PROCO360 | Best Podcast for Entrepreneurs and Business Owners

“My mantra is being perpetually 32… as our product ages this keeps us relevant.” 

I enjoyed my interview with Tom Ryan, CEO of SmashBurger.  He’s done the franchise thing before, and each time he builds in more of what he learned from before.  In the interview, Tom shares some of those lessons – about “building-in scalability,” staying relevant, and from his background with very large brands including Pizza Hut, things the big guys do that he wants to replicate, or avoid.

“My mantra is being perpetually 32… as our product ages this keeps us relevant.” 

I enjoyed my interview with Tom Ryan, CEO of SmashBurger.  He’s done the franchise thing before, and each time he builds in more of what he learned from before.  In the interview, Tom shares some of those lessons – about “building-in scalability,” staying relevant, and from his background with very large brands including Pizza Hut, things the big guys do that he wants to replicate, or avoid.

“One of the bigger challenges for founder entrepreneurs is letting go of the levers, handing the levers over…” 

Speaking with John Fischer, CEO of StickerGiant was a contrast with many other interviews I’ve had with successful entrepreneurs who are, perhaps, less deliberate. John manages StickerGiant with “Open Book Management,” and it’s not a “phase” for StickerGiant.  It’s the way the company operates, generating 20% growth year over year and a dominant and growing position in their very competitive niche.  In this interview, John and I discuss how he manages the business driven by metrics, goals and reports, while keeping the culture fun and dynamic.

“The biggest mistake I made was that I let FEAR dictate my decision about when to turn this into a business.” 

I enjoyed speaking with Andrew Hudson, of Andrew Hudson’s Job List.  A humble guy who just wanted to help job seekers, Andrew turned his part-time “Andrew’s List” into a full-time endeavor which helps Colorado employers and job seekers come together.  I was eager to learn how Andrew could possibly compete against Monster.com, Indeed.com and others.  After our conversation, I’m still amazed at what he’s done, the extremely profitable business he built based on the organic demand he innocently created, and what we can learn from his experience.

I was looking forward to better understanding the impact of 3D printing on manufacturing.  But in speaking with Aleph Object’s President, Harris Kenney, I learned a couple of things I wasn’t expecting.  First, more than I realized, 3D printing is spurring product innovation by entrepreneurs, and second, how Aleph Objects’ “open” architecture for both software and hardware has created a business that evolves as much from innovation by customers as from within.  Really fascinating – have a listen!

“The biggest mistake I made was that I let FEAR dictate my decision about when to turn this into a business.” 

I enjoyed speaking with Andrew Hudson, of Andrew Hudson’s Job List.  A humble guy who just wanted to help job seekers, Andrew turned his part-time “Andrew’s List” into a full-time endeavor which helps Colorado employers and job seekers come together.  I was eager to learn how Andrew could possibly compete against Monster.com, Indeed.com and others.  After our conversation, I’m still amazed at what he’s done, the extremely profitable business he built based on the organic demand he innocently created, and what we can learn from his experience.

"If I wasn't so OBSESSED I couldn't work this hard!"

I loved visiting with Jackie Ros, co-founder of Revolar.  Her candor and energy are refreshing.  It may seem to those on the outside that the company was an overnight success.  And relative to others, it did achieve great things more quickly than others.  Listen to learn why, including Jackie’s comment, “You have this delusion when you start a business that at some point it’s gonna get easier… at some point you’re gonna have more time in your life, and then you realize, no, each day is uniquely challenging and beautiful in its own way.”  Kendall Colman of Colman Coaching, sat in on this interview for some insights on messaging used by Revolar.

"If I wasn't so OBSESSED I couldn't work this hard!"

I loved visiting with Jackie Ros, co-founder of Revolar.  Her candor and energy are refreshing.  It may seem to those on the outside that the company was an overnight success.  And relative to others, it did achieve great things more quickly than others.  Listen to learn why, including Jackie’s comment, “You have this delusion when you start a business that at some point it’s gonna get easier… at some point you’re gonna have more time in your life, and then you realize, no, each day is uniquely challenging and beautiful in its own way.”  Kendall Colman of Colman Coaching, sat in on this interview for some insights on messaging used by Revolar.

Brandfolder is Colorado startup solving the business problems of digital asset management and whose customers ALREADY include UnderArmour, Slack, L’Oreal, Waze, OpenTable, Oskar Blues and a bunch more. This was an important conversation for any startup, particularly those whose strategy includes getting high-profile clients!

1. Developing a powerful niche