Perfectly Mentored With Jason Portnoy

Building a successful brand is no magic trick—at least, not in the way you think. There are no magic words for instant success; behind the curtain, it’s all about working hard and working smart. You need to have an idea, but more than that, you need to know how to sustain the passion that made you start the business in the first place, and hone in on what you’re good at. Steven Sashen is no stranger to what goes on behind the scenes. He is the founder, creator, and visionary behind Xero Shoes, the first lightweight, barefoot-inspired sandals in the market. The inspiration behind his signature minimalist footwear comes from his experiences. Steven found that running barefoot helped with his injuries and running gait—even allowing him to become a Masters All-American sprinter—and wanted shoes that kept the barefoot experience. His shoes later gained even more popularity on Shark Tank, the show where business owners pitch their ideas to investors, the “sharks.”He was offered $400,000 for 50% of Xero Shoes but, i