How do you get comfortable with taking risks? Develop a healthy relationship with uncertainty and regret. My guest today is the outgoing entrepreneur, community builder and podcaster: Angie Lee. She talks about where her fearlessness comes from when it comes to investing time and money into business ventures and ideas. We also chat about the importance of self-awareness for entrepreneurs and authenticity in personal brands. For the podcasters out there, Angie goes on to speak about podcast monetization and how to approach sponsors for your show.  Angie Lee is a multi-passionate person with a lot on the go. Turning her ADHD into an advantage, she has been able to channel her energy into several successful business ventures. Angie is an entrepreneur and the host of the personal development podcast, The Angie Lee Show. She is also a product developer, public speaker, blogger, course creator, and more. Self-described as "unemployable", Angie has been creating new and interesting jobs for herself for the past 10 years.  In this episode, we'll cover: - Being successful with ADHD - Finding your strengths and focusing on them - How to build courage and take chances - Important aspects to consider when building a community - Being raw and authentic with your audience - Two methods of podcast monetization: product funneling and sponsorship - How to pitch a podcast sponsor - The difference between Audience and Influence SHOW NOTES: https://insidethelionsdenpodcast.com/podcast/episode61  

Inside the Lion's Den: A Business and Leadership Podcast

Ep 61: Success From Bringing Others Joy with Angie Lee

Do you have One Big Tip you like to share with people? Jeff Mendelson, get's to do this with his guests every week on his podcast, The One Big Tip, and today he's going to share some of his own tips with me. Jeff talks about how being bored at work led to him learning valuable skills, starting sides businesses, and how he got into his current career. We discuss different ways to compile and store content, and various uses a you can put it to. Our chat also touches on the ever-changing nature of Google and social media platforms, and their effects on client content distribution. Jeff Mendelson is a digital marketing expert and the creator and host of The One Big Tip Podcast. He spent years working for various companies as a tech guy with a sales background. Lacking any challenge in his work, Jeff never lasted long at any of them. In 2009, after being fired by a company for the last time, Jeff finally committed to going fully independent. Jeff now employs a world-wide network of freelancers, bloggers, web designers, and project managers. A strong proponent of lifestyle design, Jeff (normally) works from various locations around the world and extends that same freedom to his employees. In this episode, we'll cover: - How boredom led Jeff to mastering new skills - Generating ongoing revenue with multiple service offers - The importance of controlling your content and it's distribution - Issues that arise from dependency on third-party platforms - Working with non-business savvy clients - Ways to collect and re-purpose content from your podcast SHOW NOTES: https://insidethelionsdenpodcast.com/podcast/episode60   Resources: Apply to Work with Me: https://insidethelionsdenpodcast.com/apply Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aryehthebusinessman

Ep 60: The Jobs You Didn't Even Know Existed with Jeff Mendelson

It doesn't matter where you come from, you can design your life. My guest, Zachary Babcock, is doing just that for himself and helping his entrepreneur clients and listeners do it too. Zach talks to me today about turning his life around after prison and how he educated himself in sales and marketing. We also discuss personal authenticity in business and the lasting legacies of his mother. Finally, Zach shares how he created Underdog Empowerment, what it's mission is, and what it's future holds.  Zachary Babcock is the Founder and CEO of the Underdog Empowerment podcast, a show that helps entrepreneurs launch, grow and monetize passive income businesses and personal brands. After spending over 5 years behind bars, he left his past behind and made a fresh start. Finding it hard to secure employment as an ex-con, Zach realized that he needed to go into business for himself. After forays into network marketing and a stint as a life coach, he found his true calling in the Underdog Empowerment podcast. Zachary now has a top 200 rated podcast, a business that makes over 6 figures, and is on the way to living his best life.  In this episode, we'll cover: - Books, speakers, and courses that educated and influenced Zachary Babcock - What door-to-door sales can teach you - The lessons to be learned from mentors and your mother - How to figure out your personal brand and your audience  - Why solo episodes and celebrity guest interviews are important for a podcast - Paying for guests to come on your podcast and paying to be a guest on a podcast - The long-term mission of Underdog Empowerment SHOW NOTES: https://insidethelionsdenpodcast.com/podcast/episode59  

Ep 59: Raw, Real and Confident When Nobody Would Support You with Zachary Babcock

These days, social and mainstream media are chock full of stories about amazing stock market and investment gains. Don't buy into the hype. People love to share their stories when it comes to success and making money, but you don't see many of them talking about their business failures. Today I'll give you an update on the current volatile market we're experiencing and the factors that are making it look so good. I'll also share some of my recent investment horror stories and the lessons that they've taught me.  What do you do when your investment isn't making any returns? How can you get your money out of a business that can't pay it's lenders? Why is putting a higher leverage on your asset a risky move? I'll talk about all of these issues, along with frustration, late payments, and bad feelings. Today we're talking about the things that go wrong. We're talking about The Dark Side of Investing. In this episode, we'll cover: - The difference between realized and unrealized gains - What bankruptcy looks like for a business - Giving up your payment priority as a lender in order to save the overall investment - How deals that feel bad and cause you stress can look great on paper - Understanding the debt service coverage issues present in real estate deals - Considering the personal costs of investments that go off the rails SHOW NOTES: https://insidethelionsdenpodcast.com/podcast/episode58  

Ep 58: Investment Series: The Dark Side of Investing

Over the last few episodes, I have had guests on the show that have shared stories about how they built and sold their businesses. While each tale was unique, there were some common themes that I'm going to share with you today. What you don't know when you're building and running your business could end up costing you money on it's sale. Similarly, knowing what to look for when you're buying a business will impact the future profit you're able to make. Listen up, because I'm going to tell you what you need to consider when you're buying or selling a business. In this episode, we're going to talk about how many years of financial history a buyer will look at when considering an acquisition. To illustrate my points, I'll give you an example of what a single atypical year can do to a company's numbers. We're also going to delve into the world of profit margins. We'll talk about what makes up a profit margin and why it's important to the purchase or sale of a business. Finally, I'll give you some great insights into ways you can change your profit margins and what even a small change can do to your bottom line. In this episode, we'll cover: - Debunking the myth that buyers are only looking at the last 12 months of your financial records - How decreasing your operating costs can increase your return on a sale - What the Covid-19 pandemic has done to the business valuations of golf courses and restaurants - How to buy a business at a discount by knowing what you can do for cheaper - What to compare a company's profit margins to when you don't run a similar business SHOW NOTES: https://insidethelionsdenpodcast.com/podcast/episode57  

Ep 57: Investment Series: Valuation Drivers when Buying or Selling a Business

The best products, especially when it comes to your health, are those that solve your problem and honestly work. My guest today, Adi Arezzini knows this first hand. Adi is the co-founder of Teami, a company whose flagship product was designed to solve internal gut health issues. In this episode, Adi and I discuss how Teami got started and the different marketing tactics she has used to grow her e-commerce business. She also shares her thoughts on product branding, horizontal expansion, and inventory control. Teami was initially created by Adi and her business partner to solve digestive issues that Adi herself was having. Realizing that they had created a product that worked and that could help others, the Teami brand was born. After focusing mainly on teas for the first few years, Adi reached out to her clients to find out what other issues they were facing. This led to Teami branching out into skincare and later into the wide world of wellness products. Staying true to her vision to create natural solutions that actually work, Adi can personally attest to her products' efficacy, as she has been has been the human guinea pig in their development. In this episode, we'll cover: - Adi's time in the Israeli army, discovering her gut health issues, and finding her love for fitness and well-being - Solving Adi's gut health issues with holistic nutrition and solutions and the development of Teami with her business partner - Branding and creating excitement for the consumer via product release - Letting the numbers drive your decisions when you're expanding your product lines - Influencer marketing: what works and what doesn't - Teami's successes and setback in branching out from teas and detoxes into skincare and other tea-based products - The concept that inventory is money. Over-ordering, under-ordering, and finding a neutral ground by buying specific amounts as test units Thanks for listening! Head over to the show notes for links and resources mentioned during this episode. SHOW NOTES: https://insidethelionsdenpodcast.com/podcast/episode56  

Ep 56: Solving a Personal Problem Leads to an Unexpected Business with Adi Arezzini

Today I've invited an old friend Inside the Lion's Den for an interview. Eytan Weiner has been at the helm of Quantum Networks as Co-Founder and COO from its creation in 2008 to its recent sale in 2020. On this episode, we'll be discussing the start and growth of his business, as well as the mechanics of its sale last year. We'll also touch on questions of management, including finding the right people for the job and employee retention strategies.  Eytan Weiner is the Co-Founder and former COO of Quantum Networks. Founded in 2008, Quantum Networks is third-party online retailer that also creates launch and growth strategies for sellers on Amazon. In 2020, Eytan and his partner sold Quantum Networks to Advantage Solutions. Since then, Eytan has invested in and become the CEO of GETIDA, a technology company that provides software to track Amazon FBA inventory transactions, refunds, seller data analytics, and FBA reimbursements. Eytan is also a founding board member of the Prosper Show, the largest continuing education conference for established Amazon sellers. In this episode, we'll cover: - Strategies to become a successful third-party reseller on Amazon - The importance of "human capital" - How to retain good employees once you have them - How to create a good workplace culture - Different options Eytan Weiner considered when considering the sale of his business - The definition of a Cash-Free Debt-Free purchase - What an Asset Purchase entails - Details of the Quantum Networks purchase by Advantage Solutions - Eytan's new company: GETIDA SHOW NOTES: https://insidethelionsdenpodcast.com/podcast/episode55 Resources: Apply to Work with Me: https://insidethelionsdenpodcast.com/apply Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aryehthebusinessman    

Ep 55: Selling a Business: Selling an Amazon-Based Physical Product Business with Eytan Weiner

When it comes to starting and growing businesses, Seth Farbman has been "flying by the seat of his pants" for years. He has built his career designing, building, and selling companies in the completely unsexy (but incredibly necessary) world of corporate services. Today, Seth and I discuss how he got into this industry, the sale of three of his companies, and his role in his current business. Seth also talks about the importance of relationships when it comes to growth, changing skill sets over time, and sticking to what you know when you're thinking about creating a service.   Seth Farbman is a success story in the stock market corporate services realm. He is currently the Co-Chairman and President of VStock Transfer, a stock transfer agent company. This was not always the case. After working as a securities lawyer for several years, he entered the entrepreneurial realm and founded/co-founded four lucrative companies: Vintage Filings, Vcorp Services LLC, Vcheck Global, and VStock Transfer. Although businesses that catered to the same clients or served the same purpose already existed, Seth was able to grow these companies successfully by adding value and making his contributions to the industry impactful.  In this episode, we'll cover: - The growth and sale of Seth's first business: Vintage Filings - Utilizing your strengths and areas of expertise, even if they're not "sexy".  These are the things that are going to make you money - Doing something that is already being done by another company, but doing it better - Why you need to lose the ego and talk to everyone. All connections are good connections and you never know where they'll lead - Staying on at a business after you've sold it - The rapid advancement of technology compared to the sometimes glacial pace of the regulatory and compliance side Thanks for listening! Head over to the show notes for links and resources mentioned during this episode. SHOW NOTES: https://insidethelionsdenpodcast.com/podcast/episode54  

Ep 54: Selling a Business: Simple and Even Competitive Businesses That Led to Multiple Exits with Seth Farbman

Start with the end in mind. While Stephen Covey coined this phrase, my guest Michelle Seiler-Tucker has made it a focal point for her businesses and those for which she consults. Whether you're new to business ownership or have owned one for a while, you need to think about an exit strategy. This is where Michelle comes in. Today Michelle shares an overview of the GPS exit strategy that she has designed for her clients and discusses having a destination for your business, the importance of getting regular valuations, having a timeframe in mind, and why lining up multiple buyers are key.  Michelle Seiler-Tucker is a born natural when it comes to sales and the art of closing the deal. After taking classes through Dale Carnegie, the training company approached her to teach with them. Shortly thereafter, she was poached by Xerox where she became known as "The Closer" and quickly rose through the ranks. Finding the corporate life unsatisfying, Michelle eventually set out on her own, first starting by building franchises then pivoting to help people buy and sell businesses. Michelle is now sharing her business acumen with the wider world via the courses and books she has authored.   In this episode, we'll cover: - The importance of making sure that the people you're in business with share your business values.  - Identifying your strengths and weaknesses so that you can focus on using your strengths and hiring out your weaknesses. -  That the number one reason why businesses don't sell: which is that owners have not thought about their exit strategy. - The GPS exit model for businesses.  - Factoring in Covid when you're looking at buying a business. You can't use growing or declining numbers obtained during the pandemic to get your baseline. - The amount of working capital you should have as a standard, and what is needed to get you through tough times.  - The fact that contracts can make or break a sale, so you better know your stuff. - Michelle's book Exit Rich. It's not just about selling your business, but about building a sellable asset by building a sustainable scale-able business.      SHOW NOTES: https://insidethelionsdenpodcast.com/podcast/episode53

Ep 53: Understanding How to Think About Selling or Buying a Business with Michelle Seiler-Tucker

This is the first episode in what I'm calling my "Investment Series". I'll be discussing Multifamily Real Estate Investments using a deal I was involved in (now closed) as a case study. I'll be explaining the structure of that deal and how it impacted the numbers and their optics. Today I hope to provide some education to listeners with no or limited real estate investment experience and for those of you who are old pros, a high-level look at a deal that I found particularly interesting.  This episode may be a bit acronym-heavy for some of the novice investors, so I have included a few references here as well as a companion pdf. We'll be mentioning such concepts as: capital expenditures (CapEx); net operating income (NOI); return on investment (ROI); and earnings before interest, taxes, and amortization (EBITA). We'll also discuss the risk associated with a property (Cap Rate), how to calculate profit and loss (PnL), and the internal rate of return (IRR). I'll be using these terms and concepts to explain the real estate deal which featured a debt refinancing loan as part of it's business plan.    In this episode, we'll cover: - How to find your NOI by figuring out your net income and operating expenses and their associated calculations.  - Finding the value of a property by taking the NOI and dividing it by the Cap Rate and why the value of the property is calculated separately from the debt service on it.  - Free cash flow or the profit on the investment after all debts are paid and Preferred Returns for investors. - Debt refinancing loans as a method of quickly generating a high IRR and rising cash-on-cash returns.  - Looking at the full details of a deal to understand the rates of return, rather than just going by the basic percentages and numbers provided.   SHOW NOTES: https://insidethelionsdenpodcast.com/podcast/episode52

Ep 52: Investment Series: Understanding Multifamily Real Estate Investments

Connections are key. This is especially true when it comes to networking, developing a following, or creating a brand. In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Travis Chappell, founder of Guestio and the Build Your Network podcast. While reaching out to people is inherently fraught with rejection, it is how businesses receive new clients and how podcasts book guests. Travis has spent years creating intentional and thoughtful relationships and he shares a few basic networking principles with us today, along with the story of how he got started.    In this episode, we'll cover: - Name dropping works. When you're networking and setting up interviews, you just need one well-connected person to give you a chance. This will open up the door to new contacts within the same industry. - Travis' new business, Guestio. A marketplace platform that connects podcasters, bloggers, and other content creators with the guests they need for their business.  - Minimum Viable Products. Keeping your apps simple upon startup will save you time and money.  - How focusing on credibility and authority when you're building your brand will generate loyal listeners.   SHOW NOTES: https://insidethelionsdenpodcast.com/podcast/episode51

Ep 51: Learn to Be Intentional and Establish Authority with Travis Chappell

Hosting this podcast, I have the pleasure of speaking with guests from all walks of corporate and entrepreneurial life. They share with me, the secrets of their success, the things they wish they'd known, and the mistakes they've made along the way.  While no one can ever be prepared for every situation in business or in life, hopefully the lessons my guests impart and their combined experience can help provide some guidance.    SHOW NOTES: https://insidethelionsdenpodcast.com/podcast/episode50   In this episode, we'll cover: - Taking ownership of your your work, successes, behavior, and especially mistakes to become a better leader.  - Changing your pre-conceived ideas to achieve the success you want and help your business grow. - How great leaders focus and work on their communication skills to get their message across to all audiences.  - The compounding nature of doing the same successfully proven actions over and over and it's effect on your business. - How sometimes just taking action can be your most important step.    Apply to Work with Me: https://insidethelionsdenpodcast.com/apply  

Ep 50: What You Don't Know Might Be What Makes You a Success

Aspiring entrepreneurs and established business moguls alike are going to want to tune in today, as my guest on the show is Kelly Roach, Founder and CEO of The Unstoppable Entrepreneur. Kelly shares her thoughts on why so many new businesses and entrepreneurs flounder, the challenges of taking a business to the “next level”, and the obstacles that she faced while establishing her own company. We discuss the motives of many entrepreneurs and some of the critical structures that need to be in place in order to grow your business while still enjoying your life. From her own extensive experience in the corporate world, Kelly also provides some examples of the common mistakes she has seen fledgling organizations make and her ideas of what a developing company needs to survive in the world today.    SHOW NOTES: https://insidethelionsdenpodcast.com/podcast/episode49   In this episode, we'll cover: - The importance of building a team and developing proper infrastructure in order to grow your business and achieve work-life balance.  - The first two legs of a business to focus on when you’re first getting started: 1) Sales and Marketing and 2) Admin Operations and why they’re necessary.  - Why mentorship is imperative for the development of an entrepreneur and their success.  - Understanding that nothing is ever “done” in your company. You have to be constantly evolving and adapting as your business expands and willing to rebuild and restructure as things change. - Training for your business like an athlete trains for their sport: the role that consistency and discipline play in entrepreneurship.

Ep 49: Building a Real and Unstoppable Business and Not Just a Job with Kelly Roach

There is an audience for every story. My guest in today’s show is Jen Gottlieb, co-founder of Supper Connector Media, a PR company that does PR differently. Jen believes that leveraging publicity, media and connections is one of the best ways to grow your business. She specializes in helping entrepreneurs find that audience and share their story authentically and unforgettably, connecting them with a tribe of incredible people who will support, uplift and enlighten them along the way.   The Supper Connector Media: Disrupting the Traditional Public Relations Agency Model. The traditional media agency format is outdated – and journalists, editors, and producers see right through it. At Super Connector Media, they know the strength of the pack is greater than the strength of the lone wolf. When you work with them, you’re getting access to multiple rolodexes in a productive, supportive environment. It’s PR Done Differently.   Thanks for listening! Head over to the show notes for links and resources mentioned during this episode.   SHOW NOTES: https://insidethelionsdenpodcast.com/podcast/episode48

Ep 48: Building Connections and Getting Clear In Order to Truly Help Others with Jen Gotleib

We've all heard of the rags to riches story, but have you ever heard of riches to rags?  Cody Lowry came from a blueblood family in Detroit, but by the time he was 8 years old, his family money was gone. He is here today to share inspirational stories of how the events in his life led him to become the motivational force he is today. He also explains why “schmoozing” is one of the most important entrepreneurial skills in today’s business world.  Cody Lowry is the Division President of INTERMARK GROUP Birmingham Al. He is the Author of “Schmooze: What They Should Teach At Harvard Business School”. Skilled in Advertising, Public Speaking, Copywriting, Social Media Marketing, and Creative Writing. Strong sales professional who graduated from UniverSity of South Florida.   In this episode, we'll cover: -The importance of persistence in sales -How Cody became a car salesman in just a day and how he got a baseball signed by the Pope -Schmoozing - how to rewire your brain to think about people in a way that focuses primarily on them -Why mentorship and emotional intelligence matter in entrepreneurship   Thanks for listening! Head over to the show notes for links and resources mentioned during this episode.   SHOW NOTES: https://insidethelionsdenpodcast.com/podcast/episode47

Ep 47: Riches to Rags Story: What They Should Teach in Harvard with Cody Lowry

Ever wondered what it takes to grow a successful business that will last and could even become a sellable asset? Inside the Lion’s Den will give you an insider’s view of the leadership skills, financial acumen, and operational improvements needed to succeed in the long term. Hosted by Aryeh Sheinbein, business strategist and valuation expert, this show will uncover business concepts that you didn’t realize you were missing. Successful businesses focus on more than generating revenue, they understand their numbers, how to think about using different types of financing, product expansion and going from an entrepreneur to building a business with inherit value and built to last.

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Inside the Lion's Den: A Business and Leadership Podcast

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