INspired INsider Podcast

Today we have Sadie Scheffer founder of Bread SRSLY, it’s the Bay area's first gluten-free sourdough bread company. The company began late in 2011 after a bout of gluten-free sourdough experiments in Sadie's home kitchen. The bread is free of any gluten, eggs, dairy, soy, sugar, tree nuts, peanuts, potatoes and some other things I am missing....but I am sure it is not free of good taste! She began to send 40, 60, 100 loaves out into the world, delivered by ladies on bikes. Most weeks she biked 100 miles plus to get the bread out. They are now found in stores all over California and have expanded into Arizona and Idaho including some regional Whole Foods and Safeway. Production has gone from her home kitchen to their 6th commercial kitchen. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [1:15] Jeremy introduces his guest, Sadie Scheffer. [3:00] Sadie talks about dropping out of MIT and navigating her early career. [13:00] What led Sadie to move from the east coast to the San Francisco Bay area? [16:00] Sadie shares her experience in SF and experimenting with gluten-free recipes. [22:30] The decision to start Bread SRSLY. [30:45] Sadie talks about expanding the business and bringing on a business partner. [34:45] Why did people in Sadie’s social circle deliver bread for free? [40:00] Sadie opens up about the evolution of the sales process. [42:20] Showing up at farmers markets, spreading the word, and stocking grocery stores. [48:00] Experimenting with different products along the way. [50:30] What are some products that Sadie and her team are working on? [54:00] Sadie talks about designing new packaging. [59:15] Getting certified gluten-free from the National Celiac Association. [1:01:30] A low moment in business for Sadie. [1:05:15] Milestones that Sadie is proud of. In this episode… What does it take to bring a delicious gluten-free bread alternative to the marketplace? Where does the idea come from? How do you build a business like that from scratch? On this episode of Inspired Insider, you’ll hear from innovator and entrepreneur, Sadie Scheffer. In her conversation with Jeremy, Sadie opens up about her time at MIT, why she moved to San Francisco, what led her to start a gluten-free bread business, how the company had evolved and expanded over the years, and much more! You don’t want to miss a minute of this entertaining and fascinating episode featuring Sadie! Have you ever wanted something so bad that you’d do whatever it takes to achieve your goal? While that same drive may not always pan out when it comes to matters of the heart, it can serve you well in the realm of business! What started out as a love inspired move from the east coast to San Francisco soon turned into an amazing business journey for the young startup entrepreneur, Sadie Scheffer. Sadie didn’t have much when she showed up in San Francisco, but once she established roots, Sadie went to work figuring out her next step. After tinkering and experimenting with a few homemade recipes, Sadie decided to take her bread business to the masses! When you think of a San Francisco based startup, you usually think of something in the tech industry. While Sadie did attend MIT, she was more interested in bringing a viable gluten-free bread alternative to the marketplace. Before long, Sadie had her fledgling business up and running and she found herself not only baking the bread but delivering it by bicycle too! Through a series of ups and downs, Sadie has been able to stabilize her business and really start to bring it to the next level of growth. With valuable lessons learned along the way, Sadie is eager to share Bread SRSLY’s story so leaders like you find the inspiration you need to get out there and make your big idea a reality! Let’s face it, in the business world you need good people around you if you have any hope of succeeding. How good is your team? Do you need to make some changes? For Sadie Scheffer, the process of getting the right people in the right positions has been a struggle. At first, Sadie relied on friends and acquaintances to help her deliver her gluten-free bread by bicycle. This method only worked for so long before her friends were pleading with her to find a better solution. These days, Sadie has a solid team around her in the kitchen and delivering product! What can you learn from Sadie’s story? One of the best things about the free market is innovation. There are so many possibilities and options that leaders like you have available right at your fingertips! What are you doing to push the envelope? Sadie Scheffer decided to take her health into her own hands quite literally and went to work creating a product that she wanted to see on the shelves in her local grocery store. Looking back now, having achieved that goal, Sadie is proud of the work she’s done but she isn’t finished! There are still plenty of gluten-free products that she’d love to bring to the marketplace and there are many areas of the country that need products like Bread SRSLY on grocery shelves! Resources Mentioned on this episode Bread SRSLY Check out Jeremy’s interview with Abigail Wald 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.

Today we have Eddie Levine co-founder a wholesale ecommerce and brand management company which he started in 2012 with his business partner, Greg Gilpin. They have created a multi-million-dollar ecommerce operation in a short period of time and specialize in purchasing products directly from manufacturers, distributors, brand owners, and then warehouse them all under their own roof to sell on various channels. If he were not busy enough, Eddie has an information and consulting arm of his ecommerce business found at WholesaleBreakthrough.com where he teaches others how to tap into the business opportunity. In his limited free time, he also is Director of Operations for the non-profit, Laughs For the Troops which helps raise funds to help increase awareness of traumatic brain injuries and PTSD. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [1:20] Jeremy welcomes his guest, Eddie Levine. [2:50] Eddie talks about why he created Wholesale Breakthrough. [6:00] Who is a good fit to work with Eddie and his team? [8:00] A low moment that Eddie has faced along the way. [10:15] Eddie shares a moment he is proud of from his career. [11:15] What is Laughs for the troops? [13:50] An innovative idea that Eddie has recently heard. In this episode… What would it mean for your business if you could get access to one of the top minds in the ecommerce industry? Imagine the insights and breakthroughs you could achieve with that type of resource! On this episode of Inspired Insider, you’ll hear from ecommerce expert Eddie Levine. In his conversation with Jeremy, Eddie opens up about why he started Wholesale Breakthrough, why he loves giving back to the ecommerce industry, high and low points he’s faced along the way, why he got involved with Laughs for the Troops, and much more! You don’t want to miss a minute of this engaging episode featuring Eddie! Let’s face it, there is only so much you can learn by reading books and going through courses, at some point, you need to learn from someone who’s been where you are trying to go! You need access to someone who’s got battle scars and war stories, you need to learn from leaders who can identify with your struggles and help you see the big picture. This is where Eddie and his team at Wholesale Breakthrough come in. They have built a reputation around helping high capacity leaders like you cut through all the complexities and get to the heart of what will take your business to the next level. What are you waiting for? Take this opportunity to engage with the best! How do you plan on giving back and investing in the lives of others in your community? Is it something that is even on your radar? Once you find that one issue or cause that is close to your heart, your time, energy and resources can make all the difference! For Eddie Levine, that cause is Laughs for the Troops. Laughs for the Troops is a non-profit organization that creates events that bring people together in laughter and also increase awareness of the plight that many military members face upon returning from combat. Hearing from Eddie, you really get the sense that he is passionate about not only giving back to the ecommerce community but giving back to help others in any way he can. What can you learn from Eddie’s story? Resources Mentioned on this episode Wholesale Breakthrough Laughs For the Troops Intro Music by Kidd Russell Sponsor for this episode The Internet Retailer Conference & Exhibition – better known as IRCE – is your one-stop-shop for all of your e-retail needs. This conference and trade show offers you everything your business needs to stay ahead of your competition, in one simple location. IRCE is right around the corner in Chicago so go to www.irce.com to find out more. *************** 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.

Today we have Jon Olafsson, co-founder of Icelandic Water Holdings. He has spent the last 30 years building successful companies from the ground up and transforming them into industry leaders and he has done this in a variety of fields including entertainment, media, construction and many more. Jon started to build a media and broadcasting portfolio when he founded Skifan, Iceland’s largest music recording and distribution company with distributing rights for a variety of music and film companies such as Sony, Universal, Warner Music, Columbia Pictures, Miramax, 20th Century Fox and more. Jon co-founded the Icelandic Broadcasting Corporation (IBC), before moving into television in 1990, when he took over the Icelandic Television Corporation (ITC). In 1999, Jon merged all of his companies (Skifan and IBC) under one umbrella to form Northern Lights Communications, Inc. (NLC) – Olafsson served as chairman until November 2003 when he sold everything and stepped down to co-found Icelandic Water Holdings with his son in 2004. Jon oversees Icelandic Glacial water which is born and bottled in Ölfus, Iceland. It is the world’s first certified CarbonNeutral® natural spring bottled water for both product and operations. Which means it is an environmental pioneer in the industry, using 100% natural green energy in the form of geothermal and hydroelectric power to fuel production. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [1:15] Jeremy introduces his guest, Jon Olafsson. [3:45] Jon talks about his childhood. [9:10] How did Jon get involved in the music industry? [14:00] What skill set allowed Jon to manage so many bands? When did TV come in? [19:00] Why did Jon decide to merge all his companies into Northern Lights? [20:30] Storytelling is vital. [24:30] Jon talks about the design of Icelandic Glacial’s bottle. [27:30] How have the PH levels of Icelandic’s water helped with health concerns? [30:20] What led Jon and his team to get involved in Flint, Michigan? [32:00] Why did Jon decide to sell his businesses in 2003? [35:30] The hardest aspect of the bottled water industry. [38:15] Jon talks about competition and how his brand is faring in the US. [42:00] What was it like to start building a team from the ground up? [46:00] One of the lowest moments in business so far. [47:20] A proud moment in business for Jon. [48:45] Why you should check out Iceland’s premier music festival. In this episode… What role does storytelling play when it comes to marketing? Is it an important aspect or just an add-on? Can storytelling really make much of a difference in business? On this episode of Inspired Insider, you’ll hear from entrepreneur and innovator Jon Olafsson. In his conversation with Jeremy, Jon opens up about his childhood in Iceland, how he got started in the music industry, why he got into the television industry, the power of storytelling, what led him to disrupt the bottled water industry, and so much more! You don’t want to miss a minute of this engaging episode featuring Jon! What was the opportunity that led you to your current career path? Did you ever think that you’d end up down the path you are on today? For Jon Olafsson, his career started in the music industry then went to the television industry and finally led to where he is now with his work in the bottled water industry. The best part is that he didn’t have any plan for ending up where is today! Jon is a prime example of a leader who has seized every opportunity that has come his way. What can you learn from Jon’s story? Did you know that storytelling is vital to a brand’s success? It’s true! Think about the way you talk about your service or product, chances are, you are telling a story to convey the significance of your commodity. Too often, businesses don’t realize that they are in the storytelling business and they fail to tell their story well. Jon Olafsson has honed his craft over his many years in business and excels at telling the story of his brand. In fact, he was so efficient in telling Icelandic Glacial’s story that he convinced a large distributor to drop their search for bottled water partner and go with them! How can your business take part in providing social good? Would you jump at the chance if the opportunity presented itself? Is it part of your business’ makeup to engage in tangible ways to help locally? When the opportunity arose for Jon and his team to help out in Flint, Michigan with their water crisis, they jumped at the chance. Due to their swift action and involvement, a whole wave of businesses decided to get involved and provide helpful solutions. You don’t have to wait for a crisis to arise to do good! Make a plan today to positively impact your community! What would it mean for you to create a legacy that you could pass on or even share with your children? Imagine what it would be like to empower your children to pursue their goals and work alongside them. Jon Olafsson didn’t have to dream about this possibility for too long before he went to work with his son building Icelandic Glacial. According to Jon, running the business with his son is a dream come true. Together, father and son are striking deals and making a name for the once small bottled water startup. Let the Olafsson’s story serve as an inspiration for you as you look to build your legacy and impact the next generation! Resources Mentioned on this episode Check out Icelandic Glacial's website! http://secretsolstice.is/ 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.

Today we 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: [1:10] Jeremy introduces his guest, Dame Stephanie Shirley. [4:10] Dame Stephanie talks about caring for her son, Giles. [9:00] What is the Shirley Foundation? [11:20] How has the field of autism research advanced over the years? [14:45] AI is the future. [16:15] Why we should embrace the perspective of autistic individuals. [19:50] Dame Stephanie’s high point in her career. In this episode… What does it look like to devote your wealth and influence to leaving a legacy through philanthropy? How do you choose which causes are worth your time and resources? On this episode of Inspired Insider, you’ll hear from renowned philanthropist and pioneer, Dame Stephanie Shirley. In her conversation with Jeremy, Dame Stephanie opens up about caring for her son, Giles, why she started the Shirley Foundation, how the field of autism research had evolved, why society needs to embrace the perspectives of people with autism, and so much more! Don’t miss a minute of this powerful episode featuring Dame Stephanie Shirley! As a leader, you know what it is like to enjoy certain benefits and privileges because of your status and your position. Have you ever considered leveraging your privileges to positively impact the lives of vulnerable individuals in your community? Dame Stephanie Shirley has committed a significant portion of her personal wealth and resources to the field of autism research. Having raised a son with autism, Dame Stephanie became aware of the lack of resources and research allocated to understanding this topic. She founded Autistica in 2004 which has gone on to raise over £8.5 million in support of autism research. What can you learn from Dame Stephanie's story? How will you leverage your position and power to help others? What is the future of business? How do some of the most talented and successful minds in the business world view the future? When presented with this question, Dame Stephanie was quick to point to Artificial Intelligence. Having witnessed the rise of modern automation, Dame Stephanie is convinced that the future will only continue to build on these advances. Are you ready to embrace the future? Is your business prepared? Don’t sit on the sidelines, lead the way in your industry! Learn from the likes of Dame Stephanie and other leaders so you can maintain a competitive edge! 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.

Today I have a force of nature, Adrienne Richardson. First of all, you don't mess with a hockey mom from New Jersey. I like to brag about her that she is one of the top marketing experts around. I don't like to pigeonhole her even though it is on her site that she is a Facebook Ad expert because she is so sharp when it comes to messaging, copywriting, funnels and direct response marketing and there is so much more that goes into the campaigns that she runs for people. What I want Adrienne's tagline to be is "Hi, I am Adrienne and I drive cold traffic (people who don't know you) into an automated webinar and have it spit out millions of dollars on the other side." Of course, Adrienne work with top people who have systems in place to do this and she has spent tens of millions of dollars on Facebook so she knows what works and what doesn't. Adrienne has a laundry list of amazing clients like Russ Ruffino, University of California, and many more. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [1:15] Jeremy introduces his guest, Adrienne Richardson. [3:00] Adrienne talks about delivering babies in an ambulance. [5:00] The how Adrienne got the name, “the Latrine Queen” & lessons from the military. [13:15] How Adrianne instills discipline and life lessons in her children. [19:40] Adrienne talks about getting laid off of work while pregnant. [24:00] What was Adrienne’s parenting magazine like? What did she learn? [26:30] The value of expressing vulnerability. [29:45] A lesson in setting your own worth for your work. [40:30] Your funnel is your customer’s journey. [45:00] What are good conversion rates for Facebook Ads? [47:15] Can you send people directly to a sales page and get results? [48:45] What was it like working with the University of California? [51:00] How the right image can drive traffic. [55:45] What makes for compelling sales copy? [59:40] Do’s and don’ts of targeting an audience. [1:02:00] Adrienne talks about how she helps her son adopt a healthy mindset. In this episode… What are your skills, talents, and time worth? Do you have a value in mind or do you end up drawing a blank? How do you discover your worth? On this episode of Inspired Insider, you’ll hear from business leader and marketing expert, Adrienne Richardson. In her conversation with Jeremy, Adrienne opens up about her experience in the military, what it was like getting laid off while pregnant, how she came up with the idea to start her own magazine, what led her to discover her professional value, and so much more! You don’t want to miss a minute of this engaging episode with Adrienne! Where do your most important values come from? Did they come from your family or were they shaped by life experiences? How have those values played out in your personal and professional life? For Adrienne Richardson, it was her time in the military that taught her the most about herself and how she’d go on to live her life at home and in her career. The primary values that Adrienne came away with from her time in the military are her work ethic and her commitment to excellence. Not only have these values shaped her career, they’ve also shaped her parenting. How can you learn from Adrienne’s story? The chances are, if you’ve struggled with something in your life, you aren’t alone! That may sound like a pat answer or a flippant response but at the end of the day, it’s true! Too often people go through life assuming that some of the most difficult challenges they face are unique to their situation and mathematically speaking, that’s impossible. Someone somewhere has experienced what are you are currently struggling with. Adrienne Richardson discovered this truth when she started opening up about her postpartum depression in her parenting magazine. Before long, the letters of support and gratitude started flowing in reminding Adrienne that she was not alone. This episode gave Adrienne profound insight into how people respond that would go on to serve her well in her career as a marketer. When was the last time you paused in your daily scroll through social media at a section of text? Chances are unless it was an important update from a close friend or family member, you kept on scrolling. These days, images are edging out text more and more when it comes to social media and web advertisements in general. What can you do to make sure your ad or attempt at engagement actually works? According to web marketing expert, Adrienne Richardson, you need to start putting out eye-grabbing photos and not just any photos but positive ones! Over the course of her research, Adrienne has found that positive images of animals, in particular, end up getting the most audience engagement. How will this news impact your strategy? What is the state of your mindset? Are you out there excelling because you have your head in the game or do you find that you are actually your own worst enemy? Too often business leaders from all backgrounds go through life knowingly engaging in self-sabotage. Don’t let yourself fall that same mistake! Businesswoman Adrienne Richardson knows the value of cultivating a healthy mindset. Going back to her time in the military, Adrienne learned that in order to accomplish what you set out to do, you’ve got to have the mental toughness and fortitude to go the distance. Lessons around creating a healthy mindset have been so formative for Adrienne, she’s even taking the time to pass those hard-fought lessons on to her children. What are you waiting for? Put a plan in place to get your mindset in shape today! Resources Mentioned on this episode www.adriennerichardson.com Extreme Ownership Wooden https://www.facebook.com/ARichardsonEnterprises https://twitter.com/AdrienneMedia 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.

Today we have Habib Salo, 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. [3:05] What are the future plans for Habib and Young Nails? [5:50] Why Young Nails manufactures their own products. [7:15] How staying connected to social media helps Habib stay on top of trends. [8:15] Habib talks about how he connected with Azriel Ratz. [11:45] Low moments faced along the way. [15:00] What is driving Habib on his journey? In this episode… What does it take to track trends and keep your business on the cutting edge of your industry? Why does staying on top of trends matter? On this episode of Inspired Insider, you’ll hear from innovator and business leader, Habib Salo. In his conversation with Jeremy, Habib opens up about his plans for Young Nails’ future, why he is so passionate about / house manufacturing, how he stays on top of industry trends, challenges he has faced along the way, and so much more! You don’t want to miss a minute of this engaging episode featuring Habib and Young Nails! Do you have a plan to track trends so your business can keep a competitive edge? Better yet, what can your business do to be the trendsetter? According to Habib Salo, Young Nails keeps a finger on the pulse of industry trends by staying active on social media. By not only cultivating a social media presence but engaging with people on social media, Habib and his team are able to track what direction trends are headed. What can you and your business learn from Habib’s approach? How will you make sure you tracking trends? One of the buzzwords in society today is authenticity. People are craving real and honest brands and personality to follow. Gone is the reign of superficial and bland brands, raw and authentic is in! Habib Salo and his business, Young Nails seem to be embracing this trend toward honest and transparent brands. One way they embrace this image is by keeping their product manufacturing in-house. Habib is proud of the fact that Young Nails keeps a close eye on their product quality standards so they can assure their customers that they’ve done everything they can to earn their trust and loyalty. Young Nails is a great example of a brand highlighting and leveraging their messaging and values! Resources Mentioned on this episode Young Nails 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.

Today we have Justin Christianson, he went from bull rider and electrician to eventually co-founding Conversion Fanatics which helps companies double customer sales and profits with A B testing...not in all cases of course..they are a full-service conversion rate optimization company and have worked with companies like Hertz, Paypal, Investors.com, BlueJeans.com and MORE! Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [1:20] Jeremy introduces his guest, Justin Christianson. [3:00] Justin talks about the issue of cart abandonment. [11:00] What was Justin’s start in direct marketing like? [17:00] Maximizing the initial purchase. [23:45] Software applications that Justin recommends. [27:00] What works best when it comes to guarantees? [31:00] Why optimizing product pages can boost sales. [40:00] Justin talks about how he’s built his website to maximize conversions. [47:00] Who uses Conversion Fanatics? [51:00] How Justin and his team help their clients. [54:00] Testing for clients that have failed. [58:00] Justin’s favorite case studies. [1:02:00] One of the lowest moments in business for Justin. [1:05:15] What it takes to get “Unstuck.” [1:08:30] A huge milestone in business. [1:10:30] Justin talks about bull riding. In this episode… What can you learn from a website optimization expert? How can your business improve and grow by implementing these time-tested lessons and insights? On this episode of Inspired Insider, you’ll hear from web expert and entrepreneur, Justin Christianson. In his conversation with Jeremy, Justin talks about his background in direct marketing, software that he’s found helpful, what it takes to optimize a website for the best conversations, how to get unstuck in life and business, and so much more! Don’t miss a minute of this helpful and engaging episode! How has your past business experience helped you in your current role? Are you able to carry some of those lessons into your current work? For Justin Christianson, it was his previous career in direct marketing that helped him cultivate a keen eye for what it takes to get a customer to follow through the sales process. Learning from the likes of Gary Halbert, John Carlton, and others, Justin has been able to hone his approach and that of his business, Conversion Fanatics. What can you learn from Justin’s journey? Is it really worth it to offer your customers any type of guarantee? Does the payoff of assuring your customers of a risk-free purchase really outweigh the few who will abuse the policy? According to Justin Christianson, the answer is yes! When you are able to put your customer’s natural aversion to risk in the back of their mind, it’s a win! If you are wary of offering a long-term guarantee, consider even a short-term guarantee. Think of the things that put your mind at ease as a customer and do what you can to implement those same practices. Are you leaving money on the table? Seriously? Have you done everything you can to optimize your website so customers have an easy to use experience? When was the last time you took a critical eye to your sales process? Conversion Fanatics exists to help business leaders like you get the most out of your efforts online. Justin Christianson and his team have worked hard to develop tools and methods that create an environment that benefits both buyers and sellers. How can you take Conversion Fanatics’ approach as inspiration to better your business? As a business leader, you know that it’s not always easy to find the resources you need to succeed. What led you to the resources you use on a regular basis? What are you doing to give back and invest in the next generation of leaders in your industry? If you want a great place to go for resources to help you when it comes to building a successful ecommerce business, you’ve got to check out Conversion Fanatics. Make sure to check out the resources section at the end of this post for software and tools that Justin Christianson has used! Resources Mentioned on this episode Conversion Fanatics How One Company Increased Sales 1892% By Re-Designing Their Landing Page Gary Vaynerchuk John Carlton Gary Bencivenga Gary Halbert Eben Pagan Magnetic Sponsoring Shopify Mangento Trustguard Reportmojo Optimiso Helpscout Itracker 360 Flexify Limespot Recart Retarget app Sales countdown Carthook Upsell on exit Privy Persistent cart Hot Jar Crazy Egg True Conversion 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.

Today we have the co-founders of Tenzo Tea, Steve O’Dell and Robbie Page. 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. [2:40] Closing the information gap about Matcha Tea. [5:30] What are some common uses of Matcha Tea? [7:00] What are the future plans of Tenzo Tea? [9:20] Low points faced along the way. [14:50] High points that came with business growth. In this episode… What does it mean to close the information gap between what your customers know and what you want them to know? Is it even a practical expectation to have a business leader? On this episode of Inspired Insider, you’ll hear from entrepreneurs Steve O’Dell and Robbie Page. In their conversation with Jeremy, Steve and Robbie explain how they went to work closing the information gap about their product, Tenzo Matcha Green Tea, challenges and milestones they’ve faced along the way, and much more. Don’t miss a minute of this fascinating episode featuring Steve and Robbie! You’ll have no hope for long-term success if you can’t effectively communicate what your product is and why your customers should buy it! Learn how to communicate succinctly is a huge part of navigating the information gap that exists between businesses and their customer base. Hearing from Steve and Robbie, you get the sense right away that they’ve honed and perfected their approach. They not only understand their product inside and out, they’ve taken extra care to connect their story back to the history and roots of Matcha Green Tea. What can you learn from Steve and Robbie’s story? What does the journey of an entrepreneur look like? Is it all excitement and growth as magazines and success stories would have you believe? For Steve and Robbie, the journey has been everything but sunshine and roses. While they are quick to point out that they are very fortunate and thankful for the success they’ve been able to build, they also acknowledge the pain and stress they’ve faced as well. It seems that the biggest challenge has been confronting the unknown, not just the unknown when it comes to the future of the business but how it’ll impact the lives of people who depend on its success and growth. The journey of building Tenzo Tea has been rollercoaster for Steve and Robbie but through it all, they are proud of the organization they've built. Resources Mentioned on this episode www.tenzotea.co Follow Tenzo Tea on Instagram www.ratzpackmedia.com The Hard Thing About Hard Things 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.

Today we have Christopher Lochhead who started his first company at 18 and retired 30 years later. He is a three-time public company CMO, best selling author, and host of Legends and Losers Podcast. He was a co-founder of Play Bigger Advisors, served as Chief Marketing Officer of Mercury Interactive, a $1B software company that was acquired by Hewlett-Packard in 2006 for $4.5B. He is coauthor with Al Ramadan and Dave Peterson and Kevin Maney of Play Bigger: How pirates, dreamers, and innovators create and dominate markets. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn: [1:25] Jeremy introduces his guest, Christopher Lochhead. [3:00] The world doesn’t need more bullshit. [12:30] Where is podcasting going? Is it oversaturated? [17:00] Christopher talks about his Father-In-Law and his fruit orchard. [22:30] What was the motivation for writing the book, “Play Bigger?” [27:20] A healthy disregard for the status quo. [29:00] Christopher talks about getting kicked out of school. [32:00] The value of entrepreneurship and the evolution of Silicon Valley. [36:00] What did Mercury Interactive do? What made it stand out? [42:00] Why you should strive to be a “Category King.” [45:00] Christopher talks about rolling out BTO. [50:30] Testing products and ideas often fail to lead a to breakthrough. [53:30] A great example of creating a new category. [56:30] Position yourself or be positioned! [59:30] Categories make brands not the other way around. [1:02:30] Until someone reimagines the problem, nothing is going to change. [1:06:30] Christopher talks about his work with One Life. [1:10:00] How to connect with Christopher and what inspires him. [1:12:30] Christopher describes all the items he has in his office. In this episode… What does it mean to become a category king? Is it wise to branch out and create a new category to become it’s de facto leader? Why is this better than challenging existing competition? You’ll hear the answer to these questions and much more from special guest, Christopher Lochhead on this episode of Inspired Insider. In his conversation with Jeremy, Christopher opens up about his time at Mercury Interactive, why the world doesn’t need more bullshit, what inspired him and his partners to write Play Bigger, and so much more! There is a ton of great insights that Christopher has to share, don’t miss a minute of it! Be honest, aren’t you sick of all the bullshit that gets passed around as “Cutting edge” and “Innovative” these days? If that’s you, you aren’t alone! It seems that there is a growing number of people who are ready to kick curated sound bites to the curb in search of a more authentic and genuine existence. Helping to lead that charge is accomplished business leader and podcast host, Christopher Lochhead. Christopher is a no-nonsense kind of guy who loves to tell stories and ruffle a few feathers. What can you learn from Christopher's refreshing approach? What is in the cards for the podcasting industry? Is the market truly over-saturated as many people claim or are the party just getting started? It seems like everyone and their neighbor has a podcast these days, what role does the low overhead aspect play in the equation? Avid podcaster, Christopher Lochhead is convinced that podcasting is just at the beginning of it’s run. He sees a massive potential for podcasting to grow and evolve due to the fact that new categories and creative ways of telling stories continue to pop up left and right. The message of defeating the competition has been drilled so hard into the minds of business people that many have failed to see the immense opportunity to be found in the alternative. The alternative approach as described by Christopher Lochhead is to completely sidestep the competition and create a brand new category. This is the approach that Google, Netflix, and Apple took and those companies have shaped our economy and our society in ways they would never have if they played it safe! What are you waiting for? Stop playing it safe! Muster up the boldness to get out there and become a Category King! Let’s face it, you have to be a little discontent with life to be an innovator or entrepreneur. The question is, do you continue to feed off of that discontent or is it simply the spark that starts a chain reaction. Christopher Lochhead strongly believes that leaders who want to make a lasting impact need to stay discontent with the status quo. Don’t settle! Push the envelope, break barriers, and think outside of the box! Either you position yourself in the marketplace or the marketplace will position you. Learn from Christopher’s helpful insights and go even further by checking out his podcast and his book, links to both can be found in the resources section at the end of this post! Resources Mentioned on this episode Play Bigger 1 Life Fully Lived Legends and Losers Good to Great Ian Garlic Creativity Rules Erik Weihenmayer No Barriers Kim Scott Joe Rogan 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.

Today we have Dan Kurzrock who 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. [2:15] Daniel talks about how connecting with breweries to get their discarded grain. [7:45] How has the process changed over the years? [10:30] What has been the lowest point for Daniel and his business? [11:30] Proud moments in business so far. [14:00] How to connect with ReGrained. In this episode… How in the world can you use discarded grain from breweries for a new and edible purpose? That sounds crazy, right? It’s not! On this episode of Inspired Insider, you’ll hear from entrepreneur and grain upcycling expert, Daniel Kurzrock. In his conversation with Jeremy, Daniel opens up about how he connected with breweries to get their discarded grain, why the process has changed over the years, the lowest moment he’s faced on his journey, proud milestones, and more! You don’t want to miss this great opportunity to learn from Daniel’s innovative approach and compelling story! Did you know that for the longest time many breweries would sell their discarded grain to farmers for animal feed? Then came along the brilliant mind of Daniel Kurzrock and his team at ReGrained who started tinkering with the options that discarded grain provides for human consumption. Since then, they’ve built a thriving business that capitalizes on this discarded grain and repurposes it for use in products like their Honey Cinnamon IPA Immune Supporting SuperGrain Bar. Doesn’t that sound delicious? It’s innovations like this that really highlight the amazing future that entrepreneurs like Daniel have the ability to lead us toward. What can you learn from the ReGrained story? While the life of an entrepreneur is often glamorized, the truth is, it is full of highs and lows along the way. Some highs are enough to fuel leaders to keep going and some lows are jarring enough to make even the toughest leaders throw in the towel. According to Daniel Kurzrock, the lows where fairly minimal on his journey - the lowest point he could think of was ruining batches of upcycled grain which caused delays in fulfilling customers orders. As for the high point, Daniel points to a recent occurrence at an event where he realized how much trust he has in his team to engage the public and educate them on their amazing product line. Hearing from Daniel, you really get the sense that he is proud of ReGrained and what they’ve built - here is to many more years of success! Resources Mentioned on this episode Check out the ReGrained website Follow ReGrained on Twitter Connect with ReGrained on Facebook 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.