The Entrepreneur’s Studio

Jeff Sheldon doesn’t buy into common tropes about what it takes to create a successful business, including the idea that more is better. His 14 year venture, Ugmonk has taught him that staying true to your purpose is far more important than growth for the sake of growth itself. Jeff’s passion for simplicity and focus on the customer experience shows up in his products and also helps him keep Ugmonk free from the entrepreneurial trap of staying ahead of the competition.

Less is enough, and more isn't better. This simple phrase is something Jeff Sheldon has lived by and has used to keep his business and purpose connected to his roots. His journey and creation of his company, Ugmonk, started with something other than a business plan or the desire to become an entrepreneur. However, fourteen years later, his designs and focus on bringing form and functionality to the marketplace have made him an ongoing success.

Making every product by hand and taking the road less traveled approach to business, Jeff explains why sticking to the core of your business vision and mission is the ticket to true success. Ugmonk's philosophy results from Jeff's passion for high-quality products, customer service, and sustainability, with some inspiration from a Mexican fable on how to live a full and busy life while staying true to oneself.

Jeff joins us in The Entrepreneur's Studio and shares the keys to his business sensation, the future of Ugmonk, and how he connected his products in a world of obsolescence.

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The Entrepreneur’s Studio is sponsored by Auris, helping small and mid-sized businesses simplify payroll and HR with powerful tools and real human support. Learn more at https://www.auris.io 

Tim Tebow, philanthropist and former NFL quarterback knows a thing or two about being a part of winning teams. He currently leads his team at the Tim Tebow Foundation using skills he’s learned from his favorite coaches and the game of life.

As an entrepreneur, one of those skills he values highly is the ability to create and communicate a vision of success. In this episode, we’ll hear about the time Tim transferred schools to play for a coach who painted a shared vision of success even in the face of certain defeat. Spoiler alert— they won. Follow along as Tim shares why a vision is key to building the bonds necessary to succeed, how a beginner’s mindset will always make your performance — and your team’s — better, and why you should welcome the gift of feedback.

This is part two of our full interview with Tim Tebow. Check out part one of the interview if you’d like to catch up before jumping in to this episode.

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The Entrepreneur’s Studio is sponsored by Auris, helping small and mid-sized businesses simplify payroll and HR with powerful tools and real human support. Learn more at https://www.auris.io 

We all love good food. But successful restaurants don’t thrive on good food alone.  From the menu to the atmosphere to the location and price point, running a great restaurant takes a lot more consideration than what’s on the plate. Chef Kevin Lee, a curator of culinary excellence, is no stranger to the ins and outs of the restaurant business. He’s an expert at scaling his techniques from the kitchen to perfect the operations side as well. We sat down with Chef Lee to chat about his experiences as an entrepreneur and hear about his latest venture, Birdies, a fusion with Korean fried chicken and Southern comfort food. Follow along and you’ll learn all about the risks and challenges of running a successful restaurant without compromising the dream, from concept to creation.

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The Entrepreneur’s Studio is sponsored by Auris, helping small and mid-sized businesses simplify payroll and HR with powerful tools and real human support. Learn more at https://www.auris.io 

Amy Downs, author and motivational speaker, moved to Oklahoma City in her twenties feeling underwhelmed by her past and unmotivated for the future. She was working at the Federal Employees Credit Union that fateful day on April 19, 1995, when her world was literally turned upside down. She survived the Oklahoma City bombing that claimed the lives of 168 people. In the aftermath of that tragedy and with the guidance of a mentor, her mindset began to shift from complacency to purpose. 

Today, she has a unique message to deliver–wake up and take control of your life. From getting her master’s degree and becoming CEO, to losing more than 200 lbs. and competing in a triathlon, Amy is no stranger to setting big goals and achieving them one small step at a time. 

We sat down with Amy in the Entrepreneur’s Studio to hear her story which is less about tragedy than it is about transformation. Follow along as we hear her insights about resilience, the satisfaction of living a life of purpose, and how to push forward in the face of adversity.  

In this episode, you will hear:

• Surviving the OKC bombing: Amy’s story
• Take time to show people you care
• You have the power to create your future
• Life is short– avoid complacency 
• Small steps lead to big transformations
• Achievement is possible when you’re true to yourself

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The Entrepreneur’s Studio is sponsored by Auris, helping small and mid-sized businesses simplify payroll and HR with powerful tools and real human support. Learn more at https://www.auris.io 

Laird Hamilton, a big wave surfing athlete and wellness entrepreneur, is no stranger to danger and risk. Before he was a household name for breaking records, Laird took on many odd jobs (including modeling and acting) to fuel his true passion and vocation as a professional and competitive surfer and athlete.  

He took on opportunities to further his career and build a personal brand. From a humble recipe he created for his own use, he built a health and wellness company, Laird Superfoods. His company is based on the tenets he used as a spokesperson: honesty and belief in the product.   

Laird sits down with the Entrepreneur’s Studio to share how he went from a “young daredevil” on the most dangerous beaches in the world to the successful health and wellness entrepreneur he is today.

This is part 1 of 2 from our conversation with Laird Hamilton. Want to be alerted when we drop the conclusion of this conversation? Visit theentrepreneurs.studio and SUBSCRIBE for notifications and other exclusive content from The Entrepreneur's Studio.

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The Entrepreneur’s Studio is sponsored by Auris, helping small and mid-sized businesses simplify payroll and HR with powerful tools and real human support. Learn more at https://www.auris.io 

Mike Beckham didn’t set out to create the world’s best insulated drinkware brand. He didn’t daydream of launching a groundbreaking product. Instead, he wanted to create and lead a company with a culture that put generosity at the forefront. A nine-figure business with a product that’s become a household name in an already crowded market? That was just a bonus.

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The Entrepreneur’s Studio is sponsored by Auris, helping small and mid-sized businesses simplify payroll and HR with powerful tools and real human support. Learn more at https://www.auris.io 

Follow The Entrepreneur’s Studio so you never miss an episode:

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The Entrepreneur’s Studio is sponsored by Auris, helping small and mid-sized businesses simplify payroll and HR with powerful tools and real human support. Learn more at https://www.auris.io 

Sometimes, negotiation is a matter of life or death. Fortunately, the negotiation training offered by former hostage negotiator Chris Voss today doesn’t come with the same high-stakes as the negotiations he’s had with criminals and terrorists during his decades-long career with the FBI.

Though entrepreneurship is unlike kidnappings and bank heists, there are still a series of negotiations business owners can and should prepare for: sudden rent hikes, ambiguous vendor contracts, hiring employees, etc. 

Follow along as Chris shares the framework for a successful negotiation, including the commitment to a positive frame of mind and the ability to let go of potential outcomes in order for “something good” to happen. Hear, too, his misconception about setting goals and why he doesn’t like the word “compromis

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The Entrepreneur’s Studio is sponsored by Auris, helping small and mid-sized businesses simplify payroll and HR with powerful tools and real human support. Learn more at https://www.auris.io 

Former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow believes deep-rooted respect is earned little by little. Whether on the gridiron or in an office, leaders can build relationships through “the grind”  —  small, everyday actions that build trust. Accepting the grind and leading by example can give teams the trust they need to execute when the game clock is dwindling or a project goes downhill. 

This is part 1 of 2 from our conversation with Tim Tebow. To be the first to be alerted when we drop the conclusion of this conversation, be sure to visit theentrepreneurs.studio and SUBSCRIBE for notifications and other exclusive content from The Entrepreneur's Studio

Follow The Entrepreneur’s Studio so you never miss an episode:

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The Entrepreneur’s Studio is sponsored by Auris, helping small and mid-sized businesses simplify payroll and HR with powerful tools and real human support. Learn more at https://www.auris.io 

Magie Cook made a discovery: You don’t find limitless success when you run a business based on fear. You find limitless success when you run a business based on purpose. She would know. 

On her journey from an orphanage in Mexico, to founding a salsa manufacturing company with just $800, to selling that business for $231M, Magie Cook learned firsthand that sometimes if we want to accomplish big things, we first have to look within. 

Listen to Magie’s inspiring journey to discover the secret to salsa, self improvement and success.

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The Entrepreneur’s Studio is sponsored by Auris, helping small and mid-sized businesses simplify payroll and HR with powerful tools and real human support. Learn more at https://www.auris.io