IIP 017: The Little White Lie That Created A $500,000 Business

Inspiring Innovation Podcast
Inspiring Innovation Podcast episode 017 Get it on iTunes

For Lisa Howell, founder of ‘Perfect Form Physio’ and ‘The Ballet Blog’, her $500,000 business all started with some lucky circumstances, and a little white lie.

But Lisa’s story and interview is much more than a “normal” inspiring-entrepreneurial-story of seizing an opportunity and putting hours over hours into building a successful business.

Lisa was willing to share with us, in the most honest and sincere way, a part of an entrepreneur’s life that is rarely discussed in the open. If you often find yourself reading about all these success stories, thinking, “this guy/girl was born for this, but I wasn’t”, and wonder if you have what it takes to see similar success – today’s episode is for you.

Lisa shares the “dark side” of entrepreneurship; fighting fears and doubts, self sabotaging your own success, countless nights of no sleep, and how it all affects you, your close ones, your health, relationships and happiness. And most importantly – how to deal with it, making the required changes to let you really enjoy your journey, and your success.

Lisa Howell
Lisa Howell

The Beginning

“I’ve been a healer for my entire life”, she tells me. Continue reading IIP 017: The Little White Lie That Created A $500,000 Business

IIP 016: Ari Meisel On How To Do Less, Achieve More, And Live a Better Life

Inspiring Innovation Podcast
Inspiring Innovation Podcast episode 016 Get it on iTunes

Man, It’s Good To Be Home

Today’s episode features TEDx speaker and time management Yoda, Ari Meisel. I’ll also share my view of the World Domination Summit, and whether or not you should go (I think some people will be quite pissed with my opinion, but oh well…).

At the age of 12, our guest was already running his first company. In high-school, he had 3. Today he’s a real estate developer, TEDx speaker and creator of ‘Art Of Less Doing’. Join us today for an eye-opening talk on managing time, getting more stuff done by doing less of it, and having a better life.

Fighting Crohn’s Disease

In 2007, Ari was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. He was weak, sick, and in a great deal of pain. Instead of just giving in and accepting the way things were, (especially considering the fact that Crohn’s is considered incurable!), Ari created a way to fight it off and keep it in check.

Ari Meisel on TEDxEAST 5.9.2011
Ari Meisel speaking at TEDxEast 5.9.2011

He courageously went on a journey of self-tracking and self-experimentation to find his way back to health. Not only did he succeed in his quest, he was able to compete in Iron Man France! Through self-experimentation he developed a system of food, supplements, and exercise that helped him recover.

He didn’t know if what he was doing was safe or not, but he took things slowly watching carefully for and signs that what he was doing wasn’t working.

Stress

What Ari found was that stress had a very big role in his condition. More accurately, keeping stress levels low meant keeping the symptoms of Crohn’s at bay. So in his process, he learned to master time.

Continue reading IIP 016: Ari Meisel On How To Do Less, Achieve More, And Live a Better Life

IIP 015: How To Get Huge Customers Like Nike, Pepsico And Marriott In Your First Year

Inspiring Innovation Podcast
Inspiring Innovation Podcast episode 015 Get it on iTunes

Starting an Infographic Design Company

18 months ago, John T. Meyer co-founded Lemon.ly, as part of his plan to make the world an easier place to understand. Currently, Lemon.ly achieves this by creating beautiful infographics, but as you’ll find in today’s interview – John has bigger goals than that.

There are few things that make John’s story unique. The first one that comes to mind is the size of his clients. I don’t know many entrepreneurs that in their second business manage to secure mega companies like Nike, Pepsico (owners of the Pepsi, 7UP, Quaker, Tropicana and Doritos brands and 17 other well-known brands), or the Marriott within their first two years in business.

John T. Meyer, Co Founder of Lemon.ly
John T. Meyer, Co Founder of Lemon.ly

But there are other interesting factors. Location, for instance. John and Lemon.ly are located in South Dakota; almost the least populated USA state, and definitely not a major business or technology hub.

And of course, big part of what makes Lemon.ly special is their founder’s story. But first  – what are infographics anyway?

What Are Infographics

The best way to explain what’s an infographic — is to show you one! As you’ll see, it’s a tool to organize data in a visual way that allows us to understand and remember it ; a lot quicker, for a longer time, and at a deeper level.

Starting A Design Business

How did John T. Meyer end up starting Lemon.ly?

Continue reading IIP 015: How To Get Huge Customers Like Nike, Pepsico And Marriott In Your First Year