Chicago, Santa Barbara, San Diego, New York, Sonoma, and Las Vegas to name a few. If your company appreciates the value of bringing your highest level customers together to connect and collaborate, you can learn more and contact us to find out if your company qualifies at Rise25.com. Rise25 was cofounded by Dr. Jeremy Weisz and John Corcoran.