Tales From The PROS

In this episode of Tales from the PROS, I chat with Dewayne Beamon, who is a super flyweight professional boxer with a record of 16-1-1,11 knockouts, 6 titles, and two international titles, he is also voted twice for 2018 prospect of the year, and has recently signed with highly respected promotional group known as Zanfer Promotions who is run by highly respected Fernando Beltran. He has defeated all odds against him by joining the boxing game at age 23 and easily beating well known boxing contenders.

We discuss Dewayne's journey on how he became a hugely talked about boxing prospect in the game, his struggles, and some of his achievements. Dewayne also dives into the business of boxing, his training, being a leader in his niche, and much more. 

Questions Asked:

1. So, Dewayne I have known you now for over 4 years as me and you used to train in the same boxing gyms in Raleigh. Tell everyone your story of how you joined the boxing game and came into it in your early to mid-20s?
2. I know you had a boxing promotional company known as Stop Running Promotions when you were boxing in North Carolina, but you have made huge career switch last year, so tell me what happened before you made the transition to head to the west coast?
3. Tell me more about your opinion of North Carolina boxing and how it's different from other states?
4. Based on all your experience fighting and in business at the same time, do you feel that the business of boxing is corrupted?
5. Would you ever want to jump back into the business of boxing down the road or just focus on fighting?
6. What do you do to really prepare for some of the tough fights and how difficult is the training?
7. What is Dewayne Beamon's plan to fight on HBO and what will it take to get there? Because it seems you are getting very close to achieving this goal and fighting for a world title.
8. What does the future look like for Dewayne Beamon?
9. Do you have any tips to give future boxers and entrepreneurs joining the sports industry?
10. From initially joining the boxing game until now, what were some of your toughest struggles you had to go through and how did you overcome them?

Three How's:

1. How do you define failure?
2. How do you define entrepreneurship?
3. How do you define success?
4.  
5. Follow Dewayne Beamon:

YouTube  - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ1rn5mZW6UE3PWcRUjQ0lQ

Follow Me:

Podcast Website - https://www.talesfromthepros.com  Company Website - https://www.imaginovation.net  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TalesfromthePROS/  Twitter - https://twitter.com/MGeorgiou22   Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/the_mgeorgiou/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJv9pbImovknEluSLzAPTpg/featured 

In this episode of Tales from the PROS, I chat with Michaela Alexis, who is one of North America’s most in-demand speakers on topics related to personal branding on social media, particularly LinkedIn.  Since then, she has replicated that success, with dozens of articles and content receiving millions of views and reads, featured on the likes of CNBC, BuzzFeed, Success.com, Inc., and more.

We discuss Michaela's journey to how she built her personal brand, how to create content that goes viral, strategies for content engagement on LinkedIn, video creation tips, lead generation, and much more. 

Questions Asked:

1. What inspired me to reach out to you was first off see your content and videos everywhere on LinkedIn and really love your authenticity, and I know your speaking at the Inbound conference which is amazing. So essentially, what triggered you to start building your personal brand?
2. What steps or strategies did you execute to create viral content on LinkedIn and provide influence and inspiration online?
3. In your experience guiding and directing brands regarding their content and marketing, how do you leverage your personal brand with your company without creating brand clutter or confusion to your audience?
4. How do you start monetizing your personal brand on LinkedIn or in general? Or do you simply get leads and prospects by just offering amazing content and videos?
5. Many of us in business that are creating consistent content and trying to create influence and be "inspirationalists", what are your thoughts on the different social platforms and how do you find which one suits you better in building that personal or even company brand?
6. How do you guide companies in building their brands online in regards to building authenticity, validity, trust, and credibility?
7. Do you have any top tricks or strategies when creating videos to receive high engagement on LinkedIn and/or YouTube/Facebook?
8. What are some of the personal branding struggles you had to go through and how did you overcome them?

Three How's:

1. How do you define failure?
2. How do you define entrepreneurship?
3. How do you define success?

Closing:

1. Where can everyone find you?
2. Thank you so much for being a part of this podcast and sharing your story with us. I am very thankful. 
3. Thanks again everyone for listening, and this is your host Michael Georgiou on Tales from the PROS, and until next time. 

Follow Michaela Alexis:

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelaalexis/  Website - https://www.mickalexis.com/

Follow Me:

Podcast Website - https://www.talesfromthepros.com  Company Website - https://www.imaginovation.net  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TalesfromthePROS/  Twitter - https://twitter.com/MGeorgiou22   Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/the_mgeorgiou/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJv9pbImovknEluSLzAPTpg/featured 

In this episode of Tales from the PROS, I chat with Alex Wilhelm, who is a writing guru and influencer working for years with top tech news and digital publications such as TechCrunch, The Next Web, and currently is Editor-in-Chief at Crunchbase. 

We discuss top technology trends in our country, the impact and difference between funded startups vs. organic startups. In addition, we talk about the growth and impact investors have on companies, validity of our news and media, and much more. https://www.talesfromthepros.com/interviews/alex-wilhelm/

Questions Asked:

Tell us how you got into tech and business writing and now writing for some of the world's best digital publications.

From all your research and writing experience on startups, corporations, and overall technology and business, where do you feel technology is headed in our economy?

I've read some of your articles on startups, do you see any trends regarding their success, failures, or how easy or difficult it is to actually create a successful startup into a company?

Jumping into investors, funding, and acquisitions, do you think startups and even companies in general are always relying on VC's and angel investors to keep them going or are you seeing organically growing companies as well?

Let's jump a little here into the validity of news, how do you as a writer and editor ensure that everything written is indeed factual and not "fake news"?

Do you have any tips for others writing online content to receive higher engagement? 

Where do you feel content and news is headed considering all this new technology like AI?

Three How's:

How do you define failure?

How do you define entrepreneurship?

How do you define success?

Follow Alex Wilhelm:

Website - https://www.crunchbase.com/  Twitter -https://twitter.com/alex

Follow Me:

Podcast Website - https://www.talesfromthepros.com  Company Website - https://www.imaginovation.net  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TalesfromthePROS/  Twitter - https://twitter.com/MGeorgiou22   Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/the_mgeorgiou/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJv9pbImovknEluSLzAPTpg/featured 

On this episode of Tales from the PROS, I chat with Fabio Marrama, who is considered one of the top young up-and-coming business professionals in Southern Ontario, Canada, and has won the Top 40 Under 40 Business Achievement Award in Hamilton as one of the top business professionals in the region. Fabio is also a leading marketing consultant, brand and community builder, and LinkedIn strategist with over 5 million posts views and has been mentioned in top publications like Forbes and TheSpec. He continues to help professionals and leaders create more influence on LinkedIn to grow their business, establish their personal brand, and generate new leads.

We talk about his hustle and journey to becoming a young business leader in Canada and how he grows to influence others and local communities. In addition, we discuss his proven steps and strategies to creating amazing content on LinkedIn, how to gain a large reach and influence on the platform to generate impact, and much more. 

1. Fabio, what caught my attention before asking you to interview on Tales from the PROS is I saw that you interviewed the amazing Jay Shetty. Talk to me about that experience. How did you get his attention?
2. What inspired you to become a leader in Canada regarding business and marketing? 
3. I love how you have a full-time job at a Credit Union, but yet have your side hustles in becoming a LinkedIn influencer, speaking, and building and influencing a community. How do you manage all that time?
4. As we all know that your heavily engaged on LinkedIn and reaching millions of people, how did your LinkedIn influencer journey start?
5. At the end of the day, most of us want to help and inspire others, so can you provide any thoughts, processes, or tips on what worked for you in terms of reaching so many people, connecting with them, and building an online community?
6. Do you feel that LinkedIn encourages more quantity in terms of content or more quality with purpose? Sometimes I hear both from different people. 
7. In your experience, do you think all social platforms are getting harder to not be a needle in a haystack in terms of standing out and receiving engagement?
8. Where do you think social media is headed, primarily LinkedIn?
9. I know you speak lots about leadership and building community, what tips can you give future and even current business leaders on how to be a leader? 

Three How's:

1. How do you define failure?
2. How do you define entrepreneurship?
3. How do you define success?

Follow Fabio Marrama:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/fabiomarrama/  Twitter - https://twitter.com/fabiomarrama?lang=en 

Follow Me:

Podcast Website - https://www.talesfromthepros.com  Company Website - https://www.imaginovation.net  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TalesfromthePROS/  Twitter - https://twitter.com/MGeorgiou22   Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/the_mgeorgiou/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJv9pbImovknEluSLzAPTpg/featured 

In this episode of Tales from the PROS, please welcome Matthew Bergens who was commissioned as an Officer in the U.S. Army and was stationed at Fort Bragg, NC with the infamous 82nd Airborne Division. In late 2015, Matt was diagnosed with cancer. He went through multiple surgeries and radiation, and was later medically retired from the Army. Matt seeks to attend Medical School with hopes of helping children fight cancer as he did himself, which takes us here today on how founded BailaCura, which is presents a "one of its kind" dance festival connecting the power of dance to cancer patients and the medical community. The proceeds from BailaCura gets donated to the University of North Carolina’s Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center for cancer research and treatment.

Me and Matt discuss his cancer journey and how he overcame it, Cancer research and progress, starting the BailaCura one-of-a-kind dance festival and its sole purpose, and much more at https://www.talesfromthepros.com/interviews/matthew-bergens/

1. Matt, me and you have been good friends now for over two years and met in the salsa dance scene. So, in this episode I want to take a deeper dive in letting the world know your journey to BailaCura. So, can you tell us what happened leading up to finding out you were diagnosed with cancer?
2. What were the emotions you had when finding out the bad news?
3. Can you explain to us the process of what you went through during your Cancer journey and treatments?
4. From you overcoming Cancer, can you give any advice to people experiencing that struggle?
5. What was the initial trigger you had to start BailaCura? Talk to us about that inspiration.
6. Let's jump a little into the the future of BailaCura, what are your plans to take the event to the next level?
7. In your journey and experience in creating this yearly event and also dancing for years, how do you feel dancing helps people more than just getting the benefit of exercise? I want people who always wanted to dance, but haven't taken that step to also be inspired by this.

Three How's:

1. How do you define failure?
2. How do you define entrepreneurship?
3. How do you define success?

Follow Matthew Bergens (BailaCura):

Website - https://www.bailacuranc.org/  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bailacuranc/  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bailacuranc/

Follow Me:

Podcast Website - https://www.talesfromthepros.com  Company Website - https://www.imaginovation.net  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TalesfromthePROS/  Twitter - https://twitter.com/MGeorgiou22   Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/the_mgeorgiou/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJv9pbImovknEluSLzAPTpg/featured 

In this episode of Tales from the PROS, please welcome Anthony Iannarino, who is a bestselling author and internationally recognized speaker on sales, success, personal development, leadership, and entrepreneurship. He has 3 privately held staffing firms that generate annual revenues of $50M, and has consistently been named one of the 25 most influential people in the world in sales and marketing.

Me and Anthony chat about getting rid of the "salesman stigma", proven outbound sales tactics and strategies, how to sell online with content, building a sales pipeline, closing strategies, and much more. 

View this episode on Tales from the PROS - https://www.talesfromthepros.com/interviews/anthony-iannarino/ 

Questions Asked:

1. How did you get into sales training, leadership, and entrepreneurship? Tell me that story.
2. In your experience, I know you've seen and even I've seen lots of old school aggressive sales tactics still being used. So does it take a certain type of person and character to sell the right way in today's generation?
3. Since coaching and training companies and sales people over the years, what have you noticed people are doing wrong in their sales approach? 
4. Most of us know that increasing your sales pipeline is critical in growing a business, do you have certain outbound approaches or strategies that are very effective in B2B or even B2C selling? Such as how to cold call, etc.?
5. Social selling is huge now in generating leads and prospects but the internet is incredibly cluttered, what do believe works best when creating social sales content and creating that engagement to generate an ROI?
6. What would you say in today's age is the most powerful and effective sales tactic?
7. So, after providing value and interest, generating the leads, implementing the follow up process, what are the most important tips and strategies for closing the deal and not having your lead go dark on you?
8. Let's jump a little bit here, in your entrepreneurship journey in becoming a sales and marketing leader, what were some of your toughest struggles and how did you overcome them?
9. Are there any tips for aspiring sales people and sales leaders that they need to know to become the best possible?

Three How's:

1. How do you define failure?
2. How do you define entrepreneurship?
3. How do you define success?

Follow Anthony Iannarino:

Website - https://thesalesblog.com/  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thesalesblog/  Twitter - https://www..com/user/iannrino    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/iannarino

Follow Me:

Podcast Website - https://www.talesfromthepros.com  Company Website - https://www.imaginovation.net  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TalesfromthePROS/  Twitter - https://twitter.com/MGeorgiou22   Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/the_mgeorgiou/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJv9pbImovknEluSLzAPTpg/featured 

My guest on this episode is Bill Harper, who has been a brand junkie since 1998, having created brand strategies and creative campaigns for more than 300 top brands around the globe including Denny’s and Enterprise Rent-a-Car. He has built four successful advertising/strategic branding agencies and his fourth one now known as wmHarper.

Me and Bill chat about how to find a brand's purpose and message, differences between startup branding and corporate branding, integrated marketing, and much more. 

Questions Asked:

1. Bill, I read that you absolutely love creating unique brand strategies, messages, and campaigns for companies. So, how did you get into this area of marketing?
2. What does it take to reach the level of clarity a company needs to differentiate their brand from the competition and truly finding their purpose?
3. Since working with so many large global brands over the years, what have you noticed companies are missing or doing wrong in their brand strategies? Or do some not even have brand strategies?
4. Do you feel traditional based advertising is still very effective in creating a strong brand or do you feel digital is completely taking over or maybe a combination of both?
5. What do you feel is the most important step for companies to take in the process when building a brand for a startup compared to a large mid-market company or enterprise level company?
6. I read about your company's buzzword called "Dominatitude", tell us more about that? Is that part of your branding that makes you different?
7. What were some of the biggest struggles you have experienced for yourself or your clients when trying to strategically build a brand and how did you overcome them?
8. What are some of your best tips for companies and businesses out there trying to solidify their brand?

Three How's: How do you define failure? How do you define entrepreneurship? How do you define success?

Follow Bill Harper:

Website - https://www.wmharper.com/  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wmharperagency  Twitter - https://twitter.com/wmharperagency    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wmharper/

Follow Me:

Podcast Website - https://www.talesfromthepros.com  Company Website - https://www.imaginovation.net  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TalesfromthePROS/  Twitter - https://twitter.com/MGeorgiou22   Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/the_mgeorgiou/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJv9pbImovknEluSLzAPTpg/featured 

In this episode of Tales from the PROS, I chat with the amazing Sean Stephenson, who has inspired millions of people around the globe through his YouTube videos, books, and famous Ted Talks. He is a global leader, influencer, one of the most well known motivational speakers, and self-help authors today. 

Me and Sean talk about how to find your passion, what creates and maintains happiness, and living a purpose-driven life. We also chat about personal branding, how to engage with an audience, and much more. 

Questions Asked:

1. Sean, I have been following you for years now and your content and messages are incredibly inspiring to say the least. I want to kick things off by asking you what does it mean to live a purpose-driven life. How did you find your purpose? 
2. Did you ever think you would where you are today helping millions around the world?
3. What inspired you the most to share your story?
4. We all keep talking about being happy, but in your thoughts, what does that really mean?
5. I am sure you get this a lot, everyone thinks that your always happy and living this amazing life, but what are some of your biggest fears and do you think fear can play a positive in our lives?
6. To get to this point of success in life is about overcoming adversity and living and fulfilling your purpose, so what have been some of your biggest challenges other than anything physical?
7. Do you feel that living a purpose-driven life and being happy are connected, or do you think they serve different purposes?
8. I know that you are a world-renowned speaker, in your experience what does it take to engage with the audience on an emotional level, so you can change their lives?
9. Do you ever get nervous before a talk?
10. In your experience being an entrepreneur, what approach or business strategy did you follow in order to create such a strong personal brand?

I always ask the THREE HOW'S:

• How do you define failure?
• How do you define entrepreneurship?
• How do you define success?

Follow Sean Stephenson:

Website - https://seanstephenson.com/  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theseanstephenson/  Twitter - https://twitter.com/TheSeantourage   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Seanclinch  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/3footgiant/

Follow Me:

Podcast Website - https://www.talesfromthepros.com  Company Website - https://www.imaginovation.net  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TalesfromthePROS/  Twitter - https://twitter.com/MGeorgiou22   Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/the_mgeorgiou/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJv9pbImovknEluSLzAPTpg/featured 

In this episode of Tales from the PROS, my awesome guest here is Monica Wood, who is the Co-founder and CEO of Myxx. Which is an innovative recipe solution that connects personalized recipes to consumers, retailers and brands.

We chat about starting up a company and being a mother of three, and receiving funding. We talk about working with large brands in the food industry, sales and marketing strategies, overcoming struggles, building a technology platform, and more. 

Questions Asked:

1. I heard a bit of your story on why you started Myxx, and I loved that you were able to lose 100 pounds by eating healthier and cooking at home. Can you tell me more about that story?
2. Was building a successful startup something you always dreamed of doing or did it just happen because of your change in a healthier lifestyle?
3. I love how you built an omni-marketing platform connecting brands, retailers with consumers by using customer recipes and that data. How were you able to solidify the idea as a proof of concept?
4. I know you received funding from some local investors like David Gardner's 'Cofounders Capital', but what was the funding process like? 
5. How difficult was it to pitch and sell to huge brands and retailers? Which one was the hardest?
6. It seems that you have essentially filled in a gap or grey area for brands to measure whether their marketing activities actually brought people to buy their products in the grocery stores. So, now with all the data and metrics your collecting, I am sure you guys are thinking about incorporating AI technology as well?
7. Where do you feel the food industry is going in technology? Should food retailers and brands be scared? (Amazon is definitely a threat I would say)
8. Do you see any sort of competition or noise from healthy meal prep delivery brands like Blue Apron or HelloFresh?
9. To get to this point in your company, what do you foresee as the future of Myxx?
10. What were some of the toughest struggles you and your team had to go through during this entire journey?
11. Do you have a certain approach or process that aspiring entrepreneurs and new startups need to take and be successful?
12. What tips would you give to current and future business leaders and what they need to avoid or be aware of?

I always ask the THREE HOW'S:

• How do you define failure?
• How do you define entrepreneurship?
• How do you define success?

Follow Monica Wood on all her social channels and website here: 

https://www.talesfromthepros.com/interviews/monica-wood/

In this episode of Tales from the PROS, I chat with Dionisios "Dio" Favatas, who currently leads digital marketing for the award-winning truth® youth tobacco prevention campaign helping to extend the reach of the brand and its advertising. As an industry-recognized leader and digital marketing innovator, Favatas, in 2017, received the prestigious American Marketing Association’s 4 under 40 Emerging Leaders Award. In 2016, he earned a spot in the Direct Marketing News “40 under 40” list and was ranked 13th in Onalytica’s Top 100 Digital Content Marketers. Dio is also an official member of the Forbes Nonprofit Council.

We talk about how Dio and his team led an award winning Truth anti-tobacco prevention campaign, some of the steps and approaches taken for marketing campaign greatness, how Dio used data and metrics to drive audience targeting and engagement, leadership, and much more.  

Questions Asked: 

Dio, what really caught my attention was the marketing and tech content you consistently put out on Twitter regarding non-profits, and as we all know and love the well recognized Truth Initiative commercials and social media in which you manage and direct. What lead you to managing Digital for the Truth tobacco prevention campaign, and what essentially inspired you to pursue digital marketing growing up?

1. Did you ever think you would be where you are today leading Digital for an award-winning campaign?
2. What does it take for a marketing leader and a team to be nationally or even globally recognized to impact positive change?
3. In your experience, what would you consider the differences are between marketing for a non-profit than a corporation like T-Mobile for example?
4. What are some of the most effective marketing channels or strategies that you implemented and had amazing success?
5. Where do you feel social media and content marketing are headed in today's digital age? Specifically in the non-profit space. 
6. Are there any specific touch points that you've experienced in which targeted your audience most effectively?
7. Do you feel that patience plays a vital role in marketing success? People are always looking for the "quick result"
8. To get to this point of success in your career and in the Truth campaign, what were some of the toughest challenges you had and how were you able to overcome them?
9. Do you have a certain approach or step by step process of what aspiring marketing leaders need to take for campaign success?
10. What tips would you give to current and future leaders and what they need to avoid or be aware of?
11. In your mind, what does it take to be a leader?

CLOSING:

I always ask the THREE HOW'S:

• How do you define failure?
• How do you define entrepreneurship?
• How do you define success?

Follow Dionisios Favatas:

Company Website - https://truthinitiative.org/  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/truthinitiative  Twitter - https://twitter.com/TruthInitiative   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLTcqjxNhju_E9eq_uO_wrg 

Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/favatas/ 

Personal Twitter: https://twitter.com/DioFavatas 

Follow Me:

Podcast Website - https://www.talesfromthepros.com  Company Website - https://www.imaginovation.net  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TalesfromthePROS/  Twitter - https://twitter.com/MGeorgiou22   Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/the_mgeorgiou/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJv9pbImovknEluSLzAPTpg/featured