Sunny Lawrence is the wife of James “The Iron Cowboy” Lawrence. A Guinness World Record holder, James is well known for completing 50 Ironman races in 50 consecutive days, through all 50 US States. He has shared his story in several Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) speaking events. Sunny proudly considers herself the woman behind the Iron Man. She and James live in Utah with their five children. She shares her perspective as an entrepreneur’s partner. “You are like a puppy dog that just blindly follows James around. You have no backbone and he just walks all over you.” I’ve always had a very strong personality. I was definitely a loud-mouth and a self-proclaimed comedian growing up. It wasn’t until I was older that I realized that being funny, confident and strong really were personality traits that I was born with and never really needed to work for. When James and I met, I knew he wanted to be a professional golfer. My dad is an entrepreneur, so it wasn’t foreign to me at all to have dreams, BIG dreams. As time passed, his goals evolved, but they were always entrepreneurial. I had no problem supporting James in his non-conventional goals and I pursued conventional goals for myself. When the accusation was made that I let James walk all over me, I started laughing! Clearly, this person didn’t know me very well. My response, “Never in my life have I been accused of being a pathetic puppy dog, following ANYONE around, and lacking a backbone.” Over the years, this has stayed with me. I still chuckle when I reflect on this statement. How often do we form opinions on situations that we know nothing about? Another assumption made is that because I am in the background, working behind the scenes, I am being taken advantage of, and that I am missing out on all the fun, fame and attention. First of all, this is partially true for any mother. We work our butts off, 24/7, looking after lots of people, and tending to far too many schedules. This is the basic structure of being a mom, and to be honest, it’s kind of awesome. But I think the misconception comes when people assume that James is fulfilling his dreams while I do all the work and watch him succeed, while I rot and do nothing.
First things first, James and I have very different personalities. He CRAVES the adventure. Me? No thank you! Secondly, as I mentioned earlier, James has non-conventional dreams. I am perfectly content with conventional and boring goals. I spend every day of my life setting goals and knocking them out of the park. I don’t need to do 50 iron-distance triathlons, in 50 states, in 50 days to feel accomplished. I am stoked about getting the kitchen cleaned up, getting the closet organized, cheering up the weary-hearted and helping my kids accomplish their goals. Third, and most importantly, we live in a society that is all about competition. We aren’t encouraged in our culture to help others, or cheer them on, as they accomplish THEIR goals. We are trained to be competitive, talk them down, and downplay other peoples’ successes. Well, if this is your standard, I am an aimless puppy dog, being taken advantage of. But let me offer you another perspective: When you care about someone, you care about the things that they care about.
For example, when James tells me that LeBron is sitting out a game or that Tiger Woods made the cut for the weekend tournament, I show interest. Not because I care about LeBron or Tiger, but because I care about James. When James sets a goal, it is my privilege to support him and be excited for him in his goal, no matter what it is. When he succeeds, the success feels just as pure as if I had accomplished this goal of my own.
Frankly, it is MORE rewarding than when I accomplish my own goals. I am so invested and so connected with James through his journey, that it means everything to me because I care about him. So going back to my opening line, do I just follow him blindly? Not even close. Anyone who knows us knows that I wear the pants. But they also know that I am walking side-by-side, holding the hand of the man I love, cheering him on and sometimes pulling him toward his goal. Together, we make an incredible team, and my life is far more interesting with him as my best friend. The post Living Life in the Background: Meet the Woman Behind the Iron Cowboy appeared first on Octane Blog – The official blog of the Entrepreneurs' Organization. via Octane Blog – The official blog of the Entrepreneurs' Organization https://ift.tt/35ztPgz
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At the start of 2020, Chelle Neff is wrapping up a decade of considerable success, growth and innovation. In addition to developing Urban Betty, a successful salon with two locations, Neff also created an app for stylists, produced a book about homes in Austin, Texas, and even reached the Inc. 5000 list twice! You opened Urban Betty in 2005 and it’s been growing ever since. You also have an impressive array of side projects—from books and apps to philanthropic and environmental initiatives. What drives you? And what’s next?I live and breathe to continuously grow, evolve and ensure the success of my salon company. While there have been a few times when I thought I’d have to close the doors of Urban Betty, I chose not to give up, to learn from my mistakes and to implement significant changes to save the business. If I had to name one thing that drives me, in all honesty, I’d have to say it’s the feeling of self-worth. I have this secret battle with my ego and I’m not yet certain if that’s a good or bad thing? I know many entrepreneurs, including myself, have a hard time separating ourselves from our brand. When my brand is doing well, I feel great and want more! What’s next? I am working on a customized organic Urban Betty product line. We have the perfect platform (along with e-commerce) to bring that to fruition. My husband and I are also pitching a second Weird Homes Tour book with all of the cities in it. We have five cities so far and are bringing in the Bay Area in 2020. Last but not least, I am scouting sites for a third Urban Betty location! Urban Betty is a Green Circle Salon. Can you explain what that means?Green Circle Salons provide the world’s first sustainable salon solution to recover and repurpose beauty waste. At our salon, we collect, recycle and repurpose all of our hair clippings, used foils, color-tubes, excess hair color, papers, plastics and glass. We have separate bins for each item, and we send them to Green Circle Salons every month. We charge a small (optional) Eco Fee of $2.50 per guest to cover the cost. So far, Green Circle has diverted over six million pounds of waste from landfills and waterways. We are so excited to be a part of that revolution. Describe where the beauty industry as a whole is regarding sustainability and environmental concerns.The beauty industry is stepping up to the plate where the environment and sustainability are concerned. Estée Lauder is working closely with the global nonprofit organization Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil to ensure that their cultivation methods and sourcing have a minimal negative environmental impact, and L’Oréal has committed to being deforestation-free by 2020. We are a Redken-focused salon, which is owned by L’Oréal, which makes this so important to us. I am seeing more and more of my staff asking questions and wanting to get involved with recycling and repurposing. When I first opened my salon 15 years ago, there wasn’t education or companies you could reach out to about sustainability. Now we have lots of options and solutions for our industry. It’s exciting to see more and more salons sign up each year with companies that make it their mission to help our industry become more environmentally friendly. How is technology changing the beauty industry?Technology is improving our industry! We have so many amazing things that we can access just from the palm of our hands. Instagram has forever changed how guests can find stylists that appeal to them. Long gone are the days of asking your neighbor or someone in the grocery store. Pinterest has forever changed our consultation game. We can make different boards that represent cuts, color, up-dos and makeup and show them to our guests, or have them make their own to show us. It’s an extremely beneficial tool, especially for a first-time guest. Nothing will ever replace an in-person, customized consultation where a professional can feel your hair, assess the damage and recommend the correct products for you to use. There is a worry in our industry about customers seeking to buy on Amazon instead of the salon; however, if you have a powerful consultation and provide excellent customer experience, you shouldn’t have to worry about that. Our retail sales have only increased each year, so I know the power of an in-person experience versus an online one. Tell us about your transition to a desk-less front desk.I first learned about the desk-less front desk at a salon owner’s convention, and the idea clicked for me and made sense. It was unfortunate because about a year earlier, I had invested US$10,000 on a new front desk for our flagship location, and so I wasn’t going to tear it down anytime soon. But, I knew I’d be opening a second location the following year, so I used this opportunity to build the desk-less front desk! The idea is that guests don’t want the experience of a “fortress” separating them from your staff. Guests wish to have an open and intimate experience. It’s a simple concept inspired by the Apple Store. At our SoCo (second) location, we have a bar that is open on all sides with two computers. This model gives guests the ability to be more comfortable, engage, connect and ask questions with our front desk staff. It is my goal to one day revamp the front desk at our original location to match this model, and I will forever utilize this concept at every future salon that we open. You mention that this last year has been all about growth—74% growth in the last three years, according to Inc.com. Growth naturally comes with obstacles and opportunities. Can you share any specifics?Yes, without the struggle, I feel there is no opportunity for growth. I learned the phrase “celebrate all mistakes” in 2019, and I have made that my motto! The most significant struggle I had at my salon company was learning how to create structure and systems that would, in turn, generate profit. I started with a contractor-based model, and then slowly switched to a commission-based (employee) model. I kept trying to change things up thinking, “this will be the thing that will turn my P&L around and make a profit.” After 11 years of being stuck in that hamster wheel, I decided to turn to professionals in my industry and ask for help, which, by the way, is extremely hard for me to do! I hired a consulting group called Summit that changed my life. First, we restructured our pricing list based on the demographics in our surrounding area. We were charging prices that were way too low and giving package deals. We switched to an a-la-carte service menu to help alleviate those issues. These two things by themselves made a significant impact on our profit. We also created a career path for our service providers based on a six-tier level system. The first level starts at a 40 percent commission rate, which increases to 54 percent at level six, the highest-paid commission rate. Service providers are given direction through monthly one-on-ones and goal setting. Within three months of implementing Summit’s methods, we had more money in our bank accounts than ever before. And two years later, I was able to retire from doing hair and focus solely on managing and scaling my company. Was earning a spot on the Inc. 5000 a specific goal of yours? Will you be aiming for it again next year?YES! To be named as an Inc. 5000 company two years in a row was a huge goal of mine. I feel it’s like winning the “Oscars of the business world.” I will always throw my hat in the ring for Inc. 5000 and strive to grow just for that honor. I would love to get it three times! You joined the Austin chapter of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) in January 2019. How has EO influenced your growth and your journey as an entrepreneur?I can honestly say that EO has influenced me more on a personal/emotional level in my journey, thus far. We all know that when we grow emotionally, our business tends to follow. My motivation when joining EO was to gain more of a support network of business owners around me. I could not have imagined that, despite how different our industries/businesses are, we all share a common vision and have similar questions. I have met people who echo the same life questions in our Forum meetings that resonate with those of my very own, even ones I hadn’t fully become conscious of yet. I have learned that it’s okay to make mistakes and share them. It’s not embarrassing now; it’s empowering. Finally, feeling that as an entrepreneur has given me grace in places that I truly needed it in 2019 to grow and learn. What has been your favorite EO event or benefit so far?I got to meet Howard Schultz, former CEO of Starbucks, in person within three months of becoming an EO member! He spoke for our EO Austin chapter during SXSW, and I was one of five people chosen to meet with him for a small, private question-and-answer session. It was a powerful moment, and he gave some great advice to us that day. Learn more about other EO members and what it’s like to join a global network of peers. The post Salon Owner Chelle Neff Talks Scaling, Sustainability and Success appeared first on Octane Blog – The official blog of the Entrepreneurs' Organization. via Octane Blog – The official blog of the Entrepreneurs' Organization https://ift.tt/2FCiT7D In the second article in our series about podcasts, we talk more with two EO members who launched online audio shows in 2019. In part one, we covered three questions to answer before you launch. Sarah Bartholomeusz is a member of the EO Adelaide chapter and founder of You Legal, a law firm that provides tailored corporate and commercial legal solutions. Her podcast, Accountants on Purpose, features interviews with accounting industry professionals. Erik Olson is a member of EO Southeast Virginia and the founder and CEO of Array Digital, a website design and digital marketing agency. He launched his daily Flash Briefings Journeyto100million.com podcast in early 2019. WHY ARE PODCASTS SO POPULAR TODAY?You may be surprised to learn that the first podcast dates back to 2004, when former MTV video jockey Adam Curry and software developer Dave Winer developed what is largely considered the first podcast. According to at least one version of the story, Curry created a program called iPodder. It let him download Internet radio broadcasts to his iPod. In the last three years, however, podcasting has taken over the digital content sphere and become a marketing mainstay for many organizations. Erik Olson, founder and CEO of Array Digital and cohost of the Journeyto100million.com podcast credits the popularity of podcasts to three elements:
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ENTREPRENEURS WHO WANT TO LAUNCH A PODCAST?Sarah Bartholomeusz, founder of You Legal and host of Accountants on Purpose, says, “be prepared to dedicate a lot of time to a project like this. It takes a lot of work to produce a show and to keep it going. There are a lot of elements to consider and a lot of moving parts. If you are up to the challenge though, I say go for it!” Olson advises, “Don’t hesitate. If you’ve been thinking about launching a podcast for a while, then stop thinking about it and start recording. Be sure to pick a topic that you’re passionate about. You’ll be talking about it a lot, so you don’t want to fake passion if it’s not there.” HOW DO SELECT AND COORDINATE WITH PODCAST GUESTS?Not every smart and accomplished person will make for a great podcast. If you opt for an interview-style podcast, be sure to thoroughly vet your guests. Beyond essential competency, you’ll want to be sure the person can technically connect with you—either in your studio or remotely. Most importantly, look for chemistry in your conversation. While you don’t have to share the same outlook or opinions, you should be able to have a respectful, engaging and informed conversation. “I like to think I am in touch with the Australian business community and as such, I already had a long list of people that I felt would be the perfect fit for the show,” Bartholomeusz shares. “I have seen these people in action and I know what they have contributed to the business world, their clients and the world in general.” ANY SPECIFIC ADVICE TO FIRST-TIME PODCASTERS?Give yourself plenty of time to plan, prep and practice. “The first episode I recorded was very awkward, and it never got released,” shares Olson. “While recording that episode I realized I needed to refine the concept. I still didn’t know exactly what I would talk about in the whole series, or why anyone would listen. From that first test recording I also realized that I did not want to talk about marketing as much as I wanted to talk about entrepreneurialism.” Olson adds another p-word to his tips: promote. “Keep in mind how you will market your podcast. You likely won’t have the bandwidth or desire to do it all yourself. Have someone on your current team do it, or hire an agency to help you. But keep in mind that you have to promote it or it will be very slow to gain traction. Simply being in the podcasting platforms will not be enough.” Bartholomeusz agrees that preparation is key. “The unexpected challenge was how much is actually involved in getting the production right and actually going live.” Before setting your go-live date, run through the planning, recording, production and posting process. Looking for more inspiration? Check out EO’s array of podcast for entrepreneurs today. The post How to Launch a Podcast: Advice for Entrepreneurs appeared first on Octane Blog – The official blog of the Entrepreneurs' Organization. via Octane Blog – The official blog of the Entrepreneurs' Organization https://ift.tt/39shEp0 Are you a business owner or entrepreneur thinking about starting a podcast? For tips and guidance on the topic, we recently talked with Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) members who launched podcasts in 2019. Sarah Bartholomeusz is a member of the EO Adelaide chapter and founder of You Legal, a law firm that provides tailored corporate and commercial legal solutions. Erik Olson is a member of EO Southeast Virginia and the founder and CEO of Array Digital, a website design and digital marketing agency. With the help of Bartholomeusz and Olson, we walk you through three key questions you need to answer before pressing record. 1. ASK YOURSELF, WHY A PODCAST?People launch podcasts for a variety of reasons—from wanting to document their stories and share their perspective on life to establishing themselves as thought leaders and marketing their organization. No matter what the reason, there’s no denying that podcasts are omnipresent. You can find one on any and every topic, and their audiences cross demographics. “People are very busy with life these days, probably more than ever,” says Australian entrepreneur Sarah Bartholomeusz. “People are also thirsty for knowledge and hungry for inspiration. Podcasts make it so easy to tune into topics of interest while we are doing our routine tasks and activities.” Bartholomeusz had been intrigued by the idea of creating a podcast years before launching Accountants on Purpose. As a legal expert in Australia, Bartholomeusz is often interviewed. When a member of her team suggested it was time for her to be on the other side of the microphone, she decided to make her dream into a reality. “As an entrepreneur, it was the right ‘next step’ for me to take,” she says. For Erik Olson, the initial driver for launching his Journeyto100million.com podcast was marketing. “The concept was to be the voice of digital marketing in our region and hope to attract the attention of our target audience.” He kicked off his daily podcast in early 2019. 2. WHAT FORMAT MAKES SENSE FOR YOUR TOPIC, YOUR INDUSTRY AND YOUR PERSONALITY?Take the time to figure out what makes sense for you and your target audience. For example, does your topic lend itself to daily briefs? Or long-format weekly episodes? Are you a born storyteller with a gift for talking off the cuff, while still relaying a coherent message? Or maybe you’re a research whiz who prefers to present your analysis on a subject? The answer came naturally for Bartholomeusz. “The format really came down to my personality and how I prefer to be interviewed. I like our guests to feel comfortable and willing to talk―my questions are about business, but I love finding out other interesting things about my guests, as they always surprise me.” Bartholomeusz’s episodes average around 30 minutes and are posted once a week. By contrast, Olson posts daily episodes using Amazon Flash Briefings, a relatively new audio format. “There are over 750,000 podcasts, but only 10,000 flash briefings. Using this platform was an opportunity to get in early on a platform that others weren’t yet taking advantage of,” he explains. “To keep the format compatible with flash briefings, each episode needs to be less than 10 minutes. It’s also common that flash briefings are published daily.” Olson tried different angles before landing on what he calls the “journey format.” “There were issues with the first version of the podcast,” he reveals. “The show was named Marketers Anonymous, an extension of the brand name we already had for our monthly marketing meetups. However, I almost always spoke about the entrepreneurial aspect of running and scaling the business. Although that’s where my passion is, entrepreneurial episodes didn’t seem to resonate with most marketers.” The solution came to Olson at an EO Accelerator day. “My co-host and co-founder, Kevin Daisey, and I agreed that our ‘BHAG’ was to grow the company to US$100 million in revenue by 2030. We had also given talks with the title, Journey to $100 Million.” And so was born the Journey to $100 Million podcast. “Each day, Kevin and I alternate in sharing a business story. Most episodes start by retelling a mistake that we made while growing the business. We then highlight the lessons learned and provide a recommendation for listeners. “We don’t run our episodes by each other, and sometimes that means we have slightly different takes on topics. Sometimes we outright contradict each other in different episodes,” he says. “But that’s ok. It’s reality, and we believe our audience appreciates the authentic view of how the company is actually run.” 3. HOW WILL YOU PRODUCE YOUR SHOW?Bartholomeusz records her show at PodBooth, a professional recording studio in Adelaide. “All the of the production and editing is done at the studio by a very talented producer at PodBooth,” she explains. Professional studios like PodBooth let you minimize hours spent on technical considerations and instead focus on your content. For Olson, the right answer was purchasing the necessary equipment, which allowed him the flexibility to record on evenings and weekends. “I spent less than US$100 to buy a nice microphone, a boom arm and some acoustic foam panels to put on the wall. “It’s a very personal reflection of my thoughts. Although we broadcast those thoughts to the world, I’m ironically uncomfortable recording when people are around.” Podcast development may inform 2020 hiring at Olson’s firm. “Currently, we handle all of the editing in-house with existing staff. But it can be taxing to edit each episode, write a summary and schedule it out through the podcasting platform on our website and on social media. We’re looking at consolidating the podcasting work and other internal marketing work to a new hire in mid-2020.” Look out for our next article in this series on becoming a podcaster, where we’ll delve into Olson’s suggestions and surprises. The post How to Start a Podcast: Begin With These 3 Questions appeared first on Octane Blog – The official blog of the Entrepreneurs' Organization. via Octane Blog – The official blog of the Entrepreneurs' Organization https://ift.tt/36muCD0 |
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