Inspired Insider With Dr. Jeremy Weisz | Ecommerce Interviews | Entrepreneurship | Inspirational Stories | Business Lessons

David Long is the Founder and CEO of My Employees, which specializes in helping business managers grow through the development of their relationships with their employees. David is also the best-selling author of Built To Lead: 7 Management R.E.W.A.R.D.S. Principles for Becoming a Top 10% Manager.  In this episode... What are the most important elements of a successful business? How key are people in the day-to-day growth of an organization? On this episode of Inspired Insider, David Long drops by the podcast to talk about his book and what the keys to success are for a successful manager. David also discusses the importance of management in the happiness of all employees, and how they have to be “all-in” with ownership. What does success look like? What are the key factors and traits to look for in employees and candidates that go into David’s R.E.W.A.R.D.S? Each of those letters in that acronym are one of the seven principles that David scripted that will lead to great management that is elevated into the t

Joey Gilkey is the Founder of Tribe Prospecting, which helps businesses land six and seven-figure contracts with their dream 500 clients through account-based selling. If they don't deliver they personally buy you a Tesla. They have a multi-discipline, multi-channel, hyper-personalized, highly-targeted, account-based sales outreach system to reach the list of your 500 dream clients over the course of the year. What goes into the buying decisions that people make? What are the motivating factors of customers when different salespeople have different closing rates? This week’s guest was a psychology major, and that background, as well as his background in football and the ministry, definitely guided his life and decisions.  Joey Gilkey was also introduced to a book called “The Challenger Sale” which changed his outlook on life and sales. The book details varies “types” of salespeople, but identifies the “Challenger” as the type who has the most success. This type of person is one who challenges their customers

Mitch Kahn is the Co-Founder and CEO of Grassroots Cannabis, which started in 2014. Since then, Mitch has grown the company to operations in 11 states with 61 licenses and more than 800 employees. Recently, Massachusetts-based company Curaleaf signed a merger agreement which makes Grassroots Cannabis the largest medical and adult-use cannabis company. Mitch is also Chairman of Frontline Real Estate Partners and the former President and CEO of Hilco Real Estate. In this episode… Every organization and company will have challenges. No matter how much preparation goes into a business, there will be something unexpected that arises and throws the plan out the window. In those moments, it is how leadership responds to the problem that makes the difference.  Mitch and his company have experienced a meteoric rise, placing themselves at the top of their industry. But it was not always clear that they would get this far. As Mitch mentions in this episode, there was a point in the company’s development that they weren’

Rabbi Mois Navon is the founding engineer at Mobileye, and Intel corporation that develops vision-based, self-driving car and advanced driver-assistance systems. Mobileye’s systems provide warnings for drivers that prevent and mitigate possible collisions. He also helped to create the $15 billion chip that is powering the autonomous revolution. Mois’ professional experience in the research and development of digital hardware spans over 35 years, working with IBM, NASA’s JPL, and more.  In this episode… How far would you go for happiness? How about for success? Patience is said to be a virtue, but sustaining it for a period of years can be difficult. When he was brought on board of Mobileye, the company was a startup. The leadership told Mois that they had an exit planned within two years. He was advised to pull his kids out of extracurricular activities and limit his life for the imminent exit. Two years became sixteen before things were finalized. The strength of Rabbi Mois’ family was also displayed in thei

Joey Gilkey is the Founder of Tribe Prospecting, which helps businesses land six and seven-figure contracts with their dream 500 clients through account-based selling. If they don't deliver they personally buy you a Tesla. They have a multi-discipline, multi-channel, hyper-personalized, highly-targeted, account-based sales outreach system to reach the list of your 500 dream clients over the course of the year. Where does inspiration come from? How do we overcome adversity? Finding the drive to push through and get things done can come from some surprising places. Sometimes it is even found in the struggles of loved ones. Joey’s wife has a twin brother who went through an incredibly difficult health issue with impossible odds. Despite being young and healthy, Joey’s brother-in-law was given very little chance to survive. The weight of the situation affected Joey tremendously, causing him to question his beliefs and even overeat. Despite those impossible odds, he is now cancer-free. As Joey was so close to the

Hussam Al Raimi is the founder of Fateel - a date based snack food company. Fateel started in 2017 with the hope that everyone, everywhere can truly enjoy their delicious cookies, home-baked in wood fired stone ovens using rich, wholesome ingredients found in the Mediterranean. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:  [0:40] Jeremy welcomes his guest, Hussam Al Raimi.  [1:20] Hussam talks about his product, date cookies.  [3:30] Where did the idea for Fateel come from?  [5:00] Challenges faced along the way.  [6:30] A proud moment from the journey.  In this episode… Where do the best inventions and innovations come from? Some might chalk it up to good luck or a helpful muse - the truth is, many inventions come from somewhere close to home. On this episode of Inspired Insider, you’ll hear from business leader and innovator, Hussam Al Raimi. In his conversation with Jeremy, Hussam opens up about how he started Fateel, where the idea for a date based snack food company came from, challenges he has faced along t

Rabbi Mois Navon is an ASIC Department Project Manager at Mobileye - an automotive-vision-systems giant. In the early 2000s, Navon, like many in his profession, found himself out of a job following the dot-com crash. “That was a very, very bad time to be on the street because everybody was on the street,” he recalled. A former colleague told him about Mobileye, a fledgling, 15-person startup operating out of a house in Jerusalem’s Ramot neighborhood. The Los Angeles native found work there as an engineer. Soon, Navon began teaching a lunchtime Torah class for a handful of secular colleagues. Nearly 17 years — and an Intel acquisition — later, his class routinely attracts a couple of dozen employees, both religious and secular. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:  [2:20] I introduce my guest, Rabbi Mois Navon.  [4:10] What happens when you die?  [9:00] Why is Israel known as the “Startup Nation.”  [12:00] What it takes for a startup to succeed.  [16:50] The lowest point in Rabbi Mois’ career.  [19:30] Clos

Lee Richter is a successful business leader who many top entrepreneurs call a Renaissance woman. Lee was recognized by the San Francisco Business Times as one of their Top 100 Women Business Leaders in 2019. She has launched a dozen successful businesses in the financial, education and lifestyle sectors. Since 1984, Lee’s company, Richter Communications has helped strategy and public relations campaigns with companies such as Autodesk, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, and many more. Some of her companies include Richter Design Group, Richter Communications, the Event Planner Association, Holistic Veterinary Care, a Veterinary Hospital which she ran with her husband Dr. Gary Richter, and MyPetthrives.com online community and many more. She is a co-founder of MyPetThrives.com which is a free resource for people who love their pets and want to get the latest information on health and education. Lee also finds time as the founder and Executive Director of the non-profit Pet & Wildlife Fund, which donates veter

Ari Sherman is a co-founder of Evo Hemp. He is a sales and marketing executive with experience in the natural products industry. Ari also co-founded Hemp Health LLC.  Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:  [0:40] Ari Sherman joins Jeremy to talk about Evo Hemp.  [1:50] What was the first product that Ari created? How has it changed over time?  [3:20] Milestones achieved along the way.  [4:30] The difference between hemp and cannabis.  [6:00]Challenges faced along the way.  In this episode… What in the world are you going to do with a “Hemp bar?” Can you really eat hemp? Is it good for you? Will it make you high? There are so many questions about hemp products! Here to shed some light on the topic of hemp products and talk about his business is Ari Sherman. In his conversation with Jeremy, Ari opens up about how he got started creating hemp-based snacks, why he is a huge fan of hemp products, challenges he has faced along the way, and much more! You don’t want to miss a minute of this engaging episode featu

Jeff Schmidgall is the co-founder of Bubba’s Foods. Since 2014, Bubba’s Foods has been at the head of a natural health food revolution where smart, healthy choices finally meet big, bold flavors. Run by gourmet chef Jared Menzel and his brother-in-law, former CrossFit trainer and health coach, Jeff Schmidgall, they’re satisfying your naughty and nice cravings with every wholesome green banana they peel, dash of chipotle they sprinkle, and nourishing handful you munch. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:  [0:40] Jeremy introduces his guest, Jeff Schmidgall.  [2:50] Figuring out what the market wants.  [5:15] Challenges that Jeff and his team have faced along the way.  [7:20] A proud moment from the journey.  In this episode… How do you know that a product is going to take off and connect with a large enough segment of the market to make your business sustainable? Is there a formula that you can follow or does it all come down to dumb luck? On this episode of Inspired Insider, you’ll hear from business lea

Mark Sarafa is the founder of Pop Daddy Popcorn. Seeking a healthier way for his family to enjoy snacking, one day Mark bought a large popcorn machine and started experimenting with different kernels and flavors in his basement, passing out his popcorn to friends, family, and neighbors. Following his successful experimentation, in 2013, Pop Daddy became Mark’s full-time job and the business has only kept growing from there!  Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:  [0:40] Mark Sarafa joins the podcast to talk about Pop Daddy Popcorn.  [1:50] How did Mark’s business get off of the ground?  [3:10] Popular flavors and getting the product on shelves.  [5:00] How to connect with Mark and Pop Daddy Popcorn.  In this episode… Have you ever paused to consider all the opportunities you were afforded each step of the way in your career? Do you find yourself frustrated at the lack of opportunities made available to you, or you find yourself wishing you had seized more opportunities that came your way? On this episode o

Kenney Joyal is the founder of Snowflakes Candy. Snowflakes Candy is dedicated to making delicious, uniquely-crafted candies that are satisfying, sweet, simple, and sugar-free. They made their debut with a line of a hand-crafted, artisanal candies, which are now available in stores nationwide. Snowflakes Candy remains dedicated to using high-quality, sustainably-sourced ingredients that our customers love for the sheer fun of eating guilt-free candy. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:  [0:40] Jeremy welcomes his guest, Kenney Joyal.  [1:40] Popular flavors and how the production process played out.  [3:20] How the product and packaging changed over time.  [6:00] Challenges faced along the way and proud moments from the journey.  In this episode… What if there was a way to enjoy a delicious snack without all the guilt that comes from eating a bag of M&M’s? Imagine a snack that could help you retrain your mind and body to react in a positive way to a healthy snack? On this episode of Inspired Insider,

Benjamin Bartley and Tom van Lambaart are the co-founders of Chum, a healthy snack food brand. The fruit products created at Chum are 100% wild, and 100% natural, they don’t use fake stuff. Chum takes real fruits as nature intended, and they carefully turn them into delicious bites.No artificial ingredients and no added sugars or colors. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:  [0:40] Benjamin Bartley and Tom van Lambaart join Jeremy to talk about, Chumbites.  [2:30] How did the guys develop their first version of the product?  [4:30] Benjamin and Tom explain how they know each other and they share memories from their journey.  In this episode… When was the last time you thought carefully about the food you choose to snack on? Let’s face it, most people don’t think through their snack options very carefully - but they should! On this episode of Inspired Insider, you’ll hear from entrepreneurs and business leaders, Benjamin Bartley and Tom van Lambaart. In their conversation with Jeremy, Benjamin and Tom open

Gino Wickman is the founder of EOS Worldwide, an organization that has helped over 70,000 companies use and implement EOS tools - the Entrepreneurial Operating System. They have built up an international team of over 300 professional and certified EOS Implementers. Gino is the author of many books including Traction, Rocket Fuel, How to Be a Great Boss and many more. His latest creation is called Entrepreneurial Leap: Do you have what it takes to become an Entrepreneur? Gino created it to help entrepreneurs-in-the-making get a huge jump-start on taking their entrepreneurial leap.  Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:  [2:45] Jeremy welcomes his guest, Gino Wickman.  [5:15] Gino talks about his relationship with his father.  [11:30] Understanding the roles of visionaries and integrators.  [15:30] What is scorecarding?  [21:00] Gino talks about his “Guardian angel.”  [26:00] Avoiding “Nightmare” scenarios.  [30:00] Hiring and pricing challenges that business leaders face.  [34:30] Gino opens up about how bus

Anita Akrishnana and Nalini are the co-founders of Route to India - a health brand focused on inspiring and guiding individuals in feeling their best through food, Ayurveda and holistic lifestyle. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:  [0:41] Jeremy welcomes his guests, Anita Akrishnan and Nalini Mehta.  [2:20] How did Anita and Nalini start their business?  [4:20] The different flavors offered by Route to India.  [7:00] Challenges and proud moments encountered along the way.  In this episode… How can you make your business stand out from the crowd? What sets your business apart from all the other competitors in your market? If you don’t have a competitive edge yet - you need to get one soon! On this episode of Inspired Insider, you’ll hear from business leaders and innovators, Anita Akrishnan and Nalini Mehta. In their conversation with Jeremy, Anita and Nalini open up about why they started Route to India, challenges they have faced along the way, why they love delivering high-quality food, and much more

Sean Magennis is the President and COO of YPO — (formerly Young Presidents' Organization) a global community of chief executives dedicated to becoming Better Leaders. The YPO platform has more than 27,000 members in more than 138 countries. YPO is arguably one of the most powerful groups in the world. To qualify a member has to have at least 10million dollars in annual sales. Sean began his career in South Africa at one of the country’s largest producers of agricultural chemicals. He founded an Organizational Development Consulting business and Executive Search business. Currently an advisor of 2 companies - Nuooly - gig economy business for independent attorneys and Rem brothers which is a hospitality and food services business - 3 concepts near Purdue and Dallas. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:  [2:50] Jeremy introduces his guest, Sean Magennis.  [5:00] Sean talks about his experience visiting Israel.  [7:00] The value of reflecting on gratitude.  [8:40] Facing challenges both personally and profess

Michael Pan is the founder of Pan’s Mushroom Jerky. When Michael was traveling throughout Malaysia visiting extended family he was offered a rich, savory snack that he thought was pork-based. He discovered that it was a family recipe featuring shiitake mushrooms, and the idea for Pan’s Mushroom Jerky was born.  Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:  [0:40] Jeremy welcomes his guest, Michael Pan.  [2:10] What led Michael to create Mushroom Jerky?  [4:00] Michael talks about the production process.  [5:00] Proud moments and challenges faced.  In this episode… Where do you go to get in touch with your creative side? What do you need to do to quite all the noise and just focus on your thoughts and your plans for your business? On this episode of Inspired Insider, you'll hear from entrepreneur and innovator, Michael Pan. In his conversation with Jeremy, Michael opens up about his trip to Malaysia, what led him to start his business, challenges they've faced along the way, plans for the next stage in the busines

Jason Swenk runs a unique consultancy helping marketing agency owners grow their agencies faster. He is the resource he wish he had when he started his agency. Jason currently hosts two podcasts: The Smart Agency Master Class Podcast sharing strategies and stories from real agency owners and SwenkToday which is a weekly show that documents how you can grow your digital agency. Early on Jason decided to quit his day job and launch a digital marketing agency that grew to a multi-million dollar operation, 100 staff, and they worked with brands from AT&T, Hitachi, and Lotus Cars. After 12 years of growth, he sold the agency in 2012. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:  [2:55] Jeremy introduces his guest, Jason Swenk.  [4:50] Why did Jason start his podcast?  [7:20] The best foot-in-the-door offers from Jason’s career.  [15:30] Customer success stories.  [19:15] Helping clients shift their mindset when it comes to marketing costs.  [22:20] How setting prices too low can hurt you.  [26:00] Tools that Jason

Daniel Staackmann is the founder of Upton’s Naturals - an independently owned producer of vegan foods founded in 2006. The company is focused on meat alternatives using innovative` ingredients such as wheat-based seitan and jackfruit. Upton’s Naturals sells its foods across the United States and around the world. Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:  [0:40] Daniel Saackmann joins the podcast to talk about Upton’s Naturals.  [3:15] Why Daniel decided to go vegan and create vegan products.  [5:40] Daniel goes through the different products available in their store.  [7:50] Bringing jackfruit to the marketplace.  [10:00] Challenges that Daniel encountered along the way and how he overcame them.  [14:00] The proudest moment from Daniel’s career.  In this episode… Can you imagine what it would be like to never eat a steak, a plate of ribs, or a cheeseburger ever again? Does this scenario sound impossible, easy to accomplish, or somewhere in between? On this episode of Inspired Insider, you’ll hear from busines

Rob Dalton is the co-founder of 88 Acres, a small-scale bakery in urban Boston. Leading the operation is Rob and his wife, Nicole - together, they are on a mission to deliver healthy snacks on an ingredient platform of seeds.  Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:  [0:40] Rob Dalton joins the podcast and explains how he started his business.  [3:20] How have the products evolved and changed over the years.  [7:00] Why create a roasted Watermelon seed butter? How does the process work?  [9:30] Challenges that Rob and his business have faced along the way.  In this episode… What does it take to navigate a nuanced and layered relationship in America today? Quick answer: A whole lot of time and patience! Now, throw into that equation the challenge of building a business at the same time - does that sound impossible? On this episode of Inspired Insider, you’ll hear from business leader and innovator, Rob Dalton. In his conversation with Scott, Rob opens up about how he and his wife met, what led them to start 8