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“I’m not sure I ever really wanted to be an entrepreneur.” – Fabi Preslar
Ever turned your biggest fear into your proudest achievement? That’s Fabi’s story. Inspired by her father’s ambitious (but unsuccessful) business ventures—from running a French restaurant in rural South Carolina to raising chinchillas—Fabi saw firsthand the risks of entrepreneurship. As her father’s ventures failed, her family lost everything, leaving Fabi to grow up a guest in someone else’s home. Why would she ever dive into entrepreneurship herself? For Fabi, it started with a need—an extra $100 a month when she was home with her baby.
But soon she was all in, & good mentors helped her overcome her fears around entrepreneurship & embrace the idea of “failing forward.” Today, after more than two decades of learning, Fabi’s built one the southeast’s most regarded publishing companies, reminding us just where tenacity & authenticity can lead, even when the journey begins in the most unexpected way.
To learn more, find her at FabiPreslar.com.
Can’t help but think of what George Addair said: "Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear."
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"My life is being a navigator and helping navigate people just get started." – Brian Ondrako Listening to Brian now, it's hard to imagine him as a young child in small-town NY, struggling with feelings of inadequacy & lack of self-belief, but those are his roots. A persistent negative mindset & placing blame on others were his defense mechanisms of choice, & they left him stuck in a cycle of procrastination & self-doubt through adulthood.That is until the shame & regret overcame his fear, & he told those mechanisms to take a hike!Embracing a mindset of action & growth, Brian set out to "just get started" – making small, incremental changes one step at a time.So transformative was it for him that he just couldn't keep it a secret. Today, through his coaching, podcast, & books, Brian encourages everyone to move past their doubts, take the first step, & navigate life with confidence.We could all use some of that.To learn more, find him at BrianOndrako.com.Brian's journey & leadership is captured perfectly by Zig Ziglar: "You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great."
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“We just really love living life with other people.” – Monica Hickman Rural Tennessee might not seem like the obvious place to birth a business, but that’s just where David & Monica Hickman’s radical love for community – & their eventual business --was born. Neighbors helping neighbors & new faces at the dinner table were the norm & solidified the idea that connecting with other people was what made “home” great.Today, David & Monica’s luxury events in countless communities across Charlotte, NC look very different than the humble meals served at mom’s kitchen table, but the idea the is the same: The people in your community bring life to where you live. Know & love them well.Whether it’s at rooftop charcuterie night or ballpark bash, this story of hard work, servant leadership, & a shared vision to make Charlotte (and beyond!) a “sticky” place for young professionals to find a home and community & put "people-first" values into place will leave you inspired.To learn more about community-building as an art form, find them on SocialHubCompany.com.Greek philosopher Aristotle said, “Cities are made of friendships.”He’d sure love this.
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"I really do want to be known for getting the most out of the people around me and helping them grow."— Danny Mizrahi From New York's breakneck pace to building powerhouse companies, Danny Mizrahi is the ultimate growth champion.Whether launching tech startups or scaling businesses to the Inc. 5000, his approach is all about helping others reach new heights—personally and professionally.It's how he built his own companies, Contango and Sunbird Messaging App and helped 46 entrepreneurs hit that coveted million-dollar mark in revenue.His secret? Building relationships, hustling hard, & always giving more than you get.So simple but so impactful.If you're looking for common sense entrepreneurial inspiration that values people over everything (delivered by one of the most unstoppable guests we've ever hosted):Find him on LinkedIn or by Googling "Danny Sunbird."Danny's style is reminiscent of a quote by John C Maxwell…"Coaching is not just about giving advice; it's about building relationships that empower others to discover their own solutions and grow."
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“The thing that most excites my soul is creating, establishing, developing, & then making sure it doesn’t die.” – Titus Bartolotta Locals in the Lake Norman area of Charlotte, NC know the name Bartolotta. That’s because Titus & his wife, Christina Bartolotta (also a podcast guest!), do more than run businesses there. They’re community builders, investing in projects that richly improve lives.That alone would make for a good interview. But what makes Titus’ journey exceptional is how difficult & diverse it was. Raised in poverty & trained in an unlikely mix of culinary arts, seminary, & big screen TV sales, he eventually became a business owner & mentor when the call to create & sustain something purposeful became too great to ignore.From consulting to authoring a book to running two restaurants, Titus blends business acumen with deep personal conviction, humor, humility, & passion as he lifts others up & leads authentically.To learn more, find him at RiseCafe.com & CollaborativeSolutionsGroup.com.John C. Maxwell said, "Leadership is not about titles, positions, or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another."
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"You have to make decisions to really do the hard things… that's what leadership is." – Will JonesWhen Will was chosen to lead a well-known Charlotte, NC, philanthropy, he was thrilled. Service to others is woven into the fabric of his life.But he inherited a problem that too often plagues nonprofits: an unwavering passion for service hamstrung by little to no business acumen. Big dreams, not enough money. In his first year as leader, Will faced a $5 MILLION deficit.The solution? Seek more donations & drastically cut costs? Not a chance.Using the perspective he'd gained in the private sector, Will opted to embed a familiar yet powerful business strategy into the organization – laser-focused priorities, leadership training, culture building, & a proper growth strategy.The result?20% year-over-year growth in the 12 years he's been in charge – results ANY organization would be proud to claim.To learn more about Will's epic perspective, find him on LinkedIn and ThompsonCFF.comManagement consultant & author Peter Drucker said, "The best nonprofits are run more like businesses than most businesses are."We have an example here.
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“It’s all about the opportunity to inspire people.” – Johan KoornhofOn the surface, Johan has much in common with the executives, business owners, and leaders he serves. He’s smart, successful, & entirely self-made. He owns his own company and serves as an ambassador to several organizations.But what sets him apart is that none of those things capture the most interesting parts of his journey, one that started in South Africa, spread to Scotland and the United States, and nearly ended tragically twice, once on the side of a mountain and later in an ICU battling COVID-19.He is no stranger to the lows of life, yet in them, he gained life-giving perspectives on purpose, intentional leadership, and personal character that have transformed his own life and the lives of countless others he chooses to serve selflessly.Much to our benefit, he shares them openly in all he does, including this podcast.What a gift.To learn more: Check out Be Real and connect with Johan on LinkedIn.C.S. Lewis said, “Hardship often prepares an ordinary person for extraordinary destiny.”He was right. Johan is living proof.
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“People don’t think big enough.” – Tamara BunteGrowing up in the Midwest, Tamara assumed she’d follow the same path as everyone else: go to college, get a job, and work until retirement. She was smart, safe, and secure, the very values her community shared.But those values weren’t hers. Even as a young child, she was curious. Why are some people happier and more successful than others? What makes the difference?So nagging were those questions that, at 12 years old, she asked for the tapes of famed motivational speaker Tony Robbins and set goals to work for Dale Carnegie & Robbins himself.And that’s exactly what she did.Today, Tamara runs her own company, teaching unique sales strategies to companies of all types (and gives some great tips in this podcast!). She also leads a thriving non-profit and a faith-fueled Etsy shop. Her passion and purpose in life underscore them all and fuel her (self-made) success.To learn more, find her at TamaraBunte.com & on LinkedIn.Hard work matters, but start with a plan and make it a big one. That’s Tamara’s story.It’s like Emeril Lagasse said, “If you think big, it’s going to be big.”
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“Creative nerdery is my personal brand.” – Mike Montague Imagine for a moment you’re an HR rep reviewing resumes. Along comes a successful web designer turned DJ who later became an acclaimed sales expert, podcast host, and author, who later became an improv comedian—all while being a smash at each thing.Where would you put this person in your organization?If you’re completely stumped, join the club. No one has ever known exactly where to put Mike.That never stopped him.Like many entrepreneurs, Mike’s resume is long and varied. But what makes him unique is that, whether inside a massive organization like Sandler or within his own company, his “creative nerdery”—best defined as playful intelligence—shines through. Every job becomes uniquely his own, whether it was asked for or not.And that’s made all the difference.If stories of challenging the status quo & imparting your personal brand on your work make you happy, this is the episode for you.
Famed author Dodinsky said, “Be there for others, but never leave yourself behind.” It sums Mike up perfectly. It’s also great advice for each of us.
Find him on LinkedIn or at PlayfulHumans .
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“I’m just generally curious about a lot of things.” – Hollis CarterEntrepreneurs, inquisitive & risk-tolerant by nature, tend to have diverse backgrounds. Hollis’ is almost dizzying.This master of the side hustle has started more companies than you can count, beginning in early childhood. But it’s the SAAS company he built into a 7-figure virtual business in less than a year & becoming a (very young) founding investor in one of the nation’s most unique ski resorts that grabs your attention.Then, of course, there’s his membership-based community for entrepreneurs (with arguably the funniest name you’ve ever heard) that makes you wonder.Is he just skipping randomly from one thing to the next?Hardly.Coursing through the heart of every one of Hollis’ companies is community, & his knack for building it in the most natural & mutually beneficial ways will leave you wondering why it’s ever been tried any other way.To learn more: Find him at BabyBathwater.com or @HollisC on Instagram.Hollis’ endeavors are proof of Akio Morita’s assertion: “Curiosity is the key to creativity.”
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“I’m a relationship person at my core.” – Todd Hirschfeld Growing up, Todd had a seat at some impressive dinner tables, a perk of being the son of a celebrity attorney. Athletes, movie stars, and even the legendary Muhammad Ali graced his family’s dinner table on many occasions.For most people, kids especially, that kind of limelight would be blinding. For Todd, it illuminated a vital lesson: Connections and genuine personal relationships, over everything else, open doors & bring life to new opportunities.It’s a lesson he’s carried with him ever since.Whether trying to break into NASCAR as a driver, becoming a team liaison, or now marketing and directing over-the-top experiences for sporting and special event guests, Todd has prioritized people and relationships to conceptualize new businesses and overdeliver on expectations.The result?He’s created one of the most unique, successful, and diversified companies his customers adore, and he’s not done yet.To learn more, find him at HMSworldwide.com or LinkedIn.Looking at Todd, it’s easy to see that Alan Cohen was right. “Success in business depends more on relationships than spreadsheets.”
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"Business… that's just a vehicle to make community impact." -Chris MoxleyThose of us lucky enough to call Charlotte, NC, home often joke about how rare it is to meet a native Charlottean (so many of us moved here for new opportunities). But Chris is one of those unicorns, born and raised in Charlotte, and his love for his city and its people has inspired one of its most unique brands.Chris and his former UNC roommates co-founded a lifestyle brand that merges hometown pride and premium apparel. But it's what 704 Shop does outside its South End storefront that makes it so unique: radical community building that promotes upward mobility and connecting community members who love the city as much as they do.Chris' entrepreneurial journey is rooted in a pay-it-forward philosophy, a lesson he imbibed while growing up in some of Charlotte's most challenging neighborhoods. His belief is simple yet powerful: Every hurdle can be surmounted when good-hearted individuals invest in one another.To learn more:Find him at 704shop.com & connect on LinkedIn.When President John F. Kennedy said, "One person can make a difference, & everyone should try," Chris must have been listening.
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“I get a real sense of purpose out of providing for others.” – Marc Hutto Expensive, frustrating, and typical—these are the words most employers and job seekers use to describe their experiences with recruiters. Sure, the position is eventually filled, but it costs a fortune, and there’s no guarantee the new employee will stick around.That’s why Marc turned traditional recruiting on its ear.Forget aggressive recruiters desperate to earn their placement fees. Forget overinflated profiles of unemployed job seekers desperate to find “anyplace” to land. Forget it all. It doesn’t work.Uncovering people’s purpose, values, and individual “career drivers” and then introducing them to the employers who share them does. Marc has made it his life’s mission to help businesses & employees find their perfect long-term match & do it in the most cost-effective way possible. Talk about a noble purpose.To learn more:Find him at RevealGlobal.com & connect on LinkedIn. Tom Rath said, “Make work a purpose, not just a place.”In such a typically cut-throat industry, seeing someone take that idea to heart is refreshing.
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“I want someone when they look at what I’m doing, to say, ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant.’” – Chris J. Loucy For many years, Chris’ entrepreneurial journey was the stuff of dreams. Following a successful stint in sales, he rolled the dice on his own flooring company & won…big time. He blew his competition out of the water & experienced almost unreal growth.Until one day, when the dream became a nightmare. An unfair lawsuit filed against his company eventually became too big to fight. Chris was forced to close his doors.Which is where the story would end if he was a “typical” entrepreneur. Of course, he’s anything but! Today, you’ll find Chris helping small business owners mitigate their financial risk in their own companies by establishing business credit & the company’s financial foundation.His mission? To prevent others from experiencing the kind of heartache & ruin he personally experienced.Service & purpose. Well done, indeed.To learn more:Check out how Chris is impacting others at JGalt.ioServing others instead of wallowing in self-pity... It’s like Rick Warren said, “Don’t waste your pain; use it to help others.”
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"We think that we are providing benefits to somebody and incentives. Actually, we're creating little fires and warring factions." - Kevin D. Monaghan Most organizations incentivize key employees with creative pay & perks like equity splits. Better pay + better benefits = obviously happy employees who stick around, work hard, & grow the company.t's easy and great math, except for the fact that it doesn't work. As Kevin can speak to personally, equity splits often produce arguments, jealousy, and resentment. Key employees are left at risk.It's a tough pill he was forced to swallow, sleeping on the floor of a 9'x9' apartment, rebuilding his life after losing everything to a work "family" who promised him the moon & then burned him badly.So, what's the alternative to splitting equity & keeping good people? Kevin knows now, & he's on a mission to tell the world.Check out IntuitiveCompensation.com for more info & download his FREE book at BucketsBook.com.
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“I hated it, hated it with a passion.” — George Ramsay When George looks back on music lessons of his youth, he remembers only misery. Stuffy piano teachers, monotonous scales, and the dread of upcoming recitals made faking sickness a weekly occurrence. Music lessons were the enemy, and he’d do anything to miss them. But watching a high school friend learn from a teacher who taught improvisation & the rock music he loved changed his perspective. Music instruction could bring students alive, not just “make them better.” It could be FUN!He picked up the guitar with that teacher in mind and fell in love. Then he knew, “I just had to do something in music.”Together with his business partner, George has turned in-home music instruction on its ear. Equally as important, his business model provides a level of financial security for gig workers (his instructors) unheard of in the industry.People, passion, perspective. It’s all here!To learn more:👉Find him on LinkedIn & at BoldMusicLessons.comRobert Ballard said, “Follow your own passion—not your parents’, not your teachers’—yours.” George did.
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“It’s important to us to help people see that they matter.” – Christina BartolottaChristina & her husband, Titus, are no strangers to business success. From car sales to consulting, this dynamic duo seemingly does it all & very well. Today, you’ll find them in the kitchen of their newest endeavor & one of Lake Norman, NC’s newest & deeply loved restaurants, Rise Cafe.Serial entrepreneurs with a passion for growing their bank accounts?Not even close.Behind every business the Bartolottas own & operate, a deep passion & love for people resonates. They simply have a heart for building businesses that richly improve lives & communities.It’s a noble cause, one made even more exceptional once you hear Christina’s journey. With no exaggeration, she has endured & found purpose in one of the most traumatic childhood journeys we’ve ever heard.
Both Christina & Titus embody a favorite quote by Simon Sinek: “Profit isn’t a purpose; it’s a result. To have purpose means the things we do have real value to others.”This one will leave you speechless.To learn more:👉Find her & Titus at Rise Cafe & Collaborative Solutions Group.
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“I love our business model. It’s one where we can be truly honest with our clients.” Broc BuxtonWhen cousins Jeffrey Wanner & Broc Buxton were growing up together, neither of them imagined that Broc would eventually join Jeff in building a company that would revolutionize the way other small businesses select professional employer organizations (PEOs).But as they matured, they recognized important qualities in each other that would fuel that endeavor: diligence, integrity, & a mutual love for solving problems that plague business owners.(If PEOs are unfamiliar to you, take heart. This episode will show you how you can outsource important HR functions, drive down costs, & how Jeff & Broc do it so differently.)Jeff & Broc turned their love for people & business into their passion for simplifying clients’ lives. Their one-of-a-kind, free (yes, free!) service helps business owners just like you sift through the marketing noise & select the best option for their workforce.Family, friendship, passion. How often do those collide?
Check out Pair PEO and try out their calculator.
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“I want people to recognize my passion for things – my passion for living, my passion for ensuring other people’s success.” — Reece M. Arlin, MBAWhen this car-loving, fitness-focused, self-proclaimed “terrible employee” graduated from college, he was certain buying & operating a gym was the path before him.But like most entrepreneurs, his first big plan never materialized. When a good friend suggested they start a marketing company focused on fitness sales, Reece took the chance & said yes. Together, they’ve built something extraordinary.Marketing geniuses? Not necessarily (though they certainly have the chops!). Passion for finding their niche, hiring the right people, staying true to their voice, pivoting in the face of adversity, & seemingly effortlessly growing a company with a totally remote workforce?Absolutely.Reece wasn’t born with all the answers. He was gifted with the passion to find them. And that has made all the difference.
Check out Business Marketing Solutions Group.
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“I just want to be known as a good guy.” – Palash DesaiMost Ivy League business school graduates turned Silicon Valley execs aren’t known for their big hearts. Big profits, yes, but compassion & love for others take a distant back seat.Not so with Palash. In the middle of a very lucrative engineering career, he dropped it all to buy a two-person cleaning company in Charlotte, NC.Did he love cleaning? No. Was Charlotte home? No again. But that tiny cleaning company offered Palash a unique opportunity: to build a highly profitable & sustainable business that could address income inequality in a city known for lacking social mobility.Purpose-driven capitalism. That’s the heart of The Organic Maids, which now employs over 30 cleaning professionals making more than the average new college graduate -- bringing people out of poverty & changing their families’ & communities’ futures.That’s the work of a very good guy.Palash must have been listening when Leonardo DaVinci said, “Make your work to be in keeping with your purpose.”
Connect with Palash on LinkedIn and check out The Organic Maids.
- Se mer
