Amplify Your Business

Unlocking Conflict Resolution in The Workplace

For Episode 257 of Amplify Your Business, we’re joined by Dennis Humphrey, the owner of Eden Business Concepts, LLC. They’re a company that collaborates with family-owned and closely held businesses to address workforce-related crises and employee conflicts that impede both productivity and growth. Their strategies are designed to enhance workforce productivity and foster a positive workplace culture. Dennis describes his heartbeat as being to “see leaders gain clarity and vision for their task.” Dennis coaches entrepreneurs to understand their core motivations and gain self-awareness. By recognizing both the positive and negative aspects of their motivations, he helps leaders make more effective, clear decisions in their roles, reducing disruptive behaviors in their leadership. Dennis defines success as a twofold achievement: seeing leaders thrive and witnessing the well-being of their people. In a letter to his younger self, Dennis would advise him to be confident and trust his gut because he has the power to influence and inspire others. 
To learn more, visit https://edenbusinessconcepts.com/.    
 
00:00 - Intro
00:42 - What are three things every entrepreneur should know?
02:32 - What problem is your business solving and who are you serving?
05:55 - Why do you believe that execution is usually lacking in businesses?
07:34 - How do you coach entrepreneurs to detach from their businesses?
10:37 - What is the biggest stumbling point where leadership teams fall apart?
12:16 - How quickly can leadership teams move on from that?
14:28 - What motivated you and your business partner to come together?  
17:35 - How has your experience informed the way you set up and grow your business?
19:08 - How do you define success for your business? 
25:02 - What advice would you give your younger self in a letter? 

From Farm to Safety Mentor: A Journey of Elevating Workplace Safety

For Episode 256 of Amplify Your Business, we’re joined by Amy Zuk Olsen, the owner of Safety Buzz Campus, who’s tackling the problem of safety awareness and culture in both individual and corporate settings. Safety Buzz educates businesses about areas requiring safety measures, mentors employees to create a safety-oriented culture, and emphasizes the importance of safety in building a positive workplace atmosphere. Additionally, it provides specific services, such as truck driver training and air chiller division services, to address safety challenges in those domains. With 20 years in business, Amy stresses the challenges of entrepreneurship, the value of a strong team, and cautious growth planning in today’s episode. In a letter to her younger self, Amy would advise her younger self to: "Get ready for the ride. It's going to be really tough.” There will be days when you just want to stay in bed - you can't. Amy’s got plenty of wisdom for other entrepreneurs and amazing offerings for businesses looking to elevate their safety. 
To learn more, visit http://www.safetybuzzcampus.ca.   
 
00:00 - Intro
00:57 - What are three things every entrepreneur should know?
03:49 - What problem is Safety Buzz Campus solving?
07:43 - What inspired you to enter this industry?
12:40 - Tell us more about the growth of your business from when you began until now. 
16:22 - Knowing what you know now, what would you have done differently in terms of your growth?
18:16 - What advice would you give someone looking into mergers or acquisitions for success?
23:08 - At what point were you able to transition from being a part of the business to running it?  
27:35 - What has become easier now for you compared to when you started your business?
30:21 - If you could write a letter of advice to your younger self, what would you say? 

Amplify Your Business Assisting Organizations in Becoming Funding Champions

For Episode 255 of Amplify Your Business, we’re joined by Mike Lee who is the President of Fundica, a company addressing the formidable challenge of helping entrepreneurs secure essential funding. They aim to simplify the funding process through research and surveys while supporting "entrepreneur support organizations" to enhance client acquisition as well as overall financial success. Although a successful entrepreneur, Mike's journey with Fundica was not without its challenges. Transitioning from a traditional consulting business to a more capital-intensive venture ushered in upfront expenses and unique business demands. In a letter to his younger self, Mike would advise little him to build more confidence and invest in the people around him. Mike also shares some advice for other entrepreneurs: the need for a structured funding approach, the pivotal role of crafting the right team, and the delicate balance of persistent drive and patience in navigating the entrepreneurial path. 
To learn more, visit https://www.fundica.com/.  
 
00:00 - Intro
01:05 - What are three things every entrepreneur should know?
04:28 - What problem is Fundica solving?
10:25 - How did you come about this business model and where can people interact with Fundica resources?
13:00 - What do businesses gain by licensing with Fundica?
17:48 - What’s the biggest challenge you experienced in starting Fundica?
22:08 - What was easier about starting Fundica compared to your first consultancy?
23:54 - What do you think is going to be your biggest challenge to take Fundica to the next level?  
26:29 - How do you navigate ambitious growth goals and falling economic conditions?
31:00 - If you could write a letter of advice to your younger self, what would you say?

Amplify Your Business Entrepreneur at 5, Investor at 10, Founder at 15: What comes at 20 years old for Sophia Fairweather?

For Episode 253 of Amplify Your Business, we’re joined by Sophia Fairweather, the founder of Key Angels, and the youngest entrepreneur we’ve had the pleasure of chatting to for our Amplify Your Business podcast. Key Angels aims to support both entrepreneurship and home-ownership in the youth. Key Angels' core model involves living in one unit of a fourplex and having the income from the other three units cover expenses, effectively offering financial stability while allowing pursuit of entrepreneurial goals. This approach enables young entrepreneurs to dedicate themselves fully to their ventures without the added pressure of part-time jobs or immediate financial needs. The concept of "angels" is derived from traditional investment angels, however, it describes individuals who provide qualifying credit scores, ensuring access and stability rather than financial investment. There are many things that Sophia has learned along the way in her seven years of entrepreneurship, however, the one significant aspect that stands out to her is the importance of attending events: both for networking and for improving your communication skills. Particularly improving your ability to educate people about your product or service. 
 
To learn more, visit https://key-angels.com/. 
 
00:00 - Intro
01:38 - What are three things every entrepreneur should know?
09:01 - How old are you and when did you begin your entrepreneurial journey?
16:37 - How do you cope with the frustration of being an entrepreneur at such a young age (going against your peers, dealing with age-related roadblocks)?
18:53 - Tell us more about your business, Key Angels.
24:38 - Can you tell us more about the market itself?
26:50 - What excites you about entrepreneurship? Why did you begin this journey?
30:55 - How can we establish a stronger ecosystem and movement centered around youth and entrepreneurship?  

Amplify Your Business Taking Care of Yourself to Take Care of Others

For Episode 253 of Amplify Your Business, we’re joined by Pierce Krol, the founder and CEO of Insurely Inc, who generously shared his 18 years of entrepreneurial experience. He emphasized three key lessons: embracing failure, continuous learning, and resilience. Insurely, his digital insurance brokerage, evolved from his frustration with the insurance industry. He recognized that traditional insurance processes were slow - often lacking user-friendliness. Pierce's vision was to digitize the insurance experience and provide his customers with a seamless, efficient, and user-friendly platform. Pierce pivoted from his previous bricks-and-mortar insurance business to start Insurely, driven by this need for technological advancement. He values surrounding himself with business mentors and has a long-standing business coach who helps him navigate personal and professional challenges. Pierce believes in betting on oneself and emphasizes self-care and spirituality as he continues his entrepreneurial journey. 
To learn more, visit http://www.insurely.ca. 
 
00:00 - Intro
01:03 - What are three things every entrepreneur should know?
07:47 - What problem is your company solving?
10:06 - What was your inspiration for starting this company?
13:14 - How did find the courage to embrace entrepreneurship?
16:12 - What role does an advisory board play in your development as an entrepreneur?
21:32 - What are your biggest challenges as an entrepreneur?
24:33 - What is easier for you now that you’re further along in your entrepreneurial journey?  
28:35 - What obstacles are you anticipating and how do you plan to overcome them?
33:23 - What is the most expensive lesson you’ve had to learn as an entrepreneur?
36:19 - If you could write a letter to your younger self, what advice would you give?
40:06 - What was happening internally to inspire that advice?

Amplify Your Business Transforming Online Shopping to Be As Social As We Are

For Episode 252 of Amplify Your Business, we’re joined by Kim Lowert who is the Founder and CEO of a company reshaping the online shopping experience: Appstract. Kim founded his eCommerce consultancy after observing that online shopping hasn’t evolved much in the past 15 to 20 years - remaining static like a catalog. Appstract’s focus has primarily been on optimizing the checkout process, however, they recognized a challenge in that shopping is naturally social. Their objective is to merge the social aspects of shopping with the online store experience, making it more engaging, like shopping with friends in a physical store. Kim has undeniably picked up some invaluable knowledge throughout his experience as an entrepreneur: the value of hard work and learning new skills, being able to pivot your mindset, and hiring the right people. Uncover this knowledge with us in today’s episode of the Amplify Your Business Podcast, as well as how Appstract's adaptable business model is currently being tested with a monthly subscription and consumption fee for their social shopping service. 
To learn more, visit https://appstract.co/appstract. 
 
00:00 - Intro
01:23 - What are three things every entrepreneur should know?
02:35 - What problem is your company solving?
08:29 - How are you working on the business model side of things?
10:45 - What are the advantages of a product-based model over a consultancy model?
15:42 - How have you leveraged your transferable skills to make starting this business with a SaaS model easier?
20:45 - What big challenges are you expecting in the next year or two?
26:08 - How are you approaching marketing with Appstract?   

Amplify Your Business Revolutionizing Single-Use Containers with Earthware

For Episode 251 of Amplify Your Business, we’re joined by John MacInnes, the founder of Earthware. In this episode, John shares invaluable insights from his lifelong entrepreneurial journey, emphasizing perseverance, financial acumen, and adaptability. Earthware is transforming single-use containers through a circular strategy, catalyzing a positive change in responsible consumption and the eco-friendly food sector. By tackling waste and diverting millions from landfills and streets, they’re reshaping the narrative for a greener future. Discover Earthware’s seamless system that incentivizes consumers and restaurants to return and reuse containers, driving an eco-conscious shift. Tune in to explore how Earthware is reshaping sustainable practices in the food industry and envisioning a greener tomorrow for everyone.
To learn more, visit https://earthware.me/. 
 
00:00 - Intro
00:59 - What are three things every entrepreneur should know?
08:18 - What problem is your company solving?
11:28 - How did Earthware’s business model evolve?
16:43 - How did you overcome obstacles with Earthware?
20:55 - How has your previous entrepreneurial experience made managing Earthware easier?
23:42 - What motivates your cycle of starting and transitioning between businesses?
25:41 - What surprised you in this venture?  
30:03 - What distinguishes founders from CEOs?
33:40 - What would you write in a letter to your younger self? 

Amplify Your Business Addinex Technologies: Working to Solve the Opioid Crisis

For Episode 250 of Amplify Your Business, we’re joined by Jay Schiff, the co-founder and CEO of Addinex Technologies. Addinex Technologies is cost-effectively and brilliantly solving a massive problem: the growing opioid crisis, which saw overdose deaths surpassing 100,000 for the first time, with over 80% of these deaths attributed to opioids. Jay’s company’s primary focus lies in preventing opioid misuse, addiction, and overdose while also assisting those with Opioid Use Disorder. Join us as we discuss everything, from Addinex’s dispensing system to the importance of being flexible and persistent as an entrepreneur to the challenges that Jay has faced in starting his own business as well as how they’ve overcome those challenges. 
To learn more, visit https://www.addinextech.com/. 
 
00:00 - Intro
00:39 - What are three things every entrepreneur should know?
04:39 - What problem is your company solving?
08:40 - What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome?
12:08 - What made you pivot from your career to entrepreneurship?
15:19 - At this stage in your business, what aspects are easier now compared to when you started?
17:05 - What are the ingredients of a successful entrepreneur?
19:01 - If you could send a letter to your younger self, what advice would you give? 
21:38 - What did you find difficult when you ventured into entrepreneurship?