Success Trails Podcast

In this episode you get to hear some great insight from our youngest guests yet.  From a family heartbreak to a successful business listen in as these brothers dish out advice that you ca adopt for your business.You can purchase their great product below:https://www.brothersnuts.com/ If you are a small business owner who is tired of trying to use ads to grow your business then I have a solution for you! I want to help use customer service as a revenue generator versus a revenue detractor. To find out if my SUPERHERO SERVICE, SUPER PROFITS course if right for you then click the link below to set up a call.https://calendly.com/hankebeling/30min

If you are a small business owner who is tired of trying to use ads to grow your business then I have a solution for you! I want to help use customer service as a revenue generator versus a revenue detractor. To find out if my SUPERHERO SERVICE, SUPER PROFITS course if right for you then click the link below to set up a call.https://calendly.com/hankebeling/30minFor today's episode:Carl is an accomplished entrepreneur, innovator, and business leader who has made significant strides in various industries. With an impressive track record and a diverse portfolio, Carl has become a force to be reckoned with in the business world.As a co-founder of two fledgling startups, Carl has demonstrated his keen eye for identifying market opportunities and turning them into successful ventures. Essential Automation Works, the first of his ventures, is a custom welding and manufacturing company that specializes in creating cutting-edge feed systems. The company's innovative solutions have revolutionized the manufacturing industry, providing clients with streamlined and efficient operations.In addition to Essential Automation Works, Carl co-founded Clean Carl's, a company dedicated to providing top-notch pet mess cleaning products. Under his leadership, Clean Carl's has gained recognition for its effective and eco-friendly solutions, earning a loyal customer base.Carl's entrepreneurial prowess extends beyond his startup ventures. He embarked on a remarkable journey when he took over a near-bankrupt family business and transformed it into a thriving enterprise. Through his strategic vision and business acumen, Carl not only turned the company around but also achieved remarkable growth, increasing its revenue by over 500%. This remarkable feat was accomplished through a combination of organic growth, strategic acquisitions, and effective management.

If you are a small business owner who is tired of trying to use ads to grow your business then I have a solution for you! I want to help use customer service as a revenue generator versus a revenue detractor. To find out if my SUPERHERO SERVICE, SUPER PROFITS course if right for you then click the link below to set up a call.https://calendly.com/hankebeling/30minFor today's episode:Jim Duda,third-generation family owner of Millie's since 2016 which has been open since 1959. 

If you are a small business owner who is tired of trying to use ads to grow your business then I have a solution for you! I want to help use customer service as a revenue generator versus a revenue detractor. To find out if my SUPERHERO SERVICE, SUPER PROFITS course if right for you then click the link below to set up a call.https://calendly.com/hankebeling/30minFor today's episode:Jenny has been dancing for over 30 years and studied  jazz, tap, ballet, lyrical, and musical theater.  She has been teaching since 1999 throughout the Chicago area.  From her first ballet class at the age of 3, Jenny had a passion for dancing and performing.  Throughout her youth, she danced at Palmer's Dance & Gymnastics and Dorothy's Dancing Unlimited. Jenny also performed in theatrical productions such as "The Nutcracker" with Pennsylvania Ballet Company and "The Night Before Christmas" with Dayton Ballet.In 2012 she realized where her true passion was, and that is in the studio with her students. After focusing on her career for 10 years, she decided to pursue her dream of teaching full-time. Jenny formed Dreams Dance Academy – a true life-long dream. She started "Dreams Dance Academy: The Traveling Studio" in July 2012 by renting space at community and fitness centers in three towns, and it skyrocketed from there. 

If you are a small business owner who is tired of trying to use ads to grow your business then I have a solution for you! I want to help use customer service as a revenue generator versus a revenue detractor. To find out if my SUPERHERO SERVICE, SUPER PROFITS course if right for you then click the link below to set up a call.https://calendly.com/hankebeling/30minFor today's episode:After traveling the world to seek out the best wines, the finest earth, and the most knowledgeable winemakers in the world, Ann & Phil decided it was time to make their own wine.  What started as a hobby has turned into a passion to connect the midwest with a-list wine culture.  After studying winemaking with UC Davis, the best winemaking school in the United States, they produced multiple award-winning wines. That led them to begin raising their own vines in 2016 in Harbor Country, Michigan..

If you are a small business owner who is tired of trying to use ads to grow your business then I have a solution for you! I want to help use customer service as a revenue generator versus a revenue detractor. To find out if my SUPERHERO SERVICE, SUPER PROFITS course if right for you then click the link below to set up a call.https://calendly.com/hankebeling/30minFor today's episode:As the daughter of Puerto Rican and Italian immigrants, Renee's mixed heritage has given her a unique lens to view the world. She is the CEO and founder of My Half of The Sky, a social justice coffee shop that addresses social concerns and systemic injustice through opportunity.Renee is passionate about creating hope & bringing healing to women with obstacles to employment due to poverty, addictions, trafficking or life as a refugee. She believes opportunity & relationships are essential to helping women live a better story. Renee has worked for over 20 years with grassroots organizations that remind both men and women that there is hope after trauma or hardship. She believes opportunity gives dignity and value. Renee desires to trail blaze the concept that businesses and Capitalism can use the marketplace to build sustainable enterprises while doing good.Renee is a member of: Women's Speakers Collective, Propel Women, and several Direct trade, Fair Trade & Ethical Fashion Movements

If you are a small business owner who is tired of trying to use ads to grow your business then I have a solution for you! I want to help use customer service as a revenue generator versus a revenue detractor. To find out if my SUPERHERO SERVICE, SUPER PROFITS course if right for you then click the link below to set up a call.https://calendly.com/hankebeling/30minFor today's episode:Gladys Schanstra, CMKBD, Allied ASID, studied aerospace and mechanical engineering before falling in love with design and earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Interior Design from Chicago's Harrington College of Design. Today, she is president of Schanstra Design Group in Melrose Park, IL, and president/CEO of Drury Designs. Schanstra Design Group, a company formed by Schanstra, acquired Drury Design, her former employer, in 2021 and kept that company identity as a DBA. 

If you are a small business owner who is tired of trying to use ads to grow your business then I have a solution for you! I want to help use customer service as a revenue generator versus a revenue detractor. To find out if my SUPERHERO SERVICE, SUPER PROFITS course if right for you then click the link below to set up a call.https://calendly.com/hankebeling/30minKate Kemph is the owner of Kie & Kate which  celebrates 12 years at their brick and mortar store and 15 years in business.  They are the proud recipient of the 2016 & 2017 Best Women's Clothing Store by Suburban Life Magazine and 2016 Most Distinct Gift Shop by Glancer Magazine. 

If you are a small business owner who is tired of trying to use ads to grow your business then I have a solution for you! I want to help use customer service as a revenue generator versus a revenue detractor. To find out if my SUPERHERO SERVICE, SUPER PROFITS course if right for you then click the link below to set up a call.https://calendly.com/hankebeling/30minFor this episode:Rya Tracy opened his original Beer On The Wall in Park Ridge expanding out to Arlington Heights in 2020, and Elmhurst in 2023.  When a free moment is afforded to him, he enjoys teaching his son to wall jump in Mario 64, teaching his daughter how to cook a proper French omelette, and losing to his wife in board games.

If you are a small business owner who is tired of trying to use ads to grow your business then I have a solution for you! I want to help use customer service as a revenue generator versus a revenue detractor. To find out if my SUPERHERO SERVICE, SUPER PROFITS course if right for you then click the link below to set up a call.https://calendly.com/hankebeling/30minFor today's episode:Jackie Errico has been in the fitness industry for over 13 years. She has her Bachelor's in Exercise Science and her Master's in Business Administration. Jackie is a nationally certified strength and conditioning coach, a certified personal trainer, and co-owner of Just Lift Fitness.

If you are a small business owner who is tired of trying to use ads to grow your business then I have a solution for you! I want to help use customer service as a revenue generator versus a revenue detractor. To find out if my SUPERHERO SERVICE, SUPER PROFITS course if right for you then click the link below to set up a call.https://calendly.com/hankebeling/30minFor todays episode:Born and raised in Mexico City, Julio moved with his family to Illinois in 1996. He had his first experience working in a restaurant at Tia Maria's, the Mexican restaurant that Ricardo (his stepfather) had taken over more than a decade earlier in Geneva, Illinois. Here he gained hands on experience at almost every kitchen and FOH position in the restaurant, something that would come in handy some years later. Julio decided to leave his career in the sports industry in 2012 when presented with the opportunity to move back to Illinois to help his family with their growing restaurants. His administrative, managerial, marketing and business background helped them expand from a single restaurant to a multi-unit restaurant group by implementing new business practices across all areas of the restaurants.Links:https://www.bientruchagroup.com

If you are a small business owner who is tired of trying to use ads to grow your business then I have a solution for you! I want to help use customer service as a revenue generator versus a revenue detractor. To find out if my SUPERHERO SERVICE, SUPER PROFITS course if right for you then click the link below to set up a call.https://calendly.com/hankebeling/30minFor today's episode:Sarah Whitt is the owner + curator of House of 423, a boutique featuring an elevated line of women's clothing and accessories from everyday to formalwear needs. 2022 accolades include Batavia Mainstreet Business Rookie of the Year, Kane County Magazine's Finest Women's Boutique and one of the recipients of Batavia's Grow Your Business scholarship funded through the Batavia Chamber and the Fox Valley Entrepreneurship Center. She was also featured on WGN's Small Business Saturday Segment.Website: houseof423.comIG: house.of.423FB: https://www.facebook.com/house.of.423?mibextid=LQQJ4dUse code Success Trails for 15% off in-store purchase

If you are a small business owner who is tired of trying to use ads to grow your business then I have a solution for you! I want to help use customer service as a revenue generator versus a revenue detractor. To find out if my SUPERHERO SERVICE, SUPER PROFITS course if right for you then click the link below to set up a call.https://calendly.com/hankebeling/30minVince Balistreri a renowned leader in the food and beverage industry. As partner of Niche Restaurant, it has always been his job to not only make his customers happy but also maintaining niche as one of the top restaurants in the Illinois.In this episode some topics we discuss:>Importance of having the right fit when it comes to employees>Conducting interviews and the challenges of today's hiring pool>How Niche transformed their look and feel and had success>What you can learn from other businesses in your industryLinkshttps://www.nichegeneva.com/

If you are a small business owner who is tired of trying to use ads to grow your business then I have a solution for you! I want to help use customer service as a revenue generator versus a revenue detractor. To find out if my SUPERHERO SERVICE, SUPER PROFITS course if right for you then click the link below to set up a call.https://calendly.com/hankebeling/30minJamie Saam and Lisa Koivu are the ladies behind Start Something Studio. It is a women-owned digital marketing company and consultancy. Its services include web design, small business photo sessions, social media coachingThis episode has two parts to it. The first half of the episode we chat more about their business and then the second half the ladies give out tips for small business owners when it comes to websites, marketing and social media. Links:Websitehttps://startsomething.studioInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/startsomething.studio/Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/startsomethingstudio

Eric Farrell along with his partners own Bottle Theory a  hybrid taproom and bottle shop with a 600-square-foot kitchen in the suburbs of Chicago. In this episode we discuss some topics which include:>What Eric learned from his hospitality background >How to compete in a crowded market>The value of face to face interactions>The importance of the owner to be involved in the interview processWebsite:https://bottletheorytaproom.com

In this episode I have the honor to interview a mentor and friend Todd Durkin. Todd Durkin, MA, is an internationally recognized performance coach, trainer, keynote speaker, author, and life-transformer who motivates, educates and inspires people worldwide. He trains NFL, MLB, MMA athletes at his award-winning gym, Fitness Quest 10 in San Diego, CA. He is a 2-time Trainer of the Year, a best-selling author, a recipient of the Jack LaLanne Award, and the 2018 Canfitpro International Presenter of the Year. His Todd Durkin IMPACT Show podcast motivates millions, he leadsthe Todd Durkin Mastermind Group for fitness entrepreneurs.We discuss topics that include:>Managing energy versus managing time>Everything starts with YOU>The 7 "F"s>How be more successful without working more hoursFor more on Todd visit:https://todddurkin.comhttps://www.instagram.com/todddurkin/?hl=en

In 2017, after 6 years of living in LA and searching tirelessly for a bagel that hit the right spot, Zach Liporace decided to take matters into his own hands. After scouring Los Angeles for a bagel that married a soft, fluffy inside with a fresh crispy exterior, and just the right amount of chewiness, Pop's bagel journey began in a small studio apartment in Los Feliz.In this episode we discuss:>How you need to grind in the early years to build your business>The challenges of handling not so great employees>How you can discover new ideas by visiting other businesses>Expansion to multiple locationshttps://www.instagram.com/popsbagelsla/https://business.facebook.com/popsbagelsla/popsbagelsla.com

A long time carpenter turned business owner Tom Anderson shares his insights in being successful with different businesses.In this episode we discuss:>Why Tom decided to go from home renovations to the dumpster business>The importance of customer service for business success>Building your business through relationshipsFor more information about Red Oakhttps://www.redoaktogo.com

In this episode I speak with the husband and wife duo behind The Bridge Lemont. With no experience in the event venue space this couple has transformed an old building into a gorgeous and profitable wedding venue. In this episode we discuss:>The importance of learning your industry from others who have had success>Marketing a new business through social media>Balancing a business together as a couple>Making adjustments within your business as you grow>Taking care of your team properlyAnd more!For more about The Bridge Lemont:https://thebridgelemontil.com

Do you know the origin of the word amateur? Today's guest Sarah, of Sarah Crost Creative talks about starting a small business, and then starting over again. We discuss the joy of being a professional amateur and what customer service traits transfer across industries. Sarah's service mindset was an asset when she started in the hospitality industry, helped her shine in wedding photography, and continues to be an asset as a branding photographer for small businesses. We talk about>Creating a sustainable worklife, >Being stubborn with your happiness, >Looking for opportunities to be an amateur at something new.To learn more about what Sarah's up to this week, visit her website: www.sarahcrost.com or follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah.crost.creative/

Monica Lefever owns Evolet Eve Wine Shop which is an experience like no other in the way to shop for artisan wine and craft beer. The space is designed with family in mind, so whether or not you have your kids, you can get the wine shopping experience. Monica's shares about major roadblocks due to the pandemic and the sudden drop of bank funding she experienced. She also shares about how important a quality business plan is if you are going after money for your business. 

This episode features two smart and energetic women in Meghan Cox and Bridget Nolan of Sunshine Social Media. In this episode you will learn:-How  Sunshine Social Media grew  its business early on-How a match made in heaven was made by Megan in connecting with Bridget-The importance of not comparing yourself to other businesses in your field-Great tips on social media for your business!And much more!-

Adam Pratt owns the unique business Chaos To Memories https://chaostomemories.com located in Wheaton Illinois. With 20 years of experience in technology and design, Adam helps clients organize their  family photos, preserve their memories, and tell their story. In this episode we discuss:>Why Adam is against discounting and likes giveaways>What Adam learned from his time at Adobe when it comes to your customers and clients>Building a staffAnd much more!

Nicki Anderson has accumulated knowledge over the years with her different roles from business owner to running a local chamber of commerce. In this episode Nicki discusses:>Being proactive versus being reactive>Insights from working within the chamber of commerce >Focusing on where you are spending your time>Not burning bridgesAnd much more!

Listen as owner of Red Hive Market Bridget Johnson discusses:>Why customer relationships are the reason they are business and why they are able to expand>Importance of getting to know your customers so you can understand what they want>Running a business with a spouse and the challenges that can bringAnd much more!For more information about Red Hive Market check them out:https://redhivemarket.com

In this episode I chat with Tony Russo who after over 17 years in the real estate business as a broker, Tony recognized a shift in the way people want to work as the concept of “office space” evolved. He saw a need for more coworking spaces and set out to provide this option to their very own community. Since opening TeamUp in April of 2019, he has enjoyed seeing the members network and help each other grow their businesses. This episode you will learn:-The importance of building a community in any business-Tips when it comes to real estate -Using your network to help your business early on-Why you need to collect feedback to understand your customers needs

In this episode I chat with small business owner Juliana Cancelo who along with her mother owns Bocaditos Cafe. You will learn how she navigates a family business and keeps her personal and professional relationships strong. We also discuss how her experience in marketing has helped their business and what tips she would pass along to you! As a mother and wife Juliana has a journey in business ownership that many can relate to. 

Steve and Katie are a husband and wife duo who are the owners of Beyond Measure Training in the suburbs of Chicago. Steve took a leap of faith and opened his facility right out of college without any business knowledge. In this episode we dive into what his experience was in being such a young entrepreneur. We also talk about what its like to work with your spouse and how you can use masterminds to your benefit. 

Villa Park native and University of Illinois, Chicago graduate, Joe Fontana got his start as a valet working at over 140 restaurant and bar venues including some of Chicago's staples such as The Redhead Piano Bar, Ranallis, Mothers, and the Italian Village. After finding a passion for the industry, Joe worked his way up from barback, to server, to bartender to manager at the late Doc Ryan's in Elmhurst. 6 years of pursuing different marketing and sales jobs in the “real world,” Joe decided to return to hospitality with a small dream of opening a restaurant. So in 2015 Joe opened a pop-up Meatball stand in Oceanside, California. It wasn't long before the meatball stand was selling out night after night and Meatball Republic was born. In 2016 Joe signed a lease for the Meatball Republic, but after a heartbreaking real estate deal gone wrong, Joe was forced to look at other locations. After a year of searching for the right spot, a golden gem made it self available, but this time it wasn't for meatballs. In 2017, Joe opened Fry the Coop, a Nashville Fried Chicken joint focused on becoming the “In and Out” of Nashville Hot Chicken. Fry the Coop got off to a fast start serving 1000's of guest per week in its first month and has big plans for the future.  

Marie Herman went from dabbling into a side hustle to turning it into a full time fix figure business.Marie Herman is now the owner of MRH Enterprises LLC, which provides speaking, writing, and training services, as well as corporate consulting to help office professionals advance their careers. In this episode Marie talks about how she has grown her business by strictly word of mouth and creating raving fans.  Marie always talks about providing more value in your offerings. 

Eric Schlickman never planned to get into the restaurant business. In fact, he started his career in the architecture field. It was during a car ride with his wife and a conversation centered around the fact that a local landmark deli was going to be closing that led him to the restaurant industry. In this episode Eric talks about running two businesses and how he uses his design and architecture background in building out his restaurants. 

Kevin Walker is an entrepreneur who owns multiple businesses and different concepts. Kevin owns 3 Mexican themed restaurants called El Famous Burrito and 1 juice and smoothie bar called Extract Juicery. In this episode Kevin shares his experience in running multiple successful businesses and how to make sure your employees are in the right seats within the business. 

Jan Barbeau started doing travel on the side as a fun extra gig. She then started doing events for her church and eventually turned it into a real business in Events By Jan. In this episode Jan shares about her challenges during Covid, the importance of listening to your customers and the power of a strong team. 

Mike Scorzo decided to make his dream job a reality. After spending years in the education world Mike took a leap and decided to open his bakery Masterpiece Bread. In this episode Mike shares some great insights on the importance of customer service, being prepared and how to attract new team members. 

Couple Doug & Lacie developed their business plan for a wine room during the beginning of COVID. Understanding their current roles with their careers might be massively changed they decided this was their time to take the jump. 

Jon is the perfect example of a business owner who learned the trade through a mentor. In this episode Jon talks about not being afraid to go for it! He talks about what you need to do to work with the higher end demographic and succeed. Jon is someone who thinks about how he can make life easier for his customers and that has led to his success.

Tanya Smith is a mother of 2 and all-star entrepreneur. As a former VP of a software company, she traveled the world and lead their marketing and growth efforts In, 2016 she took the plunge and opened her own business Addelise named after her two daughters. In this episode, Tanya will share what its like to start a business from the ground up, the importance of mentors and the importance of automating processes. Tanya also gives gives some advice on website design and branding for business owners.

Female  entrepreneur powerhouse Mara Hauser has so many lessons to share! She discusses what it was like being a young female business owner. Mara talks about the importance of finding a community of like minded individuals to help your success in business. We discuss making sure team members are in the right seat on the bus as you develop your culture. I love Mara's ideas for what she calls a "dashboard report" when she talks about discussions with her team.

Jay DeMarco has opened multiple successful restaurants in the Chicagoland suburbs. Despite not having a college degree, Jay has worked his butt off to go from a young guy working at the famous Rosebud to opening his first restaurant. Jay shares great lessons in hospitality, building a team and opening multiple locations. 

Being a business owner is flat out tough. But when you can share the struggles and successes with others it is a tremendous help. In today's episode I get to chat with all three of the owners of the Rustic Fox in Martyn, Lisa and Nicole. Each one of them brings a different strength to the group which is the reason they have been able to have the success they have had. The Rustic Fox is a 20000 sq foot multi vendor marketplace offering furniture, home decor, clothing, vintage and new from over 150 small businesses.

How does a guy from Belgium and a woman from Chicago come together to for success? In today's episode we talk to the husband and wife owner of Lekkco, a chocolate spread brand who have been growing their business at a rapid rate! 

Who doesn't love pretzels?! Joe Fatla recently founded Pretzel Crack, which is a craft snack pretzel business. Joe is new into the business game and his insights are great for those who are just starting out or have been a veteran in business. 

Sarah Coe has been in the interior design business since 2003. She built her business in the Indianapolis area before making the move to the Chicagoland suburbs to where she now owns and operates Sarah Coe Designs.  Sarah shares great insights on how she was able to grow her business in two different cities and how she delivers great service to her clients. 

Tom Kelly is the founder and owner of Potential In Motion, Inc. As a coach, Tom is dedicated to working with salespeople, entrepreneurs, small business owners, and corporate executives that want to reach their full potential in both their business and their life. Tom has worked and studied under greats like Ken Blanchard and Ton Robbins.

In this episode I talk to Joe Chura who began his career on the Ford assembly line at age 20, reading his college textbooks seconds at a time in between building cars. Over the next decade Joe gained experience at many different levels in the automotive industry — including Ford Marketing and Sales, dealership General Manager, and BDC Manager. With a passion for both computer programming and selling cars, Joe co-founded Dealer Inspire (DI) to build new solutions to help dealers win. In a few short years, Dealer Inspire has grown to 600 employees serving over 3,000 clients and 27 OEM brands with game-changing innovation.

In this first full episode of 2021 I sit down with Marshall McCarty Chef/Owner of The Walrus Room in Geneva and Owner of The Burger Shops with locations in Geneva and Saint Charles. Marshall's 18 year hospitality career started in college, as a bartender while getting a B.A. in Journalism & Mass Communication. From there he's worked in a wide variety of restaurant concepts from fast food to fine dining and in every position from dishwasher to General Manager. Each experience built the foundation he would later use to create the restaurant concepts he owns an operates today.

Listen to some of my favorite tips from our guests over this past year.

Tim went from IT nerd(sorry Tim) to starting and running his own successful business. His business Magnitech in which he started 10 years ago is growing each year and is an industry leader. Tim is full of knowledge and has some great insight in how to build the right culture for your business to excel.

Could you imagine opening a business in a pandemic? Well, that is exactly what Ed Symbol did when he opened Ed's Basement his next business venture. Learn how Ed managed to open a business in chaos and how he has succeed with other business ventures. Ed is a veteran in the hospitality industry and has learned what it takes to treat people the right way in order to thrive in business.

Michael LaFido is a real estate consultant and top-producing Realtor with over twenty years of experience in the real estate industry. Michael’s marketing has been the featured cover story in Crain’s Chicago Business and highlighted in Forbes and FOX News Chicago Business Hour. He is also the author of the books “Luxury Listing Specialist”, “Outside The Box”, and “Marketing Luxury”. In this episode you will hear Michael talk about how he went from knowing nothing to real estate to becoming one of the most successful realtors in the area. Michael also talks about the importance of thinking like a marketer no matter what industry you are in.

Frank owns and operates Dominick's Pizza in the western suburbs of Chicago. Frank has been in the industry since he was young and has helped transform his dads business along with his siblings into the success it is today.