Geneva Long has elevated the travel experience for modern adventurers by reimagining the original aluminum travel trailer as today’s most advanced RV, the Bowlus. Geneva studied at the Wharton School of University of Pennsylvania where she first conceptualized her company of which she is founder and CEO and resides in Los Angeles, California. She was recently named to Forbes 30 Under 30.

Where did the idea for Bowlus come from?

Geneva Long: My first connection to the Bowlus brand occurred roughly a decade ago when my family restored a vintage Bowlus Road Chief and took it on a 3,000-mile North American road trip. We stopped at Palm Springs’ Modernism Week in California and South by Southwest in Texas, and I was struck by the special reaction from everyone who saw the vintage Bowlus. Since I was studying business at the time, I was in an entrepreneurial mindset, and upon seeing people’s reactions, I thought: “Could this be a new company?” I started to get the idea that luxury land travel could be a new RV industry segment. From there, we prototyped the modern Bowlus, updating it to something that has a vintage look but with modern technology. It had never been done before in the RV industry.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

Geneva Long: I’m an early riser, so I’m up at 5 to 5:30. I like to review priorities for the day and emails. From there, it’s just working through things until about 6 PM. I think the secret to being productive is being clear on what you hope to accomplish each day.

How do you bring ideas to life?

Geneva Long: Often I’ll see a concept or an idea in another industry and wonder how that might apply to our world. The idea may start to take shape with a CAD drawing. However, I truly enjoy the prototyping phase of a project. While all ideas don’t make it to fruition, the prototyping phase allows you to really understand how they interact with other design elements.

What’s one trend that excites you?

Geneva Long: Sustainability. In the RV industry, it really isn’t something anyone talks about, which is truly unbelievable. We build a travel trailer to last and to be restored in 50 or 80 years. Of course, this makes the design process so much more demanding, but I sleep better at night knowing I am not filling a dumpsite.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

Geneva Long: One habit that makes me more productive is staying focused. I like to have daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal goals. I know it doesn’t sound terribly exciting, but it makes the difference to being super productive. I also like to leave some time for thinking. It isn’t always production, but you simply never know when you can foster a creative idea.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Geneva Long: Only take advice from those you respect. There is no shortage of advice coming at you when you are starting a business. While some of it may be exceptional for the most part, I’ve always found it too general to be useful, and it more often than not comes from someone well-meaning but usually coming from someone who really doesn’t understand your concept and idea. So use your time wisely and only seek counsel from those you believe will move your business forward. Although this seems obvious, it is amazing how others can influence your thinking.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

Geneva Long: The RV market will move towards smaller, lighter, more sustainable vehicles in parallel with the automotive industry’s move towards electrification. Historically, the US RV industry has been almost entirely focused on producing larger and larger RVs, with more and more features, for less money. The result is a market flooded with cheaply made RVs that are not intended to last more than a few years before being replaced; it’s analogous to the auto market in the 50s and 60s. I’ve always taken the contrarian view with Bowlus. Our travel trailers are made from the highest quality materials and are designed to be passed down to the next generation. Our detractors never thought there would be a market for a $150k bespoke RV that was ‘only’ 24 feet long, but our trajectory has demonstrated that we’re just ahead of the curve.

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

Geneva Long: Eat your vegetables and look after yourself. When you are run ragged, you make poor decisions.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

Geneva Long: I’ve applied the lessons of eCommerce and digital sales to the practice of selling RVs. We don’t collect customer’s phone numbers and then call them 16 times until they block our number. Instead, we introduce each potential customer to the brand slowly over email and text messages. Then we provided customers the opportunity to visit with us and tour a Bowlus virtually over video chat – a practice that has become even more important during COVID.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

Geneva Long: Some of my biggest setbacks in this business have been related to hiring for key positions and delegating projects. As an entrepreneur, I often struggle to find employees who will consistently exceed my standards for their work. But on the flip side, I know the crushing feeling of having the weight of the business resting solely on my shoulders. Ultimately I’ve had to learn how to motivate people and become a better manager. As tempting as it is sometimes to just ‘do it myself’, I know the business can’t thrive in the long term with that approach.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

Geneva Long: There should be a monthly subscription (like Spotify) for books that works seamlessly on Kindle. Amazon seems to be attempting this with Kindle Unlimited, but the selection is very limited for new releases and popular titles. I’m not familiar with the publishing industry’s intricacies, but I don’t understand why there can’t be an all-inclusive service that pays publishers and authors based downloads and reads (again, similar to Spotify). As someone who likes to jump around from book to book on my Kindle, this is especially frustrating for me.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

Geneva Long: A weighted blanket. I’ll admit that I thought the trend was a bit silly and overblown. But then I tried one, and it’s fantastic.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?

Geneva Long: Airtable is a fantastic piece of software. We use it for so many applications in our business, and it is often a way for us to work our way through a problem. While there is great software for sales and customer service as a small business, you really can’t afford the time or the money for most of it. Airtable will give you the ability to manage your business fast and easily.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

Geneva Long: Contagious: Why Things Catch On by Dr. Jonah Berger. Dr. Berger is the expert on social influence, word of mouth, consumer decision making, product adoption, and abandonment. I also had the privilege of being Dr. Berger’s Research Assistant at the Wharton School.

What is your favorite quote?

Geneva Long: I’m less of a quote person and more of a numbers person. They tell a lot about what is going on in your business.

Key Learnings:

Geneva Long:

• The secret to being productive is being clear on what you want to accomplish in each day. Set daily and weekly goals to stay focused and on task.
• Avoid well-intentioned advice from people who don’t understand your business and only seek counsel from people that you respect and will help your business move forward.
• It’s impossible to continuously scale a business as a one man show; therefore, you must identify the right employees to motivate and delegate key tasks to them to maintain both growth and a high standard of excellence.

Originally published on Ideamensch.com

The post Interview with Geneva Long, CEO of Bowlus Road Chief first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Sam Arnold

Haroldo Jacobovicz is an entrepreneur and civil engineer, who has a passion for information technology. He is also the founder of e-Governe Group, Horizons Telecom, and Horizons Datacenter. These companies were developed to bring together the best strategic resources, human talent, and technical expertise to help solve information technology problems using the most innovative solutions available. The impact of these companies, in both the private and the public sector, has been instrumental in transforming markets all over Brazil. Horizons boasts a 100% fiber network, multi-point redundancy and the most advanced equipment available anywhere on the market. It’s grown from its founding in 2010 to become one of the most respected telecommunications suppliers in Brazil. This led to the launch of Horizons Datacenter in 2020, an extension of the Horizons Telecom mission to bring cloud capabilities, connectivity, and more to organizations everywhere.

Haroldo Jacobovicz was born in Brazil to two civil engineers. His mother, Sarita, was only the seventh female civil engineer in her state at the time, and Haroldo was inspired as he watched her and his father create value and physical structures where once there had been nothing. While he initially followed directly in their footsteps, attending four and a half years of civil engineering school at the Federal University of Paraná, he eventually found that he was more interested in emerging information technologies. He then saw his parents as more spiritual inspirations, inspiring him not to follow directly in their footsteps but instead to follow their vision of creating something from nothing in order to serve the greater good.

With a curiosity about the transformative innovations that shape the world, Haroldo began reading everything he could get his hands on about the future of technology in newspapers and magazines. Meanwhile, he recognized that while luck was an important factor in business, hard work and well-developed talent were essential for creating something lasting. He didn’t waste any time diving into the world of information technology, convincing three friends with deep knowledge in that field to form a company called Microsystem just before they all graduated. While their product, a solution designed to help businesses automate their inventory and cash management, would be widely used in today’s world, at the time it fell on deaf ears not yet ready to adjust to the future of automation. Microsystem would close down just a year later. But this early failure had no negative effects on Haroldo’s vision. If anything, he felt even more sure that while the world at large may not be ready to accept the future of information technology at the time, a day would soon come when it would shape the entire world.

In fact, Haroldo quickly found that the small businesses he was pitching on automation were the wrong audience. Larger corporations were already seeing the writing on the wall when it came to the future potential for these technologies, and Exxon Mobil (then known as Esso) saw massive potential in the ideas of this Brazilian engineer. They hired him from a group of over 200 engineers and he quickly rose through the ranks to become a market analyst and head of commercial tactics and new business at the company’s Brazilian headquarters in Rio de Janeiro.

But Haroldo’s dreams always lay in entrepreneurship, and he knew that there was even more he could be doing to usher in the future of technology. This eventually led to the founding of e-Governe, Horizons Telecom and its companion businesses, which Haroldo continues to help lead into the future to this day. In this interview, learn about what inspires and motivates Haroldo and how he continues to innovate after over 30 years in the business of IT and entrepreneurship.

Where did the idea for Horizons Telecom come from?

Haroldo Jacobovicz: When I was still in college, I started a company called Microsystem with three friends who had deep knowledge of the Information Technology field. It was designed to help businesses improve and simplify their inventory management and other tasks with automation. It ultimately failed because the small companies we were pitching weren’t ready for it. But I still believed that there was a future in innovative computing and IT work. I didn’t want to give up.

My career took lots of curving paths from that point, but they eventually led me to develop business in the software for management segment focusing on public agencies for 20 years. When I figured out that the quality of these services were impacted by the quality of the internet and the telecommunications networks, that was the very beginning of my work launching Horizons Telecom.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

Haroldo Jacobovicz: For me, creating effective habits is one of the most important things. Being present in what I do is fundamental. A productive day is one in which I dedicate my full attention to everything that occurs from sunrise to sunset. I wake up at six in the morning and connect with my body through a series of physical exercises. Then, I have a light meal and read the most recent news from newspapers and magazines on my tablet. Next, I’ll take a shower so I’m ready to go to the office. The routine of decision making, phone calls and meetings normally continues throughout the morning and afternoon. But it is at lunchtime that I get to have the best conversations with the team. I always like to invite someone to lunch in order to create closeness, to get to know more about their life outside the company, such as their family and hobbies. In a relaxed chat, many innovative ideas and projects also emerge.

How do you bring ideas to life?

Haroldo Jacobovicz: I tend to be intuitive by nature – there are things that catch my attention without much rational explanation. I just see potential. When that happens, I look for people who are in the business to help me understand better, contribute ideas and get involved. In general, these are projects related to technology and civil construction, which I know best.

What’s one trend that excites you?

Haroldo Jacobovicz: In college, I read a thesis that pointed out the way of providing services with monthly fees as the most promising business model of the future. The author, Morris-West said that selling meant having only one-on-one contact with the customer – the thing was to keep the link for as long as possible. We can all see now how prophetic that message was for the business world today. Today I see technology giants like Microsoft and Amazon moving towards the monthly fee model. I believe it is beneficial for those who provide the service and for those who use it: the provider needs to maintain the quality of delivery and the customer only continues to use the service as long as he or she is satisfied. Everyone wins.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

Haroldo Jacobovicz: I read, read, read. While I do love great books, what I read tends to be the most up-to-the-minute magazines, newspapers, and journals surrounding my industry and the world in general. I’m a huge believer in staying constantly informed and learning as much as you can about the world as it is now. I believe my habit of voraciously reading everything I can get my hands on in terms of relevant magazines and newspapers is one of the secret weapons that’s been able to help me have a very successful career as an entrepreneur and businessperson.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Haroldo Jacobovicz: I would tell him to study more. When I left college, being the eldest of four brothers, I felt pressure to make money soon, to start working. So, I prioritized this and stopped spending the time necessary to continue studying. Today, I see that I could have done both and that ideas for business models would probably arise while working or inside a school. I would also encourage myself to earn an MBA abroad and learn different languages. Besides English, I would say something less obvious like Arabic, for example.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

Haroldo Jacobovicz: I only consider a person as “practicing a sport” if that activity is frequent, regulated, has defined objectives and continued evolution. People play football, tennis or cycle on the weekend and say they are playing a sport. That is not a sport, that is a hobby, a recreation, or a pastime.

A real tennis player sees the sport as a metric to achieving high performance. It is the exercises of strength, conditioning, sweat and focus that is required to perfect technique and make a real tennis sportsman. The game itself only shows its good conditioning and technique. To achieve high performance, it is necessary to establish goals, define strategies, focus and dedication. The same goes for business.

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

Haroldo Jacobovicz: Everyday I wake up at 6 am and do an hour of physical activity in the building’s gym, with a personal trainer. I am disciplined, I follow the training logic and the results achieved to have positive reflexes in health and disposition. This is one thing that I know for sure has a deep impact on my daily energy and disposition to go through a busy day.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

Haroldo Jacobovicz: I made sure that I knew what I was doing as much as possible before I dived into the business. Obviously, you can never predict exactly what will happen, and there’s a lot of learning that happens as you go. But the fact that I was able to make some mistakes and learn with them at the very beginning of my career, having experience in big companies – private and public ones – before flying by my own helped me grow the business at a good rate rather than facing more stumbles than necessary early on.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

Haroldo Jacobovicz: When Microsystem failed, I wanted to make sure I learned the right lesson from it. Sometimes we learn the wrong lessons from our failures and successes, and it derails our progress. What I learned from Microsystem wasn’t that what I was offering didn’t have value, it was that I would have to find the right audience who was ready to appreciate it. We learned that small businesses weren’t ready, but large enterprises were. That was how I ended up at ExxonMobil initially.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

Haroldo Jacobovicz: The membership model is what I always advise entrepreneurs to look at. Ongoing revenue, ongoing engagement with your customer base. I don’t give specific advice about what businesspeople should go into, because it’s so personal to their interests and skills, but I always say that they should start with a membership-based pricing model.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

Haroldo Jacobovicz: My daughters convinced me to adopt a dog named Nahla, a caramel SharPei dog, who is super docile and sweet. Dogs reinforce fundamental values like loyalty, companionship and respect. In a strange way, they make you want to be better in your life, more genuine, more compassionate. The whole family loves dogs and we have already adopted some mutts, too. Sometimes we help to find a new home for abandoned puppies. The money we spend caring for these dogs is always worthwhile.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?

Haroldo Jacobovicz: Horizons Data Center technologies! In a sense it’s the tool that makes me more productive than anything else. I use it to help transform the world. Does that count?

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

Haroldo Jacobovicz: It’s not technically a book depending on how you define a book, but in college I read a thesis that pointed out the way of providing services with monthly fees as the most promising business model of the future. The author, Morris-West, said that selling meant having only one-on-one contact with the customer – the thing was to keep the link for as long as possible. We can all see now how prophetic that message was for the business world today. Today I see technology giants like Microsoft and Amazon moving towards the monthly fee model. I believe it is beneficial for those who provide the service and for those who use it: the provider needs to maintain the quality of delivery and the customer only continues to use the service as long as he or she is satisfied. Everyone wins.

What is your favorite quote?

Haroldo Jacobovicz: It’s hard to name just one, but one of my favorites is: “Fall down seven times, stand up eight.” It’s commonly cited, but it’s just so meaningful to me because of what I’ve seen in my life. My mother, for example, was one of the very first female civil engineers in our state. She faced all kinds of challenges, obstacles, unfair disadvantages that had nothing to do with her talent or hard work. She just kept going. Kept working. Kept at it. That has been one of my greatest inspirations, and it’s also keen business advice. The companies that succeed are those that keep trying after the others have given up.

Key Learnings:

Haroldo Jacobovicz:

• Staying up to date on the most current journals, newspapers, and magazines is an essential way to inspire innovation, follow the trends that are shaping the world, and spark creative solutions to problems that are affecting people and businesses around the globe.
• It takes a combination of hard work, talent, and luck to succeed. Luck can’t be created out of thin air, but it can be encouraged by putting yourself in the right place at the right time.
• Perseverance is an essential skill in business and life. Those that succeed are the ones who are willing to keep trying after others give up.

Originally published on Ideamensch.com

The post Interview with Haroldo Jacobovicz, Founder of Horizons Telecom first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Sam Arnold

Total Home Protection greets the new year with us today by telling us what they have planned! With the news coming straight to you from the CEO of Total Home Protection himself, David Seruya.

Hello, thank you very much for joining us today! Please introduce yourself to our readers. Who are you? And, when did you decide to get into the home warranty industry?

David Seruya: Hello, my name is David Seruya. I’m the Founder and CEO of Total Home Protection, a home warranty company based in New Jersey.

Before I worked on Total Home Protection (THP) though, I was a mortgage broker at an NYC firm called Universal Mortgage. I think I was about 21 years old, or thereabouts, by the time I decided I wasn’t really the type of guy that was going to be content just working under someone else. Which is what led me to start my own business, and later, to founding THP.

How was 2020 for you? Were there any big changes in how you did business at THP?

David Seruya: 2020 was a big year for us when it came to reducing our labor costs and improving our telephone hold times. I’m sure that’s something a lot of other people had to deal with as well, what with COVID and the high unemployment rates that came along with it.

Fortunately for us, we got an early start with our newly developed AI-based CRM platform, but, even so, it was evident that automation was something that we had to integrate more into what we do.

What guiding principle will be guiding you for 2021?

David Seruya: Our focus for this year is to do our best to make the customer journey as smooth and as pleasant for our customers as possible.

And how do you plan to make sure that you’re staying true to this principle?

David Seruya: We plan to continue developing our process to include more automation. Until we can come to the point where we can confidently say that we’ve automated as much of the Customer Journey as possible — without sacrificing our quality of service.

And finally, do you have any last-minute advice for other business owners who may be experiencing the same growing pains as you are with THP?

David Seruya: Don’t rush. It’s tempting to put things out there, but don’t make any changes that you aren’t comfortable with or that you haven’t tested. Tests are meant to improve upon things, after all. So, skipping that part of the process will only result in more issues for you in the future. And, during times like these? It’s all the more crucial that you avoid those issues.

The post David Seruya | What’s Next for Total Home Protection? first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Sam Arnold

Luke Battiloro is no stranger to outrageous achievements, and today, we will be learning how to build a successful business in the midst of the economic uncertainty that was 2020
Luke Battiloro took on the challenge of being one of the first people to sell alcohol online and managed to come up on top! Leaving any of his potential competitors back in the dust and marveling at his triumphs.

So, make sure to stick around till the end and learn a little as Luke Battiloro shares his hard-won strategies for building a successful e-commerce business in 2021.

Hello! Please tell us a little bit about yourself to start us off.

Luke Battiloro: Hello. My name is Luke Battiloro. I’m the founder and CEO of Vavoom Vodka, which is a Vodka brand that is on the higher end of the spectrum.

Before I got into alcohol, I was pretty deep into other industries though. The first thing that comes to mind were dietary supplements, which were all the rage back in the early 2010s. And another big one would be CBD, which me and a close friend of mine got heavily involved with back before it was ever even popularized.

Can you tell us a little bit about Vavoom Vodka?

Luke Battiloro: Well, if we’re talking about the nitty-gritty. We developed Vavoom Vodka with the word beauty in mind — and all the connotations that word is associated with. This meant that we made sure to use only the highest ingredients to produce one of the smoothest Vodkas available in the market today. Along with specially handcrafted glass bottles from Milan that we chose to really push that image of ‘beauty’ and grace that we were looking for.

A message that goes hand in hand with the movement that our company is passionate about. Which is encouraging and empowering people to become more ‘beautiful’ — whatever that may mean for them.

Okay, now turning towards more technical aspects for a bit. Can you tell us a little bit about how you’ve built a successful e-commerce business?

Luke Battiloro: When it comes to e-commerce businesses, one of the more important things is definitely marketing. That’s pretty straightforward. You can have the best of everything, but if there’s no one looking for it, then you better believe that you’re not going to be selling anything. This is one of the things that I’ve always prioritized, especially as someone who used to work strictly as a marketing producer — creating leads for other businesses. For that, finding the right sales channel is another thing that you keep an eye on. You can probably expect some level of success by marketing your products through as many channels as you can. But some sales channels definitely deserve a little bit more attention based on how well it’s doing.

Also, make sure that you’re prepared when the customers start coming. Customer Service can really make or break your e-commerce business, so make the preparations needed to meet their expectations. And, above all else, try to set up achievable goals. Don’t stress yourself out too much — try to stick to what is realistic in terms of revenue and your total business structure.

What aspects of your e-commerce business did you find yourself prioritizing last year? And, how has that changed your plans moving forward?

Luke Battiloro: Last year, with COVID and all the repercussions that came along with it, being able to ship goods was one of the biggest challenges that many companies in the alcohol industry dealt with. Suffice to say, it had almost everyone struggling. Not just when it came to delivery speed but also in making sure that all packages were insured for up sales.

The big e-commerce companies didn’t make things any easier on us either. With Amazon and Amazon Prime, people got used to things like next-day shipping and they were not happy about having to wait 7-10 days to get what they ordered. New Direct-To-Consumer companies have been cropping up in China as well, selling things at incredibly cheap prices, which some customers go for, despite the 2-3 weeks shipping delay. So, like an e-commerce business in the midst of 2020, you had to balance both of those things — providing quality products at a good cost and shipping them express —to make it out on top.

What is one tool that you think that those just getting started with their own e-commerce business should use?

Luke Battiloro: Shopify is a good one. Especially if you’re looking to get the ball rolling. That may sound a bit biased coming from a Shopify partner, but I don’t know that there are many who can argue against my reasoning in this case. Shopify is undeniably one of the best software for building up an e-commerce business on your own, after all. It’s highly intuitive and highly effective.

What marketing tactics have you been using lately to increase your conversion rates?

Luke Battiloro: For my business, I’ve found that creating urgency has been highly effective at getting us sales. Because our Vodka is on the higher-end, price is definitely one of those things that our customers are concerned about. And, with quick flash sales that are over in two to three hours, we’ve been able to entice a lot of customers that may be a little hesitant in making a purchase.

How about brand reputation? How have you built up your brand to be one that your customers can trust?

Luke Battiloro: Ah, this one is definitely all down to customer service and reviews. Reviews for getting the customers foot in the door, and excellent customer service for making sure that they actually stay with you.

And for our last question of the advice section, what is one thing that you’ve learned recently that you think that other e-commerce brands may find helpful?

Luke Battiloro: Don’t forget the little guy! I think it’s easy to get lost in the promise of those big agencies, with their guarantees and their long work histories. But, they’re not going to be able to do everything for you. And as a third-party entity, remember that they will never truly be working 100% for your interest. So, don’t forget the people that are actually on your side. The people that have been working with you this whole time, and who stand to benefit from all your victories — not just theirs, like most agencies prioritize.

Thank you very much for joining us for this interview! Before we end things though, should any of our readers be interested in learning more about you, where would they be able to find you?

Luke Battiloro: While I’m not the most active in social media. I do have an Instagram account that I keep up to date with stories and the like. It’s just as much for me as it is for the people who want to know the man working behind-the-scenes. So, if you want to check it out, just look up @lukebattiloro on Instagram!

The post Luke Battiloro on Building a Successful E-Commerce Business in 2021 first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Sam Arnold

Brian Mingham is the Founder and CEO of CFSI Loan Management, Brian is a thought leader, influencer, visionary, and successful entrepreneur. Brian provides the leadership and energy that has inspired the creation of CFSI Loan Management.
Brian Mingham joins other leading Bestselling Authors, International Speakers & Entrepreneur, CEOs and Founders taking part in our Leader Roundtable Interview Series. The DotCom Magazine editorial team is delighted to have Brian join us for our Leader Roundtable Interview.

Let us start by telling us about your business.

Brian Mingham: CFSI Loan Management is a risk mitigation and portfolio management company specializing in construction loan management. Our company helps lenders reduce construction loan risk on residential, commercial, and multi-family properties for conventional, warehouse, SBA, and commercial lenders. We work with large and small financial institutions as well as commercial lenders to protect our clients’ interests throughout the entire construction loan phase. Our goal throughout this process is to provide industry best practices and risk mitigation procedures to monitor construction projects. Some of the primary services include contractor and project reviews, funds control, draw inspections, and portfolio audits.

We also review project feasibility and can confirm a contractor’s ability to complete a project. Our company will initiate a comprehensive review of a contractor’s qualifications to ensure that they can complete the planned asset on time and within budget.

Please tell us how you make sure your customers will become raving fans of your company?

Brian Mingham: Every interaction is built on integrity. We have a high-touch, customer-centric approach which allows lenders to concentrate on originating construction loans while CFSI manages the construction phase from beginning to end. Our primary goal is to ensure that our clients receive the best and quickest service possible. At the core of CFSI, we focus on people, standards, and service, all of which focus on improving the client experience.
We manage everything so that our clients don’t have to. As a detail-oriented team, our clients appreciate that we go above and beyond their expectations.

Please tell us the one thing that separates your business from the competition.

Brian Mingham: Our company stands out from the competition due to our diligence, attention to detail, and unbeatable industry knowledge. There is no single company that stacks up against CFSI. CFSI hires and trains the best people and inspectors in the business—our people make our business great. We have a strict vendor selection criterion, and a formal due diligence process that helps us to manage quality while ensuring our clients receive the best and quickest service possible.
From managing the construction budget to reviewing project feasibility, our team is dedicated, focused, and passionate about what we do, and that is what separates us from the competition.

And to finish this section, please tell us what the one major key to your company’s success is?

Brian Mingham: We have incredibly high standards in the way we conduct business and interact with clients. If there is an opportunity to go above and beyond, we go above and beyond—no questions asked. Since I founded the company in 2012, our clients have always come first.

For our readers just starting to build a company, what advice can you give entrepreneurs just starting out with a new venture?

Brian Mingham: First and foremost, find a mentor. I have met too many entrepreneurs who try to ‘go it alone’ when they don’t have to. Entrepreneurship is a road well-traveled, and there are hundreds of thousands of people willing to pass on valuable industry knowledge to an ambitious business owner. There is no golden formula for entrepreneurship, especially considering the diversity of businesses, products, and services out there. So having someone you can speak to when you run into problems, need to scale, or are looking for a network connection, is priceless.

Second, be patient. There is a common misconception that building, growing, and scaling a business overnight makes it a success—it doesn’t. A business is like a pyramid, the hardest part is building the foundation. If you get the foundation wrong, you will be unlikely to grow your business.
Lastly, remain open-minded. When you start a new business, you likely have an idea or vision about where you want to be, and how you’re going to get there. My best advice? Be stubborn about your goals but be flexible about your methods. Starting a new business will throw challenges at you that you could not have imagined, so be willing to adjust your plans accordingly to achieve the same outcome.

For entrepreneurs seeking to build a business as successful as yours, what big piece of advice can you give them when times get a little challenging?

Brian Mingham: Remember that it is the only failure if you give up. We all face challenges as entrepreneurs, but it is our resilience that makes us successful. If you keep an open mind, you will find opportunities at every turn. The key is not to focus on problems, but rather, to come up with solutions as quickly as possible. Give yourself space and time to reflect upon the problem, but not so long that it paralyzes you from acting.
Secondly, you have to take care of yourself even when your business is struggling, because if you don’t you will eventually burn out. Take breaks and allow yourself to re-evaluate whether where you are is working for you. Sometimes we get so caught up in meetings, phone calls, site visits that we forget to manage a focused vision of the future. Your job, as a business leader, is to remain agile, flexible, and always focused on your future trajectory.

In today’s fast-changing business environment, how do you stay abreast of things?

Brian Mingham: If you’re constantly seeking new information, you will always be behind. My best advice is to sign up for e-mail newsletters relevant to your industry and put time aside every morning, afternoon, or evening to read through that content. This is a simple hack to stay on top of what is happening without having to put in too much effort.
Another great way to stay on top of your industry is to network with other professionals with similar interests. Organize monthly ‘information sessions’ where you share new information, technologies, and resources to help one another stay abreast of things. Not only does this allow you to stay ahead of the game, but it allows you to continually build and strengthen your network.
Lastly, sign up for seminars, workshops, and conferences whenever you can. If you can’t attend due to other commitments, consider sending a dedicated employee in your place who can diligently report back anything you might need to know.

What is your “Why”? In one sentence, why do you get up in the morning?

Brian Mingham: My ‘why’ is to help others reduce their risk and build safe and connected communities. At CFSI Loan management, our primary goal is to help lenders reduce risk related to construction projects nationwide. But what we really do is help other people achieve their dreams by ensuring that construction projects run smoothly from start to finish. Our clients are passionate about their projects, and it is a joy to aid in bringing them to life.

In one sentence, what is the most important thing one has to do to be a great leader?

Brian Mingham: If you want to be a great leader, you need to be open-minded’. Leaders who refuse to see other viewpoints or perspectives are unlikely to motivate inspired teams. No matter how long you’ve been in business, who you know, or what you have accomplished, if you do not have an open mind your business will eventually stagnate.

Being open-minded means adapting to the needs of your team, it means looking for solutions rather than focusing on problems, and it means no idea is inherently a ‘bad idea’. This is the mentality that allows my team to experiment, use their intuition, and act in a way that feels right to them.

In one sentence, describe how important your customers are to your business?

Brian Mingham: No matter what business you are in, you do not have a business if you do not satisfy your customer’. From ideation to planning and execution, if your customer’s needs are not being met, you do not have a business. When entrepreneurs come to me with their ideas, the first thing I ask is ‘Who is your target demographic/ customer/ audience?’. This is the first question that every business owner should know the answer to, otherwise, they don’t have a business.

In one sentence, describe a positive way that technology can make the world a better place?

Brian Mingham: Technology can make the world a better place by connecting us to different ideas, cultures, and beliefs. I believe that technology is just a medium, and how it is used is up to us. I am confident that every one of your readers has connected to other groups with the same interest online. Whether you’re interested in interior design or home improvement, I can guarantee that there is a group of people online who can make you feel like part of a tribe.

In one sentence, tell us how something positive motivates our readers?

Brian Mingham: Everything is fixable.’ One of the ideas that have paralyzed me in the past is the idea that what I am about to do is permanent. This belief will stop you from making mistakes, but it will also stop you from making progress.

As a business owner, the fear of making mistakes is very real and present. However, my team relies on me to be decisive, determined, and confident in my decision-making. Even if I do make a mistake, I am confident in my ability to adjust my approach accordingly. Don’t be afraid to take a step forward, be afraid of staying still, acting in fear, and allowing negative projections to control your life.

In one sentence, tell us how you start your day to get ready?

Brian Mingham: I start my day by focusing on myself.’ How you start your day often determines what the rest of your day will look like, so I like to take the time I need to focus on what matters most to me. I get up, exercise, read, shower, have a cup of coffee, and read any relevant news. Taking this time for myself allows me to take what I need so that I am able to give my employees and colleagues what they need for the rest of the day. In order to fill other people’s cups, you have to fill your own first.

In one sentence, describe how you handle rejection and setbacks?

Brian Mingham: I accept it, feel it, and then move forward. Failure, rejection, and setbacks are tough. As a successful entrepreneur, I can tell you that no matter how many times it happens, it never hurts any less. When you pour your heart and soul into anything, it always stings to get rejected. However, what you do learn is that every rejection or failure is a ‘re-direct, it is a sign that you need to try something new—it means that you are one step closer to success.
Trying something and failing is not shameful. Trying something, failing, and giving up can be. Successful entrepreneurs are not unique, smarter, or more talented than most people, but what they do have is grit. Grit is sticking with something even when it gets hard—and that is something we can all learn to cultivate with enough practice.

In one sentence, describe what your hiring philosophy is?

Brian Mingham: Always hire for skills that cannot be taught’. Too often I see companies hiring people solely on their merits alone: how many awards they’ve won, what school they graduated from, who they volunteered for. Don’t get me wrong, all of those things are important, but taking initiative, asking thoughtful questions, coming prepared, doing your research—those are the things that show true character.
We all embellish who we are on paper, but it is difficult to embellish who you are in person. How much passion, attention to detail, and excitement you bring to a job interview tells me a lot more about how you will perform your duties than what is on paper.

In one sentence, describe how you keep your sanity in a competitive business environment?

Brian Mingham: The race is long, and the competition is only with yourself.’ I spent years comparing myself to my classmates, colleagues, and friend until I realized that we weren’t running the same race. Some people find passion at 5 years old; some people find their passion at 75 years old. It doesn’t matter how old you are, how long it takes, what matters is that you enjoy what you are doing and that you are constantly challenging yourself.

Originally published on Dotcommagazine.com

The post Interview with Brian Mingham, Founder and CEO of CFSI Loan Management first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Sam Arnold

Dr. Sunil Jagani is the Founder and CEO of Bay Orthopedics, Sunil is a thought leader, influencer, visionary, and successful entrepreneur. Sunil provides the leadership and energy that has inspired the creation of Bay Orthopedics.
Dr. Sunil Jagani joins other leading Bestselling Authors, International Speakers & entrepreneurs, CEOs, and Founders taking part in our Leader Roundtable Interview Series. The DotCom Magazine editorial team is delighted to have Sunil join us for our Leader Roundtable Interview.

Dr. Sunil Jagani is a top orthopedic surgeon and is the founder and CEO of Bay Orthopedic Healing. Dr. Sunil has been in private practice for over 10 years and is experienced in treating the following medical conditions: Adult and pediatric spine oncology (vertebroplasty, tumor resections, the management of benign and malignant tumors, and minimally invasive procedures). Dr. Sunil also handles adult spinal disease surgeries such as dynamic stability treatments, degenerative disc disease, and osteoporotic fractures. Other medical issues that he treats include non-spine extremity oncology issues such as soft tissue tumors and reconstructions, tissue resections management, and soft tissue tumors among many other problems. Besides his prowess in handling orthopedic issues, Dr. Sunil is also quite good as a businessperson, and this is evident in the success of Bay Orthopedics. One aspect of his success as a manager is in setting up systems for easy booking and insurance processing. At Bay Orthopedics, clients can book online and have their medical history checked and handled in a seamlessly integrated process. Dr. Sunil has also ensured that Bay Orthopedics lists as many insurance companies as possible. He also has systems in place to ensure that when a patient’s insurance is not listed, it can be updated quickly and have them receive the treatment they need without it becoming a hindrance to their treatment. Besides his work as an orthopedist and the CEO of a successful medical practice, Dr. Sunil is also a philanthropist. He is especially passionate about charities that help children suffering from cancer but are too poor to afford the necessary treatments. He has been most active during the COVID-19 period based on his awareness that these kids are most at risk at this time when all the attention in the medical world is focused on COVID-19. Away from work and philanthropy, Dr. Sunil loves spending time with his family and enjoys taking them on holidays worldwide. He also loves camping and can be found camping with his family at different locations in California and nearby states.

Let’s start by telling us about your business.

Sunil Jagani: Bay Orthopedics is a private practice offering a wide array of orthopedic and oncological services. We are based in Los Gatos, California, and have been in business for three decades. Over the years, I have invested heavily in making patient care as friendly as possible. I have endeavored to incorporate as many insurance companies as possible, and I am proud of where we are today. In the past 5-years, I haven’t experienced a case where someone needed medical care and failed to get it because we do not support their insurance. Those who need orthopedic and oncological services can come to us for treatments on spinal disease surgery for issues such as neck and back pain, osteoporotic fractures, degenerative disc disease, among others. We also handle non-spine extremity oncological procedures such as tumor resections and management, reconstructions, and soft tissue tumors. Lastly, one can come to us for spine oncology. We do it for both children and adults. Some of the spinal oncology procedures that we do include vertebroplasty, tumor resections, management of tumors. We also handle minimally invasive procedures. We have in place some of the best customer services in orthopedic procedures. There is a lot more that I can say about Bay Orthopedics. The bottom line is that we offer world-class services and try our best to keep our prices as competitive as possible. For us, it’s more about serving the people than trying to maximize profits.

Please tell us how you make sure your customers will become raving fans of your company?

Sunil Jagani: Let me start by saying that our primary objective is not to make customers raving fans of our services. In fact, if we can treat people in a way that they get well and not come back, we would be happy. It would mean that we are doing our job right. That said, we ensure that patients leave a good word about us by treating them right from the moment they step into the time they receive treatment. One of the techniques that I use to keep patients happy is by streamlining the booking process. People can book for our services online and we instantly schedule them while also taking in their past medical information. We have also made sure to accept most insurance companies and facilitate a client to get help in case they do not accept their insurance company. This, to a large extent, has given us lots of referrals. Most importantly, I give my all when handling patient issues. I have had a high success rate with my patients, which has been instrumental in bringing in new patients through referrals. I feel blessed to be in a position where I can touch people’s lives and help them live out their best years.

Please tell us the one thing that separates your business from the competition?

Sunil Jagani: That would be my focus on giving patients the best care possible. There are lots of people in my line of work that only focuses on the bottom-line. For me, the bottom-line comes second. My primary concern is to ensure that the patient gets well, then the rest can follow. Many are times when I have treated people who cannot afford my services. I don’t make it the norm, but I believe it is a reflection of my good services and patient referrals reflect this reality. I would never ask for a better response than I get. For everyone that sends a good word out to us, be blessed. With the positive awareness that you guys have created, we can change many other people’s lives for the better.

And to finish this section, please tell us what is the one major key to your company’s success?

Sunil Jagani: The key success to my business, as I have elaborated above, is selflessness in service delivery. I would also credit my company’s success to the hard work of my employees. I may be a good doctor, but if I did not have good employees, I would possibly have to deal with delayed admissions, among many other issues. My staff has been really instrumental in helping me deliver quality services and uplift my private practice profile. They ensure that the scheduling process is smooth and give customers the best possible services. I really value these guys and the work that they do for me. The facility is like a well-oiled machine, and these guys are a critical component of it.

For our readers just starting to build a company, what advice can you give entrepreneurs just starting out with a new venture?

Sunil Jagani: I would advise them to follow their passion when starting a business. Business is very challenging, and if you are not passionate about it, you are likely to give up before you achieve anything. When I was starting my medical practice, I spent a whole year without getting a client. If I didn’t have a passion for medical practice, I would have given up.

For entrepreneurs seeking to build a business as successful as yours, what one big piece of advice can you give them when times get a little challenging.

Sunil Jagani: I would advise them to persevere. As long as the process is right, you will overcome those challenges and thrive. In the early stages of my business, I struggled a lot, but I trusted the process. That is how I got to where I am today.

In today’s fast-changing business environment, how do you stay abreast of things?

Sunil Jagani: I am an avid reader of business news. I use them to get a feel of where the economy is going and adjust my stock investment portfolio accordingly. It is a strategy that has worked well for me so far.

What is your “Why”? In one sentence, why do you get up in the morning?

Sunil Jagani: To use my medical skills in changing people’s lives for the better.

In one sentence, what is the most important thing one has to do to be a great leader?

Sunil Jagani: A great leader needs to be empathetic.

In one sentence, describe how important your customers are to your business?

Sunil Jagani: They are the ones who have kept me going for over 30 years.

In one sentence, describe a positive way that technology can make the world a better place?

Sunil Jagani: Technology can cure most diseases.

In one sentence, tell us how something positive to motivate our readers?

Sunil Jagani: Keep going no matter how tough things get, you will succeed eventually.

In one sentence, tell us how you start your day to get ready?

Sunil Jagani: I start my day with 30 minutes of meditation.

In one sentence, describe how you handle rejection and setback?

Sunil Jagani: I never let negative thoughts control me.

In one sentence, describe what your hiring philosophy is?

Sunil Jagani: Passion first, skills, and experience second.

In one sentence, describe how you keep your sanity in a competitive business environment?

Sunil Jagani: I take time off to meditate.

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/sunil.jagani.7355/

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-sunil-jagani/

Originally published on Dotcommagazine.com

The post Interview with Dr. Sunil Jagani, Founder and CEO of Bay Orthopedics first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Sam Arnold

Ben Lamm is the co-founder, Executive Chairman, and CEO of Hypergiant, the Office of Machine Intelligence. Previously, he was the founder and CEO of Conversable, the leading conversational intelligence platform acquired by LivePerson, the founder and CEO of Chaotic Moon Studios, the global creative technology powerhouse acquired by Accenture and co-founder of Team Chaos, acquired by Zynga.

Lamm is often mentioned in the media on technology, innovations and entrepreneurship. Besides leading and growing his own incredible and rapidly growing companies, he is also a supporter of startups and actively mentors his fellow entrepreneur on how to build businesses.

In this interview, Ben Lamm shares how he believes in making the impossible, possible and provides great insight about his company and how a leader contributes to overcoming the difficulties meet the demands of a high growth environment.

Can you share the name of your business and a brief history of how it started?

Ben Lamm: Hypergiant Industries is an emerging technology company focused on solving the world’s biggest problems in the areas of space, defense, and critical infrastructure. With a focus on AI, Hypergiant Industries offers a suite of services, software products, and hardware that support companies and governments in preparing for the future. The company has been in business for over three years and was started by the CEO and Founder Ben Lamm who wanted to usher in the future by improving the technologies of tomorrow.

What does your company offer?

Ben Lamm: We are leaders in planning for and building the products that prepare our clients for tomorrow and fifty years from now. Whether those clients need data digested and interpreted into a user friendly dashboard to improve oil and gas production or access to an entire constellation of satellites to plan for the future of warfare, we have developed the solution. As the only company that sits at the intersection of space, defense and emerging technology, we are the trusted resource for governments, businesses and alien species. Our customers choose us for our user-centric perspective which marries business needs with user needs through the lens of intelligent technologies. We believe not only in building technology that works, but technology that works well for everyone.

What are your company’s major achievements?

Ben Lamm: We are extremely proud of the work we’ve done for companies like BP, Bosch, Shell, and the United States Airforce. However, much of that work is confidential. So, instead you’ll often hear us talking about other projects like:

●  The Chameleon Constellation – a partnership with the US Airforce to update our satellite network to better defend America.

●  The EOS bioreactor – a first of its kind, AI-powered carbon-sequestration device that has won numerous awards including a Fast Company Most Innovative Product of the year award.

●  Project Orion – An active display helmet with a 200-degree field of vision and a 5K resolution made for use in space.

You can find more of our R&D work on our website

What are you most proud of regarding your company?

Ben Lamm: This company has grown massively in the past few years due to an incredible team of people who have stood up, taken on hard complicated challenges and refused to believe that any project was “impossible.” As a result, they have done incredible work and built things that are routinely mind blowing for our customers. I could not be more proud of them.

If given a chance, what is the one thing you would change about your company?

Ben Lamm: Teleportation. Honestly, if we could teleport, I think everyone would be happier. Short of that I’d love to bring our company even closer to policymakers – not because we have a vested interest in changing policy to help our business  but because I think that policymakers need more educated and trusted advisors who really understand how technology works and is changing so that they can make better and more informed decisions to help the public. This feels like a crucial aspect of improving the world around us that needs to happen as we do our regular job of bringing great technology to the market.

What obstacles did you or your company have to face due to the COVID-19 pandemic and how did you overcome them?

Ben Lamm: There are still aspects of our company that need to happen in the same physical space: mostly our R&D culture. However, we are working on distributed micro-labs and different tools to make it safer and more comfortable for people to work from home. So, over time I can change this. I also want to improve the way our employees are able to work during COVID. We are bringing in tutors for people’s children, so that parents have to spend less time helping with school work. We are developing a work from abroad program for those who want to escape the cities they are in and keep learning about new cultures. There is still so much more we can do though and that is of paramount importance to us.

According to you, what are the prerequisites for establishing and running a successful company in the machine intelligence field?

Ben Lamm: Big vision and ethical thinking. Right now, we need people who are thinking about AI beyond the next six months. We need people who are able to think long term and understand how that technology will impact the way business units run, businesses run and entire countries operate. As a company, we are building solutions for your business today and ten years from today because that’s the only way you can stay ahead of the curve. At the same time, we have developed an ethical framework to help guide customers because the truth is that we do not want the technology we build for the future to backfire in the future. So, we want to make sure that our customers and our engineers think through not just immediate success but long term viability.

In addition to the previous question, what role do you believe a CEO plays in the success of a company in any field?

Ben Lamm: CEOs need to do two things well. First, they need to figure out what the company is focused on and what it’s marching towards. Then, they need to be in service of every single person at the company. It’s not my job to lead blindly. It’s my job to empower every person in the company to be a leader against the same mission.

What trends do you believe you will observe in the machine intelligence field in the near future?

Ben Lamm: Artificial intelligence will become smarter, faster and more sentient. Bad people will do bad things with advanced computing power and good people will try to stop those people from doing bad things. Somewhere in there we will figure out the laws to make emergent technology safer and more in service of a better society.

What are your company’s future plans?

Ben Lamm: We are going to keep growing in the smartest and most viable way possible while doubling down on our space business and continuing to provide cutting edge technology solutions for major Fortune 500 companies and governments.

Originally published on Vizaca.com

The post Interview with Ben Lamm: CEO of Hypergiant Industries first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Sam Arnold

Despite COVID-19 forcing everyone home, Netflix’s stock tumbled more than 10% Thursday. This number comes after projections that the company could draw in just 2.5 million subscribers in the next quarter. However, in the second quarter of 2020, Netflix had reeled in 10 million subscribers. 

Netflix Promotes Ted Sarandos

Aside from this news, Netflix said they were promoting Ted Sarandos to co-CEO, together with Reed Hastings. Sarandos is Netflix’s chief of content. In a statement, Hastings welcomed the news. “Ted has been my partner for decades,” he said. He added that the two of them were already leading the company together informally. This promotion just formalizes the partnership.

Netflix also made news on by announcing that Ted Sarandos, the company's longtime content chief, would become co-CEO alongside Reed Hastings. https://t.co/5DEMAKAFd9

— CNN Business (@CNNBusiness) July 16, 2020

Sarandos will still be the content chief. In a blog post, Sarandos said he promises to keep doing what has made Netflix successful. He plans to “keep pushing the boundaries” for “people who love stories.”

Netflix’s Strong Second Quarter

Netflix had a strong second quarter. The company reported profits of $720 million, a long jump from $271 million in the prior quarter. Altogether, Netflix made a profit of $6.1 billion, a 24% increase. However, the company expects growth to slow down due to COVID-19. Consumers still have to get used to COVID-19 restrictions before subscribing. 

Netflix’s Competitors in the Streaming Market

In addition to COVID-19, Netflix also faces stiff competition. WarnerMedia recently launched HBO Max, another streaming app. Other competitors include Disney+, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime, and Hulu. 

Netflix plans to resume production of its original content safely. They said they would stick to their original plans for 2020. Worrying about competitors is also far from their minds. “We continue to stick to our strategy,” Netflix said Thursday. To stay ahead, they would “improve their service and content” quicker than their rivals. 

Trading Netflix stocks CFDs is possible with a regulated broker like Pepperstone. Here’s a review about this broker: https://www.realforexreviews.com/brokers/pepperstone

The post Netflix Stock Drops, Promotes Ted Sarandos to Co-CEO first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Sam Arnold

The tech world has just lost another soul as New York Police has found the body of CEO Fahim Saleh inside a luxury condo. Not only did the killer murder him, but he also dismembered the corpse. Saleh was the CEO of Gokada, a motorcycle-hailing app in Nigeria. He was 33 years old.

New York Police Confirms Saleh’s Death

In a CNN report, the New York Police Department said Tuesday that they had found Saleh’s body in a Manhattan apartment. Police sources identified the body was Saleh’s, a venture capitalist. The NYPD confirmed this to CNN.

How Saleh’s Death Happened

CNN reports that surveillance cameras caught Saleh enter his apartment building’s elevator, on the evening of Monday. A man in black came with him. Saleh’s companion wore all black clothing. Police suspect that this man could have been the murderer. Once inside Saleh’s apartment, the murderer attacked him.

Later, the CEO’s sister found his torso near the living room. Police found the Saleh’s other body parts inside bags around the apartment. While they are looking for a motive, detectives are also wondering how the murderer left the building.

Sadness Over Saleh’s Death

In a Twitter post, Gokada expressed sadness over its CEO’s “sudden and tragic” death. The company referred to him as a “great leader” and an “inspiration.” His family also released a statement. They hoped the police could find out who had committed the gruesome murder. Finally, they urged the police to work hard to give them the justice they deserve.

We are deeply saddened to inform you about the sudden and tragic loss of our founder and CEO, Fahim Saleh. Fahim was a great leader, inspiration and positive light for all of us.

— Gokada (@gokadang) July 15, 2020

The post Tech CEO Of Nigerian Company Found Dead In New York Luxury Apartment first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Rob Sterling