Summary
This is the Startup Junkies Podcast, welcome back!
Episode 257 consisted of our hosts Jeff Amerine and Caleb Talley joined by special guest John Vuong. John is the founder and president of Local SEO Search. This Toronto-based Search Engine optimization company aims to aid business owners who desire to attain ready to buy customers on Google. Website engagement, call scheduling and heightened business are the goals and we got to sit with John and discuss how he got there and what the plan is for the future!
Thanks for tuning in!
Shownotes:
(1:18) Introducing John Vuong of Local SEO Search
(4:10) Adversity & Work Ethic
(10:48) Passion for Small & Local Businesses
(12:11) Instilling Conviction into a Team
(13:30)How to Utilize SEO
(18:19) Biggest Challenges Along the Way
(21:36) Virtual Work & Cultural Nuances
(30:40)Advice to Younger Self
(32:57)Wrap Up
Links:
Quotes:
"In order to learn, you have to educate yourself and make mistakes." (10:42) - John Vuong
"Many of the entrepreneurs that are successful, whether they were there were immigrants or whether they're from here, if they've had a bit of a hard scrabbled start... that drive and that hunger is a little bit more there. I think there's maybe even more appreciation of how hard it really is to do well." (5:54) - Jeff Amerine
I think more business owners and founders, if they take a step back from that typical mythology, and they think about what they want to get out of it in terms of satisfaction and self-actualization, all those other things that really give you a sense of being and quality, peace of mind." (23:45) - Jeff Amerine
"I'm never happy because I feel like there's so much more I can learn and do and impact others." (28:52) John Vuong
https://www.startupjunkie.org/
https://wlj.com/
Summary
Welcome back to the Startup Junkies Podcast!
Our team, Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Matthew Ward, were joined by Ryan Estes, co-founder of Kitcaster. Kitcaster is where podcasting and startup strategy meet.
Did podcasting actually save the world? Is Clubhouse going to run podcasting out of business? Check out this episode to see!
Shownotes
(1:02) Introducing Ryan Estes
(4:26) Kitcaster Business Model
(6:44) Podcasting Benefits
(9:27) Podcast Statistics From 2020-2021
(11:53) Clubhouse Vs. Podcasting
(20:28) Kitcaster Roadmap
(35:53)Advice to Younger Self
(36:58)Wrap Up
Links
Quotes
"My journey into entrepreneurship was just based on anger and resentment, ultimately. I had some terrible bosses that I was like, this can't be my life, this is going to be horrible." - Ryan Estes (2:06)
"I've kind of validated, launched, and killed many, many projects over the years. Looking for something that really resonated with me personally, and had the scale potential that made it worth my while." - Ryan Estes (3:22)
"Really with [entrepreneurship] it's like getting really honest with yourself. If you put 18 months into a project and it's not working, you gotta let it go. To be able to do that, that's a hard thing to do sometimes." - Ryan Estes (22:51)
"Maybe you lost contact with some of your friends, it's been three or four months-- So having podcasting, hearing other guys that are hanging out or having conversations… it's unbelievably important to kind of keep that loneliness at bay." - Ryan Estes (10:36)
"99% of your ideas are terrible... Spend a week putting together a terrible idea and then put it away. Then develop a terrible idea and then put it away. Get in the habit of killing ideas." - Ryan Estes (32:03)
Summary
Welcome back to the Startup Junkies Podcast! In this episode, Shelby Matussak joins our hosts Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley and Davis McEntire to discuss his transition from unemployment to board game creator. From making a passion project into a business, the importance of face-to-face human interaction, and why asking for help is so hard as an entrepreneur; this episode is packed with helpful information. As founder of Dead Lemon Games and creator of the new board game hit Lonely Undead, Shelby's grit, optimism, and creativity inspired all of us here at Startup Junkie!
Thanks for tuning in!
Shownotes
(1:17) Introducing Shelby Matussak
(1:49) Introducing Dead Lemon Games & Lonely Undead
(5:52) Displacement of Unemployment
(12:59) Board Games & Pandemic Parameters
(15:53) Funding Dead Lemon Games
(18:36) Co-Founder Scott Forbush & Round Mountain Coffee
(23:55) Advice to first-time Creators
(26:43) Defining Future Success
(30:20) Advice to Younger Self
(32:30)Wrap Up
Links
Quotes
"I don't think there's any substitute for being in a physical space, with a number of people, and being set forth with a problem or an objective and having to work together to sort of accomplish a shared goal. Whether it be a friendly competition or it could be cooperatively. "(5:22)
"[On product feedback] And as a new entrepreneur, start small, start close to yourself, like, look at your friends, look at your family, see what resources you have… maybe you can figure out how to weave them into your process." (25:56)
Definitely don't take on everything yourself. Even if they're small tasks and you have friends that can help... if you do have to kind of crunch some numbers and outsource a couple of things to make and keep yourself sane, do that, that's way more important. (31:55)
https://www.startupjunkie.org/
Summary
Welcome to another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast!
In this episode, Dr. Mark Goulston discusses navigating entrepreneurs' minds with Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Matthew Ward. Dr. Goulston is a Marshall Goldsmith’s 100 coaches member, a founding member of Newsweek Expert Forum, a former FBI and police hostage negotiation trainer, an acclaimed author and renowned psychiatrist.
Thanks for tuning in!
Shownotes
(0:52) Introducing Dr. Mark Goulston
(1:28) Psychiatry and Worldview
(8:38) Psychology and Product Creation
(11:10) Creating Workplace Culture
(19:07) Designed Thinking
(22:55) Journey of Dr. Goulston Working with Entrepreneurs
(33:50) Handling Conflict as Key to Relationships and Team Building
(39:28) Youth Mental Health & Failure to Launch
(43:12) Advice to Younger Self
(44:51) Wrap up
Links
Quotes
“A visionary thinker looks at the unknown as an adventure to be lived.” - (5:59) Dr. Mark Goulston
“What you have to realize is that people aren't just listening to you, they're listening for something. It's a different dynamic.” - (11:26) Dr. Mark Goulston
If everybody in the company wakes up and says, ‘I can't wait to go to work’, you have a good culture." - (16:52) Dr. Mark Goulston
“[Entrepreneurs] What we all have in common here is we're all unemployable.” - (23:23) Dr. Mark Goulston
Summary
We are back at it again with another Startup Junkies Podcast!
Our hosts Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Matthew Ward had the opportunity to speak with Zach Washam, former banking analyst now the creator of Machine Learning Edge, now PyFi and short-form essay writer. From machine learning, to explorative psychology, you will not want to miss this existential hour of an episode!
Thanks for tuning in!
Shownotes
(0:54) Introducing Zach Washam
(1:45) PyFi Update!
(2:50) Where Banking Meets Machine Learning
(13:15) Psychology and Motivational Speaking
(14:44) Existential Hour
(24:23) The practicality of Explorative Psychology
(31:46) Imposter Syndrome
(35:24) Defining Success
(44:41) Wrap up
Links
Books
Quotes
Everybody's focusing on deals, transactions, staying late, face time, trying to be really quick at responding to emails... I don't want to compete in that arena. I want to do something that's going to blow every other analyst out of the water.
Zach Washam (4:20)
"[In entrepreneurship] You're just directly interfacing with the real world, and you don't have the intermediary of your company to protect you from the chaos, to make decisions, or to construct your values."
Zach Washam (10:40)
"When you look at the way entrepreneurs or wantrepreneurs approach the process, there are those that are in love with the lifestyle, they just fall too in love with constantly chasing shiny objects and experimenting and never get to the point of convergence where they're actually building something meaningful."
Jeff Amerine (30:40)
"Right now I define being successful as being honest and learning."
Zach Washam (35:36)
Summary
Glad to have you back to another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast!
Caleb Tally, Jeff Amerine, and Matthew Ward are joined by Heather Nelson, President, and Co-Founder of Seal Solar. Seal Solar is a solar design and installation firm out of North Little Rock, Arkansas. Understanding banking, taking mental health seriously, and using storytelling to educate and market have played a significant role in Heather's Midas touch success stories.
Thanks for tuning in!
Shownotes
(0:54) Introducing Heather Nelson of Seal Solar
(1:35) From Banking to Entrepreneurship
(7:01) Seal Solar Origin
(10:00) Importance of Mental Health
(12:33) Storytelling as an Entrepreneur
(22:24) Being Comfortable with Uncertainty
(25:02) Imposter Syndrome
(28:34) Casting Vision for Seal Solar
(32:24) Why Solar Energy?
(38:23) Advice to Younger Self
(40:46) Wrap Up
Links
Quotes
"You really need a strong banking relationship or you're just not gonna make it."
(2:00) Heather Nelson
"[Entrepreneurship] will highlight and show you all these gifts, passions, and things about yourself and your abilities that you never knew… but it will also show you the deepest, darkest, ugliest things about yourself. That you've spent a lot of time shoving into every crevice and corner saying, Lord Jesus, please don't let anybody ever see that or know that about me.
(10:15) Heather Nelson
"We've got a world that says you have to be a subject matter expert on everything at 22, and that's just the biggest lie ever."
(23:10) Heather Nelson
"It's not about whether the utilities are bad and solar's good or solar's bad and utilities are good... The thing is there's this amazing technology and how do we work together to utilize this great technology?"
(33:18) Heather Nelson
Summary
Welcome to the Startup Junkies Podcast!
Matthew Ward, Caleb Tally, and Jeff Amerine are joined by Darrin Williams and Vance Smiley this week on this latest episode. Darrin is currently the CEO of Southern Bancorp Inc and has partnered with Vance, a founding member of BankWorx. Together they are seeking to reimagine and reinvent the way banks use and develop core banking systems. Thanks for tuning in!
Shownotes
(1:00) Introducing Darrin Williams and Vance Smiley
(2:14) Southern Bancorp
(13:11) Facing Big Challenges
(16:20) Growth Alongside Coinbase
(19:52) Innovation Driven by Pandemic Impact
(24:23) Do Banking Education Differently
(28:05) Defining Success Down The Line
(30:54) Opportunity Zones and Gentrification
(35:22) What They Wish They Had Known
(39:28) Wrap up
Links
Quotes
"Our work really focuses on building economic opportunity… we really work to increase the net worth of the people that we serve." (4:14) Darrin Williams
"We don't exist just to be a bank. We really exist to make a difference. Build communities and change lives." (6:18) Darrin Williams
"I'm becoming much more interested in the impact of my work...it means something more than a paycheck, more than an equity upside." (35:57) Vance Smiley
"My parents were so dedicated to being servant leaders. I mean, every day I saw my parents focused on helping other people, it was never about them… so my interest in the law, my interest in politics, all came from this desire to serve." (37:46) Darrin Williams
Summary
This is the Startup Junkies Podcast. Welcome back!
This week, the usual crew, Matthew Ward, Caleb Tally, and Jeff Amerine meet with Dustin Finkel, CEO and Founder of Ka-Pop!, which recently merged with Bubba's Fine Foods to create Awakened Foods. From brand awareness, relationship building, and family-work balance to the importance of community, we discussed all the things that lead Dustin and his team to success.
Thank you for joining us!
Shownotes
(0:53) Introducing Dustin Finkel
(1:41) From Investment Banking to Food Production
(5:05) Shark Tank and Brand Awareness
(7:13) Building Relationships While Sourcing
(9:52) Company Culture + Branding
(14:42) Balancing Family and Running a Corporation
(18:40) The Value of Intentional Community and Partnerships
(29:46) Advice to Younger Self
(33:58) Wrap Up
Links
Quotes
"So despite my food background, it started just like everyone else. I thought there was a better way... The difference is I had a network that allowed me to really kind of partake and grow this business fairly quickly." (4:12) - Dustin Finkel
"And that's really the differentiator that our branding is about… it's about enjoyment. Snacking is fun. It should not be a trade off. It shouldn't be about this serious engagement." (11:15) - Dustin Finkel
"I want consumers to love my product to just gravitate toward it, [to] enjoy the eating experience." (12:26) -Dustin Finkel
"That was the whole point; build as much flexibility to grow. Because who knows what the next COVID is or who knows what the next growth trend is or what that might be." (20:40) - Dustin Finkel
"I don't accept mistakes. I hate them, but understanding how to deal with them, understanding how to react, understanding how to take patience into account." (33:28) - Dustin Finkel
Summary
Welcome back to the Startup Junkies Podcast!
Our hosts Matthew Ward, Caleb Tally, and Jeff Amerine meet with Jessica Fialkovich of Transworld Business Advisors and Exit Factor in this week's episode. Working in five startups, overseeing millions in transactions, with 1,000 business owners and over 300 deals... we were fortunate to hear Jessica's story and advice!
Thanks for tuning in!
Shownotes
(1:22) Introducing Jessica Yokovitch
(1:47) Jessica's Path to Entrepreneurship
(5:05) Creation of Exit Factor
(7:07) Pro Tips on Business Selling
(9:28) Exiting & Multigenerational Business Plans
(13:56) Small Business Advocacy
(20:20) The Startup Itch
(23:40) Navigating a Husband and Wife Team
(28:23) Advice to Younger Self
(29:29) Wrap Up
Links
Quotes
"There's this fallacy of protection and security in corporate jobs... I mean, really the only security you can have is for yourself." (2:39)
"There is some emotion around this [multigeneratinal business plans] when they thought it was going to be a legacy business. But, their legacy can continue, because if you can extract finances, you can extract money out of a sale, then you can fund what's going to be the next legacy project for your family and the next generation." (11:29)
"What we've seen is the necessity for dissemination of information and helping business owners get through crises." ( 14:33)
"[Work-Life balance is] just an ebb and flow...Cause it's never balanced." (27:04)
"I always say that I would have told myself, you don't have to do this all on your own." (28:42)
Glad to have you back to another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast!
The podcast crew is back in person and better than ever! In this episode, Jeff Amerine and Caleb Tally meet with Vance Clement, CEO, and Spencer Jones, Founder, and CTO, of Lineus Medical. With their company being right on the heels of FDA approval for their flagship device, Safebreak Vascular, you won't want to miss this discussion! We cover all things from balancing expectations, responding to failure, and navigating what’s next after success.
Thanks for tuning in!
Shownotes
(1:22) Introducing Spencer Jones and Vance Clement
(1:27) Origin story of Lineus Medical
(9:25) SafeBreak Vascular in the Marketplace
(12:43) Pros and Cons of Accelerators
(20:58) Future of Lineus Medical and Venture Capital
(24:29) Transitions from Day Jobs to Entrepreneurship
(26:59) Counting the Cost and Responding to Failure
(35:44) Advice to Fellow Entrepreneurs
(39:45) Wrap Up
Links
Quotes
"As startups do, [we were] trying to balance things on a knife's edge. We were waiting to get clearance and then we would have lots of money, and if we did not get clearance, we would have zero money." (9:25) - Vance Clement
"[A good accelerator] can be really valuable with helping you grow, helping you learn, but then helping you expand your network in areas where you may not have a lot of contacts." (15:11) -Spencer Jones
"It'll become painfully obvious when it's time to leave your current employer for your entrepreneurial endeavor." (28:40) Spencer Jones
"A simple rule: the rule of PI, it's going to take 3.14 times longer than you think. And cost 3.14 times as much money." (37:14) Spencer Jones
Welcome back to another Startup Junkies Podcast!
Thanks for tuning in! In this episode, Jeff Amerine, Caleb Tally, and Matthew Ward talk with Bryan Clayton about business growth, culture setting, localized PR, and all things lawn care! Bryan began in the lawn industry, creating one of the largest landscaping companies in Tennessee, then transitioned to the online marketing world with GreenPal. He has a ton of experience and wisdom for us startup junkies, and you won’t want to miss a thing!
Shownotes
(1:03) Introducing Bryan Clayton and GreenPal
(3:28) Managing People and Setting Culture
(7:45) Challenges of a Multi-Sided Marketplace
(11:46) GreenPal and Venture Capital
(19:00) User Retention
(24:18) Residential or Commercial?
(25:57) PR Strategy
(28:01) GreenPal and Liability
(30:29) The Why
(34:57 ) Advice to Past Self
(35:50) Wrap Up
Links
Quotes
“It’s amazing how, in some ways, the accidental business, the one you never probably were at sleep at night dreaming about, becomes something that can be huge and really great.” (3:13)
“When you’re in a service-based business like that, it’s very people dependent that you know, that your, your culture is kind of one of your competitive advantages.” (4:44)
“One thing that we applied to the second company in GreenPal is making it super dead easy for anybody that does business with you to talk to you and tell you how you’re doing, where you suck, where they wish you would improve. (6:13)
“I think there's a correlation between the least you can make your business sexy [and] the greater, your chances of success.” (11:17)
“PR is a big part of our strategy to move people to the platform on a local level...We want to move a local audience to a local network.” (26:45)
“[On mentorship] I know that I’ve got to be able to add value when I meet with this person to help them be successful...when I get home tonight, I’m not turning on Netflix. I’m turning on YouTube and I’m watching some kind of podcasts like this one.” (33:02)
Welcome to another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast!
Thanks for tuning in! In this episode, Jeff Amerine and Caleb Tally talk with Michael W. Marra. Jeff and Caleb speak with Michael about his transition from civil engineer to now serial entrepreneur and investor. Michael is the CEO and founder of Entre: Social Network for the future of work and gives us all the details of that journey. You won’t want to miss what the advice this startup junkie has for you! Thanks for listening!
Shownotes
(1:06) Introducing Michael Marra
(1:27) From Civil Engineer to Serial Entrepreneur
(3:22) History of Entre
(6:12) From Social Media to Real Life Networking
(9:33) Revenue Model of Entre
(15:36) Entre Partnerships
(17:00) Community Scaling and Accessibility
(20:45) Outside Capital
(22:29) Value of Connectivity
(27:10) Building a Team
(31:42) Product PR vs. Personal PR
(34:17) Advice to Past Self
(37:32) Wrap Up
Links
Quotes
“...none of my friends were entrepreneurs, none of my family was, I was always looking for people to connect with. And that's when I started really building up this community of entrepreneurs, which led me down to building Entre.” (2:29)
"So we're more transitioning into being the platform and the vehicle that enables more connection and enables actually people to build their own communities in their own businesses." (9:06)
"Entrepreneurship is such a global thing now. And, I think there's a lot to be said for enabling connection cross countries as well." (18:28)
"I encourage every entrepreneur to do events... because without doing events at the beginning we never would have been able to do what we're doing right now... it led to all of our relationships." (21:47)
"...one connection can literally lead to an endless, endless possibilities." (29:55)
"Putting their name and their face on everything… if you do that, then the company's never going to be bigger than yourself." (33:33)
Once you can have clarity around who you are and that's in, who you are, is in line with what you do. That is the ultimate clarity. (36:03)
Welcome to another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast!
In this episode, Jeff Amerine and Matthew Ward talk with Raul Hernadez, business strategist, coach, consultant, and author. Raul assists creative founders in their company’s growth, culture, strategy, and team leveraging. Jeff and Matthew speak with Raul about things from his own journey into his consulting and coaching business, to engaging clients, work-life balance, how to define personal success, not to mention his upcoming book Productive Profits. You won’t want to miss this discussion. Thanks for tuning in!
Shownotes
(0:54) Introducing Raul Hernadez
(2:02) Backstory and journey to online business
(4:05) Themes and challenges of entrepreneurs
(5:09) Raul introduces his book
(8:47) Challenges in authorship
(10:31) Difference in guiding companies in various “early stages”
(11:37) Tips for engaging clients
(12:27) Long-term goals for Raul’s business and marketing Consulting, and executive coaching
(13:38) The “why” behind Raul’s work
(14:54) How Raul recharges and spends “free time”
(16:01) Work-life balance in 2021
(18:24) Thoughts and future for Clubhouse
(21:28) What personal success looks like for Raul
(22:04) Advice to Raul’s younger-self
(22:54) Wrap up
Links
Quotes
“Because the thing about businesses sometimes is it can be very binary. It either works or it doesn't... It's a balance sheet. It's finance, it's a product market fit. But, when you work with organic matter, with humans, it's variable. You don't know what you're going to get.” (4:51)
“The train is going, but you're building the train tracks as well. And the train doesn't stop. In my view the train shouldn't stop. Cause that's your business. That's momentum.” (11:18)
“ ...and then also taking cycle time to make sure that what you've implemented you're seeing and bearing the fruits of... and you may not see those fruits within the first 30 days. You might see those in 60, 90, 180 days.” (13:17)
“So there is no [work-life] balance, but I think that you can actually create harmony between both.” (17:41)
“Get on LinkedIn and connect with every single person. Build real relationships. Read a minimum of five to eight books a month.” (22:21)
“... always reading what's relevant to the problems that you're looking to solve. That's what I've found is beneficial for my education.” (22:45)
https://www.startupjunkie.org/
http://wlj.com/
Summary
Welcome to another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast!
In this episode, Dwain Hebda and Kelli Reep discuss solopreneurship and freelancing with Caleb Talley, Jeff Amerine, and Matthew Ward. Dwain is the founder of Ya!Mule Wordsmiths and Kelli founded Flywrite Communications, both of which are Public Relations and Journalist agencies. They discuss engaging readers with a story, drumming up your own business, deciding when to go full-time, and much more! Thanks for listening!
Shownotes
(1:15) Introducing Dwain Hebda and Kelli Reep
(8:34) Driving your own ship as a solopreneur
(13:56) Telling a story that engages with readers
(18:59) How simplified language and a 24-hour news cycle affects communication
(22:12) Outsourcing accounting and legal responsibilities to stay above board
(29:35) Deciding to freelance full-time
(36:19) Advice for the younger self
(39:31) Wrap up
Links
Quotes
“If you can’t sell – and in this case, sell yourself – people are not just lining up outside your door because you announced to the world that you can put a sentence together. It doesn’t work that way.” (9:56)
“You have to be able to build a compelling case as to why you are going to be an expense for them that month. You have to be able to demonstrate how this is going to pay off and you have to demonstrate how you taking it off their hands actually save them money.” (10:47)
“You really do need a couple of members of your team who are versed in something you’re not versed in. And in my particular case, the best hire I ever made, the best money I spend year in and year out is an experienced accountant who could guide me through a number of different things early on.” (23:09)
“Had I jumped out on my own based on the first magazine article that I landed, I’d have been hungry really, really quick, and it just wouldn’t have worked.” (32:15)
Summary
Welcome to another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast!
In this episode, Caleb Talley and Jeff Amerine talk with Lynn Butterfield, a nationally recognized expert in equity capital and investing services. Lynn has been quoted by platforms such as Newsweek and ABC News, and he has consulted for companies from across the globe. Lynn discusses his time working in the Middle East, growing entrepreneurial hotspots, and his predictions for Northwest Arkansas. Thanks for tuning in!
Shownotes
(1:00) Introducing Lynn Butterfield
(5:08) Entrepreneurship occurring in unexpected places
(9:34) The University’s impact on an entrepreneurial ecosystem
(21:11) Lynn’s Northwest Arkansas plans
(24:43) Advice for the younger self
(26:07) Wrap up
Links
Quotes
“Money is important, make no doubt about it, but what’s more important than the money is the network that has access to capital.” (11:10)
“The important thing is sitting around a table and getting to know each other and listen to the way they answer questions.” (11:27)
“If you don’t have all the ingredients and you have a great chef, you can’t make a great pie.” (18:23)
https://www.startupjunkie.org/
https://wlj.com/