The Intrepid Entrepreneur

Thank you so much for all your support throughout the years at Intrepid Entrepreneur. I want to make you aware of my latest project, Channel Mastery. Check it out at: VerdeStrategy.co And subscribe in iTunes right here. Thank you, and I will see you over there!

Show Notes: http://intrepidentrepreneur.net/patrick-mcginnis/ How many people are able to quit their day jobs and jump right into a successful entrepreneurial career? Hardly anyone that I know has been so lucky. No matter how passionate you are about your work, it takes time to build a business. Patrick McGinnis is an entrepreneur with a background on Wall Street, venture capital, private equity, and the author of “The 10% Entrepreneur”. We're digging into what it means to be an entrepreneur with a day job. Patrick's explaining what makes someone a 10% Entrepreneur, and how continuing in your current job can profit everyone. We're getting into the benefits of hands-on experience, diversifying your skill set, and developing entrepreneurial muscle, in just 10% of your time. Patrick knows what it is to work for your money, and how important it is to insulate your income. This is an amazing episode for those of you working multiple jobs, and everyone interested in getting started on something new this year. Bravery and Business Quote “I decided I was no longer going to do things where I put all of my trust into somebody else.” Patrick McGinnis (click to tweet) The Cliff Notes Don't quit your day job! Start something new and get involved with entrepreneurship with 10% of your time. Diversify your skills by trying different kinds of ventures and business ideas. The more you do, the more you learn. A 10% entrepreneur wants to create a diverse portfolio of living, breathing businesses that function on their own. Developing more skills and entrepreneurial muscle will benefit you in and the company you work for during the day. You don't have to have money to be a successful entrepreneur. Start small and grow as your business demands. No job is really 100% safe. Things happen, so diversify your skills set and income so you'll always have something to fall back on. Don't fall for entrepreneur FOMO! Starting a business is not as glamorous or exciting as it seems. It's a lot of hard work with slow payoff. Be empowered, not overwhelmed, to take the first step. Spend 10% of your time developing your concept, or getting involved with another new business. You can only learn so much by reading and taking courses. Get out there and start trying things. Working on the side will give you proof of concept for your business before you go all in or try to get investors. “Most entrepreneurs don't jump right into things. They develop on the side until they get proof of concept.” - Patrick McGinnis (click to tweet)   Resources About Patrick McGinnis Patrick's book The 10% Entrepreneur: Live Your Startup Dream Without Quitting Your Day Job Patrick's SPEECH at Google

Show Notes: http://intrepidentrepreneur.net/solocast-2/ Happy 2017 Intrepid Nation! I'm know we've all been slammed over the past few months, what with the holidays and now the rush of starting out new years out right. Some of you probably noticed my absence over the past few weeks. I've missed you! This is a special solocast from me to you, dear audience, to fill you in on the new project that has been keeping me so busy--it's so exciting! I'm also giving you a sneak peek at the changes coming to Intrepid and the Alliance this year. Get excited for some new programs and some new resources! Bravery and Business Quote “We're in it to build lifestyles, we're in it to do what we love and to build a tribe around something that we love to share.” -Kristin Carpenter Ogden (click to tweet) The Cliff Notes Find out what exciting new project has been keeping me so busy this quarter, and why I'm so pumped about it. Heads up for some exciting changes coming to the Intrepid Entrepreneur Podcast next month! How to make sure you're on the waitlist for the Intrepid Alliance New opportunities for members of the Alliance, and some special offers for those of you still waiting. I want your feedback and requests for the new year!  Let me know what you'd like to hear about. Send your ideas to: Questions@IntrepidEntreprenur.net “Serving you through this podcast, through Intrepid Entrepreneur & through the Alliance is my favorite thing to do” -Kristin Carpenter Ogden (click to tweet)  

Show Notes: IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/The-Right-Audience-Johannes-Ariens How much have you accomplished this year? Maybe 2016 has been a big year for you and your company-I know it has been full of surprises for me.   My guest on this episode is Johannes Ariens, and he's here for the second time this year to talk about the second project he's successfully launched in 2016. Johannes is sharing how his new project LOGE met its Kickstarter goal in the first week, and what this means for how they're moving forward. We're talking about setting stretch goals and how to work towards them progressively. Johannes is also discussing how he's using multiple channels to drive people to their campaign, and what these channels all bring to the perception of your brand. We're digging into communicating with the right people, not the most people, and giving those people an authentic, inside look at your work. I hope you enjoy this episode – It's part training, part inspiration and 100% entertaining! Bravery and Business Quote “If you push, something's got to happen. No matter what, you're going to learn from that.” Johannes Ariens (click to tweet) The Cliff Notes Think about entry-level consumers. How can you make your business or community more accessible to people who might be interested, but inexperienced? Don't be afraid of being uncomfortable. If you're comfortable, you're probably not challenging yourself enough. Push really hard. Either way, something is going to happen and you're going to learn from the experience. Acknowledge what you're bad at. Work on improving those skills and know how to delegate and take advice from experienced experts. Active and engaged followers are much more valuable than many, uninvolved followers. Quality means more than quantity. You don't need a global audience to be effective, you just need to be dialed in to who your audience is and how to connect with them. Figure out what people perceive your intent to be. Know what clients think that you support and work to bring that perception in line with your vision. Know your numbers. How many people do you need to invest in your project? How many purchases? Views? What, specifically, do you need to succeed? Set different kinds of goals. Have immediate goals and then set stretch goals to aim for next. Know where you're heading now and where you're heading next. Make time to talk to people beyond social media. Don't just share what you're doing online, but talk to people that you know and network in person. “If it's uncomfortable, then you're probably doing the right thing” Johannes Ariens (click to tweet)   Resources Twitter: @JohannesAriens Kickstarter for LOGE Camp LOGE Radify   Show Notes: IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/The-Right-Audience-Johannes-Ariens/

Show Notes: www.IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/Ron-Andrews/ How many of you are working in a small town? Maybe some of you, like me, sometimes work out of your house and love it. Well this episode is for you! I'm sitting down with Ron Andrews of King Cage. Ron runs this highly successful company from his home right here in Durango, and he's sharing is secrets to small-town success. We're getting into keeping with your founder's vision, knowing how big you want, or don't want, to your company to be, and keeping your business organized in your house.  Ron's also talking about how he got the idea for King Cage, and where his product line has expanded from his original product. For all of you trying to hustle outside the big city, this episode is full of advice from someone who's living the passion-driven entrepreneur's dream! Bravery and Business Quote “Quality and consistency is what you've really got to stick with.” Ron Andrews  (click to tweet)   The Cliff Notes Living near people who are experts in their field is a great asset to you, no matter where you live. Having customers who are excited about your product brings more enthusiasm and energy to your work and company psyche. Don't feel unable to leave your current job. Find a way to support yourself doing what you love. Look for trade shows in your industry to expand your reach and customer base.   Specialize your products. Once you have a product that sells well, look for ways to improve and personalize it to your niche. Add value to your product. What can you do to help your clients even more than you already are? Advertise at a rate that you can sustain your business. Don't look for orders so big you won't be able to fulfill them. Keep your company the size you want it. Don't feel pressured to expand or grow in ways that aren't consistent with your founder's vision. “It's easy to connect with a person because it is so intimate here and close.” Ron Andrews (click to tweet)   Resources   King Cage Interbike Expo   Show Notes: www.IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/Ron-Andrews/  

Show Notes: www.IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/Sonya-Looney/ So much has changed in how we market and sell products over the past few years.  It's not just about using social media, but about understanding what customers want from the brands they support. I'm sitting down with Sonya Looney, World Champion Cyclist, writer, speaker, and adventure seeker. We're talking about how she has re-designed and re-written the relationship between athletes and sponsoring companies.  Sonya's sharing how she got into cycling, and how that passion led her to leave her career twice to become an entrepreneur. We're getting into what companies should look for in the athletes they sponsor, and how athletes can market themselves better. It's not just about results!  This is a great episode for anyone looking to build their brand, or maybe even sponsor an athlete. Bravery and Business Quote “If you do the things that you love and put everything into it, it's going to grow in ways that you never could have imagined”  Sonya Looney (click to tweet)   The Cliff Notes Acknowledge what makes you excited. Sonya was working for a start-up and realized she loved the marketing side of things more than her job as an engineer. Protect your priorities. If a job or hobby is getting in the way of what you're passionate about, find a way to rearrange. Don't be afraid to pivot in your career. Just because you've spent years growing in it, or getting a degree doesn't mean you should stay if you're not happy. Look for partners that have the same passion and following/ clients as you. What brands are attracting the same kind of community that you want to be a part of? Pay attention to what makes other people good at their jobs. Even people in other markets, what makes them so effective? Pull those things into your practice. Focus on two way communication. Respond to people who engage with you on social media, and keep track of what they're enjoying. Do what you love and believe in. If you're working hard towards what you're passionate about, people will take notice and stay connected. Worry less about an athlete's racing results than about what they can bring to your product. What can this athlete's personality and following bring to your company? “It's not just about putting content out there, it's about responding to every person that you can that's engaging with you”  Sonya Looney“ (click to tweet)   Resources   Sonya Looney's Website Sonya Looney on TED Talk   Show Notes: www.IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/Sonya-Looney/  

Show Notes: www.IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/Brent-Reinke/ Who do you go to for business advice? Outside of the people in your life who support you emotionally, who do you rely on for experienced advice about where your company is going? I'm sitting down with Brent Reinke, co-founder of Vapur and attorney and advisor to entrepreneurs for over 25 years, and we're talking about the importance of having an advisory board. It's all for the benefit of your company! Brent's getting into how to look for advisors and setting up clear expectations. He's also sharing how having the right advisors can save you from making mistakes, and make you look better to investors, even when you're just starting out. Even if you don't think your business is right for a formal advisory council, this is an amazing episode about getting advice and the importance of having a strong network to keep your business healthy. Bravery and Business Quote “Finding advisors comes down to finding people that have a high-degree of passion because they've done it.”  Brent Reinke (click to tweet) The Cliff Notes Advisory board members can help new entrepreneurs to avoid mistakes and navigate pitfalls as they get started and develop. You can have a formal or an informal group of advisors, depending on the needs of your company and how much of a network of support you already have. Advisory boards and members may change as your company evolves and starts looking towards new goals. Most early stage companies don't need a formal set of advisors. They need to have people around and available, but this doesn't need to be a traditional board format. How you compensate advisors depends on what stage your company is at, what kind of financing it has and what requirements there are of the advisors. Who you ask to be an advisor is very industry specific. Do some networking to find people in your field who have experience, and then look to industry professionals, lawyers, accountants, etc. for their expertise. Set expectations with your advisors. How much time will you want them to set aside? When will you meet with them? What kind of advice are they expected to provide? How will they be compensated? It's not just knowledge and experience that advisors bring to the table, but also their own networks. Leverage your advisors into better financing. You might not have the expertise investors are looking for, but your advisory board might. “It's critically important as you talk about this idea of board advisors to set proper expectations on both sides.” -Brent Reinke  (click to tweet) Show Notes: www.IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/Brent-Reinke/

Show Notes: IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/Matt-Inglot Freelancing can be a tough market. Not only do you have to hustle to build up your client base when you get started, but even when you're established you can worry that every job is your last. It's an exhausting field if you're not organized.  Matt Inglot of Freelance Transformation is here to give us the Dos and Don'ts of getting started as a freelancer, and to talk about expanding your business once you've got things going. He's getting into sticking to your goals, holding on to your vision, and getting recurring revenue. Matt's also sharing his advice on the importance of going to events to meet clients, and how you should decide which events to attend. As Matt says, freelancing is all about relationships. Matt's offering some great resources from his company, Freelance Transformation. If you're even considering freelancing, you'll want to give this a listen. Bravery and Business Quote “You have to be very intentional with the type of work you want to be doing. Decide what type of work is going to allow you to meet your goals” - Matt Inglot (Click to Tweet) The Cliff Notes Stay intentional with your clients and what type of client you want to work with. Will they help you get closer to your goals? Consider your financial and lifestyle requirements in what clients you accept. Know what your criteria are and be comfortable saying no. Make sure you have your business model figured out as a freelancer before you try to branch into having employees. Look for ways to meet people face to face. Go out and meet with people at events and conferences build connections. Be where your prospective clients will be. Follow up on meetings. It's easy to get busy and forget to send those emails, but they're so important to building connections. 3 Things New Freelancers Should Do      Have clarity around the clients and projects you want to take on      Collect clients and opportunities that you can keep working for and not just one-time jobs.   Get out of the house and meet with people face to face. “In freelancing and agenting, relationships are the number one thing.”  - Matt Inglot (Click to Tweet) Resources Freelance Transformation: FreelanceTransformation.com Tilted Pixel: TiltedPixel.com Podcast : FreelanceTransformation.com/blog/podcast Bonuses for Intrepid Listeners from Freelance Transformation: FreelanceTransformation.com/Intrepid Double Your Freelancing Conference: DoubleYourFreelancing.com/conf/ Show Notes: IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/Matt-Inglot

Show Notes: http://intrepidentrepreneur.net/david-kortje Have you started a business or venture in the past few years, and are not sure where to go next? Maybe you're trying to expand your appeal to more customers? In this second Hot Seat Coaching episode, I'm sitting down with David Kortje of Bliss Bouldering and Climbing Complex to answer his questions about marketing, outreach, and what to focus on next. We're getting into using loyal customers as ambassadors, partnering with other brands, and trying to share the experience of your work with potential consumers. David and I are also talking about getting statistics on your customers and followers, and learning what obstacles might be keeping more people from getting involved. For anyone trying to build their consumer appeal and get more people involved in their business, this a great episode full of hands-on advice. Bravery and Business Quote “How do we share the authenticity of our story and our passion? How do we tap into the community and get more people to join?” - David Kortje (click to tweet) The Cliff Notes Study your followers on Facebook and any other social media. Get data on the ages and interests of the people who pay attention to you and are coming to your events. Facebook live video and other video mediums are a gateway to showing people what you can do. Show your audience what it's like in your gym or business and the kinds of people involved in your community. Look for events to bring people in and introduce them to your business. Host events like an open house or anniversary party for people to feel invited in to just see how things work. Try to get local coverage. Talk to local news affiliates or reporters to get them to come to your space and film, do a feature article or special event coverage. Use loyal customers as ambassadors to recruit people. They can invite friends, or talk about how much involvement has changed their lives to bring people in. Set goals for membership, sales, and outreach, a specific outreach plans so that you have something to work and plan towards. Retail is changing. Look for ways to bring the experience of your business to other people, either through mobile events or outside events. Go to potential customers who might not come to you. Think about other brands and companies your clients might be using to co-market with. What brands might share clients with you and be interested in hosting an event or marketing campaign with you? “We're trying to put a narrative around climbing so that people can will understand the community and the soul around it.”  -David Kortje  (click to tweet) Resources Climb Bliss ClimbBliss.com Blog: ClimbBliss.com/Blog Hey Press media contacts : Hey.Press Show Notes: http://intrepidentrepreneur.net/david-kortje

Listen at: Intrepidentrepreneur.net/saying-no How often have you quit something, only to come back to it? When you're driven by passion for an idea, it keeps coming back until you get it right. Olympic gold medalist Kristin Armstrong is sharing why she retired twice from the sport, and how she came back each time to win again. We're getting into making goals, prioritizing your time, and creating your own solutions to the changes life throws at you. Kristin's also sharing how she and her husband got the idea for their startup K-Edge, and where the company is heading next. They're listening to their customers! This is such a great episode about mental toughness, creative solutions, and learning to say “No.” You won't want to miss it! Bravery in Business Quote “There are things you have to decide that are essential and things you have to remove from your life” - Kristin Armstrong (click to tweet) Cliff Notes:   Kristin Armstrong is a three time Olympic gold medalist in cycling in 2008, 2012, 2016.  She has retired from cycling twice and both times was brought back by her love of cycling. It takes mental toughness to succeed. Iron will is required to set your sights on a goal and then make it through all the little steps to get yourself there. When something isn't working, adapt. Life circumstances change, so you need to be willing to adjust your plan to your current situation in order for it to success. Don't be afraid to remove things from your life. You can't do everything, so decide which things are the most important to you and prioritize. Don't let in the outside noise. Focus on the task in front of you and don't feel the need to explain yourself to your critics. Create your own solutions to problems. Kristin and her husband designed a chain catcher to prevent her from losing the chain on her bike during competitions. Listen to your customers and know where the market is heading. K-Edge has expanded to provide solutions to other issues that cyclists have, some in response to questions and ideas from customers.   “The most important thing is you have to enjoy your journey” - Kristin Armstrong (click to tweet) Resources: K-Edge.com KristinArmstrongUSA.com Listen at: Intrepidentrepreneur.net/saying-no

Listen at:  Intrepidentrepreneur.net/nathan-rose What's the difference between crowdfunding and equity crowdfunding? And how do you know which one, if either, is right for your company? I'm sitting down with Nathan Rose of Assemble Advisory, an equity crowdfunding agency, to get his inside scoop on what makes it worth using equity to access capital. Nathan's talking about researching platforms, getting to know your customers, and deciding how to spend your time. You can't do everything! We're also getting into the difference between equity investors and mass crowdfunding, and what you can expect from both groups. Nathan's offering a few sneak-peeks into what he has to say about these different techniques in his new book, Equity Crowdfunding.   Equity crowdfunding is changing, it's not just for brand new startups anymore. Whether you're just getting started or looking to expand, Nathan's full of expert advice on how to approach this new opportunity. Bravery in Business Quote “Equity crowdfunding allows you to raise much more money than a Kickstarter campaign” - Nathan Rose (click to tweet)   Cliff Notes: Equity crowdfunding campaigns should be run differently than crowdfunding campaigns. The marketing plans are very different because you're looking for different kinds of investors. Shareholders in equity crowdfunding will be around for the long term.  They should expect to not make money for a while, until the company sells or becomes large enough that other people are willing to buy Investors in equity crowdfunding are often more experienced. They know what to expect and the risks involved. Equity crowdfunding used to just be for startups, but now it's starting to be used by existing companies looking to expand and branch out. Stay in touch with your investors, even when you don't have big news. Shareholders should be given regular updates on how your company is doing, not just when you're raising money. Crowd funding is public in a way that asking for money from the bank isn't. Even if your campaign isn't successful, it gains positive media attention and helps your business to get organized and self-evaluate. Larger companies used to pay lots of money for information on their clients and potential customers. Crowdfunding allows you direct access and feedback from your clients. Spend your time in proportion to the money. One investor with a lot of assets is worth going out to meet and talk with, sometimes more than a lot of small social media interactions. Before you start any crowdfunding, make sure that you've validated your product and have guaranteed that there is market interest in your company. Do your research before choosing a platform. Make sure you know the audience and policies of each platform.   “It's important to communicate with investors even when you don't have big news to say” - Nathan Rose (click to tweet) Resources: AssembleAdvisory.com Book: Amazon.com/Equity-Crowdfunding-Complete-Startups-Companies   Listen at:  Intrepidentrepreneur.net/nathan-rose  

Show Notes: IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/Sarah-Carpenter We talk a lot about bootstrapping and starting up a brand-new business on this podcast. But this week I'm getting input about a different kind of entrepreneurial challenge: taking over a legacy brand. Sarah Carpenter is sharing what made her and her partners decide to buy the American Avalanche Institute, and how they've been working to refine and expand the idea of its founder. It's all about passion and commitment to a greater, shared vision. We're getting into the benefits and challenges of having business partners, working on a team, and the importance planning ahead. Sarah's also talking about the value of community in the outdoor markets, and taking advantage of her resources. This is such an insightful episode not just for those of you taking over an older business, but for anyone working in a community.   Bravery in Business Quote “The approach that has helped me is just a willingness to learn, a willingness to take in information and adapt to new ideas, new approaches.” - Sarah Carpenter (click to tweet) The Cliff Notes Before you start a new venture, ask yourself “Am I able and excited to carry on this project?” Think of your business partners as a sort of second marriage. You're committed to them and to a bigger project, so you work hard to communicate clearly and respectfully.   Look for the big picture. Don't just hire people who share your vision, but look for people that are also industry professionals and bring their own skill sets to the table. Have a plan and a conversation about it with your team before you walk out the door or start a new project. Don't plan to make decisions along the way. Always be willing to learn and take in new information and ideas.  You can be strong-willed and opinionated, but don't block out the input of other people. Be a resource for your customers in as many mediums as possible. Respect the value of the community you work in, and take advantage of the resources and expertise of others in your field.   “But I think the beauty of our industry is not only are we passionate, but we also come from this place of wanting to do good.” - Sarah Carpenter (click to tweet) Resources: americanavalancheinstitute.com avalanche.institute@gmail.com avalanche.org Facebook: American Avalanche Institute, https://www.facebook.com/americanavalancheinstitute/ Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat : @avyinstitute Show Notes: IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/Sarah-Carpenter

We've all heard people talk about “hustle”, the drive that keeps you going even when you're having to do the nitty gritty work that doesn't thrill you. It's an important part of any entrepreneur's toolbox. My guest this week has a serious amount of hustle and an equal amount of passion for what he's doing. Neil Patel is the co-founder of marketing software programs including KISSmetrics and Crazy Egg, as well as the co-author of a new book, Hustle: The Power to Charge Your Life with Money, Meaning, and Momentum. Neil's talking with me about one of the biggest questions we all face: what exactly is my passion? He's giving me some tips on how to find the things that you're actually excited about and let go of the things you only think you're excited about. We're also digging into working backwards to achieve your goals, what to do with feedback and criticism, and focusing on quality content to drive up traffic. Neil is a highly successful entrepreneur as well as a marketing genius, I'm thrilled he's here to share his expert knowledge--you'll want to take advantage of his advice.   Bravery in Business Quote “You're going to make mistakes as an entrepreneur. But if you can avoid making those same mistakes over and over again, you'll increase your chance at succeeding.” - Neil Patel (click to tweet)   Cliff Notes The internet is becoming more personalized. Now, it knows your location what you and your friends like and tries to show you information based on that. Neil thinks it's going to become even more extreme in the future and make faster connections in terms of marketing. Co-market with people who already have a good audience for your product. Look for people with established followings that would also be interested in your work, and joint venture with them on a project. It can feel like the middle class is disappearing and like there is no way to success if you weren't born wealthy, but this isn't true. People need to start looking for nontraditional ways to the top, since the traditional methods are no longer working. Work backwards. Think of your goal, and then write down what you need to do to get to that goal. Then, just try to spend 10 minutes on one of the steps. After 10 minutes, evaluate if what you're doing is helping you get closer to the goal or not. You're going to make a lot of mistakes as an entrepreneur. When you realize you've made a mistake, sit down and think about why it happened. Learn from what you did so that you don't make the same mistake over again. When people tell you know, or criticize you after a failure, choose to listen to their feedback. You don't have to follow their advice or internalize the criticisms, but listen to it and evaluate it as you keep pushing forward. If you're not passionate about what you're doing, don't do it. Only do things that you're really passionate about right now, because once you lose the spark, it's really hard to reignite it. Try different things. Sometimes, we don't know what we're actually passionate about. Start something, and if you don't love it, stop it and start something else. What you love now is not always what you thought it would be ten years ago. Focus on quality over quantity. Create the best content, not just a lot of it, and then work on getting people to come to your site. Spend more time marketing than creating content. If your content is really good, it's more likely that clients and visitors to your site will quote and link to it to share the content. This kind of marketing is much more effective than self-promotion.   Kristin is giving away 5 copies of his book.   “I would say that with passion, the biggest problem that people face is actually not knowing what they're passionate about.” - Neil Patel (click to tweet) Resources   HustleGeneration.com NeilPatel.com CrazyEgg.com KissMetrics.com HelloBar.com Listen at:  intrepidentrepreneur.net/neil-patel

Show Notes: IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/diane-martinez How many times have you planned an event and not known how approach getting the word out? Marketing and community building can be overwhelming, there are so many different strategies and mediums to work with! I'm getting super practical on this week's podcast, and answering questions from Diane Martinez, co-founder of the Rough Riders cycling event in Angel Fire, New Mexico, about how to grow attendance at this amazing event. We're talking through Diane's current strategy to build attendance, and then I'm digging into how to spread the word by using your email list, rewarding loyalty, and getting faithful customers to share their experiences. We're also discussing into the importance of a good website, when to do a marketing push, and how to get organized with your blog posts! This special episode is full of hands-on advice for any entrepreneur looking to raise awareness and build community around their product. Bravery in Business Quote “Often times you just have to ask people to do something, and they'll do it. That's the Call to Action. It's a simple thing” - Kristin Carpenter-Ogden (click to tweet) Cliff Notes: Use email lists effectively. Don't make the assumption that people don't want to hear from you very often. Make sure you're sending quality content that people will want to read, but give them the benefit of the doubt in terms of interest. Who is your ideal avatar? What stories do they want to hear from you, and how are you going to connect them with that? Don't think of these as obstacles, but as plans to get organized to address. Create special ways to reward loyalty and get people to keep coming back. Send VIP communications to your loyal customers, with special information and opportunities tailored to this group. At events, think of a way to treat your long term customers in a way that will makes others want to become one, but without seeming exclusive. Ask fans what kind of resource based content they might like more of. Look for what people are interested in, and what you can do to respond to those special interests. Your website is a point of entry for possible new clients. Offer information about the experience of your product, rather than the facts. Think about why your project is unique, and show that to your customers. Set up a themed editorial content calendar to organize your appeals and marketing pushes. Organize your blogs and emails around these themes, for consistency and to showcase special aspects of the event/product. If you're referencing other companies, sites or locations, tag them in your posts, and send a quick email letting them know they've been featured. Consider also sending them a quick line or two to post on their own site about your event's use of their space, photos, etc. Use raving fans to reach out to other people. Feature them in blog posts, or let them do an Instagram takeover to show people the event through their eyes, what they will get to experiences as a participant or customers. If it's worked, don't get rid of your original marketing plan, but expand it into new venues to appeal to different kinds of clients. Just because paper fliers are working doesn't mean that social media won't be effective with also, or with a different demographic. Be remarkable to your avatar, but pay attention to their needs. Position all your other options and products as resources to help them achieve their goals, not lesser products.   Use paid positioning on social media/ marketing strategically. Wait until an important moment, or a new product, so that people will have something new and interesting to click on. “You want to try and be remarkable to your avatar and not to everyone” - Kristin Carpenter-Ogden (click to tweet) Resources: RoughRiders200.com EventBrite.com Show Notes: IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/diane-martinez

There are a lot of pieces that go into building a strong company. Name recognition, brand identity, consumer support, marketing plans, you name it, we need it! But there's one thing no company survive without, and that is an amazing product. Nathan Chan, founder of Foundr magazine and online resource for entrepreneurs, is talking with me on this episode about how to focus on building an assets-based company. We're getting into the building blocks of any successful company, how to begin simple and  expand once you're ready. Nathan has so much experience with online and print media, he's letting us in on how these two platforms can help to build a wide identity for your business. He's digging into how to handle social media – what it can help you to build and when to be wary of it. Remember, you don't own the platform, so it can only get you so far! We're also talking about the life of the passion-driven entrepreneur, asset building, and how to think like a start-up!  Get ready to take some notes!

Being a passion driven entrepreneur is one thing, but incorporating that passion into everything that you do is another, even more challenging endeavor. My guest this week is not only a highly successful Colorado entrepreneur, but he is also giving back to the state by investing energy in what he loves: outdoor sports. Ken Gart has run and started several successful sporting goods companies and other ventures, but most importantly he is currently the Bike Czar of Colorado. Ken and I are talking about the current state of the outdoor sports markets. There are a lot of shake-ups underway, but don't worry – it's not all bad! We're getting into what sets small business apart and how these differences can lead to success in ways that big companies can't match. We're also getting into the Colorado bike initiative, what's making Ken so motivated to throw his time and energy into this big project, and how he's trying to get others to emotionally buy in. Ken is so passionate about the field he's working in, and he's managed to turn all of this excitement into success, several times over. He's an inspiration for all of us passion driven entrepreneurs, whatever field it's in. Bravery in Business Quote “I think there's still opportunities in the retail world, but the applecart has been upset, and it ain't going to be fixed.” - Ken Gart (click to tweet) Cliff Notes: Ken Gart, is an entrepreneur. His investments range from specialty retailing to real estate development to large sporting goods companies. He is currently the Bike Czar of Colorado, as titled by the Governor. The outdoor sporting goods industry is going through a time of change. The major retailers are still big players, but they're not as flexible as smaller companies. Innovators can respond to the market faster and more efficiently than big business. Right now, big companies stuck with an old business model are the most vulnerable. The smaller companies can create more loyalty and find new opportunities in specialty communities. Smaller companies should focus on becoming the hub for the people they serve, online or in a physical community. Let your skills from other ventures and experiences help with your current work. Ken brought his business skills and ski rental experience to the table when he started helping with the bike sharing initiative in Denver. Let people know when you're really committed to a project. If you want people to go all in, make sure they know you are 100% committed to it also. When Ken saw that the governor was really committed to building bike infrastructure in Colorado, he was much more willing to put in more of his time and money to help out. Show people the value of your products, don't just tell them. In working on the bike infrastructure initiative, Ken has been doing bike trails with the governor and gotten some state officials out with them to ride. Get partners and clients to emotionally buy in. Get advice from someone in your field. Ken found a national company doing the same non-profit work that he is starting in Colorado, promoting bikes and biking infrastructure, and got them to give him advice and guidance.   “Everybody can bike. I think it's such a great way of sharing the outdoors and sharing the lifestyle and the health and wellness initiative through sport” - Ken Gart (click to tweet) Resources: GartCompanies.com https://goo.gl/4FsSn2 : State of Colorado's announcement to invest $100 million in bicycle infrastructure link: PeopleForBikes.org Show notes at: IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/ken-gart

Running a business is a lot of work. Who am I kidding, I'm sure you all know this. I certainly feel like there's a lot on my plate with just my two endeavors. But my guest for this episode is a retired professional cyclist, an author, and currently has four entrepreneurial endeavors underway. George Hincapie is an athlete I've always admired and I've come to respect him even more so after reading his memoir, The Loyal Lieutenant: Leading Out Lance and Pushing Through the Pain on the Rocky Road to Paris. George is sharing his experience of almost two decades in the cycling industry, and how this experience has benefitted him as an entrepreneur. We're talking about developing character, the importance of a positive mindset, and having a team mentality to get things done. He's also discussing how crucial his support network has been, and how he's chosen to be supportive in the small, competitive field of cycling. George is a versatile and hard-working entrepreneur, working in several different industries. He's got great advice on investors, character, and keeping your eye on the prize. No matter what industry you work in, you won't want to miss this conversation. Bravery in Business Quote “I mean, if you let doubt enter your mind while you're going into a race —Then you're already behind the 8-ball.” - George Hincapie (click to tweet) Cliff Notes: Retired professional cyclist and past owner of Hincapie sportswear. Currently involved in several entrepreunrial endeavors, including Hincapie Racing Team, Gran Fondo, and Hotel Domestique. Hincapie Sportswear has their own factory in Colombia, run by George's Aunt and Uncle. (Kristin said she wanted this in the shownotes) Bootstrapping and looking for investors are not mutually exclusive business strategies. You can have investors and still be running much of daily operations and marketing yourself. Think of more intimate ways to get to know your clients. Trade shows and large professional events are not always a great value for the time and finances required to attend. Hincapie Sportswear flew all of their biggest buyers out to Hotel Domestique to show them the new lines of product last year. Use connections you have from other endeavors or lines of work to grow your business. George brought his biking contacts and knowledgeability to each of his new businesses. Team is everything. Focus on being a good teammate, and a good leader. Trust people to do what they do best, and don't micromanage. Try to be the best team member, not the best individual. Sometimes great ideas come to you when you're doing something else. George got a lot of his ideas for his book while biking. Get away from the office. Outside support is important in any endeavor. It's important to have the support of your teammates and co-workers, but also that of your family and close friends. George's parents supported him in his early years, and his wife was a huge help during the book writing process.   “The difference is, on a level playing field, a lot has to with your mindset” - George Hincapie Resources: http://www.georgehincapie.com/ http://hincapie.com/ http://www.hincapieracing.com/ http://hoteldomestique.com/ http://granfondohincapie.com/   Blog Ideas Supporting and building teamwork and character in your business/team Having a good mentality to win Bringing strengths and traits from other experiences to your business Show notes at: intrepidentrepreneur.net/george-hincapie-2/

Full Show Notes, with Bullet Points and Links to Resources, can be found at IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/focus-on-process At some point in time, everyone has gotten stuck. Stuck in the mud, stuck in the snow, stuck in a situation we want out of. For us passion driven entrepreneurs, it's often stuck on an idea we love that's struggling to become a reality. As those of you who follow me know, the past few months have been pretty rough on me. I've been stuck. But I did found a way to work through it, and I want to share my process with all of you. This episode is a special Intrepid Entrepreneur Solocast, but it's also an audio training on how to get unstuck. I've devised a five step process to help you open your mind to new approaches and re-evaluate your strategy. Being too comfortable can get in the way of making amazing changes! It's about doing what you love, failing forward, and focusing on the process. I'm also sharing some books, resources, and quotes that have helped me work through this un-sticking process, and start to rethink my game plan for Intrepid. You'll want to take a look. These are tested strategies specific to passion driven entrepreneurs. So what are you stuck on? Get ready to try something new! Full Show Notes, with Bullet Points and Links to Resources, can be found at IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/focus-on-process

Show notes:  Intrepidentrepreneur.net/michael-engleman As we head into the grand finale of this year's racing season, there is so much momentum behind women's cycling. You might have even seen some of the events during the Rio Olympics, I can say that I almost wore myself hoarse shouting at the screen!    I'm super excited have Michael Engleman of Mission Sports Group with me on this episode to be talking about the movement of women's cycling and how he's working to turn all of this momentum into growth and sponsorships. Michael's telling stories about individual cyclists and inspirational stories of teams that are being built, because stories sell. He's sharing how to get these stories out, and how to use narrative to approach sponsors and investors. Sometimes, you have to present them with an idea for their brand identity they hadn't even thought of!         For anyone interested in trying to expand the reach and interest of their industry, or anyone like me who just loves women's cycling, this episode is for you! Bravery in Business Quote “You're trying to change the world, not just capture a bigger piece of the market that's already there.” - Michael Engleman (click to tweet) Cliff Notes Michael Engleman, founder and owner of Mission Sports Group, a company that supports women's cyclists It doesn't matter where you start your company as long as you know how to get the resources you need.  Michael runs Missions Sports group out of a small town in Colorado, but there are a lot of intellectual and technological resources for him to tap into. Women's cycling right now is full of big personalities and stories and cyclists with their own angles and ideas. This makes the industry more interesting to cover and to follow, generating momentum. Use stories to build interest and involvement with your company. Local bike shops can be connected with youth programs, but without someone (like Michael) to get this story out, no one will know. Being passionate about what you're selling will make you a good salesperson, more than just being good at talking about it. People notice and connect with authenticity. Show prospective investors and/or sponsors the potential in getting involved with your industry. Pitch them how this is an opportunity for new markets, or to expand their brand identity in ways not previously considered. Momentum makes change happen faster. Women's cycling is a smaller industry than men's, but with all the stories coming out of it, the rate at which more people get involved and grow the market is changing quickly.   “I think those of us that believe in the sport and those of us that see the story, need to start telling it in a bigger way.” - Michael Engleman (click to tweet) Resources: MissionSportsGroup.com Total Women's Cycling coverage of Team Africa Rising: TotalWomensCycling.com Jason Gay WSJ article on Mara Abbott WSJ.com/articles Show notes:  Intrepidentrepreneur.net/michael-engleman

  Show Notes: IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/ty-crandall How many times have you filled out business credit applications, and had to use your personal credit to get approval?  Did you know that businesses have a credit report all of their own? This week on Intrepid Entrepreneur, Ty Crandall of Credit Suite is sharing the secret to applying for and building your business' credit, and how to keep your personal credit out of it. He's explaining how to get your business ready to apply for credit, and where to go first to build this credit. I'll give you a hint: it's not the bank. We're also digging into the benefits of working on business credit instead of personal credit. As Ty says, “Anybody can bootstrap a business, it just takes longer.” There's so much important, practical business information in this episode, so get ready to take notes on this one!  Bravery in Business Quote “The truth behind crowdfunding is they're set up that way. . .They already had tons of money from people.” -- Ty Crandall (click to tweet)   Cliff Notes   Ty Crandall, owner of Credit Suite, a company that helps entrepreneurs build a credit report for their business. People don't realize that their business have credit and a credit score because no one talks about it or teaches them how to start building this credit. A lot of businesses qualify for financing, but don't know where to get it since bank loans are often the most rigorous to obtain. Anybody can pull your business credit report without permission. For personal credit, people need permission but business information is public. It doesn't take much time to get your business credit started. But it takes more time to build your credit, fill out applications, etc. Just like personal credit, business credit grows and changes with the business. If you have the business credit, you won't need to ensure your business' finances with your personal credit, but can rely on the company's EIN and credit score to get financing. It's a great way to protect your individual finances. Business credit can speed up the start time of your company, because it gives you access to more funding and makes your business more credible. You can finance everything with your own credit, but it takes longer. Crowdfunding can require a lot of money upfront. A lot of successful crowdfunding drives come into it with a lot of backers and financial support and are using the campaign as more of a PR event.   Steps to Building Business Credit Get your business credible on paper. Need: website, email address, address, phone number, specific to your business even if you work from home. Make sure every line on an application Go to “secret” vendor sources that will give credit to your business. They will give you credit even when you have none, and will report it to business credit reporting agencies so you can start building your credit. Take that to major businesses/retailers to apply for business credit cards. Start leaving out your SSN on applications. Leave that blank so that they will have to start pulling your business' EIN to check business credit instead of personal credit.   “You can really go out right in the beginning and start obtaining capital through business credit without that personal guarantee“ - Ty Crandall (click to tweet)   Resources CreditSuite.com YouTube.com/channel (youtube channel)   Show Notes: IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/ty-crandall  

In passion driven entrepreneurship, one of the biggest and most rewarding challenges is overcoming negative thinking. This year, there's been a lot of talk about changes and instability in the bike industry. But for creative entrepreneurs like my guest this week, Andre Shoumatoff of Park City Bike Demos, change can be a huge opportunity! Andre's sharing how he and his partners used their knowledge of bikes and the current struggles of the industry to pivot into a new model of selling and renting bikes. We're also discussing how to notice and respond to optimization points to grow your business, and what to do with customer feedback. For anyone wondering how to turn what's not working into a success, this episode is eye-opening. Andre's got some amazing insights on evaluating the industry, advertising partnerships, and listening to your customers. Bravery in Business quote “We really do believe that we've stumbled on to something, and it's been literally a brutal, brutal chore to get there.”- Andre Shoumatoff (click to tweet) Cliff Notes Started Park City Demos with some friends as a mobile bike rental business. 20% bike sales, 80% rentals, hoping to go on to sell a bike to 1 in 10 renters Pay attention to market demand and adjust your business/inventory according to these points of optimization. Originally, Park City Demos was only selling and renting expensive bikes, but they quickly learned there was a demand for a wider variety of bikes. Now, highest selling bikes are cruisers. Started co-marketing with other brands on digital marketing, which brought in a lot of people. This strategy can work really well, but only if you are well versed in it and working with a good partner. Figure out what business like yours that are going under have done wrong.  Identify what needs fixed in these business models so that you can pivot away from it. The traditional bike shop is slowly going away. Andre and his co-founders have evaluated the reasons these stores are suffering and are working to create new models for bike rentals and sales to make Park City Demos a success. Work on building customer experience. Collect customer data to see what people perceive your business to be, and then adjust to portray your message more clearly. Keep track of customer requests/ responses so that you will have a record to see what ideas/products that you're not selling are the most in demand. Park City Demos keeps a simple excel spreadsheet of all their customer requests. “If we do a good job with our tools, our sales, structure or standard operating procedures, and our technology, and then little things like physical space, etc. then we think we can sell bikes” - Andre Shoumatoff Resources: parkcitybikedemos.com Show notes: http://intrepidentrepreneur.net/andre-shoumatoff

What is it that first drew you to the outdoor sports markets? Where did that first spark of passion for entrepreneurship in the outdoor markets come from? For so many of us, the answer is simple: we love outdoor sports, and we had a great idea for how to improve the experience! What isn't often discussed is the overlap in the psychology of being an entrepreneur, and that of an endurance athlete. So many of the skills that we learn from athletics and the outdoors are directly relevant to the experience of getting a business started and sustaining it. To shed even more light on this overlap, I'm taking with Matt Fitzgerald, author of How Bad Do You Want It, on what he's learned about “endurance psychology”, the psychology of mind over muscle that gets people through tough physical competitions. In writing this book, Matt did case studies of athletes like Ned Overend, Siri Lindley and John "The Penguin" Bingham. He's discussing what it is that motivates and sustains them to such high levels. We're talking about passion, drive, and the “why” that are necessary to win races, and to start a business. Matt and I are also discussing something that I personally struggle with – the courage to start! Just getting started on a business idea or in a sport can be daunting, to the point that some of us have ideas we've never looked into, sports we've never explored for fear of failure. These fears are limiters and obstacles that will come out in any stressful situation, and what has more potential for stress than the pursuit of our goals?  Matt's looked at endurance athletes that have overcome negative mentalities to go on to amazing careers, and he's sharing what he's learned. Endurance psychology is crucial for athletes in outdoor sports, entrepreneurs, or anyone with an achievement goal.  I've already read Matt's book three times, and I'm thrilled with the insights he's bringing to this week's podcast.   Bravery in Business Quote "The greatest athletic performances spring from the mind, not the body." - Matt Fitzgerald (Click to tweet) Cliff Notes There is a ton of overlap between endurance sports and being a passion-driven entrepreneur, and not just because a lot of entrepreneurs in the outdoor markets got into them through a love of outdoor sports. Any high performer in any kind of endeavor needs to know how to maintain passion. Make sure you're taking the time to nurture that passion and do what you enjoy outside, to bring that creativity back in and remember why you got into outdoor sports entrepreneurism in the first place. Working on a business with another person/ team sports/ mastermind groups can help you to aim for high performance goals, when team work & competition are on your side. Working in a competitive group can serve self-interest and personal goals, while also serving the goals of team mates. Everyone has limiters and obstacles and when we're stressed in pursuit of difficult goals, these limiters in our psychology will come out, and then we have to figure out how to overcome them. You have to know what personally motivates you in order to perform at the highest levels. What is the meaning of this story/event/business, for you? These answers are not the same for every person, so you need to know what yours are. It can sometimes take the most courage just to start running, start expanding on or just looking into your business idea. You might not be the best at whatever sport, might not be the biggest in the industry, but you have to decide what the point is for you to work your hardest so that it's worth even beginning. You can start for any reason you want.  As long as you know what your reason is, this can give you the courage to begin. Kristin is giving away 5 signed copies of book “You need a fit body to be able to perform well as an endurance athlete, but your real fundamental limiter is your mind.” - Matt Fitzgerald (Click to tweet) Resources: MattFitzgerald.org VeloPress.com Show Notes: IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/Matt-Fitzgerald

Dear audience, this is a very special solocast from me, speaking raw and honest to you the night after presenting at Pitchfest. Those of you who have given pitches will know how I'm feeling – a weight lifted off to be finally done, but exhausted from a humbling and excruciating experience. Since I've been sharing with you my process in preparing this pitch deck, I wanted to let you in on how it went and the feedback I received from the judges. I'm digging into what the experience of Pitchfest was like for me as a presenter, how I kept myself in the moment during the event, and how I'm working through processing the critiques from our all-star panel of judges.      After the event, I feel like I'm at a real inflection point with Intrepid Entrepreneur. I am so passionate about supporting the outdoor markets but need to do some serious thinking about my business model.  This solocast is a short, unscripted reaction from me after Pitchfest, and I'd love for you to listen to it and then let me know what you want more of from Intrepid. Shoot me an email at kco@intrepidentreprenur.net, I'm so grateful for all of you, dear audience, and would love you hear from you.   Show Notes: Intrepid Entrepreneur.net/post-pitch-fest

Kickstarter campaigns, wefunder, and equity crowdfunding—we've been talking a lot about new techniques for raising capital over the past few months! This week, I'm switching gears and talking with a colleague who works in a more traditional funding field: venture capitalism. Ben Rifkin, president of Royal Street Investment and Innovation Center and my mentor for the upcoming OWIC Pitchfest, is visiting this week's Intrepid Entrepreneur Podcast to share his experience working in venture capital, evaluating new companies and collaborating with them to meet goals.   Before you even start looking for capital and investors, Ben says you need to know what your end goal is and then think backwards. What kind of company is your startup going to grow up to be? He's sharing his thoughts on what kind of investments different types of companies might look for. It's about knowing whose attention you want to catch before you need it. We're also discussing how startups can benefit from both crowdfunding and venture investments. Running a strong crowdfunding campaign and getting your product out on time, as promised, can speak volumes to future investors. It says a lot about one of the most important assets a company can have—you, the founders! And these aren't the only ways you can use successful non-traditional sources of funding to prove your product to traditional investors! Ben's also letting us in on what he sees as the difference between tech startups and the outdoor markets, and how this changes the search for investors. Although crowd funding has given us entrepreneurs some amazing opportunities, this conversation with Ben sheds some really insightful light on what investors look for, how to think about and present the future of your business, and the wide range of options for those of us who might need capital to get to where we want to be.   Bravery in Business Quote “Whose radars do we need to be on? You should be able to name those companies before you even go out and look for money.” - Ben Rifkin (Click to tweet) Cliff Notes Venture capital is the most expensive money a company can take, because you have to give up pieces of your company to get it (equity). With venture, every time you make money you have to give away some of your company. For entrepreneurs, the benefit of non-traditional funding (crowd funding, etc.) is that you can access capital without losing control or having to give up a steak in your company. Venture capital is not for every company, but it opens pathways to very quick growth and can be lucrative, for the entrepreneur as well as for the acquiring company, in the right scenario. Companies with a good Kickstarter or crowdfunding campaign, that raise the money and then deliver the product on time, look really good to venture capitalists, and are more likely to get a strong consideration, Kickstarter can work as a proof of concept. Non-traditional funding can also allow companies to get a lot farther along before they start needing or seeking more traditional investments from firms. Two pathways to growth: Pour in a lot of money and focus on getting distribution up as fast as possible without worrying about bottom line. This is kind of an older model, and you often end up needing capital to fund operating costs, etc. Establish a track record and grow by connecting with consumers more directly through social media, platforms, etc. Take advantage of these developments for feedback and get to know your consumers. Venture capital firm puts a lot of value on founders, since they are usually the CEO, the person who has gotten the company up and running to the point that it's at, and they are the one who will see it through any changes in the future. A founder who was taken the time to get to know their customers, respond to feedback and pays attention to the metrics is a very important factor to venture capitalists. Any data an early stage company can gather to test their hypothesis and proof of product helps venture capital firms to know how far along the company is. Look for way to show them that it has been “de-risked”. Listening is a very important quality for an entrepreneur to have. Not just listening to an investor or mentor's advice and following it to the letter, but being open to suggestions and taking them into serious consideration. When thinking about sources of capital, it is important to think about the end goal of your business first. What is it trying to grow up to be? And from there, think backwards about what kinds of funding will get it there.   Outdoor markets are more competitive than technology markets. More competitive for consumers, and definitely more competitive if your goal is to be acquired by a venture capital firm. Some outdoor startups are looking to be more “lifestyle businesses”, meaning profitable, returning money to shareholders and very large. In this case, you probably don't want to get acquired by a venture capital firm. If you are looking to get acquired, you should know the names of the firms you're interested in and who's radar it's important to be on before you even start going out there to look for money. “The more data that an early stage company can kind of gather, the more that they can test their hypothesis about how to reach consumers, how to sell product. That, for us, helps to de-risk an investment.” - Ben Rifkin Resources RoyalStreet.vc OIWC.org/EventDetails   Show Notes: IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/Ben-Rifkin

As you may know, I reserve my solocasts for topics which have been nothing short of monumental in my journey as an outdoor founder. So this week, I'm talking with all of you about something that, having started two companies and been in the outdoor industries for fifteen years, I had never done up until a few weeks ago. What I'm talking about is . . . writing a pitch deck! In just a few weeks, I'll be presenting at the Outdoor Women's Industry Coalition Pitchfest. I'm super honored to have been selected to be one of this year's presenters, but it's a new and challenging experience for me. In preparing my own pitch deck for the event, I learned so much about building and rehearsing pitch decks and I'm excited to share this process with you. When I sat down to write my pitch, I had to really get to the nitty gritty and evaluate what my company needed, what I wanted to get from this experience. I had to know, specifically what my ask was. And then, I started reading about how to give an awesome pitch. In my solocast, I'm talking about the two most helpful resources to me in preparing this pitch deck, and the hard editing process I've been working through to get it just right. I'm also sharing some of the negative thoughts I'm refusing to believe about my pitch, and three steps for building an amazing pitch.   This pitch deck has been such a learning experience for me and for developing how I think about the needs of my company. I've never done one before, but I'm choosing to see this an asset, not a liability. If you don't know what can't be done, there's nothing to stop you. I hope you'll learn from my process and the resources I'm sharing. This episode is a must listen for anyone looking to pitch or promote their ideas!  Bravery in Business Quote “Well, the way I look at that is I've never done this before and that's actually my biggest advantage. Because what I don't know won't hurt me, right?” - Kristin Carpenter Ogden (Click to tweet) Cliff Notes Entrepreneurs should pitch a story, not just figures and facts. Struggled with two limiting ideas about writing this pitch. She refused to believe them, but they're still inside her head all the time. She didn't have enough time to write a good pitch deck. Only had six weeks from the time she found out she got in to the presentation. The pitch is only five minutes long. She is “incredibly verbose” so 5 minutes is a real challenge. Started telling herself that not having done this before was an advantage. Because she doesn't have the experience to know that it can't be done in 5 minutes, she's going for it. Rehearse your pitch in front of a variety of people to figure out what the different reactions are, and what engages each audience Edit out everything that isn't causing an emotional reaction. Even pitching financials, she tried to frame them in terms of a story, hot cognition. When giving the pitch, stay present because this will keep you confident. Confidence also comes from being well prepared.   3 Tips for Building a Pitch Deck        Focus on “hot cognition”, i.e. stories that will spark emotion (from Klaff).     Confidence creates flow. Be Confident.     Remember that you are just the vessel for the mission of the project. “I have two children in real life and I have two children in my business is I guess you'll love them both very much, not one over the other. They're very different.” (Click to tweet) Resources OIWC.org IntrepidEntrepreneur.net PitchAnything.com                                                                                     GetBacked.com Questions@IntrepidEntrepreneur.net   Show Notes: IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/pitchdeck

As many of you know only too well, starting a business can take a long time! But what we often don't count in the time it takes to start a business is all the history and experience from past ventures and adventures that make our skill set. All the things you have learned, ever, work together to make you the person you are. My guest on this week's Intrepid Entrepreneur Podcast, Josh Salvo, says his newest project has been seven years in the making. The most recent version of the ReddyYeti platform just launched a few months ago in March, but Josh says it couldn't have happened without his past experiences and websites. At age eighteen, Josh launched a website to help skiers find the right gear for their needs. He himself will admit he was young, and he didn't quite realize what he was getting into! Several projects and years later he and his partners are running ReddyYeti, a community for action sport enthusiasts to discover and help startups. ReddyYeti partners with startups creating amazing products and giving back to their communities. They host a podcast to interview founders, to share the passion and goals of the startups with the community. And they increase visibility of these startups through giveaways. Members of the ReddyYeti community can enter themselves in the giveaways, and gain extra entries by sharing with friends. Josh is telling me about how he and his two partners started ReddyYeti using The Lean StartUp Methodology: they found a cheap way to prove the value of their product, and took that to companies for partnerships! ReddyYeti is only a few months old and already has 2,400 members.  We're also taking about how Josh and his partners learned to pivot as they planned for ReddyYeti to launch, and their plans for the future of the site. And, he's sharing some of the amazing startups ReddyYeti has already partnered with! Bravery in Business Quote “Pushing yourself to a limit like that really helps you really get to know you kind of much deeper level” - Josh Salvo (Click to Tweet) Cliff Notes ReddyYeti is a community of action sport enthusiasts that want to help action sport start-ups get discovered and be found. They are solely geared towards helping start-ups related to outdoor action sports. Want to help get people outside and grow the community of outdoor sport enthusiasts by helping start-ups that they feel align with their values ethically, morally, and in terms of high quality products. Also, they want to work with businesses that are giving back to the environment or the community. When they partner with a business, they bring the founder(s) on their podcast so they can tell their story so people can find out more about them and why their started their business, to make it more personal so consumers can know who they're buying form. Startups partnering with ReddyYeti are also featured on their blog, and their products are in the ReddyYeti giveaway.   ReddyYeti community is currently 2,500 members and growing daily Members enter giveaways via email, and then are also given unique URLs to post/share, and they get more entries into the giveaways by sharing. At the end of a giveaway period the member with the most shares gets a gift card ($100 to evo) They were also doing e-reviews and articles on the products, but based on member feedback going to focus more on podcasts in the future. Josh started out at 18 with a website for skigear called MySkiProfile. Users would put in data about themselves and got products matched to their needs. Then ran the American Yeti, a website with contributors from across the country chiming in about outdoor sports. Just trying to build traction not make money. Operated it for a year, then dormant for a year. Then, Josh and his friends sat down in a basement and came up with the vision for Reddy the Yeti as a new logo/idea. He is Reddy the Yeti, always Ready to help you out and go on an adventure. This version of ReddyYeti just got launched in March 2016, but Josh says it was seven years in the making, had to experiment with all of these other projects to be the person he needed to be to get ReddyYeti started. Seven years of growth / experience has been helpful in getting ReddyYeti launched, and in how fast they have grown (only 5 months old). Josh and his partners (2) had a lot of connections from outdoor sports that helped. Tried to follow Lean Startup methodology: wanted to test product idea. They made a simple webpage with their plan and asked for emails from people who were interested, to be contacted when it launched, and to be automatically entered into 1st giveaway. Grew to 400 subscribers in a few weeks just by reaching out this way to people they knew. They used this as their proof of concept from Lean Startup. Took these numbers to 4 brands and launched their 1st giveaway and got 1,400 more subscribers. ReddyYeti 2.0 will be a platform with all the brands they've ever worked with on there, and any sales from that site Reddyyeti will get commission for. (This is how they plan to make money.) Josh grew up skiing on the east coast (Jersey) went to Utah for a winter in college, “best winter of my life”.  Now he lives in West Harlem NYC. Three partners own ReddyYeti, Josh, Drew (childhood friend) and Mott (college friend of Josh's)     “Instead that you buying from a company, you know who you're buying, you're buying from a person, sort of a community of people that come together to create this product.” - Josh Salvo (Click to Tweet) Resources   ReddyYeti.com Podcast: ReddyYeti-Blog-ReddyYeti-Discover Blog: ReddyYeti.com OIWC.org MountainRidersAlliance.com Culture.Evo.com Evo.com Show Notes: IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/Josh-Salvo

What are you passionate about? In the outdoor markets, and especially as entrepreneurs, passion is such an important asset. But it can also, sometimes, get in the way of our own clear thinking about the ideas and projects we're so in love with. This is why I'm so excited to be talking with Al Tabor, tech worker and market forecaster extraordinaire about what we in the outdoor markets can learn from tech start-ups. He's translating what he knows about how tech startups get going and making it applicable to outdoor startups. And it's working – Al has worked wonders with Sierra Designs, Mountain Headwear and recent visitors to the Intrepid Entrepreneur Podcast, Martin Zemitis of Slingfin, and Brad Stewart of Caravan Outpost. Al and I both know that the outdoor markets are a completely different animal than tech start-ups, but something Al says every entrepreneur should read is The Lean Start-up, by Eric Ries. Al is admittedly not a business book person, so if he says it's good, you better believe him! The Lean Startup mentality is all about learning. You need to learn what path your business is on, and if this path will lead to success! And, you need to learn it as fast and cheaply as possible, to save yourself a lot of time and heartache. This sounds overwhelming, but Al's talking me through the steps on how to evaluate your startup idea and find your minimum value product, your MVP! Something else that we entrepreneurs in the outdoor markets can also learn from tech—and from basketball!—is to pivot! If you find out your idea isn't working, keep one foot in it, and spin until you find a new opening. This is where passion can be a challenge to us outdoor market entrepreneurs. We're so in love with our project, we don't want to change anything. But Al says, you have to keep one foot in that passion, and use the other to pivot to a new way forward. Who knows what you'll find! Al's giving some great examples of what it looks like to pivot in the outdoor markets by talking about his work with Slingfin and Caravan Outpost. He's also discussing using the Root Cause Analysis system to hit the hard reality of any problem – in business or in your personal life.   Bravery in Business Quote   “The job of a startup is to learn. More than anything else, you have to figure out if you're on a path that's going to lead to some sort of success” - Al Tabor (click to tweet)         Cliff Notes Tech and outdoor markets are different animals, but can still both learn from Lean Startup Methodology Definition of a startup (from Reis) a human endeavor that's trying to deliver a product or a service under conditions of extreme uncertainty. The job of a startup is to learn what path it's on and if this will lead to success. Important to attract and reward investors. Try to make explicit your assumptions. Who are target customers, assumptions about distribution, etc.  Once you have made all of this explicit, test it. Find sales or feedback or metrics to validate the assumptions supporting the value of your proposition. If you can't support your proposition value, it's time to pivot (like in basketball). Keep one foot in what you know and spin to find a new opening. Passion can sometimes get in the way of a pivot, because you constrain yourself and are not willing to take one foot off the ground or experiment with an idea that you are in love with Pivoting is probably hard for most passion-driven founders. Need to keep one foot in the passion, and used the other to find a more viable way forward. Learn, Build, Measure cycle part of the Lean Startup. You want to find a way to shorten this cycle as much as possible for efficiency. 5 question approach (Reis calls it Root Cause Analysis, Tabor calls it Root Cause) / Six sigma methodology. Asking “why?” five times (or more!) until you get to the root causes, the “hard reality underpinning the situation” to find the corrective. Continuing to ask “why” can lead to finding an area in which you need to pivot. Leads to clarity. Passion is personal but you have to be clear about the business viability of the product. Minimum viable product (MVP): find the fastest, cheapest way to test your product viability/market to save yourself a lot of time and heartache. The sooner you know you need to pivot, the fast you can move.     The Lean Start-Up:           Step 1: Define your value of proposition         Step 2: Validate this proposition.         Step 3: If it's not going to work, pivot. Keep one foot in what you know, and spin around to find a new opening.   “You've got to listen to everybody but you don't have to take anybody seriously.” - Al Tabor (click to tweet) Resources SlingFin.com CaravanOutpost.com/ IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/Brad-Steward (Past IE podcast w/ Caravan Outpost founder) IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/Martin-Zemitis (Past IE Podcast w/Martin Zemitis) IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/Dylan-Enright/ (WeFunder IE Podcast) PeakDesign.com/ TheLeanStartup.com/ (Lean Startup book website) YouTube.com/watch?v=fEvKo90qBns (Eric Reis google talk referenced)   Show notes: IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/Al-Tabor

The internet has done some great things for us. Especially as entrepreneurs, being involved in the digital community of outdoor sports aficionados and companies is an amazing way to build contacts and stay connected. But my guest today is taking using his internet platform to launch. . . . a print magazine! As Steve says, there are some things that just don't work as well online. Over seven years ago, Steve Casmiro started Adventure-Journal.com, an online magazine devoted to outdoor adventure. Using his experience editing Bike Magazine and Powder Magazine, he was planning to start this project in print. But, as we all know, 2008 was right when the recession hit and it was hard to get support for a new paper magazine.   Today, Adventure-Journal is a super exciting, inspiring and successful online journal. Steve's here for his second visit to the Intrepid Entrepreneur Podcast to talk about finally coming back to his original dream: a print Adventure Journal Magazine. The amazing first issue just came out this Spring!   Steve says that starting Adventure Journal online was great when he got ready to consider print again, because he already had a community of people interested in his product. Unlike when he started out in journalism, he wasn't stuck using mailings to drum up subscribers! And, he already knew what his readers would be interested in! He's spent years getting to know them.   Steve also knows how he wants the print magazine to be different from Adventure-Journal.com. He calls it a “luxurious reading experience”: lots of large pictures and plenty of room for the reader to engage with the story. Reading in ink and paper is a special experience, it should take you away from all of your devices and into an adventure. Steve is so passionate about this, he's not offering the magazine in any electronic forms. Starting a print magazine is a risky step but hearing Steve's excitement is inspirational. His vision for this magazine is so clear, and he's spent so many years honing in on it online. This episode is a must-listen for any of you with a dream project.     Bravery in Business Quote “I don't have to be that big, if I don't have to get to 10,000 circulation in the first year, I can just do the stories that I know are going to be the best stories” - Steve Casimiro (click to tweet)   Cliff Notes   AJ's slogan: The Deeper You Get, The Deeper You Get Online Adventure Journal publications mean that he  has spent the last 7 years building up a consumer base/ audience for sales of the print editions, as well as having a dialogue with readers about what they're interested in The website itself has evolved over the years and in relationship to the readers. Having an online publication/website gives you the chance to really get to know your readers and dialogue with them, but there are some stories that just don't work online. Also gives you time to prove to advertisers that your product is marketable, so they will come with you into print. Having a consumer base already means they don't have to count on losing money in the launch process, and have more editorial freedom, because there is no big publisher saying they have to hit 10,000 in circulation in the first year or go belly up. Using print to publish deeper, more thoughtful stories that require the reader to sit down away from their devices and experience them in paper & ink.  Printed stories will not be available in pdf online or in ereader editions. Only in print. Giving lots of space to the stories in print, so they have room to “breathe”. Most stories will get twice the pagination as in other magazines so its a “luxury reading experience” with lots of pictures. Going back to print is a big risk, but when Steve gets worried, he asks himself what the worst thing to happen could be, and it's failure. And he knows he's failed at many things before, and still survived. Some things work, some things don't.   “It would be kind of hypocritical if I spent all day every day writing and talking about adventure and I didn't take risks in my own business.” - Steve Casimiro (click to tweet) Resources Adventure Journal: Adventure-Journal.comPrint Subscription: Adventure-Journal.com/product/adventure-journal-quarterly-subscription/   Show Notes: IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/Adventure-Journal

How many people in the climbing industry can say they got started climbing at an early age? Either by attending a birthday party, or getting sent on a camping trip to shape up bad behavior, or some other way that teens find themselves in the woods or at a climbing facility, so many climbers will tell you they started young. So will my amazing guest today, Chris Warner.   Chris Warner is one of the most prolific entrepreneurs in the outdoor active lifestyle markets. He's the owner of Earth Treks, a collection of climbing gyms in North America, a sponsored athlete, an entrepreneur, a leadership educator and a kickass motivational speaker.   On this week's Intrepid Entrepreneur Podcast, Chris is talking with me about how he, a “terrible kid” got into climbing at the age of 15, and how this led him to start his own business.   Chris was leading climbing trips when he got stuck in a snowstorm with a big client. When they ran out of books to read, Chris and his client started talking about the gym he dreamed of owning one day. By the end of the storm they had a preliminary business plan worked out on a piece of toilet paper. When they got back, Chris got to work.   Today, Earth Treks is preparing to open their 5th facility and has over 300 employees. Chris is talking with me about how a business so large can stay entrepreneurial, and his secret is surprising: It's not about him! It's about hiring employees who are passionate about the company's core values, and about climbing.    Chris is telling me more about getting started in climbing, keeping employees motivated, taking the skills he learned climbing to the professional industries, and changes in the climbing industry in this episode. He's truly a one of a kind, doing some amazing work.         Bravery in business Quote “We took the idea that we could learn something about ourselves through adventure and we could apply it to other aspects of our lives.” -Chris Warner (Click to Tweet)   Cliff-Notes Chris Warner, owner of Earth Treks, a collection of climbing gyms in NA. Chris is also sponsored athlete, an entrepreneur, and a leadership educator. He's a motivational speaker, here today to talk about being a multifaceted outdoor industry entrepreneur. Grew up in NJ right outside of NYC. Got sent his sophomore year of high school on a five day trip to the woods and loved it. Started to work for the same program when he as 17, then Outward Bound, which led him to start his own company. Helped start Outward Bound in Baltimore in 1986. A great experience working with kids, traveled to Asia in 1989, came back from expeditions fired up to start earth treks 1990. Started as an outdoor climbing school, talking people to South America, Denali, etc. Got stuck in a snowstorm with a developer client and ran out of books to read.  Chris started telling him about the gym he wanted to own, and the client offered to help. Made projections for company on toilet paper w/sharpie. Got home an started Earth Treks. Leadership Education: taking the leadership learned at high altitudes back to the audiences Approached in the ‘90s by defense intelligence agencies to train spies to work outdoors with minimal equipment. After training realized they had taught leadership and team building skills to them also. Approached by Wharton Business School to train in leadership. Took to Kilimanjaro. No one had experience or a lot of training so they only way to be successful was by changing their behaviors. Now does the same thing in a conference center. Have to be great at being able to put the mission of the organization ahead of personal desires. In mountaineering a lot of times it's more important for people to get to the summit than for the team to get to the summit. And that generally results in death in mountaineering. Climbing partnerships based in trust and caring and passion for the sport. Just got land to build their 5th gym, in DC, will serve about a million customers this year, growing by 20% a year, 300 + employees In a company that big, it can't be about personality because he just doesn't have time to know everyone. It's about the company, and employees are passionate about core values Climbing gyms on the rise b/c industry is moving indoors (from outdoor climbs).   “We're in the opportunity business, not the strategy business.” -Chris Warner (Click to Tweet)         Resources   Earth Treks: EarthTreksClimbing.com Speaking Website: http://ChrisBWarner.com/ Book: High Altitude Leadership: http://HighAltitudeLeadership.com/ Shownotes: IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/Earth-Treks

For those of us who love getting outside and biking, hiking, skiing, surfing—anything active under the sun—something we often take for granted is development. But as outdoor markets have taken off in the past few years and more people have started spending their weekends in the natural environment, the conversation around outdoor use and real estate development is becoming increasingly important. This is why I'm stoked to be talking with Johannes Ariens today on the Intrepid Entrepreneur Podcast. Johannes' Seattle based company, Radify Development, is a multifaceted business focused on outdoor development. Not only do they consult with development projects, but they are also a resource and a community building platform, focused on facilitating relationships and conversations in the outdoor market building industry. As Johannes discusses in this episode, for developments aimed at the outdoor market (think: on snow lodges and surf camps to name a few), the environment is part of their product.  They're selling an experience. It's in their best interest that the product—nature—is protected and well cared for. Johannes is focused on eliminating the barriers that keep people from getting into the outdoors, whether it's equipment or logistics or information. He believes that the more time people spend outside, the more concerned they become with taking care of it. This tension between use and protection of the outdoors is a challenge Johannes is well aware of, and something his business focuses on: how to get more people outside, while still protecting the environment they left the city to experience. In our conversation, he's telling me about how Radify is handling this challenge in a new project to bring Washington's first cold-water surfing venue to Westport, set to open next year. We're also discussing how Radify is also taking advantage of the JOBS act and has recently launched an Investor's Club. You won't want to miss this conversation with one of the most determined and hard-working individuals in the industry.   Bravery in Business Quote “As far as I see it, we are stewards of the environment as developers.” - Johannes Ariens (click to tweet) Resources: RadifyDevelopment.com   Full Show Notes: IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/Johannes-Ariens

There are a lot of things to think about when you start a business. Location, markets, consumers, branding, budgeting, the list can be overwhelming.  But what we're talking about today on the Intrepid Entrepreneur Podcast is passion! Consumers can tell when you have it, and they most certainly can tell when you don't. Today, I have the honor to interview Dave Thibodeau, co-owner of a path-burning, stalwartly independent craft brewing company, Ska Brewing, which is located in my hometown of Durango Colorado. Dave and one of his co-founders, Bill Graham, got into homebrewing as young adults and laid out their business plan on the back of a bar napkin. When they went to the bank with their idea, no one was interested in funding them. But hearing that no one believed their company could work only made Dave even more determined to be successful. Twenty one years later, Ska Brewing Company is growing on its own terms, keeping creativity, independence and their vision crystal clear as they continue to knock down the success milestones. What makes them so successful? Dave says it's their authenticity. It's something national companies can't replicate, and consumers not only notice, but revere. Back when Ska was founded, Dave says he had no specific consumer type in mind mostly because back then, there barely was a consumer type for craft beer! They just tried to appeal people who wanted to be a part of their story, and share in the experience. Little did he know that he was on to the success formula for any passion-driven entrepreneurial business. It just came naturally to them. Let's be honest. … Craft beer is an experience! Ska does a masterful job offering the experience of creativity without rules or boundaries, and the experience of location - there's a reason the company has dropped the clutch on its growth and reach right from its founding in Durango. Ska's all about being at the outdoor festival listening to music, doing epic outdoor endurance sports, sitting at the local brewery where your beer was made and surprising and delighting the customer with a true, creative craft experience.   Bravery in Business Quote “Whenever you're talking about craft brewing or entrepreneurs, passion is the term that gets thrown around like crazy. But I really stand behind that.” - Dave Thibodeau (click to tweet)   Cliff Notes: Early support and assistance from other local brewers set a precedent for how they would treat other brewers and businesses, with a lot of camaraderie. There is so much to learn about the business and the product, that it takes a lot of collaboration and sharing of knowledge to be successful and get the information you need. Craft brewers are just 10% of the entire beer market in the U.S. Like some outdoor lifestyle markets, craft brewers are motivated to work together because they are all facing off against the same mega companies, Anheuser Busch,  MillerCoors, etc. Corporate competition gives craft brewers a common cause. Dave's passionate about the authenticity of Ska. It's something that really shows, that consumers notice in craft breweries that national companies can't replicate. Craft beer is offering an experience to the customer. Extending the experience of being in their brewery, at a mountain festival in Colo., etc, to people who don't live there or can't come. Had no “consumer type” in mind when they started the company. Twenty years ago, there barely was a consumer type for craft beer. Ska just wanted to appeal to the type of person who wants to be a part of their story, and share in the experience. Slow growth as a smart strategy to build a strong foundation. Recently looking for way to expand but decided not to borrow a lot of money to open another facility/ building/restaurant.  Instead, they started “Mod Brewery,” a second brewery inside of their current facility completely dedicated to creating artful brews in small batches. The Mod Brewery enables Ska's artisan brewers have some fun and experiment with brewing techniques, 14 kegs at time.   “You can't replicate it if it's not genuine” - Dave Thibodeau (click to tweet)   Resources: SkaBrewing.com   Show Notes: IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/Dave-Thibodeau

         On Monday, May 16, 2016 the JOBS (Jumpstart Our Business Startup) Act went into effect in our country and the rules of investment and fundraising were altered forever.          What happened on that day changed everything. Meritocracy stepped into the entrepreneurial funding equation and people -- ordinary people — not just accredited investors, got the lane to invest in early stage companies. This opportunity extends far beyond donating money to a single product. Instead, it's investing with a stake and a return if the project does well over time.            I'm off the charts stoked to be talking about these exciting changes with Dylan Enright of Wefunder, an equity crowdfunding platform that launched on May 16th, just as this new form of crowdfunding was made legal.            The power of Wefunder and the new opportunity for equity crowdfunding is that they're keeping alive the American Dream, making it possible for anyone with a great idea to get that idea to market. Banks and big time investors who used to be the gatekeepers of innovation are no longer the only way to fund a new company.            As Dylan says, “Even if you have the best idea in the world, it costs a little bit of capital to get it off the ground.”  And this is what Wefunder is doing: helping early stage companies get investments from average people taking a risk on your idea because they believe in your story. If your company does well, so do these people who helped fund it. People can invest as little as $100!              The first step toward harnessing the power of the crowdfunding platform is to understand it. My hope is that Wefunder's Dylan Enright can help bring clarity to your decision around gaining traction through securing creative capital.            If you know anyone with a dream project (or maybe you have one yourself) and are afraid to start, this conversation with Dylan is an incredible, and I hope, inspiring experience you won't want to miss. Thanks for listening!   Bravery in Business Quote “Before this there were a select few people sitting behind a desk who decided the fate of your business . . . we're letting the community decide.”- Dylan Enright (click to tweet) The Cliff Notes Wefunder started in Boston 2012, some friends wanted to invest in each other but were only able to donate (investing was illegal). To change this they got people to sign petition stating their intent to invest in early stage companies. Added up to millions of dollars people would invest if legal, and this got the attention of Senators and eventually people in Washington D.C. Dylan got involved with the company after that. He was “Employee #1” at Wefunder Dylan believes that giving everyone the ability to invest or raise money for their company is leveling the playing field. Before, only a select number of people got to decide what the next innovation would be. Crowdfunding brings meritocracy and makes it easier for anyone everyone to make their own American dream by telling their story online. “Break the Monopoly of the Rich” Lead-up to Wefunder launch (May 16th) was crazy. They wanted to come out strong w/more companies than their competitors. Really busy getting all these companies and pages ready. Wefunder's platform aims to make visitors to the site to feel like they are in the room hearing the pitch right from the founders. Wefunder is not protecting people from risk. Early stage companies are very risky to invest in. Wefunder is creating an uprising against buying safe. Outdoor active lifestyle markets were built on back of inventors who went big with their ideas and took big risks. Crowdfunding makes this possible for companies of all sizes. “It's not just a donation. You're investing your money with founders and understanding that you'll be earning a return if they do well.” - Dylan Enright (click to tweet) Resources WeFunder.com Dylan's email: Dylan@WeFunder.com

Six years ago, crowdfunding barely even existed. Now, it seems like every start-up and invention idea is launching a crowdfunding campaign. But what sets the successful campaigns apart from the ones that don't hit their funding goals? I'm super excited to be talking with Roy Morejon, digital marketing powerhouse, crowdfunding expert, and President and Founder of Command Partners digital marketing on this week's podcast. With you in mind, we're talking about the incredibly important topic of raising funding in a constantly changing world. Roy launched Command Partners in 2010, when crowdfunding was just beginning to show up on the scene. His company was focusing on digital media until a client approached them with a crowdfunding project. Command Partners doubled the client's funding goal in a matter of weeks! After this experience, Roy saw the niche need for crowdfunding expertise and started replacing retained clients with crowdfunding projects for start-ups. To date, they've worked on over 175 campaigns and have raised over $75 million dollars. This year, 95% of their projects have raised their full funding goals. Wow! As Roy says, crowdfunding can be a challenge because you're selling clients on a product they don't know exists yet, something they might not have known they needed until they hear about it or visit your site. You only get one opportunity to get them to that page, so you want to convert them right away! This is why crowdfunding can also be a great way to build your market—it allows you to directly interact with potential consumers and industry experts. Social media enables you to be in conversation with people interested in your product all throughout this funding and producing process. These people supporting your campaign are the people that will become your brand evangelists. When your product launches, they'll be the ones telling their friends that they knew about it before it was cool, maybe they can even say they tested out a prototype! Along with all this, you're about to hear Roy's list of the five most important things to know about crowdfunding. It's all super interesting and helpful, you won't want to miss a minute of his advice! Bravery in Business Quote “In crowdfunding, you're selling people on something they don't know that they need yet. But they will.” - Roy Morejon (click to tweet)   Cliff Notes   Command Partners has 15 -20 crowdfunding client a month, on average raise 100s of thousands, have run over 175 campaigns and raised $75 million This is an exciting time because so many people have not heard of crowdfunding or haven't backed their first project yet, There are 11 million backers total on Kickstarter, 15 million Indiegogo unique visitors Crowdfunding allows companies to fail faster, getting direct feedback from customers and industry professionals, before they've sunk years of time into to project An exciting new market for Roy's business is enterprise clients—big corporations looking to use crowdfunding to test out ideas. Sony has an internal crowdfunding site for employees, GE used Indiegogo for several campaigns In the past these companies would have paid for focus groups and feedback from customers but social media & crowdfunding allow them to get this crowd response for free. Clients don't have the chance to touch the product so you have to really sell them on it and make them believe that you will deliver. Press is a key component in any successful campaign, connections and interviews/ PR should be arranged before the campaign launch, not just to drive it mid-campaign Do your homework before the campaign launches: talk to industry, experts, make sure you are selling a product with a market and that hasn't been made before. Build a pathway back to consumer, reach out to journalists & try to get feedback on prototype To crowdfund successfully, you “gotta have that hustle”, even before you turn the key and launch the campaign 90 % of crowdfunding projects don't deliver on time, but this is often because they're doing their due diligence, testing out the product with all of the community feedback and responses available through social media. Crowdfunding allows for easy communication channels with backers / clients so that they can understand your timeline/ process in production.   5 Things To Understand About Crowdfunding   Make sure your idea is a good fit for crowdfunding Set a realistic funding goal Do your homework and pre-campaign before you launch Have good design and quality video for your site Communicate with your backers and potential customers, industry professionals, throughout this process.    “Crowdfunding allows companies to fail faster. Take their product/business, through it out, and then pivot toward a need their consumers are stating.” - Roy Morejon (click to tweet)   Resources CommandPartners.com TheArtOfKickstart.com - Roy's podcast   Full Show Notes: IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/roy-morejon  

I feel honored to be able to interview Martin Zemitis in this episode of the Intrepid Entrepreneur podcast.   Martin is the founder of SlingFin, a technical tent and shelter company headquartered in the Bay Area.   For 33 amazing years, Martin has served the outdoor active lifestyle markets with the world's best tent designs. He's literally been part of every tent innovation over the past three decades and has designed for The North Face, Sierra Designs, and Mountain Hardware.   What a stellar career, you might be saying. You may even think I'm about to tell you that Martin decided to retire after leaving Mountain Hardware nearly 20 years after he helped found it.   Well, you'd be wrong.   When he left Mountain Hardware, Martin was dreaming and scheming about launching his own tent brand – the one that would enable him to finally design for the user, for the harshest environments.   In SlingFin, his upstart company, Martin wanted to truly innovate with his passion for tent and shelter design and not be walled in by the guardrails of the wholesale market. This is where things got interesting. Martin set up SlingFin in 2010 and set about protecting his trademarks. then, like all of us entrepreneurs, he needed funding.   Today, in this interview, you'll hear about the six-year battle he fought staying true to his vision while working to find the right funding solution. You'll also hear what happens when an entrepreneur hell-bent on doing it his way collides with equity crowdfunding.   That's right – Martin and SlingFin were part of the 20 company launch of the Title III Wefunder portal that went live May 16, 2016.   This episode tells the story about one of the outdoor industry's absolute legendary gear designers staying true to his vision and making it work with the Wefunder platform.   After listening to this podcast, you'll be convinced that things will never be the same again for entrepreneurs in the outdoor active lifestyle markets – HERE WE GO!   PS - Turns out that Wefunder's Operations Director, Dylan Enright, is a former river guide and ski instructor. He wants to see the Wefunder portal become the go-to location for outdoor brands to connect with outdoor enthusiasts. I hope you enjoyed this episode of The Intrepid Entrepreneur as much as I enjoyed putting it together for you. This episode is a super important one – by going to ITunes and giving the Intrepid Entrepreneur podcast a positive rating and review, you'll be giving Martin, SlingFIn and the WEfunder platform more visibility. And iTunes is a HUGE platform – let's light it up for Martin! Until next time, GO BIG!     Bravery in Business Quote “Time in the past doesn't mean much to me, because it's all about what's going to be done in the future.” – Martin Zemitis (click to tweet)   Resources: SlingFin.com   Slingfin: WeFunder Campaign   GearJunkie: Title III Jobs Act Equity Crowdfunding   Forbes Article About Equity Crowdfunding   WeFunder.com   Full Show Notes: IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/Martin-Zemitis

Have you ever had a business idea that you were immediately passionate about and felt on the most guttural level, an incredibly strong need to create? You're about to meet two outdoor founders who have gone through just that and emerged – somewhat - on the other side, successful Kickstarter campaign in hand. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, my Intrepid Entrepreneurs. Lindsey Elliott and Jainee Dial, the co-founders of Wyldergoods.com, are alive to share this story in podcast form with you today. Lindsey and Jainee personify a modern outdoorswoman. It's an archetype who they're intent to serve with a new formula that's not retail or storytelling – it's both and it doesn't fall under either. Wyldergoods.com is an online marketplace, community and network hub for today's outdoor adventure-ess. Lindsey and Jainee didn't stop with just the concept – they focused on creating a Benefit Corporation (B-Corp), and use their sustainability and give-back mission to screen potential brand partners on their platform. You're about to hear first-hand what it's like to do a Kickstarter campaign. First of all, it's really ((*&%$#) nerve-wracking. As Jainee says: You're putting yourself and your ideas out there, and people judge and vote for your work with their money. But Kickstarter is, above all, a storytelling platform, and Lindsey says it needs to treat it as one to be successful. Let people know the story of your business and how that story is relevant to their lives. In her words, “If you believe in it fully, and you're telling an authentic story, the people who align with that will find you.” You won't want to miss what else Lindsey and Jainee have to say about getting this company started, serving the greater good, and how their love for the outdoors affects their professional lives!   Bravery in Business Quote   “How can we serve a greater good, outside of a basic consumer model, and bigger than business as usual?” - Lindsey Elliott (click to tweet)   The Cliff Notes Focus on products that can meet a diversity of needs Kickstarter is a storytelling platform, and should be treated as such if you want to be successful on it Kickstarter gives potential customers an opportunity to vote with their dollars, showing their true commitment to the idea There is something really nerve-wracking of putting yourself and your work out on kickstarter, with how much people judge you based on the response the dollar number Find time to get away. You have to clear your mind, and find the activity that will do that for you Keep the question “how can we serve the greater good?” in mind all the time As money cycles through hands in the economy, businesses need to drive the economy to be more responsible B-Corp: Benefit corporation. Corporations that are vetted and analyzed for the amount of good that they are doing in the world. Wilder Goods is working toward that certification   “If you believe in it fully, and you're telling an authentic story, the people who align with that will find you.” - Lindsey Elliott (click to tweet)   Habit for Success Find whatever it is that recharges you, gives you renewed energy, strength and purpose, and make sure that you make time for that activity! Resources:   WylderGoods.com Wylder Goods Kickstarter Project   Show Notes: IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/WylderGoods

As we go through life, we tend to gradually and over time lose more and more of the enthusiasm we had as beginners in whatever field we find ourselves. Shoshin, a concept of Zen Buddhism, refers the idea that “In the beginner's mind, there are many possibilities. But in the expert's, there are few.” Believe it or not, this is why beginners can often accomplish such incredible things! This is another SoloCast from the Intrepid Entrepreneur, and on this episode I'm introducing you to an awesome new offering I've been working incredibly hard on for months and months now. That is, my brand new membership site, A-Game Alliance! This is the first ever membership community designed to help entrepreneurs, founders and other leaders in the active outdoor and lifestyle industries! If you've been an entrepreneur for a while, you've probably become a lot wiser over the years. Entrepreneurialism is a crash course in a lot of things, including business, personal skills, resourcefulness, energy, and much more. And while that knowledge and experience is valuable and essential, it's also important that we never lose our enthusiasm for the dream that started it all! That's the encouragement that I want to bring you through the A-Game Alliance membership site. Whether you're just starting out, seeking the wisdom of those who have been through it all, you're in the middle of your journey and need inspiration to keep plugging away as well as some advice to skyrocket your results, or you consider yourself an expert in the industry, the A-Game Alliance is the place for you to learn and take your business and life to the next level!   Full show Notes: IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/Community

On this episode of the Intrepid Entrepreneur Podcast, I'm talking with Andrew Batey, CEO of Spinlister, the global bike and gear sharing platform, and owner of eight (count ‘em) bikes. Spinlister is a peer-to-peer bike and gear rental platform that connects enthusiasts in bike and outdoor with other like-minded enthusiasts. If you have gear that isn't being used all the time, check out Spinlister.com. There's so much to learn from Andrew and Spinlister, and I invite you to drop in to this episode with an open mind. In it, Andrew and I discuss how to build a customer base via a digital platform and service offering, and the tough part, how to build and gain the end-consumers' trust. In this interview, Andrew talks a lot about the fact that in today's economy, the consumer is driving. He also points out that people are on the hunt for authentic experiences. This is a critical takeaway for the active outdoor lifestyle markets to hold on to -- we're passion-driven industries, this is something we know. Considering this through the customer's vantage point is what Spinlister.com does very well and what we can all learn from. Andrew is an avid cyclist and bikes to work every day. He knows what kind of experience cyclists like him are looking for, and so he and his team are building Spinlister to meet these needs. And because consumers are people and “tribes” can change, his vision for Spinlister is growing. In 2016, brands are as varied and eclectic as consumers. Don't put your consumer in a box!    Another great takeaway that Andrew offers is the fact that the best time to demonstrate the value of your brand to a customer is when things go wrong. “When there's a problem, that's when the rubber meets the road,” he says. “It's great when it's great, but when it's bad for somebody, we want to also make that great.” Earning consumer trust is a difficult thing to do, but when consumers learn that your brand is there to help and responsive when something goes wrong, that goes a long way. This episode has a TON of great intel in it - drop in and listen to it now and share it with a colleague or a friend who you think wants to learn more about how the sharing economy and the outdoor markets will merge going forward.   Bravery in Business Quote “When there's a problem, that's when the rubber meets the road. It's great when it's great, but when it's bad for somebody, we want to also make that great.” - Andrew Batey (Click to tweet) The Cliff Notes It's essential that your consumer trust you, but trust is a difficult thing to earn. All you can do is provide a lot of inputs for consumers to make the decision about if they trust you or not When your word-of-mouth happens offline, it's extremely valuable, but very difficult to track, and to amplify and facilitate. All you can do is try to add value to facilitate sharing Spinlister wants to be the universal key to unlocking a bike, whether that's renting for the purpose of a trip, or trying out a bike before buying You have to be part of the “tribe” of your customer if you really want to connect with them When things go wrong for a customer, that is your opportunity to really demonstrate the value of your brand by how you handle it If you want to appeal to massive numbers of people, you need to create an ok experience. But if you want to truly connect with your specific tribe, you can create an incredible experience for them Brands in 2016 are thinking about the ways that they can make their company as varied and eclectic is their consumers are. Don't try to put your consumer in a box Instead of one product, understand the common trends of how your consumer behaves, and meet those needs   “I can't tell you what you value as trust. All I can do is give you a lot of inputs to decide if you trust me or not.” - Andrew Batey (click to tweet)   Resources: SpinLister.com

The Bold Betties is a travel and adventure platform that empowers women by eliminating the barriers and logistics that keep women inside, stuck in the monotony of day to day life. Today on Intrepid Entrepreneur I'm talking with the founder, Niki Koubourlis, on her experience starting and managing the Bold Betties, and the incredible places this adventure has taken her. Niki Koubourlis started out in a stable, successful corporate career, which she ultimately found very unfulfilling. She was starting to worry about what she was accomplishing with her life, and questioning whether it was what she really wanted It wasn't. And so, she moved to Colorado, the land of adventure. In Colorado, Niki forced herself to not take a job and instead, she took some time to develop friendships and to get in touch with her passions. And then – one thing led to another, and Niki stumbled into founding the Bold Betties, a meet-up group for women looking to bond with each other and to get outdoors. The group grew quickly—within its first week, there were 200 members. Honestly, I'd never heard of a business built on “Meet Up” groups, and I think it's such a cool idea (note: I realize that many companies have been built this way, I just have not been familiar with this path). One of her important early insights as that there were few opportunities for novices to learn and enjoy outdoor activities, so she saw her business as filling that niche. But the biggest commonality between people who sign up for Betties events is women in transition, looking to start something new. You'll be inspired by what else Niki tells me about getting started with the Betties and where this adventure has taken her, on this episode of the Intrepid Entrepreneur!   Habit for Success Build business around community. When you can bring together groups of people, you are providing them incredible value, and you will probably find that that community is the most important part of your business.   Resources: BoldBetties.com   Show Notes:  IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/Niki-Koubourlis

The Wild and Scenic Film Festival is one of the most treasured celebrations of conservation in the outdoor active lifestyle markets. The organization literally inspires activism through film, and the 2016 traveling film festival kicks off on Earth Day in San Francisco. What a fitting venue for the global premiere of KEEN Footwear's Live Monumental documentary film. I have the privilege of interviewing Wild and Scenic's Melinda Booth and KEEN Footwear's Kirsten Blackburn in this very special episode of The Intrepid Entrepreneur podcast. Listen in and learn how both of these amazing organizations use their reach and impact to affect awareness, activism and positive change.   The Live Monumental documentary chronicles KEEN's cross-country road trip advocating for the protection of 3-million acres of public lands – no small feat. KEEN and Wild and Scenic invite all of us in to become part of the movement to protect America's precious public lands – there's a lot of awareness and action that must happen before President Obama leaves office this year. Get outside and enjoy our public lands and get your family and friends to do the same! You can't believe in and protect something you haven't experienced, as Kirsten Blackburn of KEEN says in this podcast. Please share this podcast with everyone who appreciates America's natural environment and sign the digital petition at LiveMonumental.com.   Full Show Notes: IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/Keen

Third generation entrepreneurs Kelly and Will Watters have had an epic journey in year one of launching Western Rise apparel, a collection of men's and women's lifestyle apparel built for the mountain lifestyle.   The Watters are enrolled in the Telluride Venture Accelerator program, a fantastic start-up accelerator where I'm proud to serve as a Mentor. The founders of Western Rise have been nimble and agile through their first year of concept to launch, navigating and route-finding their way through sourcing, supply, manufacturing and distribution. The Watters are feeling locked and loaded on their strategy and are ready to grow with a direct-to-consumer strategy. In this interview, they share incredible insights on what the entire launch process has been like for them. The key to the early success of Western Rise is the absolute commitment the Watters share around listening and responding to their target customer (avatar). There's a ton of great insights on social media, Millennials and today's mountain lifestyle consumer. Get ready to be inspired and educated by what they have to say on this episode of Intrepid Entrepreneur! If you love this episode, please rate and review it on iTunes Rating and reviewing this podcast greatly increases the visibility of the amazing entrepreneurs featured on this podcast and the outdoor active lifestyle markets.   Full Show Notes: IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/Western-Rise

Sonya Looney, a professional mountain bike racer and ambassador, is an international phenom who specializes in connecting with her fans and followers about her passion for living an adventurous life astride a bike – globally! Through her commitment to doing just that, she's developed an approach to furthering her reach and the reach of her sponsor partners that's bringing more value than ever before to the sponsor-athlete-ambassador equation. And it's about time. … Sonya knows that connection is what brings return on a sponsorship investment and she relishes in doing just that to all fans and followers online, offline and inline within her network. There's so much to learn today from this podcast – starting with what's the true value today for a brand ambassador? Sonya's authoring that job description, and you'll get a front row seat to hearing it today on the Intrepid Entrepreneur!   Full Show Notes: IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/Sonya-Looney

Statistically, women make about 80-percent of purchasing decisions and overwhelmingly own the buying power of most households in America. Yet their involvement in the creation, ideation and implementation of new products, in any field, but specifically the outdoor industry, has been very low. That's what Deane Buck, executive director of Outdoor Industries Coalition of Women (OWIC) is completely committed to changing. The OIWC is a national non-profit organization dedicated to workplace equity, diversity and inclusion by expanding opportunities for women in the outdoor, snow, bike and endurance markets. For much of the organization's 20-year history, that focus has been on encouraging established corporations to evolve. OWIC's latest initiative is called PitchFest, and shows that the OIWC is also supporting and furthering women-founded companies and start ups. PitchFest, in its second year in 2016, provides women with the opportunity to pitch their business ideas to key leaders in the outdoor industry at a key industry gathering, the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, which takes place in early August. But what separates PitchFest from some similar pitch-focused entrepreneurial opportunities is that capital is not the only end-game. As Deanne says, sometimes capital is not the most important thing. Sometimes, feedback and good advice is more valuable than money - let alone building a network in the market of focus. Plus, not every company needs to be venture funded. It seems like a popular track for a start up to be pitching for capital, but that doesn't mean it's the right decision for every business. Entrepreneurs need to be encouraged to move forward and not feel like less entrepreneurs because they didn't get capital funding. As someone who has bootstrapped three start ups, I couldn't agree more. OWIC's PitchFest is an amazing initiative that will facilitate real change in the industries, not only for female-founded companies, but also for entrepreneurs in general. It will also help more women evolve their leadership and have access to more opportunities. I'm very thankful to have Deanne on the show, so please join me in welcoming her to the Intrepid Entrepreneur! Bravery in Business Quote “Not only do we need to get more women into the outdoor industry, but the talent has to be high, and women should make up at least 50% of the workforce.” - Deane Buck (click to tweet) The Cliff Notes There is tremendous opportunity for talented women in the outdoor industry right now Outdoor companies need to spend more time understanding the woman consumer, not just for female products but all products, because statistics show that women make 80% of the buying decisions Feedback and good advice can be a far more important and rare commodity than capital The best part of being in the outdoor industry, as well as any other industry, is the relationships you form It's important to peel back the layers underneath what you think your problem is, so that you can work on those problems, instead of the surface ones. For example, you may think that your problem is not enough buyers, when you wouldn't even be able to fulfill orders if you had more buyers Don't get caught up in the hype of venture capital. It doesn't make you any less of an entrepreneur for not getting venture funding REI's Mary Anderson Legacy Grant has truly catalyzed the reach and impact of the OIWC - I personally want to thank REI's leadership for their authentic connection and support to the important work of the OIWC in our markets. “Maybe you'll never get outside venture funding, but that doesn't make you any less of an entrepreneur.” - Deane Buck (click to tweet)   Habit for Success As an entrepreneur, don't get stuck in the mindset that you need to receive venture capital funding to be legit. While that's a hot topic right now, it's actually not the right decision for a majority of startups.   Resources PitchFest The Outdoor Women's Coalition REI.com   Full Show Notes

How can two companies make or sell the same product, and one be far more successful than the other? The amount of information that our target customers have access to is beyond overwhelming. How can a brand, vying for our ideal customer's attention, stand out, be discovered and be engaged with by the right people? The answer to that question is brand storytelling, and that's what my March Intrepid content blitz is all about. Storytelling is the gas on the fire that is branding. It's what allows one brand to rise above another that sells a similar or even identical product or service. Humans have been telling stories for as long as they have been around. Storytelling creates emotional connection when done authentically and creatively. When a brand does a stellar job with its storytelling, it captures the why in a way that makes the ideal customer the absolute hero (or heroine) in the story. Storytelling is the one thing that brands must get right if they want a consumer's attention. In fact, I have a completely free webinar on the subject coming up very soon, where I go into real depth on the steps required to craft your perfect story. But today, on this solocast, I'm giving you the nuts and bolts of what you need to know to get well on your way to crafting your perfect brand story, and taking your consumer interaction, engagement, and rabid-fan-behavior to the next level. Get ready to go big with brand storytelling on this episode of Intrepid Entrepreneur!     Bravery in Business Quote “People buy your products/services because you're handing them a promise that things can be better for them.” Kristin Carpenter-Ogden (click to tweet) The Cliff Notes The storytelling around the “why” differentiates two companies that sell the same product, and often makes one more successful than the other It's essential that every brand have a story behind what it does In a world where everyone is competing for attention, your target customer is being overwhelmed with information all the time. Your story is how you stand out from the crowd Brand storytelling allows your customer to feel like they're part of your brand The more you can make your story human, the more your customer will be able to relate to it Your avatar (ideal customer) should be the hero of your brand's story People buy products because we're handing them a promise that things can be better for them, helping them to become the person that they want to become Include a beginning, middle and end in your brand story, to help you bring your customer along, and allow you to have a staggered story experience Amazon's first pillar (out of the Four Pillars of Amazon): Ask yourself: Will you be in the business of helping your customers buy, or trying to sell them hard?   “Use storytelling to create a fanbase of loyal fans and followers, which can't help but turn into sales for your business.” - Kristin Carpenter-Ogden (click to tweet) Habit for Success Take time to craft and continually revise your brand's story, always making your avatar (ideal customer) the hero.   Resources March Free Webinar: Nailing Your Brand Storytelling Book: “The Business of Belief: How the World's Best Marketers, Designers, Salespeople, Coaches, Fundraisers, Educators, Entrepreneurs and Other Leaders Get Us to Believe” by Tom Asacker Interested in joining the membership site coming soon? Send a request email to membership@intrepidentrepreneur.net   Show Notes: IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/SoloCast

For 18 years, Tyler Jordan cut his leadership, product development, operations and outdoor market experience at Arc'Teryx, serving the last eight of those as CEO of the iconic outdoor brand. Now, Tyler has his own company in 7Mesh Industries, a B.C.-based technical cycling apparel company catering to men and women riders who love all disciplines of the sport. Tyler and his crew at 7Mesh found a niche, and he labels it the intersection of outdoor technical and bike. If anyone can throw that phrase around, it's him. But the bike industry is very different from outdoors, and there are subsectors in cycling with fanatical-level passion for their sport, all concentrated in the single market of bike. Being an entrepreneur in these markets, Tyler says, has incredible highs and lows, but as he and his team at 7Mesh enter their second full season, this young and energetic leader wouldn't have it any other way. Tyler drives 7 Mesh to always be straddling the line of innovation and performance. He never wavers from his goal of constantly looking for ways 7Mesh can be improved. I'm very proud to have Tyler as my interview this week on The Intrepid Entrepreneur podcast. Not only does he tell the amazing story of his entrepreneurial journey, spanning from Arc'Teryx, through the 7Mesh start up, he also talks about taking on 7Mesh with a bit of a different stance on prioritizing his outdoor active lifestyle and his approach to entrepreneurial cross training. This show is a must-listen! Tyler summed it up perfectly when he said “entrepreneurialism is a life in the fast lane and the deep end. If it's in you, life is too short not to go after it.” This episode offers some of the best start up advice available so get ready to learn, to be inspired, to take away specific action steps, and to take your ventures to the next level with Tyler Jordan on Intrepid Entrepreneur! Bravery in Business Quote “I don't understand work/life balance. For me, it's all rolled into one.” - Tyler Jordan   The Cliff Notes Create products that raise the bar from a quality standpoint, and you will always have customers When your user group is people like you, you understand how to speak to them in ways others can't Don't allow yourself to be trapped in the ways you did things before. Use new opportunities as a fresh start in processes and direction The more high-end your physical product is, the more people will want to touch, feel, try on, your product before they buy Give customers the choice of how they want to deal with you, and buy your product Embrace your community, to find out what you're doing right, wrong, and how you can improve Avoid “me too” products. Bring something new, exciting, awesome, and needed to your industry “Entrepreneurialism is life in the fast lane, and in the deep end. If it's in you, life is too short not to go after it.” - Jordan Tyler Habit for Success Just because you have experience in a certain area, does not mean you should be doing it the way you've done it in the past. Continually be innovating and testing new systems and process.   Resources http://www.7meshinc.com/   The Intrepid Entrepreneur free March Master Class offers one full hour of training on Nailing your Brand Storytelling. It's free! It's awesome and you can sign up and save your seat by going here: http://intrepidentrepreneur.net/MarchWebinar   Full Show Notes: IntrepidEntrepreneur.net/tyler-jordan

My guest today is millennial, multi-cultural entrepreneur Tayo Rockson. Tayo is a highly versed social and digital leader and is dedicated to creating connection between people of different cultures using new media. Tayo believes that when the world is closer and more connected a far more opportune business landscape emerges. Learn why Tayo encourages his fans and followers to constantly reach outside of their comfort zones, or network, every day to build innovation and reach within their companies. Listen in as he shares why it's not only fun and interesting to meet new people daily, it also enables more diversity in business. Tayo looks to the younger entrepreneurs to model this for the rest of us - and you'll find his story and approach fascinating! If you liked this episode, please share it! I'd also love to ask you to give it a positive review in ITunes, to ensure more founders are inspired to extend their networks and bring more diversity into our lives - personally and professionally. For complete show notes and links mentioned in the episode, please visit www.intrepidentrepreneur.net. 

What does your social media strategy look like? Do you find that you're spending an inordinate amount of time crafting social media updates? Have you ever considered the fact that your current social media strategy probably includes crafting new updates, everyday, for the rest of your life? That quite a time commitment! There has to be a better way… My guest today, Laura Roeder, is the founder of the social media management platform Edgar. Visit the site at www.meetedgar.com.  For more stories, visit www.intrepidentrepreneur.net. 

Hap Klopp is the founder of The North Face and author of the book “Almost,” which details 12 months in the life of a San Francisco startup that seemed “on the verge of becoming a household name and being bought by Big Silicon.” This episode is all about the role of failure in success. As Hap says, “Failure is really just applying the scientific method to business.” In science, we develop a hypothesis about how we think something should be. Then, we test it, and more often than not, our expectations fail to pan out. So we develop a new hypothesis and test that one, again and again, until we finally have a break-through: After countless failed attempts, our hypothesis is verified by reality. And this reality is what makes things GO! If you like this episode, share it with a friend or colleague and give it a thumbs up on iTunes! For complete show notes, visit http://intrepidentrepreneur.net/. 

Dare we say that 2016 is the year when commercialization of the customer experience becomes the kiss of death? Companies that target the lowest common denominator and strive to be consistent to large groups of consumers are just commoditized. And when you try to be great to the biggest group of people you can possibly reach, you actually end up being great to no one. My guest today, Brad Steward, is an iconic entrepreneur in the active outdoor lifestyle -- and now travel -- markets. He's a former pro snowboarder and founder of Bonfire Snowboarding. I would even venture to say that he's one of the founders of the snowboard industry, along with Jake Burton-Carpenter and the late Tom Simms. Brad's a visionary and he's about to point that creativity to a brand-new launch in Caravan Outpost. Caravan Outpost is a hand-built travel experience created for a very specific avatar (target customer).  Brad has SO many amazing takeaways in this podcast. I advise you grab your notebook and pen, and listen in to Brad and I as we talk about the importance of creating magical moments for consumers, why products should strive to create completely unique, visceral experiences, as well as the path of the founder/entrepreneur. Brad is a perfect example of an adventurous entrepreneur, and I hope his journey inspires you!

After criss crossing the United States, attending a heap of trade shows in the past two months, our resident retail and sales guru Michele Flamer visits the Intrepid Entrepreneur for her third time in the chair! Michele basically holds a Ph.D. in sales and training development, and this episode is an uncensored look at what it's going to take for brands and retailers to break out and be a success story in 2016. We're in an economy in which the consumer is clearly in the driver's seat. This consumer expects extremely targeted messaging and communication, and will respond to the brands and retailers adept at making it appear like they're speaking directly to them. And this is very good news for the smaller retailers, Michele believes. … Why? Because large brands and retailers are usually just too big to accomplish this. So what does this mean for you? Play to your strengths! As Michele and I talk about in this episode, focus on how you can take your interaction and communication to the next level - and it will pay off for you! Show your consumers the similar values you share - whether it be philanthropic, general interests, or passions - and connect on those issues. There are plenty more insights in this episode of the Intrepid Entrepreneur. Thank you SO much for listening and please give this a thumbs up in iTunes of you enjoy the episode!

My guest on Intrepid Entrepreneur today is none other than Doug Schnitzspahn. I feel he should be Knighted, like Sir Richard Branson. Why? Because there are few people out there in the active outdoor lifestyle markets with the work experiences and perspectives that Doug has. He basically holds a Ph.D. in producing, editing and publishing content in a myriad of forms. As a freelance writer and editor, he has worked on publications like National Geographic, Outside, Men's Journal, The Chicago Tribune, The Denver Post, Backpacker, Skiiing, and The Mountain Gazette. In my opinion? Doug is one of the main portals educating newcomers to the outdoor active lifestyle markets while concurrently keeping existing outdoor fans stoked. In a nutshell? Doug is super important to the outdoor recreation economy! Perhaps he should run for office? I know someone who could do publicity on that… :) In this podcast, Doug and I get to talk shop. We're old friends and we're also entrepreneurs. We're wired in a similar way and as we watch how the economy continues to be transformed by the digital direct era, we're both wondering where the quality and topic alignment has gone. There's a sweet spot when the unique voice of the writer aligns with the topic, and the topic aligns with the audience's and brands focus and interests. Brands should focus on making this perfect trifecta happen, and invest in content creation that really hits these three points. You can't buy this type of approach from a content service or farm. Doug has built a career out of creating amazing content, with a unique voice, that connects deeply with a specific audience: the outdoor market. His opinions shared in this episode can truly help your organization ensure that you're not publishing “choss” (that's our word for CRAP content). You can also learn all about Doug's perspective on the “freelancer's economy,” and the role of sponsored content.   If you're a freelancer, entrepreneur, or an outdoor enthusiast of any kind, you'll find Doug to be a fascinating guy with sharp insights. Few people can offer the insights Doug can on the outdoor market today, or on how brands can pull off authentic content marketing. Pull out a notebook and get ready to learn, and to be inspired, on this episode of Intrepid Entrepreneur!

The most impactful solutions are made when people unite to solve a problem. What's more, Innovation soars when attention and focus are pointed at making the world a better place. When businesses take both on, amazing things happen. We've seen this come to life in companies like Tom's Shoes. Having “giving” as a mission is becoming more in demand and more common, but it hasn't taken hold in the outdoor, bike, snowsports, endurance or travel markets. Many companies in these markets have devoted incredible resources and time to protection of the environment. Few, if any, have taken on a solutions-driven, ‘giving based' approach with global societal issues like poverty alleviation. Until about 20 months ago… Enter Cotopaxi; a company with an iron-clad commitment to using the power of business to drive social change. Entrepreneur Davis Smith wanted to build an authentic outdoor brand equally devoted to product and apparel innovation as it is to making the world a better place in Cotopaxi. Smith grew up in an adventurous family that lived all over the world and enjoyed outdoor pursuits along the way. He spent time in other industries prior to founding Cotopaxi, but kept being drawn back into what he loved: outdoor adventure. He began to study a way in and found a huge opportunity for a brand that resonated with the millennial consumer. Smith and his team at Cotopaxi know that millennials need their own outdoor brand instead of adopting the brands of their parents and grandparents. The right positioning for this brand was clearly values-based, nimble with product innovation and launches, and ultimately, a brand that literally exists to improve the world. This is no small undertaking. Pushing a new concept like this forward required a different approach to distribution and marketing. Cotopaxi as a brand is all about providing an experience to its target market, which involves great products and adventure. But Cotopaxi's customer also wants to be part of the experience of a brand that's eradicating global poverty and giving back, literally through its grant programs, which fund global nonprofits that focus on three key areas: health, education, and livelihood. Smith explains how this is unfolding for Cotopaxi in this amazing interview. Additionally, we dive into the incredible backstory of Cotopaxi, how they've carefully used offline events (“Questivals”) to promote their brand when it seems like everyone wants to focus online, how a sense of adventure connects people, and how they plan on changing the world going forward. Get ready to be inspired to do more good, to help others out who need it, and to live an adventurous life, on this episode of Intrepid Entrepreneur!