Working Dads

Episode 34: Angie Hilem, 32, President of Heighten Social #Timestamp 00:50- Cheeseburgers (Cheddar, BBQ Sauce, mushrooms, caramelized onions, fried egg, and arugula…you know, for health reasons) 02:15- Introduction 04:45- Where Did the Desire to Teach Come From? 06:20- Thoughts on Quitting School? 09:00- How Teaching Has Helped Her Business 11:40- Early Struggles of Business 13:25- 18:00 Biggest Failure Thus Far (One of The REALEST Moments on the Podcast to Date!) 17:30- How Mentorship Has Helped Angie Grow as a Person 20:00- Her Relationship With Philadelphia And What Inspired This Interview 23:00- Note Taking 24:00- Stay True To Yourself, Do What You Love, and Surround Yourself With Awesome People - Stay True To Yourself - Do What You Love - Surround yourself with people who are on the same level of either self growth or have been where you are, that are honest and willing to tell you what you need to adjust your stride or look for a situation differently. Angie Hilem Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angiehilem Personal Website: https://angiehilem.wordpress.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/angiehilem Why I Know Angie: http://technical.ly/philly/2016/03/08/angie-nick-hilem-bay-area/ Business Website: http://www.heightensocial.com __________ Techie, Millennial Author, WWE Fan, Podcaster. Philadelphia native, Johnathan Grzybowski started his career at 14 mowing lawns. Over 5 businesses later, Johnathan has a deep passion on bettering the lives of millennials and helping them execute their ideas into profitable businesses. It’s never been easier to start a business, but how do you make it successful? Constantly millennials are claiming to be entrepreneurs, but may not truly know what it takes to either become one or last long enough to succeed at being one. By listening/viewing The Blind Entrepreneur, we are determined to help those who are “blind” see the true struggles of business, successes, and the grind it took these millennials to succeed. #LINKS Email: [email protected] Podcast: http://theblindentrepreneur.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jgrzybowski Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/grzybowskij Instagram: http://instagram.com/grzybowskij Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/grzybowskij #SUBSCRIBE iTunes: http://bit.ly/TBEPodcast #PS. I’m a huge WWE Fan and I also love to laugh. Send me a question or phrase that makes you laugh, and I will incorporate it into my podcast. I’ll even tag you in the show notes and handle in the video!

For dads figuring out work, family, and everything in between.

Nobody prepares you for this.

Not the guilt of leaving for work when your kid is still asleep. Not the pressure of providing for a family while trying to build something that actually matters. Not the identity crisis that hits when you realize you're not just the guy who grinds anymore — you're somebody's dad. And that changes everything.

I started Working Dads because I lived that. I'm co-founder of Penji, husband to Emily, and dad to a two-year-old who already has more energy than I do. I've been bootstrapping a company for over a decade and I still don't have it all figured out. But I've learned that the most dangerous thing a working dad can do is try to figure it out alone.

So every week I sit down with founders, executives, investors, and everyday dads who are in the thick of it. We talk about the real stuff. The marriage conversations you keep avoiding. The financial pressure nobody admits to. The moment your kid looks up at you and you realize you've been somewhere else even though you've been standing right there.

We've also got Built During Bedtime — my weekly newsletter for working dads. The one thing I write after my daughter goes to sleep. Straight to your inbox. No fluff.

And we've got a community. Slack channel and Facebook group full of dads who get it. The kind of guys you can be honest with. The kind of friendships that actually go somewhere.

Come find your people.

Working Dads. For dads figuring out work, family, and everything in between.

If you would like to know the real hardships of entrepreneurship and understand what it's like to obtain money from a VC you need to listen to the 21 minute mark. It's some of the best and most real advice you will hear directly from a young CEO. #Timestamp 00:30- Introduction 04:20- How Poker Started His Entrepreneurship Career 09:10- Bob’s Parents Were The Perfect Combo of Who Bob is Today 10:45- Nature Vs Nurture 12:00- Struggles in Business 16:30- Was There Ever Any Doubt? And The Escape Hatch 18:30- Mental State Before and After Considerable Growth 22:00- The Article That Inspired The Interview 29:08- Entrepreneurship Isn’t For Everybody, Force Those Awkward Conversations, Honesty and DTRT, and Have Fun! 35:50- Pork Tacos! Entrepreneurship Isn’t For Everybody “I took a more pragmatic approach before becoming an entrepreneur. For me, I needed two checkmarks before I went all in: 1. Did I feel like If I didn’t do this I would be wondering for the rest of my life? 2. Do I have an idea that I have legitimately validated and have made other people extremely excited about either joining me, investing real dollars, or paying for the product/service. Before you quit your job and make a drastic move, you need to know if this idea gets you from nothing to something. A lot of people go after entrepreneurial ideas by building out a slide deck filled with information. They then tell their best friends and/or college professors about their idea, but it’s dangerous because of course they give you positive feedback! Force Those Awkward Conversations So many companies get started from not asking the right questions. Force the hard questions like, what would it take to invest 10k into the business or what would it take to join me in this journey. Getting the feedback to whats missing is so important and will help you in the long run. Honesty and DTRT There are two of our core values at RJ Metrics. Do The Right Thing (DTRT) was always an argument ender in a situation between things that are morally grey. No matter how big or small the company is, doing right by your customers makes you sleep better at night. If you apply DTRT to any situation, there is always a clear answer. BONUS Have Fun! Bob Moore Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertjmoore Website: https://rjmetrics.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/robertjmoore Personal Website: http://www.robertjmoore.com The Article That Inspired This Interview: http://technical.ly/philly/2016/02/16/rjmetrics-25-layoffs/ Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RJMetrics __________ Techie, Millennial Author, WWE Fan, Podcaster. Philadelphia native, Johnathan Grzybowski started his career at 14 mowing lawns. Over 5 businesses later, Johnathan has a deep passion on bettering the lives of millennials and helping them execute their ideas into profitable businesses. It’s never been easier to start a business, but how do you make it successful? Constantly millennials are claiming to be entrepreneurs, but may not truly know what it takes to either become one or last long enough to succeed at being one. By listening/viewing The Blind Entrepreneur, we are determined to help those who are “blind” see the true struggles of business, successes, and the grind it took these millennials to succeed. #LINKS Email: [email protected] Podcast: http://theblindentrepreneur.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jgrzybowski Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/grzybowskij Instagram: http://instagram.com/grzybowskij Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/grzybowskij #SUBSCRIBE iTunes: http://bit.ly/TBEPodcast #PS. I’m a huge WWE Fan and I also love to laugh. Send me a question or phrase that makes you laugh, and I will incorporate it into my podcast. I’ll even tag you in the show notes and handle in the video!

For dads figuring out work, family, and everything in between.

Nobody prepares you for this.

Not the guilt of leaving for work when your kid is still asleep. Not the pressure of providing for a family while trying to build something that actually matters. Not the identity crisis that hits when you realize you're not just the guy who grinds anymore — you're somebody's dad. And that changes everything.

I started Working Dads because I lived that. I'm co-founder of Penji, husband to Emily, and dad to a two-year-old who already has more energy than I do. I've been bootstrapping a company for over a decade and I still don't have it all figured out. But I've learned that the most dangerous thing a working dad can do is try to figure it out alone.

So every week I sit down with founders, executives, investors, and everyday dads who are in the thick of it. We talk about the real stuff. The marriage conversations you keep avoiding. The financial pressure nobody admits to. The moment your kid looks up at you and you realize you've been somewhere else even though you've been standing right there.

We've also got Built During Bedtime — my weekly newsletter for working dads. The one thing I write after my daughter goes to sleep. Straight to your inbox. No fluff.

And we've got a community. Slack channel and Facebook group full of dads who get it. The kind of guys you can be honest with. The kind of friendships that actually go somewhere.

Come find your people.

Working Dads. For dads figuring out work, family, and everything in between.

Elizabeth Convery, 32, From Washington Township, New Jersey currency rises in Philadelphia. Founder of VERY Real Estate, which is a boutique residential real estate brokerage firm focused on providing an experience around buying or selling a home in the core neighborhoods of Philadelphia. #Timestamp 01:00- Cookies and Cream from Franklin Fountain 02:10- Introduction and How She Started Very RE on a Dare! 07:50- How VeryRE is Different Than Most 08:45- The Passion Behind Hospitality 10:50- Struggles in VeryRE 13:10- Internal Struggle Of Self Doubt 14:35- Work/Life Balance 15:20- Biggest Failure 18:55- Leaving a Digital Footprint 20:45- Drink Coffee, Know What You Don’t Know, and Find a Mentor Drink Coffee Elizabeth built her business differently than most. Her business relies 100% on referrals. She doesn’t do advertising and doesn’t buy leads. Every client she has is from a different personal connection from her current clients. When Elizabeth moved back to Philly, she had to reestablish a network. She drink so much coffee it took a while to bring herself back down to one cup a day. Elizabeth mentions: “Don’t be afraid to reach out to people and ask to buy them a cup of coffee.” If you go into the meeting with a positive mindset to meet people and ask for stories, business will flow from that because you're genuine... Look for quality relationships. Foster those relationships and relationships will turn into business..." Know What You Don’t Know “I’ve made mistakes along the way but consult attorney’s. There are so many things that need to happen to protect you... It’s a wonderful time for the internet, look online for books, blogs, articles, and educate yourself to find the correct players..." Says the owner of Very RE Find a Mentor "Find mentors in various stages in their careers. As an entrepreneur you need a sounding board." Said Elizabeth. One of the hardest parts in business, was that she didn’t have a peer to talk to. "When you’re a sole entrepreneur, you don’t have anyone. Find someone that can help you and validate you’re on the right track." Elizabeth Convery Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethconvery Website: http://www.veryre.com/elizabeth-convery/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/convery_em Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VeryRealEstate __________ Techie, Millennial Author, WWE Fan, Podcaster. Philadelphia native, Johnathan Grzybowski started his career at 14 mowing lawns. Over 5 businesses later, Johnathan has a deep passion on bettering the lives of millennials and helping them execute their ideas into profitable businesses. It’s never been easier to start a business, but how do you make it successful? Constantly millennials are claiming to be entrepreneurs, but may not truly know what it takes to either become one or last long enough to succeed at being one. By listening/viewing The Blind Entrepreneur, we are determined to help those who are “blind” see the true struggles of business, successes, and the grind it took these millennials to succeed. #LINKS Email: [email protected] Podcast: http://theblindentrepreneur.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jgrzybowski Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/grzybowskij Instagram: http://instagram.com/grzybowskij Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/grzybowskij #SUBSCRIBE iTunes: http://bit.ly/TBEPodcast #PS. I’m a huge WWE Fan and I also love to laugh. Send me a question or phrase that makes you laugh, and I will incorporate it into my podcast. I’ll even tag you in the show notes and handle in the video!

For dads figuring out work, family, and everything in between.

Nobody prepares you for this.

Not the guilt of leaving for work when your kid is still asleep. Not the pressure of providing for a family while trying to build something that actually matters. Not the identity crisis that hits when you realize you're not just the guy who grinds anymore — you're somebody's dad. And that changes everything.

I started Working Dads because I lived that. I'm co-founder of Penji, husband to Emily, and dad to a two-year-old who already has more energy than I do. I've been bootstrapping a company for over a decade and I still don't have it all figured out. But I've learned that the most dangerous thing a working dad can do is try to figure it out alone.

So every week I sit down with founders, executives, investors, and everyday dads who are in the thick of it. We talk about the real stuff. The marriage conversations you keep avoiding. The financial pressure nobody admits to. The moment your kid looks up at you and you realize you've been somewhere else even though you've been standing right there.

We've also got Built During Bedtime — my weekly newsletter for working dads. The one thing I write after my daughter goes to sleep. Straight to your inbox. No fluff.

And we've got a community. Slack channel and Facebook group full of dads who get it. The kind of guys you can be honest with. The kind of friendships that actually go somewhere.

Come find your people.

Working Dads. For dads figuring out work, family, and everything in between.

Mellisa Schipke, 28, CEO and Co-Founder of Tassl which is a company that is building technologies to connect universities networks by priding tools to create meaningful relationships with their alumni. #Timestamp 01:10- Introduction 03:15- How Her Alumni Helped Her Business 04:45- How She Contacted Her Alumni Network 06:10- How To Build A Network With Your School (AKA DOWNLOAD TASSL) 07:35- The Struggles of Getting Out of The Corporate World and Shifting To a Startup 10:10- How Melissa Created a Board 13:45- Life As An Entrepreneur 15:45- Work/Life Balance 18:10- Resources Used Daily 19:10- How Do You Envision a Better Work/Life Balance? 20:40- Networking Is Key, Being Self Aware, and It’s Not Easy 26:30- Penn State’s Chocolate Chip Mint Ice Cream! Networking Is Key and Being Self Aware “You have to network the right way. It’s not all about networking and asking: What can you do for me?… Building relationships is critical and important… Really understanding the space you want to get into is critical to finding those people that fit and putting them together… Also knowing who you are and being self aware is just as important…” Said the CEO of Tassl. It’s Not Easy “You have to be really smart but also a little crazy. You have to be smart on the business side, but not too tied to the idea of the business… The crazy part comes in to the hours and stress and also putting your savings account on the line to live in that work of uncertainty… You cant be stubborn and think your idea is better, you need to understand what’s going on in the market and how you can fit in… You have to be the right person to be doing it and that’s what investors are looking for as well…” Says Melissa. __________ Techie, Millennial Author, WWE Fan, Podcaster. Philadelphia native, Johnathan Grzybowski started his career at 14 mowing lawns. Over 5 businesses later, Johnathan has a deep passion on bettering the lives of millennials and helping them execute their ideas into profitable businesses. It’s never been easier to start a business, but how do you make it successful? Constantly millennials are claiming to be entrepreneurs, but may not truly know what it takes to either become one or last long enough to succeed at being one. By listening/viewing The Blind Entrepreneur, we are determined to help those who are “blind” see the true struggles of business, successes, and the grind it took these millennials to succeed. #LINKS Email: [email protected] Podcast: http://theblindentrepreneur.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jgrzybowski Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/grzybowskij Instagram: http://instagram.com/grzybowskij Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/grzybowskij #SUBSCRIBE iTunes: http://bit.ly/TBEPodcast #PS. I’m a huge WWE Fan and I also love to laugh. Send me a question or phrase that makes you laugh, and I will incorporate it into my podcast. I’ll even tag you in the show notes and handle in the video!

For dads figuring out work, family, and everything in between.

Nobody prepares you for this.

Not the guilt of leaving for work when your kid is still asleep. Not the pressure of providing for a family while trying to build something that actually matters. Not the identity crisis that hits when you realize you're not just the guy who grinds anymore — you're somebody's dad. And that changes everything.

I started Working Dads because I lived that. I'm co-founder of Penji, husband to Emily, and dad to a two-year-old who already has more energy than I do. I've been bootstrapping a company for over a decade and I still don't have it all figured out. But I've learned that the most dangerous thing a working dad can do is try to figure it out alone.

So every week I sit down with founders, executives, investors, and everyday dads who are in the thick of it. We talk about the real stuff. The marriage conversations you keep avoiding. The financial pressure nobody admits to. The moment your kid looks up at you and you realize you've been somewhere else even though you've been standing right there.

We've also got Built During Bedtime — my weekly newsletter for working dads. The one thing I write after my daughter goes to sleep. Straight to your inbox. No fluff.

And we've got a community. Slack channel and Facebook group full of dads who get it. The kind of guys you can be honest with. The kind of friendships that actually go somewhere.

Come find your people.

Working Dads. For dads figuring out work, family, and everything in between.

Ethan Buckman, 24, Cherry Hill, NJ The co-founder of Stickman Brews in Royersford, PA, Stickman Brews is an american farmhouse style brewery, that makes old Belgium and farmhouse styles of beer with new american flavor profile. It’s generally an enjoyable place to hang out with an awesome atmosphere and of course great beer. #Timestamp 00:30- Introduction 02:00- Selling Beer in his Dorm 06:30- Passion For The Industry 08:15- Struggles In Business 09:55- How Ethan Received The Capital To Open His Business 11:40- Importance of His Business Plan 14:30- Failure of Over Paying The Graphic Designer 15:30- Efficieny as a Brewer 16:45- Resources and Old School Whiteboards 19:30- Get Experience, Always Pay Yourself First, Start The Business With Partners And Stick To Your Roles 24:00- Mussles, Fries, and Boozy Belgium Triple Get Experience "Brewing is a tangible thing, just because you make good beer at home, doesn’t mean you are qualified to run a brewery yourself. Do it professionally and do it on a big scale first." "Always Pay Yourself First I don't mean this in the sense of just salary, but because you’re going to be poor for a while, you need to take care of yourself. Get enough sleep and take care of the things that matter most..." Start The Business With Partners And Stick To Your Roles "Most businesses do not run well unless there is a team of people surrounding them. The reason we (our business) get along so well is that we have roles that we are good at and only meet in the middle when necessary. If you are good at your job and stick to what you're good at, there is no room for micro managing..." Ethan Buckman Website: http://www.stickmanbrews.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/stickmanbrews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stickmanbrews/ Personal Twitter: https://twitter.com/rabbibuck __________ Techie, Millennial Author, WWE Fan, Podcaster. Philadelphia native, Johnathan Grzybowski started his career at 14 mowing lawns. Over 5 businesses later, Johnathan has a deep passion on bettering the lives of millennials and helping them execute their ideas into profitable businesses. It’s never been easier to start a business, but how do you make it successful? Constantly millennials are claiming to be entrepreneurs, but may not truly know what it takes to either become one or last long enough to succeed at being one. By listening/viewing The Blind Entrepreneur, we are determined to help those who are “blind” see the true struggles of business, successes, and the grind it took these millennials to succeed. #LINKS Email: [email protected] Podcast: http://theblindentrepreneur.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jgrzybowski Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/grzybowskij Instagram: http://instagram.com/grzybowskij Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/grzybowskij #SUBSCRIBE iTunes: http://bit.ly/TBEPodcast #PS. I’m a huge WWE Fan and I also love to laugh. Send me a question or phrase that makes you laugh, and I will incorporate it into my podcast. I’ll even tag you in the show notes and handle in the video!

For dads figuring out work, family, and everything in between.

Nobody prepares you for this.

Not the guilt of leaving for work when your kid is still asleep. Not the pressure of providing for a family while trying to build something that actually matters. Not the identity crisis that hits when you realize you're not just the guy who grinds anymore — you're somebody's dad. And that changes everything.

I started Working Dads because I lived that. I'm co-founder of Penji, husband to Emily, and dad to a two-year-old who already has more energy than I do. I've been bootstrapping a company for over a decade and I still don't have it all figured out. But I've learned that the most dangerous thing a working dad can do is try to figure it out alone.

So every week I sit down with founders, executives, investors, and everyday dads who are in the thick of it. We talk about the real stuff. The marriage conversations you keep avoiding. The financial pressure nobody admits to. The moment your kid looks up at you and you realize you've been somewhere else even though you've been standing right there.

We've also got Built During Bedtime — my weekly newsletter for working dads. The one thing I write after my daughter goes to sleep. Straight to your inbox. No fluff.

And we've got a community. Slack channel and Facebook group full of dads who get it. The kind of guys you can be honest with. The kind of friendships that actually go somewhere.

Come find your people.

Working Dads. For dads figuring out work, family, and everything in between.

ProveYourself.com is a professional network for visually organizing and showcasing your talent and achievements and beyond. #Timestamp 00:30: Introduction 05:30- Prove Yourself 12:00- Everything Aligned, But Something Was Missing 15:00 - 17:00- Great Analogies 20:00- It's Person Oriented Things, Intelligence and Being an Entrepreneur, and Take A Look At The Man In The Mirror It’s Person Oriented Things You have to be persistent, you have to be tenacious, disciplined, humble, and all of that stuff extends into your work ethic, types of people you’re choosing, your team, your culture and it all comes back to your product. He realized a while back that it doesn’t matter what he does, he’s going to be great at it. Intelligence and Being an Entrepreneur It’s God Given. You definitely meet people in life that are naturally great at things,; eliminating learning curves, picking up on things quick. But then there are late bloomers, but overall it comes from somewhere. It’s experiential. Your quickness to learn comes from the experiences you’ve had in life. Take a Look At The Man In Mirror Michael was a “dick” in the beginning of his career. His failure inevitably humbled him and allowed him the ability to lay things on and turn it off. He knows how and when to turn it off and it wasn’t always that way. Michael Midure Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelmidure Website: ProveYourself.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/mmidure Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mmidure/ __________ Techie, Millennial Author, WWE Fan, Podcaster. Philadelphia native, Johnathan Grzybowski started his career at 14 mowing lawns. Over 5 businesses later, Johnathan has a deep passion on bettering the lives of millennials and helping them execute their ideas into profitable businesses. It’s never been easier to start a business, but how do you make it successful? Constantly millennials are claiming to be entrepreneurs, but may not truly know what it takes to either become one or last long enough to succeed at being one. By listening/viewing The Blind Entrepreneur, we are determined to help those who are “blind” see the true struggles of business, successes, and the grind it took these millennials to succeed. #LINKS Email: [email protected] Podcast: http://theblindentrepreneur.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jgrzybowski Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/grzybowskij Instagram: http://instagram.com/grzybowskij Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/grzybowskij #SUBSCRIBE iTunes: http://bit.ly/TBEPodcast #PS. I’m a huge WWE Fan and I also love to laugh. Send me a question or phrase that makes you laugh, and I will incorporate it into my podcast. I’ll even tag you in the show notes and handle in the video!

For dads figuring out work, family, and everything in between.

Nobody prepares you for this.

Not the guilt of leaving for work when your kid is still asleep. Not the pressure of providing for a family while trying to build something that actually matters. Not the identity crisis that hits when you realize you're not just the guy who grinds anymore — you're somebody's dad. And that changes everything.

I started Working Dads because I lived that. I'm co-founder of Penji, husband to Emily, and dad to a two-year-old who already has more energy than I do. I've been bootstrapping a company for over a decade and I still don't have it all figured out. But I've learned that the most dangerous thing a working dad can do is try to figure it out alone.

So every week I sit down with founders, executives, investors, and everyday dads who are in the thick of it. We talk about the real stuff. The marriage conversations you keep avoiding. The financial pressure nobody admits to. The moment your kid looks up at you and you realize you've been somewhere else even though you've been standing right there.

We've also got Built During Bedtime — my weekly newsletter for working dads. The one thing I write after my daughter goes to sleep. Straight to your inbox. No fluff.

And we've got a community. Slack channel and Facebook group full of dads who get it. The kind of guys you can be honest with. The kind of friendships that actually go somewhere.

Come find your people.

Working Dads. For dads figuring out work, family, and everything in between.

There are unfortunately not enough characters to explain how brilliant this man is. Do yourself a favor and listen to this entire interview. Then after you listen, read my interpretation of the interview on TheBlindEntrepreneur.com #Timestamps 00:30: Introduction 05:50- Lightbulb Moment When He Knew Banking Wasn’t His Future 11:10- That Transition From Banking To Startup 18:30- How David Received Feedback From Customers 20:00- Have a Question That You Want To Ask, Use a Landing Page To Find Out! 23:25- David’s Biggest Failure As a Leader 29:00- How David Stays Mentally Fit (BTW The Answer Will Surprise You) 34:35- How David Became Curious 38:50- Chipotle and Everything on It David Chen Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haishachen Website: https://www.strikingly.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/Strikingly Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/strikingly Personal Twitter: https://twitter.com/HaishaChen Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strikingly

For dads figuring out work, family, and everything in between.

Nobody prepares you for this.

Not the guilt of leaving for work when your kid is still asleep. Not the pressure of providing for a family while trying to build something that actually matters. Not the identity crisis that hits when you realize you're not just the guy who grinds anymore — you're somebody's dad. And that changes everything.

I started Working Dads because I lived that. I'm co-founder of Penji, husband to Emily, and dad to a two-year-old who already has more energy than I do. I've been bootstrapping a company for over a decade and I still don't have it all figured out. But I've learned that the most dangerous thing a working dad can do is try to figure it out alone.

So every week I sit down with founders, executives, investors, and everyday dads who are in the thick of it. We talk about the real stuff. The marriage conversations you keep avoiding. The financial pressure nobody admits to. The moment your kid looks up at you and you realize you've been somewhere else even though you've been standing right there.

We've also got Built During Bedtime — my weekly newsletter for working dads. The one thing I write after my daughter goes to sleep. Straight to your inbox. No fluff.

And we've got a community. Slack channel and Facebook group full of dads who get it. The kind of guys you can be honest with. The kind of friendships that actually go somewhere.

Come find your people.

Working Dads. For dads figuring out work, family, and everything in between.

Make an Important People List When Greg first moved to Delaware to do this full time. He created a list of important people in Delaware. People who were on that list were key individuals in the business community, individuals from non profits, schools, and more…He then took that list and connected with them on Linkedin. Out of those 25 people, 3 of them answered and that’s what it took to get the business rolling. From there, there was a cycle of positivity. Where one introduction led to another introduction, that led to a sale, that led to more positive outcomes. Greg states: “If I were just starting out, I’d introduce myself to people more successful and take the roll of mentorship. Say something like “I admire you from what you did and how you did it, can I learn from you?” From Greg’s experiences, most people are kind and gracious to teach you. Develop a Plan Greg Says” If you’re going to give yourself a chance to succeed. Develop a plan. Whether its saving money for 3-4 months or working a job that you don’t want to for a short period of time. Give yourself 6 months to a year to go all in on what you love!…” Understand Your Industry “Test as much as possible. The more customers you can talk to and the more users you can speak with, will help you make sure you’re doing things right. Ask the right questions and talk to the right people!…” #Timestamps 00:30- Introduction 06:25- Struggles in Business 09:45- Biggest Failure to Date 12:15- Greg’s Anxiety and How He Overcame It 17:35- How Has Meditation Helped Your Communication With Business Partners 19:25- What It Takes To Sell 23:00- Make an Important People List, Develop a Plan, and Understand Your Industry 26:30- All Chocolate Everything! (Brownie, Ice Cream, and more chocolate deserts) Greg Star Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-star-5911b562 Website: http://www.carvertise.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/carvertise Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carvertise/ __________ Techie, Millennial Author, WWE Fan, Podcaster. Philadelphia native, Johnathan Grzybowski started his career at 14 mowing lawns. Over 5 businesses later, Johnathan has a deep passion on bettering the lives of millennials and helping them execute their ideas into profitable businesses. It’s never been easier to start a business, but how do you make it successful? Constantly millennials are claiming to be entrepreneurs, but may not truly know what it takes to either become one or last long enough to succeed at being one. By listening/viewing The Blind Entrepreneur, we are determined to help those who are “blind” see the true struggles of business, successes, and the grind it took these millennials to succeed. #LINKS Email: [email protected] Podcast: http://theblindentrepreneur.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jgrzybowski Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/grzybowskij Instagram: http://instagram.com/grzybowskij Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/grzybowskij #SUBSCRIBE iTunes: http://bit.ly/TBEPodcast #PS. I’m a huge WWE Fan and I also love to laugh. Send me a question or phrase that makes you laugh, and I will incorporate it into my podcast. I’ll even tag you in the show notes and handle in the video!

For dads figuring out work, family, and everything in between.

Nobody prepares you for this.

Not the guilt of leaving for work when your kid is still asleep. Not the pressure of providing for a family while trying to build something that actually matters. Not the identity crisis that hits when you realize you're not just the guy who grinds anymore — you're somebody's dad. And that changes everything.

I started Working Dads because I lived that. I'm co-founder of Penji, husband to Emily, and dad to a two-year-old who already has more energy than I do. I've been bootstrapping a company for over a decade and I still don't have it all figured out. But I've learned that the most dangerous thing a working dad can do is try to figure it out alone.

So every week I sit down with founders, executives, investors, and everyday dads who are in the thick of it. We talk about the real stuff. The marriage conversations you keep avoiding. The financial pressure nobody admits to. The moment your kid looks up at you and you realize you've been somewhere else even though you've been standing right there.

We've also got Built During Bedtime — my weekly newsletter for working dads. The one thing I write after my daughter goes to sleep. Straight to your inbox. No fluff.

And we've got a community. Slack channel and Facebook group full of dads who get it. The kind of guys you can be honest with. The kind of friendships that actually go somewhere.

Come find your people.

Working Dads. For dads figuring out work, family, and everything in between.

You Have To Have a Core Network James has a family that is supportive of his ideas. If he didn’t have that, none of this would be impossible. "Whether its family or friends, you need to have that support network. Having someone push you to do better is always good..." Plan Properly "Plans never go exactly how you expect. If you don’t have a baseline plan to start with, success is much harder. You need a plan to communicate and say: Here is what I’m doing and how I’m doing it. Get used to writing it down and your plan not just being in your own head. Be Stubborn "Throughout this process you have so many people giving you ideas of what they think you should be doing. People throw out their ideas, some are good and some are bad, but knowing what you want to do and knowing your vision is important. Be stubborn enough to stick to the plan. Have that ability to know this is your baby and you’re the one driving it. Stick to the path. #Timestamps 00:30: Introduction 01:45: How Did James Start Cooper River Distillers? 03:05: Passion Comes From... 05: 35: What Makes a Good Rum and a Good Bourbon? 07:30: Resources and How to be More Precise 09:10: Getting Investment For His Idea 12:00: Efficiency 14:30: Sales Calls VS Cold Calls 18:15: You Have To Have a Core Network, Plan Properly, and Be Stubborn 21:50: TACOS James Yoakum Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-yoakum-1b87564 Website: http://cooperriverdistillers.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/njdistiller Personal Twitter: https://twitter.com/jamesryoakum __________ Techie, Millennial Author, WWE Fan, Podcaster. Philadelphia native, Johnathan Grzybowski started his career at 14 mowing lawns. Over 5 businesses later, Johnathan has a deep passion on bettering the lives of millennials and helping them execute their ideas into profitable businesses. It’s never been easier to start a business, but how do you make it successful? Constantly millennials are claiming to be entrepreneurs, but may not truly know what it takes to either become one or last long enough to succeed at being one. By listening/viewing The Blind Entrepreneur, we are determined to help those who are “blind” see the true struggles of business, successes, and the grind it took these millennials to succeed. #LINKS Email: [email protected] Podcast: http://theblindentrepreneur.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jgrzybowski Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/grzybowskij Instagram: http://instagram.com/grzybowskij Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/grzybowskij #SUBSCRIBE iTunes: http://bit.ly/TBEPodcast #PS. I’m a huge WWE Fan and I also love to laugh. Send me a question or phrase that makes you laugh, and I will incorporate it into my podcast. I’ll even tag you in the show notes and handle in the video!

For dads figuring out work, family, and everything in between.

Nobody prepares you for this.

Not the guilt of leaving for work when your kid is still asleep. Not the pressure of providing for a family while trying to build something that actually matters. Not the identity crisis that hits when you realize you're not just the guy who grinds anymore — you're somebody's dad. And that changes everything.

I started Working Dads because I lived that. I'm co-founder of Penji, husband to Emily, and dad to a two-year-old who already has more energy than I do. I've been bootstrapping a company for over a decade and I still don't have it all figured out. But I've learned that the most dangerous thing a working dad can do is try to figure it out alone.

So every week I sit down with founders, executives, investors, and everyday dads who are in the thick of it. We talk about the real stuff. The marriage conversations you keep avoiding. The financial pressure nobody admits to. The moment your kid looks up at you and you realize you've been somewhere else even though you've been standing right there.

We've also got Built During Bedtime — my weekly newsletter for working dads. The one thing I write after my daughter goes to sleep. Straight to your inbox. No fluff.

And we've got a community. Slack channel and Facebook group full of dads who get it. The kind of guys you can be honest with. The kind of friendships that actually go somewhere.

Come find your people.

Working Dads. For dads figuring out work, family, and everything in between.

Shut Up and Do It "It's important to have a persons opinion about your ideas, concepts, business model, but people get caught up and end up not creating something because they are looking for perfection... Just make something! If its digital make a wireframe and get it up, if its a product, talk to a manufacture and make a prototype!" By the time you're in your senior year of college don't say, "crap its too late." Harness the Resources That Are Around You "We live in a very fortunate time. We have technology and instant access but we don’t harness it. Look around you and try to understand how to work with the people around you and make the most of it!" Don’t Be Afraid to Share Your Ideas "People are afraid that someone will take it, but they won’t be able to do it as well as you! Some people will steal your ideas, but that means something..." So make it better. #Timestamps 00:40: Introduction 03:50: The 11 Year Old Entrepreneur 07:15: Early Struggles in GlassU 11:20: His Approach to Failure 13:10: Processes and Procedures to Become More Efficient 16:15: Shut Up and Do It, Harness the Resources That Are Around You, and Don’t Be Afraid to Share Your Ideas 18:45: Working out, Sushi, Chicken Parmesan, Steak Frites, and of course, Hershey Kisses from mom! Daniel Fine Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/finedaniel Personal Website: http://www.danielfine.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/danielfine Business Website: http://www.glassu.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GlassUCo Business: https://twitter.com/Glass_U __________ Techie, Millennial Author, WWE Fan, Podcaster. Philadelphia native, Johnathan Grzybowski started his career at 14 mowing lawns. Over 5 businesses later, Johnathan has a deep passion on bettering the lives of millennials and helping them execute their ideas into profitable businesses. It’s never been easier to start a business, but how do you make it successful? Constantly millennials are claiming to be entrepreneurs, but may not truly know what it takes to either become one or last long enough to succeed at being one. By listening/viewing The Blind Entrepreneur, we are determined to help those who are “blind” see the true struggles of business, successes, and the grind it took these millennials to succeed. #LINKS Email: [email protected] Podcast: http://theblindentrepreneur.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jgrzybowski Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/grzybowskij Instagram: http://instagram.com/grzybowskij Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/grzybowskij #SUBSCRIBE iTunes: http://bit.ly/TBEPodcast #PS. I’m a huge WWE Fan and I also love to laugh. Send me a question or phrase that makes you laugh, and I will incorporate it into my podcast. I’ll even tag you in the show notes and handle in the video!

For dads figuring out work, family, and everything in between.

Nobody prepares you for this.

Not the guilt of leaving for work when your kid is still asleep. Not the pressure of providing for a family while trying to build something that actually matters. Not the identity crisis that hits when you realize you're not just the guy who grinds anymore — you're somebody's dad. And that changes everything.

I started Working Dads because I lived that. I'm co-founder of Penji, husband to Emily, and dad to a two-year-old who already has more energy than I do. I've been bootstrapping a company for over a decade and I still don't have it all figured out. But I've learned that the most dangerous thing a working dad can do is try to figure it out alone.

So every week I sit down with founders, executives, investors, and everyday dads who are in the thick of it. We talk about the real stuff. The marriage conversations you keep avoiding. The financial pressure nobody admits to. The moment your kid looks up at you and you realize you've been somewhere else even though you've been standing right there.

We've also got Built During Bedtime — my weekly newsletter for working dads. The one thing I write after my daughter goes to sleep. Straight to your inbox. No fluff.

And we've got a community. Slack channel and Facebook group full of dads who get it. The kind of guys you can be honest with. The kind of friendships that actually go somewhere.

Come find your people.

Working Dads. For dads figuring out work, family, and everything in between.