The Startup Story

In January, I posted a call for Female Founders on our LinkedIn company page with hopes of being introduced to more female founders to feature on The Startup Story. Today’s guest was mentioned more times than any other person. After spending some time with her, I am fairly confident I know why she was thought of by so many other people…because she is someone that is always looking to help others. This week I am joined by Ilana Zivkovich, the founder of WERQ; a strategic leadership advisory firm. WERQ helps teams look at their strategy, process, and people to ensure all of these pillars will best support their business. Like many of our featured entrepreneurs, their upbringing had a profound impact on their journey. Most of the founder stories featured on this podcast so far did not include parents that were entrepreneurs. Ilana is our first, and the perspective she was able to attain at a young age about the challenges and perks of being an entrepreneur is pretty inspiring. In this episode, you will hear a few tactics Ilana uses to combat the internal critic. Plus, we’ll talk about the power of accepting encouragement from others. If there is anything that you take away from Ilana’s story I hope it is about the power of curiosity and passion. Then take that knowledge and let it fuel your momentum forward to execute against your passions. This is Ilana Zivkovich’s startup story. In this episode, you’ll hear: Ilana’s childhood and early days as a child of entrepreneurs The reluctant or defeated entrepreneur mindset Her college journey, social work, and shedding a little bit of light on social work in the private sector About standing out in the crowd at a company, what was she doing differently than the others? Asking the question, “What did you fail at today?” and the impression it left on IIana The challenges that came with that role of director and how it set her up for the future Realizing she wasn’t able to keep up with a lifestyle or persona that she established When and why she quit her job, tendering her resignation, and how it was a gift What she learned when she was a consultant Her thoughts on being a female founder: is it more challenging, empowering, or a little bit of both? Her move from consultant to entrepreneur Going after her dream of founding WERQ, and moving to it being active, breathing, and thriving; what it was like and what she is doing now Resources from this episode: Our Sponsor, MovoCash: https://www.thestartupstory.co/MovoCash Connect with Ilana Zivkovich on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilana-zivkovich-07a77529 WERQ: https://werqpeople.com The Startup Story on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thestartupstory The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help. First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you! Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us. With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!Special Guest: Ilana Zivkovich.Sponsored By: Movocash: Download the Movocash app today!

When I started The Startup Story I would have never expected to be interviewing a founder of a homeschool group, but here we are. This week, Tiffany Sorya, founder of Novel Education Group, shares the many unconventional pieces that have comprised her entrepreneurial journey to this point. It makes sense that her story would be unconventional since her goal is to meet the educational needs of those whose lives are unconventional. Her first two clients were Kylie and Kendall Jenner, and she continued working with other high-profile children such as those of Fortune 100 executives. In exploring her startup story, you will gain insight into how cultural heritage can impact the entrepreneurial journey. Also, Tiffany says, “People shy away from entrepreneurship because of the fear of the ‘what ifs.’” We will discuss not only how paralyzing that can be but also how powerful your story can become once you find yourself free from that fear. You will also learn how important it is to be aware of gaps in the marketplace. Make sure you listen to the very end of the episode because there is a critical learning that Tiffany shares with us from her relationship with Kylie Jenner. It is at the very end because, while Tiffany’s story may include Kylie and Kendall, her story is so much more. It is one that needs to be heard without the distraction of the Hollywood limelight; especially because her story begins as far from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood as you can possibly imagine. This is Tiffany Sorya’s startup story. In this episode, you’ll hear: How, after moving to Los Angeles, Tiffany discovered knowledge is power Connecting with young people through tutoring is where she discovered her entrepreneurial spirit How she saw a gap in services being provided and knew she could do something better Having the courage to step out to try a business and overcoming obstacles such as awareness and branding The importance of having a business plan for several years down the road The great thing about being an entrepreneur, according to Tiffany Being smart is cool: Tiffany wants the fans of the students she educates to realize the benefits of education How looking back on your journey and having gratitude for the people who helped and supported you along the way is important Understanding, as Tiffany says, “This journey that we call “entrepreneurship” is NEVER linear, so stop comparing your journey to another.” Resources from this episode: Our Sponsor, MovoCash: https://www.thestartupstory.co/MovoCash Novel Education Group: https://www.noveleducationgroup.com/ Connect with Tiffany on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-sorya-7a4280a4 Follow Tiffany on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiffanysorya/?hl=en The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help. First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you! Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us. With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!Special Guest: Tiffany Sorya.Sponsored By: Movocash: Download the Movocash app today!

This week’s episode was a special one for me to create. Why? Well it was not due to the celebrity status of our featured founder nor was it due to his gift for handcrafted woodworking (although I am fascinated by woodworking). This episode was special because of how incredibly similar my entrepreneurial story was to this week’s guest, Clint Harp. Yes, this week’s featured founder is Clint Harp, co-founder of Harp Design Co., and America’s favorite furniture maker from the hit HGTV show Fixer Upper. While Fixer Upper made Clint Harp a household name, he was actually just a few years into his entrepreneurial journey before the show took off. There were so many incredible moments he shared. In fact, despite this episode’s length, there was so much we did not cover. You can learn more about Clint in his book, “Handcrafted: A Woodworker’s Story.” In this episode, you will learn some incredible lessons about being considerate of your family when jumping into a startup. You will also hear, firsthand from Clint, how critical it is to listen to the wisdom of those closest to you. Finally, you will learn that while it might be painful to move on to something different, you have to stay aware or you will miss the next great opportunity. Before Clint started Harp Design Co., his journey included stints in ministry, mission work, and even medical device sales. While that may surprise you now, once you hear about his early days and his upbringing it will all make perfect sense. This is Clint Harp’s startup story. In this episode, you’ll hear: Clint’s early childhood, being raised by a dreamer, and rolling around to backwoods churches and big tent revivals with his mother, so she could sing; plus the impact her journey had on him His dreams and aspirations as a child, including becoming a professional baseball player His journey as a musician, a ministry worship leader, and finally getting to a point of being honest with himself that a career in music was not going to happen His transition away from music and what came next: medical device sales The importance of exercising your brain, vocalizing big, crazy dreams, and seeing where things lead How and when his adventure into woodworking began The beginnings of Harp Design Co. and the importance of listening to (and leaning into) your partner or those you are closest to Startup lessons: realizing startup is going to be a lot harder than anticipated Clint talks about when he moved to Waco, TX, the struggle he experienced during those years, and how by persevering, it led him to the opportunity with HGTV’s Fixer Upper Resources from this episode: Our Sponsor, MovoCash: https://www.ththestartupstory.co/MovoCash Connect with Clint Harp on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clint-harp-3aa96068/ Harp Design Co.: https://harpdesignco.com HGTV’s Fixer Upper: https://www.hgtv.com/shows/fixer-upper Clint’s book, Handcrafted: A Woodworker’s Story - https://amzn.to/2XNymJz The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help. First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you! Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us. With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!Special Guest: Clint Harp.Sponsored By: Movocash: Download the Movocash app today!

This week’s featured founder is Barry Stiles, Founder and CEO of TRUEGRID Pavers. Yes, a paving company. My hope in exploring stories like Barry’s is that you will process his challenges and triumphs to see the commonality within your own journey, too. And yes, when most people think of a startup they immediately think of technology. But every single business you interact with was a startup at some point. That is why I love exploring the startup stories of a diverse collective of founders, like Barry and TRUEGRID Pavers. When I think about Barry’s journey, it is apparent to me that the first 35 - 40 years of his life was simply preparing him for the really hard challenges that he was going to face. In this episode, you will hear just how critical personal commitment is to your ideas and vision. Plus, you will hear firsthand how important a support system can be when life throws you some of the most heart-wrenching challenges. Leadership and courage are not about traversing this entrepreneurial journey alone. It’s about charting a path that most wouldn’t. This is Barry Stiles’ start-up story. In this episode you’ll hear: Barry’s early life growing up in New England, early lessons learned, and some of his influences His dedication to the plastics industry and how hard work provided him with the experience he needed working in factories How he rose up through the ranks early in his career His decision to begin a business with a partner and how a tragic event didn’t stop him Overcoming obstacles and sticking with the business plan How integrity was his main focus and the need to change things when situations beyond his control prevented him from being able to provide customers with the service he wanted to provide About starting his next business which had to do with toy bricks and how special a time it was in his life when he worked with charities to raise money The critical importance of admitting to a mistake and correcting it The key ingredient for any entrepreneur: being mentally tough no matter what comes your way; knowing you can get through it if you keep moving forward How Barry eventually found his passion in TRUEGRID; plus, how a life-changing family medical event influenced him to use his skill set as an entrepreneur and as an engineer to provide an environmental solution through recycling Resources from this episode: Our Sponsor, MovoCash: https://www.thestartupstory.co/MovoCash Connect with Barry Stiles on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barry-stiles-b9791512/ TRUEGRID Paver: https://www.truegridpaver.com/ David Goggins: https://www.instagram.com/davidgoggins/ The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others, and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. There are three ways you can help. First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you! Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us. With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!Special Guest: Barry Stiles.Sponsored By: Movocash: Download the Movocash app today!

As you may already know, The Startup Story is a new podcast. And if you are an avid podcast listener, then you know that the production quality of many new podcasts can be...well, less than stellar. But what you probably have noticed is that the production quality of this podcast is really good. And that’s not because of pure luck. The reason the production quality is so good is due to our incredible sponsor MovoCash and its founder, Eric Solis. Because of their sponsorship, we are able to enlist the aid of top notch podcast producers. But I am not here to talk to you today about podcast production, instead I am thrilled to introduce you to Eric Solis, founder of MovoCash. Today, you will get to hear his startup journey. Eric’s journey is one that illustrates the incredible heights and the dark depths that an entrepreneur experiences. In this episode, you will hear just how important it is to not go forward alone. Plus, you will find encouragement in the fact that some incredible opportunities can come when you are at your lowest and most vulnerable, as long as you keep going! Eric’s story is one rooted in humble beginnings, which resulted in a, “go and get it for myself,” mindset. Even at a young age, he was determined to not be limited by life’s circumstances. This is Eric Solis’ startup story. In this episode you’ll hear: Eric’s early childhood, growing up in a low-middle class family and what it taught him about being tough How his entrepreneurial mindset formed early on, through lawn mowing, painting fences, and doing whatever he could to make money to afford the things he wanted The emotional and pivotal moment that occurred between Eric and his mother (who owned a clothing storefront at the time) and how it led him to become involved in many concepts of business Being told No, time and again, and how Eric still continued to pursue his dreams in the broker industry and persevered Working at a brokerage firm, then breaking away and starting his own firm; competing successfully with firms on Wall Street How and when he realized that helping rich people get richer wasn't the burning call deep within his gut and the beginnings of the MovoCash concept About the time when everything that had worked stopped working in an instant and how Eric dealt with it all The makings of MovoCash, what the company does and how it helps people, plus why Eric thinks of Movo as a lifestyle Resources from this episode: Our Sponsor, Movocash: https://www.thestartupstory.co/MovoCash Connect with Eric Solis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericsolis/ Download Movocash today for iOS or Android by visiting https://movo.cash/ The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. And, there are three ways you can help. First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you! Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us. With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!Special Guest: Eric Solis.Sponsored By: Movocash: Download the Movocash app today!

I'm huge fan of incredibly creative individuals, especially those involved in woodworking. And my guest this week, Brandon "Monk" Muñoz, is a handcrafted furniture designer and artist. He is the founder of Monkwood Studio where he designs unique furniture and interiors that change the atmosphere of work, living spaces and retail establishments. His work includes some of the most beautiful studio desks and tables you will ever see. In this episode, you will hear just how hard it can be for founders, like Brandon, to leverage their creativity to make a living. Plus, you will come to understand that every founder's journey has numerous points of stopping and resetting, but that every founder's journey continues on. Brandon's story is one of exploration and self-understanding. In fact, he knew he was a creator at an early age, but what he didn't know was exactly how far his creative ability would take him. This is Brandon Monk Muñoz’s startup story. In this episode you’ll hear: How Brandon was creative from an early age and even created a mural of Jimi Hendrix on his bedroom wall at the age of 13 How inclinations as a child are a huge key to what your passion really is, showcased through Brandon’s own storytelling The importance of his parents unwavering support as he explored various artistic mediums throughout his childhood His time at Otis College of Art and Design How and where he learned the painting techniques he uses in his works today His first experience with building furniture and how it all seemed so magical to him About his time working at Jim Henson’s Creature Shop and what he learned from the experience Hitting rock bottom, going back home to live with his parents, and climbing back up, building furniture in their garage and ramping up business from there His own series of stopping and resetting and how he always continued on, despite failures and hard life lessons The importance of keeping peers within your industry close; so you can learn and grow The start of Monkwood Studio: how, when, and where it all began Brandon’s passion for furniture making, art and creativity Resources from this episode: Our Sponsor, Movocash: https://www.thestartupstory.co/movocash Monkwood Studio: https://monkwoodstudio.com/ Connect with Brandon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonmonkmunoz Follow Monkwood Studios on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/monkwoodstudios/ Follow Brandon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monkwood_/ The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. And, there are three ways you can help. First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you! Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us. With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!Special Guest: Brandon "Monk" Munoz.Sponsored By: Movocash: Download the Movocash app today!

Today, you will hear the startup story of Bryan Elliott, founder of The Goodbrain Digital Studios and creator of Behind the Brand Show. I’ve been following Byran’s work for few years now with intrigue. He has helped to build audiences and engagement for some of the biggest movies. He has also produced original video content (for movies on DVD), managed brand partnerships and movie titles with advertising budgets of over $30M. As you’ll hear in today’s episode, there are many patterns that set us up for what is to come in the future, like the ability to adapt in the midst of chaos and uncertainty. Bryan’s story is one enveloped in resiliency. In this episode, you will hear how the desire to figure things out helped Bryan move forward in his pursuit of building his own production company. You will also hear how imposter syndrome affects many founders. And you’ll learn the importance of coming back, even from the worst situations. This is Bryan Elliott’s startup story. In this episode you’ll hear: Bryan’s early childhood and being a reluctant leader How a desire to make a career medicine changed and how he went on to get a business degree from Pepperdine University His time at Universal Studios in marketing and branding, what he learned and how it set him up for what was to come Why he decided to branch out, leave Universal and start his own production company Some good advice from Seth Godin When Bryan’s “perfect storm” (the recession) hit, how it affected him and how be bounced back How being flexible, scrappy and creative helped him build The Goodbrain Digital Studios Behind the Brand Show, why Bryan says it was a happy accident and why he made the decision to move forward with the project. Plus, the amazing privileges that have come from producing it Resources from this episode: Our Sponsor, Movocash: https://www.thestartupstory.co/movocash The Goodbrain Digital Studios: http://thegoodbrain.com/ Connect with Bryan Elliott on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryandelliott/ Behind the Brand Show: https://youtube.com/behindthebrand Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us, Seth Godin: https://amzn.to/2GDqHYv The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. And, there are three ways you can help. First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you! Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us. With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!Special Guest: Bryan Elliott.Sponsored By: Movocash: Download the Movocash app today!

This week we’d like to introduce you to Steve Glaveski, CEO and Co-Founder of Collective Campus and author of Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Earn Your Freedom and Do Work that Matters. Unlike some of the past founders we’ve featured so far on this podcast, Steve had zero aspirations to be an entrepreneur growing up and spent his 20’s navigating the corporate hallways of some of the largest firms in Australia and internationally. Today through his company Collective Campus, he focuses on helping large organizations tap into the latent potential that is present within their organization. Why, you ask? Well, Steve spent his 20’s as an employee where he met some incredibly intelligent people that had so much more capacity beyond their utilization. He realized that by taking untapped potential and magnifying it by an employee base of thousands, there was a goldmine of potential for organizations. In this episode, you will hear from Steve about how critical it is to utilize your early adulthood as a season of learning and exploring. You will also hear about some missteps many people take when they make the leap from employee to entrepreneur. And, you'll realize just how tainted our thinking can be about entrepreneurship. Steve's story is one that did not begin with an entrepreneurial background, but instead with an incredibly hard-working immigrant upbringing that set the foundation for what was to come. This is Steve Glaveski’s startup story. In this episode you’ll hear: Steve’s early life and upbringing in Australia and how creative energy always had a place in Steve’s life His need to be at the top of his class or above average in everything he did, followed by the hard experience of being fired Running on autopilot and then being forced to reflect on what he was actually good at, his strengths, and what he wanted to do Stepping out of self-doubt and picking a different path, how he went from completing a Master’s Degree in Accounting to hustling his way into working for corporations like Ernst and Young and KPMG Developing a healthy relationship with rejection and how rejection is key to being an entrepreneur What it was like when the idea to be an entrepreneur came into view, his first glance at what things could be, how paralysis analysis held him back and led him to manage a heavy metal nightclub instead About the catalyst that pushed Steve to take the leap from employee to entrepreneur Working with corporate mindset in a startup environment and launching and growing Collective Campus Startup Lessons: destructive mindsets, imposter syndrome and how serendipity can sometimes offer a little bit of magic Steve offers some words of advice for the frustrated, reluctant, or defeated entrepreneur Resources from this episode: Our Sponsor, Movocash: https://www.thestartupstory.co/movocash Collective Campus Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Earn Your Freedom and Do Work that Matters, Steve Glaveski Connect with Steve Glaveski on LinkedIn Give and Take, Adam Grant The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho The Startup Story community has been so incredible sharing our podcast with others and we thank you! We do have more stories to tell and more people to reach. And, there are three ways you can help. First, the most powerful way you can support this podcast is by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts. Second, follow us on Facebook and Instagram and be sure to share your favorite Startup Story episodes with your friends and on social media. Tag or mention @thestartupstory.co so we can give you a virtual high five and a thank you! Lastly, share the podcast on LinkedIn. The Startup Story podcast is for entrepreneurs. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing on LinkedIn so other entrepreneurs can discover us. With your support, we hope to further our reach in encouraging and inspiring the founders of today and tomorrow. Thank you!Special Guest: Steve Glaveski.Sponsored By: Movocash: Download the Movocash app today!

In today’s episode you will hear the startup story of Zach Knickerbocker, Founder of 14th Floor Apparel. He’s an Amazon reseller who is very early in his startup journey. While we’ve shared the stories of several founders who have been in business for many years, we also wanted to be sure to share with you startup stories of guests who are still in the thick of the startup process. In the trenches, so to speak, still building their dreams as a side hustle. And that’s exactly what Zach is doing, he is building his dream. Zach discovered a successful way to make money on Amazon, and let’s be clear, there are many avenues on which you can do this. Zach found a process that works for his business model, which was quite impressive. But what I find most impressive about Zach's story is not that he's achieving some level of success with his brand, instead, it is that he implemented systems into his life to help make his dream a reality; all of this despite his battle with anxiety. Where are you in your journey? Do you have a notebook full of ideas that you want to build upon? Do you feel anxious or scared whenever you think about pursuing your dreams? Well, maybe Zach's story of his early stage startup is one you (or someone in your network) needs to hear right now. That is why I welcome you to sit back and listen to Zach Knickerbocker’s startup story. In this episode you’ll hear: The beginning of Zach’s entrepreneurial journey and his infatuation with success The story of how he created a fansite for an online game, built a community and online platform that made money, which ultimately helped him pay for college When his entrepreneurial "itch” truly began to emerge Flipping products on Amazon, how he got started and what Gary Vee had to do with it How small, daily victories can build into significant opportunity, quickly Helpful strategies to build a business while dealing with anxiety and changing the negative narrative mindset The significance of having a powerful purpose for what you are trying to build Staying the course, pivoting when necessary, and if something is not working, don’t be afraid to change the process Some action steps on how to get started in the Amazon merchant space Zach offers some advice to those reluctant to move forward with their dreams or visions and what setting small goals has to do with it all Resources from this episode: Our Sponsor, Movocash: https://www.thestartupstory.co/movocash Zach Knickerbocker on Instagram 14th Floor Apparel Gary Vaynerchuk (Gary Vee) Tom Bilyeu Andy Frisella Reezy Resells Anxiety and Depression Association of AmericaSpecial Guest: Zach Knickerbocker.Sponsored By: Movocash: Download the Movocash app today!

This week’s guest on The Startup Story has a bit of a different perspective when it comes to business and startup. Why? Well, because his startup exists in a space where he has had to stand toe-to-toe with watch industry giants since Day One. Our guest today is RT Custer, CEO and Co-founder for Vortic Watch Co. His passion for this unique watch craftsmanship does not reside in the product alone, but also in the process. In this episode, you will learn how necessary it is to have people around you that believe in what you are doing. You will hear just how important it is to start the journey without having all the answers. And you’ll hear firsthand from RT how powerful it is when business owners support other business owners. His workmanship and startup story, as you will hear, is one that is deeply rooted in old-school work ethic and craftsmanship. This is RT Custer’s startup story. In this episode you’ll hear: Early life growing up on a Christmas tree farm and what that taught him about business About RT’s time running a $129,000 business the summer of his Freshman year in college, at the age of 19 years old RT’s fascination in college with additive manufacturing and 3D Printing, and how that led to the idea of crafting watches with his friend Tyler A brief history of watchmaking in the U.S. How and why RT began asking the question, “Why can’t we make quality watches and watch parts in the U.S.? Why does this always need to be manufactured in Switzerland?” Which led to launching The American Artisan Series on Kickstarter in December of 2014 to help raise funds to create, produce, and make their first 3D printed watch prototype (and met their goal within 12 hours) and build their company, Vortic Watch Co How a passion and idea turned into a successful business, and what surprised them the most The process, creation, engineering, and craftsmanship of their products by adapting vintage pocket watches and merging with 3D printing technology RT’s thoughts on growing an enterprise that was looking to take on the watch giants of the world and doubts that surfaced Vortic’s mission and how it keeps the company moving forward time and again Resources from this episode: Our Sponsor, Movocash: https://www.thestartupstory.co/movocash Connect with RT Custer on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/rtcuster/ Vortic Watch Co.: https://vorticwatches.com The American Artisan Series - The Kickstarter that started it all for RT and Tyler Special Guest: RT Custer.Sponsored By: Movocash: Download the Movocash app today!

This episode of The Startup Story features Dr, Jen Esquer or as she is known by her hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram, Doc Jen Fit. Doc Jen is the founder of The Mobility Method. After spending some time with Jen, I realized how much our bodies are capable of and how little most of us, including myself, truly don't understand. This is especially true in the arena of mobility. Yet Jen’s startup story is not one centered around health or fitness. It's actually a story of an entrepreneur that never had a vision to be an entrepreneur in the first place. In this episode, you will learn just how incredibly powerful our own narrative (whether it be a positive one or negative one) can impact our life and our decisions. You will also hear how important it is to surround yourself with likeminded people for support and collaboration. Additionally, Doc Jen shares her amazing story of how she grew her Instagram following to over 500,000 by simply being of service to her community. Jen’s story is so compelling because despite being surrounded by people, encouraging her to step out in confidence and start her own business, what actually got her to pursue her dream was her genuine passion to want to help others. This is Doc Jen’s startup story. In this episode you’ll hear: About Jen’s childhood and how her upbringing set the foundation for hard work, consistency and diligence The role gymnastics played in her childhood and making the decision to leave the sport How her fascination with movement scoped the next few years of college life, grad school, and her studies How the merging of calisthenics and Instagram laid the groundwork for what was to come Despite her growing Instagram following, Jen’s purpose and passion continued to be to help others and to become a good physical therapist Her introduction to the idea of being a physical therapist entrepreneur and how it began to shift her mindset from working as a physical therapist towards being an entrepreneur - but she still hadn’t decide to take the jump, yet The point at which Doc Jen stopped believing the lie that entrepreneurship was not for her and what she decided to do next The pivotal moment Jen turned to her Instagram account (of over 100,000 followers at that point) and began seeing it as an opportunity to share educational information rather than being on Insta as “just a hobby”, plus how it was scary to go from fitness persona to an authority on movement and health A perspective shift occurs, quitting her PT job, and taking a leap of faith Working on her own as a PT, building up a client base, and how The Mobility Method was born The Mobility Method: what it is, how it works and the overall process to get started Where Doc Jen sees The Mobility Method in three years Learning how to make internet marketing work, utilize Instagram for business, and understanding other business processes with the help of some awesome mentors The importance of bringing an awareness to our surroundings, our mindset and not being afraid to ask for help Resources from this episode: Our Sponsor, Movocash: https://www.thestartupstory.co/movocash Doc Jen’s website: https://www.docjenfit.com Doc Jen’s Free Mobility Assessment: docfitjen.com/challenge The School of Greatness PodcastSpecial Guest: Jen Esquer (DocJenFit).Sponsored By: Movocash: Download the Movocash app today!

This episode of The Startup Story features Larry Namer, founder of E! Entertainment Television. When you think of E!, you may instantly think of the show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Now for the record, Larry had nothing to do with the Kardashians phenomenon. He did, however, have everything to do with the building of this media network giant, which eventually sold for approximately $3,000,000,000 in 2007. In this episode, you will learn how Larry maneuvered the early days of his startup and how he built his company with little to no funding. Larry also shares openly about how he constantly adapted his business to ensure success, regardless of the external circumstances he faced. Wherever you in your entrepreneurial journey, Larry's story will provide you with a fresh perspective to take into your own endeavors. In this episode you’ll hear: Larry’s start, not in the limelight of Hollywood, but in the sewers of NYC How he went from blue collar labor to management, negotiating with unions and how he began to develop a leadership mindset How qualifying for pension at 30-years old eventually led him to the West Coast His time at Valley Cable in California helping build the first two-way 61 Channel Cable System ever built The start of “Movie Time”, the obstacles Larry faced and why he was so convinced to keep moving forward with his idea How a leap of faith by an investor led to the launch of E! Entertainment Television’s beginnings and how he went on to build E!’s first studio on a freight train rail station Selecting their first five hosts, like Greg Kinnear, getting coverage and establishing credibility as a network The origins of E!’s first original content show, Talk Soup (a show that makes fun of other television shows) with host Greg Kinnear and later Joel McHale Larry fondest memory from his startup story Larry’s advice to entrepreneurs who may be struggling with getting traction or establishing credibility in their industry Resources from this episode: Our Sponsor Movocash: https://www.thestartupstory.co/movocash Connect with Larry Namer on LinkedIn E! Entertainment Television Yuzzl.comSpecial Guest: Larry Namer.Sponsored By: Movocash: Download the Movocash app today!

Today’s startup story comes from Jason McCann, founder and CEO of Varidesk. While Varidesk is a global company today, Jason's story is not one where you assume everything he has ever done has been a success. Today he shares his early beginnings from selling beach chairs all the way to the burst of the dot.com bubble and later, how Varidesk came to be. Jason’s startup story is one of resilience. You will learn that every challenge or obstacle has a key learning principle. In fact, Varidesk’s success is a result of Jason's ability to listen and learn. This episode is your opportunity to be mentored by a founder who has built a company with over 270 employees and ships product over 30 different countries daily. Get ready to learn and be inspired. Here is Jason McMann with his Startup Story. In this episode you’ll hear: Jason’s early beginnings in Galveston, TX, including being introduced to the first entrepreneur/CEO in his life; his mom and how her energy, passion and leadership had an impact on him How he started his very first business at the age of 14 His start in the hotel management industry and how it led to owning his first restaurant Moving on from the restaurant industry to selling pogs while working on his Masters degree, plus his time at DSI Toys Creating a dot.com business, recognizing the dot.com bubble was bursting, his mental space after the ultimate collapse and what happened next How the idea of Varidesk started with a cardboard box Prototypes, presentations and adrenaline rushes in the early days of Varidesk Varidesk’s customer and employee relationship mentality and Jason’s vision for the future Resources from this episode: Our Sponsor Movocash: https://movo.cash/ Share your Varidesk Story: Varidesk.com/startupstory Connect with Jason McCann on LinkedIn Varidesk Good to Great by Jim Collins https://amzn.to/2HgRID1 Thrive, by Arianna Huffington https://amzn.to/2CYIiYy Special Guest: Jason McCann.Sponsored By: Movocash: Download the Movocash app today!

As we hear The Startup Story of some of the most successful companies in the world our focus is singular… To give you the belief and courage to Start Your Story. Every successful startup began with a single decision. It’s not about the dream, it’s not about the vision, it’s about having the courage to take that very first step -- to start. How did UBER grow to $50 billion? How did Spanx become massively successful without one dime of venture capital? The stories are out there. But The Startup Story goes even deeper. What exactly did they do to go from idea to launch? What was that first step and how did they decide to take it? Each week, hear from the courageous founders behind some of the most successful brands in the world as they share their Startup Story. We’ll unpack the early beginnings, and uncover those first steps that ultimately led them to where they are today. Whether you’re an entrepreneur who’s in the thick of it and not making much progress, or feeling stuck in the fear of failure, not sure if you have what it takes, this podcast was created for you.