Lavahot Entrepreneur Podcast - Business, Marketing, and Personal Development

Today's guest on the show is Cristian Voinea. He is an expert in topics crucial for local to mid-size companies or businesses, such as time management, sales, and scaling. Joe is passionate about helping local to mid-size companies balance their work-life and business aspects, and Cristian's expertise perfectly aligns with this goal. They will discuss these topics in-depth during the show.

In his twenties, Cristian created a business with his friends in the hospital. They started talking business while playing backgammon and decided to become one of the key internet and IT support providers in his hometown in Romania. They envisioned going into people's homes and installing their internet, which they did with only a hundred Euros in their pockets. They were successful and had to hire people to work with and for them as the business grew. With the capital from selling his first business, Cristian reinvested it into his next idea. He went on to consult with some of the top franchises in Europe and became one of the licensees for Grant Cardone, who is a personal mentor of Joe's within the 10X community. In today's show, Joe and Cristian will discuss valuable insights on how to scale a business and make it a part of your everyday life, so stay tuned for more valuable tips and advice!

Key Highlights

[00:00:00] A snippet of today’s show

[00:01:16] The Lavahot Podcast intro

[00:01:49] Introduction to today’s guest: Cristian Voinea

[00:02:07] Cristian’s background

[00:02:46] Introduction to today’s topic: How to scale business, how to make it your everyday

[00:03:56] Starting a business in his 20’s

[00:14:28] Things that businesses might overlook and things businesses should implement

[00:21:56]The concept of time management and time optimization

[00:31:12] How to prioritize sales as a center of business, not a piece of the business

[00:40:09] How to connect and work with Cristian

Notable Quotes

● That's one of the things that I'm good at, I can see the opportunities that other people cannot see for whatever reason. That has helped me, a person from a poor background, run a few businesses independently.

● If it's business in your life or with other people, you have to say committed regardless of what comes next because you will never be prepared enough. You're never going to know what happens around the corner. What you can do is predict and get prepared that way.

● The key to this is to control how you spend your time because the more accurate you are and how you understand exactly where your time goes, the easiest for you to get more to optimize that time.

● I believe that the work-life balance is not about 50/50, I believe it is that you have to be 100% committed to everything, so when you have your business time, you're 100% in business time; when you are in a family you are 100% in the family. That's work-life balance.

● To succeed in sales, it's important to understand the difference between what customers need and what they want. By understanding their desires, you can make them happy with their choice, and they'll be more likely to spread the word to others. This understanding should be shared throughout your organization to simplify the process.

Resources

To connect with Joe:

LinkedIn: LinkedIn

Twitter: Twitter

Podcast: Lavahot Podcast

Have you ever considered that you have the next big tech idea? Our guest today is on a mission to build, scale, and sell 10,000 tech companies in the next decade through his company and Project 10K. He has partnered with top names in digital marketing and the influencer industry.

Jared Yellin is the founder of Synduit, a virtual marketing department for small business owners. It's the simplest marketing software available, covering 30 different industries and providing both content and workflows. The goal of Synduit is to help small business owners who can't afford to hire a marketing agency but still need one to succeed.

Project 10K is a training program to help individuals pitch their ideas. It's like Shark Tank, where individuals can pitch their idea to a review committee. The program provides a five-minute pitch training, a 70-page manual on the art and science of pitching, and even a presentation template. The review committee will either approve or reject the pitch; if approved, the next step is due diligence. This is an hour-long session where the individual presents their results from surveying their target audience to ensure they're solving the right problem. After due diligence, the committee debriefs and decides if they will move forward with the idea.

Keep tuned to learn more about Jared Yellin and his mission to help individuals bring their tech ideas to life.

Key Highlights

[00:00:58] Introduction to today’s guest:

[00:04:30] What type of technologies should business owners start considering incorporating into their business?

[00:06:06] What to consider when choosing a CRM

[00:07:13] What Synduit does

[00:09:49] How Synduit works

[00:14:17] The process of submitting an idea to Project 10K

[00:20:27] Some of the businesses that Jared is jazzed about

Notable Quotes

● When choosing a CRM, I would recommend finding one specific to your industry because there are probably specific workflows built into it by people who know your industry. So that will be a shortcut for you when it comes to getting set up.

● At Synduit, we've spent an enormous amount of time ensuring that everyday small business owners that are masters of their craft but they hate technology and that marketing is overwhelming to them can thrive in this.

● I always encourage any visionary entrepreneur who wants to become a tech founder to focus on solving one specific thing. The moment you try for two, both are going to be weak. When you go for three, all three will suffer, and you'll never get there because it gets really expensive as you start trying to solve more problems for your end user. Start with one specific thing that people are willing to pay for, then start scaling that one thing and then start making decisions on the next chapter of that business.

● With Project 10K, we will hit a 40% success rate with a hundred percent transformation rate, which means that every entrepreneur we say yes to will transform in the process.

● You should never do business with anyone that doesn't have a process, and if you don't have a process in you're business, then people shouldn't do business with you.

● I believe that everybody has an idea; they just don't know where to go with it, and often, when they look in the mirror, they don't see that person looking back at them is the one that's meant to execute that idea.

Resources

To get in touch with Joe:

LinkedIn: LinkedIn

Twitter: Twitter

Podcast: Lavahost Podcast

To connect with Jared:

LinkedIn:

I love having guests on my show who are either in the marketing space or have something that applies to marketing, and today he’s excited to talk to Neal Robert Anderson, who is a husband, father, tech founder, micro cottage community developer, and bestselling author, coming to us from Raleigh, North Carolina. Neal has a unique app that is about to launch, which allows individuals to search for products or services based on value-driven criteria and find local businesses in their market. 

Neal got the idea for Libertas GPS because he was frustrated with not being able to find places that met his values, especially during the pandemic when wearing masks was required. He realized that there were many other things that businesses do or don't do that he likes or dislikes. He wanted to find places aligned with his beliefs and values, whether hiring a realtor, doctor, teacher, or plumber, dining with his family at a restaurant, or meeting a friend at a coffee shop. He wanted to be able to go to places that supported his worldview. His goal with Libertas GPS is to impact the world positively. Through this app, he aims to help over 10 million businesses and over 250 million people by 2025. He believes that by providing a platform for individuals to find businesses that align with their values and beliefs, he can help create a more harmonious and sustainable world.

Key Highlights

[00:03:04] Background on Neil Robert Anderson

[00:04:17] What inspired the idea of the Libertas GPS app

[00:08:39] Business and consumer profiles

[00:13:00] Subscriptions of the Libertas GPS app

[00:18:36] Connecting businesses to customers and vice versa

[00:20:16] Review portion for the profiles

[00:23:19] Verticals of businesses in the Libertas GPS app

[00:25:13] The launching of the app

Notable Quotes

● I knew there were millions and millions of people that felt the same way I did on both sides or any side, and I said, “Let's solve the problem, but let's solve the problem where we include everybody and we're not just going to go down one road.”

● The main thing is I want people to spend money with people who like them, people that will be responsible with the money that they give them, and they're not donating to causes that diminish their rights or anything like that.

● So I want to have it all, you hit professional services, and then you can drill down and go lawyers, doctors, CPAs, contractors, plumbers, like that type of thing, and then they'll pop up. But our goal is to get to everyone, even college professors.

● We would rather air the app on the side and get it a hundred percent because we don't want customers to be frustrated. So we're testing with the user experience to test out a couple of ways to do some things.

● We have many goals, but one of them is we want people to get along, and we want people to be respectful and respected.  It is our line in the sand that if it's legal and it promotes freedom, then that's good.

● We want ways for businesses to provide those forums for people to be the best version of themselves. We are not going to put up with people bashing or canceling. I can promise you that we'll do everything we can under the law to keep everyone safe.

Resources

To get in touch with Joe:

LinkedIn: LinkedIn

Twitter: Twitter

Podcast: Lavahost Podcast

To connect with Neal:

LinkedIn: LinkedIn

Libertas GPS App: www.libertagpsapp.com

Websites:

1. http

I connected to today’s guest in one way, shape, or form through my wife, who stumbled across her through the 10x community. I'm really glad that we brought her on to the show for the listeners to learn some of the things I've been able to learn from her. Dani Apgar has a diverse background in digital sales and has worked with companies helping them with sales, training, leadership development, and executive coaching.  She also has an extraordinary mix that bridges the gap from AI to sales and customer success to profitable growth.

Dani has published many articles about AI sales and customer service and the need for women and men to work together for the greater good. Currently, she is launching a course, Beautiful Sales Blueprint, where she works with brick-and-mortar businesses and wellness and beauty. Please stay tuned to learn how to sign up for the webinar to achieve proven sales in your business!

Key Highlights

[00:00:58] Introduction to today’s guest: Dani Akbar

[00:05:32] Dani’s background in sales and how to turn leads into customers

[00:08:27] Things that every business could benefit from incorporating into their business to be an effective leader

[00:11:56] The Beautiful Sales Blueprint course and how to get started

[00:18:42] The types of businesses Dani deals with

[00:19:52] Process of working with Dani

[00:21:56] Dani’s piece of advice

Notable Quotes

● People want more, more time, more freedom, and when you fill in the blank, you can do that when you have a sales foundation. That is how you get more.

● Investing in yourself and training the employees to know what you're good at as an executive could benefit in incorporating in business to be an effective leader.

● You can't get a contract without a contact. The only way to change a contact to a contract is if there is a relationship. You have to build a relationship.

● The questions have to be harder questions that most people are uncomfortable asking, but it's in that uncomfortable nature where the relationship starts and forms.

● I am specifically working with brick-and-mortar beauty and wellness businesses because those people are healers, and our community needs more healing. So if I can help them make more money, they can help the community, and hopefully, it will become cyclical. So that's really why I chose them first.

● I always want to lead with value always and give some more people in sales. Just keep giving.

● If things aren't going my way, that's on me, and I get to decide how to improve things. Usually, bring in a trainer or a coach that helps.

Resources

To get in touch with Joe:

LinkedIn: LinkedIn

Twitter: Twitter

Podcast: Lavahost Podcast

To get in touch with Dani Apgar:

Facebook: Facebook

YouTube: YouTube

Instagram: Instagram

Beautiful Sales Blueprint website:https://www.beautifulsalesblueprint.com/  

On the surface, TikTok is more of a platform for amusing lip-sync videos than it is for showcasing goods and services. On the other hand, there is a ton of opportunity for startups and small companies to use TikTok to connect with their audience uniquely and entertainingly. Over 90% of firms spend yearly on social media marketing, particularly digital TikTok marketing. For all the right reasons, TikTok has been hailed as one of the most rapidly expanding platforms ever.

Today on the podcast, we have Brad Ball, the founder of Liquis Digital, and he will describe in-depth how to leverage TikTok as a marketing tool and search engine for customers. Stay tuned.

Key Highlights

[00:00:53] Introduction to today’s speaker, Brad Ball, and today’s topic

[00:02:45] Brad’s background

[00:08:39] Brad’s SEO web development

[00:09:16] Best practices and changes that are important for businesses as we progress to 2023

[00:14:02] What are some things businesses should consider to increase their TikTok SEO?

[00:17:37] What are some of the businesses that should start considering TikTok as an SEO?

[00:27:03] Strategies that businesses should consider incorporating to help with growth

Notable Quotes

● My joy and what I do is helping. Our mission is always to be helping our clients and our community and help our team grow.

● Regarding search and SEO agencies, I don't think everyone's there yet; therefore, there's a lot of opportunity right now to start offering that as a service.

● This isn't anything new regarding SEO and marketing; knowing your users’ intent, their search intent, and what they are searching for will give you better results and answers on what keywords you should use.

● Outside of just restaurants, a lot of industries could get into using TikTok as an SEO, especially home services, because a lot of homeowners would love to see the behind-the-scenes of it works and the ins and outs.

● Gone are the days of the influencer, and now it's all about the creator and that organic content. Just being real and transparent that's what people want to see.

● Being patient in your business is the biggest thing.

● It's all about that consistency. Consistency allows you to grow, but you have to just look at the numbers as a guide, what's working and what's not.

● One of my biggest things was getting out of my way and understanding that I was in my own way. And if you're a business owner and don't know that you're on your way, then you probably are already on your way.

● There's something out there always, and you'll probably find some sort of coaching that you're looking for. And that's the beauty of the internet: often, you'll get the answers you're looking for, and usually, it will be free because people are just putting out the content.

● Our mission is that we are here to give businesses peace of mind and provide a predictable flow of quality customers into their business so they can go to bed at night and not have to worry about if their business will continue to grow.

To get in touch with Joe:

LinkedIn: LinkedIn

Twitter: Twitter

Podcast: Lavahost Podcast

To get in touch with Brad:

LinkedIn: LinkedIn

Instagram: Instagram  

Podcast Website: Liquis Digital Marketing Podcast

Facebook: Facebook  

“Networking is a relationship-building game. And if you're in business or a professional who's looking to move up, you are in the business of networking, you're in the business of people and so networking has to be a part of our DNA.”

Experts concur that those with the greatest connections are frequently the most successful. Investing in your personal and professional relationships can pay off in the long run for your career. Networking is key to building your skill set, keeping up with industry trends, keeping an eye on the job market, meeting potential mentors, business partners, and clients, and having access to the tools you need to further your career.

Today in the episode, we have Jonathan Gehrig, a successful entrepreneur with over 16 years as a business owner. He has been a top producing producer across multiple industry verticals and has helped thousands of sales professionals excel in the industry. He has traveled the nation training companies on sales and leadership and has spoken on many stages at leadership and business functions. He has turned individuals with no sales experience into top performing, making multiple six figures in less than 12 months. He is a master of referrals and has taught others how to be masters of referrals. Today he’s here to talk about the importance of networking in your personal and professional life. Stay tuned.

Key Highlights

[00:00:52] Introduction to today’s guest: Jonathan Gehrig
[00:02:24] Jonathan’s background and how he got to a spot where networking was a good part and piece of his business
[00:05:19] Recommended tools and trades for introverted people who want to network
[00:07:53] What Jonathan trains and/or teach that is different within his networking culture that he has
[00:10:50] Jonathan talks about Quest Connect and the Quest Connect Tournament
[00:18:59] The criteria that go into the Quest Connect Tournament
[00:22:22] Type of prizes associated with the tournament
[00:24:58] Jonathan’s additional remarks
[00:30:37] Ways of reaching referrals in networking

Notable Quotes

● Networking enabled me to scale my business rapidly. The put-on stages started to help people who needed help understanding how to network properly and ask for referrals properly, which I consider referrals being a part of networking.

● There are multiple levels of people, and we must understand that the success journey is intentional, so we have to know ourselves before we can go out and figure out how we will network to scale our business properly.

● Networking is a relationship-building game. And if you're in business or a professional looking to move up, you are in the business of networking, you're in the business of people, so networking has to be a part of our DNA.

● We believe in intentionality, which is what is missing in networking.

● In Quest Connect, we teach people how to intentionally and incrementally use this to scale their business, find their team, and find their roundtable of advisors that should be in business with them, working with them to help them scale their business. But also how to work with your children, how to work with your spouse, all of this goes into it because if we're not having fun in life, we're not going to be having fun in business.

Resources

To get in touch with Joe:

LinkedIn: LinkedIn

Twitter: Twitter

Podcast: Lavahot Podcast

To get in touch with Jonathan:

Twitter: Twitter

LinkedIn: LinkedIn

If you want to sign up for the Quest Connect Tournament, go to: http://questconnect.net/  

Quest Connect L

No matter your situation, you can find a way to get into real estate. There’s no excuse for not getting started! 

Today we’re going to talk about real estate investing with Naaman Taylor. Taylor started his real estate business during the pandemic and while on active military duty overseas. He also hosts a wholesaling micro tribe, where he trains over 100 individuals on wholesaling real estate. 

Listen to the episode and learn his journey, from developing real estate interest 5000 miles away from home to becoming a successful investor who now is closing close to a million dollars worth of real estate wholesales this year, not even including income from flips and coaching. Taylor will also share some key tips for beginners on how they can kickstart their real estate journey towards achieving their dreams.

Key Highlights

[03:12] Introducing our guest today

[05:21] How Taylor got interested in real estate

[06:54] The BRRRR method

[08:40] What’s real estate wholesaling?

[10:05] Some tricks for real estate wholesaling for beginners

[11:35] What does the Micro tribe offer its members?

[13:46] Marketing tips for wholesaling real estate

[15:22] How to join Taylor’s micro tribe

[17:35] What if someone isn’t finding the deals?

[20:01] How does one find investors?

[21:00] How quickly do beginners land their first deals?

[21:38] More sales training tools

[23:33] Some typical objections from micro tribe students and how they deal with them

[28:22] Grant Cardone’s free sales training for veterans

[29:50] How to connect with Taylor

[30:52] Where did the “real estate soldier” name come from?

Notable Quotes

 ● If you understand and have a really good sales process on how to talk to homeowners, overcome objections and, and understand a market and how to run comps, you can do well in this business.

● The difference between a decent wholesaler and a great one is having a really good buyer's list and understanding a process.

● As long as you have some marketing dollars and you're willing to hustle, you can get in the game, just like anybody else.

● If people follow the systems and spend a decent amount of money on marketing, they get a deal within 60 days.

● When you haven't done sales training, you don't really understand how to get people to like you. 

● Certified closer real estate soldier is not just a nickname is real life. I'm on the phone every day, closing deals in my uniform half the time because I gotta go right back to work.

Resources

Connect with Naaman Taylor:

Website: https://www.thenaamantaylor.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naamantaylorinvestor/

Mentioned resources

Grant Cardone Veterans Sales Training University (cardoneuniversity.com)

Starting a beauty business is a dream for many women. However, starting any business can be challenging. If you want to start a beauty business, it is important to consider all the aspects of the industry before jumping in.

In today’s episode, we have the beauty launch expert who has helped over 300 beauty brands start their business from concept to launch. Ginger King is the Founder and CEO of Grace Kingdom Beauty, a cosmetic product development firm out of New Jersey focused on helping create your beauty brand. She is also a keynote speaker, and has often been quoted in over 35 beauty magazines, including Women’s Health and Teen Vogue. 

She joins us to share her 30 yerars journey in the beauty industry, including why she is focused on helping beauty brands, more about her products, and tips to get your beauty brand to the top against the bigger ones.

Key Highlights

[00:54] Introducing Ms. Ginger King

[03:02] How Ginger got into the beauty industry

[06:21] Becoming the beauty entrepreneur

[08:39] Helping beauty brands from concept to launch

[10:08] Getting featured in over 35 magazines

[11:01] Traditional vs. Vegan based makeup

[14:03] Where to order King’s vegan-based beauty products

[14:19] Why is finding a mentor important to the success of a business?

[15:33] Lessons learned as Daymond John’s mentee

[18:42] Lessons learned as Grant Cardone’s mentee

[20:47] Working as a keynote speaker

[23:29] Tips for competing against the bigger brands

[25:29] King’s onboarding process for bringing a product to market

[29:16] Helping clients come up with their products

[33:25] How to connect with Ginger King

[33:58] Ginger’s final words

Notable Quotes

● I know a lot of people when they say they are in beauty, they stumbled into beauty, but I was determined to be in beauty at a very young age.

● When you develop something, you better have a purpose behind it. You better know your why because if you don't know your why, you'll be losing money in the first three years, and you probably won't want to keep going.

● Lip balm is the only beauty product, whether you are a man or woman, or even a kid; everyone can use it. And it's the only product that can be ingested besides lipstick. 

● It's important to be mentored by people who have done it.

● Creativity follows commitment.

● When you do events, you not only get getting followers, you're getting sales, and you get a loyal family to support you.

● Having two different mentors, you can see different perspectives.

● Lip care is important because our lips have no oil glands or sweat glands. So, they do need tender loving care and drinking water a lot.

Resources

Connect with Ginger King:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeautysharkginger/?hl=en

Cosmetic Product Development Consulting Website: https://www.gracekingdombeauty.com/

It's easy to think that business ideas are only for people with money, connections, and experience. But the truth is anyone can start a business with the right combination of talent, passion, and drive.

In today’s episode, we are joined by Caine Sheppard, a friend and a person who managed to chase his dreams and turn them into a business. I have known Caine for over 20 years, and we attended the same high school. Today, Caine wears different hats; I have seen him chase his dreams in several ways, from acting, modeling, and real estate in New York to becoming a music producer.

He joins us to share his journey with us, how he managed to transition into different jobs, setting goals, crushing them, and his plans.

Key Highlights

[00:55] About Caine Sheppard

[02:25] Caine’s transition from high school to where he is now

[03:47] Getting into real estate

[05:42] How he got into music

[07:01] Here’s why you should double your failures!

[09:42] How to turn your hobby into a career

[14:28] Leading the chart in the UK

[16:02] Cultivating your hobby into a business

[18:50] Working on Radio Shows

[20:24] What’s the next goal for Caine?

[21:43] About Caine’s new song, “Never Together.”

[22:15] Upcoming live events

[25:47] Consistency is key

[26:27] Where to connect with Caine Sheppard

Notable Quotes

● It (real estate) has always been in my blood. And it's always something that I truly did enjoy. And I wanted to learn more about it.

● Remember, marketing is everything, but you have to have a good product at the same time.

● Everybody wants what everybody wants, and nobody wants what nobody wants. It's just a proven fact. And that's just the way it is.

● Just like real estate, music is a numbers game, if you put out 100 tracks, I promise there's going to be a few hits in there.

● Nobody wants to write about somebody that's nobody.

● My next goal? I don't know if it would be about stream numbers, I think it would be number one in the US.

● Consistency is key in any industry. Doesn't matter what it is.

Resources

Connect with Caine Sheppard

Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/actorcainesheppard/?_rdc=1&_rdr

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gt_ofice/?hl=en

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/muyhi7dn1qddvcn6y6dn6fepj

Website: https://gtoficemusic.com/

In today’s episode, we have JP and Parker ,  both running their own companies. I initially met JP at the Grant Cardone 10x community alongside his wife and son, Parker. JP is the owner of Wireless Technology Solutions.  Parker, 14,  has been to several Grant Cardone events and featured in 10x kids twice. Parker is also the owner and CEO of Techy, a phone and computer repair company. 

They share more about their entrepreneurial journey, experiences, and lessons from Grant Cardone’s 10x Community and how they’re navigating the challenges of managing a business in the early stages.

Key Highlights

[00:54] Introducing our guests

[02:52] JP’s views on the 10x community and lessons from it

[04:28] What things are Parker trying to pull from the 10x events?

[06:54] How the Techy franchise started and how it’s going on

[07:49] How to raise funds to start a franchise

[09:07] common challenges during early phases of the business

[10:59] How parents can get their children to embrace entrepreneurship

[15:28] Formal education vs. self-education

[16:18] How JP started Wireless Technology Solutions

[19:13] Cold calling for sales conversion

[20:20] Parker’s interest in cell phone repair

[21:29] Lessons learned from working with the Techy team

[24:13] Looking forward to Techy’s future

[25:50]  All about JP’s Pursuit to Win podcast

[30:42] How to connect with Parker

Notable Quotes

● The best part about the business is marketing. - Parker

● Most of the time, the best thing to do when you get busy is to stay late. - Parker

● A lot of people are in the middle class because they were raised in middle-class families, and they had no one to show them anything different. - JP

● Formal education will make you a living self-education will make you a fortune.

● At any age, if you want to do something, you just need to take action. - JP

● It's better to make that goal unachievable because it pushes you to do more. - JP

Resources

Connect with our guests:

JP: https://www.wirelesstechnologysolutions.net/

Parker: https://techycompany.com/waterville-me

To contact Joseph Conell:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-connell-48600254/   

The Lavahot Podcast:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lavahot-podcast/id1605677860