Ep 234 – Praxis CEO, Isaac Morehouse on Apprenticeship: Going From Student to Startup in Nine Months

SIBP-Blog-NEW-4 Hello Success in Business Podcast listeners! Today we are bringing you episode 234. We are here for you every Monday to teach you about success in business and today is no different.

Today Tom Ryan has invited onto our show an incredible entrepreneur, Isaac Morehouse. Isaac has created a business named Praxis that provides students with apprenticeship positions at startup companies. Praxis is an alternative to a traditional university experience, which is a welcome option for many who are daunted by expensive tuition and an ever-growing, post-graduation unemployment outlook.

The philosophy that has guided Isaac through his career is wanting to help people come alive and be free from whatever is holding them back, whether that is internal or external.

For a decade he focused on career mentorship and then he became very successful doing fundraising. As often happens for entrepreneurs, he became anxious to try something new. Isaac started to develop his new idea which as bridging the connectivity gap. He noticed there were lots of unemployed people with a degree and significant debt, and there were also lots of companies who want to hire but can’t find good talent.

Students sit in class for years and just hoping that what they learn will be what some company is looking for. He thought, “Why not do an apprenticeship?” He wanted to help students develop their personal brand.

It seemed crazy to try to turn his idea into a business at that time. He was accustomed to making a comfortable living at that time, so it was a lifestyle change and a sacrifice to engage in a startup at that point. But, he was passionate about his idea to help people go from student to startup in 9 months.

Aside from solving the connectivity gap, he noticed other problems with a traditional college degree. There are some missing skills that needed to be taught in order for graduates be prepared to enter the workplace.

At Praxis they teach skills, sure, but they also teach students to think, “How can I create value at this company?” They de-school their apprentices from a permission-seeking-mindset or a rule-following-mindset to a value-creating-mindset.

In the computer programing world, for example, the degree doesn’t matter very much. The startup-mindset way of hiring is the way the world is going. Think of yourself as a business: “me-inc.” See yourself as your own product and be in the startup context to see what that means so you don’t get stuck thinking that you just work a job.

The truth is that employers want to hire people with initiative and practical experience and in many fields a typical Bachelors degree simply does not mean that graduates are prepared for the workplace. Isaac has been able to see past our present expectations of a normal education and has partnered with many great startups to provide paid apprenticeships to students and give them a concentrated, powerhouse of an education!

Learn more about Praxis by clicking here.

To listen to Isaac Morehouse’s Podcast visit IsaacMorehouse.com


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Ep. 197 – Seed Funding 101: Debt Financing Overview

SIBP-Blog-NEW-5At some point during the life of your business, you will need to expand. This is just as true for small-scale lifestyle businesses as it is for a high-growth startup. To finance that growth, you have two basic financing options: equity and debt. While equity can make a lot of sense for an early stage company, it’s not always the best option for a more established business. In those cases, debt might be the right tool for the job.

In today’s episode of the Success In Business Podcast, host and business coach Tom Ryan begins an overview of the basics of debt-based financing. As always, Tom is joined by co-host and producer Jason Pyles. Continue reading

Ep. 196 – Seed Funding 101: Equity Is Expensive

SIBP-Blog-NEW-4Given the seemingly lower risks and potential benefits of equity, you might wonder why it isn’t always the preferred instrument for early-stage funding. There’s one simple reason: Equity is expensive. Every percentage point you give up in an equity deal takes a huge bite out of your profit when it’s time to exit. For some businesses, taking on debt to finance growth might make better long-term sense.

In this episode, host and business coach Tom Ryan talks about the bigger picture of debt and equity as fundraising instruments. As always, Tom is joined by producer and co-host Jason Pyles. Continue reading

Ep. 195 – Seed Funding 101: Your Personal Risk With Debt

SIBP-Blog-NEW-3When an investor gives you a million dollars, they now have a million reasons to be upset if the business fails. It’s not surprising that many investors will look for a way to get as much of that money back as they can, particularly if they think you’ve been negligent with their investment. If you don’t want to get sued, you might be wondering about the alternatives to equity-based funding deals, such as traditional business loans. What happens to the business debt when the business fails?

In today’s episode, host and business coach Tom Ryan continues his examination of personal risk in startup funding instruments. As always, Tom is joined by producer and co-host Jason Pyles. Continue reading