Miami Hustle Series

Learn how you can find business opportunities right under your nose by overcoming adversity and taking advantage of your existing skills.  I met with James and Kristina Jones of CourtBuddy, an online service that links people needing legal assistance with attorneys they can afford.   We covered how they used the power of observation to find customers in places they hadn’t looked and solving that ever-present chicken and the egg problem when you have two sets of users. We went deep into why they feel personal development is so important to the long-term success of their business and talked about their top resources for entrepreneurs. James & Kristina are doing big things by making attorneys affordable to nearly anyone and we can all learn a lot from their experience as startup founders.

In this episode I challenge the idea that it’s good advice to “follow your passion.”  I go into the reasons why I think this might not be the best advice and what you can do instead.  I start by sharing some stories of my own and am open about my current struggles to “find what I love."

Curious how a simple skill like tutoring can turn into a successful business? I sat down with Johnny Betancourt from ClutchPrep and learned how he bypassed the 9-5 by taking his skills in tutoring and turning them into a profitable brick and mortar (and now, tech) business.  We talked about the pros and cons of launching a startup in Miami and how his strategy of giving away knowledge for free and focusing on quality over quantity has resulted in a profitable business that hasn’t required the typical levels of funding from venture capital and angel investors.  Johnny and his team have been quietly doing great things here in Miami and we can all learn a lot from what he has to share - I certainly did.

Wondering how to craft a killer pitch that attracts investors?  I walk through a step-by-step process for putting together a 5-minute pitch deck that tells the story of your startup and includes the key 8 slides that every deck needs.  Plus, some expert tips for making your deck stand out on an investor's mobile phone (the most likely place they will be viewing it). I also provide some worksheets (miamihustle.co/resources) you can use in crafting your pitch, including a PPT template where you just need to fill in the key elements of your story. This episode is based on some of the best resources out there on this topic plus my own experience crafting and delivering presentations over the last 5 years.  This is only a suggested format, but I would encourage you to ensure your pitch deck has most, if not all, of these elements to ensure it stands out in front of investors.

Do you ever hear how important it is to have a great team to grow your company with?   I interviewed Cindy Diffenderfer, Founder and CEO of Miavina.  She’s a true Miami hustler and we had a great talk covering how she dropped out of college, started her first company and came to found her current startup, Miavina - a concept similar to Keurig or Nespresso but for premium wine.   We dived deep into how to excel at networking and bring on a great team, which can also serve as validation if you have a startup idea.   We also talked about why she's excited of the future of Miami tech entrepreneurship and what you can do to get started on your own side hustle. She is a true mover and shaker in Miami scene - I had an amazing time interviewing her and look forward to seeing what she does in the future for Miami tech.

Wondering how to keep yourself bulletproof in today’s rapidly changing economy? I cover two important topics:   1) Why I believe we are all entrepreneurs, why it’s in out DNA, plus an actionable step you can take this week to “flex” that entrepreneurial muscle, even if you’re in a 9-5 job   2) I give my definition of a “Hustlepreneur” and explain 9 Essential Skills of the Hustlepreneur that I believe you need to master over the next 5 years if you are to stay ahead of our rapidly-changing economy 

Have you ever wanted tackle a problem you know could make a difference in people’s lives?   I sat down with Keith Mantel of Itabo, a Miami tech startup founder and former US Army officer who saw in Afghanistan how lack of land rights directly contributed to poverty.  He has big plans to make a difference in other poor countries, starting with Jamaica, where he is bringing his Zillow-like offering to the marketplace.  We talked about why he decided to take this unconventional startup path despite having other opportunities and the biggest challenges he’s facing, most especially governments.    Keith also talked about what he admires in Elon Musk, why he chose Miami for his startup, and what we can all do to help put Miami on the tech & entrepreneurship map.   He’s an inspiring guy and we can all learn a lot from his worth ethic and drive.

Looking for that confidence to get started with your side hustle? Stephanie Clark is President of Milestones Marketing and COO of Rock Cliff Jamaica and someone who has entrepreneurship in her blood. She is a marketing and small business expert with outstanding advice for new business owners or anyone looking to start their own side hustle.   She has a great entrepreneurial story about how she got started in Miami from scratch despite not from being here originally and includes her top tips to anyone looking to do the same.   We talked about her current project, Rock Cliff Jamaica, a Resort Destination for entrepreneurs that seeks not just to turn a profit but also to support the local community in Jamaica. 

How should you decide between two paths in life or business?   I interviewed Marisa Matluck, an 'outside-of-the-box' photographer to learn how she left from 9 to 5 job and followed her passion for photography. We go deep into some of the biggest challenges she faced along the way, including doubts from her family and the typical challenges of owning your own business.   We also talked about how she uses facebook to market her business and what it takes to make great photos . . .  plus a special bonus section on a high powered approach that you can use when deciding between two pass whether your personal life or your business. (hint: if you’re familiar with SWOT analysis I will go deeper here - check out the bonus video also at the link at the bottom).

How do you follow your heart when society pressures you in another direction? I interviewed Servando and Crystal, Co-Founders of Outnix and covered some fascinating topics, including how Servando went from working construction to founding a tech company and getting investors . . . all without a college degree.  We also talked about how Crystal made a decision to leave her stable 9 to 5 job to launch Outnix and some of the things she struggled with. We went deep into how they came up with the idea for Outnix, validated it (before building anything) and got their first customers just a few months after launch.

Curious what happens when you follow your passion and say no to things that don’t feel right?   I interviewed Amber Kandarian, founder & CEO of DocuInc to learn about how she turned her passion into a profitable business (despite pressure from her parents to get a “real job”).  We go deep into some of her biggest business challenges, including how almost getting acquired by Cisco took her business way off track.  We go deep into what make documentaries especially powerful for connecting with an audience, plus what it takes to tell a great story in video and how you don’t need fancy equipment to have an impact.   Amber is a wealth of real-world experiences (including being the first female DJ in Armenia) and has great wisdom to pass on, especially when it comes to pursuing your passion and making the most out of “our limited time on this planet."

I sat down with Shanna and Esther from Vanilla Shake Media, a local design & branding agency in the Midtown / Wynwood area.  In addition to getting to hang with two really cool chics, I learned a few things about branding and building up the courage to “say no” to business that doesn’t feel right.   There’s also a great lesson in an alternative form of entrepreneurship - particularly how Esther joined Vanilla Shake after it was established but really became an entrepreneur of her own: a great option for gaining the freedom of entrepreneurship without having to start from scratch.   Key takeaways: 1) Follow what feels right - where your interests take you, what you’re passionate about, what your heart says 2) Branding is WAY more than just a logo and ultimately comes down to consistency 3) Have the courage to turn business away that doesn’t value your work; it opens you up for business that does

In the introductory episode I talk about why I started the Miami Hustle Series podcast - to support and inspire the Miami entrepreneur in us all.  Together we can "build a new Miami" and put the region on the map as a hotbed of innovation and entrepreneurship.