Podcast Summary
Making the most out of business trips: Meeting friends and having great experiences during business trips can keep travelers recharged. Finding the right tools and partners, like Delta and Amica, can enhance various aspects of life.
Having a little leisure time during business trips can keep travelers recharged and excited. This was highlighted by the speaker's personal experience of meeting up with friends and having great experiences while on work trips. Another key takeaway is the importance of finding the right tools and partners for various aspects of life, whether it's a business travel credit card or an insurance company. The speaker emphasized the value of companies like Delta and Amica, which go beyond just providing a service and instead focus on making the experience more human and personalized. Lastly, the speaker shared the intriguing opportunity to work with the National Security Agency (NSA) on innovative projects and offered a reminder about an upcoming live recording of the podcast. Overall, the episode emphasized the importance of finding the right tools, partners, and opportunities to make the most out of life's experiences.
From social work to snack bars: Lara's inspiring journey: Passionately following your interests can lead to unexpected opportunities and successful businesses.
Lara's experiences as a social worker and her passion for natural foods led her to create Lara Bars. Starting out with no intention of starting a business, Lara's challenging job as a social worker left her feeling burnt out and seeking a change. She turned to a more recreational approach, engaging kids in community activities and teaching them about healthier food options. Meanwhile, her own experiences with restrictive diets during her college volleyball days sparked an interest in natural foods. These experiences shaped her perspective and eventually led to the creation of Lara Bars, which started as a small business and grew into a popular snack brand. The story of Lara's journey highlights the importance of following your passions and finding creative solutions to challenges, even when the path isn't clear.
Unexpected life changes lead to passion for natural foods: Discovering unexpected allergies can lead to new passions and healthier lifestyles. Embrace change and pursue your passions, even with limited resources.
A woman's life took an unexpected turn when she discovered she had an allergy to weed and needed to eliminate wheat from her diet. This led her to a passion for natural foods and cooking, which she embraced despite her limited knowledge and resources at the time. Facing major life changes, including a divorce and a career shift, she found the courage to pursue her passion and attend naturopathic medical school. Her journey introduced her to various natural healing practices and ultimately led her to become a naturopathic doctor specializing in raw foods. This experience taught her the importance of taking control of one's health and the value of natural, whole foods.
Believing in oneself and pursuing ideas with passion and determination: Passionately pursuing an idea, despite initial skepticism, can lead to the creation of a successful business.
Passion and determination can lead to the creation of a successful business, even when faced with challenges and skepticism. The speaker, inspired by her experiences and a desire to create a convenient, indulgent snack made from raw fruits, nuts, and spices, ran with an idea that came to her on a mountain hike. Despite initial doubts from her family and friends, she was undeterred and began developing her recipes through focus groups and experimentation. The result was a business that turned her passion for raw, portable snacks into a reality. This story illustrates the importance of believing in oneself and pursuing ideas with unwavering commitment.
From passion to business: A cherry pie success story: Laura's success came from relentlessly improving her recipes, gaining industry knowledge, and staying customer-focused.
Laura Barchas' success with her cherry pie business came from her relentless dedication to improving her recipes through customer feedback and her willingness to learn every aspect of the business, from sourcing ingredients to manufacturing and selling. She started small, experimenting with different combinations of cherries, dates, and almonds, and sold her pies to friends and family. When she realized there was demand for her product, she took a job at Whole Foods to gain insight into the industry and learn the ropes of manufacturing and distribution. Despite facing challenges and doubts, she persevered and eventually turned her passion into a successful business. Her story serves as a reminder that with determination, hard work, and a customer-focused approach, even the smallest ideas can grow into something big.
Staying true to your vision despite challenges: Perseverance and self-belief are crucial for turning a passion project into a successful business. Maintain optimism and confidence, even during setbacks, to keep moving towards your goal.
Perseverance and self-belief are key to turning a passion project into a successful business. As shared in the podcast, Laura Halara's journey to launch her energy bar company involved significant financial and emotional challenges. Despite setbacks and moments of self-doubt, she maintained her optimism and confidence, continuing to work towards her goal even during periods of stagnation. Her story underscores the importance of staying true to your vision and not letting external perceptions or setbacks deter you from your path. Additionally, the use of technology and teamwork, as exemplified by Atlassian's AI-powered software, can help streamline processes and make the impossible possible for businesses.
Starting a business: Overcoming challenges and embracing company culture: Tenacity, innovation, and strong company culture are crucial for business success. Adversity can lead to transformative decisions and the right team and values can help a company thrive.
Building a strong company culture is essential for business growth and attracting top talent. Laura's story from "How I Built This" illustrates this concept. She faced numerous challenges when starting her energy bar company, including securing packaging and manufacturing equipment. However, her tenacity and curiosity helped her overcome these obstacles. Ultimately, the importance of company culture became evident when she had to change the name of her business due to a trademark issue. Her friend's suggestion to name the bars after herself was a turning point, and Lara Bar was born. The right people, processes, and values in place can help a company realize its full potential. To learn more about creating a culture that fuels growth, download Insparity's free ebook, "The Future of Business is Culture," at Insparity.com.
Starting a business isn't easy: Lara Mercer's journey: Despite early challenges, staying persistent and believing in your product can lead to success through serendipitous connections and the support of key investors.
During the early stages of starting her business, Lara Mercer faced numerous challenges including manufacturing issues, lack of investor support, and difficulty finding stores to sell her LaraBars. However, she remained persistent and maintained faith in her product. A turning point came when her father decided to invest in the company and help raise the necessary funds. With the help of her dad and new investors, Lara was able to secure manufacturing and printing, and even found a crucial buyer at Whole Foods through a chance encounter. This experience highlights the importance of perseverance, believing in one's product, and the power of serendipitous connections in entrepreneurship.
Persistence leads to success: Don't give up on potential buyers. Provide samples and educate them about your product to win them over. In-person demos are crucial for selling, especially during health trend shifts.
Persistence pays off. The speaker shared an experience where a potential buyer tried to dismiss her, but she didn't give up. She provided samples and eventually won him over with her innovative product. This encounter motivated her to continue working on her business, which eventually became a success. The speaker also mentioned the importance of in-person demos and education in selling her product, especially during a time when health trends made consumers wary of certain foods. Despite initial challenges and doubts, she persevered and saw significant success within a short period.
Laura Bar's success from simple and recognizable ingredients: Laura Bar's success came from using simple, recognizable ingredients to create healthy, delicious bars, which resonated with consumers and helped the company quickly gain popularity and go national, with a focus on customer service.
The success of the Laura Bar company can be attributed to its simple and recognizable ingredients, which resonated with consumers who were looking for healthier options. The bars, which contained ten or fewer ingredients that people were familiar with, were made to taste delicious without sacrificing health. This simplicity and taste appealed to consumers, helping the company quickly gain popularity and eventually go national. Despite the rapid growth, the founders continued to work hard and prioritize customer service, leading the company to become a major player in the industry.
Early interest from large companies can be a distraction for entrepreneurs: Entrepreneurs may be surprised by early interest from larger companies, which can require a compartmentalized approach and allow for personal growth and business expansion
Being approached by larger companies for a sale can be a significant distraction for entrepreneurs, especially when they're still focused on growing their business. The interviewee in this discussion shares how they were surprised by the early interest from large companies and how it took a toll on them. They ultimately decided to entertain offers in 2007, but the process was nerve-wracking and required a compartmentalized approach to keep employees in the dark. The sale came together just before the interviewee turned 40, and it allowed them to step back and focus on other aspects of their life while still maintaining a connection to the business. The sale also resulted in the brand becoming widely available in various retailers, providing a sense of accomplishment and visibility.
Believing in yourself and having a strong support system leads to success: Starting a business despite skepticism requires self-belief and a supportive network. Unexpected passions can lead to innovation and success, while perseverance plays a crucial role.
Determination and surrounding oneself with supportive people can lead to success, even when faced with skepticism. Lara, the founder of Lara Bar, shared her experience of starting her energy bar company despite doubts from others. She emphasized the importance of believing in oneself and having a strong support system. Meanwhile, Jerry Stellenberg, a computer engineer, was inspired by pinball and the idea that it could be reimagined using touchscreen technology. Both stories illustrate the power of perseverance and innovation. Additionally, the discussion touched on the importance of trying new things and discovering unexpected passions, as well as the role of luck in shaping our lives.
From hobby to successful business: Creating a unique pinball experience: Passion for a hobby and innovation can lead to a profitable business, even if it doesn't reach billion-dollar status.
Passion and innovation can turn a hobby into a successful business. Jerry, a tech enthusiast, dreamed of merging technology with the classic pinball experience. After years of hard work and collaboration with friends, they created a pinball machine where physical interactions influenced virtual graphics. The game, called Rocks, was a hit at a pinball festival, leading to an investment that allowed Jerry to quit his day job and start Multimorphic. The company's first product, the P3 pinball machine, shipped in 2016, and they've since expanded to online multiplayer games and partnerships with establishments like Dave and Buster's. Jerry's goal was to create a lifestyle business, and though it didn't need to be a billion-dollar company, he's succeeded in offering something new and exciting to pinball fans.
Listen to thought-provoking conversations with influential thinkers: Gain unconventional insights from interviews with leaders in science, leadership, and arts to enhance personal and professional growth
"Rethinking" is a thought-provoking podcast hosted by Adam Grant, where he interviews influential thinkers from various fields, including science, leadership, and arts. Through these conversations, listeners can gain unconventional insights to enhance their personal and professional lives. Notable guests include Reese Witherspoon, Malcolm Gladwell, and Yo-Yo Ma. By tuning in to "Rethinking," you'll be exposed to valuable lessons that can help you succeed at work, build stronger relationships, and broaden your perspective on the world. Find and subscribe to "Rethinking" on your favorite podcast platform.
