Anything But Typical

090: How Roger Braswell Built His Business To A 9 Figure Exit to Home Depot

Most entrepreneurs dream about growing their businesses, having a successful exit, taking a company public, and much more. Today's guest, Roger Braswell, has done it all. Roger was the Founder & CEO of Compact Power Equipment. In this episode, we talk about how Roger created and grew the business. He discusses the obstacles faced along the way and how that ultimately led to even greater success. Roger IPO'd Compact Power, and eventually sold to Home Depot for 9 figures. 

You may think Roger sailed off in the sunset after that. Instead, we find Roger being the Owner & Chairman of The Southern Shade Tree Company, Chairman of The Integra Group, Chairman of Give Hope Global, and serving as a business advisor. Check out Give Hope Global after this episode.

089: Part 2 with Reebok Founder Joe Foster

One episode was not enough to cover Reebok Founder Joe Foster's story. So here we are with Part 2. In this episode, Joe shares about Reebok's expansion from women's aerobic shoes to other sports and lines. He talks about how they had to be strategic with their expansions. Joe also shares one of his biggest business regrets.

We discuss Reebok going public and Joe's transition out of the operations of the business. Joe talks about how he began serving as an ambassador of Reebok, and how now he is a digital nomad.

Check out more about Joe HERE.

088: Reebok Founder Joe Foster on Creating and Expanding a Global Brand

As a grandson of the legendary J.W. Foster growing up in Bolton, England, running seemed to be in Joe Foster’s blood.

Little did Joe know that winning an American “Webster’s New School & Office Dictionary” in a race at age seven would make a South African antelope synonymous with a multi-billion-dollar international shoe brand – Reebok.

Joe proved that while he may not have been blessed with the DNA of a world-class runner, he was blessed with the DNA of a world-class “improver,” & his book, “Shoemaker,” is an excellent testimony of that fact.

If you love shoes or, more importantly, stories of positive ripple-makers who’ve run their unique race against all odds, multiple setbacks, heartaches, & challenges, this episode is for you! Enjoy Joe's story of starting, establishing, and growing Reebok.

087: Retired U.S. Army Pilot, Shark Tank Star, and CEO Revolutionizing the Laundry Industry

As a Blackhawk helicopter pilot stationed in South Korea in the late ‘90s, Chris Videau took off for an R&R weekend with his buddies in search of a little fun and relaxation.

What he found turned out to be his life’s calling.

Instead of white sands and glistening water, the Army veteran instead found a horribly polluted beach, littered with plastic waste that had been discarded in the China Sea.

This was nothing like the beaches back home.

Chris never forgot that image or that ruined weekend, and years later in Iraq, watching tons of plastic waste literally go up in flames as U.S. troops sought to eliminate their trash, Chris’ next step became abundantly clear

He was going to dedicate the next phase of his life to eliminating plastic waste.

But how?

Where he ended up is as unexpected as his enlistment decision: the laundry detergent space, a fiercely competitive industry dominated by big brand names producing water-rich products in heavy plastic containers.

How could a 20-year Army veteran, with no marketable skills other than flying helicopters, break into such a market, let alone aim to completely transform it?

Chris did and still is with his company, Sheets Laundry Club, and its simple, effective, sustainable, and cost-effective alternative to everyday laundry detergent.

If you love stories of positive ripple-makers who followed their passions and turned impossible dreams into reality (all while developing a genius new product), this episode is for you!

Check out Sheets Laundry Club to see more about what Chris and the team are doing.

086: Donating 10 Million Shoes with Manny Ohonme

Manny Ohonme never wore a pair of shoes for the first 9 years of his life. When missionaries visited his village in Nigeria, they held a basketball shooting contest. The winner would receive a pair of sneakers. Manny won that competition, becoming the first person in his village to own a pair of shoes. More importantly, he was set on a path that would impact millions of lives.

Ohonme was offered 5 basketball scholarships, eventually accepting a scholarship to the University of North Dakota. When he went back to Africa and saw kids playing basketball in bare feet, he knew he had to make a difference.

In this episode, we go through the incredible story of how Manny Ohonme went from the 9 year old winning his first pair of shoes, to the man running Samaritan's Feet and approaching his 10 millionth pair of shoes donated.

Follow Manny on LinkedIn and check out Samaritan's Feet.

085: Writing Books, Speaking, and Helping Businesses Grow with Sherre’ DeMao

Author of 50 Marketing Secrets of Growth Companies in Down Economic Times, and Me, Myself, & Inc., Sherre' DeMao has a plethora of writing experience. In between, Sherre' fixes businesses with her free time. DeMao is the Founder and CEO of BizGrowth. She has also been a fractional COO and CMO for multiple businesses.

In this episode, Sherre' gets very tactical for us around creating strategies for clients. She shares some of the biggest mistakes she's seen. We discuss how she pulls ideas and visions out of business leaders.

DeMao also has a component of giving in every business plan she does with her clients. We talk about why that is so important, and how giving can also be an excellent business strategy. Be sure to check out BizGrowth and learn about Sherre' as an author and speaker on Her Site.

084: Growing Your Sales with Jim Dunn

Steered by faith and authenticity, Jim Dunn has been helping businesses grow for many years. After running his own Sandler Sales Franchise, Jim is now the Director of BGW Growth Services. A common hurdle Jim has faced when working with business owners is their fear of failure. “You cannot grow unless you’re willing to fail.” In this episode, Jim shares how he gets leaders out of their comfort zones and out of their own ways.

Jim began his entrepreneurial ways in a way you see in movies or read about in books. Jim sold lemonade and cut yards. He learned how to save money early. He studied vocabulary cassettes to improve how he communicated. The self development has yet to stop for Jim Dunn.

In this episode, not only will you learn through Jim’s experience. You will also hear Jim discuss specific strategies and tactics he uses with business leaders like yourself.

083: Problem Solving Liberian Adoption to Accidental Entrepreneur, Angel Rutledge

Angel Rutledge was an educator. Her first career choice, teaching 7th graders, was the path Angel envisioned for herself. Through a passion of adoption, Angel and her husband, Dan, adopted two kids from Liberia. Along that journey were many other families trying to do the same thing. The problem was, it was unorganized chaos. Angel and Dan solved their own problem, and the problems of many hopeful families. 

This experience led to software solution company SignUpGenius. Angel discusses her transition into entrepreneurship, her experience exiting SignUpGenius, her multitude of advisory and board experience, and her Angel Investing experience. We also discuss Angel's most recent venture, Meetify. 

Check out Meetify and be sure to follow and connect with Angel on LinkedIn.

082: Pouring Into Your People with Phillip Lanier

Phillip Lanier didn't realize he even started a business until years in. This accidental entrepreneurship journey almost came with an early exit. Lanier wasn't enjoying the business and was thinking about a way to sell. Instead, with business coaching and a voracious appetite for personal development, Phillip Lanier built a company that he loved working in. The renewed passion led to significant business growth. So when Lanier did sell the business, it was in a completely different mindset. Enjoy this story and the lessons Phillip learned along the way.

081: Branding & Merchandise For Your Business with Scott Dunstan

Scott Dunstan, Owner & President at The Dunstan Group, has helped businesses utilize custom apparel and promotional merchandise to build their brands for years. So it may come as no surprise that when they started a podcast they named it the Brand Builders Podcast.

Scott talks with us about how they go about understanding their audience. Figuring out budgets and goals of companies, then executing branding plans to accomplish those goals. Dunstan takes us into his mindset and shares how he tries to personify honesty and doing good for the community. Scott also discusses how they've used the podcast to add more value, engage more with clients and community, and build their own brand.

Be sure to follow Brand Builders Podcast, check out The Dunstan Group, and connect with Scott on LinkedIn.