Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur | Start and Grow Your Own Business

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of architecture and entrepreneurship with the insightful John C Gresko, founder of Gresko Architects. With 25 years of experience in architecture, John sheds light on the prevalent issue of burnout within the industry and offers his perspective on keeping architects and entrepreneurs happy. He emphasizes the need for fair compensation, a client-first attitude, and the impact of AI on the architectural landscape. From abolishing timesheets to creating a supportive work culture, John's innovative approach challenges traditional problems in architecture. Join us as we explore how architects can communicate their value to clients and adapt to the evolving industry.

ABOUT JOHN

John C. Gresko, with a 25-year career in architecture, has demonstrated remarkable versatility, excelling in roles from project coordinator to AIA National Building Performance advisor.

Operating in Southern California, one of the most challenging markets, he led his company to substantial financial success, earning the title of "Best Place to Work in Architecture" for five years. His leadership not only achieved financial milestones but also fostered an innovative, talent-nurturing work environment, positioning the company as an industry leader. John's impact extends beyond business achievements; he is deeply committed to advocating for architects and the profession. His empathy and admiration for architectural craft drive his mission to inspire and guide others in the field.

John's extensive experience has equipped him with valuable insights, which he passionately shares to empower fellow architects, contributing to the growth and distinction of architecture. His journey offers enriching lessons for architects aiming to excel and make a significant impact in their field.

LINKS & RESOURCES

• Follow John on Instagram
• Find John on X
• Connect with John on LinkedIn
• Visit John’s Coaching Website
• Visit Gresko Architects’ Website

In this episode, host Brian Lofrumento is joined by the insightful and experienced entrepreneur, Lorraine Rise. Lorraine shares her journey from a traditional corporate career to founding her own company, Career Uprising, and offers valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and wantrepreneurs. She emphasizes the importance of taking action and finding supportive people, and she discusses the evolution of her business offerings based on customer needs. Lorraine also highlights the possibility of starting a business while maintaining other work commitments and the valuable skills gained from previous career experiences. Join us as we delve into Lorraine's inspiring story and gain valuable insights into entrepreneurship and personal development.

ABOUT LORRAINE

From her very first job out of college, Lorraine Rise has built her career on the practice of coaching others to succeed. Her career began in the health and weight loss industry, coaching hundreds of clients to reach their weight loss goals. As a Director and Regional Trainer for Jenny Craig, she gained valuable experience in hiring and mentoring dozens of employees in the areas of sales, customer service, and management.

In 2013, she was laid off and encountered several more separations throughout her early career. Lorraine took these opportunities to make a career change into Human Resources. She has since supported the recruiting efforts of numerous firms in the Washington DC area including Lockheed Martin and Integrated Intel Solutions.

In 2015, she made another career change and founded Career UpRising. Now, her personal experience and professional experience can be put to work for you!

LINKS & RESOURCES

• Visit Career UpRising’s Website
• Listen to Lorraine’s Podcast ‘Career UpRising’
• Get a copy of Lorraine’s book ‘What You Didn’t Learn In School’ on Amazon
• Connect with Lorraine on LinkedIn

Have you ever wanted a behind-the-scenes look at how a 5x per week podcast operates? Have you ever wondered what sort of work makes it possible to grow a show into one of the top 1.5% of all podcasts in the world? Well, in today's episode we're revealing EVERYTHING about what – and who! – powers this show to help us serve wantrepreneurs and entrepreneurs in over 150 countries.

You'll get an intimate chance to sit down with our show host, Brian Lofrumento, who is joined by Laura Chaves, our show's Director of Growth, to get a revealing glimpse behind-the-scenes into how we plan and manage our content calendar, how we find and select guests to come on the show, how we incorporate the show's success and reach into growing our broader portfolio of companies, and so much more.

Laura Chaves is based in Bogota, Colombia and is a pivotal part of the Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur Podcast team, with almost every guest passing through her desk before getting booked on the show. Laura has managed teams across North and South America before joining our team, and has helped us grow immensely in 2023 (and beyond!) with her diverse set of skills and experience, ranging from social media marketing to operations to PR, and so much more. In this episode you'll hear her personal story of how she manages her time, how self-introspection ensures she performs at her optimal level, and how she balances her key roles across a portfolio of fast-growing businesses.

It's the perfect Saturday, the perfect weekend, the perfect occasion, and the perfect time of year to remind ourselves to... UNPLUG.

In today's episode, host Brian Lofrumento sits down with guest John Schenkelberg to explore the world of Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) and financial leveraging. John, the founder, and CEO of Xcelle Ecom and Court Street Solutions, brings a wealth of experience from the banking world to discuss how they help clients build automated Amazon stores and leverage credit for financing. The conversation uncovers the realities of running an Amazon FBA business, shedding light on the complexities and hard work involved, debunking misconceptions of passive income, and providing valuable insights for anyone considering venturing into e-commerce. Join us as we delve into the strategies, challenges, and possibilities within the Amazon FBA landscape.

ABOUT JOHN

John Schenkelberg is the founder and CEO of Xcelle Ecom and Court Street Solutions. Xcelle Ecom builds and manages fully automated Amazon stores for his clients. Court Street Solutions helps clients leverage credit to secure financing to start and scale their businesses. He has a passion for helping his clients achieve their financial goals through passive income.

John started out his career in the banking world but realized that was not the career path that would allow him to live a happy, fulfilling life, and knew he was capable of much more. He began learning about the world of passive income and financial freedom. He ended up growing his passive income streams to the point where he reached financial independence. John has since built a successful company and used his expertise to help his clients achieve their financial goals through passive income as well. He takes great pride in seeing his clients succeed and achieve their own financial goals.

John has been featured in major news outlets such as Fox, ABC, NBC, CBS, Benzinga, Digital Journal, The Times, The Boston Herald, International Business Times, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and MarketWatch.

LINKS AND RESOURCES

• Visit Xcelle Ecom’s Website
• Connect with John on LinkedIn
• Follow John on Instagram

In today's episode, we sit down with Scott Bown, a certified financial planner with a passion for supporting caregivers of aging family members. Scott shares his personal journey and the inspiration behind Generationally Prepared, a business focused on providing valuable resources and support for caregivers navigating the complexities of caregiving and personal finance. We explore Scott's innovative approach to curating content, creating a membership community, and overcoming tech challenges as he strives for growth. Listen in as Scott offers insights, advice, and resources for caregivers, and learn how he aims to make a meaningful impact in this often-overlooked area. Don't miss the valuable information and inspiration in this episode!

ABOUT SCOTT

Scott Bown is a Certified Financial Planner™ with 20+ years of experience in financial services, insurance, and wealth management. He is an accomplished personal finance professional who has transitioned his collective experiences to focus on being an advocate and resource for Caregivers of aging family members. His advocation is shown through public speaking opportunities, community involvement, and speaking truth to the challenges faced by the Caregivers of aging family members. His being a Guide is shown through the content he creates, the online community membership site, and his focus on an educational approach.

His professional “course correction” has been a long time coming and influenced by both personal and professional experiences. He has had the pleasure of acting in the role of Power of Attorney and Executor for several family members. Why start something new now? The catalyst was a conversation with a person sharing her new role of providing care for her mother with dementia. The woman shared her extreme frustrations of not being able to gain access to the financial accounts because the required legal documents and paperwork were not in place. She simply asked Scott, “I wish I had known.” At that moment, he knew it was time to step up and make a difference on a greater scale. Generationally Prepared was formed.

He is a Seasoned Professional, Community Builder, and Aspirational Guide for caregivers of aging family members. His mission is to provide individuals and businesses with resources, information, education, and community so that caregivers have the knowledge, confidence, and support to help themselves and those they care for live their best lives.

LINKS & RESOURCES

• Visit Generationally Prepared’s Website
• Connect with Scott on LinkedIn

Today, we have the privilege of sitting down with special guest, Drew Cesario. Drew is an experienced entrepreneur who is passionate about combining sustainability with business, and founder of Botanical GRP. With a background in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry, Drew has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to revenue strategies, marketing, and sales. He believes in the power of asking the right questions to gather honest feedback and emphasizes the importance of building a strong infrastructure, including CRM systems. In this episode, Drew shares his insights on revenue systems, validated learning, and the feedback loop between marketing and sales. We also delve into the world of CPG businesses and how they position themselves in a competitive market

ABOUT DREW

Drew Cesario, a seasoned outdoorsman and backcountry enthusiast, channeled his passion into founding Botanical, marrying his personal values with his professional life. His journey through the CPG world, from the wine industry in Manhattan to Sales Management in Hong Kong, has equipped him with the skills to create revenue systems that seamlessly integrate marketing and sales. Drew excels in guiding founders, helping them navigate and grow their mission-driven businesses with clarity and purpose.

LINKS & RESOURCES

- Visit Botanical’s Website

- Connect with Drew on LinkedIn

- Find Botanical’s Resources

In today's episode we'll talk about ALL the external opinions and distractions that add noise to our lives and our minds, and how turning down that noise will allow us to tune into our own inner voices.

In today's episode we'll talk about a VERY simple and quick way to expand your thinking through the use of AI. You'll hear real life examples of how to leverage AI in this way and you'll be able to immediately start using it in your marketing, sales, offer development, long-term strategy, and so much more!

In today's episode, host Brian Lofrumento sits down with Nico Ullah, co-founder of Numinal Agency. Nico and his team are at the forefront of using data and AI technology to help athletes and brands maximize their partnerships and sponsorship deals. With the power of data and AI, they can accurately forecast an athlete's increasing reach and advise on content strategies that generate exponential exposure. Whether you're an athlete looking to build a strong brand or a brand seeking the right athlete to sponsor (or an entrepreneur looking to build your own brand!), this episode will provide valuable insights into the world of data-driven marketing and personal branding.

ABOUT NICO

Nico Ullah is the co-founder of Numinal, an LA-based marketing agency on a mission to help professional athletes and brands align their values with their media and brand strategy.

Before co-founding Numinal, Nicolas worked for multiple brands that were involved in sponsorship strategies and discovered that there is a big opportunity to optimize these partnerships by making them more data-driven (and using AI models).

Nico is currently not working with pro soccer players or brands, but he has 2 sons ages 7 and 11 who are asking him every day when that will be the case.

LINKS & RESOURCES

• Visit Numinal’s Website
• Download ‘The Ultimate AI Playbook for Athletes’
• Follow Numinal on Instagram
• Find Nico on Twitter
• Connect with Nico on LinkedIn