I am the founder of Etoile luxury handbags. I was born in Montreal, CN and Etoile is French for the word star. You'll feel like a star when you carry an Etoile bag. Etoile is the most fascinating, beautiful exquisite handbag collection you will ever come across. I'm recording today from one of our New York City factories, I love to spend time with the product. t's a really great, happy place for me. 

Tip - Most Successfuls entrepreneurs have fun!

And we build fantastic, beautifully aesthetic pleasing bags that really resonate well with a wide audience. Our DNAis really in the intelligence of the bag. Our most popular bag contains a second bag, it's totally convertible. 

Tip - Many successful entrepreneurs design a product or service with one addtional "stand-out" feature.

I'm still the Creative Director for Etoile. I designed the first bag to solve problems for me when I travelling to see high end buyers whne I worked in high-end fashion. I needed to look the part and be efficient and that' how Etoile was born. 

Tip - great entrepreneurs solve problems. 

My Childhood

My mother worked for a big corporations, but when I was young girl, she had a flower shop. Though on a smaller scale, my mother did set an entrepreneurial example for me. I don't recall saying, I want to be just like my mom. In fact, I recall wanting to be the opposite of my mom and just being silly. I think in retrospect I can see that it certainly has shown me that it's a possible. In some ways, I've turned into my mother - LOL. We sell direct to consumer and to luxury retailers. Selling to luxury retaailers allowed us to quickly expand our footprint in different regions. 

TIp - Alternative distribution channels for entrepreneurs can help you quickly expand geography and market share.

We started in 2018 and our first customer was a luxury store named Stanley Korshak in Dallas. Since that time we expanded it to e-com and to our own brick and mortar stores. I'm very, very strict on distribution. Brand equity is so important if youre trying to beuild a great American luxury brand. Even though this is our fifth year, I feel like we are still in the infancy of our brand.

I went to college and studied business. I always ha a calling for the fashion industry, and fortunately Montreal is global hub of fashion. Out of college I wnet to work for a marge American luxury brand working on their Canadian sales and distribution. I did well enough that I was privileged to sit in a CEO walkthroughs and meetings. I learned so much at that and my next jobs. The second job I had total ownership of four brands. It was like being an entrepreneur with someone else's money. My last job was all about product development and creative. I got to travel to Asia, to Europe, to visit factories, to understand how to maximize,yielding your fabrics all abou tmanufacturing. 

TIP - Many entrepreneurs learn their trade while employed for other Companies.

In my career I had, I touched so many different sides of the fashion industry that I though, oh my God, I know everything. That's gonna be a breeze. I've learned so much more since staarting Etoile. First, when we make mistakes. We acknowledge the mistake, fix it and move forward. There's no need to dwell on mistakes, fix it and don't do it again. The hardest lesson has been cashflow management. You cannot really be successful until you masterd the cash. As a young company, we've had to be very agile and be very lean operationally.

One of our mutual mentors is Jay Rodgers. Jay has knowledge of experience in different types of business and has been very generous with his time in heloing me and Etoile. There are times where I've called Jay and asked a question, got an answer, I slept on it and found out I disagree. The value of successful mentors is immense to your business growth.

For information on how to work with Don visit Work With Don Williams

You can also reach Don at https://donwilliamsglobal.com

Theirs a Doctor in the house and his name is Dr. Thaddeus Gala. Thaddeus is an entrepreneurs' entrepreneur. He owns and runs several Companies. Every year Thaddeus hosts the Guardians Annual Retreat, bringing together 500 entrepreneurs, leaders, and philanthropists for a weekend of inspiration. The event features headliners like Gary Vaynerchuk, Natasha Graziano and a host of other A list Speakers. Tickets are always sell out almost as soon as they become available.

Dr. Gala's parents were one of a kind. His father was a Vietnam War veteran, while his mother was a grade school teacher. They fell in love instantly when they met. Within weeks, they picked up their lives and moved to the forests of Oregon.

Dr. Gala spent his formative years surrounded by nature in a rustic household. He had chickens as pets. Exercise involved cutting firewood. And winters meant finding new ways to unfreeze the pipes. Growing up, Dr. Gala always felt like the forest offered unique problems, which required equally unique solutions. Learning how to solve problems on his own led to the development of Thaddeus' entrepreneurial spirit.

Dr. Gala's first foray into business involved medicine. When his mother became ill with a life-threatening condition, he came face-to-face with the limitations of the current healthcare system. Thaddeus founded Complete Care, a multi-specialty clinic that advocated natural methods for pain and chronic disease. Today, Complete Care is responsible for over 50,000 patient visits a year. Last year, Dr. Gala's mom celebrated her 75th birthday by running a marathon. 

Like other great entrepreneurs, Dr. Gala is a master of the road less travelled. He has since ventured into taxation prevention and mentorship and boasts immense success in both. While he fell into both fields by accident, the entrepreneur in him recognized the opportunity, which allowed him to pursue it. This is one of the traits that separates great entrepreneurs from other businessmen.

First, opportunities are many times disguised as problems. When an average entrepreneur finds themself at a fork in the road, they may see that as a negative. But when a great entrepreneur finds themself at a crossroad, they look for the value of the options ahead. Reframing problems as opportunities may mean the difference between another bad day at the office and a groundbreaking idea.

Second, gratitude results in a never-empty cup. Each day, Dr. Gala makes time to list down three things for whihc he's thankful. He leaves these lists around his house, so that he is constantly reminded of the many blessings in his life. He firmly believes that this practice helps him become more present. It elevates his mood, which also improves the energy of those working with and for him.

And third, environment is the single best driver of behavior. If you surround yourself with the right people, you set yourself up for success. The Guardian Annual Retreat works on this premise. Every year, over 500 like-minded individuals gather in Puerto Rico to discuss health, wealth, and impact. The Guardian Annual Retreat is responsible for the growth of hundreds of great entrepreneurs all over the world.

proven

adjective

1. demonstrated by evidence or argument to be true or existing.
2. "a proven ability to work hard"

• (of a new method, system, or treatment) tried and tested.

en·tre·pre·neur

noun

1. a person who organizes and operates a business or businesses, taking on greater than normal financial risks in order to do so.

The Proven Entrepreneur - Success Stories share real stories from real entrepreneurs about how they got where they are.

https://provenentrepreneurshow.com

https://donwilliamsglobal.com

Great entrepreneurs have nerves of steel. At the peak of his career, Roland found himself in legal hot water. That event cost him his house, money, marriage, freedom, law and accounting licenses. Roland has gone on to build &/or exit 24 businesses with sales from $3 million to almost $4 billion. Roland is currently a Principal in Scalable.co, DigitalMarketer, Traffic & Conversion Summit, War Room Mastermind, Fully Accountable, Scribe Publishing, Real Estate Worldwide and others. 

Experience is a great teacher for great entrepreneurs

Roland grew up in a small town in Covington, Virginia, but he always had big dreams. He was very close to his father. As a kid, Roland watched his attorney father meet with great entrepreneurs from every field. He decided early on that he wanted to be an entrepreneur himself.

Roland was an absolute natural. He got his first paying job at 13-years of age, where he taught five-year olds how to play tennis. During the first half of high school, he put on magic shows for an extra penny. During the second half, he joined a band that played in clubs that he wasn't even old enough to get into. In between performing, he was flipping real estate all across the United States. He sold insurance and securities. Once he set his sights on something, there was no limit to what he was willing to do.

He followed his father's advice and took accounting in college, because "numbers are important in all businesses". He also followed his dad's footsteps as an attorney and went into law school.

Roland's law practice grew quickly and easily. But an issue with a client resulted in the largest setback of his life. Roland's wife divorced him. And he lost millions of dollars in lawyer's fees. But he refused to give in.

During these dark times, Roland held onto what he was great at. He had always been a deeply happy person. He utilized this energy to get into the mindset that had him working on his plans. Soon enough, he was working on businesses that were close to his heart.

Co-founder and/or principal of 5 different Inc. Magazine fastest growing companies (e-commerce, e-learning, SaaS + real estate).

Serial entrepreneur who built or sold 24 businesses with adjusted sales ranging from $3 million to just under $4 billion.

Currently CEO of All Channels Media, LLC, and principal in Scalable.co, DigitalMarketer.com, Traffic & Conversion Summit, Praxio.com, TruConversion.com, War Room Mastermind, Fully Accountable, Everbowl Restaurants, Big Block Realty, Scribe Publishing and Real Estate Worldwide.

Roland’s work includes infomercials with Guthy-Renker, publishing deals with Simon & Schuster & Random House, shows with major hotels on the Las Vegas strip, over 100 private and public offerings, running an international hedge fund, advising major brands on a variety of business and legal related issues (from PepsiCo to McDonald’s).

Roland has a real passion for business and putting deals together and is always looking for businesses to invest in or acquire, re-position and sell. Recent strategic partnerships and clients include Microsoft, Southwest Airlines, Etihad Airlines, Harper-Collins Publishing, Fedex and Uber.

Specialties: Acquiring or partnering with entrepreneurs to scale businesses through acquisitions, strategic relationships and marketing. Roland is also adept at negotiation, copywriting, marketing strategy, structuring and funding of mergers and acquisitions and,

Jordanian Proven Entrepreneur Abeer stand amongst the ranks of great entrepreneurs. She is a woman, a mom, and an entrepreneur, but that didn't stop her from building a multi-million dollar business.

Small child, big dreams

Abeer grew up in Jordan, a country whose claim to fame is being the lowest point on Earth. As a child, she watched her father work in one business after another. Her father worked in everything from oil to insurance. Unsurprisingly, Abeer got her work ethic from her father. While everyone else was playing house, she played company with her siblings, where they pretended to run a business from their backyard.

Abeer turned her dreams into actual businesses as soon as she could. During college she sold t-shirts and earrings from her dorm. And she also launched a meal delivery program that was 20 years ahead of Uber Eats. 

While Abeer's early business attempts didn't stand the test of time, they taught her how to run a company. These lessons would help her build one of the most successful women-run businesses in this decade.

A natural entrepreneur

Upon graduation, Abeer set her sights on growing as a businesswoman. She joined Aramex, the largest logistics, courier, and package delivery company in the Middle East. Over the next five years, she learned the ins and outs of motivation, leadership, and customer service.

Abeer started Better Business because she recognized a need among small and medium-sized enterprises. Like other great entrepreneurs, she took what she learned from her first job and applied it to her own business.

Better Business is now the leading organization for management consulting and human capital development in Jordan and the surrounding area. Since launching in 2003, Better Business has given over 500 companies a brighter future. 

Abeer credits Better Business's growth to consistency. She always makes sure to lead by example and encourages her team to practice what they preach. This allows Better Business to follow through on every promise that it makes to its clients.

A businesswoman for the modern age

The COVID-19 pandemic presented an important challenge for Abeer. By this time, after almost two decades in the business, the company was running smoothly. All of a sudden, COVID-19 restricted how they could run their programs and seminars. Instead of insisting on the status quo, Abeer met with her team to find a new course of action. Within three days, they pivoted their set-up online. Today, Better Business counts companies in Asia and the US among their clients.

Better Business is where it is today because Abeer is fearless. She constantly and continuously pushes boundaries to be all that she can be. In 2013, she climbed to Mt Everest base camp with a group of great entrepreneurs to help raise $1M for cancer research. It is this level of work and commitment that allows Better Business to help its clients be all that they can be. 

proven

adjective

1. demonstrated by evidence or argument to be true or existing.
2. "a proven ability to work hard"

• (of a new method, system, or treatment) tried and tested.

en·tre·pre·neur

noun

1. a person who organizes and operates a business or businesses, taking on greater than normal financial risks in order to do so.

The Proven Entrepreneur - Success Stories share real stories from real entrepreneurs about how they got where they are.

https://provenentrepreneurshow.com

https://donwilliamsglobal.com

Dr. Carrie Santos, PhD is a superwoman. She started her entrepreneurial journey as a lead strategist in the US State Department. Today Dr. Santos serves as CEO of Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO), which is home to 15,000 of the world's most successful entrepreneurs. 

Carrie was born in a small town in the deep Midwest, where every house looked the same. For as far back as she could remember, she knew she that there was more to the world than her little corner.

When she was 12, she came across a book on foreign policy that changed the direction of her life forever. She went on to complete a degree in Russian Studies and a PhD in Political Science. 

Right after graduation, she joined the US Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where she worked on human rights and refugee issues. Unsurprisingly, her work in the US State Department led to a position with the American Red Cross. Over the next decade, Carrie was directly involved in spearheading international disaster response efforts. Every time disaster struck, no matter where disaster struck, Carrie was there.

Like successful entrepreneurs, Carrie took every project as a learning opportunity. In fact, she learned some of her best lessons during her early years of work.

For one, Carrie's recognized the value of growing and maximizing existing networks. As a program director in the Red Cross, Carrie always aimed to deliver help in the quickest amount of time. But even if the Red Cross arrived within a few days of each calamity, they always found that help was already being given. Carrie eventually realized that the locals could do such quick work because they were utilizing networks that always existed within the community. As CEO of EO, Carrie tries to do the same. She hires from within the EO network whenever possible. When needed, she asks for advice from her peers.

For another, Carrie learned the value of speaking up and being heard. When she first started in politics, she often deferred to her superiors because they were older. But the more she spoke up, the more she realized that she had something to offer. In the same regard, she learned the importance of giving good actionable feedback. Oftentimes, teams work with a singular focus to the point of burnout. Recognizing team members for their good work is the best way to boost morale and redirect goals.

EO is a global non-profit organization with members in over 60 countries. As CEO, Carrie is responsible for every one of the organization's 15,000 members. While the work is tough, Carrie enjoys every minute because she considers it as an exercise in life-long learning. Her tenure in EO has also taught her the power of tenacity. Most of the time, the truest test of success is simply having enough faith to see things through.

She is a mom, foreign policy advocate, and CEO of the EO.

Carrie is a wonderful role model. She is a mother, a foreign policy advocate, and the CEO of one of the most respected organizations for Entrepreneurship in the world. Without a doubt, the future of EO looks bright with her at the helm.

Former NFL player John Madsen shares his success story on how he trains athletes and CEO's to success.

Nicholas shares his success story. Nick lost his father at an early age, became a pastor, added a side hustle, became a full time entrepreneur and today is the world's leading Facebook strategist.

Rock Star community builder Lan Phan shares her story. Lan was born in Vietnam and her family immigrated to the US as a refugees. She earned degrees from both Stanford & Harvard. And Lan founded the the community of SEVEN which grew to 200,000 members in one year when she lost her job at the start of the pandemic.

David Anderson shares his story from country club caddy to entrepreneurial success and global leadership of Entrepreneurs' Organization.

Marcelle LeBlanc shares her story from almost bankrupt to success on this episode of the Proven Entrepreneur Show. Marcelle owns Velvet Box which is an upscale adult store chain specializing in adult toys, lingerie and education from licensed sex educators.