In this episode, Matt Nettleton interviews Stan Collesano, a retired attorney turned business advisor and consultant, shares his journey from law to business, the challenges he faced, and the lessons he learned. He discusses the transition from attorney to business owner, the importance of marketing, and the value of planning and research in starting a business. Stan is a retired attorney and has been coaching and consulting with business owners for the past 15 years.  He has helped start ups, helped turn companies around, prepared them for an exit or sale as well as taken companies from their current situation and allowed them to scale and create 5-6 times their margins.  Although he is local to Indianapolis, he has helped clients around the country.

If you would like to get more information about Stan, you can visit him on linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/stan-collesano-007a5a16/ email him at [email protected] or view his website at www.SLconsultingfirm.com

In this episode, Matt Nettleton interviews Douglas Zabonick, the president of Patriot Engineering and Environmental. Doug joined Patriot in June, 2015 as the leader of the Environmental Practice and was elected President in March 2020. Over the past four years, he has been instrumental in strengthening Patriot's core business while focusing on unifying and building Patriot's team and culture. Before joining Patriot, he was the President of 2 different environmental consulting companies headquartered in Indianapolis. During his career he has provided consulting engineering services throughout the United States and at projects in Brazil – South America and Abu Dhabi – UAE.

Doug resides in Westfield, Indiana with his bride of 42 years, Kathy. He has two married adult sons and three grandchildren under the age of 2 who also live in Westfield.

Patriot Engineering and Environmental, Inc. (Patriot) was founded in 1995 to specifically address the engineering and environmental needs of the development and redevelopment community. Patriot is a private, employee-owned S-Corporation with annual revenue of approximately $35 million and 190 professionals located in 9 offices throughout Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. Patriot has provided services on every Toyota Manufacturing Facility in North America and is currently providing services at Toyota facilities in North Carolina, California, Texas and Mexico.

Patriot specializes in three core service areas: environmental engineering and consulting, geotechnical engineering, and construction materials testing and inspection.

 

Takeaways

Running a technical services business requires a strong focus on core values, financial literacy, and servant leadership.

Transparency and trust are crucial in building a successful company culture.

Understanding the financials of the business is essential for making informed decisions and ensuring profitability.

The power of 'and' should be embraced in business decisions, balancing growth and profitability.

As a business owner, it is important to prioritize the well-being and success of your employees.

You can learn more about Doug on linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglas-zabonick-6483998/ or his company's website https://www.patrioteng.com/ 

Doug is a big reader so his book list is extensive

Beyond Entrepreneurship 2.0 – Jim Collins

Good to Great – Jim Collins

Great by Choice – Jim Collins

Leadership Parable Series – Mark Miller

Smart Leadership – Mark Miller

Uncommon Greatness – Mark Miller

Culture Rules – Mark Miller

Any title by Patrick Lencioni

Scaling Up – Verne Harnish

The Great Game of Business – Jack Stack

Wooden on Leadership – John Wooden

EntreLeadership – Dave Ramsey

The Infinite Game – Simon Sinek

The Lazy CEO – Jim Schleckser

In this episode Matt Nettleton interviews Melahni Ake Founder of LEveryday Leaders. Melahni Ake founded Everyday Leaders a faith based Leadership Development and Business Consulting Company serving developing leaders and teams. Making Everyday Leaders, Inc is her 501C3 to fill a vision and desire in her heart to help others become better leaders through serving youth through community grants, scholarships, and programs.  From her inspirational leadership podcast, leadership consulting company, adding value to school boards, women’s networking events, local chamber ambassador, hosting live events, training, coaching and speaking and writing her 7th book she has built a life to serve others. Her life has literally moved from information to transformation through John Maxwells mentoring and inspiration to become a person of significance in the world using the power of God’s favor in our lives.  

 

You can learn more about Melahni on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/melahni-ake-everydayleaders/ or on Amazon  https://a.co/d/gTqQyXV

In this episode, Matt Nettleton interviews Kyler Mason, the President of Element 3, a marketing firm. With a robust background in digital strategy, media, and consulting, Kyler has held multiple roles within the company. Over the years, he has led key clients to significant successes in business strategy and growth. Kyler continues to drive innovation and strategic development at Element Three. He is dedicated to enhancing client experiences and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Outside of work, Kyler is a busy new dad and an avid learner, exploring interests ranging from real estate to cryptocurrency.

Takeaways

Involving key people in decision-making and delegating responsibilities is crucial for effective leadership.

The responsibilities and pressures of being a business owner are significant, and the weight of decision-making is always present.

Financial literacy and transparency are essential for running a successful business.

Adopting an operating system like EOS can help entrepreneurs stay focused, organized, and disciplined.

Change management is challenging, and involving the entire team in the process is important for successful implementation.

You can find more information about Kyler at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyler-mason/ or at https://elementthree.com

In this episode, Matt Nettleton interviews Amanda Starr, the dedicated owner and CEO of Arise Safety and CPR. With a fervent passion for delivering top-notch CPR and First Aid training, Amanda has made it her mission to provide quality education to the public and organizations throughout Indiana. Over the past two and a half years, she has steered her business to success with the invaluable support of her exceptional team and mentors. When she's not fully engaged in managing her business, Amanda enjoys embracing the great outdoors with her wonderful partner and two children. However, her ultimate relaxation comes from curling up on the couch with a captivating book and her two beloved puppy dogs by her side.

Takeaways

Starting a specialty business requires passion and a deep understanding of the industry.

Financial literacy is crucial for managing the financial aspects of a business.

Finding mentors and resources can provide valuable guidance and support.

Owning a business comes with emotional and mental challenges, but the rewards of making a positive impact on the community are worth it.

You can find more about Amanda at the following links

Linkedin www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-starr-arise-safety

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@arisesafety?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arisesafety

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arise_safety/

Website https://arisesafety.com/

In this episode Matt Nettleton interviews Aric Harris. Aric is the lead designer and developer of 4621 Creative Solutions. Since 2005, he has worked with companies both large and small. Previous clients include PayPal, Angies List, and Peter Sagal. Aric specializes in user-centric design and easy-to-understand persuasive messaging for client projects. Prior to his web career, he was involved in theatre and the service industry, both of which inspire him today. He has had many vocations including baker, chef, stage hand, and set designer. Aric has worked with acts ranging from Manhattan Transfer to Peter, Paul, and Mary, and still looks for more things to cook as he gets older.

People can find more information about Aric at 4621creative.com for my agency, and TikiKitchen.com to see my artwork. They can follow him on instagram.com @4621creative

Here are a few books Aric recommends

Steal like an Artist - Austin Kleon

Creativity Inc. - Amy Wallace and Ed Catmull

The Art of Happiness - His Holiness the Dalai Llama

Frankenstein - Mary Wolstonecraft Shelley

Oxherding Tale - Charles Johnson

In this episode, Matt Nettleton interviews Jimmy Dulin, a long-term client, friend, and competitor in the real estate industry. Jimmy shares his journey from getting into real estate in 1991 to becoming the owner of a brokerage. He discusses the challenges he faced, including being underestimated and lacking financial resources, and how he overcame them through hard work and determination. Jimmy emphasizes the importance of reading, delegating, and focusing on growth. He also advises young entrepreneurs to learn from others and not overestimate the amount of time they have.

 

Takeaways

Don't let others' underestimation or lack of resources discourage you from pursuing your goals.

Read everything and seek advice from experienced individuals to avoid costly mistakes.

Delegate tasks to capable individuals and focus on growing your business.

Maintain cash reserves to navigate through challenging times.

Stay laser-focused on one location or business before expanding.

Take risks and learn from failures while you're young and have more time.

Sound Bites

"I beat to my own drum, always have, and probably always will."

"Make sure you get everything done as it's supposed to because you don't know what today, tomorrow holds."

"Small business owners pay people an awful lot of money to keep them from using their talents."

You can learn more about Jimmy on linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmydulin/ or at his company website http://jimmydulin.com/

In this episode Matt Nettleton interviews Tom Moore.

Tom Moore is the co-founder of American Facility Care.  In addition to being a business owner in central Indiana, he also volunteers his time each weekend as an assistant pastor at a church start-up in Franklin, Indiana.  His co-founder of AFC is his wife, Sarah, together they are raising 3 kids as they enjoy experiencing life through their eyes and seeing them grow.  Tom and Sarah also host 'The Cleaning Indy Podcast' - with a goal to lift all boats of relationships between the vendor/contractor and the facility management team inside the workplace."

 

You can find more information about Tom at CleaningIndy.com - all of our social information is there as well as a way to submit a voice message directly to us. you can also see his profile on linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-moore-0216032b/

 

Tom recommends a few books 

"Never Lose An Employee Again" - Joey Coleman (practical systems for onboard & retention)

"Are We There Yet" - Jeff Allen (overcoming past failures)

"Dream Big" - Bob Goff (Achieving your big dreams and goals)

This week Matt Nettleton Interviews Andrea Homoya.

Andrea Homoya is the founder and CEO of Ash and Elm Cider Company. Listen as she shares her journey of starting and growing a niche micro beverage business. She discusses how her husband's passion for craft beer and their experience with cider in Ireland led them to start a hard cider production company. Andrea emphasizes the importance of learning and adapting in the constantly changing craft beverage industry. She also highlights the value of having a solid business plan and understanding financials. Andrea's key advice for first-time business owners is to know your customers and engage with them through social media.

Keywordsmicro beverage business, niche market, hard cider, craft beverage, business plan, financials, customer engagement, social media

Takeaways

Passion for the product and identifying a niche market are key drivers for starting a micro beverage business.

Having a solid business plan and understanding financials are crucial for the success of a business.

Learning and adapting to the changing industry landscape is essential for growth.

Engaging with customers through social media can provide valuable insights and help build a loyal customer base.

 

you can learn more about Andrea on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-homoya-62b69561/ or at her company's website https://www.ashandelmcider.com/

In this episode, Matt Nettleton interviews Tim Flint, the founder of Flint Analytics. Tim shares his journey of starting and growing a digital marketing business. He started the business after being fired and initially focused on making money by leveraging his skills in data and analytics. Over time, he found a passion for helping companies with multiple locations improve their digital marketing efforts. Tim emphasizes the importance of continuously filling the sales funnel and not getting too distracted by perfect performance. He also highlights the need to enjoy the journey and find a work-life balance.

 

Takeaways

Starting a business after being fired can lead to unexpected success and fulfillment.

Focusing on a niche market, such as multi-location marketing, can differentiate a business and attract the right clients.

Continuously filling the sales funnel is crucial for sustained growth and success.

Enjoying the journey and finding a work-life balance are important for long-term satisfaction and fulfillment as an entrepreneur.

Sound Bites

"I didn't treat it like this was some freelancing project. I always treated it like a business."

"I see an economic opportunity here. I can do this, it will make money."

"Entrepreneurship at the end of the day is just like, you see a need, and you're like, hey, this needs to happen and take place in the world. So let's make it happen."

You can learn more about Tim on linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothyflint/ or at his company website https://flintanalytics.com/ Finally you can learn about Smart Ups at https://smartupsindy.com/