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Episode 31: Everyone Has a Success Story | Rey Ybarra, Author of Conversations with Shark Tank Winners

In Episode 31 of the Defining Success Podcast Rey Ybarra shares the stories of numerous Shark Tank entrepreneurs and how Shark Tank has impacted their lives and their businesses. Rey has been able to share the stories of these entrepreneurs through all of their failures and successes to show how the entrepreneurs who have appeared on Shark Tank have thrived following their appearance on the show.

Rey Ybarra

Rey Ybarra is the author of Conversations with Shark Tank Winners featuring entrepreneurs from the hit ABC TV reality show Shark Tank. As a multimedia book author he is producing audio and video interviews focusing on helping entrepreneurs, small business owners and for those who have dreams and a sincere desire to work their dreams.

Rey Ybarra has been an entrepreneur, talk-show host and has produced a lot of multi-media programming. He’s been helping small businesses understand social media and use the tools of the Internet to help their businesses.

Rey understands that educating businesses on how social media and the Internet can impact their businesses has been invaluable to those businesses. As the world and the Internet has changed Rey has come to realize that a lot of businesses were in denial about how the Internet was playing a role in their businesses.

A lot of people didn’t know where to go and they needed help to understand how people were using technology and the Internet to interact with businesses.

Rey’s greatest passion is interviewing others to learn what makes them tick and how they’re using their business to help others.

Rey began working on the multi-media book, The Shark Tank Effect, to help share the stories of the entrepreneurs who have appeared on Shark Tank to a larger audience. Through his interviews, Rey has been able to dig deep into the lives and businesses of these entrepreneurs and hopes that his book will inspire others to pursue an entrepreneurial path.

Shark Tank is a show that helps people and those who have dreams. Rey interviewed Barbara Corcoran and Robert Herjavec for an article he was writing and also many of the entrepreneurs and he got an idea for the title of his book, Conversations with Shark Tank Entrepreneurs. He went to work right away contacting enthusiastic entrepreneurs to become a part of the project.

During his interviews he talked with several Shark Tank entrepreneurs about what they did before Shark Tank, how they got on the show, what the process was, and how they were going to give the presentations.

Rey decided to make his book into a multi-media platform because he understands that people learn to process information in a variety of different ways. He knows that some people like to read, others prefer to listen and still others prefer to watch video. The multi-media book gives Rey the opportunity to reach people who learn in a variety of different ways.

Rey has interviewed 14 of the entrepreneurs who have appeared on Shark Tank. He also is working with Steve Kaplan, an entrepreneur extraordinaire and he’s on a CNBC show called Crowd Rules which debuted two weeks ago and he’s one of the judges and he is also on a show called Secret Millionaire where they handpick some successful entrepreneur who want to give back and help their communities. He talked with Steve and they are working together on Rey’s book.

The Shark Tank Effect is something Rey covers in all of his interviews in which he asks the entrepreneurs that he’s interviewed is how the Shark Tank has impacted their business and their lives. Each Shark Tank entrepreneur responds with a different answer about how the Shark Tank has changed their lives.

The best interview Rey conducted was with Billy Banks Jr. and his wife Sharon Catherine Blanks and their program, Dance with Me. Their Dad, Billy Blanks invented Tae Bo and living in the shadow of his father had always been difficult. When the episode aired, they were homeless and living in a motel. Now they are traveling the world introducing their Dance with Me program all over the world.

Carol Foster created Mee-Mas Gumbo, who at the time of her appearance on Shark Tank was homeless. The biggest reason why Rey created this book was to help as many people as he can. You can get all sorts of information from these entrepreneurs and you can learn from each one of them.

Barbara Lampugnale from Nail Pak who was visiting her daughter from Connecticut who struck a deal with Lori Greiner. How do you run a business while raising a family? Listen to the interview with Barbara Lampugnale and you’ll be able to understand that.

Persistence is the key to getting the guests for Rey’s book . . . A big problem Rey had in the beginning was that he had some technical difficulties and lost six of the interviews he had recorded.

The one big trait that all the entrepreneurs on the Shark Tank do whatever they have to do to get the work done. They don’t let anything humanly possible stop them . . . not even natural disasters.

Dan and Liz Holtz, owners of Liz Lovely cookies, did not get a deal from the Sharks and three days before they opened their store Hurricane Irene came in and wiped them out. The building materials, staff, and inventory was all lost. They persevered and overcame those obstacles and even though they didn’t get a deal, the exposure they received from the Shark Tank grew their business exponentially.

Cheryl Rigdon invented the Spatty Daddy and even though she didn’t get a deal from the Sharks, Daymond John has been helping her grow her business and she’s experienced exponential growth as well.

The advice Rey would give to others would be to give aspiring entrepreneurs where the entrepreneur is asking for money, you have to know your numbers. You have to know margins, return on investment, cost per unit. You have to know all of those numbers in your sleep. For aspiring entrepreneurs you better know your numbers, why and how and the nuts and bolts of everything in regards to your business.

Rey asked Mark Lim, creator of Lollacup, what his keys for success were and he asked what do you mean? Rey then followed up with him . . . What did you do to prepare to get on the Shark Tank and Mark then understood. When an opportunity comes and you seize it than that is what determines your success.

Conversations with Shark Tank Winners

Engaging Discussion Questions:

Are you doing what you love?
Are you willing to do whatever it takes to make your business successful?

Links to Great Stuff:

Conversations with Shark Tank Winners – Conversations With Shark Tank Winners is the multimedia book featuring interviews with the entrepreneurs from the ABC TV reality show Shark Tank!
Steve Kaplan – Steve Kaplan Inc. helps you identify the success you really want. Then, through our no-nonsense, roll-up-your-sleeves mentality and products, we help you get it. Steve has turned his experiences into proven tools to help individuals and businesses identify and achieve big goals. Through Steve’s proprietary products and services such as his unique downloadable step-by-step success playbooks, one-on-one sessions, workshops, bestselling books, DVDs, keynote speaking and more, Steve Kaplan Inc. guides you down the path to success.
Crowd Rules – “Crowd Rules” features three small businesses that compete in front of an audience who vote to decide which business wins a much-needed $50,000 prize. Entrepreneur and jewelry designer Kendra Scott, TV newsman Pat Kiernan and a weekly guest who is an industry expert lead the examination of the small businesses. While the business owners make their case to the panel of three, the real power lies in the hands of the audience—97 strong—whose votes ultimately decide which business is most deserving of the investment.
Secret Millionaire – The secret’s out! Some of America’s most successful self-made millionaires are embarking on a truly incredible journey. They will spend a week in the country’s poorest areas and ultimately reward some unsung community heroes with hundreds of thousands of dollars of their own money.
Shark Tank – The critically-acclaimed business-themed show, Shark Tank, has the Sharks continuing the search to invest in the best businesses and products that America has to offer. The show received a nomination for a Producers Guild Award in 2013. In 2012 “Shark Tank” received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Reality Program and a nomination for a Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Reality Series. The Sharks — tough, self-made, multi-millionaire and billionaire tycoons — will once again give budding entrepreneurs the chance to make their dreams come true and potentially secure business deals that could make them millionaires. They are: billionaire Mark Cuban, owner and chairman of AXS TV and outspoken owner of the 2011 NBA championship Dallas Mavericks; real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran; “Queen of QVC” Lori Greiner; technology innovator Robert Herjavec; fashion and branding expert Daymond John; and venture capitalist Kevin O’Leary.

Shark Tank Entrepreneurs Interviewed by Rey Ybarra in Conversations with Shark Tank Winners:

Success Quotes:

“Success is finding what you’re great at and pursuing it with everything you have.”
“These stories will definitely help them to have hope.”
“As an entrepreneur we all struggle from time to time.”
“You might not relate to all of them but I can guarantee you that you will relate to 2 or 3 of them.”
“The Shark Tank Effect for us means unlimited opportunity.” via Cousins Maine Lobster
“Once you go on that show (Shark Tank) your life will never be the same.”

Special Requests:

Go to iTunes to rate and review our podcast – https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-success-podcast/id619459909

Rey Ybarra

Episode 30: The Language of Success | Greg Clowminzer from GregClowminzer.com

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Greg Clowminzer shares some of the common problems entrepreneurs face and how he’s able to help them overcome those problems. One of the biggest suggestions Greg makes for entrepreneurs is to use the appropriate language for success. Learn the language of success according to Greg in Episode 30 of the Defining Success Podcast.

Learn the Language of Success from Greg Clowminzer

Business Coach – Greg Clowminzer

Recap: Greg Clowminzer is a pioneering business and leadership coach with over 10,000 hours of real time coaching experience. Greg coaches and consults CEO’s, small business owners, and professionals helping them clarify their vision, create unique strategies for success and developing the necessary skills to be a leader and effectively exercise leadership as their natural self-expression.

Prior to coaching Greg was in commercial investment real estate. He helped investors acquire apartment buildings and assisted people who held multi-family investment properties.

At a young age, Greg was making a lot of money in real-estate, but just because he was making a lot of money it didn’t necessarily mean he was happy. Greg felt unfulfilled and not very happy with what he was doing. He began to look at what made him happy and was fortunate to meet several teachers, mentors and coaches who helped him discover what success and happiness was for him. He then decided he wanted to become a business coach.

People come to Greg in a variety of different ways. Some people will reach out to Greg through the Internet or they listen to Greg at a speaking engagement. Most people reach out to Greg because they want more or less of something. In the initial consultation, Greg helps them get clear on what’s possible and it also gives Greg a chance to see if the individual would be a good fit for him. Greg offers a complimentary consultation to explore their lives or their businesses and see how Greg could help them get better.

Greg starts painting a picture for what you want and then helps you generate ideas to help you get to that point. Greg listens to what you really want and helps you understand what it is you want and without worrying about the way it is. People come out of the consultation being very energized and excited.

A common problem a lot of entrepreneurs have is focusing on what’s important. A week, month, or several months can go by without taking the time for what’s important to the success of their business. Another problem he sees is that so many entrepreneurs are focusing on work that they don’t take the time to focus on themselves. One of the quickest ways an entrepreneur can grow a business is to focus on themselves. Another big problem Greg encounters are business owners who have problems with leadership or management because they never think about going into business to become a leader. Most people get into business because they are passionate about something, but the last thing on their mind is thinking about people skills. Other problems include marketing and sales issues. And lastly, many people he knows are under-networked and that puts their business at a risk.

Greg has a lot of clients that have hit rough spots where they are down, fearful, taken a major hit or the market affects their business and Greg has been able to get in their and get them back in the game to where they are growing and expanding their business.

In people who speak the language of success, there is a tremendous amount of responsibility in their language. When they promise something you know they are going to come through. Unsuccessful people commonly use words like try, where successful people say they will do and make sure they get those done.

The perfect trait for Greg are people who a smart and have a high-IQ and people who have embraced the idea of life-long learning. If they are willing to experiment with what Greg calls their “beingness.” People grow when they are able to experience their truth.

Some advice Greg would give to entrepreneurs is to look at their motives about why they are going into business and to be honest with themselves. At the very onset start building your team around you. Have an accountability buddy, a team and a success coach. You can even contact Greg to learn the language of success.

Greg Clowminzer

Engaging Discussion Questions:

What do you think of the quote by Yoda: “Do or do not . . . There is no try.”? Is there a language of success?
How do you show up as a leader and a coach for the people in your organization?

Links to Great Stuff:

GregClowminzer.com – “Greg lives in Carlsbad, California and coaches with entrepreneurs, small business owners and professionals, helping them awaken to a greater purpose and meaning in their personal and professional lives. Greg uses a blend of eastern and western views as a means of introducing people to the untapped potential of the human spirit. Greg is most passionate about leading Enlightenment Intensives a Zen-like meditation retreat where he teaches people the lost art of true-self reflection and the uncommon practice of authentic communication. Call or write to schedule a complimentary coaching consultation.”
Transparent Mortgage – “Since 2003, Beau has been a mortgage professional and is the Founder and Senior Mortgage Advisor at Transparent Mortgage. Earning degrees in both business and finance he has a diverse background as a financial advisor and mortgage professional. He has worked with and for Luxury Mortgage, Bank of America and Impac Funding. He grew up in Alaska, spending summers working at his father’s fishing lodge, Tikchik Narrows Lodge, where he learned the value of hard work and a commitment to customer service. Beau currently lives in downtown San Diego, CA.”

Success Quotes:

“Success is about learning and growing and experiencing the wonderment of life.”
“Success is a team effort.”
“That which is undistinguished in our lives we’re trapped by.”
“The person who is less than powerful in their language in life has no idea that they are trapped by that.”
“Successful people use a language that empowers them and other people.”
“A really good coach is not coming with their guns loaded but . . . coming with a complete state of presence.”
“True coaching and masterful coaching is truly an art.”
“I wanted to dedicate my life to other people who are unfulfilled in what they’re doing . . . and support those people and helping them discover what their definition of success is.”

Special Requests:

Rate and review the Defining Success Podcast in iTunes.