Lessons From The Tank

Maxwell Cohen, Inventor of Peelaways disposable bed sheets, was fresh out of college and had no idea what he was in for when he took his brand new product on a "millennial start-up focused" episode of Shark Tank. But the experience, even though it was pretty brutal and didn't end with a deal, put him on a new path and strengthened his determination to make his product a success.

Maxwell is so impressive and had so much business wisdom to share for such a young guy! I encourage you to check out all that he had to say, but here are a few highlights: He emphasizes that business owners don't work for themselves; they work for their customers - and listening is key. From the Sharks' advice to customer feedback, Maxwell took it all in and worked to make Peelaways better understood, higher quality, and more accessible. He is currently on his 33rd version of the product. The name has changed (from the original "FreSheet"), the target audience and marketing have changed, a subscription service has been added, and Maxwell has become a textiles expert, traveling the world to gain experience and knowledge in the field. Did I mention "impressive"?

Today Peelaways, the first multilayered, disposable, 100% waterproof fitted sheet, holds multiple patents and is disrupting the bedding industry, saving time, water, detergent, and money for caregivers, parents, and medical facilities worldwide.

Learn more and purchase Peelaways at peelaways.com, Amazon, and home health drug and pharmacy locations nationwide. (Be sure to check out their great reviews on Amazon!)

Becca Brown is a Harvard graduate who worked her way up the ladder at Goldman Sachs, eventually landing a Chief of Staff position in London. Then she left it all behind.

Today, Becca is the co-founder of SoleMates shoe and foot care products, along with former classmate and Goldman Sachs colleague Monica Ferguson. They pitched their flagship product, the SoleMates High Heel Protector that keeps heels from sinking into grass or getting stuck in grates or cracks, on Season 8, Episode 4 of Shark Tank and hooked a deal with Robert Herjavec.

Although Becca and her partner were already very experienced businesswomen, they took extra steps to ensure a successful pitch on the show. They hired a formal media trainer to help them with a game plan, key talking points, and how to thoroughly answer questions while guiding all conversations back to the key points they wanted to convey. They also held rapid-fire Q&A sessions with their team a few days a week for months before their appearance on the show.

"Know your message, know how you want to communicate it, and keep reinforcing it" is one of Becca's best pieces of advice, but she stresses that without authenticity, it will all fall flat. Be sure to check out this episode of my Lessons From The Tank podcast for more business wisdom from Becca.

Today SoleMates are carried in Nordstrom, DSW, and David's Bridal stores worldwide and on major e-commerce sites like Amazon and Zappos. Celebrities such as Oprah, Viola Davis, and Carrie Underwood are happy SoleMates customers!

Learn more about Becca and shop the full SoleMates product line, which includes an all-natural Blister Blocker anti-friction balm and odor-eliminating spray, at thesolemates.com.

If you need a dose of motivation, don't miss one of the most passionate guests I've ever had on my Lessons From The Tank podcast! Dr. Robert Yonover is a Ph.D. geochemist/volcanologist, author, and North Shore big wave surfer living in Hawaii. His life-saving invention, the See Rescue Streamer - a patented emergency continuous signaling device, didn't get a deal on Shark Tank. Still, Rob was undeterred, and the See Rescue Streamer is now approved and used worldwide by military organizations AND can be found on every SpaceX flight!

I met Rob at a Shark Tank reunion of entrepreneurs who have appeared on the show, and we instantly connected. His passion and work ethic are unmatched, and his knowledge and life experiences are so interesting and engaging. I knew I wanted to have him as a guest on my podcast, and here are just a few of the entrepreneurial nuggets of wisdom Rob shares in this episode:

• The 3 R's that you need to learn and constantly live by to be successful in ANYTHING that you do: Respect, Responsibility, and Resourcefulness
• Shoot for the moon, but feel pride in whatever you accomplish. You don't always have to hit the big home run.
• Don't quit your day job so you CAN eventually quit your day job. Keep working while developing your idea until you're sure you have a reason and the means to quit.
• The #1 survival tool in any situation is your brain. Never stop learning and growing, and don't ever let yourself get bored.

I promise you'll be motivated and inspired by Rob's enthusiasm, knowledge, and business wisdom. Don't miss this episode of Lessons From The Tank!

To learn more about Rob and The See Rescue Streamer, visit seerescuestreamer.com.

These teenagers have goals - period. Ayaan and Mickey Naqvi (14 and 15 years old at the time of this podcast) are the most impressive teens I have ever encountered. They have appeared on Shark Tank not once but twice, and, despite not getting a deal both times, their passion, drive, and positive attitudes are off-the-charts amazing!

Anyone with children or pets recognizes the problem of ornaments being knocked off (or just falling off) the Christmas tree. Ornament Anchor, a simple invention to keep your Christmas tree ornaments securely in place, was born when Ayaan set out to solve the problem when he was only in the 4th grade. He created Ornament Anchor as a school project and quickly learned it was a high-demand product.

With the help of their parents, the Naqvi brothers started shopping their concept at Christmas markets, then delved into e-commerce. The popularity of Ornament Anchor eventually landed them on CNN, Good Morning America, and QVC, and business is booming for these young entrepreneurs. (The Sharks definitely missed out on this one!)

In the short amount of time I spent with Ayaan and Mickey on this episode of my Lessons From The Tank podcast, I was blown away and entirely inspired by their intelligence and wisdom beyond their years. Here are just a few of the many topics they crushed in less than 30 minutes:

• Failure is just a lesson and often even a good thing because it causes you to pivot, think differently, and move on to the next success.
• Real success always includes generosity. Giving back and making a difference is a huge motivator.
• You will learn so much more about your demographic and your product if you're willing to take the grass-roots approach. But entrepreneurs often want to skip this part.
• If someone is willing to outwork you, they deserve to take your place. Never assume you'll stay on top. Work for it every day.

Don't miss this episode of the Lessons From The Tank podcast! I promise these two incredible young men will inspire you!

Learn more and purchase at ornamentanchor.com. Also available on Amazon and over 600 Lowe's locations.

Kim Burney noticed how the people in her family jumped at the chance to use chainsaws when she suggested that the trees on their property needed to be trimmed. So when she asked if anyone would like to carve the Thanksgiving turkey and got crickets from the whole crowd, she joked that if they could do it with a chainsaw, they would have all been fighting over the job. And that's how the Mighty Carver was born - one of the most fun products I've seen on Shark Tank!

Kim and her husband Lance appeared in Season 12, Episode 4 of Shark Tank, and they had to choose between 4 of the Sharks battling for the deal. And since The Mighty Carver appeared on the show, incredible things have happened. When we recorded this episode, Mighty Carver was scheduled to be featured on the Home Shopping Network, it had been on the cover of Sharper Image, and Lance and Kim had a meeting set with a big box store. They even got the attention of one of the world's largest chainsaw manufacturers, who reached out for a meeting.

There were some bumps along the road, though, and some lessons learned the hard way for these new entrepreneurs. Kim and Lance gained a lot of wisdom and insight from those experiences and shared some great tips for how to avoid the mistakes they made.

Be sure to check out this episode and The Mighty Carver. It would be an excellent gift for the holidays!

Learn more at mightycarver.com.

An N95 air filter mask – for your dog? That’s precisely what Kirby Holmes, my recent Lessons From The Tank Podcast guest, invented and pitched on Shark Tank.

It may sound crazy at first – and a few of the Sharks thought so, too – but maybe you live in an area prone to wildfires, red tide brevetoxin, pollen allergens, desert dust, volcanic ash, etc. During these events, if there is no evacuation, your dog still needs to go outside and be walked. Kirby realized that if a person felt the need to wear a mask to protect themselves from environmental toxins, their dog is breathing that same air and should be protected too.

Kirby, and his cousin Evan Daughterty, did a deep dive into canine respiratory health. They met with multiple professors who specialize in this field, sought expert advice, and followed scientific data before bringing launching K9 Mask.

Reviews were mixed, mainly because many believed that masking might be more harmful to the animal than the toxins they were breathing and that they may just be trying to capitalize on the Coronavirus. The team took some heat from the public for a while but continued their steadfast journey for animal safety.

In this episode of my Lessons From The Tank podcast, Kirby talks about how they handled the pressure and the true heart behind their invention. He shares what they learned from their experience in the Tank and what’s next for their business.

Check out k9mask.com for the complete product line and story behind K9 Mask.

Dinosaurs. Just the word fires up the imaginations of young and old alike - and nobody knows dinosaurs better than Don Lessem! To say he is one of the most fascinating guests I’ve had on my Lessons From The Tank podcast would be an understatement! Here are just a few facts about Don:

• He is a writer of over 50 popular science books specializing in dinosaurs.
• He was the founder of the Dinosaur Society and the Jurassic Foundation, which have raised millions for dinosaur research.
• He was Science Advisor to Steven Spielberg on the original Jurassic Park movie.
• He has a bachelor’s degree in art history, a master’s in animal behavior, AND an actual dinosaur named after him – an accomplishment that only a handful of people today can claim.

Don got a deal with Mark Cuban for his animatronics company, Dino Don, which creates accurate life-sized robotic dinosaurs, dragons, sea creatures, and more for exhibition in zoos and museums worldwide. (In fact, he was so sure of what he wanted that Don wore a shirt on the show that said “We love you Mark Cuban” on the back.)

In this episode of Lessons From The Tank, Don shares wisdom from his years of experience as an entrepreneur and world traveler, including business gold like this;

• Always have three projects going within your scope of business: The first is the one that’s working, the second is the one that you’re working on, and the third is the one you’re brainstorming.
• Start from the top and work your way down. Go big. Go for the thing (investor, venue, customer, etc.) you want most and if that doesn’t work out, move to the next.

You don’t want to miss this episode of Lessons From The Tank!

Saying what you want can sometimes be a struggle, and many times people hold back for fear of being met with rejection. So what if there was a way to always know when you and your partners' desires aligned? Wouldn't that be nice! Enter LoveSync; a bedside button or phone app that partners can use to communicate their desires in a more playful and efficient way.

In this episode of Lessons From The Tank, married couple Ryan and Jenn Cmich, inventors of LoveSync, share their Shark Tank experience and the importance of communicating a message with its true intention. While their intention, which is to enhance romantic communication between couples, was slightly misinterpreted by the Sharks - their LoveSync invention is a clever communication tool to make saying what you need to say so much easier!

It was a pleasure to host Ryan ad Jenn. With their combined engineering and relationship counseling backgrounds, they brought a lot of value-add thoughts and ideas to this episode.

To learn more visit: LoveSync.com

What problem is your product solving? That's the question every inventor has to ask before diving into the world of entrepreneurship.

Alex Arkhangelskiy and Henry Li, Shark Tank entrepreneurs, avid motorcycle enthusiasts, and the inventors of Brake Free Tech, recognized a universal and dangerous problem for bikers; they are often overlooked and unseen by other drivers on the road. So they set out to solve this problem and didn't let anything stop them, including the COVID pandemic that was happening at the same time.

Alex and Henry's Brake Free Light is a brilliant, sleek, stylish motorcycle technology invention that can be attached to any helmet. This potentially life-saving accessory vastly improves the visibility of a biker (day and night) with its built-in wireless brake detection system that lights up as a biker begins to slow down.

Brake Free Tech is helping to lead the way in motorcycle safety, and I was honored to host these two young, bright, and savvy entrepreneurs on my Lessons From The Tank podcast. In this episode, we discuss the following and more:

• The importance of having the right people on your development team
• How to take the first steps toward launching your product idea
• The positive impact of crowdfunding campaigns
• The effectiveness of internships and connections to people searching for a career they can be passionate about

To learn more, visit brakefreetech.com

 Millions of people wake up five days a week, put on a suit and tie, and head to work. Skylar Bennet and his business partner Kevin Shoemaker, both former real estate agents, were tired of wasting money on new ties every time one got stained or damaged - which happens often! This problem led them to create a solution, and Tough Apparel, a fully machine washable and liquid repellent necktie that continues to look brand new wash after wash, was born.

In this episode of Lessons from the Tank, I talk with Skylar,  one half of this dynamic duo. He shares his first-hand experience on Shark Tank and how he and Kevin were able to expand their company beyond just neckties following their appearance on the show. Tough Apparel now offers button-up shirts, socks, and belts that provide the same durability as their neckties. Skylar hopes to continue to expand to a full high-performance apparel company.

In today’s episode of Lessons from the Tank, Skylar also shares how faith can help you persevere through some of the most challenging times, how Tough Apparel was able to grow even through the COVID pandemic, and more.

See the whole story and purchase at toughapparel.com

Once a year, Lori Greiner gives out a "golden ticket" to her favorite product idea on Shark Tank, and my Lessons From The Tank podcast guests, Jake and Michelle Sendowski, were stunned when she chose their invention, Souper Cubes, as the 2020 recipient! This simple but handy product made to save money and reduce food waste won Lori over because, in her own words, she "couldn't find anything wrong with it!"

Souper Cubes is a sturdy, freezable silicone tray with individual sections that are easy to reheat, making portion control and meal prep more convenient while eliminating waste.

Tune in to this episode of Lessons From The Tank to hear how Jake and Michelle were able to win the exact deal they were asking for on Shark Tank, how they navigated their business through the pandemic, the advice they have for others looking to take that first step, and much more!

Be sure to check out Jake and Michelle's complete product line at soupercubes.com.

Can you relate to this scenario? You're trying to enjoy a nice meal at a restaurant, but you (and others) are constantly distracted by your child throwing their toys and utensils on the floor. Take a bite - pick up a toy. Take a bite, pick up a fork. Take a bite, pick up a cup. Let's face it; if you're a parent, you just felt this in your soul!

But Shark Tank entrepreneur Beth Fynbo, a recent guest on my Lessons From The Tank podcast, has put an end to this problem! Beth's genius product, Busy Baby Mat, is a placemat that allows you to attach objects to prevent them from falling or getting thrown on the floor. This product not only makes parents' lives easier and meals more enjoyable but also helps avoid germs. Parents everywhere, rejoice!

I had a great time talking with Beth as she shared her knowledge gained throughout her entrepreneur journey and her experience in front of the Sharks. Some of the great tips and topics covered include:

• Have an "adapt and overcome" mentality and always be willing to pivot from your plans.
• How time in the military changed Beth's outlook on life and attitude toward her business
• The importance of being on the same page as your business partners
• The expansion of Beth's product line since Shark Tank and new toddler product inventions
• Helpful marketing tips

Learn more about Beth and her complete line of helpful, parent-approved products at busybabymat.com.

If you've ever tried grocery shopping with a baby, you know the struggle is real! Carrying a car seat on your arm while searching through the aisles almost feels impossible, but placing a huge car seat in the shopping cart limits your space for groceries. My recent Lessons From The Tank podcast guest, Lindsey Fleischhauer, a Shark Tank entrepreneur and young mom, struggled with this problem and knew there had to be a better way.

I really enjoyed hearing Lindsey's story about how she and her father worked together to create the Totes Babies Car Seat Carrier. This "simple genius" horizontal hammock clips safely across the top of almost any size shopping cart, and babies car seat rests on it and straps securely in place, leaving all the space below open.

Check out this episode of Lessons From The Tank to learn about Lindsey's story, including her take on the pros and cons of working with family, details about her Shark Tank journey, and more!

Lindsey didn't stop at a car seat carrier and has since developed some other helpful products - not just for kids! Be sure to visit totesbabies.com for complete details.

Kim Meckwood is a two-time breast cancer survivor and one of the most determined people I've ever met. Her story of grit and unbelievable perseverance is beyond inspiring! She holds the record for the most auditions before getting on Shark Tank with seven tries!

"No" just means "no for now," according to Kim, and she has lived that out with remarkable persistence. That persistence especially paid off when she landed a deal with Barbara Corcoran and Mark Cuban for her brilliant invention, Click & Carry.

Initially designed to help you easily carry multiple shopping bags at once without crushing your fingers or breaking your arm (can't we all relate?!), Click & Carry has since expanded to many other helpful options. Lug paint cans, ski boots, work gear, loads of sporting equipment, and more with this simple, game-changing product.

In this episode of Lessons From The Tank, Kim shares - with her contagious passion - the following and much more:

• Her inspiration for Click & Carry
• Advice for entrepreneurs who want to be on Shark Tank
• How to maintain a positive outlook despite adversity
• Her personal struggles and overcoming breast cancer - twice

Kim has also created a special pink breast cancer awareness Click & Carry, and for each one sold, she donates 10% of the proceeds to the National Breast Cancer Coalition. Be sure to visit clickandcarry.com to learn more about Kim's story and her products.

Hustle and perseverance are non-negotiables for entrepreneurs, and no one knows that better than Garret "Buddy" Lamp. In this episode of Lessons From The Tank, Buddy shares stories of his determination as a young adult and how he was constantly looking for creative ways to make money.

Working alongside his partner Taylor "Earl" Nees, Buddy finally hit it big with "Muff Waders." This unique invention that Earl came up with combines a six-pack cooler with a pair of bib overalls. And this dynamic duo is having tremendous success with this product you didn't know you needed!

We all struggle with that elusive work/life balance, and Buddy has some great tips that have helped him and Earl keep business and family life separate while finding enough time for both.

In today's episode of Lessons From The Tank, Buddy also shares about:

• The reality behind the preparation to pitch on Shark Tank
• The tremendous growth a company may experience due to exposure from Shark Tank
• How to please your customers despite unexpected circumstances
• How the Muff Waders line will expand in the future

Learn more about Buddy and Earl's story and check out the Muff Wader product line at muffwaders.com.

It can be difficult for people, especially children, to maintain a balanced diet. But what if some of your favorite delicious treats were suddenly made healthy? Thanks to Jessica Levison, founder of Peekaboo Ice Cream, you can easily meet that desired veggie intake while eating dessert. And the best part is – the veggies are hidden and their taste blends in with your favorite ice cream flavor.

In this episode of Lessons From The Tank Podcast, Jessica shares her mission to help families develop a healthier relationship with food along with discussing the importance of being an optimistic entrepreneur and parent. Dive into Jessica’s story of her experiment of pairing ice cream and vegetables. If you are a parent battling with your kids to eat healthier, this is the episode and product for you.

In today’s episode of Lessons From The Tank, we’ll cover:

• How Jessica was inspired by her popular scoop shop in Miami to invent Peekaboo Ice Cream
• The real experiences of entrepreneurs while preparing for screening of Shark Tank
• The importance of staying optimistic when your business experiences rough days
• And so much more!

Kent Yoshimura and Ryan Chen are not your typical entrepreneurs!
Kent trained with the Japanese Olympic Judo team, painted as a muralist for the city of Los Angeles, and competed internationally in Muay Thai. Meanwhile, Ryan trained with the U.S. Paralympic team while holding a 2nd-degree black belt in Kendo. Both have degrees in neuroscience, chemistry, and economics.

In their search for a practical, natural, clean, and balanced product to keep them going and boost energy and productivity, they came up empty-handed. So Kent and Ryan invented Neuro Gum, and people went crazy for it! Their first batch was fully crowdfunded in only three days, and the company continues to grow.

In this episode of my Lessons From The Tank Podcast, Kent and Ryan share some outstanding tips and wisdom gained as they journeyed from college friends to Shark Tank entrepreneurs to successful business owners.

Learn more about Neuro and their expanding line of products that include natural solutions for "Energy & Focus," "Calm & Clarity," and "Ideal State" at neurogum.com.

From cat toys to dog houses to chicken coops, Tim Taft's INNOVATION PET business has grown and changed in more ways than he could ever have anticipated since he appeared in Season 7, Episode 21 of Shark Tank.

In this episode of Lessons From The Tank, Tim shares valuable wisdom from lessons learned the hard way about starting and running a business. He emphasizes the importance of putting systems and structure in place very early and how, despite our natural desire for "more," a smaller business is sometimes the better business.

Tim has vast knowledge and experience with all things related to product development, manufacturing, and marketing as an entrepreneur. He has enjoyed great success, including his deal on Shark Tank with Daymond John (who, he emphasizes, has been an incredibly gracious and beneficial partner) and ultimately selling his business to retail giant Tractor Supply.

Tim Taft's wisdom is beneficial for all entrepreneurs, but if you are just starting out, don't miss this episode of Lessons From The Tank!

In this episode of my Lessons From The Tank Podcast, I talked with former health journalist and certified health coach Nancy Kalish, Founder of Rule Breaker Snacks.

Nancy knew all about healthy eating but could never find a way to properly satisfy her sweet tooth. She came across some interesting plant-based dessert recipes on the internet, but they all tasted, well, too plant-based. So she started experimenting with the concept but switched out a few ingredients to create a super delicious, completely clean, vegan, gluten-free, nut-free, non-GMO brownie that hit all the marks - no flour, no eggs, no butter, and low sugar, but you'd never know.

Although she walked away without a deal, Nancy's Shark Tank appearance sent her sales skyrocketing, and Rule Breaker Snacks now come in a wide variety of flavors and can be found on retail shelves across the country.

Some of the best entrepreneurial advice and wisdom she shared with me included; "be prepared for something to go wrong every day," "don't underestimate the power of enthusiasm," and "have "radical persistence."

Learn more about Nancy and Rule Breaker Snacks at rulebreakersnacks.com.

Brother and sister team Shirah and Michael Benarde appeared on Season 12, Episode 12 of Shark Tank, and scored one of the fastest deals in the show's history! Lori Greiner immediately recognized the life-saving potential of their invention, NightCap - a hair scrunchie that converts to a drink cover to help keep women safe from the all-to-common problem of drink spiking at parties and bars.

The idea for NightCap came to Shirah in a dream after a friend personally experienced the horrors of drink spiking. The following day, she went to her mother's closet, grabbed a pair of pantyhose, cut them up, and attached them to a scrunchie to create the first NightCap prototype.

Having lived on campus for the past four years, Shirah's brother, Michael, came home from college, saw the prototype, and instantly knew they needed to do whatever was necessary to get this product from concept to reality.

Since launching, NightCap has won multiple awards and been featured on many major media outlets. Michael and Shirah believe that NightCap will save lives and are working diligently to make it available to women worldwide. On this episode of the Lessons From The Tank podcast, they share their remarkable story, their Shark Tank experience, and tips for other inventors and entrepreneurs.

When Schuyler Ellers pitched his one-of-a-kind product on Season 11, Episode 22 of Shark Tank, it was definitely one of the show’s most engaging, fun, and colorful segments! The Sharks loved his creative clothing line made from repurposed, vintage, handmade afghans. They loved his pitch too, and especially Schuyler himself.

In this episode of the Lessons From The Tank podcast, I had the pleasure of interviewing Schuyler to see what makes him tick. His passion and enthusiasm are contagious, and Schuyler shared so much wisdom that entrepreneurs or anyone can apply to their business and life; mainly, put yourself out there and ignore the haters. 

Schuyler suggests that entrepreneurs get away from the selfies and be more immersive with your product in your social content. Experiment and then don’t judge yourself. Put out what you think is the best of what you’ve done even if you don’t think it’s “good enough,” and then move on to the next. He says, “The way you become successful in social arenas is to constantly keep at it, especially when you’re starting out. Worry about the quality of your product more than you worry about the quality of your social media content.”

Check out this episode of the Lessons From The Tank podcast to learn more about how it all started, how it went viral, and how Lord Von Schmitt ended up on Shark Tank. Find Schuyler Ellers and his unique repurposed clothing line at www.lordvonschmitt.com, on Etsy, or simply search “crocheted shorts,” and he’ll be there. If you’re in the Washington, DC area, you can find Lord Von Schmitt at The Omni Collection store.

Pro Athlete and current big wave surfing champion, Nic Lamb, wasn't looking to get on Shark Tank when he got a concussion during a big wave tour in Portugal - he just wanted an all-natural solution to the headaches that followed. But the popularity of that solution - the Ice Beanie, a soft, microfiber polyester cap with acupressure designed gel packs made to stretch and fit comfortably on any shaped head - led him to complete an application in 2019. He appeared on Season 12, Episode 13, of Shark Tank and hooked a deal with Mark Cuban.

Nic shares some invaluable insights and tips for entrepreneurs and anyone wanting to push themselves to go higher, be better, and accomplish more in their personal and professional lives.

He encourages everyone to give back and is a member of "1% For The Planet" - a group of certified businesses and individuals that donate 1% of annual sales or salary to environmental causes.

Connect with Nic Lamb on social and check out his product at icebeanie.com.

Everyone can benefit from Dustin Finkel's vast experience with networking, team building, and the sheer back-breaking work of building a successful brand. But if you're a current or budding entrepreneur, don't miss this episode of the Lessons From The Tank Podcast!

No stranger to hard work, Dustin is a self-proclaimed hard-core workout fanatic who trains other athletes. His dedication to fitness and nutrition led him to seek better snack food alternatives, resulting in Ka-Pop Snacks. All of Ka-Pop's products are vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, cruelty-free, made from ancient grains - and taste delicious!

Although Dustin's energetic and entertaining performance on Season 11, Episode 12 of Shark Tank did not lead to a deal, Ka-Pop Snacks has grown and become extremely popular under his leadership.

Dustin talks about a few of the best things he's done as an entrepreneur, like networking and employee recognition, and a few of the things he could have done better in hindsight, like trying to stretch staff and resources too thin. He stresses the importance of passion as a leader and believes the best salesman in your company should be the CEO.

Hear more great leadership advice and learn more about Dustin Finkel's journey, Ka-Pop products, and his other business ventures here:

kapopsnacks.com

bubbasfoods.com

awakenedfoodcrafters.com

On this episode of Lessons From The Tank Podcast, Joe Altieri, president and inventor of FlexScreen that appeared on Shark Tank Season 11 Episode 10 talks with Shark Tank Entrepreneur Howie Busch from Shark Tank Season 9 Episode 14 about his company Dude Robe and the lessons he learned from his Shark Tank experience.

On this episode of Lessons From The Tank Podcast, Joe Altieri, president and inventor of FlexScreen that appeared on Shark Tank Season 11 Episode 10 talks with Shark Tank Entrepreneur Rebecca Romanucci from Shark Tank Season 12 Episode 19 about her company DynoSafe and the lessons she learned from her Shark Tank experience.

On this episode of Lessons From The Tank Podcast, Joe Altieri, president and inventor of FlexScreen that appeared on Shark Tank Season 11 Episode 10 talks with Shark Tank Entrepreneur Lee Phillips from Shark Tank Season 10 Episode 1 about him and his son's company Le-Glue and the lessons him and his son learned from her Shark Tank experience.

In this episode of the Lessons From The Tank Podcast, Joe talks with Shark Tank Entrepreneur, author, and fitness model, Ashley Drummonds - creator of ABS Protein Pancakes and ABS Fit TV. Ashley appeared in Season 7 Episode 12 of Shark Tank and got a deal with Daymond John.

In this debut episode of the Lessons From The Tank Podcast, I thought it was only fitting to feature my friend and fellow Shark Tank entrepreneur, Tiffany Krumins. Tiffany was the first guest who made the first deal on Shark Tank's pilot episode when Barbara Corcoran invested in her genius invention, the Ava The Elephant medication dispenser for children.

Tiffany is a respected inventor, iHeartRadio host, motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and mother. Her infectious spirit has attracted the attention of media heavy hitters, such as Dr. Oz, Fox Business, Entrepreneur, Forbes, and most recently, the Today Show. She was even touted in The Huffington Post as "a modern-day Mary Poppins."

We talked about Tiffany's Shark Tank experience, and she shared some incredibly valuable wisdom and business advice that you won't want to miss.

It was an honor and a pleasure to speak with Tiffany on our debut episode, and I believe you'll find great value in our conversation.

Welcome to Lessons From The Tank, with Joe Altieri.