Boiling Point Podcast

WTF – Willing to Fail

 

Introducing Brian Scudamore, 1-800-GOT-JUNK? and O2E Brands

Sometimes great businesses are developed out of necessity, like when you need to make enough extra cash to pay for college. This is the situation that this week’s Boiling Point guest, Brian Scudamore, found himself in and the result is a group of businesses that have revenue of a quarter billion dollars.

Brian is the founder and CEO of O2E brands, a collection of four businesses that focus on home services including: 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, WOW 1 DAY PAINTING, YOU MOVE ME, and SHACK SHINE. When Brian was 18 years old, he needed to find a way to pay for college. He was in his car in the drive thru of a McDonald’s one fateful day when he noticed an old, beat up pickup truck that was hauling junk and thought that would be a great way to pay his way. In his travels he noticed the same type of beat up pickup with junk in the back in every city he went to but there was no brand leading the way. In 27 years, Brian has created that brand by offering exceptional customer service with clean logoed trucks and by giving his franchisees the ability to fail and learn from their mistakes.

Check out this inspiring episode of the Boiling Point to see how you could make the most of your circumstance to create something epic.

 

In this episode

• Greg tells us about his recent visit to Haiti and how his preconceived notions of the country were shattered.
• We meet Brian and get an introduction to his group of businesses.
• We learn what O2E Brands and the meaning of its name.
• Brian tells us how he came up with his business sitting in a drive thru at McDonalds, which led him to clean up a “dirty” industry.
• He also tells us the amazing story of how he was able to obtain the phone number for 1-800-GOT-JUNK?
• We learn what sets Brian’s companies apart from their competition and how he is able to keep the services consistent throughout his franchise network.
• Brian also tells us about the “WTF” culture at his companies and what that truly means.
• We also learn how Brian sees his ADHD as an asset and how he takes inspiration from people like Terry Fox and Rick Hansen.
• Dave is inspired by Brian’s authenticity and his ability to leverage challenges.
• Greg appreciates the exceptional customer service and Brian’s philosophy of being willing to fail and sees it as simple yet innovative.

 

Links

- O2E Brands Website

- 1-800-GOT-JUNK? Website

- 1-800-GOT-JUNK? on Twitter

- WOW 1 DAY PAINTING Website

- YOU MOVE ME Website

- SHACK SHINE Website

- Brian on Facebook

- Brian on Twitter

- Brian on LinkedIn

 

 

 

 

 

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Cutting Through the Noise

 

Introducing JP Shoiry and Republik

If you spend any time on social media it would seem that everyone is out there trying to deliver a message. For those of us who are on the web trying to market a product or a service it can be difficult to cut through the noise so that our post gets noticed. When you need your message to stand out above the rest your best route might be to get advice from someone like today’s Boiling Point guest.

JP Shoiry is the chief of content strategy and a partner at Republik, a digital brand editorial agency specializing in social media, content, and influencer marketing. JP and his partner acquired Republik a little while back and have since repositioned the company toward content and influencer marketing. JP knows that in a world that anyone could potentially be a content marketer in order to cut through the noise you need to be valuable to your audience and you need to understand the type of content you are working with and how best to promote it through the ever-evolving social media landscape.

Check out this episode of the Boiling Point to see how you could strategize to cut through the noise with your marketing effort.

 

In this episode

• Greg calls a wrong number trying to get in touch with JP.
• We learn about Republik’s effort to become a B Corp and what that has done for the company.
• There is a discussion about how B Corps should be totally aligned with Quebecois values and that there will be more B Corps to come from Quebec.
• JP tells us how he learned about B Corps and why it was a fit for Republik.
• He also tells us why becoming a B Corp is the most actionable thing a business can do to act on its intentions and values.
• We learn why Republik’s motto is “real talk”
• Greg asks JP to run through a strategy for promoting his new documentary, City on Fire.
• JP tells us that different social media has different advantages and disadvantages as it comes to marketing and how developing a strategy for promotion before launch is so important.
• JP also tells us about his lessons learned and the differences between acquiring a company and starting fresh.
• Dave admires JP’s passion and his ability to articulate his rich, deep knowledge.
• Greg mentions how content creators often give themselves a hard time for not having all the answers as it relates to distribution, but there are experts, like JP, out there to help.

 

Links

- JP on Twitter

- JP on Facebook

- JP on LinkedIn

- Republik's Website

- Republik on Facebook

- Republik on Twitter

- Republik on Instagram

- Republik on LinkedIn

- BCorporation.net

- City on Fire teaser

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Cooperative Banking

 

Reintroducing Richard Vaillancourt and Omista 

No customer likes to be treated like a number, but no doubt you have experienced a lack of personal service if you have a relationship with many large organizations. It is impersonal with low interaction, often you are left on hold for a number of minutes if you called in, and sometimes the experience is down right unfriendly. If the previous examples sound familiar and it relates to your bank, perhaps you should give a credit union a try. 

Richard Vaillancourt is the CEO of Omista Credit Union in New Brunswick, which manages assets of over $300 million. What sets places like Omista apart from your traditional chartered bank is a focus on community. In fact, Omista keeps all of its activities local and New Brunswick based. Omista’s commitment to community has gone even further by subscribing to a triple bottom line by becoming a B Corp. When you consider that Omista offers a carbon copy of the services offered by traditional banks it makes sense to switch to a financial institution built on a cooperative spirit.

Check out this episode of the Boiling Point to see how the credit union approach could help you and your financial needs.

 

In this episode

• We learn what led Richard from a life of working with the traditional banks to start with credit unions.
• Richard tells us about Omista and what sets it apart.
• We learn what led Omista become a B Corp company.
• Richard tells us it what it means to invest in your community and the themes that guide his credit union.
• We learn what Omista learned by doing the B Corp assessment and how it steered them toward further changes.
• Richard tells us about the efforts he and his employees have made in their community.
• We ask why more people haven’t made the switch to a credit union.
• There is a discussion about the “psychological contract” between employees and their employers.
• Dave would like to see more financial institutions run by those in human resource backgrounds.
• Greg considers switching to Omista because of the B Corp “fraternity”.

 

Links

- Omista's Website

- Omista on Facebook

- Omista on Twitter

- B Corporation Website

- Omista's B Corp Listing

- Richard on LinkedIn

 

 

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Resiliency Rewarded

 

Reintroducing Shawn Smith and Gene Fowler

It has been said that nothing worth doing is easy. Resiliency is an important component of an entrepreneur’s toolkit but it also one of the hardest to maintain. Two former guests that have been able to show resilience in the face of adversity are back with us today to show where their patience and hard work have got them.

Shawn Smith, the founder of Don’t Dis My Ability and Gene Fowler, the founder of Loogaroo Animation and Games struck up quite the friendship not so long ago that ended up helping both of them. For Shawn, Gene’s mentorship and guidance helped him through the start up of his business. In turn, Shawn set up coaching at Gene’s business.

Both men found difficulties navigating their businesses, but have found greener pastures due to their resilience. Shawn has recently been nominated for the Start Up Canada Resilient Entrepreneur Award being presented later this month. While Gene has rebuilt his company from bankruptcy to become the Miramichi Entrepreneur of the Year.

Check out this episode of the Boiling Point to see where resiliency and mentorship could take you or someone else you know.

 

In this episode

• We reconnect with Gene and Shawn.
• We catch Gene as he celebrates his 40th
• Shawn tells us what Gene’s mentorship meant to him and how finding someone who believes in you is so crucial
• Shawn tells us of the great advancements his company has made since he was last on the Boiling Point including being nominated for a prestigious award.
• Greg remembers a time when he was talking with Gene and Gene mentioned that if Greg was in need of assistance to “send out the bat light” and he’d be there.
• Gene believes in mentoring because he wishes he had the same opportunity when he first started out.
• Greg notes that it takes time in order to be a mentor but without mentorship many wouldn’t be in the position they are in today.
• We learn why Shawn ended up thanking those who didn’t believe in him.
• We congratulate Gene on his entrepreneur of the year award.
• Gene tells us why he didn’t bail out of bankruptcy and that he was going to pivot and succeed whether others believed in him or not.
• Gene tells us to stop listening to detractors or focusing in on your competition, but instead to be good at what you do and don’t look up. 

 

Links

- Gene's previous Boiling Point interview

- Shawn's previous Boiling Point interview

- Loogaroo's website

- Don't Dis My Ability's website

- Don't Dis My Ability on Facebook

- Don't Dis My Ability on Twitter

- Loogaroo on Facebook

- Loogaroo on Twitter

 

 

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Get Moving

 

Introducing Matt Forgie and Forfitness & Athletics

Most of us have had that ache in the lower back and many come to the realization that it is probably time to see the chiropractor for a “crack”. However, maybe taking this reactionary stance to pain is the wrong approach. Instead, the better option could be to be proactive and to start moving well. If this is the case, then maybe Matt Forgie is the chiropractor and strength coach for you.

After completing, a degree in organic chemistry and then another degree as a biologist, Matt decided that he wanted a job where he could interact with people on a daily basis. He decided to follow the path of both of his parents to become a chiropractor. However, what makes Matt’s practice different then your typical chiropractor is that he takes a movement based approach that focuses on making your body function is better ways. In the same way we brush our teeth to avoid having to see the dentist more often, Matt’s exercise based approach gets you moving to avoid painful injuries. Matt recently built a gymnasium to do just this in Rothesay, New Brunswick and now works with a diverse group of patients from the elderly to children, and from Olympic athletes to those suffering from paralysis.

Check out this episode of the Boiling Point to see what the new model for physical health can do for you.

 

In this episode

• Greg and Dave talk about City on Fire and the reactions they have heard about it.
• We meet Matt and learn how he went from studying organic chemistry to becoming a chiropractor and strength coach.
• We learn why it is so important to learn how to move well.
• Matt tells us how Forfitness & Athletics changes the game in his industry.
• Matt tells us how his mentors from around the world impact they way he practices.
• We hear why the movement-based approach is similar to brushing our teeth for dental health.
• Greg gets instruction on how to take care of his back when travelling so often.
• We learn about how Matt’s business model encapsulates both fitness and healing.
• There is a discussion on the limitation that we put on ourselves and how our fear impacts our fitness.
• Matt tells us that the mantra of “No Pain, No Gain” is no good.

 

Links

- Matt on Facebook

- Forfitness & Athletics Facebook

- Forfitness & Athletics Website

- Forfitness & Athletics on Twitter 

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Change in Tempo

 

Introducing Dylan Berry and Smash Haus Music Group

One of the industries that have changed quite a bit over the last few decades is the music industry. No longer do we wait in lines at the local record store because for the most part all of these stores have disappeared. Now artists seem to emerge from the Internet to become huge stars and a computer program can replace entire orchestras.

One person who has seen the decline and reemergence of the industry is this week’s Boiling Point guest. Dylan Berry is the owner of Smash Haus Music Group and Filthy Fidgets and the host of Bompop TV, a radio/podcast program focusing on emerging artists. Dylan is an award winning music producer and entertainment entrepreneur whose work spans both artist production and media licensing. His work can be heard on many of your favorite television shows such as American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance. He also does the musical branding for 20 major network channels. Dylan has built a 360-degree media and music production, licensing, and exposure value network in the Hollywood media and entertainment space using technology and community as a tool to create, deploy, and monetize music and media.

Check out this week’s episode of the Boiling Point to get a first hand look at how the music industry has changed and where it is going.

 

In this episode

• We learn how Greg and Dylan first met up.
• We learn about Dylan’s three different companies and how they interact in the industry.
• We learn of the companies that Dylan has helped brand through their unique sound design.
• We also learn a bit about the artists that have worked with Dylan.
• Dylan also lets us in on Bompop, which is like a Boiling Point for the music scene.
• Dylan gives us a breakdown of the destruction and rebuild of the music industry over the last number of years.
• We learn the pros and cons of the music industry as it stands today.
• Dylan tells us how it is easier to become a star today, but it is still difficult.
• We also learn about the industry from the music content in media side.

 

Links

- Dylan on IMDB

- Dylan on LinkedIn

- Dylan on Twitter

- Dylan on Facebook

- Smash Haus Website

- Filthy Fidgits Website

- Bompop TV Website

- Bompop on Twitter

 

 

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Mass Communication

 

Introducing Jim Kokocki and Toastmasters

We all know that effective leaders need also to be effective communicators. However, public speaking can be one of the most prevalent fears out there. In fact, up to 75% of people have some degree of glossophobia. So how does one who wants to be an effective leader learn the skills and ease the anxiety around communication. 

Jim Kokocki is the immediate former president of Toastmasters, a global organization that seeks to improve the speaking skills of its members through exercise and practice. Jim wasn’t always a seasoned speaker though. He remembers a time when he was working in IT and two engineers approached his desk and noted that he was a pretty smart guy but he had nothing to say in company meetings. Through Toastmasters, Jim was able to gain confidence speaking in public and the skills even changed his career path.

Toastmasters isn’t just for those who fear public speaking though. Their clubs also help those who are just not effective communicators, those who can come off as abrasive, those who don’t understand their audience, and those who aren’t effective for many other reasons.

If you are looking to touch up your communication skills this is the episode of the Boiling Point for you.

 

In this episode

• We congratulate Dave on his family’s upcoming “bundle of joy”.
• Jim gives us the background behind Toastmasters and how he became their president.
• We learn what is involved with being the president of this great organization.
• Jim explains why anxiety of public speaking can be a good thing because it shows that you care.
• Greg expands on his experience with Toastmasters and how it helps that you are allowed to fail and encouraged to keep trying.
• We learn what a typical meeting is like.
• We hear of some of the reasons why people join up.
• Jim tells us of an upcoming book titled Keyboard to Keynote, which is tailored for those in the IT industry who wish to enhance their communication skills.
• We hear about some public speaking experiences from Greg, Dave and Jim.

 

Links

- Toastmasters Website

- Jim on Linked In

- Jim's Email

- Jim on Twitter

- Toastmasters on Twitter

 

 

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Local First

 

Introducing Jayne DeMerchant & Scott Williams and Taylor Printing

We have all heard the expression, “buy local.” Many of us make the effort to go local and it often means a better quality product and sometimes means a few extra dollars. However, beyond a few buying decisions how can we encourage local collaboration amongst businesses and a real “union” of local purchasing?

This week’s guests, Scott Williams and Jayne DeMerchant came up with a unique way to encourage business to work together in New Brunswick. Scott and Jayne are executives at Taylor Printing Group in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The printing moniker may be a bit misleading, however, as they are more of a communications company that offers printing as well as web based products, email campaigns, SMS marketing, and much more.

Scott and Jayne are big proponents of supporting local and they came up with an idea to do just that. A few months back, Scott came up with an idea to have a 24 piece puzzle where each piece would correspond with a New Brunswick business but none of the other businesses would know which other businesses were involved. Each business would develop clues to each piece and the group that could decipher the businesses first would win money to donate to a charity of their choice. Not only would this game introduce a number of businesses to each other but it would also give them an opportunity to network with one another, develop relationships, and support a worthy cause. 

Check out this week’s episode of the Boiling Point to see how you can encourage local business working together in your region.

 

In this episode

 

• We reach Scott going through customs and immigration and Jayne is in studio with us.
• We learn about how Jayne and Scott began to work with each other through the Wallace McCain Institute.
• We learn about Taylor Printing and how they have become a leader in Atlantic Canada.
• Scott tells us why he opened Taylor Printing as Atlantic Canada’s first print start-up in 25 years and how it is different than his competition.
• We learn why it is important to Scott and Jayne to support their local community and especially their local businesses.
• We learn about Taylor’s unique puzzle competition.
• Greg talks about the negative and incorrect mythology in Atlantic Canada where we feel that we need outsiders for quality work.
• We are given the secret to a number of companies that took part in the puzzle competition.
• Greg challenges our listeners to figure out strategies to encourage “local first”.
• Dave is inspired by the idea of local companies collaborating for the common good.

 

Links

- Taylor Printing Website

- Scott on Linked In

- Jayne on Linked In

- Wallace McCain Institue

- Millennial Dream

 

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A Culture Designed for All

Introducing Joe Brewer and Evonomics

Looking back through history you could find many examples of capitalism running amuck. There are even recent examples of those with money and power abusing those with less.   This week’s guest sees a massive global change coming and hopes he might be able to inspire a cultural design. 

Joe Brewer is the co-founder and editor of Evonomics magazine, a research director for TheRules.org and a coordinator for the newly forming Cultural Evolution Society. Joe is a complexity researcher and also an evangelist for the field of cultural design and he hopes to see a transition in society to sustainability.

Check out this episode to see why we are where we are in society, how things could change and what that would take in a very interesting episode of the Boiling Point.

 

In this episode

• Greg tells us how he sold his cottage with national exposure by “hacking the system”.
• Greg describes Joe as the ultimate culture hacker.
• Joe tells us how he became interested in cultural design.
• Greg tells us how he and Joe first met.
• Joe tells us why there needs to be an evolution in our current economic system.
• We learn how the model of economics we have now is based on good ideas that were coopted and other stupid assumptions.
• We also hear how certain stories and institutions hold up our system.
• We also learned how an important picture taken decades ago served as an important hack on our stories of separation.
• Joe dives into a time in the evolution of modern economics called the enclosure movement and how this has led us astray.
• We learn how co-ops and b-corps are taking us to a more balanced place.
• We hear how we are at a crux in our culture, which could lead to either a breakdown or a renaissance.
• We also learn that there is a biological basis for empathy and how the simplest culture hack is to just smile at people. 

 

Links

- Joe on Twitter

- Joe on Facebook

- Joe on Linked In

- Joe on Medium

- Evonomics Magazine

- ChangeStrategistForHumanity.com

- TheRules.org

 

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You Can Be That Someone

 Introducing John Harthorne and MassChallenge

 Sometimes you could wait so long for someone else to solve a problem and not even realize that you could be that someone. This week’s Boiling Point guest, John Harthorne had the epiphany that he could be that someone to accelerate start-ups.

John knew for a long time that the prospect of launching a start-up was something he was passionate about. However, after graduating with an MBA at the MIT Sloan School of Management in 2007, he had a student loan to pay off. He decided to take a job as a Strategy Consultant and he would use any hefty bonus cheques to pay off the loan and then dive into a start-up. Unfortunately, when the bonus cheque came, so did the great recession of 2008. Talk about bad timing; the stock market had crashed and it was hard to find capital. John knew the solution to climbing out of the recession would be investments in start-up companies that would create jobs and help build the economy. He wished someone was out there investing in the creative economy, and then he realized maybe he could be that someone.

John has since founded MassChallenge, which is hailed as the most start-up friendly accelerator on the planet by taking no equity, no revenue and having no restrictions. Since inception, MassChallenge has been able to help launch hundreds of start-ups globally which rose over $1.4 billion, generated $475 million in revenues, and created 50,000 jobs.

Check out this episode of the Boiling Point to see if your start-up could qualify for MassChallenge, or to be inspired to be “that someone” to solve a problem.

 

In this episode

• Greg tells us how he met John in India while filming for the Millennial Dream.
• John tells us how MassChallenge is the most start-up friendly accelerator on the planet.
• We learn that the mission of MassChallenge is to empower the creative class globally to extenuate a period of global renaissance and what that means.
• We talk on how the global recession was caused by greed and too many people drawing short-term profit instead of building long-term value.
• John relates this to those who make and eat pie.
• John also talks about how great growth can be found in collaboration.
• We learn how MassChallenge emulated MIT.
• John also tells us about his first steps of launching something like MassChallenge.
• He also tells us how MassChallenge gave him some of his best lessons including how to communicate with the media.

 

Links

- MassChallenge website

- MassChallenge on Twitter

- MassChallenge on Facebook

- MassChallenge on LinkedIn

- John on LinkedIn

- John on Twitter

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