Avant-Garde Entrepreneur®

Listen to The Confident Entrepreneur podcast

True Fashionistas

Connect with Mohamed (Mo) Ahmed:

Boundless Founder

Join the Boundless Founder's community

Connect with Steve Duddy:

Duddy Executive Services

Email: duddy.steven@gmail.com

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Stop Chasing Perfect: How Good Enough and Intuition Shape Stronger Entrepreneurs

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 10:00:00 GMT

Perfection is one of the loudest pressures in the life of a social entrepreneur. Yet learning how to trust that what you are doing is good, grounded, and aligned can become one of your most powerful advantages.

In this theme mashup episode of Avant-Garde Entrepreneur, Dr. Trisha Bailey revisits two conversations that reveal an unexpected truth about success: good is not settling, it is strengthening. And intuition does more than guide you forward; it helps you trust that what you are building is already enough.

First, we return to Dr. Trisha's conversation with Heather Campbell, author of Good Is Amazing, who teaches us how to release the pressure to chase perfection and embrace a more sustainable standard of success. Then we revisit her conversation with intuitive consultant Jenn Cohen, who explains how leaders can quiet the noise around them and develop the clarity to trust their inner guidance.

Heather shows how redefining "good" opens the door to joy, alignment, and deeper impact. Jenn shows how intuition strengthens decision-making in times of uncertainty. Both remind us that leadership does not require striving for flawless results. It requires presence, clarity, and the courage to listen to what is already true.

Tune in and listen to the seventy-seventh episode to learn how to redefine what enough looks like in this season of your life and to reconnect with the intuitive wisdom that helps you trust each step you take in your mission.

In this episode, you will learn:

Heather Campbell on why "good" is not mediocrity and how it frees us from burnout (5:20)

What it looks like to build a life and career around values instead of pressure (8:40)

What inspired her to write Good Is Amazing and why the message matters for mission-minded leaders (13:40)

The life-changing moment in Jenn Cohen's twenties that awakened her intuitive knowing (19:50)

How intuition operates in both creative and analytical environments (22:50)

Why intuition is available to everyone and how it strengthens leadership clarity (26:50)

How to distinguish coincidences from synchronicities and claim the meaning they carry (34:30)

Connect with Heather Campbell:

Connect with Jenn Cohen:

Resources:

My new book! Mindset Matters

Avant-garde Entrepreneur Academy Waitlist

Let's Connect!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Greater Miracle: Four Lessons from Life, Faith, and Entrepreneurship

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 10:00:00 GMT

When life brings you to your knees, the lessons you learn standing back up can change everything.

In this powerful solo episode, Dr. Trisha Bailey opens up about her husband John’s recovery, the experience she now sees as her family’s greatest miracle. From crisis to clarity, she reflects on how it changed her perspective on faith, business, and the gift of simply being alive.

She offers four timeless lessons from this experience that every entrepreneur and purpose-driven leader can carry forward: rest when you need to, see challenges as upgrades, stay in your own lane, and live fully in the moment.

Tune in and listen to the seventy-sixth episode of Avant-Garde Entrepreneur to rediscover perspective, gratitude, and the everyday miracles waiting in your own life.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

(0:50) All about “the greater miracle” and what it revealed about gratitude and perspective
(3:50) The importance of taking a midday reset and why it’s not weakness, it’s strategy
(5:30) How to reframe challenges as upgrades and face uncertainty with courage instead of fear
(6:20) Why comparison steals your joy and how to run your own race
(7:10) The reminder that changed everything: live while you can

Let’s Connect!

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Release the Pressure: A Peaceful, Powerful Approach to Goal Setting

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 10:00:00 GMT

Every new year brings a surge of energy around resolutions and goals. But what if all that pressure to “start strong” is what’s actually holding you back?

In this solo episode of Avant-Garde Entrepreneur, Dr. Trisha Bailey shares a refreshing and deeply personal approach to goal setting that replaces stress and self-criticism with peace, clarity, and purpose. Instead of setting rigid annual goals, Trisha creates intentions in 90-day seasons, giving herself the freedom to realign and breathe throughout the year.

She introduces three soulful and practical ways to complement your traditional goal-setting routine: write a letter to yourself, create a vision board, and yes—delete some of your goals. These tools are about letting go of pressure and bringing more peace and possibility into your process.

Through stories, reflections, and honest examples from her own life, Trisha invites you to rethink what success looks like and rediscover the joy in becoming who you’re meant to be.

Tune in and listen to the seventy-fifth episode of Avant-Garde Entrepreneur to release the pressure, reclaim your peace, and set goals that align with your spirit, not your stress.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why quarterly intentions can transform your focus and peace of mind and set you free from the “New Year’s frenzy” (1:20)
Three supplements to traditional goal setting (4:00)
The underestimated power of vision boards (9:20)
What it really means to let go of outdated goals and how doing so might lead to even greater fulfillment (14:00)
How intention setting connects how you want to feel with what you want to achieve (17:00)
What to do when you feel foggy, unclear, or overwhelmed while planning your next steps (21:00)

Resources:

AGE Episode 21: Goal Setting for Any Time of Year
AGE Episode 47: Throwback to Ep 21: Goal Setting
My new book! Mindset Matters
Quiz! What’s Your Social Entrepreneur Style?
Avant-garde Entrepreneur Academy Waitlist

Let’s Connect!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Storytelling Framework That Captivates and Converts, with Robert Kennedy III

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 10:00:00 GMT

Storytelling is one of the most powerful tools in business. But knowing how to use it to teach, connect, and move people to action is what separates a good speaker from a magnetic communicator.

In this episode of Avant-Garde Entrepreneur, Dr. Trisha Bailey sits down with Robert Kennedy III, communication and leadership strategist, keynote speaker, and founder of Kinetic Kommunications, to explore how storytelling transforms communication and leadership. In their conversation, Robert breaks ideas into clear, actionable steps that make storytelling feel approachable and practical for any of us. He shares how to capture attention, communicate with confidence, and lead with purpose through the stories you tell.

Robert introduces his Three C Framework for storytelling (Challenge, Catalyst, and Change), explains how to read an audience in real time, and reveals the “cheat code” that instantly connects you with listeners. His approach combines strategy and heart, showing that authentic storytelling is less about performance and more about genuine connection.

Tune in and listen to the seventy-fourth episode of Avant-Garde Entrepreneur to learn how to make your stories unforgettable, your confidence unshakable, and your communication truly kinetic.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Robert’s early journey from Jamaica to New York to Canada, and how teaching shaped his voice as a communicator (3:10)
The Three C Framework for powerful storytelling: Challenge, Catalyst, and Change (6:50)
How to recognize when your story has landed and your audience is engaged (10:50)
The “cheat code” to instantly grab attention within the first 15 seconds of any presentation (14:00)
Why connection, not perfection, is the real secret to confidence (19:20)
Why feedback is free education and how to use it to refine your message (23:10)
How to stay authentic in a world filled with AI and digital voices (25:00)
The role of legacy and family in defining your “why” and staying motivated (26:40)

Connect with Robert Kennedy III:

Resources:

Let’s Connect!

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Freedom Through Franchising: The Smart Way to Build a Business Without Burnout with Bennett Maxwell

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 09:00:00 GMT

Entrepreneurship can open the door to freedom, but only if you build it with clarity and intention. For social entrepreneurs, the challenge is even greater: creating meaningful impact while maintaining personal well-being. When growth becomes constant and every decision seems to serve the mission but drain the person behind it, one raw question remains: What does freedom really look like?

In this episode of Avant-Garde Entrepreneur, Dr. Trisha Bailey sits down with Bennett Maxwell, serial entrepreneur, franchise mentor, and mental health advocate. From selling knives and solar panels to co-founding Dirty Dough, Bennett has built, scaled, and sold multiple businesses while learning firsthand what happens when success comes at the expense of health, relationships, and peace of mind.

Bennett now helps entrepreneurs build wealth and freedom through franchising, while keeping mental and physical health at the forefront. He explains how franchising can be a powerful way for impact-driven entrepreneurs to scale sustainably without burning out, and why success depends on creating a business that is structured, replicable, and simple enough for others to run.

Tune in and listen to the seventy-third episode of Avant-Garde Entrepreneur to hear how Bennett redefined success, protected his well-being, and turned franchising into a platform for freedom, purpose, and joy.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

(3:00) How Bennett’s early sales experience and mindset shaped his path to entrepreneurship
(6:30) What inspired him to move from sales to co-founding and building his own companies
(9:20) How mental exhaustion from overwork reshaped his approach to business
(11:50) The turning point that shifted his focus from chasing money to prioritizing health and fulfillment
(17:00) Why therapy and emotional awareness are powerful business tools
(20:30) Why mental health must be part of every entrepreneur’s growth strategy
(24:50) The basics of franchising and how to know if your business is franchisable
(29:00) The biggest misconceptions entrepreneurs have about franchising
(32:40) Why every entrepreneur should “run it like you’ll franchise it”
(33:30) Smart, creative ways to expand without raising large amounts of capital

Connect with Bennett Maxwell:

Resources:

Let’s Connect!

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Grace, Grit, and Growth: The Framework for Burnout-Free Impact with Jennifer Ann Johnson

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 09:00:00 GMT

Entrepreneurship is rarely linear. It is full of resets, pivots, and unexpected lessons. The real challenge is not just growing a business but doing it in a way that reflects your values and leaves space for joy, family, and resilience.

In this episode of Avant-Garde Entrepreneur, Dr. Trisha Bailey is joined by Jennifer Ann Johnson, founder of True Fashionistas, business coach, podcast host, and author of the Amazon bestseller Grace and Grit: Becoming a Confident Entrepreneur. From her beginnings in a small Minnesota farm town to building Florida’s largest lifestyle resale store, Jennifer shares her story of resilience, reinvention, and the mindset shifts that helped her move through challenges with strength and confidence.

You will hear how Jennifer defines grace as living in alignment with who you want to be remembered as, and grit as the daily determination to keep going despite obstacles. She reveals her process for identifying core values, the importance of creating “pink spaces” in your calendar, and why assuming positive intent can transform both business and life.

Tune in and discover how to stop being your own harshest critic, live intentionally through your values, and build a business that is both sustainable and soul-aligned.

In this episode, you will learn:

Jennifer’s early journey from small-town roots to serial entrepreneur (04:00)

What a lifestyle resale store really is and why it matters for sustainability (06:40)

The meaning of grace and how it helps you live in alignment with your legacy (08:50)

Why grit is essential for pushing through obstacles and finishing what you start (12:40)

How to uncover and clarify your core values with practical questions (15:00)

Why values are dynamic and evolve (20:10)

What is a “pink space” and how to create it intentionally in your calendar (23:20)

The power of assuming positive intent in business and leadership (28:20)

Why laughter, fun, and family connection are cornerstones of resilience (30:30)

Jennifer’s “why” and how she models resilience for her children and community (34:10)

Connect with Jennifer Ann Johnson:

Listen to The Confident Entrepreneur podcast

Grace & Grit: Becoming a Confident Entrepreneur

True Fashionistas

Resources:

My new book! Mindset Matters

Quiz! What’s Your Social Entrepreneur Style?

Avant-garde Entrepreneur Academy Waitlist

Let’s Connect!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Good Is Amazing: How to Let Go of Perfection and Create Joy, with Heather Campbell

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 09:00:00 GMT

Perfection is exhausting. Growth doesn’t have to be linear. And sometimes, choosing good over great is the most radical, life-changing decision you can make as an entrepreneur.

In this episode, I’m joined by Heather Campbell, author of Good Is Amazing, founder and CEO of Ready, Set, Recover, and a former media executive who has made a career and a life out of giving herself and others permission to release the pressure of perfection.

Heather’s work helps people recover from surgery by focusing on the non-clinical aspects of healing that often go unaddressed. However, her wisdom extends far beyond health: it is about how we navigate pressure, tune out our inner critic, and create space for joy and authenticity in our lives and businesses.

Tune in and listen to the seventy-first episode of Avant-Garde Entrepreneur. You will hear how to let go of what is not serving you, how to stop minimizing your worth with small words like “just,” and why celebrating the little things every single day is the key to building a meaningful life.

In this episode, you will learn:

Why “good” really is amazing, and how striving for “perfect” holds you back (07:40)
The simple framework Heather uses to stay happy and healthy (08:10)
A practical way to support yourself with daily joy rituals (19:40)
How to silence your inner critic (23:10)
When to quit, let go, and create space for what is truly right (28:20)
Why, sometimes, the most powerful answer is a simple “huh” (37:30)
The power of the word “just” and why you should eliminate it from your vocabulary (44:50)

Connect with Heather Campbell:

Resources:

Let’s Connect!

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5 Self-Care Strategies Every Social Entrepreneur & Caregiver Needs to Stay Grounded and Effective

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 09:00:00 GMT

When your mission collides with a personal crisis, it’s easy to feel like you’re drowning in responsibilities. But staying grounded and effective isn’t just a nice idea; it’s essential for your impact and well-being.

In this solo episode of Avant-Garde Entrepreneur, I share five self-care strategies I’ve learned and lived through while navigating 16 months of caregiving and entrepreneurship. These aren’t fluffy wellness tips—they’re practical, battle-tested tools that have kept me sane, purposeful, and able to serve my mission while caring deeply for someone I love.

From loosening your grip on perfection to regulating your nervous system in two minutes flat, to fiercely protecting one small thing that keeps you connected to your higher purpose, these strategies will help you balance purpose, progress, and personal well-being (even in your hardest seasons).

Tune in and listen to the seventieth episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. You’ll learn to protect your energy, avoid burnout, and keep showing up fully for your mission and the people who matter most.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

Why holding your plans and results loosely frees your energy (08:00)
The 4-7-8 breathing technique to instantly regulate your nervous system (21:20)
How to make your “yes” matter by avoiding hidden trade-offs (32:00)
The symbolic and physical benefits of doing one thing daily for your health (37:30)
How keeping one thing that’s yours protects your mission and momentum (41:40)

Resources:

Let’s Connect!

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Trusting the Unseen. How To Use Intuition To Fuel Smarter Decisions in Business, with Jenn Cohen

Tue, 06 May 2025 09:00:00 GMT

Connecting with your intuition and using it to guide your social entrepreneurial journey is far less "woo-woo" than you might think. In fact, it’s not woo-woo at all. We are born deeply connected to our intuition, but over time, we unlearn how to listen to it as we are "forced" to focus on what "really matters": the tangible world around us.

In today's episode, I'm very excited to be joined by Jenn Cohen. Jenn is an Intuitive Consultant and Mindset Coach who, after spending 27 years in the entertainment industry, took a leap of faith and turned her lifelong connection to the psychic realm into her purpose. Inspired by powerful signs from her late father and years of intuitive experiences, Jenn helps others find clarity, overcome obstacles, and create more fulfilling lives.

Tune in and listen to the sixty-ninth episode. You'll learn why your intuition is one of the most powerful tools as a social entrepreneur, the importance of treasuring your quiet time, and why paying attention and recognizing synchronicities can guide your decision-making. You'll also learn meditation is simpler and more accessible than you think, how your physical space impacts your mental clarity, and much more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

- How can "left-sided brain" people connect with their intuitive side (8:10)

- How treasuring your quiet time can help you harness your intuition (15:20)

- The importance of recognizing synchronicities (19:00)

- How to listen to your intuition (and ignore the fear) (25:10)

- How physical space impacts mental clarity (31:30)

- How to align your goals with your intentions (36:20)

- Jenn shares simple ways to meditate (39:00)

Connect with Jenn Cohen:

Quiz! What’s Your Social Entrepreneur Style?

Free Meditation App - Insight Timer

Free App for Tuning Into Nature - Merlin Bird ID

Get a copy of Signs: The Secret Language of the Universe

Resources:

My new book! Mindset Matters

Avant-garde Entrepreneur Academy Waitlist

Let’s Connect!

Learn to Code With David Wampamba on YouTube

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Leading Through Chaos. Leadership Mindset Shifts That Help You Thrive in Crisis with Steve Duddy

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 09:00:00 GMT

If we think of CEOs as pilots, the executive advisor is the one everyone turns to when every light on the panel is flashing, the cockpit glows red, and all you can see outside are black clouds, grey skies, and lightning bolts.

In this episode, I'm thrilled to be joined by Steve Duddy. Steve is a CEO, Executive Advisor, Speaker, and Board Director. The go-to person for leaders seeking guidance to navigate rough waters. His greatest contribution lies in providing transformational leadership to young, underappreciated companies, helping them achieve financial success and, above all, tackle challenges with a forward-thinking mindset.

Tune in and listen to the sixty-eighth episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. You'll hear about the emotional aspects of being a leader, why effective communication is crucial during crises, and how to set real-world expectations for you and your team. Steve also talks about the mindset shifts every leader must go through to thrive during challenging times, the side of fundraising no one talks about, how to deal with underperformers, and much more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

Provoking sustainable change amidst the heaviest storms (3:00)
What every leader needs to land the plane in awful weather (6:40)
Why is forward thinking crucial to go through the fire unburnt (11:00)
Steve's technique to guide entrepreneurs through uncertainty (14:20)
The only way to deal with underperformance in your team (18:40)
The side of fundraising no one talks about (23:50)
What transformational qualities are a must-have for entrepreneurs (30:00)
Steve talks about the mindset shifts for success (35:30)

Connect with Steve Duddy:

Resources:

Let's Connect!

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Built to Last: The Mental Resilience Every Social Entrepreneur Needs, with Mohamed (Mo) Ahmed

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 09:00:00 GMT

Social entrepreneurs out there, this one's for you: Yes, you built something incredible from nothing. Yes, your work is changing lives, making things easier for so many. Yes, you create jobs and provide financial security for dozens of families. But no, you don't have (nor should you have) all the answers. No, you're not meant to do everything alone. You don't have to play God.

In this episode, I'm excited to be joined by Mohamed Ahmed. Mo is an AI Business Leader specializing in AI Cloud Infrastructure at Intel with a track record of scaling AI-driven ventures. He is also the Author of "The Inside-Out Entrepreneur" and the Founder and President of Boundless Founder. Relying on his many years of experience (and the hundreds of lessons learned the hard way), Mo helps entrepreneurs build the mental resilience and strategic clarity they need to scale their businesses.

Tune in and listen to the sixty-seventh episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. You'll hear Mo's unique recipe to build the resilience and mental endurance you need to take your social enterprise to the next level without sacrificing your mental health or jeopardizing your relationship with your family. Mo also shares his thoughts on the importance of seeking mentors and advisors, why he believes it is crucial to rely on family and friends to succeed as an entrepreneur, and much more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

Mo on the importance of building resilience and mental endurance (2:40)
From engineer to entrepreneur (6:50)
Why resilience is key in entrepreneurship (18:00)
The importance of networking (25:10)
How to balance ambition and personal well-being (33:00)
Why you should look after your personal branding (44:00)

Connect with Mohamed (Mo) Ahmed:

LinkedIn
Boundless Founder
Get a copy of Mo's book, "The Inside-Out Entrepreneur: Become the entrepreneur you were born to be"
Join the Boundless Founder's community

Resources:

Let's Connect!

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Sell Smarter, Not Harder. Why Chasing "No" Leads to More Deals, with AJ Vassar

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 10:00:00 GMT

Common sense tells us that every salesperson works for the "yes," but what if the key to closing more deals is pursuing the "no?"

Today, on our fourth episode of the Up-Level Your Impact Business series, the amazing AJ Vassar reveals how shifting our perspective can transform how we sell. AJ is a Small Business Systems Engineer, Podcast Host, Speaking Booking Representative, and the kind of salesperson you've never seen before.

Tune in and listen to the sixty-sixth episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. You'll hear AJ's incredible life story, his relentless mentality that helped him transform challenges into growth experiences, and his unique approach to sales. AJ also shares his thoughts on the unique strength introverts bring to sales, explains why he believes going after the "no" in sales is crucial, debunks myths about sales, and much more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

AJ talks about his rough childhood (5:20)
From the car to the penthouse. Dealing with challenges 101 (11:00)
Sales is about conviction (17:10)
The salesperson everybody wants to have around (20:10)
AJ introduces the Profitable Persuasion Framework (29:50)
Why you should go after the "no" (35:20)

Connect with AJ Vassar:

LinkedIn
Instagram
Facebook
Get a copy of AJ's book: Day Grades: From Homelessness to Giving 5 Cars Away and Much More in Just 3 Short Years
Free Tool: Knowledge Profits Assessment
Subscribe to the Business Problem Solvers podcast

Resources:

Let's Connect!

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How To Craft the Pitch Deck Investors Want to See, with Scott Nichols

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 10:00:00 GMT

If you had thirty seconds to pitch your company to an investor who could turn your vision for your social enterprise into a reality. Would you be ready?

This week, in our third episode of the Up-Level Your Impact Business series, we're tackling every doubt, fear, and uncertainty you might have about fundraising with Scott Nichols. Scott is the Founder of Velocity Pitch Decks and a professional Pitch Deck writer, with a knack for providing client-centric, solution-oriented services that get startup founders funded and help jobseekers land their next best role.

Tune in and listen to the sixty-fifth episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. You'll get countless tips to craft the perfect pitch deck for your social enterprise, discover why you should create extra-short, short, and long pitch decks, and learn the most common mistakes you should avoid when putting together your pitch deck. Scott also debunks the myths about raising capital, teaches the right way to approach investors, and much, much more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

From writing resumes to becoming a professional pitch deck writer (3:40)
What should and what you shouldn't include in your pitch deck (9:40)
Most common mistakes people make when writing their pitch deck (13:00)
Why it feels so hard to tell your own story? (18:30)
Scott's top tips for approaching an investor (21:00)
Scott debunks the myths about raising capital (26:50)

Connect with Scott Nichols:

Resources:

Let's Connect!

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Why You Should Plan To Sell (Even If You Never Do), with Leslie Hassler

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 10:00:00 GMT

As social entrepreneurs, we are in business to relieve, help, or solve the problems of those we serve. We are so connected with our mission that selling is the last thing on our minds.

Yet making a business ready to be sold is much more than finding a buyer, it is about preparing for success years in advance (regardless if you're selling or not).

Today, in our second episode of the Up-Level Your Impact Business series, we chat with the brilliant Leslie Hassler about growing, scaling, and selling businesses effectively. Leslie is a business strategist, speaker, and the founder of Your Biz Rules. With almost 20 years of experience in the field, Leslie helps entrepreneurs maximize the value of their businesses, whether they're planning to sell or just thinking of scaling.

Tune in and listen to the sixty-fourth episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. You'll learn to make your business valuable enough to attract potential buyers, the common pitfalls to avoid when getting your social enterprise ready for sale, and practical tips on creating a scalable and financially sound enterprise — one that works for you, not the other way around. You'll also learn about the three-year rule for selling, the differences between growth and scaling, how to reduce owner dependency, and much more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

Leslie talks about the most common mistakes business owners make (4:00)
The three-year rule for selling (6:10)
What is the difference between scaling and growing a business? (9:20)
Three ways business owners should be paid (13:10)
How to increase your business value before selling (21:15)
What buyers look for in a business they're interested in (24:00)
What it takes to start seeing our social enterprise as an asset, not a job (26:20)
Why you MUST celebrate each win (30:00)

Connect with Leslie Hassler:

Resources:

Let's Connect!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Smart Marketing for Social Entrepreneurs. Sydney Sam Shares Strategies That Actually Work

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 10:00:00 GMT

You don't need a massive budget to craft a clever, compelling, and effective marketing campaign, and you don't need to wait until your business is wildly successful to invest in branding or advertising. One of the biggest myths about marketing is that it is expensive, and the other is that it is only worth it after you've "made it."

Today, I'm thrilled to welcome Sydney Sam as we kick off the Up-Level Your Impact Business series. In this first episode, we dive into marketing and branding. Sydney is a global speaker, trainer, and coach—an "entrepreneur's entrepreneur." He is the founder of Openspace Global, a member of the D&AD Impact Council, and the CEO of Workspace Global.

Tune in and listen to the sixty-third episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. Join us as we dive into the intersection of mission-driven business and effective marketing, debunk the myths about marketing and branding, and go over the marketing trends of 2025. Sydney also shares solutions to the most common marketing roadblocks, breaks down complex marketing and branding concepts into simple language, and much more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

A bit about Sydney's background and first steps in marketing (4:20)
What's the difference between marketing and branding? (7:50)
How to build your brand's soul, body, and purpose (13:00)
Sydney talks about the marketing trends for 2025 (17:00)
How expensive is it to promote your business? (24:10)
Two of the biggest myths in marketing (35:00)

Connect with Sydney:

Let's Connect!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Purpose, Passion, and Profit. Redefining Business Success, with Mark Rampolla

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 10:00:00 GMT

Have a million-dollar idea, work your butt off, sell it, live the dream. Tempting, right? But the real reward lies in turning your business into a force for good—healthier, sustainable, and driven by purpose. One path is a myth; the other redefines success in business and life.

Today, I'm thrilled to welcome Mark Rampolla. Mark is a Los Angeles-based, visionary entrepreneur, the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of GroundForce Capital, and the Co-Founder and now Board Member of ZICO. He founded ZICO in 2004, grew it into one of the fastest-growing beverage brands in the world, and sold it to The Coca-Cola Company in 2013. In 2021, he re-acquired the company and, from his new role as a Board Member, renewed his focus on sustainability and innovation.

Tune in and listen to the sixty-second episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. You'll hear about Mark's unique perspective on entrepreneurship, his passion (and unique skill) to create and develop businesses that do good while doing well, and his hands-on approach and deep commitment to helping teams grow, innovate, and succeed. Mark also reflects on the wildfires in California, which profoundly affected him both as a community member and personally, resulting in the loss of his home and everything he owned.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

Navigating loss. Why our gratitude and resilience muscle must always be on point (4:24)
What growing ZICO taught Mark about the business of building sustainable businesses (10:28)
Mark talks about his decision of re-acquiring ZICO (19:00)
How to build a strong team and why this is crucial (28:10)
Entrepreneurship from an investor's perspective (34:10)
Mark shares advice for young entrepreneurs (37:20)

Connect with Mark Rampolla:

Let's Connect!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

5 Proven Strategies to Keep It Together When Everything Falls Apart

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 10:00:00 GMT

When D-day arrives and elite athletes are about to jump into the arena, trying to compensate for the missed training sessions during the preparation process is pointless. Their success will depend only on their consistency in the previous months. It is the same for social entrepreneurs regarding our spiritual and mental readiness.

The only difference is that we never know when life will throw us onto the field and make us play the biggest game of our lives.

Today, we talk about how to keep it together when life hits us with a two-by-four. Last Autumn, what started as a routinary rotator cuff surgery in one of my husband's shoulders developed into a rare condition that not only threatened his life but caused him tons of excruciating pain. Unexpectedly, life forced us to put our lives on hold and pushed us into the arena with no other weapons than our love, faith, and the tools we forged in the good times.

Tune in and listen to the sixty-first episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. You'll hear about my experiences as a caregiver, the lessons learned during these difficult times, the five things that helped me the most to keep it together during this massive crisis, and much more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

How ready are we to eat our own cooking? (1:50)
That moment when life shows us who is in charge of things (4:00)
The benefits of going small and delegating (13:10)
Value your quiet time (15:20)
The power of meditation and focusing on what we want to feel, not what we're going through (18:30)
Trust your team (21:00)
Never underestimate the massive power of gratitude (23:20)

Resources:

My new book! Mindset Matters
My email: Trisha@TrishaBaileyPhD.com
Quiz! What’s Your Social Entrepreneur Style?
Avant-garde Entrepreneur Academy Waitlist

Let’s Connect!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Synchronicities, Signs, and Self-Care. Elite Mental Health Hygiene Tips from Michelle Sorro

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 09:00:26 GMT

Do you remember the last time you saw yourself doing nothing?

Today, I'm thrilled to welcome the inspiring Michelle Sorro. Michelle is a Spiritual Business Mentor, the Host of the top 1% worldwide podcast on self-development, Fire & Soul, a dear friend, and my coach. From being a successful TV retail host making over $200 million in sales, to launching a super successful podcast, to helping others spread their voice, to a seven-figure master coach, Michelle's journey into becoming who she is today was, with the benefit of hindsight, as she likes to say, perfect.

In early 2021, Michelle took the first steps into a fascinating journey of self-discovery that helped her shed labels and get closer to her soul's purpose. One crucial insight Michelle got from her mesmerizing journey is the importance of mental health hygiene, and that's the main focus of our conversation.

Tune in and listen to the sixtieth episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. You'll hear about Michelle's impressive entrepreneurial journey and her extraordinary spiritual awakening that, as she realized later, was sending her hints and signs all the time. Michelle also shares her thoughts on the importance of mental health maintenance, practical tips to turn it into a habit, and its multiple benefits. You'll hear about the link between self-care, spiritual practices, and long-term success, the power of letting go, and much more!

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

A bit about Michelle's impressive professional career (6:40)
About Michelle's spiritual awakening (13:50)
With the benefit of hindsight, it is easier to connect the golden dots (18:20)
Why is it so hard to listen? (22:00)
Tips and advice on mental health maintenance (29:10)
Manifest in ease. What is it and how to do it (37:50)
Paying attention to the signs, symbols, and synchronicities (49:30)

Connect with Michelle Sorro:

Let's Connect!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Winning Playbook of Leadership: How To Prepare Our Teams To Win Battles with Colonel Blake Glass

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 09:00:19 GMT

While some leaders' fear is thinking the person behind them wants to take their job, others measure their success based on how well they've prepared their successors. As leaders, we must think it is not about training our replacement, it is about setting the conditions for the person that replaces who's replacing us.

Today, I'm thrilled to welcome a fantastic leader and great friend, Colonel Blake Glass. Colonel Glass has over 28 years of dynamic experience in the most extreme, volatile, ambiguous, and uncertain environments, making calls and leading operations in Iraq and Ukraine.

Leaning on his MBA from the University of Florida in Agricultural Business and Management and his master's degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, Colonel Blake started a new path as a Land Development Manager in Pulte Group.

Tune in and listen to the fifty-ninth episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. You'll hear Colonel Glass' thoughts on making decisions in high-pressure situations, what we can do in those moments when we don't know what to do, and the importance of building resilience in our teams. Colonel Glass also shares his unique perspective on leaders' accountability and responsibilities, thinking outside the box when training leaders' replacements, how leaders should handle their emotions, and so much more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

About Colonel Glass' journey in the military (6:20)
Colonel Glass shares some of the qualities he feels every leader should have (9:30)
How to deal with our emotions as leaders (15:30)
Dealing with frustrations, errors, and defeats as a leader (22:20)
Colonel Glass shares insights on how to make decisions in high-pressure environments (26:20)
The importance of giving purpose to our teams (35:00)
Tips and advice to decompress and recharge (41:10)

Connect with Blake Glass:

Resources:

Let’s Connect!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Systems, Greatness, and Success: Becoming A CEO Masterclass with Dena Patton

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 09:00:31 GMT

Do you know that running your social enterprise with an entrepreneurial mindset costs you time, money, and health?

Having an entrepreneurial mindset is vital to starting an impact business and being resilient enough to keep it going despite the countless bumps in the road, yet it can only take us so far. The only way to take our social enterprise to the next level WITHOUT losing our mental and physical health is by presenting ourselves, behaving, and becoming a CEO.

This week, I'm excited to welcome the extraordinary Dena Patton. Dena is a Global Speaker, Award-winning Coach, Trainer, and Author, who thrives working with world-changing business owners and leaders. She developed a 3-pillar coaching approach that helps clients build efficient systems, effective sales strategies, and a greatness mindset.

Tune in and listen to the fifty-eighth episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. You'll hear Dena's practical advice on transitioning from an entrepreneurial to a CEO mindset. Dena also highlights the importance of self-care, scheduling personal activities, and maintaining a balanced life. Plus, Dena shares the three systems every social enterprise's CEO must have in place, the importance of becoming best friends with delegating, why we must fight smallness with all our strength, and much more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

A bit about Dena's background and first steps as an entrepreneur (4:10)
Entrepreneur and CEO mindsets, surviving vs thriving (9:50)
Stay focused on your RGAs (18:50)
How long does it take to adopt a CEO mindset (24:00)
Why we must fight against smallness (29:20)
Three systems every CEO must have in place (40:30)
Dena on self-care. How to avoid gassing out (48:00)

Connect with Dena Patton:

Resources:

Let’s Connect!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Radically Enhanced Energy and Creativity: How Sabbaticals Can Create a Quantum Leap in Your Social Enterprise

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 09:00:52 GMT

Are you aware of the hidden benefits of pausing your work routine as a social entrepreneur?

Today, I'm excited to discuss the underrated value of sabbaticals for social entrepreneurs. It amazes me how little is told about how breaking the routine and taking intentional pauses allow us to renew our energy and creativity.

Slowing down, disconnecting, and putting our routine on hold are proven methods to counter leadership's silent killers: fear and fatigue. By diving into intentional pauses, we can prevent their negative long-term effects on our health and social enterprise.

Tune in and listen to the fifty-seventh episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. You'll hear about my recent experience with sabbaticals and how creating an intentional pause led to enjoying renewed energy, enhanced clarity, and a higher vibrational state. You'll also learn key strategies to plan your sabbatical, tips and practical advice on what to do while you are in the middle of it, the things I would do differently in the next one, and much more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

A bit about Trisha's experiment pressing the pause button (5:50)
About the emotional changes that stem from sabbaticals (12:50)
How letting go of the outcomes changes us (19:00)
The physical effects the sabbatical had on Trisha (24:30)
What you should know and do before you press the pause button (30:20)
Tips and advice to consider during the sabbatical (35:20)

Resources:

My new book! Mindset Matters
My email: Trisha@TrishaBaileyPhD.com
Quiz! What's Your Social Entrepreneur Style?
Avant-garde Entrepreneur Academy Waitlist

Let's Connect!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Busting the Silent Killers: Fear and Fatigue

Tue, 14 May 2024 09:00:37 GMT

Have you noticed that you are prone to think more negatively about your chances of succeeding at something whenever you feel energy-depleted? And spending time second-guessing yourself, feeding negative thoughts, and paying too much attention to what scares you makes you exhausted?

This happens because fear and fatigue are intimately related. The good news? There is a way of spotting them on time, dealing with them, and preventing them from affecting you and your social enterprise.

Today, we talk about the silent killers: fear and fatigue. You'll hear first-hand how they threatened my mental and physical health, how they got in the middle of my professional life, why I call them silent killers, and how I overcame them.

Tune in and listen to the fifty-sixth episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. You'll hear my definition of fear and fatigue, my personal experiences dealing with them, and why they're dangerous to the point they can kill your leadership, hack your spirit, and make you drastically less effective. I also share five tips to spot, deal with, and overcome these silent killers, self-reflection and spiritual practices to help you overcome burnout, and much more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

Why silent killers are "so popular" among social entrepreneurs (5:40)
Trust the helping hand of journaling (12:30)
Trisha's definition of Fear and Fatigue (15:50)
Why stretching yourself too thin makes you vulnerable to the silent killers' hit (21:10)
Five tips to spot on and overcome fear and fatigue (29:20)
The importance of creating space for pressing the pause button (39:40)

Resources:

Let's Connect!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eradicating Recidivism and Curing Homelessness. Insights from Exodus Place's CEO, Robb Munger

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 09:00:06 GMT

Imagine for a second how you would feel if, after a mistake or an unexpected succession of events, you lose everything and find yourself on the streets, struggling with addiction, coming out of jail, or dealing with PTSD after serving in the army. Now, imagine someone extends their hand and equips you with the tools to start over again. That helping hand would be Robb Munger's.

Today, I'm so excited to be joined by Robb Munger. Robb is the CEO and Executive Director at Exodus Place, a transitional housing facility for men experiencing homelessness. It started with many uncertainties about its future but with a clear objective: creating a culture for those needing a hand-up, not a handout. Robb is convinced that homelessness can (and must!) be cured, not treated.

Tune in and listen to the fifty-fifth episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. You'll hear about Robb's upbringing, how it impacted his vision of the world, and his transition from happily donating yet avoiding being involved with non-profits to starting Exodus Place. Robb also talks about his relationship with entrepreneurship before Exodus Place, creating a culture that empowers men and uplifts their self-worth, shares practical tips for sustainable growth, and more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

Robb talks about his upbringing and how it molded his character (3:50)
Robb's first steps into entrepreneurship (9:30)
The realization at a restaurant that changed Robb's life (20:00)
Robb talks about the soft and hard skills Exodus Place teaches (25:10)
Robb's secret sauce: building a culture for success (32:00)
Exodus Place's three pillars (38:00)
Why Exodus Place is so successful at keeping people on the program and reducing recidivism dramatically (47:20)
Robb shares advice on how to scale a social enterprise (54:20)

Connect with Robb Munger:

Resources:

Let's Connect!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Connecting Mission Teams with Skilled Believers Worldwide: The Vision of Scott Elequin

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 09:00:42 GMT

Wouldn't it be cool if you could be one click away from a specialist who could support you with any need you might have?

Today, I feel blessed to welcome Scott Elequin. Scott is a Creative Solution-focused entrepreneur on a mission to connect people with distinct problems with someone with the specific skills to solve them. He is the Executive Director and Founding Board Member of Global Switchboard, an organization designed to connect mission teams with skilled believers worldwide.

Scott figured that the best way of making a massive impact in the world is to be clear on who you are, make yourself available, and trust that there will be a place to serve.

Tune in and listen to the fifty-fourth episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. You'll hear about Scott's journey into social entrepreneurship and his brilliant idea of using virtual volunteering to address global needs. You'll also hear Scott's thoughts on using AI to find the right volunteer for a specific problem, the importance of perseverance in developing a social impact business, how hard yet rewarding it is to find the right people for an organization, and more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

A bit about Scott's background (4:20)
"When you are great at something and someone needs that, it's amazing" (8:00)
What is Global Switchboard, and how does it work (10:10)
Scott talks about the infinite possibilities of virtual volunteering (17:20)
How are NGOs slightly different from regular for-profits? (33:00)
How to stay motivated despite the challenges and setbacks (37:10)

Connect with Scott Elequin:

Resources:

Let's Connect!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meet Amanda Kiessel: A Catalyst for Change in Social Entrepreneurship

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 09:00:44 GMT

How far are creating value and providing products and services while putting people and the planet first from being considered the only way of doing business?

Today, I'm thrilled to be joined by Amanda Kiessel. Amanda is a Catalyst, Connector, and Cocreator at Good Market, a digital commons created to facilitate connections between social enterprises, cooperatives, responsible businesses, civic organizations, networks, and changemakers who decided to produce real change in the world.

After spending over twenty years in Asia, witnessing Sri Lanka's civil war directly, and relating with people from all walks of life, Amanda developed an unparalleled mix of connections, which undoubtedly influenced and expanded her talent for social entrepreneurship.

Tune in and listen to the fifty-third episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. You'll hear about Amanda's journey and lessons learned living in Sri Lanka during the civil war, the birth of Good Market, and everything she learned about self-sustaining models in Asia. Amanda also shares tips and advice on preventing burnout, staying focused and motivated in social entrepreneurship, what being a social entrepreneur means to her, and much more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

A bit about Amanda's unique background and story in Asia (3:40)
Amanda reflects on how we can make our work more visible (8:00)
About the rocky beginnings of Good Market (12:00)
Amanda defines social entrepreneurship (17:20)
What makes social enterprises like Good Market so important? (23:10)
The three factors that make social entrepreneurship sustainable (27:20)
How to prevent burnout (31:00)
Amanda shares her vision for the future of social enterprises (42:10)

Connect with Amanda Kiessel:

Resources:

Let's Connect!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Survival First. How To Use Risk-taking As Fuel To Reach Success with Alexander Concepcion

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 10:00:47 GMT

How much are your fears of taking risks impacting the growth of your business? When you look closer at them, how big are those risks anyway?

Today, I'm very excited to welcome Alexander Concepcion. Alexander is the Founder and Owner of Taco Street Locating, the Author of "Survival First: The Rebel Entrepreneur's Guide to Risk, Riches, and Immortality," and a bold, sharp, and creative entrepreneur who found a way to reframe risk-taking in entrepreneurship, making those risks serve him instead of being held hostage by them.

Despite getting degrees in Finance and Economics, Alexander saw himself living at his parents' home, broke and without the bright future he thought those diplomas would bring. However, his entrepreneurial spirit screamed louder; he moved to Austin, Texas, and started from scratch.

He became a "post-grad dropout." His business grew aggressively fast, thriving even more during the pandemic, which changed his perspectives on entrepreneurship, survival, risks, and opportunities.

Tune in to the fifty-second episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. You'll hear about Alexander's fantastic journey into entrepreneurship and his extraordinary capacity to reframe and resignify the words, fears, and concerns every entrepreneur has. Alexander also shares his thoughts on minimizing risks and avoiding burnout, why he states that competition is not a real thing in business, and much more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

A bit about Alexander's background and how he became an entrepreneur (2:30)
Lessons learned about survival from when the world stopped ( 7:30)
How the ideas for "Survival First" were born (11:00)
How to reframe risks through purpose (17:50)
Alexander's Risk Formula (21:10)
Good frames, better decisions, better businesses (30:00)
Mitigating risks by simplifying your business (34:10)
We can be human in ways Amazon and Google can't (39:20)

Connect with Alexander Concepcion:

Visit his Website, Taco Street Locating
Get a copy of his book, Survival First: The Rebel Entrepreneur's Guide to Risk, Riches, and Immortality

Resources:

Let's Connect!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Future Is Nearer Than We Think. A Conversation About AI and Cybersecurity with Peter Schroeder

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 10:00:39 GMT

Is your social impact business ready for the world that's coming?

Today, I'm thrilled to be joined by Peter Schroeder. Peter is an award-winning DJ, Entrepreneur, and Founder on a mission to make people's lives easier by developing unmatched technology and products. He is the Founder of Telzio, a unified communications company, an artist at heart, and a pioneer in innovation.

Born in Denmark, Peter got his first computer when he was six, and instead of playing video games, he spent his time trying to figure out how those games worked. At 12, he was a radio and TV reporter, and two years later, he founded and sold the first and largest Scandinavian social media platform for artists.

Tune in and listen to the fifty-first episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. You will hear Peter's thoughts on AI and cybersecurity, how to incorporate AI into your social impact business, and the best ways to avoid getting hacked. Peter also shares the lessons that marked him as a multipreneur, the things he'd do differently, future plans, and much more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

A glimpse at Peter's childhood and upbringing (3:10)
Will businesses that don't incorporate AI be left behind? (7:00)
How to incorporate AI into your social impact business (10:10)
Why cybersecurity is so critical and how to take care of it (14:20)
Peter's do's and don'ts of starting a company (20:40)
Two traits every entrepreneur should have, according to Peter (24:00)

Connect with Peter Schroeder

Resources:

Let's Connect!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Secrets to Sustainable Social Enterprise

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 10:00:21 GMT

Is your social impact business sustainable? What does sustainability look like to you?

Today, I'm revealing publicly my secrets to sustainability for the first time. Whether you are a seasoned social entrepreneur or are at the beginning of your journey, these tips will help you build a social impact business that makes a difference in the lives of thousands of people, thrives financially, and, most importantly, allows you to keep your sanity.

Tune in and listen to the fiftieth episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. You'll learn my definition of sustainability, the elements of a sustainable social impact business, and how to implement them into yours. Finally, you'll learn to navigate the transition toward sustainability. As we dive deeper into the episode, you'll discover the power and simplicity of the Five Diamond Framework I teach in the Avant-garde Entrepreneur Academy, and much more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

What does sustainability mean? (2:30)
How to incorporate sustainability's elements into your social impact business (7:50)
What does integrating sustainability into your team look like? (11:30)
Why learning to delegate is crucial (18:20)
4 Tips to navigating the transition toward sustainability (23:30)

Resources:

Let's Connect!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scaling Your Personal Brand While Growing Your Impact Business with Dylan Vanas

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 10:00:45 GMT

If I tell you you must scale your personal brand for your social enterprise to grow, would you know where to start?

Today, I'm excited to be joined by Dylan Vanas. On paper, Dylan is the Founder of one of the most successful SaaS companies, Agency Box, and the co-founder of Mindful Agency, yet as you'll see during this interview, he's much more than that. He has been featured on Fox, ABC, and Yahoo, has his own column at Entrepreneur.com, and is a successful two-time eight-figure entrepreneur.

As creators of our organization, as the face of it, we are the brand; we are, by definition, a personal brand. Regardless of how massive a company is, people resonate with people, which explains why people like Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos have bigger followings than their companies, which is why they are famous in the first place. This marketing principle also applies to social impact businesses and their founders; focusing on building a solid personal brand is a non-negotiable.

Tune in and listen to the forty-ninth episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. You'll hear Dylan's tips and advice to build a robust personal brand, learn the differences and links between a business and a personal brand, and learn how to use your personal brand to scale your impact business. You'll also hear about the importance of building relationships with influential people, Dylan's biggest setbacks and how he overcame them, his favorite recharge methods, and much more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

Dylan talks about how his passion for marketing started (4:20)
Social impact entrepreneurs are also brands (9:40)
Why creating solid relationships with target audiences is crucial (13:40)
The importance of creating value-adding relationships (19:20)
How AI can help you take your social impact business to the next level (23:00)
Dylan shares tips to rest, recharge, and avoid burnout (27:50)
The importance of keep moving forward despite the setbacks (32:40)

Connect with Dylan Vanas:

Resources:

Quiz! What's Your Social Entrepreneur Style?
Avant-garde Entrepreneur Academy Waitlist
Book: Paulo Coelho - The Alchemist
Book: Ed Mylett - The Power of One More

Let's Connect!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Top Tips for A Sustainable Start to 2024

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 10:00:04 GMT

What small changes are you open to make for a sustainable start to 2024?

Today, for our first episode of 2024, we start with a recap of some of the most impactful interviews from last year. We will go through some of the things you can expect in the new chapter of the pod that starts today, and I will share four tips you can apply to ensure a sustainable start to 2024.

The start of a new year feels like a massive burden; there is a collective, implicit idea that it is now or never that you'll build the foundation to achieve your goals. Some of that might be true, but not all of it. Instead of overwhelming yourself trying to become a whole different person in a week, you can start with minor changes, building on them, and slowly but surely, you'll become the person you need to be to get you and your social enterprise to the next level.

Tune in and listen to the forty-eighth episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. Learn more about what to expect from the pod this year and how to set yourself up for a sustainable start to 2024.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

About some of the things we learned in 2023 (2:40)
What does 2024 look like for the Avant-garde Entrepreneur podcast (6:00)
The importance of gratitude in our lives (9:10)
Four tips for a sustainable start of the year (13:00)
Why having someone who keeps you accountable might be all you need (17:10)
How developing the habit of quiet time can improve your inspiration (21:20)
The true power of delegating (23:30)

Resources:

Let's Connect!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Throwback To Episode #21 - Goal Setting

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 10:00:12 GMT

When is the best time to set your goals for the year?

Today, in our last episode of 2023, I revisit the most downloaded episode in the podcast's history, which touches on the #1 topic discussed in almost every end-of-the-year conversation: setting goals for the following year. You'll hear about my approach to goal-setting, top tips to set your goals, and the things about goal-setting I wish I'd known sooner.

As a change-maker and social entrepreneur, the scope of your goals goes beyond what a single human can fix, so it is natural (and expected) to come up short or need several attempts before accomplishing them. Treat goal-setting as an art, allow yourself to suck at it in the beginning, fail guilt-free as many times as necessary, and keep trying until you get it right.

Tune in and listen to the forty-seventh episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. You'll hear about the three goal-setting scenarios I discovered through years of practicing them, my main focus when I set my goals, and how to develop a planning process. You'll learn practical goal-setting tips, lessons from changing and modifying plans, building a healthy relationship with the outcome, and much more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

Why you need an effective goal-setting process as a change-maker (7:40)
About the three goal-setting scenarios (9:20)
How I set my goals (11:00)
What planning means to me (12:40)
Tips and advice for a smooth goal-setting process (18:20)
What I wish I'd known sooner about goal-setting (21:00)

Resources:

Let's Connect!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Turning Everyday Actions Into Charitable Donations with Kirstyn Liang from Shop Donation

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 10:00:43 GMT

How often do you shop online? Would you like to help dreams come true with every purchase?

Today, I'm joined by the extraordinary Kirstyn Liang. Kirstyn is a Social Entrepreneur, Linguist and Language Instructor, Franchise Owner of Shop Donation, and the Director of Shop Donation South Africa. Through affiliate marketing, Shop Donation redistributes commercial profit to non-profits, helping the regular consumer support the projects that are dear and near to their hearts simply by shopping more consciously.

If you have nothing extra to give to charity or your tight schedule blocks you from donating your time, you can still make a significant impact through everyday online shopping.

Tune in and listen to the forty-sixth of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. You will learn everything about Shop Donation's brilliant system to turn online shopping into charitable donations and how to boost social impact businesses through affiliate marketing. Kirstyn also shares her thoughts on leadership in social entrepreneurship, the personal and professional characteristics necessary to turn social impact work into a success, the spark that moved her to join Shop Donation, and more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

A bit about Kirstyn's background (3:00)
Kirstyn talks about the spark that made her jump into social entrepreneurship (8:10)
What is Shop Donation, and how it works (15:30)
What personal and professional traits make social impact businesses succeed (25:40)
What does it take to make a difference through Shop Donation (33:30)

Connect with Kirstyn and Shop Donation:

Kirstyn LinkedIn
Shop Donation South Africa LinkedIn
Shop Donation International LinkedIn
Shop Donation South Africa's website
Shop Donation Netherlands's website
Show Donation Switzerland's website
Shop Donation's Franchise Offer

Resources:

Let's Connect!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Crafting Massively Human Cultures: An Interview with Kathleen Seeley

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 10:00:01 GMT

What kind of leader are you? One who is always there for others to lean on, or the one who makes the leaning unnecessary?

Today, I'm thrilled to welcome my good friend and Executive Coach, Kathleen Seeley. Kathleen is the Founder and CEO of Massively Human Leadership™, a Globally Acclaimed Speaker, Facilitator, Author, and Corporate Consultant who, for over 25 years, has been developing talent, engagement, and leadership and crafting massively human cultures.

Like many of us, Kathleen started leading a team of one, and after more than 15 years of doing and controlling virtually everything, she opened up to the possibility of bringing people along, which taught her the power of letting go of control and trusting what new people can bring.

Tune in and listen to the forty-fifth episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. You'll hear Kathleen's thoughts on the difference between values, beliefs, and motivation, why beliefs can get in the way of communication, and why she constantly invests in her education and coaching. We also talk about the spark that initiated Massively Human Leadership, personal values and their evolution through time, leadership, values, authenticity, and much more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

About Kathleen's education and what led her to create an international leadership and consulting business (6:50)
Why beliefs can get in the way of communication (11:20)
Is there any "bad" value? (19:30)
Can our values evolve as we evolve as leaders? (26:20)
Kathleen talks about team building and her unique (and not recommended) hiring process (31:30)

Connect with Kathleen:

Resources:

Let's Connect!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Achieving Work-Life Harmony with Ginni Saraswati

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 10:00:33 GMT

Do you have a strategy to prevent the urgent from conquering the space of what's important?

Today, I'm super excited to be joined by Ginni Saraswati. Ginni is the Founder and CEO of Ginni Media, hosts two podcasts, "PodPops" and "The Ginni Show," and is a Forbes, Fast Company, Rolling Stone & Entrepreneur Contributor. Born in Sri Lanka, Ginni and her family moved to Australia when she was two. After hosting a radio show in Melbourne for around 10 years while figuring out her corporate life, Ginni tried the executive route but felt deeply unhappy.

She started producing podcasts when they weren't a thing, an activity she would explain to her family as "selling radios," and only with a handful of clients made the leap to the Big Apple, where she founded Ginni Media.

Tune in and listen to the forty-fourth episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. You'll hear about Ginni's upbringing, cultural career-related mandates, and impositions, and the moment she realized corporate life and her weren't compatible. We also discuss the work-life balance in entrepreneurship, and Ginni brings an exciting new concept: work-life harmony. You'll also get great boundaries-building tips, new ways of disconnecting yourself from work, and how to stop the home office life from interfering with your personal life.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

A bit about Ginni's upbringing and her role models (6:20)
Ginni and New York. A love story (12:00)
The moment Ginni realized she wasn't made for corporate life (20:10)
The truth behind "the sexiness of the hustle life" (30:10)
The work-life harmony (34:00)
Tips to disconnect from work. Even if you work from home (37:00)
Presence, people, and peace. The three Ps you should prioritize (49:30)

Connect with Ginni:

Resources:

Quiz! What's Your Social Entrepreneur Style?
Avant-garde Entrepreneur Academy Waitlist
Ginni Media website
The Ginni Show podcast

Let's Connect!

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Investment Readiness: Metrics and Values that Attract Impact Investors with Jeff Shafer

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 10:00:27 GMT

Do your social impact business metrics reflect your passion for the change you want to create?

This week, on the second and last part of our series on Investment Readiness, we receive the Co-founder and CEO of CommonGood Capital, Jeff Shafer, to learn about investment readiness from the impact investor standpoint and the metrics, values, and opportunities impact investors feel called upon.

Despite being in the financial services industry for over three decades, Jeff made a radical shift less than ten years ago, when impact investing taught him it is possible to create a meaningful impact through the purposeful use of capital. He is also the Host of "A New Lens Podcast," a true library of interviews on impact investing.

Tune in and listen to the forty-third episode of the Avant-Garde Entrepreneur podcast. You'll learn more about Jeff's "awakening," the metrics you should be aware of in your social impact business, and what you can do if you "don't have everything figured out" in your impact business. Jeff also answers some questions from the Avant-Garde community, what are the most common mistakes social entrepreneurs make, and much more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

A bit about Jeff's background (5:30)
Jeff talks about his radical shift (9:00)
The role of a spouse in impact investing (16:20)
Buzzwords in impact investing. The difference between ISG and Impact (23:50)
How to make your company attractive to investors (27:40)
What's an impact investor expected ROI? (40:00)
The biggest mistake most social entrepreneurs make (45:10)

Resources:

Connect with Jeff:

LinkedIn
Listen to A New Lens Podcast
A New Lens with Morgan Simon, Author of "Real Impact"
A New Lens with Patrice Tsague - The Nehemiah Project
The Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) IRIS Metrics Tool

Let's Connect!

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Investment Readiness: How To Find the Right Investor with Don Simmons

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 09:00:45 GMT

Is your social impact business ready for investors? Do you know where to find the right investor?

Today's episode is the first part of a two-part series on Investment Readiness, and we kick off this conversation with someone who has been putting his money where his heart guides him for almost 40 years, Don Simmons. Don is the Founder and CEO of the Steward Advisors Group, is the Author of the life-changing book "The Steward Investor," and is the kind of investor who prioritizes maximum societal transformation over RoR (rate of returns).

Getting access to financial capital depends not only on how organized your social impact business is, how good your MVP (Minimum Viable Product) is, or even if you have a smooth data and accountability mechanism, you must also find the right investor. Still, to make this match made in heaven a reality, you must know where to look for.

Tune in and listen to the forty-second episode of the Avant-Garde Entrepreneur podcast. You will learn what exactly investors look for in social enterprises, what details make impact businesses irresistible to them, and what ponds you should fish on to get the right investor for your company. Don also shares his experiences as a lifelong investor, his favorite social impact businesses to work with, advice for the new generations of social entrepreneurs, and much more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

A bit about Don's background and experience as an impact business investor (3:20)
How to get your MVP on point (10:20)
There are two types of investors (16:50)
How to discover the perfect investors' network for you (27:40)
Don talks about the kind of social impact businesses he likes to work with (34:30)

Connect with Don:

LinkedIn
Get Don's book! The Steward Investor: Investing God's Resources for Eternal Impact

Resources:

Let’s Connect!

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Top 5 Tips For Business Continuity And Succession Planning

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 09:00:11 GMT

Do you think there is someone out there, anywhere in the world, capable of taking the torch of your hand and running with it to the next generation? Are you mentally prepared for that? Is everything in your social enterprise ready for a smooth succession?

Today, I'm excited to talk about my merger experience and share my top 5 tips for business continuity and planning a smooth succession. After a process that took months to be completed, years of planning, and decades of preparation, I share the details of how I manifested this merger, how I decided it was the best moment for it, and how I sorted out the obstacles that got in the way.

At the core of every social enterprise is your social mission, and you must ask yourself: How long can you keep the pace that'll make your actions relevant for the cause you're fighting for?

Tune in and listen to episode 41 of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. You will learn the secrets of a successful merger, why you must plan for it, and how to do it. You will also hear my recommendations about having an intermediary, trusting the process, manifesting your wildest dreams, and more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

What makes you unique in your business (3:00)
A backstory of how this merger happened (6:10)
Start now, mergers take time (12:20)
Why having an intermediary can make the difference (19:00)
Dream big. Let the divine do its job (23:20)
Be transparent about your strengths and weaknesses (29:10)
Be ready and learn to let go (35:30)

Resources:

Let's Connect!

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Educating Future Difference Makers for A Greater Social Impact with Dr. Jim King - Part 2

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 09:00:57 GMT

"The first thing most people in any of these enterprises should be concerned about is: If I can't run a sustainable enterprise, the doing good goes away."

In today's episode, we go through the second part of my conversation with the Director of the M.Sc. in Information Systems Program at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and the Founder of Change University, Dr. Jim King.

Tune in and listen to the fortieth episode of the Avant-Garde Entrepreneur podcast; you'll hear Dr. King's advice on how to start an impact enterprise on the right foot and for the right reasons, and everything you need to know to make sure your social enterprise fulfills its goals. We also talk about Dr. King's sklll in building people and helping students understand why they are built the way they are.

Additionally, we discuss the dangers of lack of discernment, the importance for social entrepreneurs to understand their why, what separates purpose-driven people from mere dreamers, and more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

What do impact entrepreneurs need to start a social enterprise (4:10)
Dr. King talks about the patterns successful social enterprises follow (9:10)
Your gifts and passion come together (15:20)
Things every social entrepreneur should avoid (21:00)
Dr. King shares tips and advice for kids in their 20s and late teen years (25:40)
The importance of understanding why you were built this way (29:00)
Dr. King talks about his most immense joy as a facilitator (32:10)

Resources:

Connect with Dr. Jim King:

Let's Connect!

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Educating Future Difference Makers for A Greater Social Impact with Dr. Jim King - Part 1

Tue, 22 Aug 2023 09:00:43 GMT

"The education world is more than just the academic content, and I grew to appreciate that more the longer I was in school."

This week, we go through the first part of my conversation with Dr. Jim King, Director M.Sc. in Information Systems Program at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and Founder of Change University, a portal for information about homelessness, poverty, and hunger that promotes activities to address these issues through healthcare, education, human safety, and economic development activities. Dr. King is also a member of the International Committee for World Hunger Relief and a founding member of the Preemptive Love Coalition.

Throughout this episode, you'll hear about the evolution of impact businesses and social enterprises, Dr. Jim King's passion for being in the classroom, how he uses it to promote change for good, and his views on social enterprises, not-for-profits, and NGOs. Dr. King also shares his thoughts on social enterprises and impact business trends, missionaries' work, and much more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

A bit about Dr. Jim King's background (3:30)
A glimpse of Dr. Jim King's life as a professor (9:00)
There's a reason to do what we do and a price to pay for it (14:20)
Dr. King shares his thoughts on missionaries' work (17:00)
About the new trends in impact businesses and social enterprises (22:40)
Running sustainable for-profit businesses while having a strategy to do good (27:30)

Resources:

Connect with Dr. Jim King:

Let's Connect!

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Meet Joseph Peer: A Social Entrepreneur's Journey into Health & Fitness - Part 2

Tue, 08 Aug 2023 09:00:20 GMT

Regardless of how passionate we are about our social enterprise, a passion project can become a job if we don't have boundaries in place and learn to balance the business side of it.

In today's episode, we go through the second and last part of my conversation with the social entrepreneur, husband, father, and Owner of Crescent Tactical Fitness in Tennessee, Joseph Peer.

Tune in and listen to the thirty-eighth episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. In this second part of the conversation, we talk about the importance of expert guidance in business; Joseph highlights how having systems in place, excellent relationships in the community, and the finances updated, plus divine timing, helped him sell his business within only a couple of weeks.

Additionally, Joseph shares his thoughts on avoiding passion projects becoming jobs, the negatives of entrepreneurship and how to alleviate their effects, and more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

Joseph talks about his thoughts on selling his business before and after selling it (2:40)
About the travel to Egypt right before the world turned into a different place (6:40)
Avoiding others' mistakes is the faster way to grow your social enterprise (11:00)
How to prevent a passion from turning into a job (13:50)
How to find the opportunities God already created for us (15:20)

Connect with Joseph:

Crescent Tactical Fitness website
Joseph's LinkedIn
Joseph's Instagram

Resources:

Let's Connect!

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Meet Joseph Peer: A Social Entrepreneur's Journey into Health & Fitness - Part 1

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 09:00:53 GMT

Social entrepreneurship isn't butterflies and flowers all the time; sometimes, it can be a bit stressful. When the stress hormone runs loose, we can either numb its effects with alcohol, nicotine, and binge eating or help our body process it. What is the best option to do so? Exercising, meditation, and healthy eating and sleeping habits.

Today, as we start wrapping up the special avant-garde entrepreneurs series, we meet the inspiring Joseph Peer, a true citizen of the world, social entrepreneur, husband, father, and the Owner of Crescent Tactical Fitness in Tennessee, USA.

Tune in and listen to the thirty-seventh episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. In this first part of my conversation with Joseph, you'll hear about why minding your health & fitness is a crucial part of being a social entrepreneur and why moving your body is the best way of dealing with cortisol, the stress hormone. You'll also hear Joseph's fantastic story of how and why he decided to open a Crossfit gym in Jordan, his faith in God's timing and character, the benefits of meditation, and more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

A bit about Joseph's background (5:50)
Joseph talks about his passion for fitness (8:10)
How exercise affects your body and your mind (14:50)
Joseph shares the beautiful story of how he started his Crossfit gym in Jordan (19:20)
You must trust God's timing (24:40)

Connect with Joseph:

Crescent Tactical Fitness website
Joseph's LinkedIn

Resources:

Let's Connect!

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From Startup Founder to Social Entrepreneur with David Wampamba - Part 3

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 09:00:13 GMT

Social entrepreneurship is not only about giving someone job training or an opportunity; it's about helping them realize their worth, that they are worthy of having a career and making money from it. That's what makes social entrepreneurship so unique.

Today, in the last part of my conversation with David Wampamba, he shares his thoughts on social entrepreneurship, how he prepares physically and mentally for his role as leader and trainer, and the lessons learned since he became a social entrepreneur. David is a Startup Founder, Web Designer and Developer, Published Author, Social Entrepreneur, and Founder and CEO of the Uganda-based startup, Ablestate.

In this third and last part, we discover more about David's views on leadership, mentorship, and social entrepreneurship. He shares valuable insight for leaders and trainers, talks about the struggles of young male and female students in Uganda, his favorite activities for disconnecting and recharging, and much more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

A bit about Ablestate's workforce (3:10)

The challenges female and male young people face in Uganda (7:00)

David talks about how he got into the true meaning of social entrepreneurship (9:30)

As a social entrepreneur, you must focus on the advantages (16:10)

David's favorite activities to disconnect and recharge (21:00)

Why slowing down and taking a break is so important for social entrepreneurs (29:10)

Where David thinks he'll be five years from now (31:30)

Resources:

Book: David Wampamba - A Complete Guide To Industry Front-End Web Developer – The Ultimate Guide

Connect with David:

Twitter

Visit Ablestate's website

Resources:

5 Mindset Pitfalls to Avoid Workshop Registration August 15, 2023

Avant-garde Entrepreneur Foundations Waitlist for August 2023

Book: Atomic Habits by James Clear

Book: More than Just a Carpenter by Josh McDowell

Let's Connect!

Learn to Code With David Wampamba on YouTube

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From Startup Founder to Social Entrepreneur with David Wampamba - Part 2

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 09:00:06 GMT

Never in social entrepreneurship history has anyone said: we already had the impact we wanted. Yet what makes social entrepreneurs that have a heart for people keep going is thinking about the results they already had and the changes they believe they can promote.

Today, in the second part of my conversation with David Wampamba, we learn a bit more about his upbringing and the challenges he crushed with his determination to promote a positive social impact in his community and the world. David is the Founder and CEO of Ablestate, an Uganda-based company created to connect businesses with developers and to help developers land the job of their dreams. He is also a Startup Founder, Web Designer and Developer, Published Author, and Social Entrepreneur.

David is living proof that when there's a will, there's a way; he studied, learned, and passed social engineering exams in C, VC, Java, and C++ without having a computer at home. An autodidact since he was a child, David managed to learn everything about computers and became the best in town to troubleshoot computers at a very young age.

Tune in and listen to the thirty-fifth episode where, in this second part of this three-part series interview, you'll learn more about David's determination and passion for teaching and creating a social impact. You'll also hear about the birth of Ablestate, how to balance the anxiety created by the impact you want to make in the world vs. the impact you can realistically make, and the lessons David learned along the way as a social entrepreneur.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

About David's informal work to get money to spend in the internet cafe (4:00)

A treasure in the trash: the keyboard that started it all (9:10)

Becoming the go-to person for fixing computers (14:10)

David talks about the first company he founded (24:50)

You inspire you (35:30)

We never feel we already had enough impact (40:40)

About the birth of Ablestate (51:20)

Resources:

Book: David Wampamba - A Complete Guide To Industry Front-End Web Developer

Connect with David:

Twitter

Visit Ablestate's website

Resources:

5 Mindset Pitfalls to Avoid Workshop Registration August 15, 2023

Avant-garde Entrepreneur Foundations Waitlist for August 2023

Learn to Code With David Wampamba on YouTube

Book: Atomic Habits by James Clear

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Startup Founder to Social Entrepreneur with David Wampamba - Part 1

Tue, 13 Jun 2023 09:00:26 GMT

How hard are you willing to commit to fulfilling your dreams?

Today, I'm so excited to be joined by David Wampamba. He is a Startup Founder, Social Entrepreneur, Web Designer, and Developer, published Author, and the Founder and CEO of Ablestate, a company based in Kampala, Uganda, created to help businesses find developers across the globe and developers land the job of their dreams.

Sometimes, becoming a social entrepreneur is about being the person we needed when we were young or, like in David Wampamba's case, helping others challenge the status quo and overcoming the limitations they might encounter, like lack of connectivity, unemployment, or financial difficulties. For him, challenging the status quo is a way to demonstrate constant improvement.

In the first part of this three-part series interview, we hear about David's struggles to get into the education system in Uganda. We learn about David's resilience, persistence, and bullet-proof mindset that helped him beat the odds and go from "the dumbest kid in the village" to second in his class. You'll also hear about David's first steps into coding and programming, how the social entrepreneurship seed was planted into his head, and more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

A bit about David's background and upbringing in Uganda (7:20)

About the auntie that changed David's destiny (11:00)

From getting 19% in a math test to second in his class (17:10)

David's dreams of getting the education he wanted vanish right before becoming real (22:40)

David's first encounter with programming and coding (31:30)

Resources:

Book: David Wampamba - A Complete Guide To Industry Front-End Web Developer

Connect with David:

Twitter

Visit Ablestate's website

Resources:

5 Mindset Pitfalls to Avoid Workshop Registration August 15, 2023

Avant-garde Entrepreneur Foundations Waitlist for August 2023

Book: Atomic Habits by James Clear

Book: More than Just a Carpenter by Josh McDowell

Let's Connect!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Turning A Social Enterprise Into The Voice Of The Vulnerable with Aisha Bello - Part 2

Tue, 30 May 2023 09:00:41 GMT

In GuardUp App, security agencies' links are for more than just calling for emergency or quick response. You can also share information with their intelligence units. When you see something, say something; if you suspect something, report that. That is how we can all work together to reduce insecurity in our country. - Aisha Bello.

Today, we continue our chat with Aisha Bello, Sexual and Gender-based Violence and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Advocate, Author, M & E Specialist, and Social Entrepreneur. The Co-founder of GuardUp, and the Executive Director of The Voice of Girl, Child, and Vulnerable People Foundation.

As the mother of three daughters, Aisha simply couldn't stay arms crossed, witnessing how kidnapping teenage girls from schools were slowly becoming "normal" in some regions of Nigeria. Aisha developed GuardUp App to give women in her community a tool to empower and connect them, provide evidence, and be in close contact with the authorities.

Tune in and listen to the thirty-third episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. In this second part of our conversation, we learn about the process and mindset Aisha went through to develop the app, the lessons learned, and the things she would have done differently. We also discuss how she disconnects from these energy-draining and heavy issues, her biggest vision for the following years, and more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

What moved Aisha to develop the GuardUp App (5:10)
How the GuardUp App works and why it's an empowering tool for women (10:00)
Looking back, what would Aisha do differently as a social entrepreneur (15:20)
How to recharge by actively doing things (19:50)
Aisha's biggest vision for the next 5 years (23:00)

Connect with Aisha:

Resources:

Let's Connect!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Turning A Social Enterprise Into The Voice Of The Vulnerable with Aisha Bello - Part 1

Tue, 16 May 2023 09:00:28 GMT

"No matter what we're going through, we still have people who need us and must help each other." - Aisha Bello.

Today, I'm thrilled to be joined by Aisha Bello, a Sexual and Gender-based Violence and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Advocate, Author, M & E Specialist, and Social Entrepreneur. Aisha is also the Co-founder of GuardUp, a mobile application designed for the safety and protection of women, and the Executive Director of The Voice of Girl, Child, and Vulnerable People Foundation.

Although Aisha was passionate about hard sciences and even got her Bachelor's Degree in Microbiology, her heart and her father's teachings made her reconsider, pivot, and become a social scientist to right the wrongs suffered by the vulnerable people in her community.

Tune in and listen to the thirty-second episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. In this first part of my chat with Aisha, we learn about her journey and her decision to pivot from microbiologist to pursuing a Master's in Criminal Justice and a post-graduate diploma in Crime Management. We also discuss social entrepreneurship's advantages over non-profits, the challenges every social entrepreneur faces at least once in their path, and much more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

A bit about Aisha's background and upbringing (5:20)
Why Aisha decided to change course and restructure her professional career (8:00)
From being part of a social project to starting her own thing (13:10)
The reasons that moved Aisha to become the voice of the vulnerable (16:20)
About Aisha's reasons for transitioning from non-profit to social entrepreneurship (17:20)
The challenges every social entrepreneur faces sooner or later (20:10)

Connect with Aisha:

Resources:

Let's Connect!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Overcoming The Mindset Challenges Of Sales with Steven Ross - Part 2

Tue, 02 May 2023 09:00:22 GMT

"Just sitting here and thinking about 'I want good things' isn't going to make a difference. We must be responsible enough to do the things that lead to where we want to go." - Steven Ross.

Today, I'm very excited to share the second part of my interview with Steven Ross. This week, the Realtor, Speaker, Guide, Transformational Coach, and Best-selling Author of "Doors Open When You Knock," shares a bit about the creative process of writing a book, some of the universal principles he talks about in it, and the most common challenges social entrepreneurs find in their path.

Tune in and listen to the thirty-first episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. You'll hear about what happens when social enterprises don't have a clear WHY, Steven's advice on perseverance and discipline, how to help the universe help us, and more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

A bit about Steven's take on perseverance and discipline (2:37)
What's Steven's book about (5:10)
The universe will not bend to our will. We have to do our part (7:33)
Why having a clear WHY is crucial (10:17)
Where do most social entrepreneurs struggle the most? (15:42)

Connect with Steven:

Website
LinkedIn
Steven's Course: Door Knocking Mastery
Book - Steven Ross - Doors Open When You Knock: A Realtor's Handbook for Boundless Opportunity and Freedom

Resources:

Let's Connect!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Overcoming The Mindset Challenges Of Sales with Steven Ross - Part 1

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 09:00:29 GMT

What is the thing that keeps you going when you feel you can't go any further?

Today, I'm so excited to be joined by Steven Ross. Steven is a Trainer, Realtor, Guide, and Best-selling Author of the book "Doors Open When You Knock." With over 30 years of experience selling real estate, and after knocking on over 125,000 doors and walking approximately 5,000 miles, Steven learned what it takes to persevere, create relationships out of thin air, and turn strangers into raving fans.

By far, sales is the word that makes social entrepreneurs cringe more than any other. Yet selling is a crucial part of any business: without it, there would be no business. So, can we turn sales into a more comfortable part of our social enterprise? Is it possible to tune into a mindset that always prepares us to jump into action? Let's find out!

Tune in and listen to the thirtieth episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. You'll hear about Steven's evolution from door-to-door salesman to successful entrepreneur, his avant-garde approach to mindset and sales, and how he avoided the most common mindset pitfalls.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

Steven talks about how he got into real estate (6:41)
Sales are about building relationships (11:01)
What your everyday goal should be as an entrepreneur (13:17)
If you want to get what you want, help people get what they want (17:39)
Be the trusted person people call when they need what you offer (22:12)
How to keep going when you want to stop (25:48)

Connect with Steven:

Resources:

Let's Connect!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Allow Your Inner Voice To Run Your Social Enterprise with Sharon Williams

Tue, 04 Apr 2023 09:00:34 GMT

As a social entrepreneur, what is the best way to be purposeful, financially stable, and do humanitarian work successfully?

Today, I'm thrilled to welcome Sharon Williams, a lifelong server, founder, dear friend, a traveling partner. She dedicated her whole life to serving others; Sharon is an expert in fundraising, helping people in crises, rallying people around the cause, and relying on her higher power while being a mother of four.

Sharon is the Founder of Act4 The Nations, DAWN (Divorce Aftercare Women Need), and Women Alive, the Author of two books, and is currently working with anti-human trafficking organizations.

Tune in and listen to the twenty-ninth episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. You will hear Sharon's perspective on the humanitarian side of running a social enterprise, her experiences after a whole life of being at service and traveling the world, and her best advice about "where to start" when initializing the social entrepreneur journey.

Additionally, you'll learn how she mentors leaders through tough times, her experiences as an author, the questions most social entrepreneurs ask themselves, how important it is to stay in tune with your intuition, and more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

Some background about Sharon and her impressive work (2:12)

What is Act 4 The Nations about (5:13)

How to deal with the fear of making mistakes (9:03)

Sharon's advice for leaders who take a misstep (18:52)

As a social entrepreneur, is staying in tune with the inner voice crucial? (21:43

Sharon shares her experiences writing her two books (25:19)

Resources:

5 Mindset Pitfalls to Avoid Workshop Registration August 15, 2023

Avant-garde Entrepreneur Foundations Waitlist for August 2023

Avant-Garde Entrepreneur - Episode 6 - Making Mistakes and Missing God

Connect with Sharon:

Act 4 The Nations Website

Act 4 The Nations Instagram

Book: Chief Women Arise

Book: Catching Minnows

Let's Connect!

The Art of Thinking Brilliantly

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How To Get Your Social Enterprise's Finances Right with John Geiwitz - Part 2

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 10:00:23 GMT

Did you know that it is never too late to rebuild the books of your social enterprise?

Today, I'm very excited to share the second part of my interview with the award-winning Business Broker, John Geiwitz.

During the first part of our conversation, we went through some of the industry's taboos, debunked myths, and cleared doubts about what every social entrepreneur should know and what they shouldn't be embarrassed about not knowing. In this second part, we delve into social enterprises' continuity, systems and processes, the freeing power of delegating, and more.

Tune in and listen to hear John's advice on the need and possibilities of rebuilding your books, why social entrepreneurs should start with the end in mind, why you should pay close attention to how you spend your time, and more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

An example of books in need of some adjustments (3:25)

Does money coming into your bank account mean your business is profitable? (6:08)

How to begin with the end in mind (9:01)

About social enterprises' continuity (11:36)

Run it like a business, even if profit is not the ultimate goal (17:56)

Analysis paralysis vs. jumping into opportunities at the right time (22:55)

Connect with John:

John Geiwitz’s Website

Email: johng@tworld.com

Resources:

Book: Mark Victor Hansen - The Aladdin Factor

Book: Michael Gerber - The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It

Book: Jack Canfield - The Success Principles(TM) - 10th Anniversary Edition: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be

5 Mindset Pitfalls to Avoid Workshop Registration March 14, 2023

Avant-garde Entrepreneur Foundations Waitlist for March 2023

Let's Connect!

The Art of Thinking Brilliantly

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How To Get Your Social Enterprise's Finances Right with John Geiwitz - Part 1

Tue, 07 Mar 2023 10:00:42 GMT

Do you pretend you fully understand what's happening in your enterprise's books just because you are too embarrassed to ask?

Today, I'm thrilled to welcome John Geiwitz to the show. John is an award-winning Business Broker with over 20 years of experience in mergers and acquisitions, passionate about helping people buy and sell all kinds of businesses.

Being a social entrepreneur implies that we wear many hats, multiply ourselves, and put down all kinds of fires. Yet that doesn't mean we MUST know all about everything. Understanding our books and income statements is crucial to make a bigger impact, and if we want to understand them fully, it's okay to ask a professional for a helping hand.

In the first part of this two-part series with John, you'll learn about the common mistakes most social entrepreneurs make when starting their businesses, why it is essential to learn about an enterprise's finances, and the best ways to do it. You'll also hear John's best advice for newcomers to the social entrepreneurship space, some of the best leadership practices, and more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

A bit about John's background, credentials, and expertise (2:26)

Social entrepreneurs' most common mistakes and how to avoid making them (9:40)

The best ways to learn more about your books and income statements (13:15)

What would John do if he had to start a business today (21:39)

Connect with John:

John Geiwitz’s Website

Email: johng@tworld.com

Resources:

The Art of Thinking Brilliantly - Clip on YouTube

Book: Mark Victor Hansen - The Aladdin Factor

Book: Michael Gerber - The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It

Book: Jack Canfield - The Success Principles(TM) - 10th Anniversary Edition: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be

5 Mindset Pitfalls to Avoid Workshop Registration March 14, 2023

Avant-garde Entrepreneur Foundations Waitlist for March 2023

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How To Shift Into The Marketing Mindset with Jacob Froats - PART 2

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 10:00:59 GMT

If you could work only two hours a week in your business, what would you prioritize?

In today's episode, we go through the second part of the interview with the Digital Marketing Expert, Founder of Tin City Impact, friend, and human filter, Jacob Froats.

In this second part, we delve into why we must, as social entrepreneurs, focus on excellence, how we serve our clients, and connect with our team members.

Tune in and listen to the twenty-sixth episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur, and learn why focusing on culture and people is the best way to ensure your business is profitable and how to avoid losing track of the things that bring balance to your life. You'll also discover a simple technique to focus on what matters most in your business, the importance of tracking meaningful conversations, and more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

Should social enterprises' marketing look different than traditional businesses' marketing (7:24)
Why you should always focus on excellence (9:43)
Lean into serving the most people in the best way possible (13:11)
Measure and track what matters (16:47)
How to generate profit by focusing on people and culture (18:21)

Connect with Jacob:

Resources:

Let's Connect!

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How To Shift Into The Marketing Mindset with Jacob Froats - PART 1

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 10:00:03 GMT

Did you decide to start marketing your business and need help figuring out where to start?

Today, I'm so excited to be joined by Jacob Froats. Jacob is a Digital Manager Expert, a friend, and the Founder and Managing Director of Tin City Impact, a full-service marketing agency located in Malaysia. His company helps businesses from Asia, Europe, and America sell more and worry less by enhancing and promoting human-to-human marketing.

As social entrepreneurs, changing our mindset from non-profit to "okay, we're going to make money" might be intimidating and leave us full of doubts, not knowing where to start to market our business.

Tune in and listen to the twenty-fifth episode of Avant-garde Entrepreneur. You will learn about Jacob's journey into marketing and advertising, how to market your business, and create genuine connections with your audience. You'll also learn about Facebook ads, how much you need to invest to market your business, the importance of building meaningful relationships with your clients, and more.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

A bit about Jacob's background and love for marketing (2:28)

How life made a 180° turn in just four years for Jacob (9:01)

The importance of building meaningful relationships with customers (13:14)

What can we do to help our customers find us (16:32)

How much is your customer worth to you (22:57)

What's the minimum amount we should spend on marketing our business? (25:54)

Connect with Jacob:

Email: jacob@tincityimpact.com

Tin City Impact Website

Tin City Impact on Instagram

Resources:

$100M Offers by Alex Hormozi on Amazon.com

$100M Offers by Alex Hormozi on GoodReads.com

Discover Your Coffee

6 Ways to Acquire Customers

5 Mindset Pitfalls to Avoid Workshop Registration March 14, 2023

Avant-garde Entrepreneur Foundations Waitlist for March 2023

Let's Connect!