That Entrepreneur Life

Join Clint McPherson and special guest Lisa Wise as she talks about the culture of work that onboards everyone to thrive. Lisa discusses how not to be the build-the-plane-while-flying-it type of person, another way to win at brand visibility aside from Facebook ads, and why she believes it's essential to put the server first as the CEO of Flock DC. As a born entrepreneur, Lisa proves that an evergreen business is possible even outside the traditional paradigms of capitalism.

In this episode you will learn:

• Lisa Wise – on detracting from the shiny objects
• The Non-Traditional Measure of Success
• Philanthropy over marketing
• How to identify evergreen businesses
• How to attract and retain great talents
• and so much more!

About Lisa Wise:

Lisa Wise is an entrepreneur, change maker, thought leader, writer, and philanthropist. Growing up throughout rural Idaho, Lisa was surrounded by love but short on resources and stability. She sought security by building businesses from a young age, starting with her first of many enterprises, The Sherlock Holmes Detective Agency.

Offices were open for business in her parents' backyard tool shed, but clients and their mysteries never materialized. But, like most passionate entrepreneurs, she moved on to the next endeavor, whether that be hustling as a dog-walker, snow shoveler, painted rock saleswoman, or pet sitter.

Today, Lisa is the Founder + CEO of Flock DC, a family of real estate management companies that oversee two billion dollars in property in Washington, DC property. Flock is a purpose-driven, values-based company that offers a new model for business in a world that will increasingly depend on companies to contribute to stronger and more sustainable communities.

You can find Lisa Wise on...

Join Andrew Lees and guest Shane Whelan as he talks about the area of business that clients most commonly fail in. Shane shares how one can create anticipation and excitement for concepts from scratch, how he built his company organically, and what giving value should feel like to your clients and customers. Because life can quickly bog down so many people on the day-to-day, for Shane, an entrepreneur’s ability to create that “different” experience is what turns spectators into potential clients.

In this episode you will learn:

• You are the captain of your own ship when it comes to entrepreneurship
• The challenges of creating excitement from scratch
• Organic or paid ads?
• Shane Whelan – on referrals and squeezing more money out of every transaction
• The right value feels like a good song
• and so much more!

About Shane Whelan:

Shane is a serial entrepreneur and the host of Carrying the FirePodcast. In his podcast and business, he focuses on and targets solutions that help entrepreneurs solve problems, especially in marketing-related subjects and issues.

You can find Shane Whelan on...

Join Clint McPherson and guest Kyle Roof as they talk about how SEO and Google work with each other. Kyle explains where people go wrong when ranking on Google, the basics of how to use keywords that you should stick to, and the momentous story behind what made Kyle learn SEO. After giving a little peek at how PageOptimizer Pro works, Kyle shares how their SEO tool helps the little guys take on—and win—against bigger enterprises.

In this episode you will learn:

• Kyle Roof – on having to learn SEO in a day
• Google doesn’t know how to judge the value
• The Entrepreneurial A.D.D.
• How PageOptimizer Pro works on your sites
• Your content can either bring you up or pull you down
• and so much more!

About Kyle Roof:

Kyle is responsible for the development and implementation of all SEO techniques used by the SEO agency High Voltage SEO and the SEO tool PageOptimizer Pro. Kyle is also the co-founder of Internet Marketing Gold, a global community of 3000+ SEO professionals who test and prove cutting-edge SEO techniques. Kyle is also the co-host of SEO Fight Club, a weekly YouTube show that covers a multitude of SEO topics.

Kyle’s SEO techniques and discoveries are followed by many SEO professionals and business leaders; he has been featured in many respected publications and is a regular speaker on SEO and SEO testing at conferences throughout the world.

You can find Kyle Roof on...

Join Andrew Lees and guest Neil Gordon as he shares his system of creating messages that connect with people. Neil talks about his game-changing approach to sales funnels, the four-part framework that allows entrepreneurs to deliver content that people engage with, and the story of how he discovered the target audience that he serves up to this day. Does more information equate to more value? In this insight-rich discussion, Neil imparts his take on the matter.

In this episode you will learn:

• Entrepreneurship doesn’t start with your resignation
• What makes people care about your solutions?
• The Secret Sauce Statement
• Rethink what you believe about when making a pitch
• How should you approach a book proposal?
• and so much more!

About Neil Gordon:

Neil Gordon helps influencers to double their speaking fees, get six-figure book advances, and be seen on shows like Ellen and Dr. Oz. Previously, Neil worked on the editorial staff of Penguin Random House, where he worked with New York Times bestselling authors.

You can find Neil Gordon on...

Join Andrew Lees, Clint McPherson, and their guest Jeroen Corthout as he explains the primary function of CRMs to businesses. Jeroen talks about what killed Flash, the value business schools give, and how Salesflare, the CRM he co-founded, sums up against other names like Monday.com. Here, Jeroen also recalls his own experience building Salesflare and how this gives insight to whoever plans to maximize their startup's operation for quicker revenue generation.

In this episode you will learn:

• Chad Willardson – behind computers then, now, businesses
• Should you get into a business school?
• A poor follow up system can lose huge revenues
• About Salesflare
• How should startups evaluate their core idea?
• and so much more!

About Jeroen Corthout:

Jeroen Corthout is the Co-Founder of Salesflare, an intelligent CRM that startups and small businesses love to use. It's a zero-input sales pipeline tool that thinks and works for its user, not the other way around. No more manual data entry. Salesflare fills out your address book and keeps track of all interactions with the people you're in contact with.

You can find Jeroen Corthout on...

Join Clint McPherson and guest Chad Willardson as he talks about the greatest lessons he learned as an entrepreneur. Chad discusses the biggest obstacle to financial freedom, what we can expect from his books Stress-Free Money and Smart, Not Spoiled, and the pros of working with certified financial fiduciaries. For Chad, to gain the trust of your clients, you need to be 'the type of chef that eats what he cooks.' Living the proof to this kind of adage, this is precisely why entrepreneurs choose to work with Pacific Capital.

In this episode you will learn:

• Corporate life – a tug of war
• What the book Stress-Free Money teaches
• Trust the chef who eats what they cook
• How to raise kids who are 'Smart, Not Spoiled'
• To-do lists and not-to-do lists
• and so much more!

About Chad Willardson:

Chad Willardson helps HNW entrepreneurs enjoy a lifestyle of financial freedom. He is a certified financial fiduciary, a 2x best-selling author, the creator of The Financial Life Inspection, and is the president and founder of Pacific Capital.

You can find Chad Willardson on...

Join Clint McPherson and guest Victoria Kennedy as she simplifies the approach you need to take to become a leader in your niche. Victoria explains the biggest things you need to defeat as an entrepreneur, the two factors that drive entrepreneurs, and the three actionable steps to establish your name as a leader in your chosen industry. As a PR Expert, Victoria clarifies that PR is not about gearing towards your newspaper feature. To achieve a breakthrough with PR, one must learn that it's not just a one-time thing. PR is taking your audience on a ride with you.

In this episode you will learn:

• Can you be both creative and business-minded?
• Inspiration comes from your daily choices
• Your personal brand is your most powerful digital asset
• What PR is and what it isn't
• Three Tips from a PR Expert
• And so much more!

About Victoria Kennedy:

Victoria Kennedy is the CEO of Victorious PR. Victoria built Victorious PR with one goal in mind: to lead with integrity and help impactful leaders and businesses be seen and heard to have a greater influence on the world.

You can find Victoria Kennedy on…

Join Andrew Lees, Clint McPherson, and their guest John Torrens as they discuss how ADHD can be approached and maximized for entrepreneurial success. John shares his approach to leading as an entrepreneur with ADHD. He also reflects on the tricks that help work with—not against—ADHD and how the two types of ADHD impacts function in work and business. For John, it's important to respect how your teams work best as a leader. One way to do that is to refrain from delegating work during the weekends, especially at night.

In this episode you will learn:

• Businesses aren't systemized to maximize talents with mental conditions
• The Inattentive and Hyperactive-Impulsive Types of ADHD
• Mindfulness helps ADHD
• Having a #2 in your organization is crucial
• Your team don't work the same way you do
• And so much more!

About John Torrens:

Dr. Torrens is an award-winning Professor of Entrepreneurial practice and two-time Inc. 5000 entrepreneur. He was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult and has experienced both the negative effects as well as the positive effects related to starting and growing a company.

He is a healthcare and education entrepreneur with 25 years leading high-growth companies with experience in developing high-performing teams, raising capital, and both buy/sell-side M&A. Dr. Torrens is a faculty member of the Syracuse University Whitman School of Management's Department of Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises.

He is a frequent guest speaker and executive education instructor in the areas of entrepreneurship, strategy, and corporate innovation. Dr. Torrens is a TEDx speaker (ADHD as an Entrepreneur's Superpower) and is quoted frequently in print media, has written several articles, and has delivered multiple presentations on the business of healthcare.

Dr. John is an active member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and served in multiple volunteer leadership positions, including a term on the International Board of Directors (2013-2015).

You can find John Torrens on…

Join Andrew Lees, Clint McPherson, and their guest Josh Tapp as he explains how podcasting can be leveraged for sales. Josh shares a personal hack that guarantees reviews for his show. He also talks about how email lists benefit podcast shows, the story of how he cracked the code to podcasting, and how you can leverage your podcast for sales opportunities. In his experience as a podcaster, Josh realized that getting on guests is about figuring out your guest's needs and providing them. If ever you can't provide them, there is always a referral.

In this episode you will learn:

• Information overload can paralyze you
• You don't need listenership to close deals
• Email lists work towards repeat listeners and the platform
• You don't get anywhere by not investing in yourself
• Investing, entrepreneurship, and business is a risk
• And so much more!

About Josh Tapp:

Josh helps companies take their podcast content and turn each episode into 30 pieces of content that can be used for digital marketing, helping increase outreach with engaging and impactful information.

He achieves this through their advanced production editing systems that allow them to work with individual clients to harness the power of their message and create marketing materials that are easy to distribute and produce real results.

You can find Josh Tapp on…

Join Andrew Lees, Clint McPherson, and their guest Patti Katter as they talk about how you can be more confident in the value you bring to the table. Patti speaks on why you should definitely promote yourself, the difference between confidence and cockiness, how podcasting can absolutely be a career, and the factors you need to laser focus on to grow your podcast. If you want to be successful in podcasting, Patti explains why you need to be a content creator above anything else. If you first focus on the quality of your podcast, the numbers eventually follow.

In this episode you will learn:

• Patti Katter – on the passion towards making a better change
• Not self-promoting can be selfish
• You’ll never know the impact you have on people
• Focus on the quality, and the numbers will follow
• Listeners want authentic stories
• And so much more!

About Patti Katter:

Patti Katter is a top-rated podcaster on AM/FM Radio and Amazon TV/Roku, with 2.5+ million listeners per episode. She is the host of the show, Wake Up with Patti Katter.

You can find Patti Katter on…

Join Andrew Lees, Clint McPherson, and their guest Grant LeBeau as he talks about how to branch out and pivot from a pandemic-hit business. Grant shares how one can actively seek the lifestyle business, why he started his podcast Small Biz Gone Viral, his number one message to early entrepreneurs, and so much more. As the Founder of Mkrday and Co-Founder of Rickaroons, for Grant, every time you take another step in growth, there will always be new challenges that come along in the world of production. Knowing how to refocus while staying true to your origin is vital to rise above this challenge.

In this episode you will learn:

• Grant LeBeau – on actively seeking out the life you want
• How Rickaroons and Mkrday held up and started during the pandemic
• Be open to pivoting and refocusing
• The challenge of adapting but staying authentic
• If you're a six-figure business, get coached by a seven-figure coach!
• And so much more!

About Grant LeBeau:

Grant is a jeopardy enthusiast, the 8-year-old world record holder for distance thrown with a frisbee, dog dad to two, and soon-to-be human dad in June! He co-founded a coconut energy bar company with his dad in 2012, and has since worked hundreds of farmers markets and learned to barter for fresh eggs like a pro.

Grant is the "hostess with the mostest" and will never be the first one to hang up the phone - unless someone's about to eat all the ice cream.

You can find Grant LeBeau on…

Join Andrew Lees and guest Martin Langelo Lien as they talk about the beginning of RespondFlow and how its success continues to flow today. Martin explains why an MBA may not be what will work for you, two efficient ways to market a product for bootstrapped businesses, and the advantages of integrating SMS into your business’ marketing strategy. As the Co-Founder of RespondFlow, Martin has lost count of how many times investors discouraged getting an MBA. For them, starting your own company is the MBA you need.

In this episode you will learn:

• Schools aren’t the best place to learn business
• Martin Langelo Lien – on the kind of education that doesn’t guarantee revenue
• How did RespondFlow start?
• The effectiveness of a beachhead strategy
• The Power of Product Hunt and a Beta-less Product Launch
• And so much more!

About Martin Langelo Lien:

Martin Langelo Lien is the co-founder of RespondFlow. He helps companies automate their customer service processes and leverage their online presence to optimize social media interactions and conversions.

You can find Martin Langelo Lien on…

Join Andrew Lees, Clint McPherson, and their guest Dr. Amanda Barrientez as she shares her experience on how one shift in thought can lead to your next six-figure business (or seven). Dr. Amanda speaks about the curse of the comfort zone, a common limiting block for most entrepreneurs, the zone where you have the highest money-making potential, and more. As a coach, she believes that an entrepreneur can't be someone who's too comfortable. In her own experience with different clients, Dr. Amanda observed that the slowest transition always comes from the most comfortable individuals.

In this episode you will learn:

• The point where most entrepreneurs give up
• How Amanda started her coaching business
• Optimal growth happens at the border of challenge and support
• Let go of your fear of market saturation!
• Dr. Amanda Barrientez – on learning how to trust the process as an entrepreneur
• And so much more!

About Dr. Amanda Barrientez:

Dr. Amanda Barrientez is the founder of NFA - No Fucking Around - Money. She's known as "The Money Healer" because she's an expert at teaching entrepreneurs how to heal their relationship with money so they can work less, make more, and build successful lives and businesses.

Why this business? Because Amanda knows what it's like to feel SCARED and STUCK in a SURVIVAL MODE! When she started her business, Amanda was on food stamps and had a lot of limiting beliefs about women being disempowered money makers. One night, when she was on the floor crying, she made a decision that she was willing to do whatever it took to change her reality.

This led Amanda to learn about her unconscious money blocks and build a six-figure business fast.

It's what she calls Competing Commitments™ - when your unconscious and conscious beliefs are battling each other - that keep you in fear, uncertainty, and doubt and feeling out of control about your reality.

Amanda is certain that once you learn how to break through your unconscious money blocks, you will have the power and control to work less, make more, and be a successful business owner who has more time and money freedom.

You can find Dr. Amanda Barrientez on…

Join Clint McPherson and guest Henry Daas as they talk about the wonders of coaching that other forms of education just can't seem to achieve. Henry explains what entrepreneurial arrogance is, why books and courses don't work for most entrepreneurs, the seven silos of every business, and the most important lesson he learned on partnership. If you remove teachers and leave students to learn from books, for Henry, that's just going to be chaos. That's why, for him, the glory of coaching is that nothing can ever replace the potency of one on one relationships.

In this episode you will learn:

• Henry Daas – entering entrepreneurship through an accidental business
• Coaching > Books and courses
• What is CODFISH?
• The different hats you need to wear as an entrepreneur
• Be careful and smart about who you bring in as your partner
• And so much more!

About Henry Daas:

Henry Daas is a dyed-in-the-wool New Yorker, serial entrepreneur, author, coach, screenwriter, avid golfer, biker, and international traveler. He is also a licensed real estate salesperson in the state of Connecticut.

You can find Henry Daas on…

Join Andrew Lees and the award-winning podcast host and author, John Lee Dumas, as they talk about why understanding your audience’s problems should be first for every business. JLD shares why competition is needed, why you should decide on the hardships you’ll choose, his journey to becoming the host of an award-winning podcast, and so much more. For JLD, if you find it hard to get to know your market’s core, you should remember, being broke can be hard too.

In this episode you will learn:

• What’s so great about entrepreneurship?
• Competition pushes businesses forward
• A business that listens – thrives!
• Lessons from the book The Five Biggest Regrets of the Dying
• John Lee Dumas – on finding financial freedom from podcasting
• And so much more!

About John Lee Dumas:

John Lee Dumas is the founder & host of Entrepreneurs On Fire, an award-winning podcast where he interviews inspiring entrepreneurs to help people along their entrepreneurial journey. He is also the author of The Common Path to Uncommon Success, your 17-step roadmap to financial freedom and fulfillment!

For those who are tired of spending 90% of their day doing things they don’t enjoy and only 10% doing something they love, JLD is the go-to. His goal with Entrepreneurs On Fire is to deliver the inspiration and strategies people need to FIRE UP their entrepreneurial journey and create the life they’ve always dreamed of.

You can find John Lee Dumas on...

Join Andrew Lees, Clint McPherson, and their guest Mike Wittenstein as he talks about the type of stories that your customers listen to. Mike explains the quality that helps distinguish brands from competitors, the importance of niching down to product-market fit, why it's crucial to master the value that your product or service carries, how leaders address resistance to change, and so much more. For Mike, the most challenging part of entrepreneurship is developing the ability to dig deep into everything. For him, before working with somebody, it's always essential to look hard and deep if they can help you and if you're willing to help them.

In this episode you will learn:

• The balance between what you want and what others want
• How is your product's/service's value more important than anything else?
• The Common AI Tools for Copywriting
• How can you have fun and make money with customers?
• In entrepreneurship, you'll dig deeper into yourself more than you thought you'd ever need.
• And so much more!

Join Andrew Lees, Clint McPherson, and their guest, Mike Begg, as they discuss how to become an Amazon sales master using SEO and advertising. Mike is the co-founder, chief strategist, and chief marketing officer of AMZ Advisers. He gives out advice on how to boost sales in Amazon.

In this episode, you will learn about:

• Retail arbitrage explained
• Things that help scale and get organic traffic in listings which are often overlooked
• Why SEO and paid advertising matters
• The future of e-commerce in the next ten years
• An alternative manufacturing opportunity to offshoring
• And so much more!

Join Clint McPherson with his guest, Liz Wolfe, as they discuss how to get unstuck in business. Liz is a former sheep farmer turned computer consultant who now owns a thriving coaching business for entrepreneurs. She shares tips on how to take a business to the next level while working less.

In this episode you will learn:

• About something in entrepreneurship that gets Liz fired up every time
• The value of setting goals and getting into action
• Why people are stuck in business and the tactic to get out of it
• In-depth analysis of the “fake it until you make it” approach
• No need to justify pricing – it’s all about value
• And so much more!

Join Andrew Lees, Clint McPherson, and Robert White as they talk about what you need to do for yourself to elevate your life and business. In this episode, Robert explains what relationships mean to leadership, the lessons made from wins and losses, what he thinks about the balance between life and work, and the lesson he learned from a seminar that changed his life forever. For Robert, if you want to secure the successful future meant for you, you must first learn to complete your past and embrace your truth at present.

In this episode you will learn:

• Robert White – on creating the world's 2nd largest personal growth training company.
• You are in your own way!
• Wins and Losses: Robert's Greatest Lessons
• How do executives handle betrayal and estrangement?
• You can be a prisoner of your own story.
• And so much more!

Join Clint McPherson and Happiness Coach Becky Morrison to talk about how self-awareness is tied to success and happiness. In this episode, Coach Becky explains how her background as an attorney helps her synthesize information as a coach, how she integrates the coaching process in sales, how people lose their way in figuring out what they're good at, and the better thing to do than escaping unhappiness. As a happiness coach, Becky credits avoiding a split focus helps pinpoint your top priority in life and makes you own it unapologetically.

In this episode you will learn:

• How are you wired?
• Happiness has layers!
• Sales in the eyes of a happiness coach.
• Why should you reclaim your 'me' time?
• How do you get out of unhappiness?
• And so much more!

Join Andrew Lees and guest Nickolas Natali as they talk about what resourcefulness does for every entrepreneur. Nickolas explains the essence of relationships to entrepreneurship, what personal finance is about for entrepreneurs, the importance of knowing your market, and why checking your perspective as an entrepreneur should never be overlooked. Nickolas believes that if you focus on one target audience, one solution, and one marketing strategy with consistency, failing will be very unlikely.

In this episode you will learn:

• Entrepreneurs have had it within them since their youth.
• Personal finance first, business finance next.
• About the YouTube video, Turning $0 to $1000.
• Entrepreneurs handle their distractions!
• Feedback tells you what you’re doing right and wrong.
• And so much more!

Join Andrew Lees, Clint McPherson, and Christian de la Huerta as they discuss the heroic qualities in mindfulness and in really knowing oneself. Christian reflects on a famous line by Victor Frankl that says, “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances.” As he explains the must-have traits for entrepreneurs, redefines heroism, and shares how he tripled his income during COVID, Christian also opens up about his book, Awakening The Soul of Power.

In this episode you will learn:

• Why does having persistence and a sense of mission matter?
• Meditation is like running the miles before the marathon.
• Our brains are just like computers…
• What can we learn from Viktor Frankl? 
• Step into power in ways congruent to who you are.
• And so much more!

Join Andrew Lees, Clint McPherson, and Dr. Morissa Schwartz as they talk about what it takes to publish a book the right way. When Dr. Morissa first self-published at 17, aside from releasing the book on the hottest platform, she didn't know what else she needed to do. But today, as the Founder of GenZ Publishing and Dr. Rissy Writing & Marketing, Dr. Morissa speaks about their process of publishing books with authors, how GenZ Publishing caters to all of their client's experiences, how effective copywriting works, and the critical points that every self-publisher should focus on when publishing their very 1st book.

In this episode you will learn:

• Early exposure to entrepreneurship plants seeds of curiosity.
• How is GenZ Publishing different from other publishing companies?
• Where does an effective copywriter start?
• Morissa's process of getting to know who to publish
• What should a self-publisher focus on when releasing a book?
• and so much more!

Join Clint McPherson and Lorraine Ball, the Architect behind Digital Toolbox, as she speaks about how businesses stay current in the digital landscape, what managers are and what they are not, SEO, and the questions that get you closer to your market online. Lorraine also explains Digital Toolbox and the role digital marketing plays in answering the right questions that help define who you are as a brand. She believes that for a brand to truly create a solid connection to its market, entrepreneurs need to learn how to stop crashing to parties they don't belong in.

In this episode you will learn:

• What's the difference between a business owner and an entrepreneur?
• As a manager, what is your primary purpose?
• Pretty much every business's customer is online.
• What do you need to find out about your online market?
• When you think you have an answer, find out the question it corresponds to on Google.
•  …and so much more.

Join Andrew Lees and Smokejumper-Turned Software Developer Geordie Wardman as they talk about how he transitioned to entrepreneurship and programming from working as a firefighter for years. Geordie shares the entrepreneurial steps he took to achieve sustainability in his career, the importance of starting lean in a business, how transformative coaching can prove to be, and what he gives attention to as an entrepreneur to ensure the outcomes that really matter.

In this episode you will learn: 

• What can I do that will allow me to work from anywhere?
• About MVPs or Minimum Viable Products
• What is machine learning most useful for?
• A good coach transforms you, but how?
• “Finish the task at hand, or nothing gets done.”
•  …and so much more.

Join Andrew Lees, Clint McPherson, and  Winnow Pro’s Founder and CEO, David Saedi as they talk about how Winnow Pro’s market approach helps its clients focus on market behavior data, data interpretation, and the tools that boost marketing campaigns toward goals. Here, David also shares his experience on why you don’t need the perfect product and how AI can power up your brand’s market knowledge.

In this episode you will learn: 

• What thought process does every entrepreneur need to continue?
• The most common product development misconception
• How does Winnow Pro work with market sectors and agencies?
• An entrepreneur isn’t tied to one given industry.
• You don’t need to have a totally perfect product; why?
•  …and so much more.

Join Andrew Lees, Clint McPherson, and their guest Blue Iron IP Founder Russ Krajec as he shares how Blue Iron IP began from his hate of the conflict of interest between patent attorneys and inventors. He also speaks about the situations where it's not wise to get a patent, the options available for patent protection, how he got into the practice of being a patent attorney, and the business model of Blue Iron IP. Even for patent holders, a patent is only as good as the resources in store that can be utilized to defend it.

In this episode you will learn:

• As an entrepreneur, what do you need to come to terms with?
• If you price yourself low, you get treated lowly.
• Russ Krajec – on how Blue Iron IP's concept came into realization
• How do you fight for your patent?
• Only do what makes sense for your business or your target.
•  …and so much more.

About Russ Krajec:

Russ Krajec is an author, inventor, angel investor, podcast host, and patent attorney. After a 13 year career as an engineer, Russ switched to patent law to "reverse engineer" the patent system to create good patents. 20 years later, he has seen the deep, dark underbelly of the patent system.

Russ's books "Investing In Patents" and the soon-to-be-released "Startup IP Strategy" describes the systematic process for due diligence on inventions, as well as a comprehensive framework for a startup's IP strategy. The podcast "Patent Myths" tackles many complex IP issues, simplifying them into meaningful strategies for today's entrepreneurs.

This is a message of hope and encouragement. Armed with a few simple tools, entrepreneurs can build their businesses with the comfort that they have a good strategy in hand.

Russ has bachelor's and master's degrees in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, as well as a JD from Denver University. Russ has been on Intellectual Asset Magazine's Top 300 Patent Strategists for several years running and is a Certified Patent Valuation Analyst.

You can find Russ Krajec on...

Join Andrew Lees and guest Joseph Fung (Serial Entrepreneur) as they talk about the secret to scaling up any startup or business fast. This secret is so commonly thrown here and there in every discussion on business and entrepreneurship, but in real life, it is often overlooked and misused. Throughout this discussion, Joseph also talks to us about honesty, how he empowers his team’s diversity pool, and why your sales skill is mandatory.

In this episode you will learn:

• Why is exposure to business, finance, and entrepreneurship necessary?
• Joseph Fung – on launching a sketchy site and attracting hundreds of sign-ups
• Are company values overstated?
• That one thing you just can’t outsource in a business
• About culture fit and culture add
•  …and so much more.

Join Andrew Lees and guest Daniel Stanszus as they talk about the four pillars that make up Daniel’s 4x4 Offer Creation Formula – the formula that fortifies high converting offers for every product and business. In this episode, Daniel shares his two cents on long-form lead pages, how Domino’s Pizza eliminates the risks that hold their customers back, the strategies that push your customer’s to take action, and so much more.

In this episode you will learn:

• How important is positioning and packaging to your product?
• Maximize the value of your elements!
• Why do you need to build a bold risk reversal?
• The ways that give your customers the reason to buy now
• “People are buying from you, so create the best version of yourself!”
•  …and so much more.

Join Clint McPherson and special guest Kenny Harper as they talk about growth in vulnerability, the five profit drivers, and the different strategies that maximize the profit driver's effects. For Kenny, if you first focus and invest in the areas that maximize your business the most, traction picks up, and everything else will flow in more easily. This approach can only start by knowing your key drivers. In business, if you don't know what you don't know, you'll never figure out the gaps you need to fill.

In this episode you will learn:

• Kenny Harper – on discovering marketing through music
• The five (5) profit drivers for any business
• If you don't know what you don't know, you can't meet what's needed, and you can't track what's missing
• In business, there are points you can't pass without being vulnerable to help
• The strategies that put your profit drivers to work
•  …and so much more

Join Andrew Lees, Clint McPherson, and their guest Tom Fairey, the Founder of Stakester, as they talk about why startups differ, how he pushed Stakester through the negativity, the tips that make a great pitch, and the elements that help prove or disprove a business idea. For Tom, if there's anything that every entrepreneur or innovator must learn how to do in order to take any idea to the next level, it's learning how to reach and talk to the audience.

In this episode you will learn:

• What does it take to be a startup?
• Tom Fairey – on starting Stakester.
• If your business idea has a hypothesis, test it!
• Three (3) Lessons for a Great Pitch.
• Can a startup be sustainable?
•  …and so much more.

Join Andrew Lees, Clint McPherson, and their guest Jerry Fletcher as they talk about the most critical element to building your brand and business. In this episode, Jerry recalls a message he once read from a fortune cookie after dinner. The paper quotes: the wise man knows everything, the shrewd man – everyone. When he questioned what was written, a friend looked over and explained that the message is valid to business. What you know as a brand is essential to your business, but who trusts you is what gets you further.

In this episode you will learn:

• Working with different products and brand developments introduces you to entrepreneurship
• The critical 'people' element to funding anything; Why is trust critical to every business?
• Jerry's story about car batteries and customer service
• The 30-Second Marketing.
• Talk to them, figure out the need, and design that need
•  …and so much more.

About Jerry Fletcher:

Join Andrew Lees and guest Tracy Lamourie as they talk about why businesses should utilize media relations, the line between editorial and advertorial, and the problem with how people see who should and shouldn't be media covered. Of course, anyone can be an expert in their own field. But because the media is doing a million other things, they couldn't share that until you tell them so. For Tracy, it's all about how you frame your story as good content when it comes to increasing exposure with PR and media.

In this episode you will learn:

• Tracy's story on how she got into PR
• Is it reasonable to scale a new business, with no traction, through PR?
• Why are business stories hard to place?
• The problem with how people see who should and shouldn't be covered in media
• Tracy: On adding the zero.
•  …and so much more!

Join Andrew Lees, Clint McPherson, and their guest Mark Willis as they talk about how you can use the banking function to your advantage, the booming and boring 20s, limiting beliefs, and more. Studies by the Federal Reserve show that 60% of Americans only have an average of $400 set aside for emergency funds. When emergencies requiring more than $400 come around, it can lead to debt or the selling away of properties. For Mark, this typical financial plan is insane. To get out of this loop, ask: "What do you want your money doing for you?" Where you put your money makes it act differently.

In this episode you will learn:

• Why do you need to examine your rainy-day funds during good times?
• What attracted Mark to become a CFP?
• "Rich people plan for four generations; poor people plan for Saturday night."
• The everyday things that hold people back from a sustainable financial future
• Procrastination is actually wisdom!
•  …and so much more

Join Andrew Lees, Clint McPherson, and their guest, expert marketing coach Elizabeth Pompalone, as they discuss how she simplifies marketing effectively with the aid of technology. Elizabeth is the founder and CEO of Absolute Marketing™, a marketing firm that helps small business owners and nonprofit directors create their marketing for the entire year in five days. She shares how what seemed like a side job became full-time and brought her to where she is now. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect in this episode:

• Making a business out of a skill.
• Why the brand must be the focus of marketing.
• Find a marketing scheme that works by considering demographics.
• Hacks for an effective content creation process without getting overwhelmed.
• Using diversification as a tool to align business plans across businesses.
• And so much more!

Join Andrew Lees, Clint McPherson, and their guest, patent attorney Devin Miller, as they discuss his work on helping others patent their big ideas. Aside from being an IP lawyer, Devin also has a knack for starting startups and small businesses himself, with some already grown into seven- to eight-figure businesses. He does this alongside his other passion, helping many startups and small businesses with patents, trademarks, copyrights, and other business-related legal matters. 

Here’s a breakdown of what to expect in this episode:

• How a law background can take a pivotal role in handling legal business work.
• Exploring the process of getting a patent and debunking misconceptions.
• Criteria on whether to get a product patented or not.
• Why consult an attorney with regards to trademark matters?
• Fusing entrepreneurship and law practice to help others.
• And so much more!

Join Clint McPherson and real estate expert Chris Bello as they talk about his entrepreneurial journey and how he helps others get on the right track. Chris got tired of the job he took right after college, so he decided to quit and went down the entrepreneurial path. After encountering some struggles along the way, Chris stumbled upon real estate, and with the help of mentors, he attained success as a real estate agent and investor. 

Here’s a breakdown of what to expect in this episode:

• Taking the road to entrepreneurship, specifically real estate.
• Productivity hacks to do less dreaming and taking more actions.
• Ditch outdated marketing methods and start innovating with modern ones.
• Adding value to the conversation to keep checks rolling and deals closing.
• Repercussions that may arise when using automated messaging systems.
• And so much more!

Join Andrew Lees, Clint McPherson, and their guest, Kam Snow, as they talk about how he helps coaches, consultants, strategists, and entrepreneurs tell their stories effectively. Kam is a former political consultant and a professional copywriter who helped drive over $10-million in revenue. Together with his wife, they now run a coaching business using the story economy, a seven core stories program. 

Here’s a breakdown of what to expect in this episode:

• Pros and cons between hiring a freelance copywriter and a strategist writer.
• Walking through how the story economy helps businesses connect to their ideal audience.
• Building trust is all that matters – coaching amidst the pandemic.
• Using the writer’s hack to deal with writer’s block.
• What the most challenging thing is about being an entrepreneur.
• And so much more!

Join Andrew Lees and guest, Scott Anderson, as he talks about why focus is step one to getting anything right in a business. For Scott, there's no silver bullet to any successful business. Having a sharp focus on specific targets, however, gets you closer to winning over any client.

When asked about how he focuses on growing clients and the future of the business simultaneously, Scott highlights the tremendous power there is in addition by subtraction. He believes there's always that one crucial thing that an entrepreneur must lock on, first and foremost, to achieve efficacy and quality.

In this episode you will learn:

• Goal shedding vs. Goal Setting.
• What entrepreneurs are mostly stressed about.
• The two sides of Imposter Syndrome.
• Ongoing through different economic cycles.
• The combination to getting leads.
•  …and so much more.

Join Andrew Lees, Clint McPherson, and their guest Mike Jahshan as they talk about his 9-5 and 5-9 as an entrepreneur. Mike is involved in real estate and runs his own keto brand, The Keto Oven. As someone who learned the balance needed to succeed in both the hard way, Mike is heavy on the importance of consistently enjoying the process. Mike believes that the process is 90%, and the sexy reward is the 10% left. If an individual isn't enjoying and growing through the 90% of the venture, continuing wouldn't be worth it – as per Mike.

In this episode you will learn:

• On making keto easy for everybody.
• What happens in a Keto diet?
• The direction The Keto Oven is taking.
• "If you don't enjoy the process, it's not worth it."
• Your why needs to be bigger than money.
•  …and so much more.

Join Andrew Lees, Clint McPherson, and their guest John Vuong as he speaks about SEO and what it does in growing a brand. Before John started out with SEO, he knew nothing of the field and was always in Sales. But because he loves organic approaches and believes anyone can do paid ads, John figured out where the abundance of searches is coming from. In this episode, he further explains who benefits from SEO and how brands can get the best out of it. As an entrepreneur, the reason behind starting a business should complement what one wants in life for John. Otherwise, he believes, it’s going to be a question of how long one could endure before giving up.

In this episode you will learn:

• From directories to search engines.
• People are ready to consume when they’re on search engines.
• SEO is for who?
• How to attract traffic with SEO?
• The challenge of an SEO business.
•  …and so much more.

Join Andrew Lees, Clint McPherson, and their guest Craig Siegel as they talk about how mindset becomes requisite to achieving greatness. Craig is all about sharpening the ax. And from someone who used to be introverted, he gives proof to how anyone can reinvent themselves for more incredible things. In this episode, he talks about revamping our mindset, modeling ourselves from the people we look up to, and the approach he took that helped him hold absolute accountability for his growth. As an entrepreneur, for Craig, not knowing how people are going to resonate with you is one scary thing to feel. This is why for him, a mind that’s refined to adapt when needed is a heck of a tool that sets one up for success.

In this episode you will learn:

• On cultivating lasting symphony.
• Your mindset will make or break you.
• Who are the people you hold in high regard?
• The thing that’s scary and exhilarating about being an entrepreneur.
• Acknowledge what didn’t work.
•  …and so much more.

Join Andrew Lees, Clint McPherson, and their guest Terry Jones as they talk about his experience working on multiple startups, how to be a 100-year-old company, the many chances of technology advancement in your business, and so much more. Terry's years of experience have fully packed this episode with tremendous insight and heads-up for the average starting entrepreneur. In this episode, Terry explains the questions you need to be asking when coming up with something for the market. Where in the market is your innovation's place? Are your customers ready for it? From someone who sees customers as bosses, Terry believes it's not always just about innovating. To get ahead, he thinks one should also worry about what the people are saying and what to do with it.

In this episode you will learn:

• Being involved in startups is like playing pinball.
• The key indicators of a market-changing business.
• How can an entrepreneur capitalize on change?
• What you need to hear about customer intent.
• A great team is going to be your challenge.
•  …and so much more.

Join Andrew Lees, Clint McPherson, and their guest Hani Mourra as they talk about the character, process, and hustle that it takes to develop software. As a softwarepreneur, Hani has garnered years of experience when it comes to software development. For him, in order to enhance a software's impact on the community, a developer must learn how to take into account customer feedback. In this episode, Hani explains how customer reviews, team building, knowing your skills, acknowledging your limits, and accepting help factors when it comes to ensuring effective software to the market. Even though you love what your software is doing, for him, feedback from a user can always give you an unchartered insight on what else your software can serve.

In this episode you will learn:

• Passion for videos + Skills in engineering.
• In the process of developing, getting support, and feedback for the software.
• The growth mechanism for Repurpose, what drives your roadmap, and who to listen to?
• On knowing when to stop as an entrepreneur.
• What building software is and what it's not. 
•  …and so much more.

Join Andrew Lees, Clint McPherson, and their guest Zach Babcock as they speak about the power there is in clarity, logically reacting with emotions, and on the steps, he practiced that grew his 6-figure podcast. Can you grow your podcast even without renowned guests? For Zach, the answer is a definite – yes! In this episode, listen as Zach gives testimony to how Apple Podcasts, Facebook, and generally just jamming out with organic content and an organic relationship with your audience can put your brand out there – and so much more.

In this episode you will learn:

• On what I needed to be clear with.
• “Get out there, be yourself, and just do it.”
• Identity in life design.
• Your team is your responsibility.
• On what you can choose and control.
•  …and so much more.

Join Andrew Lees, Clint McPherson, and their guest David Meltzer as they talk about his philosophy, values, and relationship with money and why you should look to kindness as your superpower. "The more I gave, the more I'll get" is what David used to believe in. After having a shift of paradigm, he came to a much better understanding of generosity and the role which money plays in his life. To get to where you want to be, David shares a piece of straightforward advice that everyone should lend an ear to. If you're going to get to a certain status far from where you're at right now, for him, learning from any individual who is already there or has already been in the position that you desire to be in is a wise action to take.

In this episode you will learn:

• On opening all the options for what paid the most money.
• Thinking, "the more I give, the more I get" is wrong.
• The Law of GOYA.
• Five to Thrive System.
• Employees and overheads – a blessing or curse?
•  …and so much more.

Join Andrew Lees, Clint McPherson, and their guest, Dr. Kelly Henry, as they talk about his journey of being a chiropractor, resigning, to becoming a coach. Through his journey, Dr. Kelly has experienced falling flat on his face. Instead of dwelling on missing a goal, he looks at things objectively and identifies them not as failures –but as learning obstacles. In this episode, Dr. Kelly also talks about the areas to be careful within a business, plus his book about simple principles that an entrepreneur can implement and drive changes to the business from.

In this episode you will learn:

• Falling flat as an entrepreneur is something you can learn from.
• Why is customer service imperative, and why are other businesses failing it?
• What kind of loyalty are you getting from your customers?
• There’s no such thing as failure; there’s only feedback.
• The book: Define and Deliver Exceptional Customer Service
• …and so much more.

Join Andrew Lees, Clint McPherson, and their guest Rob Kessler as they speak about the effects of trust on people and their work, braving and putting faith in ideas, and the company Rob built after transitioning from a million-dollar screen printing business. Rob’s journey is an excellent example of how our frustrations show us what we can work on. True enough, the same applies to why Rob started Million Dollar Collar. In this episode, he tells us the design, perfection, and patenting process of the product and how their brand is about customer satisfaction and making things as easy as possible for every transaction.

In this episode you will learn:

• How trust affects connection and quality of work.
• The Invention Process – Before Million Dollar Collar.
• Making the product adaptable and practical for every wear.  
• “It is always longer than you think…”
• A piece of advice to live by.
• …and so much more.

Join Andrew Lees, Clint McPherson, and their guest Ruben Alvarez as they talk about how he and his wife put up their company, the faith that every entrepreneur needs, and how a company can establish a brand. In his journey to financial independence, Ruben found the importance of being relationship-based and of knowing what things to let go of to get a hold of what will matter for your company's next milestone. For Ruben, sales bring you money, but brand brings you a legacy. 

In this episode you will learn:

• Our expertise in Sales Ad Marketing and Graphic Design equaled the company.
• The key to a sustainable business.
• How do you establish your brand for people?
• On not meeting enough people.
• Entrepreneurs should know what they need and need not do.
• …and so much more.

Join Andrew Lees as he sits down with guest Mike Acker and talks about how he overcame his insecurities, treats work, and how he attracts big-fish clients. Mike explains what growth truly is and what it involves, and why he treats all of his clients as if they’re the big bosses. For Mike, a good communicator is a good leader, and a good leader is a good communicator.

In this episode you will learn:

• “Corporate paid great, but can I get paid by doing something enjoyable to me?”
• What consistency does… 
• What you do right now weighs greater than what you did.
• On how attracting clients as Apple and Microsoft happened…
• Take what you know and apply it to what you can do.
• …and so much more.