Today on Pass the Secret Sauce, we invited brand development leader, Francisco Serrano, who is currently Chief Speed Officer at 121, a graphic design and content studio powerhouse with offices in USA, EU and Mexico. Under his leadership 121 has created a disruptive branding model based on SPEED becoming the go-to day-to-day branding partner for many Fortune 500 companies. As a team believer and entrepreneur Francisco has built other companies evangelizing his passion for branding through collaboration with talent all over the world.

In this episode we discuss:

• Introduction to the episode [1:23]
• What was Francisco's dinner table looked like [3:01]
• When did he start his own company [5:15]
• Francisco's strategies to bring customers to his company [7:05]
• What is 121 and types of projects they work on [8:05]
• Big companies buying a small business in the branding niche [12:55]
• How long they work on their projects [15:20]
• Business should be obsessed to make the customer happy [17:50]
• How Francisco integrate technology with their business [18:30]
• Opening their 121 EU office in Amsterdam [20:30]
• The most impossible task they achieved [21:32]
• What is the creative process of 121 [22:43]
• Ideal companies for 121 [24:00]
• Ways to connect with 121 and Francisco [25:00]

Quotable Quotes

Focused on your customer. Be obsessed with making them happy. If you're going towards the consumer, make sure you are providing what they are looking for.

Links to sources and tools

• Connect with Francisco on LinkedIn
• Visit 121 to learn more of their services

Check out other PTSS episodes

• Breaking Through Adversities with Laundromat Millionaire Dave Menz
• Developing a Personal Brand with Erik Cabral
• Increasing Brand Awareness through Strategic Marketing with Lori Sussle Bonanni

Thanks for listening. Don't forget to like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/passthesecretsauce to get updates on new episodes. If you haven't already, please follow and leave a review for our podcast, we'll really appreciate it. And as always, don't forget to pass the secret sauce.

Support our podcast

If you're a fan of the show, there are three simple things you can do to support our work:

1. Subscribe, rate and review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pass-the-secret-sauce-by-matt-shields/id1506940483 the podcast on iTunes or wherever you subscribe.
2. Tell a family member, friend, or colleague about the show.
3. Subscribe to us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ5eItxsGWyGKC91zd1pzbA and follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pass-the-secret-sauce-podcast

Welcome back to Pass the Secret Sauce, today's episode we have Dave "Laundromat Millionaire" Menz. Dave is a laundromat industry veteran and the owner of the Queen City Laundry Chain of Laundromats in Cincinnati Ohio. Dave's inspirational journey from poverty to becoming a millionaire has inspired many entrepreneurs to try and overcome their own obstacles while building wealth. He's here to share some of the secrets to his success. Dave is the host of The Laundromat Millionaire Business Podcast and the author of the book "Laundromat Millionaire", to be released in late 2021.

In this episode we discuss:

• Introduction to episode [1:27]
• Dave's humble stereotypical childhood [2:50]
• How and when did the entrepreneurial bug hit him [4:40]
• Worked at Corporate America for 12-13 years, got promoted five times [9:00]
• How did he get in the laundry business [10:15]
• Getting mentorship through podcasts and other resources [13:55]
• Learnings he had when doing business [18:10]
• Have a mentor/coach that will lead you to process is essential [20:50]
• Getting the 'Shiny Object' syndrome as an entrepreneur [23:12]
• What his adversities thought him and how he breakthrough [24:28]
• How did Dave handle the process of financials in the laundry business [27:58]
• Determining the right location for your laundry business [31:20]
• Doing a national revenue partnership with other laundromat owners [34:40]
• Dave's suggestions in buying laundromat business [36:00]
• Laundromat Millionaire podcast and book [42:38]

Quotable Quote

• To have a coach/mentor to lead you through the process of any business or any industry, especially before you even close on it, is an incredibly powerful thing.

Links to sources and tools

• Connect with Dave Menz on LinkedIn
• Get a FREE consultation of Dave about laundrymat industry

Listen to other PTSS Episodes

• https://passthesecretsauce.com/

Thanks for listening. Don't forget to like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/passthesecretsauce to get updates on new episodes. If you haven't already, please follow and leave a review for our podcast, we'll really appreciate it. And as always, don't forget to pass the secret sauce.

Support our podcast

If you're a fan of the show, there are three simple things you can do to support our work:

1. Subscribe, rate and review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pass-the-secret-sauce-by-matt-shields/id1506940483 the podcast on iTunes or wherever you subscribe.
2. Tell a family member, friend, or colleague about the show.
3. Subscribe to us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ5eItxsGWyGKC91zd1pzbA and follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pass-the-secret-sauce-podcast

This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Up next on Pass the Secret Sauce, we have Daniel Marcos who is a serial entrepreneur, business coach, and passionate learner. He is the co-founder and CEO of Growth Institute, the leading online executive education company for C-level executives at fast-growing firms, with a mission to help 1 million entrepreneurs scale their impact and reduce drama in their operations.

Daniel is on a mission to give executives the support and methodologies that he wishes he had in his entrepreneurial journey: being a good leader, successfully scaling companies, and maintaining a high quality of life. In 2012, Daniel and Verne Harnish partnered on this mission and co-founded Growth Institute, a leading online executive education company for C-level executives at fast growing firms.

What was once reserved for a small niche of wealthy companies is now available to all CEOs and their executive teams, effectively democratizing business education and shortening the gaps in professional development.

In this episode we discuss:

• Introduction to episode [2:30]
• Daniel's childhood overview [4:10]
• Where he got his entrepreneurial inspiration [5:15]
• At age 12, Daniel built his first aquarium business with his cousins [7:30]
• His four other business when he was in college [8:40]
• Working for the Mexican embassy in Hong Kong [11:20]
• How Daniel built the first FinTech in Latin America [14:37]
• Closing a deal with Infosel and started a company [18:20]
• Working with JP Morgan in Latin America [20:00]
• Getting his MBA; opening a mortgage bank in Austin Texas [24:00]
• How he lost everything and down with huge debt [25:45]
• His deep conversations with his parents and wife [27:55]
• Getting and rejecting an offer to be a Head of Google Mexico [28:35]
• Paying his debt through coaching in four years [32:45]
• Daniel getting many clients and started having success again [33:50]
• Venturing to online coaching, building a new company [35:40]
• Top things an entrepreneur miss or fail consistently at [37:50]
• Coaching and helping a 'mess up' guy until he changed [41:15]
• Their lifelong dream of helping company leaders [43:15]
• Descriptions of what types of leaders he wants to help [44:45]

Links to sources and tools:

• Connect with Daniel on LinkedIn
• Visit Growth Institute if you want to get a mentorship
• Free Download of The Impact X CEO Booklet and unlock the potential of your leadership

Listen to other PTSS Episodes:

• https://passthesecretsauce.com/

Thanks for listening. Don't forget to like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/passthesecretsauce to get updates on new episodes. If you haven't already, please follow and leave a review for our podcast, we'll really appreciate it. And as always, don't forget to pass the secret sauce.

Support our podcast

If you're a fan of the show, there are three simple things you can do to support our work:

1. Subscribe, rate and review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pass-the-secret-sauce-by-matt-shields/id1506940483 the podcast on iTunes or wherever you subscribe.
2. Tell a family member, friend, or colleague about the show.
3. Subscribe to us on YouTube: https://www.y...

Today's guest is Aurora Winter, MBA. She is a bestselling author, TV-producer, media coach, ghostwriter, and successful serial entrepreneur. Aurora uses her film-making expertise and neuroscience to help people communicate and get results, whether it's raising 7 figures for a startup, negotiating for a raise, or enrolling a new client.

If you have ever wanted to write a book, become an in-demand speaker, or communicate more effectively, you will definitely want to stay tuned.

In this episode we discuss:

• Introduction to the episode [2:29]
• Aurora's interesting facts when she was a child [4:03]
• Her first exposure in entrepreneurship [6:30]
• Working in the film business, her own film and TV production company [7:52]
• Starting writing books, screenplays [9:45]
• Useful tips on how to write a book [10:50]
• Identifying if the screenplay is written well or not [14:45]
• Recommended resources to start your writing journey [16:40]
• Attracting ideal clients for your business using books [18:45]
• Techniques on how to monetize your books [21:10]
• Books are legacy assets and life assets [23:50]
• Ways on how to market your book [24:30]
• Importance of books in our life [28:05]
• Best way to get in touch with Aurora [31:30]

Quotable Quotes

• Before you face that empty blank intimidating page, consider well 'what am I doing here, and why am I doing it and what really matters.'
• Any kind of framework that is proven to work, is not constricting you. It is liberating you.
• Your story matters, your life experiences matter, your business expertise matters and you may be the answer to somebody's prayers.

Listen to other PTSS Episodes

• How AIM Framework is Useful for People and Business with Michael Roderick
• Growing Online Presence to Attract Talents and Audience with Shana Cosgrove
• Sell More Books on Amazon: Research, Creation and Marketing with Dave Chesson

Links to sources and tools

• Connect with Aurora on LinkedIn
• Learn more about her book coaching and other services
• Get Aurora's book on Amazon
  • Turn Words Into Wealth: Blueprint for Your Business, Brand, and Book to Create Multiple Streams of Income & Impact
  • Marketing Fastrack: The Little Book That Launched A New Business: $250,000 in 90 Days
  • 7 Ways to Make 7 Figures with Your Million-Dollar Message

Thanks for listening. Don't forget to like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/passthesecretsauce to get updates on new episodes. If you haven't already, please follow and leave a review for our podcast, we'll really appreciate it. And as always, don't forget to pass the secret sauce.

Support our podcast

If you're a fan of the show, there are three simple things you can do to support our work:

1. Subscribe, rate and review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pass-the-secret-sauce-by-matt-shields/id1506940483 the podcast on iTunes or wherever you subscribe.
2. Tell a family member, friend, or colleague about the show.
3. Subscribe to us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ5eItxsGWyGKC91zd1pzbA and follow us on LinkedIn:

Up next on Pass The Secret Sauce, we have Michael Roderick, CEO of Small Ponds Enterprises. He is a social catalyst who believes in the power of making meaningful connections for others. Michael has been a high school English Teacher, a Broadway Producer, and a Director of Business Development.

Small Pond Enterprises seeks to support connectors, innovators, and entrepreneurs with a range of personalized educational services provided by expert consultants who develop an individualized process for creating quality work that is supported by a customized, viable business model.

Additionally, by connecting entrepreneurs with resources, people, and advisers, we bring disparate communities together and help them to establish mutually beneficial relationships.

In this episode we discuss:

• Introduction to the episode [2:14]
• How did Michael get his entrepreneurial tendency [4:35]
• Michael's academic overview and his teaching job [5:50]
• When did he start his first business [9:00]
• What prompted him to start Smart Pond [11:05]
• The AIM (Accessibility, Influence, Memory) framework [15:40]
• Results people get from Michael's framework [20:25]
• Pass the Secret Sauce podcast and Michael's framework [22:30]
• Patterns are the precursor to framework [29:07]
• Industries that suited Michael's framework [30:55]
• Best ways to connect with Michael and learn more about his projects [31:55]
• The setting of Michael's workshops [34:30]

Links to sources and tools

• Connect with Michael's LinkedIn and follow updates on his Twitter
• If you want to get consultation or coaching, visit Small Pond Enterprise
• Access to anyone in life and business podcast Michael Roderick

Listen to other PTSS episodes:

• Extracting Your Ego and Awaken Your Full Potential with Mia Hewett
• Franchising a Profitable Property Management with Aaron Marshall
• Internal Culture, Core Values, Dream Teams and More with Robert Mason

Thanks for listening. Don't forget to like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/passthesecretsauce to get updates on new episodes. If you haven't already, please follow and leave a review for our podcast, we'll really appreciate it. And as always, don't forget to pass the secret sauce.

Support our podcast

If you're a fan of the show, there are three simple things you can do to support our work:

1. Subscribe, rate and review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pass-the-secret-sauce-by-matt-shields/id1506940483

Joining us today is Bobby Mason, the CEO and President of SPOC Automation, an innovation company making automation technology for the upstream and midstream markets of the oil and gas industry. While Bobby's expertise on the technical side can't be matched; his true passion is team building and educating others on the importance of a winning culture and how it contributes to the success of any business regardless of current market conditions

In this episode we discuss:

• Bobby's remarkable dinner time when he was a kid [3:15]
• Being raised to work, growing in an entrepreneurial family [4:34]
• Why he was not a good student and didn't enjoy his education [7:05]
• Bobby's initial challenges he ran into with his business [8:18]
• What are the types of problems he usually solved [10:40]
• Launching another company, the Spark Grid Inverter Technology [12:35]
• How did Bobby manage the digital aspects of their company [15:15]
• Bobby's learnings being in the business [17:50]
• Pushing the culture and process into your employees [19:55]
• One of the biggest struggles they ever had in their company [21:00]
• Identifying the core values of Bobby's company [24:05]
• Finding out in their employees who is living their core values and innovating it [27:40]
• What is the mission of Bobby's company [30:32]
• Technology that holds their employees and company to work efficiently [32:05]
• Spark dream teams, involving everyone in their company [33:30]
• Using Vidyard, creating a program called 2-minutes drive [35:20]
• How did the core values improve him personally and his company [38:00]
• Ways to learn more about Bobby and his company [41:05]

Links to sources and tools

• Connect with Bobby on LinkedIn
• If you're in the oil and gas industry, get covered with SPOC drive solutions

More of PTSS episodes here:

• Building an Engaging and Value-Driven Company Culture with Trent Kocurek
• The Four Key Values To Follow in Discerning Opportunities with Phillip Berry

Thanks for listening. Don't forget to like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/passthesecretsauce to get updates on new episodes. If you haven't already, please follow and leave a review for our podcast, we'll really appreciate it. And as always, don't forget to pass the secret sauce.

Support our podcast

If you're a fan of the show, there are three simple things you can do to support our work:

1. Subscribe, rate and review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pass-the-secret-sauce-by-matt-shields/id1506940483 the podcast on iTunes or wherever you subscribe.
2. Tell a family member, friend, or colleague about the show.
3. Subscribe to us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ5eItxsGWyGKC91zd1pzbA and follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pass-the-secret-sauce-podcast

This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

Coming up on Pass the Secret Sauce, we have Aaron Marshall, CEO and co-founder of Keyrenter - a property management with a business model that is engineered to save work time, effort and money, allowing people more time for the things they enjoy.

Through automation and technology, KeyRenter has developed KeySystems that allow the Keyrenter owner to manage more properties, increase profitability and decrease risk. A Keyrenter franchise can be started for as little as $35,000 from a home office with no startup staffing. They even finance up to 75% of the franchise fee for qualified applicants.

Aaron wrote the book Cash Flow is King: Creating Wealth Through Real Estate. He was diagnosed with cancer, fighting this tough battle can be read on various websites.

In this episode we discuss:

• How Aaron's had earned money growing up [4:18]
• His academic and working overview [7:00]
• Being rejected of a job but was encouraged to be an entrepreneur [9:00]
• Aaron's starting his first own brokerage [12:50]
• Ways to generate the traffic of his real estate deals [14:23]
• Taking care of your wellbeing matters [17:50]
• The stressful situations he was in and how he deals with them [20:40]
• The background of Keyrenter [23:35]
• Hiring internal accountants to handle and help with their accounts [25:40]
• What are the marketing campaigns they are using to attract franchisees [27:00]
• How to become a franchisee of Keyrenter [28:00]
• Handling the digital space of their property management [30:00]
• Best way to connect with Aaron Marshall [32:00]

Links to sources and tools

• Connect with Aaron on LinkedIn
• Start a low capital investment with Keyrenter
• Inspiring story about Aaron Marshall: I'm a CEO with stage 4 cancer
• Get Aaron's Marshall book on Amazon, Cash Flow is King: Creating Wealth Through Real Estate

Listen to more PTSS episodes:

• Taking Digital Transformation into the Next Level with Tushar Garg
• How to Build a Thriving Company Culture with Grant Botma
• How To Start In Real Estate Investing – Mark Anderson

Thanks for listening. Don't forget to like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/passthesecretsauce to get updates on new episodes. If you haven't already, please follow and leave a review for our podcast, we'll really appreciate it. And as always, don't forget to pass the secret sauce.

Support our podcast

If you're a fan of the show, there are three simple things you can do to support our work:

1. Subscribe, rate and review:

Today on Pass the Secret Sauce we have Tushar Garg, who is the CEO of Excelicon ━ an outstanding provider of Agile, Cybersecurity, and Advisory services. Excelicon provides the trusted advice that the government depends on to perform its mission in support of their customers, the American people.

In addition to what Exelicon provides to the government, the company provides a nurturing and challenging environment for its workforce where they can learn, grow, be professionally fulfilled, and be proud of what they do and the services that they provide to our nation. The business is also socially conscious and gives back to the community where they live and work.

Excelicon is in business to provide the critical path to life, liberty and happiness to those they served. They provide equal opportunity to all those who strive to do the right thing and are working hard for the chance to prove themselves while also allowing imaginative solutioning resulting in personal and professional enrichment.

In this episode we discuss:

• What Tushar's dinner table looked like [3:00]
• Lessons he learned early on from his parent's experiences [5:48]
• Being told to become a CEO and how he pivoted as an entrepreneur innovator [8:40]
• How many different KPI's in Tushar's company [11:48]
• Allowing their employees to be enriched through 40,000 short courses [12:25]
• Academic and career overview; how he got into the business [14:58]
• Working on government's security and other high profile contracts [16:20]
• Processing healthcare applications so people can get immediate healthcare help [19:00]
• How they customize the approach for businesses or clients [20:27]
• Helping clients in technological aspects of their business [23:15]
• Most useful technology in Tushar's opinion [28:15]
• Best way to reach out to Tushar and learn more about their business [29:50]

Links to sources and tools

• Connect with Tushar Garg on LinkedIn
• Reach out instantly and get updates through their Facebook page
• Listen to other Tech episodes

Support our podcast

If you're a fan of the show, there are three simple things you can do to support our work:

1. Subscribe, rate and review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pass-the-secret-sauce-by-matt-shields/id1506940483 the podcast on iTunes or wherever you subscribe.
2. Tell a family member, friend, or colleague about the show.
3. Subscribe to us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ5eItxsGWyGKC91zd1pzbA and follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pass-the-secret-sauce-podcast

This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm

• Up next on Pass the Secret Sauce we have Grant Botma. Grant is the founder of Stewardship in Gilbert, Arizona. Stewardship is a mortgage brokerage, insurance agency, and investment management firm that was named an Inc 5000 Fastest Growing Company in America two years in a row. Grant has one of the top 105 fastest growing finance companies in the Country because of his Nationally ranked high producing team. They consistently win awards like "Top 1%, "Top 20", and many of them are listed in the Scotsman Guide as top originators. Grant is also a best-selling author of the book, "The Problem Isn't Their Paycheck". In this book, Grant teaches business owners, leaders, and managers how to attract top talent and build a thriving company culture.

In this episode we discuss:

• Having a traditional Sunday lunch and movie night with Grant's big family [4:05]
• His family owned a mortuary business and dairy farm [6:40]
• How making a business plan awaken his desire to put up up his own business [7:50]
• Seeing people were facing financial, insurance issues and more [8:50]
• What is Stewardship about; mortgage, insurance, planning and financial [10:33]
• Making online courses on how to create a company culture [12:40]
• How to uncover the right people for your team [14:50]
• What it feels like to work with Grant and his company [17:40]
• How he observe potential team members through their social media [18:37]
• Doing an emotional intelligence test, book recommendation for business owners [21:45]
• Mission statement of Grant in life and business [23:45]
• How to love and serve customer / people well [25:00]
• What types of technology he used to run his company [27:40]
• Ideal customers he wants to serve [29:25]
• Best ways to connect with Grant Botma [32:30]

Links to sources and tools

• Check's Grant's professional and his company background:
  • https://www.linkedin.com/in/grantbotma
  • https://www.linkedin.com/company/stewardshippro
• Follow Grant's activities on social media
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
• Book recommendations for entrepreneurs by Grant Botma
  • The Problem Isn't Their Paycheck: How to Attract Top Talent and Build a Thriving Company Culture
  • Work–Life Harmony: Enjoy Your Life and Family More Because of (Not in Spite Of) Your Work

Thanks for listening. Don't forget to like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/passthesecretsauce to get updates on new episodes. If you haven't already, please follow and leave a review for our podcast, we'll really appreciate it. And as always, don't forget to pass the secret sauce.

Support our podcast

If you're a fan of the show, there are three simple things you can do to support our work:

1. Subscribe, rate and review:

Today on Pass the Secret Sauce, I had an amazing conversation with Mia Hewett, Founder/CEO of Aligned Intelligence. Mia helps purpose-driven entrepreneurs stop secretly struggling, live in alignment with their dreams so that they can scale to 6 and 7-figures the faster, easier way.

She is the best-selling author of "Meant For More: Stop Secretly Struggling and Be A Force To Be Reckoned With."

If you want to be free of self-sabotage, self-doubt, and want to live the life you are meant for… this episode is something you don't want to miss.

In this episode we discuss:

• How Mia grew up in a very poor condition, having no enough food for dinner [3:52]
• What're the two important decisions she made that shaped her life [6:18]
• Being a wealthy person trying to survive; anxieties and burnouts she felt being a boss [9:06]
• Things she did to get out of her work habits [12:00]
• Being obsessed with finding out why people struggles [13:55]
• The Universal Law of Polarity [17:35]
• Getting out of framing statements as like their facts [20:22]
• Being wealthy but not having attachment to money [24:05]
• What is the deadliest thing to man [25:57]
• The birth of the Ego -- The Fall Self [28:30]
• Why people haven't figure out the way out of their struggles or traumas [31:40]
• Healing the emotional traumas, changing the entire trajectory of one's life [34:20]
• Asking the right questions to bring out the emotional traumas [39:40]
• Mia's book -- Meant for More [43:45]
• Best ways to get in touch with Mia Hewett [48:15]

Links to sources and tools:

• Connect with Mia Hewett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miahewett/
• Talk with Mia Hewett: https://www.miahewett.com/
• Get her book on Amazon, Meant For More: Stop Secretly Struggling and Become a Force to Be Reckoned

Listen to other PTSS episodes:

• The Four Key Values To Follow in Discerning Opportunities with Phillip Berry
• Build Your Business by Winning the Hearts of the People with Evan Dash
• Management Philosophy, Developing Life Wheels for Employees with Rishi Khanna

Thanks for listening. Don't forget to like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/passthesecretsauce to get updates on new episodes. If you haven't already, please follow and leave a review for our podcast, we'll really appreciate it. And as always, don't forget to pass the secret sauce.

Support our podcast

If you're a fan of the show, there are three simple things you can do to support our work:

1. Subscribe, rate and review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pass-the-secret-sauce-by-matt-shields/id1506940483 the podcast on iTunes or whe...