Entrepreneur Conundrum

Entrepreneur Conundrum, hosted by Virginia Purnell.

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Latest Episodes

Finding Profitable Airbnbs with John Bianchi, The Airbnb Data Guy

Finding Profitable Airbnbs with John Bianchi, The Airbnb Data Guy

Episode Notes:

Guest Overview:

  • John Bianchi: Founder of STR Search and “The Airbnb Data Guy.”
  • Known for his 100% success rate in helping clients find cash-flowing Airbnb properties.
  • Creator of six free courses and over 200 YouTube videos on Airbnb data analysis.

Key Topics:

  • The Power of Data: How John uses Airbnb data to identify high-performing properties.
  • Common Mistakes: Why emotion-driven investments lead to failure and how to avoid them.
  • The STR Tax Loophole: How short-term rentals can benefit high-income earners.
  • Two Client Categories: Do-it-yourselfers versus those who prefer expert guidance.
  • Scaling with Focus: Why consistency is key to building a sustainable business.

Insights and Advice:

  • Treat Airbnb investments like a business, not a vacation dream.
  • Focus on the long-term potential of a property, not just immediate appeal.
  • Build an all-star team to scale effectively.
  • The importance of persistence: "The only way to lose is to quit."

Resources:

Follow John on social media: @theairbnbdataguy on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

Key Questions

(00:43) Thanks for being with us today. How did you get to be where you are today?

(03:12) Now, who exactly do you help? Because you had mentioned different types of investors. Who's your ideal now?

(05:23) How are you getting in front of said people?

(07:11) When you talk about data and looking at it, what does that entail? What numbers are you looking at?

(09:29) You need an already existing in the sense that it's already been operational as an Airbnb rather than a brand new unit coming in then?.

(10:19) What are some misconceptions that new people have when they first start to work with you?

(15:25) What are some big goals that you are looking to achieve in the next year or two?

(17:09) How would that focus affect your business?

(18:17) How much does it differ between, let's say, North America versus Europe?

(20:38) What's the best advice that you have ever received?

(23:17) What's the best advice you've ever given.

(26:32) Is there anything else that you would like to talk about that we haven't touched on?

(27:42) Where can we go to find that?

John Bianchi

StrSearch.com

@theairbnbdataguy - Youtube and Instagram

Virginia Purnell

Funnel & Visibility Specialist

Distinct Digital Marketing

(833) 762-5336

virginia@distinctdigitalmarketing.com

www.distinctdigitalmarketing.com

www.distinctdigitalmarketing.co

Affordable Risk and the Entrepreneurial Journey with Stuart Morris

Affordable Risk and the Entrepreneurial Journey with Stuart Morris

Episode Notes:

Guest Overview:

  • Stuart Morris: Neurodivergent entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, and CEO of the International College of Professional Celebrants.
  • Author of 1 in 1,000,000 Life, a book about intentional living.
  • Owner of High Trend House, a retreat center in Yorkshire.
  • Career highlights include mentoring entrepreneurs, teaching at Henley Business School, and co-creating a billion-dollar startup.

Key Topics:

  • Embracing Change: How Stuart pivoted careers and businesses to create a fulfilling life.
  • The Value of Celebrancy: Training celebrants to lead personalized ceremonies and foster connections.
  • Living Intentionally: Designing a life and business that align with your values.
  • Affordable Risk: The concept of starting small and testing ideas without risking everything.
  • Empowering Teams: Why letting go and trusting your team can be transformative.

Takeaways:

  • Balance passion and practicality to build sustainable businesses.
  • Celebrate failures as learning opportunities.
  • Start with the customer, not the product.
  • Build a business that works for you—not the other way around.

Resources:

Key Questions

(02:21) Can you kind of give us the synopsis of how you ended up where you are today, and the kind of the journey along the way?

(09:13) Do you have any tips on how to look for the, or be aware and open to the next opportunity without just having shiny object syndrome?

(11:50) With your retreat, do people just come there and you facilitate things? Or is it like companies come and then they do their thing? All of.

(14:52) On this two aspects, how do you get in front of people for the retreat side as well as people for your the celebrancy training aspect?

(21:16) Have you been using LinkedIn or just cold outreach?

(29:12) What do you think is the biggest roadblock from you reaching those various goals?

(32:20) What's the best advice that you have ever received?

(35:30) What's the best advice you have ever given?

(37:01) Do you have any advice on de-risking entrepreneurship?

(44:49) With everything that you have going on, how do you make sure that the appropriate things get the appropriate attention at the appropriate time?

(49:41) Is there something that you would like to talk about that we haven't yet?

Stuart Morris

https://oneinamillion.life

https://hightrenhouse.com

https://ticpc.org

Virginia Purnell

Funnel & Visibility Specialist

Distinct Digital Marketing

(833) 762-5336

virginia@distinctdigitalmarketing.com

www.distinctdigitalmarketing.com

www.distinctdigitalmarkting.co


 

Simplify and Succeed: Branding Strategies from Wizard of Ads’ Ryan Chute

Simplify and Succeed: Branding Strategies from Wizard of Ads’ Ryan Chute

Episode Notes

  • Guest Introduction: Ryan Chute, strategic marketer and partner at Wizard of Ads, with a mission to help service-based businesses thrive.
  • Key Discussion Points:
    • Ryan’s entrepreneurial journey: From furniture sales to international marketing.
    • The science and art of branding: Why storytelling matters more than visuals.
    • Working with home services businesses to build long-term brand equity.
    • Effective ad strategies: Being media agnostic and leveraging channels strategically.
    • Insights from the Wizard Academy and how they shape Ryan's approach to marketing.
  • Takeaways:
    • Branding is about relationships, not transactions.
    • Simplify your communication for maximum impact.
    • Investing in branding reduces long-term marketing costs while increasing profitability.
  • Where to Find Ryan:

 

Key Questions 

(01:05) Do you want to share with us a little bit more of your journey with that?

(03:59) You had mentioned home services businesses. Is there any, is there like a niche within that?

(05:39) For your clients, what type of ads do you run? Do you run more Google Ads so that when people are searching for like that new water heater or how are you doing that?

(08:10) Let's say I'm a new client and I'm coming to you. Are there some common mistakes or misunderstandings that tend to happen to the newcomers?

(09:24) How do you guys get in front of new clients?

(11:50) You said globally so you can have clients anywhere in the world?

(12:14) What are a couple big goals that you have in the next year or two?

(15:52) How would getting your books published, how would that affect the business?

(18:31) What do you think is your number one roadblock in your reaching your goals?

(20:46) Do you work with more than one plumber in the same area, or do you kind of limit that geographically?

(22:12) What is the best advice that you have ever received?

(24:54) Yeah. What's the best advice that you have ever given?

(28:09) So where can we learn more about you and what you do?

 

Ryan Chute

www.wizardofads.contractors

www.ryanchute.com

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wizardryanchute

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wizardryanchute/featured

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wizardryanchute/

Virginia Purnell

Funnel & Visibility Specialist

Distinct Digital Marketing

(833) 762-5336

virginia@distinctdigitalmarketing.com

www.distinctdigitalmarketing.com

www.distinctdigitalmarkting.co

Building Businesses Through Advisory Boards and Collaboration with Callum Laing

Building Businesses Through Advisory Boards and Collaboration with Callum Laing

Episode Notes:

  • Guest Overview: Callum Laing, founder of the Veblen Director Program, Partner at Unity Group, and author of four bestselling books, discusses his entrepreneurial journey and expertise in connecting small businesses with capital markets.
  • Key Topics:
    • Importance of advisory boards and how they impact business growth.
    • Strategies for securing board positions and the role of apprentice boards in public companies.
    • Embracing collaboration over competition through progressive partnerships.
    • Navigating global markets and building international teams.
    • Insights into small business mergers, acquisitions, and taking companies public.
  • Callum’s Advice: Build a network of trusted advisors, seek collaborative opportunities, and leverage global talent to scale effectively.
  • Resources:

Key Questions

(02:06) How did you get to where you are today? Because we've heard all of it, but yeah, do you have any…

(03:34) Who are your ideal clients to work with nowadays?

(05:27) So how do you get in front of those people?

(06:46) Do you have social media presence? Are you active on there?

(08:52) But for being on a board, would it be so that I make money with being on the board, or is it more just to help this business progress and drive forward?

(15:16) How would it change your business having those thousand people be able to go and sit on the boards?

(17:08) What do you feel is your number one roadblock from reaching that goal?

(18:00) Can we talk about embracing the collaboration over competition and the benefits of your strategic partnerships?

(20:10) What about navigating the international markets for a global business expansion?

(22:26) What is the best advice that you have ever received?

(24:29) What would you say is the best advice you've ever given?

(25:48) Is there something that you wanted to touch on that we haven't talked about yet?

(27:19) Where can we go to learn more about and what you do?

Callum Laing

https://www.linkedin.com/in/callumlaing

https://www.callumlaing.com

Virginia Purnell

Funnel & Visibility Specialist

Distinct Digital Marketing

(833) 762-5336

virginia@distinctdigitalmarketing.com

www.distinctdigitalmarketing.com

www.distinctdigitalmarkting.co

Profitability Made Simple: Insights from Marcel Petitpas on Metrics That Matter

Profitability Made Simple: Insights from Marcel Petitpas on Metrics That Matter

Episode Notes:

  • Guest Introduction: Marcel Petitpas, CEO and co-founder of Parakeeto, specializing in agency profitability optimization.
  • Background: Marcel’s journey from identifying a key gap in agency metrics to creating Parakeeto, which provides actionable data for agencies.
  • Ideal Clients: Agencies in the digital and creative spaces, typically working on website and digital design projects and looking to optimize profitability.
  • Organic Growth: Marcel’s approach to audience building by partnering with industry influencers, rather than focusing on paid ads.
  • Operational Insight: Parakeeto’s framework simplifies understanding profitability, future planning, and project estimation, especially for agencies.
  • Time Tracking & Team Engagement: Marcel shares effective strategies for implementing time tracking without frustrating team members.
  • Big Goals: Parakeeto’s vision of transitioning from consulting to software products to make profitability tools accessible for smaller agencies.
  • Advice on Success: Marcel’s belief in embracing discomfort and doing hard things for lasting growth and fulfillment.

Key Questions

(01:26) Tell us how you are where you are today, how you got where you are today.

(02:13) Who is your ideal avatar.

(03:04) Are there certain niches that you work within?

(04:03) How do you get in front of your potential clients?

(05:23) Do you still keep up with that strategy now?

(05:52) What social media do you use?

(07:16) What are some big goals that you guys have in the next year or two?

(08:32) How would that affect your business?

(09:41) What do you feel is the number one roadblock that's stopping you guys from reaching that goal?

(10:53) In the introduction, we had talked about how you help people read those crazy numbers and to be able to interpret it easily. How do you help with that?

(13:03) Is that the same framework that you use for helping with future planning and project estimations and stuff?

(15:17) You had touched on it a bit, but do you have any advice or whatever on how to figure out if I should bill for my time or the value or something else?

(18:59) And that framework or that pricing quadrant, that's different than your four-step agency flywheel system, correct?

(21:26) Let's jump over to staff and time tracking and how to do it the right way that doesn't tick them off, and then maybe something more useful than time sheets. What do you got?

(26:53) What's the best advice advice that you have ever received?

(29:29) What's the best advice you've ever given?

(30:00) We've touched on a bunch of things, but is there anything else that you wanted to touch on or circle back on?

(31:11) Where can we learn more about you and what you do?

(31:40) And what's your podcast name?


Marcel Petitpas

https://parakeeto.com

https://agencyprofitpodcast.simplecast.com/

https://parakeeto.com/blog/the-agency-profitability-flywheel-marcel-petipas-episode-40/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcelpetitpas/

https://parakeeto.com/blog/how-to-identify-the-right-pricing-strategy-for-your-produc-with-marcel-petitpas-episode-68/

https://parakeeto.com/toolkit/

Virginia Purnell

Funnel & Visibility Specialist

Distinct Digital Marketing

(833) 762-5336

virginia@distinctdigitalmarketing.com

www.distinctdigitalmarketing.com

www.distinctdigitalmarkting.co

Creating Unique Guest Experiences in Short-Term Rentals with Mark Lumpkin

Creating Unique Guest Experiences in Short-Term Rentals with Mark Lumpkin

Episode Notes:

  • Guest Introduction: Mark Lumpkin, founder of STR Cribs and avid traveler with a focus on transforming Airbnbs into premier guest destinations.
  • Journey into STRs: Mark shares how his travels and dislike for traditional hotels inspired him to enter the short-term rental industry.
  • Unique Experiences: STR Cribs focuses on high-end, resort-style properties that offer unique stays, setting themselves apart in an increasingly competitive market.
  • Organic Marketing Strategy: Mark’s team avoids traditional advertising and uses organic growth methods, including partnerships, educational content, and social media engagement.
  • Ideal Clients: STR Cribs works with clients interested in distinctive properties, focusing on high-ROI projects.
  • Challenges & Goals: Mark discusses their goals for expanding STR Cribs’ unique project offerings and maintaining quality through company growth.
  • Hospitality Wisdom: Mark shares advice on client engagement, handling guest needs, and creating a true work-life integration.

Key Questions

(01:05) All right, so you travel a lot. You don't like hotels. How did you get to where you are today with this whole entrepreneurial journey?

(02:13) I'm sure you've been at this for a few years. And Airbnbs are more, would you say they're more popular now than what they were when you first got started, correct?

(04:07) Does it work really well, too, for even remote locations in a pretty sweet house?

(04:47) Do you teach them the marketing aspect for it, too?

(05:31) All right, let's back up a little bit. So who is your ideal client?

(06:02) How would you get in front of those people?

(08:10) What social media channels are you on?

(09:42) Let's say I'm a new Client, I'm coming into your world. I've signed up. Is there some common mistakes, misconceptions that newcomers like me tend to have when we start with you?

(12:08) What are some big goals that you guys have or that you have in the next year or two?

(13:24) When you say portfolio, is that, let's say, you guys personally, your company personally, or you collectively through those that you teach the process with as well?

(13:48) What do you feel is the number one roadblock that stops you from reaching those goals?

(14:22) With the people, like with your coaching side, let's say, your teaching side, you have people that teach those classes, right?

(15:23) Do you guys have any plans on expanding outside of the US, or is it there Is that just another barrel of worms?

(16:03) Are you everywhere in the States, or is it just those certain areas?

(16:38) What is the best advice that you have ever received?

(17:36) What's the best advice you've ever given?

(19:06) You talked about LinkedIn and organic reach, right? Do you reach out to people then and start conversations and stuff like that?

(21:24) I just got this property and I'm going to come to you. Is there a certain criteria that I need to meet in order to be a good fit for working with you? Or does my property need to have certain criteria to work with you?

(24:48) You travel around a lot for your job, for work, but you also have a family. So how do you make that work? 

(26:41) Have you been able to find or do you find it hard to have the work-life balance aspect?

(30:40) Where can we go to learn more about you and what you do?

Mark Lumpkin

www.strcribs.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-lumpkin-84b173142/

Virginia Purnell

Funnel & Visibility Specialist

Distinct Digital Marketing

(833) 762-5336

virginia@distinctdigitalmarketing.com

www.distinctdigitalmarketing.com

www.distinctdigitalmarkting.c

Clicks to Cash: Turning Ad Spend into Revenue with Jarod Spiewak

Clicks to Cash: Turning Ad Spend into Revenue with Jarod Spiewak

Episode Notes:

  • Guest: Jarod Spiewak, Founder of Cometfuel
  • Key Topics Covered:
    • Jarod’s entrepreneurial journey from freelancing to launching Cometfuel.
    • How Cometfuel helps SaaS and service-based businesses scale by tracking ad performance.
    • "Clicks to Cash": Turning clicks into revenue through precision ad strategies.
    • Addressing sales vs. marketing misalignment by focusing on lead quality.
    • The value of trying bold strategies and throwing money at bottlenecks to accelerate growth.
    • Optimizing operations to maintain high efficiency as teams and clients grow.
  • Connect with Jarod:

Key Questions

(01:18) We got a glimpse into how you got to where you were today. Is there anything that you want to add to that journey?

(04:09) What do you do? Do you do anything differently to know what your ROI is on the ad spend?

(08:23) Let's say I was a client. Is there a certain type of ad on a certain platform that you would run for me, or would you run on different multiple platforms?

(13:11) Who do you generally work with? Because you had mentioned accountants and stuff, but who do you generally work with? What's your niche?

(13:40) How do you get in front of those businesses?

(15:15) A lot of your ideal market, it would appear, would be on LinkedIn. Do you do much on there?

(16:35) What are some of your big goals in the next year or two?

(19:34) How would that affect your business?

(22:36) You have this thing that you've trademarked Clicks to Cash. Do you want to talk about scaring competitors by 15-timesing the ROI?

(26:28) What is the best advice that you have ever received?

(29:04) Did you notice that, in essence, throwing the money at it, you've got money back?

(30:35) Is there anything that we haven't touched on yet that you would like to?

(33:37) Where can we go to find out more about you and what you do?

Jarod Spiewak

https://cometfuel.com/

https://www.facebook.com/jarod.spiewak/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarodspiewak/

https://www.youtube.com/@JarodSpiewak

https://twitter.com/JarodSpiewak

Virginia Purnell

Funnel & Visibility Specialist

Distinct Digital Marketing

(833) 762-5336

virginia@distinctdigitalmarketing.com

www.distinctdigitalmarketing.com

www.distinctdigitalmarkting.co

Scaling Exponentially: ATAK Interactive’s Playbook for Growth and Acquisitions with Austin LaRoche

Scaling Exponentially: ATAK Interactive’s Playbook for Growth and Acquisitions with Austin LaRoche

Episode Notes:

  • Guest: Austin LaRoche, CEO of ATAK Interactive
  • Topics Discussed:
    • Austin’s entrepreneurial journey, from nonprofit work to building a full-service agency.
    • The M2S (Marketing to Sales) Framework and its role in revenue growth.
    • The importance of RevOps in aligning sales, marketing, and customer success teams.
    • Challenges and lessons in pursuing acquisitions and exponential growth.
    • The significance of embracing failure, accountability, and building a strong company culture.
  • Connect with Austin:

Key Questions

(00:55) Can you share your journey me about how you got to where you are?

(03:05) So today, who would you say is your ideal client?

(04:01) No specific niche or anything that you work with?

(04:57) Is there a common mistake or a misconception that new clients have when you take them on?

(05:53) What are some big goals that you guys have in the next year or two?

(06:30) Are you sticking to just the US or one location like that, like a geographical area like that, or are you open to anywhere?

(07:40) How would acquiring other businesses, how would that affect your business?

(08:30) What do you feel is your number one roadblock from stopping you from getting there?

(09:45) Your team, are they local to you, or do you have team members globally?

(10:33) What is working for you guys right now to attract new business?

(11:39) Do you use any other social media channels as well?

(14:38) You do something with RevOps technology, right? Do you want to explain a little bit about that?

(16:19) What's the best advice that you have ever received?

(17:59) What's the best advice advice that you have ever given?

(21:39) Is there anything that you wanted to talk about with marketing frameworks or anything like that?

(23:07) Is there anything that you wanted to touch on that we haven't talked about yet?

(24:42) Where can we go to find out more about you and what you do?

(25:10) What is your podcast called?

Austin LaRoche

www.atakinteractive.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/austinlaroche/

Virginia Purnell

Funnel & Visibility Specialist

Distinct Digital Marketing

(833) 762-5336

virginia@distinctdigitalmarketing.com

www.distinctdigitalmarketing.com

www.distinctdigitalmarkting

The MEDDIC Method: Leadership and Sales Wisdom with Darius Lahoutifard

The MEDDIC Method: Leadership and Sales Wisdom with Darius Lahoutifard

Episode Notes

Guest: Darius Lahoutifard

  • Background: Former robotics engineer and executive at Oracle and PTC; founded multiple startups, with two successful exits.
  • Expertise: Best known for his role in developing the MEDDIC sales methodology and leadership training for top companies like AWS and Google.
  • Key Topics:
    • Always Be Qualifying: A strategy for continuous sales qualification to maximize efficiency.
    • The MEDDIC Academy: Darius’s venture focuses on expanding content rather than growing employee numbers.
    • Leadership Training: Filling gaps in practical leadership education, focusing on actionable strategies over theory.
    • Success Tip: Align passion with purpose and prioritize what brings personal fulfillment.
  • Challenges: Staying focused amidst modern distractions and maintaining meaningful client connections.
  • Darius’s Advice: “Never do anything just for money—monetize what you love, but only if others find it valuable.”

Links & Resources:

Key Questions:

(01:24) Just off the bat, what six languages do you know or do you teach in?

(02:05) How did you get on this entrepreneurial journey and end up where you are today?

(04:38) Who are your ideal people that you like to work with?

(06:25) Is there a misconception or a mistake that you find a lot of your new clients have when they go to start working with you?

(10:36) How do you get in front of those clients, those ideal clients?

(11:14) Do you use any other social media or just Google?

(11:38) What are a couple of big goals that you have in the next year or two?

(16:39) What do you think is your number one roadblock from achieving that goal?

(17:44) What is the best advice that you have ever received?

(19:53) What's the best advice that you have ever given?

(27:24) Is there anything that we haven't touched on yet that you would like to talk about?

Darius Lahoutifard

Me: https://meddic.academy/darius-lahoutifard-2/

My company: https://meddic.academy/

My book: https://meddic.academy/always-be-qualifying-meddic-meddpicc-book/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meddic/

X : @dalahout

Virginia Purnell

Funnel & Visibility Specialist

Distinct Digital Marketing

(833) 762-5336

virginia@distinctdigitalmarketing.com

www.distinctdigitalmarketing.com

www.distinctdigitalmarkting.co

Bio of Entrepreneur Conundrum

Entrepreneur Conundrum, hosted by Virginia Purnell, is a podcast that delves into the experiences of growing entrepreneur startups as they strive to establish themselves as subject matter experts. What sets this show apart is its focus on the "average" entrepreneur, rather than the well-known internet superstars that dominate the online space. Virginia Purnell engages with these aspiring entrepreneurs who are seeking visibility in their respective markets.

With her expertise as a master funnel builder, she holds certifications as an FG Society Master Marketer, Funnelytics, and ClickFunnels Certified Partner. Leveraging her knowledge and skills, Virginia assists businesses in enhancing their online presence, increasing visibility, and driving sales.

Through the Entrepreneur Conundrum podcast, Virginia Purnell provides a platform for growing entrepreneurs to share their journeys, strategies, and insights.

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