The Tony Grebmeier Show

The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well - as you're going to hear on this "best of" episode of the show. Today's episode features 7 entrepreneurs at differing points on their journeys who share what goes into the mindsets and attitudes that fuel their entrepreneurial drive. These are just snapshots, sound bytes from great business owners who have learned their lessons well. You can use the links within the show notes to hear their entire conversations with Tony G. Ed O'Keefe: The secret to feeling better when you feel like crap. All of us have those days when the entrepreneurial spirit seems to have left us. We wake up tired, we don't want to hit the floor again, we simply want to stay in bed. Ed O'Keefe has some great tips to help when that happens and he says that it starts by putting yourself in the place where the energy you need is going to be all around. You'll get what he says immediately when you hear his examples, so be sure to listen for a quick shot of motivation. Melonie DeRose: Me time is ho

Tony's doing something different in the next 5 episodes of the show to build anticipation toward a new type of show, which will launch with episode 50. That means today is the beginning of the "best of" Entrepreneur Unplugged. You're going to hear some of the best sound bytes from our previous shows to give you some bite-sized nuggets of entrepreneurial advice and inspiration. On this episode, you're going to hear from Kevin Cohen, Jeff Weisberg, Suresh May, Tim Dixon, Sammy Tagg, Merlin Holmes, and Peter Lynch. Finding your niche and building relationships with Kevin Cohen On episode #1 of the show Tony had a great conversation with Kevin Cohen. Kevin is the Vice President of Marketing at Hack Reactor, which is the premier online coding school. Listen in for some great tips on team-building and overcoming the obstacles many of us face as we tackle new challenges. The Value of scars on your entrepreneurial journey, with Peter Lynch from episode 2 Peter recently founded and is CEO of Digital Fridge, a fiv

Content Marketing is the new way to sell. It's the task of creating such great value and showcasing your expertise that people find you and come to you to get their needs met in your area of expertise. Today's guest is Jeff Leo Herrmann, an experienced content marketer and coach who teaches business leaders how to leverage their online presence in a way that really matters, utilizing the tools that are available to get their brand in front of the people that matter. You're going to enjoy this conversation between Tony and Jeff and learn a lot about what it takes to succeed with content marketing in today's crowded social media platforms. If you aren't able to effectively use content marketing, you'll be left behind. Gone are the days when you could purchase advertising space in a publication and expect to have people beat down your doors in response. Buyers are more savvy than that these days. They want proof that you're the expert you claim to be and in many cases it's what is being called "social proof." Th

  Customer relationships last far beyond the sale. As a business owner you've got to know that. Don't misunderstand, the sale is a great turning point in your relationship with your customer but it's just the beginning. It's your job as a business owner to figure out exactly how you're going to nurture that relationship long term. When you're able to do that, to show care and concern for them as they grow their business or build their life, you're going to build more than a client base - you're going to build loyalty. Today's guest is Joshua Latimer, the creator of an amazing new piece of software called SendJim. It helps you follow up with your customers regularly so you continue to nurture that relationship over the years. Find out how Josh's software could help you with customer relationship management, on this episode of Entrepreneur Unplugged.   Niche service - high margins - repeat service.   When Joshua Latimer got started in business he learned really quickly that there are only a few

Many entrepreneurs talk a big talk about putting family first. But how many of them are truly doing it? Today's guest is a woman who has stepped up to the plate in a big way when it comes to putting her two boys first in her life. Though she's an ultra successful entrepreneurs and coach, Michelle Barnes has intentionally scheduled her life and business around the time she needs to spend with her sons, doing things they all enjoy and sharing quality time together. On this episode you're going to hear why Michelle has arranged her life that way and why she believes that everyone has to figure out how to do the same thing. "I knew that I needed to surround myself with those 3 percenters." As Michelle Barnes got started in business she read everything she could get her hands on. As she learned she began to realized that those who were ultra successful amounted to only 3% of the population - and that those 3% thought differently than everyone else. That's when Michelle decided that she was going to surround hersel

When it comes to not only knowing the skills that go into successful marketing communication but also knowing how to apply them, Craig Garber is your man. Craig has had a fascinating journey from CPA (a bad fit) to financial advisor to his current role as a successful marketing strategist for various entrepreneurs and companies. This episode is a chat between two friends, Tony asking the questions and Craig giving his typical gut level, honest answers about his journey, his insights into marketing communication and copywriting, and the lessons he's learned on the bumpy road to success. Meet the guy who hounded Gary Halbert until he caved in. "Persistent" doesn't even begin to describe Craig Garber. At one point on the path to his current profession as a marketing communication expert he decided that he wanted to hone his skills as a direct response copywriter. Most people would grab an online course on the subject, but Craig sent an email to Gary Halbert - the top direct response copywriter ever. When he didn

  If you have ever wondered how to use Facebook for business in a way that really makes sense, today's guest, Nehal Kazim, has built a very successful company doing just that for multiple clients. Amplifii has become one of the premiere companies creating Facebook Ad campaigns that really convert. But this interview is not just about the conversions - it's about the young man behind the company and the success he's seeing in business and in life. Get to know Nehal Kazim on this episode of Entrepreneur Unplugged. Using Ads on Facebook is about more than keywords and niches. If you've ever stumbled your way through the power editor dashboard for Facebook Ads you know that there are options - and more options - that allow you to drill down into a specific target demographic and display your campaigns to your ideal buyers. But if it were really that easy to figure out companies like Amplifii would not be around. Nehal Kazim and the team at Amplifii have learned the Facebook system and leverage that expertise

A lawyer by trade, Vinnie Fisher has seen much success in his previous career. He transitioned to entrepreneurship in 2007 because he knew in his heart it was the right path for him. Today, Vinnie is at the helm of several hugely successful businesses, including Fully Accountable and The Total CEO. He's also written 2 books: The CEO's Mindset and The Best Investment: A Better You. Vinnie also happens to be Tony's mentor. Throughout today's chat, Vinnie shares insight into his transition from lawyer to entrepreneur, along with insight into mastermind groups, service, and the thing he's most thankful for. Going from lawyer to entrepreneur. For Vinnie, it was always clear that he was cut from a different cloth than most people around him. In jobs dating back to high school, Vinnie would find different, more efficient ways of doing things. Throughout college, it became more evident that Vinnie wasn't like everyone else. He could no longer ignore the signs pointing him to entrepreneurship; so in 2007, Vinnie lef

Jim Palmer is an entrepreneur, speaker, coach, and author of 6 books. In this chat with Tony G., Jim shares his journey from unemployed to entrepreneur. He discusses the low points, the successes, and the lessons learned along the way. Jim shares insight into how he found the courage to start his own business after 15 months of unemployment and a cancer scare. He also discusses his coaching business, his passion for giving back, and how he created freedom for himself and his family. From unemployed to entrepreneur. Jim was unemployed for 15 months. During this trying time, he also faced a battle with cancer. To say this was a low point for Jim would be an understatement, but his resilience allowed him to take the plunge into entrepreneurship in 2001. He discusses the transition from unemployment to entrepreneurship. In just 5 years, Jim was the head of a multiple 6 figure business, but found himself with little time for anything outside the business. That led him to start several other businesses, including h

Justin Christianson is the co-founder Conversion Fanatics, a successful digital marketing company specializing in conversion rate optimization services. Justin grew up in rural North Dakota in a farming community and learned at an early age the value of entrepreneurship. After working as an electrician after high school, Justin began to embrace marketing as a viable income stream and found himself drawn to the digital marketing space. From time spent working in network marketing to eventually founding Conversion Fanatics with his partner Manish, Justin has overcome his share of obstacles. In this chat with Tony G., Justin shares everything from how to deal with self-doubt to marketing tips you can implement in your own business. Embracing his entrepreneurial spirit. From an early age, Justin was drawn to entrepreneurship. It was until he discovered network marketing that Justin began to understand the value of pursuing this passion. He discusses the process of founding Conversion Fanatics and why they ended u

Today's topic with Tony G raw and uncut, is "getting disconnected". Tony discusses the dangers of distractions and how they can prevent us from truly making connections with people, and focusing on tasks. He talks about the many distractions surrounding us constantly - from social media to other "noise" we need to learn to turn off so we can focus on the people in our lives. Tony also shares the value of zeroing in on the person you're with, the task at hand, or just the mindset you need to be in for the day to be at your best. Finding ways to get rid of distractions. Tony goes on to share the importance of finding ways to get disconnected in your life. He talks about how easy it is to get rid of distractions like social media, simply by closing out multiple tabs on your browser so you can hone in on your work, a task, etc. Tony gives insight into his biggest distraction - not being present with people - and how he's made it a priority to eliminate that distraction in order to make real connections with the p

Dr. Scot Gray has been through a lot to find success. He discovered his love for chiropractic treatment following an accident and college, and knew immediately that this was the path for him. From there, Scot worked to find success in the field, including a disappointing first attempt. After opening a small chiropractic practice with his brother, Scot would eventually take on the business on his own after the departure of his brother. It was during the early days of the practice that Scot first connected with marketing and found another passion. He discusses the success he had in marketing his practice and how that transitioned into the successful digital marketing business he runs today. Embracing marketing as the key to success. When Scot and his brother first launched their small practice, they knew it would be essential to attract new clients. And so, Scot started studying marketing and found his niche. He read books to inspire him and found new ways to attract patients, which would lead to a small amount

Today's topic on Raw & Uncut with Tony G. is "Letting Go". Tony discusses the power of learning to let go and how you can be held back from your potential until you learn to let go. He talks about how we can be held hostage when we don't let go, and why it prevents us from moving beyond those beliefs and situations. Learning to let go in order to create freedom in your life. Tony goes on to discuss how you can gain freedom from past situations by learning to let go, and why letting go makes it possible to have whatever you want in life. He gives insight into how letting go allows you to move into a brand new space, filled with possibilities. The power of believing in yourself and ignoring limiting beliefs. Tony also discusses the power of believing something is possible and how simply speaking it can make it a reality. He shares the value of creating space for yourself and your future by moving forward from the things that are holding you back. Letting go has a great deal of power and, if you don't let go

With more than 25 years in the music industry, Brian Shafton is a veteran with a vast understanding of how to shape new artists into mega stars. His role in the history (and future) of hip hop is undeniable. Brian has worked with the likes of NWA, Snoop Dogg, Jay Z, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, and the list goes on and on. From his early days as a recent college grad working at Capitol Records through the evolution of his career as a trail blazing entrepreneur, it's clear Brian understand how to connect with his audience, build relationships, and stand out from the crowd. Finding new ways to revitalize the music industry. Brian's biggest passion is pretty easy to spot - he's constantly in search of new ways to revitalize the music industry. He talks about the impact of piracy, the up and coming artists, and some of the veterans he's still working with today. As the owner of RBC Records, Brian is able to work with some of the top names in the business and he shares how he's maintained those relationships through the yea

On today's episode of Raw and Uncut, Tony G. gets real with us about gratitude. He discusses the role of his friend, Ian Garlic, in starting Tony's journey of connecting with Source and how it's influenced all areas of his life. Tony shares insight into Ian's podcast, The Tao of Inbound, and how it inspired him to better understand the concept of Tao and how to integrate it into his life. He goes on to discuss a book that has influenced his understanding of Tao, 356 Tao: Daily Meditations, and some of the powerful learnings that have come from the book. Understanding Tao When Tony first met Ian, he knew he was special, but he had no idea of the vast impact Ian would have on his life. Tony shares how his quest to better understand Tao has led to so many revelations in his life, including connecting to Source, calmness, stillness, and meditation. He talks about how this journey has transformed his life in such a short time and why Tony believes he is resonating more with his audience as a result. In addition,

Matt Schmitt always felt like an outsider. As a kid, he was a self-described "dork", who never quite fit in. In college, Matt started to fit in a little more when he joined fraternities. But, as an IT major, he still wasn't part of the majority. Matt shares his journey from being an outsider who wanted to fit in to embracing his true self and proudly sharing it with the world. Matt went from college to "dream job" to full time entrepreneur by focusing on his dreams and pursuing them with everything he had. Pushing forward on your own path. As a St. Louis native, Matt always knew he wanted to work at Anheuser Busch. It was a family tradition and it had always been his dream to land a job there. And, after college, he did just that. Matt was filled with pride when he landed the job, but - somehow - he still felt like an outsider. He enjoyed the job at AB, but knew he needed to pursue his true passions in order to build a life he could truly love. And so, while working full time at AB, Matt worked on his "side g

Ryan Malinowski is no stranger to hard work. After getting a degree in economics, Ryan signed on to play pro hockey. He knew he wanted to be an entrepreneur, but realized being an athlete could give him the time to have the best of both worlds. Over time, Ryan was able to flourish in both areas - as a successful athlete and an entrepreneur with successful businesses. Ryan's mission is clear: to empower others to achieve the freedom to do work they love doing everyday. And he focuses on his mission through the work he does as a coach to entrepreneurs and through his personal training business, Prolific Fitness. Building habits that create success. From the beginning, Ryan knew it would take a lot of work to achieve his goals. He shares one of the most inspiring quotes of his journey and how it helped him focus on what mattered most in order to keep working towards his dreams. The quote? We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit - Aristotle. Ryan discusses why success isn't abou

Matt Miller is no stranger to hard work. After spending time as an Air Force pilot, Matt left the military in search of a career in corporate America. He found tremendous success in corporate advertising and felt he had found his niche. In the blink of an eye, Matt found himself losing a huge chunk of his income and was in search of something better. In reality, Matt was doing whatever it took to survive - from selling used books online to collecting aluminum cans. That's when he read a book that would change everything: "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" by Robert Kiyosaki. Matt became fascinated with the concept of passive income and would work hard to find a way to make it work for him. Embracing the power of passive income. Matt talks about the powerful experience of reading "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" and why it had such an impact on him. He knew passive income could work for him, but Matt wasn't quite sure which path would get him there. Quite by chance, a friend suggested giving vending machines a try, and so Matt purchase

Marty McDonald is the go-to guy for what works in social media marketing. As the co-founder and CEO of Bad Rhino, Inc., Marty works with clients to build customized social media strategies to build businesses. The goal of Bad Rhino is to amplify all other marketing efforts through social media, and they have a track record of success proving they do just that. Marty shares tips, tricks, and strategies that can transform your business through social media, as well as insight into the evolution of this hugely successful Philadelphia-based SM agency. Tools and tips that can help your social media strategy evolve. Marty talks about the wide range of clients Bad Rhino works with - from breweries to restaurants to Major League baseball teams. Throughout this discussion, it's clear Marty is passionate about the work he does with clients and is able to offer expert insight into what works - and what doesn't - in the social media space. He shares a few tips that can help you stand out from the rest in social media, al

Aaron Anastasi has worked hard to create a life of freedom, service, and success. He's a successful author with a newly released book called "The Voice of Your Dreams". Aaron's also a singer, coach, mentor, and much more. His passion for serving others shines through in everything he does and says. Aaron considers himself a serial entrepreneur, with online businesses including Superior Singing Method and Superior Songwriting Method. Today, Aaron is passionately pursuing his dreams and facing his fears in order to find his next big breakthrough. Going from mediocre student to theological scholar. As a high school student, Aaron wasn't what you'd call a "good student". In fact, Aaron confesses he only cared about singing and surfing when he was in school. He was resigned to being a bad student and figured that was something that would never change. But, that did change when he had a major breakthrough early in his college career. It came in the form of reading part of a Tony Robbins book followed by the book "