Podcast Summary
A personal story of resilience in entrepreneurship: Even in the face of adversity, staying focused on goals and being adaptable can lead to success in entrepreneurship
Building a business can be challenging and may require individuals to navigate through difficult situations. Bedros Couiellean shared a personal story about his experience during his early entrepreneurial journey. He was working multiple jobs while trying to build his personal training business but struggled to sell his services. One night, after work, he ended up at a gay bar in California where he was beaten up by a drunk lesbian. Instead of focusing on improving his sales skills, he chose to get another job to make ends meet. During this time, he met Mike Botticelli, a bodybuilder from Buffalo, New York. They became friends and eventually started buying performance-enhancing drugs together from a veterinary store in Tijuana, Mexico. While this story may seem unrelated to business building, it highlights the importance of resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity. Despite the challenges, Bedros continued to pursue his goals and eventually found success.
Meeting new people at unexpected places: Networking and being open to new opportunities can lead to financially beneficial and personally enriching experiences
Networking and being open to new opportunities can lead to unexpected but beneficial outcomes. The speaker shares his experience of working multiple jobs while pursuing his goal of becoming a full-time personal trainer. He met Bob and Randy at Disneyland, who suggested he apply for a security job at a gay nightclub, Oz, during his free time. Initially uncomfortable due to the misconceptions about his sexuality, he persisted and eventually grew accustomed to the environment. This experience not only helped him financially but also exposed him to new experiences and people. It's a reminder that stepping out of our comfort zones and being open to new opportunities can lead to unexpected but positive outcomes.
The importance of security in maintaining safety at a gay bar: Security personnel play a crucial role in ensuring the safety of marginalized communities by providing a physical presence and deterring potential threats.
The high pay at the gay bar was due to the need for strong security against potential attacks from skinheads. The presence of an intimidating, angry gay bouncer, who was able to keep the peace and protect the patrons, was crucial in ensuring the safety of the club and its patrons. However, the speaker found himself in situations where he had to physically fight off these skinheads, which was not what he had expected or signed up for. Despite the challenges, he formed meaningful connections with the regulars, including gay men who would bring their straight girlfriends to the club. These experiences led him to value the importance of creating safe spaces for marginalized communities and the role of security personnel in maintaining that safety.
Intervening in domestic disputes can be dangerous: Attempting to stop a domestic dispute can escalate quickly and result in physical harm, even for those with good intentions
Attempting to intervene in a domestic dispute can escalate quickly and result in physical harm. The speaker's experience at a gay club, where he tried to stop a woman from assaulting her girlfriend, resulted in a violent encounter that left him injured. Despite his intentions to de-escalate the situation, the woman became increasingly aggressive and attacked him, using her size and strength to overpower him. The incident left the speaker traumatized and questioning his actions. It serves as a reminder that intervening in domestic disputes can be dangerous and should be approached with caution.
Personal story of building an online business from scratch: Perseverance and innovation are crucial during early stages of entrepreneurship. Resourcefulness and adaptability help overcome challenges and build a successful business.
Building a business during its early stages can be challenging and unpredictable. The speaker shared a personal story about his experience during the "come up" of his online supplement store, totalmuscle.com. He had multiple jobs and was working long hours, but he was determined to make his business successful. He used unconventional marketing methods, such as contacting potential customers on AOL dial-up, and faced challenges like credit card fraud and delivering large orders himself. Despite these obstacles, he remained dedicated to providing good service and eventually grew his business. This story highlights the importance of perseverance and innovation during the early stages of entrepreneurship. It also shows that resourcefulness and adaptability are key to overcoming challenges and building a successful business.
The Challenges of Early Online Business: Pedro's Story: Perseverance and adaptability are crucial in entrepreneurship. Pedro faced significant financial losses due to fraudulent transactions and expired products during the early days of online business, but he continued to send emails and eventually succeeded in building a successful business and owning a gym.
The early days of online business involved significant risks and challenges, particularly in the realm of fraudulent transactions. Pedro's story illustrates this through his experience running an online supplement store in the late 90s. He faced numerous issues, including expired products and frequent fraudulent orders, which led to significant financial losses. These losses, combined with his rent payments, eventually resulted in him being homeless for 90 days. Despite these challenges, Pedro remained determined to succeed and continued to send out emails to potential customers, eventually leading him to own a gym and a successful online business. This story highlights the importance of perseverance and adaptability in entrepreneurship, as well as the significant strides made in combating online fraud since the late 90s.
Lessons from tough times and a client: During hardships, be resourceful and persistent. Learn sales skills to become a valuable problem solver for clients.
During a challenging period in his life when money was tight, the speaker resorted to an unconventional method of creating a protein drink using tuna fish and diet Coke. This experience taught him the importance of resourcefulness and perseverance. Another crucial lesson came from a personal training client, Jim Franco, who pointed out that the speaker was an "order taker" rather than a salesperson. Jim encouraged him to learn how to sell effectively by providing him with books on the subject. These experiences shaped the speaker's perspective and played a significant role in his personal and professional growth.
Investing in personal development and learning from successful people: Reading motivational books, finding a mentor, and surrounding oneself with successful people can lead to new opportunities and personal growth, ultimately helping one achieve their goals.
Personal development and learning from successful people can significantly impact one's career and entrepreneurial journey. The speaker, who started as a struggling real estate agent, was inspired by Jim Franco, a successful businessman, and began reading books by motivational speakers like Zig Ziglar and Brian Tracy. This led him to become a personal trainer and eventually start his own personal training studio. Jim Franco became his business partner and provided him with the capital to start the business. As the business grew, Jim encouraged the speaker to scale it by hiring more personal trainers. The speaker learned the importance of leveraging other people's skills and resources to build a successful business. This experience taught him the value of hard work, determination, and continuous learning, ultimately leading him to become an entrepreneur. In summary, investing in personal development and surrounding oneself with successful people can open doors to new opportunities and help one achieve their goals.
Exploring the importance of self-care, positive thinking, and meaningful connections: Prioritize self-care for good mental and physical health, focus on positive thinking for improved mood, use technology mindfully to avoid burnout, and strengthen meaningful connections through love and appreciation.
During our discussion, we explored various topics and shared valuable insights. We talked about the importance of self-care, the power of positive thinking, and the impact of technology on our lives. We also touched upon the significance of meaningful connections and the importance of expressing love and appreciation to those around us. Self-care is crucial for maintaining good mental and physical health. It's essential to prioritize activities that bring us joy and help us relax. Positive thinking can also have a profound impact on our well-being. By focusing on the good things in our lives, we can improve our mood and outlook. Technology has become an integral part of our daily lives, but it's essential to use it mindfully. We discussed the importance of setting boundaries and taking breaks from screens to avoid burnout. Meaningful connections are essential for our happiness and well-being. Expressing love and appreciation to those around us can help strengthen these connections and create lasting memories. In summary, our discussion highlighted the importance of self-care, positive thinking, mindful technology use, and meaningful connections. By prioritizing these areas in our lives, we can improve our overall well-being and create a more fulfilling existence.
