In this episode, Tom Kelly, the founder of Charity Auction Today, shares his journey of starting the business and his entrepreneurial mindset. He discusses the importance of simplicity and accessibility in their platform for nonprofits and schools to conduct fundraising auctions online. Tom reflects on the challenges they faced, including server crashes and the need for multiple rebuilds, but emphasizes his determination to persevere and continue growing the business. He also talks about personal growth, hiring A-players, and the importance of family support. Tom shares insights on bootstrapping, taking investment, user engagement, and future growth strategies.

Tom Kelly is an entrepreneur and consultant who helps businesses and nonprofits implement a proven process to lower costs and become more profitable. To date, Tom has launched three successful companies around helping these verticals lower costs and streamline operations.

What we discuss:

[00:00:18] Tom shares his background as a professional baseball player, musician, and founder of Charity Auction Today is discussed.

[00:01:19] Tom talks about the concept behind Charity Auction Today and how it initially started as a way to donate money on eBay.

[00:03:12] The growth of Charity Auction Today is discussed, including the decision to make auctions private and the challenges of server crashes and rebuilding the platform.

[00:12:21] Tom discusses how he has been his own obstacle in business and the importance of personal development.

[00:14:34] Tom shares his experience of hiring top talent and giving them the freedom to excel in their roles.

[00:19:19] Tom talks about his motivation to be a positive influence on his children and provide them with support and guidance.

[00:23:29] Tom discusses the challenges of funding, the importance of finding value in investors, and his personal experience with a failed partnership.

[00:25:05] Tom explains how Charity Auction Today differentiated itself by focusing on speed, ease of use, and removing sales friction points to cater to a diverse user base.

[00:30:45] Tom shares his plans to launch a brand ambassador program, allowing stay-at-home moms and volunteers to create a business using the platform and generate extra income.

[00:34:37] Tom discusses the decision to switch to Stripe for payment processing to reduce friction and increase user adoption.

[00:36:35] Tom reflects on the impact of being labelled as "The Alcoholic Millionaire" in a book, leading to a realization and motivation for personal change.

[00:42:32] Tom emphasizes the importance of focusing on personal growth and mindset as an entrepreneur, rather than solely focusing on business growth.

[00:53:21] Tom advises aspiring entrepreneurs to embrace the grind and not expect quick or easy success.

Episode Resources:

Tom Kelly | Linkedin

Tom Kelly | Charity Auctions Today

Tom Kelly | Facebook