Humanizing Success
Humanizing Success
Jake Benun
"Humanizing Success" is a captivating podcast that delves into the personal journeys of success, exploring the diverse paths people take to achieve success in various aspects of life, including finances, relationships, career, and personal growth. Join me, Jake Benun, your curious and insightful host, as I interview inspiring guests from all walks of life, uncovering their stories, lessons, and strategies for achieving success. From learning valuable skills to overcoming challenges and setbacks, each episode offers candid and relatable conversations that humanize the concept of success.
HS E10 - Unleashing the Entrepreneurial Spirit: A Conversation with Massimo Forti
In this captivating episode, we sit down with Massimo Forti, the visionary owner of Novo Cafe in Burbank and Westlake Village. Massimo takes us on an inspiring journey, starting from his humble beginnings in Florence, Italy, to the realization of his innate entrepreneurial spirit during his military service and subsequent corporate career. He shares candidly about the challenges he faced during multiple attempts at entrepreneurship and the valuable lesson he learned about not setting limitations for himself. Join us as we delve into Massimo's path of determination and perseverance, leading to the creation of two thriving restaurants that stand as a testament to his unwavering dedication to success. Timeline: 01:52 Intro 02:30 What is your definition of success? 05:22 What did your childhood look like? 10:59 Why did you immigrate to the USA? 16:05 First attempt at being an entrepreneur 19:19 Becoming a personal trainer 21:17 Did you ever think about opening a gym? 22:48 The restaurant idea 25:48 Did you have any role models growing up? 28:09 A pivotal moment 31:58 Creating Novo Cafe 37:33 Have you thought about opening another restaurant ? 38:42 Why did you feel it was important to stay open during covid? 41:41 What has been your greatest success in life? 42:36 Word association Novo Cafe Info: https://www.novocafe.com/ https://www.instagram.com/novocafewestlake/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/novo_cafe/?hl=en HS Info: https://www.tiktok.com/@humanizingsuccesss?_t=8ceOrtXXKMU&_r=1 https://www.instagram.com/humanizingsuccess/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D https://www.facebook.com/people/Humanizing-Success/100091915181058/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/humanizingsuccess/message
Jul 22, 2023
45 min
HS E9: Navigating Life's Curveballs: A Story of Adaptation and Achievement
In this inspiring episode, join us as we chat with Luis, who took an unexpected turn from his childhood dream of playing professional baseball to building a thriving career in the business world. After an injury sidelined his athletic aspirations, he made the bold choice to work alongside his father in the real world. Starting at a young age, Luis climbed the ranks of his father's landscaping company, acquiring valuable skills and experiences along the way. Now at 24, he shares his insights on financial success, the true meaning of success, and offers valuable lessons on embracing opportunities and crafting a fulfilling path. Join us for an engaging conversation that explores the unique journey of Luis, and gain inspiration for your own pursuit of success and personal fulfillment. Timeline: 01:49 Intro to Luis 02:18 What is your definition of Success? 05:08 What’s a moment where you’ve been genuinely happy? 06:35 What was your childhood like? 08:04 When was your family business started? 10:58 How did you see the business as you grew up? 12:36 What role does family play in your life? 14:14 What as your initial plan after high school? 16:56 What is your current position in the family business? 18:08 Was that always your position or did you work up to that? 19:36 Have you stopped and reflected on how much you’ve learned and grown? 22:35 How do you guys market your service? 26:42 What has been the hardest part about your job? 31:07 The fastest way to grow is… 33:20 After having some financial success at a young age, what have you learned about money? 36:01 Do you have any aspirations for the business 39:42 Is there something else you wish I asked you about? 42:55 Control what you can control 45:10 What are you most proud of in your life so far? 49:14 Word Association  51:15 Outro AGT Landscaping Info: https://www.agreenertomorrowinc.com/https://instagram.com/agt_landscaping?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== @agt_landscaping HS Info: https://www.tiktok.com/@humanizingsuccesss?_t=8ceOrtXXKMU&_r=1https://www.instagram.com/humanizingsuccess/?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3Dhttps://www.facebook.com/people/Humanizing-Success/100091915181058/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/humanizingsuccess/message
Jul 15, 2023
52 min
E8 HS: From Cuba to America: Silvia Benun's Journey of Resilience
In this captivating episode, we had the privilege of interviewing Silvia Benun, a resilient Cuban refugee who overcame tremendous obstacles to create a new life in the United States. Silvia takes us on a deeply personal journey as she recounts her family's harrowing escape from Cuba at the tender age of 6 and the challenges they faced upon arriving in a new country without knowing the language. With heartfelt honesty, she shares her experiences as a mother, shedding light on the difficulties and profound joys that come with raising a family. Join us as we explore Silvia's inspiring story of resilience, cultural adaptation, and the transformative power of love and determination. https://instagram.com/silviabenunskincare?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== https://www.facebook.com/silviabenunskincare/ https://wholefrog.com/facials/ 01:14 Intro to Silvia 01:44 What Is your Definition of Success? 02:57 Her Childhood as she grew up in Cuba 05:47 What do you remember about communism taking over as a young girl? 06:46 How did you parents chose to flee Cuba? 09:02 Arriving to the US from Cuba 09:51 Were you ready to be a mother? 11:01 Who was the most difficult child? 11:12 What is something, when it came to motherhood, that no-one could have prepared you for? 11:39 What were you doing before you had kids? 13:02 What do you think you learned about yourself from being a parent? 14:06 What would your 3 biggest tips to future parents or mothers be? 15:19 Why bring your kids on vacations? 17:10 Continuing the story of Silvia arriving to the US from Cuba 20:51 Did you start working at a younger age? 22:14 Did you find your passion before you had kids? 24:01 Why and when did you decide to go back to work after having kids? 29:06 How was creating your own business easier or harder than you expected? 31:28 Are you satisfied with where your business is at? 33:07 What do you need to work on to grow your business? 33:28 What is your greatest success in life so far? 34:02 Word Association 34:51 Closing --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/humanizingsuccess/message
Jun 10, 2023
35 min
HS E7: Healing from Within: A Conversation with Barbara Arnold-Herzer
In this enlightening episode, we had the pleasure of interviewing Barbara Arnold-Herzer, a registered nurse and the visionary behind WholeFrog®. Barbara is a true master health practitioner who has seamlessly integrated her medical expertise, coaching skills, and holistic treatments to empower individuals on their healing journeys. She candidly shares her inspiring story of accepting her role as a healer, discovering her passion for helping people heal themselves, and the personal struggles she encountered along her path of self-improvement. Join us as we delve into Barbara's profound insights, bridging the worlds of conventional medicine and holistic healing, and uncovering the transformative power of inside/out health. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/humanizingsuccess/message
Jun 3, 2023
53 min
HS E6: Building a Business Abroad: Max Sinton's Path to Entrepreneurial Success
In this captivating episode, we sit down with Max Sinton, a dear friend and brother in arms, as he shares his remarkable journey of moving to Israel, serving in the military, and pursuing entrepreneurial success. Max opens up about the challenges he faced as a newcomer in a foreign country, including language barriers and adapting to the demanding lifestyle of the military. He dives into his latest venture, a new alcoholic beverage business set to launch in Israel this summer, highlighting his unwavering confidence and resilience in the face of failures. Join us as we explore Max's inspiring story of determination, cultural adaptation, and entrepreneurial spirit. 1:30- Intro 1:50- what does success mean to you? 05:55- Max’s Day to day 08:00- Max’s new business  10:45- Where did the idea come from? 12:45- Where does your confidence come from?  14:35- My biggest fear in life 16:01- How to not dwell on the bigger losses/failures  17:40- Do you think you’ll succeed ? 19:00- Challenges faced brining a new product to market  28:00- Why did you move to Israel and join the army? 32:30- What were the main challenges moving to a new country  36:15- Did you have a moment of doubt after you joined ? 38:15 culture shock 43:00- has your worldview changed ? 47:54- What are you most proud of in your lifetime so far? 50:13- Word association  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/humanizingsuccess/message
May 27, 2023
54 min
HS E5: Overcoming Addictive Patterns
In this heartfelt episode, we sit down with Chad as he bravely opens up about his personal struggles with addiction and the path to reclaiming his life. Chad shares his journey of grappling with an addictive personality, his experiences with marijuana, and his eventual exploration of psychedelics. He candidly discusses the challenges he faced in breaking free from the cycle of substance abuse and finding a path towards productivity and personal growth. Join us as Chad's vulnerability and honesty shed light on the potential for change and inspire others who may be on a similar journey. 1:46- Definition of success  4:14- Background  5:33- Introduction to Drug Use 10:50- Progression to other drugs 18:20- Previous Struggles 19:20- Living with an addictive personality 22:00- What role does fear play in your life? 24:17- How had the substances effected your relationships? 34:25- Could a perspective or setting change help someone’s mental state? 36:50- Advice for someone who needs a change in their life 41- What are u proud of in your life so far? 42:38- What do you want to happen in the next year of your life? 44:42- Word association  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/humanizingsuccess/message
May 20, 2023
46 min
HS E4: From Survival to Success: A Holocaust Survivor's Story
In this episode, we have the privilege of hearing from Michelle Rodri, a Holocaust survivor who shares her incredible story of survival and resilience. Michelle describes her experiences of being sent to a triage camp and how she managed to escape. She speaks candidly about the struggles she faced after the war and the lessons she learned from her experiences. Despite the unimaginable tragedies she endured, Michelle has lived a successful and meaningful life, and her story serves as a testament to the power of hope and perseverance. Join us for this inspiring conversation with a remarkable woman. 00:43- intro 1:53- What is your definition of success? 5:21- What her childhood looked like 6:20- Her story during the holocaust begins 8:10- Being Taken at age 7 to a triage camp 19:32- Escaping the triage camp 24:03- Arriving to a convent to hide 31:43- Why people who weren’t jewish helped jewish families hide 37:44- The Americans arrived to liberate France 40:42- Her brothers last letter 44:45- Dealing with the emotional trauma 50:03- Choosing love over hate 55:43- Coming to the US 1:00:00- What is important in life 1:08:00- Why she continues to share her story  1:13:00- Word association  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/humanizingsuccess/message
May 12, 2023
1 hr 19 min
HS E3- The Power of Deciding: An Interview with Dorel Meiri
In this episode of Humanizing Success, we interview Dorel Meiri, a former commander in the Israeli army and now a successful commercial real estate professional based in LA. Dorel shares his insights on defining success, achieving success in multiple aspects of life, and balancing work and personal life. Join us as we delve into Dorel's inspiring journey and learn from his experiences. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/humanizingsuccess/message
May 5, 2023
1 hr 12 min
HS E2- Achieving Success in Law, Love, and Life: An Interview with David Pierce
In this episode of "Humanizing Success", we sit down with David Pierce, a successful lawyer, husband, and father, to discuss the keys to achieving success in both career and personal life. David shares valuable insights on work-life balance, building a successful law practice, managing personal finances, maintaining strong relationships, and overcoming challenges on the path to success. Tune in to hear David's inspiring stories and lessons learned on his journey to success. Find us on all social platforms @humanizingsuccess If you're in need of trustworthy legal services in the LA are you can reach David Pierce here: https://dhpierce.com/news-and-media/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/humanizingsuccess/message
Apr 28, 2023
1 hr 30 min
HS E1- From Struggles to Success: Alina Benun ON Unveiling the Human Side of Entrepreneurship
In this episode of "Humanizing Success", join your host, Jake Benun, in a candid conversation with his sister Alina, who has experienced remarkable success in a short period of time as the founder of her own influencer management agency. But her journey to success has not been without its challenges. Alina opens up about her initial struggles, including dealing with mental health and learning to understand and control her emotions while building her business. She shares valuable insights on how she overcame obstacles and developed crucial skills along the way, including what it truly means to own a business and be an entrepreneur. As Alina shares her personal experiences and lessons learned, you'll gain practical wisdom, inspiration, and motivation to pursue your own path to success, no matter the hurdles you may face. This episode offers a unique glimpse into the human side of entrepreneurship, uncovering the raw, authentic, and often overlooked aspects of achieving success. Tune in to this enlightening conversation with Alina as she shares her remarkable journey from struggles to success, and gain valuable insights into the multifaceted world of entrepreneurship. Get ready to be inspired, motivated, and empowered to humanize success in your own life. So, grab your headphones and join us on this insightful and thought-provoking episode of "Humanizing Success"! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/humanizingsuccess/message
Apr 23, 2023
45 min