Discover how this entrepreneur bootstrapped not one or two, but four businesses! From selling ebooks to breaking into the Latin American market, his journey is full of unexpected twists and valuable lessons. But what's the one thing he wishes he knew before starting? Tune in to find out!

This week’s episode features Mike Begg. Mike serves as the co-founder and CEO of AMZ Advisers, where he has amassed extensive experience in the e-commerce industry. His journey began with a deep dive into Amazon's FBA program, followed by strategic forays into retail arbitrage and private labeling, culminating in substantial revenue growth for brands. With nearly a decade of expertise in the field, Mike's expansion into Latin America underscores his astute understanding of market dynamics and his proactive approach to addressing industry challenges. His practical experience and insightful perspective make him a pivotal resource for entrepreneurs seeking to capitalize on emerging opportunities within the digital marketplace.

Key highlights in this episode:

• Bootstrapping multiple businesses and learn how to apply them to your own entrepreneurial journey.
• Strategies for international expansion in ecommerce
• International distribution
• Kick-starting your Amazon FBA business

You have to make sure that what you're doing is something you enjoy, that it fits your lifestyle and what you want out of it, because otherwise, at some point there's going to be some breakdown, whether it's burnout, whether it's the company failing, whatever. That's kind of just going to completely derail you if it's not. - Mike Begg

Resources in this episode:

• Find Mike on LinkedIn
• Visit AMZ Advisers website

About Mike Begg

Mike is a seasoned entrepreneur and a leading expert in e-commerce, digital marketing, and operational nearshoring. In 2015, he co-founded AMZ Advisers, a thriving agency that currently manages over $10 million per year in ad spend and achieves an impressive $100 million per year in Amazon sales.

Mike’s entrepreneurial journey was ignited by witnessing the decline of a major company, Sears. The realization that job security was elusive led him to build something for himself. Starting with selling Kindle eBooks on Amazon, Mike progressed to arbitrage on physical goods, launched private label brands, and identified his strength in e-commerce marketing. This journey culminated in the creation of AMZ Advisers alongside his two partners.

About AMZ Advisers

AMZAdvisers.com is a full-service eCommerce & digital marketing consultancy with extensive experience in creating high-growth strategies for brands and manufacturers on the Amazon platform. In 2023, our partners enjoyed $900,000,000+ in sales with many of them experiencing more than 100% increase in their year-over-year sales on the Amazon platform. We believe that developing a robust eCommerce presence is integral for a business looking to maximize growth in the 21st century. Our custom strategies aim to make Amazon, the largest eCommerce marketplace, a powerful sales channel and the centerpiece of every company’s eCommerce presence. Long-term growth requires developing alternative sales channels, and we compliment every client’s eCommerce strategy by bringing them to additional eCommerce platforms, developing powerful sales funnels and creating websites designed to convert shoppers into customers.

Picture this, you build a consumer travel startup, and it fails. Try again right? What about ditching the software and industry all together and building a services-based business helping revenue teams be more efficient? This change in direction helped our guest bring unexpected growth for his company and his customers. Find out how this entrepreneur turned doubts into a thriving business and get inspired to take that leap of faith.

This week’s guest is James McKay, founder an CEO of Venn.

James has a wealth of experience in revenue operations, having spent most of his career in sales and operations. His journey into revops began as a sales leader, where he found himself drawn to solving revenue challenges using systems and data. With a background in sales and a track record of leading rapid growth at a prominent tech company, James brings a unique blend of practical sales experience and strategic operational insights to the table. His expertise in navigating common challenges such as messy CRMs and optimizing outbound strategies makes him a valuable resource for startups seeking to streamline their revenue operations for sustainable growth.

Key highlights in this episode

How revenue operations can transform your startup's growth potential.

• The challenges of CRM data management in optimizing your sales processes.
• Building a strong network is essential for entrepreneurs to gain valuable insights and support.
• Discover the best practices in revops for startups and outpace the competition.

I think that anyone who gets to the point in their career where they've been promoted or moved up in an organization a couple of times is able to think through what they do really well and think of it as a service. And I think if you're able to do that, you can get people to listen to you and you can start generating some interest around what you're doing. - James McKay

Overcoming CRM Data Management Challenges Complex CRM data management issues, such as messy data and declining team member adoption rates, can hinder revenue operations success. James stresses the importance of establishing clear customer journey stages and criteria in CRM systems and holding teams accountable to entering the relevant data. He suggests not making it a burden, as too much data entry forces low adoption rates. Addressing these challenges can enhance CRM efficiency and effectiveness in driving business growth.

Building a Strong Entrepreneurial Network Entrepreneurial success thrives on building a strong network of trusted individuals, as emphasized by James. Seeking advice and opportunities through professional organizations and networking can lead to valuable insights you can take into your company. By leveraging these networks, startup founders and entrepreneurs can navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship with confidence.

The resources mentioned in this episode

• Find James on LinkedIn
• Visit VEN’s website to learn how they can help optimize your organization
• Join professional organizations like the Operators Guild and Pavilion to network with industry professionals and gain valuable insights.

About James McKay

Helping startups run smoothly - that's his singular objective. Whether as an individual contributor or in leadership positions, he always gravitated to architecting go-to-market functions that bring customers, employees, and products together. So he made it his product.

About Venn

Ven is a collective of revenue experts building systems that accelerate growth for startups. We specialize in helping B2B SaaS and Fintechs get from 1m to 100m in ARR.

Reach out to us for:

- Salesforce Fixes and Implementations

- Variable Compensation Design

- Revenue Strategy

- CX Fixes and Implementations

So, you've been told to just keep pushing harder and working more to get your business to the next level, but the results just aren't matching the effort. The frustration of putting in so much and not seeing the growth you expect is real. It's time to rethink your approach and find a better way to navigate the stages of business growth.

We’re excited for you to hear from this week’s guest, Zach Ferres. Zach is a seasoned entrepreneur with a knack for building and scaling businesses. Hailing from Ohio, his entrepreneurial journey began during his high school days when he ran a computer and web design company. This venture even earned him a scholarship for college. Zach's career has seen him transition from web design and hosting to venturing into the world of corporate venture capital, innovation, and building one of the largest startup studios in the US. His experience as a CEO, advisor, and investor has equipped him with a unique perspective on navigating the complexities of business growth. With a portfolio of diverse ventures and a passion for entrepreneurship, Zach brings a wealth of practical insights to the table.

Key highlights in this episode:

• Building a sales system in startups is crucial for sustainable revenue growth.
• Navigating the different stages of growth to plan for long-term success.
• The value of joining peer groups and the insights and support they provide.
• Transitioning from founder to leader requires strategic mindset shifts.

The speed of the boss is the speed of the team. - Zach Ferres

Navigating the Stages of Business Growth Understanding the different stages of business growth is key for CEOs and entrepreneurs to successfully navigate the challenges that come with each phase. Identifying transitional points between growth stages and seeking guidance and support can aid in making informed decisions. It is essential for CEOs and founders to establish clear processes to guide their teams toward success.

Being part of peer groups can provide valuable insights, support, and guidance for leaders navigating through the complexities of growth. Connecting with like-minded individuals who can challenge and offer solutions can enhance decision-making and problem-solving.

The resources in this episode:

• Find Zach on LinkedIn
• Visit Telly.com to join the waitlist and learn more about their innovative dual-screen TV product.
• Explore Zach's personal website to learn more about his work and insights.

About Zach Ferres

Zach is a seasoned entrepreneur and technology executive with a passion for startup building and fostering entrepreneurial communities. His entrepreneurial journey started during high school when he founded his first technology company, which was later sold when he was 24, leading him to relocate to Arizona. He has since called Arizona home.

In 2012, He assumed the CEO position at Coplex, where he currently serves as a Board Member and Managing Partner. Coplex has been instrumental in starting over 200 startups, building a diversified equity portfolio of over 60 companies, and becoming one of the largest Startup Studios in the US. They partner with enterprises to create technology startups and have been featured in Entrepreneur, Forbes, The Washington Post, VentureBeat, and Fast Company.

Beyond Coplex, he holds various board and advisory positions at thriving technology companies that he actively supports. As a top-rated tech speaker, he has addressed thousands of CEOs across the country, and he also had a long-standing column with Entrepreneur Magazine, where he shared his insights on entrepreneurship, innovation, and corporate venturing.

About Telly

We’re building the ultimate TV experience. Shouldn’t TV Be More Than Streaming We think TV is an essential gathering spot. A reflection of the people that share in its smarts. A unifying hub to stay entertained, informed, fit and connected. We call this Telly and it’s the heartbeat of your home.

We’ve seen this before…companies enter an unknown market shift and all of the sudden the business comes to a halt. Imagine that same experience as a startup, just getting up and going and trying to get your first customers. Enter the COVID lockdown and the immediate halt of student loan payments. Discover how this startup survived turmoil and found success in unexpected places. This entrepreneur's journey holds a surprising lesson that changed everything.

Our special guest is Naveed Iqbal, founder and CEO of Dolr. With a Ph.D. and a keen understanding of market dynamics, he has developed a deep insight into the financial challenges individuals face, particularly in managing student loan debt. His innovative approach in creating employer-based student loan benefits has garnered attention, positioning Dolr as a pioneering force in the industry. Naveed's pragmatic and strategic insights make him a valuable resource for entrepreneurs navigating market shifts to ultimately find a way to stay and fight for survival.

Key highlights in this episode:

• Employer sponsored student loan repayment acceleration
• Navigating market-halting shifts
• Making a choice to stay and fight
• How using employer sponsored student repayment benefits can improve the recruitment and retention of top talent.

We are here because we chose to be, we chose not to die. There were multiple times when we could have died where we were like, we don't have enough money. We're going to have to figure out, how we're going to pay this or how we're going to do that. - Naveed Iqbal

Maximizing student loan benefits: Employee benefits such as student loan assistance have become increasingly crucial in attracting and retaining talent. Dolr's innovative approach to streamlining the process for both employers and employees highlights the importance of maximizing student loan benefits as part of a holistic financial wellness strategy. The impact of education assistance benefits goes beyond alleviating student loan debt to nurturing a supportive and engaged workforce. Dolr's success in leveraging education assistance benefits to aid employees in managing their financial burdens underscores the transformative potential of harnessing such benefits to drive business growth and adaptability during market shifts.

Resources in the episode:

• Follow Naveed on LinkedIn
• Visit Dolr to learn more about the company and the services they offer to help employees with student loan benefits.

About Naveed Iqbal

Naveed is the co-founder and CEO at Dolr. Founded with a mission to lower financial barriers to education, Dolr is a student loan benefits platform enabling companies to accelerate their teams to $0 student debt resulting in higher engagement, retention, and recruitment. Before founding Dolr, Naveed worked in consumer risk and product at one of the largest consumer banks in the USA. He earned his PhD in Applied Math at the Florida Institute of Technology.

About Dolr

Dolr beats your student debt with cash from your work, shopping, village of supporters, and habits. With Dolr your team can beat student debt, save more for retirement, and build wealth.

Using our technologies we want to accelerate the members of our community to $0 debt by making it easier for you to form micro-habits. And we want to make all of this cheap and easy for you. We want to uplift the members of our community emotionally and empower you to live your best life both while you pay your debt and after.

The more indebted members of society are the more we are inhibited from true growth and continued evolution. Using our technologies we want to empower society to help the members of the Dolr community accelerate to $0 debt. This extends from individuals to groups of individuals organized into communities, to businesses and corporations, and to the governments we elect.

Uncover the surprising truth about the challenges and triumphs of entrepreneurship in the healthcare industry. Discover how one CEO's personal journey led to a radical approach to employee investment and development, transforming the way we think about professional growth and business success. Want to know the secret behind navigating tough decisions and driving organizational change? Stay tuned for more!

Entrepreneurship is just trying to collaborate with as many people as possible, challenge your thinking, and then try to bring best practices into the business and stop doing the things that are holding you back. - Isaac Dole

Isaac Dole, the CEO and founder of Birchwood Healthcare Partners, brings a unique blend of entrepreneurial spirit and deep industry knowledge to the table. With a keen eye for problem-solving and a passion for driving positive change, Isaac has been at the forefront of navigating the intricacies of the seniors healthcare industry. His commitment to cultivating a top-tier team and fostering a culture of excellence, coupled with his strategic focus on revenue growth, underscores his dedication to reshaping the landscape of healthcare organizations. Isaac's expertise in addressing workforce development, embracing innovation, and tackling industry challenges makes him a compelling guest to explore the realm of employee investment and development programs in healthcare.

Maximizing Employee investment and development programs Isaac emphasizes the importance of investing in employee development and retention programs. He shares initiatives aimed at uplifting employees and creating a supportive work environment. The episode showcases the positive impact of employee-focused strategies on retention rates, satisfaction levels, and overall organizational success.

Key highlights of the episode:

• Maximizing employee investment and development programs by elevating your organization's employee development initiatives to boost satisfaction and retention.
• Confronting challenges facing the assisted living industry
• Harnessing EOS in healthcare leadership by learning how to implement EOS for enhanced organizational efficiency and effectiveness.
• Uncover how entrepreneurial strategies can drive success in your organization.
• Maximize employee satisfaction and retention with effective investment and development programs.

Resources in the episode:

• Find Isaac on LinkedIn
• Visit Birchwood Healthcare Partners to learn more about their initiatives in the seniors healthcare industry.
• Explore The Giving Tree program to understand how Birchwood supports its team members through initiatives like the hardship fund, tuition assistance, mental health assistance, and career advancement opportunities.

About Isaac Dole

Experienced healthcare investment professional with a focus on all aspects of senior's healthcare. Has completed hundreds of millions of dollars of transaction volume across the senior's healthcare acuity spectrum - including real estate based and provider services healthcare. Isaac has direct experience and/or interest in senior housing, post-acute and long-term care, home health, hospice, rehab, pharmacy, NP/LCSW/telehealth services, management companies and venture products, technology and services targeting senior's healthcare. This experience has created deep nationwide industry relationships that have been critical to Birchwood's growth and success.

About Birchwood Healthcare Partners

Birchwood Healthcare Partners is a Chicago-based healthcare investment firm specializing in post-acute investments including senior housing, nursing and ancillary businesses such as home health, hospice, nurse practitioner and post-acute management companies.

Birchwood Healthcare Partners offers a flexible investment approach, always striving to meet the needs of all stakeholders to a transaction. Through their network of operators and partners, they not only have the ability to acquire, but also the ability to lease and manage healthcare communities, or even asset manage them on behalf of third party landlords / investors and work outs on behalf of lenders. They have deep industry relationships, entrepreneurial structuring capability and extensive capital available to facilitate the ideal transaction.

Birchwood has built an experienced and cohesive team of investment professionals, advisors, operators and investors to position the comp

Military leadership lessons have been a hidden gem for driving revenue growth in business. Learn how this sales leader turned proactive change into a revenue playbook and hear about the connection between military expertise and business success.

Our special guest is Jason Barr, a military veteran and sales leader at ID.me, brings a unique perspective to the business world. With a background in military leadership, Jason seamlessly integrates his entrepreneurial orientation and problem-solving skills into the sales landscape. Having led special forces teams and now steering the healthcare practice at ID.me, Jason's experience and expertise offer valuable insights into implementing proactive change and driving revenue growth. His journey from the military to the business realm showcases a compelling fusion of leadership, adaptability, and strategic thinking that resonates with sales leaders and managers seeking innovative approaches to revenue generation.

Change is hard. It's hard to embrace it and it's hard to live through it, let alone now you're trying to drive it and get other people to change is even harder. – Jason Barr

Drive Revenue Growth

Driving revenue growth is a top priority for sales leaders like Jason, as seen in his ambitious goals. Implementing clear objectives and aligning sales teams towards achievable targets are key strategies in driving revenue growth effectively. Hear how Jason talks about implementing Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) in sales and how doing so helps align teams towards common goals, from the executive team down to the sellers. Constantly rethinking revenue strategies and investing in developing great leaders are essential for sustainable growth in sales organizations.

Key highlights in this episode:

• Drive revenue growth by implementing proactive change in sales leadership.
• Using OKRs as an aligned practice to set clear objectives and drive performance throughout the organization.
• Using military leadership lessons and applying them to drive success in business.
• The focus on future pipeline and keeping things moving forward.

About Jason Barr

Jason Barr is the VP of Healthcare for ID.me, the leading digital identity wallet in the United States. His team is focused on improving healthcare interoperability with trusted and portable identity verification and SSO to remove friction and fraud from healthcare for both patients and providers.

Jason has more than 20 years of leadership experience, largely focused on delivering technology solutions that have helped many healthcare organizations enhance the delivery of care. He started his career as an Army Officer with combat tours in Iraq, followed by leading growth organizations to solve complex technology problems. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, followed by an MBA from The Ohio State University and now resides in Jacksonville, FL.

About ID.me

ID.me simplifies how individuals prove and share their identity online. The ID.me secure digital identity network has over 120 million members with over 60,000 new subscribers joining daily, as well as partnerships with 15 federal agencies, 40 agencies in 30 states, and over 600 name-brand retailers.

The company provides identity proofing, authentication, and group affiliation verification for organizations across sectors, including commercial, healthcare, and government services. The company's technology meets the federal standards for consumer authentication and is approved as a NIST 800-63-3 IAL2 / AAL2 conformant credential service provider by the Kantara Initiative. ID.me's Identity Gateway also has a Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) Moderate Authority to Operate (ATO).

ID.me offers a "digital fast lane" that empowers consumers to seamlessly navigate websites and avoid endless and frustrating account logins and passwords. Over 50 million pre-verified users already benefit from this "digital fast lane."

Resources in this episode:

• Find Jason on LinkedIn
• Visit ID.me to learn more about how they are leading the efforts in digital identity management.

If you're feeling stuck in a cycle of trying to achieve sustainable revenue growth, only to hit a wall and struggle to break through, just know you are not alone! Many business owners find themselves in the same frustrating position, trying different strategies without seeing the results they desire. It's time to rethink your approach and consider a new perspective to achieve the growth you've been striving for.

Get outside help. Don't do it alone. Don't throw the money down the drain. Don't continue to beat your head against the wall and continue to bleed. So stack the deck in your favor and get experts on your side. - Ken Haskins

Our special guest is Ken Haskins. Ken is the founder and CEO of GCE Strategic Consulting, based just outside of Atlanta, in Sandy Springs, Georgia. With over 20 years of experience, Ken specializes in providing support for companies in fractional or full-time leadership roles, including COO, CRO, HR, and finance. His company works with a diverse range of industries, from landscaping to SaaS, and helps businesses navigate challenges such as M&A, growth plateaus, and leadership transitions. Ken's intentional shift from being the main salesperson to a visionary leader has led to significant growth for GCE, with a focus on client success and sustainable revenue growth. His expertise in fractional executive hiring makes him a valuable guest for discussing effective leadership transitions and achieving sustainable revenue growth.

Key highlights in this episode:

• How your business can benefit from hiring a fractional executive
• Streamline your business with EOS and sticking to it!
• Mastering the art of enterprise sales success with creative strategies

EOS Implementation for Success

Implementing EOS can provide businesses with clarity on long-term objectives, core values, processes, and team-building strategies, leading to enhanced organizational efficiency and success. Professional EOS implementers play a crucial role in guiding businesses through the systematic implementation of EOS, ensuring that companies fully leverage the benefits of the system for sustainable growth. Embracing EOS requires a committed and structured approach, where businesses invest in external expertise to streamline operations, enhance decision-making, and achieve transformative results in revenue growth.

About Ken Paskins

As the CEO and Founder of GCE Strategic Consulting, Ken is dedicated to helping you achieve extraordinary results. With experience managing $500M P&Ls and teams of over 450, as well as working with top-tier PE firms and Sequoia Capital, he understands what it takes to drive success. In 2014, he left corporate America to help business owners like you realize your visions. As the first Fractional Integrator (ever) and an early attendee of Mark Winters' Rocket Fuel University, he recognized the need for Visionaries to maximize their results using EOS®. GCE Strategic Consulting was the first firm of it’s kind designed to serve Visionaries and is now the largest, having served more clients than their top competitors combined, across over 10 countries. Their team of business experts excel in not only the COO/Integrator role but also in Finance, Sales, Marketing, HR, and Recruiting. While other firms focus solely on EOS® and running L10 meetings, we pride ourselves on our comprehensive business expertise, including M&A, turnarounds, capital raises, and achieving tangible results.

About GCE Strategic Consulting

We help business owners calm the chaos and stop working IN the business so they can work ON the business! Bridge Integrator® | Fractional Integrator | Fractional Executives in Operations | Sales | Marketing I Finance | HR | Recruiting | Coaching.

Are you running your business or is your business running you?

At GCE, we are business fixers. GCE started the Fractional Integrator movement! As the leading firm in our field, we've had the privilege of serving more Visionaries than anyone else in over 10 countries! Discover a rare company that not only offers experts in the COO / Integrator Seat but support Finance, Sales, Marketing, HR and Recruiting. Other firms take pride in knowing EOS® and running an L10’s, we take pride in mastering EOS® and being experts in business, including M&A, turnaround, cap raises, and getting results! We have encountered and successfully navigated every business challenge imaginable, making us your ultimate one-stop shop for support.

Resources in this episode:

• Find Ken on LinkedIn
• Visit GCE Strategic Consulting to learn more about GCE Strategic Consulting and their services.