GO with Joe Chura

Joe Chura
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2015 Chicago Marathon. Mile 13. I’m flying—feeling like I could run forever. Heart surgery, back surgery, barely able to stand a decade before, and here I am crushing it. Then I see the sign: NOT ALMOST THERE. Everything changed. Heavy legs. Cramping. Mental breakdown. I barely finished what started as my best race ever. That sign broke me, but it also built me. Southside Chicago kid who studied for 15 seconds between building cars on the assembly line. Graduated in 5 years. Built companies. Sold two. 800 employees. Young father at 20 who figured it out as I went. I’ve spent 50+ episodes of Not Almost There interviewing experts, and now my cohost and I are diving deeper into the conversations that matter most. We dig into what it really takes—in business, branding, health, life. No fluff. Real talk about building something that matters while the clock’s ticking. Whether you’re running your first mile or your hundredth company, we’re here to help you go the distance. Because almost there isn’t good enough.

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    The Surprising Clue To Spot Conflict Before It Becomes Systemic (and how to solve it)

    The Leadership Hack to Turn Discomfort Into Collaboration Conflict is inevitable as teams grow—but how you handle it makes all the difference. Joe describes real-life examples of why ambiguity is the root of many workplace tensions, how to spot it early, and the fastest way to resolve issues before they spiral. From surprise three-way calls that cut through the noise to creating space for empathy, you’ll hear practical strategies for quickly turning conflict into collaboration. Key Takeaways: Ambiguity is an early warning sign: conflict often comes from poor communication and can turn into "us" vs. "them." Speed wins: the quicker you address an issue, the less damage it causes. Being direct can be uncomfortable: and that tension can drive effective change. Encourage open dialogue:  empower teams to solve problems without escalation.

    12 min

  2. 6 SEPT

    The 1 Question for Founders That Will Redefine How You Spend Time

    How to unlock enterprise value, delegate effectively & adapt systems to match goals We dive into the most persistent question every founder faces: "where should you really spend your time?" From making pizzas in the early days to building national marketing campaigns, Joe shares how he decides what drives enterprise value, how he makes delegation an effective priority, and how to balance what fuels you with what fuels the business. 5 Key Takeaways: Every “yes” is also a “no”: time is your scarcest resource. When you say yes to one thing you are saying no to something else. Choose wisely. Delegate early in the day to unlock team productivity: if you’re the bottleneck, everything slows down. Get in the weeds with curiosity: you don’t need to know it all, but you need to bring broad perspective to seemingly small decisions. Reevaluate goals often: what mattered last year may not matter today and so your processes may be outdated. Processes are hidden resources: multiply time and enterprise value.   Plus Joe makes a confession about being the Chief Optimist.

    19 min

  3. 30 AUG

    When "Brilliant" Ideas Bomb: Critical Lessons for Escaping Your Own Bias

    What We Learned When No One Wanted What We Loved (and how that saved us money!) A/B testing online for customer preferences was a tried and true strategy for Joe as he built websites and digital marketing campaigns in the automotive space, but how could he apply those lessons for CPG retail in the "real world?" He shares a wake-up moment as a founder about confidence, bias, and the importance of testing ideas before scaling. From launching a canned water experiment that looked clever on paper—but creeped people out in real life—to uncovering what customers actually want, this conversation is packed with lessons for entrepreneurs who think their “gut” is enough. 5 Key Takeaways: Your confidence doesn’t equal customer preference: Watch, listen and learn from your customers especially in early stages of product development. How to test in the real world to prevent expensive mistakes: simple DIY experiments can yield valuable insights. If you're inside the bottle, you can't read the label: Good branding is important but being overly clever can backfire when customers don’t “get it.” Data beats opinions: whether from surveys, ads, or in-person experiments you don't need a lot of data to make better decisions and you've got no excuse for not collecting data. Tips to avoid paralysis by analysis: meet your customers where they are, test only what matters, and keep going.

    12 min

  4. 23 AUG

    How I lost 50 lbs in 6-months and designed a health routine that saved my life

    Tips to Approach Diet & Fitness: Test, Track & Take Action Now Joe gets candid about his journey from neglecting fitness while grinding to grow his business to losing 45 pounds, running marathons, and sustaining healthier habits to be a better business leader, father, and husband. The connection between entrepreneurship and personal health is often overlooked so we break down the myths of “perfect routines,” why waiting until “next week” never works, and how small changes with realistic expectations can transform both your health and your business. Plus Joe shares his own shortcomings to help others assess what’s right for their own lifestyles. Key Take-Aways: Start Now, Not “Next Week:” Putting off health until “Monday” or “after the holiday” is just a delay tactic. If you don’t tolerate delays in your business, why would you delay making changes to improve your health? Better Health = Better Leadership: Prioritizing fitness and diet leads to greater energy, mental clarity, and confidence, directly impacting performance as an entrepreneur. Sleep Is the Foundation: Without adequate rest, exercise and nutrition won’t deliver results—protect your sleep first. In Your Diet, Track Weeks, Not Days: Weight loss and body transformation are 90% diet; tracking calories and protein intake is a game-changer, but you have to track results over weeks, not days. Accountability Creates Momentum: Challenges, races, or workout partners provide the structure and motivation to stick with new habits.

    19 min

  5. 16 AUG

    These Hard-to-Believe Moments Made Me a Better Entrepreneur (AMA)

    Rule of Thirds for Startups: Big Wins, Paper Cuts & When to Call a Spiritual Healer In an Ask-Me-Anything episode Joe shares intimate stories from behind the scenes of starting and running his businesses including the surreal moment of getting a $200+ Million offer and when the only solution was to call a spiritual healer to cleanse the business. Key Take-Aways For Entrepreneurs: Measuring growth in thirds to find the right balance Why you should keep banging on the doors of opportunity How to handle wins that validate risk and losses that can't be corrected  How losing key employees can be a time to reset operational needs Having an optimistic attitude to protect against unpredictable setbacks

    21 min

  6. 9 AUG

    Run Smarter Facebook Ads: How I Hacked the Algo

    Hijacking Super Bowl Commercials. Brand vs. Performance Marketing. Social Proofs Ads vs. Demographic Targeting.  Feeling stuck on how to start marketing on Facebook, Instagram or Google? Joe cuts through the noise to share a simple and proven, early-stage business strategy. Learn how to build buzz, drive sales, and make every dollar work harder—without falling into the common traps that drain budgets. From hijacking big brand moments to letting the algorithm find your perfect customer, this episode gives you the blueprint to build your online business. Key Takeaways: - Brand + Performance Marketing: Master the two-part formula for awareness and sales. - PR is your secret weapon—and your ad content goldmine. - Ride the wave of competitor campaigns and cultural moments (Go Brewing landing pages vs. Heineken Zero Super Bowl commercials). - Feed the algorithm with creative variety, not guesses at demographic targeting. - What metrics to measure so your ads pay for themselves. Joe shares expert advice based on his experience building and selling two companies that were at the forefront of digital marketing, as well as real-world examples building a non-alcoholic beverage company that sells online.

    14 min

  7. 2 AUG

    The Set-and-Forget Playbook for 30% More Revenue (Already Hidden in Your Business)

    Build Email Flows that Unlock Value, Drive Sales & Create Relationships The most undervalued resource of your business is your ability to contact customers directly so why would you spend money to drive people to your website or store if you can't stay in touch with them? In this episode Joe explains why you shouldn't spend money on ads until you build a system to earn customers' contact information and then send emails (or text messages) that will: turn visitors into customers create long-lasting customer relationships uncover customer insight that will help improve your product or service reduce your advertising costs develop social proof to validate your business Joe shares a behind-the-curtain look at the automated email flows that he developed for Go Brewing and Easy Man, but these practical tips can apply to any business even ones that are not in e-commerce.

    15 min

  8. 26 JUL

    Do This Before Spending ANY Money on Ads

    In this episode, Joe explains what many startups fail to do before they spend their first dollar on ads. From crafting a clear value proposition to optimizing your website for the buyer's journey, you'll learn how to build a brand experience that converts. Using real examples—like the launch of Easy Man, a hemp-derived THC beverage—we explore the importance of testing, simple UX, lead capture, and focusing on one customer persona. Whether you're a first-time founder or scaling an e-commerce brand, this episode reveals the foundation you must build before launching any campaign. Get the infrastructure right—then go grow.

    10 min
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About

2015 Chicago Marathon. Mile 13. I’m flying—feeling like I could run forever. Heart surgery, back surgery, barely able to stand a decade before, and here I am crushing it. Then I see the sign: NOT ALMOST THERE. Everything changed. Heavy legs. Cramping. Mental breakdown. I barely finished what started as my best race ever. That sign broke me, but it also built me. Southside Chicago kid who studied for 15 seconds between building cars on the assembly line. Graduated in 5 years. Built companies. Sold two. 800 employees. Young father at 20 who figured it out as I went. I’ve spent 50+ episodes of Not Almost There interviewing experts, and now my cohost and I are diving deeper into the conversations that matter most. We dig into what it really takes—in business, branding, health, life. No fluff. Real talk about building something that matters while the clock’s ticking. Whether you’re running your first mile or your hundredth company, we’re here to help you go the distance. Because almost there isn’t good enough.

Information

  • Creator
    Joe Chura
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    71
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2021 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    GO with Joe Chura