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Making Moves Podcast | Corporate to Successful Entrepreneur

The Making Moves Podcast (with business guru's Seema Alexander & Kelly Lynn Adams) is dedicated to helping 9 to 5'ers, side hustlers & entrepreneurs go from following the rules to creating their own. Get ready to be exposed to weekly bite-size trainings and inspiration about business building, money making, mindset training, and so much more. You will hear from top entrepreneurs and influencers (in all industries) tell the good, the bad and the amazing of the journey from employee to entrepreneur. This is the place to learn more so that you can be, do and have more.
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Making Moves Podcast | Corporate to Successful Entrepreneur
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Now displaying: February, 2017
Feb 27, 2017

Noha Waibsnaider is a leading food entrepreneur and change maker in the healthy, real food movement. After graduating from Columbia Business School, she worked at Unilever and learned about the preservatives, chemicals, and processing that fills most of our foods. Originally from Israel, Noha grew up on a diet of mostly unprocessed foods and snacking on dried fruit. She realized there was a big gap in the marketplace and an opportunity to create snacks that make people feel good about snacking, with food that tastes great and is naturally nutritious. In 2005, she launched Peeled Snacks: organic fruit snacks with no added sugar or preservatives. In the last year, the brand has quickly evolved to a larger healthy snack platform, with the launch of Peas Please, savory veggie snacks. With her vision of providing tasty and nourishing snacks everywhere you need a snack, Peeled Snacks are sold in Starbucks, Target, Whole Foods, Wegmans, Giant, Hudson News, Amazon, and many other retailers. The company has ranked on the Inc. 5000 List of America’s Fastest Growing Companies for four years, has been featured in Oprah’s O List, and received Healthy Snack awards from Health Magazine and Fitness Magazine. 

 

  • [02:25] - When did you start your own business and what was your background?

 

  • [02:40] - I learned about the food industry and supply chain.  Realized that the products were loaded with sugar and chemical.  I will talk to the scientists and they are not willing to eat it!
  • [03:10] - There’s an opportunity to make real food that’s not highly processed and make it accessible to people.
  • [03:30] - People have been eating dry food for a number of years.  

 

 

  • [05:28] - Product-based businesses have so much to consider upfront.  In terms of operations, what did you start with?

 

  • [06:12] - There’s a very large based eco-system for food-based products now.  
  • [07:40] - We started small.  The early challenges, limitations and constraints are what helped you define the concept.
  • [06:26] - It’s an evolution and part of the creative process.

 

  • [09:00] - How much money did you invest upfront?

 

  • [10:00] - I sent in a two-page application for funding but was not successful.  
  • [11:03] - Initially, I thought it’s a small business and it can be self-funded.  I was using credit card and doing balance transfer.  Started borrowing money from family - started fund-raising with friends and family.  
  • [13:09] - Since then we continued to raise money from Angels and crowd-funding.
  • [16:08] - What is your pricing strategy?

It’s important to get pricing structure right early on.  We have premium products and we increased the price gradually and people were still willing to pay for.  At least 50% margin.

 

  • [19:55] - How does the Strategic Advisory Board work?

 

  • [20:14] - Network is “give and take”.  At one point we gave stock options to people.
  • [21:43] - My first strategic advisory board guru was a business school professor.  His biggest piece of advice was – “you’re going to need an advisory board and I volunteer to be the first member on it”.  That was very helpful.
  • [24:07] - Those on our board have very diverse business backgrounds.
  • [26:10] - How do you get access to influential people like Stacy Madison?
  • [27:06] - Building relationship, meeting people, networking, going to industry events, asking what you need and being clear of what you need.

 

  • [27:47] - If you could go back, what are the 3 things that you would have invested in most?

 

  1. Golf lessons! – so much of networking happens on the golf-course.
  2. Marketing
  3. Gone into it with a long-term view and not so overwhelmed by all the ups and downs.

 

  • [31:27] - What motivates you to keep you going?

 

  1. There’s always a light at the end of the tunnel.
  2. Passionate about what I do, i.e. healthy food, food that energizes and what our brand stands for.
  3. Consumer’s feedback.
  4. There’s no tracking back, we have to give returns back to our investors.

 

  • [33:54] - What are things to learn, unlearn and relearn from your corporate background to your own business?

 

  1. When I was at a large company, I had access to so much data.  At Peeled Snacks we did not have any.
  2. Being responsible for your own space and schedule.
  3. It’s a totally different level of stress – managing emotions.

 

3 KEY POINTS

 

  • The more the business grows, the more money is needed.
  • Network is “give & take”.
  • Be passionate about what you do.

 

 

Website: peeledsnacks.com

Get a 10% discount code for these amazing products

 

Social Media: 

Facebook: Peeled Snacks (https://www.facebook.com/Peeled/)

Twitter: @PeeledSnacks

Instagram: @peeledsnacks (https://www.instagram.com/peeledsnacks/




Feb 21, 2017

After 24 years in the Professional Beauty Industry Amy Arvary experienced a significant life change. This change left her unable to continue life as she had planned.  At her darkest point Amy discovered the Law of Attraction began a daily practice of mindfulness. Her practice led to hypnosis and she acquired a Masters Certification in Clinical Hypnotherapy.

Amy's unique approach to healing the mind brings her clients an immediate sense of clarity, confidence and purpose. Across the globe she enlightens audiences and private clients with the secrets to manifesting the successes they desire. 

 

  • [01:30] – What triggered you to make a move to start your own business?

 

  • [01:41] - I never intended to start a business. I worked in a salon for a long time and began the transition in hypnotherapy. 2 or 3 years into the practice I realized this could really be something that wasn’t me but it felt right to me.
  • [02:37] - In 2009, I started to learn things about the business side.  I’m learning every day.
  • [03:30] - What is hypnotherapy and who can benefit from it?
  • [04:03] - Hypnotherapy is a practice that allows you to get into a meditative mind space and it changes the frequency in which your brain is working and at a different frequency, it clears all the guilt, fear, frustration, anger, etc.  
  • [04:29] - Mind state – take a look at what’s going on inside of you and use that to direct you more to the direction of what you want instead of the direction that you are being pulled into.
  • [04:43] - I stumbled into it organically.  I was at a very dark mindset at that time.  
  • [05:00] – Hypnotherapy allowed me to just dive in.

 

  • [05:57] - Tell us about some amazing stories / people you have worked with.

 

  • [06:30] - Surgeon – I see his patients as a post-surgery therapy.  I will help them with behavior modification.
  • [09:36] - Worked with athletes too.

 

  • [10:40] - How important is the mind and subconscious to accomplish what you want to achieve?

 

  • [11:36] - It is tremendously important.  You have the ability to change with every breath you take.  Hypnotherapy allows the opportunity to be able to do that.
  • [11:49] -Totally believe there’s a way of being better.  You don’t have to do anything except to close your eyes, listen and imagine.  Physically – you feel better immediately, lighter, more clear and allows you to be better by default, always.

 

  • [12:30] - What are the daily habits/rituals that you help through your clients right now?

 

  • [13:00] - Become aware of what you’re thinking.
  • [14:15] - If your body is responding in a negative way, then it’s not what you really want.  If you are trapped in fear and you become aware of that, you should take a deep breath, drop your shoulders and say “thank you”.    

 

  • [15:28] - How to overcome mental state when at the lowest?

 

  • [16:07] - There are many unknowns but you start understanding that everything is neutral, nothing is good or bad.
  • [16:20] - We label things however we want.  Everybody has a different way of interpreting stuff.  So, if you are aware that you have a choice to interpret it as a good/bad thing, it frees you up from the pressure.

 

  • [18:55] - What inspires you?

 

  • 1. The people that I surround myself with.
  • 2. New ideas – I love hearing lectures of sciences (quantum physics)
  • 3. My clients
  • [20:43] - Tell us about your free gift (ebook) to listeners:

There’s an audio link at the end of the ebook, you can listen to it every day or at least once a day for a week.  After a week, see how you are feeling and how things are manifesting.  I’m very confident that things will be improved.

 

  • [23:33] - Hypnosis session.

 

  • 4 key points:

 

  • Never stop learning
  • There’s a big difference from being a practitioner of something and having a business
  • You can stumble into something positive even in your darkest moment
  • Saying “thank you” (gratitude) heals

Social Media:

  • You can find more about Amy Arvary, her programs and how to connect at www.AmyArvaryCS.com and sign up to receive The 5 Steps to Becoming Limitless.
  • https://www.facebook.com/amyarvarycs/
Feb 13, 2017

Jen Groover is a serial entrepreneur who's gone from guest-hosting spots on QVC to inking deals with some of the industry’s biggest heavyweights. Her success began with the creation of the Butler Bag, the world’s first compartmentalized handbag, and has evolved into an entire lifestyle brand, which can now be found at several prominent retailers. She's also behind Leader Girlz, which teaches young girls the importance of empowerment through play, through her brand, and has another jewlery brand called Empowered by Jen Groover.

 

Jen was also nominated as a UN Delegate to the first Global Accelerator for the Global Entrepreneurs Council. Jen made history at the New York Stock Exchange as a member of the first all female group to ring the opening bell. She also had her own PBS special, and Jen Groover’s name has quickly became known with innovation, entrepreneurship ,evolution and emotional intelligence.

 

Jen’s leadership has aligned her with brands like Avon, Verizon, USANA Health Sciences, SkyMall.

 

Jen is a top business and lifestyle contributor and content creator for for major tv networks like ABC, CBS, CNBC, NBC, Fox News and Fox Business News. She also contributes to editorial pieces to several prominent business magazines and online resources as well as her products brand and work have been featured in hundreds of media outlets including O!The Oprah Magazine, Redbook, People, US Weekly, Success and Entrepreneur.

 

 

  • [03:00] What triggered you to make a move to start your own business empire?

 

  • My childhood was not ideal with a lot of uncertainties and unpredictability and fighting around money.  I didn’t want that cycle when I got older.
  • A desire to control my own fate to the point which I could.  
  • [04:05] In college, the idea of career path and the thought of getting a job is not appealing to me.  

 

  • [05:57] Your journey for the Butler Bag, your first product – how you went from concept to creation and what are your initial challenges?

 

  • [06:25] I have twins and one day I was digging through my bag but I could not find my credit card and they were screaming and crying.  I thought to myself – there has to be a better way.
  • [07:25] You don’t complain about something unless you do something about it.
  • [07:37] I trained myself to be inventive as I am not a designer, I can’t draw and I’m not an engineer.  
  • [08:08] Six months later, while unloading the dish washer and from a bird’s eye view I looked at the dish washer tray and everything on the tray was standing straight.  This is how I want my handbag to be.  
  • [09:20] When someone looks at something, they either think: i) someone has thought of it already or ii) why haven’t I thought of that (you probably have a winning product there).  
  • [09:34] The challenges -  mindset and not knowing what to do.
  • [09:59] The obstacles -  I have never done this before.
  • [11:19] When the first shipment came, 95% of them were not the quality of leather I ordered.  Had to figure out how to salvage that mistake.
  • [12:44] What are your distribution, manufacturing and pricing strategies?
  • [13:06] I had to figure out the cost and have a price range that is affordable.  Used Kate Spade in this model.
  • [14:14] Understand the media inside-out.  Hired a trainer who taught me everything about the media and how to tell my story.  
  • [18:40] When was the right time to move to the next project, i.e. Leader Girlz?
  • [19:03] Butler Bag was running itself.  I had a team in place and started doing licensing deals which gave away a lot of responsibilities.  
  • [19:32] I was inspired when I took my daughters to Disneyland when they were 3 years old.  I was telling stories to my daughters that I didn’t believe in.  There must be something more relevant now.
  • [20:27] How do you foster entrepreneurship to a girl through play?
  • [22:12] Teaching the mindset of leadership, empowerment and that uniqueness is a power.
  • [23:33] To take Leader Girlz to the next level and eventually to a franchise model.

 

  • [25:20] How do you prioritize?

 

  1. To be clear on what I really want, what I’m good at and what I’m not, to be very transparent about that.  
  2. To acknowledge that I can’t do it all myself. I have a supportive partner and we complement each other.  Partnership is important in order to scale myself and to leverage.
  3. To delegate well. A good leader empowers people instead of manage people.
  4. Take time to rejuvenate.

 

  • [28:11] Why mindset is one of the key staples to success?

 

  • It is the fundamental foundation to success, not knowledge.  The problems in mindset are the lack of self-worth and lack of self-belief.  

 

Key points

  1. To become aware of where our belief is coming from.  To question everything.  
  2. Taking all those negative beliefs and reverse them to positive.
  3. The “How Powerful I Am” statement – say it, think it, feel it!
  4. Mindset is the driving force of everything.
  5. Your network is your net worth




Best-selling book: “What If And Why Not?”


Website: www.jengroover.com

Feb 8, 2017

Jovanka Ciares is a former entertainment executive turned Wellness expert, detox specialist, nutrition educator and author. She is the creator of the Wellness Smackdown™, a proprietary detox and weight loss program for natural weight loss, which was featured on the first season of ABC’s “My Diet Is Better Than Yours”.

 

  • [00 : 33] - She studied nutrition with best-selling author Dr. T. Colin Campbell at Cornell University and life/wellness coaching at the Spencer Institute.  

 

  • [02 : 30] - Jovanka took her life experience to make it very relatable to women.    
  • [03 : 08] - In her early life, Jovanka made drastic changes that lead to a new life that she is living now and a career that’s she’s in now.
  • [03 : 29] – She is from Puerto Rico.  She went to US later and she fell ill.  Started changing diet from her typical diet that she grew up with to the standard American diet.
  • [04 : 00] - She went to graduate school, started working and climbed the corporate ladder very quickly in a large corporation.
  • [04 : 30] - She was travelling the world and managing an enormous budget and it was taking a toll on her.
  • [04 : 50] - In the process of finding alternatives to the smack down, it led her to the discovery of a new passion that is not mainstream.

 

  • [06 : 38] - How do you take your past experience and turn it into a business and make it a sustainable business model? How do you start from concept to really monetizing the business?

 

  1. A mindset shift has to happen.  Transmit the timeframe.  Use skills that I have learned from the corporate world to transmit to my business plan.  Plan logistically and financially.  Reducing overhead to a minimum for at least the first two or three years.
  2. Clarity about how to grow the business and how to access the market as well as the people.
  3. Aligning myself with people in this industry.  I have two mentors who are instrumental in getting me to where I am today.

 

  • [10 : 50] - Fitness and nutrition programs are normally one-on-one.  How do you structure those group programs?

 

  1. Started off selling one-on-one.
  2. Hired a coach in creating programs for the internet.  Started with a small program.  Now I have published 3 books, 5 or 6 products online and a membership community.
  • [13 : 40] - It took four years after she left her job before the products started to be profitable.
  • [15 : 58] - How did you write the first book and build your credibility further through the book? – I have written three books and they were all self-published which I did on purpose.  I asked people what they wanted in the book which I was going to write.  My second book is a cookbook that complemented the first one.
  • [20 : 31] - You are known as a detox specialist and this word can be confusing.  Can you explain this to the listeners? – No one should be afraid of or concerned about the detox process.  What we do depends on the level of comfort of the client.  

 

  • [25 : 55] - Three strategies to influence your hardest clients to focus on their health:

 

  1. To determine what works for them and this can be different from what works for me.  
  2. Embrace the day-to-day, e.g. this analogy - if there is a flat tire, fix the tire and keep going.  Don’t go back to your old habit.  The end of the road is the end of your life.  
  3. It is part of the journey of your life.  The destination is death.  Your journey does not end when you reach that goal of weight loss, etc.  
  • [30 : 54] - How do you take time off for self-care? – Self-care is not negotiable.  Find time to go for vacation and give back to the community.
  • [35 : 10] - Last words of wisdom – Ensure that there is joy in the process every day.  There will be days that are hard but you must remember why you are doing the things you do.  Be reminded of the things that will bring you joy when your goals are achieved.

 

Website: http://WellnessSmackdown.com

Freebie: http://sexybodyreset.com/ (Actually called the Flat Belly Reset)

Social Media Links:

http://facebook.com/JovankaCiares

http://twitter.com/JovankaCiares

http://youtube.com/user/JovankaCiares  

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