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John Corcoran
"Top 100 Small Business Podcasts 2014" -- Small Biz Trends. Former Clinton White House Writer John Corcoran shows you how to build relationships intelligently to get more clients, grow your income and advance your career. Discover how you can use win-win networking and intentional relationship-building with Influencers and VIPs, even if you "hate networking" or feel like you have "nothing to offer" people who are successful. Interviews with today's top entrepreneurs and authors such as Dan Pink, Michael Port, Gary Vaynerchuk, Marie Forleo and Guy Kawasaki, who reveal how they use relationships to grow their businesses and their incomes. Find out more at SmartBusinessRevolution.com.
Eric Farewell | How a Lifelong Love of Flying Led to a Thriving Paramotoring Business
Eric Farewell is a lifelong entrepreneur who started working at the age of seven and had his first business selling airplanes on the Internet at the age of 13. Eric has a background in aviation, travel, and adventure. In 2011, he launched Aviator Paramotor, which offers life-changing powered paragliding experiences. As the Founder and CEO of Aviator Paramotor, Eric spends his time teaching paramotoring, catering to students’ unique needs, and traveling around the world to exhibitions and events. In addition to his paramotoring business, Eric acquired the National STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) competition, which showcases the excitement of aviation worldwide. He’s also the author of the book Farewell to Normal: A Transformational Guide to Adventure, Excitement, and Personal Happiness. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran interviews Eric Farewell, Founder and CEO of Aviator Paramotor, about his lifelong entrepreneurial journey. Eric discusses starting his first business at age 13, his experience in paramotoring, and his involvement with the National Short Takeoff and Landing (National STOL).
31:0724/04/2023
Paul Bresenden | Childhood Entrepreneurship, Building a Creative Agency, and Increasing Member Retention Rates
Paul Bresenden is the Founder and President of 454 Creative, a marketing agency based out of Orange County, California. The company specializes in designing marketing strategies for mid-market firms with a focus on credit unions and higher education. Paul is also the Managing Partner of KidCEOs, an entrepreneurial startup for kids, and a board member of the Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO). He is the seventh of nine children, born to Russian immigrants. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran sits down with Paul Bresenden, the Founder and President of 454 Creative, to talk about Paul's entrepreneurial journey and the business lessons he learned from EO. They also discuss the KidCEOs initiative and the strategies Paul used to increase his EO chapter's member retention rate.
36:5021/04/2023
Ryan Niddel | From Mowing Lawns To Scaling Businesses
Ryan Niddel is a CEO, board member, and entrepreneur who specializes in improving company revenue by increasing EBITDA through operational efficiency, lean manufacturing principles, and more. He has contributed to the acquisition or exit of over 11 companies, helping their collective revenue surpass $200 million. Additionally, he’s tripled the revenue of more than five companies in just a couple of years. Ryan is currently a principal in a private equity group, the CEO of two eight-figure companies, and sits on the board of directors for several other companies. He began his entrepreneurial journey at the age of 10 with a local lawn mowing operation, which was the catalyst for his entrepreneurial success. Since then, Ryan has built a reputation as Ohio’s top business growth specialist, developing skills to boost a company’s profitability, achieve a higher valuation, and sell for significantly more revenue. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran talks with CEO, board member, and entrepreneur Ryan Niddel. Ryan shares his journey from being a lawn-mowing kid to becoming a successful entrepreneur and CEO. He discusses stories that shaped his career, how he rebounded after a failed business, and why he now embraces his past failures. Ryan also talks about his approach to growing a business and why small steps are the answer to success.
43:2917/04/2023
Julie Broad | Self-Publishing and Helping Entrepreneurs Launch Their Books
Julie Broad is the Founder and President of Book Launchers, a company that helps entrepreneurs write, publish, and launch books. She is an author, speaker, and former real estate investor and trainer. Julie was inspired to start Book Launchers from her personal experience of struggling to publish a book. After self-publishing it in 2013, she began helping others get their books — and messages — out into the world. She has helped entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and industry experts build audiences and accelerate their career growth. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran sits down to interview Julie Broad, the Founder and President of Book Launchers. Julie explains why she self-published her book, how she helps clients create audiobooks and online courses, and her tips for successfully launching and marketing books.
27:2114/04/2023
Bruce Eckfeldt | Strategic Business Coaching and Scaling a Company to the Inc. 5000 List
Bruce Eckfeldt, the Founder and CEO of Eckfeldt & Associates, is a consultant, coach, author, and speaker. He started his career as an architect and later transitioned to digital product development. He is also an expert in business and operational growth strategy, talent planning, performance coaching, and using Agile/Lean to achieve operational excellence. In 2003, Bruce founded Cyrus Innovation, one of the first Agile/Lean consulting firms, and worked with companies such as Boeing, Kaplan Test Prep, Simon & Schuster, Eze Software, and The New York Times. The company was an Inc. 5000 honoree for five years in a row. After more than a decade of developing products and coaching companies to adopt Agile/Lean practices, Bruce sold Cyrus Innovation in 2014 to focus on broader organizational development initiatives. He has served as interim CEO, COO, and other executive roles across different high-tech and professional service companies, leading them through periods of high growth and leadership transition. He has also been a member of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) since 2007. Bruce Eckfeldt, the Founder and CEO of Eckfeldt & Associates, joins John Corcoran in this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast to talk about business coaching and strategies for scaling a company to the Inc. 5000 list. They also discuss how to overcome imposter syndrome, the value of structured business frameworks, and challenges in the cannabis and psychedelics industries.
31:2110/04/2023
Jason Feifer | Creating Content That Builds Relationships and Tactics for Embracing Change
Jason Feifer is the Editor-in-Chief of Entrepreneur Magazine. He is also a podcast host, author, keynote speaker, and startup advisor. He started his career as a community newspaper reporter before transitioning to freelance writing, later working for larger magazines including Men’s Health, Fast Company, and Maxim. Jason is the host of the Build for Tomorrow podcast and author of Build for Tomorrow: An Action Plan for Embracing Change, Adapting Fast, and Future-Proofing Your Career. His goal is to help people seize new opportunities and become more resilient and adaptable in a world of constant change. Jason Feifer, the Editor-in-Chief of Entrepreneur Magazine, joins John Corcoran in this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast to talk about creating content that engages audiences and builds strong relationships. Jason also shares tips for adapting to change, how to build a successful media business, and the value of providing customized user experiences.
31:2807/04/2023
Cap Treeger | Mentorship Best Practices and Tips for Launching a Successful Business
Cap Treeger is a serial entrepreneur, investor, and author. He has invested directly in several dozen early-stage ventures and indirectly in hundreds more through local angel and venture funds. He is also a Wall Street Journal and national best-selling author of Finding the Way: The Entrepreneur’s Tale. He enjoys sharing experiences of his own successes and failures to pay forward what he has learned from his mentors and hopefully assist others in finding their way. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran interviews Cap Treeger, a serial entrepreneur, investor, and author, about best practices for finding and working with mentors. They also talk about following your passion when starting a business, how to overcome discouragement, and Cap's investment strategy.
30:3803/04/2023
Reb Risty | Best Practices for Creating and Optimizing Video Content
Rebecca (Reb) Risty is the Founder and CEO of REBL Marketing, a B2B content marketing agency. The company helps clients turn viewers into customers by writing and producing amazing video content that makes brands stand out from the competition. Based out of San Diego, Reb helps her clients update their branding, create clear and concise messaging, and transform their digital presence through video marketing. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran interviews Reb Risty, the Founder and CEO of REBL Marketing, about best practices for creating and optimizing video content. They also talk about Reb's entrepreneurial journey, the importance of video marketing, and tips for repurposing content.
34:0831/03/2023
Michael Portz | Leadership Development and Cultural Lessons From Working at Vodafone
Michael Portz is a leadership coach and the Co-founder of CoA Academy, which helps leaders succeed with ease through remote leadership programs. Michael has more than 25 years of experience as a manager, serial entrepreneur, and coach. He has lived on almost every continent, established various brands, and led teams of up to 2,500 people. He also helped scale a company to 400 people with a turnover of $500 million in sales within four years. Michael is the author of Chief of Anything and Six Situations of Feedback. He is an angel investor, a member of the Entrepreneurs Organization (EO), and an EO Accelerator trainer. He also served as President of the EO Qatar Chapter for two years. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran interviews Michael Portz, a leadership coach and the Co-founder of CoA Academy, about leadership development and the value of people skills. They also talk about Michael's experience working at Vodafone, his entrepreneurial ventures, and why he started a leadership academy.
47:5927/03/2023
Jabez LeBret | Lessons Learned From a Tough Childhood and the Value of Nurturing Business Relationships
Jabez LeBret is the Co-founder of Lotus Launch, an online content library that helps entrepreneurs scale their businesses to seven figures and beyond. Jabez grew up in a small remote village in Alaska, and he went from being a homeless teenager to studying finance in college, eventually landing a role at Nordstrom. He also started GNGF, a marketing agency for lawyers, which he later sold and started a boarding school. Jabez is the author of I Don't Match Socks: Seven Principles That Open Doors, Lead to Promotions and Build a Better Culture. He is a member of the Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) and a speaker, having delivered over 1,200 presentations across the globe. Jabez LeBret, the Co-founder of Lotus Launch, joins John Corcoran in this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast to talk about his tough childhood and his journey to entrepreneurship. They also discuss Jabez's book, how he started a tuition-free boarding school, and the lessons learned over the years about building relationships.
33:2024/03/2023
Jon Morris | Technological Innovations and Early Digital Marketing
Jon Morris is the Founder and CEO of Ramsay Innovations, a tech-enabled finance and strategic planning company that helps marketing agencies drive success. Jon was also the Founder and CEO of Rise Interactive, an award-winning full-service digital marketing agency. With $10,000, he turned it into one of the largest independent digital agencies. Much of Rise Interactive’s success was due to its financial infrastructure which provided insights that led to sound strategic planning. Jon Morris, the Founder and CEO of Ramsay Innovations, joins John Corcoran in this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast to talk about entrepreneurship and his work in early digital marketing. Jon also talks about starting Rise Interactive, the company's evolution over the years, and how he has structured his new company.
24:2520/03/2023
Travis Luther | Overcoming a Tough Childhood and Building Million-Dollar Businesses
Travis (Scott) Luther is the Founder of TrialLine, a SaaS-based interactive timeline software for attorneys in the legal industry. He is a business and leadership advisor with over 25 years of experience in entrepreneurship. He is also an award-winning speaker and best-selling author, and his work has been featured in PBS, Forbes, and the Wall Street Journal. Travis has been a member of the Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) for 10 years and is the President-Elect of the Colorado Chapter. He is a past US National Chair for the Global Student Entrepreneurship Awards (GSEA), a program of EO. Travis is also the President of Law Father, an award-winning digital media agency for lawyers and law firms, and the Founder of Queen Anne Pillow, a luxurious pillow company. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran interviews Travis Luther, the Founder of TrialLine, about the lessons he learned from his tough childhood and going into entrepreneurship at 16 years old. They also discuss Travis' strategies for building a business to $1 million in revenue and launching secondary businesses. Stay tuned.
49:1317/03/2023
Melanie Booher | Using Books to Market, Network, and Build Authentic Relationships
Melanie Booher is an author, publisher, and the President of Influence Network Media (INM), a hybrid book publisher. INM provides publishing and promotional coaching and services to authors and influencers. Melanie is a certified culture coach and a people connector. She is also the author of several books including Conscious Culture and Powerhouse. She lives outside of Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband, three children, and a dog. Melanie Booher, the President of Influence Network Media, joins John Corcoran in this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast to talk about leveraging books to network and build authentic relationships. They also discuss the challenges Melanie faced writing her books, her book marketing strategies, and how she helps businesses improve their company culture.
24:4413/03/2023
Cameron Herold | Best Practices for Hiring and Integrating the Second in Command
Cameron Herold is a business coach and keynote speaker best known for his work as the business growth guru and Founder of the COO Alliance. He has over 20 years of experience as a COO for several companies including 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, which he took from $2 million to over $100 million in revenue in just six years. Cameron is the author of six books including Double Double, Meetings Suck, and his latest, The Second in Command: Unleash the Power of Your COO. He also hosts the Second-in-Command Podcast. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran interviews Cameron Herold, a business coach and the Founder of the COO Alliance, about best practices for hiring and integrating the second in command. They also discuss tips for nurturing a great CEO-COO relationship, when to hire and let go of a temporary COO, and Cameron's influential books.
28:0010/03/2023
Simon Chappuzeau | Helping Businesses Tell Better Stories Through LinkedIn Marketing
Simon Chappuzeau is the Founder and CEO of StoryLux, a company that implements LinkedIn marketing strategies primarily for business coaches and smaller companies. He is also the host of the How I Went Viral podcast where he breaks down viral posts on LinkedIn. Simon has been a member of Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) for 10 years. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran interviews Simon Chappuzeau, the Founder and CEO of StoryLux, about tips and strategies for optimizing a LinkedIn post. They also discuss the lessons Simon learned from working in the corporate events industry, his experience studying script development at UCLA, and how he helps clients create better LinkedIn content.
24:2306/03/2023
Stephen Shortt | Succession Planning and Strategies for Running a Successful Family Business
Stephen Shortt is the Managing Director of ETC Consult, a leading provider of scientifically-validated career guidance, psychometric assessments, psychometric selection, and training services to the Irish market. He is an entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and facilitator. He is also the CEO of Career Fit and Successful Succession, developed to help the next generation of leaders run family businesses. As a succession planning consultant, Stephen works with family business owners and empowers them through training and education to achieve a better future both professionally and personally. He has a new podcast called the Killer Family Business Podcast, where he interviews family business owners. Previously, Stephen was the President of the Entrepreneurs' Organization, Ireland Chapter and the Global Chair of the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards, which supports young, emerging entrepreneurs in over 50 countries around the world. Stephen Shortt, a succession planning consultant and the Managing Director of ETC Consult, joins John Corcoran in this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast to talk about tips and strategies for running a successful family business. They discuss the importance of succession planning, how to get kids involved in a family business, and the resources that help Stephen manage his businesses.
36:0603/03/2023
John and Mark X. Cronin | John's Crazy Socks and Strategies for Building a Social Enterprise
John Cronin and Mark X. Cronin are the father-son team that created John's Crazy Socks, a social enterprise with a mission to spread happiness. The co-founders bootstrapped their startup into a multimillion-dollar business and became the world's largest sock store — and an international sensation. John and Mark received the EY Entrepreneur of the Year award, and they have spoken before Congress, the UN, and appeared in various media outlets. John has Down Syndrome, and his mission is to show what people with differing abilities can do. John's Crazy Socks employs people with differing abilities and has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for various charity partners including the Special Olympics. John and Mark X. Cronin, the Founders of John's Crazy Socks, are John Corcoran's guests in this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast. They talk about their journey of building a social enterprise, their hiring process, and how infusing a personal touch has impacted their business.
33:5227/02/2023
Craig Swanson | Building an IT Support Company for Creatives and Scaling Business to Over $1M
Craig Swanson is a longtime entrepreneur, Consultant at Emerald, and Partner at KaisaFit, an online fitness platform. He is the Chair of the Seattle EO Accelerator program and EO Seattle and loves helping creators, educators, and entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses around their dreams. Craig is a former Partner at The Wedding School, an online education program for wedding photographers. He was the Founder of CreativeTechs (previously known as Swanson Tech Support), which was a leading IT support firm for Seattle area creative teams. He also co-founded CreativeLive, one of the earliest live-streaming educational platforms, with Chase Jarvis in 2008 before exiting in 2015. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran interviews Craig Swanson, a longtime entrepreneur and a Partner at KaisaFit, about his entrepreneurial journey from childhood to building an IT support company. They also discuss the challenges Craig faced scaling his businesses, how he sold his IT company to past employees, and his thoughts on running a business during a pandemic.
50:3824/02/2023
Darren Guccione | From Rockstar Musician to Rockstar CEO
Darren Guccione is the Co-founder and CEO of Keeper Security Inc., a password management application that works with various companies including AT&T and HTC. It protects more than 10 million consumers and over 3,000 organizations worldwide. Darren is a cybersecurity expert and entrepreneur who has been quoted in media outlets including CBS Evening News, Fox & Friends, USA Today, ABC, and Mashable. He has also been named to the “Chicago Top Tech 50” by Crain's Chicago Business. Before taking the entrepreneurial route, Darren was an aspiring rock star musician. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran interviews Darren Guccione, the Co-founder and CEO of Keeper Security Inc., about his journey from being a rockstar musician to entrepreneur. They also discuss the effects of the pandemic on cybersecurity, tips for promoting data breaches, and how to be a great leader.
36:4120/02/2023
Jessica Fialkovich | Starting a High-End Wine Business From Scratch and How To Buy and Sell Businesses — Even in a Down Economy
Jessica Fialkovich is the Founder of Exit Factor, a firm that teaches entrepreneurs how to build and sell their small and mid-size businesses through online programs and one-to-one consulting services. She is also an author, a certified speaker, and a small business advocate. Jessica is the Co-owner of Transworld Business Advisors which focuses on business brokerage, franchise consulting, and franchise development. An entrepreneur at heart, she is a four-time Inc. 5000 honoree and award-winning entrepreneur recognized by Inc. Magazine, The Financial Times, Denver Business Journal, and ColoradoBiz Magazine. Jessica is also a member of Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO), the co-host of The Deal Board Podcast, and the co-author of Getting the Most for Selling Your Business: How to Get Top Dollar for the Company You've Nurtured for Years. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran interviews Jessica Fialkovich, the Founder of Exit Factor, about preparing a business for sale. They also talk about Jessica's experience building a high-end wine business, her tips for developing a successful business brokerage firm, and how she helps other entrepreneurs sell and exit their businesses.
36:4417/02/2023
Charles Bender | From a Poor Boy Shining Shoes To Matchmaking and Ending Generational Poverty - Part 2
Charles (Chuck) Bender is the Chief Executive Officer of Attentus Technologies, a leading managed IT services firm serving the Pacific Northwest. He is an experienced executive with a demonstrated history of working in the managed services and internet industries. Chuck is also the President of Skynet Broadband, a company that provides high-speed data, digital phone, and IT services to the Puget Sound region. He has been a member of Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) for 22 years and serves as Regional Chair of EO's West Region. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran continues his interview with Chuck Bender, the CEO of Attentus Technologies, about entrepreneurship and building an internet business. They also discuss how to end generational poverty, the benefits of building recurring revenue, and Chuck’s tips for teaching kids to be responsible adults.
50:4813/02/2023
Charles Bender | EO Seattle | From a Poor Boy Shining Shoes To Matchmaking and Ending Generational Poverty - Part 1
Charles (Chuck) Bender is the Chief Executive Officer of Attentus Technologies, a leading managed IT services firm serving the Pacific Northwest. He is an experienced executive with a demonstrated history of working in the managed services and internet industries. Chuck is also the President of Skynet Broadband, a company that provides high-speed data, digital phone, and IT services to the Puget Sound region. He has been a member of Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) for 22 years and serves as Regional Chair of EO's West Region. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran is joined by Chuck Bender, the CEO of Attentus Technologies, to talk about Chuck’s entrepreneurial background and serving leaders through the Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO). They also talk about the challenges Chuck faced growing up, the business lessons he learned from the Navy, and his experience working in the financial services sector.
36:1310/02/2023
Todd Taskey | Wealth Management, Selling a Business to Goldman Sachs, and Helping CEOs and Entrepreneurs Buy and Sell Businesses
Todd Taskey has been an entrepreneur, business owner, investment banker, and business finance advisor for over 20 years. He is currently the M&A Advisor at Potomac Business Capital, where he helps CEOs and entrepreneurs maximize their company’s value and develop a successful exit strategy. His specialties include M&A, strategic acquisition, divestitures, and more. In addition to his role at Potomac Business Capital, Todd is an angel investor at multiple companies including Zoomph, StreetShares, and LiveSafe. He is also the host of the Second Bite podcast, where he talks with top CEOs and entrepreneurs about creating valuable companies through creative transactions. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran interviews Todd Taskey, M&A Advisor at Potomac Business Capital, to share valuable insights for entrepreneurs and business owners interested in buying or selling a business. Todd discusses how his background as a financial advisor influenced his perspective as an M&A advisor, the complex (but rewarding) process of helping businesses sell their assets, and the people that inspired him along the way.
42:0306/02/2023
Craig Fuller | Freight Trucking, Fundraising Strategies, and Transitioning To Virtual Events
Craig Fuller is the Founder and CEO of FreightWaves, a leading provider of global supply chain market intelligence news. The company provides supply chain organizations with fundamental data and context that help benchmark, analyze, monitor, and forecast activity, pricing, and risks in the global freight market. Prior to FreightWaves, Craig was the Founder of TransCard, a major provider of fleet fuel and debit cards. He is also a pilot, the CEO Flying Magazine, and was named CEO of the Year in 2013 by Finance Monthly Magazine. Craig Fuller, the Founder and CEO of FreightWaves, joins John Corcoran in this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast to share his experience working in the freight trucking business. Craig also discusses the experience of getting fired by his father, the fundraising lessons he has learned over the years, his passion for flying, and how the pandemic impacted his business.
28:4903/02/2023
Dr. Jeremy Weisz | Rise25 Acquisition Plans for the New Year
Dr. Jeremy Weisz is the Co-founder of Rise25, a company that helps B2B business owners connect with their ideal prospects, referral partners, and strategic partners through a done-for-you podcast service. Dr. Weisz has been involved in podcasting for over 11 years and was a senior producer for one of the early business podcasts; he assisted in putting all of their systems in place and helped them add volume, feature, and edify various business leaders. Dr. Weisz has also been running his own podcast, Inspired Insider, since 2011. He has featured top entrepreneurs, founders, and CEOs of companies such as P90X, Atari, Einstein Bagels, Mattel, the Orlando Magic, and many more through video interviews. He also founded a nutritional supplement business and continues to run his own chiropractic and massage facility, Chiropractical Solutions & Massage. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran sits down with Dr. Jeremy Weisz, his Co-founder at Rise25, to share their goals for the year 2023. They talk about their acquisition plans, company values, and criteria for investing in companies.
09:5130/01/2023
Bobbie Bailey | Brand Storytelling and Servant Leadership Styles
Bobbie Bailey is the Owner and CEO of M Agency, a full-service creative marketing agency based out of the Pacific Northwest. The agency helps impactful brands with meaningful marketing through brand identity and advertising design, specializing in interactive, digital, and print media. They work with a wide variety of companies from dental offices to airlines, helping them become staples in their space. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran interviews Bobbie Bailey, the Owner and CEO of M Agency, about how she transitioned from the tech industry to build a marketing agency. They also discuss servant leadership styles, the process of creating a brand story, and the evolution of digital media.
26:0627/01/2023
Jeanna Barrett | Inbound Marketing Best Practices and Tips for Building a Company in a New Country
Jeanna Barrett is the Founder and Chief Remote Officer of First Page Strategy, an award-winning remote growth marketing agency. She has 18 years of inbound marketing experience at venture-backed startups, digital agencies, and Fortune 500 companies, with a focus on small businesses and technology. Jeanna has been named among the 'Top 40 Under 40' of brand marketers and 'Best in the West' for financial technology marketing. In 2016, she left the US to lay roots and build her business in Belize, Latin America, growing her business remotely for five years before moving to Roatan, Honduras in 2021. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran interviews Jeanna Barrett, the Founder and Chief Remote Officer of First Page Strategy, about best practices for inbound marketing and building a company in a new country. Jeanna also shares tips for maintaining work-life harmony, building a remote team, and nourishing company culture.
26:2623/01/2023
Mike Evans | Shifts in Consumer Behavior and Strategies To Mitigate Competition
Mike Evans founded GrubHub in his spare bedroom and grew it into a multibillion-dollar online food delivery business. He led the company through five financing rounds, a couple of acquisitions, a merger, and ultimately, an IPO. Mike exited GrubHub after its IPO and founded Fixer, a Chicago-based on-demand handyman service. He is also the author of Hangry: A Startup Journey. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, co-hosts John Corcoran and Roger Hurni interview Mike Evans, the Founder of Fixer and GrubHub, about how he started his companies. They also discuss shifts in consumer behavior, how to manage a company's changing culture, and tips for handling competition.
39:1220/01/2023
Matt Sunshine | Sales Performance Strategies and Tips for Improving Employee Engagement
Matt Sunshine is the CEO and Managing Partner at The Center for Sales Strategy, a sales performance consulting company that helps sales organizations attract, retain, and develop the highest performing salespeople. His areas of expertise include growing sales organizations, finding and developing sales superstars, sales processes, lead generation, inbound marketing, and digital marketing. Matt developed and launched LeadG2, an inbound marketing company that helps businesses establish thought leadership and lower lead costs. He also oversaw the launch of Up Your Culture, the third division in the CSS family, which partners with businesses to improve company culture and employee engagement. He is the author of Getting Prospects To Raise Their Hands and was listed by Forbes Magazine as one of the “20 Speakers You Shouldn't Miss The Opportunity To See.” In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran interviews Matt Sunshine, the CEO and Managing Partner at The Center for Sales Strategy, about tips for driving high sales performance. Matt also discusses strategies for maintaining long-term clients, improving employee engagement, and how he became the owner of The Center for Sales Strategy.
43:0616/01/2023
David Barnett | Business Brokerage Best Practices and the Value of Content Creation
David Barnett is a business brokerage expert who works with entrepreneurs worldwide to help them buy, sell, and organize their small and medium-sized businesses. He is also a speaker and educator. David is the author of several books including Invest Local: A Guide to Superior Investment Returns in Your Own Community, Credit Card Advantage: Understand the Costs and Benefits to Your Business, Franchise Warnings: What You Really Need to Know Before You Buy, and How to Sell My Own Business. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran is joined by David Barnett, an author and speaker, to discuss best practices for buying and selling businesses. They talk about how David started his business brokerage company, tips to structure a win-win business sale, and how creating online content helps build trust.
41:1713/01/2023
Rick Girard | Learning To Hire Better With Lessons From the Worlds of Beverly Hills, Used Car Sales, and Silicon Valley
Rick Girard is the Founder and CEO of Intertru, a platform that helps entrepreneurs and startup founders eliminate bad interviews by building a value-driven interview process that produces concrete evidence to support every hiring decision. He is also the Creator of HireOS, a hiring operating system, and the Founder and CEO of Stride Search, an engaged search firm. Rick has over 20 years of experience in the hiring and recruiting industry. He is the author of Healing Career Wounds: Your Start-up’s Secret Weapon to Attract, Hire, and Retain Ridiculously Successful People, and the host of Hire Power Radio. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran is joined by Rick Girard, the Founder and CEO of Intertru, to talk about value-based hiring. They discuss strategies for recruiting top performers, how to integrate core values in the hiring process, and how Rick's AI-powered hiring platform works. Stay tuned.
36:5209/01/2023
Gabriel Levine | [Top Agency Series] From Cab Driver To Top Lawyer, Viral Videos, and Navigating Digital Agencies Through the Pandemic
Gabriel Levine is an Attorney and Principal at Matchstick Legal, a firm that works with leading agencies, studios, and professionals across creative and technical disciplines looking to tackle business challenges, solve problems, and just get better. Gabriel has had a long career in the legal world. His practical approach to resolving difficult negotiations and disputes has brought consistent praise from both his clients and peers. Before Matchstick, Gabriel ran his own firm, Groundwork Legal, and was a partner and an associate at three different business-focused law firms in the Bay Area. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran interviews Gabriel Levine, an Attorney and Principal at Matchstick Legal, about his entry into the legal space and how he started his own business. They also discuss the evolution of the legal profession, the challenges of practicing law nationally and internationally, and Gabriel's experience as a cab driver.
39:2206/01/2023
Shaheen Samavati | [Top Agency Series] From Wall Street Journalist to 200+ Person Agency Founder
Shaheen Samavati is the Co-founder and CEO of VeraContent, an agency that manages global social media and content marketing channels for international brands. VeraContent works with over 200 freelance and full-time employees worldwide to generate content in multiple languages. Shaheen started her career as a journalist in the US before moving to Spain in 2010 where she completed an MBA at IE Business School, worked in corporate communication, and formed part of the founding team of a real estate startup before launching VeraContent in 2016. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran interviews Shaheen Samavati, the Co-founder and CEO of VeraContent, about how she became a writer and transitioned to entrepreneurship. Shaheen also talks about the lessons learned being part of the founding team at Spotahome and her strategies for hiring and managing over 200 employees.
32:4602/01/2023
Michelle Mundy | [Top Agency Series] Standardizing Business Processes for the Creative Services Industry
Michelle Mundy is the Founder of Onpar, a startup agency focused on solving business operational challenges within the end-to-end creative and technical production process. Onpar helps standardize the way agencies operate through process implementation and delegation. Michelle is also the Founder of Solo Entrepreneur, an organization dedicated to helping business owners kickstart, grow, and operate their businesses through community. Michelle Mundy, the Founder of Onpar, joins John Corcoran in this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast to talk about standardizing business processes for the creative services industry. Michelle shares her experience being a wedding photographer's assistant, the lessons learned working at Intel Corporation and Left Field Labs, and why she started a community for solo entrepreneurs. Stay tuned.
41:5430/12/2022
Rich Walker | Starting a Business With a Mentor and Transitioning From Financial Planning To Software Development
Rich Walker is the Co-founder and CEO of Quik!, also known as Quik! Forms, which is a company that provides forms automation and management solutions for companies looking to maximize efficiency and productivity. Prior to starting Quik!, Rich was a financial advisor with a financial network and a business consultant with Arthur Andersen. He started Quik! in 2002 to help people spend less time on paperwork and more time on what they do best. Rich has started 10 different companies since the age of 12 and authored two books. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran interviews Rich Walker, the Co-founder and CEO of Quik!, about his entrepreneurial journey and the lessons learned from running a business with his mentor. Rich also talks about his experience working at Arthur Andersen and the challenges he faced building his software company.
44:2526/12/2022
Avi Staiman | Transitioning From Teaching To Building an Academic Translation Business
Avi Staiman is the Founder and CEO of Academic Language Experts (ALE), a company that assists academic scholars to prepare their research for publication. ALE works with top academic language and publication experts from around the world who help academics with their articles, lectures, and books. Avi is also the co-host of the New Books Network ‘Scholarly Communication’ podcast and has been a guest lecturer at NYU's Master's Program in Translation and Interpreting, The University of Tokyo, and Bar-Ilan University. His essays have appeared in the Cambridge University Press blog, Scholarly Kitchen, Multilingual, and Times Higher Education. Avi is also a member of Entrepreneurs' Organization Israel chapter. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran interviews Avi Staiman, the Founder and CEO of Academic Language Experts (ALE), about his experience building an academic translation company. Avi talks about the challenges he faced early in his business, his diversification strategy, and how he has been growing his team.
42:0523/12/2022
Matthew Willman | Nelson Mandela's Photographer on the Journey From Poverty To Ballet To Capturing World Leaders
Matthew Willman is a South African-based photographer. He trained as a ballet dancer and later turned that career into photography. He is also the author of Tripping Over Presidents and Stepping Away. Matthew has worked with Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton, US and African Presidents, and has been commissioned to work with various world leaders including former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Desmond Tutu, and 12 Nobel Peace Prize laureates. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran interviews Matthew Willman, a South African-based photographer and author, about his experience meeting and working with Nelson Mandela. Matthew also shares his experience living on Robben Island, South Africa, his most memorable moments with world leaders, and his photography career highlights.
49:2319/12/2022
Kevin Tacher | From NY Firefighter to Crime Fighter, FBI Stings, and Networking Strategies
Kevin Tacher is the Founder and CEO of Independence Title, a title insurance company. Also known as the “Title King,” Kevin has been featured in various media outlets including Fox News and NBC. He is a three-time best-selling author and national real estate speaker. He has shared the stage with some of the country's best real estate and motivational speakers and has worked closely with the FBI, Florida's Attorney General, and local, state, and federal agencies to uncover real estate fraud across Florida. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran interviews Kevin Tacher, the Founder and CEO of Independence Title, about his experience as a firefighter and his work uncovering real estate fraud. They also discuss Kevin's strategies for marketing his business and how he kept his company going during the 2008 economic crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.
29:3516/12/2022
Richard Carthon| [Digital Money Series] How To Adjust To a Crypto Bear Market
Richard Carthon is the CEO and host of Crypto Current, an educational platform about cryptocurrency and blockchain. They create content that impacts thousands of people through its daily newsletter, podcast, blog, and social media. Richard is also a Managing Partner at Crescent City Capital and Acacia Digital, a cryptocurrency hedge fund and venture fund respectively. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran interviews Richard Carthon, the CEO and host of Crypto Current, about investing in a crypto bear market. They discuss how cryptocurrencies build generational wealth and promote transfer of wealth among countries, share tips on crypto market trading, and define non-fundable tokens (NFTs) and Web3s. Stay tuned.
34:0412/12/2022
Cindy Norcott | Scaling a Multiple Award-Winning Recruitment Agency and Tips for Working With Mentors
Cindy Norcott is the Owner of Pro Talent, a multiple award-winning recruitment agency. She started the business about 30 years ago in Durban, South Africa. Cindy is also the Founder of the Robin Hood Foundation, a motivational speaker, and the author of How To Be Unstoppable and Achieve More in Business and Life. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran interviews Cindy Norcott, the Owner of Pro Talent, about her entrepreneurial journey and the challenges she faced building her company. Cindy shares tips for preventing employee poaching, taking a work sabbatical, and thriving in spite of changes in legislation.
35:4009/12/2022
Dave Selinger | Working With Jeff Bezos, Co-founding Billion-Dollar Redfin, and Leveraging AI To Fight Crime
Dave Selinger is the Co-founder and CEO of Deep Sentinel, an AI-based home protection technology. He was an early employee at Amazon where he worked directly under Jeff Bezos before pursuing entrepreneurship. Dave co-invented Amazon Advertising, now a billion-dollar division within Amazon. He also co-founded and ran Redfin, now a multi-billion dollar real estate brokerage. In addition, he revolutionized shopping experiences for Macy's and Office Depot with his company RichRelevance. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran interviews Dave Selinger, the Co-founder and CEO of Deep Sentinel, about his experience working with Jeff Bezos and the entrepreneurial lessons he has learned over the years. They also discuss the value of understanding customer behavior, the challenges Dave faced building his companies, and his tips for balancing family with work. Stay tuned for more.
53:1905/12/2022
Saahil Mehta | Climbing Mountains, Trading Diamonds, and Uncluttering Yourself
Saahil Mehta is an entrepreneur, author, speaker, and mountaineer. He works as a leadership coach focused on guiding leaders to navigate their health, wealth, and relationships. He is the Co-founder of ResNet World and Managing Director of Saahil DMCC, a diamond trading company. Saahil has also climbed some of the world's tallest mountains. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran interviews Saahil Mehta, an entrepreneur and leadership coach. They discuss the challenges of working in a family business, how Saahil's business was impacted by the 2008 economic downturn, and how Saahil transformed his life.
34:1102/12/2022
Rich O’Neill | Overcoming Adversities, Working in a Family Business, and Building a Real Estate Company
Rich O'Neill is the Founder of Fleming Project Management, a real estate firm based in Philadelphia that serves the surrounding counties. He helps investors create wealth by managing their investment projects so they can focus on the most crucial activities in their business. Rich is also the Owner of Fleming Properties where he buys, renovates, and rents single-family and small multi-family properties. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran is joined by Rich O'Neill, the Founder of Fleming Project Management, to talk about the lessons Rich learned from his father and his father-in-law. Rich also explains how he overcame various adversities, his gateway into the real estate industry, and how the 2008 economic crisis affected his father's business.
35:4728/11/2022
Aaron Burnett | Democratizing Access To Space Investing through Crowdfunding
Aaron Burnett is the Founder and CEO of Spaced Ventures, the world's largest community of space investors. Spaced Ventures provides early-stage, pre-seed, and seed capital for space companies. It also provides public access to curated private space investments for both accredited and non-accredited investors. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran is joined by Aaron Burnett, the Founder and CEO of Spaced Ventures, to talk about investing in the space industry. They also discuss the cost of access to space, the benefits of space exploration, and how Spaced Ventures' business model works.
37:5125/11/2022
Christy Pretzinger | From Freelancer To Agency Owner and Tips for Serving the Healthcare Industry
Christy Pretzinger is the Owner and CEO of WriterGirl, a company that creates content and strategy for hospitals and healthcare organizations across the United States. Christy went from freelancing to owning her own agency, uncovering a passion for creating an environment where people can thrive. She is a lifelong learner and believes personal growth leads to professional growth. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran interviews Christy Pretzinger, the Owner and CEO of WriterGirl, about her experience transitioning from freelancing to building an agency. Christy shares secrets to retaining long-term employees, finding big clients, and thriving during challenging economic times.
33:1221/11/2022
Michèle Hecken | Scaling a Company and The Power of Offboarding Yourself
Michèle Hecken is an executive coach, serial entrepreneur, author, and speaker. She has over 25 years of experience running Alpha Translations Canada Inc., a global translation company which she started when she was 23. Michèle has also been a member of the Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) for more than a decade. She successfully scaled her company before offboarding herself and selling it in 2019. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran interviews Michèle Hecken about how she started and scaled a global translation company. Michèle talks about her breaking point running a business and raising kids, selling her company, and her offboarding process. Stay tuned!
35:4114/11/2022
Rob Castaneda | The Leadership Mindset and Building Software Ecosystems
Rob Castaneda is the Founder and CEO of ServiceRocket, a firm that helps software companies build their support, training, and consulting ecosystems. He is also a member of the EO San Francisco chapter and a mentor at both Global Scaling Academy and Endeavor. Rob Castaneda, the Founder and CEO of ServiceRocket, joins John Corcoran in this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast to talk about building his software company. Rob also discusses the leadership mindset and moving his company from Australia to the US.
05:5011/11/2022
Jenny Feterovich | TV/Film Production and Providing Humanitarian Aid
Jenny Feterovich is the Executive Producer at Arcadius Productions Inc. and Managing Partner at Parliament Studios. She is a film/TV producer, humanitarian, and speaker. Her flagship show, the critically acclaimed and Emmy-nominated PBS series Start Up, showcases entrepreneurs that have followed their dream of creating a small business. Jenny is also the President of the EO Detroit chapter. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran interviews Jenny Feterovich, the Executive Producer at Arcadius Productions Inc. They talk about Jenny's key projects, her inspiration for attending the Global Leadership Conference (GLC), and how she has been supporting war refugees from Ukraine.
05:1607/11/2022
Dawid Adach | Supporting War Refugees and Providing Relief to Businesses
Dawid Adach is the Co-founder of Material Design for Bootstrap (MDB), a free material design framework for web developers. He is an entrepreneur, a full-stack developer, and a member of the supervisory board at AI REV. Dawid was a founding member of the EO Poland chapter and served as President from 2021 to 2022. He has a master’s degree in computer science from the Warsaw University of Technology. In this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast, John Corcoran interviews Dawid Adach, the Co-founder of Material Design for Bootstrap, about his work supporting war refugees. Dawid explains how the EO Relief Fund in Poland was started, how EO members in Poland supported Ukrainian refugees, and his experience being an EO member.
06:4104/11/2022
Winnie Hart | Branding and Repositioning Companies in the Market
Winnie Hart is the Founder, President, and Chief Right Engine at TwinEngine, a brand growth agency fueled by purpose. She has built a reputation as an inspired, award-winning designer and savvy interpreter of business brands and personalities. Winnie has collaborated with the largest public and privately held corporations in the region, helping them define their position in the market through communications. She also serves as the Global Board Director for Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO). Winnie Hart, the Founder, President, and Chief Right Engine at TwinEngine, joins John Corcoran in this episode of the Smart Business Revolution Podcast to talk about branding and repositioning companies. Winnie shares her experience joining EO, becoming an EO leader, and re-launching the EO brand during the pandemic. Stay tuned!
07:2931/10/2022