Beyond Fulfillment Podcast

Here are the episode highlights from my conversation with Domenic Maiani. Hockey Star Turned Recruiter: Domenic Maiani, a former college hockey player who now uses his competitive spirit to excel in supply chain recruiting. He shares how he overcame challenges in the industry and uses social media to find top talent. Hiring Crisis in Logistics: Domenic talks about some of the biggest obstacles faced by companies in the logistics industry when it comes to recruiting. He discusses the importance of company culture, efficient hiring processes, and competitive salaries. He also offers advice to candidates on how to stand out in this competitive market. The Future of Logistics: Listen in for Domenic's predictions on the future of the logistics industry in 2024. He expects a fierce battle for top talent and anticipates companies on the tech side making acquisitions. He concludes with an interesting perspective on how tough economic times can actually strengthen the workforce. #logisticsindustry #logisticsindustry #recruitment #recruiting #businessowner #entrepreneurship

Episode Highlights from my conversation with Paty Johnston: 1. Focuses on overcoming procrastination: This episode features Paty Johnston, a coach who helps people overcome procrastination. Paty shares her personal story of battling procrastination and how she discovered emotional intelligence is the key to taking action. She offers a free 30-minute consultation and a free quiz to identify your procrastination type. 2. Highlights Paty's journey and program: A single mom turned entrepreneur, Paty Johnston shares how she overcame self-doubt and procrastination to build successful businesses. Her program, "How to Stop Procrastinating in 30 Days," helps people discover the root cause of their procrastination and develop emotional intelligence to achieve their goals. 3. Intriguing with a problem and solution: Feeling stuck and letting yourself down? Paty Johnston, a procrastination expert, can help. Learn the surprising reason behind procrastination (it's not time management!) and discover a 3-step system to overcome it and finally take action on your dreams. #entrepreneurship #podcast #coach #productivity #procrastination #businessowner #growthmindset #timemanagement

Here are the top 3 takeaways from my conversation with Yasmina Lyons: 1. Bounce Back Stronger: The Power of Resilience Entrepreneurs face constant challenges. Yasmina highlights resilience as the key to navigating these hurdles. Her workshops explore the emotional, psychological, biological, and even spiritual aspects of resilience, equipping you to learn from setbacks, grow through failures, and maintain a positive outlook. Yasmina teaches you to "bounce forward," transforming adversity into fuel for growth. 2. Unlock Your Potential: The Magic of Journaling Journaling is a game-changer for entrepreneurs. Yasmina, a dedicated journaler herself, emphasizes its benefits: increased self-awareness, improved clarity, enhanced problem-solving skills, emotional well-being, and continuous learning. By journaling your journey, you gain valuable perspective on your accomplishments and witness your remarkable progress. This self-awareness empowers you to move forward with confidence. 3. Prioritize Your Well-being: Mental Health Matters The entrepreneurial journey can be demanding, and mental health often gets pushed aside. Yasmina sheds light on this critical but under-discussed issue. The pressure and challenges can be mentally taxing, and entrepreneurs often lack adequate support systems. Yasmina advocates for creating a supportive environment that normalizes seeking help, encourages open communication about mental health, and promotes a healthy work-life balance. Prioritizing your well-being leads to a stronger, more sustainable entrepreneurial journey. Bonus takeaway: Comparison is the Thief of Joy: Why You Should Ditch It Comparing yourself to others is a common trap, fueled by our natural desire for self-preservation. Social media amplifies this problem. Yasmina delves into the neurological basis of comparison, helping you understand why it's unproductive. By gaining this knowledge, you can detach from these comparisons and focus on your own unique path to success. #entrepreneurship #businessowner #podcast #podcastepisode #growthmindset #networking #mentalhealthmatters

Here are my top 3 takeaways from my conversation with Holly LaBoda. The value of long-term thinking: Approaching sales with a longer time horizon leads to increased customer lifetime value, a more stable sales pipeline, and a positive brand reputation. Holly highlights the importance of playing the "long game" in sales. Companies should focus on building strong relationships with customers and investing in their development, rather than just chasing short-term wins. The power of referrals: A customer who refers your business is essentially becoming a brand advocate. They're putting their reputation on the line by recommending you, which shows a deep level of satisfaction. Holly stresses that referrals are a powerful and underutilized sales tool. By asking for referrals from satisfied customers, salespeople can leverage trust and credibility to win new business. The need for a clear and concise value proposition: In sales your value proposition is the core of your sales pitch. It's the foundation for effective communication, stronger customer relationships, and ultimately, increased success. Holly explains that a well-defined value proposition is essential for communicating the benefits of a product or service to customers. The value proposition should be clear, concise, and compelling, and it should be communicated in the customer's language. Bonus takeaway: Take a holistic approach: By taking a holistic approach, companies can identify weaknesses across the entire sales system, allowing them to address underlying issues, improve processes, and create a more supportive environment for their sales team Holly highlighted how companies too often blame just the salespeople without considering the entire system that impacts sales results. SPI website: https://spi3pl.com/ #entrepreneurship #entrepreneur #logisticsindustry #businessowner #growthmindset #salestraining #salestips

Here are 4 key takeaways from my conversation with Chad Bareither: Small and mid-sized businesses can benefit from implementing process improvements to streamline their operations and become more efficient. However, it’s important to avoid introducing too many changes at once, and to focus on those that will have the biggest impact. Leaders need to ensure that any process standards that are implemented are actually followed. If employees don't adhere to the standards, then the process improvement initiative will not be successful. When a company is looking to improve, it’s important to start by clearly defining the current state of their business. This will help to identify areas for improvement and make it easier to track progress over time. Once a company has identified its areas for improvement, it can start to develop a plan to address them. This plan should be focused on making small, sustainable changes that will have a positive impact on the business. #warehouse #warehousing #logistics #logisticsindustry #ecommerce #entrepreneurship #podcast #podcastepisode

Here are my top 3 takeaways from my conversation with Dr. Gail Lebovic: 1. Find an unmet need - Dr. Gail specializes in identifying gaps in the healthcare industry where current solutions are inadequate. Whether it's due to inefficiency, high costs, or a complete lack of options, she focuses on these areas to create innovative solutions. A prime example is her company Nasoclenz, which addresses the common problem of nasal congestion with a user-friendly and potentially more effective design compared to existing products. 2. Build a Strong Foundation before laying any bricks: Dr. Gail believes in meticulous planning before launching a company. She dedicates 1-2 years to thoroughly researching the feasibility of a product idea. This includes analyzing market size, potential regulatory obstacles, and investigating intellectual property to ensure there are no infringement issues. Additionally, she focuses on securing funding, assembling a team with the right skillsets, and developing a clear strategy for bringing the product to market. 3. Embrace Calculated Risk-Taking - Dr. Gail understands that not all risks are equal. While she conducts extensive research to minimize risk, she also recognizes that startups inherently involve some level of risk. The key is to take calculated risks, where the potential rewards outweigh the potential downsides. This could mean venturing into new markets or utilizing unproven technologies that have the potential to disrupt the industry. Bonus Takeaway - Never Stop Learning - Dr. Gail emphasizes the importance of maintaining curiosity and an open mind as an entrepreneur. Lifelong learning is crucial for staying ahead. Being receptive to new ideas and knowledge from unexpected sources can lead to breakthroughs and innovation. Dr. Gail actively seeks opportunities to learn, whether it's through engaging conversations on an airplane or attending conferences outside of her usual field. #entrepreneurship #startabusiness #podcastepisode #podcastguest #healthcare #healthcareindustry #healthcareinnovations #funding

Here are my top 3 takeaways from my conversation with Juli Lassow: Don’t overlook the opportunity within retail: There is significant potential in the brick-and-mortar retail sector. Julie, with her experience in mass retail, identifies opportunities in this industry. Physical stores remain relevant by allowing customers to interact with products, receive personalized assistance, and foster a sense of community. Forward-thinking retailers understand the importance of offering a unified shopping experience that caters to customer preferences. Public speaking is a powerful skill: Juli has leveraged the power of public speaking as a highly effective marketing tool, attributing her success to years of practice and continuous skill development. She emphasizes the importance of honing her craft through professional organizations like Heroic Public Speaking, which have helped her enhance both her content development and stage presence. Rethink how you view supplier relationships: Juli detailed how building supplier partnerships can be likened to dating, as it involves getting to know each other and establishing clear expectations . She approaches supplier partnerships using a framework similar to a consultant's matrix. This involves self-reflection on organizational strategies and priorities, sharing perspectives with partners, assessing existing partnerships, and envisioning a new future. Open communication, asking questions, and seeking feedback are essential for establishing effective communication. Regular reflection and evaluation ensure the plan stays on track and can be adjusted as needed. Bonus takeaway: The importance of the circular economy: The circular economy is crucial in the retail industry. Julie encountered this concept during her transition from Target to launching her own business. She coined the term "green guilt" to address the challenge of encouraging consumption while minimizing environmental impact. The circular economy provides a flexible framework for retailers and brands to understand priorities and implement strategic plans. It allows businesses to tailor their approach based on specific needs and the preferences of customers and clients. Retailers and brands have responded positively to this approach, recognizing the value of reducing waste and maximizing resource utilization. #retail #retailstore #supplychainmanagement #retailinnovation #onlineretail #onlineshopping #brickandmortar #stores

Here are my top 3 takeaways from my conversation with Nick Schrock: 1: Embrace Resourcefulness. Bootstrapping a startup requires founders to think outside the box and be resourceful in their approach to winning business. Valoroo 's success story highlights the importance of being creative when starting with limited resources. Offering guarantees, like free trials, helped them overcome initial skepticism and win key clients. 2: Transitioning from Founder to Leader As Valoroo experienced growth, Nick had to transition from being a hands-on contributor to a leader focused on building a strong team.. By empowering others and building a capable team, founders can delegate tasks, ensure scalability, and drive overall business growth. Recognizing the need to shift from being involved in every aspect of the business to leading and strategizing has been critical for Nick in Valaroo’s growth 3: Company Culture is HUGE Valoroo places a major focus on company culture, understanding its role as a key driver of productivity. They invest in creating a positive work environment that empowers employees and sets them up for success. A strong company culture fosters employee engagement, loyalty, and motivation, leading to higher productivity and better business outcomes. Prioritizing building a positive and inclusive culture that aligns with their values and vision has paid off big for Valoroo Bonus Takeaway : The Impact on Employees' Lives The most rewarding aspect of Nick's business journey is witnessing the positive impact Valoroo has on its employees' lives. This impact extends beyond financial security, as Valoroo provides opportunities for personal growth through meaningful work. By prioritizing employee well-being and development, entrepreneurs can create a fulfilling and purpose-driven workplace. #entrepreneurship #entrepreneur #startup #startuplife #logistics #freight #freightforwarding

Here are my top 3 takeaways from my conversation with Virind Gurjal 1. Be open to unexpected possibilities: Business ideas often arise from serendipitous moments. The inception of EV Bots came from Virind's son's robotics project and his expertise in fuel management and mechanical engineering. This led to the development of a solution for the lack of infrastructure in the electric vehicle (EV) industry. 2. Embrace change as an opportunity: Change is inevitable in any industry. By embracing change, we can adapt and thrive in new and evolving environments. Virind successfully transitioned from a corporate career to entrepreneurship, raising funds from friends, family, venture capitalists, and angel investors. He used these changes as opportunities to develop new skills, actively network, and present his company to various organizations. 3. Build with the future in mind: Building with the future in mind allows founders to create sustainable, scalable, and competitive companies. EV Bots has designed robots with scalability in mind, accommodating future advancements in battery technology. Although the charging infrastructure for EVs currently lags behind, efforts are being made to catch up with the growing demand. Bonus takeaway Harness the power of community: Virind emphasizes the power of community and collaboration in addressing the challenges of the EV industry. Electric companies are recognizing the potential business opportunities in the shift towards EVs. By working together as a society, they believe these problems can be overcome. #robotics #startup #logisticsindustry #entrepreneurship #businessowner #businesssuccess #networking

Here are my top 3 takeaways from my podcast interview with Robert Bain: 1. Have a long time-horizon: Bain emphasized the significance of choosing a career path with long-term prospects. He shared his father's experience in the telecom industry and how he had to make a career change when the industry shifted towards mobile technology. Bain recognized the enduring need for goods and services to be transported and saw logistics as a viable long-term industry. Living in Iowa helped him understand the vital roles of farmers and drivers in America's economy. 2. Success attracts success: Bain discussed his preference to be around top performers. He detailed how he’s currently part of a remote team at GLCS,. and expressed his respect for GLCS CEO' Nate Johnson’s expertise in technology and his ability to maximize ROI. Drawing parallels to team sports, Robert emphasized the positive impact of being around other successful people, as it elevates his own performance and contributed to his personal growth. 3. Embrace life's unexpected turns: Bain shared his journey into powerlifting. He initially started lifting weights in college after getting injured playing soccer. A Russian trainer at the YMCA recognized Bain’s strength potential and encouraged him to compete in powerlifting. Reluctantly participating in his first meet and finishing fourth sparked a passion for the sport. Witnessing the intense environment and impressive feats of strength at the meet ignited his dedication to powerlifting. He joined a strong team and has been part of the Wolfpack Barbell club for the past eight years, earning his moniker: “ The Strongest Man in Logistics.” Bonus takeaway: Hard work is essential: Bain highlighted the importance of hard work, even in a culture that promotes work-life balance. He shared a personal conversation with his son, who wants to start playing football. Bain explained that despite starting later than others, consistent effort and going above and beyond can lead to success. He used the example of Kobe Bryant, who famously outworked everyone else on his path to greatness. Bain acknowledged the need for balance but emphasized that hard work is what sets the best apart from the rest. #careeradvice #careersuccess #careers #entrepreneurship #hardwork #worklifebalance #logisticsindustry #logistics