Business Blindspots

James welcomes Megan Linder to talk about the integration of venture capital in the health tech sector. Throughout the conversation, they discuss the complexities and nuances of navigating this highly regulated industry that accounts for 20% of the US GDP.

Megan talks about how venture capital's risk-taking approach contrasts with healthcare's cautious, regulation-heavy nature, discussing the differing timelines and methodologies involved. They also talk about how personal experiences with healthcare can profoundly inform and enhance one’s impact in the venture capital landscape and why venture capital can align business owners with experienced clinicians and a marketing team that understands healthcare’s unique challenges.

They also cover the ethical considerations of investment, and the potential of venture capital to substantially improve patient outcomes while achieving financial stability for health systems, especially in the post-COVID era. Megan talks about her educational pursuits and personal motivations in the venture capital field, the significance of patient experience, and the need for innovative care models that prioritize value-based care.

Key Topics:

• Growth of venture capital in health tech
• Contrast between venture capital and healthcare regulation
• Influence of personal healthcare experiences on venture capital strategies
• Importance of clinician involvement and specialized marketing teams
• Challenges of implementing health tech solutions
• Transparency and ethics in venture capital
• Impact of venture capital on healthcare system improvements
• Success stories in health tech venture capital
• Advice for selecting venture capital partners
• Career paths in venture capital

What are some of your biggest lessons you learned?

James welcomes Rachel Miller, Co-Founder of PageWheel.ai. She shares her personal journey from teaching to learning the world of online marketing and then leveraging her knowledge to build her own technology company.

Rachel gets candid about her experiences with a large team walking out, and the lessons she learned from that painful moment. She shares what led her to her AI software company, detailing its evolution from concept to market. Rachel also touches on her investment strategies, including an interest in purchasing a mushroom farm, highlighting her approach to diversifying her portfolio to ensure financial stability.

James and Rachel also talk about the practical use of AI in business, particularly in content creation. James questions the ethical implications of AI content for individuals trying to create perceived expertise, while Rachel offers transparency on her management strategies and her evolving customer service model.

For more information on PageWheel.ai, visit: https://pagewheel.com/expert

Key Topics:

• Rachel's journey from teacher to business leader
• The aftermath of a team walkout
• Page Wheel software development and rebranding
• Investment strategies and diversification
• AI technology in content creation
• List building for insurance agents
• Ethical concerns about AI-generated content
• Profit and loss management
• Membership model for customer service
• Impact of influencer culture on entrepreneurship

In this episode of Business Blindspots, James welcomes Chris Bova, former Recon Marine, CIA Contractor, and Director of Business Development at Staccato Ranch.

Chris shares his journey from the adrenaline-fueled battles of Marine Recon to the operations of the CIA, finding his way in civilian life, and eventually connecting to his purpose through Staccato Ranch. Chris gets candid about his personal battles, from facing the loss of a comrade to overcoming the vices that once controlled him.

James and Chris discuss themes of abundance, the pitfalls of social media, and the transformational power of discipline and stoicism. Chris also talks about harnessing these philosophies to reinvent himself and how he now assists others in doing the same, emphasizing the sustenance provided by clean eating and strong mentorship ties.

Chris gets candid about the successes, struggles, and lessons that define true leadership and personal growth.

Episode Breakdown:

• Discussing his journey into the military
• How his challenging military deployment turned into prideful achievement
• Stories of enduring physical and mental challenges, resisting quitting.
• How different military branches have distinct leadership structures
• Life after the Marines
• Realizing one's limitations after the military
• Learning lessons the hard way through burning bridges
• New, seeking alignment, diverse work experiences and gratitude
• Changing perspective is the battle in life
• Ambassador for We Defy, promoting jiu-jitsu.
• Focus on self-improvement, not comparing to others.
• Understanding the power of dedication

How does the grit and determination to become a professional athlete translate into the real world?

In this episode of Business Blindsports, James welcomes Major League Pitcher, Logan Verrett to talk about his journey of not being the best throughout most of his childhood, to digging in and winning a World Series ring.

Logan talks about his constant drive for resilience, dedication, and mental fortitude. He discusses why, although, he wasn't an athlete where everything came to him natural, he took his love for baseball and decided not making it to pros wasn't going to be an option.

Logan shares his journey including stories from his season in Korea, navigating cultural differences while enjoying the local hospitality and cuisine. He also shares insights into the mental game of baseball, the importance of a positive team environment, and how these experiences have shaped his business acumen in real estate. Logan also discusses some lighter moments from his career, including quirky pregame rituals and locker-room antics, and he offers his perspective on social media trends and their impact on mental toughness.

To connect with Logan, you can visit him at: https://www.compass.com/agents/logan-verrett/

Episode Breakdown:

• Logan shares his journey into his love for baseball
• Logan discusses his experience and his season in Korea
• Did Logan think he would make it to the pros right away?
• Why playing other sports was so crucial to his success
• When baseball really clicked for him
• Why children who excel at a really young age can hit problems later on
• Why athletes struggle with mental toughness despite talent
• Why Logan took on a Mentor role for aspiring players in baseball
• Why it's so natural for players to move into coaching
• Why clubhouse camaraderie is essential for lasting in baseball
• How supporting other's success can improve your own
• Building mental resilience requires incredible drive
• Mentorship and hard work lead to success
• Player pregame rituals

Imagine cashing the last of your savings just to make ends meet. What would you do with those life lessons?

James welcomes guest Bezan Morris, who shares his journey from a former Naval Academy graduate to finding his way in Corporate America.

Bezan shares his revelations about the near rock-bottom experience of cashing in savings bonds for basic needs after a rough job and getting caught up keeping up with the Joneses, and how his path not only had challenges but also significant transitions, such as his shift from working with prominent names like Amazon and Chewy.com to embracing a career where he now leverages his experience to guide others financially.

Throughout their talk, James and Bezan touch on the importance of stepping outside one's comfort zone, overcoming ego, the perils of rushing success, and the pressing need to reconnect with present responsibilities over chasing future aspirations.

To connect with Bezan, you can visit: https://www.raymondjames.com/volitionadvisory

Key Discussions:

Support systems for veterans, and the importance of finding mentors

• Personal Financial Pitfalls and Insights
• Career Evolution and Defining Life Changes
• Leadership Philosophy and Team Dynamics
• Attitude Towards Success and Ego
• Impact of Culture and Social Media on Career Perspectives
• Personal Struggles and Resilience
• Leveraging Military Leadership Experience to Corporate America

In this episode of Business Blindsports, we're venturing into the often-overlooked world of mineral rights with Blake Harris, a seasoned oil and gas entrepreneur with a transformative career story.

Blake shares how his journey began in the heart of Texas, where his early career as a landman and a turn of events in the oil industry sparked his ambition to own and operate in the mineral rights sector. Blake shares how his first deal didn't go at all as anticipated. However, instead of causing him to back out of the industry, he dug deeper, figured out what went wrong, and mitigated the risks in his second deal so it didn't happen again.

They also discuss Blake's evolution from short-term transactions to embracing a more robust, long-term investment philosophy, exhibiting the patience and passion it takes to build a lasting business and now fund in the oil and gas sector.

Key Topics:

• How Blake started as a Pumper in an oil field
• A Landman's role in US mineral rights ownership
• How the Landman secures leases, company lays off workers
• The first oil deal that fell apart
• Understanding what went wrong in the first deal
• Anticipated drill schedule not met, revenue affected
• How the first opportunity lead to learning opportunities and self-discovery
• Why Blake Became obsessed with owning oil and gas
• Stories about some of the sellers
• Diverse property owners impact mineral buyers' challenges
• Why Mineral owners are advised never to sell their minerals
• How to make decisions based on economic value added

Have you struggled with imposter syndrome when growing your business? Unfortunately, it's something every entrepreneur has to learn to overcome in order to achieve success.

In this episode of Business Blindsports, James is joined by Genius House Media co-owner Colleen Fischer. They talk about Colleen's decision to build a company with her husband in media production. They discuss how they were able to leverage a big client to help take that leap, but how they had to find their footing and their niche when it became time to grow.

Colleen shares her journey as an entrepreneur, from navigating imposter syndrome and logistical challenges in the early years of her business to finding success in storytelling and technical skills. She also discusses what it's been like growing a company with your spouse and what has worked for them in being able to build an incredible relationship, all while building a successful business.

To connect with Colleen, visit: https://www.geniushousemedia.com/

Episode Highlights:

• How Colleen was able to land a big client immediately
• Moving to growth after figuring out her niche
• Struggling with imposture syndrome
• Adding storytelling to their toolbox
• The challenges of building a business with your spouse
• Small business with long-term partners and creating efficient operations
• Learning to accept the changing landscape of entrepreneurship
• How finding peace of mind helped her move forward
• Occasional reading for inspiration, not continuous consumption
• Inspiring videos that helped her connect to her why
• Considering options for future company growth and competition
• Why starting a business requires a solid plan

Building a team for your company should never be just about giving away equity.

In this episode of Business Blindspots, James welcomes Christ Botvidson, Founder of Fuel and Spark Media. Chris shares his story of growing his company and deciding, after a great business relationship with a customer, to bring on one of the guys as a 50/50 partner. He talks about how, even though the two are still on good terms, breaking up and taking back ownership was difficult.

He also talks about what he would have done differently, plus more twists and turns of building his company.

To find out more about Chris' company, visit: https://www.fuelandspark.com/

Episode Highlights:

• Starting out on his entrepreneurial journey
• Building business, partnership, friendship, and growth.
• Facing unexpected business challenges.
• Successful 50/50 partnership and how they resolved differences
• Struggling to make the right profit but then burning out
• Communicate respectfully and listen to understand emotions
• Managing diverse services, high-profile clients, and professionalism.
• How he financed a business development person
• Why he pivoted to a social media advertising company
• How Chris persisted despite challenges, hustled to create content
• How Goldman Sach's 10K Program had a huge impact
• The hardships of finding the right salespeople

How do you deal with adversity?

In this episode of Business Blindspots, James welcomes former Dallas Cowboy, Jameill Showers.

Jameill shares his stories of how he had to deal with major adversity several times in his life. The first time was when he lost his starting role at A&M to Johnny Manziel and had to transfer schools. 

Jameill also opens up about their time playing for the Cowboys and how it was a dream come true for them as their family hails from Texas. However, the transition to civilian life proved to be tougher than expected, with a hamstring injury and the onset of COVID-19 exacerbating the challenges. Jameill talked about why he considered various career paths, including strength conditioning and obtaining a real estate license, but eventually found themselves in a managerial position in medical device sales. However, he ended up finding his true passion in real estate, and talks about his journey making another big career move.

Notable moments:

• Discussing the Johnny Manziel situation at Texas A&M and why he ended up having to move schools
• Overcoming challenges, finding guidance, and betting on himself
• A&M game, senior year success, and getting NFL attention.
• Playing for the Cowboys and struggling as a quarterback
• Why moving to defense in the pros proved to be challenging
• Why the combination of an Injured hamstring and COVID changed everything
• Transitioning to a new role, adapting football skills
• How the University of YouTube helped to set him up for business success
• Struggling with long hours and limited family time in a new career
• Missed real estate opportunity, and the gratitude for savings and football
• Adversity is a stepping stone to success
• Moving to real estate professional without experience
• Why now he embraces his faith