This show is dedicated to the small businesses of the world and the stories behind the daring people who built lives outside the 9-5.
Krista Gordon, Owner of Tranquil Little One, has combined her training as a certified kids yoga instructor, reiki practitioner, dance instructor, and her personal experience as a parent of children with anxiety to develop gentle methods that can help your family explore options that will work best for your family. We talked about Anxiety relief for children, coping with COVID-19, talking to your kids, different ways to engage, and how to wrangle big rooms full of kids. Enjoy!
Jonathan “JD” Daige is the Founder of The Thin Blue Ride, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping Military Vets and First Responders dealing with a cancer diagnosis, allowing them to focus on their health while alleviating some of the financial burden associated with cancer. JD did two tours in Iraq and later joined the Worcester Police department as a member of the SWAT Team. He's a dedicated ass-kicker of cancer and does a tremendous amount of giving back. When he's not busy helping others he celebrates his own health as a cyclist, mounting biker, rock climber, and BJJ player. If his story doesn't make you take a moment to be thankful and find some inspiration you are probably a robot
Andrea is the founder of The Castinetti Real Estate Group and The Kindness Coalition, a non-profit focused on helping the local community. The two are tied together well, Andrea's CRG donates a portion of every single sale to local charities and her non-profit is solely dedicated to helping out in her local community. She started out helping the homeless and local children in need and has recently become a literal lifesaver amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Since this all started, her coalition has sourced, purchased and delivered thousands of masks and other PPE to Doctors, Nurses, and other healthcare workers here in Massachusetts. In addition, she has been able to match up restaurants with extra capacity with hungry healthcare workers and has managed to deliver fresh meals to hundreds of our doctors and nurses while also helping to keep local restaurants alive in the process. It was a fun, inspiring conversation with someone I can honestly say makes the world a better place. If you are looking for a way to help or contribute during this difficult time, The Kindness Coalition is a sure way to know your donation or time volunteered has a dramatic and immediate impact. Enjoy! Stuff mentioned in this episode: Net of Compassion
Jeff created Ideal Video Strategies out of a desire for happiness. He had been working in the corporate world for over 10 years and getting ever more stressed out by the constant dead ends and inability to make a meaningful difference. After lots of thought and discussion with his wife, Jeff took the leap. When not working, Jeff enjoys spending time with his family or in his gardens, growing flowers, and vegetables. This is a jam-packed episode, Jeff and I talked about everything... family, business, gardening, bears, anti-bullying, yoga for kids, etc... Enjoy!
Rick is the Owner and President of Cinch I.T. (plus a YouTube star). He's got a ton of great energy and a lot to teach all of us about running a successful business. Not only does he lead the Cinch I.T. team here in MA, servicing clients day in and day out, but he recently developed a franchise model with the brand and is setting up shops all across the USA. Rick was a member of the US Army’s Special Operation Community, Recipient of the Worcester Business Journals 40 under 40, named one of the Top 10 Best CEO’s of 2018, Board member for the Better Business Bureau of Central and Western Massachusetts and the Founder of Cinch Scholarship Foundation. Top all that off with training for an IronMan and playing his most important role each and every day... Dad.
Dan is Co-founder and President of Be Found Online. A digital marketing geek at heart, Dan still spends time in the nitty-gritty of BFO's client accounts sniffing through analytics for opportunities or testing out tactics. When he comes out of the weeds he's busy driving the careful oversight and curation of the wonderful culture they've developed over the years - a culture that has lead to BFO being recognized as the #1 Best Place to Work according to AdAge. Dan and I talked about the early days of the agency, growing a business and a family at the same time, making the world a better place through business and a bunch of other good stuff. Enjoy! Stuff in this episode: Small Giants YEC Conscious Capitalism Sweet velour jumpsuits
Roger is the founder and owner of Gallagher Remodeling, an award-winning home renovation contractor providing design-build remodeling services. They've been in business since 1986, and they are still going strong, constantly adapting and looking for ways to improve. Over the years Roger has had to steer the company through many ups and downs and has pulled a bunch of lessons from each go around. He runs a highly customer-focused company that prides itself on helping people make their homes really and truly feel like their own.
Brad is Co-Founder and CEO of TalentBurst, an award-winning provider of Total Talent Management Solutions and a certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) with offices in Boston, San Francisco, Miami, Toronto and Gurgaon, India. Brad (along with partners Baljit and Deep) co-founded TalentBurst 18 years ago as an ambitious young man with entrepreneurial dreams and today he continues to build on that dream as a husband and father of 3. We talk about the inevitable ups and the downs you face over 18 years in business, the responsibilities that come along for the ride and balancing all that fun stuff with having a family. Enjoy!
Paul Cyr is a co-owner and trainer at CrossFit Worcester. He is a 18-year veteran police officer with the Worcester Police Department, an active member of S.W.A.T. and a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force. As if that wasn't enough, Paul holds group lectures and sees private clients for nutrition coaching as well as being a dedicated family man. I still don't get how he fits it all in... but he seems to make it all look easy. Enjoy!
Lysa Miller is Co-founder and President of 3 Media Web, an award-winning website design and digital marketing agency. She also founded LadyBugz, a digital marketing agency and Metrowest Women's Network, a networking group for ambitious women in MetroWest & Central MA. In addition to all of these hats, Lysa is also a dedicated Mom of 4. We talk about everything from business and family to breaking habits and the farce of meditation for children. Enjoy! Stuff mentioned in this episode: Traction by Gino Wickman Rocket Fuel by Gino Wickman The Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) Dr. Joe Dispenza
Janice Gobert is a Full Professor at Rutgers University—New Brunswick and Founder and CEO of Apprendis, a company that developed an amazing, patented classroom AI-based technology used to do real-time assessment and tutoring of science for middle and high school students as they interact with virtual tools. Teachers also get actionable alerts to guide instruction. The product, Inq-ITS (for students) and Inq-Blotter (for teachers), is now being used in 50 states and 34 countries. In addition to all of this Janice is a Mom and a budding stand-up comedian. Enjoy! Stuff mentioned in this episode: Janice's U.S.NEWS article Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI)
Eric Conwell owns CVL Partners, a real estate investment firm with properties across America. Eric is a fun, kind, thoughtful, guy and it shines through in his work and his personal life. Taking on challenging projects ripe with difficult circumstances has taught him more than a few lessons along the way. Today we explored what it's like to get a business going, as well as the ever-present question - should I keep going? Enjoy! Stuff mentioned in this episode: Atomic Habits Pretty Things Ale Albert Bandura
This one may be a two-parter... Steve and I let time get away from us and hadn't even come close to ending this energized conversation when we had to run. Steve is the founder of Enterprise Cleaning and Restoration Corp he's a great guy - a hard worker with vision and an uncanny knack for the details. Like most of us, Steve and his company have been through some ups and downs over their 19 years in business and Steve has managed to fight his way out of the downs each time with grit, determination and innovative thinking. Stuff mentioned in this episode: The Secret Aces High Pressure Cleaning
Mike Barbera is the second-generation owner of Real Living Barbera Associates, a real estate firm servicing Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. Mike took the helm at an interesting time - 2008 - right as the bubble burst and the market took its historic dive. We dig into that and how it reshaped him and his business, family responsibility and how much a loving family can truly mean, what makes a good realtor, where he sees the market going and more. Enjoy!
James is the founder of The Wellness Corporation which developed Wellness Programs, EAP programs, Medical/Mental Health Utilization Review Systems and Complementary Medicine Networks for over 400 companies, hospitals and institutions of higher learning throughout the United States and Europe. James also serves as board president of ACAM, Mayan Midwifery International a 501c3 charity dedicated to assisting indigenous Guatemalan midwives and other local health providers in addressing the many obstacles to effective and sustainable health care in their communities. He's a family man, entrepreneur, humanitarian, philanthropist, author, photographer, and friend.
Sully is Co-Owner, General Manager and part of the trifecta that makes Medusa Brewing possible. He stays busy managing the taproom, events, and marketing initiatives for the brewery so he's either busy behind a computer or pouring beer behind their salvaged steel and wood bar. Between all that delicious beer, his growing company and wonderful family, life seems pretty good. We had a great time on this episode. Follow Sully on Twitter - @KeithSully Follow Sully on Instagram - @sully_medusa
Steve Krull is the CEO of Be Found Online, a demand generation agency based out of Chicago, with a few other offices across the US and beyond. We had a great conversation spanning business, our own misguided concepts of self, our kids, friends and more. It's a good one with some sage-like thoughts from one of the deepest, people-focused entrepreneurs I know. Enjoy! Stuff mentioned in this episode: Getting Naked by Patrick Lencioni Get Naked by Methods of Mayhem Small Giants Business Improv
A great cup of coffee with a side of changing the world. Rhonda owns Coffeelands and is using her business to make a difference in global human trafficking. This was a real eye-opener and I'm glad we got together for this fun, honest discussion. We talk about everything from how our businesses have affected our families to self-doubt, tough times and how small acts can create real change. Listen and learn from Rhonda's story of starting her business as you get ready to take the leap yourself. Stuff mentioned in this episode: Dean's Beans Polus Center Women's Bean Project UMASS Mindfulness Course