Previously, John was an executive at TerraGo, a venture-backed software company specializing in SaaS and PaaS mobile applications. He also led business development at Eurasia Group, a predictive analytics startup providing global risk information products to subscribers.

John was a founding member of Control Risks GS, Inc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Control Risks and the fastest growing business unit worldwide.

Listen in as John offers a glimpse into his experience training with the Navy SEALs and the carryovers he sees between the military and the business world. He then does a deep dive into Kill Cliff’s unique story as a company and how they scaled up to become one of the most exciting brands in the beverage sector today.

Sponsors:

• Sub-Zero, Wolf, & Cove
• Pella Windows & Doors

Topics Discussed:

• [02:56] Similarities between being a Navy SEAL and a business owner
• [07:04] The hardest part about becoming part of the SEAL teams
• [12:12] What separates those who succeed and those who fail in becoming SEALs
• [15:39] The dangers that follow your initial success as an entrepreneur
• [17:49] An introduction to Kill Cliff
• [23:24] Kill Cliff’s appeal
• [25:51] Kill Cliff’s unique foray into the beverage sector
• [31:03] How John helped investors see the potential in Kill Cliff
• [36:44] The value of interdependence among teams
• [42:53] Having conversations with investors about the big picture, not just the bottom line
• [48:28] Using non-traditional marketing strategies to scale Kill Cliff
• [55:06] What’s next for John and Kill Cliff?

Connect with Guest:

• Website 
• Instagram 
• Facebook 
• YouTube 

Connect with Brad Leavitt: 

• Website 
• Instagram 
• Facebook 
• Houzz 
• Pinterest 
• YouTube 

Key Quotes by John:

• The cornerstone of teamwork is interdependency.
• Alignment is a key part of business. It’s part of interdependency, teamwork, and focus.