Mastermind Your Launch

Don Friedman has spent the last 13 years creating and producing “first-of-its-kind”, buyside investor-focused finance conferences, webinars and roadshows as well as running a conference company.

Don founded Joint Venture Events Group in May 2014 by creating a unique conference format which immediately catapulted the firm to the top of investment professionals’ “must-attend” events list with “best-in-breed” programs such as Investing in Liquid Alternatives and Investing in MLPs.

Don is a lifelong “Wildcat” having received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from the University of Arizona. Don is also an avid runner, with three marathons to his credit and has skydived once. He and his wife and two daughters live in Milton, GA.

Mission: In mall, ran into is freshman year college roommate who shared with Don an opportunity to create events for the financial industry. With a background in finance and day-trading, Don jumped aboard, learned quickly and has never looked back.

Mindset: Having an open mind to new opportunities, Don was excited to take on a challenge that allowed him to created something from scratch and see it through to its finish.  In his experience follow up skills, a true passion for the job, and differentiation have been critical to his success. His advice for other entrepreneurs... be willing to accept rejection.

Marketing: Having the right partnerships has been a critical piece of bringing awareness and credibility to Don's business since its launch. When it comes to maximizing the opportunity to get your message out there, how can you leverage partnerships to bring value and new momentum for all?

Momentum: I loved hearing Don tell the story of the momentum gained from the 1st event his company coordinated. It wasn't until the end of the event when all of the sponsors, participants and attendees shared their positive feedback from their experience that he knew he'd gotten it right. You have to put yourself out there in order to know if you are on the right track.

Masterminds: Don views his community as the industry as whole. With this perspective, he stays aware of the needs and trends within his industry. In tune with the need for more female leadership in the financial advisor industry, Don is partnering with organizations that champion this mission as well as doing his part to feature more women speakers and panelists at events. Check out one of his upcoming conferences, Invest in Women: A Conference About Women In Wealth Management.

Mastermind Challenge: I love Don's perspective on viewing his role within the industry as a whole. Take a step back and view the big picture of YOUR industry. What are the trends? What are the needs? How can you bring value by filling in the gaps? We're all in this together! Share your photos with the hashtag #mastermindchallenge 

Chris Estrada considers himself a connect-apreneur and coworkaholic on the mission to: Influence and Drive 1 Million People to pursue their passions and develop success through joining a local coworking community.

A graduate of Kennesaw State, Chris is a rare native Atlantan. Chris hosts a weekly podcast, Coworking Success where he features coworking success stories mixed in with other amazing business success stories. Chris’ background includes 5 years of marketing/brand strategy consulting, 10 years event management and 3 years of coworking industry experience.

When Chris isn’t opening a new coworking space as a coworking consultant with the Operation Spot, you can find him riding his mountain bike on one of the many mountain bike trails or riding his road bike on the silver comet.

Mission: Sometimes a setback is truly the best setup for success. After being turned down for a job, Chris set out to launch his own business. Eight months later, he has surpassed the income he would have received working for someone else. How did he gain so much momentum so fast? Coworking. And with that, a new passion and mission was born.

Mindset: Chris poses the question, "What are you willing to give up in order to gain what you truly desire?" Looking at life and business from this prospective creates a complete mindset shift and can open our eyes to the superficial instant gratification we fill our days with, in comparison to the long-term, massive impact we have the potential to create.

Marketing: "Networking is everything and relationships are everything".  Chris shares 3 tips for getting the most out of networking

1. Know your pitch and value proposition
2. Give value first
3. Be genuine
4. Show up to the right events

Resource mentioned - Honoree Corder's Mini eBook of Business by Referral

Momentum: Earlier this year, Chris had the opportunity to partner with an industry conference. He attended knowing very few people and was pleasantly surprised when people came up to him having recognized him from his Coworking Success Podcast.

Masterminds: Community has been a huge driver in Chris' business. From gaining advice and encouragement to generating referrals and new clients, getting out of isolation and surrounding himself with like-minded people has allowed Chris to grow his business so quickly.

Mastermind Challenge: I've worked from home since 2011 and know firsthand the ups and downs that go along with it. It's hardly the glamorous life that people make it out to be. Taking a few days a week to work from a coworking space, while it may seem like a small change, has brought so much joy and new energy to my endeavors. If you are working from home, I challenge you to find a coworking space in your area and visit for a day. Most offer a free day pass to first time visitors. You have nothing to lose and so much to gain. Happy coworking! 

Learn more at MastermindYourLaunch.com

Rick Fossum is a creative and critical thinker with a passion for people. He’s a problem solver who’s had unique opportunities to work alongside talented Designers and Developers, experienced Brand Strategists, Marketing Managers and Management Consultants. With over 20 years of agency experience, Rick has lead design or brand marketing efforts for major brands including General Mills, Glock, Major League Baseball, and Newell Rubbermaid. He believes that an effective brand and consumer relationship shares the same qualities of a meaningful human relationship—authenticity, value, trust, and endurance. Rick lives in Roswell, Georgia with his wife Susan and their sons Alex and Sam.

Mission: Rick found himself at a crossroads with a choice to either take a job or change the world. He chose the latter and connected to a newfound passion for doing work that he loves.

Mindset: As a new entrepreneur, Rick still has a focus on creating financial security for him and his family. However, his mindset is much more than just numbers. He describes his new role as offering a sense of freedom he never had before. "Like a lid has been removed". I love that description.

Marketing: A big driver in generating new business has been networking and word of mouth. After 2 months of networking, Rick created a infographic outlining his entrepreneurial journey. He sent the infographic to his network and the buzz generated new business!

Momentum:  Rick shares that his biggest moments of momentum have come when an unexpected call or opportunity pops up where he wasn't expecting. When was the last time you had an unexpected opportunity come about from a seed you planted long before?

Masterminds: The community Rick credits with overwhelming support is his family. His wife and teenage sons are cheering him on and giving him the courage to keep making this dream come true.

Mastermind Challenge: How can you boil down your journey into an infographic that tells your story and connects with your network? Check out Rick's infographic for inspiration and try creating one of your own! Use PiktoChart or Canva for an easy to use template. 

Learn more at MastermindYourLaunch.com

Brad Stevens, Entreholic, is a career entrepreneur with experience in manufacturing, product development, supply chain, sales team development, operations, financial modeling, marketing automation, digital marketing, SaaS, and growth hacking.

His most recent company, Entreholic, provides an affordable, entrepreneurial approach to outsourced digital and traditional marketing services for small to medium businesses.

Mission: Growing up in an entrepreneurial family, Brad saw firsthand what it takes to run a business.  After college, his experience spanned many industries and business functions, but marketing stood out to him as an under-served yet fascinating area. It was that passion that sparked the idea for Entreholic.

Mindset: Having an entrepreneurial family, launching a business wasn’t as scary for Brad as it may be for others. Still, he makes focused effort to maintain a mindset for success and attributes his fitness routine for providing the discipline needed to follow through on what it takes to launch and grow a successful business.

Marketing: If you are intimidated by the sales process, you have to hear Brad’s explanation of how he secured many of his first clients. Approaching meetings as a way to educate clients on the opportunities and resources available to them, versus trying to “sell” them was key to helping him build relationships and a reputation as the go-to source for all things digital marketing.

Momentum: Brad shares that the biggest momentum boost has come from referrals and a focus on continuously seeking out feedback in order to improve.

Masterminds: Along with the insights Brad gets from his entrepreneurial family, his decision to join Entrepreneurs’ Organization or EO has been a game changer for his personal and professional development.

Mastermind Challenge: Hearing Brad speak about the impact his fitness routine makes on his entrepreneurial work ethic reminds me of the quote, “How you do one thing is how you do everything”.  Today I challenge you to look outside your business for areas where you can begin upping your game. Whether it’s a more consistent morning or fitness routine, being more present for family time, or making the intention to do random acts of kindness, hold yourself accountable and follow through on your commitment. Watch how those actions outside of your business make you even more focused and effective inside your business. 

Learn more at MastermindYourLaunch.com

Sara Lamond, Owner of the Atlanta boutique Fig & Flower, connected to a passion for health and wellness as a way to cope with the pressures of law school. As she adopted this cleaner way of life, she became aware of a need in the marketplace for stores offering all-natural beauty and skin care products. With that, the idea for Fig & Flower was born.

What inspires me about this episode is Sara's transparent account of the ups and down of entrepreneurship. I got chills as we were recording, so I'm hoping that you love the result as much as I do.

Mission: As Sara knew that she wanted to give back in a positive way. Being able to impact individual's personal wellness as well as positively impact the environment played a major role in her decision to make the leap.

Mindset: Sara openly shares that her career as an attorney left her soul-searching for something more.  She knew very clearly that she did not want a career in law and from that place she connected with the idea for Fig & Flower and the courage to bring it to life. She says, "If it didn't work out I'd never regret that decision."

Marketing: The early days of Fig & Flower found the store growing simply through word of mouth from friends and family. As cash flow increased Sara partnered with a PR firm to help bring new attention to the store and she shares her lessons learned from that experience.

Momentum: Finishing her first holiday retail season brought a new sense of momentum for Fig & Flower. Sara shares how the new growth in the business allowed for a period of reflection and strategy.

Masterminds: Sara shares the different groups of people she turns to for advice and support, some from unlikely places.

Mastermind Challenge: In life and entrepreneurship, we get what we give. Today's Mastermind Challenge is to support local store owners and help keep someone else's entrepreneurial dream alive and well. Talk to the store owner and learn more about what inspired their journey. If you have a great experience, share the word with friends and family. We're all in this together! Share your photos with the hashtag #mastermindchallenge 

Learn more at MastermindYourLaunch.com

In this episode, Hogan Bassey, Founder and CEO of LivFul, shares his mission to have 200,000 lives by preventing mosquito borne illnesses in 3rd world countries.  His story has garnered national attention as he was recently named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 List and he's currently working with global brands to bring his mission to life. Prepare to be inspired and empowered by this awe inspiring, entrepreneurial journey.

Mission: Amazingly Hogan survived 4 different cases of Malaria as a kid growing up in Nigeria. Watching his mother's pain when he fell ill, coupled with the fact that he was missing out on his childhood favorites gave him an itch to find a solution. It was at an early age that he connected to the mission to launch a pharmaceutical company dedicated to preventing mosquito borne illnesses.

Mindset: Starting to take action as a young person may have worked in Hogan's favor. He had taken on a big mission and took action before truly knowing the large challenge ahead. As he went on, he developed a fear of failure, as we all do, but Hogan truly believed that this was not only a mission, but God's calling for his life. Listen at minute 10:00 as Hogan shares one of the most powerful messages I've ever heard.

Marketing:  Networking had played a large role in the advancement of LivFul's mission and progress towards making it a reality. As Hogan shares, "results don't happen in a vacuum".  He advises entrepreneurs to get out there, share their needs, find the right people to connect with and talk to your customers.

Momentum: When asked about momentum in his business, Hogan makes a powerful point that it's not just gaining momentum that's important, but having the system in place to capitalize on that momentum.  He recommends learning to attach the momentum of one event to another in order to keep driving the business.

A budding partnership that is bringing new momentum to LivFul today is with the global pharmaceutical company, Merck.  As they combine technologies and leverage Merck's mosquito repellent IR3535 it's opening a new chapter for the company.

Masterminds: From encouragement from friends and family to advice from experienced entrepreneurs, Hogan leans on the energy and insights of those around him to keep him moving and focused on his journey.

Mastermind Challenge:  I was deeply moved by Hogan's words around knowing his life's calling and imagining the day he would one day have to look back and answer whether he achieved it or not. Regardless of what you are currently pursuing, I urge you to dig deeper and explore what you believe is your true calling. Are you living up to your challenge or have you chosen a different road? If so, what steps can you take to get back on track? 

Learn more at MastermindYourLaunch.com

Re Perez is a Brand Strategist and CEO of BRANDING FOR THE PEOPLE, a leading branding agency that helps emerging entrepreneurs and established small businesses achieve rapid growth, whether it's doubling, tripling or quadrupling their income.

In today's interview, he shares just how to get inside the mind of your ideal client to create the brand that perfectly communicates your value in a way that speaks to them.

Mission: After traveling the world working with some of the top global brands, Re felt a stirring to create more impact. After taking time away to clear his mind, he connected with the powerful mission to bring his knowledge of branding strategy to the everyday entrepreneur and small business.

Mindset:  Like so many at the beginning, he wondered if his new business would work.  Re shares that "even the best of us have some sort of fear of the unknown." His advice for anyone in this place is to see the big picture, connect with your "why" and know that you have nowhere to go but up!

Marketing:  I love the value that Re brings as he shares exactly what hi did to launch BFTP. So many entrepreneurs spend a lot of time and money on things like their logo and website. I've been there too! Ironically, this branding expert spent his energy in other areas and it paid off in a big way. If you're launching your business, you will be inspired to rethink where you spend your time and resources during these early days.

Momentum:  It was the bold move to host a branding workshop that began to launch the momentum behind BFTP. Re shares the steps he took to launch that event and how it led to his first wave of clients.

Masterminds: Re is a member of a high level mastermind and not only credits the community with offering support and ideas for his business, but it's also given him another platform to connect with clients. The relationships that are developed in mastermind groups go much deeper than your average networking group. Re credits his mastermind with introducing him to opportunities he would not have had otherwise.

Mastermind Challenge:  If I could pull one word from this interview it would be passion. How can you add more passion and heart to your business? Is it through the people you work with? Or perhaps it's the mission you are impacting? Just like Re found his calling to leverage his branding expertise and help small business owners, how can you be more intentional about not just making a living, but making a meaningful impact?

Learn more at mastermindyourlaunch.com

Laurie Sluser, bizHUMM Co-founder & CEO, has successfully managed or owned 5 different companies over the past 25 years. Most recently he served as General Manager of  a software engineering staffing firm, which he led to ten-fold growth in revenue with over 25 million dollars in gross sales.

Laurie co-founded bizHUMM.com in 2014 to help small businesses and entrepreneurs find everything they need to start and grow their business.  He recently co-authored a book entitled How To Start A Business: The Ultimate Free Guide.

Mission: Laurie took on the mission of bringing bizHUMM to life with the experience of 5 previous startups under his belt. When it comes to his advice to new or aspiring entrepreneurs, he enthusiastically says, "Do your homework!" Do it once now or twice later. Be intentional about your actions and resist being lazy in your thinking.

Mindset: Even with Laurie's entrepreneurial experience he maintains a healthy fear of the unknown and launching bizHUMM was no different. Building a great team and creating a well-thought plan help to provide peace of mind, but at a certain point you have to do your best and see where the cards fall.

Marketing: A deep understanding of your business and customer is essential for crafting the marketing and promotions that not only sell your business, but attract supporters and partnerships. If you are struggling to nail down the right words to match the ideas in your mind, take Laurie’s advice about laying the foundation.  He recommends not forcing it, but allowing yourself time each day to write, reflect and communicate with trusted advisers. As you hone your message gradually, you will see your ability to communicate and gain followership improve.

Momentum: After a year of development, bizHUMM launched their site and the How to Start a Business Guide bringing a lesson in the importance of promoting your content and drive traffic.  Leveraging Facebook and Google advertising, bizHUMM went from 50 to 10,000 visitors a month!  Laurie shares exactly what he attributes the fast growth to and the traffic sources that brought the most engaged visitors.

Masterminds: Listening to Laurie speak about the bizHUMM team and his approach to working was personally a touching moment as an interviewer.  We all have experiences (good and bad) of working with a team in an organization.  Laurie shares his philosophy to “treasure, respect, love, give to the people you work with.” What a beautiful way to approach workplace collaboration. I hope more people will be inspired to bring such a positive and nurturing attitude to their workplace, regardless of their title.

Mastermind Challenge: There are moments for every entrepreneur when you get the flash of an idea and feverishly jump into action. While fast action can be courageous and is a trait to be commended, there is something to be said for the benefit of giving the seed of an idea fertile ground to grow organically. Today's Mastermind Challenge is to take that one big idea you have and write it down with pen and paper. Set aside time for the next 3 days to come back, read your words and hone your idea. Watch how it evolves and improves. THEN, with a well-crafted vision, jump into action. 

Learn more at MastermindYourLaunch.com

Scott Williford is a serial entrepreneur, consultant, writer and speaker who is passionate about helping others succeed in whatever they are called to.

As Founder and CEO of vLink Solutions, Scott helps businesses and professionals use the power of video to enhance their online brand. Video blogs, video profiles, product demos and customer stories are examples of the types of video they help clients produce. vLink also provide the services and tools to manage and monitor how the videos are used with their proprietary software tools.

Mission: Scott wasn't looking for a lifestyle business.  He pursued entrepreneurship to take control of his own destiny.  However, the real joy for Scott is being able to create a valuable solution that serves the needs of his clients.

Mindset: When it comes to the necessary mindset for each entrepreneur, Scott focuses on the power of the pivot. Being able to read the market, see trends and listen to clients has been the key to success for many of his ventures. Listen as he shares one such pivot that led to the success of prior venture, NetSurfer.

Marketing: Content marketing is being used by companies of all sizes and all industries. Hear Scott's takes on content marketing and how vLink Solutions helps their clients make the most of the time and money they invest in their video content marketing.

Masterminds: From mentoring to masterminds, Scott shares the importance of connecting with people outside your company for new ideas and inspiration. He also shares a lesson in making the most of the advice your given.

Mastermind Challenge: vLink Solutions has become a must-have strategic partner thanks in large part to providing a comprehensive solution for clients with video marketing needs. When it comes to your industry, are you solving part or all of the problem?  How can you be more holistic in your approach of the program AND the solution? 

Highly sought after due to his candid counsel to both startups and Fortune 1000 companies alike, he has been requested by organizations such as IBM, Coca-Cola, UPS, Cox Communications and Autodesk. K.P. has spoken at universities all over the U.S. including: Harvard, Georgia Institute of Technology, Vanderbilt, Stanford, Emory, San Jose State, University of South Carolina, and Cleveland State.

According to Crystal Knows: "He is ambitious, critical, and moves quickly to make progress, but understands how to support others in the process."

Innovative and witty, K.P. speaks to leaders with intriguing topics such as: Your Culture Sucks Because You Suck, Why Big Companies Can’t Innovate, Disruption Is Not A Marketing Campaign, Why You’re Not a CEO, Yet… and Why Every Recent Grad Should Work at a Startup.

In 2012, K.P. published BIM for Building Owners and Developers, a book on the adoption of advanced technology in the infrastructure space employed by leading companies and universities.

K.P. is a Startup Catalyst, helping organizations accelerate through coaching and programs such as: Startup Weekend, Customer Discovery Classes, Accelerators and Hackathons. These can range from one day to six week cohorts, depending on your needs and timeline.Kristen Stocks is the founder of Kids Boost, a non-profit organization designed to help kids give back to the world using their gifts, talents and passions.

Mission: After reaching a certain level of success in his career, K.P. and his business partner in CTW were on a mission to do something bigger and better. With an intimate understanding of the startup landscape they knew companies with bold, market-changing innovations would have the highest likelihood of fundraising, grants and ultimate success.

Mindset: K.P has seen is all when it comes to entrepreneurs and their ideas for changing the world.  I asked him the one trait that he looks for when meeting new entrepreneurs and his response may surprise you. It has to do with our biggest resource: time.

Marketing: If you are looking to differentiate yourself in the marketplace, you must listen to K.P.'s perspective on market-risk companies versus technology-rick companies. CTW focuses solely on technology-riska nd for a very important reason. Listen and K.P. distinguishes the two and see how your wheels begin to turn as you reflect on your own business model and offerings.

Momentum: Gaining momentum, growth and expansion are everything when it comes to the goal of creating a sustainable company. K.P. shares extremely valuable insights for any startup that is struggling to gain momentum and meet benchmarks. Hear his advice for a change in terminology that could get you on your way faster.

Masterminds: K.P. shares his method for closed group collaboration and how it's evolved over time.  As businesses reach different levels, the information they need changes. Listen as he offers insight that applies to business of all levels on how to seek out the right people and the lens through which you should receive their advice.

Mastermind Challenge: I found K.P.'s words on market risk and technology risk very thought provoking. I challenge you to take a step back and evaluate the innovation that you bring to the marketplace. Could your business generate more momentum if you allow yourself to get creative and think outside the box? How would new innovation serve your existing customers and enhance your product or service? 

Learn more at mastermindyourlaunch.com