Podcast appearances and mentions of chris ruder

This week, Guy is joined by Travis Boersma of Dutch Bros. Coffee, Michael Preysman of Everlane and Chris Ruder of Spikeball in a special “mashup” episode of Advice Line.First, Andy from Nashville is wondering if a brick and mortar burger joint will supercharge growth for his food truck business. Then, Tiffany from Cape Cod is looking to break into large retailers with her inspirational jewelry brand. And finally, Peter from South Dakota is evaluating whether to expand his ice skating apparel to overseas markets.Thank you to the founders of Bad Luck Burger Club, T. Jazelle and Rink Rabbit. If you'd like to be featured on a future Advice Line episode, leave us a one-minute message that tells us about your business and a specific question you'd like answered. Send a voice memo to hibt@id.wondery.com or call 1-800-433-1298. This episode was produced by Kerry Thompson with music by Ramtin Arablouei. It was edited by John Isabella. Our audio engineer was Neal Rauch. You can follow HIBT on X & Instagram and sign up for Guy's free newsletter at guyraz.com or on Substack.To hear our guests previous episodes:Dutch Bros. Coffee: Travis Boersma | Advice Line with Travis BoersmaEverlane: Michael Preysman | Advice Line with Michael PreysmanSpikeball: Chris Ruder | Advice Line with Chris RuderSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Spikeball founder and CEO Chris Ruder joins Guy on the Advice Line, where they answer questions from three early-stage founders. Plus, Chris shares an early-days strategy that ended up revealing surprising intel about his core customers.First we meet Jimmy in California, who's wondering how to find passionate managers as he scales his chain of parkour gyms. Then Cindy in Massachusetts, who's looking to expand her running brand beyond its niche with a new product. And Nigel in New York, who's poising himself for a comeback after his Rockaway Beach surf shop went under last year.Thank you to the founders of Freedom in Motion Gym, Pen and Paces, and Station RBNY Surf Shop for being a part of our show.If you'd like to be featured on a future Advice Line episode, leave us a one-minute message that tells us about your business and a specific question you'd like answered. Send a voice memo to hibt@id.wondery.com or call 1-800-433-1298.And be sure to listen to Spikeball's founding story as told by Chris on the show in 2023.This episode was produced by Sam Paulson, who also composed the music. It was edited by John Isabella. Our audio engineer was Neal Rauch.You can follow HIBT on X & Instagram and sign up for Guy's free newsletter at guyraz.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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In Ep. 121 of Earned, Conor sits down with Chris Ruder, CEO of Spikeball—the world's largest supplier of roundnet equipment. To start, we dive into the background of Spikeball, which originally launched in 1989, before learning how Chris revived the name in 2004. With his original job being a sales position at Microsoft, Chris shares that he had no idea what steps to take, but that inspiration struck after seeing the game on a family vacation. Next, we explore the journey of building up to the re-launch, and how Chris was able to use his resources to create the product we know as Spikeball. Chris speaks to how he balanced running the Spikeball brand while simultaneously working his corporate job, and claims that the energizing work he did on Spikeball was what kept him going. We discuss what Chris loved about having the autonomy to build a consumer-forward brand, and how it led to feeling fulfilled in his career. By following the community of Spikeball players and monitoring what they're asking for, Chris empowered a group of avid-roundnet players into a loyal fanbase itching to participate in tournaments. We then learn how Spikeball has maintained its focus on its competitive community while also maintaining the balance of making “at-home players” feel valued. Between the way Spikeball motivates its customer service to treat players as friends, the ‘Spikeballer of the week newsletter,' and its social media strategy, Spikeball is always chasing the idea of being fully human. To close the show, Chris shares his own level of skill at the game, and how much he admires those who dedicate themselves to the craft.    In this episode, you will learn:  The importance of balancing engagement between niche communities and broader markets.  The power of humanizing your brand by blending humor and relatability to foster strong customer connections. The value of community investment and how Chris's distribution of free Spikeball sets led to both grassroots growth and brand loyalty. Resources: Spikeball - https://spikeball.com/   Connect with the Guest: Chris's LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisruder/   Connect with Conor Begley & CreatorIQ: Conor's LinkedIn - @conormbegley CreatorIQ LinkedIn - @creatoriq   Follow us on social: CreatorIQ YouTube - @TribeDynamics CreatorIQ Instagram - @creatoriq CreatorIQ TikTok - @creator.iq CreatorIQ Twitter - @CreatorIQ   Timestamps: [4:01] How Chris initially approached marketing and distribution for Spikeball [14:46] How Chris balanced the needs of competitive players with those who play Spikeball casually [25:01] How Spikeball infiltrated niche groups, like Christian youth organizations [35:31] The importance of brand protection and becoming a proprietary eponym  

When Chris Ruder set out to revive a ball-and-net game from his childhood, he was pretty sure he would fail. He wasn't really into sports and had never run a business. But after 15 years, Spikeball has grown into a thriving brand with a global following. Spikeball is a two-on-two game where players hit a rubber ball onto a circular net. Invented in 1989, it never took off. But in 2003, when childhood friends dusted off a duct-taped set, Chris began daydreaming about bringing it back to life. For a few years, it was just a crazy idea, until Chris dug deeper and discovered it was never patented. Chris ran the business by himself for six years and discovered Spikeball was taking off with PE teachers and Christian youth groups. When he was offered a deal on Shark Tank, he turned it down because he didn't want Spikeball to be marketed as a toy, and instead focused on growing it as a competitive sport. Now, the game is popular around the world and its international governing body has Olympic ambitions. This episode was produced by Chris Maccini, with music by Ramtin Arablouei. Edited by Neva Grant, with research help from Chris Maccini. You can follow HIBT on Twitter & Instagram, and email us at hibt@id.wondery.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you've been out and about on a Sunday, you have probably come across the product created by today's guest. Chris Ruder is the Founder of Spikeball.com and he has a really cool story about how he started the company and ran it as a side hustle for five years before taking it full-time and growing it to where it is today. Listen in as Chris shares what it was like raising the initial $100k he needed to launch the business from friends and family, why he never considered using third-party investors, and the lessons he learned mixing business and personal. We also dive into the marketing strategies that Chris has employed, why he has never relied on paid advertising, and how he has leveraged community, connection, and word of mouth to scale his business. You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3tp0WlK Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners?  Learn more here.   Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups?  Subscribe via email.

Chris Ruder is the founder and CEO of Spikeball. The funny thing about Spikeball is that it was invented by a different guy named Jeff Knurek in 1989. It was only in the market for a few years before quickly dying out. Chris was actually an early player of the game as a kid, saw its potential, decided to find the game as an adult, and turn it into a successful business.  https://okdork.com/podcast/246 Use this link to get 10% off at checkout on AppSumo: https://appsumo.com/?coupon=noah10&code=noah10

Starting a business is hard enough. Try launching and building an entirely new global sport. That's one heck of a challenge. But when you have a good idea, a product, and an organic way to connect with people, it's actually possible. Chris Ruder is the CEO of Spikeball, and he initially thought his little business would be a fun side hobby. The company idea even started off with the age old question, “Wouldn't it be cool if..?” But within five years, that little business with zero employees was earning $1.5 million in revenue and attracting attention around the world. That didn't happen by magic, though, and on this episode of Up Next in Commerce, Chris and I dug into scaling a company by asking the questions you think are dumb — including to your own customers. For Chris, simply asking, “How did you find out about us?” was the turning point to finding an audience and then nurturing it so that it grows in the most organic way possible. He also gave the inside scoop on his Shark Tank experience, and why he encourages other entrepreneurs to take advantage of that opportunity if they are ever presented with it. Plus, Chris explains how he's been navigating the supply chain issues, including by finding new ways to expand the company beyond just physical products. Enjoy this episode.Main Takeaways:Ask The Dumb Questions: Many new founders come into an industry with questions that may seem dumb or obvious, but they need to be asked. Find people around you who can help guide you or inform you so that you can continue making the right moves without having to backtrack. This includes asking questions of your customers. Ask them what they think, how they found you, and what made them click “buy.”Set Customers Up To Be the Hero: When you engage with customers, you can offer them the opportunity to be your ambassador, but in the most authentic way. Work with them to develop their own community and following, set them up to be the hero, and in turn, you will see more organic growth and brand love than simply paying people to promote your brand for you.The Shift to Stuff: The last two years have seen a major change in how people shop and what they shop for. Consumers have moved away from experiences and moved toward buying more stuff to fill their time and satisfy their itch. CPG companies have been forced to supply more than ever, and the logistics and supply chains have suffered as a result. Work with your vendors and shipping partners to find more creative solutions, and try to find additional ways to bring manufacturing closer to home — even if that means adding different kinds of goods and services to your product portfolio so that you are not beholden to the supply chain.For an in-depth look at this episode, check out the full transcript below. Quotes have been edited for clarity and length.---Up Next in Commerce is brought to you by Salesforce Commerce Cloud. Respond quickly to changing customer needs with flexible Ecommerce connected to marketing, sales, and service. Deliver intelligent commerce experiences your customers can trust, across every channel. Together, we're ready for what's next in commerce. Learn more at salesforce.com/commerce---For a full transcript of this interview, click here. 

In this episode, we talk with the CEO and Founder of Spikeball, Chris Ruder. He talks about what Spikeball is and why no one is good at it to start with,  what it takes to get on and win on Shark Tank,  the foreignness of getting to make all your own decisions as a CEO, and the difference between a calculated risk and just being stupid. Check out Spikeball

Identifying and investing in future leaders is one of the most important items on a CEO's endless list of priorities, long time horizon notwithstanding. How do they do it? CEOs Mindi Knebel of Kaizen Health, Chris Ruder of SpikeBall and Jay Rudman of Topstep share their approaches.

Chris and Rob are back after a "hiatus" last week. Rob opens the show discussing how he currently is having issues being present at the moment due to so much going on around the building of Polar Park. Chris turns on his therapist hat and they discuss how they both have been so accustomed to being proactive vs reactive in their careers. Rob shares a story about how the bleachers in Wilkes-Barre almost prevented him from opening the ballpark on time. We request our listeners to please reach out and explain this new NBA Top Shot Blockchain Crypto craze that is currently happening. The guys can't wrap their head around how someone is buying digital highlights for over $200,000 and not being able to be replicated. We breakdown our interview with Spikeball CEO, Chris Ruder, and how much fun we had speaking with him. The behind the scenes experience on Shark Tank made Rob even more enthralled given his fandom of the show. Plus... don't do what the now former Mariners CEO did recently with his rotary club appearance.

What a story! Chris Ruder, CEO of Spikeball, joins us this week to share his incredible journey on how he turned $900 into a multi million dollar sports product and league. From his experience on Shark Tank with Mark Cuban to running and operating a thriving business is a must hear for everyone looking to make their mark in the sports industry. Chris details how he spent his free time in the evenings building the Spikeball brand while working from 9pm to 2am every night. It never felt like work for him as he believed in the vision and the product he was building. One of the key points he touches on is the ability to make your own decisions and be your own boss. Chris has stayed true to his vision and continues to build the Spikeball brand by hiring a diverse skill set for his company. Also, hear how someone found a way to take Spikeball around the world to play a game on Mount Everest!

Chris Ruder, CEO of Spikeball, bought the rights to a childhood game he loved, and through Pragmatic Innovation and a focus on early Profits, relaunched it with an entirely different approach. In this talk from Tugboat Institute Summit, Chris recounts the story of Spikeball, including how he leveraged e-commerce, social media, and existing communities to build a nationwide movement around the product and the opportunity for connection it creates.

Spikeball CEO Chris Ruder is NOT the quick-hit, hockey stick growth guy. That said, Spikeball just crossed $100m in total revenue, so... In this episode of ask, Chris shares his thoughts about starting a business without risking it all. While building Spikeball, he kept his corporate job for over 5 years and we sit down to discuss the conversations with his wife and brother which led to him going full-time. It's a story of quiet confidence, patience, persistence, and is a powerful example of a less risky way to start a business.

In this episode, we talk to Chris Ruder (Founder & CEO of Spikeball, Inc) we discuss his love for the sport, how he is moving his company to be more inclusive, and what he thinks about the prospects of Spikeball becoming an Olympic sport.  Check out Spikeball here.  Spikeball's Facebook page.  **More On Chris** Chris Ruder is the CEO and Founder of Spikeball Inc. The Jonas Brothers, Drake, Julianne Hough, Ryan Seacrest, 21 Pilots, Casey Neistat, and numerous pro sports teams and players have expressed their love for Spikeball. Spikeball's appearance on Shark Tank was voted as one of the best episodes of all time. ESPN went as far as to say Spikeball is mainstream. Chris started the business in 2008 and ran it as a night job for 5 years while keeping his day job as an Advertising Executive. 5 years after its founding, Spikeball hit $1 million in annual sales with zero full-time employees. At that time, Chris quit his day job and went full-time. That was one of the best days of his life. Spikeball's mission is the create the next great global sport. Tournaments appear on ESPN and take place all over the world. Chris lives in Chicago with his 3 great kids and a fantastic wife. He is on the board of I Grow Chicago and the company has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to help address gun violence, the environment, and education. Visit our website TheStartupLifePodcast.com Follow The Startup Life Podcast Facebook Page Want gear from The Startup Life? Check out our gear! Check out other great podcasts from The Binge Podcast Network. Written by: Dominic Lawson  Executive Producers: Dominic Lawson and Kenda Lawson Music Credits: **Show Theme**  Behind Closed Doors - Otis McDonald  **Break Theme** Cielo - Huma-Huma  **Sponsors/Partners** Listen and subscribe to the Keep Optimising Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere you like to get your favorite podcasts.  You can also get more information at https://keepoptimising.com/. 

The Spikeball Story Chris Ruder, Spikeball Inc. – The Sharkpreneur podcast with Kevin Harrington and Seth Greene Episode 467 Chris Ruder Chris Ruder is the CEO and Founder of Spikeball Inc. The Jonas Brothers, Drake, Julianne Hough, Ryan Seacrest, 21 Pilots, Casey Neistat, and numerous pro sport teams and players have expressed their love for Spikeball. Spikeball’s appearance on Shark Tank was voted as one of the best episodes of all time. ESPN went as far as to say Spikeball is mainstream. Chris started the business 2008 and ran it as a night job for 5 years while keeping his day job as an Advertising Executive. 5 years after its founding, Spikeball hit $1 million in annual sales with zero full-time employees. At that time, Chris quit his day job and went full-time. That was one of the best days of his life. Spikeball’s mission is the create the next great global sport. Tournaments appear on ESPN and take place all over the world. Chris lives in Chicago with his 3 great kids and fantastic wife. He is on the board of I Grow Chicago and the company has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to help address gun violence, the environment and education. Listen to this illuminating Sharkpreneur episode with Chris Ruder about the company Spikeball Inc. Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week’s show: ●    How Spikeball is an international phenomenon. ●    Why selling the company isn’t on the table. ●    How Spikeball has been impacted by COVID-19. ●    Why the name of the sport is actually called round net. ●    How the mission of Spikeball is to the next global sport. Connect with Chris: Guest Contact Info Twitter @spikeballchris @spikeball Instagram @spikeball Facebook facebook.com/spikeball LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/chrisruder Links Mentioned: spikeball.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Ruder is the founder and CEO of Spikeball Inc In this interview, Chris shares about how he started the company, the different steps he took to build the culture at Spikeball Inc., and what life is like as an entrepreneur in the sport world. Hear about what attracted Chris to the game of Roundnet and get some advice for creating your own startup business. Segment #1: Chris's journey (2:16) Segment #2: Daily life as the CEO of Spikeball Inc (26:35) Segment #3: Misconceptions about Spikeball Inc and the sport of Roundnet (41:45) Segment #4: Rapid fire questions (48:52) Chris's social media contacts: Twitter (@spikeballchris) Spikeball Inc social media contacts: Facebook (@Spikeball), Twitter (@Spikeball), Instagram (@Spikeball), & Website (Spikeball.com) This episode is brought to you by Haddock Sport Performance. Haddock Sport Performance provides a complete strength & conditioning experience. With over 5 years of experience at the elite international level and a global group of athletes, they know that training is a partnership. Their goal is to provide each athlete with a truly personal and unique training experience. Head to haddocksportperformance.ca or @haddocksportperformance on Instagram to learn more. That concludes Season 1 of the One-on-One with Wan and Only Sports Podcast. Stay tuned for Season 2 coming out October 20th featuring the players, coaches, and personalities that make up the world of ultimate.

David Yu is the lead hockey analyst for Sportlogiq. In this interview, David shares about his career change from pursuing his PhD in evolutionary biology of vision into hockey analytics. We explore some basics about hockey analytics and what he sees are some upcoming trends in the industry. Segment #1: David's journey (2:18) Segment #2: Daily life as a lead hockey analyst (21:32) Segment #3: Misconceptions about hockey analytics (32:13) Segment #4: Rapid fire questions (39:55) David's social media contacts: Twitter (@yuorme) YouTube videos: Hockey - Passing Analytics (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsXezYzK0IM&feature=youtu.be&t=11603&ab_channel=EmilyJoMichele), and Hockey - Pace of Play (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TENd93QJt-8&feature=youtu.be&t=6818&ab_channel=ColumbusBlueJackets) This episode is brought to you by Beyond the Game. Beyond The Game is an organization dedicated to elevating the vision of athletes through the connection of sport to what's next. Their aim is to create better athletes, stronger leaders, tighter teams, and most importantly, more enlightened people. Follow their journey on Facebook and LinkedIn at Beyond The Game, on Instagram @beyond_thegame, and at their website www.gobeyondthegame.ca. Keep an eye out for the next episode where I interview Chris Ruder, founder and CEO of Spikeball Inc. In this interview, Chris shares about how he started the company, the different steps he took to build the culture at Spikeball, and what life is like as an entrepreneur in the sport world. Next week will be our last episode in Season 1.

In Episode 48, listeners hear from Chris Ruder, Founder & CEO of Spikeball, about the game's rise, fall, and revival; landing a deal on Shark Tank; and the future of the sport! C'mon text me 408-507-2749!

In this episode Chris discusses how to start a business out of nothing and develop a relationship marketing and have your athletes do the marketing for you. He also breaks down the difficulties of running a start up business and how to make it successful in the long runSupport the show (https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl8NPB2H4Mf/?igshid=1m9w8d28oarlu&utm_source=fb_www_attr)

If your average day at work is consumed with putting out fires and dealing with one emergency after the other, you’re on a very slippery slope. It’s a place New York Times bestselling author Dan Heath likes to call “downstream,” and before you know it, he warns, you’ll be stuck there. Tune in as Dan explains why adopting an upstream mindset—i.e., focusing on preventing problems rather than reacting to them over and over again—is crucial to moving your business forward and uniting your team.   entreleadership.com/podcast Upstream by Dan Heath Scarcity by Eldar Shafir and Sendhil Mullainathan #342: 5 Buckets of Leadership You're Responsible For with Dr. Henry Cloud Switch by Chip Heath and Dan Heath #380: Engaging With the Marketplace with Chris Ruder 25 Things You Can Delegate To A Social Media Strategist from BELAY Critical Thinking Cheatsheet Review this episode for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card   As an Amazon Associate EntreLeadership earns from qualifying purchases.   Want expert help with your business question? Call 844-944-1070 and leave a message or send an email to podcast@entreleadership.com. You could be featured on a future podcast episode!

In 2008, Spikeball founder and CEO Chris Ruder set out to create the next great American sport. But unfortunately, after a sizeable ad spend, Chris discovered that his number one target market—volleyball players—didn’t exactly share his passion for the game. Useful information for sure, but you know what was even more valuable? The way he learned it. Tune in to find out why talking to real live people changed everything and enabled Chris to turn Spikeball into a $21 million company—while expanding globally and creating a rock-solid culture along the way.   entreleadership.com/podcast Spikeball website Young Life website Unleashing the Ideavirus by Seth Godin How to Create Core Values Review this episode for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card   As an Amazon Associate EntreLeadership earns from qualifying purchases.   Want expert help with your business question? Call 844-944-1070 and leave a message or send an email to podcast@entreleadership.com. You could be featured on a future podcast episode!

Introducing Spikeball Creator Chris Ruder Chris Ruder is the CEO and Founder of Spikeball Inc a new and fun sport that looks like its going to be big everywhere. The Jonas Brothers, Drake, Julianne Hough, Ryan Seacrest, 21 Pilots, Casey Neistat, and numerous pro sport teams and players have expressed their love for Spikeball. Spikeball's appearance on Shark Tank was voted as one of the best episodes of all time. ESPN went as far as to say Spikeball is mainstream. Now our guest today started the business 2008 and ran it as a night job for 5 years while keeping his day job as an Advertising Executive. 5 years after its founding, Spike ball hit $1 million in annual sales with zero full-time employees. How The Dots Joined Up For Spike Ball At that time, Chris quit his day job and went full-time. That was one of the best days of his life and Spikeball's mission is to the create the next great global sport, with tournaments appearing on ESPN whilst taking place all over the world. Chris lives in Chicago with his 3 great kids and fantastic wife. He is on the board of I Grow Chicago and the company has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to help address gun violence, the environment and education.  So did he need to spend those five years as a side hustle business, or was it simply a leap into the unknown that scared him. And how do you know that you have a great product on your hands before you ever invest your own money into the business? Well let's find out as we bring onto the show to start joining up dots with the one and only Chris Ruder Show Highlights During the show we discussed such deep subjects with Chris Ruder such as: Chris shares how Spikeball wasn't his idea at first, but he took an original product that in many ways had failed and made it much better. Why it is such an amazing idea to provide free parts for life to customers as they become your marketing department for free. Chris allows us a glimpse into the starting process of getting his customers to fall in love with SpikeBall. And lastly........... The Spikeball founder talks openly about his appearance on Dragons Den, and what the show truly brings a new business.

In today's episode, Pat and Tony talk about the possibility of sports leagues starting back up, followed by an interview with Chris Ruder, CEO of Spikeball

Well, the people spoke out so here's Vol2 of The Lockdown Companion. On this episode we are joined by Spikeball's Chris Ruder and the legend, Matt Macduff. We also do some 'ask a pro' questions, a quick round of 'dope or nope' along with much more...  Don't forget you can get involved in the podcast submitting your video questions, topic ideas and anything else for Vol3 here:- https://www.dropbox.com/request/tWl4QhMad6LJXQINeLHO Follow Spikeball & Chris Ruder:- @spikeball @spikeballchris Find Matt Macduff's podcast:- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1503451187 Follow @odub_23 & @thehktpodcast Last but not least, do you have a link to a celebrity guest for Vol3? Get in touch and lets make it happen.

Today, Joe Caporoso is joined by the Founder and CEO of Spikeball, Chris Ruder. The two discuss the rise in popularity of spikeball, as well as what it's like running a company as unique as spikeball. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, Joe Caporoso is joined by the Founder and CEO of Spikeball, Chris Ruder. The two discuss the rise in popularity of spikeball, as well as what it's like running a company as unique as spikeball. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Enjoy an encore of a listener and personal favorite with Spikeball founder Chris Ruder. It's the perfect episode to replay this 4th of July week as many of us will be playing this game celebrating America! Chris Ruder is the founder of Spikeball. Chris knew early on he did not want a desk job which led him to get a photojournalism degree. After graduating, Chris had the realization there weren’t a ton of ways to make a good living with it and one thing led to another, and he found himself in sales. Chris was a successful salesman I should add, but he wanted to do more than just hit his next quota. Learn how a trip to Hawaii with old friends sparked the idea to revive an old childhood game, and how Chris started Spikeball at night after his sales job with a wife and three kids at home. We also dive deep into his experience on the hit show Shark Tank and so much more… ON TODAY’S EPISODE, CHRIS AND I DISCUSS His entrepreneurial influences growing up Having the mindset of avoiding a desk job leading Chris to a photojournalism degree Not having a lot of opportunities to make money with photography, Chris goes into sales Having the recognition that he wanted more in life than just hitting quotas A trip to Hawaii with a forgotten childhood game sparking the idea to bring it back to life Why it took Chris 3 years to start the company after the initial idea Chris’ advise for that critical first step of action Growing the brand in the early days Spikeball being more than a beach game, and the development of the Spikeball communities Creating surprise and delight for the customer Getting selected to be on Shark Tank Preparing to be on Shark Tank Chris’ time in the tank with the Sharks Waiting to see if his segment would make TV Getting an investment from Daymond John, but the deal ultimately falling through The positive effect of being on Shark Tank Overcoming Spikeball’s challenge transitioning into major big-box retailers What Chris has learned about himself from starting Spikeball Growing as a CEO What it means to Chris to create what he has now with Spikeball Future plans for the company MY 3 BIG TAKEAWAYS A recurring theme pops up again, JUST DO SOMETHING to get things in motion Be humble enough to recognize what you don’t know Treating customers like actual human beings goes a long way Spikeball Website: https://spikeball.com/ You can find Chris and Spikeball at: Twitter: @spikeballchris Twitter: @Spikeball Instagram: spikeball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spikeball/

Mike and Logan sit down with Spikeball CEO Chris Ruder!

Chris Ruder, the CEO of Spikeball, shares a story about meeting Shark Tank investor Mark Cuban at a bar and committing a photo faux pas (a faux-to pas?), a year before he taped his Shark Tank appearance.

Chris Ruder is the founder of Spikeball. Chris knew early on he did not want a desk job which led him to get a photojournalism degree. After graduating, Chris had the realization there weren’t a ton of ways to make a good living with it and one thing led to another, and he found himself in sales. Chris was a successful salesman I should add, but he wanted to do more than just hit his next quota. Learn how a trip to Hawaii with old friends sparked the idea to revive an old childhood game, and how Chris started Spikeball at night after his sales job with a wife and three kids at home. We also dive deep into his experience on the hit show Shark Tank and so much more… On today’s episode, Chris and I discuss Having the recognition that he wanted more in life than just hitting quotas Why it took Chris 3 years to launch Spikeball after the initial idea Preparing to be on Shark Tank What it means to Chris to create what he has now with Spikeball And much more… Subscribe: iTunes | Stitcher Visit https://www.ubpath.com/ for a full breakdown and my 3 Big Takeaways Spikeball Website: https://spikeball.com/ You can find Chris and Spikeball at: Twitter: @spikeballchris Twitter: @Spikeball Instagram: spikeball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spikeball/ Sponsor: Bighorn Apparel Drawing inspiration from their Denver, Colorado hometown, Bighorn owns the line between everyday urban style and the tough, mountain look. Their up for anything approach has created a versatile brand that’s appropriate for any type of situation. Bighorn aims to empower the consumer by using environmentally friendly materials that are produced in a responsible manner. They strive to find the connection between tough, sustainable, and stylish in their durable clothing line. Use promo code “ubpath” at checkout on the website at https://www.wearbighorn.com/ to receive 25% off your order.  

Painless Podcast episode 4: Chris Ruder, CEO, Spikeball Get to know interesting people, jobs and places to work in and around sports, events, start-ups and cause marketing world. Featuring Painless Networking members, hosted by Chris Hartweg. New episodes each Wednesday. URL: www.Painless.Network Linked in: www.linkedin.com/groups/73710 Facebook: www.facebook.com/PainlessNetworking Twitter: www.twitter.com/PainlessNetwork