Author Archives: producer

Ep. 064 – Interview with Joel Robertson, co-founder of HalfSizeMe.com, Part 2

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SIB-Blog-5As an online-centric weight-management, health and fitness business, HalfSizeMe.com faces many unique challenges. From creating compelling products and services, to solving the riddle of subscriber growth and retention, founders and digital entrepreneurs Joel and Heather Robertson have innovated their way through some tough times.

In this episode, host Tom Ryan continues his conversation with Joel about the challenges HalfSizeMe.com has faced, and the lessons learned as the business has taken shape. Continue reading →

Ep. 063 – Interview with HalfSizeMe.com’s Joel Robertson, Part 1

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SIB-Blog-4When Heather Robertson decided to take control of her weight, her husband Joel was more than just supportive. Together, the two of them built a successful podcast, an online weight-loss support community and a growing business, HalfSizeMe.com. Joel takes his startup work seriously, and he was also one of the first listeners to submit a question to Success In Business Podcast.

Over the next few episodes, host Tom Ryan and co-host Jason Pyles talk to Joel about the challenges HalfSizeMe.com has faced, and the lessons learned as the business has taken shape. Continue reading →

Ep. 062 – Determining Your Highest and Best Use

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SIB-Blog-3As entrepreneurs, we wear a lot of hats. We create business ideas, raise money, create product plans and develop marketing strategies. Particularly in the early stages of the business, we even take on all the tasks that simply have to be done, from keeping the books to taking out the trash. But is doing everything yourself always a good idea?

In this “on the road” solo episode, host Tom Ryan explores the real estate concept of “best use” as it applies to entrepreneurs. Continue reading →

Ep. 061 – Must-Have Entrepreneur Qualities and Strengths

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SIB-Blog-2What are the qualities that make for a great entrepreneur? In this “on the road” episode, host Tom Ryan explore this fantastic listener-submitted question. To give the question more grounding, Tom explores this topic as a kind of “Entrepreneur Job Description.”

Learn the “must have” qualities every business creator needs to possess, as well as the “should have” traits and “big plusses” that help define great entrepreneurs. Continue reading →

Ep. 060 – Interview with N.C. Securities Division Specialist Leo John, Part 2

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SIB-Blog-6Building your company is more than a matter of developing products and finding customers, it’s also a matter of creating a strong and stable legal entity. Simply having the wrong legal structure can be a major red flag for investors. Understanding taxes, intrastate funding, and other state-level issues can easily cause a fledgling entrepreneur’s head to spin.

In this episode, host Tom Ryan continues his interview Leo John, a Legal Specialist for the Securities Division of the N.C. Secretary of State. Leo provides a wealth of insight into a wide variety of topics, from intrastate crowdfunding investment to solid advice for forming a legally sturdy business. As always, Tom is joined by co-host Jason Pyles. Continue reading →

Ep. 059 – Interview with N.C. Securities Division Specialist Leo John, Part 1

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SIB-Blog-4One of the most important things for any fledgling entrepreneur to understand is how to build a positive relationship with the state business agencies. Knowing the rules and regulations will prevent countless future headaches, from legal costs to licenses. For a company seeking investment and outside funding, knowing the rules can prevent outright catastrophe.

In this episode, host Tom Ryan interviews Leo John, a Legal Specialist for the Securities Division of the N.C. Secretary of State. Leo provides a wealth of insight, from the value of retaining a securities attorney early in the process to the future of investment crowdfunding in North Carolina. As always, Tom is joined by co-host Jason Pyles. Continue reading →

Ep. 058 – Elementary Startup Planning For New Entrepreneurs

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SIB-Blog-3What are the fundamental steps for creating a viable business? What groundwork needs to be laid before any entrepreneur can take their business plan to investors? In this episode, host Tom Ryan strips the business-creation process down to the most basic levels to reveal the core elements of a viable startup.

Tom is on the road this week, requiring a slight change of format from two-person discussion to solo show format. As a result, he’ll be taking on a variety of listener questions. Continue reading →

Ep. 057 – Do You Really Need a Business Plan?

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SIB-Blog-2Are long-form business plans really necessary for every startup? Are they even all that useful? Are there better alternatives? This week, host Tom Ryan takes on this controversial topic, explaining his skeptical view of traditional business plans and offering some other options for fledgling entrepreneurs.

Tom is on the road this week, requiring a slight change of format from two-person discussion to solo show format. As a result, he’ll be taking on a variety of listener questions. Continue reading →

Ep. 056 – Interview with Slidebean CEO ‘Caya’ Cayasso, Part 4

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Jose 'Caya' Cayasso, CEO of Slidebean

Jose ‘Caya’ Cayasso, CEO of Slidebean

In this episode, the Success In Business Podcast wraps up our interview with Jose ‘Caya’ Cayasso, founder and CEO of presentation-sharing software startup Slidebean. In this segment of the interview, Tom and Caya discuss working with investors, the challenge of timing your fundraising, and the startup cultures of New York, Silicon Valley and Costa Rica.

In addition to his success as an entrepreneur, Caya has been named in the “40 Under 40” list of Costa Rican innovators by El Financiero newspaper, and received an Innovation Champion by the Costa Rican Ministry of Science and Technology. Continue reading →

Ep. 055 – Interview with Slidebean CEO ‘Caya’ Cayasso, Part 3

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Jose 'Caya' Cayasso, CEO of Slidebean

Jose ‘Caya’ Cayasso, CEO of Slidebean

In this episode, the Success In Business Podcast continues our interview with Jose ‘Caya’ Cayasso, founder and CEO of presentation-sharing software startup Slidebean. In this segment of the interview, Tom and Caya discuss accelerator programs, and the lessons learned from pitching his startups to over 150 investors.

In addition to his success as an entrepreneur, Caya has been named in the “40 Under 40” list of Costa Rican innovators by El Financiero newspaper, and received an Innovation Champion by the Costa Rican Ministry of Science and Technology. Continue reading →