This episode of Small Business Origins features Natalie Clays, a franchise owner of Allen Carr's Easyway. Allen Carr's Easyway is an international company that provides seminars and programs to help people quit addictions like smoking, alcohol, and more.Natalie shares her personal story of being a longtime smoker who struggled unsuccessfully to quit until she tried the Allen Carr method. She explains how the Allen Carr approach focuses on reframing your psychological perspective on smoking rather than using scare tactics. Natalie outlines what to expect at one of their seminars, why having facilitators who have personal experience with addiction is so important, and how the program gave her a "lifeline" to be free of cigarettes easily and happily.Key Discussion Points:- Natalie's 20-year struggle with smoking addiction and failed quit attempts before Allen Carr- How Allen Carr's approach avoids scare tactics and reframes your psychological perspective- What to expect at one of their 6-hour seminars and follow-up support offered- Importance of facilitators having personal experience with smoking addiction- How the program provided Natalie an easy, happy way to quit after feeling terrified about life without cigarettesGuest Bio:Natalie Clays is a franchise owner of Allen Carr's Easyway across 4 countries - USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. She struggled with a 20-year smoking addiction herself until having an "easy" breakthrough quitting experience at an Allen Carr seminar in 2003. Natalie was so impacted she decided to join the company herself to help others quit smoking. She has now facilitated Allen Carr seminars for over 15 years.Company Bio:Allen Carr's Easyway was founded in London in 1983 and now operates across over 50 countries worldwide. Their mission is to help free people from addictions like smoking, vaping, alcohol and more through a non-scare-tactics, psychological reframing approach perfected by founder Allen Carr. The program's centerpiece is a 6-hour, in-person or virtual seminar led by facilitators with personal addiction experience. Allen Carr's Easyway also offers unlimited follow-up support, online content and a money-back satisfaction guarantee.Key Quotes:"This addiction is 99% psychological, 1% physical. So you can stick a patch on your arm. You can pop a pill. You can take a lozenge or a gum or a spray or a vape, but they all only address the physical addiction to the drug." (00:15:31)"When you withdraw from the drug nicotine, you go below a 100%, and which nonsmokers don't have. When you light up a cigarette and you replace you top up the drug levels of nicotine and you get that boost back to normal again." (00:21:59)"I was terrified. I was terrified of life without cigarettes because it it's like how will I cope? How will I function? I kind of thought I'd be forever deprived and miserable." (00:36:52)Links Mentioned:Allen Carr's Easy Way WebsiteInstagramFacebookYouTubeNatalie Clay's LinkedInBeefy MarketingWingmanJohn Kelley's...

In this installment of Small Business Origins, we listen to the entrepreneurial journey of Taryn Tyler, the visionary behind Teacher Turned Trainer, a dedicated dog training venture nestled in the heart of Kansas City, MO. Transitioning from a career in teaching to becoming a maestro in canine education, Taryn unveils her transformative path, imparting wisdom on how to effectively train and comprehend the intricate behaviors and necessities of our furry companions. Furthermore, she illuminates the array of services she provides to assist pet owners in nurturing well-behaved and happy dogs.Key Quotes and Discussion Points:"I was out on a walk with Sinclair, my pit bull...and I was just watching him walk, like thriving in his in his environment and not freaking out about other dogs and other people in the park and things like that. I'm like, this is what I wanna do. Like, I wanna work with dogs like Sinclair." [00:11:30]On common misconceptions about dog training:"I would say the biggest misconception that I've seen is, I think some people have the mindset that dog training you only need if your dog is showing unwanted behaviors. Whereas I am under the thought that I think every single dog could use some training." [00:26:14]On whether dogs can be "too far gone" behaviorally:"I think it I think it's a case by case situation...if you've exhausted all of those options and even a trainer is like, I don't think this is the best situation, then you have to do what's best for your family and for the dog and just Mutual decision of just trying to figure out what's next." [00:37:47]Key Takeaways:- All dogs can benefit from some level of training, whether it's basic obedience or help with more significant behavior issues. It's never too late to start.- Make sure to find a trainer who uses positive methods aligned with your values.- Look for opportunities to make training engaging - it should be rewarding for both you and your dog.- Be patient, get to know your dog's unique needs, and build trust. With time and consistency, you'll start to understand each other better.Links Mentioned:Teacher Turned Trainer OnlineTeacher Turned Trainer on InstagramTeacher Turned Trainer on FacebookBeefy Marketing OnlineSmall Business Origins OnlineJohn Kelley's LinksEvery Business Needs a Wingman

In this episode, speech pathologist Katie Schwartz discusses how she started her business helping clients improve their communication and public speaking skills. She shares how she discovered a need for her services in her community and how she has expanded her business over time. Listeners will learn about the variety of services Katie offers, from improving accents to teaching leadership skills.Guest Bio: - Katie Schwartz is a licensed and certified speech-language pathologist based in Durham, NC- She founded her business, Business Speech Improvement, to help clients communicate more effectively in professional settings- Services include improving accents, teaching public speaking skills, enhancing leadership communication abilities, and moreKey Quotes:"I help my clients learn to communicate more effectively and more efficiently." [00:05:50] "I have been doing this so long that I can give a good estimate of how many sessions somebody is going to need." [00:12:26]Main Discussion Points:- How Katie discovered a local need for her communication coaching services - The story of how she landed her first client with one cold call- The variety of services she offers clients to improve their professional communication- How state licensing regulations limit some of her services across state lines - Her use of eBooks and LinkedIn posts to share helpful communication tips- Options for both individual and corporate communication training servicesLinks Mentioned:Business Speech OnlineBusiness Speech FacebookKatie on LinkedInBeefy MarketingSmall Business Origins OnlineWingman John Kelley's Links

In this episode of the Small Business Origins podcast, host John Kelley interviews Dan Henk, owner of The Abyss Fine Art and Tattoo Studio and Dead Guy LLC. Dan shares his inspiring story of overcoming homelessness, health issues, personal loss, and other hardships on his journey to becoming a successful tattoo artist, author, and entrepreneur.Main Discussion Points:- Dan's challenging upbringing as an "Army brat" and finding solace in punk rock, art, and imagination- Becoming homeless at 18 after his conservative parents kicked him out- Pulling himself out of homelessness by getting a dishwashing job and working his way up- Pursuing art by attending community college and moving to NYC- Facing major health issues like brain cancer soon after starting a tattoo apprenticeship- Bouncing back while still undergoing chemo treatment through sheer determination- Going through a painful divorce right when his tattooing career was taking off- Finally finding stability by opening up his own tattoo shop on Long IslandGuest Bio: Dan Henk is a tattooist, author, and illustrator based in Long Beach, NY. He owns The Abyss Fine Art and Tattoo Studio as well as Dead Guy LLC. He has authored three fiction books and continues to create dark, detailed artwork for various bands, magazines, and book covers.Tweetables:"If you look at everybody, that's like a big actor. Brad Pitt slept in his car. He was homeless. You look at all these people they went through trying times to get there. It's not like it was a smooth ride." (00:35:31) - Dan Henk"So that's what you need to do. You need to find something to keep working at, and you need to not give up." (00:35:15) - Dan Henk"Nobody cares. They might say, hey, well, it kind of sucks, but if you want something to happen, you got to do it yourself." (00:07:50) - Dan HenkLinks Mentioned:Dan Henk OnlineDan Henk WikipediaDan Henk on XDan Henk on YouTubeDan Henk on TikTokDan Henk on LinkedInDan Henk on AmazonDead Guy, LLC on InstagramDead Guy, LLC on FacebookDead Guy, LLC on PinterestBeefy MarketingSmall Business Origins OnlineJohn Kelley's Links

In this episode, host John Kelley interviews Joe Rivera about overcoming adversity and building a comeback after hitting rock bottom from substance abuse. Joe shares his story going from a high-flying stockbroker making seven figures to losing everything and living on the streets, before eventually rebuilding his life and business. Listeners can expect to learn how Joe developed the mindset and tools to transform his life.Key Discussion Points:- Joe's journey getting introduced to opiates, the subsequent addiction and how it destroyed his life and career- Overdosing twice and still wanting to get high immediately after- Realizing he was tired of that lifestyle and making the decision to get sober- The importance of spirituality and building that relationship as the foundation- Steps Joe took to rebuild his business and create a seven-figure coaching company- Surrounding yourself with a strong support group and winning mentalityGuest Bio: Joe Rivera- Went from "Park Avenue to park bench" as a high-flying stock broker before losing it all to opiate addiction- Achieved sobriety after almost losing his life and has now rebuilt his business into a multi-million dollar coaching company- Focuses on empowering people to overcome adversity and transform their livesTweetables:"It took six cans of Narcan to bring me back to life. Six f*cking cans of Narcan." (00:04:57) - Joe Rivera (Speaking about overcoming rock bottom to find success)"If you learn to completely rewire your brain and change your mindset, you could do anything you want in life." (00:12:15) - Joe RiveraLinks Mentioned:Joe Rivera OnlineJoe Rivera InstagramJoe Rivera LinkedIn

In this episode of Small Business Origins, host John Kelley interviews Dick Grove, founder of Ink Inc. PR in Kansas City. Dick shares his origin story of getting into the PR industry, building his PR firm over 30 years focused on earned media, and his advice for entrepreneurs looking for good PR.Key Discussion Points:- How Dick got his first PR job through showing up in person in New York with integrity and persistence (00:06:07 - 00:07:48)- Starting his own PR firm focused specifically on earning media coverage vs other services (00:11:10 - 00:12:56)- Adapting over 30 years to changes in the media landscape (00:17:35 - 00:18:20)- The importance of hiring smart people and knowing when you need to bring on more expertise as you grow (00:18:37 - 00:19:47)- Who is the ideal customer for Ink Inc PR? (00:30:32 - 00:31:38)- Getting in early to help clients craft a media-friendly message (00:49:23 - 00:51:30)Guest Bio:Dick Grove is founder and CEO of Ink Inc. PR, an earned media public relations firm based in Kansas City. He started in PR over 50 years ago and built Ink Inc. on a pay-for-performance model focused on guaranteed media coverage.Company Bio:Ink Inc. PR is a niche PR firm focused specifically on earned media results and coverage for clients. With senior PR experts around the U.S., Ink Inc. takes a media-centric approach to craft and pitch client stories to secure coverage and publicity.Key Quotes:"I still believe in face to face. I believe that a lot can be accomplished in meeting face to face, shaking hands, talking across a table, having lunch, whatever it is." (00:26:08) - Dick Grove"The media world has changed dramatically over the last 30 years. Even more so over the last ten to five years, it's changed dramatically. You have to learn to make your services fit and your model fit that in some way or another." (00:17:53) - Dick GroveLinks Mentioned:INK Inc. PR OnlineINK Inc. on XINK Inc. on InstagramINK Inc. on FacebookINK Inc. on YouTubeINK Inc. on LinkedInBeefy MarketingSmall Business Origins OnlineJohn Kelley's Links

In this episode of Small Business Origins, host John Kelley interviews Cameron McKay, Founder and CEO of Process Street. They discuss Cameron's journey to entrepreneurship, building Process Street from the ground up through bootstrapping and accelerators, and how the product helps businesses systematize and automate workflows. Listeners can expect to learn about the origins of Process Street, strategies for fundraising and growth, and use cases for workflow software. Main Discussion Points: - How Cameron got into software engineering and entrepreneurship after realizing normal people create apps (00:05:49)   - Partnering with his future co-founder Vinay by chance in a hostel in Buenos Aires (00:07:34) - Getting into Startup Chile accelerator to receive funding without giving up equity (00:11:22)   - Fundraising journey - using automation and creativity to get investor meetings (00:17:43) - Pivoting the company and product based on customer feedback over time (00:25:29) - Use cases for Process Street - onboarding, offboarding, compliance, knowledge capture (00:51:59) - Customizability of workflows using conditional logic, rich media, integrations (00:41:04) Guest Bio:  Cameron McKay is CEO and Founder of Process Street, workflow management software that helps teams work more efficiently. He has led the company from the idea stage through fundraising, growth, and continued product iteration for over 7 years.  Company Bio: Founded in 2014, Process Street is a SaaS platform focused on standardizing and automating workflows for teams. Headquartered in San Francisco with remote operations across the globe, Process Street serves thousands of customers from startups to large enterprises. Key Quotes: "An entrepreneurial mindset is that I'm going to push as hard as I can for as long as I can and know that there's always going to be an out because I can get through it." (00:29:19) - Cameron McKay "Once you get the idea, it just like, oh, shit, everything that I've been doing manually, I don't have to do that anymore." (00:52:36) - Cameron McKay Links Mentioned: Process.st Online Process.st Twitter Process.st Linked Beefy Marketing Small Business Origins John Kelley's Links

In this episode, we speak with children's book author Erica Bud of Big World Publishing. She takes us on her journey into entrepreneurship, her passion for educating children about different cultures, and her innovative use of augmented reality (AR) technology in her books. About Our Guest: International travel is Erika’s passion. She started traveling overseas when she was 18 years old, working as an Au Pair. Since then, Erika has traveled to over thirty countries, living in both Spain and Australia. She loves embracing new cultures—eating new foods, learning about the history of the country, seeing remarkable architecture and sites, and meeting interesting people. Erika shares this passion with her son, who already had two stamps in his passport by the age of five and can’t wait to go to the next country. Erika started the Travel Rangers book series and Planes, Trains, & Kids Abroad travel podcast because she hopes to ignite a passion for travel abroad in both children and adults. She wants to teach them about the fascinating cultures throughout the world and the many diverse perspectives shared by the wonderful people of this world that make it such an amazing place to live. Tweetables: [00:07:56] "I started my first business when I was in Australia because I was new there. I’m like, you know what? Here's my chance to start a business." - Erika Bud [00:20:26] "When they go to the great Barrier Reef, they see there's a 3d pop up of an eel and coral and fish." - Erika Bud [00:28:38] "It's not necessarily wrong, it's just different. It's just different than the way we do things." - Erika Bud on teaching cultural perspective and empathy to children Chapters: [00:00:31] Getting to Know Erika Bud of Big World Publishing on Small Business Origins [00:02:09] John Kelley and Erika Bud discuss favorite flavors and food experiences [00:06:24] Introducing Wingman: An All-in-One Marketing Automation Software [00:07:22] From LAPD police officer to Entrepreneur - The unique journey of Erika Bud [00:11:35] Starting a Business from Passion: Erika Bud's Journey [00:15:09] Exploring Cultures: Benefits of Traveling and Learning About Other Cultures [00:19:28]. Interactive Learning: Erika Bud's Augmented Reality Based Educational Books [00:24:55] Promoting Cultural Understanding Through Children Literature [00:29:26] John Kelley Discusses Cross-Cultural Lessons in Erika Bud's Books [00:31:00] In-depth Discussion on Augmented Reality in Publishing [00:36:52] Erika Bud on Big World Publishing and Augmented Reality books Links Mentioned: Big World Pub Online Erika on Twitter Erika on Instagram Erika on Facebook Erika on Pinterest Big World Pub on YouTube Big World Pub on LinkedIn Beefy Marketing Wingman John Kelley's Links Small Business Origins Online

In this episode, we speak to Jason Scott, founder of 120 VC, a consulting firm that helps large organizations build high-performing teams and achieve better results. They discuss Jason's journey from growing up in a tough neighborhood to the military to starting his own business. Jason provides insights on leadership, accountability, and empowering teams. Key Quotes: "Getting that alignment is really easy when you have a team player, because there's only three reasons to do anything - improve customer satisfaction, team member satisfaction, or profitability." - Jason Scott "What we do now is we go in and we know corporate America gives a lot of lip service to teams. We're a team. We're a team. We're a team. Except for they don't operate like teams." - Jason Scott "Leadership in and of itself is a change discipline...And lastly, that whole thing, leaders are born, not made. That's baloney." - Jason Scott Main Discussion Points: - Jason's challenging upbringing and early experiences that drove his persistence and curiosity - His approach of working across industries and “living a five or six brand day” to accelerate his learning - Why big companies often struggle when they lose touch with their mission and culture - The role of leadership in aligning teams around shared priorities - Why mastering leadership requires practice and accountability from coaches - Action is more important than learning alone; leaders need to motivate teams to change Chapters: [00:01:09] John Kelley and Jason Scott discuss beginnings versus endings [00:03:00] Revolutionize Your Business Operations with Wingman [00:03:58] Jason Scott: The Journey of A High School Dropout to the CEO of 120 VC [00:09:16] Transforming High Functioning Individuals into High Performing Teams [00:14:16] John Kelley discusses project management efficiency and leadership coaching [00:18:13] John Kelley Discusses Leadership, Military Experience and Reflecting On Performance [00:20:50] The Power of Teamwork in Business [00:24:42] Discussing Leadership Dynamics with John Kelley [00:28:55] John Kelley Discusses Leadership, Teamwork, and Business Innovation [00:32:54] Creating High Functioning Unified Teams Through Culture-Centric Leadership [00:38:06] John Kelley Discusses Leadership Styles and Employee Relationships within Companies [00:40:03] GSD, company culture and the future of big companies [00:45:40] John Kelley Advocates for Leadership Training and Accountability Partners [00:49:52] The Art of Mastery with John Kelley [00:52:00] Jason Scott on Leadership Consulting and Affordable Alternatives Links Mentioned: Jason Scott Online John Kelley Online Beefy Marketing Your Business Needs a Wingman

In this episode we speak with Lori Keesey, the author of an upcoming novel and the writer behind The Accidental Blogger. We discuss overcoming adversity, maintaining faith and purpose during hard times, and Lori's journey in grief, writing, and building her author platform. Lori Keesey is an author, blogger, and accidental entrepreneur from Walland, Tennessee. After working for many years as a journalist and freelance writer, she experienced the tragic loss of her 33 year old son, which inspired her to write her debut novel focused on finding meaning and purpose in life. She started The Accidental Blogger to build an author platform and share stories of overcoming adversity with others.   Main Discussion Points: - The power of faith and trusting in a higher purpose to make it through grief or adversity (14:05, 32:10, 41:10) - Looking for opportunities to turn "lemons into lemonade" and help others after facing hard times (23:59)   - Making conscious choices to move forward in a healthy way instead of falling into victim mentality (33:26) - Remembering that the past is behind us and our future is unwritten, so we shouldn't dwell on past mistakes (33:31) Chapters: [00:01:06] Interview with Lori Keesey: Journalism, Sales Tactics and Adaptability [00:04:43] Lori Keesey: Her Journey From Journalism to Entrepreneurship and Writing [00:11:56] Interview with Lori Keesey about her career and life journey [00:17:48] Lori Keesey Discusses Her Upcoming Novel And Challenges of Writing [00:22:57] Turning Adversity into Inspiration: A conversation with Lori Keesey [00:27:34] John Kelley on Overcoming Challenges and Developing Resilience [00:30:51] Dealing with Personal Loss, Faith and Moving Forward [00:37:58] John Kelley In Conversation With Lori Keesey: Navigating Grief and Loss [00:41:06] Faith, Purpose and Dealing with Adversity: A Discussion with Lori Keesey [00:46:45] Closing Out An Engaging Conversation with Lori Keesey Tweetables: "What scared me most was my son in the Lord's warm embrace. I was worried about him." (35:09) - Lori Keesey "I don't think people can really understand what a parent goes through when a child dies." (09:16)  - Lori Keesey "When you're self employed, you really do need to go with your intuition." (17:09) - Lori Keesey Links Mentioned: Lori's Website Lori on X Lori on Instagram Lori on Facebook Lori on LinkedIn Beefy Marketing John's Links Small Business Origins Online