INspired INsider Podcast

Nathan Resnick is a sourcing pro and the founder of Sourcify. He has built multiple ecommerce companies, 7-figure Kickstarter projects, and speaks fluent Mandarin. Sourcify is the fastest growing sourcing platform backed by YCombinator that helps hundreds of companies manufacture products around the world. Nathan even managed to get a cease and desist from Connor McGregor, yes, the UFC competitor.

• [1:15] Jeremy introduces his guest, Nathan Resnick.
• [2:20] Learning from mistakes made.
• [5:00] Nathan talks about visiting China.
• [8:30] How transparency sets Sourcify apart.
• [14:00] Nathan shares a customer success story.
• [17:00] How ecommerce sellers should choose a product to sell.
• [21:00] The danger of relying on a single source.
• [24:10] How extending a product line can help a brand thrive.
• [27:10] Products that Nathan and his team stay away from.
• [31:00] How do Nathan and his team deal with copycats?
• [34:15] Nathan talks about his experience with Y Combinator.
• [37:20] Some of the feedback Nathan and his team have received.
• [41:45] A low moment in business for Nathan.
• [47:40] Nathan talks about milestones he's proud of.
• [50:00] How did Nathan get a cease and desist letter from Connor McGregor?

Too often people take the concept of transparency for granted. From politicians they elect to the phone bill they pay, everyone wants transparency, but many times it is the last thing a business is willing to give its clients. On this episode of Inspired Insider, you'll hear from entrepreneur and innovator Nathan Resnick. In his conversation with Jeremy, Nathan opens up about how he started Sourcify, learning from the mistakes he made, why it's important for ecommerce sellers to diversify their product sources, how sellers should choose their products, what it was like participating with Y Combinator, and so much more! You don't want to miss this fascinating and informative episode featuring Nathan!

Do you realize how rare it is to hear a business owner lead with the value of transparency? Time and time again, businesses take advantage of customers just because they can. In an increasingly global marketplace, the company that stands out will be the ones that treat value and respect their customers. Leading that charge in the product sourcing sector is Nathan Resnick and his business, Sourcify. At Sourcify, they pride themselves as, "Enterprise sourcing with built-in adaptability and transparency." While it may not be easy, this approach seems to be resonating with many ecommerce sellers. What is the primary value for your organization?

One of the most frustrating roadblocks that a business leader can face is a lack of options. What would it look like if there were more options to chose from in your business sector? Ecommerce sellers have been limited when it comes to sourcing for years. As supply has shifted from the US to overseas, this aspect of ecommerce business has become increasingly complicated. Is there a solution in the marketplace to cut through this complexity? Nathan and his team at Sourcify are working hard to help sellers send their production needs directly to their factories. That means no more delays due to communication issues with sourcing agents or time spent internally finding a factory. Hearing from Nathan, you get the sense that he is passionate about solving problems for as many ecommerce sellers as possible.

What do you do with the mistakes and challenges you've faced in your career? Do you run and hide from them and never consider them again or do you learn from them, grow, and move forward? For Nathan Resnick, reflecting on mistakes and challenges seems to be something that he is comfortable doing. As he looks back to his early career, Nathan can quickly point to an error he had made but was able to turn it around into a positive quickly. Unfortunately, every mistake can't be so quickly corrected, but the opportunity to learn from our mistakes is always present. What can you learn from Nathan's story?

When was the last time you took advantage of a fantastic opportunity to try something new, professionally? As you advance in your career, those opportunities will become few and far between, make sure you take advantage now! Nathan Resnick jumped at the chance when he found out he was invited to present his business to the folks at Y Combinator. Taking full advantage of this amazing opportunity ended up securing critical funding for Sourcify in its early stages of growth. Don't wait for the perfect moment to come and knock on your door, go out and seize the day!

• Sourcify's website
• GoFundMe
• Y Combinator
• DropBox
• How I Built This
• Michael Dell
• Connor McGregor
• Shopify
• MVMT Watches
• Flexport
• Original Grain
• Intro Music by Kidd Russell

Rise25 creates 100% outsourced VIP days for software companies and conference organizers to serve their highest level customers.

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 partners and collaborates with entrepreneur-focused communities, with particular emphasis on creating events for high volume Amazon sellers, Walmart sellers, multichannel ecommerce sellers, and founders who want to take their business to the next level.

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.

If your company appreciates the value of bringing your highest level customers together to connect and collaborate, 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.

Ryan Lee is the founder of REWIND and the Superfood bar. The company can be found on rewindtoday.com - Ryan has over twenty-two years in the health and fitness industry (Master's Degree in Exercise Physiology, Created the world's fastest workout video, etc). Anyone who follows Ryan knows he is obsessed with living a good and healthy life with his wife and four kids at the forefront.

• [1:20] Jeremy introduces his guest, Ryan Lee.
• [2:40] Ryan talks about his marketing efforts.
• [5:15] Why isn't the Rewind Bar available on Amazon?
• [8:45] The value of nurturing long-term relationships.
• [10:30] What is next for REWIND?

Should you play to your strengths or focus on shoring up your weaknesses? How will you respond to this question both personally and professionally? Why would you take a different approach between the two? On this episode of Inspired Insider, you'll hear from entrepreneur and innovator Ryan Lee. In his conversation with Jeremy, Ryan opens up about Rewind's marketing efforts, why they don't feature their product on Amazon, the value of nurturing long-term relationships, and much more! Don't miss a minute of this engaging episode featuring Ryan and Rewind!

Too often leaders are told that they need to focus on their weaknesses and shore those up. Is that always the best strategy? When should you decide to start playing to your strengths? For Ryan Lee, the answer was simple, do what his business needed him to do. Rewind thrives on connecting people to a story and message that takes them beyond their stellar product. That's why Ryan is hitting the pavement and the airwaves to share their story and get out the message. While he knows that he needs to pay attention to his shortcomings, Ryan is out there playing hard to his strengths and its working! What can you learn from Ryan's story?

Not only do leaders need to play to their strengths, so do organizations! You wouldn't' have a mom and pop store spending insane amounts of money for an ad spot during the Super Bowl, would you? There comes a time when each organization needs to dig deep and come to terms with whey the excel and where they fall short. At Rewind, they know that the strength of their business is steady growth and personal connections. Why would they give that advantage up to get their product carried by Amazon and other retailers? By playing to their strengths, Rewind is focusing on long-term success, not just short-term gains. What is your business' strategy when it comes to strengths and weaknesses?

• Check out the Rewind website
• Rewind on Facebook
• Rewind on Instagram
• Intro Music by Kidd Russell

Rise25 creates 100% outsourced VIP days for software companies and conference organizers to serve their highest level customers.

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 partners and collaborates with entrepreneur-focused communities, with particular emphasis on creating events for high volume Amazon sellers, Walmart sellers, multichannel ecommerce sellers, and founders who want to take their business to the next level.

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.

If your company appreciates the value of bringing your highest level customers together to connect and collaborate, 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.

Co-founders of SafeSleeve, Cary Subel and Alaey Kumar are both industrial engineers from Cal Poly. SafeSleeve is a manufacturer of radiation blocking laptop and phone cases and accessories. Their distribution includes major retailers in the U.S, on Amazon, walmart.com, jet.com along with SafeSleeve's website and distributors in Europe, Australia, and Singapore. What started with a laptop and one cell phone (iPhone) case, has expanded into cases for nearly all mobile devices as the company boasts more than 100 products and is expanding to screen protectors and car mounts. SafeSleeve's revenue more than doubled and sales are at about 3,000 units per month, up from 500 two years ago. SafeSleeve's products have reached more than 40 countries, and they are looking to expand to the Middle East.

• [1:12] Jeremy introduces his guests, Carey Subel & Alaey Kumar.
• [2:30] What are the scientific findings around cell phone radiation?
• [8:15] Cell phones actually have warnings to keep them off of your body.
• [10:15] Alaey talks about how the idea for the SafeSleeve came about.
• [13:30] How long did it take to get the product dialed in and crowdfunded?
• [18:00] Lessons learned from crowdfunding a product.
• [21:20] What made the guys expand their line of products?
• [27:00] How has the product evolved over the years?
• [30:30] The sales process and getting the product out there.
• [33:00] Apps the guys like to use from Shopify.
• [36:30] Cary and Alaey talk about their childhood.
• [40:10] What are the future plans for SafeSleeve?
• [42:30] Low moments in business.
• [45:15] A significant milestone worth celebrating.
• [49:45] Alaey shares a low moment and a high moment on his journey.
• [51:30] Unique challenges of running a business as co-founders and business partners.

Did you know that the very thing that most people wake up to in the morning could be killing them? It's true! Cell phones, tablets, and other electronic devices emit harmful radiation that we don't even think about. On this episode of Inspired Insider, you'll hear from Cary Subel and Alaey Kumar as they explain how SafeSleeve is providing affordable solutions for this silent killer. In their conversation with Jeremy, the guys open up about how they got the business started, what the product development process was like, challenges they've faced, plans for the future, and much more! Don't miss a minute of this powerful and engaging episode featuring Cary and Aley from SafeSleeve!

If you found out that you were unknowingly exposing you and your loved ones to the constant risk of cancer, wouldn't you do something about it? For too long the public has turned a blind eye to rumors and warnings about the dangerous use of electronic devices and the health hazards they can cause. Now, we have the latest news on this subject from the National Toxicology Program that determined the effects in rats and mice from exposure to radio-frequency (RF) radiation from cell phones. Researchers found increased rates of cancer in male rats exposed to cell phone radiation. Providing a viable solution, SafeSleeve developed an FCC accredited lab tested shielding technology that can block over 99% of RF and 92% of ELF radiation.

You really never know where inspiration and creativity will lead you. One minute you might be daydreaming or just mindlessly thinking of something one of your parents said and the next you could be starting a business around that idea. Does that sound crazy? It's not! That is exactly what happened for Cary and Alaey when they came up with the idea for SafeSleeve. The guys had a friend who's dad was a neurologist and would constantly remind them that they shouldn't keep their electronic devices close to their body. With that idea knocking around in their head, they went to see if there were any solutions on the marketplace to address this very serious concern. When they couldn't find any good solutions, they decided to take matters into their own hands. What can you learn from Cary and Alaey's story?

Finding the right idea to build a business off of is one thing, turning that idea into a marketable product is a whole different process entirely. Cary and Alaey knew that they wanted to bring the public a solution to harmful radio-frequency radiation but they had no idea where to start. Setting out on the journey, the guys had to cast a wide net contacting supplier after supplier until they found the right one that they could trust. Once they connected with the right supplier, the guys were confident that their concept would resonate with the public.

When you build an organization from the ground up, in many ways it's like raising a child. Once that child is old enough to be away from its parents, you've got to find a responsible individual who you can trust them with. The same is true when it comes to a startup! Bringing on that first team member can be as nerve wrecking as finding the right babysitter. Thankfully, Cary and Alaey struck gold when they made their first hire and brought someone on who could take over the operations side of the business without missing a beat. What role will be your company's next hire?

• SafeSleeve Use discount code: Rise25 for 25% off of your order.
• SafeSleeve on Facebook
• SafeSleeve on Instagram
• Shopify
• Kickstarter
• SkuVault
• Intro Music by Kidd Russell

Dan Meadors is a co-founder of The Wholesale Formula with Eric Lambert. They began selling on Amazon as a hobby with an original investment of only $600. They worked nights and weekends buying products on clearance at local retail stores and selling them on Amazon for a profit. It only took a few months before they saw the potential to turn this hobby into a business as they both left their day jobs to sell on Amazon full-time. Since then they have been able to generate over $20,000,000 in sales on Amazon. Dan and Eric have developed their own unique system to take advantage of wholesale opportunities called The Wholesale Formula.

• [1:25] Jeremy introduces his guest, Dan Meadors.
• [2:30] What is the difference between branded and unbranded wholesale?
• [4:30] Feedback from using The Wholesale Formula.
• [8:20] Dan opens up about challenges they've faced along the way.
• [11:45] The proudest moment in business for Dan.
• [13:45] How to connect with Dan and The Wholesale Formula.

Have you ever stopped to think about how your efforts impact and influence other business leaders? Are you actively giving back and helping the next generation of leaders in your industry? On this episode of Inspired Insider, you'll hear from innovator and business leader, Dan Meadors. In his conversation with Jeremy, Dan opens up about the feedback he's received about The Wholesale Formula, why he loves equipping business leaders to do what they love, challenges they've faced along the way, and much more! Don't miss a minute of this powerful episode featuring Dan and the story behind The Wholesale Formula!

One of the most amazing privileges you can have as a business leader is to influence the lives of other people. For Dan Meadors and his team at The Wholesale Formula, it's not just a privilege, it's their business model! The Wholesale Formula is a step-by-step process that shows ecommerce sellers exactly how to take advantage of wholesale opportunities on Amazon the same way Dan & Eric have to build their multi-million dollar business. Dan and Eric are passionate about helping others start their own business because they know how freeing it can be!

What do you do when everything you've planned for comes crashing down around you? Do you give up and throw in the towel or do you learn from those challenges and bounce back? Dan and Eric faced a significant challenge early on in their business when they invested all of their funds into a product that failed. Scrambling, the guys had to find a way to keep a bad situation from tanking their whole operation. Thankfully they were able to find a solution that kept them in business and living to fight another day. Dealing with this challenge had a profound impact on Dan and has shaped the way he views risk and success. What can you learn from Dan's story?

• The Wholesale Formula
• The Wholesale Formula on Facebook
• The Wholesale Formula on Twitter
• The Wholesale Formula Blog
• Intro Music by Kidd Russell

Rise25 creates 100% outsourced VIP days for software companies and conference organizers to serve their highest level customers.

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 partners and collaborates with entrepreneur-focused communities, with particular emphasis on creating events for high volume Amazon sellers, Walmart sellers, multichannel ecommerce sellers, and founders who want to take their business to the next level.

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.

If your company appreciates the value of bringing your highest level customers together to connect and collaborate, 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.

Habib Salo is the CEO of Young Nails. They have been serving the nail care industry for over 20 years. Habib and Greg (Habib's older brother) run the business and their mom decided to start her own business at the age of 49. She had a passion for the nail industry and they did everything to support her. Greg, the older brother, became a licensed nail technician after switching gears from firefighter training. Habib took a detour from medical school and a life in music. Young Nails Inc., is a professional nail care manufacturing company exporting to over 40 countries worldwide and distributing domestically to over 3000 stores.

• [1:40] Jeremy introduces his guest, Habib Salo.
• [4:00] Reinventing the business & focusing on social media engagement.
• [9:30] What causes Young Nails videos to get high views?
• [13:30] Who is the Young Nails audience?
• [15:30] Getting products into Trade Shows and Salons.
• [18:00] How Habib's mom started the business.
• [24:00] Early challenges in the business.
• [26:30] How Habib got involved in the business.
• [31:15] What caused the business to head in the right direction?
• [33:45] Milestones reached along the way.
• [36:40] Building the brand.
• [40:15] What are the future plans for Habib and Young Nails?
• [43:00] Why Young Nails manufactures their own products.
• [44:15] How staying connected to social media helps Habib stay on top of trends.
• [45:20] Habib talks about how he connected with Azriel Ratz.
• [48:45] Low moments faced along the way.
• [52:20] What is driving Habib on his journey?

What does it take to shake up a stagnant industry and lead with social media engagement? How do you ensure long-term success for your business while keeping an eye on reinventing your brand? On this episode of Inspired Insider, you'll hear from business leaders and innovator Habib Salo. In his conversation with Jeremy, Habib opens up about how Young Nails got started, challenges they've faced as the business has grown, important milestones reached, why they pivoted toward social media engagement, and so much more! Don't miss a minute of this powerful episode featuring Habib Salo's journey with Young Nails!

Have you ever had a moment in your career where you thought things were going one way but you ended up needing to make a pivot? How did you handle that shift? What challenges arose from it? For Habib Salo, the shift came when his mother and brother came to him and asked him to join them in their professional nail care manufacturing company. Making the shift from a career as a musician to nail care wasn't the most seamless transition but looking back Habib is thrilled how things turned out. What can you learn from Habib's story?

In addition to making a personal shift from what he thought he'd be doing to running a nail care business, Habib Salo had to help the business shift from traditional outreach to social media engagement. The gambit paid off and now the organization has a thriving presence on both Facebook and YouTube. He and his brother have found a sizeable following with their fun and entertaining YouTube channel, YoungNailsInc. Due to their social media success, the guys are even considering how to expand their reach by using a podcast focused on nail care. Their experience goes to show that when you make the risk to change, sometimes it really pays off!

Let's face it, no amount of success comes without a degree of challenges along the way. What challenges have you come across on your journey so far? Habib Salo and his family struggled with their nail care business for many years before things started heading in the right direction. From wrestling with massive debt to dealing with a business partner who stole funds, Young Nails endured more than most. Through all of the early turmoil, the organization continued moving forward because of Habib's mother, was convinced that business would eventually be worth all the difficulty they faced.

As a business leader, you can't afford to just keep things stable, at some point, you have to be prepared to push the envelope. Too often businesses who were once poised at the top of their industry end up crashing down because they failed to make necessary changes, just ask Sears. It takes a lot of planning, risk, and boldness for a company to go beyond the comfortable and do what is necessary to really thrive. Habib and his family knew that if they wanted to not just keep the lights on but really carve out a name for themselves in the industry, that they'd need to shake things up. Following this attitude, they've rolled out some amazing products and approaches that have connected with their audience because they've kept up with a robust social media engagement. How will your business stay competitive?

• Young Nails
• Young Nails on YouTube
• Young Nails on Facebook
• Young Nails on Twitter
• Vayner Media's 4ds
• Gary Vaynerchuk
• Ratz Pack Media
• Intro Music by Kidd Russell

Rise25 creates 100% outsourced VIP days for software companies and conference organizers to serve their highest level customers.

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 partners and collaborates with entrepreneur-focused communities, with particular emphasis on creating events for high volume Amazon sellers, Walmart sellers, multichannel ecommerce sellers, and founders who want to take their business to the next level.

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.

If your company appreciates the value of bringing your highest level customers together to connect and collaborate, 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.

Tara Bosch is the founder of SmartSweets, her mission is to help you kick sugar! She started SmartSweets after forming an unhealthy relationship with food and seeing the negative effects sugar has on our health. After spending months recipe testing in her kitchen with a gummy bear mold from Amazon, Tara created a healthy gummy bear. Tara and her team were able to raise 3.6 million dollars to get their business off the ground. Today, you can find SmartSweets in over 10,000 stores like Whole Foods, Target, GNC and many online channels.

• [1:55] Jeremy introduces his guest, Tara Bosch.
• [3:15] Lessons learned along the way.
• [6:20] How Tara keeps her products from melting while in transit.
• [8:00] A low moment in business for Tara.
• [9:45] Milestone reached, getting on the shelves at Whole Foods.

How do small business owners get through the challenges of early development to push through their doubts to find sustained success? Is it possible to learn from mistakes and miscalculations along the way? On this episode of Inspired Insider, you'll hear from entrepreneur and innovator Tara Bosch. In her conversation with Jeremy, Tara opens up about SmartSweets, lessons she has learned along the way, how she overcame doubts, what it took to get on the shelves in Whole Foods, and much more! Don't miss a minute of this powerful episode featuring Tara's story!

Let's face it, when you step out in the business world at some point you are going to wrestle with doubts. You might face your own personal doubts about your chances for success or you might run into people who doubt you, the question is, how will you handle those doubts? For Tara Bosch, the doubts didn't gain power, she was able to regain them in and remind herself that she was pressing forward for a reason. If your vision for success isn't bigger than your doubts, you'll never succeed! What path will you take? How can you learn from Tara's story and silence the power of doubts?

One of the best ways to push back against your doubts is to focus on milestones as you plot your career trajectory. Have you taken the time to celebrate milestones you've reached along the way? Looking back at the journey she's been on with SmartSweets, Tara Bosch is especially proud of the moment when they were able to get their product on shelves at Whole Foods. Taking the time to commemorate such an awesome accomplishment can have a huge impact on morale and future goals! How do you place to keep momentum driving forward in your business?

• SmartSweets
• SmartSweets on Amazon
• Giftology
• Intro Music by Kidd Russell

Rise25 creates 100% outsourced VIP days for software companies and conference organizers to serve their highest level customers.

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 partners and collaborates with entrepreneur-focused communities, with particular emphasis on creating events for high volume Amazon sellers, Walmart sellers, multichannel ecommerce sellers, and founders who want to take their business to the next level.

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.

If your company appreciates the value of bringing your highest level customers together to connect and collaborate, 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 O'Dell and Robbie Page are the co-founders of Tenzo Tea. They run a matcha tea company based in Santa Monica, CA. Tenzo Matcha Green Tea is grown in Kagoshima, Japan. Their products can be found at various coffee shops and smoothie facilities all over California and online at tenzotea.co and not on Amazon.

• [1:33] Jeremy introduces his guests, Steve O'Dell and Robbie Page.
• [2:45] How did Steve and Robbie meet? What were there future plans in college?
• [9:30] Steve talks about some early business ventures.
• [13:50] Where did the idea of Tenzo Tea come from?
• [16:30] Steve opens up about dropping out of college and his study habits.
• [21:10] Key leaders and thinkers entrepreneurs should study.
• [24:50] Preparing for success.
• [29:20] Recovering from mistakes.
• [31:30] Discovering Matcha Tea and coming up with the idea of Tenzo Tea.
• [37:00] Why did the guys decide not to sell their product on Amazon?
• [38:30] How did the packaging process go?
• [40:30] The value of connecting with customers directly and using wholesale.
• [46:30] Making the transition from professional sports to the business world.
• [50:00] How did the guys connect with Azriel Ratz?
• [52:30] Closing the information gap about Matcha Tea.
• [55:30] What are some common uses of Matcha Tea?
• [57:00] What are the future plans of Tenzo Tea?
• [59:20] Low points faced along the way.
• [1:04:50] High points that came with business growth.

What does it take to perform at the highest level in sports and business? Do you need the right information and training? What role do your diet and your daily habits play in your chances for sustained success? On this episode of Inspired Insider, you'll hear from high performing athletes and business leaders, Steve O'Dell and Robbie Page. In their conversation with Jeremy, Steve and Robbie open up about how they first met, what they learned from their time playing professional volleyball, how they came up with the idea to start Tenzo Tea, challenges they've faced along the way, and so much more! You don't want to miss a minute of this engaging episode featuring Steve and Robbie!

Have you ever performed at the top of your field? What was that experience like? How did you get to that level of competition? For many business leaders, getting to the top is a frustrating and winding road, then there are those who make it look really easy. Steve and Robbie are accustomed to performing in high stakes situations. Both Steve and Robbie played volleyball in college at UCLA, competing at the highest levels. They've taken that same dedication and competition to their roles co-founding and leading, Tenzo Tea. What can you learn from Steve and Robbie's story?

Do you have a system that sets you up for success? How has your system changed and evolved over the years in your career and personal life? Coming from a sports background, Steve and Robbie had ritual and routine built into their days from an early age. Now, instead of turning all that planning and preparation to get their body in shape, they are working on getting the competitive edge over their peers. While the guys will be the first to tell you that Tenzo Tea will help you start the day off right, they also do what they can to learn from other leaders, devouring books on leadership and innovation.

Did you know that fueling your body with the right ingredients is half the battle when it comes to maintaining high performance? It's true! Too often the average person will get into a health kick and decide to start working out (which is great!) but they'll fail to go, "All in" and change their diet. Steve and Robbie want to help men and women start the day off right by putting a clean and natural source of nutrients in the form of a hot cup of matcha green tea. At Tenzo Tea, they say that Matcha green tea is the healthiest drink on the planet, described as a fat-burner and cancer-fighter, Matcha dominates the rest of the world of tea.

One of the best ways to stand out from the rest of the competition in the business world is to build a robust and enthusiastic fan base. Its true, some products lend themselves to this business practice better than others, however, many companies are leaving money on the floor by taking a passive approach to customer engagement. Tenzo Tea is taking a much more direct and aggressive approach to cultivating and encouraging their fans to stay connected. They've gone so far as creating specialized subscription services, starter boxes, and even an informative blog! Steve and Robbie are really doing an amazing job connecting with their customer base in a meaningful way and the market is rewarding them for it!

• www.tenzotea.co
• Follow Tenzo Tea on Instagram
• www.ratzpackmedia.com
• The Hard Thing About Hard Things
• Aristotle
• Alexander Hamilton
• Benjamin Franklin
• Friedrich Nietzsche
• Leonardo da Vinci
• Relentless: From Good to Great to Unstoppable
• The Star Principle
• Intro Music by Kidd Russell

Rise25 creates 100% outsourced VIP days for software companies and conference organizers to serve their highest level customers.

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 partners and collaborates with entrepreneur-focused communities, with particular emphasis on creating events for high volume Amazon sellers, Walmart sellers, multichannel ecommerce sellers, and founders who want to take their business to the next level.

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.

If your company appreciates the value of bringing your highest level customers together to connect and collaborate, 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.

[One Question] Charting a Way Forward and The Power of Networking with Mike McKim Co-Founder of Cuvee Coffee

Mike McKim is the co-founder of Cuvee Coffee Roasting Company. Cuvee Coffee Roasting Company has been providing independent coffee houses and coffee enthusiasts with sustainable artisan blends, single origin, and estate coffees since 1998. Mike is also a board chairman at the non-profit, Operation Supply Drop that supports today's active duty military and their families. Cuvee Coffee is a nationally recognized specialty coffee roaster with its roots firmly established in Texas. Cuvee Coffee and cold brew can be found at their website, Whole Foods, Heb, Central Market, Target, and soon to be limited Safeways.

• [1:35] Jeremy introduces his guest, Mike McKim.
• [3:00] Tools and resources that Mike and his team use to succeed.
• [4:50] Mike's lowest moment in his career.
• [6:30] The power of networking.
• [8:00] Mike shares some proud moments in his career.
• [9:45] What led Mike's son to follow his footsteps?
• [11:20] What is Operation Supply Drop?
• [14:00] How to connect with Mike and Cuvee Coffee.

What does it take to get out of a funk and chart a way forward? What role does networking play in sustained, long-term success? How do you know that you have what it takes to thrive in the business world? On this episode of Inspired Insider, you'll hear from entrepreneur and business leader, Mike McKim. In his conversation with Jeremy, Mike opens up about helpful tools and resources they use at Cuvee Coffee, how he endured one of the lowest moments in his career, what he has learned about the power of networking, why his son is following in his footsteps, and so much more! You don't want to miss a moment of this engaging episode featuring Mike and Cuvee Coffee!

Have you ever hit rock bottom in life or business? What was it like? How did you recover and press forward with your career? Where you able to turn that difficult chapter into a helpful life lesson? For Mike McKim, that low moment came early in his career when he had recently left college. He had no idea what he was going to do with his life and ended up taking a job delivering pizzas. Through this frustrating time where it seemed like there was no way out, Mike held out a small glimpse of hope. Looking back, Mike can see the thread that led him out of that dead end job and back toward charting a way forward.

More often than not, most people achieve the level of success they enjoy in life due to their connections. Not many people are quick to admit that they only have the position they have or the opportunities they've enjoyed based on who they've been fortunate to know. What about your career? Can you see how your network has helped you get into the position you enjoy today? When Mike McKim looks back at the chapter in his life that he considers the low point, he also admits that the way out was due to his connections. From delivering pizzas to telemarketing with AT&T, Mike was able to chart a path forward with the help of his network. What can you learn from Mike's story? How will you leverage your network and connections to make a positive impact?

• Cuvee Coffee
• Slack
• Cropster
• Operation Supply Drop
• Intro Music by Kidd Russell

Rise25 creates 100% outsourced VIP days for software companies and conference organizers to serve their highest level customers.

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 partners and collaborates with entrepreneur-focused communities, with particular emphasis on creating events for high volume Amazon sellers, Walmart sellers, multichannel ecommerce sellers, and founders who want to take their business to the next level.

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.

If your company appreciates the value of bringing your highest level customers together to connect and collaborate, 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.

Dan Kurzrock is the Co-Founder of ReGrained. ReGrained leverages technology and culinary science to transform beer waste into food. They call this edible upcycling. I was surprised to learn that only about 10% of the ingredients used to brew beer end up in your glass. ReGrained takes the spent grain waste from local brewery partners and they build recipes around it with other locally sourced ingredients to craft delicious, healthy, and inherently sustainable foods.

• [1:05] Jeremy introduces his guest, Daniel Kurzrock.
• [2:30] Daniel talks about the first product he created.
• [8:30] Venturing into snack bars.
• [12:45] Daniel talks about all the possibilities available with their experimental flour.
• [15:00] What is the brainstorming process like for Daniel and his team?
• [17:30] Connecting with Tom and TerraCycle.
• [20:00] Daniel talks about the influence of his grandfather.
• [22:30] Early career interests and the budding entrepreneurial spirit.
• [30:30] Bootstrapping the business.
• [33:00] What is equity crowdfunding? Credit investors?
• [36:30] Daniel talks about expanding the team.
• [38:50] Connecting with breweries to get their discarded grain.
• [44:50] How has the process changed over the years?
• [47:00] What has been the lowest point for Daniel and his business?
• [48:00] Proud moments in business so far.
• [50:15] How to connect with ReGrained.

It seems like every day there is a breaking news story that stresses how fragile our future is due to global warming. What can business leaders do to offer sustainable solutions to the marketplace? On this episode of Inspired Insider, you'll hear from entrepreneur and innovator Daniel Kurzrock. In his conversation with Jeremy, Daniel opens up about the first product he created, how he got involved with creating snack bars, what they hope to do with their experimental flour, challenges they've faced along the way, and so much more. Get a good look at the future of sustainable solutions from Daniel's expert perspective by listening to this fascinating episode!

Don't you want to be part of a sustainable future? Let's face it unless we make some significant changes, we are looking at an increasingly dire situation. Thankfully, we have some amazing leaders like Daniel Kurzrock who taking their convictions to the marketplace with helpful solutions! Daniel started ReGrained with his friend and co-founder, Jordan Schwartz with a dream to take discarded beer ingredients and utilize them in a way that was cost effective and appetizing! Since that initial dream, the guys have grown their business and the possibilities with tons of new products coming down the pipeline. What can you learn from Daniel and Jordan's story?

Where do you go to come up with some of your best ideas? Do you have a process that encourages and cultivates creativity? For Daniel Kurzrock, the process starts with going for a bike ride but it doesn't end there! From dreaming about innovating leftover beer waste to leading a thriving business, Daniel has always had a bit of a creative edge to his thought process. Part of leading that business is making sure that you continue to come up with ideas and innovations that keep the organization on the cutting edge. The last thing a business leader, especially a small business leader can afford to do is to drift into mediocrity!

Who had the most impact on your trajectory as a child? Was it your big brother or your hard working mother? Maybe for you, it was the constant encouragement of an uncle or a best friend. Looking back, Daniel Kurzrock is thankful for the positive impact that his grandfather had on his ability to cultivate curiosity. He recalls all the times his grandfather would stop and chase down something interesting or make sure that something wasn't going to waste. Listening to Daniel talk about his grandfather and his family in general, you really get the sense that it was a group effort to pass on important values that led Daniel to create the organization that is ReGrained.

As a business leader, you know that one of the biggest challenges constantly comes back to funding. Established business have to make sure that they are keeping an eye on profits and startups have to make sure they have enough to keep the lights on. It seems that innovation is also needed when it comes to thinking about how startups are funded almost as much as the innovative product they are bringing to market. Daniel Kurzrock and his team at ReGrained have worked hard at making sure they leave no rock unturned or idea unexplored when it comes to funding. In fact, they just recently completed a successful round of equity crowdfunding. This venture allowed Daniel and his team to open up investment opportunities to those who were interested in investing as little as $100. The result from this round of innovative funding netted the company $730,000.

• Check out the ReGrained website
• Follow ReGrained on Twitter
• Connect with ReGrained on Facebook
• TerraCycle
• Intro Music by Kidd Russell

Rise25 creates 100% outsourced VIP days for software companies and conference organizers to serve their highest level customers.

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 partners and collaborates with entrepreneur-focused communities, with particular emphasis on creating events for high volume Amazon sellers, Walmart sellers, multichannel ecommerce sellers, and founders who want to take their business to the next level.

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.

If your company appreciates the value of bringing your highest level customers together to connect and collaborate, 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.

Courtney Nichols Gould is the CEO of SmartyPants Vitamins. SmartyPants Vitamins have a gummy obsession which started because they believed that the very best vitamins are an all in one combination of different nutrients that would save money, time and peace of mind for customers. Their products can be found on Amazon, in Whole Foods, Kroger, Target, Costco and many more locations all over the US. Their bottle is the one with the cute owl winking at you. For every bottle sold they make a 1 for 1 grant to Vitamin Angels to provide children in need with nutrients and they have made over 6.2 million nutrient grants to date.

• [1:15] Jeremy introduces his guest, Courtney Nichols Gould.
• [2:45] What led Courtney to take SmartyPants Vitamins to retail stores?
• [7:00] The value of embracing customer feedback.
• [9:30] Courtney talks about some of their bestselling vitamins.
• [11:00] Why did Courtney and her team divide their products based on gender?
• [12:45] Courtney shares her low and high moments in business.

What will it take to get affordable vitamins into the hands of men, women, and children all over the United States? How can affordability and accessibility help improve lives? On this episode of Inspired Insider, you'll hear from innovator business leader Courtney Nichols Gould. In her conversation with Jeremy, Courtney opens up about why she brought SmartyPants vitamins to retail stores, the value of embracing customer feedback, why she decided to market vitamins for teen boys and girls, and so much more! Don't miss a minute of this engaging and fascinating episode featuring Courtney and SmartyPants Vitamins!

Let's face it, most health foods and supplements like vitamins are usually marketed to the upper middle class and the wealthy. What if that could change? What if vitamins were not just a niche product only those with disposable income could afford? Courtney Nichols Gould and her team at SmartyPants Vitamins are hard at work doing what they can to change this narrative. They've intentionally sought to get their product on the shelves of stores that everyday people utilize, like Walmart. What can you learn from Courtney's story and her drive to get vitamins in the hands of as many people as possible?

When you create a consumable product like vitamins, it's imperative to listen to and take to heart the feedback of your customers. Too often, large companies fail to follow this important advice! Thankfully new companies like SmartyPants Vitamins are leading the way not only with an innovative product but with an approach that values the feedback of its customers. SmartyPants' founder and CEO, Courtney Nichols Gould speaks very highly of her organization's approach to reviewing common feedback they receive and adjusting their marketing and outreach accordingly. They've shown that in today's marketplace, the companies that display a willingness to engage and adapt based on their customer's input will be rewarded!

• Check out the SmartyPants website
• SmartyPants on Facebook
• SmartyPants on Twitter
• SmartyPants on Instagram
• Intro Music by Kidd Russell

Rise25 creates 100% outsourced VIP days for software companies and conference organizers to serve their highest level customers.

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 partners and collaborates with entrepreneur-focused communities, with particular emphasis on creating events for high volume Amazon sellers, Walmart sellers, multichannel ecommerce sellers, and founders who want to take their business to the next level.

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.

If your company appreciates the value of bringing your highest level customers together to connect and collaborate, 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.