SharkPreneur

What’s Your Business Exit Strategy?Laurie Barkman, SmallDotBig – The Sharkpreneur podcast with Seth Greene Episode 746 Laurie Barkman80% of business owners want to stop working in their business in the next 5-10 years, but most have not planned for that transition. Many need to improve the business first.Laurie Barkman is a "business transition sherpa." With her firm, SmallDotBig, she advises owners on having more valuable, sellable businesses. And as a Partner with Stony Hill Advisors, a mergers and acquisitions firm, she guides them through the complex process of letting it go.Laurie is the former CEO of a $100 million revenue company with an exit to a Fortune 50 company. With more than 25 years of C-Suite and award-winning marketing expertise, she provides actionable perspectives to drive sustainable value.Engaging audiences across the US, Laurie is an Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at Carnegie Mellon University, leads executive workshops with Vistage, and hosts a weekly podcast called Succession Stories.Laurie earned her MBA from Carnegie Mellon and BS from Cornell University, and is a Certified Mergers and Acquisitions Advisor (CM&AA). She lives in Pittsburgh PA with her family. Listen to this illuminating Sharkpreneur episode with Laurie Barkman about business exit strategies.Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week’s show:- How most business owners don’t have a plan for their exit strategy.- How only 20% of business owners have a written plan for their exit strategy.- Why business owners need a strategy to build value in their business.- Why business owners stand in the way of letting their business succeed.- How people need human capital and structural capital to run a business. Connect with Laurie:Guest Contact InfoTwitter@lauriebarkmanFacebookfacebook.com/SmallDotBigLinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smalldotbiglinkedin.com/in/lauriebarkmanLinks Mentioned:smalldotbig.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Creative Business BreakthroughsGail Doby, Gail Doby Coaching & Consulting – The Sharkpreneur podcast with Seth Greene Episode 745 Gail DobyGail Doby is co-founder of Gail Doby Coaching & Consulting, a firm that has helped designers, architects, and other creatives increase their profitability by up to as much as 4,000+ percent. As the firm’s Chief Vision Officer, she is obsessed with sharing innovative ways to overcome the business roadblocks, challenges, and detours creative entrepreneurs face when trying to do it on their own. (She also works as a strategist, brand builder, interviewer, marketer, human resource advisor, and sometimes therapist.) No matter which hat she is wearing, her goal is simple—to empower design-industry clients to differentiate themselves, drive measurable results, achieve business projections, and create personal satisfaction through game-changing strategies and business practices. Listen to this illuminating Sharkpreneur episode with Gail Doby about creative business breakthroughs.Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week’s show:- Why people need to get their mind in the right place and believe in themselves.- How people’s creative work is valuable, and they should be paid well for it.- Why people should be able to talk about money openly with others.- How having a three-year financial plan makes your goals seem doable.- Why many artists don’t think they can earn money creating their art. Connect with Gail:Guest Contact InfoInstagram @gail.dobyFacebook facebook.com/gail.dobyLinkedIn linkedin.com/in/gaildobyLinks Mentioned: gaildoby.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Unsecured Business CapitalAri Page, Fund&Grow – The Sharkpreneur podcast with Kevin Harrington and Seth Greene Episode 744 Ari PageIn 2009, Ari Page took over as CEO of Fund&Grow. Ari is a business credit specialist with a passion for people, a penchant for new ideas and an ability to implement them. Ari's background has enabled him to use the power of the group to leverage individual competencies in order to better benefit the clients and grow a stronger, more cohesive company.One of Ari's core competencies is creating powerful new strategies to circumvent the many roadblocks that so many businesses face in an economy where banks are hesitant to lend to the average American business.In the competitive financial services industry, Ari and his team have excelled at delivering an incredibly powerful business-credit-building program that far exceeds the typical service and reputation of the industry. Listen to this illuminating Sharkpreneur episode with Ari Page about unsecured business capital.Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week’s show:- How business owners want to use unsecured credit so they can keep their cashflow.- How Fund&Grow can help with your credit score so your business can get funding.- Why it’s a mistake to go after expensive funding even if it’s the easiest to get.- Why the goal is to get business owners to get corporate funding for their business.- How you can add unsecured credit to your arsenal even if you already have funding. Connect with Ari:Guest Contact InfoTwitter @fundandgrowInstagram @fundandgrowFacebook facebook.com/FundAndGrowLinkedIn linkedin.com/company/fund&growLinks Mentioned: fundandgrow.com https://www.fundandgrow.com/sharkpreneurpodcastwebinar/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why Your Banker is Costing You MoneyMark Willis, Not Your Average Financial Podcast – The Sharkpreneur podcast with Seth Greene Episode 743 Mark WillisAfter graduating with six figures of student loan debt and discovering a way to turn his debt into real wealth as he watched everybody lose their retirement savings and home equity in 2008, Mark Willis knew that he needed to find a more predictable way to meet his financial objectives and those of his clients.Mark is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, a three-time #1 Best Selling Author and the owner of Lake Growth Financial Services, a financial firm in Chicago, Illinois. Over the years, he has helped hundreds of his clients take back control of their financial future and build their businesses with proven, tax-efficient financial solutions. He specializes in building custom-tailored financial strategies that are unknown to typical stock-jockeys, attorneys, or other financial gurus.As co-host of the Not Your Average Financial Podcast™, he shares some of his strategies for investing in real estate, paying for college without going broke, and creating an income in retirement you will not outlive. Mark works with people who want to grow their wealth in ways that are safe and predictable, to become their own source of financing, and to create tax-free income in retirement.  Listen to this illuminating Sharkpreneur episode with Mark Willis about why your banker is costing you money.Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week’s show:- How banking is the biggest leverage point to build real wealth for the average American.- Why controlling the banking process in your life automatically makes you a winner.- How banking has been part of human civilization for five thousand years.- Why your money needs to be in an environment that you have control over.- How every time you pay cash for something you lose the opportunity to grow that money. Connect with Mark:Guest Contact InfoTwitter @LakeGrowthInstagram @notyouraveragefinancialFacebookLinkedIn linkedin.com/in/marklakegrowthLinks Mentioned: notyouraveragefinancialpodcast.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Insights into the Modern General Counsel RoleCharles Goddard – The Sharkpreneur podcast with Seth Greene Episode 742 Charles GoddardCharles “Charlie" Goddard is a seasoned attorney with a depth of experience as a General Counsel in the healthcare sector, and a background in an Am Law 100 law firm setting. In the constantly evolving healthcare arena, where technology is swiftly changing the way healthcare is consumed, delivered and paid for, Charlie understands that what makes an organization thrive is the passion that drives it. While he focuses on healthcare law, he specializes in bringing people together and finding solutions where none seem to exist, particularly in complex transactions, business operations and regulatory compliance. Beyond his legal experience, his past experience as a professional musician adds a creative approach to solving difficult issues. Listen to this illuminating Sharkpreneur episode with Charles Goddard about insights into the modern general counsel role.Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week’s show:- How general counselors should be able to mitigate and respond to a variety of risks.- Why general counselors need to be able to anticipate vulnerabilities in your company.- How it can be difficult to understand the personalities of people running a business.- Why helping people can be the most rewarding part of what you do.- How general counselors should be looking at all of the business’ transactions. Connect with Charles:Guest Contact InfoLinkedInLinkedin.com/in/charlieg81   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Balancing Criminal and Family LawLeland Baldwin, Leland Toman Baldwin Law – The Sharkpreneur podcast with Seth Greene Episode 741 Leland BaldwinLeland Baldwin attended Sophie Newcomb of Tulane University and the University of Florida College of Law. After graduating she took a job as a lawyer at a big law firm in Tampa, Florida. After she left, she became a State Attorney and tried over 150 jury trials including many murders and serial sex offenders. Now she focuses on family and criminal law.  Listen to this illuminating Sharkpreneur episode with Leland Baldwin about balancing criminal and family law.Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week’s show:- How criminal and family law can overlap with each other in certain cases.- Why treating people with respect can lead to excellent word of mouth referrals.- How you need to feel like a priority when hiring a criminal or family lawyer.- Why you want a lawyer who will really fight for you and for what is best.- How lawyers shouldn’t be afraid to hire their clients if the clients aren’t a fit. Connect with Leland:Guest Contact InfoLinkedInLinkedin.com/in/leland-baldwin-46a07128   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

740: Partnering with ClientsEric Berman, Brandetize Partnering with ClientsEric Berman, Brandetize – The Sharkpreneur podcast with Seth Greene Episode 740 Eric BermanEric Berman is currently founder/CEO of Brandetize, a full service, performance-based marketing agency that partners with esteemed thought leaders such as Brian Tracy, Jack Canfield, Phil Town, as well as consumer brands such as HeartMath, Aptera, Terasana, Davi Skin, Longbow and more. Additionally, Eric has consulted for venture capitalists and successful companies at all levels including Club Med, Vessel Health, Fenix Space, PeakLogic, TakeLessons.com and more.  Lastly, Eric was one of the co-founders of CollegeClub.com, Inc., the largest and most visited college site in on the Internet in the year 2000 (“the first Facebook”), where from September 1993 until June 2000, Mr. Berman helped the company raise $75 million, oversaw several acquisitions and helped managed the growth of employees from 3 to 400. Berman had served in a variety of positions there including Chief Operating Officer, VP Corporate Development, VP Business Development and Director of Sales.  Listen to this illuminating Sharkpreneur episode with Eric Berman about partnering with clients.Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week’s show:- Why schools should teach understanding time management and goal setting.- How having a mentor can help set you on your entrepreneurial journey.- Why reflecting on if clients did or didn’t work out can help you pivot your business in the right direction.- How entrepreneurs need to be working on their business not in it.- How partnering with your clients is a creative way to run business and earn more money. Connect with Eric:Guest Contact InfoInstagram @brandetizeLinkedIn linkedin.com/company/brandetizeLinks Mentioned: brandetize.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

739: Do You Have the Right Contracts for Your Business?Matthew Fornaro, FornaroLegal.com Do You Have the Right Contracts for Your Business?Matthew Fornaro, FornaroLegal.com – The Sharkpreneur podcast with Seth Greene Episode 739 Matthew Fornaro Matthew Fornaro has been a business law attorney in Florida, serving Coral Springs, Parkland, and Broward County since 2003. Prior to starting his own law firm, he was an attorney with Shutts & Bowen, LLP, and Greenspoon Marder, P.A. Matthew practices complex commercial litigation, including contract disputes. Matthew, a member of the Florida bar, also practices intellectual property law, homeowner and condominium association representation, and the drafting and revision of business documents, including the formation of business organizations. Matthew assists new business owners in choosing and drafting all legally required documents.Matthew is also a graduate and instructor of the Kaufman Foundation’s FastTrac NewVenture Program, presented by the Broward County Office of Economic and Small Business Development and the City of Hollywood, as well as a graduate of the Florida State University College of Business Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship Small Business Executive Program. Listen to this illuminating Sharkpreneur episode with Matthew Fornaro about having the right contracts for your business. Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week’s show:- How many businesses don’t have contracts when they need to have a written contract.- How the businesses who do have contracts often don’t have the correct ones in place.- Why it’s vital for businesses to have their attorney go over their business documents.- How business attorneys need to stay proactive, so they don’t have to act reactively.- Why having the right documents in place can set you and your business up for the future. Connect with Matthew: Guest Contact InfoTwitter @FornaroLegalFacebookFacebook.co/fornarolegalLinks Mentioned: fornarolegal.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Starting a Small BusinessJa’Mes Johnson  – The Sharkpreneur podcast with Seth Greene Episode 738 Ja’Mes JohnsonJa’Mes Johnson is a well-balanced and diverse Marketing Consultant with twelve years of experience working alongside executive and academic teams of small, mid, and large companies. Ja’Mes specializes in consumer-packaged goods, marketing research, and integrated marketing communication implementation and is responsible and acknowledged for his efforts to advance minority business development in the Southern region of the United States. Ja’Mes is a powerful force in the business world and uses his positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and succeed. Ja’Mes is inspired daily by his wife and their three kids. Ja’Mes likes to fish, cook, play chess, collect sports memorabilia, and play video games with his kids in his free time. He realized that he has been selling for over 25 years, and he only is 32 years old. His journey started 25 years ago in a small town at a church on a church bench. Selling at an early age sparked his interest in the business. He will not mention the countless certifications, degrees, or million-dollar corporate expansion teams he has been on. He is currently a successful marketing consultant and runs a successful consumer packaged goods business. He is also a successful graphic designer. He has over 25 years of sales and customer service experience. He has a passion for helping women, young men, and college graduates overcome adversity in the world of business. He is currently working on Ph.D. because he loves teaching and being precise; he loves teaching people how to create knowledge. Listen to this illuminating Sharkpreneur episode with Ja’Mes Johnson about starting a small business.Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week’s show:- Why business owners might need to reach out for help when starting their business.- How you need to have a plan that includes the basics before you start a new business.- How customer service agents want to make sure their service is consistent.- How key performance indicators help employers evaluate their employees accurately.- How reading is a great way to search and discover information that may affect your business. Connect with Ja’Mes:Guest Contact InfoInstagram @jayjayjohnsonofficialLinkedIn linkedin.com/in/ja-mes-johnson-mba-mkt-650b096a   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Real Estate Without the Tenants, Toilets, and TrashLogan Freeman, FTW Investments – The Sharkpreneur podcast with Seth Greene Episode 737 Logan FreemanLogan Freeman began LiveFree Investments in early 2018 after the corporate world had let him down one too many times. Real estate has always been his passion and got kicked into full gear after completing his first live-in flip in 2013. Today, with over 80 successful real estate transaction and $13 million completed for investors annually, he has created a proven track record to provide his investment clients the confidence and security they desire.Logan feels there are two things that set him apart from other investor agents; his never-ending hustle and is proactive communication. He is continually investing into himself so he can provide great value to his investors; making sure to pivot and listening to what the market is providing. A driving philosophy is, “What got you here, won’t get you there.” Listen to this illuminating Sharkpreneur episode with Logan Freeman about real estate without the tenants, toilets, and trash.Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week’s show:- How it can be exhausting to own and operate real estate by yourself.- Why self-sourcing is the name of the game right now.- How commercial real estate is going to hold up post-pandemic.- Why you have to be able to create a margin of safety when brokering deals.- How it’s important for you and your team to bring different qualities to the table. Connect with Logan:Guest Contact InfoTwitter @FtwInvestmentsInstagram @ftwinvestmentsFacebook facebook.com/ftwinvestmentsLinkedInLinkedin.com/company/ftw-investments linkedin.com/in/livefreeinvestmentsLinks Mentioned: ftwinvestmentsllc.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices