Onward Nation

Dave Mammano is the founder and CEO of the Next Step Education Group. His mission in life is to help people realize their highest potential through education. Next Step is a multi-media enterprise that has grown to become a nationwide resource with prestigious awards and honors, including being named a three time consecutive Inc. Magazine 5000 growth company and Top 100 growth company in Rochester, New York. David has spoken at hundreds of high school, college, business and EO events, including TEDx, and is the author of the new book, “Make Love in the Workplace”.

Focus on your priorities. For example, Dave likes to get the hardest task done first thing in the morning. ONWARD!

Dave enjoys running in the morning because it provides a spark of energy for the rest of his day.

Dave hired an individual with a noxious personality who almost ruined his company’s culture -- and Dave tells the whole story here.

“A business owner has to effectively manage their time by learning to schedule.”

“You have to have balance -- there has to be a balance between family and business.”

“I would have implemented a system that could bring the team together and gauge individual metrics.”

Identify one vital priority a day.

An individual who can challenge management by independently thinking of new ideas.

1. It’s a step by step process
2. Passion has to relate to profitability

• http://www.nextstepu.com
• (585) 742-1260

Husband and dad. Podcaster at ConversionCast. Conversion Educator at LeadPages. Voice actor. Aspiring Superhero. Orangeman.

Have a set routine. For example, Tim starts his day by going to the gym. Don’t let others dictate your schedule. ONWARD!

Tim believes health and nutrition are components of becoming a successful entrepreneur.

Prior to starting his entrepreneurial venture, Tim was working extremely long hours -- and Tim tells the whole story here.

“A business owner has to be able to understand copywriting because its the linguistic art of selling.”

“When you wake up -- identify something that you can’t pass up because you are so passionate about it -- and then do it.”

“I would implement a system that could help me grow my email list much faster.”

Focus on different ways to grow your email list.

An individual who understands the corporate system, finds solutions, and works with flexibility.

1. Embrace fear, doubt, and worrying
2. Entrepreneurship is not for everyone

• http://www.timthepaige.com/

Authority and Thought Leader on outsourcing contract startup, contract analysis, and contract administration systems. Deep Experience – 15 years of lessons learned and best practices from starting up the contracts of 114 of the world’s leading [Fortune 100 & Fortune 500] corporations and U.S. federal and state government agencies.

Click to tweet: Steve Olson shares his outstanding experience and insights on Onward Nation!

Begin each day with the end in mind. Make a list ranking your top five priorities. ONWARD!

Steve makes sure to spend 75% of his time prospecting to find clients through networking.

Steve’s transition from a secure high paying job to a new business owner was very difficult -- and Steve tells the whole story here.

“A business owner has to be able to satisfy the needs of their customers by understanding the marketplace.”

“Learn to develop a comprehensive marketing plan versed in strategic objectives.”

“It’s not necessarily a particular system, but I would make sure to find trusted advisors.”

You have to develop, implement, and maintain a strategic marketing plan.

An individual with integrity, a diverse set of skills, and the ability to understand your corporate mission.

1. Find trusted advisors
2. Review your business plan

• [email protected]
• http://cms-groupinc.com

Tony Parinello created his own brand of sales training called Selling to VITO™, the Very Important Top Officer in 1995. Today, he is trusted by the majority of Fortune 1,000 and over 2.5 million sales people in more than 30 countries to help them create bigger deals in less time.

Start your day doing something you love to do, identify a time during the day when you can do your best work, and get the hardest task out of the way first. ONWARD!

Tony tries to develop an unshakeable belief that is derived from identifying a single purpose.

Tony was ready to release an audio album, but failed to deliver a pitch to a notable producer -- and Tony tells the whole story here.

“A business owner has to be able to look at the end result and make it a priority before everything else.”

“Size does not matter and it never will.”

“I would put a system in place that could help with leveraging distribution points and international channels.”

You have to make it clear to the marketplace that your organization has an unshakable belief in their product or service.

An individual that can think independently, but still understands how their thoughts align with the organization.

1. Understand your purpose.
2. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
3. Find a reliable mentor.

• http://www.vitoselling.com/tony-parinello

Jim Traister is the CEO of HospitalityFan, a Social Media & Creative agency that drive sales via social media for independent hospitality businesses every day across the country.

Consolidate your channels of communication, utilize email in an effective manner, and make sure to turn off all unnecessary notifications that can become distractions. ONWARD!

Jim’s success can be attributed to family and an overall willingness to tackle the hardest task at the start of the workday.

Jim had to let go of a valued salesperson and consequently lost one of the company’s largest accounts -- and Jim tells the whole story here.

“A business owner has to be committed to their customers, understand the customer's point-of-view, and remain persistent.”

“It’s so easy to be great if you have a good work ethic because there is very little competition out there.”

“I would have put a system in place to help with sales because an inadequate system can’t fully prepare a salesperson.”

Caring is the recipe for success. Very few companies try to form mutually beneficial meaningful relationships.

An individual that can communicate effectively, take initiative, and become a proactive problem solver.

1. Find your future self.
2. Don’t listen to your friends and family if they can’t relate.
3. Be Persistent and care for everyone.

• http://www.hospitalityfan.com

Albrecht was a co-founder of Student-Online, a pioneer start-up in electronic publishing and online dictionaries in the early 1990's. He is the founder (and 2008- 2012 CEO) of Berliner Filmforum a business club and network for film and media professionals with 10,000 members. As a consultant Albrecht has worked for Osram, Europcar, Daimler, VW, Total, Cisco Systems, the Vatican, US-State Department and a number of Start-Ups and SMEs.

Make a schedule and understand your individual strengths. Try to identify a specific time during the day when you can excel at your trade. Don’t try to work when distractions are present. ONWARD!

Albrecht makes sure to close the door to signify when he is working. Closing the door limits unnecessary distractions.

When Albrecht left Syria during a period of civil unrest he lost all of his business connections -- and Albrecht tells the whole story here.

“A business owner has to learn to say no and prioritize their day in an efficient manner.”

“90% of what people say is total nonsense and the other 10% of the noise actually matters.”

“I would try to get out of the system. The educational systems I progressed through prepared me for a world that did not exist. I would love to go back and prepare myself for the real world.”

Repetition is an invaluable technique that helps business owners achieve a level of mastery.

An individual that can identify with the organization, hold onto their own ideas, and refrain from developing an ego.

1. Don’t be afraid.
2. Identify your core strengths.
3. Keep asking questions.

• http://www.themagicoftheswarms.org

Tom Dunkel has 25 years of finance and real estate experience. He currently runs 4 alternative investment companies and volunteers with the Boy Scouts of America. He enjoys sports, music and spending time with his family.

Employ traditional and simple methods. Get a journal and write down your ideas. Tom believes traditional methods compound over time and promote efficiency throughout the workday. ONWARD!

Over the last few years, Tom has made exercise and continual learning major priorities in his daily routine.

A trading partner stole nearly $750,000 of investor-raised capital from Tom’s business -- and Tom tells the full story here.

“A business owner has to have the ability to communicate their vision with the utmost clarity.”

“Take personal responsibility to become more and your success will correlate with the person you become.”

“A system versed in communicating with internal personnel and outside stakeholders.”

Identify three vital functions to limit distractions and bolster concentration.

Clear away the clutter, limit distractions, and deliver consistently.

1. Find a mentor.
2. Work towards your entrepreneurial vision.
3. Create a life plan and build your business around it.

• [email protected]
• http://usmresolution.com/
• Office: (484) 498-8254

Entrepreneur, Hyper Networker, and Success guru. I am known for the companies and groups I have started, the thought leadership in Enterprise Architecture, and my community contribution and support.

Focus on your top three income-producing activities. Focusing on your top three income-producing activities will help your team stay on track and the revenue should follow. ONWARD!

Phil follows a personal fitness routine to bolster his energy levels. Phil credits the routine for his energy throughout the workday.

One of Phil’s largest clients sent a letter notifying the company that there was a breach of contract -- and Phil tells the whole story here.

“A business owner needs to be determined and have the ability to persevere through hardship.”

“Done is better than perfect. The creative process is dynamic, but you have to get the job done.”

“I would go back and look at systems versed in planning with an emphasis on life planning.”

Everyone within the organization has to understand what needs to be done to bring income into the company.

You have to be committed to customer service and creating meaningful relationships.

1. Find a mentor.
2. Be comfortable with change.
3. Reflect daily regarding the state of your business.

• http://cadeon.com

Afraa Zammam is co-founder of "The Magic of the Swarms", a charity for refugee children based on her husband's art.

Get an accountability partner. An accountability partner is anyone who is going to help you stay focused. Afraa believes accountability partners help an individual to adhere to their daily schedule. ONWARD!

Afraa makes a sincere effort to mediate and take walks throughout the workday.

A war in Syria broke out and took a toll on Afraa’s international cosmetic company -- and Afraa tells the whole story here.

“A business owner has to have patience and excellent communication skills.”

“Live life by design instead of life by default. Environment is everything. Your environment is a direct reflection of yourself.”

“I don’t think I would go back and push the reset button to add a specific system. We’ve found a way to take advantage of our particular situation over the past three years.”

Take ownership of your responsibilities, don’t make excuses, and never blame others for your own mistakes. “Do you want to be the wave or do you want to be the surfer?”

Write down all your goals and make sure to stay on track.

1. Just do it.
2. Surround yourself with people you admire.
3. Get rid of any major distractions that hinder your business.

• http://www.themagicoftheswarms.org

Shane Stott is CEO of Walker Tape Co, and the co founder of Zen Float Co. He's an inventor at heart and has revolutionized both of his industries. His inventions have been featured on ABC, MSN, and Yahoo. He is a very active industry expert in both fields producing webinars, interviews, and how-to videos that can be found at ZenFloatCo.com and WalkerTapeCo.com.

Make a “WIN-list” not a to-do list. Making a win list allows an individual to focus on their vital priorities. Starting with the hardest task on your WIN-list is a great way to initiate the day. This recipe helps Shane’s build enough momentum to conquer major challenges. ONWARD!

Shane has developed a morning routine that consists of his daily workout regiment, a balanced breakfast, and this motivational audio (Link to MP3) that gets him in the zone during his commute to work.

Shane was working on an innovative prototype when it literally sprung a leak. Ultimately, Shane’s team went back to the drawing board to find a solution -- and in the process -- improved the product.

“Business owners need to take advantage of our information world by accessing free information and making a commitment to constant learning.”

“I chased it and I got it, but it didn't bring me the joy that I had initially expected.”

“I would build a beta testing group for both of my businesses at a very early stage.”

Welcome feedback as a team because it’s an opportunity for growth.

Individuals who can manage themselves in their own respective field with the utmost honesty and humbleness.

1. Give it your best effort until you have nothing left to give.
2. Have total faith that you can conquer the twists, turns, and obstacles.
3. Don’t limit your potential.

• [email protected]
• [email protected]
• http://www.shanestott.com