Business Black Belt®

In this unique interview, we discuss the benefits of ADD vs. its perception as a dis-ease. Dr. Kevin Ross Emery is a sought after leader, innovator, author, and an expert in the ADD/HD field. Dr. Kevin’s work in both, the professional and personal development fields, as well as, the corporate, small business, and entrepreneurial fields has given him a wide platform to work from. In his work as a synergetic catalyst, he helps the business owner maximize their potential as well as their teams’ and their businesses’ potential.

Barbra Drizin owned and operated a successful independent staffing company in Silicon Valley during the hi-tech revolution. She worked with many start-ups and acquired a fascination with technology and became an eager student. As Barbra expanded her knowledge, her path became clear – teaching others there is a virtual world to discover!

Why should someone buy from you? What if customers already wanted to buy? Most sales training teaches overcoming objections… How to get a stuck customer moving again. “Closing” the sale… Closing? Streamlining your sales process.

This has been a very popular talk about setting goals that leads to a more productive perspective as you define your goals for a new year or any task you desire. We go beyond SMART goal-setting to give you useful ideas for succeeding.

Many people talk about vision and future, but Ti Caine offers crucial distinctions. Today’s interview can change your future and change your life. My guest, Ti Caine, is the world’s leading expert on The Power of the Future™. Most people don’t even know that this power exists, and yet it affects us every moment of every day, and it is literally the key to health, happiness and success! I met Ti about a year ago and was fascinated and changed by his FutureVisioning process, and I discovered he is the only therapist, life coach and business coach in the world who has developed an entire healing, life and performance enhancement program based on our relationship to the future. I have been around personal improvement and business for many years and I know that Ti’s FutureVisioning™ program is the only one of its kind.

Larry “The Connector” Benet has earned a stellar reputation as one of the world’s best strategic relationship builders as a result of his intuitive talent to connect deeply with anyone in a matter of minutes. His strategic introductions have started conversations converted to multi-million dollar deals, contributions to worthy causes, and “take a bullet for Larry” support from influential people worldwide. In this podcast and in his forthcoming book, Connection Currency: How to Get What You Want Faster Than You Ever Thought Possible, Larry shares his proven approach.

Peter Howley of Howley Management Group, a successful CEO, investor & advisor. Peter is a bestselling author and serial entrepreneur with unprecedented experience in successfully building high growth disruptive technology and service companies. He works closely with international CEO’s, Boards and Entrepreneurs to accelerate their companies into industry leaders. “Superior technology and brilliant innovation, by themselves, rarely succeed. Experience counts. That is the common factor most frequently separating phenomenal success from abject failure. Entrepreneurs can either bring someone like me on board to support their vision, or struggle alone with the complexities of simultaneous evolving technology and business models.” - What are the first 3 things you want to know about a business? - How do I grab your interest with my “elevator” pitch? - What do you look for in a business plan? - Where do you go first? - What is it about the entrepreneur? - How do you have employees work like owners? - What are some of the biggest causes of failure and what to do about them.

Burke Franklin talks with Dr. Steve Taubman about asking for money and pitching investors -- how to get past any discomfort. Best-selling author and mindfulness expert, Dr. Steve Taubman has an eclectic and unusual background. As a physician, magician, hypnotist, author, speaker and meditation teacher, he brings a unique perspective and deep wisdom to the field of building businesses. Steve takes us through a 10-minute hypnosis session — asking investors for money!

Burke Franklin talks with Ted Ciuba about New year's resolutions and goal setting. Ted has his own radio show titled Think Rich Radio with a slogan of “All Things In The Spirit of the New Think and Grow Rich” offering an edutainment approach that appeals to conscious people in the baby boomer and eco boomer generations.

Sherita Herring shares her expertise and insights into Grant Funding since 1994 the Kreative Images Foundation has specialized in effective business strategies, nonprofit development and strengthening communities all over the world through speaking engagements, live radio broadcasts, grant writing workshops, board development, nonprofit development services. Sherita Herring is a best-selling author, renowned speaker, business strategist and motivator, while also serving as an informed radio personality. Her motto is YAYOL (pronounced yah-yoal), which stands for You Are Your Only Limitation! Highlights Who can get a grant and for what? What are some of the myths about grants? How do I get started? What expectations should I have? What are people NOT telling us about it? What needs to be included in your business plan?

Securities attorney on investors, investing and term sheets -- Jim Burk of Burk & Reedy, a Washington, DC-based law-firm who specializes in business law and financing. Jim has 40 years(!) experience in business law and business financing! He assists emerging companies in their initial stages of organization and then growing with the companies through the public offering stage. Jim assists domestic and international clients with business matters including corporate issues, contracts, mergers, acquisitions, venture capital financings, tax, asset protection, securities and franchise law. He has also assisted companies in securing seed and mezzanine funding for emerging companies. Highlights: Usual term-sheet gotchas that few people talk about? Top 3 legal considerations => financing? What often goes wrong with financings? What top 3 success factors were in place for your most successful financings?

Angel Investor, Rob Kramatz, Shares His Thinking on Investing in Companies, and Some New Ideas for Structuring the Deal Terms I‘m talking with Rob Kramarz, a serial entrepreneur and investor with interests in life sciences and technology. He’s been active in San Diego Venture Group, OCTANe (an accelerator in Orange County), Tech Coast Angels, Connect and the Biocom Capital Committee . With a background in technology management, Mr. Kramarz is currently managing director of 22nd Century Ventures, which is raising a fund and is a partner with Vantera Partners, which advises mid-market companies on financing, mergers and exits. Mr. Kramarz is considered an expert in new financing methods like revenue-based finance, crowdfunding, and public solicitations of private offerings. He founded non-profit Intelliversity – “a leadership academy for entrepreneurs led by investors,” that does research on successful leadership and financing strategies. He’s also author of the Successful-Entrepreneur.com blog and soon-to-be published book Put the Fun Back in Funding. Highlights: What do you look for in entrepreneurs? What inspires you to write a check sooner than later? What kinds of deal structures are investors looking for? How important is a business plan to you? Success cases and lessons learned? Disasters and lessons learned… Click here to learn more about my guest today: Rob Kramarz

Greg Writer, founder and CEO of the Angel Network. Greg has over 31 years experience in corporate finance, capital formation. At 21, he was the youngest owner / operator of a full service investment banking firm in the history of the US -- directly involved in over $100 million in financings, IPO's and acquisitions for early stage companies. In this interview we discuss how he responds to entrepreneurs, business plans and investor presentations -- how entrepreneurs demonstrate commitment to their business ("I'm committed�� isn't enough!) Highlights: What he sees as the priorities for financing a business these days What are the first 3 things you want to know about a business? What is it about the entrepreneur him/herself that is important? How do I grab your interest with my "elevator" pitch? What do you look for in a business plan? What kind of returns can I/should I provide/offer an investors? What type of investors do I need or should I look for? Where can I find investors? Valuation what is and what is an easy way to understand how investors look at this. What is the most common mistake Entrepreneur makes, that is like shooting themselves in the head with potential check writers. Real deal killers! Biggest causes of failure and what to do about them. What are we missing success-wise, that we should be including?

What are the best ways to get Crowdfunded? I�m talking with Aggie Kobrin � recently profiled in Forbes as one of the top 10 women in Crowd-Funding� Crowdfunding is an online, grassroots way to raise money through the generosity of your family, friends, social network and plenty of strangers, your idea or product can become a reality. As a leader in crowd funding and Aggie provides valuable information on how to launch a successful crowd funding project or event. She has built several successful event planning and media distribution companies. Aggie was the creative force behind several independent films and has an extensive global network and a sphere of influence that include the giants of the speaking community. She was an enterprising managing director of the highly successful eWomenNetwork, and is a contributing author and a regular media personality. Aggie now heads up Crowd Funding LIVE where you can join to discover how to crowd fund successfully.Today, there are dozens of online sites dedicated to helping you get money for your ideas and projects. Crowdfunding websites can help you find a community of donors to fund your business, idea or product quickly. Some key ideas� Give us a reality check on crowd-funding? What kinds of projects are best suited? How to create a powerful crowd-funding campaign How to use social networking to succeed in Crowdfunding What are people NOT telling us about it? What needs to be included in your business plan? Click here to learn more about my guest today: Aggie Kobrin

Tony Dohrmann is an expert on raising capital. In this podcast, he shares financing and business-building lessons from creating 6 companies, raising $50+ million from 390 investors, defending against a hostile take-over, and the realities of getting a complex product manufactured and onto the shelves at Home Depot, Costco, and on QVC. Tony is also the founder of LifeSupport Medical, The Electronic Caregiver Company, and LaserShield Systems, Inc. His companies provide innovative electronic health management, medical emergency response, intrusion and environmental sensing. Dohrmann's products have been featured on Good Morning America, The View, Montel Williams, Flip That House, Fox News, CNN, ABC news, CBS news, NBC news, Rush Limbaugh, Dr. Laura, Art Bell, Steve Harvey, NY Times, LA Times, Chicago Tribune, Wired Magazine, PC Magazine, and numerous others. Highlights No VC => Private money, PPM? Equity Trust - enable investment thru retirement plans Offer warrants @ price schedule that increases at intervals How to structure the return Valuation changes for up / down rounds Completing the financing round

I'm Burke Franklin, and after 35 years in business helping new and established businesses raise capital and gain higher success, I wanted to engage others to share their insights as well. I hate it when good products, companies or people fail! Building a successful business and being a mindful and responsive entrepreneur is an emotional, mental, physical and spiritual bootcamp. Yet, few things are more rewarding and gratifying than succeeding with your own ideas and making a difference in the world. In the Business Black Belt podcast, I interview successful investors, experts in business development, financing, marketing or management,and entrepreneurs who offer some enlightened insights into building your business... Ideas you can implement immediately. I think you'll learn a lot from these interviews with these innovative thought leaders. So... if you have a vision and are inspired to do something... And if you want to build a profitable business doing what needs doing in our world... I think you'll enjoy listening to what these people can teach you! Welcome to the Business Black Belt podcast!