Podcasts about Shepler

May 8, 2025 ~ Chris Shepler, President at Shepler's Ferry joins Paul W Smith on the Pure Michigan Tour.

HumanKind Ministries president and CEO Dawn Shepler joins WBJ editor Kirk Seminoff for Episode 403, talking about service for the city's homeless population and those who live in poverty.

Whitey Gleason and Tim 'Big Shep' Shepler are BACK for a first edition 2025 True Sports Card Show!!! Sports Card Convention is coming to Sacramento in September!! Stories of ABA Basketball Glory years New Year's Day at the True Sports Card Shop Biggest Wins, Losses and Whelming Stories of 2024 in Sports Cards

Whitey Gleason and Tim 'Big Shep' Shepler are BACK for another episode of the True Sports Card Show!!! Trade Night on the Way next Saturday at the Shop!! Big Shep gets quizzed on most popular graded cards of all time 2024 MLB Award Winners Announced: Skubal, Sale, Gil and Skenes Cards Add Value New Releases A Pair of Rookie NBA Players from Sacramento are lighting up the league early on!!!

The episode features an in-depth conversation about the recent transition in ferry services to Mackinac Island, highlighting the Hoffman Family of Companies' acquisition of both Shepler's and Arnold Transit (formerly MIFC). Host Heather speaks with Jenny from the Hoffman family, who shares insights into the company's commitment to maintaining high safety standards and enhancing the ferry experience for travelers. With Shepler's stepping in during the MIFC maintenance issues, listeners will learn about the plans for both ferry lines moving forward, including the rebranding of Arnold Transit and the integration of Sip n Sail Cruises. Jenny emphasizes the importance of community connection and the dedication of the Hoffman family to preserving the unique charm of Mackinac Island. The episode also touches on the challenges and successes faced during the peak travel season, ensuring that safety and service remain top priorities for visitors.www.hfcompanies.comwww.sheplersferry.comwww.totallymackinacislandpodcast.com

How A Wall Street Executive Built His Own Glass Business About Our Guests: Chad Shepler, owner of Gatsby Glass of South Austin, made a bold shift from architecture to running a custom glass installation business. As a father, Chad is dedicated to teaching his children the importance of grit, resilience, and hard work. His personal experiences—including a near-drowning incident as a child—have shaped his perspective on life and success. Beyond business, Chad finds joy in smoking barbecue and balancing family life with his passion for leadership and innovation. Thanks for watching! Takeaways: Chad transitioned from architecture to owning a small business. He emphasizes the importance of being present as a parent. Success is not defined by working long hours. Teaching grit to children is crucial for their development. Chad believes in the value of quitting books that don't resonate. He enjoys smoking barbecue as a hobby. Chad's experience with drowning as a child shaped his perspective on life. He aims to show his kids that hard work is necessary for success. Chad values empathy and understanding in leadership.

August 21, 2024 ~ Full Show: Guy, Lloyd, and Jamie talk about the second night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, former President Donald Trump's visit to Howell, the massive mulch fire in Detroit, the expected arrival of radioactive waste from the Manhattan Project, Ford Motor Company scaling back EV plans, Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry increasing service, and an incredible event connecting homeless children with shelter pets.

August 21, 2024 ~ Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry Service has increased its capacity, ahead of a busy couple of weekends to round out the summer, and will run boats every 15 minutes from Mackinaw City and St. Ignace. Guy, Lloyd, and Jamie talk with Shepler's president Chris Shepler about the demand for trips to Mackinac Island!

On the next restaurant to check out is the Pancake House. Serves breakfast all day and lunch. With a charming diner feel this place fits all your needs from fluffy pancakes to the island's famous whitefish. The latest update on the MIFC ferry shut down and how Shepler's is now doing all the transporting. Visit the tourism bureau page for updates.www.mipancakehouse.comwww.mackinacisland.orgwww.totallymackinacislandpodcast.com

At the end of June, Mackinac Island Ferry Company was purchased by Hoffman Family of Companies. In this process it became aware many boats needed major repairs. So since they also own Shepler's - the task has fallen on this ferry line. Tune in to learn about where and how you will need to get to the island. www.sheplersferry.comwww.mackinacferry.comwww.mackinacisland.orgJoin the Facebook page of the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau for daily update

June 14, 2024 ~ Chris Shepler of Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry joins Paul at Harbor Spring

Vic Verchereau welcomes Chris Shepler, who is the President of Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry Service. The Shepler's motto is specific and meaningful – give the best possible service with a smile, use modern equipment and employ a well-trained staff. From the early charter boat days to today, Shepler's approach to transporting people to Mackinac Island has been one of class and value. You may have ridden the ferry boats to the Island, but do you know the whole story of how the company was founded and how they survived throughout the years? Meet the organization's President, Chris Shepler and join us on this edition of the Leadership Lowdown to hear the engaging and thorough picture of how a family-owned business developed, overcame challenges and interacted with the rich context of the northern Michigan tourism industry. It is a very rare story of a three-generation family-owned and family-operated business that has had to fight for survival for 70 years. Fierce competition from other ferry lines, treacherous weather conditions, costly maintenance on passenger and freight vessels, changing governmental regulations and depressed economic conditions in the State of Michigan are but a few of the challenges the Sheplers have faced over the years. Join Vic Verchereau on this voyage across the Mackinac Straits to hear all about the leadership challenges this iconic Michigan family has faced. » Visit MBN website: www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/ » Subscribe to MBN's YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MichiganbusinessnetworkMBN » Like MBN: www.facebook.com/mibiznetwork » Follow MBN: twitter.com/MIBizNetwork/ » MBN Instagram: www.instagram.com/mibiznetwork/

May 7, 2024 ~ Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry President Chris Shepler reminisces with Paul W. during the 2024 Pure Michigan Tour about his family's storied high-speed transportation service. Listen as Chris tells of his team's commitment to passenger safety and comfort, plus hear of new efforts underway that will ensure high customer satisfaction well into the future. Discover here how Shepler's is the fastest, most worry-free access to the island destination that connects you with an unparalleled window to the past.

"Acquiring a service you want to offer helps your company leapfrog years of trial and error. " – Sam Shepler, Founder of Testimonial Hero We welcome back Sam Shepler, Founder of Testimonial Hero, a global video testimonial company that helps B2B SaaS companies close more deals through customer stories. After a quick recap on what Testimonial Hero does (listen to episode 55 for part one), Corey and Sam get into the topic of acquisitions. Testimonial Hero recently acquired a company named Case Study Buddy that, just as the name suggests, provides written customer content like case studies. Sam's clients kept asking for case studies and written content as a service, and the fastest path to offering that at the level of quality Testimonial Hero's clients expected was to acquire a shop that already knew the ropes. Beyond the acquisition, Corey and Sam also cover topics like productizing services, sales process, and leadership lessons. Here's what we discuss in this episode: Testimonial Hero's latest acquisition of Case Study Buddy. The evolution from video-only to various forms of customer content. The various types of customer content Testimonial Hero offers. Agency sales challenges and how to navigate them. Here are some actionable key takeaways for agency founders: Customer testimonials accelerate sales cycles because they build trust. Challenge your preconceived notions as a leader not to miss out on business opportunities. Successful M&A calls for the right timing, alignment, and mutual respect, so start building relationships early on. For mentorship, seek out advice from people at a level you want to reach next; people who are several years but not decades ahead of you. The resources mentioned in this episode are: - Connect with Sam on Linkedin Here- Learn more about Testimonial Here

www.atravelpath.com https://delicioats.com?sca_ref=2606128.heLxZNHtFuUse code “PATH”   Wow! What an information-filled episode this was as we welcomed back Joe and Kalyn from Open Roading to Travel Tips! We learned a ton about Mackinac Island in Michigan, and after speaking with them, it sounds like such a fascinating place to visit. It certainly doesn't hurt that they spent a full season as Joe worked at a campground near the island (more on that in Part 1.) In this episode you'll learn all about:   Mackinac Island First of all, it is pronounced MackinAW, and Joe informed us pretty quickly that if your pronounce it they way it is spelled, the locals will be quick to correct you. The small island offers an escape from the modern world, as there are no cars on the island. Everything is either on foot, horseback, or bike.   Biking Bike rentals are a popular activity at Mackinac Island, and the eight-mile loop along the edge is a scenic and peaceful ride. They shared the tip of renting a bike on the island as opposed to renting one and bringing it on the ferry. This way, if something happens with your bike, the company is on the island to fix it. We also cover the best time to visit, nearby attractions, where to stay, and so much more! You'll definitely want to listen to this episode a few times if you plan on making a trip. And if you haven't heard of Mackinac Island or weren't considering visiting it, after listening I'm sure it will be on your list.   3,2,1 Countdown 3 Things to Bring to Mackinac Island: ·        Bike ·        Warm Clothes ·        Comfortable Walking Shoes 2 Complaints or Things You Should Be Prepared For: ·        Smell of Horse Manure ·        Dress Code at Grand Hotel ·        Bonus: Bugs 1 Thing You CAN'T Leave Mackinaw Island Without Doing: ·        8 Mile perimeter bike ride   Chapters ·        00:00 Introduction to Mackinac Island ·        05:30 How Long Should Someone Plan to Spend on Mackinac Island? ·        06:30 When is Mackinac Island Shut Down/Best Time to Visit? ·        09:15 Dog Friendly/Kid Friendly Activities on Mackinac Island? ·        11:30 Bike Rentals ·        12:30 Lodging & Transportation ·        15:00 Activities ·        16:30 Overall Cost of Mackinaw Island ·        18:45 Planning and Reservations ·        20:00 Favorite Food Spots ·        21:30 Nearby Attractions ·        23:00 Delicioats.com use code PATH ·        24:00 3, 2, 1 Countdown     Ferries ·        Shepler's Ferry: https://www.sheplersferry.com/ ·        Mackinac Island Ferry Company: https://www.mackinacferry.com/     Lodging ·        Mackinac Mill Creek Camping: https://www.campmackinaw.com/ ·        Grand Hotel: https://www.grandhotel.com/#   Restaurants/To Do ·        Millie's On Main: https://www.milliesonmain.com/ ·        Sanders Fudge: https://sanderscandy.com/pages/stores ·        Ryba's Fudge Shops: https://ryba.com/ Mackinac Family Heritage Pass (gets you into multiple locations in the area) https://tickets.mackinacparks.com/webstore/shop/viewItems.aspx?cg=MSHP&c=3 ·        Butterfly House: https://www.originalbutterflyhouse.com/     Fireworks ·        Saint Ignace: https://stignace.com/event/fireworks-over-the-bay/2024-05-25/ ·        Mackinac City: https://www.mackinaw-city.com/mackinaw_city_events_bak.php     Nearby Attractions ·        Wilderness State Park and Beach: https://www2.dnr.state.mi.us/parksandtrails/Details.aspx?id=509&type=SPRK ·        Harbor Springs: https://www.michigan.org/city/harbor-springs ·        Petoskey: https://www.michigan.org/city/petoskey-area ·        Charlevoix: https://www.michigan.org/city/charlevoix ·        Drummond Island: https://www.visitdrummondisland.com/   Previous Podcast Episodes ·        Indian Lake State Park and Upper Peninsula: https://atravelpath.com/michigan-upper-peninsula/   Music ·        Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): ·        https://uppbeat.io/t/sky-toes/ready-as-ever ·        License code: WYQ2IKRBMVFP3EJS   Disclaimer *All content from atravelpath.com, including but not limited to The Travel Path Podcast and social media platforms, is designed to share general information. We are not experts and the information is not designed to serve as legal, financial, or tax advice. Always do your own research and due diligence before making a decision.   Transcript Host: Hey Joe and Kalyn, welcome back to the Travel Path podcast. Thanks so much for being here again.   Guest: Thank you for having us.   Host: So, if anybody missed part one, we delved deep into your full-time travel lifestyle with your fifth-wheel RV. We covered everything from your work camping life to budgeting and all the other aspects of living on the road. Today, for travel tips, we're focusing on one particular destination. Where are we talking about today?   Guest: Yeah, we're going to Northern Michigan and specifically Mackinac Island. Surprisingly, a lot of people haven't heard of this little island up there.   Host: That's awesome. How much time have you guys actually spent on Mackinac Island?   Guest: On the actual island, I think we've done four trips, four days in total. But we spent the entire summer in Mackinac City, which is just a ferry ride away from the island. So, the entire area is kind of immersed in Mackinac City, Mackinac Island, this whole space. And as a public service announcement to your listeners, it is spelled M-A-C-K-I-N-A-C Island, but when you go there, make sure you pronounce it "Mac" or the locals will be very eager to correct you.   Host: That's a great travel tip. You always need to know exactly how to pronounce where you're going, otherwise that can happen. What made you guys want to share about this destination today?   Guest: It's actually one of my favorite places because there are no cars allowed on the island at all. So, it really feels like you're stepping back in time. Everything is either accessed by walking, biking, or taking a horse taxi. Even the "garbage trucks" are horses pulling wagons to pick up the bins. It's just a quaint little place we've fallen in love with.   Host: Sounds amazing. So, Mackinac Island is a great destination for someone who likes what type of experience?   Guest: I would say a more laid-back experience, obviously. You're not rushing from place to place because you don't have a car. But if you want to be a bit more active, there are walking and biking options. And if you enjoy quaint shops, popping into boutiques, and indulging in the fudge, it's perfect. There are around 15 to 20 fudge shops on the island. And if you're into history, there's a fort and other old structures to explore.   Host: The Grand Hotel sounds fascinating. It must be quite an experience.   Guest: Definitely. It's very old and still functioning.   Host: Sounds like a place where you'd really be stepping back in time when you visit. How long do you think someone should plan a trip for to get the full Mackinac Island experience?   Guest: You can do the full experience in a day. But something we really want to do is spend the night sometime. We hear that it's a different atmosphere after the last ferry leaves for the day. The foot traffic builds up throughout the day, but you can see everything you want in a day or even an afternoon. It's a place you want to come back to and experience again and again. I think it's not just like one and done and yeah forget about it.   Host: Perfect, so you could do it in an afternoon and just make it part of your trip to the Michigan Upper Peninsula. But of course, you could keep going back there every day, just taking the ferry over. I think it's nice to have that versatile type of trip. Now, I know that Mackinac Island does shut down for part of the year, correct?   Guest: Yeah, yeah, I believe it's October. I mean, shut down, quote-unquote, if they can get through the ice, they will run a ferry. But most people are not taking that back and forth unless they're locals. There is an airport on the island, so if you're living on the island and can't get out via ferry, you can pay, which is pretty pricey, to take a flight out. And then you have to pay weight actually in the grocery and items that you bring back, in addition to the trip.   Host: Wow. So, what would you say is the best time of year to visit to avoid the ice and flying situation?   Guest: Yeah, July and August are probably going to be my favorite. I know people are like, "Oh, go maybe in the spring or the fall to avoid crowds." But the problem with the springtime is there are these things called midge flies, and they are like clouds of black flies all over the place, specifically by the water. And Mackinac Island is surrounded by water. So, if you go in May and June, expect to have that experience, which may color your entire view of the island. July and August are really the best, and then September, it's just getting really cold because, again, it's on the water. And so that breeze coming off the water is pretty cool. And when she's saying black clouds of midge, she is not exaggerating. Like, they are clouds. And if there's any white surface, the white surface just becomes black with these flies. They don't bite, but they are just a pain. Along with the time frame though, if you really want to enjoy the island, there's two ferry companies, Shepler's and Star Line, and Shepler's is the main ferry company. And you want to get on one of the first two boats out to the island because if you jump off one of those first two boats, you're one of the first people on the island, except for anybody who's spent the night the night before. And the streets are quiet and clean and, yeah, and clean. Everything is horses. And so, you really get the peaceful downtown. And there's a courtyard in front of the castle, and you can really just kind of walk through the courtyard, take pictures, and there's nobody around. And like I said, throughout the day, the amount of foot traffic builds, everything starts getting more and more crowded. So, your most enjoyable time will be those two to three hours in the morning.   Host: That's awesome. So, don't sleep in those days. Plan to get up and get over there.   Guest: Yes.   Host: Awesome. Now, would you say it's a dog and kid-friendly place? Have you seen a lot of families there or pets at all?   Guest: Well, that's a great question. For the dogs, I'm not sure. I've seen them take smaller dogs. In fact, I know you can because they sell tickets for them to put them on the ferry. But I guess it depends on where you take your dog. If you take your dog with you everywhere, you can take them on the island. There's not going to be anything, unless they're going to scare horses. I wouldn't — that's true — if they're afraid of horses or if they're going to bark at horses, probably not a good idea. Interestingly enough, selling tickets in the campground store all summer, we sold ferry tickets, and the number of times I would see one parent come back to the campground with the kids was very high. You know, one parent would come back and the kids would be getting ready to go swimming and be like, "Oh, did you enjoy your island?" And, "Oh, my husband's still there," or "Oh, my wife's still there." But the kids weren't having a good time. There's just not a lot of kid-friendly entertainment. There's history and things like that. But if you're walking and biking and shops, yeah, not a lot of transportation where the kids are going to get a break, where they're not going to be on their feet or not going to have to walk places. However, I would say in Mackinac City, which is where you're either going to from Mackinac City or St. Ignace, you're going to take the ferry over to Mackinac Island. There are three indoor water parks in Mackinac City, and so the kids really, really loved those. So, you can still take your family to the area and enjoy Mackinac City. And it's my understanding that you can get one wristband that will go to all three of those indoor water parks as well.   Host: Oh, very cool. So that's something that you could go and like you said, go in the morning, go to Mackinac Island, take the family, and just plan to be there for maybe a couple of hours or where your kids' threshold is for being able to walk and pop in and out of shops, and then head back. And then you've got those really fun activities that they can kind of look forward to throughout the day. So, I think that's perfect.   Guest: Exactly.   Host: And we have talked about transportation. Obviously, you're either taking the ferry or you're flying over there. But do you bring your own bikes? Do they have bike rentals once you get over there?   Guest: You can totally bring your own bikes. So, I think it cost — this last year, I think $16 per bike. Okay, that was more than I remembered. But anyway, it costs you to take your own bike. You can rent them over there. There are places on the island that you can rent them from as well. But don't rent them from the mainland and then take them over. It's not going to be as cost-effective. It's not really that expensive to rent the bikes on the island. The only thing I wouldn't rent the bikes is off the island and then pay to bring them over because if they break down on the island, you don't have anyone to replace that, whereas if you rent on the island, the company will ride out to you with another bike so that you can keep going. So, that is nice to know.   Host: Wow, very good information. Yeah, that's a good tip. So, lodging. I know you said there are hotels or boutique hotels that you can probably stay at on Mackinac Island, which you haven't done yet. But where are you staying when you are going there in your camper?   Guest: Specifically for RVing, there are RV parks on the Mackinac City side, and I think there's an RV park in St. Ignace. There's also a couple of casinos in the area that allow some overnight parking. So, if you're looking just for a quick overnight, you might be able to just pop into one of the casinos and park there overnight. I do recommend — and you know I'm not a shill for them, I worked for them, I'm done — but the best campground I think in that area is Mackinac Mill Creek. They have over a mile of their own beachfront property. So, they have a beach that you can walk your dogs on, they have a beach that's dog-free, and it's just really a beautiful place to stay if you're planning on staying for more than one or two nights. Yeah, it's kind of spaced out so the spaces feel a little bit like a state park with trees and everything, so we had a look at the other campgrounds in the area, and I think Mackinac Mill Creek by far would be the most enjoyable.   Host: Awesome. And how are you getting from your campground to the ferry?   Guest: So, you can take a couple of ways. If you're taking your bikes to the island, there's actually a rail trail that goes right to the ferry parking lot that you can ride your bike to the ferry parking lot and then just jump on the ferry. Otherwise, there's ferry parking pretty close by and they will shuttle you to the ferry. Or, a lot of times, campgrounds in the area have shuttles that run from their campground again to the docks. And not a lot of people know this, but there's free parking if you can get there early enough behind the Rusted Spoke.   Host: That's specifically for that one ferry company, right?   Guest: Yeah, they're rebranding, it's hard to keep it straight. That's specifically for that one. They are very much in competition, so you don't want to park in one slot and go to the other.   Host: Very good. So, what is there to do at night? I know you guys have not stayed there and really experienced the full nightlife. I'm not sure the last ferry, so maybe what do you do right before you get on the ferry or what do you do once you get off the ferry back in the city area?   Guest: Yeah, there are a lot of different restaurants there that you can go to. But if you're staying on the island, something that we would like to do the next time that we go is they have dinner at the Grand Hotel, which is very, very pricey, and you have to really dress up for it, no jeans, like you need to be wearing suit coats. So, it's again that kind of step back in time to another era. And so, that would be like a fun date night activity that you could do at the Grand Hotel. And then as far as just general activities throughout the summer, generally every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night, there are fireworks that are launched from either St. Ignace or Mackinac City. It rotates depending on the day, and you would be able to see those from the island or from either mainland.   Host: Very cool, that's awesome. So, I guess transitioning, speaking about nighttime, any good sunset spots you guys have found?   Guest: Pretty much everywhere, I think, because it's on like this, where the sun sets is kind of like on the water. So wherever you are, like on the beachfront, either on the island or over in Mackinac City, watching the sunset from one of those locations, you'll be able to get a good view.   Host: Yeah, perfect. And now, because you guys are very budget-conscious, and if you haven't listened to episode one, make sure you do that. I have enjoyed seeing all your posts on your social media every month because you keep us updated that way, so it's really nice. But would you say the overall cost is more or less than you expected when you visited Mackinac Island?   Guest: I think it's about what I expected because you are paying for the ferry and then you're paying to rent a bike, so you have to factor that in. And when you're on the island, really the only extra things that you would be paying for are activities. So, like, whether you're getting into the fort or you're paying for a horse taxi carriage ride or you're buying souvenirs from the shop. So generally, I think it was what we expected. To save probably the most amount of money and to have a good experience is to buy a ferry carriage ride combo ticket. Those are actually some pretty good deals rather than just taking the ferry and then getting to the island and deciding you want to do the carriage ride. And especially if you're not a fan of maybe biking or walking or you're not able to, that's a really great way to explore the island.   Host: Perfect.   Guest: One thing that is not budget-friendly is the Grand Hotel, like Kalyn said. You can't tour the hotel without paying, and then any meal there, anything that they have there, I mean, it's just... I think dinner was over $100 a person. Yeah, it's another level.   Host: Is that the same thing as the castle you referenced earlier?   Guest: No, you meant the fort. Oh, castle, sorry. The fort is the historical — this is a step back in time. Oh, no, no, no. Castles, forts too, though.   Host: Those are definitely a step back in time.   Guest: Yeah. And you can get a pass, I think, from any really the stores sell them, the campgrounds sell them. I can't remember the name of the pass, but I'll have to look it up and let you know, you can put it in the show notes. But it gives you access to the fort and to like a butterfly garden there, and to another place. So if you buy like the one-time pass, it's actually worth the that amount if you go to all the locations that are featured on the pass.   Host: Awesome, very good tip. Yeah, we'll definitely link that in the show notes. Now, did you guys have to make any of your reservations ahead of time or do you feel like if you were just decided you wanted to head there you could get a ferry ticket and go on the island and enjoy the day?   Guest: Yeah, you could totally buy everything day of, especially if you're getting on those first boats. Actually, if I was getting on the first boat, I'd want to buy my ferry ticket the day before. All the tickets are untimed, so you just buy it and then it's first come, first serve to actually get on the boat. So if you get there and the line is too long, you're just getting on the next boat as opposed to the first one. Yeah, and they run about every half hour to an hour.   Host: Perfect. So for campsites too, are they pretty flexible?   Guest: So, campsites, I would book further in advance if you are planning on staying for a weekend. If you can stay Monday to Thursday or Monday to Friday, you'd probably be fine booking anytime. I know Mackinac Mill Creek has 600, I believe, campsites, so they have the capacity, but they do fill up on the weekends, especially if there's any sort of holiday weekend going on. And so I think the other campgrounds fill up as well. But yeah, if you're staying Monday through Friday, you could just drive in and get a site.   Host: Very good info. So, how about food spots? What did you guys find any favorites?   Guest: Yeah, I don't know, we're not great foodies, so we eat PB&J. We do just pack sandwiches and save some money. But one of the restaurants that we did like on Mackinac Island was Millie's on Main, and we went there twice, and we got different things each time, and it was really, really good. The two fudge shops that I recommend, like I said, there's so many on the island, so you could actually just have fun sampling them all. But we really liked Sanders and Ryba's Fudge the best, so I would try those first.   Host: Perfect. I'll take those recommendations, do my own little fudge tour there. Yep, it's the humidity, right? Is it really humid there or is that not so?   Guest: So, we lived in Florida for six years, and it did not feel like Florida at all. So, it was interesting because when certain people would arrive there, it was never really got above 80 the whole summer, and there would be some people, and I can't remember where they were from, that would be complaining about the heat, and Kayla and I would just kind of look at each other and be like, "Where are these people from?" It's not hot. And so, it definitely didn't feel like if you're used to a Florida humid, it is nowhere near anything like that.   Host: They're from northern Michigan.   Guest: Probably.   Host: Too funny. Alright, and if you haven't mentioned it already, any other nearby attractions either on the island itself or outside the island maybe near your campground that you haven't mentioned yet?   Guest: Yeah, there is a Wilderness State Park, which you could stay there in an RV, but we found I liked the beach there the best. It was the quietest. It didn't seem like a lot of people knew it existed. So that is one place I would go. If you want more quaint towns, you can go a little bit further south of that into like Harbor Springs and Petoskey and Charlevoix. They're cute, just lakeside towns that you can visit. And then if you want to go north, kind of to the east side, we visited Drummond Island, which not a lot of people have heard about. It's very outdoorsy, like not as quaint as Mackinac Island but definitely more for like, what is it, four-wheelers, ATVs? Yeah, if you were into being more active. One thing too, one thing too with the Wilderness State Park and that area in general is the Wilderness State Park is a dark skies park. So if you are going to Northern Michigan and hoping to catch the northern lights, that is a good place to set up if you've seen that, you know, that, hey, the northern lights are possible tonight. It's a good spot to go.   Host: That's very cool, and if you don't get the Northern Lights, you probably get some awesome stargazing, so take that. Perfect. So I think now we'll transition to the 321 countdown. Hey, guys, I wanted to take a quick break to tell you about Delicia Oats. We've been enjoying Delicia Oats for many years, and they have helped fuel us for those extra-long hikes. They are flavored oats that come in a pouch and are very easy to set up. Just add water, give it a shake, and let it sit overnight and enjoy the next morning. Or you can add boiling water if you like them served hot. We've also added them to our morning smoothie or sprinkled some into my yogurt for some extra flavor and to help fill me up. You can make them in less than a minute, and there is no cleanup, which is huge for us on the road. Now, if you're like me, the first question you'll ask is, how much added sugar is there? And here's a big one for me, no added sugar. They come in a variety of flavors. My personal favorite is Cherry Chocolate. Enjoy them for yourself by placing an order at DeliciaOats.com and use the coupon code PATH at checkout. That's DeliciaOats.com, D-E-L-I-C-I-A-O-A-T-S.com, and use the coupon code PATH.   Alright, the final three segments of the podcast, 3-2-1 countdown. I just want to say too, you guys have rocked this interview talking about Ma Island. Thank you for being so detailed, and I feel like this is a place everyone, when they talk about going somewhere, it's out west, it's down south, but people sleep on Northern Michigan. There's a lot of cool things, fun things to do so out there. And I think we're lucky we had some insider knowledge working at a campground for a whole season. And if you're looking to go to Northern Michigan, we had it with Jim and Michelle, episode six or seven, I believe, and they talked about Upper Peninsula, and there really wasn't much overlap here. We could really listen to both episodes and have completely different things to do. So if you're going to do an extended stay there, definitely tune in. But we'll start wrapping this thing up here. So, what are three things you're packing when you're heading to Mackinac Island?   Guest: I think number one is if you do have your own bike, pack your bike because that's hands down the best way to visit the island in our opinion. Dress in warm layers because you've got sometimes a cold ferry ride out in the morning and a cold ferry ride back in the evening, and then it will warm up throughout the day. And then good walking shoes, whether you're biking or walking, make sure you're really comfy as you're getting around the island.   Host: Nice, bring your own bike, good walking shoes, and warm clothes. What are two complaints somebody might have or things they should be prepared for before visiting?   Guest: So, it's an island where the primary source of transportation for a lot of things is horses, so it's going to smell like two things on the island, especially as the day goes on. It's going to smell like fudge and it's going to smell like horse poo. So that, a lot of people, they come back and they're like, "I wasn't prepared for that." So, again, if you go early, a lot of the horse poo isn't out yet, it's been cleaned up from the day before. But as the day goes on, it's going to smell a little bit more. And along those same lines, don't step in the mud puddles because they're not water. And then the second one is the Grand Hotel. A lot of people go expecting to be able to, "Hey, we're going to get to walk around the Grand Hotel, see a tour," and whatnot, and they're surprised that A, it costs money, and B, there's a dress code. At certain, is it all day to get in the Grand Hotel? The dress code, I think it's more at night.   Host: Yeah.   Guest: But, you know, they're just surprised that they can't go in in their shorts and a t-shirt. But you can walk the grounds, like the courtyard, which is very beautiful. So, smell some of the restrictions at the hotel, maybe a bonus would be bugs if you go at a certain time of year.   Host: Yes, that's an interesting combination, horse poo and fudge, and don't get them confused which way you're downwind from. We've talked about a lot of things to do on Mackinac Island, but what is one thing, if you had to pick one thing, you could not leave without doing?   Guest: The eight-mile perimeter bike ride. Yeah, I know we keep bringing up bikes, but it truly is so enjoyable. And you start in the town, and then you kind of get out of town, and you just have trees overhanging and you're by the lake the whole time. And it's, again, with that back in time feeling with you being on a bike and not driving, the perimeter, it really helps you just slow down and savor and enjoy the experience.   Host: That's great. That does sound, I feel like it sounds like a really great place, but when you bring the factor that there's no cars, it just makes it that much more kind of alluring and desirable to go to, just to take a step out of for a little while and get on an island where you're riding bikes, it's horseback sounds like a really wonderful place.   Guest: Yeah.   Host: Well, guys, thank you for being so thorough with this podcast. We definitely want to add this to a stop at some point. And guys, if you're listening to this podcast right now, you saw, you heard how thorough they just were, and the part one was exactly the same. They shared their story on how they started out, how everything from budgeting and their entire basically their five past five years traveling full-time. So definitely tune in to that one. And Joe and Kayin, before we let you go, where can our audience find out more about you guys?   Guest: Yeah, we're on YouTube, youtube.com/openroading, and same place on Instagram at openroading. And we respond to DMs there primarily.   Host: Awesome. Alright, guys, thanks again.   Guest: Yeah, thank you so much for having us. This was a lot of fun.

On this episode, Linda McKissack and Dana Gentry talk with Josh Shepler and Heath Green about their journey in the real estate and property management industry, including their experience in starting a short-term rental division. Josh and Heath discuss the challenges and benefits of short-term rentals, as well as the regulations and prospecting strategies for finding clients. They also share their process of selling a property management company and the importance of aligning personal and business purposes. They discuss the challenges of merging, particularly the need to let go of control. The conversation also touches on the launch of their podcast, Keeping It Entrepreneurial, which focuses on entrepreneurship, leadership, and motivation. Get your Episode Guide here Check out our Everything Life and Influence course here

Shepler's Ferry to Mackinac Island postpones plan to add fee, RFID luggage tracking313 Day: The past, present, future of Detroit's area code Miguel Cabrera reports to Detroit Tigers spring training, but now he's in the coaches' room

March 12, 2024 ~ Shepler's Ferry President Chris Shepler joins Paul W to talk about how the Shepler's Ferry to Mackinac Island postpones a plan to add fee, RFID luggage tracking.

"It was a lot of brute force, cold outreach, going direct to people.” – Sam Shepler What every agency founder knows about starting up shop, is that the reality of growth in the early days comes from simply pounding the pavement, putting in the hours, and hustling your way to success. Today's guest, Sam Shepler, did just that when he founded Testimonial Hero, a global video testimonial company that helps B2B SaaS companies close more deals through video testimonials. Founded in 2017, Sam bootstrapped his now 7-figure business from the start, maintaining control all the way. Growing mostly through cold outreach and referrals, Sam wasn't afraid to put in the work to get his idea and agency off the ground. In this episode, he shares everything from initial tactics to hiring strategies and what roles he prioritized in the first years of Testimonial Hero. What's more, Corey and Sam dive into the topic of social proof, and why it is a must-have, not a nice-to-have, for marketers today. Especially in video form. And, who better to give us a lesson in building trust than the founder of a video testimonial company? Here's what Corey and Sam discuss in this episode: Going through an acqui-hire and founding a niche video agency. Why Sam decided to focus on video testimonials in B2B SaaS. Where Testimonial Hero's early growth came from. How Sam landed SaaS legends like HubSpot as clients. Sam's tips on leveraging social video proof in various stages of the sales process. Here are some actionable key takeaways for agency founders: Verticalized messaging instantly signals a vendor-client fit. Gross margin is the most important part of an agency's P&L. Lead with relationships when reaching out to prospects, not your sales pitch. Don't compromise on talent but sometimes you need to bring in people from unconventional backgrounds. Social proof builds trust, trust is what brings you business. The resources mentioned in this episode are: Connect with Sam on Linkedin Here Learn more about Testimonial Hero Here

This week, Dustin chats with Sam Shepler, CEO at Testimonial Hero, about the shift from traditional social proof to social proof 2.0 in the B2B buying process. The discussion highlights how shifts in buyer behavior have led to a change in how sellers adapt their marketing strategies. They shed light on the importance of trust and proof points throughout the buyer journey and the need for strategic depth in social proof. Finally, they share insights on the importance of making customer evidence a strategic initiative and discipline, and the benefits of a video-first strategy for creating impactful content. You can reach out to Sam via his LinkedIn profile if you have any questions or insights on the topics discussed today. Also, check out Testimonial Hero's website to learn more about our work.

Should you productize your services?Does a productized service business completely differ from the standard agency model?Can both models co-exist within the same business?These are all questions we answer in today's conversation with Sam Shepler, CEO of Testimonial Hero.  He transitioned from leading a full-service video production agency to founding a productized service business in 2018.  In this episode, Sam shares the 3 specific benefits of productizing your services--and the potential pitfalls to look out for.Sam's team has some good successes to learn from, hitting Number 342 on the Inc. 500 list in 2022 and having successfully scaled beyond $3MM in annual revenue.As he shares the lessons from their journey, we touch on:The "trinity" of benefits in productizing your servicesHow to avoid competition from AI and low-cost service providers (even with a highly repeatable service offering)Specific financial do's and don'ts to keep in mind if you're heading down this path.Resources mentioned in today's conversation:Get your copy of The State of Agency Operations Report (2023)Connect with Sam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samshepler/Follow Sam on X: https://twitter.com/SamShepler Sam's tweet thread we discussed: 7 things I've learned running a $3MM Productized AgencyThe webinar about agency profitability metrics (gross margin, net margin, etc): Growing Your Agency Too Fast or Too Slow w/ Drew McLellanWant to get more content to support your agency life? Subscribe to the Agency Life newsletter, check out past episodes & find more content at teamwork.com/agencylife. This podcast is brought to you by Teamwork.com.

May 2, 2023 ~ Chris Shepler, President of Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry talks to Paul about the ferry business and he says they are geared up and ready for a great season of ferrying passengers across the Straits of Mackinac.

Sam Shepler, Founder and CEO of Testimonial Hero, joins Dustin on this week's episode to discuss how the buyer journey is changing and why only using late-stage peer evidence isn't enough to close a deal anymore. They explain how prospects are seeking social proof earlier in the process, why you need the right peer evidence at the right time, and how to think about using testimonial videos strategically. If you want to shoot Sam a question or give him a follow to see more tidbits on customer stories and video testimonials, you can connect with him over on LinkedIn. You can also learn more about how we create strategic customer videos that help you close deals faster on our website.

Jack Shepler has been a member of UACADEMY for many years. He runs a digital agency called AYOKAY. He grew it from a small, creative, freelance practice into an amazing 7-figure agency that's working with healthcare, nonprofits, and various other businesses, both national and international.

I'm excited to share my interview with Sam Shepler, founder and CEO of TestimonialHero. I got to work with Sam last year to support his company's growth efforts and was impressed with Sam's laser focus on the customer and his methodical way of thinking and executing. Because his business is a tech-enabled service but nearly all his customers are SaaS I thought he would have unique insights on the differences between the two. We also talk about the importance of video, customer storytelling, and finding the right acquisition channels for your business. I really enjoyed this conversation and I think you will too. If you're interested in diving further into the topic of customer storytelling, check out the episode where I was on Sam's podcast The State of Customer Storytelling:https://open.spotify.com/episode/0RZe135vMlT08k9GHEflYG?si=MvYWP8bGQyuHFlORr1J19Ahttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mosheh-poltorak-simplifying-the-customer-marketing/id1599120117?i=1000567612235 Timestamps:(0:00) Introduction (2:02) What is TestimonialHero? (3:42) Coming up with the idea for TestimonialHero (6:14) "Pivoting" during COVID (7:10) Tech-enabled services vs. SaaS (8:35) Finding the right customer acquisition channels (12:21) Customer activation in a service business ("the magic moment") (13:59) Product Market Fit is a moving target (16:43) Getting your first 20 customers (18:51) What is customer storytelling and why is it important? (22:09) What's the grand vision for TestimonialHero? (23:14) Launching secondary product offerings (24:42) Which growth channels worked?   (26:51) Leveraging podcasting as a marketing channel (28:11) Lightning round and final thoughts Guest contact info:https://www.linkedin.com/in/samshepler/ https://twitter.com/SamShepler www.testimonialhero.com Sponsor: This podcast is brought to you by grwth.co. Grwth offers fractional CMOs, paired with best-in-class digital marketing execution to support early-stage startup success. With a focus on seed and series A companies, Grwth has helped a number of SaaS, digital health, and e-commerce startups build their go-to-market function and scale up. To learn more and book a free consultation, go to grwth.co. Get in touch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moshehp/ https://twitter.com/MoshehPhello@pmfpod.comwww.pmfpod.com

Tim Shepler is back and a lot has changed since he was last on, he's thinner, healthier and he left a stressful job to be general manager of upstart LCS True Sportscards, we talk about that , what it takes to run a successful LCS, the future with Fanatics and a huge Sacramento show they are putting on next week. Follow us on Social Media: Website:https://www.sportscardnationpodcast.com Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Sportscardnationpodcast/ Twitter:https://twitter.com/Sportscardnati1?s=20 Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/sportscardnation YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/SportsCardNationPodcasthttps://www.flow.page/sportscardnationpodcast 

Everyone talks about marketing and sales alignment but when the two teams stay siloed with different goals and incentivized for different outcomes...alignment doesn't happen. Sam Shepler, CEO of Testimonial Hero, discusses why you need a unified revenue team, why it's important to consider the DNA mix between sales and marketing for your core executive hires, and the process he went through as a CEO in learning that MQLs are not predictive of business success.

September 26, 2022 ~ The President of Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry talks to Paul about the ferry service and he says for the first time in three years they have full employment within the company.

Jim is joined by Sam Shepler the CEO of TestimonialHero. Sam and Jim chat about Launchpad businesses and discuss how and why entrepreneurs should seriously consider creating one instead of shooting for the moon right away.TOPICS DISCUSSED IN TODAY'S EPISODE   The benefits of an agency for quick money   Strategically targeting larger partners for a growing business   Specifics on how to sell your business   How to scale a productized service   Niching your strengths   Best Practices for cold outreach   Launchpad business vs Lifestyle business  Resources: Sam Shepler Testimonial Hero Productize and Scale Jim Huffman website Jim's Twitter GrowthHit The Growth Marketer's Playbook  Additional episodes you might enjoy: Startup Ideas by Paul Graham (#45) Nathan Barry: How to Bootstrap a Company to $30M in a Crowded Market (#41) How I Met My Biz Partner and Less Learned Hitting $2M ARR (#44) Ryan Hamilton on his Netflix special, touring with Jerry Seinfeld, & how to write a joke (#10) How We're Validating Startup Ideas (#51)  

Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry

Heath and Josh are the co-owners of Kentucky Life Property Management specializing in rental property management.One of their notable achievements is growing KY Life Property Management to a 7 figure business in less than 5 years and voted #1 Best Property Management company by the Lexington Herald Leader in 2019, 2020 and 2021.To connect with Heath and Josh you can reach them at their office number 859-309-9648 or email them at heath@kentuckylifehomes.com, josh@kentuckylifehomes.com, or info@kentuckylifehomes.comTo connect with the show or reach Landry for insuring your investment portfolio call 859-687-2004 or email landry@novainsurancegroup.comShow Hosted by Landry Fields, episodes mixed and edited by Dawson Fields.

May 4, 2022 ~ The President of Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry tells Paul they are looking forward to a great new season.

Based on Mark 1:9-11 and Mark 9:41. Baptism and Membership Sunday.

Informant: Whitmer kidnap suspect wanted to blow up COVID-19 vaccine plants, kill doctors; U.P. family’s home becomes accidental tourist destination; Shepler's Ferry on Mackinac Island sells to billionaire after 77 years and Michigan State basketball falls short to Coach K, Duke, 85-76, in NCAA tournament.

March 18, 2022 ~ The President of Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry Service announces on the Paul W. Smith Show that his family has sold the business to a Florida shipping company and he says customers will not notice the change.

Welcome to Episode 520. This week we have three tales for you, about a secret family legacy, twins who go for the ride of their lives, and the invisible line between myth and truth.COMING UPGood Evening: 10 years of Tales to Terrify: 00:01:06Emily Henry Burnham's Deep Roots as read by Austin Stern: 00:04:17Ash Caballero's Feuerhund as read by J. K. Shepler: 00:12:49Kevin Brown's Somewhere Anywhere as read by Anthony Babington: 00:24:32PERTINENT LINKSSupport us on Patreon! Spread the darkness.Shop Tales to Terrify MerchAustin Stern on YouTubeAustin Stern | Eerie Podcast on YouTubeAustin Stern on SoundCloudAsh Caballero on Twitter (@halfdeadz)J.K. Shepler at Down the Movie HoleAnthony Babington on Twitter (@alephbaker)Original Score by Nebulus EntertainmentNebulus on FacebookNebulus on InstagramSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/talestoterrify. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sam Shepler, founder of Testimonial Hero, joined me on Ditching Hourly for a wide ranging discussion about the moving parts of productized services. Links We Mentioned Sam's Twitter Testimonial Hero Haute Stock Range by David Epstein

Sam Shepler, the Founder & CEO of Testimonial Hero, was interviewed on Mission Matters Marketing Podcast by Adam Torres. Sam Shepler says competitors may be able to copy your product, but they can't do the same with your customers' stories.Follow Adam on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule.Apply to be interviewed by Adam on our podcast:https://missionmatters.lpages.co/podcastguest/Visit our website:https://missionmatters.com/

Do you have VIDEO testimonials? Testimonial Hero is on the way to help you. Sam Shepler is the CEO of Testimonial Hero and our guest this week. Sam shares his entrepreneurial journey and how Testimonial videos are easy and can help you in your business. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/tbospodcast/support

May 5, 2021 ~ The President of Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry Service tells Paul they are back up and running and ready for a great season.

Word of mouth recommendation has always been an important part of sales. Testimonials are vital. So of course, if you can find a way to leverage customer testimonials in your sales process, you can sell more effectively and close faster. Sam Shepler’s company helps you do just that. Sam is the founder and CEO of Testimonial Hero, and in today’s episode, you’ll learn more about that company and what they do. Listen in to learn why Sam decided to start Testimonial Hero, why video testimonials are so important, and what the Testimonial Hero process is like.  Episode Highlights: Why Sam decided to start a company dedicated to testimonials What Sam was doing before Testimonial Hero Why Sam specializes in video testimonials How COVID changed things for Sam’s company What the process is like after testimonials are sent in What kicks a service like Sam’s into high gear Who can benefit from Sam’s service The specific benefits of video The process and timeline for Sam’s team How listeners can learn more about Testimonial Hero Resources:  Sam Shepler Testimonial Hero

Sam Shepler is the CEO of Testimonial Hero, a global B2B video testimonial creation service. He's worked with companies like Google, Medallia and Hopin to create testimonials that reduce friction in the sales cycle and close deals more quickly. On this episode, we cover: Leveraging different types of customer video content throughout the whole buyer...

Sam Shepler is the CEO of Testimonial Hero, a global B2B video testimonial creation service. He’s worked with companies like Google, Medallia and Hopin to create testimonials that reduce friction in the sales cycle and close deals more quickly. On this episode, we cover: Leveraging different types of customer video content throughout the whole buyer...

Nearly everybody can relate to the struggle of losing bad habits.  Habits may feel natural and instinctive, for some they may even come to define your character. The truth is that they are 100% learnt.  The modern salesperson joining the industry today is riddled with preconceptions from television, movies, or just bad advice about how to conduct themselves during a sale. They may think salespeople should be hyper-aggressive, shark-like characters who ‘always be closing' and play under-handed games of deception to sell the latest and greatest products or services.  These ideas become bad sales habits. Here is what you do: Separate your personal and work lives. Try not to get attached to deals. Leave these preconceptions at the door. Forget what you think you know and be a person instead of an idea. “Facts fade, but stories stick” argues Testimonial Hero CEO, Sam Shepler, who spoke with us about how to sell effectively and the importance of storytelling.  Just as any good story has a good plot, come to the table with a strategic narrative and remember to tell your story in the most engaging and inventive way you can.  

Sam shows how testimonials can help your prospects overcome their QFD's. Questions, Fears, and Doubts. Using video testimonials. Testimonial Hero is a streamlined B2B video testimonial creation service with both on-site videography (zero travel fees globally) and 100% remote video testimonial options. ⚡ Their mission is to help B2B marketing leaders SUPERCHARGE their marketing programs--through the voice of the customer. ⚡ Find out more at: testimonialhero.com/remote-video-testimonials Interested in speaking with us about having the Team here at "Ok Boomer Teach me Sales" work with your sales team? Call us at 919-267-9871, email us at tom@bloomerassociates.com or visit our websites: Bloomer Associates https://bloomerassociates.com/ Ok Boomer Teach me Sales https://okboomerteachmesales.com/ Have questions about our new sales course offerings? Social Selling for Ad Sales Pro's $197 Leadership Assessment & Development $297 Both 4 week programs include: Self-paced Video instruction. Easy to follow Workbooks, 1:1 video coaching sessions. Call 919-267-9871 or email us today at tom@bloomerassociates.com for more details or to register now --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/okboomerteachmesales/message

Hey Limitless Listener, Limitless brings you another interesting episode. This time around it is all about customer testimonials. Sam Shepler, Founder and CEO of Testimonial Hero, is in the house to share his knowledge and insightful views on how businesses can take full advantage of customer testimonials to scale better. The highlights of the episode are here: • Customer Testimonials - Where should you use them (and where you should not). • Micro-cuts and Objection Crushers - Everything you should know. • How to give the perfect structure to your testimonials? • Testimonials as social proof - How to leverage it on social media? • Tips to convince your boss to get more testimonials from your customers. Let us know what you think about this episode by leaving us a review. Follow Sam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samshepler/ _______________________________________________________________ Learn more about Hippo Video: www.hippovideo.io Visit https://www.hippovideo.io/podcasts/listen-now.html to get updates on the upcoming episodes. Tweet us @thehippovideo

How to Grow Sales with Video Testamonials with Sam Shepler

“There is way more social proof when a customer is willing to put their face on camera.” Listen & Learn: The 15 ultimate, battle-tested, and magical questions to ask during a customer testimonial interview. How to create world-class storytelling and establish trust with your customers faster. The authenticity that video provides to potential customers to encourage a buying decision. How to navigate the fine line between authenticity and very high quality.   Sam Shepler is a filmmaker turned entrepreneur with nine years of experience in B2B video marketing. Sam founded his first company, Skyscope (a B2B video marketing agency) in 2012 and sold it to Matter Communications, a national PR agency, in 2016. In 2018, Sam founded his current venture, Testimonial Hero. Currently used by nearly 100 clients worldwide, Testimonial Hero is a global B2B video testimonial creation service. The company mission is to make world-class customer storytelling effortless – so B2B revenue teams can establish trust faster with new prospects, accelerate the buyer journey, and drive more revenue.   Shorten your sales cycle and build authentic engagement with video testimonials. Call LORI JONES today at 303-678-7102 to learn more! TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TESTIMONIALHERO, CLICK HERE. TO FIND SAM SHEPLER ON LINKEDIN, CLICK HERE.

What if there was a way to combine developing a deep client understanding, while at the same time reduce friction in the sales process and drive more revenue, by utilizing what can only be described as the ultimate conversion trigger for your business? Sounds good right? Well my guest today Sam Shepler is going to show you a system where your clients essentially sell for you, using engaging social proof that converts prospects into paid customers. Sam is a serial entrepreneur in the video marketing space, and currently the founder & CEO of Testimonial Hero "the customer video company”, that helps B2B marketing leaders better communicate value through the voice of the customer, to reduce friction in the sales process and drive more revenue, faster. On this episode: What is Advocate Marketing? Why successful client advocat programs focus on a MUTUAL exchange of value. How thinking about your marketing like IKEA furniture can improve your results.  The step by step process to get amazing client video testimonials and case studies. And much more! Resources Mentioned On This Episode Get Sam's Free Cheatsheet: The 15 Best Video Testimonial Questions to Use in Your Next Video Testimonial!   Connect with Sam On LinkedIn Get My Free Book! Conversational Relationship Marketing 10 Golden Rules For B2B and Professional Service Businesses That Consistently Create More Sales Opportunities & Close Deals (Using Professionalism, Ethics and Good Manners) Discover exactly how to ensure that you consistently have a full calendar of motivated and qualified ideal potential clients who want to discuss how you can help them. I'm literally giving away the exact strategy my clients pay thousands to implement with them! Not only that, but inside you'll find all the templates, frameworks and workbooks that you can use for free, with no strings attached. Not even an opt in! Get Your Copy On The Client Catching Podcast Listener Gift Page Happy Fishing!

Sam Shepler of TestimonialHero focuses on helping B2B marketers and business owners with their testimonials, which is such a huge benefit to businesses. On the show today Sam will give some tips on how testimonial videos can help your sales and marketing campaigns.GUEST: Sam Shepler of TestimonialHero  | LinkedIn | Get "The 15 Ultimate B2B Video Testimonial Questions"(top of page) | How B2B Testimonial Videos Can Help Your Marketing and Sales Campaigns Exceed Expectations | Twitter | LinkedInHOSTS: The Video Marketing Value Podcast is hosted by:- Dane Golden of VidiUp.tv and VidTarget.io | LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube- Renee Teeley of VideoExplained and ReneeTeeley.com | LinkedIn | Twitter |Instagram | YouTubeSPONSORS: This episode is brought to you by our affiliate partners, including: TubeBuddy, VidIQ, MorningFame, Rev.com, and other products and services we recommend.PRODUCER: Jason Perrier of Phizzy StudiosREAD THE TRANSCRIPT

Sam Shepler of TestimonialHero focuses on helping B2B marketers and business owners with their testimonials, which is such a huge benefit to businesses. On the show today Sam will give some tips on how testimonial videos can help your sales and marketing campaigns.GUEST: Sam Shepler of TestimonialHero | LinkedIn | Get "The 15 Ultimate B2B Video Testimonial Questions"(top of page) | How B2B Testimonial Videos Can Help Your Marketing and Sales Campaigns Exceed Expectations | Twitter | LinkedInHOSTS: The Video Marketing Value Podcast is hosted by:- Dane Golden of VidiUp.tv and VidTarget.io | LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube- Renee Teeley of VideoExplained and ReneeTeeley.com | LinkedIn | Twitter |Instagram | YouTubeSPONSORS: This episode is brought to you by our affiliate partners, including: TubeBuddy, VidIQ, MorningFame, Rev.com, and other products and services we recommend.PRODUCER: Jason Perrier of Phizzy StudiosREAD THE TRANSCRIPT

On today's episode Hoya speaks with Will Shepler, Matty Henderson and Freddy Cricien. The Madball family reminisce memories around the recording process and touring life that surrounded the iconic Set It Off Album. Listen as they also catch up and let you all know what to look forward to! Listen Like Subscribe Follow or else! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us as we discuss the classic gross out pic, Street Trash, with special guest Jay Shepler!

Video testimonials can be the difference between connecting with your audience or not. In this episode, Adam Torres and Sam Shepler, Founder and CEO at Testimonial Hero, explore the benefits of video testimonials. Follow Adam on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/askadamtorres/ for up to date information on book releases and tour schedule.Apply to be interviewed by Adam on our podcast:https://missionmatters.lpages.co/podcastguest/Visit our website:https://missionmatters.com/

This episodes guest is Will Shepler. Listen while Will and Hoya talk about whats been up. Listen, subscribe or else. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we pick up on two of the issues covered in this month's June update to the Peaceful Pill eHandbook (Nitrite & the Debreather) and discuss the recent CNN article on ME/ CFS sufferer, Cindy Shepler and her VAD at Pegasos in December last year. The R2D Debreather is a device that enables a person to end their own life by breathing air within a closed system. Normal respiration (breathing) consumes the oxygen in the closed system. The ‘by-product' of the respiration, carbon dioxide (CO2), is continuously removed (scrubbed) from the recirculated air. As the oxygen level drops, the person experiences a soporific, and almost intoxicating sensation. This leads to a peaceful loss of consciousness and death. The death is peaceful because the DeBreather removes exhaled carbon dioxide. The DeBreather has been about for many years however it was not until a new model was revealed at NuTech 2017 and its subsequent productionin 2020 that it has really 'come into its own'.

Each year, hundreds of thousands of people create wonderful, lasting memories of Mackinac Island. And each year, Shepler's Ferry's transports those people to this beautiful island. For over 40 years, the Shepler family has worked hard to ensure that people have a pleasant experience. Chris Shepler, President and CEO, shares with us the history of his family's business as well as their plans to keep people safe with Covid-19.

Tim Shepler (aka Big Shep of About the Cards) discusses his favorite player, George Brett.

Tim Shepler, co-host of the weekly "About the Cards" podcast shares his hobby origin story.

Sam Shepler and his team at Testimonial Hero have figured out how to make amazing, high-quality video testimonials from almost anywhere in the world. And Sam believes that your next video testimonial is going to be your best piece of content, even if it's a simple DIY video. Links: Testimonial Hero Sam on LinkedIn --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/dearvideo/message

Welcome to Voices of Mackinac Island...the official podcast of America’s Favorite Freshwater Destination – Mackinac Island, Michigan! On this edition of Voices of Mackinac Island, we visit with the teams who transport your family to and from the island via ferry boat. Between the rich history of the Shepler family and the dedicated efforts of the Star Line team, visitors to Mackinac Island will love this “did you know” episode of the podcast! We want to hear from you! Send your thoughts, comments, and questions about all things Mackinac Island to: mackinacislandpodcast@gmail.com For more information about Mackinac Island and to plan your vacation, visit us online at mackinacisland.org/ Be sure to subscribe for free and listen to all 10 episodes of the debut season of Voices of Mackinac Island.   Voices of Mackinac Island was produced and hosted by Bill Hobson of Hobson Media

Welcome to Episode 398. This week we travel to Maine to discover what terrors lurk at the bottom of an old well. For fiction, we have two tales for you: about a lighthouse keeper’s journey and why you should be careful at whose house you play.Coming UpWelcome to Maine: 00:00:46H. P. Lovecraft’s The White Ship as read by J. K. Shepler: 00:12:51Douglas Ford’s Wasps as read by Summer Brooks: 00:31:15Pertinent LinksLove what you hear? Support us on Patreon!J. K. Shepler See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tim Shepler waxes poetically about the National, Gary Vee, hobby goings ons,etc. Zion Williamson mania in full effect, after a hiatus Bowman Sterling is baaaackkk & in a big way. Get your discount code on Fire Box Card Cases as they are our new sponsor!! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/sportscardnation/message

Today's episode features Speech team expert and blogger Megan Shepler (Orr). This blogger shares with us her experience in collegiate forensics as well as her first few days in college that changed her life forever. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/commonkyser61/support

Niki Shepler is a mindset coach and self love guru. She helps women with their business and their mindset through self love first.   Niki on Instagram: @soaringselflove   Niki's Facebook Group: The Soaring Self Love Club   Dielle on Instagram: @sidebizcoach   Dielle and Niki discuss the benefits of self love. Niki shares her morning routine, how it has helped her personal life and business, and gives some great tips so you can set up a routine you love.   Dielle Charon is a Business Coach, helping service based entrepreneurs and coaches sign clients in their side hustle. In just 3 months, she made more money in her coaching business than her day job and signed 3 clients in 30 days. Her passion is showing entrepreneurs that it is possible to work a day job and start a successful and profitable business. You can follow her on instagram at @sidebizcoach or right here.

Scott Roberts and Will Shelper make up two thirds of "The Take". Neither of these guys are new jacks to the hardcore scene. Scott being a former member of Biohazard and The Spudmonsters, and Will Shepler from Agnostic Front and Madball have both been on stages big and small around the globe. We sat down over a cup of coffee and discussed their experiences in the aforementioned bands and how their new project came about. With their background, record deal, an upcoming European tour and album due out soon, these guys are already making a mark. Being a huge fan of Biohazard and Agnostic Front, it was an honor to sit down and chop it up. I hope you enjoy this one! Respect.

In this episode, we hear the story of a seventy year old family business in Northern Michigan. My guest, Chris Shepler, is part of the third generation of Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry Service and today serves at the helm as President.   Chris shares what it was like growing on the docks, his coming of age adventure leaving the business to pursue his dreams as a professional sailor, and how his family came together to fight for their business when it mattered most. Through it all, Chris has worked to establish his own identity in a small town and carry on his family’s tradition.   Topics discussed in this episode:   About Chris Shepler (2:10) From ferry boat to America’s Cup (3:46) The magic of Mackinac Island (10:15) The book and the legal battle (13:33) “We’re finished” (27:43) The turnaround point (30:39) About the previous generations (33:20) Guest experience trumps all (38:25) Grandfather’s passing, “Flowers on the Water” (40:10) Creating your own identity (44:33) The makeup of good family business owner (51:35) Shark tank pitch family edition (1:03:08) How to get in touch with Chris (1:07:58) Bonus questions (1:09:04)   Notable & Quotable:   Once we decided to put up our dukes and fight for our business, it was the biggest bonding experience for our family. Nothing else mattered. —Chris Shepler #successfulgenerations   Competition is good in sport and in business. Competition keeps everyone honest. —Chris Shepler #successfulgenerations   My grandfather had the idea to run a ferry boat service that offered red carpet service and my dad built it... But my mom is the glue that held our family and our business together. —Chris Shepler #successfulgenerations   How you navigate through following your dreams provides you a foundation for being a good leader. It develops your entrepreneurial spirit and makes you a visionary. —Chris Shepler #successfulgenerations   When I leave this company I want to know it is set up well to carry on for the next 75 years without me. —Chris Shepler #successfulgenerations   We have one rule: Don’t come into a meeting halfway through and bring us back to the start.—Chris Shepler #successfulgenerations   Resources mentioned in this episode:   Mackinac Island Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry Undefeated: The True Story of How the Family-Owned Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry Service Survived and Advanced through Three Generations   Subscribe Now! Don’t risk missing out on any of the fun that is to come.     Learn more about Successful Generations: successfulgenerations.com FB: @SuccessfulGenerations Twitter: @EllieFreyZagel Email: ellie@successfulgenerations.com Instagram: SuccessfulGenerations   Have a topic suggestion? If you are the next generation of family business, philanthropy and wealth, and have a topic you think we should discuss, let us know at Ellie@successfulgenerations.com.  

Coming Up Good Evening: 00:01:18 Mark Morris’s Salad Days as read by J. K. Shepler: 00:03:58 Cameron Trost’s The Legend of Redback Jack as read by Dan Rabarts: 00:47:49 L. P. Lee’s Reflections in a Mechanical Eye as read by Josie Babin: 01:17:13 Pleasant Dreams: 01:38:47 Pertinent Links The District of Wonders Network Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/districtofwonders Diane Serverson: https://divadianes.blogspot.co.uk/ Mark Morris: http://www.markmorrisfiction.com/ J. K. Shepler’s Down the Movie Hole: https://downthemoviehole.blogspot.com/ Cameron Trost: https://trostlibrary.blogspot.com/ Dan Rabarts: http://dan.rabarts.com/ L. P. Lee: http://www.l-p-lee.com/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Coming Up Good Evening: 00:01:16 O. D. Hegre’s The Passport as read by Joe Sammarco: 00:03:37 L. P. Hartley’s Someone in the Lift as read by Jason Stubbs: 00:12:14 J.B. Lewis’s Gargoyles as read by Matthew Staton: 00:27:35 Paul Sheldon’s Cath Palug as read by J. K. Shepler: 00:52:26 Pleasant Dreams: 01:40:19 Songs of the Pumpkin Boy - Remember Those Ghosts: 01:42:16 Pertinent Links The District of Wonders Network Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/districtofwonders O. D. Hegre: http://www.bewilderingstories.com/bios/hegre_bio.html# L. P. Hartley: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L._P._Hartley Jason Stubbs: https://www.facebook.com/jason.stubbs.7583 Matthew Staton: myvoiceinmyhead@gmail.com J. K. Shepler: https://downthemoviehole.blogspot.com/ Songs of the Pumpkin Boy - Remember Those Ghosts: https://pumpkinboy.bandcamp.com/track/remember-those-ghosts See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sylvia Shepler is the incumbent Hamilton Southeastern School Board candidate from Wayne Township....she talked to Larry about her campaign.

Spencer Shepler, Private Cloud Solutions Architect at Microsoft, joins us to discuss advances in software defined storage (SDS). One of the most exciting technologies in Microsoft's Windows Server 2016 is Storage Spaces Direct, which simplifies the deployment and management of SDS systems. Shepler highlights Storage Spaces Direct's support for new classes of disk devices and ability to spread storage across diverse NVMe* and SATA hardware, enabling end users to write hot, warm, and cold data to the most appropriate devices. Windows Server 2016 which will be available in October 2016. To learn more about Storage Spaces Direct in the meantime, please check out Microsoft's Storage Spaces Direct in Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview (http://intel.ly/2cyyLZP) and follow Shepler on Twitter at https://twitter.com/shepleratmsft.

John Gonzalez of MLive interviewed Chris Shepler of Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry about the very popular Perseid Meteor Shower Cruise. The first one is sold out, so Shepler's added a second to meet the demand. The cruise is Thursday, Aug. 11. It runs from 11 p.m.-1 a.m.Chris said, if weather cooperates, the views are stunning like a a Fourth of July Fireworks display.Cost is $26.00 per adult and $14.00 for children ages 5-12. Buy online or call our office at 1-800-828-6157 to reserve your tickets here:http://sheplersferry.com/news/meteor-shower-cruise-tickets-still-available/

Join World Footprints as we explore the Great Lakes State of Michigan and travel from Mackinac City to Detroit. Our audio tour will start with a visit to the Michigan Historical Center and Museum in Lansing where we will offer a flavor of every place in the State between the lower and upper peninsula. Museum director Linda Endersby and Michigan History Foundation director Cindy Hales will help us learn about the stories of the people who helped shape Michigan. Then, one of Michigan's crown jewels is Mackinac Island--Tonya's childhood playground. Since the late 19th century, the island's Grand Hotel has welcomed celebrities, Presidents and other visitors from around the world. The Grand Hotel offers the world's longest porch and has been the setting of several movies, including "Somewhere In Time" with Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeve. Hotel historian and concierge, Bob Tagetz, will take us inside the rich history and traditions of this iconic hotel. Finally, we will share the legacy of a family deeply intertwined in the history of Michigan and Mackinac Island--the Shepler family--the namesake behind Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry. This multi-generational family enterprise has transported legions to and from Mackinac Island between Mackinaw City and St. Ignace. Chris Shepler will share his family's legacy, their passion for customer service, philanthropy and he'll give Tonya a new experience as Captain. Visit and connect with World Footprints for the best travel information to any destination. Let us inspire you.

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman of Behind the Mitten spend the weekend on Mackinac Island as part of the Chippewa Hotel Michigan Craft Beer Weekend.Segment 1: Chris Shepler of Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry.More info Shepler's: https://www.facebook.com/sheplersferry/Segment 2: Business owner Bob Benser talks about new projects, as well as the Island history. He co-owns the Chippewa Hotel, Original Murdick's Fudge as well as other ventures. (Listen at 10:01). More info on Original Murdick's Fudge: http://www.originalmurdicksfudge.com/More info on Chippewa Hotel: http://www.chippewahotel.com/Segment 3: Phil Porter, the director of Mackinac State Historic Parks, talk about the Island's rich history. (Listen at 19:08).More on Mackinac Parks: http://www.mackinacparks.com/Plus: You can hear the promo from the brewers/reps from Blackrocks, Founders, Beards, Dark Horse and Saugatuck Brewing.Segment 4: John and Amy talk to golf pro Chuck Olson of the Wawashkamo Golf Club (Listen at 29:33).More on Wawashkamo: http://www.wawashkamo.com/and Brian Bailey, GM at the Chippewa Hotel, Lilac Suites and the Pink Pony (Listen at 34:10). More on the Chippewa Hotel: http://www.chippewahotel.com/John and Amy also do BEER of THE WEEK from Blackrocks in Marquette. (Listen at 37:47). More on Blackrocks: http://www.blackrocksbrewery.com/#first-picMore on Behind the Mitten:https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten?fref=ts

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman interview Chris Shepler of Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry. They talk about the upcoming 2016 season, as well as its new vessel -- The Miss Margy.The Miss Margy is an all-aluminum 85-foot ferry manufactured for Shepler's Ferry by Moran Iron Works in Onaway.More info Shepler's: https://www.facebook.com/sheplersferry/More on the Miss Margy: http://www.mlive.com/lansing-news/index.ssf/2015/07/gov_rick_snyder_christens_shep.htmlMore on Behind the Mitten: https://www.facebook.com/behindthemitten?fref=ts

Join World Footprints as we explore the Great Lakes State of Michigan and travel from Mackinac City to Detroit.  Our audio tour will start with a visit to the Michigan Historical Center and Museum in Lansing where we will offer a flavor of every place in the State between the lower and upper peninsula.  Museum director Linda Endersby and Michigan History Foundation director Cindy Hales will help us learn about the stories of the people who helped shape Michigan. Then, one of Michigan's crown jewels is Mackinac Island--Tonya's childhood playground.  Since the late 19th century, the island's Grand Hotel has welcomed celebrities, Presidents and other visitors from around the world.  The Grand Hotel offers the world's longest porch and has been the setting of several movies, including "Somewhere In Time" with Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeve.  Hotel historian and concierge, Bob Tagetz, will take us inside the rich history and traditions of this iconic hotel. Finally, we will share the legacy of a family deeply intertwined in the history of Michigan and Mackinac Island--the Shepler family--the namesake behind Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry.  This multi-generational family enterprise has transported legions to and from Mackinac Island between Mackinaw City and St. Ignace.  Chris Shepler will share his family's legacy, their passion for customer service, philanthropy and he'll give Tonya a new experience as Captain. Visit and connect with World Footprints for the best travel information to any destination.  Let us inspire you.

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman are co-hosts of "Behind the Mitten," a show about Michigan beer, food, festivals and the people who make it happen!Listen to "Behind the Mitten" at 6 p.m. Sundays on News Radio WOOD 1300 & 106.9 FM. http://www.iheart.com/live/wood-radio-1069-fm-1300am-1165/On this week's show, John and Amy stop at Osteria Rossa, a casual Italian-inspired cuisine in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids.Segment 1:They talk to Chef Chris Perky, who has a wine dinner June 3 with Castello Di Ama. More details on Osteria Rossa on their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Osteriarossa/info?tab=overviewSegment 2:They talk to Chris Shepler of Shepler's Ferry, which will soon unveil a $3.8 million, 22-foot wide by 85-foot long vessel called the "Miss Margy," named after his grandmother. More on Shepler's Ferry at http://sheplersferry.com/More on the wine dinner at https://www.facebook.com/events/1824877224404990/Segment 3:They talk to country singer Kari Lynch. The rising star is from Clare, Michigan, but spends much of her time between Nashville and the Mitten state. She has set up an Indiegogo campaign to help her record her new CD. Info about the campaign at https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/kari-lynch-is-recording-a-new-album--2#/story More on her tour dates at https://www.facebook.com/KariLynchMusic?fref=tsSegment 4:They talk to Nikki Outhier of the Van Andel Institute's Purple Community, which has a 5k race on May 30 at Fifth Third Ballpark. John and Amy have a Behind the Mitten team. Sign up here: http://purplecommunity5K.kintera.org/behindthemittenFind the latest info and more details about "Behind the Mitten" at https://www.facebook.com/behindthemittenOr go to out website http://behindthemitten.com/

John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman are co-hosts of "Behind the Mitten," a show about Michigan beer, food, festivals and the people who make it happen!Listen to "Behind the Mitten" at 6 p.m. Sundays on News Radio WOOD 1300 & 106.9 FM. http://www.iheart.com/live/wood-radio-1069-fm-1300am-1165/On this week's show, John and Amy played a segment they recorded earlier this month while on Mackinac Island. The interview is with Chris Shepler of Shepler's Ferry, which will soon unveil a $3.8 million, 22-foot wide by 85-foot long vessel called the "Miss Margy," named after his grandmother.Read more info about the new ferry in a story on MLive.com. http://www.mlive.com/business/index.ssf/2014/12/sheplers_ferry_new_boat.htmlMore on Shepler's Ferry at http://sheplersferry.com/Find the latest info and more details about "Behind the Mitten" at https://www.facebook.com/behindthemittenOr go to out website http://behindthemitten.com/

Join World Footprints as we explore the Great Lakes State of Michigan and travel from Mackinac City to Detroit.  Our audio tour will start with a visit to the Michigan Historical Center and Museum in Lansing where we will offer a flavor of every place in the State between the lower and upper peninsula.  Museum director Linda Endersby and Michigan History Foundation director Cindy Hales will help us learn about the stories of the people who helped shape Michigan. Then, one of Michigan's crown jewels is Mackinac Island--Tonya's childhood playground.  Since the late 19th century, the island's Grand Hotel has welcomed celebrities, Presidents and other visitors from around the world.  The Grand Hotel offers the world's longest porch and has been the setting of several movies, including "Somewhere In Time" with Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeve.  Hotel historian and concierge, Bob Tagetz, will take us inside the rich history and traditions of this iconic hotel. Finally, we will share the legacy of a family deeply intertwined in the history of Michigan and Mackinac Island--the Shepler family--the namesake behind Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry.  This multi-generational family enterprise has transported legions to and from Mackinac Island between Mackinaw City and St. Ignace.  Chris Shepler will share his family's legacy, their passion for customer service, philanthropy and he'll give Tonya a new experience as Captain. Visit and connect with World Footprints for the best travel information to any destination.  Let us inspire you.

Craig and Rich make an INCREDIBLE hula dancing show!

Welcome to the first weekly broadcast of Stage 1 Juniors reading stories. Featured this week is Dan reading "The Lazy Pig" and Tanner reading "The Snowman". We hope you will tune into the web site or join the FREE subscription in iTunes. All you need to do is launch iTunes; click the Music Store and type in "Stage 1", when you see Ronald Reagan Elementary - Stage 1 Juniors, click the Subscription button on the right. Once you do that, whenever you launch iTunes, it will automatically download any new podcasts that we air during the week. Have a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season....Macri, Rodwell & Shepler, Stage 1 Teachers.

Each week we plan to post an audio story by one of the kids who have reached fluency in their reading. Stay tuned for the first posting soon! Stage 1 Teachers Macri, Rodwell, & Shepler

My guest on this episode is Sam Shepler. Sam is the founder of Testimonial Hero, a company he bootstrapped that helps companies create more effective video customer testimonials. Sam and I spend much of the episode talking about how to create great testimonials for your company and what the driving reasons are for using video over text or other mediums. In addition to being focused on a really interesting part of a sales process, Testimonial Hero itself is an interesting case study at what a bootstrap services company grows into overtime. Over the course of the episode, we talk about hiring a great team, using software and technology in your business to automate processes, and we spend some time near the end discussing time management and productivity. Enjoy.Listen weekly and follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Breaker, and TuneIn.Links:Sam on TwitterTestimonial HeroGumroadAndrew Wilkinson: Lazy LeadershipTopics:(3:31) - How do you think about investing yourself and your professional development?(6:45) - What are some of the biggest changes you've made in your routine as you've grown in your career?(8:05) - What are some learnings you've had from working with coaches?(10:02) - How did you build Testimonial Hero? What were the early days like?(12:12) - What research have you found in the comparison of effectiveness between pull quotes and video reviews?(14:15) - What kinds of companies are best suited for video testimonials?(17:16) - If a company doesn't have a content strategy or video testimonials, which should they pursue first?(18:16) - Were video testimonials always the main product at Testimonial Hero?(19:11) - What's been your journey as a founder?(21:01) - Was there a tipping point that launched your growth?(22:15) - What did your day as a CEO look like in year 1 vs. now?(24:40) - Was there a moment where you realized you needed to bring on a General Manager?(25:50) - Tracking a CEO's time(27:53) - What college course would you teach if it could be on anything?(28:35) - What strongly held belief have you changed your mind on?(29:24) - What's the best business you've ever seen?(30:53) - Are there parts of Gumroad you've tried to emulate?