Orange County Business Success Christopher Struckhoff

In this episode, Chris talks with Sue Rudolph, owner of Absolutely Amazing Travel, a travel agency that specializes in exotic travel and action adventures.
Sue has been engaging with diverse cultures,  creating experiential travel custom itineraries, and planning active adventures since 1994. To raise funds and to advance her advocacy in protecting wildlife, Sue also organizes international marathons.
Chris and Sue discuss the importance of finding your niche, choosing your support system, and being resilient when faced with uncertainties in business.
“It has not been an easy time, but I keep pushing down. I’ve always wanted to be successful. And, so I've always worked on it, trying to figure out ways to keep the business going.” ~ Sue Rudolph
Main takeaways 
Finding your niche and properly capitalizing on it can ensure your company’s longevity. There is no blueprint, so dive into new opportunities, assess the market, and narrow them down until you find the perfect one for you.

Career satisfaction is a great indicator of success. It’s easier to move up the ladder and make a name for yourself in your field if you’re happy with what you’re doing.

Detach from negative people and stay connected to those who are positive and supportive of your journey.

Business owners must be resilient. Learn to pivot and adapt when unforeseen catastrophes happen.

Links
Sue Rudolph on Linkedin

Absolutely Amazing Travel Official Website

Absolutely Amazing Travel on Facebook

Absolutely Amazing Travel on Instagram

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In this episode, Chris talks with David Hanacek, Owner of CanCoverIt and EcoCycle Solutions.
David is a prolific inventor and he holds patents on different DIY and eco-friendly products. With expertise in engineering and manufacturing, David is passionate about creating and designing sustainable solutions for the yet unmet needs of the market.
Chris and David discuss the significance of effective problem-solving, capital funding, and the disruptive innovation in physical products-based businesses.
“That's what is really critical about any product. It's not just one aspect of it; It's a user experience that goes along with it. That's why, obviously, as much as I can, I do planning. I love it because the complexity of it will definitely keep you thinking and alert even in my old age.” ~ David Hanacek
Main takeaways 
Always remember that the pacesetters in an industry are not the top companies, but the consumers. Do extensive market research and look at consumer behavior instead of scrutinizing competitors’ moves.

Introduce simple solutions for complex problems. Design a product/service that is efficient, intuitive, and not too rigid.

Fix the way that capital and thinking go together. As ideas keep coming, you have to keep funding coming in, too. It’s the only way companies innovate and expand.

Links
David Hanacek on LinkedIn

CanCoverit

EcoCycle Solutions

LA Times

3M


Sherwin-Williams 

Coinbase

Bitcoin

Facebook

Tesla

Azure

GE

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In this episode, Chris talks with Jason Blackmore, Owner of JJAB Design, LLC, an architectural design firm based in Newport Beach. 
Jason’s firm creates spaces for families, individuals, and entrepreneurs that not only fit their needs but also bring style and comfort to their everyday lives. Before JJAB Design, Jason worked for the design and planning firm EwingCole, where he learned the ins and outs of a thriving architectural firm.
Chris and Jason discuss the importance of humanizing your brand, the benefits of having a seamless onboarding process in a small business, and exceeding your customers’ expectations.
“I was working hard, keeping going, and I never changed my frame of mind from a struggling business owner to a successful business owner.” ~ Jason Blackmore

Main takeaways 

Humanize your brand. Create an approachable online presence so it’s easy for you to connect with customers.

Creating family-friendly policies can increase workplace productivity and promote customer retention.

Consider outsourcing parts of your life and work so you can focus on your core business. Make sure that newly-onboarded team members fully understand the company’s objectives and the duties at hand before they interact with your clients.

The only way you can provide great service is by truly listening to your customers. When the customers think they are appreciated and their needs are being met, they stick with you over the long-term. 


Links

Jason Blackmore on LinkedIn

JJAB Design, LLC on Facebook

Craigslist

AutoCAD Software


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Chris Struckhoff website

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In this episode, Chris talks with Bonnie Shaver Troup, Founder of Lexend and the Creator of the Lexend fonts.
10 years before Bonnie created Lexend, her six-month-old baby was diagnosed with cancer. The doctors told her it was inoperable. It was a painful and overwhelming experience, but set Bonnie on a path toward educational therapy, with a focus on dyslexia and reading. 
Chris and Bonnie discuss the impact of Lexend fonts, creating the perfect typographic system for struggling readers, and changing how the world sees dyslexia. 
“It’s not dyslexia; it’s print sensitivity. We’re all sensitive to print. We are all sensitive to typographical factors. Those with dyslexia struggle with what we traditionally offer. And we can change that by changing the typographical factors. It happens in real-time, and it’s not delayed evidence.’” ~ Bonnie Shaver-Troup

Main takeaways 

For Bonnie, it’s all about changing how the world reads and improving the outcome. There are legible fonts, but the world needs more tools that can reduce visual stress.

The priority when setting up a typographic system is to be readable for everyone—including the people with impairments. Things like reducing cognitive noise, increasing scaling, and expanding character spacing are important.

Dyslexia and struggles with reading can be significantly improved if traditional typographical factors change.


Links

Bonnie Shaver-Troup on LinkedIn

Lexend

Google Fonts

US Department of Education

Microsoft365

Quicksand – Google Font

Variable Fonts

BMW


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In this episode, Chris talks with Kristen Del Dosso, owner of KDD Nutraceuticals. Since launching her business mid-pandemic, Kristen has created a family of products aimed at helping others overcome nausea and enjoy life to the fullest.  
In one year, Kristen’s mother was diagnosed with cancer, her father had hip replacement surgery, and the stress of her corporate job had Kristen’s doctor worried she’d have a stroke at any moment. With a new understanding of life’s fragility, Kristen decided it was time for a change. She had two big goals on her bucket list: leave her professional track and hike Mount Whitney. Eventually, Kristen found herself achieving both simultaneously – earning an MBA while training to hike the infamous peak. 
Unfortunately, Kristen’s twenty-hour hike was derailed by motion sickness and the sugar-filled protein bars in her back pocket only made things worse. The top of her mountain didn’t look at all like she’d imagined or trained so hard for. Inspired by her plight and the entrepreneurship courses at UC Irvine, Kristen began the process of launching an all-natural, anti-nausea chew with the support of her classmates, friends, and family.
Chris and Kristen discuss building a personal brand, finding a support system, and the one crucial step rising entrepreneurs, small businesses, and large corporations always forget. 
“Even though I keep seeing the money go out, I keep getting these positive testimonials back. That is honestly what’s fueling me to keep on going. It’s not a, ‘I want to create a company,’ it’s, ‘I have to create a company because my chews help people feel better.’” ~ Kristen Del Dosso
Main takeaways 
Analyzing the economic cost of leaving your day job for entrepreneurship can feel agonizing. Instead, break larger goals into smaller chunks and work backward. 

Find a support system that’s like-minded, on a similar trajectory, and wants to see you succeed. They will help you celebrate wins and learn from missteps along the way.

As an entrepreneur, creating a personal brand is just as important as building your business brand. Even your personal social media accounts are a reflection of your business.

You should feel valued and cherished in your professional life. If you don’t, find someplace that will appreciate your unique skill set. 

Don’t dip your toes into entrepreneurship. Jump in head-first, ideally backed by a strong support system. 

Links
Kristen on LinkedIn

KDD Nutraceuticals

KDD Nutraceuticals on Instagram

UCI Paul Merage School of Business

The Six-Pack of Peaks Challenge 

I-Corps

UCI Beall Applied Innovation

UCI New Venture Competition 

1 Million Cups

1 Million Cups Irvine

Microsoft Excel

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In this episode, Chris talks with Reza Mir, engineer and owner of Care Patrol, a service helping senior citizens and their families understand their care needs and options. 
Care Patrol comes from a place of personal experience. Reza lived through his grandmother’s illness and the incredible emotional and financial stress it brought to his mother and the rest of their family who suddenly became caretakers. When Reza eventually immigrated to the United States and began school, an academic advisor suggested Reza consider entrepreneurship. After working as an engineer for several medical device companies, Reza took his advice and built a business around senior care to help families like his own in times of need. 
Reza’s experience at a startup solidified his entrepreneurial backbone and his background in academia instilled a love for education that he imparts to every client. Reza always strives to help struggling families truly understand their options. 
Chris and Reza discuss preparing for business ownership, managing high stress, and the importance of building authentic relationships with the people you serve. 
“You need to focus and keep working hard to get the result. Keep flying the airplane. My instructor used to tell me: ‘focus on flying the airplane, don’t get distracted.’ It would be, focus, work hard, and the reward will come to you.” ~ Reza Mir
Main takeaways 
Before starting a business, you must consider all of the risk factors and the unknown unknowns.

Focus on value-first and consider taking an education-based approach to your business. The free value will reflect in your reviews, referrals, and customer loyalty. 

Education can be key to improving client value and easing your life as a business owner. 

Remember to keep a positive attitude and, of course, work hard. If you can stay focused on serving your clients, the rest will come to you.

Links
Reza on LinkedIn

Care Patrol

Siemens

Meals On Wheels

Hike For Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer's Orange County

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Chris Struckhoff website

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