New Business Jump Start Show

Evan Palmer
  • 5.0 (1)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP

If you've ever thought about starting your own business, this is the podcast for you. Perhaps you've had a career doing something else and are ready to finally jump into the entrepreneurial waters. Maybe you're looking to build a profitable side project. Or perhaps there's an idea you've had for a long time and you're ready to finally take action. Whatever the situation may be, when people go into business for themselves, there's a LOT to know: accounting, sales, marketing, production, customer service, billing, finance, legal, human resources, etc. In addition to not knowing enough about each aspect, the larger reality is that you don’t know what you don’t know, and often don’t know whom to ask for help. Our podcast guests offer insights into each area of business, helping you to gain knowledge and focus on the most important elements. We'll discuss everything from overcoming common obstacles to selling and promoting yourself and your business or service, and lots more. We want to give you an advantage because we've been there and done that and we want you to learn from our mistakes as well as our successes.

  1. FEB 10

    48. A Family Therapist's Journey to Owning a Group Practice with Sierra Smargon

    Sierra Smargon is a licensed marriage and family therapist and owner of Rose Wellness, a group practice in Santa Barbara, CA that focuses on marginalized communities. Sierra explains how she transitioned from working with children at nonprofits to starting her own business during the pandemic, initially launching as a sole proprietor and later expanding to include multiple therapists. Sierra discusses the challenges of running a therapy practice, including the challenges of dealing with insurance companies, forecasting cash flow, and maintaining referral relationships in the community. She explained that their mental health practice primarily gains clients through word of mouth and insurance provider networks, with a focus on ethical networking rather than traditional marketing. She described how they maintain professional relationships with other clinicians while avoiding conflicts of interest, carefully navigating the competitive yet collaborative nature of the mental health field in Santa Barbara.   Contact Site: https://www.rwsb.org   Also mentioned during the show: To get your Free Guide, The 5 A.I. Tools Guide Visit https://www.newbusinessjumpstart.com

    27 min

  2. JAN 27

    47. Quitting Wall Street to Make the Ultimate Gluten-Free Cookie with Carolyn Haeler

    Carolyn Haeler is the founder and CEO of Mightylicious Gluten-Free, a company that offers delicious gluten-free cookies and flour blends. With a background in business and finance, Carolyn worked in private banking and wealth management on Wall Street for a decade at the intersection of economics and personal wealth management. In 2011, Carolyn was diagnosed with celiac disease. She described the challenges of managing the disease, particularly the difficulty of finding gluten-free foods that are both nutritious and enjoyable. Despite the availability of gluten-free products, Carolyn found many of them unsatisfying and expensive, leading her to cook most of her meals. Despite having no formal culinary training, she left her job at a hedge fund in 2017 to pursue her passion for baking gluten-free cookies. She worked 12 hours a day for three months experimenting with recipes, eventually developing a stable and replicable recipe for her Brown Butter Chocolate Chip cookies, which she tested at Whole Foods in Manhattan using homemade labels on coffee bags. Carolyn shared her journey of securing funding which enabled rapid expansion and access to distributors and brokers. She emphasized the importance of starting small, building a proof of concept, and exploring various funding options before seeking investors. Mightylicious cookies are now available in grocery stores nationwide, including Sprouts, H-E-B, and Giant, as well as online at mightylicious.com and Amazon.   Contact Site: https://www.mightylicious.com Email: info@mightylicious.com   Also mentioned during the show: To get your Free Guide, The 5 A.I. Tools Guide Visit https://www.newbusinessjumpstart.com

    32 min

  3. JAN 13

    46. How Introverts Excel in Sales with Amy Donaldson

    Amy Donaldson is an ICF Certified Elite-Level Sales and Leadership Coach at Southwestern Consulting. She returned to the NBJS Podcast to challenge the myth that you have to be extroverted in order to excel in sales. Amy emphasizes that introverts can excel in sales by focusing on listening skills and building genuine connections rather than being overly sales-focused. She highlights that introverts' natural ability to listen and ask thoughtful questions can be an advantage in sales, contrasting with the often pushy approach of extroverted salespeople. Amy shared insights on effective sales techniques, emphasizing the importance of selling appointments rather than products, especially for introverts. She highlighted the value of listening, asking open-ended questions, and showing genuine interest in prospects, which can lead to higher conversion rates and more enjoyable sales experiences. Amy also noted that introverts who master these techniques often outperform extroverts in sales, as they focus on quality conversations rather than quantity of meetings. Amy discussed the benefits and timing of seeking a business coach, emphasizing that growth-oriented individuals should consider coaching at any point when they want to improve. Amy highlighted the importance of investing in oneself and shared insights on how coaching can refine sales skills, whether for new salespeople needing basic training or top producers focusing on advanced techniques. She also addressed the challenges faced by sales leaders transitioning into management roles, noting the need for leadership development and understanding diverse team dynamics. Contact LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-donaldson-cpc-2b046966/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amy_donaldson Site: https://southwesternconsulting.com/trainers/amy-donaldson/ Email: adonaldson@southwesternconsulting.com   Also mentioned during the show: To get your Free Guide, The 5 A.I. Tools Guide Visit https://www.newbusinessjumpstart.com

    31 min

  4. 12/30/2025

    45. How to Use the 7 Buying Elements to Explode Your Sales with Eric Counts

    Eric Counts is the owner, founder, and CEO of CreditNerds.com, a leading credit repair and financial services website. In addition to his extensive experience helping people improve their personal and business credit profiles, Eric is also the founder of Real Deal Network, a collaborative real estate investing community. Eric did a deep-dive into the seven elements (from a book called How Clients Buy) that determine why a person might not be buying: awareness, interest, understanding, belief, trust, ability, and readiness. When it comes to improving your sales, focusing on these can absolutely make the difference. Included in these is the importance of building awareness through consistent branding and marketing, rather than relying on potential clients to remember what a business does. Eric pointed out the need to spark interest by addressing pain points, rather than over-explaining products or services. Eric also talked about the importance of understanding customer needs and the distinction between belief and trust in business. He emphasized that trust is essential for customers to believe in a company's actions, highlighting a current "trust recession" where both customers and companies lack trust. Eric concluded by sharing an outline that anyone can use for their sales pitch.   Book mentioned: How Clients Buy by Tom McMakin (Author), Doug Fletcher (Author) Contact Site: https://www.realdealnetwork.com Site: https://www.CreditNerds.com Email: eric@creditnerds.com   Also mentioned during the show: To get your Free Guide, The 5 A.I. Tools Guide, visit: https://www.newbusinessjumpstart.com

    33 min

  5. 12/16/2025

    44. Social Media & Soft Skills in Direct Sales with Diane and Marco Rodriguez

    Diane and Marco Rodriguez are business owners, entrepreneurs, and occupational therapists, as well as a co-founders of Transformations Rehab in El Paso, TX. They joined the podcast to talk about their experiences in their direct sales company, drawing comparisons to traditional brick & mortar businesses as well as the key areas of focus that are necessary to be successful. Diane and Marco discussed the importance of developing soft skills, building personal brands on social media, and providing value to others. Marco and Diane shared their approach to using social media authentically to document their lives and offer positivity, rather than focusing on sales. They emphasized the power of consistency, authenticity, and offering value in building a personal brand. Contact Diane’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diane.crowellhayashi Diane’s Phone: (915) 276-8700 Marco’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marco.a.rodriguez.940 Site: https://transformationsrehab.com/   Also mentioned during the show: To get your Free Guide, The 5 A.I. Tools Guide Visit https://www.newbusinessjumpstart.com

    30 min

  6. 12/02/2025

    43. How to Stand Out Instead of Blending In with David Newman

    David Newman is a Certified Speaking Professional®, a popular keynote speaker, and author of the new book, Market Eminence: 22 Strategies to Build a Bold Personal Brand, Become a Business Celebrity, and Drive Unstoppable Growth. He works with founders, mid-market CEOs, and professional services firms who want to play bigger, grow faster, and become a category of one. David is also the host of the globally ranked top 1% podcast, The Selling Show, with over 500 episodes. David shared his experience as a new business owner, emphasizing the importance of standing out rather than blending in. He advises new entrepreneurs to focus on positioning themselves uniquely by leveraging their background and experiences, rather than competing based on established industry standards. David's new book, "Market Eminence," outlines three pillars for building a bold personal brand and driving business growth in a noisy market. He explained the concepts of visibility, respect, and brand preference, advocating for differentiation over claiming to be the "best." He emphasized that new entrepreneurs often undervalue their own experience and wisdom, urging them to leverage their unique perspectives and not be afraid of being polarizing. In addition, David advises focusing on niche, specialized content that will stand out. He suggested three types of content to prioritize: high-level strategic insights, belief-shifting content, and future-trending content. While AI can create how-to content better than humans, entrepreneurs should focus on providing unique insights and expertise. Other topics discussed included:  Leveraging your unique perspectives without the fear of being polarizing.  Embracing the role of an advocate for clients by sharing honest insights and challenging outdated beliefs  The importance of speaking, publishing, and podcasting as ways to gain exposure and attract clients  Focusing marketing efforts on platforms where target customers are most active   Contact Site: www.doitmarketing.com Email: david@doitmarketing.com Book: www.marketeminence.com   Also mentioned during the show: To get your Free Guide, The 5 A.I. Tools Guide Visit https://www.newbusinessjumpstart.com

    31 min

  7. 11/18/2025

    42. From Stay-at-Home Mom to THE Event Planner of New York City with Sophia Auster

    Sophia Auster is the founder of the Auster Agency and is a renowned event planning expert who, for over 25 years, has been THE event planner of New York City. She shared her experience in creating and growing events as well as her career evolution and insights on marketing strategies, networking, and professional growth. Building on her expertise in "placemaking," Sophia's career continues to evolve as she is currently working on a project to reimagine Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. With a background in marketing and inspired by a friend's suggestion, Sophia transitioned from stay-at-home mom to becoming an event producer, starting with small concerts in local parks and methodically growing her business. She emphasized the importance of building a personal brand through under-promising and over-delivering, while being responsive to market demands and taking "baby steps" in business growth. She focused on creating a reputation through word-of-mouth and networking, initially offering services at a lower rate to establish her brand. The discussion included: The value of uniqueness and creativity. The art of overcoming "no" by viewing it as a potential "yes" The importance of building long-lasting and memorable brands and experiences.  The loneliness (at times) of being the boss and the importance of hiring the right people. The commitment to continuous adaptation, trust in vendors, and treating everyone with respect Contact Email: kauster@austeraganct.com   Also mentioned during the show: To get your Free Guide, The 5 A.I. Tools Guide Visit https://www.newbusinessjumpstart.com

    27 min

  8. 11/04/2025

    41. Green Goo - From the Farmers Market to National Distribution with Jodi Scott

    Jodi Scott is the CEO of Spry Life, a company specializing in plant-based skincare and first aid products including the Green Goo brand. What started out as a small, family hobby grew organically to become a 10,000+ strong business minded community and over 100,000 wellness customers. She shared what it truly looks like to build a mission-first business from scratch, to keep your purpose alive through success and adversity, and to nurture real growth, both for your company and yourself. Jodi described how she and her family transitioned from their day jobs to fully committing to their business, eventually moving to Colorado to work together in a shared property. She explained how they secured their first major order with a natural health food store and later approached the Military Exchange, where she secured a meeting through persistence and military connections. Jodi detailed her experience pitching the product to various retailers, including Walmart, CVS, and Rite Aid, while traveling extensively to secure distribution deals. Jodi recounted the highs and lows including selling the company, buying it back after a turbulent stretch, and rebuilding her company all while keeping their customers first. Contact Site: https://www.greengoo.com/   Also mentioned during the show: To get your Free Guide, The 5 A.I. Tools Guide Visit https://www.newbusinessjumpstart.com

    30 min
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About

If you've ever thought about starting your own business, this is the podcast for you. Perhaps you've had a career doing something else and are ready to finally jump into the entrepreneurial waters. Maybe you're looking to build a profitable side project. Or perhaps there's an idea you've had for a long time and you're ready to finally take action. Whatever the situation may be, when people go into business for themselves, there's a LOT to know: accounting, sales, marketing, production, customer service, billing, finance, legal, human resources, etc. In addition to not knowing enough about each aspect, the larger reality is that you don’t know what you don’t know, and often don’t know whom to ask for help. Our podcast guests offer insights into each area of business, helping you to gain knowledge and focus on the most important elements. We'll discuss everything from overcoming common obstacles to selling and promoting yourself and your business or service, and lots more. We want to give you an advantage because we've been there and done that and we want you to learn from our mistakes as well as our successes.

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