Interview
437: Fulcrum Investing and the State of Logic: How to Stand Out, Get Noticed, Build the Right Team, and Make Great Decisions with Kevin Van Eekeren
Kevin Van Eekeren started his career as a logistic officer for a SWAT team, which gave him insight into the criminal justice world, and he soon found that through training SWAT teams better he could reduce the use of force while bettering the national security of our country. Fulcrum Tactical was born out of that idea, and within 18 months he expanded it from a charity to a for-profit company. He started investing in startups on the side but focused on Fulcrum Tactical and his new venture, Fulcrum Farms a sustainable farm producing high-quality meat and eggs for families and restaurants in the Chicagoland area. After six years Kevin sold Fulcrum Tactical and moved on to investing in startups full-time by starting Fulcrum Investing. Kevin spends his free time co-hosting The State of Logic Podcast and has also continued his passion for farming.
Quotes:
“While we never want to hurt anyone's feelings, it's also important to give people our honest assessment of the possible ability for success of an idea or a company.” – Kevin Van Eekeren
“It is the investor's job to call an ugly baby an ugly baby when necessary, in order to be the best person you can be for that entrepreneur.” – Kevin Van Eekeren
“The CEO cannot be working in the business. He has to be working on the business.” – Kevin Van Eekeren
Takeaways:
03:12 Media and information sources often prioritize sensationalism over truth, making critical thinking and fact-checking essential.
06:33 Quick, honest feedback is more valuable to entrepreneurs than prolonged, sugar-coated responses.
09:18 Startup success depends more on the quality of the founding team than the specific industry or product.
09:49 Successful investing requires a rigorous, objective process that removes personal bias and focuses on the entrepreneur's potential.
15:00 Building a business means focusing on the big picture strategy while empowering a skilled team to handle execution details.
Resources
- The State of Logic (Podcast)
- Fulcrum Investing (Website)
- Kevin Van Eekeren (LinkedIn)
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436: Speaker Fulfillment Services: Avoid the Usual Mistakes Authors Make and Discover the ABCs of Selling Physical Products at Live Events with Bret Ridgway
Bret Ridgway is co-founder of Speaker Fulfillment Services, a company that works for speakers, authors and information marketers. His unique, behind-the-scenes perspective allows him to see what is working and not working in the industry. He is the author of 5 books in the niche, including the Amazon bestseller "Mistakes Authors Make" and most recently "The ABCs of Speaking." He stops by to tell us what we need to know about selling products from stage at events, what's working now, and what physical products we should be creating and selling in our businesses.
Quotes:
“It's really all about relationships. I mean, the people you know—when you get out to live events and meet others—you just never know where it's going to lead.” – Bret Ridgway
“Consumption is what it's all about. If you can't get them to read your book, watch your video, or listen to your podcast, the chance of them coming back to you for other products and services is almost nil.” – Bret Ridgway
“A good seller can make a lot more money selling at the back of the room than by getting paid for a keynote speech.” – Bret Ridgway
Takeaways:
01:07 Event selling strategies have shifted from pure pitch fests to more balanced content and sales approaches.
10:21 Successful speakers create multi-modal learning experiences that cater to different learning styles and preferences.
12:47 Physical products remain crucial in marketing, even in a digital world, as they provide tangible value and credibility to customers.
16:41 Offering personal access or coaching can significantly increase the perceived value and pricing of your products.
20:16 Books should be strategic marketing tools that guide readers to additional products and services, not just standalone revenue generators.
Resources
- Speaker Fulfillment Services (Official Site)
- Mistakes Authors Make (Book)
- The ABCs of Speaking (Book)
- View from the Back (Book)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:16 — 23.1MB) | Embed
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435: The Art of Kickstarter Crowdsourcing: Build Brand Awareness and Launch a Campaign to Get Funding for Your Business Idea with Roy Morejon
Roy Morejon is the president of Enventys Partners and host of the Art of the Kickstart podcast. . With over 20 years of experience in marketing services for B2B and B2C clients, Roy has become an expert in digital strategy, search marketing, and crowdfunding. He is the host of "Art of the Kickstart" podcast, where he shares insights about entrepreneurship and product launches. Roy's company is recognized as the world's first vertically integrated product development and crowdfunding digital marketing agency, helping entrepreneurs transform their ideas from initial sketches to market-ready products.
Quotes:
“We take brands from nothing to something. We're building out their brand, writing their story, and handling their social for them. These are entrepreneurs—they're makers. They know what the product is and how to make it, but they don't always know how to speak to their consumers.” – Roy Morejon
“The work you do before the campaign leads to almost 90% of the success after launch. The pre-campaign phase is critical to the overall success of getting a product out there and getting people excited about it.” – Roy Morejon
“We fail upwards. We gain insights, grow a community, a group of people who are passionate about the product we're launching.” – Roy Morejon
Takeaways:
04:40 Pre-campaign work drives 90% of a Kickstarter campaign's success, making early preparation critical for product launch.
11:20 Kickstarter offers entrepreneurs a unique platform to test product ideas and get direct customer feedback before full production.
17:50 Successful crowdfunding requires building anticipation, creating excitement, and generating a groundswell of interest before launching.
20:10 Not every campaign will succeed, but each attempt provides valuable insights and helps build a community around the product.
22:30 Hardware products, fashion, and design categories tend to perform best in crowdfunding platforms.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:56 — 24.7MB) | Embed
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434: Virtual Assistant Secrets: Focus on Growing Your Business and Build a Team That Runs on Autopilot with Andrea Rozman
Andrea Rozman from Your Gal Friday stepped out of the corporate IT and project management world ten years ago, and into small business where she works with people from all backgrounds – lawyers, digital marketers, business coaches, investment bankers and more. Andrea and her team of virtual assistants help relieve the stress of business ownership by doing all the odds and ends tasks needed so entrepreneurs and small business owners can focus on growing their businesses.
Quotes:
“Hiring a virtual assistant is a tough task. It's something that shouldn't be taken lightly.” – Andrea Rozman
“You have to be able to release tasks so you can focus on growing your business. You don't need to be answering the phone just to tell someone what your business hours are.” – Andrea Rozman
“If you're going to consider hiring a virtual assistant, start early—start early on and think about what you want them to do.” – Andrea Rozman
Takeaways:
04:34 Hiring a virtual assistant isn't just about cutting costs, but about freeing up your time to focus on growing your core business.
16:12 Start planning for a virtual assistant before you're desperate, giving yourself time to find the right match for your specific needs.
18:31 Trust is crucial when working with virtual assistants, but can be built through careful screening, background checks, and starting with small tasks.
22:33 The right virtual assistant becomes an integral part of your business, potentially working with you for years and understanding your operations deeply.
26:21 Virtual assistants can handle a wide range of tasks, from simple email management to complex project coordination, tailored to your specific business requirements.
Visit Your Gal Friday
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:40 — 29.9MB) | Embed
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433: Improve Your Productivity and Enhance Your Sales Goals with Business Rehabilitator Maya Harrison
Maya Harrison from Wedding Consultant Services is a well known consultant for corporate executives who need to improve productivity and enhance sales goals. She has been featured on tv shows like "Get Your Face On The Air" and on major podcasts for small biz owners. Maya Harrison has years of experience in the consulting industry and because of her proven results her clients refer to her as the "Biz Rehabilitator.
Quotes:
“Recent statistics show that the average worker is disconnected from their job. They're not engaged, which reduces overall employee morale for the company because there's no motivation on their part.” – Maya Harrison
“Most companies are still behind the times. They're still using old practices, old policies, and old work ethics.” – Maya Harrison
“Flexibility is key. If companies would adopt mobile and digital data processes in their working environment, it would lead to more engaged employees.” – Maya Harrison
Takeaways:
04:40 Modern workers want flexibility, digital processes, and the ability to work remotely to stay engaged and motivated.
07:20 Before starting a new business, research multiple potential industries and understand what each role truly involves.
11:30 Creating a successful business means focusing on work you enjoy and finding help for tasks you don't like.
17:10 Don't assume career advancement is possible; ask questions early and understand your actual growth potential within a company.
20:25 Promoting yourself through interviews, web shows, and professional platforms can significantly increase your business visibility.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:19 — 25.9MB) | Embed
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432: Close More Deals and 10X Your Revenue with Sales Coach Jim Brown
Jim Brown has led two companies from $1 million to more than $10 million, and one from $1 million to $0. He now Hosts the SalesTuners podcast, and trains entrepreneurs who don't realize they're the VP of Sales how to 10x their revenue using a step-by-step sales formula. We talk today about Jim's monkey's paw evaluation concept, and how he turns cold call prospecting into discovery calls, then proposals.
Quotes:
“You will never get anything in life that you don't ask for. So start asking.” – Jim Brown
“A discipline is something I force myself to do because I know it's the right thing to do. A habit is something I do just because it feels natural.” – Jim Brown
“If people are willing to take money out of their pocket and give it to you, that's when you know you're working in a B2B setting.” – Jim Brown
Takeaways:
05:41 Breaking big sales goals into small, daily actionable steps makes massive revenue targets feel achievable and less overwhelming.
11:15 Testing different messaging in small call batches helps quickly identify what works and what needs improvement in your sales approach.
19:30 Cold calling isn't about hard selling, but about creating genuine conversation and understanding potential customer pain points.
23:20 Creating scarcity by scheduling discovery calls weeks out signals confidence and increases perceived value of your services.
Resources
- Sales Roadmap (Free Gift)
- Sales Tuners (Weekly Podcast)
- Jim Brown (Twitter)
- Email Jim: jim@salestuners.com
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:27 — 27.9MB) | Embed
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431: Bridge the Gap Between Success and Relationships: Harness Your Inner Hero and Shift Your Thinking with Optimal Life Coach Laura Long
Laura Long is passionate about her business as a Life Coach, Energy Worker, and Teacher, however it does not define her, complete her or even drive her. That's been the download message from the universe that's been deleted a few times until it went into her hard drive so to speak. Now the power of "being" drives her more than the power of "doing", and doing and doing. From her own experiences - Laura works with open-minded driven professionals who’ve had success yet still feel there's something missing, and who are ready to bridge that gap between their outer success and their inner peace and relationship success.
Quotes:
“We have an external world, yet we often fail to recognize or align it with our internal world, leaving us constantly reliant on external influences.” – Laura Long
“If you can write down your goal, aspiration, or desire with the greatest possible clarity, you will have a greater chance of achieving it.” – Laura Long
“Our human body and mind are designed to allow us to experience ease. If we anticipate pain, we will naturally resist it.” – Laura Long
Takeaways:
06:26 External success means nothing if you're not aligned with your inner self and true values.
08:47 Breathing and meditation are powerful tools for understanding and stabilizing your inner emotional landscape.
14:29 Writing down goals with clarity significantly increases the probability of achieving them.
17:37 Building inner "muscles" through consistent practice helps you handle real-world challenges more effectively.
18:37 Resistance to change is a natural human response rooted in our body's protective chemistry.
Visit Laura's Site and Schedule a Call
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:44 — 25.4MB) | Embed
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430: Live the Focused Driven Lifestyle: Remove Distractions, Set Profitable Priorities, Get More Organized and Be Intentional with Lyman Montgomery
Lyman Montgomery from Focused Driven Lifestyle missed out on some great business opportunities due to a lack of focus. He faced many setbacks until he decided to do something different. He learned to clear his mind and focus his energies on eliminating his debilitating beliefs and within a few weeks, he saw dramatic results; that was over twelve years ago.
The key to his success was having a life coach and learning how to build a long-term relationship that balanced work and family. He also helps others to recognize the difference between life counseling (uncovering emotional issues) and personal coaching. Life Coaching, Relationship Coaching, Wellness Coaching, and Career Coaching are designed to help you develop a plan to achieve focused-driven results.
Quotes:
“Never confuse activity with accomplishment. Just because you're busy doesn't mean you've accomplished anything.” – Lyman Montgomery
“If you fail, fall forward, push yourself back up—even if you have to crawl—but keep moving toward your destiny and never stop.” – Lyman Montgomery
“It's okay to make mistakes, but make sure to learn from them and grow because of them.” – Lyman Montgomery
Takeaways:
00:02 Breaking digital addiction requires setting clear family communication boundaries and creating phone-free zones.
09:39 Being physically present isn't the same as being psychologically present with your family or team.
17:13 Productivity isn't about completing 50 half-done tasks, but focusing on 2-3 meaningful accomplishments.
20:19 Implement a structured approach to task management using simple, actionable steps like the TURBO method.
24:03 Failure is not final - learn to fail forward by growing from mistakes and continuously moving toward your goals.
Resources
- Focused-Driven Lifestyle (Book)
- Focused-Driven Lifestyle (Official Site)
- Lyman Montgomery (Twitter)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:14 — 24.9MB) | Embed
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429: Lead the Way to Better Perspective, Success and Authenticity to Overcome Any Obstacle with Keynote Speaker Robb Holman
Robb Holman is an internationally recognized leadership expert, executive coach, keynote speaker, and author who has a heart for authentic relationships and a true talent for equipping people with the skills and the knowledge necessary for their success.
With passion and exuberance, Robb’s dynamic teaching style has successfully led countless business owners, executives, and leaders through his exclusive and proprietary method of Inside Out Leadership Coaching. In helping his clients learn how to connect with their unique life’s purpose, they are finding success in a way they never expected - from the inside out!
As a lifelong serial entrepreneur, Robb has founded numerous, highly influential organizations, both for-profit, as well as non-profit. His current endeavor is as founder and CEO of Holman International, a global leadership consultancy revolutionizing the way business leaders operate.
Quotes:
“The better we get to know ourselves, the more we can lead from that place. This allows us to lead with confidence and practice what we preach.” – Robb Holman
“If we begin to build a foundation in our lives by being intentional and consistent in maintaining a higher perspective, it can make all the difference.” – Robb Holman
“Everything always comes back to purpose. Knowing who you are will help you define why you are here and why your business ultimately exists.” – Robb Holman
Takeaways:
03:23 Personal leadership starts with understanding yourself deeply before trying to lead others.
05:36 Your daily mindset and perspective can transform challenges into opportunities for growth.
09:42 Success isn't about hitting financial targets, but about the meaningful impact you create in people's lives.
10:48 Comparing yourself to others drains energy and prevents you from discovering your unique strengths.
24:58 Practicing daily gratitude can fundamentally shift how you view yourself and the world around you.
Resources
- Robb Holman (Official Site)
- Lead the Way (Book)
- Robb Holman (LinkedIn)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:03 — 24.8MB) | Embed
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428: Practice Being Happy and Choose to Be Happy to Discover the Opportunities, Possibilities and Solutions You Deserve with Happiness and Success Coach Vernon Brown
Vernon Brown, happiness coach and speaker, has successfully coached over 10,000 people in the last 4 years and is not slowing down. He is focused on solutions and not problems, finding your happi gets you more clear, conscious and intentional. He's direct, fun and engaging as he coaches his clients to greater heights and happiness face to face or virtually, there is never any excuse why you can not be happier in any phase of your life. What's your happi?
Quotes:
“Happiness is not about constantly walking around with a smile on your face, but about understanding that, regardless of the circumstances, you have options, opportunities, possibilities, and solutions.” – Vernon Brown
“Your brain is designed to keep you alive. It is not designed to keep you happy.” – Vernon Brown
“Success becomes something to manage. If you achieve significant success, you'll need to maintain it, and that alone can make people very fearful.” – Vernon Brown
Takeaways:
04:44 Happiness is a deliberate choice you make, not something that happens by accident.
11:14 Writing down your goals and desires creates clarity and commitment to your personal happiness.
17:10 Changing your mental channel through music, exercise, or other activities can help silence your inner critic.
19:12 Conquering negativity frees up mental space to be more productive and successful.
22:10 Entrepreneurs should focus on being productive, not just busy, by simplifying their to-do lists.
Visit "What's Your Happi" to Claim Your Free Discovery Session with Vernon
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:51 — 22.7MB) | Embed
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