''Success is the function of happiness'' - Joe.

I am truly inspired by Joe's story, and his perspective of how he is making the world a better place, one day at a time.

In this interview, we discussed:

- Old America vs new America - his worldly view to see the world

- How to do more together and his secret of being happy

- How to overcome hard times and be successful being a first-time entrepreneur

Joe Merrill is a General Partner at Sputnik ATX, investing in companies that seek to improve the world by providing opportunities for individuals to reach their full potential. Sputnik ATX provides seed stage through series B funding and operates an accelerator program in Austin, TX. Prior to Sputnik, Joe was the founder of Pan Am Education, the first blended-online learning system; was a senior director at Apollo Global, a Carlyle Group $1bn joint venture fund with Apollo; and started his professional career as a U.S. diplomat as a Career Member of the U.S. Foreign Service, posted to Washington DC; Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina; Abuja, Nigeria; and Seoul, South Korea. He is a graduate of the University of California, Davis, and earned his M.B.A. in Finance and Economics from the University of Chicago. Josef volunteers as the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Legacy Traditional Schools TX, as a Trustee at the University of Potomac, and as a founding board member of Emma’s Choice and the STEM Academy. His blog about the intersection of economics, entrepreneurship, and international politics can be found at www.econtrepreneur.com or find him on Twitter @Austin_VC.

''The cemetery is the world's most expensive real state, underneath where burry countless dreams and aspirations, whether it is a music album, inventions, and business that never get started. - Dan Janjigian'

In this INNW interview, Dan Janjigian shares his journey about how he accomplishes all the greatness in his life, from athlete, actor, author, entrepreneur, coach and so many more.

Dan's favorite saying -  'It is all about good time' truly inspires me. 'If I would not try this, would I be ok with that?'

In this episode, we discussed:

-How to leverage Warren Edward Buffett exercise to prioritize and maximize your time

- How to overcome fear and sell anything?

- What does Dan learn through competing in the Olympics?

#entrepreneur #entrepreneur #podcast #interview #leadership #music #successtory #overcomechallenges #selfmastery #serialentrepreneur

Currently, a professional coach/trainer, as well as the owner of Gridiron Financial, with offices in Washington, Arizona, and Texas. Dan is also involved outside of traditional markets, co-authoring a book with Jack Canfield (The Soul Of Success (v2)), acting in Hollywood with cult hits at "The Room," and even being portrayed on the big screen with the 2018 Golden Globe-winning film, The Disaster Artist, where he was played by Zac Efron. Dan was also the founder and CEO of SpeedMenu, Inc, a technology company that allows users to order food, drinks, and merchandise from their phones directly onto their tabs. As one of the owners of the popular Hollywood restaurant, Geisha House, which was featured on popular television shows such as MTV’s Punk’d, and HBO’s, Entourage, Dan is probably best known for competing 9 years internationally in bobsledding, taking a Silver Medal in the '05 America's Cup, and as an athlete in the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Games. He's also been involved in several other big and small screen roles including two reality shows, and mainstream films including Seabiscuit and The Longest Yard. He's hosted for Home Shopping Network and QVC, and in 2013 featured on Wheel of Fortune.

As founder and managing director, Jim Denholm created IronBridge to assist clients on their paths to success. Every aspect of IronBridge was developed with a client-first mindset, including financial planning, portfolio management, risk mitigation, customer service and innovative fee structures. Jim has earned numerous awards for helping clients pursue their financial goals. Prior to founding IronBridge, Jim was a Senior Vice President with Wells Fargo Wealth Management, where he managed customized portfolios for high net worth clients. His knowledge and diligence earned him recognition as a Wells Fargo Premier Advisor for each of the past 10 years and a nomination as a Barron’s Top 1000 Advisor. Before joining Wells Fargo Advisors in 2005, Jim was Senior Vice President at JPMorganChase as a Wealth Advisor. He began his career as a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley Dean Witter. Jim has been trading stocks since 1997, and has been advising clients on investment strategies since 2001. Jim brings a unique and distinguishing educational background to his client relationships. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, providing a strong analytical basis for investment management and planning. In addition to his engineering degree, Jim is furthering his education in portfolio management by pursuing advanced certifications in globally recognized, graduate level programs that provides a strong foundation of investment analysis and portfolio management skills. These designations emphasize the highest ethical and professional standards. Jim’s commitment to service also carries over to his involvement with the local Austin community. He currently serves on the board of the Austin Symphony and the Dell Medical Children’s Trust. He has previously served on the boards of the United Way Financial Stability Council and the Downtown Austin YMCA. The Amarillo native and his wife, Melanie, live in Westlake with their two sons, Mac and Patrick, and two very large Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs. They enjoy what Austin has to offer, including live music, spending time on Lake Austin, and trying new restaurants. Away from the office, Jim is an avid golfer and enjoys Texas Longhorns sports. https://www.ironbridge360.com/

'I always want to be the best player, I never want to lose.' - Minh Tran

Minh Tran’s family moved from Vietnam to the US after the Vietnam War. As the youngest of 8, Minh was born and raised in Michigan. As an entrepreneur, Minh has combined his passion for sports and his entrepreneurial spirit and created a rapidly-growing international business called Executive Fan. Executive Fan is an innovative, manufacturing, marketing, and distributing company focused on bringing fans unique products that connect them with their favorite sports teams. The first product on the market is a special type of office, packaging, and duct tape with college logos called Fan Tape. The idea was developed in 2009 by Minh and a few of his friends—all avid sports fans—and they began in a basement, testing samples and working on licensing and market analysis. Their first customer was Meijer, and they have since expanded to major colleagues across the US, as well as pharmacies such as Walgreens. Minh’s advice to young entrepreneurs is to stick with your vision and don’t get off the path. “I started at one of the worst times for businesses and I survived,” said Tran. “If you believe in it, do it.” Minh soon launched Executive Fan into a successful global business and sold it in 2016. Currently, Mihn is the Board President of Leander HS Golf Booster Club and a member of the Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce. He lives in Texas with his wife and his beautiful family.

www.ifnotnowwen.com