In this episode of the Hidden Entrepreneur podcast, host Josh Cary welcomes Mitch Lieberman, a serial entrepreneur and digital marketing pioneer. Mitch's journey began in 1997 when he became a trailblazer in online retail, particularly in the furniture industry on eBay. His company, One Way Furniture, earned the title of the 35th fastest-growing company in the US in 2007. Mitch now runs a successful digital marketing agency, Long Island Digital. Tune in to learn how Mitch became an e-commerce pioneer long before it was trendy and gain insights into his entrepreneurial journey and success.

Episode Key Takeaways:

Here are three key takeaways from our conversation:

Embrace Fear and Excitement: Mitch highlighted the importance of facing moments of fear and excitement in entrepreneurship. He shared how he made pivotal decisions, like transitioning from selling furniture on eBay to launching his own e-commerce business, by embracing the mix of fear and excitement that comes with taking risks.
Learn by Doing: Mitch emphasized the value of learning on the job. Despite not having formal training in digital marketing, he immersed himself in the industry, honed his skills, and eventually launched Long Island Digital. His hands-on approach and willingness to learn from experience set him apart in the competitive digital marketing landscape.
Surround Yourself with the Right People: Throughout his entrepreneurial journey, Mitch prioritized surrounding himself with the right team members. He emphasized the importance of hiring based on character and quickly making decisions when a fit wasn't right. By building a team of dedicated individuals, Mitch was able to scale his businesses and achieve remarkable success.

Episode Timestamps:

00:00:00 - Introduction and Welcome

00:00:33 - Guest Introduction: Mitch Lieberman

00:01:06 - Early Days in E-commerce

00:02:13 - Mitch's Background and Entry into Furniture Industry

00:03:07 - The Pre-Internet Era

00:03:39 - Starting on eBay

00:04:22 - First Sales on eBay

00:05:06 - Transition to Selling Furniture

00:06:09 - Early Success and Business Growth

00:07:01 - The Entrepreneurial Leap

00:08:05 - Realizing the Drop Shipping Model

00:09:20 - Scaling the Business

00:10:08 - Learning on the Job

00:10:47 - Facing Fear and Uncertainty

00:11:05 - Personal Sacrifices and Support

00:12:07 - Overcoming Challenges

00:13:03 - Competition and Wayfair

00:14:42 - Adapting to Market Changes

00:15:31 - Transition to Digital Marketing

00:16:07 - Learning Digital Marketing Skills

00:17:00 - Building a Team

00:18:17 - Consulting and Sharing Knowledge

00:19:08 - Hiring the Right People

00:20:06 - Personal Reflections on Success

00:21:01 - Staying Grounded and Giving Back

00:22:10 - Launching Long Island Digital

00:23:02 - Addressing Market Inefficiencies

00:24:05 - Importance of Digital Marketing

00:25:09 - Understanding Client Needs

00:26:02 - Reputation Management

00:27:29 - Tailored Digital Marketing Solutions

00:28:26 - Mitch's Experience and Client Attraction

00:29:06 - Final Thoughts and Contact Information

00:30:44 - Closing Remarks and Inspiration

Long Island Digital Website: https://longislanddigital.com/