Looking back at your life, you might laugh at where you thought you’d end up and where you are now. Plans can feel so definite but change in an instant when you least expect it. As David Byrne of the Talking Heads once sang, “Well, how did I get here?” From early sports to a winding sales journey to bobsledding Olympian, Lauren Gibbs, Olympic Medalist & Director of External Sales at Evolution of Sports, shares her story of how saying yes to opportunity changed her life.In this episode, we discuss:Lauren’s sports-centric upbringingThe winding sales journeyTransition into Olympic bobsleddingWhat’s next for Lauren Check out this additional resource from the podcast:https://.cutco.com/ For more interviews like this one, subscribe to HawkeTalk on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Hawke Talk in your favorite podcast player.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From hacker to urban vigilante to foreign exchange student, to Wall Street lawyer to top-10 podcast host…  No, it’s not the plot of some campy spy movie… It’s a crazy resume you can only build with some serious networking chops. That’s not James Bond’s resume, it’s from today’s guest, Jordan Harbinger, Creator of The Jordan Harbinger Show and — sorry Dos Equis’ guy — possibly the most interesting man in the world. He joins the show to share his incredible career journey and the attitude needed to land such diverse opportunities.In this episode, we discuss:Jordan’s incredible resumeThe importance of networkingWhy unique experiences unlock more doors than the traditional paths For more interviews like this one, subscribe to HawkeTalk on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!Listening on a desktop & can’t see the links? Just search for Hawke Talk in your favorite podcast player. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who handed Kim Kardashian her first million-dollar check?The same guy who helped Kareem Abdul Jabar wipe out $25 million in debt. Also the man who created the Golden Boy brand with Oscar de la Hoya. Sports agent powerhouse Leonard Armato.Along the way, he also transformed the way athletes (and Kardashians) are represented.And he wasn't even an entrepreneur, just a kid who liked to play sports.On this episode of Hawke Talk, Erik interviews Leonard about his journey from desperate, broke lawyer to leader of high-growth brands.Listen in as Leonard and Erik chat about... - How Leonard won his first contract with Ronnie Lott- Getting 11 clients from the 49ers at the age of 25- What Leonard learned from representing Shaq- How Kim Kardashian go her first 15 million social media followersFor more interviews like this one, subscribe to HawkeTalk on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What's the #1 clothing item most requested at homeless shelters?If you guessed shirts, pants, or even undies, you'd be wrong.It's socks. What most of us slide on our feet every morning and never think about again, 600,000 people see as a luxury item.Learning about the transformative power of socks gave Dave Heath the idea for his world-famous company Bombas. The enterprise began with Dave trying on a variety of foot fabric, and it's grown into a $100-million-dollar brand that's given away 45 million items of clothing.Listen in as Dave and Erik chat about... - Watching Dave's dad and granddad create businesses from scratch- Launching Bombas with $0 in capital funding- The power of customer data- Why consumers buy Bombas, not Fruit-of-the-LoomFor more interviews like this one, subscribe to HawkeTalk on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hey, Mom and Dad, I'm leaving behind my full-ride academic scholarship three semesters before graduation to move to a city you told me was a drug-infested cesspool. Wish me luck!Who wants to have that conversation with their parents?Tough call. The toughest Griffin Johnson ever had to make. A social media superstar & partner at Animal Capital, Griffin lived something that resembled Animal House more than a capital firm before discovering how to marry his knack for social media with launching a business. On this episode of HawkeTalk, Griffin tells the story of how he went from detasseling corn as an 11-year-old Midwestern kid to becoming the toast of social.Listen in as Griffin and Erik chat about... - Growing up in a small town- Getting started on social media- The much-ballyhooed move to Los Angeles- How Griffin turned a social media presence into a capital firmFor more interviews like this one, subscribe to HawkeTalk on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

He attended 14 schools in 10 years and has nothing to show for it but a kindergarten diploma. Well... a kindergarten diploma and a half-a-billion dollar company with three brands and 5000 employees across all its franchises.His dad's impressed. At least, he's impressed now. But when Brian Scudamore, founder of 1-800-GOT-JUNK, announced he was leaving college to drive a junk truck, his father, a liver surgeon, didn't jump for joy.On this episode of HawkeTalk, Brian discusses his journey from driving a beat-up pickup to becoming an entrepreneurial wizard. Listen in as Brian and Erik chat about... - Why school isn't all it's cracked up to be- Starting a business from scratch- Brian's big break - What is making franchising sexy againFor more interviews like this one, subscribe to HawkeTalk on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When you're 20 and broke, it's cute. You're a renaissance artist and the girls understand. When you're 30 and broke, though, it's not cute anymore.Sure you love to rhyme, to find your rhythm, and to breakdance at Bar Mitzvahs. But does any of that pay the mortgage?Like your mom always said, "But sweetie, can you make a living as a poet?" In this episode, poet and songwriter IN-Q tells his story of going platinum. His success emerged from growing up without his dad, learning to express his emotions in rhyme, and finding his way through the hard times. Listen in as IN-Q and Erik chat about... What made IN-Q fall in love with rhyme and rhythm at 9 years oldHow his first public performance at 13 brought him to tearsLearning to make a living as a poet during tough times (or why you're always right where you're supposed to be)Why "trust the river" is great advice for leading a successful life. For more interviews like this one, subscribe to HawkeTalk on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To be successful, you need drive. And often, the best motivation comes from hard times. Just ask today’s guest, the legendary Ben Baller, President at BBDTC and IF AND CO. From humble beginnings, he found the drive to succeed multiple times: whether it was finding success as a DJ or building a jewelry empire.He joined me on the latest episode to talk about what it takes to go from broke to Ben Baller. What we talked about:How humble beginnings gave Ben the drive for successLessons from Hollywood on what not to do with successWhy slow and steady wins the race For more interviews like this one, subscribe to HawkeTalk on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The path to success is never a straight line. There are twists, turns, blind rises, steep climbs and falls that decorate the journey.Matt Barnes, NBA Champion and Athlete-turned-Entrepreneur, is with us today, discussing his winding path to the success that he is today, and what’s yet to come.What we talked about:Matt’s sporting journey and how his choice of attitude set the course for his long-term successMatt’s investment timing and what kinds of businesses he supportsDefining doping and where medicating with cannabis fits in on the spectrum Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast:All The Smoke (Matt’s podcast) For more interviews like this one, subscribe to HawkeTalk on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1970s New York, the way to a boy's heart ran through a stack of baseball cards. The Shamus family knew that. But Mr. and Mrs. Shamus didn't just buy their sons a pack of cards. They opened a full-fledged comic and card shop....And they unleashed a legend.In this episode, Gareb Shamus talks about how he went from baseball card shark on his elementary playground to founding ACE Comic Con and Wizard Entertainment. Listen in as Gareb and Erik chat about... - How Gareb's parents opened a comic and card shop using the family's personal inventory- Gareb's first magazine and how it's popularity proved to be its downfall- What happened that finally got the money pouring in to Comic Cons- The scoop on live, in-person events during COVID and afterwardFor more interviews like this one, subscribe to HawkeTalk on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.