Jim shares his unconventional path from literature to global technology leadership, including years of working with international teams across the U.S., Europe, and beyond. After seeing how small and mid-sized businesses struggle to keep pace with enterprise-level technology, he launched 8 Penny Labs to help level the playing field through clear strategy, strong communication, and modern software solutions.

This conversation dives into identifying real market gaps, leading global teams across time zones, addressing challenges head-on, and cutting through the noise surrounding AI and emerging technology. Jim also reflects on the importance of trusted co-pilots, decisive leadership, and why entrepreneurs can’t afford to delay tough conversations.

A must-listen for founders and leaders navigating growth, technology, and change.

She discusses working with corporations, nonprofits, and event planners to create thoughtful brand experiences, narrowing her niche from weddings to corporate clients, and balancing creativity, handwritten notes, and emerging tools like AI. As an EO Accelerator member and proud “gratitude enthusiast,” Sirmantha reflects on the power of community, focus, and values-driven growth.

Mike takes us on an honest and insightful journey through his transition from military leadership to entrepreneurship, revealing the highs, lows, and inner resilience required to “get the plane off the ground.” He introduces us to Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA), a path many have never heard of, and breaks down how it offers a unique route for aspiring entrepreneurs who want to buy, lead, and grow existing businesses rather than start from scratch.

Throughout the conversation, Mike opens up about:

-The surprising challenges of becoming a CEO and why he calls it the role of Chief Emotional Officer. 
-The cultural transformations required in a 40-year-old legacy business. 
-Knowing your strengths, filling your gaps, and hiring the right “number two.” 
-What excites him about the future of Colography, including new logistics-intelligence products launching in 2026.

Mike also shares the personal side of his journey: growing up in a single-parent home, playing Division I sports, jumping out of airplanes at Fort Bragg, and navigating the shift from high-stakes military missions to corporate roles that didn’t feel meaningful, ultimately driving him toward entrepreneurship and ownership.

This episode is packed with real talk, strategy, inspiration, and raw vulnerability. Whether you’re a veteran, an entrepreneur, an operator, or someone exploring ETA, Mike’s story offers remarkable insight into what it truly takes to build, lead, and scale a business while staying grounded in purpose.

Tune in and get ready to take flight.

David shares how his Atlanta-based, family-run firm helps companies of all sizes. From startups to long-established enterprises, he helps them discover their worth through detailed valuation services. He discusses the biggest factors that drive business value, including the importance of strong financials, reducing founder dependency, and building recurring revenue streams.

Listeners will also hear David’s insights on why removing yourself from your business can increase its value, how to reduce “key person risk,” and why Sofer Advisors chose a name that reflects their mission, not a single individual.

With themes of service, agility, and empathy at the heart of Sofer Advisors’ work, this conversation offers practical wisdom for entrepreneurs looking to grow, scale, or eventually exit their companies.

Key Takeaways:

• Why “working yourself out of the business” adds value
• How customer diversification and recurring revenue boost valuations
• The advantages (and challenges) of running a family business
• How agility and empathy set Sofer Advisors apart

Tune in for an insightful and down-to-earth discussion about what makes businesses thrive—and what makes them worth more.

Listen to the full episode available now on Apple, Spotify and YouTube

Erica opens up about her extraordinary journey — from growing up in foster care to becoming the owner of an award-winning Montessori school and a respected leader in the early education and nonprofit sectors. She shares how she has reimagined business models, expanded access to high-quality education across Georgia, and built thriving ecosystems rooted in equity, innovation, and legacy.

Tune in to hear how Erica’s deep faith, unwavering focus, and fierce determination are fueling her mission to build lasting impact through education, community, and generational wealth — all while inspiring others to rise above their own beginnings and take flight. 

Connect with Jaci on LinkedIn and follow her company Treebird Branding

Christian shares how he transitioned from selling his first company under a non-compete to diving headfirst into the complex, regulation-heavy world of fire and life safety systems with zero prior experience. Discover how he scaled a small mom-and-pop operation into a $12M powerhouse with 77 employees, all while staying focused on his niche: inspections and maintenance, not construction.

We cover:

• Why recurring revenue and regulation made fire safety attractive
• How saying “no” became a competitive advantage
• The power of focus and strategic growth
• Reinventing yourself mid-career
• Scaling leadership and stepping out of the day-to-day

Whether you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or looking for your next pivot, this conversation is full of practical insights, real talk, and lessons in building something meaningful from the ground up.
 

Recorded live in celebration of 30 years of EO Atlanta.

Recorded live at EO Atlanta's 30 Year Anniversary Event, this intimate conversation dives into Galina’s journey from journalism to hospitality photography, her unique visual style, and how she brings spaces to life through meticulous storytelling, technical mastery, and an unwavering commitment to quality.

Galina shares how her work has helped prestigious resorts elevate their brand presence, the power of over-delivering in business, and why generosity and attention to detail are her greatest competitive advantages. From scouting locations months in advance to recreating golden-hour light on a rainy day, her dedication is unmatched and it shows in the results.

Whether you're in hospitality, branding, photography, or just love hearing from passionate entrepreneurs, this episode offers insight, inspiration, and a behind-the-scenes look at the artistry that helps luxury destinations make unforgettable first impressions.

Brad is a former president of EO Atlanta (2020–2021), a University of Pennsylvania alum, and the Founder & CEO of Outsource Access - an outsourcing firm supporting 75+ industries worldwide with a team of over 500 professionals.

In this conversation, Brad and Sarah dive into the challenges of scaling a global business, how he's equipping his team with AI skills, and the real-world strategies he’s using to integrate AI into operations. Brad also shares his insights on where AI is headed and what that means for entrepreneurs in the years ahead.

Tune in now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or watch the full episode on YouTube.

Originally from Denver, William chose Atlanta for his entrepreneurial adventure and built his business around a belief in doing everything with intention. Now leading a team of 30 full-time professionals, he has made his mark on the city’s event landscape while demonstrating a deep commitment to philanthropy and service. A longtime member of EO Atlanta, William also brings over 20 years of entrepreneurial insight—and his signature energy and smile—to every room he enters.

Tune in as Sarah and William dive into his journey from startup to standout, his move to Atlanta, the power of community and connection, and the lasting impact EO Atlanta has had on both his personal and professional life.

Listen to this episode to gain tools you can use in your own business. Especially in regards to scaling a business while staying committed to your mission and core values. 

We couldn't have asked for a better guest to lift off our season than entrepreneur and commercial pilot, Robin Sokoloff. We had to get Robin for our first episode as she "takes flight" on a daily basis teaching other entrepreneurs how to fly. Today, she teaches us how to take flight in our own businesses. 

Not only is she FAA certified, she has many accolades to her name. Robin has been a Founder & CEO for more than 7 years and she is currently working on her company, SSRS Group serving mid-sized clients in the technology, aviation, real estate, and petconomy markets. Robin Sokoloff is one of only 3% of female business owners world-wide, to surpass $1M annual revenue and is a part of the active effort to increase this % for women. 

Listen to our first episode of this season to learn more about Robin's first flight into business, her love of theater & the arts, and how she got into aviation.

This episode is now available on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube and everywhere else you get your podcasts.

Remember to subscribe and leave a review as we lift off for this brand new season!

Takeaways:

• Successful entrepreneurship often hinges on aligning your passion with your skillset, ensuring sustained motivation and tenacity through challenges.
• Surrounding yourself with supportive and influential individuals, such as mentors, family, and business partners, can significantly impact your professional journey.
• For communicators, especially in PR, it’s crucial to measure the impact of your efforts to demonstrate value and refine strategies for better results.
• Scaling a business, particularly when targeting larger enterprise brands, requires overcoming numerous challenges and maintaining a strategic approach to growth.
• Confidence in your abilities and the value of your offerings is vital in driving sales and sustaining business growth, especially during tough times.
• Investing in customer retention and focusing on the customer experience can be more impactful than merely concentrating on acquiring new clients.
• Engaging with resources like influential books and professional organizations (e.g., EO) can provide valuable insights and support continuous personal and business development.

Quote of the Show:

• “Many entrepreneurs miss the mark when love and tenacity aren't there for what you do.” - Sarah Tourville

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahtourville/ 
• Company Website: http://www.mediafrenzyglobal.com 
• EO Atlanta Organization: https://www.eoatlanta.com/ 

Ways To Tune In:

• Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/1035225 
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4e67LgZSZ0Vc2anrFzN8A1
• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taking-flight-the-entrepreneurs-journey-podcast/id1652695640?uo=4
• Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9jNjJkNzk4OC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/82088400-c5a3-413c-9692-4719c8f1fd67/taking-flight-eo-atlanta-podcast
• Podcast Addict: https://podcastaddict.com/podcast/taking-flight-the-entrepreneurs-journey-podcast/4496468
• Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/show/6138535
• Player FM: https://player.fm/series/series-3482373 
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/taking-flight-the-entrepreneur-4968156  
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/5PjpF-I9HYk

Taking Flight is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/ 

Takeaways:

• Entrepreneurs should pursue their passions with determination, embracing minimal viable product (MVP) and lean startup methodologies to achieve sustainable growth. 
• In healthcare and service industries, it is crucial to prioritize customer or patient experience as a fundamental growth strategy, investing in quality service and transparency. 
• Invest in building a team that shares your vision and passion. Encourage ownership and accountability by recognizing contributions and fostering a culture devoid of ego. 
• Prepare for inevitable business challenges by developing resilience among your team and maintaining open lines of communication with your clients or patients. 
• For scalable business models, focus on systematizing operations without compromising on the unique value proposition that sets your business apart. 
• Engage with entrepreneur networks and communities to gain insights, support, and mentorship critical for navigating the complexities of business leadership.

Quote of the Show:

• “We’re really putting the health back in healthcare.” - Kristin Oja

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristin-oja-dnp-fnp-c-ifmcp-70516453/  
• Company website: http://www.statwellness.com 
• Email: kristin@statwellness.com 
• Instagram: @drkristinoja | @statwellness
• Call/Text: 404-254-5905
• EO Atlanta Organization: https://www.eoatlanta.com/ 

Ways To Tune In:

• Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/1035225 
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4e67LgZSZ0Vc2anrFzN8A1
• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taking-flight-the-entrepreneurs-journey-podcast/id1652695640?uo=4
• Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9jNjJkNzk4OC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/82088400-c5a3-413c-9692-4719c8f1fd67/taking-flight-eo-atlanta-podcast
• Podcast Addict: https://podcastaddict.com/podcast/taking-flight-the-entrepreneurs-journey-podcast/4496468
• Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/show/6138535
• Player FM: https://player.fm/series/series-3482373 
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/taking-flight-the-entrepreneur-4968156 
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/GOe2NiuT8vI

Taking Flight is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/ 

Takeaways:

• Jon emphasizes the importance of specializing in non-food franchising to differentiate oneself and attract clientele. He stresses that carving out a niche allows consultants to offer tailored expertise that resonates with potential clients.
• Sarah and Jon delve into the perks of specializing within their industry, emphasizing how clients highly value consultants with extensive knowledge and experience. They discuss how being perceived as specialists can lead to more lucrative opportunities and long-term partnerships.
• Jon elaborates on his strategy for managing the high demand for his consulting services by collaborating with trusted partners. He explains how this approach not only expands his capacity but also ensures his clients receive comprehensive support tailored to their needs.
• Reflecting on his entrepreneurial journey, Jon underscores the crucial role of a supportive network comprising his wife, business partner Alan Young, and organizations like EO. He highlights how these connections provide invaluable mentorship, encouragement, and collaborative opportunities.
• Jon finds fulfillment in witnessing his clients' businesses thrive through franchising, emphasizing the immense growth potential across various industries. He celebrates the role he plays in guiding entrepreneurs through their journey to success.
• Jon underscores the value of his EO forum, emphasizing its nurturing environment, shared values, and focus on personal and professional growth. He explains how being part of such a community fosters collaboration, accountability, and continual learning, ultimately enhancing his effectiveness as a consultant.

Quote of the Show:

• “I love being a part of the journey with my clients, not just guiding, but also living it with them.” - Jon Ostenson

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonostenson/  
• Company website: https://franbridgeconsulting.com/  
• Book: https://www.amazon.com/Non-Food-Franchising-Better-Business-Ownership/dp/B0BJNDCGN4 
• EO Atlanta Organization: https://www.eoatlanta.com/ 

Ways To Tune In:

• Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/1035225 
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4e67LgZSZ0Vc2anrFzN8A1
• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taking-flight-the-entrepreneurs-journey-podcast/id1652695640?uo=4
• Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9jNjJkNzk4OC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/82088400-c5a3-413c-9692-4719c8f1fd67/taking-flight-eo-atlanta-podcast
• Podcast Addict: https://podcastaddict.com/podcast/taking-flight-the-entrepreneurs-journey-podcast/4496468
• Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/show/6138535
• Player FM: https://player.fm/series/series-3482373 
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/taking-flight-the-entrepreneur-4968156 
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/SRfy53WUfrg

Taking Flight is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/ 

Takeaways:

• Samantha underscores the importance of building passive income streams. Through buying and flipping homes or building rental portfolios, she argues, entrepreneurs can achieve financial independence and leave a lasting legacy.
• Business owners need to strategically adapt to changing market conditions. Samantha draws from her own experiences within the real estate sector during times of high-interest rates and economic downturns.
• There is value of trust in business relationships. Samantha shares her lessons of expecting accountability from her team members and how a trust-based relationship with her operations manager improved her business process.
• Samantha uses intense focus on designing her life intentionally. She shares her method of setting clear personal and professional boundaries and goals, transforming those into reality, and achieving work-life balance.
• There is a challenge for female entrepreneurs, and they often face balancing assertiveness and empathy in professional settings. Samantha has navigated this dynamic by being authentic and unapologetically herself.
• Community memberships in such groups, like EO Atlanta, can provide a sense of belonging. It also enables members to learn from each other's experiences, and offer opportunities for mentorship.
• Samantha plans to double the number of rental doors and her goal of achieving a million dollars in passive income profit from these properties in three years to demonstrate her aggressive growth strategy.

Quote of the Show:

• “If I’m going to do something, it has to have an impact, and it has to matter.” - Samantha Hayes

Links:

• Samantha’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthaphillipsrealtor/  
• Samantha’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/samsellsatlanta?lang=en  
• Company website: https://realatlas.com/ 
• Samantha’s Cell Phone: 404-808-9597 
• EO Atlanta Organization: https://www.eoatlanta.com/ 

Ways To Tune In:

• Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/1035225 
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4e67LgZSZ0Vc2anrFzN8A1
• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taking-flight-the-entrepreneurs-journey-podcast/id1652695640?uo=4
• Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9jNjJkNzk4OC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/82088400-c5a3-413c-9692-4719c8f1fd67/taking-flight-eo-atlanta-podcast
• Podcast Addict: https://podcastaddict.com/podcast/taking-flight-the-entrepreneurs-journey-podcast/4496468
• Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/show/6138535
• Player FM: https://player.fm/series/series-3482373 
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/taking-flight-the-entrepreneur-4968156 
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/0nI4HRzjrno

Taking Flight is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Takeaways:

• Jon acknowledges the importance of understanding and accepting the limitations of time. This realization is crucial for leaders and communicators as it helps them set realistic expectations and prioritize tasks effectively.
• It is crucial to trust others and lean on them. Leaders should trust their team members and delegate tasks to them appropriately. Trust fosters collaboration, enables efficient teamwork, and allows individuals to contribute their skills and expertise.
• A leader of a team should not only trust their team members but also coach and mentor them. By providing guidance and support, leaders can help their team members develop their skills and grow professionally, enhancing the overall performance of the team.
• No one can handle everything on their own, so team leaders need to delegate responsibilities to capable team members. Delegation not only distributes the workload but also empowers team members to take ownership and contribute to the success of the organization.

Quote of the Show:

• “We all need people. So we need to learn how to trust them.” - Jon Roman

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonroman/ 
• Company Website: https://www.tworld.com/atlantanorth 
• EO Atlanta Organization: https://www.eoatlanta.com/ 

Ways To Tune In:

• Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/1035225 
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4e67LgZSZ0Vc2anrFzN8A1
• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taking-flight-the-entrepreneurs-journey-podcast/id1652695640?uo=4
• Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9jNjJkNzk4OC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/82088400-c5a3-413c-9692-4719c8f1fd67/taking-flight-eo-atlanta-podcast
• Podcast Addict: https://podcastaddict.com/podcast/taking-flight-the-entrepreneurs-journey-podcast/4496468
• Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/show/6138535
• Player FM: https://player.fm/series/series-3482373 
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/taking-flight-the-entrepreneur-4968156  
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/bblf9CodAc0

Taking Flight is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Takeaways:

• Joe hired someone right away, even though some found it risky without ensuring the business's viability. He understood early on that he needed support and was confident in sustaining both his family and an additional salary. It was the right decision in the end.
• There were a few people who helped Joe spark the start of his own company, including Kelly Deen, Jeff Hilimire, and Genevieve Bos. It is important to recognize and acknowledge the people who have supported and influenced your journey.
• Leaders should be open to providing guidance and support to others in their industry. Building a strong network of mentors and colleagues is one way to gain valuable insight and assistance in professional endeavors. Being actively involved in professional networks like EO can also lead to fruitful connections and collaborations.
• Launching Marketing Ecosystem Consulting has helped Setup to enhance client marketing resources and partnerships, serving both a Fortune 500 company and a global hotel chain. The key is to customize the ideal marketing mix for each client through stakeholder interviews, visioning, and roadmap development, while also identifying agency needs to address any gaps.
• Setup’s business model stands out from the competition. While competitors include search consultants and business development experts, they serve as matchmakers connecting clients and agencies, making the process enjoyable. Helping clients clarify their marketing challenges and forge successful partnerships with agencies is what brings success.
• Public relations has been key to Setup’s success, leading to outstanding press coverage. Their annual marketing survey was featured in Ad Age and Fast Company, boosting inbound interest and website traffic. The same success is expected with their upcoming fifth survey.

Quote of the Show:

• “I am filled with a great deal of joy to be able to connect people together.” - Joe Koufman

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joekoufman/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/GumboShowJoe 
• Personal Website: https://joekoufman.com/ 
• Setup Website: https://setup.us/ 
• AMA Atlanta Website: https://www.ama-atlanta.com/ 
• ChooseATL Website: https://www.chooseatl.com/ 
• EO Atlanta Organization: https://www.eoatlanta.com/ 

Ways To Tune In:

• Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/1035225 
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4e67LgZSZ0Vc2anrFzN8A1
• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taking-flight-the-entrepreneurs-journey-podcast/id1652695640?uo=4
• Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9jNjJkNzk4OC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/82088400-c5a3-413c-9692-4719c8f1fd67/taking-flight-eo-atlanta-podcast
• Podcast Addict: https://podcastaddict.com/podcast/taking-flight-the-entrepreneurs-journey-podcast/4496468
• Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/show/6138535
• Player FM: https://player.fm/series/series-3482373 
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/taking-flight-the-entrepreneur-4968156 
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/kRZQtLqC9rY

Taking Flight is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/ 

Takeaways:

• Casey learned that his first flight was all about passion. Not giving much attention to the logical side, he realized he was burning the candle, but it didn't feel like it. This is where, accidentally, he found his passion, which led to starting the company.
• Ringmaster strives to grow their team to where members feel like partners. During the hiring process, the company’s vision is shared with potential candidates. If it resonates with them, great! If not, then it’s not the right fit. The company looks for passionate individuals that are just as excited about the mission and vision as they are. 
• After more than a decade in marketing automation, Casey’s recognized the need to reassess its impact and understanding of clients. Marketers often become obscured by technology, losing sight of serving real people, and reducing them to mere data points.
• Ringmaster is committed to forging deeper connections with customers by understanding their needs and challenges. The motivation comes from Casey’s experience, where he had to launch his podcast without expert guidance, resulting in extensive trial and error.
• It is important to empower entrepreneur visionaries to realize their vision by connecting them with their existing customers. This vital connection often goes unnoticed in sales materials, but plays a significant role in bridging the gap and will help ensure authentic engagement.
• Ringmaster helps clients connect with their dream clients through podcast interviews, fostering genuine connections, and valuable exposure. This aligns with the company's mission, making podcasting a powerful tool for business development.

Quote of the Show:

• “Our company’s core purpose is to foster meaningful human connections.” - Casey Cheshire

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseycheshire/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CaseyChesh
• Company Website: https://ringmaster.com/
• Personal Website: https://caseycheshire.com/
• Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1599327384
• Podcast: https://www.hardcorpsmarketing.com/ | https://www.creatingthegreatestshow.com/
• EO Atlanta Organization: https://www.eoatlanta.com/ 

Ways To Tune In:

• Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/1035225 
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4e67LgZSZ0Vc2anrFzN8A1
• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taking-flight-the-entrepreneurs-journey-podcast/id1652695640?uo=4
• Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9jNjJkNzk4OC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/82088400-c5a3-413c-9692-4719c8f1fd67/taking-flight-eo-atlanta-podcast
• Podcast Addict: https://podcastaddict.com/podcast/taking-flight-the-entrepreneurs-journey-podcast/4496468
• Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/show/6138535
• Player FM: https://player.fm/series/series-3482373 
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/taking-flight-the-entrepreneur-4968156 
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/TJosmpZzMHo

Taking Flight is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Takeaways:

• Leslie went through some bumps in the road on her entrepreneurial journey. Before joining the family business at Arden’s Garden, she was applying to medical schools. She learned that sometimes, you have to endure trials along the way to finding your purpose.
• In the commitment to sustainability, the company recently introduced two exciting initiatives over the past year: upcycling pulp into food products and partnering with an organic urban farm in East Point. 
• Smaller communities make it easier to connect with neighbors, and even in larger places like Atlanta, Arden’s Garden made connections. Feeling a strong bond with East Point created a beneficial synergy due to their support. Initially, their involvement was reluctant, but it eventually became mutually rewarding.
• Many people lack clarity on how to be healthy and where to find the right foods and drinks. Arden’s see’s a significant opportunity to support individuals in their journey towards improved health, as they witness their commendable efforts in our stores every day.
• Leslie was inspired by a friend to join in on a three day juice cleanse. This is rejuvenative and brings more energy, optimism, and mental clarity. Juice cleanses can reignite one’s commitment to health, even during times of wavering.
• Arden’s Garden provides in-store education and collaborates with local organizations like the Urban Farm. Due to COVID, the plans for cooking classes were disrupted. Now, the company is planning to offer free cooking classes to empower people to prepare healthy meals for themselves.
• A five-year partnership with customer-centric Publix led to expansion from 40 to 200 stores, turning initial setbacks into blessings. Arden’s 28-year journey has seen consistent growth fueled by top-notch products and service.

Quote of the Show:

• “Our bodies are amazing machines, and if you give them incredible fuel, they will heal very quickly.” - Leslie Zinn

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arden's-garden/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ardensfresh 
• Company website: https://www.ardensgarden.com/ 
• EO Atlanta Organization: https://www.eoatlanta.com/ 

Ways To Tune In:

• Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/1035225 
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4e67LgZSZ0Vc2anrFzN8A1
• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taking-flight-the-entrepreneurs-journey-podcast/id1652695640?uo=4
• Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9jNjJkNzk4OC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/82088400-c5a3-413c-9692-4719c8f1fd67/taking-flight-eo-atlanta-podcast
• Podcast Addict: https://podcastaddict.com/podcast/taking-flight-the-entrepreneurs-journey-podcast/4496468
• Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/show/6138535
• Player FM: https://player.fm/series/series-3482373 
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/taking-flight-the-entrepreneur-4968156 
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/gM0IY8XOTB4

Taking Flight is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/ 

Takeaways:

• Recognizing the value of a business partner is an essential asset unappreciated by some. While certain entrepreneurs thrive as independent leaders, the collaborative expertise of a partner often proves indispensable in achieving exceptional results.
• The Entrepreneurs Organization serves as an outlet for discussing issues unsuitable for casual conversation. These encompass concerns like lagging AR, sourcing new deals, organizational efficacy, and the imperative to synchronize efforts.
• R&Y Labs strives to scale a strategic process that is vital for maximizing value creation. The goal is to navigate valuable choices despite costs, aligning pricing with the value they add to scaling. Dedication to value shapes a client-focused approach, optimizing ideas for business success.
• One of the key challenges and responsibilities of effective leadership is providing individuals with the room to navigate their path. Being there to support them when they encounter setbacks is crucial. This support and guidance are fundamental aspects of leadership, fostering growth, and resilience. 
• Failures are opportunities for learning rather than mere mistakes. By extracting lessons from unsuccessful attempts, there is room to improve and avoid repeating errors. While occasional missteps are acceptable, a recurring pattern calls for change and adaptation.
• FinTech, one of R&Y Labs’ specialties, is a continuous journey to build a practice centered on excellence and contribution. The overarching goal is to elevate the likelihood of products achieving product-market fit by a 10x margin, propelling commitment forward.
• As the world of technology rapidly evolves, it is also diving into a state of transmutation that is uncertain. With artificial intelligence’s rapid advancement, it is continually reshaping the cutting-edge, with today's innovation quickly becoming tomorrow's norm.

Quote of the Show:

• “It’s really important to me that we scale in a way that creates maximum value for our customers.” - Randy Etheredge

Links:

• Randy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/randy-etheredge-68543a23/ 
• Ninety’s Website: https://www.ninety.io/?utm_source=linkedin.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=company_profile
• R&Y Labs Website: https://www.rylabs.io/ 
• EO Atlanta Organization: https://www.eoatlanta.com/ 

Ways To Tune In:

• Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/1035225 
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4e67LgZSZ0Vc2anrFzN8A1
• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taking-flight-the-entrepreneurs-journey-podcast/id1652695640?uo=4
• Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9jNjJkNzk4OC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/82088400-c5a3-413c-9692-4719c8f1fd67/taking-flight-eo-atlanta-podcast
• Podcast Addict: https://podcastaddict.com/podcast/taking-flight-the-entrepreneurs-journey-podcast/4496468
• Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/show/6138535
• Player FM: https://player.fm/series/series-3482373 
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/taking-flight-the-entrepreneur-4968156 
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/5OWDc5FrFDw

Taking Flight is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/ 

Takeaways:

• A good foundation starts with people believing in you. It is valuable to surround yourself with people who have the same work ethic and to confide in people who give you the tools to succeed. The relationships should be uplifting, not discouraging. 
• Reply to emails regardless of who you are or where you're based. If you know someone in the industry, share their contact. Though no promises are made, sharing a contact can be impactful, especially when faced with unanswered emails. Persist in finding someone to engage with.
• When growing something fresh, a major challenge is the limited shelf life. From harvest to spoilage, time is constantly ticking. As supply increases, you must secure pathways for distribution to continue expanding and identifying more high-volume sales outlets. 
• Mushrooms usually contain 92% moisture. In Atlanta, the ideal weather pattern for their growth involves warm days, cool nights, and rain, triggering their fruiting. The mycelium is always present, and these conditions bring forth their magic. It is essential to be cautious when foraging, as distinguishing edible from toxic varieties is crucial.
• Currently, Ellijay Mushrooms lacks the necessary tools to precisely control temperatures. By investing in a 40-foot smart container, it is set to elevate its capabilities as it can grow 26 different types of mushrooms at one time. This will enable product diversification and improved growth timing.
• Having a 40-foot smart container on display in a hotel is a vision that Ellijay Mushrooms has. This container holds potential for food-deprived areas running on solar panels. With its Wi-Fi connectivity, it will be sure to cultivate exceptional produce for the local community. 
• Ellijay Mushrooms focuses on providing nutritious food, dispelling misconceptions about mushrooms, and raising awareness about their farm to educate people about food origins and the effort behind it. This approach leads to broader partnerships, even with larger retailers or chains that share similar values.

Quote of the Show:

• “Time is special. If we use it to gain knowledge, then that's a huge win for everybody.” - Howard Berk

Links:

• Howard Berk’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/howardberk-mushrooms/  
• Ellijay Mushrooms’s Website: https://www.ellijaymushrooms.com/ 
• 2funguys’s Website: https://2funguys.com/ 
• Ellijay Mushrooms’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/ellijaymushroom 
• Entrepreneurs Organization: https://www.eoatlanta.com/ 

Ways To Tune In:

• Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/1035225 
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4e67LgZSZ0Vc2anrFzN8A1
• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taking-flight-the-entrepreneurs-journey-podcast/id1652695640?uo=4
• Google Podcast: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9jNjJkNzk4OC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/82088400-c5a3-413c-9692-4719c8f1fd67/taking-flight-eo-atlanta-podcast
• Podcast Addict: https://podcastaddict.com/podcast/taking-flight-the-entrepreneurs-journey-podcast/4496468
• Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/show/6138535
• Player FM: https://player.fm/series/series-3482373 
• Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/taking-flight-the-entrepreneur-4968156 
• Transistor: https://share.transistor.fm/s/ea3d6587
• Taking Flight’s YouTube: https://youtu.be/yONRljtFI_c

Taking Flight: EO Atlanta is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/ 

Takeaways:

• In life, there are going to be times when you win and times when you lose, and that is out of our control. Despite the circumstances, it is important to still provide the service and fulfill the commitments no matter how awry the situation may be. 
• As humans, we are not perfect, but it is important to always strive for excellence no matter the circumstances. Some days prove to be more challenging than others, but that doesn’t mean today has to be a replica of yesterday. 
• If there is ever a window of opportunity to speak into someone else’s life or seize the moment and take it. You never know when you will get the chance to do it again, and it could end up making a big impact that could change somebody’s life for the better. 
• At Slater Hospitality, they make the most of what they have and always do more with less. They are inspired to help, encourage, and always give their best. This positive mindset is what gave Kelvin the success to take on numerous leadership roles. 
• Kelvin finds family values incredibly important, especially as a husband and a father. Kelvin strives for a healthy system to be in place with his wife and will show as an inspiring example to other couples who are pursuing the same dream. 
• Kelvin’s challenges during his youth have helped mold him into the remarkable man he is today. This transformation has motivated him to make changes, setting him apart from those who remain stuck in this life during their formative years. 
• There is a story happening inside of us all, whether we embrace it or not. For Kelvin, his emotional release has been found through poetry. This has been a very therapeutic discovery and has helped him relax and express himself as he navigates what’s to come. 

Quote of the Show:

• “I look at the good and the bad differently because I know today doesn't have to be based on yesterday.” - Kelvin Slater

Links:

• Kelvin Slater’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelvin-slater-a156bb93/ 
• Slater Hospitality’s Website: https://www.slaterhospitality.com/ 
• Slater Hospitality’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slaterhospitality/?hl=en 
• Entrepreneurs Organization: https://www.eoatlanta.com/ 

Ways To Tune In:

• Stitcher
• Spotify
• Apple Podcast
• Google Podcast
• Amazon Music
• Podcast Addict
• Deezer
• Player FM
• Podchaser
• Transistor
• Taking Flight’s YouTube
• EO Atlanta’s YouTube

Taking Flight: EO Atlanta is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Takeaways:

• Younger entrepreneurs have a unique advantage when embarking on their entrepreneurial journey immediately after completing school. By embracing risk-taking early on, before fully establishing themselves, they can propel themselves toward success. 
• Hiring subpar employees who are not able to meet expectations is risky. This leads to significant setbacks, terminations, and unexpected resignations. To acquire the right employee, re-evaluate strategies and accept a slower recruitment process. 
• In the financial industry, sourcing candidates directly yields better results as an employer can use a personal approach that provides opportunities and benefits. This extends beyond monetary incentives and offers compelling reasons to leave large firms. 
• Recognizing niche importance gives leverage in targeting ideal clientele. Specializing in specific niches helps businesses position themselves as experts in those areas. This offers tailored solutions that address the needs and challenges of their target audience.
• When seeking financial accountability, individuals often have a team of professionals in place. However, important gaps in this include communication, clarity, and a sense of safety. Meredith advises gathering an accountability partner that will fill these gaps and provide the needed support.
• Clients may need to be made aware of the efforts, challenges, and dedication their accountability partner gives to ensure their well-being. The unseen responsibility, advocacy, and commitment are the ingredients that make a difference in delivering care and support.
• Working as a financial advisor provides a comfortable lifestyle without the costs of goods sold or extensive operating capital. Working with inspiring clients brings motivation to elevate one’s game and reinforce belief in the influence of the company they keep.

Quote of the Show:

• “My love for creating impact has become my mission.” - Meredith Moore

Links:

• Meredith Moore’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredithmoore/  
• Artisan Financial Strategies’s Website: https://www.artisanfsonline.com/index.cfm 
• Meredith Moore’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/financialgirl 
• Entrepreneurs Organization: https://www.eoatlanta.com/ 

Ways To Tune In:

• Stitcher
• Spotify
• Apple Podcast
• Google Podcast
• Amazon Music
• Podcast Addict
• Deezer
• Player FM
• Podchaser
• Transistor 
• Taking Flight’s YouTube 
• EO Atlanta’s YouTube

Taking Flight: EO Atlanta is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/ 

Takeaways:

• People walk through life thinking they don’t have permission to step into the unknown. This causes us to develop anxiety towards facing fears, listening to our hearts, or trying something new. Elizabeth reminds us that you don’t need permission to make a decision that will better yourself and your career in the long run. 
• A good action to take is to practice law with love and an open heart. During frustrating situations, people often project their emotions onto others without realizing it. It is important to remember not to take it personally and not let it root deep within you. Elizabeth recommends shielding your mind away from negativity.
• Once you come to terms with forgiving someone, it is easier to develop a plan of action that involves love. By doing so, you realize that you are no longer operating out of a place of fear. A best practice is to develop the mindset of recognizing that you are not at fault and you are there to help. 
• It is important that during consultations, producing honest assessments and allow clients to understand the challenges they may face. Elizabeth encourages others to not sugarcoat it. Find time to assess the reality of the journey so that the end goal is focusing on how you can build trust with your client.
• A good tactic to use in your daily life is to celebrate your personal growth through metacognition, where you observe your reactions, desires, and thoughts. By understanding how your body and mind function, you can prevent negative patterns and initiate positive change. This leads to a happier life and a more joyful workplace. 
• The formula to creating the life you want and the future you want is to bring love into your life journey. It is key to remember to not focus so much on caring if you don't get what you want because, in that moment, it's okay. Once you are content, that is when you go all in for your dreams.
• True happiness can be found by aligning your heart's desires and purpose. This will shape every moment and help you to make a meaningful impact in the world. Through this, you can learn to protect your heart by brushing away external circumstances that sway your inner joy.

Quote of the Show:

• “Don't give up your life for a win or an event. The present moment is so important, even if you don't have what you're seeking.” - Elizabeth Garvish

Links:

• Elizabeth Garvish’s LinkedIn
• Garvish Immigration Law Group’s Website
• Elizabeth Garvish’s Twitter
• Entrepreneurs Organization

Ways To Tune In:

• Stitcher
• Spotify
• Apple Podcast
• Google Podcast
• Amazon Music
• Podcast Addict
• Deezer
• Player FM
• Podchaser
• Transistor
• YouTube

Taking Flight: EO Atlanta is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/ 

Takeaways:

• The most important task that Rayo believed she got right on her first flight was clarifying the problem the company was solving. By adding value to the users who they were connecting with and in their platform, maintained that core problem to be solved using their technology.
• The ultimate mission for CargoSprint is to enhance the human experience, particularly in the cargo industry. This industry can be very stressful, especially for those involved in a fast-paced environment, air cargo. As a humanistic business, technology is used to improve these experiences and reduce stress levels for operators by providing assistance and creating a more relaxed work environment.
• While CargoSprint’s network was expanding, the primary focus initially was on air cargo. One of the key offerings CargoSprint gives today is a platform that enables truckers to receive payment seamlessly from freight forwarders. By establishing truckers as vendors in the system, freight forwarders can easily pay their charges through our platform.
• At the beginning of COVID, a challenge that was faced was transitioning to remote work and adopting a hybrid model. Regardless of whether employees are in the office or working from home, it remains essential to maintain a strong connection to the company's purpose. Not just mentioning the values, but embedding them, ensuring they are lived every day. 
• To foster connection with a team, Rayo’s program includes designated days for specific focus to help highlight and encourage participation in company values. A hybrid schedule, this help to strengthen culture, encourage participation, and build a sense of community.
• CargoSprint’s ethical foundation begins from within each individual. Everything that surrounds them must reflect what’s carried inside. To initiate positive change, Rayo encourages the audience to examine themselves. It's crucial to identify areas for personal improvement, such as empathy.
• It's important to remember that the company's overall behavior and culture are a direct reflection of its leaders. Instead of blaming others for not following suit, we recognize that change starts with us and our commitment to personal growth and development.

Quote of the Show:

• “A leader needs to take full responsibility for the development of the organization, and it starts with him or herself.” - Rayo Torres

Links:

• Rayo Torres’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rayotorres/ 
• CargoSprint’s Website: https://cargosprint.com/ 
• CargoSprint’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/CargoSprint 
• Entrepreneurs Organization: https://www.eoatlanta.com/ 

Ways To Tune In:

• Stitcher 
• Spotify
• Apple Podcast
• Google Podcast
• Amazon Music
• Podcast Addict
• Deezer
• Player FM
• Podchaser
• Transistor
• YouTube

Taking Flight: EO Atlanta is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/ 

Takeaways:

• What Hugh got right on his first flight into his entrepreneurial journey:
  • Entrepreneurship has guided Hugh’s identity. This made him become a big believer in starting a business and getting its purpose right. 
  • Differentiation between human behavior and financial behavior. Learning how to operationalize two systems brought success and acceleration to Hugh’s company. 
• Hugh believes that people treat money as a currency, but he sees money as energy playing on our minds. Lacking a deeper understanding of money wisdom can invade your thoughts which can cause stress and struggle with sleep. Hugh voices the importance of financial freedom and how important it is to help your health. 
• With 4,000 insights in their system, this started to overwhelm Hugh’s company. Hugh and his team collected a plan to reduce their product complexity. They spent 18 months re-designing their systems. Doing this made his company able to provide a customizable experience deliverable to their valued clients. 
• During Hugh’s early stages of childhood, there wasn’t an inspiring father figure to help mentor him in his life. When talking with clients, he noticed that he gained a relationship with some who lacked that adult figure in their early life as well. Working with his team, he took on the idea of mentorship and created a charitable organization called “Boys Without Fathers”. This program offers mentorship to young boys to help them find identity and boost character development. His mission is to give these kids the guidance he wished he had.
• Hugh carries the passion to help people be free from life’s mental burdens. After joining the 120 Club, he has enabled people to operate a more healthy life by providing them the mental freedom to live life to the fullest. Not only has this positively impacted the people he’s helped, but this has also provided Hugh with a happier and healthier life. 
• Abundance360 is an organization that consists of a global community of like-minded entrepreneurs, investors, and CEOs. Being part of this group has helped Hugh live with a more precise purpose. His next goal in life is to live the best version of himself.

Quote of the Show:

• “At some point, you’ve got to take that chance and give up something. This is part of what I call quantum living.” - Hugh Massie

Links:

• Hugh Massie’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hughmassie/ 
• DNA Behavior’s Website: https://dnabehavior.com/ 
• Befi Global’s Website: https://befiglobal.com/ 
• DNA Behavior’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/DNABehavior 
• Hugh Massie’s Books: https://a.co/d/cyE6wRn and https://a.co/d/1adwGUB 
• Abundance360 Organization: https://www.abundance360.com/summit 
• Boys Without Fathers Organization: https://boyswithoutfathers.org/ 
• Entrepreneurs Organization: https://www.eoatlanta.com/ 

Ways To Tune In:

• Stitcher
• Spotify
• Apple Podcast
• Google Podcast
• Amazon Music
• Podcast Addict
• Deezer
• Player FM
• Podchaser
• Transistor
• YouTube

Taking Flight: EO Atlanta is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/ 

Takeaways:

• What Alok got right on his first flight into his entrepreneurial journey:
  • Alok embarked on his entrepreneurial journey by being financially prepared. Recognizing the importance of personal finance education, he founded SmartPath. He extended this resource to his employees as an exclusive employee benefit.
  • Alok began his journey with a classroom of merely six students. For hours on end, he taught about the principles of personal finance. Through this teaching experience, Alok not only enlightened his students but also enriched his understanding of the subject matter.
• Alok believes that a crucial strategy for success lies in cultivating financial adaptability within your company. This led him to engage his team in exercises that helped them recognize that financial freedom stems from a baseline. His approach not only helped companies with navigating through uncertain times but also heightened a sense of financial awareness within the organization. By establishing this, Alok amplified the importance of financial growth and success.
• Alok and his company recently faced a challenge: balance between maintaining their foundation, expanding into new markets, and to keep moving forward. His team studied the expansive market, gaining insights that opened up potential. With this newfound knowledge, his company has used these newly developed strategies to increase the company's growth.
• To become an exceptional entrepreneur, follow these principles:
  • Overcommunicate your thoughts, ideas, and progress, you empower your team to navigate and embrace structure in your communication, ensuring that every detail is conveyed and understood.
  • Be vigilant about the stories you tell yourself about clients, sales, and opportunities. Be cautious and authentic in the narratives you construct. Make informed decisions that align with your vision.

Quote of the Show:

• “What got us here, is not going to get us there.” - Alok Deshpande

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alokdeshpande/ 
• Company Website: https://www.joinsmartpath.com/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/aloksmartpath 
• Organization: https://www.eoatlanta.com/ 

Ways To Tune In:

• Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/1035225 
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4e67LgZSZ0Vc2anrFzN8A1 
• Anchor: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/taking-flight-eo-atl/episodes/Defining-the-Sandbox---Alok-Deshpande---Taking-Flight-The-Entrepreneur-Journey-Podcast---Episode--02-e24u450
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/DpkJTM_V90Q
• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taking-flight-eo-atlanta-podcast/id1652695640 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/82088400-c5a3-413c-9692-4719c8f1fd67/taking-flight-eo-atlanta-podcast 

Taking Flight: EO Atlanta is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/ 

Takeaways:

• What Catherine got right on her first flight was adopting that adage mindset early on in her career. As a creative person, Catherine was not interested in spreadsheets or the business side until she found that you can merge creativity and business. Catherine has now found a combined passion for being able to be creative in her place of work. 
• A best practice that Catherine has learned is to follow through with her clients. Following through with clients shows that you care about their needs. It also helps monitor what they are looking for to keep satisfied clients.
• Catherine thinks that it is crucial to listen to your clients because when a client is saying they are unhappy, make sure they feel listened to and heard. A best practice is to write down why your client is unhappy and find the deeper meaning of their problem. Ask questions about what they want and what to do to better the situation.
• At Catherine’s company, whenever they have people lined up to work, and create a sheet with their contacts added. When your company is ready to hire, you can look into that folder and browse the list for a faster hiring rate.

Quote of the Show:

• “If you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life.” - Catherine Wilson

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-wilson-4580299/ 
• Company Website: https://www.ccwinteriors.com/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catherinewilsoninteriors/ 
• Organization: https://www.eoatlanta.com/  

Ways To Tune In:

• Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/1035225 
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4e67LgZSZ0Vc2anrFzN8A1 
• Anchor: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/taking-flight-eo-atl/episodes/Resiliency--Pivoting--Changing--and-Adapting---Catherin-Wilson---Taking-Flight-The-Entrepreneur-Journey-Podcast---Episode--019-e243u39 
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/zZ5ejyCgfJE 
• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taking-flight-eo-atlanta-podcast/id1652695640 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/82088400-c5a3-413c-9692-4719c8f1fd67/taking-flight-eo-atlanta-podcast 

Taking Flight: EO Atlanta is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Takeaways:

• Chasing what he was passionate about is what he got right on his first flight. He is an artist and knew from the very beginning. Ethan references Steve Jobs's quote to motivate him, “in life, you can't make sense. You can't connect the dots looking forward, but you can connect the dots looking backward.”
• Ethan started his company with his girlfriend at the time. He combined his art skills and her business major and created a successful business. They have established their business to a point where we have other ventures.
• The two things Ethan’s company has solved recently are:
  • Zeus’ Closet: During Covid, the customers couldn't go to any ceremonies or anywhere eventful. So, his team wanted to have things to commemorate these events and to help customers embroider their most cherished time.
  • Ethan started coaching entrepreneurs on whole-life success because of Ethan’s experience on the dangerous entrepreneur’s road. He helps people steer away from neglecting their health, neglecting their relationships, and neglecting their families. Ethan puts them back on track to a happy and healthy lifestyle. 
• When Ethan finds himself in a problematic situation, he will take a step back, exercise, and listen to audiobooks/podcasts to reset his mind. Ethan will then go back to the problem with a determined mindset.
• Ethan stresses the importance of remembering that you are not stuck where you are. He wants audiences to know that anything you don't like about your life, you can change and evolve. You can design the exact life that you want to live.

Quote of the Show:

• “Sometimes you have to go a different direction to focus on yourself, your mental health, spiritual health, and your physical health. Nothing else matters if you don't have those things in check.” - Ethan King

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kingethan/ 
• Company Website: https://zeuscloset.com/ and https://www.s4g.com/ and https://www.6packdads.com/apply47366258 
• Personal Website: https://ethanking.com/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ethankingdotcom 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethanking.co/ 
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ethanking.com 
• Ethan’s Book, Wealth Beyond Money: https://a.co/d/3lA4cHi 
• Organization: https://www.eoatlanta.com/ 

Ways To Tune In:

• Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/1035225 
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4e67LgZSZ0Vc2anrFzN8A1 
• Anchor:  https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/taking-flight-eo-atl/episodes/Wealth-Beyond-Money---Ethan-King---Taking-Flight-The-Entrepreneur-Journey-Podcast---Episode--018-e23asto
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/TN9wEc3MfGA
• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taking-flight-eo-atlanta-podcast/id1652695640 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/82088400-c5a3-413c-9692-4719c8f1fd67/taking-flight-eo-atlanta-podcast 

Taking Flight: EO Atlanta is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/ 

Takeaways:

• Andre’s first entrepreneurial flight did not go as planned. The police got involved and informed Andre what he was doing was against the law. Andre then found himself in solitary confinement for two and a half years.
• While Andre was in solitary confinement, he started to plan out his next endeavor but it wasn’t working for him. So he decided he wanted to go to Harvard and become successful. When he told his friends about it, they looked at him like he was crazy. This motivated Andre more.
• The lessons that Andre learned were to be fearless and to not care about losing. This impacted him while he was in prison to help him realize that you don’t have to be number one all the time. He believes that if you put enough effort into something, you'll find out if it works.
• Andre specializes in talking to felons, offenders, and gang members about how you can become part of the system, and not part of the prison system. This has been a long ongoing project Andre has been working on with Detriot to lessen the percentages of gun violence in Detriot.
• Andre labels himself a crisis manager. He says that it doesn't matter whether it's a business crisis, a family crisis, or a community crisis, he creates solutions for those.
• Harvard University was a goal for Andre because while he was setting in prison, he knew he wanted to be free but, freedom wasn’t that easy to get.

Quote of the Show:

• “It took me a total of 14 before I walked out of prison with a goal to go to Harvard, be successful, and launch myself. I’ve been home for 23 years now and I’ve made it to Harvard and beyond.” - Andre Norman

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andre-norman/ 
• Company Website: https://geniusnetwork.com/ and https://andrenorman.com/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrenorman 
• Book: https://www.amazon.com/Ambassador-Hope-Turning-Poverty-Purpose-Driven/dp/1544507232 
• Organization: https://www.eoatlanta.com/ 

Ways To Tune In:

• Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/1035225 
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4e67LgZSZ0Vc2anrFzN8A1 
• Anchor: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/taking-flight-eo-atl/episodes/Ambassador-of-Hope---Andre-Norman---Taking-Flight-The-Entrepreneur-Journey-Podcast---Episode--017-e22hpet 
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/k91e4s2Y5Rg 
• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taking-flight-eo-atlanta-podcast/id1652695640 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/82088400-c5a3-413c-9692-4719c8f1fd67/taking-flight-eo-atlanta-podcast

Taking Flight: EO Atlanta is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/ 

Takeaways:

• There are two things that Gary feels he got right when he first started his entrepreneurial journey; One was focusing on making his customers happy and the other was really believing in what he was doing.  
• As an entrepreneur, you need to have someone who is an implementer and another person who is an integrator to be successful. It’s not easy to find someone who fits into both roles. 
• Throughout your entrepreneurial journey, there will be people along the way who will point you in the right direction or help guide your business into a better spot. People like this can be viewed as “navigators” for you.   
• The biggest challenge that Gary is working on solving is that the service he is providing is not fulfilling the same needs for him that he wanted it to. With everything moving online, Gary realized that there were fewer physically present people in the office.
• Gary decided to open up a center for custom orthotics after he had been dealing with knee pain and thought about how there has to be a way to help other people with the same issues and make a difference.
• It’s important to take a moment to sit and reflect on what you are doing now and consider thinking about some things that if you could let them go you would.
• One way to make a big impact on yourself is to focus on the way that you look at the world. It’s an aspect that if you really put energy into it, you will see it pay tenfold.

Quote of the Show:

• “I did not come from a business background, but I had that belief and enthusiasm. This was more important to than winning over clients and attracting staff early on.” (02:26)

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garyfalcon/ 
• Website: https://choosetwine.com/ and https://www.aptiris.com/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/GaryLFalcon 
• Organization: https://www.eoatlanta.com/ 

Ways To Tune In:

• Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/1035225 
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4e67LgZSZ0Vc2anrFzN8A1 
• Anchor: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/taking-flight-eo-atl/episodes/Flying-with-Navigators---Gary-Falcon---Taking-Flight-The-Entrepreneur-Journey-Podcast---Episode--016-e21film 
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/wUH3wb_bwbU 
• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taking-flight-eo-atlanta-podcast/id1652695640 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/82088400-c5a3-413c-9692-4719c8f1fd67/taking-flight-eo-atlanta-podcast 

Taking Flight: EO Atlanta is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Takeaways:

• On David’s first flight, he made a lot of mistakes starting his business. David built two 8 figure businesses with other people, but once he went off on his own, the mistakes started to rise. 
• David realized that having a strong team around him resulted in a successful business. He added value to someone in his company which helped get his entrepreneurial journey back on track.  
• A challenge that David ran into was not being clear enough about what he wanted in his business.  
• David’s co-pilot who helped him through his ups and downs was his wife, Jennifer. She supported him along his flight and encouraged him to keep going.
• A challenge that David’s had to overcome was focus and scale. David got involved with a lot of different business ventures and some weren’t aligned with what his company is doing now.
• David had to release clients and other opportunities that weren’t aligned to scale. Knowing what the red flags are in your company can help prevent any future issues.
• One thing that David has seen over the years of being an entrepreneur is that people tend to hold back on things that don’t focus on their mindset and their beliefs. He has learned that you need to avoid self-sabotaging yourself and your internal beliefs to succeed. 

Quote of the Show:

• “I want to empower the team to make thoughtful decisions. I want to make sure that we are hiring the right people and we're developing those people in a way that they take  ownership of the vision and the culture of the company.” (13:31)

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidasarnow/ 
• Website: https://businessnitrogen.com/ 
• Person website: https://davidasarnow.com/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/davidasarnow 
• Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/get-naked-in-business-podcast/id1501442634 
• The Trigger Moment Book coming soon.
• Organization: https://www.eoatlanta.com/ 

Ways To Tune In:

• Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/1035225 
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4e67LgZSZ0Vc2anrFzN8A1 
• Anchor: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/taking-flight-eo-atl/episodes/Focus-and-Scale---David-Asarnow---Taking-Flight-The-Entrepreneur-Journey-Podcast---Episode--015-e20q3r3 
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/tCMCBqk6REY 
• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taking-flight-eo-atlanta-podcast/id1652695640 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/82088400-c5a3-413c-9692-4719c8f1fd67/taking-flight-eo-atlanta-podcast 

Taking Flight: EO Atlanta is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Takeaways:

• One of the things Cory got right on his first flight into his entrepreneurial journey was leaning into their customers to understand their struggles and pain.
• Understanding their struggles, helps his company connect with its customers and discover how they can solve their wants and needs.
• It is important to have customer discovery in your business. Without understanding customer discovery, it will be difficult to grow and keep relationships with current and potential buyers.
• Cory’s advice to entrepreneurs is to have confidence in themselves. Having confidence and humility will keep you humble. Sometimes when you are too confident, you will sometimes get a little over your head.
• Cory thinks that it was important to bring along his Co-Founder on his journey. Building a business by yourself can be difficult. So, bring someone with the same technical background. Doing this made Cory’s startup business move smoothly.
• During COVID, Cory’s company struggled with keeping their customer relationship. The barrier of not being able to physically connect with their buyers was difficult. Cory learned a lot about the importance of staying connected with his customers.
• For Cory, storytelling is a crucial infrastructure component in his position. He finds himself using storytelling with fundraising, pitching customers, learning what to write on their website, and designing their products.

Quote of the Show:

• “To be an entrepreneur, it takes a certain degree of confidence and strength.” (04:45)

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coryhewett/
• Website: https://www.gimmevending.com/ and https://nextgenvp.com/ and https://bloomouryouth.org/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CoryDirect
• Organization: https://www.eoatlanta.com/

Ways To Tune In:

• Stitcher
• Spotify
• Anchor
• Youtube
• Apple Podcast
• Amazon Music

Taking Flight: EO Atlanta is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Takeaways:

• Brad’s “lemonade stand” that he learned on his first flight on being an entrepreneur was finding the right people for the right seats. It is so essential to make sure you have the correct employee for the role you are assigning them.
• Being surrounded by entrepreneurs at a young age influenced Brad as a child. He never realized how much knowledge he stored inside his head by talking to his family members about their businesses. It is key to surround yourself with other business owners to help get the brain moving and think of ideas to help your business succeed.
• Instead of doing an interview, Brad suggests getting a couple of references. He puts people through 14 to 15 assessments, uses Colby, and a number of different tools. This helps sort out the right people for his company from the people who don’t fit as well.
• Brad has realized that not being in the office every day and seeing a single thing that's going on, has kept him from halting any growth and opportunity by going down rabbit holes that would've kept his business from rising.

Quote of the Show:

• “Because of EO, I got a chance to go to the United Nations headquarters and learn about sustainable development goals… that's probably been one of the biggest enjoyments of growing this business.” (22:50)

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradstevens44/
• Website: https://outsourceaccess.com/ and https://1on1connections.com/ and https://bradstevenstraining.com/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/_entreholic
• Organization: https://www.eoatlanta.com/

Ways To Tune In:

• Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/1035225
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4e67LgZSZ0Vc2anrFzN8A1
• Anchor: https://anchor.fm/taking-flight-eo-atl/episodes/Right-People--Right-Seats---Brad-Stevens---Taking-Flight-The-Entrepreneur-Journey-Podcast---Episode--013-e1v9a98
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/XbKpAlOt_AQ
• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taking-flight-eo-atlanta-podcast/id1652695640
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/82088400-c5a3-413c-9692-4719c8f1fd67/taking-flight-eo-atlanta-podcast

Taking Flight: EO Atlanta is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Takeaways:

• The first thing Ankit got right on his entrepreneurial journey was buying a franchise that had people already with business experience in it. Having people who already knew what to do, helped him learn more about the elements of operations, sales, and marketing.
• Ankit learned a lot from his first franchised business by having people around him help establish the business and show him how to run it. It is always good to ask for a helping hand from others. You never want to be stuck in the mud.
• The big supporters in Ankit’s life from the beginning have been his family and friends. Having a backup of support behind you every step of the way can be very instrumental to your business's growth. Not having anyone to have your back can affect the business as well.
• One of the challenges Ankit ran into was the quality deliverance to their customers. He and his team all came together and discussed how they could get more five-star reviews and how can they make their customers feel loved by their business.
• Following up with your customers after conducting business with them is essential to your company. Asking them a few questions to see how their experience was can increase customer reviews with your company. You can also figure out what is working and was isn’t working.

Quote of the Show:

• “Our purpose is to help 10,000 people over the next 10 years. That means helping employ people, helping clients, helping businesses, we can help people grow.” (14:19)

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ankitpatelcvc/
• Website: https://www.mybcat.com/ and https://classicvisioncare.com/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnkitTheLeanWay
• Organization: https://www.eoatlanta.com/

Ways To Tune In:

• Stitcher
• Spotify
• Anchor
• YouTube
• Apple Podcast
• Amazon Music

Taking Flight: EO Atlanta is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Takeaways:

• The thing that Brandon got right did not have a co-founder. It was more challenging to get the business off the ground by himself but it taught him many lessons about growing a business.
• Another thing that Brandon got right was he already knew who his ideal customers were. With Brandon already knowing who he wanted to sell to, it helped grow the business's numbers as soon as his company was launched.
• Brandon’s co-pilot was his mom. When he was younger, his mother taught him a valuable lesson. His mother couldn't give him everything that he wanted, even though she wanted to. So he had to earn it and figure out a way to get it. She taught him that not everything gets handed to you and so you have to work for it.
• Brandon realized that hiring a CFO helps keep the business on track. His CFO helped him through a lot of challenges and was always there to help steer him back on the company's plans.
• A book Brandon recommends is Making Big Happen by Mark Moses. Brandon loved the book so much that he is implementing it into his business.

Quote of the Show:

• “We are creating opportunities for people and that excites me.” (14:04)

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonchristopherpowell/
• Website: https://hatchworks.com/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/brandon_cpowell
• Organization: https://www.eoatlanta.com/

Ways To Tune In:

• Stitcher
• Spotify
• Anchor
• YouTube
• Apple Podcast
• Amazon Music

Taking Flight: EO Atlanta is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Takeaways:

• The thing that Shani got right on her entrepreneurial journey was being clear on what she was passionate about led to her pursuing her passions.
• Shani believes that if it had not been for her mother, who steered her toward figuring out a structured sensible way to write, she would've been left to her own devices with no guidance. Her mom greatly impacted her and encouraged her to follow her dreams.
• Shani ran into a lot of negative outlooks on her when she began on starting her own company. She realized that not everyone will have your back and not everyone will believe in you. As long as you believe in yourself and focus on your goals, you can accomplish anything.
• Her co-pilot when she started her company was her ex-husband. He was the person cheering her on and in a lot of ways believed in Shani’s ability to build her company more than she did at the time. His encouragement pushed her to continue.
• Shani's book she is currently reading is, The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama and The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive by Patrick Lencioni. Her company’s team will gather together and read books together as a way to grow a closer bond with her team.
• Shani finds comfort in living her life according to the values and principles that matter to her. Around her friends and family, she doesn’t want to be seen as Shani the leader, she wants to be seen as Shani the person. It is always important to remove your work personality away from your home life. It gives your brain a break and helps you destress any issues away.

Quote of the Show:

• “I could not believe that I could make money doing the thing I loved. ” (07:20)

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shani-godwin-976b6/
• Website: http://communique-usa.com/
• Podcast: http://audiblevoices.com/
• Organization: https://www.eoatlanta.com/

Ways To Tune In:

• Stitcher
• Spotify
• Anchor
• YouTube
• Apple Podcast
• Amazon Music

Taking Flight: EO Atlanta is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Takeaways:

• The first thing that Esther believes she got right when starting was “going for it”. She says that they started the company without clients or knowing who their ideal customers are. She went with her gut and made the best decision of her life.
• Another thing that Esther got right on her flight was having her husband by her side. Having her husband by her side as a partner, he complimented her strength and helped her with any challenges along the way. Having a trusted partner helps brush out any tangles in the business.
• When starting her company, Esther kept her costs low. By keeping her costs low, her company didn’t need to spend any money that they didn’t have which made it easier to advance her business.
• Esther started out by helping her dad’s real estate company in a shared building. She believes that this helped her by having everyday discussions about where it was going, what they were doing, and what was their strategy. Having that support and dialogue was the push she needed to start her company.
• A challenge that Esther had to face within her company was staffing. She had to let go of some team members who were not a good fit for their business, and even though it was hard to hire teammates at the time, now her company is better than ever. Sometimes you have to take those risks in order to succeed.
• Being surrounded by her family who immigrated from the Soviet Union, and seeing how hard they worked to provide Esther and her family with a better life, inspired Esther to work hard and become successful.

Quote of the Show:

• “The ignorance of failure is a good thing because you don't really fear it and so you go for it.” (03:53)

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esther-vayman-7aaa1723/
• Website: https://www.vandtlaw.com/
• Organization: https://www.eoatlanta.com/

Ways to Tune In:

• Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/1035225
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4e67LgZSZ0Vc2anrFzN8A1
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZJ0isB5od_M
• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taking-flight-eo-atlanta-podcast/id1652695640
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/82088400-c5a3-413c-9692-4719c8f1fd67/taking-flight-eo-atlanta-podcast

Taking Flight: EO Atlanta is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Takeaways:

• Andy’s first lesson he learned when starting out as an entrepreneur was getting himself into the field he was already familiar with. Growing up, Andy was surrounded by family businesses. He believes that this helped influence him on becoming a great entrepreneur.
• When Andy was going into his business, he gathered partners that had a similar background of experience so he can depend on accurate and relatable help.
• Another thing Andy feels that he got right when starting was having a supportive wife and a great network of connections in the entrepreneurial field. Andy believes that having the support network around him was in hindsight incredibly valuable.
• Andy learned the importance of owning, not only a business but owning his name. He learned that by owning your name, you can build up the kind of person you want to be.
• Andy sees all of his associates as co-pilots on his journey. They were a big part of his business and without them, the business would not succeed.
• A challenge that Andy had to face in his company was finding the right people to make it worthwhile for them to continue to work for his business. He values his associates and wants them to feel valued by the company.

Quote of the Show:

• “I don't want my name on the back of the check. I want it on the front of the check.” (09:25)

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andy-chopra-a912b3/
• Website: https://banyan-ig.com/
• Organization: https://www.eoatlanta.com/

Ways to Tune In:

• Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/1035225
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4e67LgZSZ0Vc2anrFzN8A1
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/gW1yGjUm7L8
• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taking-flight-eo-atlanta-podcast/id1652695640
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/82088400-c5a3-413c-9692-4719c8f1fd67/taking-flight-eo-atlanta-podcast

Taking Flight: EO Atlanta is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Takeaways:

• One thing that Josh got right is focusing on continuing his education. His belief is that there is already someone who's done it well, so he feels as though he doesn’t have to learn these lessons the hard way. He looked outward for solutions and in return learned from others that had been there before him.
• Josh’s number one co-pilot that stayed by his side through his whole entrepreneurial journey is his wife. His wife grew up around an entrepreneurial family and with her help, Josh was able to accomplish his life goals.
• Another co-pilot that made a big imprint on Josh’s journey was the EO Organization. Having mentors and advisors involved in EO helped influence him during the start of his business.
• Josh’s last co-pilot is his business partner. Having business partners, taught him many valuable lessons about building his company and what it takes to be successful.
• The biggest challenge that Josh has encountered is marketing and sales, specifically, clients having unrealistic expectations. Josh explains that clients will look to them for guidance, but they have a certain understanding of their own belief system. That belief system may or may not be accurate. In order to fix this, his team gets a lot of unrealistic expectations and looked at how can we solve that.
• Josh makes himself a self-goal every year. By setting yourself your own goal, it will be easier to accomplish the list of things you've been meaning to get to.

Quote of the Show:

• “I want to help founders grow and understand by the connections we make.” (10:31)

Links:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/joshsweeney
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sweeneyjosh/
• Website: https://founderscale.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/company/epicculture/about/

Ways to Tune In:

• Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/1035225
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4e67LgZSZ0Vc2anrFzN8A1
• YouTube:
• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taking-flight-eo-atlanta-podcast/id1652695640
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/82088400-c5a3-413c-9692-4719c8f1fd67/taking-flight-eo-atlanta-podcast

Taking Flight: EO Atlanta is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Takeaways:

• The two things Andrea got right on her entrepreneurial journey were hiring talented hard-working people and launching a blog at the same time she launched her business.
• Andrea learned that allowing her customers and community to submit articles to her blog posts, grew their reader numbers.
• Andrea’s co-pilots were her family and the EO Organization. The EO Organization made a huge impact on her because of the wide variety of business owners that she could bounce ideas. Her family made another impact on her start by always staying by her side.
• Andrea split her customer service up into smaller groups to help certain customers. She made one group focus on new customers and another group that's focused on helping people optimize when they've already been on the systems for a while. This made it easier to prioritize their customers.
• Andrea has learned a lot from building a business. She feels as though it mentally and professionally fulfilled her life for the better.
• Andrea’s company helps other businesses that are seeking to make the leap from where they're now to where they could be with technology.

Quote of the Show:

• “There is something really powerful about knowing that you own your own destiny.” (20:50)

Links:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/andreatarrell
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreatarrell/
• Website: https://www.sercante.com/ and https://thespotforpardot.com/

Ways to Tune In:

• Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/1035225
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4e67LgZSZ0Vc2anrFzN8A1
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/O0WDBRjd0cM
• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taking-flight-eo-atlanta-podcast/id1652695640
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/82088400-c5a3-413c-9692-4719c8f1fd67/taking-flight-eo-atlanta-podcast

Taking Flight: EO Atlanta is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Takeaways: 

• When David was growing up, his parents were hard workers and influenced David into becoming a hard worker and achieve success. 
• With David’s parents being immigrants, it helped him look beyond the boundaries of only starting a company in just the United States. He expanded his views to develop a team worldwide to give opportunities for others to shine. 
• David gained a longtime friendship in middle school that influenced him to stay as an entrepreneur to this day. He learned that having people whom you find inspiring can help influence life-changing career paths. 
• When starting a business, you want to make effective decisions and learn from past mistakes. 
• With every business, it is key to have a co-pilot. Having a co-pilot to riff ideas off of and receive advice for complicated decisions can be a weight off your shoulders. David learned that not having a co-pilot made him feel very lonely. He felt there was no one he could talk to. This had a significant impact on his career. 
• It is okay to make mistakes along the way just as long as you learn from them and put them toward your future work. 
• David learned a valuable lesson on building relationships with customers. He lost a lot of his business but, it was not because of performance or his own team. It was because customers were leaving. The relationships that he had built, and spent a lot of time building, disappeared and were taken for granted. He then learned the importance of relationships with your customers. 
• When losing a customer, identify upfront and be strategic about it. Figure out who you are going to nurture and gain as a new customer. What will that take? 
• When a client signs with you, celebrate it. Send the client something in the mail to show your appreciation. Send them something every year on that signed date. It will make the client grow a closer relationship with your company.
• You never know the journey your business will go through. Always expect the unexpected.

Quote of the show: 

• “I wanna make better decisions and part of that is reflecting on what worked well and what didn’t work.” (04:06) 

Links:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/felfoldi 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/felfoldi/ 
• Website: https://npressive.com/ and https://www.sherpaglobal.com/

Ways to Tune In: 

• Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/1035225 
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4e67LgZSZ0Vc2anrFzN8A1 
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/fe2fPpqqDeo 
• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taking-flight-eo-atlanta-podcast/id1652695640 
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/82088400-c5a3-413c-9692-4719c8f1fd67/taking-flight-eo-atlanta-podcast 

Takeaways:

• Find the right people to talk to when you are first starting off as an entrepreneur. Having the right resources around you can advocate for a better future.
• When starting a business, connect with fellow business owners and ask for advice. Seeking advice can help improve any bumps in the road and grow your connections. By growing
• Make sure you keep your business organized. Having an unorganized place of work can lead to a lot of unnoticed mistakes.
• When you scale, do not lose touch of your clients. You should always prioritize your clients. Instead, think about getting rid of things that you shouldn't be doing in the first place.
• If you have multiple businesses, you need to identify how your companies are going. Remember to provide enough attention to your other companies. Giving one company all the attention can result in your other businesses failing.
• Remember to do something you enjoy. Working at a place that makes you happy can motivate you for future success.

Quote of the Show:

• “Our number one piece of trenches culture is to do good work with good people.” (04:34)

Links:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/TrenchesConsult and https://twitter.com/BradOlecki
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradolecki/
• Website: https://www.trenchesconsulting.com/ and  https://www.guidestar.org/profile/82-3786370

Ways to Tune In:

• Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/1035225
• Anchor: https://anchor.fm/taking-flight-eo-atl/episodes/Planning-For-Growth---Brad-Olecki---Taking-Flight-The-Entrepreneur-Journey-Podcast---Episode--004-e1r3ohc
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4e67LgZSZ0Vc2anrFzN8A1
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/MYdtlwFX9uM
• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taking-flight-eo-atlanta-podcast/id1652695640
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/82088400-c5a3-413c-9692-4719c8f1fd67/taking-flight-eo-atlanta-podcast

Taking Flight: EO Atlanta is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Takeaways:

• Before you make the big step into starting a business, scope out the marketing businesses around you. Learn if your concept will work.
• When starting your business, create small milestones to hit. Creating these milestones will help prevent any stressful encounters along the way.
• Have a business partner during the beginning of your business. Having a business partner will help lighten the workload and can help run ideas off of them.
• Remember to keep your coworkers in mind. Be up to date with how they are liking your company and if they have any concerns. If you don’t look out for your team it could cause the company to fail. Know your CORE values.
• Before you dive into your role, do some research on it. You don’t want to jump into cold waters when you are inexperienced.

Quote of the Show:

• “I focus more on what I can bring from the terms of knowledge and values to my clients.” (23:05)

Links:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/kenjikuramoto
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenjikuramoto/
• Website: https://acuity.co/
• Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/drink-while-you-think/id1593236213

Ways to Tune In:

• Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/1035225
• Anchor: https://anchor.fm/taking-flight-eo-atl/episodes/The-Business-Cycle---Kenji-Kuramoto---Taking-Flight-The-Entrepreneur-Journey-Podcast---Episode--003-e1qq2ei
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4e67LgZSZ0Vc2anrFzN8A1
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/B72lyYD6RPQ
• Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/taking-flight-eo-atlanta-podcast/id1652695640
• Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/82088400-c5a3-413c-9692-4719c8f1fd67/taking-flight-eo-atlanta-podcast

Taking Flight: EO Atlanta is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Takeaways:

• In order to grow in your company, scale yourself to the top and prove to others that you can do it.
• With every strategy you make, add layers to it. This will help simplify your objective and make it easier to complete the to-dos.
• When you no longer know where every dollar's coming and where every dollar's going. That should be the time to start building a leadership team around you.
• You should always have a leadership team to help keep things on track.
• In order to grow your business, you need to be a part of it. A business can’t grow if there’s no one involved.
• As a business owner, you should always keep in mind what other buying decisions your customers have.

Quote of the Show:

• “You've got to understand that you can't do it all. You've gotta create processes and systems in your company that do what you have been doing.” (17:56)

Links:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ATLadman
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/atladman/
• Website: https://thejectory.com/

Ways to Tune In:

• Anchor: https://anchor.fm/taking-flight7/episodes/Accelerating-Your-Business---David-McMullen---Taking-Flight-EO-Atlanta---Episode--002-e1q10mr
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4e67LgZSZ0Vc2anrFzN8A1
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/TER7RF4_Cb4

Taking Flight: EO Atlanta is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/

Takeaways:

• When starting a company, hire people for different positions within your company. The more people you hire, the better organized your business will be.
• A team of trade ideas is very focused on growth.
• Make sure your company always has a product strategy as a backup plan for executing difficult situations.
• Remember to deliver the maximum value on the first impression with a potential client. You want them to be interested in your company.
• You have one chance on the first impression to deliver the most value about what you do and how you can help.
• As a company, you generally want to focus on the value you're providing, not the price every time.
• You want to make your decisions based on the data you’ve collected. Don’t go head first with no information.

Quote of the Show:

• “In starting the company, I think one of the first things we got right was the division of labor.” (01:56)

Links:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/TradeIdeas
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidaferiat/
• Website: https://www.trade-ideas.com/ and https://avidvines.com/
• President at Enterpernuer Organization: https://hub.eonetwork.org/

Taking Flight: EO Atlanta is produced and sponsored by Ringmaster, on a mission to create connections through B2B podcasts. Learn more at https://ringmaster.com/