Scratch Entrepreneur

Starting a new business from scratch is an adventure. On the Scratch Entrepreneur podcast we dig deep into the systems, secrets, and stories of remarkable people who dropped everything to start a healthy profitable business.

Guiding Principles of Switchyard Brewing Company 12/16/2019

Chuck Surack on Online Retail 03/22/2019

Dhar Mann on the Power of Influencer Marketing 03/08/2019

Pat East - 5 Steps to a Healthy Profitable Business 02/20/2019

Abby Gitlitz - Don't Play With Glass 02/06/2019

Pete Yonkman - Walking Billboard for Cook Medical 01/23/2019

Matt Ellenwood - How to Turn Problems into Opportunities 01/16/2019

Margaret Fette – How to build a business based on sewing 01/08/2019

Jay Baer – How to explode your word of mouth marketing with Talk Triggers 11/27/2018

Jay Baer – How to explode your word of mouth marketing with Talk Triggers When McKenzie and I started Shine Insurance I had very little knowledge of how to run a business and even less about how to sell something. I had been a teacher for 13 years. People brought their kids to my classroom and if I boomed, the immediate consequences were limited. I also knew that people don’t particularly like insurance and insurance agents, maybe next to used car guys, are the basic definition of slimy sales people. We knew we where setting out to change that perception to literally change the way people feel about insurance, but besides just being ourselves, we didn’t really know how. So we did what so many new business owners do, we asked around about good resources for starting a business. Fortunately, we came across two particular resources that would define our trajectory. The first was an online course by Marie Forleo called B-school. This course, directed at female business owners was chalk full of good advice from brand strategies, to launching a product, and beyond. The second was a book called Youtility by Jay Baer. This book laid out a basic premise: First you define your ideal client. Then you figure out ways to do good things for them. Things that are useful and helpful in their lives. Those things do not have to be connected with the product you sell at all. They simply have to help the people you envision being able to help someday. That book solved a conflict inside myself. I loved helping people and, as a teacher, helping kids grow was my primary purpose. I knew that leaving teaching and starting a business was the right choice but the whole insurance thing was kind of a struggle, was I really going to meaningfully help people? Jay gave me permission to add another layer and simply think of how I could help period. This podcast is actually a result of Jay’s book. It is an attempt to help entrepreneurs big and small. To offer one conversation a week where you hear another business owner like yourself tell their story and connect with a greater community of business owners in a meaningful way. So it is with great honor that I present this weeks guest. Jay Baer is the founder of the internationally renowned marketing firm Convince and Convert, a Hall of Fame keynote speaker, and the author of six books including Youtility, Hug Your Haters, and his most recent booming success Talk Triggers. This is a conversation you’ll want a pen and paper for. Jay lays our smart, basic concepts about word of mouth marketing, how to create a Talk Trigger, why he loves research, and what the future of social media holds. We’re glad you joined us. Topics discussed include: Storytelling in Marketing (6:30) Saying “No” and knowing your competition (17:20) Talk Triggers - Word of Mouth (22:00) Trends in Social Media (33:45) Are we focusing too much on Social Media? (44:15) Getting reviews (48:00) Mentioned in the episode: Special thanks to Jay Baer for taking the time to share his story with us Contributors to this episode include: Host - Music - Editing - Christopher Lang If you enjoyed this podcast, there’s a couple of things we need you to do right now: SUBSCRIBE to Scratch Entrepreneur on , , or wherever you listen to podcasts While your there, please REVIEW the show SHARE with friends Finally, please, JOIN the Then, please share the show with whoever you think it will inspire. Until the next time, We truly appreciate you listening. Need Shine? More great stories & information at: - - - /episode/index/show/scratchentrepreneur/id/7689578

The Price of A Good Laugh with Mat Alano Martin 11/15/2018

The Price of A Good Laugh with Mat Alano Martin The great thing about entrepreneurs is that they come in all categories. On almost any topic you could name business owners across the entire scale. Lets start with money – Jeff Bezos is a pretty rich dude and on the other end, a homeless person on a street corner is doing the best they can with the cards they were dealt When it comes to personality, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg are total introverts while Joe Rogan & The Dwayne Johnson could probably talk to a fish for 8 hours. There are big personilties and small ones, overflowing bank accounts and a sock full of change hidden under the couch. Everyone can be an entrepreneur. But there are some fields that you simply know the path to success is a tiny trail up the side of a steep mountain. Our guest today decided to take one of those. His rugged entrepreneurial trail of choice was comedy found accidentally while he was chasing another hard fought dream, a career in music. About ten years ago Mat Alano Martin was performing as a singer songwriter under the name of Sam Lowry. His songs were heavy and sad so he started throwing out whimsical banter between each song to lighten the mood. At some point, he realized people liked the banter more than the music so he started refining his jokes and performing at open mic nights. Everything started snowballing from there. We’re glad you joined us. Topics discussed in this episode include: What inspired Mat as a kid (7:00) How audiences react (12:00) The power of comedy (18:00) How to put together a set (22:30) When to scrap a joke (27:00) Lessons learned in the business of comedy (34:00) Advice for getting started in comedy (43:00) Mentioned in the episode: Special thanks to for taking the time to share his story with us Contributors to this episode include: Host - Music - Editing - Christopher Lang If you enjoyed this podcast, there’s a couple of things we need you to do right now: SUBSCRIBE to Scratch Entrepreneur on , , or wherever you listen to podcasts While your there, please REVIEW the show SHARE with friends Finally, please, JOIN the Then, please share the show with whoever you think it will inspire. Until the next time, We truly appreciate you listening. Need Shine? More great stories & information at: - - - /episode/index/show/scratchentrepreneur/id/7561910

Adjusting Medicine with Dr Karin Drummond 11/08/2018

Adjusting Medicine with Dr Karin Drummond There is no one value more important to running a healthy profitable business than being yourself. Maybe that wasn’t true 50 years ago, maybe molding to the established norms was how you succeeded. But not today. Today, authenticity is everything. You don’t have to be polished or perfect, but you do have to be real. Don’t get me wrong, if being yourself means wearing pajamas out into public and you’re the CEO of a high-end fashion company you may not stay CEO for long. But, you may be the next marketing director of Pajamagram. Sorting still happens, we aren’t simply immune to the inequality, the prejudice, the unspoken hierarchies of old. But now more than ever, being yourself matters. Today’s heros are youtube vloggers acting stupid and tech moguls that flying to Mars. In politics, one of the world’s most pure marketing experiences, atheletes are speaking truth to power and power is saying whatever it damn well pleases whenever it wants. Authenticity whether wholesome or heresy, obnoixious or enlightening is winning. And in the long term, that’s a good thing. If everyone is being real, we can make decisions based on what’s presented. There’s nothing more confusing than being told your eating a hot dog when it’s actually a pickle. The work of today’s guest is at the heart of authentic. She is an analyzer, a healer, a medicine woman of sorts. She’s trying to move an industry that’s strayed far from real into the depths of money and greed and abuse back to a simple mission of helping all of us live healthier happier lives. Karin Drummond is a chiropractor, which I learned means a lot of different things. But to her it’s simple. She is a fixer both before catastrophe and after. In our conversation she shares the childhood that set her path towards medicine, what’s wrong with medicine in America, and simple steps we can take to live a stronger healthier life. In the end, she sets both mind, body, and spirit into, well, alighnment. We’re glad you joined us. Episode topics include: Growing up in British Columbia (6:00) The two schools of thought in Chiropractic care (9:00) The patient experience at Karin’s practice (12:00) Success stories (14:30) Why do we react instead of prevent? (21:00) Changes Karin would make to improve our healthcare (24:00) Health Insurance (27:20) Types of pain (30:00) What happens when you get an adjustment? (37:00) Is cracking your knuckles bad? (38:30) Starting the business (41:00) The hiring process (46:00) Special thanks to Karin Drummond for taking the time to share the story with us Contributors to this episode include: Host - Music - Editing - Christopher Lang If you enjoyed this podcast, there’s a couple of things we need you to do right now: SUBSCRIBE to Scratch Entrepreneur on , , or wherever you listen to podcasts While your there, please REVIEW the show SHARE with friends Finally, please, JOIN the Then, please share the show with whoever you think it will inspire. Until the next time, We truly appreciate you listening. Need Shine? More great stories & information at: - - - /episode/index/show/scratchentrepreneur/id/7474709

Get Local with BTown LowDown 10/23/2018

Get Local with BTown LowDown The best towns, just like the best businesses, have a story. There’s a simple reason why. Because every single one of us is wired to connect with a great story. We connect with the characters, love their simple flaws that remind us of our own, yell at the bad guys in a way we probably couldn’t in real life, and use the story to analyze our own perspectives on the world, how we would have done it, how we would have become the hero…or the villain. Our guest today has actually built the fabric of our town's story in a variety of ways. First he wrote for a local public radio show called , then he crafted many of the stories in Bloomington’s own magazine called . Most recently, he when out on his own and started a podcast called . Btown Low Down, which has gained a ton of notoriety even though it’s less than a year old, breaks down the goings on in our little southern Indiana community. and his cohost , chat about upcoming events, local phenomenons, and even some of our towns history. Then they interview a guest that has insight into those goings on. The result is a snapshot of the weekly culture of one not so sleepy town. So here is exactly what you’ll get from our conversation: Jeremy’s backstory and why he loves to write nonfiction pieces. His option on what makes good content, and finally the steps he took to launch BTown LowDown and gain hundreds of listeners per episode from the very beginning. And then, if that wasn’t enough, we head over to Patreon for the after show. Jeremy is a musician as well so I asked him to break down one of his favorite songs and why. The conversation that followed was a story in and of itself. A deep dive into the structure and history of one of the most famous songs ever written. We’re glad you joined us. Overview of the conversation: Podcasts we’re listening to (4:30) Jeremy’s youth, born to be in media (9:00) A timeline of Jeremy’s history in media (12:20) Creating content and what is storytelling (24:00) The Btown Lowdown origin story (35:30) How he got the word out about the podcast (43:30) Mentioned in the episode: Special thanks to for taking the time to share the story with us Contributors to this episode include: Host - Music - Editing - Christopher Lang If you enjoyed this podcast, there’s a couple of things we need you to do right now: SUBSCRIBE to Scratch Entrepreneur on , , or wherever you listen to podcasts While your there, please REVIEW the show SHARE with friends Finally, please, JOIN the Then, please share the show with whoever you think it will inspire. Until the next time, We truly appreciate you listening. Need Shine? More great stories & information at: - - - /episode/index/show/scratchentrepreneur/id/7272995

Be Golden is Empowering Women 10/01/2018

Be Golden is Empowering Women We talk a lot on this podcast about building tribes, groups of customers that love your product, love your company, and feel like they are a part of something special because, well, they are. The tribal metaphor has always worked in my mind for two primary reasons. If you have a community of raving fans then you must be doing something right It’s very easy to tell whether you actually have a tribe or not. Our guest today is a part of a movement, a tribe that is made up of a community of millions of impassioned and empowered women who believe very simply that equality is not too much to expect. She, like so many other women, has decided that sitting back and watching isn’t an option. So she founded Be Golden, a business with the mission of supporting and empowering women of all shapes, sizes, colors, and creed. In our conversation, she shares how Be Golden came to be, talks about the evolution of feminism, and why the Be Golden conference attracts women from across the country to come together and celebrate what makes each of them leaders, innovators, and revolutionaries. We’re glad you joined us. Topics discussed in this episode include: How Be Golden got it’s start (2:30) How women’s empowerment is changing (6:15) The 4 waves of feminism (14:00) The #MeToo movement (17:30) Speakers and topics at the upcoming conference (23:00) Mentioned in the episode: Special thanks to Sarah Perfetti for taking the time to share the story with us Contributors to this episode include: Host - Music - Editing - Christopher Lang If you enjoyed this podcast, there’s a couple of things we need you to do right now: SUBSCRIBE to Scratch Entrepreneur on , , or wherever you listen to podcasts While your there, please REVIEW the show SHARE with friends Finally, please, JOIN the Then, please share the show with whoever you think it will inspire. Until the next time, We truly appreciate you listening. Need Shine? More great stories & information at: - - - /episode/index/show/scratchentrepreneur/id/7106957

Selling Cities with Mike McAfee 09/25/2018

Selling Cities with Mike McAfee All of us have aspirations. From Elan Musk, who wants to dig tunnels and colonize Mars, to a homeless kid sitting in school and trying to look normal. We all have aspirations. The cool thing about being human is that there are as many visions of a better future as there are people. Everyone’s is different. And even though there are around 7 Billion different sets of aspirations, none of them are wrong. Different than what your parents wanted, maybe. Misguided, at least 40% of the time for sure. But 100% yours and only yours, well, if you stick to your guns then difinetely. Aspirations are the fabric of being human. From wanting to win your next fantasy football game to trying to create balance between your work and your home life. But when we become entrepreneurs we test the very fabric of those aspirations. Suddenly they’re not just hopes and dreams but rather bread, butter, and the mortgage payment. The aspirations of entrepreneurs are often referred to by another name >> your business plan. That plan is the ultimate test of your aspirations. Our guest today has tested lots of his aspirations. But he’s not a business owner, Like a few Scratch Entrepreneur guests before him, he’s the director of a non profit. For the last 30 years, Mike McAfee has been selling cities. Actually, over those years he’s sold counties and even states too. Now in his role as the director of Visit Bloomington he sells one specific city, Bloomington, IN. On this episode, he shares exactly how he does it. We’re glad you joined us. Topics discussed in this episode: When you were a kid, what did you want to grow up to be? (3:00) So then bring us forward in time to your adult life. What was going on in your life when you had the opportunity to become the director of Visit Bloomington? (12:30) How does Bloomington compare to other cities with a thriving tourism economy? (16:50) The role of Visit Bloomington (20:30) What are the weaknesses Bloomington has when it comes to tourism? (31:10) Where are our strengths? (32:50) Paint a picture of the future of tourism in Bloomington or beyond (34:40) What kind of non-profit is Visit Bloomington and why does it matter? (36:40) Hiring the right people for the right seats (38:00) Where do you see your entrepreneurial world in 5 years: (46:20) Catch the after show on Patreon! Mentioned in the episode: Special thanks to Mike Mcafee for taking the time to share the story with us Contributors to this episode include: Host - Music - Editing - Christopher Lang If you enjoyed this podcast, there’s a couple of things we need you to do right now: SUBSCRIBE to Scratch Entrepreneur on , , or wherever you listen to podcasts While your there, please REVIEW the show SHARE with friends Finally, please, JOIN the Then, please share the show with whoever you think it will inspire. Until the next time, We truly appreciate you listening. Need Shine? More great stories & information at: - - - /episode/index/show/scratchentrepreneur/id/7084198

Real Estate Rock Star Donald Griffin 08/14/2018

Real Estate Rock Star Donald Griffin Have you ever bought a house? I remember the first time I did. It was a really beat up old bungalow with great old bones. I fell in love immediately even though I probably shouldn’t have. The one thing I didn’t do, that I really should have, is hire a realtor. They probably would have noted that the basement was leaky and flooded every time it rained, or that the bathroom was actually just an old back porch with a shower plopped in it, or that we were paying way too much for the work we were going to have to do. I didn’t hire a realtor because, well, I wasn’t very smart about it. Our guest today would have been the perfect guy to help. He is a realtor who's helped people just like me buy houses, sell houses, flip houses, and even rent houses. In the world of real estate, he’s done it all. Along the way he’s been growing a community of raving fans. Like most realtors, he started by joining a realty group. You’ve probably heard the names FC Tucker, Berkshire Hathaway, RE Max, and on and on. These are engines that a new realtor can join and have access to help. But eventually got the entrepreneurial itch. He decided he wanted control and the ability to carve his own path. So he he jumped out on his own and started . You’ll hear that story and his insights into real estate, owning a business, and everything in between. We’re glad you joined us. Episode topics include: Outsourcing what you’re not good at What’s OCHA? Advertising Strange things Donald has seen showing homes Top tips for showing your home Being yourself in your brand How Donald built an amazing team Mentioned in the episode: Special thanks to for taking the time to share the story with us Contributors to this episode include: Host - Music - Editing - Christopher Lang If you enjoyed this podcast, there’s a couple of things we need you to do right now: SUBSCRIBE to Scratch Entrepreneur on , , or wherever you listen to podcasts While your there, please REVIEW the show SHARE with friends Finally, please, JOIN the Then, please share the show with whoever you think it will inspire. Until the next time, We truly appreciate you listening. Need Shine? More great stories & information at: - - - /episode/index/show/scratchentrepreneur/id/6915683

David Quick is Helping Bulls Thrive in China Shops 07/18/2018

Gather Shoppe Brings Artists Together 07/03/2018

Josh Smith Talks Clutch Fabrication 06/05/2018

The Story of Green Funeral Pioneer Esmerelda Kent 05/22/2018

Armin Vit & Bryony Gomez-Palacio are Under Consideration 05/08/2018

Writer & Director Paul Shoulberg 04/24/2018

The Uptown Cafe – Michael Cassady’s 40 year Painting 04/10/2018

Secretly Canadian 03/25/2018

Rock Paper Scissors: Telling Your Brand Story to The World 03/10/2018

Loren Wood Builders 02/27/2018

Loren Wood Builders Our guest today builds houses. Really beautiful houses Hardwood floors with deep velvety purple finishes, huge windows full of afternoon sun. Each home is unique and, like any good builder, his finished pieces have a stunning signature to them. and his team of builders drop their heart and soul into every new build. They pour foundations, frame walls, run electrical, pop about a trillion nails into all of it, and finally when it’s all done, they take some pretty pictures, open the doors for the home's new owner, and move on to the next one. We’re glad you joined us! Here are some highlights: What childhood memories led Loren to start a construction biz? (2:50) Loren remembers being amazed as a kid by the fact that his uncle built his own house. It seemed to Loren at the time like his uncle Rick hit every nail in by himself without any help. He always thought that was awesome and wanted to do it himself. What’s a story that stucks out as an example of what Loren builds for people? (4:10) For Loren it’s not really one example. He enjoys the process. He’s proud that there are beautiful houses with his name attached to them but he’s more connected with the experience of it. He likes helping people through the process, creating a great work environment for his employees, and honing the entire process. The connection for him is a lot more with the doing than the result. When it comes to building materials, there’s everything from toxic to materials cut down on the same property of the house. Where does Loren stand on that scale? (12:40) When he first started, Loren built his own house at the highest level of every environmental standard. But he learned pretty quickly that it wasn’t always feasible, and his clients didn’t want or feel they needed that. So now he builds putting the most important things (like high efficiency design) first. From there he tries the help clients make smart and balanced decisions. You do a ton of work supporting non-profits in Bloomington. What role does that play in your business and your thinking? (16:30) Loren didn’t start his business thinking he would be doing a bunch of giving. He just wanted to build a couple of houses. Once he started becoming bigger he started getting asked to do things, so he did them. He started realizing that he really could use his role as a builder to contribute to his community. How do you build a great staff? (23:10) Loren remembers watching through his dad’s factory and his dad pointing out each employee and why that person was a key part of the process. His dad was affirming his team and their value to the business. Setting a positive work environment is key number one. Being able to compensate people fairly is the second. People have to have a living wage to make things work. Employees are part of a profit sharing part of the business as well. Finally, creating a culture where there’s room for advancement. Professional and creative growth is key. Putting all of this together with a positive attitude is the formula Loren uses everyday to keep employees and keep the whole team happy. Where will Loren Wood Builders be in 5 years? (39:00) Loren is really happy with where things are at right now. If he was still humming at the same pitch five years down the road, that works for him. Curiosity has changed and he’s sure it will change again but the premise, the structure, he’s good with it. Special thanks to Loren Wood for taking the time to share the story with us! Mentioned in the episode: Music by Mark Vinten We don't just tell great stories. We're happy to help with insurance too More at: - - - /episode/index/show/scratchentrepreneur/id/6304548

BeeCorp: Saving Honey One Queen Bee at a TIme 02/11/2018

The Story of Lil Bub’s Dad Mike 01/29/2018

The Inkwell 01/23/2018

DeveloperTown with Michael Kelly 01/07/2018

Cheddar & Sproutbox with Mike Trotzke 12/17/2017

Scratch Entrepreneur

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