Guys Who Do Stuff

In this episode of the Guys Who Do Stuff podcast, hosts Joe and Josh welcome Neale Bayly , a motorcycle journalist and philanthropist, to discuss his adventurous life and work. Neale shares his experiences in Ukraine amidst the ongoing war, detailing his efforts to aid children and highlight the stories of conflict journalists. He reveals the emotional highs and lows of his journey, including moments of fear, anger, and love, and how these experiences have influenced his passion for storytelling. Neale also talks about his work with orphanages in Peru and his upcoming motorcycle tour to raise funds for the children. The episode takes listeners through Neale's incredible journey of adventure, philanthropy, and resilience.00:00 Welcome to the Guys Who Do Stuff Podcast00:44 Introducing Neil Bailey01:44 Catching Up with Neil02:50 Neil's Adventures and Projects07:03 Journey to Ukraine11:13 Experiences in Ukraine24:29 Future Plans and Reflections28:26 Driven by Physical and Philanthropic Goals28:54 Discovering Rotary Club's Impact in Ukraine31:09 Navigating War-Torn Ukraine32:39 Challenges and Unexpected Moments33:28 Reflecting on Human Connections36:36 Expanding Philanthropic Efforts46:29 Focusing on the Future of Wellspring54:16 Encouraging Philanthropy and Closing Thoughts

In our very first on-camera episode, Joe and Joshua introduce Scott Brownlow, passionate fish enthusiast and creative director at the North Carolina Bankers Association. Scott shares his love for fish tanks and native fish collection, providing fascinating insights into the biology and ecology of various fish species. From his unique fishing techniques to the intricacies of maintaining freshwater and blackwater tanks, Scott's in-depth explanations will captivate any nature lover. He also delves into the conservation aspect of fishkeeping and his aspirations of breeding rare species. This episode not only highlights Scott's expertise but also inspires a broader appreciation of nature and creative hobbies.00:00 Welcome to the Show00:32 Meet Our Guest: Scott Brownlow00:59 Scott's Passion for Fish Tanks02:31 Day Job: Creative Director at NC Bankers Association04:37 The Influence of River Monsters06:53 Blue Head Chubs and Their Habits09:49 Freshwater vs. Saltwater Tanks14:23 Building a Natural Aquarium Ecosystem16:45 Collecting Fish in the Wild19:30 Shipping Exotic Fish20:18 Fish Packaging Process21:23 Personal Preferences: Eating Fish22:15 Social Media and Fish Breeding Goals22:42 Fish Breeding Techniques23:37 Ethical Considerations in Fish Breeding27:13 Mosquito Control with Fish28:28 Gumtree Pods and Fish Habitats33:03 Promoting the Fish Hobby33:48 Life Lessons from Fish Keeping37:51 Conclusion: Embracing Nature and Hobbies

Stuff In This Episode:  We talk with former Director of Creative Media for Football at North Carolina State University, Mike Jones, about what's next in his career and how he got to this point. Mike shares how it has been a life-long dream to work for the Charlotte Hornets, and the dream started as a player, then after he obtained a B.S. in Sport Management with a minor in Coaching from Liberty University in May 2018, it changed to being an agent. Shortly after that, he got experience with his first camera and fell in love with Photography.  Mike sought out mentors, worked hard, and created a career for himself as a creative, even though he struggled with that term. Mike shares stories of "making it happen" and working with celebrities. We discuss advice for creatives to make their dreams happen Be consistent. Do good work where you are at. You can get noticed. Network. Don't be afraid to seek help and take risks to make your dreams come true. It's Tuesday. To attract celebrity clients, you need to act like you've been there and not just "fan-girl" out. Links To Stuff We Talk About: Follow Mike on Instagram | Twitter | or his website at MikeJonesNC.com Episode Sponsor: This episode of The Guys Who Do Stuff is brought to you by The Studio Cary, your local neighborhood podcast studio. Connect with your audience. Grow your brand. Visit Podcast Cary Today for more info and booking.Help your friends who do stuff get unstuck, tell a better story, and have a good answer to the question, what are you doing today? If you like the Guys Who Do Stuff, visit GuysWhoDoStuff.com to subscribe for free, and you'll never miss an episode. And if you really like the Guys Who Do Stuff, we'd appreciate you telling a friend (maybe even two). 

Stuff In This Episode:  Gopher is an on-demand marketplace for services, they are a dual platform. They have the Gopher Request App where you can make an offer for how much you think is fair for what you're asking for. Gopher will then broadcast that request out to a bunch of "gophers" on the Gopher Go App and they will see with full transparency how much they are going to make, what they need to do and when and where, and if it works for them, the two are brokered in the app. The work is done very quickly. And the gopher is paid immediately after. Everyone is happy. Tom talks about how the company was started and how other similar apps were using the technology and how they thought they could bring unique value. The requestor sets the value and it also empowers the "gopher" to pick and choose with full transparency what they want to do. Gopher is creating equilibrium between supply and demand in the gig economy. Delivery, alcohol and tobacco, groceries are popular requests on the app. So is junk removal. John shares some pretty unique things people have used the platform to accomplish. One story of a man who asked someone to come pick up an injured bunny during his kid's birthday party, and upon following up the bunny survived and was released back into nature. John talks about how he has done over 500 requests with other companies to learn how much money gets passed down. One company charged $100 and paid him $40. Where does that other $60 go? Gopher takes $1.99 to make a request and 8% of the total. So in that case the worker would have made $90 out of the $100.  Many of the current food apps will take the restaurant's menu and mark it up before selling it on their platform. Gopher doesn't mark up restaurant prices or try to take more out of the hands of the gopher. So restaurants get their full margins and workers get more money.  Right now they have over 15,000 downloads and ramping up to a series of 18 months worth of enhancements that will make the platform better for everyone involved. Links To Stuff We Talk About:  The Gopher Go App The Gopher Request App Episode Sponsor: This episode of The Guys Who Do Stuff is brought to you by The Studio Cary, your local neighborhood podcast studio. Connect with your audience. Grow your brand. Visit Podcast Cary Today for more info and booking.Help your friends who do stuff get unstuck, tell a better story, and have a good answer to the question, what are you doing today? If you like the Guys Who Do Stuff, visit GuysWhoDoStuff.com to subscribe for free and you'll never miss an episode. And if you really like the Guys Who Do Stuff, W'd appreciate you telling a friend (maybe even two). 

Contender eSports Cary was opened in October 2020 by Caleb Smith and Vinny Smith. As a top-rated esports gaming center, Contender eSports Cary is The Triangle area's go-to facility for online gaming training, workshops, tournaments, open play, and more.Caleb talks about his background and how he and his company decided that Cary was a good place for them to set up their business.Caleb played soccer overseas and what living in Germany for 3 years. We talk about his experiences in a multicultural city.Joe and Caleb talk about how the view of video games has changed from when they were younger. There is more opportunity for gamers to be able to make money and to get scholarships more than there ever was before. When Josh and Joe were kids they would get in trouble for playing video games too much, playing games was considered lazy and their parents would tell them to go outside and play as if video gameplay was bad for them.Interested in checking out eSports in Cary, Caleb talks about the ages of the kids who can join, how to join, and more in-depth about the whole joining process. Caleb talks about how you don't even need to be in a team you can work your way up to the top by yourself in eSports.Caleb talks about how e-sports are different from regular sports as companies own the games so they have to be careful in how they navigate some things. They all talk about how streams and youtube videos are up and coming and how it is beneficial to be able to teach kids how to do things like coding and editing those types of things.You can find them at contendercary.com

2020 was a year filled with ups and downs for RoadRUNNER magazine, but 2021 begins on a big note for our guest, and new editor and chief, Florian Neuhauser.Florian breaks down why RoadRUNNER is continuing to grow while many other competitors in their industry are closing their doors.They consider themselves a travel magazine, they don't just focus on the machines. Reviews have become an online resource for many motorcycle enthusiasts where travel content and tours are evergreen content.We also talk about the navigation app called RoadRUNNER rides. This allows users to take part in the many tours that you have read about in the magazine over the years.Florian shares about the history of the magazine. His parents were photographers and avid motorcycle riders in Austria. When they moved to the US, they found themselves shooting weddings. His father noticed a lack in the market for a different kind of magazine and decided to launch it (even though English is not their first language.) RoadRUNNER is a premium magazine and they attribute their success to avid fans and readers."People that want to work, put forth a completely different effort than people that work just for a paycheck."

John is the Co-Founder and CEO of Ablr, he and his team are focused on helping organizations become more inclusive by making digital content accessible for people of all abilities. John's passion comes from the fact that he is blind himself, and was often locked out of opportunities in my education, career, and daily life, because of digital accessibility barriers. Hear some amazing stories of entrepreneurship, inclusion, and overcoming in this episode.Ablr was born from an exciting joint venture between LCI and Walk West. Its story began in 2017 when I joined LCI, one of the largest employers of Americans who are blind, when I was asked to start a new business focused on technology services – which resulted in the launch of LCI Tech. When websites and applications are designed with inclusion and accessibility principles, the result is a more usable and enjoyable experience for everyone, and benefits businesses with a larger market, lower legal risk, and greater brand value.To learn more about Ablr at https://ablr360.com/ 

Kevin Dunn has been in the motorcycle industry for over 35 years. He is currently general manager at Capital Powersports. His first bike was a Yamaha Riva 180 scooter. He grew up in Northern California, moved to southern California to be an actor/model, but after a while, he started working at a Suzuki Kawasaki dealership. It was three months before he was the sales manager and ended up working there for over six years.He shares his knowledge of motorcycles and the industry he has come to love in this episode as well as sharing some tips and tricks he has learned managing people and running a business. When asked what advice to give to business owners and entrepreneurs, Kevin says "Don't overthink it. Stick with the basics, is your business clean? Professional? Invest in your staff both in recognition and wages and offer them the ability to make more if they do more. And care a lot about customer experience."Kevin shares about the effects COVID-19 had on the motorcycle industry and their record-setting sales in the Triangle. We spend some time talking about the ever-changing persona of a typical Harley Davidson rider.  Josh talks about the joy of riding and the ritual of going on a ride. We talk about the experience of riding and the sense of community between other riders.

We only briefly touch on the social media incident that happened to Johnny at the beginning of the Summer. To hear the whole story listen to the Girls Who Do Stuff episode from last week.The inspiring thing about this situation is that Johnny has turned this negative attention into positive attention using his platform to bring attention to Black Lives Matter, and spotlighting local black-owned businesses. We get into the weeds with Johnny about growing his social media following. At what point did he bring in help. What was his experience growing his followers, and the strategies he has used to effectively engage using that platform. It takes an incredible amount of work to reach that level of success, don't be fooled that it is all dumb luck or a viral post, it is work.He shares about the phenomena of working hard on a post only to have it flop, and the ones you spend less time on are the ones that often go viral. Isn't that just the way it goes?Johnny also shares about why he is passionate about speaking in schools and other places, his addiction recovery story.Like many entrepreneurs, Johnny remembers the time when his company was growing and he had to embrace the transition from doing it all by himself to having a team that helps him.We also discuss Instagram scams to grow followers, bots, and other mistakes people make when trying to grow their network.Johnny shares the candid story about how he lost his first pizzeria, and the struggles he had to overcome to relaunch. Johnny defines success as "family." We asked Johnny if he would ever consider franchising. His response, "I will never do a franchise." We also talk about how COVID-19 has impacted the restaurant industry, the dine-in experience, and the future of how we experience restaurants. Johnny's Pizza will soon have a food truck! We talk about how that decision came about and what's next for Johnny's Pizza.You can learn more about Johnny's pizza on their websiteFollow them them FacebookTwitterand Instagram

Less than two weeks before we sat down with local pizza entrepreneur, Johnny, from Johnny's Pizza, his company was engulfed in a suspicious and racist post that went viral. This post spread quickly.Although initially dismissed by Johnny as a joke, in reality, a fake account was created with his profile picture and screen captured with hate speech against black people. Johnny talks about what happened, the FBI investigate, out of state death threats, and Facebook subpoenas, and the fallout that has impacted his family, (which is staying in a separate hotel because of the death threats), his business, and the platform that this situation has afforded Johnny to talk about these issues.Johnny is 10 years in recovery and has had some run-ins with the law. We talk about how people in that situation are "damned if you do, and damned if you don't" when it comes to being given the benefit of the doubt by public opinion.Johnny answers the question: "What do you say to people who want proof?" Hear Johnny's thoughts on what he believes is next for the future of dining. What the changes forced on businesses due to COVID-19 caused many restaurants to pivot to offer curbside that has fundamentally changed the dining experience."All that did is take fast-casual, and now we're competing with Chick-fil-A. The mom-and-pop-pizzeria-experience is gone.""Executing on the quality of food that is delivered, that is the niche. That's what's going to be the difference-maker for people who are still going to want the dining out experience. I just think that they're going to have to tweak it and say, I want the food of the dine-out experience, not the actual dining experience."

Your Pie was the original fast-casual, pick your own topping pizza chains. Efrem shares the story of how the founder started the company. Efrem Yates has always been interested in owning a franchise. He was inspired by some mentors early on and knew that was where he was heading. Now he has his first franchise in Cary and in progress on his second at the time of the episode.Your Pie, like many restaurants, had to quickly adapt to curbside pickup and delivery during COVID-19 to remain open. Efrem talks candidly about his struggles and successes in launching this new part of his business. With restaurants only allowed to open at 50% capacity in North Carolina right now, we talk about how it's time for many to adapt or go out of business.One of the most rewarding parts of the work for Efrem is investing in the lives of his employees. Many of them are in high school, and just starting out their working careers and at a time where it is critical to learn work ethic and other key life lessons.Efrem points out that "Nice is free" when it comes to training his staff. It is their only unlimited resource and should be given generously to their customers.We also spent time talking about the recent protests and their effects on local business owners. We discuss what justice looks like as a result of the racial tensions and the work he puts into place to create a safe place for his employees during this crisis. COVID-19 has given him and all of us an opportunity to grow in our compassion.Your Pie focuses on helping people in the community and giving back. Efrem describes what success looks like for him is not just chasing a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow but chasing the feeling that gives him purpose.

Some people are born with green genes or a knack for nature in their blood. More than two decades ago, Keith Ramsey started a landscape and design firm in Cary, NC. From the ground up, the firm–then known as Environmental Design and Management–transformed from a small, three-man business to what it is today. In a grassroots effort to provide their community with garden supplies, plants of every type, landscaping services, home decor, boutique gifts, and interior design, the Ramsey's changed their business name, purchased six acres, one building, and a small shed. Today, Garden Supply Company celebrates over 20 years of growth and employs more than 40 team members who share their passion for all things green.We talk shop about what it was like for him finding his passion for plants and turning that into a job which led to a career and how he became a business owner. Gardening is scientifically proven good for your mental health and Keith has experienced a large influx during COVID-19 of people looking to do some self-care. At the same time, Keith experienced a loss of 50% of his staff and has been rebuilding his team. His love of gardening started when he was a kid and he soon came to decide that it is what he wanted to do with his life. At 13 he started selling plants to a local nursery and that was the beginning of his career.The garden supply company has about five acres and does more than you would expect in a local nursery. In addition to having all the supplies for your garden or landscaping, they also sell baby chicks, have driftwood and salvage items, a wood fire pizza oven, and a partnership with Bond Brothers to sell their beers. Joe and Josh took advantage of having the expert and talked about lawn care in NC, growing grass under big trees, cutting roots, preparing the soil, how to get rid of trees, and more.Find out more about the Garden Supply Company in Cary.

Any business is essential to its owner, employees, and people that depend on it for their lively-hood. While it was the stay at home order was necessary and hopefully saved many lives, those businesses who were forced to close find themselves in a difficult situation. Now that many are allowed to reopen with 50% capacity, many of those businesses are not able to be profitable at those restrictions. For some, it may be more beneficial to stay closed and wait until restrictions are lifted than to possibly lose more money at 50% capacity.Joe shared a story about traveling to Florida and how the airport was fantastic about enforcing social distancing. Employees wore masks and there were sanitizer stations all over the Raleigh airport. However, when he boarded his Frontier flight it was completely sold out with every seat filled.Josh and Joe talk about riding motorcycles during the pandemic, a book called "The Ghost Rider: " by Neil Peart. Joe is getting more and more excited as he is waiting to get his first motorcycle.We talked about the Netflix show "Magic for Humans" and how it is a fun show to watch as a household. It's now in its third season.One of the things that working from home has changed for many people is the freedom around their schedule. 9-5 schedules are less important when we are not sharing an office. There are seemingly many fewer meetings and this could be a great thing for American workers.Joe also brought up how Epic games pays game testers and people give feedback on the user experience of their games. You can find out more on their website.

Marbles Children's Museum has given its space to the Interfaith Food Shuttle to pack over 600,000 pounds of food since March! The national guard is helping pack them. They are also providing meals through backpack buddies which help get food to children who would only have a healthy meal through their school lunch program. They are looking for donations to continue their work at foodshuttle.orgJosh shares about his current article he is writing about "Facing fear in a pandemic" about finding some balance in COVID-19 while riding motorcycles. Josh did today's episode from the motorcycle provided by the magazine he is writing the article for. Josh and Joe share stories of people they know dealing with the effects of COVID-19. North Carolina's governor has lifted the stay at home order for phase one which means Gatherings of 10 or less are allowed Funerals up to 50 as long as they are outside and follow social distancing rules if you don't share an immediate household Churches with less than 10 people Drive-in church services are allowed Bookstores, clothing shops, and other retailers can open as long as they follow social distancing What is not open Movie theaters Dine-in restaurants Salons We talked about ways to continue to have "date-night" with theaters and restaurants being closed.

Dennis shares about the importance of capitalizing on your uniqueness. By focusing on these characteristics you can be stand out from the competition. "In a sea of over 500,000,000, it's important that you set yourself apart. Find that uniqueness and FOCUS on it!" We also discussed the importance of being bold. Don't be shy, but be authentic. "The most successful Instagram influencers today are the ones that let their audience in. They share all the ups, downs, good's, and bad's of their lives."Dennis shared the principle of" Document, Don't Create"As the social media mogul, Gary Vaynerchuk says, “document, don't create”. When he says this he's encouraging everything you do to be content for your social media channels. Eating breakfast at a swanky spot? Share it on Instagram Stories! Having a business meeting with a potential client? Record it and turn it into a youtube video! Doing a photoshoot? Share the best images to Instagram and the outtakes to an Instagram story!Choose & Stick to an Aesthetic. Having a cohesive feed that guides your audience from one picture to the next is how you keep people on your feed longer and engaging with each and every one of your posts.Invest in a high-quality camera or photographerHaving quality images makes all the difference on Instagram. Brands are looking for the best of the best to accurately represent their products, services, and locations. Because of this, they're not likely to work with someone who struggles to capture quality images so you definitely need to make this a priority!Make yourself available for sponsorships & collaborationsMake sure you have your email listed in your bio and are prepared to provide social stats to any company that might reach out to you. Things like follower growth, engagement rate, clicks on your link, and monthly website traffic are all things brands might be curious about. You can add all the insights you have into a media kit to easily show off how awesome you are!Now, don't forget… we all want to be offered sponsorships, but remember, don't sell out! Only promote things you truly believe in and think your audience would benefit from. By having a standard that you stick to, not only will you be more appealing to brands, you'll simultaneously build a strong and authentic presence!Also mentioned in this episode Storybrand Jenny Midgley Brand Photography Find out more about Dennis Hering and John15Media at dennishering.com

We discussed an article about the future of the commercial real estate and how some feel that this pandemic forcing many companies to adapt to models that allow for working at home could do to the commercial real estate market what online shopping did to many retail stores.Wanted urgently: People who know a half-century-old computer language so states can process unemployment claimsGeorgia bar owner removes $3,714 worth of bills stapled to the walls to give to unemployed staffAs a father, Joe shares about how he really enjoys "Social-Distancing" dating. We should keep COVID-19 style dating long after the pandemic.Josh talked about the Portal Facebook TV camera and Zoom's television optionsGreat show to Binge Watch: Contagion Some Good News Westworld Maybe avoid any of the stays at home concerts Tom Cruise shopping at Target The Mountain Theif

Between the SARS outbreak of 2003 and the H1N1 pandemic of 2009 the federal government, FEMA, CDC put together an extensive pandemic influenza response plan on how to have every sector of society prepared for an event like the one we are experiencing now with COVID-19. What kind of plans should you have in place for employees and how to deal with absenteeism during illness? All of that was put together in 2006. Although for many us, business owners, and entrepreneurs we may feel unprepared but there have been teams of people working on this issue for years and Royden shares with our listeners some of their wisdom.Helping you to: Maintain essential business continuity Reduce illness and save lives Organize your response and recovery  Translating his 15 years of experience maintaining critical health-related operations in the most distressed environments.Royden shares tips for businesses: Biosafety procedures to protect essential workers Enhance/improve pandemic plans - preparedness, response, and recovery Provide clarity and insight to industry-specific & location-specific health guidance Provide risk communication and outbreak messaging, including emails, documentation and formal presentations for board members, executive leadership, Human Resources,and staff Assist Human Resources with implementing pandemic response and/or recovery Training and capacity building  Also mentioned during this episode The CDC's National Pandemic Influenza Plan The Red Cross's Emergency Preparedness Plan Crisis & Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) Find out more about Royden Saah and Health Preparedness and Crisis Management check out his website.

In this episode, we highlight some good news from around the world and our neck of the woods in Cary, NC. We talk about the phenomena called Teddy Bear Hunting where houses all around are leaving a teddy bear hidden in one fo their windows so entire neighborhoods are becoming like the highlights magazine where you need to find hidden objects for a family on walks or kids driving around.We touched on where to find information about the economic stimulus packages and what Cary is doing to provide a platform for businesses to update the community and their customers on what they are doing during the pandemic. We talk about Zoomboming a funny story of an example of Zoombombing and what you can do to prevent something like that happening to you.We share a lot of great resources of entertainment options that are out now and companies that are offering free or extended trial periods during COVID-19.Also mentioned on this episode: SBA.gov The Clark Howard Podcast Preventing Zoombombing Cary Chamber of Commerce Community Supporting Community Keystone Postcard WRAL Good News Boston Polic officer pays for groceries Bond Brothers Local Beer Drive Through Amazon streaming the SXSW festival HBO Now

Josh shares some friends in New York who are impacted by the Coronavirus. We read some of the stays at home order from Wake County about essential businesses, what we can and cannot do during the stay at home order.We spent time talking about the positive impacts of the stay at home order. And things that we have found encouraging, inspiring, or entertaining during these times.Josh shared his experience with a virtual meeting by Marketplace Matters that will be going on Thursday mornings that you can attend as well as a resource called Hope Referrals for local businesses. The virtual meeting is a panelist of local business owners that talk about how to weather this economic storm.We shouldn't stop having chats around the water cooler just because we are quarantined. We encourage you to take the time to facetime the people you care about and just check-in.Quarantine ideas: Throw a virtual Zoom party. Invite 5 or 6 people and do what you normally do during a party. Maybe drink a Corona. Throw a watch party. You can use Netflixparty.com Host a game party over Zoom. The four elements of a schedule for our kids: Creative Education Work Exercise Josh shared about areas he plans to grow his creativity during this time. If it's possible for you to continue to support local restaurantsThis week "Stuff to Watch" from the Guys Who Do Stuff Onward A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood Honeyboy The Tonight Show: At Home Edition Also mentioned in this episode: DaveShay.com Daniel Milnor video about Working from Home Landscape Solutions Vortex Pro Wash  Anderson Painting Air Experts Your Pie Rockstar Connect Events Gethope.tv to live stream services from Hope Community Church

An early interest in the stock market led Josh to an early interest in finances. He has spent the majority of his professional career in helping people plan for their financial futures and achieve their goals.Josh unpacks what fee-based financial advising and lays out how to make an informed decision as an investor and consumer for choosing the path that is right for you.He walked us through his journey of building his book of business, and how he went about getting his early clients. Although he knew a lot about financial advising the challenge of running your business is a whole other step. He was a self-starter and figured out it a lot through guess and check. He acknowledges this can be a weakness in his education where they do a great job with how to be a successful financial advisor but very little on how to run a company.Josh shared an important lesson for people just starting in an industry: Try things. You need to find out what works for you before you commit to a methodology. One lesson that Josh learned in the process of trying things was that he only wants to work with nice people. Life is too short to work with jerks. Find the people you vibe with and work with them.We discuss the new climate due to the Coronavirus. These are just our thoughts and should not be taken as financial counsel. We discuss what could be long-term changes that come out of this epidemic. Will we have a new cultural norm for handshaking An increase in babies born in 9 months Gas prices Hoarding toilet paper... can it lead to at home bidet kits? Will we learn to be kind to each other and pull together to get through this as neighbors Shortage of air conditioning parts Josh shares about the effect of fear on the market. And clarifies what the Federal Reserve lowering of the interest rates has on the market as a whole. Also mentioned in this episode: Blink by Malcolm Gladwell Dean Koontz book predicting the virus Find out more about Josh Tirado on his website

Dick shares his experience of working at Sears as a family member. He wasn't going to work at Sears Roebuck, he was going to go in a different direction but applied for a job on the loading dock on a dare. He got the job! After going through a managerial training program where you work every position in the store. This type of training seems to be a lost art today.After his career at Sears, he created a Marketing Consulting company called the Gray Group, because there were many people coming out of advertising that had a lot of knowledge. He named it the Gray Group because you have to have gray hair to play.He and his wife retired and chose the area of Holly Springs because one wanted the shore and one wanted the mountains so this was the perfect compromise. After constant trips to neighboring towns because the town of Holly Springs at the time was small and didn't have many amenities. "I'm going to try to find a way to help build a town where you don't have to leave unless you want to." - Dick Sears Now the town of Holly Springs is realizing that dream with the new construction on the hospital that will be opening in the town.The town of Holly Springs is now turning attention to the issue of affordable housing.When asked what else he would like to see in Holly Springs the Mayor said More senior living housing A swimming pool A convocation center A Cookout and a Goodberry's The mayor was quick to celebrate his team at the town. He likes the term associate over employees. He was particularly proud of the work done by the public works department.He also gave great advice to business owners and entrepreneurs looking to be successful in the town of Holly Springs that will translate to you no matter where you are.Also mentioned in this podcast The Chamber of Commerce Launch Holly Springs Suburban Living Magazine The Town of Holly Springs

He knew he wanted to do something around referral marketing and network marketing. He was sitting in an event one day and it hit him. This is what he wanted to do with his life. Now seven years later, he has learned a lot and shares with our audience. Joe talked about building momentum as a new public speaker. He shared the things he did right along with the challenges he's faced so far.Joe learned very quickly there was a matter of picking up the phone and calling people he knew and telling them what he was doing. It sounds like simple advice, but a lot of people don't take this crucial step. It's what he did when in real estate, his printing company, and as a speaker and coach. Pick up the phone and call people, you know, and tell them what you're doing. And ask who do you know that can use my services? Or is that something that you can use?  "If you're bringing value to other people, then other people will be willing at some point to reciprocate." - Joe NovaraJoe had received some advice from a mentor early on to write a book in order to help him distinguish himself as a public speaker. Luckily he had already written some fiction books that he never published so he had the discipline already. Joe breaks down his method for following up after a networking event so as you grow your network you can continue to follow up with all your potential clients well.We discussed CRM's or customer relationship management software. Some suggestions from Joe for people just starting out. Hubspot Zoho Less Annoying Joe has developed a coaching program called the Referral Marketing Success System.When asked about cooperation versus competition, Joe said he likes to operate under coopetition.  Joe's books on Amazon:Grow Your Network, Grow Your Business: Your Guide to Intentional ProspectingIntentional Networking: Your Guide to Word of Mouth Marketing GreatnessAlso mentioned in this episode, Vibe Cary has great space for events Endless Referrals and The Go-Giver by Bob Burg Networking Like a Pro by Brian Hilliard Connect with Joe Novara on his website JoeNovara.com | youtube

Thomas Maldanado of Landscape Solutions tells his story about how losing everything led to a journey that had him end up in a monastery in Paris. He had put his life on "pause" to explore if there was anything to faith. He went by himself, fell asleep on the train, and ended up so far away that he was late and missed his job assignment at the monastery. After getting settled in he was waiting in line and told a joke to a woman in line who is now his wife and she did not think the joke was funny but found something about him intriguing. Through a series of circumstances in the Taizé monastery, he ended up finding what he needed. This trip made a lasting impact when he returned home to his business. He began to work with a prison ministry which led him to transition home. He was leading small groups during the evenings and working during the day. And one day he needed help on the jobsite the next day and a man recently released from prison was talking with him and he had a lightbulb moment. Why not invite this man to work with him the next day.The following day he paired the man from the transition house with a young man who was starting to make some bad decisions involving drugs. Thomas could overhear their conversation as they worked that day. The man in recovery happened to have gone to prison for the same types of decision that the young man he was working along side was currently struggling with. It was at this moment that another light-bulb went off for Thomas. Here are his two worlds of passion and work colliding, everyone was getting paid, and he was helping transform lives in an area of his passion.He got the opportunity to realize that his values, the thing that you really wanted to spend your time doing didn't conflict with your job. This allowed his job to become his passion.Also mentioned in this episode:The transition house Thomas serves at is called Pardoned by Christ

Brandon shares that he started out his career as a band director. He found the work rewarding, but like many of us, he found himself struggling with his health. He describes the week where he realized he had had enough, when he saw a picture of himself on social media, weighed 244 pounds, found out he was pre-diabetic and was struggling to fit into his clothes. He decided to become a runner. Using the program couch to 5k and loseit.com to track calories he committed to run 6 days a week. After years of not missing a day, he had become a marathon runner and lost 88 pounds! This led him to help other people achieve similar results and after some time his passion for fitness grew into a career. He got his certification and became a trainer.We pepper Brandon with some health questions about everything from hot peppers, BPA plastics, multivitamins, and ED. A lot of practical information in this episode.Brandon's approach that there are no shortcuts and helping his clients find what intrinsically motivates them is a great metaphor for business owners and entrepreneurs who like many fad dieters fall, victim, the marketing of a glossy looking course that will help you 10X your business with this simple step... It takes a solid plan and consistency to make a lasting change. This is true for your fitness and your business.Brandon shares his reason for starting The Fire Within and the story behind his logo and his branding. The legend of the Pheonix is that it catches on fire and turns to ash and then emerges completely anew. This is the kind of transformation he sees happen in his clients as they burn their old habits and emerge new people.We talked about some of the myths of nutrition and fitness that new science in the past 10 -15 years have shown that goes against much of the conventional wisdom known to most of us as Americans. When it comes to nutrition, wheat, grain, and corn should not be the staples that most Americans have made them. When it comes to fitness, steady-state cardio can inhibit results and is, in many cases, less effective than strength training for fat loss and increasing your VO2 levels. Also mentioned in this episode The Fire Within Fitness and Nutrition Podcast Couch to 5k Loseit.com to track calories

Chuck and his wife bought the Wild Birds Unlimited Franchise in Chapel Hill four years ago. They were both at a point where they were considering a career change, and while on vacation he received an email that the Wild Birds Unlimed Franchise in Cary was for sale and that's all he did for the rest of his vacation was research franchises. He was impressed by the companies values and resources and they went for it!Chuck and his wife have two employees and find staffing to be one of their biggest challenges to their franchise being self-sufficient.One of the advantages of owning a franchise is that the franchise itself serves as your mentor and the other store owners are supportive. It's like a built-in mentorship."It's amazing how many little tasks there are as a business owner. If you don't do them, no one will do them." - ChuckChuck describes the importance of being clear with the division of responsibilities with your business partner (in this case, his wife) much like the division in labor in a house it creates room for each to excel in their talents as well as share the workload.Chuck and his wife are one of the brave few brick and mortar business owners in an age of Amazon who define success as paying their living expenses and getting to keep going. Joe and Josh also take the opportunity to ask Chuck a bunch of bird questions like: If you touch a baby bird will their parents stop feeding them? Do birds become dependant upon feeders? How to deal with squirrels in your feeders?  Do birds explode if they eat the rice thrown at weddings? Also mentioned on this episode: Live Bird feed on youtube Wild Birds Unlimited Chapel Hill Facebook Page

Matthew Schwab Speaks.Matthew delivered a Ted Talk this past year, and if you're NOT driving your car, I suggest you watch it right now. It's fantastic. Matthew recaps for our audience some of the key points to why he is an advocate for people with down syndrome finding meaningful employment. 85% of individuals with an intellectual developmental disability are unemployed, but the majority of the 15% that are employed only have menial jobs. They are often put into behind scenes work instead of capitalizing on finding ways to employ individuals with disabilities into roles that best suit their capabilities.We spoke about his employment at Chick fil A and the training process.There was a quote that Matthew put up in his TedTalk, from his manager at Chick-fil-A:"I think it's safe to say that Matthew has a fan club that loves to see him at our restaurant, and when Matthew smiles at someone, it can't help but brighten their day. It's important for all of our team, especially our youth, to learn how to embrace working with people of all abilities and unique qualities."Matthew tells us about working at 321 Coffee. 321 Coffee is a nonprofit coffee shop that is staffed by individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Matthew was volunteering for years before he became one of the 21 paid baristas, but he still volunteers on their advisory council.Matthew is also involved at GiGi's Playhouse, which is a nonprofit down-syndrome teen center. At GiGi's Playhouse, all ages are welcome, from pre-natal to adults. The positive and uplifting environment of GiGi's Playhouse Raleigh empowers those with Down syndrome and their families to reach their highest potential. GiGi's Playhouse's custom, research-based curriculum works towards advancing literacy, math skills, gross and fine motor skills, improving low muscle tone, building self-esteem, preparing for the workforce and more while fostering acceptance, awareness and networking resources for parents, siblings and the community.  Matthew has also has done some internships with local government as well as the NC state legislature. Working on bills that he felt would help employers hire more people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.Matthew hopes to continue in politics and one day have a seat in government.Why did he choose public speaking? It was his passion.   We asked Matthew, what do you think are the most common misperceptions people have about down syndrome?  The most common misperception is that they could never lead a productive life. They won't be able to do many of the simple things others take for granted. That they won't get a job. But the truth is, people with this please can do all that this stuff, but it just takes them longer. Matthew likes to say,  "our mentality is different. Our physicality is different, but we love it. It's just one part of who we are. Do not let that define who we are we trying to. We live our life just like everyone else is living their life."Our guest host, Brandon Woolley from the Fire Within Nutrition and Fitness podcast talked with Matthew about his physical therapy and routines to help keep him healthy.You can book Matthew to speak or follow him on Instagram and Facebook and get yourself some cool gear to help bring awareness to his mission.

Find out more about Jenny and Sarah at GirlsWhoDoStuff.com. These women are soul sisters with a passion for creating a space for authentic storytelling. Their guests will make you laugh, cry, and leave you with all-the-feels while you learn from thought leaders like sex educators, coaches, real estate moguls, speakers, reality stars, and creative geniuses. We are so excited to be a part of launching their podcast. Jenny Midgley: She helps entrepreneurs, small business owners, and influencers elevate their brand and share their stories through creative imagery. She started her career as a clinically trained social worker –  She found something lacking, though, and made a decision almost 10 years ago to turn a hobby into a business. Her goal is to get to know you, your business and your goals so she can collaborate on how to best share your stories and your brand. Her mission is to help entrepreneurs and influencers who want to make a greater impact on the world reach those goals that much faster. Sarah Madras:Sarah is on a mission to revolutionize the way people Live, Love, Work, & Lead. As a Certified Daring Way™ Facilitator and Licensed Mental Health Therapist, she empowers mission drive entrepreneurs and organizations with the mindset & leadership skills to Show Up, Be Seen, and Live Brave™.Learn about how the Girls Who Do Stuff became a thing. Follow the Girls Who Do Stuff at their website, Instagram, Facebook, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere you get your podcasts.

We talk to the owners of Our Moments in Time, about how they took a dream of opening up a place where they could serve the community with an elevated shopping experience, all the trials they experienced during the process and how they learned to depend on the help of family and community to bring their idea to fruition. We all know as entrepreneurs that the road to start something is challenging and it takes perseverance to make your dream become a reality. The story of Gerry and Beth is a story about perseverance, sticking to the plan, and accepting help from people that share your vision. On the opening weekend, they experienced a tragedy with the death of Beth's father and needed to trust their family and community to launch without them. This outpouring of support meant a lot to them and helped them weather the storm. Beth & Gerry also learned that Beth had cancer. It was in this season of challenges that their business became a reality. It's never easy, but for these entrepreneurs, they made it through with strong planning, focus, and the support of a loving community. Lessons learned along the way: The importance of planning Focus, just focus on the two or three essential items that make or break what you're trying to accomplish and make sure you know what those are and have the persistence to always go back to them and do them well. One of the things you want to do before you have an employee is to know and understand the business yourself. Work in every task no matter how menial. The importance of customer service and the experience Also mentioned in this episode:Launch programs for entrepreneurs

Kevin grew up in a very rural area of North Carolina and so he seems like an unlikely candidate to have started a mission organization that focuses on the country of India. He has flown over 1 million miles to over 27 countries and traveled to India over 50 times and taken over 1,000 people from the US on short-term mission trips to India. Before starting his nonprofit he had worked at various churches and built a business management company that helped 62 clients and had 10 employees. So Kevin knows a lot about starting something and building it out.Global Hope India also helps local partners in India by providing training and resources for business development. They've started things like: Coffee Shops and Bakeries Goat Farms Pig Farms Grocery Shops Beautician Salons Coffee Plantations Apple Orchards Transportation Business Many of them are started with as little as $1,500"Greed stinks and generosity is beautiful. Whether it's in business, the church, or a nonprofit." - Kevin WhiteKevin shared one of the core values he learned early on that he believes is a key contributing factor to his success, rock-solid accounting. People value transparency and appreciate authenticity. Kevin shared about an initiative that is a DBA of Global Hope India called Carry the Water NC. Although Global Hope India is a faith-based organization their efforts to bring clean water through India are facilitated by Carry the Water and every dollar that is given only goes to support their clean water efforts. Kevin has found a way to channel his entrepreneurial spirit to start new initiatives to support his main passion which is Global Hope India and believes that to be a big part of why it has been a long term success."As I've really looked over success in business, the church, and in the nonprofit world, I see that the businesses that succeed put people first."- Kevin WhiteI asked Kevin to share about the differences and similarities between for-profit and nonprofit businesses and organizations. He shared that the principles are very similar but the product can be very different.  A good business leader may not be a good nonprofit leader, but a good nonprofit leader can be a great business leader. In business, you can have a product or a service while in the nonprofit setting you have a cause.Also mentioned on this podcast: The Living the Dream Podcast - One of Kevin's podcasts for church leaders Missions Changed my Life Podcast - Another podcast from Global Hope India interviewing people who have been on mission trips Brody Smith's podcast and website

There has been a recurring theme of advice and insight from our guests who are business owners, entrepreneurs and doers of stuff in the past year. One nugget has been repeated frequently but articulated perfectly by Chad Price of Mako Medical. That is you have to be intrinsically motivated by your "why."Charlie Engle shares his mindset shift when he chose to "change his relationship with pain." It's more than just a technique that allows him to get a couple more miles as an ultramarathon runner. It's a philosophy of what happens to us personally and professionally when we struggle. Discomfort and pain often are the precursors to a necessary change in our lives and business. Listen as Charlie candidly unpacks his experience getting a movie produced by Matt Damon, his recovery, and a peculiar relationship with being comfortable. Who's got the monkey? Katie eloquently unpacks the definition of a game that many of us have been unknowingly playing for years. She said that her body left a successful career in 2006 but her mind didn't join her until 2009. What is she talking about? Employee thinking versus owner thinking. This principle is a must-listen for any business owner or entrepreneur.Joe Matz talks about his experience climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and what the experience taught him about business. In a masterfully told parable, he unpacks the importance of the principle of finding a guide and acclimating to your new altitude. His insights unpack the importance of finding mentors and people who have been there before to help show you the way in your uncharted territory and why going slowly is often the preferable route to the summit. 

There is only one place to fight a battle: on the front line. Kenny brings that mentality to his business and his approach to fitness.Kenny went from the lowest rank in the army to the highest level. He got his start as a personal trainer in the military. He served as a trainer to help people meet the fitness standards of "fit to fight" in order to remain in the army. Not only did he become a premiere fitness trainer but he also became a bodybuilder in his 40's. Kenny shares the experience of the process of getting into shape as well as walking out on stage in front of hundreds of people at the competition."I actually did my first show before I retired from the army and that was boy, you want to talk about terrifying. I could jump out of airplanes and helicopters, but my first time walking out on stage and the Speedo, their photo, four or 500 people, that was terrifying." - Kenny"Trust the process. If I had a dime for every time I said that to a client, I'd be rich already. You have to be diligent with those simple principles. It's not always rocket science. It's not always a big genius idea. It's not always doing something special. It's just doing the basics routinely and being consistent and diligent with that daily." - KennyKenny describes his process for starting Frontline Fitness. He set up meetings with local gym owners and asked if he could shadow them, asked them questions that he submitted in writing beforehand, and found that they were very generous with their time and ultimately saved him thousands of dollars by providing valuable advice.Kenny shared some early mistakes and what lessons he learned that are helping him make his business stronger. I really appreciate when people share these kinds of details, we all make mistakes and it's in those mistakes that we learn about ourselves and have the ability to learn from one another. Tips from Kenny for business owners and entrepreneurs: Time management You have to set your schedule Guard it fiercely Pick two or three things to do today and consider it your "hit list." And, make sure they are critical to your business. We also have a conversation about eliminating or firing clients. How it seems so impractical when you are just starting out but can be a big contributing factor to your long-term success or ability to scale your business."People want to help you, and they can't help you unless you're honest and they know what you really need, and many won't help you unless you have the courage to ask for help." Joe"Both failure and success are comas, and most of us think of them as periods." - Joe Also mentioned in this episode: Switch by Chip Heath and Dan Heath Snap Fitness Vibe Cary Connect with Kenny Ragsdale and Frontline FitnessWebsite | Facebook | Instagram

When considering a big career change Paul wrote a list of things he valued: He wanted to be present He wanted to be closer to home and family He wanted to be more involved in the community He wanted more face to face interaction He didn't want to commute as far "When you're married, if you and your wife are on the same page with something, that's probably something you should really think about doing." - PaulPaul is not.a stranger to running a business. He had a shaved ice truck that he grew into four trucks and used the selling of those trucks as starter money for his life before settling into a career. But when it stopped being fun and started feeling like churn he was looking for an opportunity to do something more in line with his values.He has taken the philosophy of trying to make the person in front of him feel like the most important person at the time. Being present in the moment. Paul shares his weapons of choice for brick and mortar business owners: Develop healthy time management skills Have a plan when to switch from startup mode to maintenance mode Be consistent Work hard to have a balance Write down your work items so they are accounted for and you can be present when home Wake up early Also mentioned in this episode The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy Southern Peak Brewery in Apex Lisa Gaither the muralist 

In this episode, the guys get retrospective into the past year of podcasting. Talking about lessons learned, mistakes made, successes and their plans for the future.What is your definition of success? What is your plan to get there? After interviewing and talking with hundreds of business owners and entrepreneurs there is one constant. No one has the same answer. We have different goals and metrics for success that make simplifying or turning success into easy formulas to follow a wasted effort. You have to start with knowing yourself, what you envision as success and then chart your course based on your strengths, skills, and talents.The guys talked about Victorinox and how they faced an identity crisis as a company after 9-11 and the airlines no longer allowed people to travel with their swiss army knives. They needed to reinvent their company. There was a quote from the guy who ran the company that "We cannot think in terms of quarters, we have to think in terms of generations.""I think the feeling of wanting to be significant is simply a clever disguise on discontentment." - Joe WoolworthNeale Bayly shares about his upcoming project called the "Laverda Project" It's a project about fixing up an old Laverda bike and returning home to ride it where he grew up, spend time with friends and reconnect to his home. Rebuilding the bike is really phase one of the project. Phase two is doing a documentary about the process and then finally lead to a movie.You can find out more and stay involved on the Neale Bayly Rides youtube channelAlso mentioned on this episode:Tecovas Fine Bootmakers 

In this hilarious and informative episode, we learn about the human behavioral science behind our body language and how to use it to establish trust and create genuine connections. Terry teaches a class that ranges from  D.I.R.T. Dangerous Individual Recognition Training. How do you identify a threat as early as possible so that you can avoid it through to "how to be better in front of a camera", how to get up and present and be an authentic version of yourself.Terry was on the show Top Shot for a number of years. He talked about his experience on the show.Now Terry teaches a variety of topics with body language as a foundation. You can book him and find out more at TVempowers.com.Terry reads the Guys Who Do Stuff and gives insights to our personalities through our body language when we first met.We talk about bullying. How we are parenting these days versus what we were told by our parents about how to handle a bully. Connect with TerryFor booking info on Terry VaughanConnect on social media: Linkedin | Youtube | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter |

Katie shares that though she left her job at IBM with her body her mind stayed another three years. She was describing a phenomenon common to many people of the transition from an employee to a business owner. She graciously shares some wisdom she learned on the way and what helped her break free from employee thinking.Katie talks about some of the advantages of being a small business You learn more about business than traditional jobs because roles span more disciplines You have the speed of execution on your side A common mistake to avoid is not knowing your numbers! The core skills that business owners need to succeed are curiosity and creative problem-solving.Katie shares the genesis of the Launch Wake Country programs and the value they've added to our area. The Launch your city programs have four components. Training, mentoring, networking, and funding. The point of the Launch programs is to create a community of entrepreneurs that support each other and do business with each other.Katie unpacks the role of community colleges (economic development) and how they are set up to serve their students and local businesses.Also mentioned on this episode: Small Business Center Resource page for Wake Tech Launch Wake County

From the Triple T Suspension Website:Triple T was found in 2015 by Kendall Williams, III. Kendall became enamored with anything requiring fuel at a very young age, with a particular fondness for motorcycles. His love for 2 wheeled machines eventually grew into a deep passion, leading him to seek out opportunities to educate himself on the mechanical skills necessary to maintain and improve vehicle performance. Thus, he sought out and solidified mentorships with seasoned mechanics, who helped expand his mechanical knowledge, while he worked on his and his friends' motorcycles to sharpen his skills.Kendall shares about how he started his company with no outside cash infusion but slowly and methodically grew his business over time. One of the keys to his success was patience.Also mentioned in this episode: The Five Love Languages by Dr. Gary Chapman Triple T Suspensions Facebook Page  

More on Divyah from her website:I bring over 20 years of rich and varied experiences to my roles as a business positioning coach, influence mastery advisor and speaker.My professional career includes positions as a university associate professor, scientist, biotechnology professional, and as a global business relationship and leadership coach. I merge my biopharmaceutical career with my extensive experience as a coach, author, consultant, and speaker. My passion for coaching and the sincere desire to make a positive impact on people led me to develop effective evidence-based leadership and partnership programs.Due to my coaching and consulting work, I have become a veteran scientific and leadership presenter at biopharmaceutical and business conferences. I am blessed with the ability to connect with audiences across all industries and am very gratified with the reviews my appearances receive.Among my professional recognitions are having Women of Distinction Magazine, a magazine division of the National Association of Distinguished Professionals, feature me in one of their issues. Worldwide Branding recognized me as VIP of the Year in 2013 for showing dedication, leadership, and excellence in leadership coaching. NAPW acknowledged me as a VIP Woman of the Year in 2014 for outstanding leadership and commitment in coaching. Additionally, Continental Who's Who named me as a Pinnacle Professional in the field of coaching and consulting in 2015.As for the press, I have been covered by BBC.com, CBS News, Haeretz.com, IGN, Daily Mirror, Daily News NY, Reuters, Slate.com, The Independent, TooFab, and USA Today.DAV University and the California State University of Fullerton awarded me my post-graduate certificate in biochemistry. The International Coach Academy (ICA) certified me as a coaching and learning leader. I am also certified as a Certified Professional Coach by ICA and Professional Certified Coach by the International Coach Federation.As an 8-Time #1 International Bestselling author, I have authored a number of leadership and Entrepreneurial books. The topics include but are not limited to Stress Management, Mindfulness Mastery, Critical Thinking, Candid Critique, Appreciative Inquiry, Leadership and Influence, and Emotional Intelligence.Discusses on this episode:Divya's latest book Expert To Influencer: How To Position Yourself For Meaningful Impact

 In this episode, we talk about what Jon Rufty has learned from 20+ years as a business owner and builder. How he got started and how he weathered the storms of the last couple of decades in the housing and construction market.He has built some of the most expensive and beautiful homes in the Triangle and built a team of dedicated people that have made his company a staple in the Triangle.Some of his secrets to success are: Hire people that are better than you. You have to put the company ahead of yourself because if the company is not successful you cannot protect your employees. Don't take on too much debt. Jon shared his thoughts on what's exciting about living in the Triangle and what he believes some of our challenges in the future are going to be. 

Dr. Cindy shares about some lessons she's learned in her journey from Veterinary school to running her own Veterinary Hospital. "They teach you how to be a vet, but not how to run a business." - Dr. Cindy She said some of the important lessons for her were to have patience, have faith and the importance of celebrating the wins along the way.Some ways to celebrate the wins are to plan awards tied to goals for your staff. Dr. Cindy took her team to the Tiger exhibit to celebrate their one year anniversary and sets smaller goals with rewards like gift cards or lunches.Dr. Cindy shared that the suicide rate among Veterinarians is rising each year in part because of the stress of the job and the toll it takes to actually be the one to euthanize an animal patient that in some cases they have seen for years.Serving your community and giving back is a great way to combat the stress of your job and the sense of community provides a sense of feeling good and almost therapeutic. Also mentioned in this episode: The youtube video of a shelter worker singing to the dogs Peak City Veterinarian Hospital Cause for Paws

The town of Cary is a 33% larger landmass than Paris France, Cary is 40 square miles with a population of 167,000+ people. The town has been growing steadily at around 2.5% per year and is seeing a lot of redevelopment and new development.The mayor mentioned a branding campaign coming up and the question they asked the branding company was whether or not we should remain a town or a city.In North Carolina, we are more like a Dillon's Rule state. Which means you can't do anything unless the legislature says you can.Harold explained that the people of the town of Cary are like his CEO, and he learned early on to not disrespect his boss. He also mentioned the importance of listening in serving in government.When working with an "us versus them" council he asked a trusted counsel for advice and was told "it's all about communication. If you want to work together as a group, you've got all respect for each other. Respect, of course, is earned is not given. And you have to earn that respect and the way you earn that respect as work with them every day." Never disregard what anyone has to say. Try to listen with an open mind. You may surprise yourself. - Harold Weinbrecht We discussed the new developments coming to Cary including the additional development around the Library, the Downtown Park, the redevelopment of Cary Towne Center and the largest development in Cary's history called Fenton.Mayor Weinbrecht mentioned his blog where he laid out what could happen to the site of the old Library.

NO food coloring. NO artificial flavors. NO day-old cupcakes. And, plenty of laughs as we talk about the meteoric rise of HappyCakes Cupcakery with Angela and Amanda Diaz and how they leverage their success to empower some pretty impressive organizations that help rescue women from the sex trade industry.This episode was a ton of fun as we learned successful business practices from people who have been there — the processes they put into place to have continued success.There is a resiliency that comes with building a business from the ground up, and though HappyCakes has faced challenges, it is a better business because of the hardships. The people of Morehead City have proven themselves to be incredibly loyal and supportive customers, and the team that now works at HappyCakes is genuinely like a family. At HappyCakes, we know that no matter what happens in life, there is always a sweet side.10% of every purchase at HappyCakes supports these organizations: Cambodia's Cause Wipe Every Tear Connect with HappyCakes online Monthly Flavor Calendar Facebook Instagram

Mentioned in today's episode: Prince's Gold Album. Hired Gun - a documentary recommended by Steve made by Netflix about the touring musicians hired by major bands. Pharrell's, “Happy” made $2,700 in publisher and songwriter royalties from 43 million Pandora streams in the first quarter of 2014, according to an email from music publisher Sony/ATV CEO Marty Bandier obtained by Digital Music News. source. Hard-Boiled Comics was the first comic series Steve Earnhart released. Steve mentioned a book he used to learn how to layout artwork in his early days called "DC Comic's Guide to Coloring and Lettering" Which he termed the Rosetta Stone for drawing comic books. Spawn #1 comic sold millions of copies in the '90s. Marvel Unlimited is a subscription service for comic books and is to comic books what Spotify is for music.  Steven King's book "On Writing" Steven Pressfield's book "The War of Art."  Podcast produced at Podcast Cary.

Blackman Detective Services of Garner, North Carolina, is one of the most respected private investigation firms in the state. Founded in 1993, the highly specialized team of professionals at Blackman Detective Services are ready to meet with you and concentrate on your individual needs. They offer a full line of investigative services, including a well-established practice in workers' compensation insurance claims. In this episode: What signs to look for if you feel your spouse is cheating on you. Best practices for Human Resource teams utilizing the services of private investigators. Stories from the field. BDS has a newsletter called the Sleuth. They shared a story called Peanut Payday in this episode. Worker's compensation claim investigations. They shared stories from the inspiring side of private investigation, like connecting family members and reuniting long lost friends. You can find out more about Blackman Detective Services on their Facebook page

Kris Schultz, Cary Magazine publisher, joined S&A Cherokee in 2008 as a media sales manager for CM's sister publication, Triangle East. Since then he has continued to build strong relationships in the Western Wake business community. He manages advertising for Cary Magazine and also handles sales for other regional publications such as Southern Living and Coastal Living.What you will learn in this episode: We discussed the new construction in Cary called Fenton and the impact to our town. What is the proposed plan for Cary Towne Center Gyms moving into malls to increase foot traffic Some great local restaurants mentioned in this episode Brewery Bhavana and Death and Taxes The Maggie awards by the Cary Magazine highlight the people's choice of the best of the best in local business The classes offered and experience of shopping at Whisk in Waverly Place

The Guys Who Do Stuff took the show on the road. We bellied up to the bar with some business owners in Fayetteville at the World of Beer.On the episodeDonovan Barnes of ReelProPhoto talks about content creation and building a platform on social media, his time in the service, and how to grow your businesses reach online.Cheenou Yang is Regional Vice President of Freedom Equity Group and shares about his passion for helping people protect their investments. So, they can leave a financial legacy for their loved ones and not the taxman.Vice President of First Citizens Bank, J. Scott Rutter talks about his "why" and how he got into the banking business and the fulfillment he receives from helping finance the dreams of business owners. He also shared his passion for networking, go-carting, and other adrenaline-fueled hobbies.Commercial photographer Cramer Gallimore is a career photographer who has worked with National Geographic magazine and companies in North Carolina. Cramer shares his love for photography and aviation. And Enith Briales, a lifetime native of Fayetteville and Realtor with Keller Williams Fayetteville, shared what makes her unique as a real estate agent in her hometown. The secret to her success is telling the truth and empathy for her clients. Enith was a real delight to interview.

John shares about some of the history of liquor in North Carolina from baptists and bootleggers to today and shines a light on some of our archaic liquor laws that may be too prohibitive for local distilleries and business owners. Also mentioned in this episode: The pop the cap campaign Belgium beer line with the underground delivery system In 1908 prohibition ended but in North Carolina in order to sell liquor each city needs to vote to prove they want it then they appointed a board to control the sale of liquor. This is called ABC in North Carolina.John Trumps Brewery Tour Raleigh Rum Company Lassiter Distilling Company Topo Organic Spirits FairGame Beverage Company Durham Distillery  Whisky Prison - Souther Grace Distilleries Outer Banks Distilling Mayberry Spirit Co. Copper Barrel Distillery Old Nick Williams Farm and Distillery Broadslab Distillery Pick up a copy of John's book Still & Barrel: Craft Spirits in the Old North State 

About Steven:Steven David Elliot created the Rockstar Connect program through years of experimentation and implementation. His networking events are legendary and he is nationally known for his innovation in the field of Business Networking. His Meetup North Hills Networking has been recognized as one of the “most successful and active in the world”, boasting 20,000 members. Rockstar Connect is based on his philosophy of you have to “give-in-order-to-get”. He teaches that, through altruistic acts, you will be rewarded with material and spiritual abundance. As a REALTOR®, sales person, connector, coach, and marketing guru he has harnessed his ability to find options and solutions, limit them to the best, and help his clients select the outcomes to achieve their goals. His legacy to the business world is Rockstar Connect.

CBD oil is a relatively new. People have a lot of skepticism of big pharmaceutical companies and CBD oil's current lack of FDA approval as more testing is done. So how do you ethically create and market this product. Matt Weschler of Peak City CBD talks with us about these topics stories of people who experience benefits from CBD oil products.From their site:Peak City CBD was founded in 2019 by an organic chemist, Matt Weschler.  After working in the electron microscopy industry for over 20 years, it was time for a new challenge.  The science of CBD, as well as real-life stories of its importance and impact in people's lives, are what intrigued us and spurred the formation of Peak City CBD. We decided to get more involved in helping people (and pets!) in the booming, healthful CBD industry, and do it the right way – organic, traceable, and best quality.Peak City CBD is a family-owned business based in Apex, NC.  Apex is known as the “Peak of Good Living” – thus the name Peak City was born.

Check out the Staying with Strangers... In Arizona episode on his website brodyradio.comBe happy.

Working with hands on experiences is different than text book learning.SMILE camp is a nonprofit in Raleigh that is encouraging creativity to solve problems through STEM and STEAM. They offer summer camps, track out camps, day camps, accelerated learning, and much more. 

Issues of homelessness and drug addiction don't discriminate. All socioeconomic, cultural, and racial lines in our society seem to be devastated by this epidemic. Justin's candor and inspiring story share a different outlook. One of hope and inspiration. Not only was he able to find a community to help him on his journey, but found himself working at the very same organization that was instrumental in his recovery to create community in the lives of people on the front lines of addiction.Healing Transitions is a non-profit making a difference in the Triangle. They believe that recovery is for everyone. They have impacted more than 1,000 alumni's to the program with 76% of alumni remaining substance free after one year.They offer volunteer opportunities and ways to partner with them financially.Justin serves at the Oak City Run Recovery Club to provide community and foster supportive connections for people in recovery. Check out the recent story featured on WRAL.