Entrepreneurs Over 40

By Greg MillsBusiness Entrepreneurship Marketing Careers

Entrepreneurs Over 40 episodes

January 03, 2022Ep34 - The Wisdom Of Lise Cartwright, Aaron Walker, Stephen Key, Robert Morales, And Mitche Graf
Episode Thirty Four Features My First 5 Guests Imparting Wisdom and What They Have Learned
My Key Takeaways:
I was extremely lucky to get the following guests as my first five interviews:
Lise Cartwright - Human Design and Kindle Publishing
Aaron Walker - Christian Masterminds
Stephen Key - Product Design and inventRight
Robert Morales - Traveling Robert of YouTube
Mitche Graf - 6 Star Customer Service

In this episode:
Lise Cartwright talks about overcoming the urge to over complicate her business.
Lise Cartwright shares the mindfulness technique that she uses and how she applies it to her life and business.
Aaron Walker shares the saying that his Mom taught him early on.
Aaron Walker espouse that everything is figure-out-able.
Aaron Walker explains the meaning behind the name of his Mastermind, Iron Sharpens Iron and its relationship to the Bible.
Aaron Walker shares why he thinks Masterminds can help us and why he thinks that we are designed to be in community with one another.
Stephen Key related a story about how he didn't know how to create a pattern but soon learned reinforcing the idea that everything is figure-out-able.
Stephen Key shares the story of how Teddy Ruxpin got clothes and what that meant for Worlds Of Wonder's bottom line.
Stephen Key shared the advice that his Dad gave him and how he applied it.
Stephen Key talks about what the word failure means to him.
Robert Morales discusses how an author that died over a century ago still influences him today.
Robert Morales shares how much effort he puts in to each video to make them look amazing.
Robert Morales went on to share how he monetizes each video on YouTube.
Robert Morales encourages us that it is never to late to find your passion and to start pursuing it.
Mitche Graf shares his definition of Work-Life balance.
Mitche Graf goes on to discuss how he learned to brand at an early age and how we can use it to differentiate ourselves from competitors.
Mitche Graf reminds us to spend money on things that will improve the customer experience and not extraneous stuff that we might think that we need.
To learn more about each guest, please check out my first 5 episodes on Entrepreneurs Over 40.
Be sure to hit Subscribe in your podcast app so that you don't miss it or any other episodes.
Show notes and more can be found at EntrepreneursOver40.com
42 min
December 27, 2021Ep33 - April Mitchell Talks About Inventing And Licensing Her Products
Episode Thirty Three Features April Mitchell Talking About Inventing And Licensing Her Products
My Key Takeaways:
April was another inventor who invented a product to solve an issue that she herself was having. By her own admission she probably put too much time and money into her first invention but her subsequent products, along with her involvement with inventRight taught her how to license her ideas.
In this episode April shares:
That she is the proud wife of a Lieutenant Colonel in the USMC and that she is the mother of four children.
That she is a teacher by trade and had no background in inventing or product design experience.
How she comes from a family of Inventors going back to her Great-Grandfather. For her, it didn't seem abnormal to just come up with something
Why she thinks that her first invention, the Towel Belt, will eventually have its day.
The process that she learned where she did not need to spend a lot of money on patents.
That no one cares as much about her product as she does when it comes to selling it to licensees.
How long it typically takes for a deal to get done and one of her products come to market.
Who she targets with in companies to get her product in front of them.
That necessity really is the mother of invention, at least in her case.
What kind of mindset that you need when pitching to companies.
How inventing is truly a family affair in her house and how involved her children are.
How she got to be a coach with inventRight.
The mindset that one needs to be a successful inventor and get your products licensed.
To learn more about April, her website is 4A's Creations (4ascreations.com) and she can be found on LinkedIn, FaceBook, and YouTube as well.
Next week we'll have on La'Quita Monley talking about being a Christian entrepreneur and tools to improve our mindset. I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas and that you will continue to have a safe and Happy New Year. Be sure to hit Subscribe in your podcast app so that you don't miss it or any other episodes.
Show notes and more can be found at EntrepreneursOver40.com
40 min
December 20, 2021Ep32 - Connie Inukai Talks Becoming An Inventor After Retirement
Episode Thirty Two Features Connie Inukai Talking About Becoming An Inventor After Retirement
My Key Takeaways:
Connie was a great guest and another example of someone who invented a product to solve an issue that she herself was having. She hated not being able to see the receipts in dimly lit restaurants so she invented the Tip&Split to overcome that issue.

In this episode Connie shares:
Why she retired from teaching Technical Writing and how it helped her in the creation process.
How her ex husband assisted in the Tip&Split's creation with supplying the drawings as well as the algorithms it used.

How much prior inventing experience that she had.

The benefits of drinking of being in an Inventors Group and how she met Stephen Key.

The manufacturing woes that she had and how it almost cost her a chance to have her product on QVC.

How much excess inventory she had to have for shows like QVC and The View.

That she perceives the market for products geared towards older consumers is underserved.

How she wanted to manufacture her product in America but could not find a suitable electronics manufacturer.

What her new product, Write Your Selfie, is about and how it can improve your families history.

Why she put the Tip&Split on hold during the majority of the Covid-19 pandemic.
To learn more about Connie, her website is Grandmapreneurinventor | Reinventing Yourself in Retirement and she can be found on LinkedIn, FaceBook, and YouTube as well.
Next week we'll have on April Mitchell talking about how she has created multiple products and the processes that she uses to license them. I'd also like to take this opportunity to wish everyone out there a Merry Christmas Be sure to hit subscribe in your podcast app so that you don't miss it or any other episodes.
Show notes and more can be found at EntrepreneursOver40.com
39 min
December 13, 2021Ep31 - Catherine Kirk Invented The Coffee Bullet To Prevent Coffee Filter Collapse
Episode Thirty One Features Catherine Kirk Talking about Her Invention, The Coffee Bullet
My Key Takeaways:
Catherine is a wonderful lady who invented a product to solve an issue that she herself was having. She knew that automatic drip coffee makers make an amazing cup of coffee. She also knew that sometimes the coffee grounds end up in the pot or coffee overflows onto the counter because of coffee filter collapse. She invented the Coffee Bullet to solve her own problem and prevent coffee filter collapse.

In this episode Catherine shares:
That she invented this despite suffering from Lupus and Leukemia and how it gave her something to focus on.
How she broke each individual problem down and solved it despite knowing nothing about Inventing or Product Design.

What Focus means to her.

The surprising health benefits of drinking coffee from a paper filter.

Some of the individuals that she met along her journey that helped bring the Coffee Bullet to the market.

How she would relentlessly research new concepts and ideas related to her invention.

That she had to move on from the first name that she chose for her product and ultimately found a better one.

Why she believes that manufacturing here in the United States has been better for her product than overseas.

How most of her customers are finding her product.

What her next steps are with The Coffee Bullet.
To learn more about Catherine, her website is https://www.coffeefilterfix.com and she can be found on Ebay, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube as well.
Next week we'll have on Connie Inukai talking about her invention, the Tip&Split as well as her online course "Write Your Selfie." Be sure to hit subscribe in your podcast app so that you don't miss it or any other episodes.
Show notes and more can be found at EntrepreneursOver40.com
35 min
December 06, 2021Ep30 - Shawn Moye Talking About His Invention, The E-Sports Trainer
Episode Thirty Features Shawn Moye Talking about His Invention, The E-Sports Trainer and Appearing on America‘s Big Deal.
My Key Takeaways:
Shawn is a great guy and has an invention that could be pretty impactful in the sports training industry. I look forward to watching him on America's Big Deal on the USA Network at 9 pm on Thursday, December 9th.

In this episode Shawn shares:
What his first invention was and how it almost had disastrous consequences.
How his uncle set him up to meet potential investors in a situation that foreshadowed 'Shark Tank'.

The basic truth that he teaches his children about managing others.

How his job as an Operations Manager helps him with his inventing process and what his current company thinks about his passion for inventing.

Why he came up with the idea of the E-Sports Trainer and what it can help someone to accomplish.

His patent search and the help that he received from a dedicated employee at the USPTO office.

How he protected his idea before involving a toy designer to facilitate designing it.

Where he got his initial drawings from.

How he found his initial manufacturer and the process that he went through with them to validate that they were a good fit.

Why he didn't go on Shark Tank and how he will be on the December 9th show of 'America's Big Deal'

What he hopes will happen when he competes.
To learn more about Shawn, his website is
https://www.e-sportstrainer.com and he can be found on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube as well.
Next week we'll have on Catherine Kirk talking about her invention, the Coffee Bullet. Be sure to hit subscribe in your podcast app so that you don't miss it or any other episodes.
Show notes and more can be found at EntrepreneursOver40.com
47 min
November 29, 2021Ep29 - Victoria Wieck of SHOPHQ talking about how she started a 500 Million Dollar Jewelry Business
Episode Twenty Nine Features Victoria Wieck of HSN And SHOPHQ Fame Talking About How She Immigrated To The US And Started A 500 Million Dollar Jewelry Business
My Key Takeaways:
Victoria was a very interesting lady to interview and it was clear from speaking to her that she prioritized time with her family and yet still managed to build a highly successful company.
Victoria's father moved his family to the US so that his daughters would have a much better life than they would in Korea. Upon arriving they found that their assets had been frozen in both countries and they were effectively penniless.
Initially Victoria's English skills were poor so she had to draw out a lot of her questions for her teachers which helped hone her drawing skills.
Her parents worked two or more jobs a day to provide for their family. Victoria being the oldest had to take on an almost parental role with her siblings and help raise them.
Victoria began memorizing words in an English language dictionary to teach herself to speak English as there were no English as a second language programs for her school.
Her parent's prioritized Education and Victoria went on to get and MBA from the University of Southern California even though she didn't particularly like school. She admits now that she had to unlearn a lot of what the MBA program taught her as it was not geared towards small business.
A one and a half hour commute pushed her to begin her own business so that she would have more time with her family.
Victoria leveraged the various international time zones to her advantage so that she could spend more time with her family.
She leaned heavily in to Direct Mail initially and had an incredible conversion rate due to her copywriting skills and personalizing each letter with a hand written drawing.
Victoria has several books due out in 2022 and hosts the Million Dollar Passion Podcast which will support her upcoming book, Million Dollar Hobbies.
To learn more about Victoria, her website is Victoria Wieck | Author, Jewelry Designer & TV Personality - Victoria Wieck and she can be found on LinkedIn and YouTube as well.
Next week we'll have all Sean Moye talking about his invention, the E-Sports Trainer and how it improves muscle memory in sports. Be sure to hit subscribe in your podcast app so that you don't miss it or any other episodes.
Show notes and more can be found at EntrepreneursOver40.com
44 min
November 22, 2021Ep28 - Chris Klesh Talking About How He Retired From AT&T And Helps Families Travel For Pennies On The Dollar
Episode Twenty Eight Features Chris Klesh Talking About How He Retired From AT&T And Helps Families Travel For Pennies On The Dollar!
My Key Takeaways:
Coach Chris promised immediate, actionable tips that would help families save money on travel and frankly, he over-delivered. He is an almost larger than life character that by his own admission loves to talk.
Coach Chris had a long and successful career working for Bell South and then AT&T until he retired. He then went on to travel the world and began accumulating his travel hacks.
It wasn't until so many people started approaching him asking questions about how he traveled affordably that he realized he had a potential business.
Coach Chris firmly believes that the best things in life aren't things at all. They are experiences shared with others.
He also believes that you don't have to be rich to live rich. You just have to know how to beat the system.
He advises that as soon as you know that you want to travel to start booking your trip. The sooner you book, the more money you will save.
Coach Chris also believes that we have ZOOMED past Work From Home (pun intended) and are now in the age of Work From Anywhere.
Coach Chris advises that people maintain a credit score of above 700 and then get the credit cards associated with their airlines or hotels of choice.
Regarding timeshares/vacation clubs, he advises to never buy from the developer and to only buy from individuals. He also went on to state that all of the major hotel chains had their own
For car rentals he uses autoslash.com and recommends that people join a loyalty program, take an Uber away from the airport to their renter of choice to save an extra 15%. If you rent a midsize car you are likely to get a free upgrade to an SUV.
He also advised using COSTCO Travel and AARP for cruises. VacationsToGo.com is a great newsletter for finding deals with cruises.
Johnny Jet | Simplify your Travel -
Families Fly Free Home Page - Samcart (gototravelgal.com) is a good travel blog focusing on travel with SouthWest Airlines.
He also recommended Travelzoo: Deals on Hotels, Flights, Vacations, Cruises & More and ShermansTravel
https://10xtravel.com/ features tools and a free course on travel hacking.
Miles to Memories - Experts in Award Travel - Miles to Memories and TravelPulse: Travel News, Information and Offers also are very good resources.
To learn more about Coach Chris, his website is https://www.lifetimeleisure.net and he can be found on LinkedIn and YouTube as well. He also invited people to call him at (561) 386-2986 to contact him for more information and a 15 minute free consultation. He will also send anyone that emails him at [email protected] a free book with 99 tips for skimping on traveling.
Now next week we'll have on Victoria Wieck talking about how she launched her own jewelry line, became an HSN host, retired and then became a SHOPHQ host while also starting her own podcast and becoming an author. Be sure to hit subscribe in your podcast app so that you don't miss it or any other episodes.
Show notes and more can be found at EntrepreneursOver40.com
49 min
November 15, 2021Ep27 - Dana Knowles Talking About Overcoming Addiction And Inventing
Episode Twenty Seven Features Dana Knowles Talking About Overcoming Her Addictions TO Drugs And Alcohol, Inventing The Shower Caddy, And Becoming The Director Of Inventor Relations At inventRight!
My Key Takeaways:
Dana was very real and very candid in talking about her life which has not always been easy.
Dana started partying at a very early age and became addicted to drugs and alcohol.
While she was and addict she had her own successful cleaning business.
She hit rock bottom in 1997 at age 34 and checked herself in to a Treatment Center.
It wasn't until she was about a year into her recovery that she began to realize the damage that she had done to her family.
She credits hanging around with other successful people that she could emulate to her being able to get her life back together and succeed.
After becoming sober she started a second hand clothing store in West Virginia and then eventually transitioned in to owning a Tuxedo Rental shop.
Dana tried to invent and bring to market 2 other products before reading 'ONE SIMPLE IDEA' by Stephen Key. She took the suggestions from that book and used it to help her launch the Hanging Shower Caddy.
She became an inventRight student, Inventor, and alumni and kept showing up to events. Stephen recognized this and made her the Director of Inventor Relations for inventRight.
To learn more about Dana Knowles, her website is DanaKnowlesInspires.com and she can be found actively posting on LinkedIn.
Now next week we'll have on Chris Klesh talking about how he retired from AT&T and started his company, Lifetime Leisure Experiences to help people maximize their travel experiences while minimizing the cost. Be sure to hit subscribe in your podcast app so that you don't miss it or any other episodes.
Show notes and more can be found at EntrepreneursOver40.com
49 min
November 08, 2021Ep26 - Alan Beckley Talking About His Invention The Wonder Wallet and His Podcast Inventors Helping Inventors
Episode Twenty Six features Alan Beckley Talking About His Invention The Wonder Wallet And His Podcast Inventors Helping Inventors!
My Key Takeaways:
Alan was a great guest and understood well the challenges faced by inventors.
Fun Fact: Alan is learning Mandarin to keep his brain active and engaged as Mandarin is one of the hardest languages to learn.
Another Fun Fact: Alan was born in the Panama Canal Zone
Before becoming an Inventor, Alan was in the Telecom industry as a Project Manager and still has many close friends in it.
Alan said that the role of Project Manager served him well as an Inventor as he has to manage his own product, assigning due dates as well as talk to customers and determine what their needs are.
Alan invented the Wonder Wallet when he realized that Men's wallets were growing bigger with cards and that was causing discomfort and medical issues.
He created the prototypes himself out of swatches of leather and plastic inserts and went through about nine to ten iterations before he was satisfied with the end result.
Alan wanted to license his invention to a wallet manufacturer but struggled to do so as his product really needed to be demonstrated to be understood.
It wasn't until he went on QVC that he had any real success. Because of the short QVC format Alan learned that he had to do the demos in a timely matter.
After he went on QVC Alan licensed the Wonder Wallet to a Direct Response TV company called All Star products that in turn went on to sell in over 10,000 stores and accrue 30 million dollars in sales.
Alan started his podcast, Inventors Helping Inventors, to help provide other Inventors with the information that wasn't readily accessible to him starting out.
Alan advises Inventors to avoid anything too niche and liked both the Pet Industry and Travel Industry in particular. He also advises that your cost should only be about 20% total of your retail price.
He also advises Inventors to do a thorough search to determine that their invention does not already exist before they go too far with moving forward on it. He recommends USPTO.gov, Patents.Google.com and even using a reverse image search on Google as potential tools to vet your idea.
Alan also recommends the Licensing model versus Venturing it out on your own. He recommends LinkedIn for being able to find companies and their officers to prospect to.
To learn more about Alan Beckley, his website is AlanBeckley.com and his podcast, Inventors Helping Inventors is available on all of the major podcast directories.
Now next week, we'll have on Dana Knowles talking about how she overcame addiction to straighten out her life and to invent the Shower Caddy as well as help other Inventors. Be sure to hit subscribe in your podcast app so that you don't miss it or any other episodes.
Show notes and more can be found at EntrepreneursOver40.com
48 min
November 01, 2021Ep25 - Sara Crique Talking About How She Retired And Started Her Online Clothing Business
Episode Twenty Five features Sara Crique Talking About How She Retired From Her Job As A HealthCare Administrator To Start Her Online Clothing Business!
My Key Takeaways:
Sara was a fun guest and understood the challenges faced by older Entrepreneurs.
Sara was originally from the Dominican Republic and is a living example of someone that embraced the American Dream and has achieved a better life.
Sara also credits her immigrant community for helping her get to where she is today by not only helping her but by mentoring her as well.
Sara's number one mentor, though, was her Mother who instilled a tireless work ethic in her.
She originally planned to retire and transition to Training or Staffing but remembered the call of her Mother's advice regarding being a Seamstress.
Sara wants to inspire and empower minority women through her work and her own example. She views fashion as her vehicle or stage that allows her to impart information and knowledge to others.
Her family motivates her to keep moving forward as he wants to leave a legacy of achievement and success to her grandchildren.
Popup shops and markets have been crucial not only in sales but for her to interact with her customers on a deeper level.
Sara acknowledged that she wasn't as proficient early on in Website Design and Social Media and now has teams that help her with those aspects of the job.
Sara loves to design beautiful, comfortable garments and wants people to be able to wear them and afford them. If he makes a little less money because of that she is comfortable with that.
To learn more about Sara Crique, her website is Seams.NYC and she is on ETSY as well with the same name. If you are interested in collaborating with her she can be reached at [email protected] or by cell at (917) 796-4945
Now next week, we'll have on Alan Beckley talking about how he created and licensed the WonderWallet, as well as his podcast, Inventors Helping Inventors. Be sure to hit subscribe in your podcast app so that you don't miss it or any other episodes.
Show notes and more can be found at EntrepreneursOver40.com
33 min

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Entrepreneurs Over 40 features inspiring stories by Entrepreneurs talking about the businesses that they created and the Side Hustles that they launched. New episodes come out every Monday!

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