Finding Unique Value

Your job title should never limit what you do to best serve your clients. A sound piece of advice from Michael Chase, the managing director of the Boston regional office for NorthMarq, which provides capital solutions for commercial real estate owners.

After working for others in her industry for many years, Svetlana Shnayder opened her own skincare studio 10 years ago… and has never looked back. For providers of technical or professional services, starting a business can be intimidating. But, by drawing on her work experience and closely watching how other entrepreneurs ran their operations (including what they were doing wrong), Svetlana was able to make it work.

If you’re squeamish about needles, you’ll be delighted to know that Portal Instruments is developing technology that will allow needle-free injections of important medications through the skin. It’s especially important for people with chronic conditions that require constant injections. Portal’s CEO and co-founder, Dr. Patrick Anquetil is DOING THIS. He’s a scientist and engineer who is also able to see the world through the lens of business, allowing him to spot opportunity in a very important industry.

Money management has traditionally been focused on securing returns for clients. That’s still important. But, says investment advisor Max Osbon, in recent years that approach has evolved to include stellar customer service, at least for those advisory firms seeking to differentiate themselves from the competition.

Ambitious, bold, and hard-working 24/7, Silvia aka VIA™️ is a one-woman powerhouse in the world of interior design, art, fashion, poetry, music, marketing, branding, and special events. She often combines several of those elements together in the work she does for her clients, who have included professional athletes, boutique hotels, former presidents, sports teams, musicians, and more.

Real estate investing today seems to be about fixing-and-flipping or putting a property up on Airbnb. But Ryan Short, the founder of Title Town Acquisitions, is all about “disrupting” that idea and creating real value with his real investments—, for himself and the wider community.

When Ryan Amin was growing up, the family business was hotels. It’s no surprise, then, that Ryan got into the hospitality industry after college. But, although he learned a lot from them, he didn’t go back to work for his parents… he struck out on his own in a very unusual way for a recent graduate.

Susan Hardy, of the Hardy Insurance Agency, says that too many people focus on the cost of insurance instead of closely examining what’s actually in their policy. She’s seen a lot of cases where that backfired in a big way when a claim was filed and what the policyholder assumed was covered… was not. That’s why she is passionate about helping people find the right coverage with the right insurance company for their specific situation. There’s no one-size-fits-all in this industry.

We all know it’s important to diversify our investments. But, says Vitaly Veksler, founder and CEO of Beyond Borders Investment Strategies, most people don’t have enough exposure – if any – to overseas markets. It might seem counterintuitive, but having 40% to 50% of your portfolio in overseas markets actually minimizes the volatility of your portfolio. Vitaly explains how you can experience significant returns if you put your money into frontier, emerging, and even developed markets around the world. There are dozens of places to potentially invest, but Vitaly shares the systematic approach he uses to determine the best places to invest and when… and how to mitigate risk.

Morten Haderup, of PIER Marine Interiors, which creates customized ship interiors for cruise ships, yachts, and more, has done business from China to Norway and seemingly everywhere in between. Now, he sees opportunity in the U.S. and is starting a whole new company in the country, in a sector where he says there is a distinct lack of competition yet a strong need for the product.

You’re not just the owner of a business, says Terrence Lomax, founder of Journi. Whether you like it or not, in this digital age, everybody and everything is a brand, too. 
That means building community around content will lead to more and faster success rather than relying on direct selling and advertising. If you’re a professional service provider or small business owner he says you can’t avoid being in the content business these days.

It’s been a whirlwind career path for Gjergj Demiraj. His education as a software developer who adopted a smart business sense has allowed him to excel as CEO of Gutenberg Technology. Using unique educational tools, Gutenberg is rapidly transforming the way you can upgrade your employees with needed skills to make your business more competitive in today’s increasingly digital world.

The digital media landscape is crowded – with so many tactics, technology, and tools out there. And, it’s changing all the time. Like right now, video has become an essential marketing channel for many businesses. David Reske, founder and president of NowSpeed, talks about how to cut through the clutter to find the digital marketing techniques that attract and nurture your audience – and how to integrate them to make the biggest impact.

Peter Maglathlin has a vision. To help workers with highly specialized skills connect with each other for support and mentorship, as well as get in front of potential employers. It’s an industry where traditional written resumes just don’t work. And this social network - with an app - will allow the workers to show off their stuff in a visual way – like a digital storefront.

The insurance industry is complicated, to say the least. Murray Durham specializes in helping companies and individuals get the best coverage for the lowest cost possible. He takes a different approach than most agents. He doesn’t go with the simple or easiest solution. Murray digs deep to find what works best for each client… even if it’s a bit unconventional.

When you start a business, you will struggle. No surprise there. But you can’t push through unless you can answer one fundamental question, says Steve Berlack, creator of The Berlack Method. Steve has a knack for uncovering the root causes of obstacles to success in individuals and teams. The self-awareness that comes when you answer that question is just the start.

What is the point of life if you don’t fight hard for what you get? That’s been Ralph Strzalkowski’s philosophy since childhood and has guided him through many challenges he’s faced in business and his personal life. We talk about growing up behind the Iron Curtain, how he came to the U.S. (it wasn’t a smooth process), and why he became a lawyer… an unusual lawyer at that who is unlike any you’ve probably ever met before.

Mark Elliott was at a beach party in San Diego right before the housing bubble burst in 2008. He had seen the signs of collapse… he knew it was imminent. It wasn’t the last time he’s shouted into the wind. But this med student turned investment advisor, who founded Elliott Asset Management, took advantage of that downturn and others to benefit himself – and those clients who would listen.