INspired INsider Podcast

Mike and Jackie Nakamura are the founders of the Lovely Candy Company. Their journey started when Jackie asked her husband, Mike, to go on a quest for her favorite candy, but it was a special request – it needed to be consciously crafted with select ingredients, as well as gluten-free. What began then evolved into a plethora of delicious family favorite candies.

• [0:40] Mike and Jackie Nakamura join the podcast to talk about Lovely Candy.
• [3:15] How did Mike and Jackie come up with their flavors?
• [5:45] Mike talks about the challenges they've encountered.
• [7:00] Jackie and Mike talk about the proud moments.
• [8:30] Future plans for the Lovely Candy Company.

Do you know someone in your social circle who struggles with dietary restrictions? With all the advancement we've made with sugar-free and dairy free products, there are still many challenges for people who need gluten-free options - especially sweets! On this episode of Inspired Insider, you'll hear from entrepreneurs and innovators, Mike and Jackie Nakamura. In their conversation with Jeremy, the Nakamuras open up about why they started the Lovely Candy Company, how they decide which flavors to bring to the marketplace, challenges they've faced along the way, and much more. Don't miss a minute of this fascinating episode featuring Mike and Jackie's story!

What would you do if someone you love had a special affinity for a candy they no longer can eat due to health challenges? Would you do your best to find new candies for them? Or would you do something crazy like Mike Nakamura did and try to create gluten-free candy from scratch? Mike's efforts might sound crazy but as he tells it - the journey was a blast! What started as an effort to create gluten-free candy at home quickly evolved into a business marketing the gluten-free candy to a larger audience. You can find the link to the Lovely Candy Company in the resources section at the end of this post.

As a business leader, you are likely familiar with the struggle of competing against more established elements in your industry. What do you do in your organization to make your product or service stand out from all the others - especially the big guys? Mike and Jackie worked hard to get retailers and distributors to take a chance on their fledgling business, the Lovely Candy Company. Their primary obstacle was getting these gatekeepers to take a chance on a startup - but perseverance won the day, and they were able to get their product in front of customers. What can you learn from Mike and Jackie's story?

• Lovely Candy Company
• Intro Music by Kidd Russell

Rise25's mission is to connect you with your best referral partners and customers.

We do this in 3 ways…

1. Our Done for you Media - We help your company completely run and launch your own podcast. we distribute your show across more than 11 different channels including a dedicated blog post and social media. You simply show up and talk and we do everything else. Our team has been working with podcasters since 2009. I personally credit podcasting as the single best thing I have done for my business and my life. It has allowed me to connect with the founders/ceo's of P90x, Atari, Einstein Bagels, Mattel, Rx Bars, and many more. Besides making best friends and finding my business partner..podcasting has led to relationships with countless customers and referral partners.

1. Our Done for you Lead Generation- We manually send a consistent flow of customized outreach messages to your ideal clients and referral sources that you want to connect with to generate more business and clients - this is not paid traffic by the way.

1. Our Done for you VIP Events - We do live in-person VIP Days and receptions. These are 100% outsourced VIP days for software companies and conference organizers so we can help you serve your highest level customers. It may or may not involve Elvis costumes - See video

Rise25 VIP Days have a proven track record of helping companies to get more referrals, increase retention with their VIP customers, and get more engaged new customers without adding extra work to that company's plate.

Rise25 has hosted VIP events in cities such as Austin, Chicago, Santa Barbara, San Diego, New York, Sonoma, and Las Vegas to name a few.

Since these each require a lot of humans to do the work we have limited bandwidth and only want to work with the right company. so if any sound interesting to you go to Rise25.com and contact us or email support (at) rise25.com.

If your company wants to attract and connect with your highest level customers and referral partners then you can learn more and contact us to find out if your company qualifies at Rise25.com.

Rise25 was cofounded by Dr. Jeremy Weisz and John Corcoran.

Molly Wilson is the founder of Molly&You, a woman-owned and operated gourmet powerhouse. Today you can find Molly&You beer bread mixes, beer cake mixes, party dip mixes and her hottest sensation – microwave brownie, cake, and muffin mixes for one – in amazing flavors.

• [0:41] Molly Wilson joins the podcast to talk about creating beer bread.
• [2:00] How did Molly get started selling beer bread? Where Molly's drive come from?
• [3:45] What products did Molly create to expand her line?
• [6:00] Molly shares some of the challenges and proud moments along the way.

Let's face it, nothing worth having in life comes easy - this is especially true in business! Playing it safe and hoping for the best is not a sound business strategy. On this episode of Inspired Insider, you'll hear from business leader and entrepreneur Molly Wilson. In her conversation with Jeremy, Molly explains how she got started selling beer bread, the decision that led her to make a bold move, challenges she has faced along the way, and much more. Have pen and paper ready; you don't want to miss a minute of this fascinating episode featuring Molly's story!

Did you know that one of the best ways to set yourself up for success is to learn from someone who has been where you want to go? It's true! Many professional athletes often point to the fact that they studied the athletes they wanted to emulate. It's not that different when it comes to the business world; leaders look to others who have paved the way. For Molly Wilson, that person was her grandfather - she grew up watching him thrive as an entrepreneur and she felt like that was the path for her. What can you learn from Molly's unique story?

You've heard the saying, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained" but do you believe those words? When was the last time you put yourself or your business out there to take a risk? When was the last time you took a bold move in an ambitious direction? The truth is, many business leaders are content with where they are in life but if you find yourself wondering if there is more out there to be gained, you've got to step out of the comfortable! Molly Wilson took a bold move with her business and reached out owners of Hallmark retail chains and made them an offer to put her products in their stores at no risk - if they didn't sell, they wouldn't have to pay. The venture paid off, and Molly's business is thriving today. Learn more about Molly's business by visiting the link to her site located in the resources section.

• www.molly-you.com
• Intro Music by Kidd Russell

Rise25's mission is to connect you with your best referral partners and customers.

We do this in 3 ways…

1. Our Done for you Media - We help your company completely run and launch your own podcast. we distribute your show across more than 11 different channels including a dedicated blog post and social media. You simply show up and talk and we do everything else. Our team has been working with podcasters since 2009. I personally credit podcasting as the single best thing I have done for my business and my life. It has allowed me to connect with the founders/ceo's of P90x, Atari, Einstein Bagels, Mattel, Rx Bars, and many more. Besides making best friends and finding my business partner..podcasting has led to relationships with countless customers and referral partners.

1. Our Done for you Lead Generation- We manually send a consistent flow of customized outreach messages to your ideal clients and referral sources that you want to connect with to generate more business and clients - this is not paid traffic by the way.

1. Our Done for you VIP Events - We do live in-person VIP Days and receptions. These are 100% outsourced VIP days for software companies and conference organizers so we can help you serve your highest level customers. It may or may not involve Elvis costumes - See video

Rise25 VIP Days have a proven track record of helping companies to get more referrals, increase retention with their VIP customers, and get more engaged new customers without adding extra work to that company's plate.

Rise25 has hosted VIP events in cities such as Austin, Chicago, Santa Barbara, San Diego, New York, Sonoma, and Las Vegas to name a few.

Since these each require a lot of humans to do the work we have limited bandwidth and only want to work with the right company. so if any sound interesting to you go to Rise25.com and contact us or email support (at) rise25.com.

If your company wants to attract and connect with your highest level customers and referral partners then you can learn more and contact us to find out if your company qualifies at Rise25.com.

Rise25 was cofounded by Dr. Jeremy Weisz and John Corcoran.

JJ Rademaekers is the founder and CEO of JJ's Sweets. The idea for this company came to JJ in a dream he had one night in 2009. Inspired by the dream, JJ began experimenting with making delicious, natural sweets made from sustainably sourced, organic, healthier ingredients. What started as a candy stand at Boulder's local farmer's market has since grown into a thriving natural candy brand, with Cocomels occupying shelf space in more than 2,000 retailers around the country. In 2014, JJ's Sweets further expanded our reach in the natural candy market with a line of Chocolate Covered Cocomels.

• [0:44] JJ Rademaekers joins the podcast to talk about Cocomel.
• [2:45] What inspired JJ to create a candy business?
• [4:40] JJ talks about the product development process.
• [7:50] Challenges that JJ has faced along the way.
• [9:15] Some proud moments from JJ's journey.

What comes to mind when you think of dairy-free candy? Does it conjure up images of your favourite snack or an image of something found in the diet foods aisle? On this episode of Inspired Insider, you'll hear from entrepreneur and business leader, JJ Rademaekers. In his conversation with Jeremy, JJ explains why he started JJ's Sweets, what led him to focus on dairy-free candy, the development process, challenges they've faced along the way, and much more. You don't want to miss a minute of this fascinating episode featuring JJ's unique story!

Have you ever had a dream so large that you couldn't help but follow it? JJ Rademaekers was minding his own business touring with his band when he had a dream he couldn't shake. In the dream, he saw all kinds of candies that he had never heard of before - when he woke up, he knew that he had to make them a reality. Drawing on his science background, JJ went to work creating and developing a line of dairy-free candy. The dream soon became a reality - today, JJ's Sweets is a thriving business with a ton of potential. You can find a link to JJ's website located in the resources section at the end of this post.

As you've advanced in your career, can you think of a moment when you felt like throwing in the towel? Or are you one of those "Crazy" go-getter types who thrive on challenges? As he began developing JJ's Sweets, JJ Rademaekers found that each step along the way was like peeling back the layers of an onion. The process wasn't easy to develop dairy-free candy, but JJ and his team were up to the task. Eventually, they were able to hone in on a formula that worked well for their packaging and their target market. What can you learn from JJ's story?

• www.Cocomel.com
• Intro Music by Kidd Russell

Rise25's mission is to connect you with your best referral partners and customers.

We do this in 3 ways…

1. Our Done for you Media - We help your company completely run and launch your own podcast. we distribute your show across more than 11 different channels including a dedicated blog post and social media. You simply show up and talk and we do everything else. Our team has been working with podcasters since 2009. I personally credit podcasting as the single best thing I have done for my business and my life. It has allowed me to connect with the founders/ceo's of P90x, Atari, Einstein Bagels, Mattel, Rx Bars, and many more. Besides making best friends and finding my business partner..podcasting has led to relationships with countless customers and referral partners.

1. Our Done for you Lead Generation- We manually send a consistent flow of customized outreach messages to your ideal clients and referral sources that you want to connect with to generate more business and clients - this is not paid traffic by the way.

1. Our Done for you VIP Events - We do live in-person VIP Days and receptions. These are 100% outsourced VIP days for software companies and conference organizers so we can help you serve your highest level customers. It may or may not involve Elvis costumes - See video

Rise25 VIP Days have a proven track record of helping companies to get more referrals, increase retention with their VIP customers, and get more engaged new customers without adding extra work to that company's plate.

Rise25 has hosted VIP events in cities such as Austin, Chicago, Santa Barbara, San Diego, New York, Sonoma, and Las Vegas to name a few.

Since these each require a lot of humans to do the work we have limited bandwidth and only want to work with the right company. so if any sound interesting to you go to Rise25.com and contact us or email support (at) rise25.com.

If your company wants to attract and connect with your highest level customers and referral partners then you can learn more and contact us to find out if your company qualifies at Rise25.com.

Rise25 was cofounded by Dr. Jeremy Weisz and John Corcoran.

Steve Savage, founder and former CEO of Eco-Products Inc, formed 1908 Brands Inc. with the goal of growing it into one of the largest manufacturers of natural and sustainable products in the nation. 1908 marks the year in which Steve's family donated the land that is now the Muir Woods to the US government, the foundation of the family to their ongoing passion for conservation and natural solutions. Under his leadership, Eco-Products won numerous environmental awards. From 2008 to 2011, Eco-Products was named one of INC Magazine's fastest growing businesses.

• [0:44] Steve Savage joins the podcast to talk about Thrive Tribe.
• [3:00] The most popular Thrive Tribe products.
• [4:30] Why does Thrive Tribe create palo-friendly foods?
• [6:10] Steve talks about taking his brand to the international marketplace.
• [7:30] What are some of the challenges that Steve and his brand has faced?
• [10:00] Proud moments from the journey.

When given a choice are you more or less likely to chose the healthy option? The truth is, most people would take a healthy option if it were easy and affordable! On this episode of Inspired Insider, you'll hear from business leader and innovator, Steve Savage. In his conversation with Jeremy, Steve opens up about Thrive Tribe, what some of their most popular products are, how they've taken the brand to the international marketplace, challenges they've faced along the way, and much more. Don't miss a minute of this fascinating episode featuring Steve's story!

Do you find yourself drawn to food and diet fads or do you remain sceptical? Let's face it; the food trends and diet fads are a huge market! There seems to be no shortage of people who are concerned about their health or want to improve it - that makes for good business! Thankfully, brands like Thrive Tribe are out there putting in the time and resources needed to give people healthy options when it comes to snacks and meal staples. If you are ready to take a hard look at your health and what you can do to add better products, make sure to check out the link Thrive Tribe!

As you've built your business, have you ever considered that fact that it could, one day, have a global reach? Most business leaders are so focused on getting their business off of the ground that they never really give the idea of taking their business globally a ton of thought. In today's economic environment, leaders are expected to have a plan in place to take their product or service to international markets. Are you listening to the right voices in the business world? Is it time to start planning for your businesses next move? Take this time to learn from Steve Savage's expert perspective! He's been growing 1908 Brands and even has some products getting placed on shelves in Korea!

• Thrive Tribe
• 1908 Brands
• Intro Music by Kidd Russell

Rise25's mission is to connect you with your best referral partners and customers.

We do this in 3 ways…

1. Our Done for you Media - We help your company completely run and launch your own podcast. we distribute your show across more than 11 different channels including a dedicated blog post and social media. You simply show up and talk and we do everything else. Our team has been working with podcasters since 2009. I personally credit podcasting as the single best thing I have done for my business and my life. It has allowed me to connect with the founders/ceo's of P90x, Atari, Einstein Bagels, Mattel, Rx Bars, and many more. Besides making best friends and finding my business partner..podcasting has led to relationships with countless customers and referral partners.

1. Our Done for you Lead Generation- We manually send a consistent flow of customized outreach messages to your ideal clients and referral sources that you want to connect with to generate more business and clients - this is not paid traffic by the way.

1. Our Done for you VIP Events - We do live in-person VIP Days and receptions. These are 100% outsourced VIP days for software companies and conference organizers so we can help you serve your highest level customers. It may or may not involve Elvis costumes - See video

Rise25 VIP Days have a proven track record of helping companies to get more referrals, increase retention with their VIP customers, and get more engaged new customers without adding extra work to that company's plate.

Rise25 has hosted VIP events in cities such as Austin, Chicago, Santa Barbara, San Diego, New York, Sonoma, and Las Vegas to name a few.

Since these each require a lot of humans to do the work we have limited bandwidth and only want to work with the right company. so if any sound interesting to you go to Rise25.com and contact us or email support (at) rise25.com.

If your company wants to attract and connect with your highest level customers and referral partners then you can learn more and contact us to find out if your company qualifies at Rise25.com.

Rise25 was cofounded by Dr. Jeremy Weisz and John Corcoran.

Bill Bauernfeind is the founder of RedHawk Food Group. RedHawk Food Group is dedicated to providing incredibly delicious and healthy foods to consumers of all ages. Formed in 2014 by experienced food and beverage business leaders and investment, financial and operating managers, RedHawk entered into a long term license agreement with Jamba Juice, Inc. to produce, market and sell a specialized line of Certified Organic, non-GMO fruit snacks that are made with real fruit and provide 100% of the recommended daily value of vitamin C in each serving.

• [0:44] Bill Bauernfeind joins the podcast to talk about Jamba Fruit Snacks.
• [2:15] Bill talks about how they developed the flavors & the partnership with Jamba Juice.
• [4:15] How has this work differed from Bill's work with Safeway and other retailers.
• [5:10] Bill's proudest moment in business.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to connect with a major brand for a strategic partnership? Does that sound like a crazy opportunity that you'd never be able to arrange? It doesn't have to be! On this episode of Inspired Insider, you'll hear from entrepreneur and business leader Bill Bauernfeind. In his conversation with Jeremy, Bill talks about how Jamba Fruit Snacks got started, challenges they faced along the way, how they created a strategic partnership with Jamba Juice, and much more. You don't want to miss a minute of this fascinating episode featuring Bill's story!

What would it take for your business to form a strategic partnership with another brand? Would you even consider that type of an offer or does that relationship lack an appeal to leaders in your industry? For Bill Bauernfeind and his team, partnering with Jamba Juice was a no-brainer. In the health and snack world, Jamba Juice has a huge following and is known as a "Trusted brand." By connecting with Jamba Juice as a marketing partner, Bill was able to leverage their branding to promote a fantastic product. Make sure to visit their website located in the resources section at the end of this post.

One of the most significant challenges for most consumable products is getting the public to take a chance on something new. Think about it, when was the last time you purchased something you've never tried before? Let's face it; people are creatures of habit. To help get their product recognized and in the hands of customers, Bill and his team travel all over the country passing out samples and talking about their product. Their efforts have paid off, and Jamba Fruit Snacks are getting stocked in more and more retail stores. What lessons can you learn from Bill's story?

• Jamba Fruit Snacks
• Intro Music by Kidd Russell

Rise25's mission is to connect you with your best referral partners and customers.

We do this in 3 ways…

1. Our Done for you Media - We help your company completely run and launch your own podcast. we distribute your show across more than 11 different channels including a dedicated blog post and social media. You simply show up and talk and we do everything else. Our team has been working with podcasters since 2009. I personally credit podcasting as the single best thing I have done for my business and my life. It has allowed me to connect with the founders/ceo's of P90x, Atari, Einstein Bagels, Mattel, Rx Bars, and many more. Besides making best friends and finding my business partner..podcasting has led to relationships with countless customers and referral partners.

1. Our Done for you Lead Generation- We manually send a consistent flow of customized outreach messages to your ideal clients and referral sources that you want to connect with to generate more business and clients - this is not paid traffic by the way.

1. Our Done for you VIP Events - We do live in-person VIP Days and receptions. These are 100% outsourced VIP days for software companies and conference organizers so we can help you serve your highest level customers. It may or may not involve Elvis costumes - See video

Rise25 VIP Days have a proven track record of helping companies to get more referrals, increase retention with their VIP customers, and get more engaged new customers without adding extra work to that company's plate.

Rise25 has hosted VIP events in cities such as Austin, Chicago, Santa Barbara, San Diego, New York, Sonoma, and Las Vegas to name a few.

Since these each require a lot of humans to do the work we have limited bandwidth and only want to work with the right company. so if any sound interesting to you go to Rise25.com and contact us or email support (at) rise25.com.

If your company wants to attract and connect with your highest level customers and referral partners then you can learn more and contact us to find out if your company qualifies at Rise25.com.

Rise25 was cofounded by Dr. Jeremy Weisz and John Corcoran.

Dr. Andrew Goldman is the co-founder of Good Day Chocolate. Andrew created the business with his longtime friend and fellow entrepreneur, Simeon Margolis. Good Day Chocolate creates candy-coated chocolate balls that contain taurine — said to boost neurological development — alongside caffeine from green tea extract.

• [0:45] Jeremy introduces his guest, Dr. Andrew Goldman.
• [2:30] What were some of the early Good Day Chocolate products?
• [4:25] Andy shares some milestones they've achieved along the way.
• [5:45] Why it's a good idea to avoid trendy products.
• [6:40] Closing thoughts from Andy and Jeremy.

How do trends and fads start? Is there some secret global group out there that decides and dictates the timing of certain fads? How do you think trends and fads start in your industry? On this episode of Inspired Insider, you'll hear from business leader and innovator, Dr. Andrew Goldman. In his conversation with Jeremy, Andrew opens up about how he started Good Day Chocolate, milestones they've reached along the way, plans for the future, why they don't follow trends and fads, and much more. You don't want to miss a minute of this fascinating episode featuring Andrew's story!

Did you know that everyday experiences and tasks can serve as the inspiration to launch whole industries? It's true! That's exactly what happened when Dr. Andrew Goldman came up with the idea for candy that acts as the vehicle to get health supplements into the hands of children and adults. There were lots of early experiments with Good Day Chocolate products, from lollipops to caramels and eventually landing on chocolate as the best option. Curious about Good Day Chocolate? Make sure to check out the link to their products located in the resources section at the end of this post.

How do you stay ahead of the curve when it comes to trends and fads without seeming like your business is a sell out who goes chasing them? The balance between catering to market demands and striking out on your own path is a tough one to navigate. In some ways, you could accuse Good Day Chocolate of hopping on the health supplements bandwagon, but the fact that they carefully think about and consider how their products will affect their customers is an important distinction. They've found a way to walk that tightrope between trends and what's good for the customer. What can you learn from Good Day Chocolate's story?

• Good Day Chocolate
• Intro Music by Kidd Russell

Rise25's mission is to connect you with your best referral partners and customers.

We do this in 3 ways…

1. Our Done for you Media - We help your company completely run and launch your own podcast. we distribute your show across more than 11 different channels including a dedicated blog post and social media. You simply show up and talk and we do everything else. Our team has been working with podcasters since 2009. I personally credit podcasting as the single best thing I have done for my business and my life. It has allowed me to connect with the founders/ceo's of P90x, Atari, Einstein Bagels, Mattel, Rx Bars, and many more. Besides making best friends and finding my business partner..podcasting has led to relationships with countless customers and referral partners.

1. Our Done for you Lead Generation- We manually send a consistent flow of customized outreach messages to your ideal clients and referral sources that you want to connect with to generate more business and clients - this is not paid traffic by the way.

1. Our Done for you VIP Events - We do live in-person VIP Days and receptions. These are 100% outsourced VIP days for software companies and conference organizers so we can help you serve your highest level customers. It may or may not involve Elvis costumes - See video

Rise25 VIP Days have a proven track record of helping companies to get more referrals, increase retention with their VIP customers, and get more engaged new customers without adding extra work to that company's plate.

Rise25 has hosted VIP events in cities such as Austin, Chicago, Santa Barbara, San Diego, New York, Sonoma, and Las Vegas to name a few.

Since these each require a lot of humans to do the work we have limited bandwidth and only want to work with the right company. so if any sound interesting to you go to Rise25.com and contact us or email support (at) rise25.com.

If your company wants to attract and connect with your highest level customers and referral partners then you can learn more and contact us to find out if your company qualifies at Rise25.com.

Rise25 was cofounded by Dr. Jeremy Weisz and John Corcoran.

Anthony Constantino is the co-founder of Sticker Mule; one of the most popular custom sticker websites with printing operations in the United States and Europe. Stickermule is the easiest and fastest ways to buy custom printed products. You can order in simply 60 seconds and they turn your design or illustrations into custom stickers, magnets, buttons, labels and packaging in a few days. Their customers have included Amazon, Nike, Google, Facebook, Netflix and many more.

• [1:50] Jeremy introduces his guest, Anthony Constantino.
• [4:45] Why does Sticker Mule allow small batch orders?
• [10:00] Anthony talks about connecting with GitHub.
• [12:30] Learning from customer feedback.
• [14:00] Anticipating customer needs.
• [16:00] An obsession with simplicity.
• [19:15] How did Anthony meet his business partner? What is that relationship like?
• [26:00] Anthony talks about how he sets his priorities and how they recruit employees.
• [29:10] Where did the name, Sticker Mule come from?
• [32:40] What has been the hardest position to hire for?
• [38:00] Anthony shares his approach to giving bonuses and why they went international.
• [41:10] Creating a healthy work culture.
• [43:30] What did Anthony learn from this time wrestling?
• [50:00] What motivates Anthony?
• [52:45] The lowest moment in Anthony's career.
• [56:00] Anthony shares a proud moment in his career.

What does it look like to create a business with the objective of anticipating customer needs before they voice them? How would that impact customer service? On this episode of Inspired Insider, you'll hear from entrepreneur and innovator Anthony Constantino. In his conversation with Jeremy, Anthony explains why he started Sticker Mule, how he met his business partner, what the work culture is like at Sticker Mule, lessons he has learned along the way, and much more. Don't miss this great opportunity to learn from a seasoned business leader like Anthony!

If you wanted to build a business, where would you start brainstorming ideas? Would you go with something that is super popular and trendy or would you go with something more mundane? How long do you think it would take for you to land on the idea of creating stickers? If you are like most people, that would be WAY down on the list! Anthony and his business partner were determined to make a splash in the ecommerce marketing space, and they decided a business producing promotional stickers was the way to go. They weren't wrong! Today Sticker Mule is known as a thriving and successful business. What can you learn from their story?

When was the last time you felt like a business anticipated your needs as a customer? These are the businesses that make using their site or their product an absolute dream. Would your customers say that about your business? At Sticker Mule, the concept of a friction-free customer experience didn't just materialize out of the blue; it started from the top! Anthony is passionate about making his customer's experience a pleasant one. You can see Anthony's passion played out in the clean and functional layout of Sicker Mule's website. Could it be time to rethink your customer's experience with your organization?

How do business partners come to going into business together? Some attend business school together, others have a chance meeting, and then there are those who have known each other for decades. Anthony has known his business partner for many years; in fact, they met because he was Anthony's father's friend. It just goes to show you that you never know how the people you meet and the people already in your life can contribute to your future plans. Where have you met key business associates and partners in your career?

What are the central values and principles of your company? We all know that there is a difference between written or stated values and the actual values of an organization, rarely are they the same. From the sound of it, at Sticker Mule values like humility and diligence remain at the forefront because of their leader, Anthony Constantino. Anthony describes the work culture as very humble, logical, and independent. He loves the fact that he doesn't have to do too much handholding, his team gets his direction and his vision and runs with it. How do the company values play out in your business?

• To get 10 custom stickers for $1 Go to https://www.stickermule.com/inspired
• GitHub
• Intro Music by Kidd Russell

Rise25's mission is to connect you with your best referral partners and customers.

We do this in 3 ways…

1. Our Done for you Media - We help your company completely run and launch your own podcast. we distribute your show across more than 11 different channels including a dedicated blog post and social media. You simply show up and talk and we do everything else. Our team has been working with podcasters since 2009. I personally credit podcasting as the single best thing I have done for my business and my life. It has allowed me to connect with the founders/ceo's of P90x, Atari, Einstein Bagels, Mattel, Rx Bars, and many more. Besides making best friends and finding my business partner..podcasting has led to relationships with countless customers and referral partners.

1. Our Done for you Lead Generation- We manually send a consistent flow of customized outreach messages to your ideal clients and referral sources that you want to connect with to generate more business and clients - this is not paid traffic by the way.

1. Our Done for you VIP Events - We do live in-person VIP Days and receptions. These are 100% outsourced VIP days for software companies and conference organizers so we can help you serve your highest level customers. It may or may not involve Elvis costumes - See video

Rise25 VIP Days have a proven track record of helping companies to get more referrals, increase retention with their VIP customers, and get more engaged new customers without adding extra work to that company's plate.

Rise25 has hosted VIP events in cities such as Austin, Chicago, Santa Barbara, San Diego, New York, Sonoma, and Las Vegas to name a few.

Since these each require a lot of humans to do the work we have limited bandwidth and only want to work with the right company. so if any sound interesting to you go to Rise25.com and contact us or email support (at) rise25.com.

If your company wants to attract and connect with your highest level customers and referral partners then you can learn more and contact us to find out if your company qualifies at Rise25.com.

Rise25 was cofounded by Dr. Jeremy Weisz and John Corcoran.

Dr. John and Debra Bruinsma are the founders of Dr. John's Healthy Sweets. In 1995, Dr. John while leaving his dental office for the day and grabbed a sugar-free lollipop to enjoy on the ride home. That lollipop didn't even make it to the door before being thrown out. He thought, "We give these to our patients?" There had to be a better alternative! From there he went on a mission to develop the best tasting, sugar-free candy and Dr. John's was born!

• [0:45] Jeremy welcomes his guests, Dr. John and Debra Bruinsma.
• [3:00] Why the Bruinsma's decided to add Xylitol to their product.
• [5:00] Some of the challenges they've faced along the way.
• [6:45] What was it like to have a product featured on Good Morning America?
• [9:45] John and Debra talk about what it is like working together.

Wouldn't it be nice to have your cake and eat it too? If that cake or sweet snack is healthy too, then all the better! On this episode of Inspired Insider, you'll hear from entrepreneurs and innovators John and Debra Bruinsma. In their conversation with Jeremy, the Bruinsma's explain how they came up with the idea for healthy sweets, why they decided to add Xylitol to their product, lessons they've learned along the way, what it is like working with their spouse, and much more! Don't miss a minute of this fascinating episode featuring John and Debra's story!

After years of handing out sub-par, sugar-free, sweet snacks to patients at his dental office, Dr. John Bruinsma felt like it was time for a change. John and his wife, Debra went to work creating a sweet, sugar-free alternative that kids and adults would love. Dr. John's started out with great tasting sugar-free lollipops, solely for the dental industry. They've since expanded their operation and became their own suppliers back in 2013. You can learn more about the amazing products they feature at Dr. John's by visiting their website located in the resources section.

It's one thing to build a startup from the ground up but its another thing entirely to start and run a business with your spouse! How do you think you'd do in that situation? Would you and your spouse make for good business partners? Thankfully, John and Debra Bruinsma had a wonderful working relationship and had similar passions and opposite yet complimentary skill sets. They will be the first people to tell you that building a business with your spouse isn't easy, but it is possible! What can you learn from John and Debra's story?

• Dr. John's
• Intro Music by Kidd Russell

Rise25's mission is to connect you with your best referral partners and customers.

We do this in 3 ways…

1. Our Done for you Media - We help your company completely run and launch your own podcast. we distribute your show across more than 11 different channels including a dedicated blog post and social media. You simply show up and talk and we do everything else. Our team has been working with podcasters since 2009. I personally credit podcasting as the single best thing I have done for my business and my life. It has allowed me to connect with the founders/ceo's of P90x, Atari, Einstein Bagels, Mattel, Rx Bars, and many more. Besides making best friends and finding my business partner..podcasting has led to relationships with countless customers and referral partners.

1. Our Done for you Lead Generation- We manually send a consistent flow of customized outreach messages to your ideal clients and referral sources that you want to connect with to generate more business and clients - this is not paid traffic by the way.

1. Our Done for you VIP Events - We do live in-person VIP Days and receptions. These are 100% outsourced VIP days for software companies and conference organizers so we can help you serve your highest level customers. It may or may not involve Elvis costumes - See video

Rise25 VIP Days have a proven track record of helping companies to get more referrals, increase retention with their VIP customers, and get more engaged new customers without adding extra work to that company's plate.

Rise25 has hosted VIP events in cities such as Austin, Chicago, Santa Barbara, San Diego, New York, Sonoma, and Las Vegas to name a few.

Since these each require a lot of humans to do the work we have limited bandwidth and only want to work with the right company. so if any sound interesting to you go to Rise25.com and contact us or email support (at) rise25.com.

If your company wants to attract and connect with your highest level customers and referral partners then you can learn more and contact us to find out if your company qualifies at Rise25.com.

Rise25 was cofounded by Dr. Jeremy Weisz and John Corcoran.

Sayan Sarkar is a serial entrepreneur and the founder of the health supplement brand, InvigorateNOW Health Sciences. He is also the creator of Sark Media Direct, a direct marketing consultancy that specializes in helping entrepreneurs grow to seven figures and beyond in the health, e-commerce, and consulting agency industries. Sayan helps combine cutting edge online marketing strategies with traditional direct response marketing. He's worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Martha Stewart, Organifi, Zenith Labs, and more.

• [3:45] Jeremy introduces his guest, Sayan Sarkar.
• [6:30] What is the Star Story Solution?
• [8:40] Sayan talks about his early career.
• [11:00] How learning to copy write helped turn things around for Sayan.
• [15:50] Sayan talks about working with Martha Stewart.
• [20:45] Why using the word, "Free" can help your message work.
• [23:40] A common mistake that many direct mail advertisers make.
• [28:45] Should you sell your product on Amazon? How Sayan's sales funnels work.
• [34:00] Addressing specific pain points.
• [36:00] A great idea that Sayan hasn't taken action on.
• [39:45] Advice that Sayan has for agencies that are looking to scale.
• [43:45] Sayan talks about a big mistake he made early on and how he fixed it.
• [45:45] A reciprocal swap that Sayan created.
• [53:10] Sayan talks about the lowest moment in his career.
• [55:30] How losing 75 pounds helped Sayan gain self-confidence.
• [59:00] When did Sayan end up quitting his finance job? What systems did he put in place in his business?

What is the marketing strategy for your organization? Have you used direct marketing efforts before? How can your business market in a way that stands out from the rest of the competition in your industry? On this episode of Inspired Insider, you'll hear from business leader and entrepreneur, Sayan Sarkar. In his conversation with Jeremy, Sayan opens up about how he got started with direct marketing, what it was like working with Martha Stewart, lessons he has learned along the way, and much more. Don't miss a minute of this fascinating episode featuring Sayan's story!

Are you looking for ways to communicate the story and unique appeal of your product or service? Have you ever heard of the star story solution? According to Sayan Sarkar, some of the most successful ads of all time centres on a star or hero that people can relate to. Then the ad will proceed to tell the story of the hero as they confront an issue or challenge in their life. Ultimately, the ad ends with the hero discovering an answer to the problem they've been trying to solve. This whole formula is called the star story solution. Have you seen effective use of this formula?

Can you imagine blowing through $20,000 in your first year of a startup with nothing to show for it in terms of sales and revenue? Sounds like a nightmare, right? How in the world do you come back from such a rocky start? Thankfully, Sayan Sarkar was able to discover the one thing holding his business back, copywriting. As he looks back at his career, Sayan points to the moment when he learned how to write sales copy as the moment when things turned around for his business. No one came along to hold Sayan's hand and walk him through the process; he had to learn on his own!

Did you know that by simply including the word, "Free" in your ad or offer you could see your conversion rates spike? It's true! While there are no guarantees, after years of research and experience in the direct marketing industry, Sayan is convinced that this approach works. Including the word, "Free" is not a magic bullet! You have to use that word effectively, and you have to make your offer appealing. Don't assume that if you can win customers over with an ad campaign alone, you've got to deliver on the goods!

Are the days of direct marketing through the mail over? One might be led to think so with the rise of Google Ads and various social media advertisement options, but they'd be wrong! The truth is, people still respond to direct marketing efforts through the mail today. Do you have to do things differently than you would for your online audience? Yes, but the results are worth it! Don't assume that your audience won't respond to direct marketing; too many businesses are doing that. For more insights on how to market your business, make sure to connect with Sayan by visiting the link to his site located in the resources section at the end of this post.

• Sark Media Direct
• Esther Kiss
• Think and Grow Rich
• Psycho-Cybernetics
• The 4-Hour Body
• For bigger companies - https://sarkmediadirect.com/8-figures (or the direct to article version - https://sarkmediadirect.com/steps-to-8-figures)
• For newer companies - https://sarkmediadirect.com/case-study (or the direct to article version - https://sarkmediadirect.com/6-steps)
• Intro Music by Kidd Russell

Rise25's mission is to connect you with your best referral partners and customers.

We do this in 3 ways…

1. Our Done for you Media - We help your company completely run and launch your own podcast. we distribute your show across more than 11 different channels including a dedicated blog post and social media. You simply show up and talk and we do everything else. Our team has been working with podcasters since 2009. I personally credit podcasting as the single best thing I have done for my business and my life. It has allowed me to connect with the founders/ceo's of P90x, Atari, Einstein Bagels, Mattel, Rx Bars, and many more. Besides making best friends and finding my business partner..podcasting has led to relationships with countless customers and referral partners.

1. Our Done for you Lead Generation- We manually send a consistent flow of customized outreach messages to your ideal clients and referral sources that you want to connect with to generate more business and clients - this is not paid traffic by the way.

1. Our Done for you VIP Events - We do live in-person VIP Days and receptions. These are 100% outsourced VIP days for software companies and conference organizers so we can help you serve your highest level customers. It may or may not involve Elvis costumes - See video

Rise25 VIP Days have a proven track record of helping companies to get more referrals, increase retention with their VIP customers, and get more engaged new customers without adding extra work to that company's plate.

Rise25 has hosted VIP events in cities such as Austin, Chicago, Santa Barbara, San Diego, New York, Sonoma, and Las Vegas to name a few.

Since these each require a lot of humans to do the work we have limited bandwidth and only want to work with the right company. so if any sound interesting to you go to Rise25.com and contact us or email support (at) rise25.com.

If your company wants to attract and connect with your highest level customers and referral partners then you can learn more and contact us to find out if your company qualifies at Rise25.com.

Rise25 was cofounded by Dr. Jeremy Weisz and John Corcoran.

Tom and Eric Healy are the father and son team behind The No Bake Cookie Co and AvoLov Avocado Chips. AvoLov's chips are made from real hass avocados, dried to a crisp and seasoned to perfection. The No-Bake Cookie Company is based in Bend, Oregon, the lifelong home of founder, Carol Healy. Both Carol and her husband Tom grew up in the small community located in the heart of Oregon, at the base of the Cascade Mountains.

• [0:45] Tom Healy joins Jeremy to talk about The No-Bake Cookie.
• [2:10] Who was the first customer? How did they expand production?
• [3:30] Tom talks about getting The No-Bake Cookie featured on QVC.
• [4:00] Tom's son, Eric joins Jeremy to talk about Avocado Chips.
• [6:15] Where can you find Avocado Chips? What is Eric proud of from the journey?

Remember when the days when the things you snacked on were made from simple ingredients? These days, there's no telling what number of lab-grown chemicals and ingredients are used in the snacks we feed our kids and ourselves! What is the solution? On this episode of Inspired Insider, you'll hear from both Tom and Eric Healy. In their conversation with Jeremy, Tom and Eric talk about how they got their business off of the ground, what it took to develop their snacks made with simple ingredients, and much more. Don't miss this wonderful opportunity to learn from Tom and Eric's fascinating story!

When you start a new company, one of the biggest fears is how will you find an audience for your product or service. Where would you start if you had to start tomorrow? How would you bring in customers or distributors for your product? Tom Healy was convinced that he had something special the No Bake Cookie he and his wife created. After reaching out to several distributors and wondering which one would bite on the no-bake cookie, they were thrilled to hear Nordstrom would carry the cookies at their Espresso Coffee Bars. What can you learn from Tom's story and his success with Nordstrom?

Did you know that Avocado chips are notoriously difficult to turn into chips? Think about it; avocados are a very finicky fruit with a smooth and creamy texture. The significant challenge of turning avocados into chips didn't deter Eric Healy; he had the vision for a healthy snack with simple ingredients. After numerous trials and tests, Eric and his team were able to successfully create their product, AvoLov Avocado Chips. When they unveiled the end result at Exo West, Eric was amazed at the overwhelmingly positive response from the public. Make sure to learn more about AvoLove Avocado Chips and The No-Bake Cookie Co through their websites located in the resources section at the end of this post.

• Avocado Chips
• The No-Bake Cookie Co
• Intro Music by Kidd Russell

Rise25's mission is to connect you with your best referral partners and customers.

We do this in 3 ways…

1. Our Done for you Media - We help your company completely run and launch your own podcast. we distribute your show across more than 11 different channels including a dedicated blog post and social media. You simply show up and talk and we do everything else. Our team has been working with podcasters since 2009. I personally credit podcasting as the single best thing I have done for my business and my life. It has allowed me to connect with the founders/ceo's of P90x, Atari, Einstein Bagels, Mattel, Rx Bars, and many more. Besides making best friends and finding my business partner..podcasting has led to relationships with countless customers and referral partners.

1. Our Done for you Lead Generation- We manually send a consistent flow of customized outreach messages to your ideal clients and referral sources that you want to connect with to generate more business and clients - this is not paid traffic by the way.

1. Our Done for you VIP Events - We do live in-person VIP Days and receptions. These are 100% outsourced VIP days for software companies and conference organizers so we can help you serve your highest level customers. It may or may not involve Elvis costumes - See video

Rise25 VIP Days have a proven track record of helping companies to get more referrals, increase retention with their VIP customers, and get more engaged new customers without adding extra work to that company's plate.

Rise25 has hosted VIP events in cities such as Austin, Chicago, Santa Barbara, San Diego, New York, Sonoma, and Las Vegas to name a few.

Since these each require a lot of humans to do the work we have limited bandwidth and only want to work with the right company. so if any sound interesting to you go to Rise25.com and contact us or email support (at) rise25.com.

If your company wants to attract and connect with your highest level customers and referral partners then you can learn more and contact us to find out if your company qualifies at Rise25.com.

Rise25 was cofounded by Dr. Jeremy Weisz and John Corcoran.