Empowering Entrepreneurs Glenn Harper

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We "dive" into the world of fishing and entrepreneurship with our special guest, Sena Wheeler, the passionate force behind the family-run business that provides top-quality Copper River salmon to seafood aficionados.
Sena not only shares the lore behind the highly sought-after Copper River salmon, known for its rich omega threes, lush red color, and exceptional taste, but she also peels back the curtain on the logistics and timing that make this fish a seasonal spectacle. As these prized salmon make their challenging journey back for spawning, we discuss the bustling activity during the premium weeks of freshness in May alongside the strategic approach of offering high-quality frozen fish to sustain demand throughout the year.
In true entrepreneurial spirit, Sena delves into how her background in fish science and nutrition led her down the captivating path of fishing alongside her husband, Rich. They've coupled their expertise in quality control and commitment to maintaining standards to grow a business that not only sells fish but also honors the generational art of fish handling taught by Sena's Norwegian ancestry.
We talk about peaks, valleys, and the pivotal role of internet access in scaling their online business. With a clear vision for maintaining manageable growth, Sena remains grounded in efficiency and quality even as she dreams of the future, whether it involves scaling back or taking full advantage of ecotourism opportunities.
Be sure to visit Sena Sea for the true taste of the Copper River and subscribe for insider updates.
Personal Storytelling in Business: "A big part of what I do is I write these, email newsletters, and they're very very personal, very story based, and it's really about our journey and about us." — Sena WheelerTop Takeaways
1. **Quality Through Adversity**: The harsh environment of the Copper River requires salmon to develop high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, making them a premium product due to their fat content and taste.
2. **Anticipation Builds Demand**: The seasonality of the Copper River salmon creates excitement and demand, illustrating the value of offering a "first of the season" product in a business model.
3. **The Fresh vs. Frozen Debate**: Sena's business highlights that properly frozen fish can maintain quality akin to fresh fish, which becomes an important selling point during off-seasons.
4. **Scaling the Business Wisely**: Sena Wheeler advocates for controlled business growth, preferring efficiency to unchecked expansion, illustrating the need for balance in business development.
5. **Family Involvement & Legacy**: Sena imbues her passion for the business into the next generation, with her children actively involved in the business and highlighting the intergenerational aspect of entrepreneurship.
6. **Seasonal rhythms in Business**: Acknowledging the peaks and valleys of a seasonal business allows for strategic planning and personal time, as exemplified by Sena using slower periods for family activities.
7. **Logistics as a Superpower**: Sena Wheeler sees logistics, particularly efficient shipping, and portion control, as critical to the success of her business, emphasizing the importance of operational mastery for entrepreneurs.
8. **Educational...

In this episode of Empowering Entrepreneurs, Glenn Harper and Julie Smith discuss the birth of PureTax, LLC, a company that emerged from the need to serve clients who required simple tax returns.
They share their journey of identifying a market need, finding the right talent, and leveraging their experience to create systems and processes that propel their new venture forward.
Identifying Ideal Clients: "And I think it really came down to being able to see the need for it and almost feeling bad that you couldn't service them, feeling bad for saying no, but at the same time being so proud that we were able to really identify the ideal client at Harper and Company because I think businesses struggle with that as well." — Julie SmithTop Takeaways
1. Recognizing Opportunity: The podcast highlights the importance of recognizing opportunities in the entrepreneurial journey. It encourages entrepreneurs to seize opportunities and tackle new ventures rather than shying away from them.
2. Creating Solutions: Entrepreneurs are presented with the idea of identifying problems and creating solutions, such as the case of establishing PureTax to meet the specific needs of clients who require simple tax returns.
3. Talent Acquisition: The podcast discusses the challenges entrepreneurs face in building a team and the significance of finding individuals who share the same vision, mission, and core values as the company.
4. Embracing Change: It emphasizes the notion that change is constant in the entrepreneurial world and that successful entrepreneurs are those who adapt, pivot, and learn from every situation, whether it leads to success or failure.
5. Process Implementation: Entrepreneurial success hinges on the implementation of effective systems and processes. The ability to refine and replicate these systems from previous ventures can expedite the launch and success of new initiatives.
6. Client-Centric Approach: Entrepreneurs are encouraged to prioritize creating tailored solutions for their clients, as demonstrated by the establishment of PureTax, which aims to provide accessible and transparent tax services with year-round support.
7. Learning from Peaks and Valleys: The podcast emphasizes the importance of learning from both successes and setbacks, embracing the highs and lows of the entrepreneurial journey, and leveraging these experiences for growth.
8. Ready, Fire, Aim: Taking calculated risks and making decisions promptly is highlighted as a crucial aspect of entrepreneurship. The podcast advocates for entrepreneurs to pursue their ideas and innovations, acknowledging that setbacks are a natural part of the process.
9. Building on Experience: The importance of leveraging previous business experiences to provide a foundation for new ventures is emphasized. The podcast illustrates how knowledge gained from past endeavors can be instrumental in successful new business launches.
10. Transparent Branding: The importance of transparent and inclusive branding is underscored, particularly in establishing a clear and approachable identity for newer ventures, as seen in the naming and positioning of PureTax to signify its simplicity and accessibility.
PureTax, LLC
Running a business doesn’t have to run your life.
Without a business partner who holds you accountable, it’s easy to be so busy ‘doing’ business that you don’t have the right strategy to grow your business.
Stop letting your business run you. At Harper & Co CPA Plus, we know that you want to be empowered to build the lifestyle you envision. In order to do that you need a clear path to follow for success
Our clients enjoy a proactive partnership with us. a href="https://www.harpercpaplus.com/" rel="noopener...

Welcome back to Empowering Entrepreneurs. In this episode, Julie and Glenn have a truly motivating episode as they're joined by Dan Gomer, an individual whose entrepreneurial journey is as inspiring as it is educational.
Dan, a former middle school teacher, took a leap of faith from the classroom to the competitive arena of real estate. He shares the trials and triumphs of his transition, his passion for selling the American dream of home ownership, and the hard lessons learned from his initial foray into property flipping that didn't go as planned. Despite facing significant setbacks and even burnout, Dan's resilience saw him pivot to traditional real estate and ultimately find a balance between production and his true passion: coaching and teaching.
Julie and Glenn dive deep into Dan's background, from his days doing manual labor that sparked his creativity, to his efforts to improve father-son relationships with an innovative playground project in Colorado. Dan also touches upon the importance of mentorship, the power of being coachable, and the refreshingly candid perspective that came from losing it all and starting anew.
We explore how Dan's formative years influenced his drive to mentor others, his return to the realm of education in a non-traditional capacity, and how writing has become a therapeutic outlet for him, resulting in four published books, which he generously offers to our listeners.
Prepare to be empowered as Dan candidly discusses the need to cherish the journey, simplify the process, and enjoy the moment, all while making the world a better place.
Top Takeaways
1. **Career Transition**: Dan's move from being a middle school teacher to becoming a successful real estate investor and coach can inspire listeners to consider career changes that align more closely with their passions and skill sets.
2. **Valuing Education**: Dan's story emphasizes the importance of continuous learning, whether through formal education at institutions like the University of North Colorado or through practical experiences and self-directed learning.
3. **The Power of Mentorship**: Dan acknowledges he lacked a direct mentor but benefited greatly from those who provided tools and insights, underscoring mentorship's impact on personal and professional development.
4. **Coaching and Therapy**: The podcast highlights the value of having a coach or therapist to help navigate challenges, indicating that even successful entrepreneurs can benefit from professional guidance.
5. **Commitment to Personal Growth**: Dan's experience shows the importance of being teachable and hungry for success, which can be crucial traits for anyone looking to grow and succeed in entrepreneurship.
6. **The Journey is as Important as the Destination**: Dan's reflection on cherishing the journey and not just the end goals serves as a reminder to entrepreneurs to appreciate their growth and achievements along the way.
7. **Learning from Failures**: Dan's openness about his financial losses in real estate investing teaches that setbacks can be pivotal learning opportunities that contribute to eventual success.
8. **Building a Sustainable Business**: The episode discusses transitioning from a sole focus on making money to creating a more balanced and sustainable business that aligns with one's values and allows for family time.
9. **Writing as Reflection**: Dan's use of writing for personal development can encourage listeners to explore reflective practices like journaling to align beliefs with actions and to process experiences.
10. **Making a Difference Through Teaching**: Highlighting his lasting interest in education, Dan shows that entrepreneurial skills can have a profound impact when applied to teaching and mentoring, potentially leading to broader societal...

Welcome to another insightful episode of Empowering Entrepreneurs, with an incredible conversation with Matt Remuzzi from CapForge.
Matt shared his inspiring journey from writing business plans to revolutionizing bookkeeping, proving that with persistence, innovation, and a customer-first approach, success is not just a possibility, it's inevitable.
His entrepreneurial spirit, rooted in a legacy of business ownership and fueled by an aversion to the constraints of corporate culture, has led to the triumphant rise of CapForge.
Matt's advice? Focus on relationships, listen to your clients, and always be coachable. Remember, it's not just about the numbers; it’s about creating value and understanding the story behind them.
Entrepreneurial Principles: "I mean, it wasn't that I was against working with other people. And, obviously, you hit a ceiling pretty quick as a one man business. But I didn't wanna have to enforce stupid rules or, You know, do things that I didn't feel like, made a lot of sense." - Matt RemuzziTop Takeaways
1. **The Entrepreneurial Spirit:** Matt Remuzzi's journey highlights the quintessential entrepreneurial drive, beginning from his college days and influenced by his grandfather's business endeavors. Aspiring entrepreneurs are encouraged to draw from his persistence and determination to succeed.
2. **Pivoting and Persistence:** Remuzzi's story teaches the importance of adaptability and persistence. Entrepreneurs should be prepared to pivot their business model when necessary and understand that success often requires steadfastness through challenges.
3. **Innovative Business Practices:** Matt's approach to bookkeeping—separating teams for new clients and ongoing clients—illustrates the value of innovative structures within a business to effectively manage workloads and improve client service.
4. **Building Relationships:** Successful entrepreneurship, as evidenced by CapForge's philosophy, hinges on strong customer relationships and a value offering that extends beyond standard services.
5. **Recruitment and Culture:** Focus on hiring individuals with exceptional customer service abilities and personalities that fit the company culture to build a committed and efficient team. Remuzzi believes a respectful work environment and employee appreciation are key to retention.
Workplace Environment Philosophy: "I wouldn't wanna work anywhere that I wouldn't wanna work. Right? So I wanted to Treat people fairly and value them and and appreciate them and set clear expectations of what I wanted them to do."— Matt Remuzzi6. **Continual Learning:** Entrepreneurs like Remuzzi who did not have a mentor emphasize the necessity of continual learning and growth. Mistakes and lessons learned are powerful tools for improving business acumen and operations.
7. **Holistic Service Offering:** Remuzzi regrets not integrating tax services into his business earlier. A comprehensive suite of services can provide added value to clients and enhance business growth.
8. **Employee Empowerment:** Considering future transitions such as employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) reflects a commitment to employee empowerment and long-term business sustainability, worthy of consideration for growing businesses.
9. **Client Selection:** The importance of working with clients who are open and coachable is highlighted, pointing to the necessity of selective client acquisition strategies aimed at long-term engagement and mutual growth.
10. **Challenges of Scaling:** Entrepreneurs must navigate the complexities of scaling a business, including managing employee workloads and transitioning from daily operations to focusing on strategic growth and even planning an exit strategy.
Memorable...

Hey there, entrepreneurs! Today, we've got a special guest on the show – Eugene Gershman, the big boss at GIS Development and GIS Residential Construction. We're diving into his story, from growing up in Moscow to making moves in the US real estate scene. Get ready to hear about his hands-on approach, his plans for the future, and how his family has shaped his hustle.
Tech Startup Dreams: "I've wanted to create some new efficient and computerized, trading and investing platform, and it all sounded great. Yeah. I was thinking like this like a tech startup, here in Seattle."— Eugene Gershman (EG)
Key Takeaways
1. Family Influence: Eugene's upbringing in an entrepreneurial environment and his father's successful business in Russia significantly influenced his career path and approach to entrepreneurship.
2. Adaptability: Eugene's experience of moving to the US, learning English, and assimilating to American culture reflects the importance of adaptability in navigating challenges and pursuing entrepreneurial opportunities in new environments.
3. Confidence and Resilience: Overcoming skepticism and stereotypes in the real estate industry, Eugene learned to project confidence and dress professionally to earn respect, highlighting the importance of resilience and self-assuredness in entrepreneurship.
4. Hands-On Leadership: Eugene's hands-on approach to project management and decision-making emphasizes the importance of understanding Excel models and actively engaging in the operational aspects of the business.
5. Embracing Challenges: As an entrepreneur, Eugene embraces challenges, viewing them as opportunities for growth, problem-solving, and innovation, exemplifying the mindset necessary for navigating business obstacles.
6. Learning through Experience: Eugene's journey of learning about technology and computers through trial and error reflects the value of experiential learning and embracing curiosity in entrepreneurship.
7. Strategic Partnerships: The focus on strengthening partnerships with property owners and enhancing fundraising capabilities underscores the significance of strategic alliances and financial acumen in real estate development.
8. Entrepreneurial Vision: Eugene sees himself as an artist and visionary, emphasizing the importance of passion, creativity, and a team that enjoys challenges in driving entrepreneurial endeavors.
9. Persistence and Patience: The challenges faced in Budapest, including obtaining building permits and navigating local politics, demonstrate the need for persistence and patience when overcoming obstacles in international business ventures.
10. Succession Planning: The consideration of future exit strategies and the potential evolution of a project-dependent business into an ongoing, saleable enterprise highlights the importance of long-term planning and succession in family businesses.
Memorable Moments
03:30 Learning English, adapting to American culture.
09:17 Struggled with English and ended up with economics as a major.
11:21 Evening student launches tech startup, Hungary construction branch.
14:46 Navigating between English and Russian for staff.
20:02 Evaluated property, planned project, partnership, development, architect hired.
25:10 Learned about computers naturally through curiosity and experimentation.
26:18 Entrepreneurs need a fearless, adaptable mindset.
32:06 Family business impact on entrepreneurial tendencies discussed.
34:26 Navigating journey, seizing opportunities, considering future options.
37:09 Real estate development...

Welcome to another episode of Empowering Entrepreneurs, where we feature dynamic individuals who are revolutionizing their industries. In today's episode, hosts Glenn Harper and Julie Smith sit down with Liz Branch, the innovative COO of Accountingfly and GoingConcern.
Liz shares her insights on changing the landscape of the accounting profession and the vital role of communication and teamwork in entrepreneurship. From her experience in building successful remote teams to her passion for helping clients find the right talent, Liz's story is one of empowerment and inspiration.
Join us as we dive into Liz's journey, her unique problem-solving approach, and her vision for the future of remote work. It's an episode packed with valuable advice and captivating stories that's not to be missed!
Running a business doesn’t have to run your life.
Without a business partner who holds you accountable, it’s easy to be so busy ‘doing’ business that you don’t have the right strategy to grow your business.
Stop letting your business run you. At Harper & Co CPA Plus, we know that you want to be empowered to build the lifestyle you envision. In order to do that you need a clear path to follow for success
Our clients enjoy a proactive partnership with us. Schedule a consultation with us today.
Download our free guide - Entrepreneurial Success Formula: How to Avoid Managing Your Business From Your Bank Account.
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