Podcasts about Zirtual

In this episode of On Boards, hosts Joe Ayoub and Raza Shaikh welcome Tom Rosedale, a partner at the law firm of Nutter McClennen & Fish.  Tom serves as chair of the firm's Corporate and Transactions Department and is a member its Executive Committee.  Tom has 27+ years of experience as a corporate attorney and regularly advises public and private company boards of directors in tech, life sciences and more. He has also served on the board of directors of multiple companies including Caring Cross,  Vector BioMed, and AMD Global Telemedicine.  The discussion with Tom underscores how evaluation processes can enhance accountability and productivity and address underperforming board members in a constructive manner. Key Takeaways Introduction of a board evaluation process Tom discusses a company with a board of directors with strong members but with members who were distracted, unengaged and unprepared in meetings. A new lead director pushed for change and asked Tom to work with him to develop and implement a peer evaluation process. The evaluation process was very well received, it included rankings of each board member, written feedback and questions on the functionality of committees. It had major impact on the function of the board and, ultimately, board composition.  2. Addressing board member underperformance Boards should apply some form of structured evaluation to regularly address performance issues and avoid abrupt dismissals.  3. Encouraging board diversity to improve strategic oversight A board composition that includes a diversity of perspectives whether by age, background, expertise or otherwise improves strategic oversight and innovation. Adding new members to the board as the company grows, changes, faces new challenges brings in different perspectives and approaches that will allow the board to perform at a high level.  4. Board and shareholders impact on executive compensation  Company executives used to receive compensation in the form of stock options but now many corporations are issuing stock, RSUs and guaranteed bonuses. Compensation amounts have increased exponentially over the last few decades, even though there is an increased focus on it.  When it comes to executive compensation, board members need to remember that their role is to represent shareholders and to make the right decisions on behalf of the company.    Quotes "The evaluation process works well when there's a culture of accountability and no surprises." "Ultimately, board members must prioritize representing shareholders and making decisions in their best interests." “ If shareholders feel that a board is approving compensation or not holding people accountable for poor performance, then shareholders should vote for other board candidates.” “The best functioning boards are the boards that don't stagnate. It's boards that don't have all 65-year-old guys who come from the same industry.” Guest Bio Tom Rosedale chairs Nutter McClennen & Fish's Corporate and Transactions Department and is a member of the firm's Executive Committee. He primarily advises clients on public and private company securities law matters including public offerings, ATM transactions, registered direct offerings and equity lines of credit (ELOCs)), mergers and acquisitions (public and private), venture capital transactions, and general corporate matters. Tom also represents family offices with their many diverse legal needs. He regularly advises public and private company boards of directors and clients on executive employment matters and incentive compensation arrangements. Tom also serves as outside general counsel to clients in various industries. Prior to joining Nutter, Tom founded and served as the managing member of a boutique corporate law firm for 19 years. Before that, he served as Associate General Counsel of CMGI, Inc. and Vice President and General Counsel of AltaVista Company.  Tom founded and co-founded several companies, including Corporate Filing Solutions (sold to Northwest Registered Agents), PackageFox (sold to Lojistic), Newfound Research, and Top Shelf Dog. He has served on the board of directors of multiple companies, including Caring Cross Inc., Vector BioMed, AMD Global Telemedicine (sold to Unidoc), Top Shelf Dog, Red Systems (dba Delegated.com and sold to Zirtual), and Newfound Research.  

In this episode of The Startup Therapy, Ryan Rutan and Will Schroter explore the 'what if' scenarios that often preoccupy founders. Will shares personal milestones, showing how taking bigger risks shaped his journey. They discuss the hidden costs of success, the pitfalls of romanticizing alternative outcomes, and the importance of realistic risk assessment. The key takeaway? Embrace risk to avoid the regret of missed opportunities.Sign up for the Startups Newsletterhttps://www.startups.com/newsletterResources:Startup Therapy Podcast https://www.startups.com/community/startup-therapyWebsitehttps://www.startups.com/beginLinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/startups-co/Join our Network of Top Founders Wil Schroterhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/wilschroter/Ryan Rutanhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-rutan/What to listen for:00:07 – Reflecting on milestones and 'what ifs'00:44 – The risks and rewards of entrepreneurship04:00 – A hilarious temp job experience07:34 – The reality of alternate paths09:02 – The danger of romanticizing 'what ifs'13:48 – The cost of success15:29 – Building a realistic mental model16:18 – Stop guessing and get real answers16:26 – The cost of staying in a job you hate17:30 – Should you stay or leave?18:10 – The true cost of success19:12 – The hindsight trap: romanticizing outcomes21:56 – Learning from failure and modeling risk22:55 – Zirtual acquisition: a case study in risk28:47 – Surviving failure and moving forward31:35 – Avoiding regret and embracing risk

These are the best REAL side hustles to make some money with in 2024. I say real because there's actually demand for these things.1. Online Teaching and Tutoring   - Use my Kajabi code to get your first month free - https://app.kajabi.com/r/rtVwVxw2   - Growing popularity with substantial income potential.   - Platforms include Varsity Tutors, tutor.com (US), Tutorful, MyTutor (UK), Udemy.   - Rates typically range from $20 to $100 per hour.2. Short Form Content Creation   - Use apps like Caption (iPhone only) or Capcut (no editing skills needed)   - Focus on creating digestible content from long-form material.   - High demand from companies and creatives.   - Platforms like Fiverr and freelancer.com can be used for finding clients.   - Possible use of AI to create content; earnings can range from $500 to $1000 a month.3. Discord and Forum Moderation:   - Managing online communities on platforms like Discord.   - Typical rates are around $10 to $20 per hour.   - Responsibilities include rule enforcement and community engagement.4. Social Media Management:   - Managing and creating content for social media accounts.   - Scalable, with potential earnings of $500 to $1000 a month.   - Services range from daily posting to full content creation and strategy implementation.5. Virtual Assistants:   - Providing remote administrative support.   - Tasks can include managing emails, scheduling, and social media management.   - Platforms like Zirtual and Fancy Hands (US), Virtalent, Moneypenny (UK) offer opportunities.   - Pay ranges from $15 to $50 per hour.6. Equipment Rental:   - Renting out personal equipment like cameras or lawnmowers.   - Platforms such as Fat Llama and ShareGrid facilitate rental services.   - Includes insurance coverage for items rented out.   - Earnings depend on item value and demand.7. Car Rental (Turo):   - Renting out personal cars when not in use.   - A practical way for the car to generate income for itself.Connect With MeHeroes! Please leave a review on Apple or Spotify if you love the podcast to help it grow and enable me to get bigger guests on the pod!If you want to join my wealth-building and productivity focused newsletter that takes 5 minutes to read every week, then go to my website. LinkedIN YouTube About the Podcast If working a 9-5 for 60 years so you can retire with a little money and die a few years later is what you want to do, then this is not the podcast for you. This podcast is about unique investment strategies and interviews with hi-earning individuals on how they make money so you can copy us and grow wealth too! There's a big focus on reaching that first $100,000 net worth is one of the biggest financial milestones because you have to get their through labor, not necessarily investing. Then, create a plan and develop habits to become a millionaire before you want to retire and enjoy the life you want instead of the one society wants you to have as a complacent consumer.

On this episode of Asked and Answered by Soul, Jennifer Urezzio and René Lovecraft, entrepreneur and founder of Lovecraft Virtual Assistance, chat about finding and staying in our zone of genius as we build a strong network of support for ourselves, our business and our community. There are things we are naturally drawn to do, and as entrepreneurs and leaders, we must give ourselves grace and focus on getting the help we need for the tasks we hate. Listen in now as Jennifer and René share some ideas and suggestions for ways we can move past overwhelm to find clarity around the tasks we need assistance with, and identify those who can help us with them. It's important to remember that we are losing money if we're doing the things we hate, because there's always someone who's going to love doing those tasks. You can learn more about Rene at https://www.lovecraftva.com/. About Rene René Lovecraft is an entrepreneur and virtual assistant, dedicated to empowering busy business owners and helping them thrive in their zone of genius. With a passion for efficiency and a keen eye for detail, she seamlessly orchestrates the behind-the-scenes operations, allowing entrepreneurs to focus on what they do best. René's journey into the world of entrepreneurship began after the collapse of Zirtual in 2015 when an angel funding round fell through and she, along with over 400 other employees, were laid off. With a deep desire to make a positive impact and bills that needed to be paid, she embarked on a mission to revolutionize the way entrepreneurs manage their businesses. Drawing from a diverse range of industries, she prides herself on bringing a fresh perspective and innovative strategies to the table, providing invaluable support to clients across various sectors. René understands that every business is unique, and therefore takes a personalized approach to each client. By taking the time to understand their specific needs, goals, and aspirations, she tailors services to maximize efficiency and effectiveness. Her exceptional communication skills and innate understanding of client requirements foster strong, collaborative partnerships, built on trust and mutual respect. In addition to being a consummate professional, René Lovecraft is a lifelong learner, constantly seeking to expand her knowledge and skills. She stays up-to-date with the latest industry trends and leverages cutting-edge technologies to provide clients with top-notch solutions. Her commitment to ongoing growth ensures that clients receive the best possible support in an ever-evolving business landscape. The Asked and Answered by Soul podcast is dedicated to helping you understand that your Soul is the answer. If you want to learn more about your soul's answers and purpose, access your free guide at www.themythsofpurpose.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The sponsor for this week's episode is Founders Podcast.   David Senra, the host of Founders Podcast, is a biography-reading machine. If you don't have time to spend 40 hours reading the full-length biography of some gilded-age entrepreneur, listening to David's high-quality recap is the next best thing.   The Founders Podcast is a paid podcast that costs $99/year or $299 for lifetime access. Subscribing gives you access to more than 200 episodes including the back catalog with episodes about Anthony Bourdain, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Elon Musk, and many more.   Visit founderspodcast.com to subscribe or listen to sample episodes. Topics:   (5:58) - Michelle's background w/ Squared Away   (8:09) - How would you break down Squared Away's clientele?   (9:35) - How do you prepare your staff to be ready for anything when a new client comes on board?   (10:48) - What are some of the highest leveraged tasks you've seen delegated?   (12:58) - How do you coach people to actually use their EA?   (15:05) - How EA's balance multiple clients   (15:59) - How does someone know they're ready to work with an EA?   (19:14) - How do you know if a client will be a great delegator?   (20:30) - What are some of the most complex tasks your clients will delegate?   (22:11) - Who are the clients you see with the highest level of engagement with their EA's?   (23:56) - How do you determine which tools work best for each client?   (28:02) - The emphasis on hiring military spouses   (30:41) - Building Squared Away   (40:10) - What was the hardest part of growing this company?   (41:50) - How has your role as CEO changed through this growth?   (44:07) - How do you see yourself fitting into the other EA options in this industry?   (46:28) - Is there a tipping point where a client realizes how valuable this service is?   (50:10) - Going domestic vs. abroad in an EA search   (52:55) - The importance of being a great delegator for your assistant to thrive   (55:02) - Where can people learn more? Links:    Michelle on LinkedIn   Michelle on Medium   info@gosquaredaway.com   Squared Away    Asana   Trello   Zirtual   Harvest   Support our sponsor: founderspodcast.com      Other Episode You'll Like: Shane Mac: Building Messaging Protocol for Web3 (XMTP), Company Culture, and Scaling Trust   To support this costs of producing this podcast:  >> Buy a copy of the Navalmanak: www.navalmanack.com/  >> Sign up for my online course and community about building your Personal Leverage: https://www.ejorgenson.com/leverage  >> Invest in early-stage companies alongside Eric and his partners at Rolling Fun: https://angel.co/v/back/rolling-fun >> Join the free weekly email list at ejorgenson.com/newsletter >> Text the podcast to a friend >> Give the podcast a positive review to help us reach new listeners  >> Name-your-price subscription monthly, annual, or one-time: https://app.omella.com/o/9Bufa  >> Follow me on Twitter: @ericjorgenson >> Get in touch about sponsoring this podcast by replying to an email or DMing me on Twitter. Important quotes from Naval on building wealth and the difference between wealth and money:   How to get rich without getting lucky. - Naval Ravikant   Making money is not a thing you do—it's a skill you learn. - Naval Ravikant   I came up with the principles in my tweetstorm (below) for myself when I was really young, around thirteen or fourteen. I've been carrying them in my head for thirty years, and I've been living them. Over time (sadly or fortunately), the thing I got really good at was looking at businesses and figuring out the point of maximum leverage to actually create wealth and capture some of that created wealth. - Naval Ravikant   Seek wealth, not money or status. - Naval Ravikant   Wealth is having assets that earn while you sleep. - Naval Ravikant   Money is how we transfer time and wealth. - Naval Ravikant   Ignore people playing status games. They gain status by attacking people playing wealth creation games.    You're not going to get rich renting out your time. You must own equity—a piece of a business—to gain your financial freedom.  - Naval Ravikant   The most important skill for getting rich is becoming a perpetual learner. You have to know how to learn anything you want to learn. The old model of making money is going to school for four years, getting your degree, and working as a professional for thirty years. But things change fast now. Now, you have to come up to speed on a new profession within nine months, and it's obsolete four years later. But within those three productive years, you can get very wealthy. - Naval Ravikant     Important quotes from the podcast by Naval on Leverage:   “Give me a lever long enough and a place to stand, and I will move the earth.”  —Archimedes    To get rich, you need leverage. Leverage comes in labor, comes in capital, or it can come through code or media. But most of these, like labor and capital, people have to give to you. For labor, somebody has to follow you. For capital, somebody has to give you money, assets to manage, or machines. - Naval Ravikant   Fortunes require leverage. Business leverage comes from capital, people, and products with no marginal cost of replication (code and media). - Naval Ravikant   Capital and labor are permissioned leverage. Everyone is chasing capital, but someone has to give it to you. Everyone is trying to lead, but someone has to follow you. - Naval Ravikant   Code and media are permissionless leverage. They're the leverage behind the newly rich. You can create software and media that works for you while you sleep. - Naval Ravikant   If you can't code, write books and blogs, record videos and podcasts. - Naval Ravikant   Leverage is a force multiplier for your judgment. - Naval Ravikant   Apply specific knowledge, with leverage, and eventually you will get what you deserve. - Naval Ravikant   “We live in an age of infinite leverage, and the economic rewards for genuine intellectual curiosity have never been higher. Following your genuine intellectual curiosity is a better foundation for a career than following whatever is making money right now.” - Naval Ravikant   Important Quotes from the podcast on Business and Entrepreneurship   There is no skill called “business.” Avoid business magazines and business classes. - Naval Ravikant   You have to work up to the point where you can own equity in a business. You could own equity as a small shareholder where you bought stock. You could also own it as an owner where you started the company. Ownership is really important.     Everybody who really makes money at some point owns a piece of a product, a business, or some IP. That can be through stock options if you work at a tech company. That's a fine way to start.    But usually, the real wealth is created by starting your own companies or even by investing. In an investment firm, they're buying equity. These are the routes to wealth. It doesn't come through the hours. - Naval Ravikant

Listen on Apple, Google, Spotify, and other platforms.  Michelle Penczak is CEO of Squared Away, a full-service virtual executive assistant company that hires military spouses to help run operations for its clients. The team of more than  200 assistants gives companies, teams and venture capital firms their time back so they can focus on the things that matter most.  Michelle grew up in eastern North Carolina, and left home for college then found work as a personal assistant in Washington, D.C. There, she met her husband, a Marine, and returned to North Carolina for his deployment. With her title as a military spouse, she realized no one wanted to hire her, as many companies were looking for someone who would stay in the area long-term. It took her eight months before she found a job at virtual assistant company Zirtual, where she worked for two years and became manager. However, the company suddenly shut down overnight, leaving her and her team without jobs.  Despite the loss, she had clients who wanted to continue working with her, so she began working independently as an executive assistant and slowly building up a clientele. One day, a client who was interested in growing his company asked her if it was possible to scale hers to continue working together and staff up. Thinking of her fellow military spouses who wanted to work but couldn't get hired, Michelle reached out to her friends and started Squared Away. From there, the company grew as clients and assistants would share their positive experiences, building a marketplace to empower military spouses and assist companies with day-to-day operations. Listen to Michelle Penczak share how she built Squared Away with the business model of hiring military spouses to build meaningful experiences, become trusted assistants, and work from anywhere.    Michelle's favorite local tacos: The Taco Stand in La Jolla   Connect with Michelle: Twitter: @michellepencz LinkedIn   Learn more about Squared Away: Website: https://www.gosquaredaway.com/  Facebook: @SquaredAwayVA  Twitter: @gosquaredaway Instagram: @awaysquared LinkedIn Thanks to our partners at Cox Business & Cox Edge for their support in enabling us to grow the San Diego ecosystem.

It's hard to summarize all the success of Wil Schroter. He's founded so many companies. Today he's founder of Startups.com, a business education site and suite of tools and resources for entrepreneurs, some of which were previous startups by Wil (Fundable, Bizplan) and some were acquired (Zirtual, Clarity). Wil got his start early online, initially exploring bulletin boards with a commodore computer. He then launched a web design agency, Blue Diesel, in 1994, again very early to a new industry. His agency grew, later merging with a more traditional design agency, creating a full suite offline/online marketing firm. In a surprise success, the firm landed a massive client worth $250 Million in billings, beating out many larger agencies. Wil eventually exited his agency ownership shares when the company was acquired. As a youg guy of just 27 he had earned enough money to retire, yet he decided to get back into entrepreneurship. I enjoyed this part of the podcast because Will explained why it was a mistake to be the founder of so many companies after exiting his first, yet why he wanted to and what his life was like back then working 16 hour days. After a massive anxiety attack that landed Wil in the hospital, he realized things had to change (he was also about to have his first child, adding to his motivation to stay healthy and alive!). This experience informed his decision to create Startups.com, and how he would still have multiple entities, but they would be integrated to serve the same customer and thus be easier to manage and grow together. Towards the end of the podcast I asked Wil to explain how he is able to market and attract customers to so many different companies over the years, and also to briefly touch on his current personal investing strategy. Enjoy the podcast. Yaro Podcast: https://www.yaro.blog/pod/Blog: https://www.yaro.blog/

Over the course of 10 years, Maren has helped around 10,000 people find talented Virtual Assistants to bring leverage to their business. She says that to thrive within this space, one must recognize the need for structure and order but on the other hand, know that if you are willing to work with a process and system, there is also a lot of freedom. What Virtual Assistants brings to you is really a way to leverage yourself and your time. When you figure out what you are really good at and then recognize what you can delegate, you get to focus on what your strengths are, thus empowering you to grow your business and your expertise. You will have to spend the time to build an excellent foundation for a distributed team space. You need to get really good at communicating what you need and how you want things done. If you need help, or want to explore more on how to leverage using a virtual assistant, schedule a free Double Your Business Strategy Call today. https://bit.ly/3yB8xyZ Here are some links to important info about MOD

Staying focused in a dystopia of distraction. Today we're talking about Deep Work. SOURCES: "Deep Work" (Cal Newport, 2016), "Drive" (Daniel Pink 2011), "People are embracing work-from-anywhere. Where does this leave coworking spaces? (Jeremy Redleaf, 12/24/2020), "Slack is the right tool for the wrong way to work" (Cal Newport, The New Yorker, 12/14/2020), blog.doist.com/deep-work. BOOK RECOMMENDATION: "Deep Work" by Cal Newport. APP MENTIONS: Expensify, Zirtual, Calendly, Zenefits, Slack, Brainwave 35 Binaural Programs, and Rainymood. MUSIC: "A Moment Apart" (ODESZA), "Alone in Kyoto" (Air). Listen to the THE FURIOUS CURIOUS Deep Work Playlist here.

When's the last time you took a look at your hiring system? Maren Kate Donovan is on the podcast this week to discuss hiring—specifically, how to create a system that allows you to discover and automatically sort through applicants to find highly-qualified candidates for your business. Nick and Maren discuss why most companies have outdated hiring systems, why hiring processes are like sales funnels, and the differences between hiring in-person and remote employees. This episode was recorded on April 8, 2020. You can view the full show notes at getleverage.com/podcast/70. Maren is a serial entrepreneur and expert on hiring remote teams. She's the founder of AVRA Talent, a recruiting agency, and Inde.co, a new hiring platform for remote workers. Maren is also the Ex-CEO and Founder of Zirtual, one of the largest virtual assistant companies in the world. Having hired thousands of remote workers and scanned through tens of thousands of applicants, Maren knows what it takes to build a successful hiring system for modern companies.

Today’s guest is a wealth of knowledge from both sides of the remote-work table and my former cofounder at Zirtual.com. During our time at Zirtual he created the infrastructure to hire and train up hundreds of fully remote employees, and currently he’s building and leading remote teams at Colony.io. Listen as Collin Vine discusses how to submit a thoughtful job application, having accountability in remote roles, and the interpersonal skills that are required for successful remote work. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maren Kate, Founder of Inde.co & workforce expert, shares how she found herself and her true calling after failing her first startup Zirtual.comListen to the full episode "Maren Kate On Why Remote Work Is The Future | Evolve 36" in you podcast app. Or you can visit EvolveThe.World to hear the full episode.

Maren Kate, Founder of Inde.co & workforce expert, shares her experience dealing with founder depression after her first startup, Zirtual, had failed.Listen to the full episode "Maren Kate On Why Remote Work Is The Future | Evolve 36" in you podcast app. Or you can visit EvolveThe.World to hear the full episode.

Maren Kate, Founder of Inde.co & workforce expert, shares here experience as a 20 something founder & CEO for Zirtual.comListen to the full episode "Maren Kate On Why Remote Work Is The Future | Evolve 36" in you podcast app. Or you can visit EvolveThe.World to hear the full episode.

Maren Kate is an entrepreneur, writer, distributed workforce expert, and serial founder who has launched four companies, including Zirtual.com which employed over 450 employees spread across North America and was doing $11M/yr in revenue. From starting her first business in college selling jewelry on ebay to her most recent boutique recruiting firm helping to hire over a thousand fully remote professionals, this leader in the remote work revolution earned a 5 million dollar MBA in human capital by spending 15 years in the trenches. With so much experience and expertise it is a natural next step for her to launch Inde.co, an online platform for remote workers.  For more visit Evolvethe.WorldWant to get the Podcast  Roundup every week? Text EVOLVE to (509) 213-0040

Biography Wil Schroter, Founder & CEO of Startups.com Wil founded his first company, Blue Diesel, as a 19-year-old student at the Ohio State University. Three years later, he merged Blue Diesel with inChord Communications where, as CEO and Board Member, he helped grow the company to over $700 million in capitalized billings within 5 years. In 2003, the company was purchased and renamed inVentiv, which now generates over $2.5 billion in annual revenue and employs 15,000 professionals worldwide. The company was most recently valued at $3.8 billion. Following the sale of Blue Diesel, Wil founded Virtucon Ventures, an idea-stage incubator for Web startups. There he helped conceive and launch a number of well known companies including Swapalease.com, Unsubscribe.com (sold to TrustedID), Startups.co, and Fundable.com. Virtucon's portfolio of companies has attracted more than a dozen prominent venture funds, including Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Founders Fund, Bessemer Ventures, and Charles River Ventures. In 2012, Wil founded Startups.co, now .com, the world's largest startup launch platform. It has since been used by over 1 million startup companies globally. Since then, Startups.co has helped startups raise over $500 million in funding commitments, attracts 20 million early customers, has hosted over 500,000 product launches, and attracted over 10 million visitors per year. The company is based in Columbus, Ohio and employs over 150 full-time staff. The Startups.com platform consists of 6 related products that help entrepreneurs through the entire startup journey Startups.com (education) features lessons from founders including Elon Musk (Tesla), Brian Chesky (AirBnB), and Daniel Ek (Spotify). Fundable.com (equity fundraising) has helped startups raise over $500 million in capital commitments. Launchrock.com (early customer acquisition) has assisted startups in adding 20 million early customers. Clarity.fm (export mentorship) provides startups with access to 10,000 mentors, including Mark Cuban. Bizplan.com (business planning) is used for compiling and presenting business plans. Zirtual.com (virtual staff) adds a virtual team member to startup companies. Interview Notes: Wil got into this journey because he loves teaching others how to navigate  the startup journey. The founders journey is also filled with sleepless nights. Wil wanted to create something that offered guide posts along the startup path to guide other founders to success. The perception is different from the reality when you start a business as a founder, there is execution paralysis on how to deliver.  Wil and his team found there are three categories of being a successful startup and those things are: Education Bring Smart People to the Table Provide startups with the tools they need to succeed  Following that formula Startups.com has brought over 1.2M people to the platform. Fast forward to COVID-19 and the new challenges that brings, Wil is no stranger to challenging times.  He was able to navigate the 2000 dot.com bubble, then shortly there after the September 11, 2001 tragedy, then only to see the 2008 financial market bubbles burst. Startups.com was created to help two different segments. The first is the startup journey and the second is the founder's journey.  Finally Wil created a podcast called Startup Therapy, that really digs deep into the founder's journey. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/ceocrossing/message

#1 - 5 moves that Big Tech platforms like Google and Instagram should make amid the COVID-19 crisis https://www.geekwire.com/2020/5-moves-big-tech-platforms-like-google-instagram-make-amid-covid-19-outbreak/ #2 - GitHub Acquires npm, Plans to Improve Infrastructure and Experience https://wptavern.com/github-acquires-npm-plans-to-improve-infrastructure-and-experience #3 - Amazon Accidentally Sent Out Their Email Template https://medium.com/better-marketing/amazon-accidentally-sent-out-their-email-template-33e6ecbc0875   #4 - Episode 486 | The Shocking Collapse of Zirtual and Maren Kate’s Next Act (plus How to Hire Well) https://www.startupsfortherestofus.com/episodes/episode-486-the-shocking-collapse-of-zirtual-and-maren-kates-next-act-plus-how-to-hire-well #5 - The Delicate Balance of Building an Online Community Business https://www.matthewbarby.com/building-online-community-business/   #6 - Why Should You Develop Free Plugins? https://torquemag.io/2020/03/why-should-you-develop-free-plugins/  

#1 - 5 moves that Big Tech platforms like Google and Instagram should make amid the COVID-19 crisis https://www.geekwire.com/2020/5-moves-big-tech-platforms-like-google-instagram-make-amid-covid-19-outbreak/ #2 - GitHub Acquires npm, Plans to Improve Infrastructure and Experience https://wptavern.com/github-acquires-npm-plans-to-improve-infrastructure-and-experience #3 - Amazon Accidentally Sent Out Their Email Template https://medium.com/better-marketing/amazon-accidentally-sent-out-their-email-template-33e6ecbc0875   #4 - Episode 486 | The Shocking Collapse of Zirtual and Maren Kate’s Next Act (plus How to Hire Well) https://www.startupsfortherestofus.com/episodes/episode-486-the-shocking-collapse-of-zirtual-and-maren-kates-next-act-plus-how-to-hire-well #5 - The Delicate Balance of Building an Online Community Business https://www.matthewbarby.com/building-online-community-business/   #6 - Why Should You Develop Free Plugins? https://torquemag.io/2020/03/why-should-you-develop-free-plugins/  

Show Notes In this episode Startups For The Rest Of Us Rob interviews Maren Kate of Avra Talent about her entrepreneurial journey.  She talks about her first company that raised 5.5 million in funding, hit $1mil in MRR, had over 400 employees, but ultimately failed.  She talks about how she recovered both mentally and professionally, […]       

La Academia para Asistentes Virtuales: El lugar dónde aprenderás como transformarte digitalmente trabajando en lo que te gusta y crear así la vida que deseas. Hola soy verónica Gardel y estás en mi canal de podcast: La Academia para Asistentes virtuales, el primer podcast de habla hispana dónde encontrarás todo lo relacionado con la asistencia virtual y dónde aprenderás como puedes transformarte digitalmente para vivir la vida que deseas trabajando en lo que te apasiona. En el episodio de hoy voy a hablarte de una de las mayores preocupaciones que tienen aquellas personas que quieren convertirse en asistentes virtuales es dónde podrán encontrar empleo. Evidentemente el hecho de dejar de ser asalariado y convertirte en freelance supone que eres tú quien se tiene que buscar las castañas y conseguir clientes. Si no lo tienes claro ten invito a que escuches los episodios anteriores en los que te explico qué es un asistente virtual y cuáles son los primeros pasos que debes seguir para ofrecer tus servicios. Así que voy a empezar a hablarte de diferentes opciones y acciones que puedes realizar para conseguir clientes. En primer lugar tenemos las plataformas de empleo freelance Muchas de ellas son gratuitas en su plan básico y luego puedes ir subiendo a diferentes planes premium que te van ofreciendo cada vez más opciones. Algunas son completamente en inglés con lo que si no te manejas bien en ese idioma es mejor que no te líes y te centres en las que están en español. Entre ellos puedes encontrar: • Flexjobs. Está especializada en empleos remotos freelance • Neuvoo • Jobatus • Jooble • Estas tres son plataformas de empleo gratuitas dónde puedes encontrar entre otros empleos como freelance online • People per hour. Los clientes hacen una solicitud y tú puedes postularte, pero también puedes publicar servicios específicos que ofreces con precio cerrado. • Twago • Freelancer • Workana • En estas tres plataformas registras tu perfil y puedes buscar empleos de asistente virtual u otros empleos freelance online a los que postularte o crear avisos para que te mande un email cuando pueda surgir algo interesante. La forma de acceder a un empleo funciona es la siguiente: Te das de alta en la plataforma creas tu perfil como asistente virtual y cuando encuentras una oferta que te interesa te apuntas haciendo una propuesta de precio por hora. Haces una breve presentación sobre ti y cuentas porque te interesa trabajar en ese proyecto y porque crees que eres la persona ideal para hacer ese trabajo. Una vez el cliente se ha decido por ti, ha de aceptar el comienzo del trabajo y abonar el dinero a la plataforma, quien lo retiene hasta que has acabado el trabajo y el cliente da el visto bueno. Tienen planes básicos gratis y desde ahí van subiendo los paquetes premium. Independientemente del plan elegido se quedan con un % de lo que ganes, pero a cambio te aseguras que vas a cobrar. Por su parte los clientes te puntúan, con lo que dan más seguridad a otros empleadores para que te elijan en sus proyectos de trabajo online. • Zirtual. Esta plataforma ofrece a sus clientes packs de asistencia virtual, con lo que puedes ofrecerte como freelancer para ellos. • • Fancy Hands. Similar a la anterior, pero ofrecen paquetes por minutos. Tu web Otra forma de encontrar empleo es a través de tu propia web. Pero seamos realistas que no es colgar la web y que te salga el trabajo por las orejas. Encontrar empleo como asistente virtual requiere de su tiempo y esfuerzo. Pero si quieres llegar a algún sitio (profesionalmente hablando) es imprescindible que tengas tu web dónde te presentes y cuentes quien eres, que haces, que quieres en la vida y cuáles son tus valores como persona. Las empresas tienen sus propios valores y les gusta saber si la persona a la que van a contratar tiene algo que ver con ellos o si tiene unos valores diferentes. Y debes ten una zona de contacto para que tus clientes puedan solicitarte presupuesto o hacerte una consulta. Linkedin Linkedin es una de las redes profesionales más grandes del mundo. En ella puedes relacionarte con otros profesionales de tu sector o contactar con empresas que te puedan interesar. Constantemente surgen ofertas de trabajo y aunque a día de hoy las ofertas de empleo como asistente virtual son mínimas, sí que es cierto que es un buen lugar dónde mostrar tu experiencia profesional para que cualquier empresa pueda entrar y ver a que te has dedicado. Así que mantén tu currículum actualizado, haz amigos online y relaciónate con ellos. Ofrece tus servicios activamente También puedes ofrecer tus servicios de forma activa. ¿Hay alguna página web cuya temática te encanta? ¿Te sientes identificado con todo lo que cuentan? ¿Hay algún proyecto en el que te gustaría colaborar? Pues envíales un email y ofrece tus servicios. ¡Ojo! que no me refiero a enviar emails a diestro y siniestro spameando a nadie, pero date a conocer. Puedes redactar un email dónde te presentas, les cuentas porqué estas interesado en su proyecto o en contactar con ellos y que es lo que puedes ofrecerles e invitando a que puedan reenviarlo a algún contacto suyo si conocen que están ofreciendo empleo como asistente virtual freelance y pueda ser provechoso para ambas partes. Ofertas directas Muchas empresas publican sus propias ofertas de empleo dentro de su web, blog o su newsletter. De esta forma dan preferencia a sus seguidores que les apoyan en su proyecto y se aseguran que las personas que postulan al empleo conocen sus valores profesionales y personales. ¿Y si no tengo muchas experiencia como Asistente Virtual? Si en este momento te estás preguntando, vale Vero estos métodos están muy bien, pero es que yo no tengo demasiada experiencia como asistente virtual, entonces ¿estos métodos que explicas me servirán de algo? Esta es una pregunta que es normal que puedas hacerte pero no tiene porqué paralizarte ante esta nueva emprendeduría. Todos en algún momento hemos tenido una primera vez para algo en nuestra carrera profesional. Cuando yo empecé a trabajar lo hice con un contrato de prácticas y unos años después estaba formando a personal de la empresa. Lo más importante es que tengas la formación y conocimientos suficientes para realizar el trabajo en que te vayas a especializar, porque la soltura viene sola con la práctica. Así pues, si este es tu caso te aconsejo que acuerdes un periodo de prácticas con alguna empresa o profesional y le ofrezcas tus servicios. Eso no quiere decir que pasado el tiempo acordado esa empresa pueda contratarte pero como poco habrás cogido más experiencia, más soltura y una recomendación de cara a otras empresas sobre lo bueno que eres realizando tu trabajo lo que te ayudará a tener más clientes en el futuro. Espero haberte ayudado en tu búsqueda de empleo como asistente virtual Y con esto hemos llegado al final de este episodio. Y como no, si te ha gustado suscríbete o pincha a me gusta y déjame una valoración. 5 ESTRELLITAS EN ITUNES O UN ESTUPENDO ME GUSTA EN IVOOX. También puedes dejarme algún comentario y si crees que puede interesarle a alguien que conoces te agradeceré que lo compartas. También puedes encontrarme en serasistentevirtual.com dónde puedes registrarte para acceder a más contenidos, recursos útiles y formación que te ayudarán a consolidarte como asistente virtual. Te espero en el siguiente episodio.

On today's episode of Gritty Founder, Kreig Kent talks with Wil Schroter about how he built Startups.com. Wil shares terrific advice on getting your product in front of customers as soon as possible, as well as insights into the acquisition process. Wil Schroter is the Founder + CEO of Startups.com, the world's largest startup launch platform. Some Questions Kreig asks Wil: - How did you know starting a company was the right thing to do at the age of 19? (11:27) - If you could go back in time before you started your first company, what advice would you give yourself? (16:52) - What was the acquisition process like for the companies Startups.com has acquired? (31:04) - What are the revenue streams for Startups.com? (42:49) - What advice can you give to the founders who are listening? (52:31) In This Episode, You Will Learn: - About Wil’s background, how he became an entrepreneur, and why he started Startups.com (4:11) - How Wil built and grew Startups.com through acquisitions (31:04) - The story of how Startups.com acquired Zirtual (43:06) - You never start off with the right idea (53:06) - You can only plan so far. Just get your product out there. (56:18) Connect with Wil Schroter: Twitter Startups.com Also Mentioned on This Show... Wil’s favorite quote: “You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.” ―Wayne Gretzky Wil’s book recommendations: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

One of the first lessons we learn as entrepreneurs is that nothing is ever certain. We have to learn how to navigate turbulent waters while leading a team. In the face of adversity, our true colors as leaders are revealed. In this episode, you’ll hear my approach to leadership in difficult times. I share 6 principles that will help you maintain transparency, while preserving team morale.  I also share how to admit your mistakes and be human, without creating needless panic and anxiety.  You’ll hear what not to do through the example of companies like Zirtual, which shut down unexpectedly. I also share what scares me as a leader, but how relying on preparation and “banking” good ideas can hedge your bets and create stability. Subscribe and Review Have you subscribed to my podcast? If the answer is no, I’d love for you to subscribe. Diary of a Doer is full of stories of business, some behind the scenes, and freaking amazing guests. If you don’t want to miss an episode, click here.  If you’re feeling realllly generous, I’d love for you to give me a review over on iTunes. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps me out a ton!  Other Resources I Mention 9 Things Great Leaders Do in Difficult TimesHow to Lead When You’re Feeling AfraidThe Small Business Hard Times Survival Guide *** EPISODE CREDITS: If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Danny Ozment. He helps thought leaders, influencers, executives, HR professionals, recruiters, lawyers, realtors, bloggers, coaches, and authors create, launch, and produce podcasts that grow their business and impact the world. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com 

Maren Kate is the founder of Zirtual & AVRA Talent - she's is a serial entrepreneur and human capital expert. She believes meaningful work is core to human’s sense of self, our personal growth, and connection to community. In this podcast, we talk with Maren about Virtual Assistants and why they can be an important part of your business and personal growth. Over the course of 10 years, Maren has helped around 10,000 people find talented Virtual Assistants to bring leverage to their business. She says that to thrive within this space, one must recognize the need for structure and order but on the other hand, know that if you are willing to work with a process and system, there is also a lot of freedom. What Virtual Assistants brings to you is really a way to leverage yourself and your time. When you figure out what you are really good at and then recognize what you can delegate, you get to focus on what your strengths are, thus empowering you to grow your business and your expertise. Learn More: https://www.myoutdesk.com

Diva Tech Talk interviewed actor-turned-technologist/evangelist, Chloe Condon , Cloud Developer/Advocate for Microsoft.    Chloe is a passionate supporter of women in technology, with an extensive social media brand following, and  “non-traditional background,” since she “grew up doing musical theater in all shapes and forms.”  Chloe’s father is a director/playwright. Her mother is a theatrical costume designer and graphics designer.  “So, I grew up in a trunk!” She had little exposure to tech. “I had blinders on. I just knew that I wanted to be an actress.” After performing arts high school, Chloe matriculated at San Francisco University for a bachelors’ degree in theater performance. “I booked my first starring role, playing Kira in Xanadu,” a San Francisco stage production.  Reality brought Chloe up short when “they handed me $500 for three to four months of rehearsal.” She addressed cash flow through “bizarre 9-to-5 jobs to support my nights/weekends in theater.” She took numerous retail jobs, then landed an Account Executive position at (pre-IPO) Yelp. She became fascinated by the startup, tech environment, but “was terrible at sales.”   She “stumbled into other tech roles” including Zirtual, the first virtual personal assistant company.  There she met Ben Parr, (then editor-at-large of Matchable), who co-founded VC fund The Dominate Group. Ben has gone on to be a columnist at Inc., a sought after speaker, and philanthropist. During this discovery period, Chloe was unhappy, from a deficit of free time combined with minimal personal autonomy.  Then she attended a Google-sponsored talk focused on girls interested in programming. It inspired her to find a bootcamp for coders (“these can be life-changing”).   She chose “HackBright Academy, since it was all women. It felt very empowering.”  Hackbright’s message, to the male-dominated programming world, is “change the ratio!”  Initially, Chloe suffered from “Impostor Syndrome” which she thinks is more pervasive in technology than other field. A key to making progress, at the bootcamp, was to adjust learning style from simply reading about concepts to reading AND doing.  “I had to think of it like choreography,” she said. Her tenure at the focused camp culminated in a project: a social media application that rigorously timed postings to achieve optimal exposure, no matter your time zone. As she prepared for “Demo Night,” Chloe’s revelation was that “building the app was hard; talking about it was not. I had always viewed my theater degree as a setback but I use my theater degree, every day, as an engineer, and doing public speaking.” Initially interviewing for junior engineering roles, Chloe experienced “a significant change” when she “pivoted my brand to be more ‘developer relations’.”  Her blend of speaking, performing, and communications merged with newly minted programming skills. She was hired by start-up Code Fresh, specializing in Docker innovation.  After a year, Chloe left Code Fresh  to join Sentry.io, a company focused on error-tracking for developers working in open source. She lauded the company’s culture.  “You wanted to go to work, every day. The people were so fun and cool.” There, she reveled in creative, fun projects. Through that work, she collaborated with Microsoft, who gave her “an offer I couldn’t refuse.” At Microsoft, Chloe currently works with the cloud-based Azure platform.  Most recently, she concentrated on cognitive services, infusing applications, websites and bots with intelligent algorithms to interpret in natural language. “I built an app that analyzes images of Cosplay Mario Kart characters to determine their mood and emotions. 95% of my demos are funny, quirky or solve a unique problem. I try to have fun elements in everything I do.” Chloe shared classic advice. “Treat people like humans. As they say in The Book of Mormon, let’s just be really nice to everyone. It’s not that hard.”  When faced with a challenge that seems insurmountable (like code not working) Chloe advised: “Take a walk and come back with the solution.”  She also counseled people to take breaks to achieve higher productivity. And “ask for help!” She cited Twitter as a rich source of feedback and advice.  Chloe is amazed by the generosity of experts in the tech industry. “People are willing to help. This community is welcoming and warm.” Chloe has evolved to revel in her differences.  “I do not look like an engineer. And I fully embrace that,” she said, discussing the male, middle-aged technocrat stereotype. “I think it educates people” when she is the keynote speaker at a tech conference.  In 2017, she wrote an article matter-of-factly describing how it feels to be a sole woman at a tech conference.  It went viral because it allowed others to empathize without judgement. To protect herself, from Internet intrusion, she wryly said “I am very sharp, and witty, on Twitter.  Anyone who comes at me, publicly, will get destroyed by my awesome jokes!” More pragmatically, she is building a bot to respond to inappropriate DM’s. In terms of job-hunting, Chloe urged women to be selective.  “Work at a place you are comfortable.” She cited “red flags” like a company uncomfortable with negotiation; or a company displaying paucity of women leaders in the interview process.  Positively, she expressed appreciation for companies who cultivate sensitivity to diversity issues. She also cited Ru Paul’s advice to “silence your inner saboteur” and proceed with confidence. Chloe noted the industry is missing the mark by not considering those with degrees that are not technical. “If you are going to claim you are a diverse company, be open to hiring people from bootcamps! Put your money where your mouth is.” As an evangelist for Microsoft, Chloe measures success by “folks approaching me and telling me that the work I am doing changed something fundamental for them.  At the end of the day, if I have affected one person, or opened eyes to something new, that is success for me!” For other women in the field, she urged “be authentically you. Don’t feel like you must act like one of the guys. We need more ideas, and diverse thoughts.” Make sure to check us out on online at www.divatechtalk.com, on Twitter @divatechtalks, and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/divatechtalk. And please listen to us on SoundCloud, Stitcher, or your favorite podcasting channel and provide an online review.

My guest on the podcast today is Maren Kate Donovan, the founder and former CEO of Zirtual, a company that went from rapid growth and success to shutting down seemingly overnight. The measure of their success ended up being their downfall: rapid growth, combined with the reality of unit economics, created a firestorm where it became painfully obvious that continued operations would lead to an inability to pay employees for completed work.  Maren made the difficult decision to simply stop and pay everyone while they still could—a decision she still believes was the right call for the circumstances. Maren got back on her feet and is now finding her way to success through the founding of AVRA Talent. Her team partners with companies to help them fill critical roles in their staff, what they refer to as “on-demand talent acquisition,” And Maren knows that she never could have moved in this direction without her “$5 Million Dollar MBA” earned at Zirtual.    Join us as we discuss Maren’s early desire to “Escape the 9 to 5,” her crash course in Silicon Valley and the Founders Institute, and how she turned failure into perspective and, ultimately, success.  Complete show notes and links from this episode at https://whitneyjohnson.com/maren-kate-donovan

Maren Kate Donovan is an entrepreneur and writer. Her first venture-backed startup, Zirtual, grew to over 400 employees before she turned 30, but then, due to the perfect storm of missteps, was forced to shut down overnight. She now uses her unique experiences as Managing Partner at AVRA, a firm dedicated to creating a world where good help isn’t hard to find. In the show, Maren and I discuss: How a haunted cane launched Maren’s entrepreneurial career Why she decided to start her own virtual assistant company and how she overcame the mental hurdles in making that leap How she grew Zirtual to 400 employees and $1 million/month in revenue Why the company failed overnight and the lessons that this public and painful failure taught Maren What strategies Maren used in coping with the fallout from the company’s demise Why she decided to become a founder again by starting a new company called AVRA Talent Partners How Maren used the lessons learned from Zirtual’s failure in starting AVRA You can sign up for Maren's newsletter, We Love Work, at the bottom of this link and receive all the news that's fit to email, from the world of work. Resources mentioned: The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich - Get your FREE copy of my e-book. Text OZAN to 345345 or navigate to weeklycontrarian.com to download a free copy of my e-book, The Contrarian Handbook: 8 Principles for Innovating Your Thinking. Along with your free e-book, you’ll get the Weekly Contrarian — a newsletter that challenges conventional wisdom and changes the way we look at the world (plus access to exclusive content for subscribers only). Don’t want to miss future episodes? Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and leave a review on iTunes or Google Play. As always, thanks for listening.       

In this episode, Caleb and Todd talk with Kevin Jennings about launching, increasing your capacity, getting unstuck, marketing, and much more. ------------- *Guest Links* ------------- Kevin's website ( http://kbj2.me ) Kevin on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/kbjno2 ) Kevin on Instagram ( https://www.instagram.com/kbjno2/ ) Junction 32 ( http://www.jct32.com ) Junction 32 on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/JCT32Team ) Junction 32 on Instagram ( https://www.instagram.com/JCT32Team/ ) Launch YOUniversity ( http://launchyouniversity.com ) Launch YOUniversity Podcast ( https://www.google.com/url?cd=4&esrc=s&q=&rct=j&sa=t&source=web&url=https%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fpodcast%2Fpodcast-launch-youniversity%2Fid1158928053%3Fmt%3D2&usg=AOvVaw3qksexTyAQ4Glnw0k35pOb&ved=0ahUKEwin3tzFiLLYAhXGyoMKHS9eCxkQFgg2MAM ) ----------------- *Links Mentioned* ----------------- Episode 50 with Jeff Henderson ( https://simplecast.com/s/ff3b71da ) Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast ( https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/carey-nieuwhof-leadership-podcast-lead-like-never-before/id912753163?mt=2 ) Emma ( https://myemma.com ) Fancy Hands ( https://www.fancyhands.com ) Virtual Staff Finder ( http://www.virtualstafffinder.com ) Zirtual ( http://www.zirtual.com ) Belay Solutions ( https://belaysolutions.com ) Episode 35 with Hudson Phillips ( https://simplecast.com/s/6362842f ) David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell ( https://www.amazon.com/David-Goliath-Underdogs-Misfits-Battling/dp/0316204374/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&keywords=david+and+goliath+malcolm+gladwell&qid=1514648660&sr=8-1 ) The Long Tail by Chris Anderson ( https://www.amazon.com/Long-Tail-Future-Business-Selling/dp/1401309666/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&keywords=the+long+tail&qid=1514648681&s=books&sr=1-1 ) The Unstuck App ( https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/unstuck/id478421271?mt=8 ) Oprah Winfrey ( http://www.oprah.com/index.html ) Dave Ramsey ( https://www.daveramsey.com ) Tony Robbins ( https://www.tonyrobbins.com ) ----------------- *What We Learned* ----------------- *Keys to a Good Launch* * Internal: Define success for you * External: Empathy and Humility *What Do You Do to Maintain Your Empathy?* * Create margin. * Recognize where people are going to get their information. * Prioritize effectiveness over efficiency. *Increasing Your Capacity: Delegate* * There is someone who loves what you hate doing. There is someone who is good at what you hate doing. * You have to own the fact that there is something you can get rid of. *How Do You Help People Clarify Where They Are Going?* * Find out where you are. * Vision * Honesty *Why Is It Tough For Us to Be Honest With Ourselves?* * We romanticize the details and view ourselves as the hero. * We are discouraged by where we are. *How Do You Identify Where People/Organizations Currently Are?* * Personality Assessments * How are we performing on the metrics that matter? *How Do You Leverage the Right Resources at the Right Time?* * You need an unbiased outside voice. *Inbound Mindset* * There is someone looking for what you do right now. * It's up to us to position ourselves so they can find us. *How Do People Get Stuck?* * Fear * Ignorance * Limited resources * Lack of clarity *How Can You Get Unstuck?* * Look at the destination and determine what you need to do. * Act. * Ask, "who can help me?" *Lessons Learned From Oprah, Dave Ramsey, and Tony Robbins* * Oprah: You are always more capable than you think you are. You can build a strong personal brand by being a curator. * Dave Ramsey: The value of taking a "Ready. Fire. Aim." approach. * Tony Robbins: The power of staying committed to your purpose. Stay close to your customers. *What Are You Learning Right Now?* * Information is designed to be applied. * Plan out your calendar 12 months in advance. * Application takes time. ----------------- *Quotes to Tweet* ----------------- "There is someone who loves what you hate doing. There is someone who is good at what you hate doing." - @KBJNo2 @learnerspodcast Click to Tweet ( https://ctt.ec/Mhl4S ) "Great strategies leverage limitations, but you can't leverage something you aren't honest about." - @KBJNo2 @learnerspodcast Click to Tweet ( https://ctt.ec/fg375 ) "You are always more capable than you think you are." - @KBJNo2 @learnerspodcast Click to Tweet ( https://ctt.ec/gA1id ) "Information is designed to be applied." - @KBJNo2 @learnerspodcast Click to Tweet ( https://ctt.ec/wUafe ) --------------------------- *New Episode Every Tuesday* --------------------------- ----------------------- *Join Us Every Tuesday* ----------------------- Thank you for listening to the Learner's Corner Podcast. We hope you'll join us for next week's episode. Until next time, keep learning and keep growing.

The goal is essentially to increase net-profit while increasing return on investment and increasing cash flow. Today we’re discussing The Goal by Eliyahu M. Goldratt. It is a business novel that Eliyahu used to introduce the “Theory of Constraints”, a sort of meta-theory for business (and life, really) that you can use to advance the output of just about any system. It is very much a “zero-to-one” book, where you’ll see the world differently after reading. We cover a wide range of topics, including: Improving all of your systems with the Theory of Constraints Discovering bottlenecks in various systems and effectively optimizing them Identifying your goal and making positive progress towards it Becoming a better manager or employee by using the Theory of Constraints Improving your time-management skills, productivity, and workflow Useful mental hacks for waking up easier and for making habits stick And much more. Please enjoy, and be sure to grab a copy of The Goal and to check out Nat’s Notes on the book! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to check out our other episode on How to Think Like Elon Musk, to emulate Musk’s way of thinking for extreme advantages, and our episode on Antifragile, to learn how to profit from chaos.   Mentioned in the show: The Theory of Constraints [1:13] AlphaLab [5:31] Sumo [7:35] Zirtual [12:13] Unlimited Brewing Company [13:21] Growth Machine [18:26] Joe Rogan Podcast [28:20] Nat’s article on how to start a podcast [39:37] Deep House Relax on Spotify [40:28] (Nat and Neil’s favorite playlist for deep work) Last of the Mohicans’ soundtrack [40:39] Halo soundtrack [40:45] Matrix soundtrack [40:51] Tron soundtrack [40:52] The Magician on Soundcloud [43:05] OWSLA and Skrillex mix [43:24] Praxis on Medium [45:45] Medium [45:45] Getting Stuff Done Like a Boss course [46:34] Building a Second Brain course [46:45] The Forcing Function [47:00] Nat Chat podcast [47:02] Nat Chat episode with Chris Sparks [47:02] Tiago Forte’s main courses [47:09] Neil’s post on viewing books similar to VC [48:00] Four Sigmatic’s Mushroom Coffee [1:02:18] Athletic Greens [1:02:28] Game of Thrones [1:05:48] Stranger Things [1:05:49] Buffer [1:07:57] Made You Think episode on Thinking Like Elon Musk [1:09:18] Tesla [1:09:18] Boosted Board [1:11:28] How to Legally Own People article [1:13:26] Books mentioned: The Goal (Nat’s Notes) Antifragile [4:29] (Made You Think episode) (Nat’s Notes) Work Clean [50:22] (episode coming 12-19 or 12-26) (Nat’s Notes) Principles [52:17] (episode coming 12-5) (Nat’s Notes) Emergency [1:19:43] (Made You Think episode) (Nat’s Notes) People mentioned: Eliyahu M. Goldratt Zak Slayback [4:04] Joe Rogan [28:20] Daft Punk [40:55] Rapper Nas [41:55] Lil Wayne [41:58] Future [42:02] Ivan Pavlov [43:22] Adil Majid [43:29] Tiago Forte [45:32] Chris Sparks [46:59] Elon Musk [1:09:18] Nassim Nicholas Taleb [1:13:26] 0:00 - Introductory quote, a bit of background on the book and the author, and how you can use this book to help you out in both business and in life. 7:24 - Some examples from the book applied to the real-world and some flaws in various business systems. 10:36 - What the actual goal is for various systems, some details on the goal’s infrastructure, and why these three metrics are important. “The goal is essentially to increase net-profit while increasing return on investment and increasing cash flow.” 19:40 - The next part on the daily goal metrics (throughput, inventory, and operational expense) and some details on those. 21:10 - How to use these metrics if you’re not a manager or a CEO and are without a big-picture perspective. Also, some discussion on these metrics, applying them to members of a system, and some real-world examples. 28:44 - Figuring out all of these metrics and operations and then applying them in day-to-day situations. The beginning of how the main character in the story does this. 30:47 - The bottleneck issue from the book and applying it to real-world scenarios, the funny story of discovering and solving the bottleneck from the book, and some discussion on it. (Tangent #1 at 31:29) 35:05 - The order for optimizing around a bottleneck properly. Also, some examples of optimizing various bottlenecks and improving your time management skills. Nat and Neil’s favorite music for working, as well. 41:00 - (Tangent #2) The issue with typing the words to a song or podcast instead of the words meant for your writing and some more thoughts of various music types for various types of work. 43:49 - The Theory of Constraints coming into play in the book and some information on Tiago Forte and his courses on improving systems, creative output, and productivity. 47:48 - Books and small investments improving your ROI ($10-$20 books possibly giving you insights that make you $1000+, save you time, or offer valuable enjoyment) and some thoughts on doing your quality insurance before you buy books. 50:22 - Discussion on the book Work Clean and some ideas from it for improving your peace of mind, organizational ability, and productivity. 52:29 - The idea of losing an hour on the bottleneck which is not just being lost to the bottleneck, but to the whole system. Also, being a better manager by analyzing not only possible bottlenecks with others, but for your own bottlenecks, as well. 57:04 - Examining your life for possible scenarios that create bottlenecks for you (drinking and eating unhealthy afterward, etc) and fixing those scenarios. Also, some useful mental hacks for waking up easier at 1:00:36 and 1:01:38. 1:02:10 - Waking up and daisy-chaining your habits immediately afterward. Some explanation and examples of doing this. 1:03:55 - Applying the Theory of Constraints to creative work and making sure you apply the theory towards positive things instead of negative things. 1:09:37 - The steps for identifying the constraints within a system and then beginning to fix them. Some issues on having someone on salary versus hourly, compensating people for their work, and having slack in a system discussed here, as well. 1:16:23 - Some last thoughts and some pieces of advice for others on goals and systems. If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe at https://madeyouthinkpodcast.com What is the bottleneck and how do I optimize around the bottleneck right now? To even identify what the bottleneck is, you really need to clearly identify the goal.

Maren Kate Donovan has some invaluable advice to offer as a result of her personal experience. In 2015, Maren was running her company, Zirtual, which had an $11-million run-rate and appeared to be very healthy. Due to some factors that Maren speaks about very candidly in this episode, the company suddenly came to a halt and had to let go of all its 400+ employees. How does this type of situation happen overnight? Maren will explain. She also talks about what she did next and how she got through the situation. As I’ve mentioned many times on the show, I feel strongly that entrepreneurs share their stories and lessons in order to pay them forward so other people can avoid the same mistakes. I appreciate Maren being vulnerable and doing just that. Notes from this episode: How a Why Not Now? moment led to Maren starting her first company. Maren talks about the process of raising money and its impact on the core business daily operations. What it means to be "growing broke" and how to prevent the situation. Maren explains the three factors that brought Zirtual down. What Maren did to recover from the intense situation. Maren's new company and the very first step she took when deciding to green light her idea. What keeps Maren up at night.

As a small business owner, how do you balance your family life with your work life? You might have started your business to have control over your time, but you may find the reality of running a business is that you’re working too much. On this episode of the Small Biz Ahead podcast, hosts Elizabeth Larkin and Gene Marks discuss tactics to help you balance work time with family time. Links Meal Delivery Kits: Blue Apron Plated Sun Basket Virtual Assistants: UpWork Zirtual Instagram for Business Download Our Free eBooks Ultimate Guide to Business Credit Cards: The Small Business Owner’s Handbook How to Keep Customers Coming Back for More – Customer Retention Strategies How to Safeguard Your Small Business from Data Breaches 21 Days to Be a More Productive Small Business Owner Transcript Elizabeth: Welcome back to the Small Biz Ahead Podcast, or should I say, “Hey, guys. Continue reading Working Too Much and Running a Business as a Parent at .

Clarity. Fundable. Launchrock. Zirtual. Odds are, if you're a fan of #thePawdcast, you're a fan of and/or a user of one of these incredible products! That is why this week's episode of #thePawdcast is so exciting. We are joined by serial entrepreneur, Ryan Rutan, who is also the Chief Innovation Officer of Startups.co, the company behind all of them. We discuss Ryan's background, his story, how his career drove him to be a part of the founding team for Startups.co. We discuss how Startups.co operates, what their ambitions are, the dynamics that make up their team and upper management. We dive deep into the drama that took place when Startups.co acquired Zirtual, shaking off the negativity and turning a profit. We talk a lot about why we do the things that we do, the emotional strength necessary for being a successful entrepreneur, and the work/life balance that goes into the running one of the fastest growing startup companies on the globe. If you're a fan of growing companies, operations talk, the emotional intelligence necessary for leading a team, then you're in for a treat this week on #thePawdcast. PS: Happy Halloween! Startups.co Website: www.startups.co Clarity Website: www.clarity.fm Fundable Website: www.fundable.com Launchrock Website: www.launchrock.com Zirtual Website: www.zirtual.com Ryan Rutan's Twitter: www.twitter.com/ryanarutan Listen to this episode on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-pawdcast/id1071470844?mt=2 Listen to this episode on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/pawdcast/episode-029-ryan-rutan-startupsco About #thePawdcast — Discussing all things entrepreneurship, startups, creativity, businesses, innovations, self-awareness and everything in-between. Hosted by Joshua Davidson, Eddie Contento, and Daniel DiGangi. Brought to you by ChopDawg.com

Serial entrepreneur Maren Kate Donovan joins Lisa to chat about Maren's former startup Zirtual (what went wrong and how Maren coped) along with Maren's new venture, The Memento Mori Society.

Joined today by Ramphis Castro of the Founder Institute, we explore some of the recent news in the technology, business and startup industries. Today's news includes: Google Changes It's Name To Alphabet, Zirtual Goes Dark Overnight, & NBC Invests In A Large Chunk of Buzzfeed.

Maren Donovan of Zirtual shows you how to use virtual assistants to grow your business. Dragan Trajkovski of Robbins Research International talking about success cycles. Also, Paul talks about success cycles and how it influences sales success. - Paul Kirch brings his own experience and style to the air waves with his show BOSS Academy Radio, where you can learn business ownership success strategies to take your business to new heights. And if you're an entrepreneur, get insights and tools for getting start.

Maren Kate Donovan the CEO of Zirtual comes on the show to talk about how we can massively increase our productivity and happiness by using Virtual Assistants. We'll give specific instances where you can use them as well as the best ways to work with them. We also talk about Zirtual as a business and where its headed which is pretty exciting!

  In Episode #7 of the WP Elevation podcast I spoke with Maren Kate Donovan, CEO and founder of Zirtual, a US based virtual assistant service. I recently hired a virtual assistant, or a Zirtual assistant as they call them, through the Zirtual service and was blown away at their excellent on-boarding process. I also wanted to find out from Maren why and how she has built her company to what it is today. The post Episode #7 – Maren Kate Donovan from Zirtual appeared first on WP Elevation.

Interviews with Ari Meisel and innovators in the fields of health and productivity ------- [Get the FREE Optimize, Automate, Outsource Blueprint here.](https://go.lessdoing.com/blueprint?utm_campaign=blueprint-ari&utm_medium=link&utm_source=podcast) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lessdoing/message