Cool Things Entrepreneurs Do

Aman Advani is Co-Founder and CEO of Ministry of Supply, a menswear company focused on creating a new category of clothing: Performance Professional – through a collaboration between experienced engineers and seasoned fashion experts.  Aman comes from Atlanta, GA where he studied Industrial Engineering at Georgia Tech, before pursuing a career in Operational Strategy consulting at Deloitte, and attending MIT’s Sloan School of Management. In this interview he shares his entrepreneurs journey and talks about how he and his business partner navigate the gap between potential and results.  www.ministryofsupply.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Melanie Deziel has been recognized as one of the world’s leading experts on native advertising and a leading influencer in Content Marketing. Her mission is to educate as many people as possible about the power of brand storytelling through writing, speaking, workshops, consulting, startup advising and through the native ad industry newsletter, The Overlap League. Melanie travels the world giving keynotes, presentations and workshops that teach marketers, publishers, creators and companies how to create the best possible brand storytelling. She also shares what she’s learned in a column for Inc, on podcasts, in guest posts across the web, and as a member of the advisory board for the Native Ad Institute. Melanie has degrees in journalism from UConn and Syracuse, of which she was one of 50 honored alums in 2015. She’s served as an executive judge of the Digiday Content Marketing Awards, the Native Ad Awards and the Mirror Awards, and was the author of the native ads that won the Best Native Advertising Exec

Author of "Crisis Ready: Building an Invincible Brand in an Uncertain World", Melissa Agnes is a leading authority on crisis preparedness, reputation management, and brand protection. Agnes is a coveted speaker, commentator, and advisor to some of today's leading organizations faced with the greatest risks. As a strategic advisor and keynote speaker, Melissa Agnes has worked with NATO, Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense, financial firms, technology companies, healthcare organizations, cities and municipalities, law enforcement agencies, global non-profits, and many others, helping them understand risk and build invincible brands that can withstand even the most devastating of events.  In 2015, she gave a TEDx talk in Los Angeles where she discussed the secret to successful crisis management in the 21st century. Agnes is the editor of the Crisis Ready Blog, a contributor to Forbes, and a go-to source for the press, with recent coverage including the Wall Street Journal, VIBE Magazine, USA Today, and

Justin Schenck has been named a Top 8 Podcaster to watch in 2018 by INC.com and chosen as an ‘Icon of Influence’ in the new media space. What started out as a way to connect with top people and inspire others has become a way of life. Now getting played in over 100 countries every single week he is able to make a greater impact than he could ever imagine. He not only speaks to organizations on how to overcome adversity and utilize podcasting to grow your business but he helps others launch and grow their own podcasts with www.beginpodcastingnow.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sometimes we experience success that takes us far, but not all the way.  From the outside people might even think you are crushing it, but you know inside that you are stuck.  But when that log jam comes at a high level, it is hard to complain to others or yourself.  Things are good.  But you want things to be great.   The middle used to be okay, as the "middle man" had a lot of power and controlled the flow of goods and services.  But in a would where more things are "direct", the middle can lead to obsolete.   Have you ever felt stuck in the high-middle? When it happens you have to be a leader if you want to advance.  Regardless of if you lead a team of 1000, 100 or just yourself, there are certain actions leaders take to help themselves and others advance.    Real leaders are sought out by other.     Leaders collaborate.   Crunching numbers and hiding behind statistics are not what leaders do.   Leaders are visionary, and they want to learn, observe, and try new things.   Being unique matters to leaders.  

Marie White has had a tough journey, but is a thriving entrepreneur. One of her most exciting businesses is Book Overhaul. She helps authors who already have a book turn their project around and re-release their masterpiece.  Marie was born to write, but it would take one horrific event to send her into full-time writing.  When her youngest child was abducted, the world felt upside down. Grieving with her husband and older children, she wondered how God could allow this to happen. Yet in the sea of pain, her family witnessed God’s unending love and purpose.  She began praying for God to show her what to do with her life. His answer to her prayer was a podcast announcement that missionaries were needed. Marie trained and became a missionary with Global Media Outreach. Within the first few months she had spoken with over 300 converts to Christianity in countries all over the world. Another of the purposes she found was that many people she knew became Christians as adults, and many had never attended Sunday

Jeff Sandefer is an entrepreneur and a teacher. As an entrepreneur, he founded a number of successful companies -- his first at age 16; his largest with billions of dollars in assets. Business may be his day job, but Jeff’s passion is teaching. While he was at the University of Texas, his students five times voted him the school’s Outstanding Teacher and The Economist named Jeff one of the fifteen top Business School professors in the world. In 2009 Jeff and his wife Laura started Acton Academy, a cutting edge K12 school named after Lord Acton, a 19th-century scholar who championed freedom, whose most famous quote is “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Acton Academy’s learner-driven model is spreading like wildfire across the globe, with over 150 locations launched or soon to launch, and thousands of applications pending to open a leaner driven community. In an age where Google shares information, Uber shares cars, and Airbnb shares rooms, Acton Academy turns learning upside d

James Ashcroft believes that if you’re not growing, then you’re dying. Conscious growth is a common thread in all facets of his life. It all started in 2012, when he rolled off the couch as a fat, 38 year old guy and went running. 4 months later, and 40 pounds less, he crossed the Ironman Miami 70.3 triathlon finish line, shocking not only himself but everyone in his life. Over the past 5 years he’s completed a full Ironman and 4 of the 6 Major Marathons. He’s also owner of a fire security business in south Florida. He bought the company 4 years ago, and has grown the business, both organically and through acquisitions, from 17 employees to over 70, and maintains profitable revenue. He was the 2016 Chair of Entrepreneurs’ Organization’s South Florida Accelerator program where he helped 40+ companies scale over $1mm in revenue. In 2017, he launched the Growing Not Dying Facebook group that helps motivated entrepreneurs build successful businesses and be held accountable to do the work they said they’d

Known as “The Vitality Vixen” for her contagious curiosity, enthusiasm and charisma, Yvonne Larson has a become somewhat of a modern-day  Pippi Longstocking muse for those she serves. As a singer, speaker, author, mentor, healer and fur-baby momma to three precious pups, she’s passionate about play, creativity and thriving in her own full self-expression. She believes everyone can live their Optimal Life once it has been distinguished, defined and designed. Referred to as a healer by her clients, she is renowned worldwide for her unique blend of performance based bodywork with intuitive coaching to eliminate emotional restrictions for her clients both on AND off the massage table.  In the last 20+ years, Yvonne spent well over 10K hours acquiring experience, training and certifications in Emotional Release, Reiki, Massage, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Life and Executive Coaching. She’s an expert in clearing and healing Solopreneurs in going from exhaustion, overwhelm and isolation to living their optimal l

Understanding your potential is the secret to doing more. Thom Singer has become obsessed with personal potential and the gap that exists for many between potential and results. Having potential seems awesome. When someone tells you that you have potential it is a real compliment, but so what? Without the right plan, a driving purpose, and the right people around you this means nothing. There is a paradox surrounding potential because people give it more credit than it deserves. Actions are the key. Recently Thom met an impressive young man who is thirty years old and already smart enough to realize that he had to make a change from his current job, as it was going to lead him down the path of years of disappointment. Being successful is not enough if your ladder is against the wrong wall. In a short conversation Thom saw himself, and thousands of others, inside this guy who was seeking a new and more fulfilling path. In this episode of Cool Things Entrepreneurs Do you will hear about why it is important t

Megan R. Fenyoe is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and has been working in the field for the past 15 years. She worked for the Michigan State and Federal Government as a CPS Worker and at the VA providing therapy to Veterans.  At age 33, Megan made the decision to commission as an officer into the Air force and moved from Michigan to California in 2012. Megan was a Captain and provided mental health and substance abuse treatment to fellow active duty members and veterans.  Since separating from service, Megan has been working full time as a Mental Health Therapist at Kaiser Permanente and owns her own Health Food Franchise. Megan has been in the fitness world since she was a teenager and even with her busy schedule she maintains 5-6 workouts per week, as well as incorporating whole based nutrition into her daily intake of food.  Megan recently began a new adventure and is the business owner of Mission Strength. The focus of Mission Strength is to help people identify hidden sabotaging patterns such as ne

Dawn Gluskin is a storyteller and truth-digger that started her first business, a technology company, at age 30 and grew it from $0 to $3 million in annual revenue.  (Hold your applause, 7 years later, she grew that same company back down to zero again ... BUT, it's one of the best things to ever happen to her!)  Dawn has since followed her bliss in founding Blissed Communications, which is changing the way small business communicates. This is all to the delight of her 5-year-old self who knew she'd be a writer when she grew up (that is, before the world convinced her she'd be a starving artist if she were to pursue that passion). She now helps entrepreneurs connect with their core truth and express it unapologetically online, on stages, and on repeat to call in their soul clients, increase their impact, make more money, and live their life on purpose. She brings over 20 years of sales, marketing, and creative copywriting experience to the table, has been published in HuffPo, the New York Times, TinyBuddh

With more than 20 years of leadership in the world of tech, Jean-Paul (JP) Guilbault recognizes the design and execution of strategies that leverage technology can simplify the way people connect, engage, learn and work. Under his current leadership at Community Brands, JP is delivering unprecedented value through the power of software and revenue solutions for associations, nonprofits and k-12 schools, serving nearly 60,000 organizations worldwide. Since 2012, he transformed YourMembership from a single product organization to a market-leading technology solutions force. He led YourMembership’s significant growth by leveraging both organic strategies and successfully assimilating three company acquisitions. He now oversees the corporate direction and strategy of the recently-formed Community Brands, focusing on leadership and innovation to drive both customer and company growth. JP is a recognized leader at connecting people and organizations to what they value most. He is adept at designing and executing

Douglas Spotted Eagle is a giant in the video and audio industries, having received Grammy, Emmy, DuPont, Peabody, and many other awards. Douglas is a primary instructor and industry consultant for Sundance Media Group, Inc. and VASST, authoring several books and DVDs and serving as an advisor and guide for videographers, software manufacturers and broadcasters. Douglas is a well-known musician and a world-travelled speaker/instructor. Douglas now focuses his energy and experience within the UAV/sUAS industry. Skydiving since 2006 and instructing UAS since 2011, Douglas is an accomplished aerial photographer who thrives in the adrenaline-filled world of fast-action videography. Appointed as a Safety and Training Advisor in the aviation world, he is a risk management/mitigation subject matter expert. Douglas is an audio and imaging pro with numerous awards for his productions; with an intimate knowledge of the FAA FARs and FSIMs, Douglas’ vision is to incorporate his years of imaging and aviation experience i

As the new year kicks off Thom Singer discusses seven tips for doing more in 2018. He had a record year in 2017, and wants others to unlock their potential in 2018. Here are his seven tips 1. Have a plan. Too many people will write posts this year about why NOT to set goals in the new year. Usually they pooh-pooh goal setting only to rename it and give the same advice. Blah Blah Blah. Having a set of clear goals is important if you want to maximize success.  2. Take ownership of your life. Thom shares how he spent most of his career pointing fingers and blaming others (and blaming his own past) for his lack of success. Taking ownership that his life was his own doing was a key to achieving more. 3. Make people a priority. Too often we ignore those around us. In a day of cell phones and the internet it is easy to never look up at the people we are close to, but when we choose people we choose success. 4. Ask for help. Most people want to help others reach their potential, but if you do not clearly let peo

Jeremy Slate is the founder of the Create Your Own Life Podcast, which helps entrepreneurs live the lives they know they were meant to. He studied literature at Oxford University, Specializes in using podcasting and new media to create celebrity and was ranked #1 in iTunes New and Noteworthy and #26 in the business category. Jeremy was named one of the top 26 podcast for entrepreneurs to listen to in 2017 by CIO Magazine and Millennial Influencer to follow in 2018 by Buzzfeed. The Create Your Own Life Podcast has been downloaded almost a quarter of a million times. He’s also a featured writer for Influencive and Business.com. After his success in podcasting, Jeremy Slate and his wife, Brielle Slate, found Command Your Brand to help entrepreneurs get their message out by appearing as guests on podcasts. www.jeremyslate.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christopher J. Wirth is the President and Founder of No Quit Living. No Quit Living is a training, speaking and coaching company that works with individuals, teams, corporations and charities to help motivate and inspire them to be the best version of themselves. Their #1 goal is to motivate and inspire their clients to never give up on themselves or their dreams and goals.  One of the main focuses of No Quit Living is helping their clients understand the relationship between Accountability and Self-Accountability. NQL also focuses on sales, goals, personal development, networking, leadership and time maximization.  Christopher is a top-notch keynote speaker that will motivate and inspire your audience. Christopher is also the host of the No Quit Living Podcast which has been ranked on iTunes in the Business, Health and Self-Help categories.  Christopher is a former AAU, High School and Collegiate Basketball Coach. He lives and works in Greenwich, CT and has three young children - Zachary, Emily and Mason.

What if Anderson Cooper looked you in the eye and asked "What do you really want to do with your life?" And what if you did not have an answer? That happened to the guest on this episode of Cool Things Entrepreneurs Do.  He spent several years as a producer at CNN working with anchors like Connie Chung, Paula Zahn, and Anderson Cooper. Then one day he left it all to join the family business as a financial planner.  Anthony M. Conte, MSFS, CFP® is the chief executive officer of The Independent Grid—a turn-key business platform dedicated to helping financial advisors gain independence without having to go at it alone. He is also Managing Partner at Conte Wealth Advisors, an independent financial services firm. Anthony left his job at CNN, where he was a lead producer and writer for four years, to pursue a path of entrepreneurship and leadership. When he created The Independent Grid, he had the vision of helping other financial advisors tap into the independent market and be entrepreneurs themselves. Check out

Voted one of the Top 15 Business Growth Experts to watch by Currency Fair, Meridith Elliott Powell is an award-winning author, keynote speaker and business strategist. With a background in corporate sales and leadership, her career expands over several industries including banking, healthcare, and finance. Meridith worked her way up from an entry-level position to earn her seat at the C-Suite table. Meridith is a Certified Speaking Professional ©, a designation held by less than twelve percent of professional speakers, and a member of the prestigious Forbes Coaching Council. She has a cutting-edge message, rooted in real-life examples and real-world knowledge. She is the author of four books, including Winning In The Trust & Value Economy (a finalist in the USA Best Book Awards) and her latest Own It: Redefining Responsibility – Stories of Power, Freedom & Purpose about how to build cultures that inspire ownership at every level to create profits at every turn. Meridith writes, speaks and is passionate about

Sound editor in Hollywood, drum-tech for top rated rock bands, real estate tycoon, and investor in one of the hottest new music apps are just a few of the pieces that make up the life of Dave Padilla. At 34 years old Dave has lived a life that could be movie. From humble beginnings and without a fancy academic pedigree he has worked with and been mentored by some of the most amazing people in the world of music and television. His strong work ethic and curiosity about people and the world around him have lead him to success that many only dream about in their early 30s. He sees opportunities that others do not see and then he takes action. He only wants to work on projects that give him goose-bumps, and he has reached a place in life where he can say no to working with people whom do not bring him joy. This is an episode of "Cool Things Entrepreneurs Do" that you will listen to more than once, and you will definitely want to share it with your friends. And check out his answer to how he gives back to other