Thank you so much for all your support throughout the years at Intrepid Entrepreneur.
I want to make you aware of my latest project, Channel Mastery. Check it out at: VerdeStrategy.co
And subscribe in iTunes right here.
Thank you, and I will see you over there!
How many people are able to quit their day jobs and jump right into a successful entrepreneurial career? Hardly anyone that I know has been so lucky. No matter how passionate you are about your work, it takes time to build a business.
Patrick McGinnis is an entrepreneur with a background on Wall Street, venture capital, private equity, and the author of “The 10% Entrepreneur”. We’re digging into what it means to be an entrepreneur with a day job.
Patrick’s explaining what makes someone a 10% Entrepreneur, and how continuing in your current job can profit everyone. We’re getting into the benefits of hands-on experience, diversifying your skill set, and developing entrepreneurial muscle, in just 10% of your time. Patrick knows what it is to work for your money, and how important it is to insulate your income.
This is an amazing episode for those of you working multiple jobs, and everyone interested in getting started on something new this year.
About Patrick McGinnis
Patrick's book The 10% Entrepreneur: Live Your Startup Dream Without Quitting Your Day Job
Patrick's SPEECH at Google
Happy 2017 Intrepid Nation!
I’m know we’ve all been slammed over the past few months, what with the holidays and now the rush of starting out new years out right. Some of you probably noticed my absence over the past few weeks. I’ve missed you!
This is a special solocast from me to you, dear audience, to fill you in on the new project that has been keeping me so busy--it’s so exciting! I’m also giving you a sneak peek at the changes coming to Intrepid and the Alliance this year. Get excited for some new programs and some new resources!
How much have you accomplished this year? Maybe 2016 has been a big year for you and your company-I know it has been full of surprises for me.
My guest on this episode is Johannes Ariens, and he’s here for the second time this year to talk about the second project he’s successfully launched in 2016.
Johannes is sharing how his new project LOGE met its Kickstarter goal in the first week, and what this means for how they’re moving forward. We’re talking about setting stretch goals and how to work towards them progressively.
Johannes is also discussing how he’s using multiple channels to drive people to their campaign, and what these channels all bring to the perception of your brand. We’re digging into communicating with the right people, not the most people, and giving those people an authentic, inside look at your work.
I hope you enjoy this episode – It’s part training, part inspiration and 100% entertaining!
Twitter: @JohannesAriens
How many of you are working in a small town? Maybe some of you, like me, sometimes work out of your house and love it. Well this episode is for you!
I’m sitting down with Ron Andrews of King Cage. Ron runs this highly successful company from his home right here in Durango, and he’s sharing is secrets to small-town success.
We’re getting into keeping with your founder’s vision, knowing how big you want, or don’t want, to your company to be, and keeping your business organized in your house. Ron’s also talking about how he got the idea for King Cage, and where his product line has expanded from his original product.
For all of you trying to hustle outside the big city, this episode is full of advice from someone who’s living the passion-driven entrepreneur’s dream!
So much has changed in how we market and sell products over the past few years. It’s not just about using social media, but about understanding what customers want from the brands they support.
I’m sitting down with Sonya Looney, World Champion Cyclist, writer, speaker, and adventure seeker. We’re talking about how she has re-designed and re-written the relationship between athletes and sponsoring companies.
Sonya’s sharing how she got into cycling, and how that passion led her to leave her career twice to become an entrepreneur. We’re getting into what companies should look for in the athletes they sponsor, and how athletes can market themselves better. It’s not just about results!
This is a great episode for anyone looking to build their brand, or maybe even sponsor an athlete.
Who do you go to for business advice? Outside of the people in your life who support you emotionally, who do you rely on for experienced advice about where your company is going?
I’m sitting down with Brent Reinke, co-founder of Vapur and attorney and advisor to entrepreneurs for over 25 years, and we’re talking about the importance of having an advisory board. It’s all for the benefit of your company!
Brent’s getting into how to look for advisors and setting up clear expectations. He’s also sharing how having the right advisors can save you from making mistakes, and make you look better to investors, even when you’re just starting out.
Even if you don’t think your business is right for a formal advisory council, this is an amazing episode about getting advice and the importance of having a strong network to keep your business healthy.
“It's critically important as you talk about this idea of board advisors to set proper expectations on both sides.” -Brent Reinke
Freelancing can be a tough market. Not only do you have to hustle to build up your client base when you get started, but even when you’re established you can worry that every job is your last. It’s an exhausting field if you’re not organized.
Matt Inglot of Freelance Transformation is here to give us the Dos and Don’ts of getting started as a freelancer, and to talk about expanding your business once you’ve got things going. He’s getting into sticking to your goals, holding on to your vision, and getting recurring revenue.
Matt’s also sharing his advice on the importance of going to events to meet clients, and how you should decide which events to attend. As Matt says, freelancing is all about relationships.
Matt’s offering some great resources from his company, Freelance Transformation. If you’re even considering freelancing, you’ll want to give this a listen.
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Freelance Transformation: FreelanceTransformation.com
Tilted Pixel: TiltedPixel.com
Podcast : FreelanceTransformation.com/blog/podcast
Bonuses for Intrepid Listeners from Freelance Transformation: FreelanceTransformation.com/Intrepid
Double Your Freelancing Conference: DoubleYourFreelancing.com/conf/
Have you started a business or venture in the past few years, and are not sure where to go next? Maybe you’re trying to expand your appeal to more customers?
In this second Hot Seat Coaching episode, I’m sitting down with David Kortje of Bliss Bouldering and Climbing Complex to answer his questions about marketing, outreach, and what to focus on next.
We’re getting into using loyal customers as ambassadors, partnering with other brands, and trying to share the experience of your work with potential consumers. David and I are also talking about getting statistics on your customers and followers, and learning what obstacles might be keeping more people from getting involved.
For anyone trying to build their consumer appeal and get more people involved in their business, this a great episode full of hands-on advice.
“How do we share the authenticity of our story and our passion? How do we tap into the community and get more people to join?” - David Kortje
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Climb Bliss ClimbBliss.com
Blog: ClimbBliss.com/Blog
Hey Press media contacts : Hey.Press
How often have you quit something, only to come back to it? When you’re driven by passion for an idea, it keeps coming back until you get it right.
Olympic gold medalist Kristin Armstrong is sharing why she retired twice from the sport, and how she came back each time to win again. We’re getting into making goals, prioritizing your time, and creating your own solutions to the changes life throws at you.
Kristin’s also sharing how she and her husband got the idea for their startup K-Edge, and where the company is heading next. They’re listening to their customers!
This is such a great episode about mental toughness, creative solutions, and learning to say “No.” You won’t want to miss it!
What’s the difference between crowdfunding and equity crowdfunding? And how do you know which one, if either, is right for your company?
I’m sitting down with Nathan Rose of Assemble Advisory, an equity crowdfunding agency, to get his inside scoop on what makes it worth using equity to access capital. Nathan’s talking about researching platforms, getting to know your customers, and deciding how to spend your time. You can’t do everything!
We’re also getting into the difference between equity investors and mass crowdfunding, and what you can expect from both groups. Nathan’s offering a few sneak-peeks into what he has to say about these different techniques in his new book, Equity Crowdfunding.
Equity crowdfunding is changing, it’s not just for brand new startups anymore. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to expand, Nathan’s full of expert advice on how to approach this new opportunity.
Amazon.com/Equity-Crowdfunding-Complete-Startups-Companies
We talk a lot about bootstrapping and starting up a brand-new business on this podcast. But this week I’m getting input about a different kind of entrepreneurial challenge: taking over a legacy brand.
Sarah Carpenter is sharing what made her and her partners decide to buy the American Avalanche Institute, and how they’ve been working to refine and expand the idea of its founder. It’s all about passion and commitment to a greater, shared vision.
We’re getting into the benefits and challenges of having business partners, working on a team, and the importance planning ahead. Sarah’s also talking about the value of community in the outdoor markets, and taking advantage of her resources.
This is such an insightful episode not just for those of you taking over an older business, but for anyone working in a community.
americanavalancheinstitute.com
avalanche.institute@gmail.com
Facebook: American Avalanche Institute, https://www.facebook.com/americanavalancheinstitute/
Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat : @avyinstitute
We’ve all heard people talk about “hustle”, the drive that keeps you going even when you’re having to do the nitty gritty work that doesn’t thrill you. It’s an important part of any entrepreneur’s toolbox.
My guest this week has a serious amount of hustle and an equal amount of passion for what he’s doing. Neil Patel is the co-founder of marketing software programs including KISSmetrics and Crazy Egg, as well as the co-author of a new book, Hustle: The Power to Charge Your Life with Money, Meaning, and Momentum.
Neil’s talking with me about one of the biggest questions we all face: what exactly is my passion? He’s giving me some tips on how to find the things that you’re actually excited about and let go of the things you only think you’re excited about.
We’re also digging into working backwards to achieve your goals, what to do with feedback and criticism, and focusing on quality content to drive up traffic.
Neil is a highly successful entrepreneur as well as a marketing genius, I’m thrilled he’s here to share his expert knowledge--you’ll want to take advantage of his advice.
How many times have you planned an event and not known how approach getting the word out? Marketing and community building can be overwhelming, there are so many different strategies and mediums to work with!
I’m getting super practical on this week’s podcast, and answering questions from Diane Martinez, co-founder of the Rough Riders cycling event in Angel Fire, New Mexico, about how to grow attendance at this amazing event.
We’re talking through Diane’s current strategy to build attendance, and then I’m digging into how to spread the word by using your email list, rewarding loyalty, and getting faithful customers to share their experiences.
We’re also discussing into the importance of a good website, when to do a marketing push, and how to get organized with your blog posts!
This special episode is full of hands-on advice for any entrepreneur looking to raise awareness and build community around their product.
There are a lot of pieces that go into building a strong company. Name recognition, brand identity, consumer support, marketing plans, you name it, we need it! But there’s one thing no company survive without, and that is an amazing product.
Nathan Chan, founder of Foundr magazine and online resource for entrepreneurs, is talking with me on this episode about how to focus on building an assets-based company.
We’re getting into the building blocks of any successful company, how to begin simple and expand once you’re ready.
Nathan has so much experience with online and print media, he’s letting us in on how these two platforms can help to build a wide identity for your business. He’s digging into how to handle social media – what it can help you to build and when to be wary of it. Remember, you don’t own the platform, so it can only get you so far!
We’re also talking about the life of the passion-driven entrepreneur, asset building, and how to think like a start-up! Get ready to take some notes!
Being a passion driven entrepreneur is one thing, but incorporating that passion into everything that you do is another, even more challenging endeavor.
My guest this week is not only a highly successful Colorado entrepreneur, but he is also giving back to the state by investing energy in what he loves: outdoor sports. Ken Gart has run and started several successful sporting goods companies and other ventures, but most importantly he is currently the Bike Czar of Colorado.
Ken and I are talking about the current state of the outdoor sports markets. There are a lot of shake-ups underway, but don’t worry – it’s not all bad! We’re getting into what sets small business apart and how these differences can lead to success in ways that big companies can’t match.
We’re also getting into the Colorado bike initiative, what’s making Ken so motivated to throw his time and energy into this big project, and how he’s trying to get others to emotionally buy in.
Ken is so passionate about the field he’s working in, and he’s managed to turn all of this excitement into success, several times over. He’s an inspiration for all of us passion driven entrepreneurs, whatever field it’s in.
https://goo.gl/4FsSn2 : State of Colorado's announcement to invest $100 million in bicycle infrastructure link:
Running a business is a lot of work. Who am I kidding, I’m sure you all know this. I certainly feel like there’s a lot on my plate with just my two endeavors.
But my guest for this episode is a retired professional cyclist, an author, and currently has four entrepreneurial endeavors underway. George Hincapie is an athlete I’ve always admired and I’ve come to respect him even more so after reading his memoir, The Loyal Lieutenant: Leading Out Lance and Pushing Through the Pain on the Rocky Road to Paris.
George is sharing his experience of almost two decades in the cycling industry, and how this experience has benefitted him as an entrepreneur. We’re talking about developing character, the importance of a positive mindset, and having a team mentality to get things done.
He’s also discussing how crucial his support network has been, and how he’s chosen to be supportive in the small, competitive field of cycling.
George is a versatile and hard-working entrepreneur, working in several different industries. He’s got great advice on investors, character, and keeping your eye on the prize. No matter what industry you work in, you won’t want to miss this conversation.
http://www.georgehincapie.com/
http://www.hincapieracing.com/
Blog Ideas
Supporting and building teamwork and character in your business/team
Having a good mentality to win
Bringing strengths and traits from other experiences to your business
At some point in time, everyone has gotten stuck. Stuck in the mud, stuck in the snow, stuck in a situation we want out of. For us passion driven entrepreneurs, it’s often stuck on an idea we love that’s struggling to become a reality.
As those of you who follow me know, the past few months have been pretty rough on me. I’ve been stuck. But I did found a way to work through it, and I want to share my process with all of you. This episode is a special Intrepid Entrepreneur Solocast, but it’s also an audio training on how to get unstuck.
I’ve devised a five step process to help you open your mind to new approaches and re-evaluate your strategy. Being too comfortable can get in the way of making amazing changes! It’s about doing what you love, failing forward, and focusing on the process.
I’m also sharing some books, resources, and quotes that have helped me work through this un-sticking process, and start to rethink my game plan for Intrepid. You’ll want to take a look.
These are tested strategies specific to passion driven entrepreneurs. So what are you stuck on? Get ready to try something new!
As we head into the grand finale of this year’s racing season, there is so much momentum behind women’s cycling. You might have even seen some of the events during the Rio Olympics, I can say that I almost wore myself hoarse shouting at the screen!
I’m super excited have Michael Engleman of Mission Sports Group with me on this episode to be talking about the movement of women’s cycling and how he’s working to turn all of this momentum into growth and sponsorships.
Michael’s telling stories about individual cyclists and inspirational stories of teams that are being built, because stories sell.
He’s sharing how to get these stories out, and how to use narrative to approach sponsors and investors. Sometimes, you have to present them with an idea for their brand identity they hadn’t even thought of!
For anyone interested in trying to expand the reach and interest of their industry, or anyone like me who just loves women’s cycling, this episode is for you!
Total Women’s Cycling coverage of Team Africa Rising:
Jason Gay WSJ article on Mara Abbott
How many times have you filled out business credit applications, and had to use your personal credit to get approval? Did you know that businesses have a credit report all of their own?
This week on Intrepid Entrepreneur, Ty Crandall of Credit Suite is sharing the secret to applying for and building your business’ credit, and how to keep your personal credit out of it.
He’s explaining how to get your business ready to apply for credit, and where to go first to build this credit. I’ll give you a hint: it’s not the bank. We’re also digging into the benefits of working on business credit instead of personal credit. As Ty says, “Anybody can bootstrap a business, it just takes longer.”
There’s so much important, practical business information in this episode, so get ready to take notes on this one!
Steps to Building Business Credit
YouTube.com/channel (youtube channel)
In passion driven entrepreneurship, one of the biggest and most rewarding challenges is overcoming negative thinking. This year, there’s been a lot of talk about changes and instability in the bike industry. But for creative entrepreneurs like my guest this week, Andre Shoumatoff of Park City Bike Demos, change can be a huge opportunity!
Andre’s sharing how he and his partners used their knowledge of bikes and the current struggles of the industry to pivot into a new model of selling and renting bikes. We’re also discussing how to notice and respond to optimization points to grow your business, and what to do with customer feedback.
For anyone wondering how to turn what’s not working into a success, this episode is eye-opening. Andre’s got some amazing insights on evaluating the industry, advertising partnerships, and listening to your customers.
What is it that first drew you to the outdoor sports markets? Where did that first spark of passion for entrepreneurship in the outdoor markets come from? For so many of us, the answer is simple: we love outdoor sports, and we had a great idea for how to improve the experience!
What isn’t often discussed is the overlap in the psychology of being an entrepreneur, and that of an endurance athlete. So many of the skills that we learn from athletics and the outdoors are directly relevant to the experience of getting a business started and sustaining it.
To shed even more light on this overlap, I’m taking with Matt Fitzgerald, author of How Bad Do You Want It, on what he’s learned about “endurance psychology”, the psychology of mind over muscle that gets people through tough physical competitions.
In writing this book, Matt did case studies of athletes like Ned Overend, Siri Lindley and John "The Penguin" Bingham. He’s discussing what it is that motivates and sustains them to such high levels. We’re talking about passion, drive, and the “why” that are necessary to win races, and to start a business.
Matt and I are also discussing something that I personally struggle with – the courage to start! Just getting started on a business idea or in a sport can be daunting, to the point that some of us have ideas we’ve never looked into, sports we’ve never explored for fear of failure.
These fears are limiters and obstacles that will come out in any stressful situation, and what has more potential for stress than the pursuit of our goals? Matt’s looked at endurance athletes that have overcome negative mentalities to go on to amazing careers, and he’s sharing what he’s learned.
Endurance psychology is crucial for athletes in outdoor sports, entrepreneurs, or anyone with an achievement goal. I’ve already read Matt’s book three times, and I’m thrilled with the insights he’s bringing to this week’s podcast.
MattFitzgerald.org
VeloPress.com
Dear audience, this is a very special solocast from me, speaking raw and honest to you the night after presenting at Pitchfest. Those of you who have given pitches will know how I’m feeling – a weight lifted off to be finally done, but exhausted from a humbling and excruciating experience.
Since I’ve been sharing with you my process in preparing this pitch deck, I wanted to let you in on how it went and the feedback I received from the judges. I’m digging into what the experience of Pitchfest was like for me as a presenter, how I kept myself in the moment during the event, and how I’m working through processing the critiques from our all-star panel of judges.
After the event, I feel like I’m at a real inflection point with Intrepid Entrepreneur. I am so passionate about supporting the outdoor markets but need to do some serious thinking about my business model. This solocast is a short, unscripted reaction from me after Pitchfest, and I’d love for you to listen to it and then let me know what you want more of from Intrepid. Shoot me an email at kco@intrepidentreprenur.net, I’m so grateful for all of you, dear audience, and would love you hear from you.
Kickstarter campaigns, wefunder, and equity crowdfunding—we’ve been talking a lot about new techniques for raising capital over the past few months! This week, I’m switching gears and talking with a colleague who works in a more traditional funding field: venture capitalism.
Ben Rifkin, president of Royal Street Investment and Innovation Center and my mentor for the upcoming OWIC Pitchfest, is visiting this week’s Intrepid Entrepreneur Podcast to share his experience working in venture capital, evaluating new companies and collaborating with them to meet goals.
Before you even start looking for capital and investors, Ben says you need to know what your end goal is and then think backwards. What kind of company is your startup going to grow up to be? He’s sharing his thoughts on what kind of investments different types of companies might look for. It’s about knowing whose attention you want to catch before you need it.
We’re also discussing how startups can benefit from both crowdfunding and venture investments. Running a strong crowdfunding campaign and getting your product out on time, as promised, can speak volumes to future investors. It says a lot about one of the most important assets a company can have—you, the founders! And these aren’t the only ways you can use successful non-traditional sources of funding to prove your product to traditional investors!
Ben’s also letting us in on what he sees as the difference between tech startups and the outdoor markets, and how this changes the search for investors.
Although crowd funding has given us entrepreneurs some amazing opportunities, this conversation with Ben sheds some really insightful light on what investors look for, how to think about and present the future of your business, and the wide range of options for those of us who might need capital to get to where we want to be.
As you may know, I reserve my solocasts for topics which have been nothing short of monumental in my journey as an outdoor founder. So this week, I’m talking with all of you about something that, having started two companies and been in the outdoor industries for fifteen years, I had never done up until a few weeks ago.
What I’m talking about is . . . writing a pitch deck! In just a few weeks, I’ll be presenting at the Outdoor Women’s Industry Coalition Pitchfest. I’m super honored to have been selected to be one of this year’s presenters, but it’s a new and challenging experience for me. In preparing my own pitch deck for the event, I learned so much about building and rehearsing pitch decks and I’m excited to share this process with you.
When I sat down to write my pitch, I had to really get to the nitty gritty and evaluate what my company needed, what I wanted to get from this experience. I had to know, specifically what my ask was.
And then, I started reading about how to give an awesome pitch. In my solocast, I’m talking about the two most helpful resources to me in preparing this pitch deck, and the hard editing process I’ve been working through to get it just right.
I’m also sharing some of the negative thoughts I’m refusing to believe about my pitch, and three steps for building an amazing pitch.
This pitch deck has been such a learning experience for me and for developing how I think about the needs of my company. I’ve never done one before, but I’m choosing to see this an asset, not a liability. If you don’t know what can’t be done, there’s nothing to stop you.
I hope you’ll learn from my process and the resources I’m sharing. This episode is a must listen for anyone looking to pitch or promote their ideas!
Questions@IntrepidEntrepreneur.net