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Beyond 8 Figures
Beyond 8 Figures episodes
- Experience Entrepreneurial Growth Outside of Your Comfort Zone with Dru Riley, Trends.vc
As with most things in life, the best way to experience entrepreneurial growth is outside of your comfort zone! In this episode, Dru Riley shares what life as an entrepreneur can look like when you are willing to take risks.
About Dru Riley:
Dru has been involved in more than 100 different projects throughout his time as an entrepreneur! Trends.vc, his newsletter with over 35000 subscribers, is his most successful venture to date. His lifelong goal is to engage in one million “comfort challenges” in which he extends himself way beyond his comfort zone.
For entrepreneurs seeking invaluable insights and actionable information on the most critical trends, Dru's "The Essentials" is an absolute must-read. Offering 1,000+ actionable insights, this report is a treasure trove of knowledge that empowers individuals to stay ahead of the curve and capitalize on emerging opportunities.
Seize the chance to supercharge your business growth and success with an exclusive limited-time offer: Get “The Essentials 10 Must-Read Reports” now at 50% off!
Episode highlights:
- Sometimes when we get too close to something, we can’t see how to fix it. One of the benefits of attending Mastermind groups or joining entrepreneur communities is that listening to other people’s experiences can help you gain a broader perspective on your own struggles and therefore figure out how to solve them. (04:47)
- Don’t be afraid to overcommunicate. Even if some people find it tiring, rather express yourself in multiple ways to ensure you have been understood than risk the opposite. (14:04)
- Don’t ignore your health. Entrepreneurs tend to put their needs second when building a business, but your well-being should be non-negotiable. (18:07)
- If you’re too comfortable, you’re doing something wrong! Growth happens outside of our comfort zones. Set “comfort challenges” to stretch yourself, and you’ll soon see the benefits. (25:38)
- Setting goals is one of the most effective ways to stay on track as an entrepreneur. Set daily, weekly, and monthly goals and regularly reflect on them so that you can continuously improve. (29:38)
Dru’s best advice for entrepreneurs:
“When you change your environment on a regular basis, you end up changing your thinking.” (29:56)Connect with Dru:
- LinkedIn
- Twitter
- Website
Follow Beyond 8 Figures:
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Affiliate Disclaimer: Some links in this episode are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Rest assured, we only promote products/services we believe will benefit your entrepreneurial journey.
41 min - Leverage Your Network for Lasting Business Growth with Neel Parekh, MadeThis
Leverage your network, focus on small steps, and reflect regularly; this is what Neel Parekh sees as the keys to business growth. In this episode, he shares how he has learned not to compare his journey to anybody else’s and what his commitment to continuous learning looks like in action.
About Neel Parekh:
Neel is the founder and CEO of MadeThis, the world’s first and only Airbnb cleaning franchise. Driven by his desire for location freedom, what began as a side hustle is now a thriving business that has generated millions of dollars in revenue. Through the MadeThis Franchise, he helps other entrepreneurs achieve whatever kind of freedom they desire.
Episode highlights:
- In the beginning, you may be able to do everything yourself, but there will come a time when you need to shift from doer to manager, and when that happens, you need to make sure you have a solid team. The key to finding the right people is to leverage your network! (01:06)
- The best way to progress is in small, steady steps. Develop an abundance mindset and don’t be afraid of failure; test things out, and if they don’t work, try something else! (03:14)
- Your entrepreneurial journey is unique; everyone has different goals, motivations, and methods. Don’t compare your story to anyone else’s; you are in your own race! (17:56)
- Remember to regularly check in with yourself about whether your actions align with your goals. It’s easy to get caught up in the process, but try to be as mindful of your actions as possible. (20:44)
- Your entrepreneurial journey is lifelong, and as you and your business grow and change, there will be new challenges to face and different skills to improve upon. Commit to continuous learning, and you are far more likely to succeed. (37:40)
Neel’s best advice for entrepreneurs:
“I’m running my own race, and I have my own goals. There’s no point in comparing people because everyone has different motivations.” (18:18)
Connect with Neel:- LinkedIn
- Twitter
- Website
Follow Beyond 8 Figures:- LinkedIn
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47 min - Why You Need A Business Coach to Get Unstuck with Jon Dwoskin, The Jon Dwoskin Experience
Jon Dwoskin has been on the giving and receiving end of many kinds of mentorship, so he is well versed in the reasons why you need a business coach to get unstuck! In this episode, Jon shares why vulnerability is as much of a superpower for entrepreneurs as trusting your intuition is!
About Jon Dwoskin:
Jon Dwoskin is a sought-after coach, mentor, and speaker, committed to assisting C-level executives, managers, salespeople, and professionals from all walks of life. His expertise lies in helping individuals deal with overwhelm, optimize time management, enhance communication skills, and gain deeper insights into human behavior. With an ambitious mission to impact one billion entrepreneurs, Jon is dedicated to empowering others to reach their full potential.
In his transformative book, “The Think Big Movement: Grow your business big. Very Big!“, Jon shares invaluable insights on business growth. Focusing on mindset, overcoming obstacles, and cultivating consistency, this resource becomes a guiding force for readers, encouraging them to shift their paradigm and achieve remarkable growth and success in their businesses.
For a comprehensive book review, check out this page.
Episode highlights:
- Be vulnerable enough to ask for guidance, and trust yourself enough to follow your intuition. By surrounding yourself with trustworthy mentors, you are opening yourself up to the gift of constructive feedback. (06:09)
- Don’t make the mistake of thinking that because somebody is good at their job, they will be a good manager. People need to be trained to be managers, and if you are managing people (or hiring managers), you need to ensure that you (or they) can help people grow to reach their highest potential. (17:43)
- Asking questions is not a downfall. No matter how far along you are on your entrepreneurial journey, you aren’t expected to know it all. Nobody knows everything; we all need an outsider’s perspective every now and then. (19:15)
- Approachable, accessible, and kind; are the three words that underpin Jon’s journey to reaching his goal of helping one billion entrepreneurs! (20:41)
- If you struggle with time management, you are not alone. The good news is that it is a skill that can be improved, and Jon’s time management training course could save you an hour or two every day! (27:05)
Jon’s best advice for entrepreneurs:“Be open for feedback but still trust your gut.” (07:52)
Connect with Jon:- Website
- Twitter
- Email
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Affiliate Disclaimer: Some links in this episode are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Rest assured, we only promote products/services we believe will benefit your entrepreneurial journey.
33 min - Investing for Good with Justin Cochrane, Carbon Streaming
Carbon credits are one of the innovative potential solutions to the climate crisis. Justin Cochrane’s goal is to turn his company, Carbon Streaming, into the world’s largest investor of carbon credits. In this episode, we discuss the process of investing for good, the transitions that Justin has been through on his entrepreneurial journey, and why the people he has surrounded himself with have been integral to the success he has achieved so far!
About Justin Cochrane:
Justin Cochrane has over twenty years of financing and investment experience. He took the learning he acquired from the mining and energy space and is now fully focused on using investments to fight climate change through his ESG-principled company, Carbon Streaming, which provides investors with a way to invest in a low-carbon future.
Episode highlights:
- Being a founder and being a CEO are two very different roles that require very different skill sets, and each comes with its own set of challenges. Don’t assume that because you can do one, you will automatically be able to do the other. (00:37)
- Managing all the elements that make up a business is an almost impossible ask for one person (unless you are willing to be permanently burnt out) so building a team around you for support is essential. (02:19)
- One of the best ways to find quality people who share your vision is through people you trust. Lean on your mentors and advisors; they can help you find the people who will help your company thrive. (06:35)
- As you add more people to your team, your capabilities are enhanced. Allow your vision to evolve as your company grows. Justin’s initial vision was to create a public company in the carbon capture space; now, he wants Carbon Streaming to become the world’s largest investor of carbon credits! (12:11)
- The voluntary carbon industry comprises a diverse range of projects (e.g. carbon capture projects, reforestation projects, and energy projects), and the fight against climate change requires 9 trillion dollars of annual investment. If you are passionate about altering our current climate crisis trajectory, there are so many opportunities at your fingertips. (15:43)
- For Justin, success means knowing that he has created a business that is sustainable in the long term, even when he is no longer at the helm. (33:17)
Justin’s best advice for entrepreneurs:“The mission evolves as the capability of the team evolves.” (14:02)
Connect with Justin:- LinkedIn
- Twitter
- Website
Follow Beyond 8 Figures:- LinkedIn
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32 min - Overcoming Your Financial Fears with Melissa Houston, The Fractional CFO Agency
Although accounting may not seem like the most exciting part of running a business, if you properly understand your finances and take the time to put a financial plan in place, you will be doing yourself an enormous favor. Tune in today to hear Melissa Houston’s take on the importance of overcoming your financial fears and taking control of your finances as an entrepreneur!
About Melissa Houston:
As the founder of The Fractional CFO Agency, Melissa’s ultimate goal is to help business owners understand their businesses’ financial side so they can create more profit and live financially secure lives. She is also the host of the She Means Profit podcast and a columnist for large publications, including Forbes.
Melissa Houston empowers entrepreneurs with her book, “Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Creating a Profitable Business.” This book offers a clear, step-by-step framework and practical insights on money management, equipping readers with the knowledge and tools they need to become financially savvy and achieve business success.
For a comprehensive book review, check out this page.
Episode highlights:
- Most people don’t think of accounting as something that is going to generate revenue, but 82% of businesses fail due to financial mismanagement. To ensure that you don’t become part of this statistic, optimize profit as early as possible by putting sustainable financial management systems in place. (04:53)
- Fear and overwhelm are common emotions that people experience when it comes to looking at their finances. But when you take the emotion out of it, you will unlock the ability to use your money as a tool to your advantage. Your financial information should never be a source of shame. It is just data; treat it as such. (12:20)
- As a business leader, every decision you make has consequences for your bottom line. Knowing your numbers will increase your confidence and ability to make decisions that positively impact your company. (15:10)
- If you want to succeed as an entrepreneur, get clients in the door! There’s no secret to it and no tricks that will get you there faster. Overnight success is a myth; it takes hard work to achieve big goals (15:46)
- “Finance is the backbone of a business.” You’ll be lost if you don’t understand how your business works from a financial standpoint. Success lies in understanding the numbers, so it’s time to get learning! (20:06)
“If you take the emotion out of [your financial information] and you look at it as data, it becomes less fearsome, and you can use the data to your advantage.” (14:20)
Melissa’s best advice for entrepreneurs:
Connect with Melissa:- LinkedIn
- Twitter
- Website
Follow Beyond 8 Figures:- LinkedIn
- Twitter
- Website
Affiliate Disclaimer: Some links in this episode are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Rest assured, we only promote products/services we believe will benefit your entrepreneurial journey.
27 min - Democratizing Entrepreneurship Through Community Building with Jason Wong, Doe Beauty
Through his 8 years of entrepreneurial experience, Jason Wong has come to realize that community building is one of the key drivers of the success of a business. Democratizing your approach to entrepreneurship helps your business stand out from the competition, ensures that your customers stay invested in your product, and allows you to give people what they really want.
About Jason Wong:
Jason has been an entrepreneur since the age of 16, and over the past 8 years, he has built a portfolio of 7-figure and 8-figure eCommerce brands in beauty, food and beverages, home decor, and apparel! Some of these include Doe Beauty, Wonghaus Ventures, and Saucehaus.
Episode highlights:
- Rather than building a business for your customers, build it with them. Democratizing your approach to entrepreneurship will allow you to really tune into what your customers want so that you can give it to them. This will help you stand out from your competition even in a very saturated market! (01:43)
- Nobody enjoys getting bad reviews, but here’s a fresh perspective on them: the people who take the time to give you a low ranking are the ones who really care about your company because they want you to do better! Take all negative comments as constructive criticism! (5:53)
- Creating a community makes people more invested in your business because they are incentivized by the fact that they are building a better product for themselves. Enhance the sustainability of your community by providing things like early access, discount codes, or programs where members can earn money for promoting your products. (07:12)
- Consistency is the key to being a successful entrepreneur. Every now and again you’ll hear about an entrepreneur who rises up and makes millions overnight, but they’re likely to fall just as quickly. Entrepreneurship is a long game, and if you play it right it can be incredibly rewarding in more than just the financial sense. (23:44)
Jason’s best advice for entrepreneurs:
“The people that actually join your Discord group, just like the people who give you one-star reviews, are the people who really give a crap about your company.” (05:53)
Connect with Jason:- LinkedIn
- Twitter
- Website
Follow Beyond 8 Figures:- LinkedIn
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34 min - Fostering Autonomy for Business Growth with Matteo Cervelli, Urania
Matteo’s “People Gardening” concept is about fostering autonomy through creating fertile business environments that are driven by purpose. During this episode, he explains the importance of focusing on company culture, why the best advice he has ever been given is to “be the dumbest in the room,” and the benefits of focusing on incremental improvements.
About Matteo Cervelli:
Matteo Cervelli is the third generation CEO in Urania Group, a $60M B2B manufacturer of components for the modular construction industry. He initially avoided entering his family’s business because of how it limited the time his family spent together. However, after graduating as an industrial engineer, he changed his mind. He is passionate about helping his teammates become the best versions of themselves.
Episode highlights:
- Invest time in developing a company culture that allows people to become the best versions of themselves. This will greatly enhance the efficiency and productivity of your business. (11:52)
- As your company grows, there is huge value in being able to create a resonant system in order to enhance cohesion, reduce friction, and achieve success. (23:11)
- “Be the dumbest in the room.” Always be open to listening to and learning from other people. Your network will be one of the most powerful tools on your entrepreneurial journey. (26:55)
- Don’t try and solve all the problems in the world; there are too many, and you’ll end up not achieving anything substantial. Instead, focus on doing small experiments and trying to improve by 1% every day. (28:13)
- Autonomy enables productivity and scalability. As a leader, it is your job to foster autonomy so that your employees are able to operate at their best, and subsequently help your business operate most effectively. (36:54)
Matteo’s best advice for entrepreneurs:
“Test your ideas faster with small experiments.” (29:38) Don’t try to solve all the world’s problems at once. Choose wisely where you focus your efforts and don’t be afraid of iterating.
Connect with Matteo:- LinkedIn
- Twitter
- Website
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53 min - Maximizing Marketing Power to Create a Thriving Business with Tyson Koska, OnTrajectory
Finance and fun are two words that don’t often find themselves in the same sentence. But Tyson Koska is on a mission to change that through maximizing marketing power, networking, and making his business stand out from the competition. Tune in to hear the valuable insights that he has gained through the founding of OnTrajectory, a personal finance startup.
About Tyson Koska:
Tyson Koska is a software engineer by training and entrepreneur at heart. He knows firsthand the struggles of being in debt and wants to bring financial peace of mind to as many people as possible by providing the world with an easy, accurate approach to financial modeling that doesn’t require a financial advisor.
Episode highlights:
- There comes a time on most entrepreneurs’ journeys where the best thing you can do for your business is to make yourself replaceable. As your business grows, you can’t be everywhere at once so you need to learn to let go of certain elements and empower other people to make important decisions. “Work on your business, rather than in your business.” (01:34)
- Strong relationships are foundational to every successful business. Network, talk to people, host a podcast; do whatever you can to form connections with as many people as possible. (03:42)
- Being a startup in the competitive world of personal finance is an expensive, challenging endeavor. To succeed, you have to stand out. OnTrajectory stands out because they are bringing a fun element to a characteristically un-fun industry. Put effort into thinking about how to make your business unique. (04:40)
- Learn from your current and/or potential customers. You don’t have to come up with every new idea yourself. Let your community guide you to a degree by encouraging their feedback and suggestions (and then take action on them!). (17:05)
- Just because you build a great product, doesn’t mean you’ll have a successful business. Don’t underestimate the importance of marketing. If it’s not your forte, hire someone to do it for you. Don't keep adding features until you know your audience! (30:09)
Tyson’s best advice for entrepreneurs:“The relationships that you make are absolutely foundational and key to any successful business.” (4:03) Form connections with as many people as possible on your entrepreneurial journey, you never know what opportunities may present themselves as a result.
Connect with Tyson:- LinkedIn
- Twitter
- Website
Follow Beyond 8 Figures:- LinkedIn
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38 min - Gain Traction Through Business Mistakes with Roman Beylin, DueDilio
Strategy, at its heart, is about choices. In this episode, Roman Beylin explains trying and failing is the quickest way to gain traction in your business. Rather than overanalyzing your ideas, put them out into the world, allow yourself the space for continuous iteration, and learn on the go!
About Roman Beylin:
Roman Beylin is the founder of DueDilio, an M&A digital marketplace, and the publisher of The Business Inquirer newsletter. The idea for DueDilio arose out of a desire to solve the pain points he experienced when buying and selling companies, and the newsletter is his creative outlet.
Episode highlights:
- Just go for it! Making mistakes is the quickest way to learn. Rather than overanalyzing your ideas, bring them to life, get feedback, and iterate as many times as you need to. (15:18)
- Get comfortable sharing your ideas through newsletters and platforms like Twitter. This will help you to form valuable connections and get feedback on your ideas. It may be uncomfortable at first, but the more you do it the easier it gets. (21:42)
- Creating a product without engaging with customers is a common first-time entrepreneur mistake. In the early stages of your business, focus on market-fit and customer sales first, and building and refinement of the product later. (22:17)
- For Roman, success is all about lifestyle: being able to wake up and feel excited about what he’s going to be doing that day, and helping other people through that. (26:08)
Roman’s best advice for entrepreneurs:
“I think you have to fail a little bit in order to push forward.” (02:53) We learn our biggest lessons through the mistakes that we make.
Connect with Roman:- LinkedIn
- Twitter
- Website
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29 min - Building More Inclusive Business Systems with Hana Mohan, Magic Bell
Creating fair, just, inclusive business systems is Hana Mohan’s ultimate goal, but she is as pragmatic as she is idealistic. In today’s episode, Hana speaks openly about how her transgender identity has shaped her journey as an entrepreneur, why she doesn’t believe in a product-led approach, and the importance of focus and continuous learning.
She also shares her thoughts on bootstrapping versus capital raising approaches (both of which she has done herself). As Hana knows from personal and business experience, growth can be very painful in the moment but it is worth it in the long term.
About Hana Mohan:
Hana Mohan is the CEO & Co-founder of MagicBell, a plug-and-play notifications inbox aimed at app developers. Prior to this, she founded two other startups: SupportBee and Muziboo. Hana was the first openly transgender woman to go through Y Combinator and she has written extensively on transgender issues and entrepreneurship, covering topics like cis-passing, gender dysphoria, and HRT (hormone replacement therapy).
Episode highlights:
- Don’t just assume that if you have a good product, you will do well. Success comes through focus, so focus on what is important to you and what will take your business forward. (4:04)
- Experience can make people cynical. That’s why there is so much value in maintaining a “beginner’s mind.” Read, listen to podcasts, and spend time with people who you can constantly learn from. (05:14)
- Raising money (as opposed to bootstrapping, which also has its benefits) allows entrepreneurs to expand their horizons. Through the capital raising process, you can gain a better understanding of money, and the more money you have, the more you can achieve. Sell your vision! (11:30)
- There is so much money and so little churn up-market which means it is important to have a dedicated sales team and focus on up-market sales, rather than adopting a product-led approach. (19:56)
- You can’t fight every battle. Dream big but also be pragmatic about what it takes to be successful. (26:40)
Hana’s best advice for entrepreneurs:
“You achieve what you focus on.” (04:04) Don’t assume that just because you have a good product or service, people will buy it. Success comes through being intentional about what you do with your time and energy.
Connect with Hana:- LinkedIn
- Twitter
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44 min
About Beyond 8 Figures
From the publisher's feed
At Beyond 8 Figures, we believe in DELIBERATE entrepreneurship. It means creating a solid foundational framework for your entrepreneurial journey, building from a place of passion, and intentionally aligning your actions with your goals so that you can create success on your terms.
Join A.J. Lawrence, the journeyman entrepreneur with several 7 figure exits, as he shares honest conversations with successful entrepreneurs about their experiences starting and scaling businesses to $10M and beyond, the realities of being a modern-day entrepreneur, advice for practicing deliberate entrepreneurship, and more!