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

Eric-Theodore Yepao is the CEO and founder of Nordland Holding Europe GmbH, a company that creates private cities. A private city offers residents the basic services of a state within a defined territory with all rights and obligations being defined by contractual obligations. Currently, he has dealings all over the world including cities like Paris, France.

Eric-Theodore attended Harvard University and became involved in investment banking. He felt disillusioned with investing in countries that violated human rights or in companies that did not give back to the communities where it is present. He then became passionate about corporate responsibility. Eric-Theodore believes strongly that businesses have to play a role in society for the wellbeing of all stakeholders, typically the employees themselves, but also the community where the business is.

Where did the idea for Nordland Holding Europe GmbH come from?

Eric-Theodore Yepao: I have been an investor for a while, and I was thinking of how we could do business differently in order to change the world for the better. I think businesses should have a human face. I think we should have a long-term strategy in business to act in a responsible way towards the community.

Previously when I was an investor at various companies, I felt there was too much focus on making a quick profit. There are more important things to consider. As a socially responsible investor, I will not invest in countries that violate human rights. I will not invest in companies that are using child labor. I also will not invest in polluting industries. Businesses do have the power to change the world and improve it. They can improve the well-being of their employees and of the areas where they are present.

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

Eric-Theodore Yepao: I awake very early in the morning, about 4:30 to 5:00 am. I like learning all the time- doing searches, reading the news, and finding out what is going on in any corner of the world. Whether it is politically, economically, or culturally, I like learning and doing searches. I am very passionate about discovering new things. When I get all this information, after all of the searches, I ask, what can I do to improve a business and how can my business have a positive impact on the community where I am present.

How do you bring ideas to life?

Eric-Theodore Yepao: I’m passionate about putting ideas into practice. I always try. Sometimes I succeed and sometimes I fail. Even if an idea fails, it is not the end of the world. I will be learning from the mistake and I will try again, but this time without the mistake.

What’s one trend that excites you?

Eric-Theodore Yepao: Every trend is exciting to me because I am a very opened minded person. I am not an egocentric person that focuses on one field. I am open to many fields. I will learn something from any field. I consider any sources. A very important trend is curiosity, searching, learning, discovering, and trying.

In many businesses, there is a lack of innovation and passion. Many businesses are following each other. Today there are very few true entrepreneurs. Many people set up businesses without being passionate about it. They might go into an area because it seems fashionable.

I am the opposite because I am an entrepreneur. I am willing to try anything, any ventures, and put new ideas into practice. I always try to be a disruptor.

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

Eric-Theodore Yepao: My habit is to always work and always be learning. Learning is the key to everything, learning about our own business fields, learning about our environment, learning about our partners- simply learning all the time.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Eric-Theodore Yepao: I would advise my younger self to be open-minded and curious. Think outside the box and don’t be afraid to move outside of your comfort zone.

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

Eric-Theodore Yepao: I believe in freedom of mind. I don’t believe in something just because it comes from an authority. Of course, I do not agree with rebellion, but I always encourage people to think outside the box, stand out from the crowd, and think for themselves. People often disagree with me on this and think I should follow the trends or more accepted ways of doing things.

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

Eric-Theodore Yepao: Entrepreneurs have to believe in what they do and to be truly passionate and optimistic. Believing in yourself, not giving up, and being persistent is very important.

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

Eric-Theodore Yepao: I am someone who likes communicating with people. Communication, constant learning, and innovating are all things that have helped me to grow my business.

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

Eric-Theodore Yepao: I can look back now and see that early in my career, I was naïve, unprepared, and even at times immature. I was setting up hedge funds in technology companies, especially in ecommerce, around the time of the DotCom Bubble. Stock prices were rising. We did not really check the viability of some of those stocks and do the proper due diligence. We were following along, like sheep, without thinking. Unfortunately, April 2000 was the end of the DotCom Bubble, and there was a crash on the stock exchange. But of course, I have learned from my early mistakes and my experience. I do not just blindly follow the crowd anymore. It is important to make your own assessment. I will not rely only on advisors or experts without checking things myself or doing my own inquires.

The most important thing is not being scared to make a mistake. Trying and making a mistake is a blessing because we learn from our mistakes. The worst thing is to make a mistake and not learn from it.

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

Eric-Theodore Yepao: The concept being advanced by my company is the establishment of private cities. My company specializes in developing private cities. If you look at what is going on around the world in public cities, there is a low quality of life. There are issues with crime. People are getting depressed in the big cities around the world. Private cities offer a higher quality of life for their residents, freedom, privacy, and safety.

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

Eric-Theodore Yepao: When I was in England, I was able to buy some old stamps dating back to the time of King George. I bought them for the equivalent of $100, but it turned out they were worth over $4,000.

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

Eric-Theodore Yepao: Wikipedia is a mine of knowledge in so many areas, and it is a great place to start researching.

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

Eric-Theodore Yepao: I recommend The Art of War by Sun Tzu. Sun Tzu was a Chinese strategist 3,000 years ago. It describes how to win a war without using force. Instead, he focuses on using a strategy of charm and disarming your opponents. It is the ancestor of what we call today “soft power.”

What is your favorite quote?

Eric-Theodore Yepao: “Knowledge is power.”

Key Learnings:

Eric-Theodore Yepao:

• Learning is very important.
• Be curious.
• Stay open-minded and innovative.

The post Interview with Eric-Theodore Yepao, Founder of Nordland Holding Europe GmbH first appeared on Tekrati and is written by admin

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

Julia Tunstall, Co-Founder of A Bar Above, brings more than a decade of business experience to the “dry” side of the bar tool and mixology content company. Having spent years as a consultant in IT project management, as well as in data management for a global biotech company, she and her husband Chris founded A Bar Above in 2013. What started as a resource for bartenders and mixologists grew–first into a mixology course and certification program respected widely in the bar industry, and then expanded to the company it is today. Now, A Bar Above is well known as having “the best damn bar tools” available for anyone from the professionals, to the home cocktail enthusiast, to the drink novice.

Julia runs operations and marketing for A Bar Above, where she manages manufacturing, inventory, product development, and technology. Outside of work, Julia enjoys hiking and going to the beach with Chris and their two children.

Where did the idea for A Bar Above come from?

Julia Tunstall: It actually came from my husband! He was a bartender feeling frustrated about the lack of community and free education for bartenders. Once we met and married, I knew we’d be the perfect partnership to create something great.

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

Julia Tunstall: I’m an Earlybird! I usually wake up around 5, shower, get coffee, and then hustle until 11 am. At 11 am I have lunch with my family (including Chris and two kiddos) and then get back to work until 4 pm when my day is done. I find that I am most strategic in the morning, so I try to front-load the higher-level strategic work before the rest of the family wakes up. It’s just a bit harder to concentrate with the background “music” of toddler chaos!

How do you bring ideas to life?

Julia Tunstall: I am a planner! For me, an idea is not actionable – a plan is. I’ll take an idea, slice it up into logical steps, meet with the appropriate people for buy-in, then get the next steps loaded into Asana and get it done!

What’s one trend that excites you?

Julia Tunstall: This is specific to our space, but I love the huge trend towards non-alcoholic cocktails. Why should delicious high-end beverages have to be alcoholic? I love that we’re branching out as an industry and we can make great drink experiences available to everyone – not just those who drink!

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

Julia Tunstall: Starting my day with a defined personal care routine has helped tremendously. I’ve been working from home for many years now and it’s easy to roll out of bed and get to work. But taking the effort to get your body ready for your day has made a big difference in my productivity and mindset!

What advice would you give your younger self?

Julia Tunstall: See above! Get up, get ready, then work. Nothing is more urgent than a shower.

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

Julia Tunstall: There is no such thing as a “bad” cocktail, a “girl” drink, etc.! If it’s safe to drink, go ahead! Everyone should feel happy and comfortable drinking what they like, whatever that is!

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

Julia Tunstall: At the risk of repeating myself, probably see above once again! Making a habit of personal care.

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

Julia Tunstall: I’m not sure this is a “strategy” but I think it fits here. We serve an audience of people. Our “mission” is “We serve the people who serve great drinks.” Once you know WHO you serve, then it’s just a matter of figuring out what they need and how you can meet that need. Start with who you serve and the rest will fall into place.

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

Julia Tunstall: We have had tons of failures! We’ve tried a lot of things, and we just kept trying things until we found something that worked well. I think overcoming the fear of failure is what gave us the freedom to try crazier ideas, step outside our comfort zone and eventually find the “thing” that was the perfect product-market-fit for us.

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

Julia Tunstall: Oh my gosh, I have so many! Here’s one… Back when I had my kids I wished a service existed to ask a bunch of 7-12-year-old kids about your potential kids’ name choices and see how they’d make fun of it. Ha!

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

Julia Tunstall: I just bought a really high-quality office chair used on Craigslist. I hadn’t been thinking about my chair at all but the new one is so much more comfortable and my neck feels better already!

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

Julia Tunstall: My entire brain exists in a combination of Asana and our internal gSite. Without these two I would remember nothing and get nothing done.

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

Julia Tunstall: Absolutely love Daniel Pink’s “DRIVE.” It’s formed the basis of everything we do in terms of running a mission-focused business alongside our team.

What is your favorite quote?

Julia Tunstall: Oof that’s a tough one. Maybe this one which summarizes a lot of Daniel Pink’s book:
“Control leads to compliance; autonomy leads to engagement.”― Daniel H. Pink

Key Learnings:

Julia Tunstall:

• Figure out WHO you serve and actually care about them. The rest will fall into place!
• Be willing to try new, crazy things. But keep track of how it goes and stop doing the stuff that doesn’t work.
• Take care of your body first!

Originally published on Ideamensch.com

The post Interview with Julia Tunstall, Co-Founder of A Bar Above first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Sam Arnold

Olivia Summerhill, the founder of Summerhill Wealth Management, works exclusively with affluent women, protecting their lifestyle throughout the divorce process. Olivia works closely with her clients’ divorce mediators to negotiate the most advantageous settlements.

After the divorce finalization, Olivia uses her knowledge of behavioral finance to work with her clients on topics relating to a divorce’s impact. Specifically, on psychological behaviors such as self-awareness, money patterns, and effective financial decision-making, her female clients can control and maintain their living standards.

Olivia is one of few financial professionals to hold Certified Financial Planner, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, and Behavioral Financial Advising credentials.

Where did the idea for Summerhill Wealth Management come from?

Olivia Summerhill: After numerous women came to me for help with financial plans post-divorce, I realized they needed someone in the financial field to help them during the divorce process. They needed someone to prepare them for the real world when they were on their own financially post-divorce. They also needed someone to be their financial ally and powerhouse, so they did not get taken advantage of during the divorce process. I did my research and discovered that nobody was indeed doing this niche in the financial industry. I focused on ultra-high net worth women because I can relate, make them feel comfortable, and am good at understanding their complex needs.

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

Olivia Summerhill: I focus on what matters and stay productive by being proactive with my time daily. I always make the workday productive by keeping all distractions on low or off and have found it calming to keep them off during the weekends.

Every day, I wake up at 4 am to work out and eat a healthy breakfast. Then I fill out my gratitude journal and read around 30 minutes on a business topic. About 8 am, I look at my day and focus on work in my home office. I take short breaks often, use a stand-up desk, always have lunch, and take time to walk the dog. I typically work until 4 pm and then have a volunteer or board meeting in the evening. I usually eat around 6 pm and am in bed by 8:30 pm.

How do you bring ideas to life?

Olivia Summerhill: I bring them to life by taking action on the idea. For example, recently, I was running and thought about how fun it would be to start a charity that raised money while I was running. I researched and talked with the right people and now am collaborating with Ironman Foundation. Every dollar I raise while training for my first Ironman goes directly to Savvy Ladies, a non-profit that has financial resources for women. Having that idea and taking action allowed me to incorporate my personal and business brand.

What’s one trend that excites you?

Olivia Summerhill: Working remotely and virtually connecting! I have been using video conferences for a few years and working remotely on and off for years. Glad that everyone else is seeing it as standard.

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

Olivia Summerhill: Getting up early and not making any excuses for going to bed early. I wake refreshed and avoid making bad choices at night when my willpower is low.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Olivia Summerhill: Never think that being so driven and unique compared to your peers is a bad thing.

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

Olivia Summerhill: Financial planning is simple, and everyone can quickly grasp it if they start slow.

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

Olivia Summerhill: Be selfish with your time. Even when I am giving my time away, I always volunteer my time to causes I care about deeply.

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

Olivia Summerhill: Sticking with my brand and not taking on business unless it was a good fit. If someone comes to me looking for financial investment advice, I will refer them to a financial advisor. I only focus on finances within high net worth women and divorce.

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

Olivia Summerhill: I did not know how to create a website and market my brand using social media. I overcame it by reading as much as I could on the subject, interviewing plenty of firms that could help and comparing what they said, and going with my gut. Sometimes you have to spend money on something you do not know, and sometimes it is best to learn and do it yourself. I eventually hired a marketing firm to help but knew a great deal about the topic, which lead to making informed marketing decisions.

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

Olivia Summerhill: Creating a stroller that does not need you to push, it will automatically register you slowing down or speeding up.

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

Olivia Summerhill: Yesterday I bought a few new books on habits, success principles, and business. I will never know enough and always am looking for what others have done better!

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

Olivia Summerhill: Grammarly software allows me to quickly check my emails, newsletters, interviews, and more for grammatical mistakes. It automatically is connected to my email, and I run everything else through the app to make sure I am keeping my punctuation and wording in check.

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

Olivia Summerhill: Jack Canfield’s Success Principles book is all about not making excuses, taking 100% responsibility for your actions, and never giving up. Everyone should read this to learn more about themselves and how they can improve their life, no matter where they are financially or emotionally.

What is your favorite quote?

Olivia Summerhill: Life is inherently risky. There is only one big risk you should avoid at all costs, and that is the risk of doing nothing. -Denis Waitley.

Key Learnings:

Olivia Summerhill:

• Be selfish with your time
• Stick with your brand
• Get up early
• Do not make excuses
• Learn from others

Originally published on Ideamensch.com

The post Interview with Olivia Summerhill, Founder of Summerhill Wealth Management 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

Cassandra Freeman is known as the “#1 Dream Builder” — as a wife, mother of four boys, and founder of Thoughtful Inspirations, she is driven to help other women leaders achieve their dreams by sharing the lessons she learned on her way to success as an entrepreneurial mother and doctoral student.

Her goal-oriented tools such as the ‘The Little White Lie’ book is endorsed by Brian Tracy and motivational e-courses within Never Give Up Academy are just a few of the resources she offers to get you on the fast track towards maximizing your fullest potential. As a speaker, she has empowered thousands of women and their families. Seeing others become their best selves and pursue their wildest dreams is what motivates her. Living life to the fullest is most important to her — allow her to help you create the life you dream of too!

Where did the idea for Thoughtful Inspirations come from?

Cassandra Freeman: The idea came from being myself. I spent years encouraging people to keep going, never give up, and build their dreams. Matter of fact, I remember being in college and encouraging another student to keep going. They looked at me with renewed belief and told me thank you. Then they asked me, “Are you like a motivational speaker or something?” At the time I simply confused and said, “ Oh no, I’m on my way to medical school.” Years later I was still encouraging and finally saw what everyone else saw.

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

Cassandra Freeman: My typical day looks like we waking up to my own little dance party. I turn up the music and get my day going. I go for my run, come home for breakfast, and focus on helping my getting my kids ready for their day and associated mom questions. Some days I weight-lift after my kids “go to” class (covid at home learning) and some days I get straight to work on my business. I end the wok day by taking a walk while my kids’ school day ends. Then family time and dinner. I read a book and unwind for the day.

How do you bring ideas to life?

Cassandra Freeman: I write down all of my thoughts. I sketch them out. Then I get my graphic designers or manufacturers to create it.

What’s one trend that excites you?

Cassandra Freeman: The healthy trend.

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

Cassandra Freeman: Consistency, acting even when you may not feel like it.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Cassandra Freeman: Keep going, you will figure it out. Trust yourself.

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

Cassandra Freeman: That you have always a choice and our choices lead to our present situations.

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

Cassandra Freeman: Stay focused on your vision. Never lose sight of it. It will be the best road map you’ve ever had.

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

Cassandra Freeman: Always learning. My strategy is to read. I have learned that to say one specific strategy that worked for me and my business is not the most effective way to help someone because we are not the same. We all have different styles. So I suggest a habit of reading the same books that others have. That way you can create your own ideas about how to use that information to proceed. A book I would suggest is Never Lose a Customer Again.

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

Cassandra Freeman: It was taking myself out of my business after years of operating it through my vision. I had gotten so lost in how different experts told me I was supposed to run my business. Sales starting dropping and I realized what I was doing wrong was not being myself. I had taken the thoughtfulness out of Thoughtful Inspirations.

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

Cassandra Freeman: Your own subscription box. These are really popular right now.

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

Cassandra Freeman: Sendoutcards. I love sending out thoughtful cards and gifts to my audience and other businesses I’m connected to.

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

Cassandra Freeman: Cloze. It helps me organize my contacts, files, and our conversations all in one place.

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

Cassandra Freeman: Girl Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis. If you aren’t building your dreams yet, this book is a great stepping stone to get you started.

What is your favorite quote?

Cassandra Freeman: “Do not judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.” – Nelson Mandela

Key Learnings:

Cassandra Freeman:

• You have a choice. Choose to be great.
• Your vision is the best roadmap you will ever have.
• Keep your path authentic, never remove yourself from your own path.

Originally published on Ideamensch.com

The post Interview with Cassandra Freeman, Founder of Thoughtful Inspirations 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

Darian Chavez is co-owner of Copy Identity, a copywriting agency where they help Makers create a message in copywriting and content marketing that connects with customers and makes sales. They do this in live classes, digital workbooks, and side-by-side copywriting coaching, a new kind of copywriting service that combines the client’s voice with professional copywriting experience and expertise in virtual side-by-side meetings. Darian is also a full-time active duty member of the U.S. military, a coach in multiple e-commerce business memberships, and creator of the Go-Getter’s Club community where E-commerce business owners get help writing for their businesses. Her husband, Julio Chavez, co-owner of Copy Identity, is a nationally ranked salesman, funnel expert, and coach. Together, they’ve been featured on NBC, CBS, The Wall Street Business Network, Manuel “Facebook Marketing Ninja” Suarez podcast, and dozens more publications telling their highschool sweethearts turned business partners story. Over the last decade they’ve helped hundreds of E-commerce business owners find their story, grow their following, and increase their business revenue. If you’re an E-commerce business who wants to tell your story in copywriting and content marketing, join our free Business Community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/copyidentity, and let’s get to work!

Where did the idea for Copy Identity come from?

Darian Chavez: I’ve always loved writing, so it was an easy fit to write for a living, but I struggled with differentiating myself from other Copywriters. More than that I wanted to leave customers feeling elated with the results, but because Copywriting is so subjective that was often difficult and often required several back-and-forths to get right. That meant fewer clients at a time, so scaling seemed like an impossibility. When I started coaching, I stumbled into the side-by-side model. I coach the client through writing the copy themselves right there on the call and then edit it for them after the fact. Our clients LOVED this model. We walked them through the right structure and formula, they were able to insert their own voice right away, and our editing polished it up to perfection. It also cut back-and-forth down by 90% which meant we could add more clients to our pipeline.

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

Darian Chavez: There are only a handful of tasks we repeat daily (collaboration outreach, social media engagement, and email), everything else has its own day of the week or month to help us focus. Once we’re done with our daily tasks, we chip away at a weekly or monthly project and spend the rest of the day with our son. Because I’m active duty Air Force in addition to running Copy Identity with my husband, my time is even more limited. This means we plan months or even a year in advance on certain projects. Because our copywriting service is more of a coaching model, we’re able to schedule client work completion to an exact date and time; which means we can add more to our plate (teaching classes, creating digital products, designing sales campaigns for our own offers). Traditional copywriting services leave more room for back-and-forth and make it difficult to see the end of a project. This makes it difficult for a traditional copywriter to focus on their own business. Because of our clear schedule, we’re much more productive and prolific.

How do you bring ideas to life?

Darian Chavez: I’m a pen and paper kind of person. I can’t visualize something unless I write it down or draw it out. I also like to learn from others. When I have a new idea, I’ll research to see if and how others have done it and how I can do it better or do it differently. Then, depending on what it is (course, workbook, membership, service), I’ll draw it out on paper or do what I call the Brain Vomit exercise – throw all my ideas down without stopping or editing. From there, my husband and I spend a lot of time talking it out, finding the gaps, and playing devil’s advocate. Then we’ll run a test with our current customers and followers. We’ll put up a short term testrun and make changes based on feedback and interest. If it’s well-received, we’ll develop a sales campaign behind it and go live.

What’s one trend that excites you?

Darian Chavez: We’re very interested in the messenger and text message sales strategy right now. Especially for those starting out who don’t need more than a handful of clients, it sounds like a very promising sales style, but we’ll have to get back to you on how it goes for us.

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

Darian Chavez: Focusing on one thing at a time. I get overwhelmed when I see a long to-do list or a very full calendar, but if I can schedule out projects so that we’re focusing on one project a quarter, one objective a month, one task a week, and one to-do a day – BAM! It’s done quickly and with less stress.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Darian Chavez: Be more confident in your abilities. Especially in the beginning of our company, I held my breath with every client waiting for them to come back angry at the work I delivered, but that never happened! It was usually the opposite, sometimes resulting in emotional responses of gratitude. If I hadn’t tip-toed for so long out of fear I wasn’t good enough, I might have skipped a lot of growth frustration with the company.

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

Darian Chavez: The vast majority of my clients think they don’t have a story to share or that no one would care to read it, but every single time I dig into a client’s background – there’s an incredible story; and once we share it they see an immediate increase in audience connection and sales. Everyone has a story, and when you share you give others permission to share too. It’s why I love what I do and could never stop. We’re bringing people together, liberating women business owners, and helping them find happiness as well as success.

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

Darian Chavez: Focus on one thing at a time. You’ll end up with hundreds of ideas, and all of them will seem better than the last. See one idea through to the end before starting the next. You can make money if you keep restarting.

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

Darian Chavez: We focused on less saturated markets. You hear a lot about B2B Copywriters, but E-commerce Copywriters aren’t as common. When we opted to work a little harder in a less saturated area to serve a mostly neglected group of entrepreneurs, we found our path and started growing.

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

Darian Chavez: Early on, we tried to be everything to everyone and it cost us $30,000 in ad spend to learn that was a mistake. It’s scary to start saying no, but there are benefits to specializing in both skillset and target market. You’re able to actually reach the people who need you.

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

Darian Chavez: We’re looking into flipping businesses. You can find lots of businesses for sale, including their sales metrics, at https://exchangemarketplace.com/.

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

Darian Chavez: I’m going to give my husband kudos for this one. He recently purchased a year subscription to a yoga app for me. I love yoga (and, honestly, need it to stay sane most days), but can’t always attend classes. Now I’ve got an unlimited supply on my phone that I can fit in at any point of the day.

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

Darian Chavez: We love https://answerthepublic.com/ to see what questions people are asking online about the topics we’d like to cover. This helps us stay SEO-relevant and answer questions our clients are actually interested in.

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

Darian Chavez: High Performance Habits by Brendon Burchard. It’s a manual in reaching the next level personally and professionally whether that’s in business or your personal life, and helps you sustain as a healthy entrepreneur.

What is your favorite quote?

Darian Chavez: It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us. Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us… Your playing small does not serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you… It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, Our presence automatically liberates others. —Marianne Williamson

Key Learnings:

Darian Chavez:

• Focus on one idea to completion before starting on another
• Be confident in your abilities and put yourself out there with the knowledge that what you offer is valuable and wanted
• Being an entrepreneur includes taking care of yourself and your family. This is a marathon, not a sprint so pace yourself
• You can’t be everything to everyone, so focus on the people, topics, and offers that motivate you the most and keep you moving forward
• Ideas don’t just come from you, they come from the people you serve, so find out what they’re asking.

Originally published on Ideamensch.com

The post Interview with Darian Chavez, Co-Owner of Copy Identity first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Sam Arnold