Business Owner Tales from the Trenches

Changing careers can be a scary and often necessary move as your needs, interests, goals, and skills transform over time. In this episode, you’re going to hear about how you can succeed as an entrepreneur in your SECOND career. You will also hear about how to differentiate yourself from other people while building trust at the same time.

You can find show notes, r...

Entrepreneurs can learn a lot from leaders who’ve run public companies and large divisions of private companies. Do you know how to lead a team through high growth, high uncertainty and periods of high change? In this episode featuring Chris Walters, CEO of Pluralsight, you will learn how to handle some of the most tricky and important moments your business will experience.

If you’ve been in the corporate world and are looking to become an entrepreneur, today’s episode will give you a solid look at what to expect in those first few years. Leslie Danford, founder and CEO of Vitaminis, joins the show to talk about her transition from corporate to starting her own retail beverage business. Her account of her experience and the insight she shares will gi...

Today we have the opportunity to hear from someone who has founded and run a business for over 35 years. Tom Quinn, founder of CornerCap, joins us to share his journey from where he started in the industry and what brought him to founding a successful firm. Don't miss his powerful insights into the importance of being able to adapt, the kind of team you want to build, and more.

Today we sit down with Scott Regan, Founder of LeadWorks, LLC, to hear about his experience and what he wishes he knew when starting his entrepreneurial journey. Scott reflects on how he would have set up his business differently if armed with the knowledge he has now, lessons that are crucial for business success, and more. Listen in for actionable tips to propel your business forward and avoid commo...

In this inspiring episode, discover how Melissa Bunnen Jernigan, co-founder of the iconic Atlanta brand Piece of Cake, turned $500 into a million-dollar business over 10 years. Success isn't just about having a detailed plan or prior business knowledge; it's about defining your own path and staying true to your vision. Melissa shares insights into the importance of defining succes...

In today's competitive digital landscape, establishing trust and connection with your audience is key, and video has become a vital tool for sharing your brand story effectively. In this episode, we are joined by Chris Jones and Willie Johnson, founders of Drone Jones Media and Triple M Productions, as they share insights from their own entrepreneurial journe...

Today we are looking into the secrets behind building a successful franchise empire with Omar Soliman, Co-Founder of College Hunks Hauling Junk and CEO of Trash Butler. Whether you're eyeing national expansion or aiming to scale your local business, Omar shares invaluable economic and strategic insights, serving up a playbook for franchise success. We explore the essential accelerators for business gr...

Joining us for part 2 of our conversation is serial entrepreneur and author Dave Sutton. Today, we're diving deep into the intricacies of funding your business as it grows and leveraging your balance sheet effectively. Dave shares insights on navigating the inflection points that businesses encounter during their growth journey, shedding light on the implications for funding, talent acquisition, and s...

At the forefront of marketing services and strategies, you’ll find serial entrepreneur and author Dave Sutton. Dave joins the show today to share insight from his wealth of experience in founding, growing, and selling companies. He has so much to share that we split this conversation into two episodes! In this first segment, we will be focusing on mindset and planning your exit fo...

The entrepreneurial journey is often filled with ups and downs, twists and turns, and everything in between, and our guest today has seen that firsthand. Having moved from a corporate career to become an entrepreneur—and then a coach for entrepreneurs—Catherine Cates joins the show today to share insight from her hands-on experiences in the world of business and entrepreneurship.<...

Mark Beal joins us on the show today as the new owner of the beloved brand, Instead of Flowers. Today, you’ll hear about why he and his investor group bought the brand, what they’ve done in his two years there so far, and their plans for growth in what is a dynamic and constantly changing industry. From lessons learned to important insight into casting a vision and building up the...

Step into the rhythm of success with Sandy Gennaro, a rock and roll drummer turned motivational speaker, as he shares the unconventional beats of his entrepreneurial journey. Discover the secrets behind his strategic approach to saying 'yes' at the right time and how this mindset shapes his personal and professional growth, turning adversity into opportunity. 

Hear about the secrets to sustaining a first mover advantage with Paige Wilson, a former finance executive turned entrepreneur. Paige shares the journey of creating Naborforce, a groundbreaking business addressing the void in caregiver support. In this episode, she shares the mindset that fueled her entrepreneurial path and the challenges of marketing in uncharted territory.

How does a business leader successfully navigate the intricate dance between profit, purpose, and impact? In today's episode, we're talking with Kashi Sehgal, a mission-driven entrepreneur. As she shares her story, you'll hear about the fascinating intersection where profitability meets purpose, offering lessons on blending business acumen with a commitment to making a positive impact.

In the journey of entrepreneurship, creating a thriving business from an existing product requires a unique set of skills and a keen understanding of market needs. In this episode, we dive into the incredible story of Jesslyn Rollins, the CEO of BIOLYTE®, a famil...

Today Donovan Panone joins the show to share his story of answering the call as a coach while leveraging entrepreneurial skills to build something impactful. Donovan shares his background, specifically what it was like navigating through multiple startups and culminating in his role as the CEO of a digital marketing agency. However, his shift towards fulfilling his lifelong passion for wrestling led t...

Join us for an inspiring journey with Vera Stewart, a remarkable entrepreneur who embarked on a diverse culinary career after starting as a teacher. Vera's story is one of tenacity, creativity, and thinking outside the box. In this episode, you'll learn how she transitioned from teaching to establishing a culinary empire, including cookbooks, a TV show, catering services, and cooking camps. Her unorth...

How do you transform a side hustle into a thriving business venture? That's the question at the heart of this episode, as we delve into the exciting journey of Sander Biehn, CEO of Ready For Social, a platform designed to help entrepreneurs conquer the world of social media. Discover the crucial balance between short-term reactivity and long-term planning that Sander found pivotal in his path to succe...