Podcasts about for jon

In today's episode, Jason talks to Jon Cowley, founder of Whatifi. It is a visual financial planning software and tool that helps people think through various scenarios in different methodologies than people are accustomed to. Episode Highlights: 1.00: Jon says Whatifi is a highly visual low code financial scenario builder and projection platform, making it easy for professionals to visually create, calculate, present and share multiple financial scenarios to their clients.1.46: Jon doesn't come from a Fintech background; instead, he runs a VFX company. He has created some of the coolest movies and also some of the biggest duds. A lot of these are leveraging technology workflows for Jon.3.03: Jason points out that most people think spreadsheets are developed for users, but very few people think about using presentation devices.3.48: Considering the fundamental problems, Jon had built a software that connects all the logics and events. 04.01: Because each step is separate, it is very easy to follow along with the history. Utilizing this simple concept as base, Jon thought, why can't he apply the same logic in Finance? Whatifi uses the same algorithm and calculates all accounting data. 05.13: So far, Jason has not seen any such concept in the Finance Industry. He says that spreadsheets exist for most financial planning software. He appreciates and says that “What Whatifi has done is very simple and logical.”06.41: Jon shares excellent real-live scenarios where Whatifi's algorithm can be used. 07.02: No, thing in our system is just a number, they are the whole set of metadata that is wrapped around, that allows downstream things to adjust accordingly.08.00: Jon talks about building a roadmap so that every single day the starting point is accurate. 09.14: Jon points out the importance of planning goals. 09.40: Every day at Whatifi Jon's team updates the baseline to see how they are progressing.11.52: Jon shares Whatifi's top 3 value propositions. First is with this framework, you can build scenarios far more quickly than the tools currently available. The second is the ultimate scenario. The third is Visualization.13.23: Jason says it is not the Visualization, but the Causality is very transparent. 14.01: People who are indecisive and analytical are going to love Whatifi's tool.15.07: Jason says so many tools are niche at this moment.17.19: Whatifi is the most unique decision-making software that Jason has seen so far. He is curious to know about the responses that Jon has received so far. 18.35: Jon says that advisors really like the concept of Whatifi.20.53: Jon shares, “While we have calculation engine, we also have trigger roadmaps.”23.30: Jon would like to see more collaboration between FinTech.25.09: For Jon, the biggest challenge is that they are outsiders who are entering the Fintech world.3 Key Points: Jason asks about Jon's history and how he came across the idea to launch Whatifi.Listeners learn that nothing in our system is just a number; they are a whole set of metadata.Whatifi is a calculation engine, and we are using it to build scenarios for people, says Jon. Tweetable Quotes:“Metadata gets modified day to day and passed down for calculations.”- Jon Cowley“No, thing in our system is just a number.” - Jon Cowley“There has always been a black box aspect to Financial Planning software.” - Jason Pereira“At the end of the day, it is all math.” - Jason PereiraResources Mentioned:LinkedIn - WhatifiLinkedIn - Jon CowleyWhatifi - WebsiteFacebook – Jason Pereira's FacebookLinkedIn – Jason Pereira's LinkedInWoodgate.com – SponsorPodcast Editing See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What does it take to create marketing strategies and sales copies that produce great results?  Most copywriting freelancers follow the three-step formula: getting good, getting connected, and getting paid. But sometimes, this is easier said than done.  Meanwhile, for business owners, the biggest challenge is capturing a target market. You need to know how you can form a connection with your ideal customers. You should also make sure that they choose you over your competitors. In today's episode, Jon Reyes tackles both issues that these freelancers and entrepreneurs face. He discusses the fundamentals of writing a copy, business, and entrepreneurship in general. He also talks about the biggest challenges he faced, as well as the habits he developed to succeed. What does a copywriter do to create effective marketing strategies? How does writing a copy capture your target market, and how do you connect with them? Stay tuned to learn more about Jon's time-tested and effective strategies that freelancers and entrepreneurs will surely benefit from. Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode: Discover the things you need to do when you start out in business. What does a copywriter do and how can they overcome the challenges they go through? Understand why Jon puts so much emphasis on the importance of believing in your product or service. Resources John Carlton's The Freelance Course Greg Glassman's video on CrossFit Learn more about Jon's mentorship course and find downloadable files for freelancers here! Connect with Jon: Website | LinkedIn | Facebook Episode Highlights How Jon Got Started in Sales and Marketing for Business Growing up, Jon did not have a background in business. Over time, he developed self-esteem issues. He felt inferior and didn't think he was smart, resulting in social anxiety. Jon decided to rebuild and reinvent himself into someone he liked. He wanted to do something important in his life. He graduated with a degree in advertising and a minor in psychology. He wanted to find a job in sales but ended up not liking it.  As Jon was exploring opportunities, he came across internet marketing and copywriting.  Challenges in Writing a Copy Jon likens copywriting to public speaking.  When he was starting out, he was second-guessing his writing and unfamiliar with the business world. To address this issue, Jon resolved to get good at writing a copy. Jon also values good fundamentals. Through this, he can stay sharp and focused in the industry. If You Are Starting Out or Struggling in Writing a Copy As a freelancer, your skill set should match your rates. Hone your skill set by doing free projects, keeping a portfolio, and gaining testimonies. This way, you can serve the world of business and keep yourself humble. Never sell yourself short. Remember to keep the balance between knowing your worth and being humble. You also need to take time to learn new things and build your skills. This is true for all practices.  Writing a Copy: Habits That Jon Developed Throughout His Career If you are new to a business, you need to understand your target market. After this, figure out how you can connect to your market. Form a human-to-human connection with your audience. Tell the story in a way that speaks to people's pain points. If you can move people through words and win them over, that's how you build a longer-term following. For Jon, you have to understand the crowd you are selling to. Know what their motivations and pain points are before you start writing a copy. The Importance of an Outside Perspective If you're marketing something that you are passionate about, chances are you'll be too focused on the good points.  When you fall into this trap you don't see the perspective of your target market anymore. So you need outside expertise to connect the dots between your perspective and your target's. Coaches can also help you bring out your potential.  Remember that there is always going to be someone better than us, no matter how good we get at anything. Situations Where Jon Does His Best Work  Jon works best at influencer marketing, personal growth, and self-help.  He sometimes works in the health and fitness space as well. In everything he does, he works the best with someone who believes in what they sell. Jon also looks for scalability when working with companies. He cannot work with people who sell and/or market an inferior product or service. How to Work with Jon Jon gets prospects from his extensive connections. You can also reach out to him on social media. Before working with someone new, Jon makes sure that they're a good fit. He does this because he prefers to build relationships. Two Powerful Quotes  “You should never sell yourself short and always know your worth. But you have to remember that there is that balance between marketing and selling yourself and that confidence in your skillset.” “How can you connect to someone through writing or even through a video script that makes them feel like you're talking just to them? So it's kind of a unique dialling in, a unique message.” About Jon Jon Reyes is the copywriter behind today's top industry leaders. These industry leaders include Brian Tracy International, Brain.Fm, Conscious Copy, Mimosa Mastermind, the Fairall Group, and iThrive. He is a B2B consultant, strategic advisor, and high-powered copywriter for hire with a multimillion-dollar track record. Through his marketing strategies and sales copywriting skills, Jon has helped generate over 40 million dollars in sales for his clients.  Jon is also the founder of Copy Blueprints, an agency that integrates full-service copywriting funnels with collaboration and coaching principles. It is also a platform where he supports other copywriters through accelerated mentorships, helping them take more control of their income and career growth by leveraging the power of writing. You may connect with Jon through his website or reach out to him on LinkedIn or Facebook. Enjoyed This Podcast? If you enjoyed the podcast, be sure to subscribe and share it with your friends! Post a review and share it! If you enjoyed tuning in, then leave us a review. You can also share this with your family and friends. For episode updates, visit our website. You may also tune in on Apple Podcasts.  PS. Do you already have a successful business, meaning you're up, running, and paying your bills with some profit left over? Are you interested in growing your business, automating/streamlining things, and staying one step ahead of your competition?

Episode: 145 Jon Lallande Join your hosts, David Pere and Alex Felice, with guest Jon Lallande as they talk everything about VA loans, what makes it cool and not cool, and the one-time restoration entitlement that VA loan users need to hear about before they start building their portfolios. Throughout the discussion, the guys build up and poke holes in everything they can discuss regarding VA loans and their pros and cons. For Jon, a user benefits from a VA loan's higher chance of closing than other options. Meanwhile, Alex thinks it is disproportionately advertised to entice people into not-so-savvy investments. As a piece of advice to first-time investors, Jon believes in the importance of saving, understanding the available options on the table, and understanding how the market doesn't always just appreciate forever. In this episode, tune in to the different opinions that weigh out about VA loans as the guys tackle the topic in technicalities. About Jon Lallande: Jon Lallande's mission is to provide clients and real estate professionals with the ultimate home buying experience. Jon's goal is to take the stress off of the clients and the real estate agent by performing with consistent communication and swift timelines. Jon specializes in closing loans in as little as 15-21 days and offers a wide variety of loan programs, including; Jumbo, Conventional, FHA, VA, and refinance loans. As a prior Force Reconnaissance Marine and Scout Sniper, Jon loves working with military veterans and is a subject matter expert when it comes to VA loans. Whether it's a first-time home purchase or a multifamily "house-hack," Jon often finds himself helping to educate veterans on real estate and real estate finance. - Sponsor: Rentometer https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/rentometer - Outline of the episode: [06:26] VA Loans: A great loan for veterans when they're on active duty. [08:03] An overview of a first-timer's VA loan. [14:02] On FHA loans over VA loans. [19:37] The advantages of going for a VA loan. [26:30] This thing we call Manual Underwriting. [34:39] The rules of real estate and buying houses that people tend to forget. [38:21] Are retail homes contradictory to savvy investing? – Jon disagrees. [46:17] What are the VA loan reserve requirements?  [54:00] On VA loans, multifamily investing, and the biggest thing to focus on. [01:02:04] What is the one-time restoration of entitlement? [01:05:38] Understand why you should save. [01:06:39] Your biggest resource is somebody. Resources: Website:              https://crosscountrymortgage.com/ Email:                    jon.lallande@myccmortgage.com   Set for Life – Dominate Life, Money, and the American Dream, Book by Scott Trench: https://www.amazon.com/Set-Life-Dominate-American-Dream/dp/0997584718   Follow Our Journey: Website:              https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/ YouTube:             https://www.youtube.com/c/Frommilitarytomillionaire/ Facebook:           https://www.facebook.com/groups/1735593999901619/ Instagram:          https://www.instagram.com/frommilitarytomillionaire/   Grab your book copy of The No B.S. Guide to Military Life - How to Build Wealth, Get Promoted, and Achieve Greatness by David Pere: https://www.amazon.com/B-S-Guide-Military-Life-greatness/dp/1736753010 - Advice to an 18-20-year old: Invest in your TSP and don't live paycheck to paycheck. - Recommended resource(s): The No B.S. Guide to Military Life https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/book/ - Sponsor: Rentometer https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/rentometer - Real Estate Investing Course: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/teachable-rei Recommended books and tools: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/kit/ Become an investor: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/investor/ - SUBSCRIBE: https://bit.ly/2Q3EvfE - Website: https://www.frommilitarytomillionaire.com/start-here/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frommilitarytomillionaire/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/militarymillionaire/ - My name is David Pere, I am an active duty Marine, and have realized that service members and the working class use the phrase "I don't get paid enough" entirely too often. The reality is that most often our financial situation is self-inflicted. After having success with real estate investing, I started From Military to Millionaire to teach personal finance and real estate investing to service members and the working class. As a result, I have helped many of my readers increase their savings gap, and increase their chances of achieving financial freedom! - Click here to SUBSCRIBE: https://bit.ly/2Q3EvfE to the channel for more awesome videos! THIS SITE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED. ALL OPINIONS EXPRESSED HEREIN ARE MY OWN. THE VIEWS EXPRESSED ON THIS SITE ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR OR THE AUTHOR'S INVITED GUEST POSTERS, AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE US GOVERNMENT, THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, OR THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS.

Naked, powerful poetry and prose on heartbreak, love and sobriety - that’s what Jon Lupin, better known as @ThePoetryBandit to his almost 200k followers on Instagram, is all about. The sweetly humorous, Jon, rekindled his love of the creative arts after his ex wife bought a type writer and he began sharing writing in the early days of IG poets. He self published his first book, My Sober Little Moon, in 2014, and shared that he wrote much of it while still battling alcoholism. He said it reminds him and others why those chose sobriety. Jon is also staunchly honest about his particular kind of OCD that causes incessant overthinking, his divorce, his drunken stupors and even pokes fun of himself with how his IG handle used to be @thehopelessloser. In his opinion, poetry throughout the centuries will always have an air of suffering to it, as is the human condition. As such, we discuss how we become addicted to our suffering, how some only love us when we’re suffering, and we ruminate over the age old question, do you have to suffer to make great art? Jon even nerds out with me over the structural differences between prose and poetry that makes for a different psychological, emotional experience for the reader, which helps us answer the question, “Why do I love that poem?” Jon is also the author of You Only Love Me When I’m Suffering and Encyclopedia of a Broken Heart. This is an intelligent, honest, and surprisingly funny conversation that shouldn’t be missed!  _______________________Connect with Alyssa @alyssakuzins on Instagram.For Jon’s books and show notes head to alyssakuzins.com/the-poetry-bandit Got a minute? Give SCS a 5 star rating!Got 5 minutes? Write SCS a stellar review to get the word out!Deepest gratitude for listening and sharing, friends! Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/alyssakuzins)

John discusses some recent audience interactions he's had at some shows, which leads to a discussion on how people should have a "burner marriage".What about a TV show about time-traveling, body-swapping comedians? For Jon, call it "Quantum Reep".And John and Jon discuss the genius of comedian Jay London.

In today’s PorscheCooled Podcast Michael presents episode 27 of owner stories with Jon from Norway. For Jon, cars have always been around him. His father worked on cars, he drew cars, and he made sure he always had the latest car magazines. Porsches always stood out for Jon; it was that iconic silhouette not to mention the sound. Before his first Porsche, Jon’s car ownership has been focussed. He liked and own iconic drivers’ cars from the R32 GTR, Mitsubishi Evo VI Makinen Edition and the BMW M2. Jon setup the M2 to experience and enjoy track days at the Nordschleife. This leads us to his choice of Porsche, a 996.2 GT3 Clubsport in Speed Yellow. Why the 996 GT3?  Well, Jon wanted something more analog and his first 911 definitely delivers.  Welcome back to the PorscheCooled Podcast.   Every Porsche tells a story and each owner has a different story to tell – that is what the PorscheCooled owner stories is all about. You can follow Jon on Instagram @jonanerud Michael (@michael.bath) owns a first generation 997 Carrera, comes from Australia and currently resides in Bahrain. Steve (@gtst3ve) is a Porsche owner and enthusiast from Sydney, Australia. This podcast is part of a series with Steve where two mates chat about all things Porsche. Thanks for listening. PorscheCooled Exclusive member Become a member of PorscheCooled and help support the Podcast. It will keep us talking! https://www.patreon.com/porschecooled The PorscheCooled Podcast is available everywhere you get your podcasts.

This week we discuss what we dislike about Art the most. For Randi, it's her higher standards and not being satisfied with her work lately. For Jon, it's surprise, surprise, dealing with other people on a business basis. https://linktr.ee/artballad ArtBalladPodcast@gmail.com . We are two artists based in Alberta, Canada. We love to create, view, discuss and challenge each other when it comes to all things Art and Design. Some of the things we will be discussing are: Art movements, specific artists, historical events,media, concepts, ideas and controversies. . Intro/Outro Music: Original Composition by Jordan Wendzina https://www.youtube.com/user/10synapseMusic12 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/artballad/message

Episode #32 of S.O.G. brings you Dr. Jon Mulholland, the owner and chiropractor of The Ideal Athlete Chiropractic (https://theidealathlete.com/). For Jon, consistency over time is one of the most rewarding forms of gumption. Jon has worked with multiple US Olympic teams, travelled the world, published several articles, and continues to teach for RockTape. This is an episode packed full of great conversation. Personally, it was fantastic to hear Jon's position (backed by research) on the growing trend of minimalist running and the zero-drop shoe.     To schedule an appointment with Jon, visit his website and book from there with his easy-to-use online booking system.      Special Thanks to this Episode's Sponsors: Spar-Kil-Kleen https://www.spar-kil-kleen.com/ Home Hevans Designs https://www.instagram.com/homehevansdesigns/ Alexander Edwards & Company, CPA's, P.C. http://www.aecocpas.com/ *Looking for an effective way to spread your brand or business? Reach out to storiesofgumptionpodcast@gmail.com. 

It was a cold April day which started just like any other. Jon woke up before dawn, worked out, and clocked into his third twelve-hour shift of the week with his team. At the onset of breakfast, routine police radio chatter quickly turned into fast pace - there was a murder, coupled with an active hostage situation. For Jon and his partner Joe, it was what they'd been training for all along and they wasted no time jumping into the armored Hummer. In unprecedented detail, Jon reveals the harrowing experience, and the therapeutic stream sessions which followed long afterwards.

Leslie and Leslyn both can identify as being perfectionist. Leslyn shares that she has had a long list of projects that are still waiting for her to come back to. Leslie admits that being a perfectionist can something be ridiculous. She uses the example of her best friend who is super talented at scrapbooking. Leslie’s perfectionism used to hinder her from even attempting to scrapbook as she was scared that her pages would never be as good as her friends. This brings the important realization that nobody’s perfect.Leslie shares that many people mistakenly perceive progress as perfection. In the book Finish by Jon Acuff, there is a clear and practical method on how to move forward. Leslie urges that this book is incredibly valuable for those who have projects that haven’t been finished or even that you haven’t even started.You can start with the first point Leslie shares which is to cut your goals in half. The planning fallacy says that we are really optimistic when we are looking towards our future events. This can make us underestimate how long they will actually take to finish. Reflecting on the task at hand and cutting the goal into smaller pieces can be extremely beneficial to seeing its success.Leslie continues that we should choose what to bomb. Often times we attempt to take on more than we can handle or humanly get done. This can cause us to fail and fear the eventual failure. Jon Acuff suggest choosing what to bomb and decide to succeed at the goals that truly matter. For Jon, he decided to bomb his emails. He feels that he cannot be a good respondent and write of emails while also keeping up with everything else in his life. By deciding not to be good at responding to emails, he is choosing what he is failing at to let him succeed in the more important aspects of his life.By making something fun you can get it done. If something is completely miserable to do, you are not going to want to do it or even attempt it. Leslie gives the example of teaching her son to do his laundry through fun side activities. She explains that if he watches on of his favorite shows while also folding his laundry it will be a much more enjoyable experience. Podcasts, tv shows, and audio books are great ways to facilitate in making a task more enjoyable.Jon Acuff shares the idea of noble obstacles. It’s defined as being something on the outside looks really, really good but can actually prevent you from finishing it in the end. In the book, Jon gives the example of cleaning out his garage. Before cleaning and reorganizing a garage, many people will want to have a garage sale to clean up some of the things they do not need anymore. To have a garage sale, you need to have good weather, stickers to sell items, and maybe even advertising the sale’s location, date, and time. So, a task that starts out as something so good can quickly prevent you from finishing it as you say you don’t have time to do all of this right now and so you end up not even cleaning the garage.When looking at the future, you may realize that you often think that what is coming next in your life is so much more interesting than what is actually in the now. Leslie shares that often at work she will start to get inspired or formulate new ideas when she has only about 10% of something to finish. It’s so tempting to just start the new thing. Jon Acuff suggest using that new idea as a motivator to finish in the now so that you can move on to what’s next.Leslie struggled a lot with the next point but wasn’t even aware she was struggling. Leslie didn’t even know there was a name to this struggle until she read Finish. The idea of getting rid of secret rules may be new to most. Leslie uses the example of her own secret rule to explain.Leslie described that she likes to read but feels she has no time to actually read written words. A secret rule for Leslie was that she told herself that audiobooks did not qualify as ‘real’ reading so she was not actually reading. Leslie knows that’s not the case, but it actually was something that prevented her from listening to audiobooks for a long time.Leslyn shares her secret rule through her hobby of painting. Leslyn has always been artistic and creative but never had the patience for fine arts. Leslyn found her passion in abstract art and loved doing it. Leslyn had even started to sell her art but was having a hard time when being told she should do art shows. Leslyn would hesitate when applying to an art show because in her mind, her secret rule, she saw only artist applied to art shows. Another secret rule of this was that her perfectionism was telling her that a person cannot be both a therapist and an artist. Leslyn was able to get past these secret rules and actually does many shows selling her work.Jon Acuff shares his own struggles in the book around the idea of if it doesn’t come easily than it’s not worth doing. Leslie noticed that a lot of people identify with believing that if something’s hard than it must not be for them. Leslyn adds that this can show up in ways such as gender rules making someone feel that they are prevented from trying things because of their gender. Leslie also adds age rules as well, where she worried, she was too old to go back to school. Leslyn explains that it’s incredibly important for people to understand what it would mean if you did the thing you believed you can’t. When doing this exercise in her practice, Leslyn shares that ultimately everybody always gets to the fear that is driving that “I can’t”.Leslyn continues that 99% of the time that underlying fear, is fear of failing. Leslie shares that many people think that it is not noble to quit something and often are worried that if they don’t finish then they have failed. In our society, we are surrounded by this never give up and just keep going mentality. It’s important to realize that it’s perfectly fine to quit if you want to. Not because you are scared or because it’s hard. But in moments when you give yourself permission not to finish those projects or tasks you are letting yourself finish them in a more fulfilling way.Subscribe to this channel for new podcasts EVERY WEDNESDAY and Try This at Home!One of our goals this year is to grow the podcast audience and you can help!We would truly appreciate a share or a shout out if you found the ideas here helpful.Don’t forget, you can always touch base with us personally on our Facebook, Instagram, and our website trythisathomepodcast.comLinks to Look At:Jon Acuff | Finish[https://acuff.me/books/]Last Week’s Episode, Financial Management – The Basics[https://www.trythisathomepodcast.com/podcasts-1/2020/5/26/217-financial-management-the-basics]Episode on Facing Fear[https://www.trythisathomepodcast.com/podcasts-1/2019/8/29/1]Can’t Get Enough? Follow us on our other platforms!Twitter: https://twitter.com/TryThisAtHomeP1Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXg2RODfYz2Rrc8tUO0ti5QListen to the Podcast at https://www.trythisathomepodcast.com/ or on iTunes, Spotify, and Sticher![Show Notes by Abbie Brooks -- https://www.fiverr.com/abjbrook]

Jon Bell joined his fathers real estate firm Mint2Sell Realty in 2011 when he graduated College. He said the opportunity to work alongside his father was a great experience. It enabled them to grow their relationship both professionally and personally. In early 2020 Jon took over the firm and formed Rise Real Estate as the managing partner with his business partners. Being a young business owner, Jon says having a supportive wife in both his professional ambitions and his participation at home with the family is critical. It's good that he likes to work and his wife supports that but she ensures Jon knows he's needed at home. Having young girls Jon, recognizes that his girls are only young once and trying to take advantage of that while they are young is important. Jon always envisioned going into business with his dad. They started Mint2Sell Realty in 2009 at the bottom of the Great Recession. Because of that they worked really hard to get off the ground. Doing a lot of bank owned deals and foreclosures is tough in the real estate industry, but it's where Jon was able to get his start.  They expected that at some point Jon would take over the firm. In October 2019 they recognized that Jon's ability to recruit other agents was limited without being in a managing position. Jon says it was actually his dad who recognized that need first and put the transition into motion. Within a matter of months they had successfully transitioned the business to Jon who in turn brought on partners to help grow and manage the firm.  When Jon talks with his oldest about what she might do when she gets older she says "a dog walker, a baptize lady, a dentist, and a realtor." Very ambitious. Now that Jon is a business owner he's leveraging the strengths of his business partners to distribute the needs of the business so he can keep his priorities in line. His wife provides both encouragement and constructive criticism. Having kids has made him more efficient with his time. And now he recognizes that he can't just answer the phone any time. Faith in the workplace has always been #1 at Rise and Mint2Sell Realty. One of the ways they set the tone is by praying before company gatherings and before each meal. For him and most people in the work place they believe faith comes first, then family, then business. Really that began with his father who was a pastor as a second job when Jon was growing up. Most important about incorporating his faith into his career is leading by example. For Jon that means ensuring to the best of his ability that he's never showing homes alone with another woman. When he works with a client who's a single woman he encourages them to bring along a friend. Or he'll bring his daughter Kinsley along. If the situation does come up that he's showing homes alone he ensures he over communicates with his wife Lindsey to let her know the situation. This becomes another way that Jon can share his faith. What does it mean to lead by example? Maintaining integrity in tough situations. It's not about not getting angry, that's going to happen. It's about handling yourself with integrity and not blowing your top. Carrying yourself in a manner inspires trust an confidence. These are some of the biggest things that Jon was able to learn from starting his career with his father and that he now implements as he leads the next generation of brokers. Most important to Jon is guarding his integrity and it is an area where he admits he'll get mad if someone challenges his integrity. His dad worked a lot but he was intentional in carving out time. Jon and his dad were in a bowling league every Wednesday night and then get Applebee's Words Of Wisdom: Your kids are only their age once. Shut down the phone. End your work day. Spend your time wisely. http://rise-indy.com/ jon@rise-indy.com  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/fatherhoodonfire/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fatherhoodonfire/support

Want to know the keys to putting together your best messaging? Jon Cook walks us through the steps of clarifying your messaging. For Jon's FREE Message Clarity Assessment, go to www.m3clarity.com/message Genuinely, -Victor P.S. Whenever you're ready, here are 2 ways I can best serve you... 1. Get the Book to implement the same strategies we use to help our clients scale to 7, 8-Figures 2. Join the Conversational Marketing Mastery Group to get the latest tips to scale to 6-Figures

For Jon and Amy Glass, infertility isn't in the rearview mirror; it's the reality of their day-to-day lives. They're facing circumstances neither of them anticipated, and they have no idea how the story will end. In this emotional, honest, no-holds-barred interview, the Glasses share their journey through infertility thus far and how it has impacted their lives and marriage. Whether you're in the midst of your own struggle to conceive or you are dealing with another issue that causes you to question yourself, God, and your future, you won't want to miss this powerful episode. For more on the retreats/expeditions to which Amy and Jon refer, see www.adventuresoftheheart.org.

For this episode, we talk with Jon Mertz, founder and Thin Difference, Leaders Finding Common Ground and CEO of Activate World. We discuss the trends we are seeing in a now 5 generation work space. We talk about the role servant leadership has in maintaining a high functioning, highly diverse work culture.  For Jon, it is good to think of ourselves not only as citizens in society, but citizens of business.  We are excited to share this conversation with you! We have a free gift to accompany this episode.  We would like to send you a downloadable PDF courtesy of Jon titled "The Activators Guide to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion."  Email us at info@servantleadershipinstitute.com with the title "Thin Difference", and we will send it over to you. And a final reminder, we are having our Webinar “An Introduction to Servant Leadership” Next Tuesday, October 29th from 10:00am to 11:30am PT. Registration is still available, we would love you and your team to join. Register here:https://www.servantleadershipinstitute.com/slievents    

Uber of the Sky and the Starbucks of Wine? Maybe some wine during a rideshare in the air! With our guests today, the future is now. Jon Rimanelli, CEO at ASX Technologies and Regina Gaines, Founder and CEO at House of Pure Vin join our conversation today. In our discussion, we talk about why Detroit has all the right ingredients to start a business. For Jon, the manufacturing infrastructure of Detroit provides an incredible bedrock for the next great technology company of tomorrow. For Regina, the entrepreneurial spirit and support system of Detroit makes this area ‘ripe’ for the next innovative wine company. Move over Silicon Valley and move over Napa Valley—Detroit has great pivot game.

Jon Gordon, an international best selling author and speaker, joined The Yogi Roth Show to start the New Year. For the last two years, he and Yogi have met to share their ‘word of the year' on this podcast. For Jon, 2019 is about ‘Expand' and for Yogi, it's ‘Create.' Jon has purposely had a ‘word of the year' since 2001 and Yogi since 2013.Jon also dives into the concept of turning ‘hopes into habits,' what has made Clemson so special under Coach Dabo Swinney and many more principles that will cultivate thoughts around your New Year. Listen, share and enjoy one of the world's greatest though leaders message around hope, inspiration, leadership and positivity. To listen to Jon share his word of 2018, re-visit this conversation https://www.yogiroth.com/pod/jon-gordon-seek-create-impossible-2018/. Follow @JonGordon11 on all social media or visit www.JonGordon.com, as well join his new mission around positivity, https://positivebrands.com/. For more episodes of The Yogi Roth Show visit https://www.yogiroth.com/podcast/ or follow @YogiRoth on all social media.

In this episode of Causepods we are joined by Jon Strum who is the host of Real Talk MS, a podcast aimed at creating community around the spread of information on multiple sclerosis. Jon’s desire to create this platform grew out of his personal experience giving care to his wife after her own diagnosis and wishing to find a positive outlet through all the difficulty and sadness that is connected to progressive MS. For Jon, the impact and response to his show has been both deeply affirming as well as healing, something that he aims to provide for listeners and guests too. We chat about why the podcasting format is well suited to this pursuit, especially with the specifics of MS and Jon is kind enough unpacks some of the lessons he has learned as a new podcaster. We also go into two memorable episodes and why they stand out to Jon when looking back. The discussion covers Jon’s approach to communicating meaningfully and honestly when recording and how he facilitates these kinds of difficult conversations. Jon’s story is so inspiring, you are not going to want to miss it, so be sure to listen in! Key Topics: • The reasons that Jon started his platform and podcast. (02:12) • The altruist impetus and mission of starting a podcast like this. (06:32) • Jon’s wife’s situation and her relationship to the podcast. (08:45) • The support system that hosting a podcast provides. (11:59) • A little about Jon’s guests on the show. (12:54) • The two standout episodes from the history of the show. (14:41) • Jon’s secret to creating meaningful and honest engagement on air. (17:44) • Advice from Jon to prospective podcasters. (19:00) • The benefits of a podcast over other media and forms of communication. (20:40) • Understanding your audience and getting a message to them. (22:16) And much more! Support The National MS Society (https://www.gofundme.com/causecasts-for-the-national-ms-society) See the show notes and a transcript at http://www.causepods.org/podcast/jon-strum (http://www.causepods.org/podcast/jon-strum) Thanks for Listening! Be sure to subscribe on mathew@causepods.org (mailto:mathew@causepods.org) . Stay up-to-date on Causepods by followng Mathew Passy on social media at Twitter (https://twitter.com/mathewpassy) ! For help, resources, and community support, please join the Causecasters’ Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/2073354376260768/) if you are already producing podcasts for a cause or are thinking about launching one. And if you would like to be a guest on Causepods, please fill out this form (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScxrbr_ixkZQHAOFldoDrSQzcLGi4EB3SFNW3t76_nG0VKlmw/viewform) .

GUEST BIO: Jon Skeet is a Staff Software Engineer at Google, working from the London office on the Google Cloud Client Libraries for .NET. He's probably better known for his contributions on Stack Overflow and his book, C# in Depth. Jon is married to Holly Webb, a prolific children's author, and they have three children together. EPISODE DESCRIPTION: In this episode Phil interviews Jon Skeet who is a senior software engineer for Google. He is the author behind C# in Depth, a book that made him something of a C# legend. Jon is also a well-known Stack Overflow contributor who has a reputation for providing descriptive answers that solve the toughest challenges. Some go as far as calling him “the Chuck Norris of programming”. KEY TAKEAWAYS: ­­­ (1.00) – So Jon, can you expand on that summary and tell us a little bit more about yourself? In response, Jon explains that he is a big fan of working from home. So, he does not spend very much time at Google’s London headquarters. Instead he works out of a high tech, air-conditioned shed, complete with an ice-cream maker and surround-sound. Jon is a feminist, a Methodist and a local preacher who has a passion for musical theatre. (2.03) – Phil asks Jon for a unique IT career tip, something the audience should know. Jon replies that it is important to remember that “you will make far quicker progress in the long run, if you take one step at a time. Work through the problem in a structured way using a language you are really familiar with. If you are learning a new language, start by doing really simple things. But, don’t be afraid to “step into the dark” to try something totally new. Just do so consciously and accept that failing, at first, is fine. You will learn a lot that way. Spend most of your time working in a familiar way and try just one new thing at a time, so that you are always making progress. (4.14) Phil asks if Jon would describe that as a sort of incremental process. Jon said yes, “it is really don’t run before you can walk.” (4.38) – Phil asks Jon to share his worst career moment and what he learned from it. For Jon his low-point was not directly related to coding or a technical issue. He was working on a product launch with a looming deadline. As a result, he ended up working very odd hours to get the job done. Instead of arriving at the station at his normal time of 6.45 he was getting there at about 3.30am. He was compensating a bit by going home a little earlier than normal but he was actually working long hours. Plus, even though he was going to bed earlier he was not sleeping well. People were telling him he did not look well, so he was clearly stretched. But, he carried on working that way, until one morning he was mugged. The mugging probably would not have happened if there were more people around. Being mugged stopped Jon in his tracks and he realized that he needed to take more care of himself. He decided to stop putting in a lot of hours at the wrong times of the day. He no longer pushed himself so hard or let others do it to him.  Jon realized that he had to take care of himself. (7.18) – Phil wants to know what Jon’s best career moment was. Jon starts by explaining that he is proud of helping thousands of people and being at the top of Stack Overflow as well as his book and software. But, his career highlights have come while talking with other people. For example, in June, Jon spent several days talking with and teaching alongside a lead designer on C#. During that collaboration he learned a huge amount about why C# is designed the way it is. Talking and working with others teaches him a lot and is very fulfilling.  (9.18) – Phil asks what excites Jon about the future of IT. To some extent for Jon it is how little we know about it. “We are now in an age where when you go to university half of the jobs the student take up don’t exist yet.” The fact that we cannot really tell what tech is going to look like in 10 years time is exciting. Potentially, a whole area that nobody is even considering now could easily come to the fore. (10.56) – What drew you to a career in IT, Jon? From the age of 8 Jon played games on a ZX Spectrum 48K. Eventually, he started programming on the Spectrum. For his first project, he created a logo interpreter. He was motivated to do so because the BBC microcomputer at school had one. His innocence meant that he did not know that you could not implement the code yourself. So, he did not see that so-called impossible barrier. As a result, he just kept working at it until he got it done. By age 9 or 10 he was in love with programming. (12.32) – What is the best career advice you were given? “Be good at one thing” – make sure that there is one thing that you are really comfortable in. It is good to have several strings to your bow. But, be the go-to person for at least one topic or discipline. (13.36) – If you were to start your IT career again, what would you do? Jon said that because things are changing so quickly he has no idea. It would depend on what would hook him. “I am a big fan of doing something that you are interested in for whatever reason you’re interested.” He explained why this is so important using an example.  Someone could be inspired to help out in a soup kitchen and while there wonder if they can automate the rota. That leads to working out what the best way to organize it is. This in turn leads to them falling into all kinds of optimization things. Suddenly, you are having fun developing and optimizing things and you become an inspired developer.  (15.29) – Phil asks Jon what career objectives Jon currently focusing on. Jon’s response is “Having a good time.” He has never chased money or power. Instead, he has chased having a good life. Right now, he enjoys writing in C#. Jon also relishes the fact that he can work from home and spend plenty of time with his family, which he loves doing. (16.52) – What is your most important non-technical skill? Jon’s short answer is “empathy and compassion”. We have done a great job of solving the problems of straight white men, because that is the demographic of most software developers. That needs to change. We need to solve the problems of the people that are not represented in the software community. Jon is finding that being a novice feminist is changing the way he works. Feminism is all about seeing things from multiple perspectives. It teaches you that people’s problems and challenges are different, so they need to be answered and solved in different ways. (18.24) – Phil asks Jon to share some final career advice. Jon’s reply is– “really just focus on your life, think about what is genuinely important to you and pursue that.” That might mean switching from IT to solving an environmental issue you believe you can solve. If you think you can make a difference, just do it. You only have one life. BEST MOMENTS:  (2.20) JON – “You will make far quicker progress in the long run, if you take one step at a time.” (2.55) JON – “If you are learning a new language, start with really simple things, just so that you feel familiar in the language,” (6.59) JON – “I was just putting in lots of hours and the wrong hours, and you've got to take care of yourself, basically.” (9.20) JON – “It's really the people I've worked with that have provided the highlights rather than the code I’ve written.”  (13.42) JON – “Have a balance between knowing plenty of things to just as much as you need, but have one thing that you're the expert on.” (17.32) JON – “The ability to look at the world from other people's perspectives is absolutely crucial for software.” CONTACT JON SKEET: Blog: blog.jonskeet.uk Blog: codeblog.jonskeet.uk Twitter: https://twitter.com/jonskeet @jonskeet  

Let's talk about death. Jonathan Braddock is our guest for today and he is an entrepreneur, author, speaker, and the founder and CEO of My Life and Wishes, an education and digital planning platform with a mission to help at least one million families become “thoughtfully prepared” for the inevitable, their own death. Jon is the author of “Advisor or Vendor”, “Retire Erase”, the “My Life and Wishes Organization”, and, his most recent release, “Click Here When I Die”, is an Amazon Best Seller. Why is planning for our death important? Leaving your family via your death is already hard for them, planning your wake and burial will be much harder for them. Leaving them via your death with a Will help them know what you want. They will know if you want to be cremated, in-ground burial, etc. Helping them know what you want or have planned for them is a really big thing because it lessens the hardship that they will face after your death. For Jon's family, it took them 10 months to finally finish all the paperwork left for his father-in-law. They found a bank account where the bank's name is not familiar to them. Imagine the stressful phone calls they had to make to locate the bank. It will be much easier if you prepare everything like your bank accounts, social media passwords, ATM passwords, your will, insurance policies, and many more. Jon shares a story about someone he knows where he's really guilty that he didn't have her mother cremated when that's what she really wants but he didn't know that because she didn't tell him. What are the 5 stages of grief when there's a death? * Denial – this is the first of the five stages of grief. It helps us to survive the loss. In this stage, the world becomes meaningless and overwhelming. Life makes no sense. We are in a state of shock and denial. Denial and shock help us to cope and make survival possible. As you accept the reality of the loss and start to ask yourself questions, you are unknowingly beginning the healing process. You are becoming stronger, and the denial is beginning to fade. * Anger – a necessary stage of the healing process. Be willing to feel your anger, even though it may seem endless. The more you truly feel it, the more it will begin to dissipate and the more you will heal. There are many other emotions under the anger and you will get to them in time, but anger is the emotion we are most used to managing. The anger is just another indication of the intensity of your love. * Bargaining – Before a loss, it seems like you will do anything if only your loved one would be spared. “Please God, ” you bargain, “I will never be angry at my wife again if you’ll just let her live.” After a loss, bargaining may take the form of a temporary truce. “What if I devote the rest of my life to helping others. Then can I wake up and realize this has all been a bad dream?” We become lost in a maze of “If only…” or “What if…” statements. * Depression – After bargaining, our attention moves squarely into the present. Empty feelings present themselves, and grief enters our lives on a deeper level, deeper than we ever imagined. This depressive stage feels as though it will last forever. It’s important to understand that this depression is not a sign of mental illness. It is the appropriate response to a great loss. If grief is a process of healing, then depression is one of the many necessary steps along the way. * Acceptance – this is often confused with the notion of being “all right” or “OK” with what has happened.

After a whirlwind of events in MMA this past weekend, we look over the UFC Gdansk card with Cerrone vs Till the main event also discussing the events that happened prior to the event itself (1:30) Bellator and KSW also were on this weekend so we give notable mentions to results on those cards and a quick heads up to the upcoming Cage Warriors 80 card Fishgold vs Jacobsen (31:26) For Jon and Will this is one of the more exciting cards for year as they dig into some of the great match ups happening at UFC Sao Paulo Brunson vs Machida (40:50) The end the podcast we answer your great questions as you throw them over to us. Thank you for your questions and please keep them coming to us people. (1:10:32)

Sometimes, you have to take a few roads, to find and make your own. That is the story of Steevie Steeves and Jon Decious, or as you soon will call them: Towne. Both were spending their lives looking for like-minded people that shared their love for music and desire for opportunity. As fate would have it, they found each other in the perfect place: a songwriting seminar in Wyoming. Nothing like a quiet town, with little to do, to make you focus on your passion, and for Towne, it is songwriting.For singer Steevie Steeves, she learned the values of love and compassion from performing in musicals at a young age. Opera taught her how to perfect her voice and use it as a tool to strike emotion. As time went on, it was in country music that she found her own voice and continued her goal to give audiences moving vocals. Yet, she knew she was different because not everybody wants to sing and dance in their daily life, or dreams of being Freddie Mercury from Queen. However, somebody out there shared her life’s perspective: Jon Decious.Jon Decious knew he wanted to be in music when he saw Guns N’ Roses “Welcome To The Jungle”, and was impressed by fellow bassist Andrew “Duff” Mckagan. Soon, Decious realized that his favor for George Harrison of The Beatles and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones was a sign that he did not want to be a frontman; he wanted to be the “side-guy”. When he met Steevie, he knew he had found his other side. The yin to his yang. For Jon, Steevie was the mega-star he would be honored to play with in front of 50,000 people one day. As they shared their visions of music, they could not forget each other even if they tried. Their heart and soul was giving them a feeling that their musical pairing was meant to be.Together, Jon and Steevie have a clear creative chemistry that makes viewers want to watch them playfully discuss and sing the meanings behind love-lorn lyrics. The musical kinship and respect they have for each other is a huge part of their charm on stage. The duo shines better together, especially because their personalities connect beautifully in difference and similarity. Decious has the dry-witted charm and Steeves has the sweet, smiling personality that will mutually enrapture fans.It has been said on numerous occasions that Towne’s unfiltered, unscripted, and unconditional search for love and life’s truths makes them resonate with classic, country duos like Johnny Cash and June Carter, with the pizzazz of Fleetwood Mac. For Towne, music is a joy that they can only give to you, the listener, if they are receiving it. Hence, they will never stop creating because their music is their life, and, if you never stop living, how can you stop making a song?www.townemusic.com

Great title eh? It has literally nothing to do with this episode. Hey, it's snowing. Well, it was bound to happen at some point. Still, it is supposed to warm up again, so no worries as of yet. MADDIE IS VISITING. This is outstanding. We talked about what food we would eat only by ourselves because of embarrassment. This is inspired by a thread over at AVClub. Pickle juice, logos and entire frozen pizzas come to mind. For Jon, it is lamb.... Isabelle has some cool ideas for art projects with Jon's class, I look forward to hearing about how it goes. We ended by talking about podcasting in general and of course our recently departed friend Bob. If you would like to give to the fund for his son's education, click here.

Today we have Jon Nastor of Hack the Entrepreneur on the podcast! To say I was excited to talk with Jon would be an understatement... and I just got more excited as the conversation continued. It's refreshing for me to find like-minded individuals doing cool things online that don't believe you have to sacrifice everything else in your life to make things happen. When Jon was a teenager, way before he launched Hack the Entrepreneur, he spent a lot of time playing punk rock music. It was during this time he realized how much he loved “DIY” in the sense that if he wanted something, like making music, playing a show, etc. he had to do it himself to make it happen. He carried this with him into his 20's and then in 2011 he discovered he could make a business on the internet. One of the biggest things he's created is Velocity Page, a premium WordPress plug in. He created it with Bill, his brother in law, and Mark Jaquith. Velocity Page is a way to create WordPress pages without the “techy” mumbo jumbo. It takes you out of the admin panel so you can live edit on your page so what you see it what you get. Jon created this tool because a few years ago he needed something like this but he couldn't find it so he went to Mark with this idea and they created it. In 2014 he went to Chris Ducker's conference called Tropical Think Tank where there were a lot of serious podcasters (Chris runs Tropical Think Tank once a year and it's in the Philippines... and event I plan on attending at some point!). He realized he had both the time and the resources to start his own podcast. Even though he had little to no experience doing podcasts and interviewing people, he knew he just had to start somewhere. So that summer he made a list  of about 30 people that he wanted to interview and he thought he would interview them over the course of a few months and then be done. To his surprise, about 2 months later it got bigger than he expected so he ramped up production to 3 podcasts a week. The same sort of thing happened to me when I started my podcast... not that I jumped into multiple episodes per week (kudos to you Jon... I love it!), but my podcast definitely shifted everything in my business. For Jon he saw that there wasn't really anything in the podcast space that he really like/captured his interest. So he decided to create it, just like one would create a product because they don't see what they want out there already. He experienced the same sort of thing with Hack the Entrepreneur. With a little bit of help from a friend, Jon took the idea and ran with it. After the success of the show and his 5 categories of hacks (Being Wrong, Fears, Habits, Mindset and Ideas), he brought the best of all of this into a book! (Hardly a guy to rest on his laurels, right?). I highly recommend getting the book (in addition to the podcast). Questions I Asked: How did Jon create Velocity Page? What was it like for Jon to reach out to Mark? How did Jon come up with Hack the Entrepreneur? What is his book about? How does Jon come up with each hack? Things You'll Learn: How to figure the right format of a podcast for you and your audience. Commonalities that Jon sees in a lot of entrepreneurs. The biggest thing you need to grow your business. Why “the hustle” isn't relevant anymore when it comes to making money. A few of Jon's favorite hacks from his book.   Where to connect with Jon Website | Podcast | Facebook | Twitter Links mentioned in this episode: Velocity Page Hack The Entrepreneur

How long does it take to find your groove, your passion? For many of us, it’s a constant search. Our guest Jon Schumacher is currently involved in a cool business he has co-created called Hangouts That Convert. For Jon, it’s been an interesting journey to get to this point. Jon Schumacher’s first career was as a physical therapist. From there, Jon branches off into many different businesses, including videos, podcasts, and books. He first tells us how he became a physical therapist, then all the different points he’s been to on the way to becoming an entrepreneur.  

From the hallowed isles of Hall of Justice Comics & Collectibles, we bring you the next episode of the Thinking Outside the long box podcast!! We have been on the road, and doing special events for the last couple of episodes, and it's time to bring the podcast back home!! We bring you a rested, normal, edition of this amazing podcast! Catching up on all of the events of the past month! You also will get to hear interviews from two amazing people!! Arlo, the Bar Room Hero from SKA Brewing tells us about their comic book upbringing, and why they decided to bring comic books to the brewing industry! Look for us at their 20th anniversary party ;-). PLUS, you get a special interview with Skipper Martin!! He tells us all about his Kickstarter for his comic book (starts April 29th), Bizarre New World. An amazing book all about what people do when they learn that they can fly!! Awesome concept, with a guy who has been in the entertainment business for a LONG time!! On the entertainment side, it seems we have all caught up with all of our favorite TV shows. We talk about The Flash, Arrow, Gotham, and what may have been a small let down, in the season finale of The Walking Dead. For Jon's old man segment, he tells us all about his love for the Ghostbusters. We also explore the many different Ghostbuster ideas that are floating around Hollywood right now!! To end the show Gabe fills us in on the Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. We recount all of the lame 90's tropes that are involved with the show, that make it so amazing!! Remember, you can ALWAYS let us know what you think! We can only think of so many things to talk about every other week, and would LOVE to get some feedback and ideas from all of you out there who are listening!! You can send mp3s and email to our email address. Also, join the conversations on our Facebook Page and Twitter Page. Also, if you have good feedback, please leave it for us on iTunes and Stitcher!! That's one way to help us climb the ranks into podcast glory!! Hall of Justice Comics & Collectibles Our Stitcher Our iTunes Credit - Jonthan Garnett, Juan Muro, Gabe Llanas

Crowdfunding, while still a relatively young concept, has become such a part of our societal bedrock it's hard to imagine a time without it. While it's most commonly associated with platforms like Kickstarter, Indie GoGo and RocketHub, before the introduction of online-mediated crowdfunding, creators would typically turn to their fan base or community. Raising funds from non-accredited investors however has traditionally been tightly regulated by the SEC, but most seeking backers on crowdfunding sites fly far below the radar and get around it by not trading support for equity in the business.  Just last month though the SEC approved Title VI of the JOBS Act, which allows companies to raise to up to $50 million through crowdfunding…and now they can tap non-accredited investors, so long as the investor is not investing in excess of 10% of their net worth or annual income.  So while crowdfunding as we commonly think of it as today - launching a project on Kickstarter or RocketHub - will likely continue to boon, entrepreneurs and creators may sidestep that process, instead trading interest in their startups in exchange for monetary support  - offering a mini IPO of sorts.   Equity, though, is one thing many entrepreneurs are not willing to part ways with - one of the many appeals of crowdfunding platforms. “The thing that really appealed to me in terms of crowdfunding is that unlike getting an investor, you don't have to sell off part of your company in order to raise the funds,” said Katarina Kovacevic, founder of RUBY, an online lifestyle publication promoting women empowerment. Katrina is currently trying to raise seed funding for RUBY, and she said she also likes the idea of online crowdfunding for the added benefits of not having to payback a loan, being able to validate her product before bringing it to market, and gaining early stage feedback from the community. For startups that don't necessarily have a product that would appeal to venture capital investment, crowdfunding platforms also offer them a shot at raising seed money. “SitGREEN was never the company people were clamoring to give money to,” said Jon Irons, founder of SitGREEN, a line of earth-friendly cardboard furniture, share their Kickstarter journeys. “If people wanted to support they would buy product from me. I think Kickstarter just seemed like the right option at the time.” SitGREEN is a line of earth-friendly cardboard furniture that Jon introduced on Kickstarter. And unfortunately he's experienced the highs and lows of crowd funding. “I've run six Kickstarters and I've I had one successful one,” Jon said. “It definitely does hurt when you put yourself out there with a product that you really believe in. It stings when it isn't successful when you think it's going to be.” Why Crowdfunding? With such a low success rate, why do so many entrepreneurs take a chance at crowdfunding as opposed to some other form of fundraising? “Kickstarter is the best form of marketing campaign as far as a product launch,” Jon said. “It's a pre-sale campaign and a marketing campaign all in one.” For Katarina, though she had considered other means of raising the money, it was the known name of Kickstarter that also appealed to her. “You still have that element of reaching out to your own personal network, but crowdfunding through a platform like Kickstarter just gives you a little more clout,” she said. As alluring as raising seed money is, the success rate of actually funding the project is less than half. Kickstarter for instance, only has about a 38% success rate. To be a part of that percentage it takes a lot of work - planning and preparing well in advance of campaign launch. “There was a lot of planning that went into the Kickstarter,” Katarina said. “I've had the idea for RUBY for two or three years now, and I would say the past year or more has just been planning the Kickstarter.” For Jon's successful campaign, he actually started his preparation during the tail end of his first unsuccessful campaign. Rather than attempting to push that first campaign to its funding goal himself, he decided to first get to know the wants, needs and desires of his audience - a sound business practice for any entrepreneur thinking about launching a business - crowdfunding or not. “We were going for $12,000 and ended up getting $11,300 and we could've pushed it over, but I kind of had this feeling it was the design,” he said. “We had a lot of people who really seemed to want it, but I realized there was something broken with the idea. So instead of pushing it over, we decided to take a step back and redesign the entire line.” Crowdfunding Challenges Despite the planning and preparation, crowdfunding is not without its challenges. For Katarina, it's been keeping the momentum going. A challenge she expected. For Jon, the challenge came after the campaign ended. “When you first launch, if you've got an idea there's a lot of excite and momentum,” Katarina said. “The first week in particular was huge for us in terms of funding and social media excitement. But like most other Kickstarter campaigns, the in between time is a little bit of a lull. So the biggest challenge there is how to keep that excitement going.” “The biggest challenge by far was definitely fulfilling it,” Jon said. “I totally undersold them.” A mix of cost, and the time involved it required to put a single piece of furniture together set Jon back about six months. Another major lesson Jon said he learned through the process. Fulfillment is often one of the biggest challenges of a Kickstarter campaign, and it's one Katarina is already thinking about. “We're on track to hopefully launch by the end of this year,” she said. “While my huge focus is really on this Kickstarter campaign, I've definitely been working in the background on what happens after the launch. I think that's really important. you build so much momentum and excitement around a Kickstarter campaign and you don't want to keep your backers in the background too long. You want to keep them engaged and the best way to do that is to get your product off the ground.” And if the campaign doesn't fund, Katarina does have another option waiting in the wings. “If anything this Kickstarter campaign has more than solidified the idea that something like this is really needed. So if we don't reach our goal then it's on to plan B.” But for Jon, despite having a successful campaign, determined those challenges he had with fulfillment uncovered a flaw in the business model. “That was when I realized that SitGREEN wasn't really a cost effective business model in the form that it was,” he said. Jon said he will likely bring back SitGREEN, but in a completely different shape. As for Katarina, no matter what happens with her RUBY campaign, she believes Kickstarter is a great platform for entrepreneurs. Links: RUBY Kickstarter campaign RUBY (the official site) SitGREEN Biz Hack: Refresh - get creeper-status insights on people you are scheduled to have meetings with. Refresh is a “digital debriefing book” that allows you to discover common ground and learn more about people before you have a meeting with them. It helps form a deeper connection during conversations, and provides some great insights on the individuals that can be used to break the ice. Quote of the Week: “I will not lose, for even in defeat there's a valuable lesson learned, so it evens up.” ~Jay Z. Thank you to Katarina Kovacevic and Jon Irons for sharing their Kickstarter challenges, lessons learned and successes. Music in this episode: "Entre Nos" by DJ Fubu and "Once I Went To You" by Kara Square.