Episoder
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Aakash Shah struggled with allergies for years before finally finding permanent relief. Now heâs helping others access the same life-changing treatmentâall from the comfort of their own homes.
Aakash is the founder and CEO of Wyndly. He holds BAs in Computer Science and Cognitive Science from the University of Virginia. After graduating, he helped found and grow several startups, two of which he saw through successful acquisitions. In 2020, Aakash joined forces with his cousin, Dr. Manan Shah, to found Wyndly: a 5-star online telehealth experience that provides convenient access to allergy immunotherapy.
From Computer Science to Telehealth
The idea for Wyndly began with Aakashâs own allergy issues. After being thrown around the healthcare system for years, none of the allergists heâd seen could fix the problem. The best solution they could offer him was to visit their clinic weekly for treatment.
Aakashâs cousin suggested a popular alternative in Europe, where doctors mailed their patients sublingual (under the tongue) immunotherapy treatment. It worked: Aakash experienced permanent allergy relief. He sold his wife and sister-in-law on the same regime, and when they had similar results, he knew there was business potential.
Wyndly now provides permanent, fully remote allergy relief. Their customers receive personalized treatment in the mail and unlimited access to their team of doctors via text message, chat, and email.
A Unique Business Model
When Wyndly launched in 2020, Aakash noticed two key marketing trends: first, people were more open to buying healthcare products online. Second, more people were self-educating themselves through video content. They capitalized on the first trend by providing a fully remote experience. As for the second trend, Wyndlyâs TikTok videos average around a million monthly views.
A few years later, theyâve branched into other marketing strategies like SEO, paid ads, and email marketing. They also accept referrals from other doctors.
Wyndlyâs business model is unique because most healthcare businesses are dictated by what insurance companies are willing to cover. Although Wyndly accepts insurance, most customers are happy to pay $100/month for permanent allergy relief. They also offer a compelling guarantee: try it out for six months, and if you donât experience relief, theyâll issue a full refund.
Enjoy this episode with founder Aakash ShahâŠ
Soundbytes
6:30-6:49
âThis is just so much better that the world has to be experiencing it. And that was my shift into entrepreneurship, right? Once I realized that there was a big enough problem that I felt passionate enough aboutâŠthere just has to be someone chasing after this.â12:58-13:20
âIt's really important to know where your first 1-2,000 customers are going to come from. And a lot of times, people out there will say, âWell, try Facebook ads] or try door-to-door sales or this or that. And maybe those will be right. But you really have to sit down and talk to folks and try to identify where are your buyers coming from.âQuotes
âI built the medical experience I wish I had.â
âThatâs probably the #1 way people become entrepreneurs, they see someone else do it and decide to take the leap behind them.â
âItâs really important to know where your first 1,000-2,000 customers are going to come from.â
âItâs important to understand who your specific customers are, and we did that by just sitting down and talking to them.â
Links mentioned in this episode:
Aakashâs website: https://www.aakash.io/
Wyndly website: https://www.wyndly.com/
Connect with Aakash on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mraakashshah/
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If you want to grow your e-commerce or retail salesâor you happen to be a cigar loverâthis episode is for you!
David Garofalo is the owner of Two Guys Smoke Shop, the largest independently owned and operated cigar retailer in the world. Heâs also the host of The Cigar Authority Podcast and author of the book David vs. Goliath: How to Compete and Beat the Online Giant. Davidâs other business ventures include 21 Podcast CafĂ©, where he helps promote and market other small businesses, and United Cigar, a B2B cigar wholesaler and U.S. Distributor.
A Business Built to Last
David founded Two Guys Smoke Shop in 1985 and now has three generations of family who work with him. Aside from their brick-and-mortar locations, they also run a thriving e-commerce business.
Google and Facebook have made it difficult to run cigar advertisements, so David turned to podcasting. Over a decade later, The Cigar Authority is the longest-running and most listened-to cigar podcast in the world. It also grew their online sales exponentiallyâwhich saved the company during COVID-19.
Having survived both the pandemic and the 2008 recession, Davidâs mission is to pay it forward by helping other retailers survive tough times.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Davidâs biggest piece of advice for business owners is not to copy other brands. Find your own thing, whether itâs your customer experience, a new marketing angle, or the products you offer. When each business is unique, thereâs room for everyone.
Another way to stand out from competitors is through great customer service. These days, quality service is rare, and people remember a positive experienceâespecially in retail. Online retailers can offer better pricing, free shipping, and the convenience factor, so you need to provide something they canât: human connection. Give people an experience to remember when they come into your store.
Enjoy this episode with entrepreneur David GarofaloâŠ
Soundbytes
26:32-26:48
âI started podcasting in 2010. Those were the days I had to show people, âHereâs what a podcast isâ. No one knew what it was. I did that to help my brick-and-mortar retail, but what it really did was help my online sales.â32:41-33:20
âI went right to work, I didnât go to college. I was actually pretty bad in school also. I was a C-D student. I tried, it was always A for effort but I couldnât take a test well. I got into the cigar business, I became an expert as fast as I possibly could. That little cigar boom I told you about happened. And I got a call one day from Harvard UniversityâŠand they said, âWeâd like you as a speaker at Harvard University. I said, âYouâve got to be kidding me.ââ40:32-40:56
âDonât try to be me. Donât try to do that, because youâre not going to be as good at being me as I am. So figure out another way to do it. There can be all kinds of restaurants down the street, they all make it. But if one is doing the exact same thing as the other, they can either split the business or one gets the crumbs from the other. You just canât do it, so come up with your own thing.âQuotes
âYou need to love what you do and be passionate about it, especially as a salesperson.â
âI didnât go to college. I was actually pretty bad in school...but I got into the cigar business, I became an expert as fast as I possibly could. And I got a call one day from Harvard UniversityâŠand they said, âWeâd like you as a speaker at Harvard University.ââ
âIâm going to help other retailers for the rest of my life. Because Iâve gone through tough times like everybody else has.â
âDo something different. Make a splash.â
âThe people that say, âDave youâre very lucky,â donât know me. They donât know how hard I worked. Because luck had nothing to do with it. The harder I worked, the luckier I got.â
Links mentioned in this episode:
Visit Davidâs website: http://DavidGarofalo.com
2 Guys Cigars: http://2GuysCigars.com
The Cigar Authority: https://thecigarauthority.com
David vs. Goliath: How to Compete and Beat the Online Giant: https://store.bookbaby.com/bookshop/book/index.aspx?bookURL=David-vs-Goliath&b=c_bu-bu-bl
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Do you know the difference between a plan and a strategy? To reach your business goals, you need both. Todayâs guest shares a new approach to growth strategy.
As the Founder and CEO of Demand Metric, Jesse Hopps has spent the last 18 years working with senior executives at many of the world's largest organizations to accelerate revenue growth with focused problem-solving. Heâs on a mission to help 500 clients earn $500K+/year in semi-retirement doing growth strategy work. He is disrupting what he calls the broken growth model of the Strategy Consulting industry, which is largely controlled by Ivy League firms that are being increasingly questioned about the effectiveness and value of their services.
Demand Metric has served over 8,000 clients including Microsoft, Salesforce, Apple, Amazon, Fidelity Investments, US Bank, Verizon, and many more!
Building a Marketing Membership
Jesse and his partners grew a community of over 250,000 marketing professionals through SEO content marketing and email. Their goal was to provide a productized version of consulting through research-based, customizable tools. Today they have over 670 templates, including everything from case studies to marketing plan presentations, job descriptions, and CRM assessments.
A major turning point for the company came when they started content licensing with large organizations, first the American Marketing Association (AMA) and later the Association of International Product Managers & Marketers (AIPMM). Those partnerships put Demand Metric on the map as a credible brand and industry leader. Soon enough, more organizations began to reach out for research reports and custom content.
Plan vs. Strategy
Jesseâs mission is to disrupt the consulting industry by providing more value to the client. His approach is based on the book Good Strategy, Bad Strategy by Richard Rumelt, which focuses on challenges over goals.
Most business leaders base their strategy on goals: they want to reach a certain revenue number and they have a plan to achieve that goal. But you need a strategy to overcome any potential obstacles on the path to that goal. The first step is to get all the issues on the table that might prevent you from achieving your vision. Then, figure out which problems you need to solve to make achieving your goal inevitable.
Enjoy this episode with founder Jesse HoppsâŠ
Soundbytes
12:46-13:20
âThey taught me that if youâve got emails and people that are engaged and a good audience, you can monetize this. I had no idea, that wasnât what we set out to do in our business. It was always a subscription model, working with these associations. I said, âWhat do people pay for that kind of thing?â They said, âWeâll give you $5,000 if you send this email out. I said thatâs probably the easiest $5,000 Iâve ever made in my life.â24:13-24:39
âAnyone whoâs been in consulting knows it can be very lonely if youâre an entrepreneur or solopreneur. So having a group of others, going through building their business, bouncing ideas off of themâŠWeâve built online communities before. Itâs hard to get them really active and a great culture in a community, but this one kind of just took off on its own. I think mainly because there was a common purpose and vision for the group.â31:03-31:24
âThe art of strategy isn't so much about setting big goals and then creating a bunch of disconnected initiatives around hopefully all these things added up will equal us hitting the goal. It's about getting all the issues of why you maybe won't hit that goal on the table and figuring out what would need to be true, what would need to be solved, in order to make achieving that goal inevitable.âQuotes
âEverything weâve built has been based on request.â
âWe take theory and turn it into simple, practical tools that are flexible and customizable.â
âThere was an alternative way to deliver value to a big company that the big consulting donât really do. The client taught me that thereâs a lot of value in having someone work alongside of them and their team as a coach.â
âI want to disrupt the traditional consulting paradigm. I think the McKinseys of the world have been charging a lot of money for nice-looking plans, but a lot of them fail to get executed.â
âThe art of strategy isn't so much about setting big goals⊠It's about getting all the issues of why you maybe won't hit that goal on the table.â
Links mentioned in this episode:
Demand Metric website: http://www.demandmetric.com
Connect with Jesse on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessehopps
Connect with Jesse on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessehopps/
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If you want to scale your business for more profit and peace of mind, the solution comes down to one word: systems.
Ernesto Mandowsky is an expert in designing systems that grow with you. As the founder of The Million Dollar Machine, he helps scaling service providers design systems to improve revenue, retention, and peace of mind. His mission is to democratize business transformation tools. Ernesto shares his insights on Million Dollar Machine Media across Spotify, Youtube, and LinkedIn.
The 6Ps
When it comes to designing systems for your business, Ernesto recommends looking at six core pillars:
Priorities: How do you set goals for your company? People: Who do you want to develop key relationships with? Products: How are you delivering your products and services? Promotion: How are you communicating with your audience? What type of content are you creating? Playbooks: What checklists, processes, and SOPs do you need? Planning: What are your daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual planning cycles?The Power of One Offer
The biggest challenge that service providers face is having too many offers. Ernesto recommends focusing on just one or two core offers to avoid stretching yourself too thin. When deciding what your core offers should be, consider how much time and money it costs to deliver each service.
In Ernestoâs business, heâs worked on projects anywhere from $500 to $45,000, but his sweet spot is $3,000-$10,000. Projects in that range provide the best time for money value. For most service providers, Ernesto recommends aiming for the $10,000 mark.
When you think you have a great offer, ask yourself how it will expand your capacity for growth. Will it save you time or make you more money? How many clients do you need at that price point to reach your revenue goals?
Enjoy this episode with Founder Ernesto MandowskyâŠ
Soundbytes
3:44-4:24
âIn my late teens, I said how can I bring people together, specifically my friends from school. Weâre from Miami and used to throw a lot of parties in these warehouses. And I said, âWhen I become a senior, Iâm going to throw a party thatâs 10x better than the parties I was going to.â And lo and behold, skip the details, but I rented out a club at the Hardrock Hotel here in Fort LauderdaleâŠand managed to bring 2,000 people to this venue and make $30,000 in revenue in one night.âQuotes
âMy magic was around creating a five-star experience to help entrepreneurs change, grow, and adjust as their business is scaling and evolving.â
âI try to help people think: âWhat is a $10,000 offer?ââ
âIâm making sure Iâm taking care of my things I need to get done, so I can show up more excited for my community.â
Links mentioned in this episode:
The Million Dollar Machine: https://www.themilliondollarmachine.com
Connect with Ernesto on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ernestomandowsky/
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A great customer experience is the difference between someone choosing to buy from you againâŠor switching to your competitor. Todayâs guest will help you turn one-time buyers into repeat customers through a powerful experience and community engagement.
Jess Cervellon is the Founder of Open Late Collective, an agency blending brand strategy, insights, CX, and digital marketing. As the former Vice President of Customer Experience at Feastables, a $100M+ chocolate venture founded by YouTube superstar Mr. Beast, Jess is laser-focused on crafting unforgettable customer experiences. Sheâs become a go-to expert in creator brand strategy and end-to-end customer experience.
Mapping Your Customer Journey
At their cross-disciplinary agency, Jess and her team help clients with everything from positioning and messaging to content marketing and community buildingâbut thereâs one piece that provides the foundation, and thatâs customer experience.
Your customer experience needs to be consistent and on-brand through every part of the process, from awareness to acquisition to conversion to post-purchase and retention.
Start with the awareness phase of your customer journey: what are your top-of-funnel awareness channels? Where are customers coming from? From there, look at how youâre going to turn that traffic into leads and sales (acquisition). Your website, messaging, and positioning all have a role to play. Jess recommends looking at each platform as a separate funnel, for example mapping out the journey your customers take on your website.
Building Community Around Your Brand
No matter what industry youâre in, community is an essential part of brand-building. You need to engage with your audience regularly, whether that means replying to comments and DMs on social media, activations in retail, or hosting pop-up events to spread brand awareness.
For newer brands, start by building your email list, even if you already have a large social media following. Remember that you donât own your followersâ contact information. Try to cross-pollinate as much as possible, sending people from social media to your website and vice versa.
Enjoy this episode with customer experience expert Jess CervellonâŠ
Soundbytes
7:57-8:16
âCustomer experience is really important and thinking about customer experience as not just support, but thinking about your customer experience from everything from awareness to acquisition to conversion to post-purchase. Every portion of that customerâs journey is so important and you need to bleed your entire brand identity through that customer experience.âQuotes
âWe want to help brands be informed by data, not just gut feelings.â
âI know my bread and butter is the creator world and CPG world and I want to help people within those realms. I donât want to take on additional things that I can only half-ass. We only operate at 110.â
âEveryday is different and itâs all about asserting different boundaries.â
Links mentioned in this episode:
Open Late Collective: https://openlatecollective.com/
Connect with Jess on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jess-cervellon/
The Juice with Jess Podcast: https://juice.kustomer.com/
Feastables: https://feastables.com/
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We're re-running our favorite episodes from The Business of You archives. If you missed it the first time, or just want to listen again, check this one out!
In Part 2 of our conversation with Joelle Flynn and Sonia Hounsell, the Co-Founders and best friends share valuable advice for women launching product-based businesses.
Sonia and Joelle did not plan on breaking into the oral care industry, but now theyâre seasoned experts. After Joelle came up with the brilliant idea for a reusable 2-in-1 toothbrush and toothpaste combination, she partnered with her friend Sonia Hounsell. With experience in product development and marketing, Sonia was prepared for the long haul of bringing a product to market and growing a brand.
Joelle Flynn and Sonia Hounsell officially launched FunkkOFF!Âź in 2021, eleven years after the ideaâs original inception. Designed with women in mind, FunkkOFF!Âź TeethRefreshersÂź are the only 2-in-1 toothbrush-toothpaste beauty essential that is reusable 30x to keep your smile fresh & white. TeethRefreshersÂź come in multiple colors and easily fit into a purse, backpack or jacket pocket for an on-the-go refresh. Their products contain no fluoride, BPAâs, sulfates, or dyes.
After Sonia and Joelle recently appeared in an episode of Shark Tank, they received a major financial investment and were able to grow their inventory and marketing exponentially. FunkkOFF!Âź has been featured in Travel + Leisure, the LA Times, NBC, Real Simple and ABC.
The art of business partnerships
People often ask Joelle Flynn and Sonia Hounsell what itâs like being in business with your friend. Their answer is encouraging: Itâs great, as long as you stick to your strengths.
In the early days of their business, Sonia and Joelle had to do everything together. All decisions were made with each of them weighing in, and they collaborated on every project. It was a whirlwind time, and each of them were raising young children as they made it happen.
Once the business got off the ground and began to gain momentum - and after they appeared on an episode of Shark Tank - Sonia and Joelle began to clarify their independent roles more explicitly. With an increased workload and ever-growing online brand, it was time to divide tasks according to their respective strengths.
Ever-supportive of one another, Sonia and Joelle decide who does what by looking at one another's natural capabilities. The Co-Founders give us a valuable lesson in supporting one another and respecting the innate abilities of different members of a team. Especially at the executive level, itâs essential to stick to what youâre good at.
Women supporting women
The episode of Shark Tank did a great job highlighting their business. However, it left out something really important: How supportive the sharks are for women entrepreneurs on the show.
Just a few decades ago, women in business did not have access to the same opportunities as men had. Now, investors and serial entrepreneurs are stepping in to bridge the gap and help give women a leg up.
Sonia and Joelle raved about how kind the sharks were as they pitched and explained their business. Sonia says - what didnât air on tv was their genuine support.
After the sharks initially said no to Sonia and Joelleâs offering, they were stopped on their way out the door - and offered a financial boost in the form of $250,000 from Robert Herjavec. As he put it, his wife Kym would love their product.
Take advantage of resources
Whether youâre launching a product or service-based business, Sonia and Joelle have a piece of insight for you that you wonât want to miss: Take advantage of every free resource you can.
During the process of designing and launching FunkkOFF!Âź, they took their time to seek out free or inexpensive services to support their goals, starting with their product design. Upon contacting professional product designers to help them create a prototype for the TeethRefreshersÂź, Sonia and Joelle discovered that product design consultations are usually free. The consult came with numerous pieces of advice that ultimately helped them succeed.
Not only did they receive a free consultation with product designers - the Co-Founders were overwhelmed with how many resources were available to help women launch a business. They discovered grants, investors and professional consults with skilled entrepreneurs available to women looking to become Founders and build their brands.
Ask yourself - what resources are available to help support you? Who could you approach for encouragement and support as you bring your ideas to life?
Enjoy this useful and encouraging episode of The Business of You, featuring Joelle Flynn and Sonia Hounsell.
Soundbytes
Sonia
20:13 - 20:52
â20 or 30 years ago, a female entrepreneur was at a disadvantage. Today weâre really lucky. Joelle and I both have daughters - I really am hopeful that in 10 to 20 years, when our daughters are potentially entrepreneurs - that itâs gonna be exponentially better. Thatâs part of the reason we do this - for our kids, to be role models and break barriers that have been breaking since we were young but still have a ways to go.âSonia
16:05 - 16:18
âInnovation is almost like the step in the door, but if you want to stay in the room, you have to have all the other stuff wrapped around it or it wonât have the opportunity you want it to.âQuotes
Joelle
âWhat wasnât aired [on Shark Tank] was how totally supportive they were of women entrepreneurs. They were so kind. I wish that was shown more!âJoelle
âAs with any founders of an organization, there is an evolution that happens. In the beginning, it was easy for both of us to do everything. We were together on everything. Then as we have grown, you just donât have time. We have to divide and conquer. Division of labor is a really powerful tool.âJoelle
âWe have to be a unified force. We talk a lot about priorities and we meet weekly to make sure weâre on the same page.âJoelle
âThe numbers change and the vision grows, but the plan stays the same and we work equally as hard.âSonia
âWhatever time or money you think itâs gonna take to get a product to market, multiply that by twoâŠor ten. Things donât go the way you planned.âSonia
âThe innovation of a product is the most important thing - to create the highest potential. But if you donât have the packaging and branding and communication plan, itâs not going to matter. You have to connect with the consumer and make sure they understand the product.âSonia
âWeâve made our own lane, at an intersection between beauty and oral care that did not exist before.âSonia
âSomeone can create a similar device, but no one is going to take away our brand or what we stand for. Weâre 100% women-owned and that is very powerful. Weâre all about being as natural and sustainable as we can. We give back. All of that wrapped up together helps create some protection for us.âSonia
âYou really do want to ask people what they think. More than friends and family, because they will tell you more of what you want to hear. Pressure test the idea. Talk to people who will tell you what they think. Do an extensive search on whatâs out there and what features and benefits they provide. You want to differentiate.âLinks mentioned in this episode:
Visit the website for Funkkoff at https://funkkoff.com/
Follow Funkkoff Leadership on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/funkkoff
Follow Funkkoff on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/funkkoff/
Find Funkkoff on Twitter at https://twitter.com/FunkkOFF_
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We're re-running our favorite episodes from The Business of You archives. If you missed it the first time, or just want to listen again, check this one out!
In this episode, weâre sharing a Shark Tank success story! These two Founders combined their strengths to turn the seeds of a great idea into a best-selling product.
Childhood best friends turned powerhouse entrepreneurs Joelle Flynn and Sonia Hounsell are changing the oral care landscape with their revolutionary on-the-go oral care brand, FunkkOFF!Âź. Designed with women in mind, FunkkOFF!Âź TeethRefreshersÂź are the only 2-in-1 toothbrush-toothpaste beauty essential thatâs reusable 30x to keep your smile fresh & white. TeethRefreshersÂź come in multiple colors and easily fit into a purse, backpack or jacket pocket for an on-the-go refresh. Containing no fluoride, BPAâs, sulfates, or dyes, you can use the easy gel formula without concern over harsh chemicals.
Sonia and Joelle recently appeared in an episode of Shark Tank, and sharks bit - recognizing the incredible value of their product offering. FunkkOFF!Âź has been featured in Travel + Leisure, the LA Times, NBC, Real Simple and ABC.
At FunkkOFF!Âź, Sonia and Joelle believe in giving back. They are proud supporters of the Smiles for Everyone Foundation, providing free dental care to those in need, both at home in the U.S. and around the world. They also helped establish an Orange County chapter of Girls on the Run, encouraging girls to pursue their dreams.
Currently, Sonia and Joelle are rapidly scaling up operations at FunkkOFF!Âź with their flagship product and working behind the scenes on new product offerings to release in the future.
An idea starts with a problem solved
Joelle Flynn loves red wine. But she does not love what red wine does to her white teeth!
During a day of busy wine tasting, she packed a toothbrush and toothpaste in her purse to go from tasting to tasting. After a quick brush, she was applying her lipstick when she had the ultimate aha moment - realizing that there is no product for brushing your teeth on the go that is environmentally sustainable and reusable, all-natural and easy to use.
Working around the bulky and wasteful limitations of the current products on the market, Joelle stuck a toothbrush head on a chapstick tube and started taking it to product designers. With her first prototype created, Joelle partnered with her friend Sonia and they began methodically filing and receiving patents.
Now, Joelle and Sonia are glad they did everything by the book. Filing patents took years and tons of time and energy, but set them up to compete with other dental and personal care brands in the world market.
Combining strengths, combining forces
Joelle conceived the idea for FunkkOFF!Âź TeethRefreshersÂź, and she knew who to call - her childhood friend Sonia Hounsell.
WIth 30+ years in business, Sonia knew how to launch and market a product successfully. With Joelleâs ideas and Soniaâs eye for business, they believed they could become successful entrepreneurs. Despite their excitement, they played the long game, never losing sight of their overall goals.
As business partners, Sonia and Joelle work to complement each othersâ strengths and combine their visions to grow their company. They are a shining example of knowing one anotherâs capabilities and highlighting their best talents in business.
A Shark Tank success story
When Sonia and Joelle were invited to apply for Shark Tank, they didnât know what to expect.
Walking in with radiant smiles and glasses of red wine, they proudly proclaimed: âWe all have funkâŠand we all need it off.â But the sharks did not bite right away!
Sonia and Joelleâs biggest obstacle had been money - to finance enough inventory to gain notoriety and market their product in the right places. But they never let the struggle get them down.
The entrepreneurs and friends endured an hour-long questioning session on Shark Tank about everything from their gross income to their investment to their product design. It was brutal and lengthy, but ultimately a shark bit at the last second. Investor Robert Herjavec decided to invest $250,000 to help them increase their inventory and successfully market their business.
Now, they have sold out multiple times and are working to scale their company. Enjoy this Shark Tank success story on The Business of You!
Soundbytes
Joelle
15:21 - 15:37
âWeâre very proud. Weâve done everything methodically and thoughtfully. We know itâs not rocket science, but itâs our flagship product - the big guys did not figure out how to make something all-in-one and reusable like we did!âQuotes
Sonia
âAt the end of the day, it is a lifestyle business to help people look and feel good no matter where they are.âJoelle
âI was loving my red wine - and my red wine loved my white teeth! It would turn them a funky shade of purple. I started to carry around a toothbrush and toothpaste in my little purse from winery to winery, brushing the purple funk off my teeth and heading to the next tasting. I was in the bathroom putting my lipstick on and I was like, why is there nothing quick, compact, and reusable to make it easy to use on the go?âJoelle
âI actually stuck a round spinning toothbrush head on a chapstick container and took it to product designers. Over about 8 years I filed 8 patents - to make it reusable and all-in-one.âSonia
âI loved the name FunkkOff because itâs very memorable and ownable. Thereâs a lot we can do with it as far as building out the current product in addition to launching future products. We are currently working on more products to release down the road! People love to say it, and when they say it, they smile.âJoelle
âWe actually walked in [to Shark Tank] with two glasses of red wine! You walk in and you want to be confident. There are a gazillion cameras, and they are really far away. Halfway through we just started answering questions. It was nerve-wracking and exhilarating. But it worked.âJoelle
âThe sharks were really nice. They were intimidating but theyâre real people - who wanted to learn about and understand our business.âSonia
âWith the airing of the Shark Tank episode, our business has taken on a new level of growth. Weâre working through that. Itâs opened up opportunities in the United States, Internationally and in different markets and distribution channels. We need to focus on scaling up that business first, then weâll start adding new products to grow further.âLinks mentioned in this episode:
Visit the website for Funkkoff at https://funkkoff.com/
Follow Funkkoff Leadership on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/funkkoff
Follow Funkkoff on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/funkkoff/
Find Funkkoff on Twitter at https://twitter.com/FunkkOFF_
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Differentiation in business involves embracing your unique strengths, experiences, and passions to create a distinct value proposition that sets you apart from competitors. Itâs not about being different for the sake of it but authentically showcasing what you uniquely bring to the table.
Understanding your market and analyzing your competition is essential for effective differentiation. By comparing your strengths, experiences, and positioning to those of your competitors, you can identify what makes your business stand outâwhether it's a specific expertise, a unique customer experience, or a particular result you consistently deliver. Rather than fearing competition, use it as an opportunity to refine and communicate your unique value.
Effectively communicating your differentiation is crucial. Through branding, marketing strategies, or sharing your story, consistently highlight what makes you and your business special. This approach not only attracts your ideal audience but also helps build a strong personal brand.
Remember, differentiation is an ongoing process of self-discovery and expression that ultimately helps you zero in on the legacy you want to leave.
Quotes
âOne of the things we spend a good amount of time on in the strategic process is really helping people understand how they're different. Different in their marketplace, different than their competitors, and different in a way that helps them stand out, not just from competition, but just stand out in general.ââTrying to be different and just being different are two very, completely different things. And I think the more we are our authentic and genuine selves, actually, the more different we are.â
âYou are the biggest differentiator in your business.â
âYou do have to look at your competitors, look at their experiences, look at their strengths, look at their positioning, to understand how you have to differentiate yourself.â
âI don't believe in fearing competition. I feel like there's plenty of business out there for everybody.â
âOur internal 13 year old self might hear that and get really freaked out by that, right? Because all we want to do in our teen years is fit right in.â
âââWe talk about soul a lot in this show, but really thinking about, you know, what is your purpose, and what are you here to do in this life that you're living?â
âIn order to know where you're going, aka goals direction, you have to know who you are, and you have to reverse engineer the goal setting into impact.â
âOnce you do get clear on what makes you different, you have to communicate that.â
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We're re-running our favorite episodes from The Business of You archives. If you missed it the first time, or just want to listen again, check this one out!
When Saima Rathor and Patricia Gallardo met outside their childrenâs preschool 15 years ago, they never could have imagined that one day theyâd be founding a company together.
The two women struck up a fast friendship, and over a decade later they turned their shared passion for the transformative power of beauty products into EpicLight Beauty: a line of clean, multi-tasking products for women aged 35+ that break the standard mold of beauty.
EpicLight Beauty is inspired by Saima and Patriciaâs rich Latina and Pakistani cultures. Their products address the changes in womenâs skin, different ethnicities, and the beauty industry's perception of real women. The result is a celebration of women of all skin tones, ages, and skin types.
Since they launched last October, EpicLight Beauty has been featured in outlets like People Magazine, ABC News, and Beauty Independent.
Launching a Product-Based Business
After securing a product developer, manufacturer, and packaging company, Patricia and Saima started hitting the pavement â attending trade shows and making phone calls. With Patriciaâs background in product development and Saimaâs in finance, they made use of industry contacts and spread the word.
After a successful pre-launch campaign, they launched in October 2022. Initially, they sold direct-to-consumers online and through local pop-ups, but soon they opened an Amazon shop as well. As the company has grown, theyâve brought on help with their social media and now work with a team of influencers and content creators.
To avoid the pitfall that many product-based businesses fall into, Saima and Patricia have been careful to limit their skews. They focus on a select few products, all of which are multi-tasking and work for a variety of skin tones.
Building a Community Around Your Brand
EpicLight Beauty is entirely self-funded, which makes their growth even more impressive. From day one, Patricia and Saima prioritized building a community around their brand. Most of their marketing efforts center on the human connection and meeting their customers in person at pop-up events and tradeshows.
Their PR strategies have also focused on relationship-building. By reaching out to editors and making a connection, Patricia and Saima have been featured in major publications and even had their products featured in the Oscar's goody bag! Theyâve also built a successful partnership with Erica Taylor, a well-known artist and educator in the beauty industry.
Many of Patricia and Saimaâs industry connections and publication features have happened through word-of-mouth â something the founders credit to their network of fellow moms.
Throughout all their marketing efforts, Patricia and Saima reiterate how important itâs been for them to listen to their audience. Their tagline, âWe see you because we are youâ captures the heart of their brand.
Enjoy this episode with EpicLight Beauty Founders Saima Rathor and Patricia GallardoâŠ
Soundbytes
8:21-8:55
âAs I got older, I realized I still loved makeup but I didnât see myself represented in the brands. So thatâs one of the things that led Saima and I to join in this process. I still see myself as a young, vibrant woman who likes to look good. I like to go out, I like to have fun, and I didnât see that in the brands I was buying.â9:53-10:05
âWe donât have a lot of time anymore. Before kids, I could spend an hour on my makeup. Now itâs like, âWhatâs something quick I can carry around with me?â Weâre all about convenience these days.â22:41-23:02
âOf course we want to grow and become really big, but itâs more important to have an ear on the ground; listening to our friends and women of our age group, understanding what they want and what they want to see. We want to build more relationships. Thatâs how we plan to grow.âQuotes
âItâs just the feeling that I get. I can have the worst day, and if I go and put on lip gloss that I love, it makes me feel better. It has an emotional impact.â
âAll the press weâve gotten, itâs been through talking to a mom friend. Itâs been this amazing network of moms helping each other, helping us get in touch with Allure, People, and all these magazines. Itâs been wonderful to see the power of the mom network.â
âWeâre not in a rush. We can take our time, go slowly, and have it grow organically. But weâre doing it.â
âOf course we want to grow and become really big, but itâs more important to have an ear on the ground; listening to our friends and women of our age group, understanding what they want and what they want to see. We want to build more relationships. Thatâs how we plan to grow.â
Links mentioned in this episode:
Visit the EpicLight Beauty website: https://www.epiclightbeauty.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/epiclightbeauty/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/EpicLightBeauty/page/A29CD316-5980-4C13-84AA-2DCC3C4014AE?ref_=ast_bln
Connect with Saima Rathor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saimarathor/
Connect with Patricia Gallardo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricia-gallardo-547174b1/
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Crafting an exceptional customer journey, from the initial contact through every touchpoint to post-service interactions, is crucial for ensuring your clients' satisfaction. This holistic approach to customer experience is key to setting your business apart in todayâs competitive market.
Your customer journey consists of several key stages: inception, selling, onboarding, service delivery, and offboarding. Each stage deserves careful attention to make sure your clients feel valued and supported. By truly understanding their needs and preferences, you can create a more personalized and effective experience that fosters long-term relationships and boosts customer satisfaction.
Consistency in brand personality throughout the customer journey is often overlooked, yet itâs vital. A consistent brand helps build trust and makes your customers feel more connected to your business.
By focusing on these aspects, youâll not only meet but exceed customer expectations, driving positive referrals and contributing to your business growth.
Quotes
âHaving grown up in the restaurant business and hospitality, I have always, always paid very close attention to the customer experience that we provide our web customers. And one of the things we've always done is make them feel like they're walking into a restaurant, even though they're working into a virtual office.â
âI think this is where a lot of businesses could differentiate, and the customer experience they provide could easily make or break them, since we're living in such a hyper competitive world.â
âCustomer Journey for Dummies, it is the complete sum of experiences that a customer or client will go through when they're interacting with your company, and that starts before they're actually even paying clients.
âIt encompasses every single touch point and stage that a customer passes through, from first becoming aware of your brand until they make a purchase, and also if they have to return something.â
âEven the way you continue to interact with them after the scope of work is complete is still part of the customer experience or customer journey.â
âWe're not order takers in the web development world, we're really more partners, really invested in the outcome and growing that business or growing that personal brand, just as much as the client is.â
âThroughout the customer journey of working with us, we have teammates whose sole responsibility it is to check in with the client and to keep them on timeline, because timeline impacts budget, right?â
âThere's also an offboarding time period for clients that are heavily engaged in the workflow, offboarding and then also continuing to cultivate the relationship and continuing to help them grow and establish their brands.â
âOne reason why we send newsletters and we do this podcast is it's very much for our existing and past clients, just as much as it is for our potential clients. We want to keep supporting them and helping them to grow far into the future.â
âOne common [mistake] is just not thinking about it. Another common one is not treating a customer the way you would want to be treated and really being very focused on yourselves versus what might be going on in that customer's world or role.â
âA lot of our clients are extremely busy during our own working hours, right? We have to be mindful of what their day to day is like, and also kind of tap in to understand where their overwhelm point is and be able to adjust accordingly.â
âWe have these different points in our service delivery, really taking the time to map out every single touch point down.â
Links mentioned in this episode:
Excellence Wins: A No-Nonsense Guide to Becoming the Best in a World of Compromise by Horst Schulze: https://a.co/d/5rIyWeO
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You've probably heard that practicing generosity can make you happierâŠbut did you know it can also affect your businessâs bottom line?
Cynthia Kersey, recognized as one of the World's Greatest Motivators, is a sought-after speaker, and best-selling author of two books, Unstoppable and Unstoppable Women. Her remarkable 25-year career is not only marked by a client list of global powerhouses but is equally distinguished by her collaborations. As the Founder and CEO of the Unstoppable Foundation, Cynthiaâs organization has empowered 500,000+ lives in 23 Kenyan communities.
A visionary in fundraising and philanthropy, Cynthia masterfully combines the universal Law of Giving and Receiving with practical business insights, showing how generosity not only fosters business and personal growth but also creates a life worth living.
The Generosity Prescription
There are four core elements of Cynthiaâs generosity model: gratitude, generosity with yourself (self-care), generosity toward others, and the ability to generously receive.
When Cynthia dedicated a daily practice to each of those four pillars, she noticed an incredible shift in her life and business. She left her business to start the Unstoppable Foundation, experienced more happiness and abundance, strengthened her faith, and even attracted her dream partner.
To this day, Cynthia starts each morning with gratitude, writing a list of 10 things sheâs grateful for and why. The self-care piece can include things like exercise or a spiritual practice. Being generous to others might mean giving more compliments, donating time or money, or simply looking for ways to enrich the lives of those around you. Lastly, being able to receive means you generously accept gifts and complimentsâsomething that takes practice for most people.
Putting it into Practice
Itâs scientifically proven that practicing generosity has a positive impact on your health, happiness, and relationships. But it can also influence your business and your bank account; companies that focus on enriching their customersâ lives outperform those who donât.
Unsurprisingly, generosity is one of the core values of Cynthiaâs foundation. Whenever they receive a donation, someone on the team calls to personally thank the donor. They also share reports on what the donation has made possible, so the donor can see the impact theyâre making.
As a leader, the easiest way to create a strong company culture is to live into the values you set for your teamâsomething Cynthia strives for everyday.
Enjoy this episode with Founder and CEO Cynthia KerseyâŠ
Soundbytes
14:03-14:30
âWhen you live from a placeâand itâs a mindsetâof generosity, you donât need to have a lot of vast resources, you donât have to have a lot of wealth. Itâs a way of being. When youâre looking at âIâm so grateful and Iâm generous with myself and Iâm generous with someone else, I want to be a blessing, and I generously receive.â I promise you, youâll feel like youâre living heaven on earth.â
21:56-22:32
âIt doesnât matter how high-performing you are, if youâre not giving to yourself, your cup is going to be empty. So when you really practice everyday, how do I support myselfâŠand there are so many ways. It could be forgiveness, it could be love and kindness to yourself, accepting that compliment, giving yourself a complimentâŠjust pick one and take ten minutes to look at, âHow can I give to myself?ââ
Quotes
âRunning a profit is a business.â
âIf you stop the flow of receiving, you stop the whole cycle of good.â
âGenerosity generates the experience of heaven on earth.â
âWhen you start with gratitude, youâre receiving.â
âWe live in a time where thereâs a crisis of meaning. And itâs really one of the most important things people want in their life and their business.â
âThereâs nothing more generative than being generous.â
Links mentioned in this episode:
Visit Cynthiaâs website: http://cynthiakersey.com/
Connect with Cynthia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-kersey-52bb403
The Unstoppable Foundation: https://unstoppablefoundation.org/
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By focusing on the specific characteristics, pain points, and behaviors of your ideal customer, you can create impactful messaging that drives engagement and business growth.
While a target audience is broad, an ideal customer persona hones in on a single, detailed profile representing your perfect customer. Narrowing down your focus to this ideal persona allows you to create more effective messaging that speaks directly to their needs and challenges.
A helpful way to brainstorm your ideal customer is by reflecting on your best customers and identifying common themes among them. Conversely, consider your worst customers and why they werenât a good fit.
One common mistake is not going deep enough into defining your ideal customer. When you go too broad, your messaging becomes generic, weakening its impact. Speaking to a broad audience dilutes your message, while focusing on one person makes it more powerful and resonant.
Regularly updating these personas, especially in response to significant market changes, is crucial for keeping your marketing relevant and effective. The power of making the customer the hero of your story lies in understanding and anticipating their needs, which ultimately helps build stronger connections and drives your businessâs success.
Quotes
âAn ideal customer persona is really thinking about your broad target audience and bringing it down to define one person.â
âWe're taking that broad definition and defining it as one person.â
âHow old is that person? What's their socioeconomic status? What's their average level of education? How many kids might they have? Where do they tend to live in the United States? What are their hobbies? What do they like to read? What do they like to listen to? Right? Those are just some questions to help you go much deeper into your broad target audience and define a customer persona.â
âI created ours, just to tackle the first part of that question, by actually thinking of who our best customers have been for the different things that we offer.â
âOnce you have customers that you're working with, actually taking time to reflect on, you know, what made them a great customer, or even what made someone else not your ideal customer, you know, just write down all the different things that you noticeâ
âThe biggest secret that I unearthed some years back is: we are often our ideal customer. Believe it or not, we're just a couple steps ahead of them.â
âSo many times, people create businesses to serve the needs of themselves or a person just like them, that until you sit down and actually write out your ideal customer persona, you don't realize how similar you are to them.â
âLook inwards and think about where you were maybe a few years ago, before launching the business that you're launching, and thinking about who, who you were, what you were doing, and also think about what are the results you want to get for that person, because thinking about the results will help you better define their pain points, their challenges and why they're coming to you.â
âThe biggest challenge is just not going deep enough, people tend to go broad. And what happens when you go broad is your messaging sounds very general.â
âIf you're thinking about talking to a group of people versus talking to one person, specifically, your messaging isn't going to be as strong.â
Links mentioned in this episode:
Ideal Customer Persona PDF: https://buildmybrandid.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/biD_Ideal-Customer-Insight-Sheet_FINAL.pdf
Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen by Donald Miller: https://a.co/d/feHZ3Eh
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Did you know that playing French music in a liquor store makes shoppers more likely to buy French wine? Sound has a real impact on our buying decisions and Jodi Krangle is an expert in how to use it to your advantage.
Jodi has been a full-time voice actor since 2007. She collaborates with global clients like Dell, Kraft, and Lindt, specializing in Brand Voice, Commercials, Corporate Narration, and podcast intros/outros. Her podcast, Audio Branding: The Hidden Gem of Marketing, has over 230 episodes exploring the influence of sound. She also hosts sound-related discussions in Clubhouse and serves as a judge at the International Sound Awards.
Creating Your Audio Brand
Sound is a powerful part of branding thatâs often overlooked. When someone listens to your podcast or YouTube channel during their morning commute, itâs an intimate experience. Thatâs why itâs important to be intentional about your brand voice.
Just like any aspect of branding, consistency is key. Repetition creates comfort and familiarity with your listeners. You should also consider who youâre speaking to. Keep one person in mind when youâre recording (maybe your ideal customer avatar or a friend you feel comfortable with).
Tips for a Great Sound
If you have a personal brand, chances are youâll need to be on podcasts, record videos, or speak at events. Jodiâs first tip for sounding your best is to rehearse until you sound natural and conversational (not like youâre reading a script).
Second, keep a photo of a family member or friend in front of you while you record, and remember that your tone changes depending on who youâre speaking to.
Consider investing in a signature sound for your brand. Create consistency by using it at multiple touchpoints: podcasts, live events, and social media. There are lots of free audio options available online in directoriesâjust remember that if itâs free, thereâs nothing to stop your competitors from using the same audio.
Enjoy this episode with audio branding expert Jodi KrangleâŠ
Soundbytes
12:05-12:39
âI do think itâs a mistake. I think a lot of these brands could stand with having a unified sound over a number of years. Because remember, and I know you know this, the first time we experience a brand might not be the first time the brand has put that sound together. They might have had that sound for 10 years, but youâre experiencing it for the first time. You as the business owner may be bored with that sound, but if youâre still selling your product or service and people like it, why change whatâs working?âQuotes
âYou donât want to change your branding too often, because they find familiarity and comfort in that.â
âPsychologically, what I love about sound and how it switches on our brain is it affects all of our senses.â
âYour environment has a big psychological effect on what you buy, how much you end up buying, and how you feel about what you bought.â
âOur buying decisions and our everyday lives are really affected by sound.â
Links mentioned in this episode:
Visit Jodiâs website: http://voiceoversandvocals.com
Connect with Jodi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodikrangle/
Audio Branding Podcast: http://audiobrandingpodcast.com
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Rachelâs college path was full of twists and turns and now sheâs helping her daughter, Zoe, on her own journey of self-discovery so she can make informed choices about her future.
Zoe struggled with the traditional college path, initially attending college but deciding to take a semester off after a bout with mono and realizing she wasn't fully committed to the college route.
Itâs so important to allow young adults to take time to explore their options, especially in a society where there's immense pressure to have everything figured out by 18.
Reflecting on her own experience as a first-generation student and how her experiences shaped her approach to guiding her daughters, Rachel uses My Path 101, a platform she created, to help students uncover their true passions and career aspirations before committing to a major.
Whether you're a student choosing a path or an adult redefining your career, remember that learning is a lifelong journeyâkeep exploring your identity and passions.
Quotes
âShe was never really 100% excited and sold on going to college right away. She didn't know at the time what she wanted to do, and she was feeling like college might be a waste of time, and we, my husband and I really encouraged her to take a year off and figure that out.ââKids at 18, 19 years old, it's a lot of pressure for them. They feel a lot of pressure to know what they want to do the rest of their lives.â
âI was a first gen college kid. Actually, my parents did not go to college.â
âI had really wanted to be a lawyer, so I applied to 10 law schools that ran the gamut from like, super safety school, the super reach school. I had great recommendations. I did okay on the LSAT, not great, but like, certainly good enough to get into my safety schools, and I didn't get into one school. And I was crushed, totally crushed. Oh, wow. So I definitely felt that identity crisis.â
âI just wanted to help kids figure out what they wanted to study in in school.â
âThat was the beginning of my own journey that certainly, you know, as I look back with like, a lot of twists and turns. It was no straight line by any means.â
âI think college prices are over inflated, having been through the application process now with with Zoe, what I found a lot of schools do is they do inflate their prices, and then they give you a scholarship to kind of normalize their price.â
âMy Path is taking what we do on the personal branding side of our work at Brand ID and providing it to students, high school or college students, in a way that they can kind of self navigate and better understand themselves.â
âWhy can't we take what we're doing in personal branding and apply it to to high school and college kids, and save them a little time and money by doing some of this introspective work before they actually determine their major?â
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We're re-running our favorite episodes from The Business of You archives. If you missed it the first time, or just want to listen again, check this one out!
In Part 2 of my conversation with Jonathan Jackson, we dive deeper into his faith and passion for creative storytelling.
If acting, music and writing were all about entertaining people, Jonathan would have left the industry behind a long time ago. Instead, he uses multiple creative channels to weave authentic stories of redemption, grace and humanity for others - through song, spoken and written word.
While Jonathan still acts, he primarily builds his influence on the foundation of storytelling in every form it takes, with poetry and music taking center stage.
Jonathan recently released a new book called The Harrowing of Hell: An Epic Poem exploring what happened between Christâs crucifixion and resurrection. To Jonathan, it is the story of the Hero of Heroes.
He has also authored other books including a work of Mystical Poetry entitled âBook of Solace and Madnessâ and the non-fiction prose âThe Mystery of Artâ, which has been translated into multiple languages.
His band Enation has performed alongside artists such as Echo & The Bunnymen, Sarah McLachlan, Echosmith, and more. Their newest album, Ultraviolet Empire, was released in the fall of 2020 and was co-produced by GRAMMYÂź Award-winning producer Colin Linden.
Jonathan Jackson is a five-time EMMYÂź Award-winning actor and Criticsâ Choice Award nominee who has starred in numerous TV and films, including ABC/CMTâs hit drama âNashvilleâ (2012â2018), âGeneral Hospitalâ (1993â1999, 2009â2011, 2015), âTuck Everlastingâ (2002), âThe Deep End Of The Oceanâ (1999), âInsomniaâ (2002) and âDirty Dancing: Havana Nightsâ (2004). He also appeared in episodes of âOne Tree Hillâ, âBoy Meets Worldâ, âThe Twilight Zoneâ and âTerminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.â
Trust the timing
Jonathan Jackson is a believer in divine timing.
Rather than many business strategists who will tell you that there is a ârightâ or âwrongâ time to put your work out into the world, Jonathan recommends that we as entrepreneurs turn inwards. Do you feel like the work is done - and is the world actually ready for it? Do the conditions feel right to you?
Jonathan has multiple albums, several books and even some screenplays that await the right conditions. They are in various stays of completion, but they all have one thing in common - itâs not the right time yet.
In this episode, Jonathan serves us a welcome reminder that much of life and business is about timing.
Donât be afraid to explore your interests
If youâre someone with varying interests, it can be easy to cave in to othersâ advice to just choose one focus. But Jonathan Jackson gives us his honest advice: Donât.
In his young adulthood, Jonathan was an actor while he sought to learn songwriting, screenwriting and more. He never lost sight of his own passions and followed every thread as far as he could, creating new spaces for his own exploration. The results have been incredible. With his most recent book he released an original score of music and occasionally hosts live performances honoring the work. SImilarly, he believes that we can all weave our passions together when the timing is right.
Rather than seeing our interests as boxes we have to fit into, he encourages us to stay open minded and see the broader picture. Your interests may seem disparate now, but how could they be woven together in new and innovative ways? Those are the questions worth asking in life.
Soundbytes
4:53 - 5:26
âI look at art and poetry and storytelling as all one reality. To me Christ is the great storyteller. He is the eternal poet, the master of story. You canât get a greater story than the story of Christ. The beauty, tragedy and triumph.â7:59 - 8:17
âI donât feel like every project has to be overtly religious in any way, shape or form to be beautiful. I just want it to have some kind of meaning. Some kind of honesty about the human condition.âQuotes
âI had these deep experiences with Christ. To be, theology is beauty, and poetry. Itâs not about a religion, itâs about life.â
âWhen Iâm looking at music, storytelling or films, I canât see the world outside of the beauty and challenging reality of Christ.â
âOrthodoxy has helped me to see the whole world as a sacrament.ââWhen I was younger I was looking at it like acting was the central focus of my income. But I saw the writing on the wall a long time ago, that that was not going to be enough for my soul. Developing my writing and music was a way of engaging with the world in these other ways.â
âThere is a strange kind of tension between the flurry of inspiration, creating things, and waiting. We have four albums weâve created and not released yet, because weâre waiting for the right time. I have a handful of books that have been written and screenplays - we donât know what weâre doing, really. There is intentionality and prayer and vision, but weâre trying to be flexible.â
âAs a writer, I want to live in it for a while, go away from it and come back. Again and again. Itâs a testing thing, a maturation process with a particular work. My lived experience finally matches the intention of the work.â
âIâve learned over the years that the music and the story is about connecting with someoneâs soul and heart. Thatâs the stuff I care about.â
Links mentioned in this episode:
Visit Jonathan Jacksonâs Website at https://www.jonathanjackson.com/
Find Jonathan on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JonathanJacksonHQ/
Follow Jonathan on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jonathanjacksonhq/
Subscribe to Jonathan Jacksonâs Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4KKxEIbF5kAGOSi26Nx3Bg
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The "About" page on a website is often the most-read section. Make sure yours has a compelling narrative that combines professional achievements with personal details to draw in your audience.
Start with a strong, engaging opening that captures attention and sets the tone for the rest of the content. Highlight your mission and values to align with your audienceâs needs and interests. Include a brief history or background that establishes credibility, emphasizing unique experiences and achievements. Personal elements, such as your passions and interests, help humanize your brand and make you more relatable. Lastly, provide a clear call to action that guides visitors on how to connect with you or learn more about your offerings.
Tune in for tips on crafting a strong narrative that resonates with your audience and establishes credibility. By blending professionalism with personal touches, your About Page can effectively engage and convert visitors.
QuotesâDid you know the most read page on every website is the About page?â
âThere's two types of About pages, right? There's the one that's the personal bio About page, and then there's the About page about your company page.â
âWhat should go on that page is - I almost call it a narrative resume with interesting points.â
âYou also want to add in some personal things, because the personal things are the things that people relate to. They're the things people connect with, and are the the information that people remember.â
âWe're trying to grab the attention of our ideal customer.â
âBreak up large sections of text into smaller sections with headlinesâ
âMost people are not going to read every word, they can really grasped the important things about you just from those headings, just from those sub heads.â
âBreak content up with bullet points where you canâ
âDon't just assume that if you mentioned certain things that you did, that potential clients or clients are going to understand how that ties into the work that you do today. You actually want to do that work for someone and say, âAs a former journalist, I'm able to write copy that really helps you jump out and stand out online.ââ
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We're re-running our favorite episodes from The Business of You archives. If you missed it the first time, or just want to listen again, check this one out!
Jonathan Jackson was a child actor in the 1990âs and early 2000âs. But since then, he has become a powerful artist, musician and creator. Now on The Business of You, Jonathan is sharing his unique story - including his journey to faith, fame and personal growth.
Jonathan Jackson is a multi-faceted artist who creates meaningful art pieces through music, film, and the written word. He is a five-time EMMYÂź Award-winning actor and Criticsâ Choice Award nominee who has starred in numerous TV and films, including ABC/CMTâs hit drama âNashvilleâ (2012â2018), âGeneral Hospitalâ (1993â1999, 2009â2011, 2015), âTuck Everlastingâ (2002), âThe Deep End Of The Oceanâ (1999), âInsomniaâ (2002) and âDirty Dancing: Havana Nightsâ (2004). He also appeared in episodes of âOne Tree Hillâ, âBoy Meets Worldâ, âThe Twilight Zoneâ and âTerminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.â
His indie band Enation has performed alongside artists across the musical spectrum, including post-punk legends Echo & The Bunnymen, the iconic Sarah McLachlan, Echosmith, and more. Their new album, Ultraviolet Empire, was released in the fall of 2020 and was co-produced by GRAMMYÂź Award-winning producer Colin Linden.
Jonathan is also a published Author. His current books include a work of Mystical Poetry entitled âBook of Solace and Madnessâ and the non-fiction prose âThe Mystery of Artâ, which has been translated into multiple languages. Jonathan resides in Ireland with his wife, Elisa, and their three children. He enjoys Greek coffee, good wine, and music.
Navigating fame at an early age
At just 11 years old, Jonathan left his idyllic childhood in Washington State to work as a child actor in California. Starring in âGeneral Hospitalâ, he gained notoriety as a soap opera star and quickly began to book other roles.
Working in television and movies, Jonathan had a workload that exceeded that of most grown adults. He knew that if he did not anchor himself in his relationship with God and his connections to his family, he would be swept away. With wisdom beyond his years, Jonathan turned to creative self-expression to set himself free. He collaborated with his brother Richard to compose original music, learn new instruments and write screenplays. Laughing, he explains that he had to begin writing because many of the ones he read were not very good.
Rather than fall victim to the clutches of a dark industry, Jonathan used music and writing to guide himself towards the light. It became the foundation for his lifeâs work.
Creativity is a divine gift
Self-expression became the basis on which Jonathan connected with others and with his higher power.
Channeling his gifts into music and written words, Jonathan became a known artist and musician with his band, Enation. Since the bandâs inception in 2003, they have toured periodically and continued to produce new work. Jonathan is the bandâs frontman, writing most of the songs in addition to singing, playing guitar, and playing the piano.
While navigating fame and building a career as a musician, Jonathan was also on another personal growth journey - his quest to deepen and explore his faith. For more of Jonathanâs story, be sure to tune in next week for Part II of Jonathanâs story here on The Business of You!
Soundbytes
11:49 - 12:20 âWriting began very early on. Richard, my brother, is 3 years older than me. My brother and I started writing our first screenplay when he was 15 and I was 12. The inspiration was that some of the scripts we were reading werenât very good. We had this feeling early on - like, we canât just sit around and wait for good projects to come our way.â
12:29 - 12:57 âI started writing songs at 11 or 12, at the same time I started acting. It was a way of keeping me sane, and it was a therapeutic thing. At that age itâs just a hobby. It turned into starting a band in our late teens!â
15:28 - 16:23 âOne of the things acting gave me at a young age - and thereâs been a lot of studies about the brain and neuroplasticity - that can happen. When you put yourself in certain situations. People looked into it, the neuroplasticity of the brain changes for actors when you play other characters and perform things. It opened me up to the world. At a very young age I had to think and feel, asking so many questions about how others see the world - and what their fears and desires might be. Human psychology became part of my world at a young age.â
Quotes
âIâm more of an introvert, definitely. Iâm fascinated by the introvert/extrovert dynamic. Iâm not sure how much is nature versus nurture. I was extroverted as a child and became more introverted when I started acting. I do love people, communicating and connecting one on one.â
âToo much attention, positive or negative, is kind of negative. Itâs going to kind of attack your ego and put you in a false reality. And if you have too much criticism and judgment, youâre potentially in extremes when you have any kind of spotlight. Searching for an equilibrium was my main focus throughout my teenage years. How do I remain sane through all that?â
âI glimpsed where my life could go if I wasnât careful. A massive wave could pick me up and destroy me, if I didnât position myself carefully. I thought, I need to anchor myself.â
âMy brother was my closest friend, growing up. I was grateful that we had each other to walk through the madness of LA and the industry together.â
âI was slowly, slowly feeling like something central was missing in my experiences in Protestant churches. Wonderful people most of the time, good intentions. But something about the church itself, I just didnât understand it. There were so many versions. You start looking around and think, this is very confusing. The sense of something missing was not connected to Christ Himself, it was the vagueness of the church.â
âThe modern question is, what do I believe? It sounds like an important question. But the real question if you have any approximation to Christ is, what do Christians believe, and what have they always believed?â
Links mentioned in this episode:
Visit Jonathan Jacksonâs Website at https://www.jonathanjackson.com/
Find Jonathan on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JonathanJacksonHQ/
Follow Jonathan on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jonathanjacksonhq/
Subscribe to Jonathan Jacksonâs Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4KKxEIbF5kAGOSi26Nx3Bg
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Transitioning from corporate to CEO is inherently risky, but by calculating your risks, you can set yourself up for success.
A growing number of people are leaving their corporate jobs to launch their own businesses, especially in coaching and consulting, an industry projected to reach nearly $12 billion by 2032.
Making this shift involves both emotional and practical aspects. Itâs crucial to assess your personal risk tolerance, have sufficient financial backup, and understand the startup costs associated with different business types.
Start with foundational work, aided by a 360 assessment. Then, define your ideal customer, create a simple website, and gather testimonials to build credibility before you quit. Finding alignment between your personal values and business goals is key to creating a fulfilling career.
Before you quit, you can leverage your corporate job to prepare for entrepreneurship. A steady income allows you to establish business foundations, test methodologies, and refine your offerings.
Being an entrepreneur means taking calculated risks and being mindful of the emotional and financial readiness required to ensure a smooth transition from corporate to CEO.
QuotesâIn my last corporate job interview, one of the people interviewing me, which was one of the very senior people at the organization, actually said to me, âhow long do you think you're gonna last here before you leave to start your own company again?ââ
âOne of the things we do with so many of our clients is give them this 360 assessment to see how others view them, how others view their brand attributes, how others view their strengths, how others view their role within a group setting, you know, are they the leader? Are they more of a participant? What's their role?â
âThere's been a big shift, particularly in the US in the last several years, for people to leave corporate and launch their own business.â
âBy the year 2032, the coaching / consulting industry will have nearly $12 billion dollars of financial investment in that field.â
âSome of the questions that one should ask themselves is: How comfortable are you with risk? How much money do you need in the bank before you feel comfortable and safe leaving a consistently paying job? How long will it take you to land your first client? What are some of the expenses you have to start your business?â
âAnother thing to factor into it: how painful is it for you to stay in your current role in corporate?â
âWhether it's the startup phase, or you're 15 years into your business, there is always some risks in being your own boss. But I guess there is too sometimes in working for others.â
âThe personal brand process is really introspective, and it really forces you to dig deep and figure out, you know, what are you here to do with this one crazy life?â
âIf you are putting a shingle out there as a coach or consultant, you want that business to reflect who you are. You want that business to really like a sense of home.â
âLife happens while you're busy living.â
âWork is such a big part of our day. So if you can have such a settlement and satisfaction that even getting paid to do it feels like you're dreaming then I'm just a huge fan and people launching their coaching and consulting businesses that have the background and the ability to help others with their skill set.â
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We're re-running our favorite episodes from The Business of You archives. If you missed it the first time, or just want to listen again, check this one out!
This weekâs guest is Elyse Archer, founder of She Sells. Elyse is an international keynote speaker and host of She Sells Radio. A thought leader whose insights have been featured on Forbes and Inc, Elyse empowers women to sell in a way that leverages their natural gifts and helps them build wealth.
Moving from Corporate World to Entrepreneurship
Elyse felt that she needed a corporate job to become successful in her career. So with her first job selling yellow pages ads, she then sold national media for some of the biggest companies on their media strategy. She eventually landed an executive position and had a healthy income, marriage, and a lovely home.
While looking successful on the outside, Elyse had several personal struggles. Finally, she decided to leave her marriage and corporate position to find out about her authentic self. Elyse started her business in sales coaching, developed and sold over four companies, and is currently leading her team at She Sells.
Discover how she made the leap from corporate to entrepreneurship, how to reconnect with your body for healing, and how she helps her clients tap into their inner guidance to increase their sales.
Soundbytes
[02:06] Elyseâs backstory from starting out in sales to becoming an executive at her own company.
[05:45] Unraveling her life to start a journey of finding who she was meant to be.
[12:15] The way in which Elyse helps her clients tap into their inner guidance and create sales.
[19:49] How females can step into their female receiving energy to sell more.
[23:50] Defining your personal brand and how Elyse sees her own personal brand.Quotes
âThe more I surrender who I thought I needed to be, the more abundance, love and happiness comes into my life.â
âWhen youâre called to do something, it always lead you to do something better.â
âI learned that my femininity was my superpower.â
Links mentioned in this episode:
Visit Elyse Archer on the web: https://elysearcher.com/
Connect with Elyse Archer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elysearcher/
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Parenting and entrepreneurship require many of the same leadership skills, like adaptability, conflict resolution, and setting boundaries.
Being adaptable is crucial because every day can bring new challenges and unexpected situations.
When it comes to conflict resolution, whether it's with kids or employees, being direct and empathetic ensures everyone feels heard and understood. This approach not only creates a supportive work environment but also helps keep the peace at home.
Setting boundaries is another essential skill. It's important to establish clear boundaries both at home and at work to maintain a healthy work-life balance. For example, having a dedicated workspace at home helps focus on business tasks without getting distracted by household chores. Similarly, letting clients and team members know business hours helps manage their expectations and ensures that personal time is respected.
Leadership skills like adaptability, conflict resolution, and boundary setting are key to successfully managing both family and business responsibilities.
Tune in to hear how Rachel juggles it all...
QuotesâYou're trading time with your children for money, and, you know, you start to question a lot of things.â
âI'd say the biggest similarity is managing a team. When you're also a parent, it feels like there's a lot of overlap in those two roles.â
âAs a business owner, there's always curveballs thrown at you.â
âYou just never know from day to day what might happen. So being adaptable is really important. Being flexible is important. And just learning how to roll with the punches.â
âI'm a big fan of, you know, think about a person's intent. Like if somebody does the wrong thing, it's not because they've intended to do the wrong thing and screw up. So take the opportunity to kind of walk through whatever the situation was, the screw up, whatever it might be, and figure out what are the lessons to take away from that.â
âI wanted the kids to see like, you can have work you love, and you can get dinner on the table by five o'clock or, you know, show up for your kids at the sporting event or whatever it might be that's important to your children, as well.â
âI think it's really important when you work from your home space in general, to be able to compartmentalize and really have a dedicated workspace in your home and feel like when you know when you get up you shower and you get ready and you get dressed like you're going to work in an office even if that office is you know, off the off your kitchen.â
âGive yourself time on weekends or evenings to set into the person that you are, the role you want to play, how you want to show up in those roles.â
âTry to slow down a little bit and be mindful of the hat and the identity that you're wearing in that moment, so you can really show up as the best part of you.â
- Vis mere
