Beyond 8 Figures

Balancing work and personal happiness is never easy. But what if we told you that it’s not about balance but integration? Work-life integration is about weaving your personal interests and passions directly into your professional activities. Take Michael Juergens, for example: he started a winery in Bhutan by combining his passion and hard work, showing how this blend can lead to exciting business opportunities and happier life. And today, he’s sharing his journey to show how aligning what you love with what you do can help you achieve both personal and professional success.

About Michael Juergens

Michael Juergens, an experienced wine enthusiast and entrepreneur, built Bhutan's wine industry from the ground up. Discovering in 2016 that Bhutan had no vineyards, he founded the Bhutan Wine Company, now boasting around 200 acres cultivating 16 different grape varieties.

His journey into winemaking was fueled by over 25 years of traveling to global wine regions, where he gathered extensive knowledge and inspiration. Michael is not only a certified sommelier but also a master of wine candidate, reflecting his deep commitment to the wine world. His popular series, Drinking & Knowing Things, and its accompanying blog, translate his passion into accessible wine education.

Key Insights:

• Choose the right partners. Collaborating with like-minded individuals can significantly impact your business’s trajectory. Working with people who share your vision and drive can enhance productivity and foster a supportive network, which is crucial for business growth.
• Turn life experiences into opportunities. Any personal experience can lead to professional breakthroughs. Try viewing life's obstacles as chances to innovate and transform your business.
• Plan for the long term. Success often requires patience and a long-term perspective. Entrepreneurs should focus on enduring goals and be prepared to invest resources into projects that will mature over time, ensuring lasting impact and stability.
• Simplify your offerings. Making your products or services easy to understand and enjoy can widen your customer base. Demystifying your offerings will make them accessible to a broader audience, which can drive both engagement and loyalty.
• Embrace big challenges. Taking on significant challenges can lead to breakthrough innovations and open up new markets. Entrepreneurs who are not afraid to step into complex or untapped areas can set their businesses apart from competitors and capture unique opportunities.

Michael’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“If you're chasing passions without ulterior motives, inevitably, things materialize that you wouldn't have expected.”

Get Michael’s book “Drinking & Knowing Things”

Connect with Michael Juergens:

• LinkedIn
• X
• Website

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What happens when a struggling business adopts a structured business system? Such a simple change in management can lead to monumental growth. Join us for a conversation with Steve Maly, the founder of Maly Marketing, who took his marketing agency from chaos to clarity by implementing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS).

About Steve Maly

Steve Maly is a seasoned entrepreneur who has guided his agency, Maly Marketing, to win several awards, including the Friend of Tourism award from Nebraska Tourism. He often speaks at conferences throughout the Midwest, teaching other businesses how to make their marketing efforts successful and measurable.

Outside of work, Steve enjoys playing golf and is committed to learning more every day, both in his field and beyond. He's also very involved in his community, serving on the board of the Nebraska Travel Association and the Lincoln Chamber's policy advisory committee, among other roles.

Key insights for your business:

• Leverage your background. Your life experiences are a great source of unique perspectives and strengths that can drive your business vision and strategy. No matter the challenges you face, it can guide your decision-making, giving you an advantage in the competitive market.
• Adapt and evolve through systems. Structured business systems like EOS help entrepreneurs clarify business operations, align teams, and facilitate scalable growth. Adding more structure can help you address challenges systematically and ensure consistency in business practices.
• Embrace strategic networking. Actively seek out and participate in networking groups, masterminds, and industry associations that align with your business goals. These connections will provide critical insights, opportunities for collaboration, and access to new markets.
• Prioritize learning from every experience. Encourage your team to experiment, learn from outcomes, and iteratively refine approaches, even if these experiments fail.
• Invest in people and delegation. Investing in capable team members not only enhances business capacity but also allows you to focus on strategic growth and client engagement. Why waste time on the tasks others can handle for you?

Steve’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“I knew if we continue to do the same things we've been doing, we're gonna continue to get the same results. And so I kind of had to take the leap of faith.” (10:46)

Connect with Steve Maly:

• X
• LinkedIn
• Maly Marketing

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• X
• Website

Failures might knock you down, but the real test is how you rise. In this episode, Brad Pedersen, founder of Lomi, shares the crucial lessons of his entrepreneurial journey and explains how learning from failure can lead to building a more robust business model.

About Brad Pedersen

Brad Pedersen is an entrepreneur with a knack for innovation and sustainability. In 2008, he founded a leading toy company in Canada and later merged it to co-found Basic Fun. Brad also co-founded Pela, where he introduced sustainable phone cases, creating a new market category valued at $100M.

His latest success is launching the Lomi, the world’s first smart waste kitchen composter, through a $9.8M crowd-sourced campaign. Brad lives in British Columbia, where he enjoys the outdoors and focuses on making a positive impact through his community-driven businesses.

Key Insights:

• Learn from every failure. When something goes wrong, dissect the situation to identify missteps and implement new strategies. This continuous improvement cycle not only prevents future failures but also enhances overall business resilience and efficiency.
• Prioritize strategic financial planning. Regularly reviewing your financial status helps you make informed decisions, anticipate cash flow shortages, and secure funding before it becomes a crisis, thereby ensuring sustained operational capability.
• Encourage reflection and feedback. Regular introspection allows you to stay relevant and responsive to market changes, which is vital for maintaining a competitive edge and adapting to consumer demands quickly.
• Cultivate resilience. Entrepreneurial resilience leads to quicker recovery from setbacks, minimizing downtime and maintaining customer trust and business continuity during challenging times.
• Harness the power of community. Engaging with your local community increases brand loyalty and awareness, while collaborating with other businesses can lead to new partnerships, expanding your network and resources, which in turn fuels business growth and innovation.

Brad’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“I am going to feel the most fulfillment when I'm either growing or giving, period. That's it. And part of giving is creativity and giving into a business and challenging yourself to become the best and brightest version of yourself.” (27:39)

Get Brad’s book “Startup Santa”

Connect with Brad Pedersen:

• LinkedIn
• X
• Website

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• LinkedIn
• X
• Website

If starting a lifestyle brand has always been a dream of yours, this episode with Eric Bandholz, founder of Beardbrand, is a real treat. He shares how maintaining full control through bootstrapping allowed him to prioritize ethical sourcing and customer relationships over rapid growth. His story is a real inspiration for anyone who wants to create a business that not only succeeds financially but also supports their quality of life while staying true to their personal values.

About Eric Bandholz

Eric Bandholz started Beardbrand in 2012 with a simple goal: to make men feel awesome. From its beginnings as an online community, Beardbrand has grown into a major brand in the $3.2 billion beard care market, now offering a broad range of grooming products and even a brick-and-mortar barbershop in Austin. Eric attributes his success to staying true to his core values, especially freedom, which is grounded in stoic principles of focusing on what you can control.

A graduate of the University of South Carolina, Eric left the corporate world behind to create a community-centric brand. Operating as a bootstrap venture, Eric has steered Beardbrand, focusing on sustainable growth and independence, avoiding external investments. He advocates for the lifestyle business model, encouraging a balance between personal well-being and professional success.

Key Insights:

• Incorporate your core values into your business strategy. Core values are much more than psychology mumbo-jumbo; they shape every decision you make in your business. They help to reflect what your company stands for and attract customers who share these beliefs.
• Enjoy your entrepreneurial journey. Even though everyday tasks might often feel like a drag, finding meaning in them can help to maintain motivation and prevent burnout. And remember that there’s always something to celebrate, no matter how small.
• Leverage bootstrapping for greater control. Using your own money to fund your business can keep you in control and help you make quick decisions that are right for your business without external pressure.
• Focus on sustainable business growth. Choose growth strategies that fit your goals and business vision. Opting for steady, predictable growth is better than chasing overnight success, as it helps to maintain product quality, protects your reputation, and ensures your business grows in a manageable way.
• Build and engage your community. Hosting events, starting discussions on social media, creating loyalty programs, featuring spotlight customers, offering behind-the-scenes content… These are just a few ways you can turn your buyers into brand advocates and build a community that supports your growth.

Eric’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

"What matters is that you're enjoying the journey [...] When you can focus on building today and what I'm doing at this moment, then it doesn't really matter where you end up."

Get Eric’s “Book of Reminders”

Connect with Eric Bandholz:

• Linkedin
• Instagram
• X
• Beardbrand

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• Website

As your business grows, what worked before won't always work anymore. This is where business adaptability becomes crucial. Entrepreneurs need to be ready to change and update their strategies and processes, ensuring they can keep pace with their business's growth. Having been through growing and selling his own company, Feras Alhlou knows firsthand the importance of adapting and evolving to meet the changing business environment. Today, he joins us to talk about the power of resilience, the art of delegation, and the strategic use of technology to streamline operations.

About Feras Alhlou

Feras Alhlou is a seasoned entrepreneur with a golden touch for growing businesses from the ground up. He's taken companies from zero revenue to impressive 7 and 8 figures, showcasing his skills in Silicon Valley and beyond. In 2019 he sold his previous company, e-Nor, his digital marketing consultancy, to dentsu, a leading global media company.

Now he uses his passion for sharing his knowledge in his current project, Start Up With Feras, guiding new entrepreneurs to make good, informed decisions about business. Besides his business acumen, Feras has a lifelong commitment to nonprofit organizations. Fun fact, he also holds a 3rd-degree black belt in Aikido!

Key Insights:

• Embrace change. As your business grows, what used to work might not cut it anymore. Learn to stay flexible and change your game plan as you go, which ensures that you're always moving forward, not just treading water. (04:41)
• Delegate to elevate. Trying to do everything yourself can hold your business back. By handing off tasks to others, you free up your time to focus on big-picture strategies and growth and your business can grow more smoothly and faster. (09:23)
• Implement goal-oriented frameworks. Frameworks like OKRs help everyone on your team pull in the same direction toward shared goals. This organized approach makes your team more efficient and effective, leading to faster progress and better results. (11:38)
• Cultivate an open and honest work environment. Building a business where everyone feels free to share their thoughts and ideas creates a strong, united team. This leads to better decision-making, happier employees, and a more adaptable company. (15:47)
• Stay ahead with technology and trends. Staying updated on what’s happening in your (and other industries) allows you to spot and seize opportunities that others might miss. (22:52)

Feras’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“Success is also when you're making it big and you're profitable, and you share it with your team, those who have helped you grow the business.” (31:29)

Get a free 30-minute session with Feras

Connect with Feras Alhlou:

• Linkedin
• YouTube
• Instagram
• X
• Start Up With Feras

Resources Mentioned:

• Good to Great by Jim Collins
• Measure What Matters by John Doerr and Larry Page

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

• Linkedin
• X
• Website

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.

When it comes to continuous improvement methods, there’s no one better than Justin Breen, founder of BrEpic Network, to talk about the best tools for slow but steady personal and professional growth. In this conversation, he shares his best pracices, from strength assessments to pattern recognition, that have shaped his entrepreneurial journey and also helped numerous businesses thrive in competitive landscapes.

About Justin Breen

Justin Breen is the dynamic force behind BrEpic Network, a cutting-edge public relations firm that connects and elevates visionary entrepreneurs and brands. Justin's unique approach to business and life has been shaped by his experiences as a top-tier journalist, acclaimed author, and relentless innovator. His books, "Epic Business" and "Epic Life," have inspired countless individuals to pursue greatness through simplicity, focus, and a relentless commitment to improvement.

Beyond his professional accolades, Justin is a sought-after international speaker known for his compelling insights into the power of networking, storytelling, and mindset. He has a knack for distilling complex concepts into actionable steps that anyone can follow to achieve their fullest potential.

Key Insights:

• Play to your strengths. Operating in your zone of genius results in higher productivity and a greater quality of work. Once you pinpoint your innate strengths, prioritize tasks that align with them and strategically delegate the rest. This boosts overall team efficiency and allows everyone to work in their areas of expertise. (06:45)
• Transform weaknesses into opportunities. What you’ve considered your weaknesses can be used as learning moments and give you new ideas for growth, like a new market niche, a unique product feature, or an innovative service model that sets you apart from the competition. (12:02)
• Win the right game. Take time to reflect on what success truly means to you. Then, create your own success metrics based on your values and goals. For instance, if community impact is vital to you, measure success by the difference you make in other people's lives rather than just your profits. (18:05)
• Be your own leader first. Before leading others, ensure you are effectively leading your own life. This includes maintaining a healthy work-life balance, nurturing personal relationships, and committing to personal growth and self-improvement. (22:29)
• Work on your mindset. The right mindset attracts the right network and invites new opportunities. Develop and nurture a growth mindset to set the stage for positive outcomes and the right opportunities that resonate deeply with your aspirations. (41:44)

Justin’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“If you have the right mindset, it attracts the right network, and then that network creates the right opportunities for you.” (42:01)

Get Justin’s Map of EQ and IQ

Connect with Justin:

• X
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

Resources Mentioned:

• Join BrEpic Network
• Read Epic Life by Justin Breen
• Kolbe
• Gallup Clifton Strengthfinders
• The Enneagram
• Working Genius
• Good to Great by Jim Collins
• Built to Last by Jim Collins
• The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

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• X
• Website

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.

Most entrepreneurs aim to increase productivity. Yet, we often fall for unsustainable practices that promise quick results but falter in the long run. To help you overcome it, the biohacking expert Tanessa Shears, introduces a game-changing approach. As a productivity coach and health consultant, she’s mastered the art of sustainable self-improvement. In this episode, she and A.J. dive deep into the secrets to making small, impactful changes that will help you boost your daily output and significantly enhance your quality of life for the long haul.

About Tanessa Shears

Tanessa Shears is a visionary in the field of health optimization for increased productivity. With a background in biohacking and health science, she has dedicated her career to helping entrepreneurs and busy professionals fine-tune their health so they can unlock their true potential.

Through her “Becoming Limitless” podcast and comprehensive coaching programs, Tanessa demystifies the biohacking process and provides practical, actionable guidance for those looking to elevate their productivity without sacrificing their well-being.

Key Insights:

• Prioritize your health for optimal performance. Your physical and mental health are the foundations of your productivity. Make time for regular exercise, adequate sleep, and nutritional foods to ensure your performance is peak. When you're in good health, you're more focused, energized, and ready to tackle any challenge your business may face. Healthy entrepreneurs foster healthy businesses. (03:51)
• Create sustainable practices that work for you. Avoid the allure of quick fixes because they’re not sustainable; instead, focus on practices you can maintain over the long term. As an entrepreneur, maintaining sustainable practices means you will be better equipped to manage the constant change and challenges that come with running a business, leading to improved personal resilience and long-term business success. (10:49)
• Find the root cause of your productivity blocks. Identify underlying issues—whether they’re emotional, environmental, or related to your health—and tackle them head-on. For instance, this might mean decluttering your workspace or addressing time management problems. This is how you can significantly enhance your efficiency and effectiveness, creating a smoother path toward achieving your goals and supporting sustainable growth. (18:35)
• Be consistent. Consistency breeds habit. Choose your productivity strategies and stick with them. It’s consistency, not intensity, that leads to enduring changes and improvements in your work output and quality. (20:26)
• Take care of your brain. Invest in activities that sharpen your cognitive abilities because, as an entrepreneur, you rely heavily on your mental acuity for decision-making, problem-solving, and vision-setting. You can do this by taking breaks to avoid burnout or learning new skills to stimulate the brain. (26:54)
• Learn to recognize your limits. Pushing beyond your limits can lead to burnout because it exhausts your mental and physical stamina, which are critical for maintaining the consistent and high-level performance required in entrepreneurship. Learn to set boundaries for your work and respect your need for rest and recreation. It's crucial to understand that taking a break or saying no can actually increase productivity in the long run. (30:38)

Tanessa’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“I want to know that when I look back on this entrepreneurial journey, that I felt great the whole time, and I wasn't putting off my life, my energy, and my health for some arbitrary goal that I kept pushing into the future.” (04:28)

Connect with Tanessa:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Personal Website

Resources Mentioned:

• Entrepreneur's Playbook: 12 Ways to Biohack Your Energy

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

• Linkedin
• X
• Website

Discover the fascinating journey of Kanessa Muluneh as she navigates the complexities of entering and thriving in African markets with her brand Mulu. Gain insights into her innovative strategies, challenges faced, and the unique opportunities presented by this vibrant market. Don't miss this enlightening discussion on expanding business horizons!

Listen to the full episode here - https://beyond8figures.com/podcast-episodes/

Watch the Episodes On YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Beyond8Figures

Standing out in business isn’t just about what you sell but how you create customer value. Rylee Meek, the seasoned entrepreneur from King's Council, knows this all too well. Today, he joins A.J. to discuss his strategies for maximizing customer value, making a real difference for your customers, and operating within your intended purpose.

About Rylee Meek

Rylee Meek is an acclaimed entrepreneur and business advisor known for his expertise in sales conversions and innovative business approach. He made a name for himself by changing how marketing is done, especially through dinner seminars and direct mail, a method called the Social Dynamic Selling System. This system uses a personal touch and ensures people find value in the products they buy. He’s also the host of King's Council Coaching, which helps people level up in faith, business, and life.

Over the years, Rylee has helped many businesses connect better with their customers and increase sales. Today, he is a popular speaker and consultant, offering valuable advice to businesses on how to grow and be more effective in selling their products.

Key Insights:

• Create value, extract, repeat. Building value for your customers is a two-way street. First, make something valuable that your customers will really like. Then, once they love it, find a way for it to benefit you too. For example, you can implement a subscription model for your service to ensure steady revenue or, if you have a product, encourage happy customers to spread the word. It's important to keep repeating this process, constantly creating and sharing value in this beneficial cycle. (02:47)
• Figure out what your customers want. Spend time understanding exactly what makes your customers happy. The better you know what they want, the easier it will be to provide it. Use market research, customer feedback, surveys, and data analysis to uncover your customers' desires and keep those insights front and center of your strategy. (12:20)
• Get creative. Don't be afraid to think outside the box when making your products or services. Embrace brainstorming sessions, encourage creative thinking in your team, and don't shy away from unconventional ideas. This kind of creativity can help you maximize customer value and can lead to unique, stand-out products that capture their attention. (21:27)
• Find your purpose. Knowing why you're doing what you're doing is super important for both your business and life. It’s your purpose that will keep you going when things get tough and help guide your decisions. When you align your actions with your purpose, you're more likely to lead a life filled with passion, achievement, and fulfillment. (42:41)
• Never stop growing. There’s always room to get better. Keep learning, adapting, and growing. The world changes fast, and staying ahead means constantly improving what you do and how you do it. A growth mindset opens you to unlimited potential, leading to a more impactful life and business. (49:21)

Rylee’s best advice for entrepreneurs:

“It's so fun to just build things for the benefit of others and then get rewarded for it. That's the beauty of this entrepreneurship journey.” (03:08)

Get “Food for Thought” by Rylee Meek

Connect with Rylee:

• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• X
• Personal Website

Resources Mentioned:

• Social Dynamic Selling
• King’s Council
• King's Council Podcast

Follow Beyond 8 Figures:

• Linkedin
• X
• Website

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.

Discover how leveraging AI can revolutionize productivity, streamline tasks, and empower entrepreneurs to scale their businesses effectively. Tune in to explore the transformative potential of AI in simplifying operations and driving sustainable growth.

Listen to the full episode here - https://beyond8figures.com/podcast-episodes/

Watch the Episodes On YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Beyond8Figures