Freedom to Fail

This week's Year One episode is a continuation of my interview from Episode 070 with Isaac Parkinson of SkinGrip. He has worked hard to build a business around a tight-knit community, and it continues to grow and get stronger every day. With years of experience now, Isaac pulls back the curtain and offers you his playback of everything you should do when you are launching a product to ensure its lasting success.Some of the key takeaways from this episode are:How to position yourself in a way that focuses on solving your customers' problems, NOT hard selling them.How to work with influencers in a way that's beneficial to them, and in a way that shows measurable results for your company. Check this episode out to learn these tips AND MORE!Also, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast so that you can get immediate access to our new episodes as soon as they are released.SkinGrip Website: Click Here

This week's Year One episode is a continuation of my interview from Episode 071 with Scott Brown of PaddleSmash. He built and sold one business in the toy & game industry, and has created another successful product with PaddleSmash. If you've ever had an idea for a toy or a game to create, then you especially need to listen to this episode.Some of the key takeaways from this episode are:How to get honest product feedback from family and friends, instead of them telling you what you want to hear.When it's best to build and launch a game yourself, and when it's better to license it.Check this episode out to learn these tips AND MORE!Also, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast so that you can get immediate access to our new episodes as soon as they are released.PaddleSmash Website: Click Here

Have you ever looked at the games on the shelves at the store and asked yourself, "Who in the world came up with that?" You wouldn't be the only one. The toy and game industry is extremely large and lucrative, and today's episode is with a man who has succeeded in it multiple times, without actually inventing a toy or game (that I know of).Scott Brown is an experienced and successful entrepreneur who got his start being paid to sit around and think of potential business ideas (sounds like a dream to me). But it also meant a lot of hard work, because once he found one that had potential they worked hard to grow it. They failed immediately and had to shut down and regroup, but once they did they grew their concept to over 40 stores.This time around, Scott was presented a game that was extremely fun, and leveraged the fastest growing sport in North America - pickleball. He decided to take the opportunity and run with it, and they were on this most recent season of Shark Tank and have done extremely well.This episode is unique in that he wasn't the one who came up with the idea, but I wanted to showcase it because it shows how you can find business ideas anywhere, and Scott tells his story with both.Stay tuned for our next Year One episode with Scott, where he breaks down everything he'd do to start a toy or game business and set it up for success in that first year.PaddleSmash Website: Click Here

Isaac Parkinson has been a really good friend of mine for over 10 years now. AND he was the original (and better, I might add) host of Freedom to Fail with me when I started on this journey a few years ago. Unfortunately for all of us who tune into this podcast, the company he started with a friend called SkinGrip started doing really well, and he needed to focus all of his time there, so he could no longer be my co-host.That was 4 years ago, and now SkinGrip has thousands of reviews on Amazon, has a dedicated and passionate following, and has really grown to be an amazing company. This is what Isaac has been working on for years, and his success is well-deserved. One of his big beliefs is to work hard for at least 5 years to see if something will be successful, and I'm really happy that he has followed through on that to build something incredible.Even with all that success, however, there have been bumps along the way - like when he had tens of thousands of units of product seized by the FDA. It hasn't been all smooth sailing, but he's always bounced back to find success in the face of challenges from the environment or that he unknowingly created (like the FDA incident). Find out what happened with that story, and a whole lot more, on this week's episode of Freedom to Fail!SkinGrip Website: Click Here

This week's Year One episode is a continuation of my interview from Episode 068 last week, with the founder of Stay, Shane Ball. He has built an apparel brand that has been around for 9 years, which is a crazy long time in such a competitive industry! If you've ever been interested in standing out and building a sustainable business, then you need to listen to this episode.Some of the key takeaways from this episode are:How to get feedback on your brand from your target market BEFORE you even spend any moneyWhat margins you should be shooting for in order for your business to not only survive, but leave enough margin for growthCheck this episode out to learn these tips AND MORE!Also, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast so that you can get immediate access to our new episodes as soon as they are released.

Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of mental health disorders and suicidal thoughts. Please use self-awareness in deciding to listen or not. If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please contact the Suicide Crisis Hotline at 988. Most people usually try to dress nicely, including me (although you wouldn't know it at times). Fashion has always been a part of humanity since the beginning of time, and when you look good you feel good. Shane Ball has always wanted to have a clothing brand, but he wanted to also focus on the interior of a person and not just the exterior. This is wear Stay was born, with its focus on mental health and suicide prevention.In 2014 Shane worked hard to start his clothing brand, and things went well for a few years. Then, in 2019 he almost had to close Stay. But it was a conversation with a surprise mentor (hint - he was actually a previous guest of mine) that convinced him to keep working, and since that time they have weathered many storms but have been able to find more success than they ever had previously. Find out the rest of this story in this week's episode of Freedom to Fail!

This week's Year One episode is a continuation of my interview from Episode 066 last week, with the CEO of Kizik, Monte Deere. He comes from a very unique background as a corporate lawyer, and his perspective is very savvy! If you've ever wondered how you can protect your idea or product, this episode is for you.Some of the key takeaways from this episode are:How to protect your IP and ideas when you're collecting feedback from othersWhat your most valuable asset is for bringing existing customers back for moreIf you've ever wanted to learn more about footwear or just know how to build a brand from scratch with amazing visual content, this is the episode for you!Also, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast so that you can get immediate access to our new episodes as soon as they are released.

I just flew home from across the country today. While I was going through security I actually saw an advertisement posted right before the security entrance advertising the company from today's episode. It's Kizik, and they make hands-free shoes! It was brilliant marketing and specific targeting of people who may think about buying their product for the future (taking off your shoes for airport security is a hassle). This was just the perfect example of having your marketing dollars work smarter for you.Monte Deere is the CEO of Kizik, and I had the opportunity to sit down and talk a little bit about Kizik as a whole, and his own personal journey. He had been a lawyer for his entire career before joining Kizik as the CEO, and since he joined they have really taken off. His story is amazing, and he's just a stand-up guy. I'm looking forward to you hearing this week's episode of Freedom to Fail.

This week I'm bringing you all the Year One episode with Hayden & Jake Wadsworth, the creators of HydroJug. They have grown their business to 8 figures, have close to 500k Instagram followers, and are super amazing. Side note - if you haven't listened to my Freedom to Fail episode with them to learn more about their story, go check it out on episode 056!In this episode they break down exactly what they would do in their first year if they were to restart HydroJug all over again. Some of the things you'll learn are:Where you should look to find a good idea (hint: don't reinvent the wheel)Where to find manufacturers for your product & how to know what to pay themTo learn specifically how they would do this, as well as many other amazing tips, listen to this episode now!Also, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast so that you can get immediate access to our new episodes as soon as they are released.

This week's episode is my Year One episode with Amy Lund! She's seen massive growth and constantly had lines wrapped around the corner for her incredible sweet rolls from The Dough Lady. She knows a thing or two because she's seen a thing or two. And with all that experience, she was kind enough to talk to us about what she did when she launched and everything she would do in the first year if she were to restart today.Some of the important action items for growth she discusses are:How to create a personal relationship with your customers to build brand loyaltyThe importance of creating easily replicable processes in order to manage labor costs and your time expense (your most valuable asset)To learn specifically how she would do this, as well as many other amazing tips, listen to this episode now!Also, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast so that you can get immediate access to our new episodes as soon as they are released.

NOTE: This episode was recorded in May 2022 before the #utahcookiewars began. We stand behind Dirty Dough and Crave and the right to an open and competitive market. Cookies aren't meant to be divisive, they're meant to bring people together. Hopefully, we can get back to that as soon as possible and move away from silencing any newcomers.And now back to the episode summary:This week's Freedom to Fail episode is the second part of my interview with Bennett Maxwell. In this Year One segment we discuss what Bennett would do to get his business up and running if he were to start his cookie business from scratch again. Some of the things that he discusses the importance of are:Knowing your numbers (how to find out what your COGS should be)Creating a board of advisors (where to find them and who to look for)There are plenty of other great tips for all you future entrepreneurs, so if you're looking to start a business then this the episode for you!Also don't forget to subscribe to the podcast so that you can get immediate access to our new episodes as soon as they are released.

Anybody that knows me knows that I love baking. And I especially love baking cookies! Nothing beats coming up with a brand new recipe myself and taste-testing it multiple times until I find the perfect flavor and consistency. I'm proud of everything I've created, and have even been lucky enough to be able to sell my own cookies. Yet sometimes I don't have the time to bake, but I still have the world's biggest sweet tooth.Dirty Dough is the world's newest cookie company, and they are absolutely amazing! Bennett Maxwell is the owner, and he has sold over 60 franchises of his company by focusing on what's on the inside. Their cookies are stuffed with delicious fillings (try the raspberry pop tart), but he also is passionate about focusing on what's going on inside of us as humans and helping the mental health pandemic that we are currently facing.This episode was so much fun since I was in my element talking about baking. Bennett is an amazing guy, with an amazing business, and the cookies are delicious too! Hear more about Dirty Dough and his story in this week's episode of Freedom to Fail.PS. If you're an entrepreneur or love learning business specifics, stay tuned in the future for a new episode of Year One with Bennett, where he goes into the details of everything he would do in the first year if he started his business from scratch now.LINKSEpisode PageFreedom to Fail IG: Click HereDirty Dough Website: Click HereDirty Dough IG: Click HereBennett's IG: Click Here

What's the best part of Christmas morning? I guess I should clarify and say the best part of Christmas morning after presents. The clear and obvious answer to me is the food! In my family we always have delicious Christmas breakfasts. And one of the Christmas staples for many people are cinnamon rolls. They are delicious.Amy Lund grew up baking with her mom. In her mom's words, "If you can read you can cook." She took that literally and starting baking as a child with her family, and really loved it. After her husband and her got married in 2020 they were looking for another way to make some money, and after flirting with the idea of salsa and the risks (botulism is bad), she started selling her extremely popular cinnamon rolls out of her house.These days, she has a rotating menu of sweets rolls (blueberry lemon and fruity pebbles are the best combos) and actually was able to quit her job at the end of 2021 and start spending all her time on The Dough Lady. If you want to hear more of her story, or drool from how good all her baked goods sound, this is the episode for you!LINKSEpisode Page: Click HereThe Dough Lady IG: Click HereThe Dough Lady Website: Click HereSong - Addicted To You (Alexa Kate Henry): Click Here

Remember how print media is supposed to be dead? Well, Jeanette Bennett knows that MOST print media is, but not hers. She is the creator of Utah Valley Magazine, Business Q, Utah Valley Bride, and many other successful publications. She does a yearly 40 Under 40 that is extremely popular, and she has been an inspiration for many Utahns who know her.But what caused her to get into journalism? It was a lunch lady she had when she was in elementary school. She got to know her and wanted to share her story with the rest of the school. That's when she realized that everybody has a story to be told, and she wanted to help make that a reality.Life isn't always smooth though, and she has had multiple times in her career when she had to realize things weren't working and give them up (entire magazines), and overcome the initial struggles of seeing her business start to dwindle with the rise of online media. Yet she has marched forward and regained even more of the market share than she initially lost in that period of time, and proven to Utah, and the world, that she's not to be messed with.

Tori Geiger has faced challenges that most of us can only imagine in our wildest dreams. Since birth she has lived with congenital heart defects and has thought she wouldn't make it multiple times since then. But that hasn't stopped her from living her best life and chasing her dreams.Most people who live with conditions like that are resigned to live a boring life as long as they're still alive. Not Tori. She was a collegiate athlete, and now runs a successful bookkeeping firm to help other small businesses run successfully. She also is one of the best people I know at practicing gratitude, and I only hope that one day I can be as good as her at remembering to be grateful for the challenges we face in life as well.

Jojo's Chocolate started in 2013 with one goal: To be able to indulge in a “sweet” treat without all the added sugars. Sterling Jones started this company with his mom, Jojo, who created this chocolate to be able to enjoy a deliciously healthy snack while also facing cancer. It was such a hit at home that they started selling it in other locations and it constantly kept growing. Now they are located in retailers such as Costco, Walmart, Sprouts, etc.But while Sterling has seen much success and growth with Jojo's, he has also faced many difficult times. His mom passed away after another bout with cancer in 2019, and the pandemic caused him to have to lay off a handful of key employees as well. Yet he marches forward resiliently because he is determined to share his mom's story and her amazing, healthy chocolate with the world. Listen to this incredible story in this week's episode of Freedom to Fail.*If you want a chance to win some bags of Jojo's Chocolate, the book "The Ride of a Lifetime", and a HydroJug all you have to do is join my email newsletter (I will never spam or sell it) and you will be entered into this month's giveaway, as well each giveaway moving forward*Links***Monthly Giveaway (Including a FREE HydroJug): Click Here ***Episode Page: Click HereJojo's Chocolate: Click Here

Matthew Krul is the host and creator of the Imagineer Podcast, one of my all-time favorite podcasts. Not only is it about the behind-the-scenes of Disney, but it is also one of the podcasts I have tried to learn from and model mine after. Matthew has been doing it for five years, and in that time he has grown to having hundreds of thousands of subscribers on social media and on the podcast.He has a background in marketing which he uses really effectively to grow his podcast, but more than anything he focuses on trying to create wholesome content and overdelivering on his promises. He also is extremely effective at prioritizing his time and efforts, which is a huge struggle for many of us who have a side hustle, or even balancing work and family. In this episode he talks about all of that, and gives actionable advice to start your own podcast or prioritize your time for whatever passion you are chasing!Also, check out his Year One episode on Patreon to find out step-by-step plans of how to start and grow a new podcast in your first year. And don't forget to enter this month's giveaway!*If you want a chance to win the book "The Ride of a Lifetime", a HydroJug, as well as other prizes from my guests and myself, all you have to do is join my email newsletter (I will never spam or sell it) and you will be entered into this month's giveaway, as well each giveaway moving forward*Links***Monthly Giveaway (Including a FREE HydroJug): Click Here ***Episode Page: Click HereImagineer Podcast Instagram: Click HereImagineer Podcast Spotify: Click Here

Founders Hayden & Jake Wadsworth started HydroJug just a few years ago, sensing an opportunity that wasn't being seized despite the large potential market size. Jake was finishing up college, while Hayden was working a full-time job, and they threw their life savings at an overseas manufacturer, not knowing if they would ever see it again. Luckily things worked well for them, and with lots of hard work and product iterations, they developed one of the most popular large water bottles on the market.Since starting they have reached 8 figures in annual revenue, have moved into new offices, and have grown to have close to 100 employees. But the surprising thing is that they were able to do all of this during a time when COVID hit and ruined many other companies. I believe it's because of their outlook on failure and life challenges and how they apply it to life and business, which you can hear in this week's episode of Freedom to Fail.*HydroJug was kind enough to donate one HydroJug for our monthly giveaway the month of January. If you want a chance to win a HydroJug, as well as three other prizes from my guests and myself, all you have to do is join my email newsletter (I will never spam or sell it) and you will be entered into this month's giveaway, as well each giveaway moving forward*Links***Monthly Giveaway (Including a FREE HydroJug): Click Here ***Episode Page: Click HereHydroJug Website: Click Here

As you guys can go back and clearly see, I have had a few times since I launched this podcast where I stopped releasing episodes for a while. Well consistency is kind in podcasting and any kind of content, so I've obviously failed at that in the past. But now it's a new year and I am committed to doing this podcast to provide you all with solid content WEEKLY, not just as a passion project when I feel like it.Each week moving forward I will be releasing episodes on Friday afternoons. Why Friday? Because for most of you it will be the day you stop spending your time helping someone else reach their dreams, and you can start spending your time working on your own dreams! I will have one solo episode each month talking in-depth about a specific step that you need to do when starting your business so you can follow a roadmap, and the other weeks will be more guest podcasts that you know and love.Let's both commit to spending 2022 launching our dreams into orbit and seeing just how far we can take them!

I've been lucky enough to know Mike Rowland for a couple years now, back before he started his company, Droplet. He is a genuine friend and extremely kind, and no matter how much success he finds, which I know will be a lot, he will always be the guy who drove out of his way to come buy cookies from me when I was first getting started. That support that he gave me meant a lot then, and I know that's part of the reason Droplet has already grown so much.Since starting in April of 2020 they have raised millions of dollars from the founders of Vivint, Qualtrics, etc. and have participated in an incubator program to help them launch. Droplet helps digitize forms so you never have to worry about scanning PDFs and transferring that information manually again.Mike has been involved in software sales for years, including many successful periods of leading entire sales organizations before, but has also faced being fired from work, and other difficult transitions that every entrepreneur must face. Listen to this episode now to hear it all!

Shannon Warr is the owner and creator of Clad & Cloth, a women's clothing boutique that has been blowing up since she started it just a few years ago. They have hundreds of thousands of Instagram followers and have collaborated with some of the most influential people in the fashion world to create awesome, unique collections. It's grown from a one person show to now needing an entire team to make running it possible.Yet Shannon is the first person to say that she's not special. In fact, that was one of the most interesting things about this interview. She knows that she's been blessed with good people working around her, and that other people could have done what she's done. But because she's self-aware enough to know her own limitations it makes her able to recognize where she needs help the most, and by doing so find a lot of success.This was such an interesting interview for me because I love her outlook on life and success. It reminded me that I really need to dig deep and find my own weaknesses in business so that I can find people who complement my skillset too.LinksShow Notes: Click Here Clad & Cloth Website: Click HereFreedom to Fail Monthly Giveaways: Click Here

*From now until 11/24/2021 you can receive 15% off any Grandpa Beck's Games purchased on Amazon or grandpabecksgames.com when you use code "FREE2FAIL"* Brent Beck has always loved games. In fact, he proposed to his wife during a game of Scrabble. This love of games and creativity led him and his wife to start a business, Grandpa Beck's Games, and create games such as Cover Your Assets and Skull King. These games are some of my favorites that I had been playing well before meeting Brent, and their popularity is one of the reasons Brent and his family have done well with their business.Yet he has chosen a very uncommon path. Grandpa Beck's Games has been around for over 10 years, but he's only recently been working on it full-time. Because he just retired from being a pilot! So at the time when most people plan on taking golf vacations or moving somewhere warm (my lifelong dream), Brent is now spending more time than ever to continue growing his company.Luckily, they have been able to build a successful company and create thousands of avid fans by their personal touch. In an industry dominated by Mattel and Hasbro, they have managed to stand out by naming the company after their family, having Brent's face on each box, as well as including their actual phone number on each box where families can reach out to them and give them their thoughts about the games.Episode LinksShow Notes: Click HereAmazon: Click HereGrandpa Beck's Games Website: Click Here

Kelley Higney is an inspiration when it comes to business. Her business, Bug Bite Thing, does 8-figures in revenue annually, and was featured on Shark Tank, where she got a deal with Lori Greiner and received her Golden Ticket.Before she went on Shark Tank they did over $500,000 in sales, and in the time since then they have gone international, thanks in large part to the 30,000+ reviews they have on Amazon. Kelley has done an amazing job collecting feedback from customers and getting reviews.In this episode we talk about how she tracks and documents all the feedback and how it has helped them expand their business. We also talk about what she would do in her first year of business if she were to start all over again, giving practical advice for all entrepreneurs listening.

This episode is a very raw episode that I recorded a few weeks ago after my breakup with my ex. It was very unexpected and sudden, and I have still been reeling from it now two months since. Life can be very hard, and sometimes from our own doing. I have really struggled since then due to the fact that I still love this woman so much and unintentionally did something that really hurt her. My depression and dark thoughts have returned stronger than ever, but I'm determined to not let them affect me as long as they might have in the past. The purpose of this podcast is to talk about areas where I struggled in my past relationships and the lessons I've learned that I will use moving forward, as well as the 6 things I've found most important for a relationship to be successful.Oh, and I share my first poem. Random, I know, but it's something that actually has really helped me and been therapeutic.

This episode with Betsy Mikesell has been a year and a half in the making. We were initially scheduled to have the interview last March, but Covid happened. Then we rescheduled for August, but also had to cancel that because she and some of her family actually were in a plane crash. They all survived, but now face injuries and recoveries that may last a lifetime. During the first few months after the crash, her company, Beddy's, actually was thriving because earlier that year she had established systems that would allow her to step back, if needed. Unfortunately, she needed to, but it was thanks to this smart planning that allowed her company to still push forward without her needing to be hands on. Listen to this week's episode to learn all about how she and her family are bouncing back from the plane crash, and see how she set her business up to be successful without her having to be there all the time (every entrepreneur's dream).

For these solo episodes I want to share more about my personal entrepreneurial journey and give practical tips to help you in your businesses. My goal is to provide you with personal stories about how I did what I suggest so that you have different stories to draw from for inspiration. Today I want to help you learn how to market your business.Three Takeaways:1. Constantly evaluate what is working in your business systems and make changes whenever you notice something isn't working.2. Take what is working for your competitors and apply them in your business.3. Study other industries to find unique marketing strategies that you can use to set your business apart.To read more about this topic and learn more about how to market your business, click here.

This week's episode is a Legends episode with Liz Findlay from March 2020. Her story was so good and impactful that I wanted to share it again for all our new listeners who may not have listened to it the first time around.One of the smartest people I've ever met, Liz received a Master's degree and was 4 years into a PhD program when she decided to start Albion Fit with her husband, Dave in order to try and save her family's factory in Guatemala. What started as a rescue attempt turned into one of the fastest-growing companies in Utah. They have 4 brick and mortar stores in 3 states, and have expanded from just women's clothing to include both men's and children's clothing as well.

Growing up, Chase Harrington always thought he was going to be a dentist. That was part of his identity. But fate said it wasn't to be. Instead, he ended up working at a plasma center and helping grow it to a lucrative, interstate business, one he was set to take over. But fate intervened once again, and in a drastic change of events the company was forced to shut down.That didn't deter Chase though, as he showed his resiliency by working his way up at a small tech startup called PropertySolutions, first as a support guy, then sales rep, and moving up to his current role of President and COO at Entrata (after their name change), which does over $200 million annually.His story is absolutely fascinating and you will learn a lot about him that you may not have known in the past. He is a living example of how to keep working after disaster strikes, and in this episode you can listen to his suggestions of how to start a business, because they are spot on with a lot of things.

Having a successful company is exciting. Going from hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue to zero overnight is not. But that's exactly what happened to Kylie Chenn with her company, Acanela Expeditions, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.How do you know it's time to pivot to a new idea or business? Are you quitting or being smart by moving on? These are some of the questions that I discuss with Kylie about her journey, and discover how she was able to creatively think of business opportunities that came because of COVID-19.She is an inspiration in resiliency and not letting bad situations keep you down, and I am super excited for you to learn from her in this episode.

In this episode, you will learn about how Fernanda and her sister had the idea for Bohme in 2006, and since then grown the company to have over 200 employees and 17 locations, with no signs of slowing down. If you look at where they are now it's a great success, but their first attempt was a financial failure, and along the way almost got shut down by their landlords because of struggles as well. Yet through it all, they persevered and reimagined their company to make it more streamlined, and they are now running an extremely successful, award-winning company.Listen to this episode to learn more about their struggles and successes, and hear Fernanda's advice for succeeding in the retail industry.

This week I'm doing something a little different than in the past! I want to highlight more local businesses that are just in the startup stage so that my guests are anywhere from the initial struggle to initial public offering. London Chandler is an up-and-coming entrepreneur who just started an affordable jewelry line, The Muse Supply. She literally just started last month, and already has had an impressive start. Plus, her jewelry is affordable and very nice. I personally bought some and everyone I gave them to loved them.If you are just starting a business, you will find this conversation very relatable. But no matter where you are in your journey, you'll be able to learn a lot from London!ResourcesThe Muse Supply Website: Click HereInstagram Page: Click Here

This is a repeat of an episode with Kory that first aired on January 6, 2020.For our listeners out there with good taste in shoes or style, you may have heard of the shoe and boot company, Taft. Easily one of my favorite companies and brands, I was ecstatic to find out that they were based in my backyard here in Utah. Kory Stevens is the founder of Taft, along with his wife. Besides being the CEO of a multi-million dollar company, he was also named the EY Entrepreneur of the Year, has been on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, and Taft was recently ranked the 56th fastest growing company in the country by Inc Magazine. But most importantly to him, he is a devoted husband and father.While he has been able to find much success in business, Kory has also found himself in the depths of depression and lifelong struggles with mental health. What is most inspiring about him is that instead of struggling in silence, like many of us do, he instead chooses to be vulnerable and share his struggles in hopes that he can help people understand that mental health struggles have many different faces, and that anybody can find themselves struggling with it at some point in their lives.

At 28, Tate Stock is still very young in the entrepreneur community. Yet based on what he's been able to accomplish, you would never expect it. His company, Chirp, has only been around for a couple years so far, yet he recently just landed a deal on Shark Tank for the largest valuation in history. Listen to this episode to find out where he got his idea for his business, as well as to learn some tips for your own business experiences! There are lots of practical tips, regardless of where you are at in your entrepreneurial journey.

2020 was a crapshoot for everybody. Good things happened, but so did plenty of difficult things. And nobody was immune. Yet while some people faltered and didn't see much growth, others flourished. The difference was the accountability that these people took in their situations. Some people (including myself) blamed 2020 for their struggles and only saw it as bad things happening to them that they had no control over. Sure, there isn't much one person can do to prevent a global pandemic, but there are other ways of being prepared for such situations, and many of us found ourselves caught with our pants down when COVID-19 hit. I talk about the lessons I learned about moving on, as well as how to create goals and make plans to make 2021 the best year possible.

Ten years ago, at age 60, Judy and her husband were trying to figure out what they were going to do for their retirement. They had started multiple businesses in the past, with varying degrees of success, but were still needing something more to help them feel more secure with their finances. At the same time, Judy went to the doctor to get help with a medical problem she had always had. That meeting with her doctor changed her life forever, and inspired her to create a product that has now changed the lives of millions of people. Since starting Squatty Potty, they have sold over $160 million worth of product, and were able to sell their shares of the business to be secure and comfortable in their retirement. Listen to this episode to hear about that doctor's appointment and how a stool for your stool changed everything.

Hello again! It has been a hot second since I have come out with a podcast episode. That is on me 100%. I spent the last couple months just waiting for things to get better in my life before I did, but I realized that there will never be a time when everything is perfect. Life sucks, and life is also great, and it will be a constant balancing act between the two. What matters is finding ways to stay positive and find the good in every day. In this episode I dive into that a bit more, and then I also talk about the importance of building our personal integrity by keeping promises to ourselves in order to build our self-confidence. Hope you enjoy, and I promise I will be back with more soon!

If you know anything about the Utah entrepreneur scene, odds are you've either heard of Johnny Hanna or the businesses he's started. In 2003 he was one of the founders of the company PropertySolutions (now Entrata) that was doing over $100,000,000 in recurring revenue by 2015 when he felt like it was time to leave. After leaving, he went on to start a company by the name of Homie, which is a digital solution to buying and selling properties that has helped save their customers millions of dollars. They are headquartered in Utah and have offices throughout the Rocky Mountain region, and have raised over $50,000,000 in funding. They also had their two best quarters ever in Q2 and Q3 of 2020, during the peak of COVID-19 when most businesses were struggling to even stay open.Basically, Johnny Hanna is extremely successful in business, but after interviewing him I learned that he's an even better person. In this podcast, Johnny shares some of his secrets to finding success and how to stay level without riding the highs and lows too much. He also shares some of his most difficult times in life and his business, and the lessons he learned throughout. This is one episode you do NOT want to miss.

Sierra McCleve is a local Utah entrepreneur who now runs multiple successful businesses. She started with Dottie's Kolaches in a little town called Heber, and now also runs a company called Thirst Drinks that has multiple locations in the Salt Lake City area, as well as inside of Vivint SmartHome Arena, where the Utah Jazz play. In this episode learn how Sierra focused on building a strong team experience at Thirst in order to challenge the massive competitors that already existed within Utah, as well as hearing some of her (and my) shortcomings as leaders and the lessons we've learned in how to improve.ResourcesSubscribe and Review: Click HereFear-Setting: Click HereRejection Therapy: Click Here

Tristen Persons is a Utah entrepreneur who has grown his jewelry business significantly since he started just a few short years ago. He makes unique rings based on his travels around the world, usually out of spoons he finds. He started wearing rings like that when he was a teenager and always got asked where they were from, so he took that initial interest and has ran with it. In this episode you'll learn more about what inspires him and how trying to go outside of the niche he carved for himself lead to his biggest professional failure.

Osmond Designs started 19 years ago when Heather Osmond was initially a realtor. She started staging the homes she was trying to sell in order to increase the value she could receive from them, and soon people were asking where they could get that stuff. So she started it out on the side, and since then has grown it into a very successful interior design company that operates three locations and is one of the name partners for the very successful and busy Parade of Homes. But it hasn't all been easy, as there was a point in the business where they didn't have the necessary cash flow to pay their bills. Learn what she did to make it through and not just survive, but thrive, in this week's interview.ResourcesSubscribe and Review: Click HereOsmond Designs: Click Here

This week's episode discusses the reason why the podcast has been so intermittent and why I've been in such a funk. It's hard for me to discuss my mental health and struggles still, but I've been wanting to be open and share my story to help people see that normal people who may seem happy can also be struggling with depression. You will learn more about my experiences with depression, and also the five things I do that help me when I am struggling with depression.

Jon Richards and his cousin, Jacob Durham, launched Nomatic on Kickstarter with a simple minimalist wallet. That Kickstarter ended up raising over $100,000. Since then, they have transitioned to bags and have raised over $13 million on Kickstarter. Things were going really well and they were growing quickly, but the past 12 months brought them back to reality quickly. They went through a series of major struggles on top of COVID, and have been trying to adapt their company since travel is pretty nonexistent these days. During these times, Jon experienced his first major bouts of depression, and in this episode he reveals what he does to keep his emotions in check and how he's been able to stabilize Nomatic when it might not have looked possible even just a few months ago.ResourcesSubscribe and Review: Click HereNomatic Website: Click HereProduct Launch Course: Click Here

Cubby James grew up working in the restaurant industry, but never in a million years thought he would start a business in that industry. Initially his plan was to work in an NBA front office, but when that dream didn't work out he found himself traveling the world for a while until he had the idea for Cubby's in his 30s. After working with someone who could very well be a mob boss (his words not mine) to learn about Italian beef, he launched Cubby's in Provo before expanding to multiple locations and creating a multimillion dollar restaurant. Listen to his journey on this episode of Freedom to Fail.

This week is a solo episode where I talk about some of the ways I've learned to avoid burnout with work, which has been a challenge for me in the past. I also talk about how to treat yourself after you make a mistake, and I end with a major announcement. My cookie company is launching this week! If you would like to learn more or place an order you can find it on Instagram at @betterthangrannys. Additionally, all profits this week will be going to the Equal Justice Initiative, so do some good with your goodies.

Jake Toolson went from walk-on athlete to WAC Player of the Year and All-WCC 1st Team. In this episode, he takes his through his journey from BYU to UVU and back to BYU while detailing his bouts with anxiety and depression and how they almost derailed his basketball dreams. Along the way he got married, had a baby, and is now well on his way to becoming a professional basketball player. I've been lucky enough to count him as a friend for years now, and after you listen to this episode you all will see how genuine he is as well. Take the time to listen to it now, because you will love it!Also, if you haven't already I would really appreciate it if you could leave a review where you are listening to this episode.

Valerie and Tyler Kukahiko started Crust Club a few years ago, selling pies out of their house. Since then, they have grown it into a million dollar company and are expanding rapidly. But it hasn't been without a lot of ups and downs. They talk about some of their failures, as well as how they have learned to have good communication in order to balance being together nearly 24/7 at work and at home. These two are crushing it, and you'll see just how incredible they are in this episode.

Justin Su'a is the mental performance coach for the Tampa Bay Rays, but has worked with the Boston Red Sox (go Sox), IMG Academy, the military, and 10 year old Little League players. In this episode Justin talks about the business side of being a mental performance coach and how he missed out on thousands of dollars during his initial speaking gigs because he didn't know he should ask for it. He also gives practical advice of how to improve your mental capabilities so that you can be at the top of your game and reach the heights that most people can only dream of.

Jenna Parker basically stumbled upon her business while baking macarons just for fun. Since that time, she has grown her business from a home-based business doing pop up shops a couple times a month to now having a permanent storefront location. Speaking from experience, these treats are a must-have. Located in Orem, Jenna has done a great job providing a solid customer experience along with a quality product. It almost didn't make it, though, as just months before moving into her new space she was considering ending the business. Find out more on this week's episode of Freedom to Fail.

This past month has been the most wild month of my lifetime so far. Covid-19 has changed the way we live and interact, and in my case it also brought me back to a constant state of fear. Since I started this podcast as a way to help others overcome fear, I realized that I would have to practice what I preach and snap out of it. The first three weeks after being told to self-isolate, my company did two jobs and I spent my days extremely worried and focusing on when my stimulus check would arrive, and being mad at the world for not continuing with life. I blamed the government and my customers for being paranoid, and basically spent three weeks moping at home. Then I read The 12 Week Year, and the section on self accountability kicked my butt into gear. I realized that I can only control what I can control, and that if I wanted to be successful I needed to do more myself and rely less on others. I went from two jobs in three weeks to 35 jobs in two weeks, and it all is because of the lessons I discuss in this episode.ResourcesSubscribe and Review: Click HereBetterLegal LLC Legal Formation: Click Here

Kortni Niccoli grew Kortni Jeane to be one of the top 5 fastest growing company under 5 years, but it almost didn't even get off the ground. She put all of her money into a run with her manufacturer and every single piece was sized wrong, to the point she had no money left. But that didn't stop her. She presented a creative idea to the manufacturer to help her produce more AND pay for the wasted run, and since then she has been off to the races. Listen to this episode to learn how she did it. Resources Subscribe and Review: Click Here BetterLegal LLC Legal Formation: Click Here Kortni Jeane website: Click Here

One of the smartest people I've ever met, Liz Findlay received a Master's degree and was 4 years into a PhD program when she decided to start Albion Fit with her husband, Dave in order to try and save her family's factory in Guatemala. What started as a rescue attempt turned into one of the fastest-growing companies in Utah. They have 4 brick and mortar stores in 3 states, and have expanded from just women's clothing to include both men's and children's clothing as well. Resources Subscribe and Review: Click Here BetterLegal LLC Legal Formation: Click Here Albion Fit website: Click Here