Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur | Start and Grow Your Own Business

In today's episode, host Brian Lofrumento sits down with special guest Alejandro Aguilar, founder of RestoStrategy and an expert in marketing for the restaurant industry. Alejandro brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the table, with almost 30 years in the industry and a passion for helping restaurants thrive. Together, they delve into the world of entrepreneurship and discuss the importance of intentional and ROI-driven marketing strategies. Get ready to discover the secrets behind effective marketing in the restaurant industry and how it can make all the difference in your business' success. So grab your headphones, tune in, and let's jump right into the insightful conversation with Alejandro Aguilar.

ABOUT ALEJANDRO

At only 44 years old, Alejandro Aguilar has been working for nearly 30 years. However, nothing has impacted his career more than his time at McDonald's where he started working in a single location and went up to manage financial planning for over 200 stores in 4 countries.

Despite having switched industries that range from logistics to telecommunications and non-profits, Alejandro has always had restaurants in a special place in his heart.

In 2008 he became part-owner of a Sushi Bar in Caracas-Venezuela, that doubled down as a Discoteque at night. This experience, full of unbelievable stories, showed him the reality of being an owner without the resources of a giant corporation and where every penny matters.

In 2016 he was selected to become a Checker's franchisee in Miami.

So, it's fair to say Alejandro knows how restaurants work. With his financial background, and operational experience combined with the marketing and technology knowledge built over the years, Alejandro is a power force for the restaurant industry and he's determined to change it forever with RestoStrategy.

LINKS & RESOURCES

• Visit Alejandro’s website
• Check out Alejandro’s book on Amazon
• Find Alejandro on LinkedIn

On this episode of The Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur Podcast, host Brian Lofrumento is joined by Gina Arcediano, the founder and CEO of Unleash Advertising & Advocacy. With over 25 years of experience in media business development and marketing, Gina is an expert at helping people unleash their messages. Brian and Gina delve into the importance of community engagement in today's digital world and how businesses can align with nonprofits for mutual benefit. They also discuss the significance of transparency, building trust through relatable experiences, and advocating for oneself and one's brand. Additionally, the episode focuses on the value of consistent branding, frequency of exposure in marketing efforts, and the importance of trust across different mediums. Gina shares actionable steps for listeners to start unleashing their message through PR, social media, and storytelling.

ABOUT GINA

Gina Arcediano is an accomplished Television Journalist, Investigative Producer, Business Marketing Executive & the Founder & CEO of Unleashed Advertising & Advocacy, with 25 years of media, business development & marketing experience at ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC affiliates as well as creating high-impact campaigns airing on the HGTV, Food Network, Fox News, CNN and more.

Gina is a media industry veteran, who knows what it takes to stand out, cut through the marketing clutter, and deliver results using the power of media, advertising, marketing, and public relations.

LINKS & RESOURCES

• Visit Unleashed Advertising & Advocacy’s Website
• Follow Unleashed Advertising & Advocacy on Instagram
• Follow Unleashed Advertising & Advocacy on Facebook
• Find Gina on LinkedIn

In today's episode we'll talk about the game of life and entrepreneurship and how wins and losses can't be measured by the same magnitude. We'll be discussing an inspirational post found on Reddit by the user u/WoOoOoOoShHhHh. Find the original post here within r/GetMotivated.

In today's episode we'll talk about the powers and benefits of leaving your phone at home for a half day or even a full day and how that can unlock new levels of performance in your life and entrepreneurial journey.

On this episode of The Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur Podcast, host Brian Lofrumento is joined by guest Stephanie Shalofsky, founder of The Organizing Zone, to discuss effective organization and its importance in achieving personal and professional goals. Drawing on her 15 years of experience, Stephanie emphasizes understanding client challenges and developing appropriate systems for workflow management. She shares about virtual organizing sessions using Zoom, where clients are coached on decision-making and clutter reduction. A particular focus of this episode is managing digital clutter, such as messy desktops or overflowing inboxes, with Stephanie advising against using inboxes as a to-do list. She also stresses the value of task recognition, deadline assignment, breaking tasks into manageable portions, and time-blocking, and highlighted the time-saving benefits and the resulting calmer, more controlled life approach.

ABOUT STEPHANIE

Stephanie Shalofsky founded The Organizing Zone 15 years ago and provides organizing and productivity services to small companies and individuals. Utilizing her exceptional organizing skills as a foundation, Stephanie embarked on various careers, capitalizing on her ability to create positive change and attain her desired outcomes. However, it wasn't until she made the decision to strike out on her own that Stephanie truly found her calling. Recognizing her passion for helping others achieve greater organization and control in both their personal and professional lives, she launched her own business. She is also a member of NAPO (National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals) where she served in the NYC chapter.

LINKS & RESOURCES

• Visit The Organizing Zone’s Website
• Subscribe to The Organizing Zone’s YouTube Channel
• Find Stephanie on LinkedIn

On the latest episode of The Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur Podcast, host Brian Lofrumento and founder of First North Marketing, Jon Stojan, discuss strategies for successful selling on Amazon. The conversation underscores the importance of a strong product, managing reviews, and prioritizing sales velocity over immediate profits. Emphasizing the value of Amazon's pay-per-click platform, Jon shares strategies such as using inserts for review generation, optimizing Amazon SEO, and leveraging high-quality images and videos. The efficiency of AI in analyzing reviews and the reliability of Amazon's logistics network were also part of the conversation. Jon shares his experience building a successful business on Amazon amidst its increasing competitiveness. Jon also shares some real life secrets and tips about the influence of paid advertising on organic sales and underscores the importance of brand building and perseverance for achieving success on Amazon.

ABOUT JON

Jon Stojan is a driven and resilient individual who began his journey as a means to pay for college through the ROTC program. His entry into the military coincided with the tragic events of 9/11, which deeply impacted him and made him realize the importance of serving his country in such a tumultuous time. After graduating, Jon dedicated four years to active duty and has since remained active in the reserves for 13 years. This experience honed his skills in data analysis and problem-solving.

Taking the leap towards entrepreneurship, Jon focused on building a successful business on Amazon. The platform provided him with the flexibility to work during his free time, allowing him to balance his military commitments and pursue his entrepreneurial dreams. Today, he helps other brands win on Amazon as the founder of his premier agency First North Marketing.

LINKS & RESOURCES

• Visit First North Marketing’s Website
• Find Jon on LinkedIn
• Get your hands on Jon's BONUS of a FREE Conversion Hero Title

On this episode of The Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur Podcast, host Brian Lofrumento welcomes Emma Wihtol, the founder of Frame Marketing, for a conversation about social media growth. Emma shares her expertise in various marketing aspects, including social media, audience growth, content that converts, and influencer outreach. In this conversation we tackle the challenge of attracting new audiences and underscore the value of human connection, even in business-to-business relationships.

ABOUT EMMA

Emma Wihtol is the founder of Frame Marketing, where she is responsible for creating content and managing various client social media accounts. Prior to her current role, Emma worked as a digital marketing intern for Sky Society, demonstrating her versatility by engaging in tasks such as writing SEO optimized blog posts and overseeing influencer campaigns. When not occupied with work, Emma enjoys spending time in the mountains or planning her next travel adventure.

Emma completed her academic journey at Oregon State University, earning a double degree in marketing with an emphasis in digital communications and sustainability. Throughout her educational tenure, Emma has exhibited a strong drive, consistently seeking out new opportunities for learning and personal growth. Notably, during her time in college, Emma undertook internships at Soapbox, Ten Rivers Food Web (where she focused on sustainability and analytics), and Intel (in the finance department), all of which played pivotal roles in her ongoing learning and professional development.

LINKS & RESOURCES

• Visit Frame Marketing’s Website
• Follow Frame Marketing on Instagram
• Follow Frame Marketing on TikTok
• Find Frame Marketing on LinkedIn

In today's episode we're going to be addressing that nagging feeling that ALL entrepreneurs experience from time to time when it feels like nothing is working.

In today's episode I'll share with you my good friend Marc Zimmermann's favorite piece of advice: make an appointment with yourself! We'll talk about identifying your domino task and the actions that go along with it, and then the importance of putting it in your calendar so that it gets done this week and you have some big wins and forward progress and momentum seven days from now!

In this episode of The Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur Podcast, Brian Lofrumento interviews Kelly Gust, the founder and CEO of HR Full Circle. Kelly shares her expertise on various topics such as hiring, employee engagement, team dynamics, and career growth. She emphasizes tailoring strategies to different personality types and taking the time to understand their preferences and behaviors. Kelly advocates for engaging job advertisements and treating employees as humans during the onboarding process. The conversation also covers organizational culture, understanding team dynamics, and using tools like the predictive index to identify communication styles. Overall, this episode provides valuable insights and practical advice for optimizing talent and cultivating a thriving workplace.

ABOUT KELLY

Kelly Gust is the founder and CEO of HR Full Circle, a talent optimization and HR consulting firm, providing expertise to organizations of all sizes and stages. Kelly helps businesses hire, inspire and engage teams to perform. She builds platforms for change, opens doors to help people reach their potential, and clears the fog that lies between strategy and execution. Kelly has held leadership roles in employee selection, leadership assessment, organization development, learning and change management in organizations from 10 to 100,000 employees.

Kelly holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota and a master's degree in industrial-organizational psychology from California State University. She serves as the HR Expert-in-Residence for University of Illinois Research Park, an Expert Advisor for Innovate Springfield, and writes a monthly column for the Springfield Business Journal. She serves on the board of Habitat for Humanity of Sangamon County and is the 2022 Past President for the Women Entrepreneurs of Central Illinois. When not working to build high-performing organizations, she enjoys spending time with her two “tweenage” boys, cooking healthy food that they refuse to eat as well as running, landscaping, and spending time at the lake.

LINKS & RESOURCES

• Visit HR Full Circle’s Website
• Follow HR Full Circle on LinkedIn
• Find Kelly on LinkedIn