Starting a business is hard. Scaling a business is even harder. And, exiting a business is harder still. So, why do some companies struggle to reach six figures while others scale to 7, 8, or 9 figures while achieving lucrative exits for its founders? Steve Olsher, Chairman & Founder of Liquor.com, real estate developer, New York Times bestselling author of What Is Your WHAT? and a 25+ year entrepreneur who has built four multimillion-dollar businesses from scratch is on a mission to identify the key differentiators that empower businesses to scale… and exit. To help on this journey, Steve and his co-hosts Mary Goulet and Richard Otey sit down with accomplished entrepreneurs who have ALL either exited for more than $10,000,000 or currently run businesses that exceed $10,000,000 in annual sales to share their proven methodologies, tactics, and strategies. This is Beyond 8 Figures.
As your business grows, chaos and confusion often sneak in, threatening to disrupt your business operations. The solution? Simplify your business. Mikael Dia from Funnelytics sits down with A.J. to discuss the importance of simplicity in business, how to position your business effectively for a successful scale-up, and how simplified processes can help you achieve sustainable growth for your business.
About Mikael Dia:
Mikael Dia is the Founder of Funnelytics, a software company dedicated to helping marketers and agencies visually map and analyze their customer journeys. He is an experienced and savvy growth advisor who helps companies turn strangers into customers.
Aside from being a digital marketing expert passionate about simplifying marketing, Mikael is also a dedicated serial entrepreneur. He has successfully launched and scaled multiple online businesses to 7-figure and beyond. He is passionate about public speaking and sharing knowledge to make a positive impact.
Key Insights:
Mikael’s best advice for entrepreneurs:
“Entrepreneurs are always trying to solve problems. We're always trying to iterate and make things better. [...] So for me, I think the one thing that I find is key is just that constant mindset of, can I keep this as simple as possible?” (43:59)
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Overnight success and exponential growth may sound appealing, but incremental growth is the true key to long-lasting success. Eugene Ravitsky from FactoryPure joins A.J. to discuss the importance of incremental business improvements, how to deliberately and proactively build your infrastructure, and why consistent check-ins with your team are integral to your company’s longevity.
About Eugene Ravitsky:
Eugene Ravitsky is the Co-Founder and President of FactoryPure, one of the fastest-growing eCommerce companies in the United States specializing in heavy-duty items such as generators, air purifiers, and water filters. He’s the type of entrepreneur whose passion for business started early on, back when he was in fourth grade, selling fireball candy to his classmates.
Fast forward many years, he and his brother co-founded their first business together. Even though it wasn’t an instant success, it still turned out to be a defining moment for the brothers, who persevered and eventually discovered their niche. That’s how FactoryPure was born. The company has consistently grown since then, doubling sales every year and earning a spot on the INC 5000 list for five years now.
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Your personal mission is your greatest power. So, as an entrepreneur, it’s your responsibility to embrace it to drive customer value and improve the quality of their lives. Today, Renee Dua from Together by Renee sits down with A.J. to discuss how her personal experiences shaped her business venture, helping her build an innovative health tech product that’s now improving patients’ lives and outcomes.
About Renee Dua:
Renee Dua is the Founder of Together by Renee, an AI assistant that supports patients and their caregivers to achieve better health outcomes by helping them with healthcare tasks. She’s also the Founder and Advisor at Heal, another powerful software to improve health outcomes by providing in-home primary care.
Renee completed her BS in Biochemistry at UC San Diego, her MD at Rosalind Franklin University, her residency in internal medicine at UCLA, and her fellowship in nephrology at USC. Before founding Together by Renee and Heal with her husband, Nick Desai, she built a nephrology practice that was noted for the successful use of electronic health records and practice management.
Episode highlights:
Renee’s best advice for entrepreneurs:
“Everybody has this story. And hearing my patients, having the privilege of being able to still see patients, and then having our parents and me being their caregiver, that has been so instrumental in every aspect of what you see.” (22:23)
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Gone are the days when business success was measured solely by financial gains. Today's global market demands a new approach - sustainable growth. Today, Philip Blackett of Dream Business Makeover sits down with A.J. to discuss his four core of dream business growth, the importance of course correction in achieving business goals, and his hard-earned lessons that have reshaped his perspective on what it means to run a sustainable and resilient business.
About Philip Blackett:
Philip Blackett is an investor and growth advisor. He helps 6, 7, and 8-figure businesses grow their sales, profit & exit value through his Dream Business Makeover program. His goal is to build sustainable and resilient businesses that can withstand market challenges, reach their full potential, and ultimately thrive in an increasingly dynamic landscape.
Philip has a fascinating background. He is a Harvard Business School graduate with a Master’s degree in Business Administration. He’s also experienced in business ownership, franchise management, and business analysis, making him the go-to person for business growth and strategic planning.
Episode highlights:
Philip’s best advice for entrepreneurs:
“Oftentimes business is just a series of experiments until you find the one that works that you're willing to scale it and reap the benefits of. But you have to keep trying, you have to keep testing to find out what works. Otherwise, you're going to be still at point A when you're trying to get to point Z.” (35:58)
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In today’s dynamic business landscape, where companies constantly compete for customers’ attention, effective business copywriting is your best chance to rise above the noise. Our guest, Will Green, of Copy Road, shares three key copywriting principles that can significantly improve your brand’s impact, help build persuasive messaging, and establish meaningful connections, ultimately driving business growth and lasting success.
About Will Green:
Will Green is the master of copywriting. He’s the Founder of Copy Road, where he’s teaching others to turn content into cash flow for their businesses. Will is one of the few copywriters to earn 7-figures in royalties, making him the best person to talk to about copywriting for businesses.
Will used to work in a Charleston-based independent publishing house, Joggling Board Press, where he was in charge of marketing and platform development. He became a junior copywriter at Stansberry and further honed his copywriting skills at Money Map Press. Now, he’s helping clients with their copy while also sharing his valuable knowledge through his course “The Hunger Games,” where 100% of profits from buying go towards feeding hungry people.
Episode highlights:
Will’s best advice for entrepreneurs:
“What works in copywriting is you make an offer that people want, and you make it clear, and then you prove that you can deliver it because if you promise me something I want and you prove to me that you can deliver it, and I can afford your price, I'm going to buy.” (07:25)
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Building a purpose-driven company is important, but aligning that purpose with your business goals is the real secret to lasting legacy and success. Today, Amit Garg joins A.J. to discuss the importance of having a plan, a sense of purpose, and a clear mission for your business. He shares his first-hand tips for raising funds as a startup, choosing VC investors, and why picking someone who aligns with your values and goals is crucial.
About Amit Garg:
Amit Garg is an entrepreneur and a venture capitalist. He’s the Co-Founder and Managing Partner at TAU Ventures, an AI-first, seed-first VC fund in the heart of Silicon Valley. Amit has built a remarkable career as a tech professional spanning over 20 years in none other than the heart of innovation, Silicon Valley. As a VC, he has a keen eye on promising startups and specializes in seed-stage applied AI investments in Digital Health, Automation, and Enterprise.
Amit has also made a significant impact through philanthropy, merging his purpose with his business goals. He and his team successfully raised funds through crowdfunding to establish essential facilities in rural India. One of them is a self-sustainable hospital, Hospital for Hope, which provides healthcare in a neglected part of the country and serves a community of 100,000 people.
Episode highlights:
Amit’s best advice for entrepreneurs:
“I've always believed that when you create value, you get valuations. It's not the other way around. If you're doing something meaningful, then you will figure out a way to also make money out of it. And I've been able to align this in my life.” (13:16)
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Being a digital nomad and an entrepreneur is a match made in heaven. You live on your terms while working from any part of the world you want. Bakari Akil is the perfect example. This week, he joins A.J. to discuss his unique approach to acquisition entrepreneurship and how he’s managing various business ventures remotely, all while exploring the world and building a community of like-minded nomads.
About Bakari Akil:
Bakari Akil is a seasoned entrepreneur and a full-time digital nomad. He’s currently traveling the globe while running his ventures remotely. Bakari is the Managing Director of Graves Hall Capital, an investment firm he founded to acquire businesses. He's also the founder of Nomad Noir, a platform inspiring black digital nomads to pursue this incredible lifestyle.
Bakari is an expert in sourcing, evaluating, and executing multi-million dollar acquisitions. In addition to all his ventures, he’s a visiting lecturer at Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management. He teaches MBA candidates how to buy a business and pursue acquisition entrepreneurship.
Episode highlights:
Bakari’s best advice for entrepreneurs:
“This has to happen. There's no other way I'm going to make this particular thing happen. If you could pull that kind of energy into a goal, and you have the staying power when things get tough, more often than not, you'll be able to accomplish the thing you're trying to accomplish.” (13:13)
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Generative AI is redefining the business landscape. This cutting-edge technology is not only driving customer value to new heights, but it’s also transforming the way companies operate across industries. Nick Desai and his AI-driven healthcare app, Together by Renee, are a true testament to the power and potential of generative AI. Today, he joins A.J. again to talk about harnessing AI tools to make a significant difference in both customer experience and business operations.
About Nick Desai:
Nick Desai is a visionary entrepreneur, inspiring inventor, and leading expert in the field of artificial intelligence and healthcare technology. He is the Founder and CEO of Together by Renee, an innovative AI-driven healthcare app that is revolutionizing healthcare solutions. Prior to Together, he also co-founded Heal, a healthcare startup providing on-demand medical house calls.
With a wealth of knowledge and experience in the tech sector, Nick is now committed to leveraging generative AI to offer user-friendly tools and personalized recommendations to health patients all around the country. Given his significant strides in the industry, Nick is an invaluable source of wisdom for both established professionals and aspiring innovators.
Episode highlights:
Nick’s best advice for entrepreneurs:
“I would say to any business owner, embrace this sooner rather than later because if you don't use it [ generative AI], it's going to use you and use you right out of business.” (02:35)
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Your customers are not merely purchasing your products or services. They’re buying into your brand’s story and its purpose. This is where the power of storytelling comes into play. Karen Eber of Eber Leadership Group joins us to discuss the profound impact of storytelling on customer engagement, relationships, and the long-term success of your business.
About Karen Eber:
Karen Eber is a thought leader, leadership consultant, author, keynote speaker, and, above all, an exceptional storyteller. She’s currently serving as the CEO and Chief Storyteller at Eber Leadership Group, a consulting group helping companies build leaders, teams, and culture through the power of storytelling.
Karen’s collaborated with some big names in the corporate world, such as General Electric, Facebook, Kraft Heinz, Kate Spade, and Microsoft. In addition, she has served as a guest lecturer at esteemed institutions, including the London School of Business, MIT, and Stanford. Her Ted Talk ‘How your brain responds to stories & why they are critical for Leaders’ has almost 2 million views and counting. On top of that, Karen has a new exciting project going on – her book “The Perfect Story: How to Tell Stories That Inform, Influence, and Inspire” that just came out!
For a comprehensive book review, check out this page.
The Power Of Storytelling For Long-Term Business Success
Stories make us connect to each other and build long-lasting relationships. They’re deeply installed in our DNA, so it’s no wonder that they also greatly impact our purchasing behaviors, decisions, and brand loyalties. This is exactly where the power of storytelling for businesses lies. It has the ability to transform your business and shape your long-term success entirely. It cultivates a genuine bond with your customers and fosters long-lasting loyalty.
So, how do you harness the transformative potential of storytelling in your business? When crafting your brand’s story, it’s vital to keep your audience at the heart of the narrative. They are the main characters of your story. To do this effectively, understand their deepest concerns, needs, and desires. In storytelling, it’s equally essential to stay authentic, so let your mission shine through your stories. This strategic use of storytelling can significantly improve your customer engagement, strengthen brand loyalty, and ultimately transform your business.
Episode highlights:
Karen’s best advice for entrepreneurs:
“That's why storytelling is so key for as an entrepreneur. You have these opportunities to just connect to all of these thoughts, fears, hopes, aspirations, and that's where you are grabbing people. And you know you're doing it well when people say, ‘I feel like you wrote that just for me.’” (09:13)
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Affiliate Disclaimer: Some links in this episode are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Rest assured, we only promote products/services we believe will benefit your entrepreneurial journey.
AI tools are here to stay, and they’re reshaping numerous aspects of the business world. One area where artificial intelligence is demonstrating its potential for tangible impact is leadership and management. In this episode, Sid Pandiya of Kona joins A.J. to explore how AI tools like Kona are empowering managers and helping them become more effective leaders in the long run.
About Sid Pandiya:
Sid Pandiya is the Co-Founder and CEO of Kona, an AI-powered leadership coach helping remote teams build culture and stay connected through expert-backed advice and daily check-ins. Their goal at Kona is to empower managers and support them as they hone their leadership skills. Prior to founding Kona, Sid worked as an intern at Zumper, where he made significant contributions to the company’s product management, software engineering, and machine learning.
Sid’s remarkable talent for innovation and tech leadership earned him distinctions like the Kleiner Perkins Engineering Fellowship and the role of a Product Management Fellow at Product Space. He has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a Greenwood High International School.
Episode highlights:
Sid’s best advice for entrepreneurs:
“I've seen and felt the impact that both a bad manager can have on your well-being, mental health, and overall happiness. On the flip side, how uplifting and energizing, having a great manager can be for your life, your career, your success, and your overall happiness because a big part of your mental health and well-being comes from your work and your work environment and your manager is the most important person that you will interact with at any given job.” (15:47)Connect with Sid:
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Selling a business is more than just finding the right buyer; it’s about taking the necessary steps to effectively prepare for this major transition. In this episode, A.J. welcomes Kirk Michie from Candor Advisors to discuss the six key steps for a successful business sale. They talk about the importance of understanding your purpose in business, why entrepreneurs need to be more open to outside help, and the indispensable role that trusted financial advisors can play when you’re looking to sell your business.
About Kirk Michie:
Kirk Michie is the Founder and currently the Managing Partner of Candor Advisors, a company providing transaction advisory services to successful founder-led businesses. With 30+ years of industry experience, Kirk has built an exceptional career in strategic planning, investment, and legacy preservation. He has leveraged his entrepreneurial wisdom to guide business owners, entrepreneurs, and high-net-worth families through complex financial decisions. He has an impressive record, having managed over $1 billion in capital allocation and assessed over 2,000 direct investments.
Kirk is also the Founder of EBITDA University, which offers learning programs about selling businesses. Kirk is not just a financial advisor but a thought leader, having spoken at numerous prestigious events and organizations, including Association for Corporate Growth events, Vistage, and Entrepreneurs Organization gatherings.
Episode highlights:
Kirk’s best advice for entrepreneurs:
“If you're the entrepreneur and you're selling, you're still Don Quixote, we're Sancho Panza. It is your hero's journey. But the critical thing is pick your Guru Guide Gladiator and lean on them. That doesn't mean stop listening to other good advice that you've used to build your business, but lean on that person for their experience, their scar tissue, their perspective. Because if you've found the right advisor, you're going to get to the right outcome for you, whether that's the most money, the best terms, the best legacy control, you're going to get to the right outcome if you collaborate the right way on your sale.” (05:54)
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Affiliate Disclaimer: Some links in this episode are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Rest assured, we only promote products/services we believe will benefit your entrepreneurial journey.
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