Tag: Entrepreneurship
True Entrepreneurship: Scaling a Business for Meaningful Impact with Kristen Shroyer (Ep. 76)

True Entrepreneurship: Scaling a Business for Meaningful Impact with Kristen Shroyer (Ep. 76)

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Many believe that quality wine and philanthropy are paths that rarely cross.

ONEHOPE Wine challenges this misconception head-on, proving that every sip can indeed contribute to a greater cause. 

This week on Smart. Money. Simplified, Brent Mekosh is joined by Kristen Shroyer, Co-Founder and Chief Impact Officer at ONEHOPE Wine. Together they uncork the journey of turning a passion for wine into a powerful force for global change. 

Tune in and explore Kristen’s entrepreneurial adventure in the wine industry, the challenges and breakthroughs of scaling a business, and how each bottle of wine sold contributes to meaningful causes worldwide.

Talking points include: 

  • The origins and mission of ONEHOPE Wine
  • Overcoming industry challenges and the transition to an independent RIA space
  • The importance of aligning business with philanthropy
  • Insights into entrepreneurship and growing a purpose-driven brand
  • And more!

Connect with Kristen Shroyer:

Connect with Brent Mekosh:

About Our Guest:

Kristen Shroyer is a highly accomplished and committed executive with over 16 years of extensive experience in the wine industry. As the Co-Founder of ONEHOPE Wine, Kristen has a proven track record in building and nurturing partnerships, empowering women through wine, leading marketing initiatives, and driving sales strategies. She is passionate about combining business growth with positive social impact, with over $10 million donated to over 40,000 nonprofits to date. 

Kristen is skilled in leading diverse teams and managing national accounts. Dedicated to giving back to the community, she serves in various volunteer roles and has been recognized with numerous honors and awards for her contributions to the industry and community.

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Dream Big: Transforming Vision into Market Leading Products with Victor Mason (Ep. 75)

Dream Big: Transforming Vision into Market Leading Products with Victor Mason (Ep. 75)

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Have you ever wondered how one dream can transform into a revolutionary product, changing industries from sports to law enforcement? 

This week on SMART MONEY. SIMPLIFIED, Brent Mekosh is joined by visionary inventor and entrepreneur Victor Mason, the CEO of PowerZone. 

Their discussion unfurls around Victor’s journey from conceiving an idea inspired by a dream to bringing complex and innovative products to the market. 

Tune in as they also reflect on the intersections of invention, entrepreneurship, and the broader financial landscape that supports or inhibits breakthroughs!

Episode talking points include:

  • Victor’s transition from sound-based mini basketball backboards to wearable tech for sports injuries
  • How has PowerZone’s tech evolved and what are its applications
  • Insights into entrepreneurship and product development
  • What’s the philosophical view on fostering and financing industry-redefining inventions
  • And more!

Connect with Victor Mason:

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About Our Guest:

Victor Mason is a creative entrepreneur who recognizes opportunities and develops successful businesses and products that bring enjoyment to life whether toys for kids or high-end luxury vehicles for adults. Victor is experienced in creating, engineering, and manufacturing original products and in developing sales in the domestic and international markets. He’s a well-established connector of people who brings value to others through his personal motivation and energy as well as by facilitating relationships among like-minded professionals.

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The BrEpic Transformation: Embracing Change in Careers and Relationships with Justin & Sarah Breen (Ep. 73)

The BrEpic Transformation: Embracing Change in Careers and Relationships with Justin & Sarah Breen (Ep. 73)

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Have you been considering a career change? Looking to turn your vision of entrepreneurship into a reality? Discover the considerations to take when transitioning to a new career path from someone who has already done it.

Listen in as Brent Mekosh and his guests Justin Breen, founder and CEO of BrEpic, and Sarah Breen, COO of BrEpic, share their backgrounds and how they transitioned from divergent fields to create a powerful network, BrEpic.

 From Justin’s background in journalism and marketing to Sarah’s medical expertise, the couple’s journey is a testament to adaptability and fearlessness in pursuing new opportunities. 

Justin and Sarah discuss:

  • The importance of adaptability when navigating challenges and seizing opportunities
  • How strong family ties and balanced dynamics can impact your professional endeavors
  • Benefits of real human relationships regardless of physical proximity
  • Traditional gender roles and financial dynamics within relationships
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Justin and Sarah Breen:

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About Our Guests:

Justin Breen is the Founder and CEO of BrEpic Communications LLC, a PR firm that works exclusively with visionaries and exceptional businesses around the world. He’s built an international network of extraordinary people because he strongly believes in the power of introductions and the importance of creating relationships through networking.

Justin is the author of Epic Business and Epic Life. He enjoys running, fishing, and watching baseball with his two sons and his wife, Sarah.

Dr. Sarah Breen is a board-certified pediatrician who’s been practicing general pediatrics in the north suburbs of Chicago since 2011. After being fully immersed in the entrepreneur world by her husband (co-founder, Justin Breen), Sarah fell in love with BrEpic Network and became its Chief Operating Officer in 2023.

Sarah enjoys spending time with her two sons, exercising her three doodles, and traveling the world with her husband, Justin.

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Visionaries at Work, Partners at Home: The Entrepreneur’s Guide to a Successful Marriage with Rachel Lebowitz (Ep. 66)

Visionaries at Work, Partners at Home: The Entrepreneur’s Guide to a Successful Marriage with Rachel Lebowitz (Ep. 66)

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The entrepreneurial lifestyle can be thrilling, but it also brings unique challenges to a marriage. 

Whether you’re an entrepreneur yourself or married to one, it can be a struggle to navigate the complex relationship dynamics that come with it.

In this episode, Brent Mekosh speaks with Rachel Lebowitz, a Professional EOS Implementer®️, speaker, and author who also describes herself as the wife of a driven entrepreneur and the mom of three entrepreneurs in the making.

Listen in as they explore the impact of entrepreneurship on marriage and family life, with practical advice for fostering a healthy balance.

Rachel discusses:

  • The psychology of entrepreneurs and their spouses (WHY they behave the way they do)
  • The significance of open communication between partners
  • How to tackle barriers like narcissism, compulsivity, resentment, and jealousy
  • Actionable steps for both spouses to manage stress and promote mutual growth
  • An introduction to the Driven Spouse Forum
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Rachel Lebowitz:

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About Our Guest:

Rachel Lebowitz is a third-generation female entrepreneur. Since the age of 10, the school bus dropped her off every day at her parents’ school supplies store, where she helped out and punched a time card. By the age of 12, Rachel asked for a raise, and at 15, she convinced her parents to take their business on to Amazon and helped them build their website. But the most interesting part was observing the employees when the boss wasn’t around.

Fast forward to 2015, Rachel and her husband acquired a flexible packaging printing business. They were doing well, but inevitably, with the rapid growth, they hit the ceiling. In 2018, they discovered EOS and implemented it into our business. They have since grown their business from 17-30 million in revenue and from 30 – 100 employees. As a partner in business, Rachel got a unique vantage point into the day-to-day stress and struggles of running a company. Therefore, she is passionate about sharing those EOS tools they discovered to help businesses like yours get more peace of mind and your life back, like they did!

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Debt Dilemmas, Pandemic Policies, and the Future of Money with Carol Roth (Ep. 64)

Debt Dilemmas, Pandemic Policies, and the Future of Money with Carol Roth (Ep. 64)

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Curious about how the government’s pandemic response impacted small businesses? What are the lasting impacts of the Federal Reserve’s market interventions and mounting debts?

Join Brent Mekosh and his guest Carol Roth, a Recovering Investment Banker as well as an author and media figure, as they dive into the government’s response to the pandemic and how it has affected small businesses.

Carol explores the unequal treatment of small businesses compared to big corporations while also giving some insights into her latest book, “You’ll Own Nothing.” 

Carol discusses:

  • Her background and career experiences
  • The government’s response to the pandemic and the ways it impacted small businesses
  • Potential setbacks the government may face in financing debt and some of the implications for the economy
  • Ways the end of private property affects wealth creation and individual rights
  • What you should know about digital currencies
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Carol Roth:

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About Our Guest:

Carol Roth is the Creator of the Future File® legacy planning system, a national media personality, a billion-dollar dealmaker, a brand spokesperson, an investor, a board member, and a bestselling author.

Her legacy planning product, Future File, helps people organize their wishes and information and then creates a roadmap for their loved ones to follow in the case of incapacitation (dementia, Alzheimer’s, medical issue) and/or death to save grief, money and time in their loved ones’ biggest time of need.

Carol also has experience in every type of on-camera format imaginable, including hosting (Microsoft’s Office Small Business Academy Series) reality competition/judge (Mark Burnett & Intel’s America’s Greatest Makers show) & live multimedia commentary, which includes business, finance, the economy, current events, politics & pop culture.

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A Navy SEALs Entrepreneurial Journey with Mack Alexander (Ep. 48)

A Navy SEALs Entrepreneurial Journey with Mack Alexander (Ep. 48)

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Transitioning from the Navy SEALs to a civilian can be physically and emotionally hard. 

For some, finding a passion can help bring them a sense of peace and create a path toward their next phase in life.

In this episode, Brent Mekosh is joined by Mack Alexander, the founder and CEO of Macks Belts™ and a retired Navy SEAL. Mack reveals his journey from a Navy SEAL to a business owner while diving into the life lessons he learned as a Navy SEAL, how they translated into his daily life, and how he helps others (like him) through his business. 

Mack discusses:

  • Why he decided to join the Navy SEALs
  • How his experience with the Navy SEALs impacted his motivation and perseverance
  • The financial and personal struggles he faced after returning home from duty
  • How he started selling dog collars and grew that business into a belt company
  • Why he markets his products on LinkedIn instead of other social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook
  • And more!

Connect with Mack Alexander:

Connect with Brent Mekosh:

About Our Guest:

Mack Alexander serves as the CEO, Owner, and Founder of Macks Belts™, headquartered in Tampa, FL. The company specializes in steel and leather manufacturing and is one of the largest producers of American-made belts. Previously, Mack served as a Navy SEAL Assaulter and Breacher deploying to Africa and Yemen. He retired early after sustaining a major TBI while deployed. He is devoted to supporting all who have served and has been an advocate for many military, first responder, and law enforcement charities and is an official partner and advisor to Support Our Troops®.

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