Nick Santora is the founder and CEO at Curricula. Curricula is a cyber security company that helps teach other companies how to not get hacked. The Curricula team develops short animated stories that teach organizations and their people about cyber security. The Aware platform tracks the entire learner experience including analytics on learner behaviors. Curricula’s mission is to put an end to “death by PowerPoint” by providing a turn key cyber security educational experience for its customers.
In today’s podcast we talk to Christian Zimmerman, Founder of Qoins. Qoins is a new way to conquer your debt. Use the spare change from each checking account transaction to automatically pay off your debt. Christian, only 23 years old, has worked in the startup world for the last 2 years. Today he shares his journey to leverage his experience to launch an app of his own.
Not featured in the interview, but another important member of the Qoins team is Co-Founder Nate Washington. Nate is 25 years old and an award-winning programmer.
I had the pleasure of connecting with this dynamic duo at Atlanta Tech Village’s Startup Village where they did an amazing job of pitching and demoing the platform.
Mission: The average household carries nearly $50k in student loan debt alone. With statistics like that, you can imagine that today’s college grads have to be more focused than ever on managing and paying down debt. Christian is no different, except that he saw an opportunity to make it easier to tackle this big problem.
Masterminds: Community is everything. From Atlanta Tech Village to Switchyards, Christian shares the local startup communities that have helped Qoins gain so much momentum so quickly.
Named Top 5 Agent company wide at Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty, with awards such as “Best Realtor in Atlanta,” Jereis a highly sought-after real estate agent who speaks and inspires others to reach their full potential. While overseeing her growing real estate business in the prestigious areas of Buckhead and Brookhaven, Jere speaks to, teaches, enjoys and is energized by assisting other real estate agents reach their own goals.
Samantha Hodgkins is Founder & Chief FireStarter of SparkFire Active, a new line of performance activewear clothing designed exclusively for teen girls in just-right styles, colors and custom-sizing to fit & flatter their developing bodies and to support life in motion. From working out to adventuring out, SparkFire Active helps girls move freely and feel strong so they’re always ready to step off the sidelines, get into the game, and PLAY HARD, DREAM BIG! There is a fire within every girl, ready to ignite with strength, confidence and passion. Let that light shine bright and BE THE SPARK!
Mission: Being the mom, Samantha has a front row seat to the challenges teen girls face and just how sensitive their self esteem can be at such a critical time. She also watched as her wardrobe of athletic wear was constantly disappearing into her teen daughter’s closet… It wasn’t long before she soon connected to the mission for SparkFire Active.
Mindset: As her idea began to grow, Samantha knew she needed a sounding board. She approached several people close to her and was encouraged by what she heard. The idea was resonating and that sparked the courage to begin taking real action.
Marketing: The ideal client for SparkFire Active is someone who is as inspired by the clothing as they are the social impact that this company is making. Listen as Samantha shares how she connected and aligned with to international organizations that are giving teenage girls the education that would otherwise be out of reach.
Masterminds: Samantha has quickly placed herself in the middle of the movers and shakers of Atlanta’s startup scene. SparkFire is one of only 15 companies selected to participate in the City of Atlanta’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative. She is also a member of the consumer-focused Switchyards coworking place.
Mastermind Challenge: I loved Samantha’s story about connecting to the right manufactures and suppliers. She could have easily handed over the reigns to those who were more knowledgeable about the process, but she stayed close to the process and even educated them on what was possible. If you’ve started to let go or outsource part of your process, take some time to check in and make sure things are running as if you you intend them too. Getting help is wonderful, but not an excuse to take your eye off the ball.
Drew Massie is the founder of AttorneyFone, a service for generating new business for lawyers. He has been an entrepreneur for 17 years and is a graduate of the Chicago Booth School of Business. He currently lives in Denver with his wife and 3 children.
Mission: AttorneyFone is the result of an evolution of technology that Drew created many years ago. Seeing the opportunity and value for this new vertical, he launched the new platform.
Mindset: Keep it simple. After working with over 20 startups, Drew has been behind the scenes and had a front row seat to enough successes and failures to know that the biggest pitfall is trying to do too much. Listen as he shares his perspective on where people misinterpret the goal of the minimum viable product (MVP).
Marketing: Content marketing has been key for the growth of AttorneyFone. I love how Drew describes the shift in mindset that’s required here. Rather than keeping all of his experience and expertise hidden, Drew’s found that sharing what he’s learned and accomplished along the way to work in his favor for building relationships and growing the business.
Management: Being a tech guy a heart, it can be a challenge to master all of the aspects of running a business. Drew shares in detail his methods for staying connected to the bigger picture and staying on track execution.
Mastermind Challenge. Keep it SIMPLE. What big project are you working on right now? Take a second look and ask yourself if you’re overthinking it, or making it more complicated. How can it be refined down to it’s more powerful and concise form?...
Kimberly Lexow is an entrepreneur and full-time adventurer. After working in the tech space for a decade, Lexow co-founded Sifted, an experiential lunch provider for startups. Lexow expedites the sales process by identifying destination workplaces like Lyft, Salesloft and Eventbrite that see chef-made lunches as a universal perk. When she's not growing the business or networking at the Atlanta Tech Village, the full-time hustler is centering her work and personal life by backpacking Big Sur or Yosemite.
When Jess Legge co-founded Sifted, she led branding and design. Today, she drives growth by doubling everyone's goals and building models that have allowed the company to hit $1.5M in ARR in under two years. She manages the cash as a bootstrapped company, positioning Sifted to add 20+ employees and enter two markets in 16 months, all while remaining profitable. She's most proud of the team her and partner have created and the tech communities they support.
Mission: The idea for Sifted was still a work-in-progress when Kimberly and Jess began taking it to prospective clients. Listen as they share the story of how one client’s feedback provided the clarity needed to solidify the business model they have today.
Mindset: I was in shock when I heard that Sifted when from concept to first sale in ONE WEEK. It’s obvious that these women are action takers and have a mindset of focused effort to execute on ideas.
Marketing: As you can imagine, food prep and catering can be much more complex than a simple, service-based business. Hear about the early days of Sifted and how they create an M.V.P. model (Minimum Viable Product) in order to deliver an amazing product without a huge upfront investment.
Momentum: Often times the key to getting momentum comes from having the right idea from the beginning. Kimberly and Jess knew just how much startups value company culture. It was the connection to this core focus that made them the obvious choice for companies like Lyft, Salesloft, and Eventbrite.
Mastermind Challenge: Take the fast track. I loved the story of how Sifted went from concept to first sale in one week. Today, they’ve reached $1.5M in less than 2 years. It’s obvious that Kimberly and Jess are ready to roll up their sleeves and make things happen quickly. If you’ve got an idea that’s been rolling around, or a to-do list that never seems to move the needle, take a cue from these incredible women and find the fast track. Get in front of clients and investors, build the systems, and make yourself known. Time is money, so don’t waste one day not giving your business your 100% best.
Brittni Adams is the founder and designer of Whitby Handbags, a socially conscious luxury handbag line dedicated to preventing the exploitation of girls around the world through education, namely: Haiti, Iraq, Peru and Thailand.
Brittni founded Whitby in 2014 after two years of extensive research on the topic of modern-day slavery and its correlation to the widespread problem of girls not having access to educational opportunities due to gender discrimination, religion, or poverty.
Brittni has B.A. in mass communication, public relations from Georgia College and State University, and a master’s certificate in nonprofit management from the University of North Carolina. Brittni lives in Brookhaven (Atlanta) with her husband Jeremy and golden retriever puppy Magnolia. Apart from Whitby she is the co-founder of Atlanta Women Entrepreneurs and mentors high school girls at Passion City Church.
Mission: It’s no small task that Brittni has taken on… I loved her statement about always having the “capacity to dream”. This is so often what holds people back - not being able to visualize the possibilities right in front of them.
Mindset: Can you imagine someone launching a fashion company with no fashion experience? With so many firsts and lessons learned along the way, Brittni shares how she was able to keep moving forward putting one foot in front of the other.
Marketing: “Throw a party”. That was the advice that Brittni implemented during her launch and it turned out to be a great success. Listen as she shares the story of the launch party and why it made all the difference.
Masterminds: Community makes all the difference… Brittni shares the impact that Atlanta’s Plywood People community has made along her journey.
Mastermind Challenge: I love Brittni’s story about the launch party for Whitby and how it really changed the momentum of her business. Having hosted many events for MYL, I know that there’s nothing like the energy of bringing people together. How can you create an event around your business that allows people to enjoy an experience that forever reminds them of you and your mission?
Tres Crow is a Business Consultant with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC), the CEO and Co-Founder of City Data Company, creators of the event mapping technology Walkabout, writer, and advocate for sustainable design, architecture, and economic policy, and the small businesses that make it all possible.
He’s an experienced professional with 10 years of sales, marketing, and management experience. Tres has a BA in History from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI, and finished his MBA at the University of West Georgia, where he was inducted into the prestigious Beta Gamma Sigma business honor society.
Mission: By observing how communities and event organizers and attendees were limited by the functionality of Google Maps, Tres began working on an idea that would make finding event specific information (like parking, concert stage locations, and food options) accessible from your smartphone.
Mindset: Seeing the unique value and opportunity to impact his community, Tres got busy assembling the team to being Walkabout App to life.
Marketing: The challenge with Walkabout App is the many players involved… there is the event organizer, vendors, sponsors and more. Tres and his team have made a focused effort to make the end user experience for the event attendee as seamless as possible in order to drive usage and create a viral element to the app.
Mastermind Challenge: I love that the inspiration for Walkabout App came from noticing the limitations of the platform as big as Google Maps. How can you take a look at what the big guys are doing to carve out your own niche in the marketplace?
In episode 55, we hear from Connor Ford, CEO of Spirit App and soon-to-be freshman at Georgia Tech. That’s right, this edu-tech CEO hasn’t even taken his first college course yet...
Connor share’s his journey to develop the tech company Spirit App at the age of 15 and all of the early signs that predicted his success.
It’s so inspiring to watch a bright, young person like Connor execute his vision with such precision and confidence.
Mission: As a 15 year old high school student, Connor noticed a pain point in the way that his school tracked student participation at events. Connecting the dots, he discovered that he could leverage technology to create an app that would solve the problem. With that, Spririt App was born.
Mindset: Connor attributes his curiosity and love of tinkering with giving him the confidence and base of knowledge to tackle a project like Spirit App at such a young age. Listen to hear a hilarious story of one project that actually had him tearing up the walls in his house. A fun surprise for his mother, no doubt!
Marketing: Being that his demographic of users are school-aged, Connor wisely took to social media is gained an online marketing presence. He’s recently launched a blog as well with hopes that providing value to teachers and administration will lead to increased leads and users.
Momentum: Like so many, Connor marks getting his first client as a big milestone in his journey to launch. There’s definitely something special about getting that first taste of validation and proving that you’re idea has value in the marketplace.
Masterminds: Connor has made an intentional effort to get connected within the Alpharetta tech community. Alpharetta, Georgia is the Technology City of the South and offers incredible resources to local startups, including Alpharetta Technology Commission's Innovation Center.
Mastermind Challenge: I’m completely in awe of Connor’s confidence to take action at such a young age. Do you know a young person that’s revealed a certain talent, leadership ability, or curiosity. What if you carve out some time this week to listen to their ideas and desires and offer insights to help them along the way? Imagine the impact that one conversation could have! Let’s create a world with more Connors :)
Since his adult life Dan has refused to accept the concept of limitation and strives to help others to discover the limitless possibilities that life has to offer whilst assisting individuals and businesses to take charge of their destinies. Dan is recognised for his selfless contribution and ability to motivate and create positive change within individuals and business. His high-energy, passionate delivery inspires and engages audiences to step beyond any perceived limits, empowering them with the motivation to become an UNSTOPPABLE ENTREPRENEUR.
After 7 years of working with one the world’s largest financial services organisations and working alongside thousands of businesses, Dan identified patterns of behaviour that either leads to business success or failure. Dan has also had the privilege of modelling the strategies of some of the global authorities in the fields of network marketing, internet marketing business growth and the psychology of peak performance.
Dan’s experience, coupled with his undeniable thirst for constant and never ending improvement and the most up to date practical knowledge in the areas of business growth, leadership and peak performance, is rapidly making him a trusted and highly sought-after advisor and consultant to a new generation of entrepreneurs, leaders & inspired thinkers.
Mission: Dan is on a mission to push his boundaries and create something innovative. Inspired by trailblazers like Steve Jobs, he’s constantly studying entrepreneurial pioneers to gain inspiration and ideas.
Mindset: It all boils down to how much you believe in yourself. You will achieve as much as your mind believes. Dan shares the story of the moment he realized that he was sabotaging his own success and the root cause was his own lack of belief. Luckily, he also shares he turned it around and how you can too.
Marketing: Dan shares that “Clarity is Power”. Getting clear on your talents, who you serve, and then engage the market to confirm. It’s the part of engaging that will give you the feedback you need to move forward. The answers won’t come from thinking over the plan, they come from taking action.
Momentum: Serving his first clients gave Dan the confirmation and momentum he needed to move forward with full force. Seeing firsthand the impact and shifts he helped his clients achieve, it became obvious that he was on the right path.
Masterminds: Listen as Dan shares his the story behind his first mastermind experience which consisted of a group of men who all thought the same way and within the group felt understood.
Mastermind Challenge: I love Dan’s story about putting pen to paper and being truthful with himself about what he desired and his belief in himself to get there. This is a great exercise for all of us at any point in our lives and business.
http://Unstoppablepodcast.com/webinar Register to learn how to create your own signature program
http://www.howtofascinate.com/ - A resource mentioned during the show
Yaystack is word-of-mouth referral marketing in a digital platform that reaches further faster than traditional methods. We simply reward sharing. Our native app and online e-commerce tool enable sellers of nearly any product or service to offer "thank-yous" (promotions, freebies, and discounts) to their buyers only once they have been shared via text or social media. This share-to-get model empowers advertising through buyers to their friends (and their friends, etc.) in an automated viral system. (What business doesn't want to easily reach their buyers' friends?) Gone are the days the age-old discount incentivizes merely one buyer per transaction. With Yaystack, businesses can now leverage the same value to purchase the Holy Grail of marketing (WOM) and get more than 10x return on their investment - now in their buyers, not banners! We monetize trust for both parties. Our mission is to strengthen economy by elevating quality business. Not only do we accomplish this in our model, but we also make it easy to donate to charities that build struggling economies globally.
Mission: As a music producer, Trey found that his business grew organically through referrals. It was actually a Target commercial that reveales to him just how powerful sharing is to marketers; however, no one had a way of rewarded the sharer with a piece of the pie. Enter Yaystack…
Mindset: When Trey first connected to the idea for Yaystack, he knew that in order to pursue the opportunity, he needed to leave the music world behind. Amazingly, when he announced his retirement from the industry, his dream clients began to come forward asking to work with him. His faith was truly tested, but he stuck to his decision and moved forward with developing the platform.
Marketing: Trey actually shares that the name Yaystack came through his work with an Atlanta-based branding company, http://matchstic.com/. The first name, Community Commerce, while fitting of the goal, wasn’t the best marketing play for the long-term growth of the platform.
Masterminds: Hear as Trey reveals a power-packed team that has joined him to launch Yaystack. I think it just goes to show how much potential this platform has to revolutionize how businesses, large and small, market to consumers.
Mastermind Challenge: I loved Trey’s story about being approached by his dream clients just as he was leaving the music industry. I’ve seen it so many times… when we lock onto a big idea, our commitment will be tested. What roadblocks seem to be coming up for you? Do you feel differently when you view them as not a block, but a test of your commitment?
Erez Weinstein is a lifelong entrepreneur in diverse industries, tech and non-tech. Currently, Erez is working on new ways to create hospitality brands in the sharing economy space and a new approach to define schools position in the community. By challenging the current business model and structure of private schools, Erez aims to create a tuition free, self-funded education hub providing new opportunities for students, teachers, investors and entrepreneurs.
Mission: Being a father himself, Erez is invested in the educational system that is molding his children's minds. Seeing a large gap between the way that kids are taught and the skills needed for adults to succeed, Erez connected to an idea for making a shift. Developing a strong base of knowledge for what is currently being done, he connected to the idea for a new educational system and a path to bring that idea to reality.
Mindset: It's easy to see how passionate Erez is about this innovative idea. While he's not blind to the road ahead, he's focused on building a team of like-minded influencers that can share in the vision and bring it to reality.
Marketing: Once launched, Erez envisions that the success of the students will drive demand for enrollment. Imagine a high school graduate accepting a $45k offer from Google upon graduate. That could become, not the exception, but the norm, when project-based learning is implemented on this level.
Masterminds: I love Erez's description of the value and relevancy behind project-based learning. His comparison between the current day focus on individual achievement in school, versus the real-world success of building the right team.
Mastermind Challenge: Project-based learning has a lot of similarity to group masterminds. Do you have a specific goal that your working towards? Revenue target, number of blogs to create, number of clients to onboard... what if you stop leaning on just yourself and your own self-motivation and great an amazing group to hold you accountable and become your sounding board? This is your mastermind, and it will make all the difference. Click the link below to check out our upcoming FREE masterminds happening here in Atlanta.
Kristen Stocks is the founder of Kids Boost, a non-profit organization designed to help kids give back to the world using their gifts, talents and passions.
Mission: To empower kids to give back to the community while learning business skills and experiencing entrepreneurship for themselves. In this episode she shares the story of Jared, a former patient at the children’s hospital where she works, who inspired it all.
Mindset: Kristen actually had the idea for Kids Boost for several years before taking action. Hear her describe how starting small helped her to finally launch her big idea.
Marketing: “What I didn’t think I was ready for was all that I needed and more.” Kristen shares the marketing moment she did quite feel ready for and how it helped get the word out in a big way.
Momentum: Now out of the launch phase, Kristen is enjoying hearing the stories and feedback from some of Kids Boost’s first graduates. Seeing her idea come to life and impact kids is giving her and Kids Boost momentum for the next chapter.
Masterminds: From the inspiration for it all, Jared, to her board members, and friends and family. Kristen shares what it means to surround yourself with a dream team and why it’s so important.
"When they forget about you, you introduce them to something you've been trying to give them the whole time"
Rasa Don, together with former Arrested Development band mate Headliner, are the masterminds behind the artistic experience, Creative Royalty. Bringing together music, art, literature, and so much more to give fans an experience like no other.
Rasa Don is best known as the drummer for the Grammy award winning band, Arrested Development. You will quickly hear that his artistic expression goes far beyond drumming. Ras has spent his career making music and art. In this interview, he shares the lessons learned with Arrested Development and the challenges of launching a new project. Rasa Don says, "Trust me, it's worth the wait".
Ofelia de La Valette, owner and founder of Dance 101 didn’t find her calling to the dance world until the age of 35. A successful insurance agent with her own company in Atlanta, Ofelia had been pounding away on the treadmill at her gym when the sounds of a cardio dance class caught her attention. Though humiliated at her own lack of skill, Ofelia jumped right in. Despite her embarrassment at being the worst in the class, Ofelia found a strengthened sense of self and scorched 20 pounds in the process. She was hooked.
After 10 years of intensive dancing, she was asked to teach a class at Emory University, and after two years there, she took a huge leap. At the request of five of her students, Ofelia dropped her lucrative career and opened the original Dance 101 location off of Miami Circle in Buckhead. The first studio of its kind in the WORLD, Dance 101’s unique offerings and accessibility made it an instant hit.
Ofelia teaches weekly dance classes and manages all aspects of the business. Currently, she is working on expanding her studio both locally and nationally. Driven by a passion for dance and an innate need to make the world a better place, Ofelia has picked up numerous awards in her years at the helm of Dance 101. With the advent of her new Alpharetta location, Ofelia is looking to develop Dance 101 into a franchise—so fellow dance fanatics can reap the benefits of adult beginner classes nationwide.
Her efforts have been featured in several local as well as national publications, webisodes, podcasts and recently in CNN Small Success Stories, Passion to Portfolio, Making It In America (both CNN domestic and International) as well as Headline News. In July, 2011 Ofelia was invited by the White House to deliver the afternoon key note speech at the Atlanta Urban Entrepreneurship Forum and was presented with The Phoenix Award by Mayor Kasim Reed. She was recently featured in the top 10 Atlanta Best Self magazine’s Over 40 and Fabulous Atlantans and was one of 50 women profiled in Marlo Thomas’s book, It Ain’t Over…Till It’s Over.
Ofelia is providing the public with an opportunity to do for themselves what, until now, they could only watch others do on TV: to make their own leap — from their living room to a classroom, from the audience to the stage. Listen and prepare to be transformed by the power of dance at Dance 101!
Calvin Wayman is a social media entrepreneur. He's a sought after speaker, featured guest on business-, entrepreneur-, and social media podcasts, contributor for Entrepreneur Magazine, and founder of Cobbes – a social media management company. He is also the creator of the YouTube show "Millionaire Case Study," where he is documenting his journey from zero to his first one million dollars as it's happening.
After quitting his day job to pursue his dream of working for himself, Calvin Wayman relocated from Salt Lake City to sunny southern California. He sold door to door to stretch his comfort zone, pay the bills, and fund his online business. Calvin’s passion is helping entrepreneurs grow their businesses by taking advantage of modern tools and technology.
Mission: Calvin admits that he knew he wanted to be an entrepreneur, but had no clue exactly what his business would be. Inspired by the success of early adopters on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, Calvin saw an opportunity to get in early with Periscope. Just by taking action towards this idea, he gained momentum, earned his first dollar online, and found his calling to help more businesses market in today's digital marketplace.
Mindset: This is a must listen. Calvin shares his incredible perspective on taking action and crushing fear. Listen as he describes with total transparency how he made the decision to take the leap into entrepreneurship.
Marketing: Calvin gives his 4 C's of social media success.
1 - Content: "Without content, you do not exist". Share your story and let people know who you are.
2 - Context: The way you frame a certain message is hugely important.
3 - Consistency: In both your story and your frequency, staying consistent is what will help you to be remembered.
4 - Connection: This is the reason we do social media. Make an effort to build a real relationship with your audience.
Mastermind Challenge: Calvin shares that the magic happens outside your comfort zone. From taking cold showers to laying down on the floor at Starbucks, he is constantly running experiments to test his own limits to go outside his comfort zone. This week, find something that makes you uncomfortable and just do it knowing that your ability to push through fear on the little things will 100% impact your ability to push through fear on the bigger things.
Valerie Shoopman is a Facebook Ad Expert, Online Business Strategist, and the host of the Entrepreneur Power Hour Podcast. She is the co-author of the #1 Amazon Best-Seller “The Book on Facebook Marketing”.
Valerie has worked with and consulted clients such as John Lee Dumas of Entrepreneur On Fire, Nick Unsworth of Life On Fire, Joe Polish of I Love Marketing, Brian Tracy, John Assaraf, Mary Ellen Tribby, Sue B. Zimmerman, and Daymond John from Shark Tank on their Facebook ad campaigns including helping them strategize the campaigns from top to bottom and giving detailed feedback to fully optimize their ads and funnels.
She has been featured on Life on Fire TV, The New Business Podcast, Solopreneur Hour, ConversionCast, The Cerrone Show and many other podcasts and online business summits where she willingly shares her depth of Facebook marketing and advertising knowledge.
Mission: As she was working at a small private school, Valerie became the go-to person for all things technical and social media. Things quickly evolved as Valerie began being approached by other business owners to help with their social media marketing. Having had a desire to go out on her own for some time, she saw an opportunity to make it happen.
Mindset: While Valerie considers herself an introvert and feels much more comfortable behind a computer, she knew that she needed to get out of her comfort zone if she was going to grow, both personally and professionally. Listen as she shares the story of the first big event she ever attended as an entrepreneur and how it changed her business and network.
Marketing: Even as a Facebook Ads expert, Valerie has never run a Facebook ad for her own business. Networking has been the biggest driver in her business by allowing her to connect with clients as well as referral partners.
Momentum: After following the advice of her business coach, Valerie went from being an online marketer to a Facebook Expert. It was this decision to niche down that boosted the momentum for her business. From there, she implemented the Anchor Client Strategy to run Facebook Ads for big names like John Lee Dumas of Entrepreneur on Fire and Nick Unsworth of Life on Fire. The positioning these relationships created
Masterminds: Listen as Valerie answers amazing questions from YOU, the Mastermind Tribe. She covers video posts, retargeting pixels, reactions, and more. Join our Facebook Group for your chance to submit questions for future guests.
Mastermind Challenge: Up your game with Facebook! First, make sure you have a business page that you are activity updating and engaging with your audience. For extra Brownie Points... If you don't already have a pixel on your website, this is a great way to start capturing warm leads and retargeting.
Kristy Dickerson is a small business speaker and advisor, co-founder of StartPlanner.com, CFO of all things organized, lifestyle photographer, mom of three boys and a wife that is never wrong...never. ;)
Upon completion of her degree in finance and business management she started her first business after having her first son in 2008. Merging her business sense with her passions, Kristy has developed ways to help small business owners balance turning passions into a career all while still playing her most important role...being a mom. Giving tips on business, balance, organization, photography, health, and the occasional DIY projects to inspire, direct, and lead others to success and happiness.
Mission: It was a fortunate conversation with her graphic designer that sparked the idea for Start Planner. Kristy had aspirations to one day create a book that would help business owners with organization and finances. Her designer, Jenny, had ideas for a planner. They joined forces to put their ideas into one product and Start Planner was born.
Mindset: Kristy shared, “I had no business starting another business.” With her 3rd son just being born and already putting her efforts towards another business, Kristy had a lot on her plate. Still, she followed her instincts to create something that felt much bigger than anything she’d ever done.
Marketing: If you are launching a physical product, this is a must listen for you. Kristy shares the strategy behind both the grassroots beta launch and the 2016 launch, which was executed on a much larger scale with a national Facebook video ad campaign. Scroll down to see the video.
Momentum: Start Planner is still in the launch phase and enjoying plenty of momentum along the way. The 2016 planners have sold out and three new styles for mid-year are being launched now. Be sure to check them out! I <3 my Start Planner...
Masterminds: Listen as Kristy answers questions from the Mastermind Tribe. Be sure to join the Mastermind Tribe Facebook Group for your chance to submit questions to future guests and hear them answered on the show.
Mastermind Challenge: I love how Kristy and Jenny stumbled upon this idea by combining their individual passions. How amazing that your life can change with one conversation! Today, I challenge you to share that BIG idea you've been putting on the back-burner with someone new. You may be surprised at what the next year will hold for you when you do :)
Under Mayor David Belle Isle’s leadership, Alpharetta has become Georgia’s hometown, the 6th fastest growing city in the country, the Technology City of the South, the nation’s 7th friendliest city according to Forbes, and has consistently maintained the lowest unemployment rate in Georgia. This has been achieved by a focus on reinventing Alpharetta’s Downtown and the drive to be the number one technology city in the Southeast.
In 2015, Alpharetta was also named The #1 City in America for Women Entrepreneurs, and the #1 City in America to Start a Business.
Mission: Mayor David Belle Isle shares that each leader needs a "vision worth the chase". Seeking a downtown that could bring the community together, he first ran for city council in 2006. Despite two failed attempts, he eventually was able to make the progress needed to bring the project to life. A thriving downtown led to thriving businesses, which sparked a surge in entrepreneurship. Today, Alpharetta boasts over 600 technology companies; the highest concentration in the Southeast.
Mindset: Branding Alpharetta as the Technology City of the South was a challenge at first because it required gaining the respect among its city neighbors as the leader in tech.
Marketing: Mayor David Belle Isle shares the story of when he say Governor Nathan Deal speak about Alpharetta's contribution to the technology sector. It was in that moment that he realized that the branding and messaging was striking a cord.
Momentum: Under Mayor David Belle Isle's leadership, Alpharetta's Technology Commission was created and has opened an Innovation Center for local tech startups. The Center has already gained momentum by graduating its first company. Moving forward, he looks to offer opportunities on a higher level, such as venture capital, industry conferences, and much more.
Masterminds: Several members of the Mastermind Tribe submitted questions for the Mayor. Listen as he answers YOUR questions and join the Mastermind Tribe Facebook Group for opportunities to submit your own questions to future interviewees.
Mastermind Challenge: I love Mayor David Belle Isle's comment about a vision worth the chase. Today, I encourage you to dream just a little bigger and stretch outside of your comfort zone to imagine what vision is worth your chase. Just as his journey was executed one step at a time, yet has touched thousands, how can you take step today towards your big impact?
Born in Toledo Ohio and a current resident of San Diego (via Philly, Boulder, Denver, and Brussels), Michael Oneal's grammar school report cards always read: "Doesn't live up to his potential" and "Talks too much." One of those pieces of feedback would come in handy, as he is now the founder and host of the award-winning and much acclaimed business and entertainment podcast, "The Solopreneur Hour with Michael O'Neal."
The show, in 2 years, has already garnered more than 6 million downloads and monetized to over 500k, features lively and highly engaging conversations between Michael and his various (and often much sought-after) guests, who share remarkable stories, advice and practical tips for an audience that badges itself as "proudly unemployable" and highly motivated to finally take charge of their own lucrative business pursuits.
Mission: Michael O'Neal worked behind the scenes of a high-profile podcast focused on personal transformation called "The KickAss Life." After several years, it was a lunch with Pat Flynn of Smart Passive Income which sparked the inspiration to step forward as the face of his own brand as he interviews entrepreneurs to talk about all of the non-business aspects of their life.
Mindset: Two words... SAY YES. Michael shares his recent trip to the Super Bowl as a guest of former Super Bowl MVP, Hines Ward. This opportunity came last minute and required Michael to shift things around on his calendar, but he said yes and enjoyed a once in a lifetime experience.
Marketing: When it comes to launching a successful podcast, Michael compares it to producing a TV pilot. You have to test, produce, and entertain. If you're podcast is educational, remember someone of your favorite teachers and how they made learning fun.
Momentum: The average podcast episode gets 160 listens in the first 6 weeks. Michael O'Neal knew he was on to something when he saw his downloads grow far above to upwards of 20,000 downloads per day. Even more, he knew that the Solopreneur Hour Podcast hit a unique cord because new lookalike podcasts were nowhere to be found.
Masterminds: Michael runs a group coaching mastermind called the SoloLab. Listen as he shares how this idea found him when he wasn't even on his radar.
Mastermind Challenge: I love how Michael joked about creating a podcast around the conversations you have after a couple of shots of tequila. Today, take a few minutes (with or without the booze) and think about how you can bring more of your PERSONALITY into your business and content. Better to be yourself... everyone else is already taken :)
Learn more at MastermindYourLaunch.com
Mission: The idea for an outdoor electronic bicycle rack came about when a friend of Thad Oviatt had two bicycles stolen in one week. When the second bike was stolen the thief left a sticky note attached to the cut bike lock chain that had a smiley face and “THANKS” written across it. How rude?!
Mindset: What I love about Thad is that he’s gone ALL IN to make ParkENT Cycles a success. From moving in with his parents to setting up shop in their garage, he has his eyes on the prize.
There is a quote that says, “Entrepreneurship is living a few years like most people won’t to live the rest of your life like most people can’t”. Thad epitomizes this spirit quite possibly more than anyone I’ve ever met.
Marketing: Thad’s willingness to get out of his comfort zone has opened many doors along the way. Listen as he shares the story behind landing a rare opportunity to display his invention at TechCrunch.
Momentum: Thad has just launched a crowdfunding campaign via Indiegogo.com where he is seeking to secure $50,000 to complete the app development and manufacture bike racks for a metro Atlanta pilot program.
Masterminds: That is a regular attendee of the Alpharetta Startup Circle where he and I met. It’s a weekly meeting for local tech entrepreneurs that has connected him with fellow startups as well as serial entrepreneurs.
Mastermind Challenge: When I hear Thad’s story, he inspires me to get out and get in front on a new crowd. Is there a group, organization or meetup that you’ve been thinking about attending, but haven’t? Let Thad’s story be the push you need to get out of your comfort zone and into a new environment. You never know what opportunities exist just outside of your comfort zone…
Learn more at mastermindyourlaunch.com
Nikki is an international photographer and speaker. Her platform is entirely about Being Seen. She is An Entrepreneurs Solution to reaching The Perfect Client!
She specializes in helping her clients step into the power of who they are, as their best self, in order for their light to shine for the world to see. She gives her clients a true view of their beauty, up levels their brand and creates an easier way to reach more people and make the money they deserve.
Mission: In today's world, "your connection is your currency", as Nikki shares. Oddly enough, it was an uncomfortable sales call with a client that uncovered her purpose to not only photograph her clients, but to bring out the best in them.
Mindset: Once connected to her bigger purpose, Nikki found that it gave her the confidence (or at least the gumption) to play on a higher level. In order to make a bigger difference, she knew that she had to step into bigger challenges, one being public speaking. Listen as she shares the story of one of her first public speaking engagements, plus 3 tips on raising your vibration and improving your mindset.
Marketing: In early days of her business, Nikki leveraged social media to grow an international following. Much more than just posting her photography, she shared personal stories which allowed her audience to get to know her and the connect with the person behind the camera.
Momentum: Nikki credits mentorship and coaching to playing a large role in her ability to gain fast momentum and take her business to new heights. Today, she has three coaches, all serving to propel different aspects of her business.
Masterminds: Here we tried something new! Listen as Nikki and I mastermind the marketing strategy for two Atlanta-based photographers. We talk social media, pricing, and networking. I'm so thrilled that she shared not only her journey, but great wisdom for other entrepreneurs.
Mastermind Challenge: I love Nikki's advice to always have a high-tiered pricing package that (1) scares you just a little bit.. and (2) allows you to serve your most enthusiastic clients in a unique and special way. Today, take some time to evaluate your offerings. Are you pricing based on what you believe your clients can afford versus how you desire to serve them? If money were no object, what is the platinum package you'd offer for your highest level clients? Dream big, write it down, then make it happen.
Brian Johnson is the author of the new book entitled “How To Live Your Dreams Out Loud: 6 Steps To Overcome Your Fears and Achieve Your Dreams”. An inspiring leader and in-demand speaker, Brian has inspired thousands of individuals to overcome their fears and achieve their dreams.
Most recently Brian served as the Talent Coordinator for The Arsenio Hall Show for season one where he worked along side celebrities such as Kanye West, Eddie Murphy, Kevin Hart, Magic Johnson, Simon Cowell, Ken Jeong, Tony Goldwyn, Andrew Dice Clay and many more. Brian holds a bachelors degree in International marketing and a minor in Spanish from The University of Alabama.
Mission: After hitting rock bottom, Brian sought the advice of his mentor which ended up opening the door to a career in Hollywood and the platform to launch his book Live Your Dreams Out Loud. Had he never hit that low point, that phone call would likely have never occurred. Listen as he and I discuss the power of going through hard times in order to get enjoy the abundance on the other side.
Mindset: Something shifts within your mindset when your back is against the wall and you have nothing to lose. Brian shares that sense of "desperado" as he calls it. It was this low-point that brought the clarity to connect to his mission to be a beacon of hope for anyone thinking of quitting on their dreams.
Marketing: When it came to executing the book, Brian worked with a book editor to get the task done in roughly 90 days. His biggest advice for others is to find people that are more experienced than you to help you move faster. With the book writing done, he was able to move forward and focus on the launch and promotion.
Momentum: Working on the Arsenio Hall Show brought a lot of exciting opportunities for Brian. Getting to meet and be photographed with celebrity guests of the show began to position Brian, who is originally from Skipperville, Alabama, as someone who had made a big shift in his life. This definitely created anticipation for the release of his book because people were excited to hear about the journey that led him to his success.
Masterminds: Brian has a great network of support and influence, but when it comes to the people he relies on the most, he calls out a close group of friends that meet every Sunday for prayer. Of course he shouts out to his mother and brother as well :) but the commitment and fellowship that those friends have provided has been equally impactful on his journey.
Mastermind Challenge: I love how Brian shares that because of the exposure he received during his time with the Arsenio Hall Show, people were eager to grab his new book when it launched so that they could uncover the journey that got his there. What are people waiting to hear from YOU? What's the story that they would love to know more about? Let THAT answer drive some of your next steps... whether it's a social media post, blog article, or book.
Learn more at MastermindYourLaunch.com
Jason "J-Boom" Legaard is an inspirational speaker and entrepreneur with a mission to inspire the fire within those pursuing their dreams. After a childhood near death experience, he was crippled by guilt for years. Now his Attitude of Gratitude has allowed him to serve others in breaking free into their greatness.
Jason is co-host of The Mindset Mountain Podcast and Co-creator of the personal development training, "Climbing the Mindset Mountain." He also provides one on one coaching to guide clients past their B.S. and into bringing the BOOM back into their life!
Mission: It was the decision to attend an entrepreneurship conference in 2011 that changed everything for Jason and sparked the passion to exit his 9-5 and own his own business. He returned from that conference a new person with a deep focus on building a purpose-driven business and never looked back. He didn't act is hast and quit his job, but has spent the last several years growing his business on the side. In December 2015, that side business became his full-time job and he is officially a full-time entrepreneur.
Mindset: Jason credits self-awareness as being a key turning point in his journey to develop the mindset needed to successfully achieve his dreams. When we become aware of the truth and stop lying to ourselves (either by painting too rosy a picture or too dark a picture) that's when we're able to gain the clarity to make significant change. How does that resonate with you? Have you ever been in a situation where you were weren't able to see the truth because you were projecting overly positive or negative thoughts? Share in the comments below.
Marketing: With a film-making background, Jason went all in with video to help spread the message and grow his network. Being authentic in front of the camera has allowed him to create a connection with his growing audience while serving them with inspiring content.
Momentum: The moments that have brought the most momentum for Jason have both come from sharing his personal journey in an effort to serve communities and inspire transformation. This sparked a great conversation about the importance of connecting to a deep sense of purpose and how doing THAT in the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey is what allows for moments that create a deep connection with your community.
Masterminds: From the Jonathan Budd, the host of that 2011 conference, to the Team at Results 513, to his friend and business partner, Eddie Aguilar; Jason shares that he wouldn't be where his is together without bringing these people and communities along his side.
Mastermind Challenge: Jason shared a powerful exercise that we can all benefit from. Look at yourself and your current situation as if you're looking at someone else. From this 3rd party perspective, what do you see? Are there areas where you would advise this person to step up their game? Are are there areas where you would offer encouragement that this person is doing a great job and to stop being so hard on themselves? Be honest with yourself about where you're at and make a plan to get where you want to go.
We're all in this together! Share your photos with the hashtag #mastermindchallenge
Learn more at MastermindYourLaunch.com
My dear friend and fellow masterminder, Laura Lilly, has over 10 years of experience working with non profit organizations. After working for a traditional consulting firm for the past eight years serving mid-sized nonprofits (like YMCAs, independent schools, hospitals, and retirement communities), she started her own company, Spring, to offer consulting services to startup and small nonprofits. Listen as Laura shares her journey and advice for gaining fast momentum as a new business.
Mission: The best entrepreneurial ventures blend your WHY for you and your WHY for the world. With Spring, Laura has done just that. She paired her desire to create an online business and have flexibility to stay home with her young family, with the desire to help smaller nonprofits get the resources and momentum they need to make the impact they envision.
Mindset: Inspired to make the year ahead one of joy, Laura became much more intentional with where she spent her time and energy. While at a yoga class, she heard the lyrics, “Be strong, be kind, be brave. Know that it’s alright to be afraid.” Adopting those lyrics as her mantra, she found the courage to do more big and scary things to create more meaningful success.
Marketing: Interviewing prospective clients has been the most eye-opening activity that Laura has done within the business. Gaining a true understanding of the pains, needs and even the exact words that her customers are using, is propelling Spring forward much faster.
Momentum: At the time of this interview, Spring was only 1 month old but already experiencing so much momentum. Laura shares the even in that short time, the biggest momentum to date has been the overwhelmingly positive feedback that she’s received from those within the nonprofit industry.
Masterminds: Laura and I have been masterminding together for several months. I love how she relates our mastermind to the feeling of having co-founders. We truly have all been in the trenches together for both the big decisions and the small details. She shares the courage and bravery that having a mastermind has provided.
Mastermind Challenge: So many entrepreneurs rack their brains trying to figure out what their clients want and need. As Laura has shown, you just need to ASK. Send out a survey using a platform like Survey Monkey or Google Forms. Even better, invite a few of them out for coffee or lunch. You’ll be surprised how forthcoming they are with information that not only helps YOU, but helps you better serve THEM.
We’re all in this together! Share your photos with the hashtag #mastermindchallenge
Learn more at MastermindYourLaunch.com