Category Archives: Podcast Episodes

Ep. 068 – An Interview with Brenden Fitzgerald, Part 2

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SIB-Blog-2In his role as a serial entrepreneur, Brenden Fitzgerald has spent a lot of time building community, connecting with influencers and mastering the fine art of raising money through crowdsoucing.

In part two of this interview, host Tom Ryan and Brenden discuss these challenges, as well as managing outsourced talent and courting technical co-founders, all while creating solid products for the market. As always, Tom is joined by co-host Jason Pyles. Continue reading →

Ep. 067 – An Interview with Brenden Fitzgerald, Part 1

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SIB-Blog-1 In today’s episode, serial entrepreneur and GoWorx founder Brenden Fitzgerald returns to the show to talk about his new app-based venture Taggd.

Brenden and host Tom Ryan discuss how the app came to be, lessons learned in the development, and Brenden’s process for working with collaborators.

As always, Tom is joined by co-host Jason Pyles. Continue reading →

Ep. 066 – The Pros and Cons of ABC’s “Shark Tank” Reality TV Show

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Shark TankWith the high-drama of a business pitch and razor-sharp commentary by celebrity-level investors, it’s no surprise that Shark Tank is a popular show among entrepreneurs. It’s good reality TV, but how does it stack up against the real-world process of pitching a business to investors?

As it turns out, host and business coach Tom Ryan has advised two companies that got pretty far into the Shark Tank selection process. In this episode, Tom shares his thoughts on this entertainingly vicious show with co-host Jason Pyles. Continue reading →

Ep. 065 – Interview with Joel Robertson, co-founder of HalfSizeMe.com, Part 3

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SIB-Blog-1As HalfSizeMe.com has grown, they’ve found themselves with an unexpected problem: Not wanting to grow too much. As co-founder Joel Robertson explains, part of the appeal of their business is the personal, somewhat exclusive relationships they build with their clients. Growing too quickly could mean losing that connection. As a result, HalfSizeMe.com’s biggest priority is sustainable retention rather than rapid growth.

In this episode, host Tom Ryan and co-host Jason Pyles wrap up their conversation with Joel about the next steps for growing HalfSizeMe.com, while retaining the strong, individual connections they’ve developed with their clients. Continue reading →

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 →