Podcasts about siminoff

Fan Favorite: This episode originally aired on: March 2, 2022. What up, homies! It's your girl Lisa Bilyeu, and welcome back to the Women of Impact podcast, where we dive deep and come out stronger. Today, I'm beyond thrilled to bring you the incredible Vanessa Van Edwards, the charming citizen scientist on understanding people and reading cues like a pro. Guys, if you've ever found yourself blindsided on a date, at an interview, or any high-stakes situation feeling like, “What did I miss?” you've got to stick around because Vanessa is here to break it all down for us. Trust me, you won't want to miss a single word of this. We're diving headfirst into how decoding those tiny, invisible signals can make an epic difference in your life. This isn't just body language 101, folks—Vanessa is flipping it up and showing us how to become the cue masters of warmth and competence, to really connect with people and avoid those major ‘WTF just happened' moments. Ladies, you know I'm all about those tactical tips that we can start using right NOW. Whether you're trying to ace that job interview, land a second date, or just be more of a badass in your everyday interactions, Vanessa's got your back with super practical insight that'll leave you thinking, “Where was this information when I needed it?” SHOWNOTES 00:00 "Intelligence Blindness" 05:30 Activating Neural Maps with Props 07:34 Enhancing Imagery for Better Perception 10:50 Reading People While Listening 14:01 Criticism of Nodding in Videos 16:25 Engagement Cues in Communication 21:43 It's Okay to Not Be Okay 22:11 Understanding Lower Lid Flex 25:51 Questioning vs. Authoritative Voice Tone 29:52 "Siminoff's Shark Tank Entrance Mistake" 33:05 Unveiling Hidden Social Rules 35:11 Digital Intimacy and Awkwardness 40:04 Pitch Strategy: Entering the Shark Zone 43:07 Decoding Cues with Context & Clusters 45:29 Interpreting Nonverbal Cue Clusters 47:37 Contempt Predicts Divorce in Couples 50:55 "Creating Safe Spaces for Emotions" FOLLOW VANESSA VAN EDWARDS: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vvanedwards/ Website: https://www.scienceofpeople.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsTSS1Tf72qZJuFKaN0WA9g CHECK OUT OUR SPONSORS Vital Proteins: Get 20% off by going to https://www.vitalproteins.com and entering promo code WOI at check out.  BIOptimizers: Head to https://bioptimizers.com/impact and use code IMPACT for 10% off.  OneSkin: Get 15% off with code LISA at https://oneskin.co  Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at https://shopify.com/lisa ********************************************************************** LISTEN TO WOMEN OF IMPACT AD FREE + BONUS EPISODES on APPLE PODCASTS:  apple.co/womenofimpact ********************************************************************** FOLLOW LISA: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisabilyeu/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/lisabilyeu YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/womenofimpact Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lisa_bilyeu?lang=en Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode of Passion Struck, I dive into the incredible journey of Jamie Siminoff and how Jamie Siminoff built Ring after facing a public rejection on Shark Tank. What started as a million-dollar idea dismissed by investors turned into a billion-dollar acquisition by Amazon, redefining the home security industry. Siminoff's story is a testament to resilience, innovation, and the unwavering belief in his vision.Throughout this solo episode, we'll explore how Jamie's relentless pursuit of his idea, despite the odds, not only led to Ring's success but also offers six key lessons for overcoming rejection and turning setbacks into stepping stones for success. If you've ever faced doubt or adversity in your own journey, this is an episode you won't want to miss!Link to the full show notes:   https://passionstruck.com/how-jamie-siminoff-built-ring/In this episode, you will learn:Turning rejection into opportunityLessons on resilience and innovation from Jamie SiminoffThe journey from DoorBot to Ring's billion-dollar acquisitionThe power of believing in your vision despite setbacksSponsors:Babbel: Master a new language with Babbel's comprehensive learning system. Get 60% off at babbel.com/PASSION.Hims: Start your journey to regrowing hair with Hims. Get your free online visit at hims.com/PASSIONSTRUCK.Quince: Discover luxury at affordable prices with Quince. Enjoy free shipping and 365-day returns at quince.com/PASSION.For more information on advertisers and promo codes, visit Passion Struck Deals.Join the Passion Struck Community! Sign up for the Live Intentionally newsletter, where I share exclusive content, actionable advice, and insights to help you ignite your purpose and live your most intentional life. Get access to practical exercises, inspiring stories, and tools designed to help you grow.  Learn more and sign up here.Speaking Engagements & Workshops Are you looking to inspire your team, organization, or audience to take intentional action in their lives and careers? I'm available for keynote speaking, workshops, and leadership training on topics such as intentional living, resilience, leadership, and personal growth. Let's work together to create transformational change. Learn more at johnrmiles.com/speaking.Episode Starter Packs With over 500 episodes, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. We've curated Episode Starter Packs based on key themes like leadership, mental health, and personal growth, making it easier for you to dive into the topics you care about. Check them out at passionstruck.com/starterpacks.Catch More of Passion Struck:Check My solo episode on Find Your Matter Meter: Create Belief in Why You MatterCatch My Episode with Jamie Kern Lima on the Power of Believing You Are WorthyWatch my interview with Dan Cnossen on Unstoppable Success Through AdversityCan't miss my episode with Hari Budha Magar on Defy Your Limits to Conquer Your EverestListen to my interview with Daniel Fielding on Harnessing the Power of the ‘Asset Mindset'If you liked the show, please leave us a review—it only takes a moment and helps us reach more people! Don't forget to include your Twitter or Instagram handle so we can thank you personally.How to Connect with John:Connect with John on Twitter at @John_RMiles and on Instagram at @John_R_Miles. Subscribe to our main YouTube Channel here and to our YouTube Clips Channel here. For more insights and resources, visit John's website.Want to explore where you stand on the path to becoming Passion Struck? Take our 20-question quiz on Passionstruck.com and find out today!

My guest this week is Roger Siminoff. Not only is Roger an authority on instrument making, the physics of music and tap tuning, he's also an expert on the life and work of Lloyd Loar.Loar worked at Gibson in the early 1920s and oversaw the production of some truly remarkable, game changing instruments - most notably the F5 mandolin, which went on to become an integral part of bluegrass music and shape how we see mandolins for the next 100 years.We talked about Lloyd Loar's background, why his approach to making mandolins was both revolutionary, yet also harked back 200 years to the golden age of violin making and how Roger ended up researching Loar for a magazine piece (a piece that went on to develop into an interest in Loar's work, a deep friendship with his widow, the discovery of some long lost instruments and, ultimately, a life's work for Roger himself).It was a fascinating conversation - I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.To find out more about Roger and his books, visit siminoffbooks.comIn particular check out The Life and Work of Lloyd Allayre Loar and The Art of Tap TuningRoger mentions Dan Beimborn's wonderful Mandolin Archive site, detailing all the known Loar-signed instruments out there.For more on mandolins, including info and a truly excellent forum, I can highly recommend Mandolin CafeHappy picking!MattSend a message to Bluegrass Jam Along! Support the Show.===- Sign up to get updates on new episodes - Free fiddle tune chord sheets- Here's a list of all the Bluegrass Jam Along interviews- Follow Bluegrass Jam Along for regular updates: Instagram Facebook - Review us on Apple Podcasts

Summary:Dr. Dawn Nicholson is a lecturer in Business and Organizational Psychology at the University of Kent in the UK. Jeffrey Siminoff leads a workplace dignity program at Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights and has prior experience working as an employment lawyer at companies like Apple and Twitter. In this episode, Dr. Nicholson and Jeffrey talk about Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) and why, despite its dramatic evolution over the last few decades, some companies are still struggling to see its inherent benefits. Chapters:[0:00 - 4:53] IntroductionWelcome, Dr. Nicholson and Jeffrey!Today's Topic: EDI's evolution and persisting hurdles over the decades[4:54 - 14:47] What is EDI?Is there a real difference in how businesses view EDI vs DEI?Some cynics are leveraging poor reasoning to act against EDI in the workplace[14:48 - 29:41] What did EDI mean years ago, when we first started talking about it?EDI had a narrow scope in its early days, which as widened with timeThere still seems to be a “need” to explain EDI in some companies[29:42 - 40:32] When did we start seeing actual change with regards to EDI in organizations?The rise of support groups and the hesitation that often surrounded themLeaders need to be prepared to talk about anti-EDI claims that enter the conversation[40:33 - 41:18] ClosingThanks for listening!Quotes:“What we are seeing is that people who have been cynical or not in favor of DEI leverage the poorest reasoning to [act against it].”“An analogy [for DEI] that I've heard is: diversity is being invited to the party; inclusion is being asked to dance; and belonging is knowing all the songs.”Resources: RFK Human Rights Resources Medium Magazine's interview with JeffreyContact:Dr. Dawn's LinkedInJeffrey's LinkedInDavid's LinkedInDwight's LinkedInPodcast Manger: Karissa HarrisEmail us!Production by Affogato Media

We start this week's show with a conversation about Latch, the company that is acquiring Jamie Siminoff's stealth startup. Siminoff, who also founded Ring, left Amazon (which had acquired Ring in 2018) this week ahead of the planned deal. He will become the CEO of Latch after the deal closes. Then we discuss Google I/O … Continue reading Episode 423: Why Wemo is a no go for us The post Episode 423: Why Wemo is a no go for us appeared first on IoT Podcast - Internet of Things.

Episode Notes This week I welcome back to the show Roger Siminoff. Roger is a great guy and I've been waiting to get him back on the show to talk about the time he was a consultant at Gibson. Some good stuff in this one! Be sure to check out Roger's books and Straight Up Strings! As always big thank you to my sponsors for this episode! Mandolin Cafe Peghead Nation Northfield Mandolins Pava Mandolins  Ellis Mandolins Ear Trumpet Labs Straight Up Strings

Tech is currently reckoning with its role in the real world, and what happens when our digital and physical lives collide. Jamie Siminoff, the founder and CEO of Ring, has been thinking about that for a decade. Ring has spent the last few years trying to figure out how to balance privacy and safety, what it takes to make people feel comfortable putting tech in their homes (or with the tech their neighbors may have installed), and what it means to be a good citizen. After some high-profile issues and a lot of scrutiny about its policies, Siminoff and Ring have spent the last couple of years rethinking all of their ideas.Ring recently announced a number of new products, including the Alarm Pro security system that includes internet backup and a smart-home hub, and the Always Home Cam, a drone designed to fly around your house and keep an eye on things. Those products represent some of Ring's most ambitious work yet, as it tries to both define and refine what home security means.Siminoff joined the Source Code podcast to discuss Ring's new products, how his thinking on security and privacy have evolved, why a drone might actually be less intrusive than your average security camera, and what it took for Ring to force all its users to turn on two-factor authentication. Oh, and why it's so hard for a computer to tell the difference between a dog and an intruder.For more on the topics discussed in this episode:Jamie Siminoff on TwitterRing Always Home Cam, an Indoor Flying CameraRing Alarm ProWe Tested Ring's Security. It's Awful — ViceAt Ring's R&D Team, Security Gaps and Rookie Engineers — The InformationRing's Services Have Not Been Compromised – Here's What You Need to Know — RingHow Public Safety Agencies Use Neighbors — RingA Dad Is Suing Amazon's Ring Because He Says A Hacker Terrified His Kids — BuzzFeedFor all the links and stories, head to Source Code's homepage.

Episode Notes This week's guest is the extremely knowledgeable Roger Siminoff! Roger has a few different things going on at a few different websites. If you want to read more about Roger and Lloyd Loar head over to Siminoff.net. If you want to order any of the books or plans we discussed during the episode head over to Siminoffbooks.com and if you want to check out the strings we discuss head over to Straightupstrings.com. A big thank you to my sponsors for this episode! Mandolin Cafe Peghead Nation Northfield Mandolins Ear Trumpet Labs Pava Mandolins Apollo Picks

My guest on today's show is Jamie Siminoff, the founder of Ring. Jamie is the start up world's tinkerer-in-chief — a true inventor who first stumbled upon the idea for a smart, video-enabled doorbell because he wanted to communicate with delivery drivers while he was down in his garage. The journey from that moment — to a famous $1 billion acquisition by Amazon — is fascinating: full of ups and downs, near death experiences, luck and graft and even an appearance on Shark Tank.  In this episode, Jamie tells us about the moment a random glitch very nearly destroyed everything he'd worked for, why celebrating is not always that helpful, and why you shouldn't listen to any of his advice (or anyone else's). 

Jefferson Graham sits down with Ring CEO Jamie Siminoff to hear all about the new product lineup from the company best known for its video doorbell.

Guest Speaker: Dean Siminoff - Dean Siminoff - Sun May 19, 2019 by Junction Church

On today's show, the guys talk with David Siminoff, the founder of Shmoop.com. There's an EAST update, information on the Conrad Challenge and more! Music: Purple-Planet.com

Ring Founder Jamie Siminoff Becomes A Shark On #MoneyMonday, TIVOMIKE and Entertainment Guru discuss Ring's Founder and CEO Jamie Siminoff becoming an investor. Five years ago on ABC's Shark Tank Mr. Siminoff pitched his new invention and walked away without a deal. And within 5 years, his new invention and company gets purchased by Amazon and he is now a multi-millionaire. On the 10th season premiere of Shark Tank he returns as a Shark investor himself.  Plus, The TIVOMIKE Show launches a new segment for #MoneyMonday, TIVOMIKE's 2 Cents. In this segment, TIVOMIKE offers two points for listeners to help them master their personal financial situation. On today's #2Cents, TIVOMIKE informs residents of Florida impacted by Hurricane Michael of their tax relief rights. And TIVOMIKE shares the three things to do to stop living paycheck to paycheck, forever. Listen in and be empowered to experience financial freedom. Glory!

Early investor Facebook, Yahoo!, AOL, Amazon, and eBay David Siminoff Stops by to discuss Nas investing in his cousins company, building a $1 Trillion dollar firm, bitcoin & investing in technology. The Investor Show is an financial literacy and commentary show that features a number of investors, financial experts, professional athletes, business owners and more. The views of each video are not advice. Email: askprince@royalfinancials.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theinvestors... Books: www.wesleylearnstoinvest.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theinvestor... Workshop: http://www.theinvestorshowtv.com/videos/ Podcast: http://www.theinvestorshowtv.com/podc... Twitter: https://twitter.com/royalfinancials Website: www.theinvestorshowtv.com

From being one of the founders of yahoo , selling her company for $500 million to Adobe and starting the education platform with Shmoop. #theinvestorshow #princedykes Executive Producer: Chadrick Davis Host: Prince Dykes, MBA Music Producer: Byron J

Can a video doorbell really curb crime? James Siminoff believes so. The founder of Ring, the video doorbell, Siminoff says it helps scare away at least 100 would-be robbers daily, and he's got the stats to prove to it, as he tells Jefferson Graham on #TalkingTech.

IN THIS EPISODE: of Rise & Grind, episode 46 we chat with James (Jamie) Siminoff, the CEO and Founder of Ring, a video Doorbell that lets you answer the door from anywhere using your smartphone. Their mission is extremely noble. To reduce criminality. It was previously known as Doorbot and it might ring a bell (no pun intended) as Jamie appeared on Shark Tank Season 3. If you are a frequent listener of our show you might recall our episode number 6 where we talked with Tanner Dame, I used a very provocative title "Is this company Sharks’ biggest missed opportunity?" as the sharks missed a great investment opportunity. Well, with Jamie and Ring the sharks made a huge mistake, again. But let's start by the beginning. Jamie, a serial entrepreneur, started Ring because of necessity, as other great entrepreneurial stories. One day he was in the garage and couldn't hear the doorbell. That was his a-ha moment. In college he studied entrepreneurship and he is a self-taught engineer, he mentions he's always been a tinker, always busy in the garage creating new products. I tried to get his secret sauce to create physical products but Siminoff replied "I don't know how to explain how to create something. I just do stuff. It kind of happened." Siminoff's journey with Ring has been quite remarkable. He started by creating his own pre-orders' website as Kickstarter at the time didn't accept products with cameras. Then he got to know about Shark Tank via a personal friend who knew a Shark Tank producer. He appeared in Season 3 and only O'Leary was interested in Ring (at that time called Doorbot) but as sometimes Mr. Wonderful does he made a truly bad offer that Siminoff couldn't accept even though he was pretty desperate for money. That didn't hit his self-confidence and he gives a lot of credit to Shark Tank for his success. Even today people tell him that they saw the product on Shark Tank. The Shark Tank effect is certainly difficult to quantify but he mentions that it is "between 5 and 10 million". Sales were growing and then something truly amazing happened. He received an email from Richard Branson asking if he could invest. Siminoff accept and Branson became an investor. Big time. $28 million dollars and Branson has become one of the biggest supporters of Ring. Jamie couldn't share revenue numbers but looking at the following data you can certainly say that the Sharks let an amazing investing opportunity fly way: Raised $100 million to date 550 people on his team. Ring is present in 15000 stores in the US and growing globally. "I think big mistakes are the ones that kill you, all the other mistakes are lessons." - James Siminoff Listen now to this amazing interview with James Siminoff from Ring.com WHAT WILL YOU LEARN: How people understimate what they can learn on their own. Why you shouldn't rush when creating a product, good things take time. Why choosing a right name for a consumer product is fundamental. How much a premium domain like Ring.com can cost FIREBOLT ROUND Favorite Business Book: Biography of Walt Disney Favorite online tool: Gmail Somebody you admire and follow: Jeff Bezos Knowing what you know now and If you wanted or had to start a new business today, what would you do?:"I am so immersed in Ring that I can't even think what's going on in the world right now" Motivational quote?: “In the short term the markets are a voting machine, in the long term they are a weighing machine." - Warren Buffett What advice would you give to your 20-year-old self?: “Be calm, understand what you like and do that. Don't rush everything." Thanks so much for listening!

Jamie Siminoff took a big risk and upgraded the DoorBot brand to Ring (and Ring.com) in 2014 and sales really took off. In this interview, Siminoff provides advice to other startup founders on the power of a great brand, tactics for negotiation, and how much to pay for a premium domain name.

Heaven is Where Love and Justice Meet - Dean Siminoff - Sun Aug 2, 2015 by Junction Church

Roger Siminoff has always been a tinkerer. At 21, he designed and built a prototype offset press for his family's printing business. When the music bug hit, Siminoff began building instruments, including banjos, pedal steels and, eventually, mandolins. Today, he is considered one of the foremost authorities on mandolin and banjo construction as well as the physics of musical instruments. He teaches classes and clinics, supplies many makers with banjo and mandolin parts and sells mandolin and mandola kits. He also has a deep history in publishing, both with his own book projects (both music and boat-related) and for his work with Pickin' and Frets magazine. On today's podcast, Siminoff talks about all of that as well as his latest project, Straight Up Strings. Straight Up Strings are strings Siminoff designed specifically for mandolins and banjos with traditional bridges. Roger tells us what makes these strings unique and the many years of R&D that went into their creation. In addition to chatting with Siminoff, we also hear about the just-announced Fretboard Summit from Fretboard Journal publisher Jason Verlinde. The event takes places November 6-8, 2015 and will be a unique weekend for guitar fanatics, filled with some of the magazine's favorite artists, luthiers and speakers. http://siminoff.net https://www.fretboardjournal.com/summit

Audio File:  Download MP3Transcript: An Interview with Ellen Siminoff President and CEO, Shmoop University Date: June 1, 2009 Ellen Siminoff: Shmoop University Lucy Sanders: Hi, this is Lucy Sanders. I'm the CEO of the National Center for Women & Information Technology, or NCWIT, and this is one of a continuing series of interviews that we're doing with really just outstanding women who have started IT companies. With me is Larry Nelson from W3W3.com. Hi, Larry and welcome. Larry Nelson: I am so happy to be here. This is going to be a very interesting interview. As we get into it Ellen is going to see that there's some similarities between us. Lucy: Well, that's a pretty scary thought. Larry: Yeah, it is; isn't it? Lucy: Ellen, run. Today we are interviewing Ellen Siminoff, and she is the President and CEO of Shmoop University. Now, this site is something that our listeners really must go and see. They have a great mission. Shmoop is an education Website, and their goal is to make everyone lovers of literature, history and poetry. I went there last night and started looking around, and I really like the idea of their Book Club where they review books and even have questions for teachers to use with books, and I thought it was really fascinating that people creating their content, master's degree students and Ph.D. students, really looking for great original and creative content to help students and teachers. I found a little humor on the site as well, so it really cracked me up. Shmoop guarantees better grades. There was an asterisk next to it, and it said: "not an actual guarantee." Anyway, welcome, Ellen, we're really happy to have you for this interview. Ellen Siminoff: Thanks for the great review of this site. That was great. Lucy: Well, we're really happy to have you and before we get into the entrepreneur questions, I really wanted to know how you came up with the name, "Shmoop," and what's going on with the company. Ellen: Well, I started the company with my husband. Shmoop is a Yiddish term for trying to move something forward a little bit. So, my husband's grandmother always used to say to him, "Shmoop this, shmoop that" so we're trying to move education and learning forward a little bit. Larry: Shmoop, I love it. Lucy: I love it. Down in Louisiana we used to say we were carrying somebody from here to there, even though you're actually driving them. Now, we can say we shmoop around. Larry: I'm for shmooping. Lucy: I'm for shmooping. Well so, Ellen, how did you first get into technology? You are using technology in the delivery of your company, obviously, and so our listeners would really like to know what you're looking at as particularly interesting technologies today. Ellen: I got into technology because I was really interested in media, and media became very important to technology. I started a different company with my husband many, many years ago. It was about 18 years ago, and we were distributing television programming in eastern Europe and that made me love the media industry. Then I went to the Los Angeles Times, and I started running their online Classifieds. This was really early. It was like 1994 when the Internet, and if you remember Prodigy and CompuServe and AOL were all fighting it out. I started realizing that technology could be used to deliver media in a really interesting way. Larry: Wow, that's terrific. Remember, I warned you up front that there's something that we have in common. First of all, on your Website there's so many things I like about your Website, but I am also, like you, a lover of chocolate. Ellen: All right. Larry: I'm a cheese head. I used to live in Wisconsin. Ellen: All right. Larry: And I still struggle with golf, so I think that's enough similarities, right? Ellen: Those are great similarities, but have you been shot? Larry: No, but I almost shot my dad when we were hunting once. Lucy: Have you been shot? I'm sure there's more to that story. Larry: It's on the Website. Lucy: Oh, I better go look at that part of it. Well so, Ellen, I was sitting here thinking about technology today. Do you see any particular technologies on the horizon that you think are pretty interesting? Ellen: I'm a big lover of the Kindle. I think the approach Amazon and, obviously, some others in that space have taken about taking a text book and providing a much easier way for students to get their information. I think it's fabulous. I think, first of all, we don't need to have orthopedic problems from carrying around back packs loaded with books, and second, text books are really expensive. They has to be a less expensive way to deliver the same amount of material, so I'm really excited about that one. Larry: Yeah, I am, too. Now that they've got the new, big one, I like that even more. Ellen: As I get older, the bigger print would be fine. Lucy: I see them on planes more and more now. Ellen: Yes, I actually always bring mine every time I travel because, why lug a book around? Larry: Right, you bet. Well, I get the part about technology and all, but why are you an entrepreneur, and what is it about you that makes the entrepreneur part of you tick? Ellen: Well, I think entrepreneurs are people who would be just dreadful employees... because it's chosen for us. For me, I have always sort of gone with smaller companies that I like the people and the idea. When I started Yahoo, we were just a handful of folks, and we thought we were changing the world. Hopefully, we did to some extent. I started up Fischer Frontier which subsequently became the largest search engine marketing firm when it was just a couple of guys with a really neat math algorithm. Shmoop, my husband and I came up with in our back yard. So, for me it's about the idea and the people and the excitement of creating it. The other benefit of being an entrepreneur is you have very little bureaucracy. When a decision needs to be made, you sort of look around at your four or five key people and you resolve it quickly, and that's exciting for me. Lucy: So, along your path you're a serial entrepreneur and you've had a lot of success along your path, who has influenced or supported you? Who are your role models? Ellen: Well, if it hasn't become clear, my husband has been really supportive which I think is great. We've worked together a number of times, and he's pushed me more than I probably would have pushed myself. I have phenomenal parents who basically told me dream big and we're your number one fans, whatever you want to do. So, they've been great, and I've had some terrific teachers along the way. Back to the Wisconsin thing, I had a great eighth grade teacher at Mapledale Elementary School who told me, "You might be pretty smart. Think about what you might want to do in life". I was in eighth grade, and I still remember that conversation. Lucy: Isn't it amazing that you do? That kind of influence on young people by teachers, it really sticks. Ellen: It's amazing. We actually have a page on Shmoop, a teachers' page, that we literally went to the Ph.D.s and Masters I alluded to before and all of us here at the office have said, "So which teacher influenced you the most?" We wound up with this great list of our favorite teachers and how they impacted our lives. And I think that every person who's reasonably successful can identify one of the teachers who made a big difference to them. Larry: Oh, that's fantastic. You know, you mentioned you and your husband. My wife and I, we've started 12 different companies over the years, and it's an extra little plus that as an entrepreneur you can do that. Ellen: That's great. That's inspirational. We have a few more to go. Larry: Well, OK. I'm just a kid, but... Ellen, what is the toughest thing that you have ever had to do in your career? Ellen: Oh, I think the toughest thing anyone has to do is ask someone to leave a company when that person is doing a good job, but they're somehow... morals or conduct or behavior goes against what you want your company to do. I think any CEO or hiring person will tell you, that's the hardest call you ever have to make. Lucy: And, in fact, I think we've done about 50 of these interviews, and that comes up over and over and over again, I think, along with having to leave a company you don't want to leave. Ellen: Yeah, transitions are very hard. I think transitions in life are very hard, and transitions in companies are very hard. The reality is, there's a certain number of years when you're productive to a company, and even if you're doing a good job, you reach a certain comfort level, and sometimes it makes sense to bring in some fresh blood. Lucy: I think that's right, if for no other reason that your network's been tapped out, or something else, that other people can bring in new thinking. So, this gets us into our next question. I think this notion that transitions are hard is really insightful. What other things would you tell a young person or anybody about entrepreneurship, and what kinds of advice would give them? Ellen: I think there's two things I would tell someone. The first is a practical thing, which is, do something you love, and do it with people you love or like, and all good things will come from that. I can't tell you the number of people who turn down great opportunities because their friends told them it was a bad idea, or it didn't fit in the sort of boxes that they had been taught in business school about how to evaluate an idea, or someone told them the business is going to be bad. So, you've got to, a lot of times, go with your instincts, and go with the businesses that make sense to you, and that you doing it, and with people you like, and then I would bet the percentages are in your favor. The second idea I would have for someone is a little less practical, but more of a gut instinct thing, and that is, don't worry so much. I think if you work hard, and you get a little bit lucky, and your timing is good, you will find good opportunities. If I had known how much fun I would have had doing different things, I wouldn't have worried so much along the way. Larry: Wow. Lucy: Is there a Yiddish word for, "Don't worry so much?" Ellen: No, I don't know that one, but I'll have to call my dad. Lucy: I think it could lead to a new company name. Ellen: I always think of, hakuna matata, right? Lucy: Yes, that's right. Exactly. But, I think you're right. Ellen: It's not Yiddish, but it should be. Larry: You got it. Lucy: It probably should be. Larry: Well, I've got to ask another question here that pertains to everything we've talked about so far, but we're now looking at you. What are some personal characteristics that make you a successful entrepreneur? Ellen: I think it's relentlessness, right? I think anybody's who's willing to face in the Internet world zero wages, zero revenue, you know, and a blank sheet of paper, I think yes, you have to have a certain passion, and relentlessness, and drive, and be internally focused, that you don't need someone every day telling you, "This is a great idea. You're going to do great." You've got to just have it from within and be laser-focused on executing. Lucy: I'm just writing this down. I mean, I think the laser focus is exactly right, and the relentlessness, you know, we've heard before, as well. Some people have said even, "stubborn," or... Ellen: I don't know that I would necessarily always write stubborn, because there's a fine line between being crazy and being brilliant. Lucy: That's true. Ellen: Most of the people will tell you that their original idea was not always their final idea, so you need to have a balance of having great conviction in what your doing, but being flexible with what the environment is telling you. Lucy: So, you had a very successful career starting companies, and obviously when you start a company, I'm sure you put everything into it, and give it your all, and people often want to know, well, how then do you balance that with a personal life, if, in fact, balance really exists? Ellen: Oh, I believe in balance. I think you set limits. I think that working smart is a lot better than working every hour of every day. I think being efficient matters. I've seen people take so much time to do something, where that could be done a lot quicker, and I sometimes think when you have more things to do, you're more focused about the things you have to get done. In terms of balance, you just have to. Nobody goes to their grave saying, "I wish I would have worked harder." Lucy: Absolutely. Ellen: I have a great family. I run half-marathons. I have deadly, struggling golf game, and I think the Spectaculars are the most fun, coolest organization on earth. So, you've got to get out there and do other thing, and I think you have a better approach to work when you do. Larry: That's some excellent advice. Gaining balance, or whatever that is, is one of the most difficult thing for new entrepreneurs, but they've got to somehow, as time goes along, really build that balance into their life. Ellen: Oh, you're so right. And you've gone on with your life, so it's especially... I do know couples where one of them doesn't like to come home and talk about work or the other doesn't. We just incorporate it in our lives. Lucy: There's an integration process there, I think. Ellen: Yeah. But at the same point, there are points, you know, my husband... you know, sometimes people are amazed that they'll say something to Dave, and he'll say, "Well, I don't know about this, that's in Ellen's area." And they think that all we do 100 percent of the time is only talk our business stuff, and there are sometimes many days we don't even discuss anything "businessy." Lucy: Well, that's so healthy, and also, you find things that way. Sometimes you find things when you just open up like that, that relate to the business that you never would have seen if you were just working all the time. So, that's very powerful. So, Ellen, you've achieved a lot, and we like to find out from the people we interview what's next for you. You obviously have a new company and so you'll probably be putting a lot of time into that, but anything else you'd like to share, either what's next for you, or what's next for Shmoop? Ellen: Well, I think for Shmoop, I think we've done a really good job on lit., and history and poetry. We're going to do more in civics and get some of the math and sciences up there, because I think it's really important to be able to read, write, and do arithmetic. So, we've got to add the third stool. Lucy: Well, we'd really like to talk about computing. Ellen: Oh, wow, that would be great! Lucy: Well, thank you so much. I just love your site. Larry: I love your site, and I just want to say this one thing. Lucy referred to this, but she buried it a little bit. Right off of your Website, one headline there that really caught my attention said, "Shmoop wants to make you a better lover." Lucy: Of literature. Larry: Well, then, in parenths. Lucy: Oh. Larry: "Of literature, history, poetry, and writing. I'm just getting in the complete line." Lucy: Oh, OK. Ellen: Well, you know, if you just become a better lover, that'd be OK, too, but we'd like you to like lit., history, and poetry. Larry: Oh, a fellow cheese head for sure. Thank you so much, Ellen, for joining us today. Ellen: My pleasure. Thank you for having me. Larry: And by the way, you listeners out there, make sure you pass this interview on to others that you know would be interested, and they can find the entire thing, and download it at any time at ncwit.org, as well as w3w3.com. Thank you for joining us. Lucy: Thank you. Transcription by CastingWords Series: Entrepreneurial HeroesInterviewee: Ellen SiminoffInterview Summary: Entrepreneurs are "people who would be just dreadful employees", says Ellen Siminoff. For those who go the entrepreneurship route, however, the appeal is in "the idea and the people and the excitement of creating something." Release Date: June 1, 2009Interview Subject: Ellen SiminoffInterviewer(s): Lucy Sanders, Larry NelsonDuration: 15:42

Master Dean Siminoff has been studying martial arts for more than 25 years and is a 6th degree black belt in taekwondo. He is the founder of the Canadian charity Martial Arts for Justice program whose mission is to protect vulnerable people from violence and oppression. Dean’s schools in the west Kootenay region of British Columbia have positively impacted students there for the past 18 years. Martial Arts for Justice is currently partnering in Rwanda delivering its Enhance Resilience Training to genocide widows. Master Dean has a passion for protecting the weak and vulnerable in our society. The unique program of Enhance Resilience Training can be delivered in a variety of settings including our North American high schools. Dean is married to Marleen with 2 adult children and 2 granddaughters.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-trauma-therapist-podcast-with-guy-macpherson-phd-inspiring-interviews-with-thought-leaders-in-the-field-of-trauma/donationsWant to advertise on this podcast? Go to https://redcircle.com/brands and sign up.