How do mentors contribute to an entrepreneur's journey, and what qualities should one look for in a mentor? Glenn Harper and Julie Smith welcome Aaron Marcum , who shares his incredible story filled with challenges, growth, and invaluable lessons. From his early days as a top sales rep to founding a successful home care agency and Home Care PULSE, Aaron's journey is one of resilience and creativity. You will learn more about the parallels between cycling and entrepreneurship, exploring how this ...
Sep 18, 2024•48 min•Season 2Ep. 70
How do you balance entrepreneurial responsibilities with personal life, especially during the summer months when kids are back in school? Living Fast Forward, An Entrepreneur's Journey We're starting something a little different with this episode. We're exploring what's it like living in 'fast forward' mode—not just in business, but in real life. As the summer winds down and kids head back to school, we'll discuss how this annual transition impacts entrepreneurs, particularly those juggling the ...
Sep 11, 2024•10 min•Season 2Ep. 69
The Impact of Discipline on Personal Success**: "The discipline and kind of the consistency around my morning routine and my daily routines has stuck and I think contributed to a lot of the success that I've had as a, father and a husband and an entrepreneur." — Troy Lavinia Julie Smith and Glenn Harper sit down with Troy Lavinia, the visionary founder of Daily SOS and Mosaic Research Management. Troy shares his remarkable journey from the corporate hustle to successful entrepreneurship, emphasi...
Sep 04, 2024•41 min•Season 2Ep. 68
How important is quick decision-making and confronting uncomfortable situations for personal and professional growth? From her beginnings in athletics at the University of Washington to earning a Ph.D. in adult learning and leadership development, Dr. Carrie Graham 's journey is both inspiring and instructive. She opens up about her transition from a shy individual to an assertive professional in elite athletics, and how those experiences shaped her ability to make quick decisions and confront c...
Aug 21, 2024•51 min•Season 2Ep. 67
"Shaping an Industry and Advocating for Change": "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build and shape one of the largest industries in the country. And it has far-reaching aspects beyond just the plant and, you know, rescheduling the plant, de-scheduling the plant, but there's a social equity component tied to it." Today’s episode is going to be a blast because we’ve got the amazing Naomi Granger with us. Naomi is a total rockstar in the world of cannabis accounting and taxation. She’s t...
Aug 07, 2024•46 min•Season 2Ep. 66
Staying Calm Under Pressure: "Because when you're able to stay calm, calm your mind, you see things, and you can counter, and you can do those things." We sit down with an inspiring guest, Steve Gavatorta. Steve, a certified behavior analyst, emotional intelligence coach, and author, shares his incredible journey from a hard-working childhood in Burgottstown, Pennsylvania, to becoming a successful entrepreneur. Steve dives into his early entrepreneurial ventures, academic struggles, and the pivo...
Jul 17, 2024•54 min•Season 2Ep. 65
"My entrepreneurial spirit sort of got unleashed in my public accounting days. So as soon as I became, as I graduated, became a public accountant, I helped other entrepreneurs get started. And that was just a fabulous learning experience." Welcome back to Empowering Entrepreneurs! In today's episode, hosts Glenn Harper and Julie Smith are joined by the dynamic Jim Buffington . They get into Jim's remarkable journey from his humble beginnings at a Texas agricultural land grant school to becoming ...
Jul 03, 2024•50 min•Season 2Ep. 64
How do you juggle the demands of running a PR firm, writing children's books, and being a mother? Our guest shares her unique journey from practicing law to becoming a children’s book author and starting her own PR firm. We welcome Alysson Bourque—a multi-faceted entrepreneur who wears many hats as an author, publicist, attorney, and teacher. This episode is brought to you by PureTax, LLC. Tax preparation services without the pressure. When all you need is to get your tax return done, take the s...
Jun 19, 2024•44 min•Season 2Ep. 63
Learning to delegate effectively can transform your business. It not only helps in managing workload but also empowers your team, making room for growth and innovation. In this episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Gina Cotner, a remarkable entrepreneur and the founder of Athena Executive Services . Originally setting out to leave corporate America behind, Gina ventured into the world of business ownership with a Martini Lounge, a dream that quickly taught her the importance of selectin...
Jun 05, 2024•55 min•Season 2Ep. 62
Our guest states that the success rate of franchisees from the companies he represents is around 90% after 5 years. What industry-specific challenges do these franchisees face, and how do they overcome them? In this episode, we chat with franchising guru Jon Ostenson and dive deep into the thriving world of non-food franchising. Jon shares his extraordinary journey from finance whiz to franchise expert, emphasizing the power of a franchise system’s support and success rates eclipsing independent...
May 15, 2024•45 min•Season 2Ep. 61
From her childhood leadership to claiming the title of Miss Kentucky, and now a successful business consultant, Maria Maldonado Smith 's journey is a testament to dreaming big and taking risks. She shares invaluable insights on creating impactful vision boards, the power of mentorship for future visionaries, and the courage it takes to pivot from a secure corporate path to entrepreneurship. If you want to unleash your true potential and be inspired to create your own definition of success, she e...
May 01, 2024•47 min•Season 2Ep. 60
This episode is brought to you by PureTax, LLC. Tax preparation services without the pressure. When all you need is to get your tax return done, take the stress out of tax season by working with a firm that has simplified the process and the pricing. Find out more about how we started. We "dive" into the world of fishing and entrepreneurship with our special guest, Sena Wheeler, the passionate force behind the family-run business that provides top-quality Copper River salmon to seafood aficionad...
Apr 17, 2024•56 min•Season 2Ep. 59
In this episode of Empowering Entrepreneurs, Glenn Harper and Julie Smith discuss the birth of PureTax, LLC, a company that emerged from the need to serve clients who required simple tax returns. They share their journey of identifying a market need, finding the right talent, and leveraging their experience to create systems and processes that propel their new venture forward. Identifying Ideal Clients: "And I think it really came down to being able to see the need for it and almost feeling bad ...
Apr 03, 2024•11 min•Season 2Ep. 58
What motivated our guest to transition from a career in teaching to real estate investing, and what can you learn from his career shift? Welcome back to Empowering Entrepreneurs. In this episode, Julie and Glenn have a truly motivating episode as they're joined by Dan Gomer , an individual whose entrepreneurial journey is as inspiring as it is educational. Dan, a former middle school teacher, took a leap of faith from the classroom to the competitive arena of real estate. He shares the trials an...
Mar 20, 2024•48 min•Season 3Ep. 57
Our guest didn’t have a mentor when starting his business. How did he navigate the challenges, and what advice would he give to new entrepreneurs seeking guidance? Welcome to another insightful episode of Empowering Entrepreneurs, with an incredible conversation with Matt Remuzzi from CapForge . Matt shared his inspiring journey from writing business plans to revolutionizing bookkeeping, proving that with persistence, innovation, and a customer-first approach, success is not just a possibility, ...
Mar 06, 2024•45 min•Season 3Ep. 56
How did our guest's experience in Budapest and his involvement in the family's business venture shape his understanding of international business, cultural dynamics, and overcoming obstacles in a foreign market? We've got a special guest on the episode – Eugene Gershman, the big boss at GIS Development and GIS Residential Construction . We're diving into his story, from growing up in Moscow to making moves in the US real estate scene. Get ready to hear about his hands-on approach, his plans for ...
Feb 21, 2024•45 min•Season 3Ep. 55
What lessons can entrepreneurs learn from our guest's approach to seeking and utilizing mentors and building a network for guidance in both personal and professional aspects? Welcome to another episode of Empowering Entrepreneurs, where we feature dynamic individuals who are revolutionizing their industries. In today's episode, hosts Glenn Harper and Julie Smith sit down with Liz Branch, the innovative COO of Accountingfly and GoingConcern . Liz shares her insights on changing the landscape of t...
Feb 07, 2024•51 min•Season 3Ep. 54
From owning a franchise to filing for bankruptcy? How did these experiences shape the approach to entrepreneurship? In our latest episode, we had the privilege of interviewing Phil Whitman, a renowned CPA and certified exit planning adviser. Phil has incredible insights and experience in helping CPAs improve leadership and client experience. Here are some Empowering Takeaways from our conversation: 1️⃣ Short-term pain for long-term gain: Phil shares the importance of making investments and decis...
Jan 17, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 3Ep. 53
What challenges and misconceptions did our guest encounter when breaking into the IT industry without a college degree, and how did he overcome them? In this episode, we are honored to have Terry Kim, the founder of NexGenT Academy and a serial entrepreneur, sharing his journey from the military to breaking into the IT industry without a college degree. Terry's commitment to empowering the next generation of IT professionals is truly inspiring. We'll delve into his entrepreneurial endeavors, his...
Jan 03, 2024•50 min•Season 3Ep. 52
How can reflection on the past year help entrepreneurs prepare for the upcoming year? Welcome to another episode of Empowering Entrepreneurs, where we dive into the world of entrepreneurship and offer valuable insights to help you succeed. In this episode, Glenn Harper and Julie Smith reflect on the past year and provide invaluable advice to arm you with the motivation and preparation needed for the upcoming year. They discuss the importance of setting intentional goals, evaluating your journey ...
Dec 20, 2023•12 min•Season 3Ep. 51
How can entrepreneurs balance the need to follow through on promises and deliver on their vision with the pressures of building a business? We are thrilled to announce that our latest episode of the Empowering Entrepreneurs podcast features the incredible Chase Birky, an inspiring entrepreneur who has overcome numerous obstacles on his journey to success. Here are three key takeaways from Chase's story that can empower and guide aspiring entrepreneurs like you: 1️⃣ Selling the Vision: Chase emph...
Dec 06, 2023•55 min•Season 3Ep. 50
How important is it for entrepreneurs to build a company that can function without their constant involvement? We have the privilege of hearing from a remarkable guest, Miguel Leal , who is known as the "godfather of Mexican cheese." Miguel has not only conquered the cheese world but has also found success in real estate and the food industry. He has ventured into organic farming, aiming to educate and support farmers in capitalizing on the growing demand for organic food. But that's not all - M...
Nov 15, 2023•40 min•Season 2Ep. 49
How can entrepreneurs develop resilience and confidence to overcome the fear of judgment and criticism? Jonathan Beskin is the Founder and CEO of SinglesSwag , a subscription service designed to empower single women. In less than five years, Jonathan's startup has accumulated $60 million in revenue. He has been featured twice in the Inc. 5000 list. Jonathan Beskin began his career in banking but quickly realized that it wasn't his true passion. Despite always wanting to be an entrepreneur, Jonat...
Nov 01, 2023•54 min•Season 2Ep. 48
What are some key factors that contribute to a successful remote work culture? We have an exciting episode lined up for you, featuring Robert Glazer, a seasoned entrepreneur who has been fully remote for over a decade. In this episode, Robert shares his insights and experiences on remote work, leadership, and finding your authentic management style. Here are some key takeaways from the episode: 🌍 Remote Work: Robert discusses how his company was built around remote work long before COVID, highl...
Oct 18, 2023•43 min•Season 2Ep. 47
Learn how the lack of companies focused on managing the Amazon platform presented an opportunity for our guest and his team to acquire clients. Welcome back to another episode of Empowering Entrepreneurs! In this episode, we have the privilege of hearing from Mike Begg, a seasoned entrepreneur who has navigated the ups and downs of the business world with great success. PureTax, LLC Here are 3 key takeaways from our conversation with Mike: 1️⃣ Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth: Mike...
Oct 10, 2023•52 min•Season 2Ep. 46
On this episode of Empowering Entrepreneurs, we have a special guest, Mike Jesowshek , who shares his unique journey of becoming an accountant. Starting out in the online marketing industry, Mike took a different approach to building his accounting firm. With no prior experience of working in an accounting firm, he had to learn how to run one on his own. Mike started a cloud-based accounting firm, which was not very common at the time, and he emphasizes the freedom and control that comes with bu...
Oct 04, 2023•50 min•Season 2Ep. 45
WSJ Best Selling Author of Wonderhell. Motivator. Instigator. Provocateur. As she says, "I get people unstuck." Laura Gassner Otting spent two decades working in executive search, where she discovered an important truth - people only move for two reasons: love or money. Whether it's the love of someone or the potential for financial gain, these are the driving forces behind relocation. And it was no different for Laura when she made a life-changing decision based on both love and money. Lured by...
Sep 20, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 44
In this episode, we have the pleasure of hosting the remarkable Jackie Meyer, a visionary tax strategist and the founder of a highly successful tax advisory firm . Jackie's journey from a traditional approach to a trailblazing entrepreneur will inspire and motivate you to create the business of your dreams. We dive into Jackie's transformative experiences. From seeking guidance from a business coach to developing unique packages for high-net-worth entrepreneurs, Jackie set out on a path that qua...
Sep 12, 2023•46 min•Season 2Ep. 43
Megan Sumrell, founder of The Pink Bee , joins hosts Glenn Harper and Julie Smith to discuss her time management framework and how it empowers entrepreneurs. Megan shares her nine core components of time management, with a particular focus on setting boundaries. By clearly communicating and establishing boundaries, entrepreneurs can manage their time more effectively and set expectations for others. Megan provides three options for people to ask questions and sets specific core hours for respons...
Sep 06, 2023•52 min•Season 2Ep. 42
Have you ever lost everything? Our latest episode of the podcast features a story of risk, loss, and eventual transformation. Chad Brown formed a real estate firm with a partner and several investors before the 2008 economic crisis hit, causing them to lose every single investment. This led to not only a deep depression but financial struggles that affected his personal finances as well. Chad's story highlights the importance of self-discovery and feedback to identify blind spots and ignored iss...
Aug 16, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 41
