"Every business is in the people business.  Your customers and your employees will decide how well you do." - Steve Cotton

Everyone starts somewhere.

You've worked hard to build your business.  Things are moving along.

Then you wonder, "Should I grow this?"

Big question.  Even if you answer that question, many other questions linger.  Daunting questions.

Which type of corporate entity will support expansion?

Should I grow by expanding into other countries?

Can we create new markets by applying our skills to different problems?

How do I sort through all the different growth opportunities to find the right one for our business?

Enter Steve Cotton.

From a part time position in a shoe store to entering the C-Suite.  Steve has seen, experienced, and learned.

Now he's an investor.  A mentor.

Steve and his partners run CDK Ventures.  Leveraging their vast experience to help small businesses grow.  To expand.

To help small businesses answer those questions.  To shed light on the unknown.

In this episode, we talk about

Getting into the C-Suite

Things to consider when growing your business

Self-Awareness

 

Show Notes:

Steve Cotton Twitter:  https://twitter.com/svcotton

Steve Cotton LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/cotton/

CDK Ventures Website:  http://cdkventures.com/

"Music in combination with the other arts transforms individuals. It's the bridge that allows our students to have personal expression and connect with other people." - Helen Dolas

It's easy for most of us.  Get dressed in the morning.  Grab coffee.  Drive to work.

But for some of us, we're trapped in our bodies.  Or trapped in our heads.  And the simplest activity requires help.

Autism.  Down Syndrome.  Cerebral Palsy.

But Helen Dolas has found a way to reach these people.  To let them express themselves through music.  And art.

Art is not limited to only those with high IQ's.  Or to those with all their limbs.  Or full mobility.

Art is for everyone.  Art is expression.  Art is community.

Maria, one of the people that Able Arts helped, would like to say something to you.

Four years ago, this wasn't possible.  Maria has Cerebral Palsy.  She can only move her head just a few inches.

Now her art is displayed at LACMA, MOLA and other galleries.  She's had her own exhibitions.  And continues to be commissioned to create art pieces for international clients.

Her incredible story is in this episode.

Please enjoy this interview with Helen Dolas.

Show Notes:

Able Arts Works Website:  http://www.ableartswork.org/

Able Arts on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ableartswork/

Able Arts on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/ableartswork/

Able Arts podcast ArtBeat Radio:  http://artbeatradio.podomatic.com/

In this episode, I'm flying solo.

It's amazing how a simple message can strike a thought.  Consume our every waking thought.

That's todays episode.

A conversation with my friend turned into a stream of thoughts.  Something that inspired me to share with all of you.

In this episode, I discuss

Chasing your dream

How death brings clarity

Building real connections with people

Sharing your story

... And Much More

It's tough.  Your parents that you've grown to love, to admire.  Who were always there for you.  And for you to watch as the simplest tasks start to evade them.

Parents are proud.  They are "the parents" after all.  You're only the child.

But seeing your parents struggle pulls at all our heart strings.  We want what's best for them.

This is where Ramona Streit comes in.

Ramona has built her home care business around providing exactly what parents and their adult children believe they must have.

Assistance in Home Care is staffed with the best people, from their in home care providers to everyone in the office staff.  Everyone is cross trained so when a client calls they can get the answers they're looking for no matter who answers the phone.

Plain, old fashion, real customer service.

In this episode we discuss

Why she started this business

The difference between Home Health and Home Care

Free home care programs for Veterans

... and much more!

Show Notes:

Assistance in Home Care Website:  https://www.assistanceihc.com/

Ramona's Email: [email protected]

Assistance in Home Care Phone Number:  844-490-9755

You're dressed to the nines.  The doors swing open in front of you.  People turn their heads, seeing you.

Compliments fly.  You're feeling good.  Right at home.  The hours spent preparing yourself are paying off.

You make your way to the bar.  You're confident.  Smooth.  Feeling good.  The lady next to you whispers to her friend that her shoes are killing her feet.  That's too bad.  There's still 3 hours of partying left.

But not you.  You stopped by Tenni-Mocs.  Alex Maltezos hooked you up with great looking shoes that are comfortable.

At her store, she gives a proper fitting.  With the right shoe.  Something lost due to the "cost cutting", "time saving" MBA's that now run nearly all shoe stores.

But that's ok with Alex.  She's on a crusade.  Make people look good.  While keeping your feet healthy.  Healthy feet are important.

Because they're the only ones you got.

In this episode we talk about

Real customer service

How podiatrists work

How to pick out good, healthy shoes

... and much more!

Show Notes:

Tenni-Mocs Shoe Store Website:  http://www.tenni-mocs.com/

Tenni-Mocs Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/tennimocsshoes/

Address:

6502 East Spring Street,

Long Beach, CA

(562) 429-7777

It takes guts.

Coming to an unknown country.  Not knowing the rules.  Sensing an opportunity.  Facing overwhelming odds to make your dream come true.

Especially when you've fallen in love.

For Alex Chaunt, it was the love of aviation.  Helicopters to be exact.

For him, it became a passion.  A mission.  To share his love with as many people as possible.  To let them experience what he experiences every day.

To "slip the surly bonds of earth ... Put out my hand and touch the face of God."*

Along his path, Alex has had plenty of time to reflect, to be introspective about his entrepreneurial and life journey.

Especially the challenges one faces in life.  And how we choose to handle those challenges speaks volumes about our character.

In this episode, we talk about

The Fortitude necessary when starting a business

Is it really a failure?  Or an undiscovered opportunity?

Using fear as a motivator

Ethics and the Poison Carrot

And much more!

Show Notes:

Anthelion Helicopters Website:  http://www.anthelionhelicopters.com/

Anthelion on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/anthelion.helicopters/

Anthelion on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/AnthelionHelicopters

Email: [email protected]

Address:

3200 Airflite Way

Long Beach, California, 90807

*- Taken from the poem "High Flight" by John Gillespie Magee, Jr

There's too many options.  Too many voices.  Too much information.

Should I?  Or is it better to wait?  Are there any penalties?  What are the tax implications?  Are there any penalties?

Will this help me achieve my objective?

What is the market really doing?

I have to learn something else?  What is the IRR?

In this land of confusion, Jeff Tilson is right at home.

Jeff's mission: take your goals, turn them into a map, and help you navigate the terrain.

Whether you're goal is short term (down payment on a home) or mid-term (college education for the kids) or even long-term (retirement), Jeff leverages his vast experience to make sure you're making the decisions that are right for you.  Understanding the psychology and knowing the level of risk one is willing to take.

In this episode we talk about

People's attitudes about bull and bear markets

Rational and irrational decisions people make

How to Plan for a Downpayment

And much more!

Show Notes:

Jeff's Website:  http://www.jstinvestmentconsulting.com/

Connect with Jeff on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/JSTINVESTCO/

To take a stand.  To say this must be stopped.  To say I can do more.  Be more.  To fight for a cause.  To fight for something greater than yourself.

To defy convention.  Defy the skeptics.  The non-believers.  And to do this year after year, each year getting stronger.  Getting better.  Influencing and inspiring others.

That's courage.

That's conviction.

That's Jonas Corona.

Jonas started his crusade to help the homeless at the age of four.  And he shows no signs of slowing down.

And while many dismiss him or even simply humor him because of his youth, he has turned that to his advantage.  Being showcased time and again on national news platforms, online and print, and national TV interviews.  Drawing attention to his non-profit, inspiring kids across the nation, helping

This is what people of conviction do.  Turn disadvantage into advantage.

In this episode, we talk about

How to get involved

Evangelizing and Inspiring Others

Challenges youth face with growing a non-profit

And Much More!

Show Notes:

Love in the Mirror Website:  https://loveinthemirror.org/

Instagram:  @loveinthemirror

Facebook:  fb.com/LoveintheMirror/

Want to help?  The 1,000 Toy Give-Away:  https://loveinthemirror.org/giving-season/