Forward Obsessed

Neil Bainton is the Co-Creator and COO of Mailchimp, and is currently an investor, advisor, and photographer. On this episode of Forward Obsessed, Neil Bainton discusses his unique career journey, starting with learning Russian during the Cold War and actually moving to Russia at the end of the Cold War to work for DuPont. Neil recalls Russia as an “entrepreneurial black slate,” transitioning to work for Pepsi, creating successful (and sometimes fervent) promotional campaigns in Russia. Neil talks about the challenges of doing business in Russia, returning to the US to participate in the dotcom boom, and recalls his early business that led to helping build MailChimp. Throughout the episode, Bainton highlights the importance of design and innovation in staying ahead of competitors, and how the internet has drastically changed the business landscape. Tune in to this insightful episode as Bainton shares his wisdom and perspective gained from his unique journey. The episode also highlights some of the unique aspects of MailChimp's success, such as their passionate focus on design, their 'Forever Free' offering, their ability to compete with larger companies, and why Neil decided to eventually exit the business to pursue a better personal life.  Key Entrepreneurial Topics From This Interview The importance of design and user experience for a startup's success Going against industry norms and embracing competitors' new ideas The benefits of being an extremely lean team that can out-innovate competitors The challenges of doing business in a country with lack of rule of law to protect businesses The importance of addressing spam and automation in product development The success of a "Forever Free" model for a unique approach to the market The value of advertising in international markets, despite tough competition The potential for fraud in today's world, and the importance of protecting business assets The impact of changes in market dynamics and emerging competition.   OUTLINE: (00:00) Intro (2:02) Early Years (3:36) Going to Russia as a young man (8:13) The dichotomy between Communism and Capitalism (16:29) Why Wharton is so good at producing excellent MBAs  (20:37) Working with Dupont in the Soviet Union (24:53) Where does work ethic come from?  (26:40) Transitioning to Pepsi (30:08) How Russian businesses use fear to do business  (35:14) Being too early in fintech (46:30) Fostering entrepreneurship in large companies (48:50) Cultivating a work environment of experimentation and creativity (50:00) Joining MailChimp as #4 on the team (53:30) Designing the “voice” and experience of MailChimp (1:00:00) Using “forever free” and product-led growth strategies (1:04:00) Why I left MailChimp   EPISODE LINKS: Website: https://www.neilbainton.com/  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nbainton/ Photography: https://www.neilbainton.photos/ RELATED KEYWORDS DuPont, Lycra, Russian manufacturers, textiles, hosiery, competition, fear, tax inspectors, regulatory challenges, Russian culture, communism, group-focused, individual rights, Soviet Union, bankrupt, national TV, rules, Putin, SaaS product launches, go-to-market, referral strategies, MailChimp, Atlanta, funding, design, user experience, out-innovating, competitors, winner-takes-all, auto tag tool, Cold War era, rule of law, privatization, oligarchs, developers, capital, spam, Email Genome Project, Forever Free, Forward Obsessed, Woodbridge, Pepsi, Stolichnaya Vodka, Coke, salty snacks, safety-oriented culture, gunpowder, high market concentration, margins, consumer-oriented, Conoco, government approval, advertising, market dynamics, matching halves promotion, fraud. PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://forwardobsessed.com/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forward-obsessed/id1615760781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2TrkOZ7xL7WSlzc2mrwXuC?si=aa5e7790aca64e05 YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5b9WPqVXz_qlfXgK3hHPs4z YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5Yt0LiPml0y6pNUSrqHzWql   SUPPORT & CONNECT: Digital Surgeons Website: https://digitalsurgeons.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitalsurgeons Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalsurgeons LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/210497/  

  Steve Shwartz is an award winning author, angel investor, serial entrepreneur, and one of the foundational engineers behind AI technologies like natural language processing. On this episode of Forward Obsessed, we dive deep into the profitable (and tumultuous) world of Artificial Intelligence and AI Language Models. Our guest is Steve Schwartz, an accomplished AI engineer, author, investor, and entrepreneur who has built and sold multiple companies and novel AI technologies. Steve shares his incredible story of developing AI language models in the 80’s, his insights on the current state of AI, and analyzes the tools and technologies being used in the AI arms race. We discuss Steve's background and his unlikely transition from academia to entrepreneurship, how language models worked then vs. now, Chat GPT, and the potential for AI to transform the way our society operates. Finally, we also dive into potential use cases and concerns around AI, "killer robots," and reflect on the future of Artificial Intelligence.  6 Key Entrepreneurial Topics From This Interview The importance of creativity and effective communication as the two biggest competitive advantages in business. The possibility of using AI tools, like Chat GPT, as assistants to reduce workload and increase productivity. The importance of learning from failures and setbacks and seeking guidance and mentorship. The impact of rapid technological advancements on businesses and the need to adapt and innovate. The value of finding niche markets and creating premium products. The potential of AI technology and its impact on society, such as its use in different industries and concerns about ethics and safety   OUTLINE:  (00:00) - Intro (1:51) - Early years in Cape Cod with entrepreneurial parents (3:35) - “I learned to hate entrepreneurship and business as a kid” (5:05) - Attending an experimental school in Florida   (9:38) - Going to Johns Hopkins for a PhD (13:28) - Creating an AI program to predict horse racing results (17:33) - Pivoting from teaching to being an entrepreneur (22:45) - What is a natural language interface?  (28:58) - Making AI language models for an Oil rigging company (32:02) - Building Intelligent Business Systems (36:34) - Why AI was unpopular in the 1980’s  (38:05) - Why I don’t invest in academics (41:25) - Being too early with a brilliant idea (46:20) - How to avoid accounting scandals  (52:30) - Dealing with stress during scandal (58:01) - Pitfalls and disasters while trying to sell my business (1:00:30) - Add  a “Best Efforts” clause to your contracts (1:05:30) - What is a CTO?  (1:10:08) - Founder teams will make or break a good idea (1:15:00) - Why Al Subbloie is changing the game (1:21:05) - Joining Tangoe and Device42 (1:27:30) - The recent call to slow AI development (1:30:00) - What ChatGPT isn’t as powerful as people think (1:36:00) - Good uses for ChatGPT (1:45:20) - The future of AI technology (1:50:00) - The best places to invest in AI   EPISODE LINKS: AI Perspectives: https://www.aiperspectives.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveshwartz/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/sshwartz?lang=en Steve’s Book: https://www.aiperspectives.com/evil-robots/   RELATED KEYWORDS multimodal model, Zapier, Make, SaaS tools, Chat GPT, plugin architecture, AI, Auto GBT, Pine Cone, vector embeddings, reinforcement learning, GPD, creativity, communication, assistant, productivity, four-day workweek, career change, Intelligent Business Systems, natural language interfaces, Lisp, Digital Equipment Corporation, Knowledgeware, AI arms race, killer robots, monitors, Bert Green, supervised learning, horse racing, Lenny, golf hat business, mahogany stand, Hopkins, Steve Costlin, Stephen Pinker, Jeff Hinton, Yale, Roger Shank, neurosurgery. PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://forwardobsessed.com/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forward-obsessed/id1615760781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2TrkOZ7xL7WSlzc2mrwXuC?si=aa5e7790aca64e05 YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5b9WPqVXz_qlfXgK3hHPs4z YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5Yt0LiPml0y6pNUSrqHzWql   SUPPORT & CONNECT: Digital Surgeons Website: https://digitalsurgeons.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitalsurgeons Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalsurgeons LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/210497/

Michael Kalman is the Chief Strategy Officer for PersonalRX, Advisory Board Member for iCleanse, and was previously the founder and CEO of MediaCrossing, a digital marketing agency which sold to Kubient in 2021.  Kalman is a media and digital marketing expert who has been in the industry since 1990. On this episode of Forward Obsessed, learn about how a group of people started a trading desk to offer programmatic digital media to middle-market clients, and how their focus on good governance and hiring the right professionals led to a successful sale of the company. Hear about the importance of having a core team that believes in the vision of the business, finding personal relationships that can help improve oneself, as well as the importance of balancing work and personal life. Build better teams with Michael’s tips for identifying individuals with passion and integrating them into an established group. Interested in selling your business? Learn about Michael’s top tips for setting your acquisition up for success.  Key Topics:  Importance of work ethic and giving back Creating a successful trading desk Importance of having a core team with shared empathy and goals The importance of finding personal relationships as an entrepreneur Balancing work and personal life Learning from mistakes and negative feedback The importance of passion and creating a healthy company culture Strategies for a successful sale of a business   OUTLINE:  (00:00) - Intro (1:30) -  Early years at a small agency (7:53) - The first time I got my “teeth kicked in” by a client (12:00) - Your client wants you to succeed (14:43) - The root of every personal and professional problem (17:27) - The hardest challenge that agencies face (20:30) - The problem with unspoken expectations (24:14) - Reliance on social media can be a disservice for brands (27:41) - Finding a way to grow through a niche (33:15) - What made MediaCrossing different from other agencies (39:45) - How NOT to structure your company (45:21) - Learning to let people down as a leader (50:40) - Strategies when you become overwhelmed (54:27) - Taking mental health days are key to growth (59:14) - Learning to take care of yourself and your family (1:02:24) - Teaching work ethic to your children (1:08:30) - How to cultivate passion in your team (1:16:00) - Managing (and firing) underperformers (1:21:15) - Selling a private company to a public company (1:29:03) - There are no shortcuts to selling your business (1:35:20) - How the pandemic restrictions killed our industry (1:39:11) - What’s next for the American economy (1:42:30) - How to build a company in a “remote work first” generation   EPISODE LINKS: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mkkalman/ PersonalRX: https://www.linkedin.com/company/personalrx/ iCLeanse: https://www.icleanse.com/   PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://forwardobsessed.com/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forward-obsessed/id1615760781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2TrkOZ7xL7WSlzc2mrwXuC?si=aa5e7790aca64e05 YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5b9WPqVXz_qlfXgK3hHPs4z YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5Yt0LiPml0y6pNUSrqHzWql   SUPPORT & CONNECT: Digital Surgeons Website: https://digitalsurgeons.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitalsurgeons Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalsurgeons LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/210497/  

Larry Janesky is the CEO and Founder of Basement Systems, Contractor Nation, The School Of Entrepreneurship, and owns over 30 businesses across the United States. Larry is also one of the most accomplished desert motorcycle racers in the world, and has competed and won the Baja 1000 Desert race multiple times. On this episode of Forward Obsessed, we dive into the importance of focusing our attention on positive and constructive things that align with our goals. We discuss how negative news and media can be detrimental to our well-being and how to combat it. Larry shares their personal childhood experiences that helped shape their work ethic and the lessons they teach their own children, as well as the strategies for effective sales presentations and the importance of being able to connect with different personality types.  Larry also shares his experience competing in a 1000 mile desert motorcycle race and the lessons they learned from it. We delve into the idea of perseverance and not giving up despite obstacles that come our way. Join us as we explore the importance of investing in our own education and producing value to help society function. OUTLINE: (00:00) - Intro (1:15) - Learning ambition at a young age (5:28) - Growing up in Bridgeport Connecticut (10:22) - Raising kids to be rabid learners (15:28) - Reputation and trust are everything in business (17:25) - How to cultivate ambition in others?  (21:00) - The “no job too small” mentality leads to success (27:00) - How to handle fear as an entrepreneur (29:30) - A marble for every week I am alive (32:20) - Fear and negativity is easy (34:29) - You create the world you live in by what you pay attention to (38:55) - Entrepreneurship is about seeing who you can become (43:30) - Building a basement waterproofing empire (50:40) - An extraordinary life of shared experiences (54:38) - If you are doing a presentation, you are doing a show (1:00:41) - Work once, get paid forever (1:03:07) - Founding a school of entrepreneurship (1:11:13) - Iron sharpens iron: Winning the Baja 1000 motorcycle race (1:27:48) - What is means to never give up   EPISODE LINKS: Laryy’s Daily Newsletter: www.thinkdaily.com The School Of Entrepreneurship: www.Thesoe.com Into the dust documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYaQLS-7ejU The Highest Calling Book: https://shop.thehighestcallingbook.com/ Personal Website: https://www.larryjanesky.com/ PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://forwardobsessed.com/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forward-obsessed/id1615760781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2TrkOZ7xL7WSlzc2mrwXuC?si=aa5e7790aca64e05 YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5b9WPqVXz_qlfXgK3hHPs4z YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5Yt0LiPml0y6pNUSrqHzWql   SUPPORT & CONNECT: Digital Surgeons Website: https://digitalsurgeons.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitalsurgeons Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalsurgeons LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/210497/ KEYWORDS:  positive thinking, attention, focus, master skill, media, solutions, childhood experiences, identity, financial struggles, hard work, entrepreneurship, sales, leadership training, Broadway show, personality types, introvert, Baja 1000 race, Iron Man, fear, honest, taking chances, failure, limited time, value creation, character, discipline, college education, Eagle Scout, work-life balance, teaching, leadership abilities, entrepreneurship school, perseverance, talent, moral responsibility, desert motorcycle race, "Into the Dust" movie, Iron Man class, anaphylactic shock, tapping out, limited resources.

David Cancel is the Founder and Executive Chairman of Drift, the world's first conversational marketing and sales technology company. David is a Bronx native who dropped out of college to pursue his career in tech. He has been part of six exits, including HubSpot, where he was the CTO responsible for revolutionizing their products and taking the company from a $100 million valuation to a public company worth $12 billion. He also founded Drift, which is currently the first company to focus on conversational marketing and AI, and recently acquired at a valuation of $1 Billion. His philosophy and dedication to his craft is evident in his achievements and contributions to the tech industry.   The interview covers a range of personal and professional topics including cultivating work ethic, how to promote diversity in tech, raising money as a sales process, the importance of branding, discovering arbitrage opportunities in marketing, and intimately knowing one's strengths and weaknesses.   David’s experiences and perspectives are fundamentally unique and inspiring - if you have never watched the entirety of an episode, let this be the first.    OUTLINE: (00:00) - Intro (2:30) -  Early years in the boogie down (11:39) - Learning how to grow up in a city (15:43) - First job in a Chinese-owned Warehouse (19:12) - Why I dropped out of college  (23:35) - Getting my first job in coding (27:46) - Transitioning from student to entrepreneur (30:17) - Being seen as a CTO in the startup industry (36:40) - Why everyone is too specialized (39:25) - Breaking into an industry where people don’t look like you (47:00) - Founding Compete (52:53) - Why I love raising money for a startup (01:02:00) - The best way to approach a layoff (01:08;00) - The concept behind Performable (01:12:00) - Working for Hubspot after getting acquired (01:20:00) - Rebuilding the code behind  Hubspot from the ground up (01:24:00) - What makes a visionary product leader?  (01:30:50) - How to enter into a good business partnership (01:39:00) - Founding Drift (01:43:30) - The importance of branding in a saturated market (01:54:00) - Transitioning from founder to Executive Chair     EPISODE LINKS: Episode Transcript: https://ds.link/DavidCancel LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dcancel/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/dcancel Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Cancel Drift: https://www.drift.com/ Hubspot: https://www.hubspot.com/ Conversational Marketing Book: https://www.amazon.com/Conversational-Marketing-Companies-Chatbots-Generate/dp/1119541832   PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://forwardobsessed.com/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forward-obsessed/id1615760781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2TrkOZ7xL7WSlzc2mrwXuC?si=aa5e7790aca64e05 YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5b9WPqVXz_qlfXgK3hHPs4z YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5Yt0LiPml0y6pNUSrqHzWql   SUPPORT & CONNECT: Digital Surgeons Website: https://digitalsurgeons.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitalsurgeons Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalsurgeons LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/210497/  

A.J Wasserstein is Lecturer in the Practice of Management at the Yale School of Management, and was previously the Founder and CEO of ArchivesOne, a document storage company that sold to Iron Mountain after 17 years of operation and growth.    School is in session with A.J as he recounts his experiences with choosing an industry for its ideal economic characteristics, using “programmatic acquisitions” to steadily grow into a national brand, and experiencing a sense of loss when he sold his company after 17 years. Learn about the unique world of Search Fund Entrepreneurship, why passion for the product is not necessary when starting a business, and why being a “10x10+” entrepreneur is the best road to achieving happiness in your career.    OUTLINE: (00:00) - Intro (2:33) - Early years  (5:11) - Why MBA students don’t usually start their own business (10:29) - Why economic models matter for entrepreneurs (12:11) - Understanding economic characteristics (16:30) - How do you learn to make acquisitions?  (19:52) - The difference between an acquisition and an integration (22:00) - How to grow your business with “programmatic acquisitions”  (26:57) - The three kinds of acquisitions (31:27) - Is passion for the product necessary in entrepreneurship?  (35:20) - How to cultivate passion (37:37) - What is a Search Fund?  (45:15) - The track, the horse, and the jockey (49:45) - How fast should an entrepreneur move?  (53:50) - Using economic characteristics to choose an industry (59:45) - Why 10x10+ Entrepreneurs are the happiest (01:04:00) - What is “enlightened human capital”?  (01:11:00) - How does an entrepreneur achieve balance?  (01:16:41) - The Entrepreneur’s Epilogue   (01:28:22) - Defining happiness and success   EPISODE LINKS: Yale University Profile and list of publications: https://som.yale.edu/faculty-research/faculty-directory/j-wasserstein Stanford Search Fund Study: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/case-studies/2022-search-fund-study-selected-observations   PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://forwardobsessed.com/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forward-obsessed/id1615760781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2TrkOZ7xL7WSlzc2mrwXuC?si=aa5e7790aca64e05 YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5b9WPqVXz_qlfXgK3hHPs4z YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5Yt0LiPml0y6pNUSrqHzWql   SUPPORT & CONNECT: Digital Surgeons Website: https://digitalsurgeons.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitalsurgeons Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalsurgeons LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/210497/  

Ranjit Bindra is a serial Biotech entrepreneur and Professor of Medicine at Yale University. He is Cofounder of Cybrexa, Alphina, and B3 Therapeutics, and is the Cofounder and CEO of Modifi Bio.    Dive into the world of a “creative scientist” turned entrepreneur as Ranjit recounts his early years in an entrepreneurial household, developing a passion for science and biology, and finding his personal mission to fight cancer when his father died before he graduated from Med school. Learn about what it takes to make the perfect pitch deck, how to build a team with great chemistry, filtering toxic personalities from the workplace, and tips for time management.    OUTLINE: (00:00) - Intro (2:30) - Early years (4:55) - Having creative, entrepreneurial parents (6:30) - What is a “creative scientist”?  (10:45) - New questions unlock new possibilities  (12:58) - Different scientists “personas” (15:45) - The line between dedication and delusion (21:45) - Playing in a band in college (24:30) - My father died of cancer while I was learning about it  (28:20) - How to join in the fight against cancer (32:45) - Founding Helix with a pitch deck (36:30) - The right way to approach entrepreneurship (38:00) - What makes a winning pitch?  (45:20) - What failure feels like (48:30) - What is the chemistry of a great team?  (51:30) - What is the formula for trust?  (58:20) - Filtering for toxic personalities in the hiring process (01:06:00) - Founding Cybrexa (01:10:00) - Branding in science and biotech (01:15:25) - Raising money in biotech (01:21:00) - Signs of a healthy acquisition (01:22:15) - Founding Alphina (01:24:45) - Anti-aging technologies (01:27:30) - Running a virtual company and Zoom Fatigue  (01:38:15) - Learning to be a CEO for Modifi Bio  (01:42:15) - Time management techniques   EPISODE LINKS: Ranjit’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/ranjitbindra Ranjit’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ranjit-bindra-777b174/ Modifi Bio: https://modifibio.com/ Mybrexa: http://www.cybrexa.com/ Article on CEO Time Management: https://hbr.org/2018/07/how-ceos-manage-time Owl Virtual Work Technology (Mentioned By Pete): https://owllabs.com/   PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://forwardobsessed.com/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forward-obsessed/id1615760781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2TrkOZ7xL7WSlzc2mrwXuC?si=aa5e7790aca64e05 YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5b9WPqVXz_qlfXgK3hHPs4z YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5Yt0LiPml0y6pNUSrqHzWql   SUPPORT & CONNECT: Digital Surgeons Website: https://digitalsurgeons.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitalsurgeons Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalsurgeons LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/210497/

John Edelman is the President and CEO of Heller, an American modern design company that makes and sells indoor/outdoor furniture and accessories. John was previously the CEO of Design Within Reach, which was sold to Herman Miller in 2014. OUTLINE: (00:00) - Intro (4:09) - Early years in an entrepreneurial home (8:13) - Advice for starting a new company (11:00) - The Importance Of Taste (14:20) - Learning to love modern design (18:30) - The art of the flip (22:27) - Getting a visit from Andy Warhol (24:35) - The power of window displays (27:33) - Tips for running a family business (29:47) - Changing the strategy at Edelman Leather (33:25) - Dealing with family in your business (35:37) - Using your competition to power growth (40:15) - Discovering the Brazilian show business (42:50) - Selling the family business (48:09) - Keeping your family happy while running a business (50:19) - Almost losing a deal in the last moment (56:06) - How to motivate your team (1:07:12) - Selling Design Within Reach (1:16:26) - The 10/80/10 Management Model (1:19:33) - After selling Design Within Reach (1:21:24) - Failing in the vodka industry (1:24:26) - Having a partnership and also a friendship (1:27:36) - Running the legendary design brand, Heller EPISODE LINKS: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-edelman-4361a012/ Heller: https://hellerinc.com/ Design Within Reach: https://www.dwr.com/ Herman Miller: https://www.hermanmiller.com/ PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://forwardobsessed.com/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forward-obsessed/id1615760781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2TrkOZ7xL7WSlzc2mrwXuC?si=aa5e7790aca64e05 YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5b9WPqVXz_qlfXgK3hHPs4z YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5Yt0LiPml0y6pNUSrqHzWql SUPPORT & CONNECT: Digital Surgeons Website: https://digitalsurgeons.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitalsurgeons Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalsurgeons LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/210497/   Fwd Obsessed Podcast is powered by Digital Surgeons

Josh Cohen is Founder and President of Junkluggers, one of the largest franchised junk removal services in the world. Step into the world of making trash into treasure as Josh recounts having his “aha-moment” around a fire with some friends in Australia, starting a company with Bar Mitzvah money and a pickup truck called “Old Rusty,” and the winding road to selling his business in 2022. Josh talks about building a robust culture, the risks of growing a company too quickly, tips on how to franchise your business, and finding strength to dig out of the lowest point in your career.  OUTLINE: (00:00) - Intro (2:30) - Early years in Australia (8;00) - Nearly going out of business three times (10:50) - Selling Junkluggers on my 40th birthday (13:00) - Making mistakes and learning from them (16:00) - How I became a stronger leader (18:30) - Building a strong culture (22:45) - Pivoting to a franchise model (27:44) - Making mistakes in franchising  (32:24) - Don’t spend too much time planning your business (36:45) - How to franchise your business (42:00) - Using financial transparency to build culture (46:20) - Driving compliance in a franchise  (53:00) - Working with Larry Janesky and Basement Systems (57:28) - The lowest point in my career (1:01:20) - Hitting explosive growth during COVID (1:07:00) - Shopping for potential acquirers (1:10:00) - Junkluggers…after being acquired 1:17:00) - Founding Remix Market EPISODE LINKS: Junkluggers website: https://www.junkluggers.com/ Josh’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/junkluggerjosh/ Josh’s email: josh@junkuggers.com   PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://forwardobsessed.com/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forward-obsessed/id1615760781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2TrkOZ7xL7WSlzc2mrwXuC?si=aa5e7790aca64e05 YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5b9WPqVXz_qlfXgK3hHPs4z YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5Yt0LiPml0y6pNUSrqHzWql   SUPPORT & CONNECT: Digital Surgeons Website: https://digitalsurgeons.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitalsurgeons Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalsurgeons LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/210497/   Fwd Obsessed Podcast is powered by Digital Surgeons

Matt Melander was the Founder, President, and CFO at LEVIA, a cannabis beverage company that has become one of the largest brands in the cannabis edibles industry. After selling his company in 2022, Matt is now focusing on transforming the cannabis industry and developing innovative cannabinoid products.   In this episode, step into Matt’s past as he relates the inspirational story of his grandfather, who built a company that survived losing a third of their workforce in 9/11 and fought to support every family through the tragedy. Learn about the deep morals and values that Matt has used to guide his life, from the darkest times to building a cannabis company that has transformed the edibles industry. Hear from Matt on what effective altruism in leadership looks like, how to hold the course against persistent headwinds, and why getting acquired is not always the best path forward.   OUTLINE: (00:00) - Intro (2:30) - Influences from my grandfather (4:10) - Losing a third of a company in 9/11 (5:46) - What it means to treat a company like “family” (9:00) - Effective Altruism in leadership (10:00) - Losing a sibling at a young age (17:50) - Becoming An Entrepreneur (21:00) - Entering The Cannabis Industry (24:45) - Roadblocks to building a cannabis brand (31:40) - Holding the course against headwinds (37:00) - Building a brand during the pandemic (39:00) - We were forced to change the name of our company (42:00) - Changing lives with an alternative to alcohol (47:48) - Getting wined and dined by billionaires for an acquisition (50:00) - Going Through An Acquisition (58:30) - Lessons For Aspiring Entrepreneurs   EPISODE LINKS: Levia: https://levia.buzz/ Matt’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-melander-320b6250/   FAVORITE BOOKS: “The Culture Code” By Daniel Coyle: https://danielcoyle.com/the-culture-code/ “Let My People Go Surfing” By Yvon Chouinard: https://www.amazon.com/Let-People-Surfing-Education-Businessman/dp/0143037838   PODCAST INFO: Podcast website: https://forwardobsessed.com/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forward-obsessed/id1615760781 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2TrkOZ7xL7WSlzc2mrwXuC?si=aa5e7790aca64e05 YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5b9WPqVXz_qlfXgK3hHPs4z YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5Yt0LiPml0y6pNUSrqHzWql   SUPPORT & CONNECT: Digital Surgeons Website: https://digitalsurgeons.com TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitalsurgeons Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalsurgeons LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/210497/   Fwd Obsessed Podcast is powered by Digital Surgeons