The Entrepreneur's Logbook: Lessons from Growing Businesses

Zachary Bernard
  • 5.0 (3)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Entrepreneur's Logbook brings you inside the minds of today's most successful business leaders to uncover the strategies, decisions, and frameworks driving extraordinary growth. Each episode features founders and CEOs sharing their proven approaches to scaling teams, expanding market share, and building thriving companies. Our guests - from bootstrapped success stories to venture-backed innovators - break down the exact systems, processes, and strategies you can use to grow your company. No fluff, just actionable insights you can apply to your business. Whether you're leading a growing team, aiming to break through revenue plateaus, or planning your next expansion, each episode delivers tested playbooks and practical wisdom from leaders who've turned small businesses into market leaders. Think of it as your masterclass in sustainable business growth.

  1. 16H AGO

    Dwan Bent-Twyford on Flipping 2,000+ Homes and Teaching Thousands

    In this episode of The Entrepreneur’s Logbook, Zachary speaks with Dwan Bent-Twyford about the trials, triumphs and hard-won lessons that shaped her real estate empire.  Dwan opens up about starting in the 1990s as a broke, single mom who mistakenly equated “fixing up” a house with decorating. She shares how her first deal: sealed with little more than a handshake, led to a foreclosure, a repossessed car and a crash course in hands-on rehab work.  From salvaging those early mistakes she discovered wholesaling, pioneered her trademarked “short sales” strategy and developed a Triple Profit Center model that’s now helped her close thousands of transactions.  Throughout the conversation, Dwan and Zachary dive into her mission of empowering new investors. She walks listeners through the step-by-step process at her Investors Edge University: evaluating personal goals, matching them to the right real estate niche, and building the practical skills to execute profitable deals.  Dwan breaks down how a true short sale works, why it can be a win-win for homeowners, banks and investors, and how careful deal structuring lays the foundation for long-term success. By the end of the episode, you’ll understand why Dwan’s top priority is teaching, mentoring and making sure no one has to learn the hard way, just as she once did.  Whether you’re a total beginner or a seasoned pro looking to sharpen your strategy, her insights on negotiation, risk management and brand building will leave you ready to take action.  Timestamps Dwan’s Naive First Deal & Rehab Misconceptions – 00:02:15  Practical Advice for Beginner Investors (Wholesaling & Skill Assessment) – 00:09:50 Teaching & Program Structure at Investors Edge University – 00:15:20  Coining “Short Sales” & Trademarking the Strategy – 00:26:45  Triple-Profit-Center System for Structuring Win-Win Deals – 00:36:05 Connect with Dwan https://www.linkedin.com/in/dwanbenttwyford/ https://www.instagram.com/dwanderful/ https://www.youtube.com/c/dwanderfulrealestateinvestingchannel https://investorsedgeuniversity.com/ Sponsored by We Feature You PR - Helping entrepreneurs build thought leadership through strategic podcast placements and launching their own shows. Ready to amplify your voice? Get in touch today. Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! Chapters (00:00:00) - How To Fix Up A Home In foreclosure(00:00:32) - The Lockbook: Real Estate Experts(00:01:46) - The One Thing I Wish I Knew Before Starting a Business(00:06:13) - Mentoring New Investors in Real Estate(00:12:15) - "A Mission Driven"(00:13:13) - You're known as the Queen of Short Sales(00:16:11) - How To Save a Home From Foreclosure(00:21:26) - Dwan Is Dwinderful

    22 min

  2. FEB 11

    Stephen Morel of JurisDeed on Simplifying Legal Compliance Across 50 States

    In this episode of The Entrepreneur’s Logbook, Zachary speaks with Stephen Morel, founder and CEO of JurisDeed. Stephen walks us through his journey from technical specialist to storyteller‐in‐chief, explaining why “loving the problem, not your solution” is the single most important mindset shift for entrepreneurs.  Together, they explore how Stephen’s two decades in real estate law led him to found JurisDeed, an AI-powered platform that automates tax lien and distressed property investing across all 50 states, and why focusing on customer pain points and clear communication helped him secure early revenue, avoid funding pitfalls, and build trust with investors.  The episode digs into the nuts and bolts of tax lien investing: what traditional investors face when navigating state-by-state laws, how JurisDeed normalizes those legal hurdles in one unified system, and why staying ahead of Supreme Court rulings and legislative changes can make or break your returns.  Stephen shares actionable tips for mitigating regulatory shifts: outsourcing operational tasks, reducing costs, speeding up liquidity and using data-driven intelligence to target delinquent properties, all so that listeners can protect and optimize their portfolios in today’s volatile environment.  Whether you’re launching your first startup or scaling your fifth, this conversation highlights the power of customer discovery, lean storytelling, and technology‐driven solutions.  Timestamps Leaning into the Customer Problem and Mastering Storytelling – 03:10  Introduction to JurisDeed: AI-Powered Tax-Lien Investment Platform – 06:20  Simplifying the End-to-End Tax-Lien Acquisition-to-Liquidation Workflow – 12:30 Navigating Evolving Legal & State-By-State Compliance Challenges – 17:45  Actionable Strategies to Mitigate Return-Compression and Optimize Costs – 21:15 About JurisDeed JurisDeed is a dynamic legal and property intelligence platform empowering real estate professionals, investors, government, and other stakeholders with the critical data needed to clear title to distressed real estate with clicks instead of copies, saving substantial time and money over typical paper and manual-based research methods, and unlocking incalculable trapped wealth and opportunity for individuals and communities. Connect with Stephen https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenmorel-jd https://jurisdeed.com/ Sponsored by We Feature You PR - Helping entrepreneurs build thought leadership through strategic podcast placements and launching their own shows. Ready to amplify your voice? Get in touch today. Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! Chapters (00:00:00) - The Entrepreneurs Logbook Podcast(00:00:51) - Steve Morrell(00:01:34) - What's The One Thing That You'd Do Differently If You(00:04:02) - How Did We Know What Our Customers Want?(00:05:53) - Part 6: The Startup Experience(00:07:32) - Tax Liens: The Journey Through the Platform(00:11:29) - Small Business Partners: State-by-State Compliance(00:12:35) - Can Our Platform Help You Manage Your Legal Process?(00:14:16) - Legal Changes to Property Tax Sales(00:17:35) - ETF Talk: Mitigating the Impact of the Law(00:19:39) - How to Get Your Money Back by Paying Off Debtors

    21 min

  3. FEB 4

    Building Trust in Legal Marketing: David Arato on AI & Human Expertise

    In this episode of The Entrepreneur’s Logbook, Zachary speaks with David Arato, founder of Lexicon Legal Content. They kick things off by exploring the foundational habits that set successful companies apart: starting with the art of documenting processes from day one.   David shares how building a library of clear, repeatable SOPs not only accelerates team onboarding but also lays the groundwork for adding new service lines. They also dive into the realities of remote entrepreneurship, emphasizing the power of community and networking to solve recurring operational challenges rather than reinventing the wheel in isolation.  As the conversation turns to legal marketing, David unpacks the specialized, multi-step process his agency uses to help law firms dominate SEO while staying compliant with bar rules. From navigating Google’s AI-driven “overviews” and zero-click searches to mastering YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) and EEAT (Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trust) standards, they discuss why raw AI output isn’t enough.  Instead, David argues, top-performing content blends human storytelling, attorney-reviewed accuracy, and strategic link building to truly stand out in a crowded field.  Listeners will come away with fresh insights into balancing cutting-edge technology with the irreplaceable value of human expertise and how to future-proof their content strategy for the years ahead. Timestamps Documenting Business Processes with SOPs – 05:10  Building Community and Networking as a Remote Entrepreneur – 10:30  Onboarding Law Firms: SEO-Optimized & BAR-Compliant Content Workflow – 15:00 Attribution Challenges in SEO & the Rise of Zero-Click AI Overviews – 19:45  Leveraging AI While Upholding EEAT to Differentiate Legal Content – 24:10 About Lexicon Legal Content Lexicon Legal Content is a legal content development company staffed by JDs and licensed attorneys who specialize in writing jurisdiction and practice area-specific content for lawyers and law firm marketers throughout North America. Connect with David https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidarato/ https://www.lexiconlegalcontent.com/ Sponsored by We Feature You PR - Helping entrepreneurs build thought leadership through strategic podcast placements and launching their own shows. Ready to amplify your voice? Get in touch today. Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! Chapters (00:00:00) - The Lockbook Podcast(00:01:31) - The One Thing All Entrepreneurs Need to Have in Place(00:03:34) - Build in isolation or community(00:04:58) - How To Attribute Legal Content in Marketing(00:08:57) - The Four Pillars of a Trustworthy Website(00:13:16) - Law Firm Content: Quality Legal Content(00:18:36) - Marketing Agency Executives: Don't Use AI to Create

    23 min

  4. JAN 21

    Branding Before Marketing: Anastasia Rossinsky's Framework for Business Growth

    Anastasia Rossinsky is the founder of A Market Social, a Miami-based marketing and branding boutique specializing in digital marketing, brand development, and social media management. With over 10 years of experience in digital marketing and branding, she's built a reputation for creating engaging content and growing social media presence for companies across various industries. Annie has recently launched Women Who Miami, a community and resource platform dedicated to helping women turn their side hustles into profitable full-time businesses through podcasts, events, and business education. What You'll Learn - The two critical mistakes that can kill your startup before it begins (fear and lack of boundaries) - Why you can literally start a business with nothing - and should - How to avoid analysis paralysis and stop overthinking your launch - Why branding must come before any marketing efforts - The danger of losing your authentic voice to AI-generated content - How to successfully rebrand without alienating your existing customers - The importance of building authentic personal brands in today's accessible business world Key Takeaways - The Nothing-to-Something Reality: You don't need perfect logos, websites, or investors to start. If you're solving a real problem, business will come - Annie built her first clients through proposals before even having a website. - Boundaries Equal Value: Working 24/7 and responding to 3 AM emails doesn't show dedication - it shows desperation. Setting boundaries makes you look professional and prevents burnout while maintaining creative energy. - Branding Before Marketing: Marketing without a solid brand foundation is like using a megaphone with no message. Consistent branding builds trust and recognition - people need to know what to expect from you. - AI Enhancement vs. Replacement: Use AI for productivity, operations, and background tasks, but never replace the human connection that makes brands authentic and relatable. About A Market Social & Women Who Miami A Market Social provides comprehensive marketing and branding services for businesses looking to bridge the gap between their brand and consumers. Women Who Miami is Annie's community platform offering podcasts, events, and resources specifically designed to help women entrepreneurs scale their side hustles into profitable businesses. Connect with Anastasia Website: womenwhomiami.com Sponsored by We Feature You PR - Helping entrepreneurs build thought leadership through strategic podcast placements and launching their own shows. Ready to amplify your voice? Get in touch today. Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! Chapters (00:00:00) - Annie Rosinsky on How to Start a Business With Nothing(00:01:21) - What Would You Do If You Started a Business Again?(00:04:39) - How to start and grow a business on your own(00:07:31) - MIAMI Business Community(00:10:53) - Brand Management Prioritizes Marketing(00:16:07) - How to Tell a Woman's Brand Story(00:17:55) - How to Build a Personal Brand with Women(00:19:00) - The Authenticity of AI(00:22:08) - How To Do A Brand Rebrand?

    25 min

  5. JAN 14

    Why Integrated Marketing Beats Isolated Channels with Philip Hill from Purebred Marketing

    Philip Hill is the founder and CEO of Purebred Marketing, a top DTC agency focused on igniting growth for brands through affiliate programs and high-performing websites fueled by SEO and CRO. He's been a serial entrepreneur in the e-commerce space for 15 years, having worked with over 100 brands like Solo Stove, Pet Supermarket, and Snap Supplements, driving over $200 million in client revenue. Remarkably, he dropped out of college just 18 hours before graduation to launch his first business. What You'll Learn: - How to properly diagnose what's actually wrong when customer acquisition costs are rising - Why looking at surface-level data can lead to devastating business decisions - The power of integrated marketing ecosystems vs. isolated channel approaches - How to build and manage commission-only affiliate sales teams for DTC brands - Strategic approaches to choosing the right sales channels for your product type - Why AI amplification beats AI replacement in modern business operations - Data-driven strategies for improving conversion rates across all marketing channels Key Takeaways: - The Ecosystem Effect: Don't pause one marketing channel when performance drops - SEO, Facebook ads, and other channels work synergistically. Stopping one can hurt the performance of others, creating a downward spiral that looks like everything is failing when it's actually a strategic error. - Commission-Only Sales Revolution: Purebred Marketing's unique approach of building commission-only affiliate sales teams for DTC brands creates scalable growth without upfront marketing costs. The key is matching the right affiliate strategy to your product price point and target audience. - Data Depth Over Surface Metrics: When diagnosing declining performance, dig deeper than surface-level metrics. What appears to be channel failure is often a conversion rate, product, or integrated strategy issue that can be solved without abandoning working channels. - AI as Amplifier: Embrace AI tools to increase capacity and efficiency rather than replace human workers. Companies using AI for automation and research are gaining significant competitive advantages in speed and service delivery. About Purebred Marketing: Purebred Marketing specializes in igniting growth for DTC brands through strategic affiliate programs, SEO, and conversion rate optimization. Their unique commission-only affiliate model helps brands scale without upfront marketing costs while their integrated approach ensures all marketing channels work together synergistically. Connect with Philip : Website: https://purebredmarketing.com/ Sponsored by We Feature You PR - Helping entrepreneurs build thought leadership through strategic podcast placements and launching their own shows. Ready to amplify your voice? Get in touch today. Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! Chapters (00:00:00) - Will AI Disrupt Your Business?(00:00:29) - The Entrepreneur's Logbook Podcast(00:01:30) - Reinventing Your Company With AI(00:08:20) - The science of legal issues(00:09:00) - How to Diagnose a Business' Problems? (E-Commerce(00:15:05) - TikTok Shop vs. TikTok Amazon: How Do Brands(00:18:02) - How We Build a Sales Team for Brand Affiliates(00:22:45) - 3 Tips for Companies to Improve Their Sales & Marketing

    27 min

  6. JAN 9

    From $0 to Billions: Media Strategy Secrets That Actually Work - Jordan Greene's 20-Year Blueprint

    Jordan is a recognized leader in media strategy with over 20 years in the industry. He's architected and executed strategies that have generated billions of dollars in measurable client revenue. Jordan specializes in connected TV, video, and retail media, combining advanced targeting techniques with data-driven insights to help brands reach incremental audiences at scale. What You'll Learn - The #1 internal mistake entrepreneurs make when scaling (and how to avoid it) - Why doing "everything" in the early days is actually crucial for long-term success - Advanced media planning strategies beyond basic demographic targeting - How to transition from hands-on operations to strategic leadership - The people-centered approach that's revolutionizing media buying - Connected TV and video strategies that drive measurable ROI Key Takeaways Internal focus: Embrace wearing multiple hats in the beginning - even as Chief Media Officer, Jordan handles sales and operations The Multi-Hat Reality: Why successful entrepreneurs must be willing to do everything in the early stages, and how this foundation creates better leaders and stronger companies. About Alpha Position Media Alpha Position Media specializes in media planning, buying, and analytics with a people-centered approach that goes beyond traditional demographic targeting. They focus on connected TV, video, and retail media strategies that deliver measurable results for their clients. Connect with Jordan Greene https://www.linkedin.com/in/greenejordan/ https://www.alphaprecisionmedia.com/ Sponsored by We Feature You PR - Helping entrepreneurs build thought leadership through strategic podcast placements and launching their own shows. Ready to amplify your voice? Get in touch today. Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! Chapters (00:00:00) - The Entrepreneur's Logbook Podcast(00:00:43) - Jordan Green(00:01:25) - 7 Rules for Starting a Business on Day 1(00:03:23) - WSJD Live: How Do We Identify the Right Audience(00:08:13) - Top Executives: Advertising on a Small TV(00:11:47) - How Functional AI Is Integrating into the Agency's Strategy(00:17:01) - Amazon Advertising: The Omnichannel Phenomenon(00:19:33) - Netflix vs. Warner Bros. Sports: Which Way Should Fans Watch(00:24:16) - WSJD Live: Where Do You See the Advertising Space Going?(00:27:34) - CTV Weekly Insights

    29 min

  7. 12/17/2025

    The Video Authority Method: Aleric Heck's Blueprint for YouTube Ad Success

    In this episode of The Entrepreneur's Logbook Podcast, host Zachary Bernard sits down with Aleric Heck, founder and CEO of Ad Outreach, a YouTube advertising and consulting company that has helped clients generate over $300 million in revenue. Starting his entrepreneurial journey at just 12 years old with YouTube app reviews, Aleric built the largest app review channel with 600K+ subscribers and now runs an 8-figure company that's appeared on the Inc 5000 three years running, hitting #60 in 2022. Key Takeaways Document your journey: Implement a video-first strategy from day one to showcase expertise and build authentic founder stories that resonate with audiences Focus on intent-driven traffic: YouTube users are actively learning versus mindlessly scrolling, creating higher-quality leads for service-based businesses Hook, educate, call to action: Structure YouTube ads with compelling hooks, genuine educational value, and clear calls to action—avoid the mistake of skipping education Target with precision: Use Google's custom audience builder for search terms, URL affinity targeting for competitor sites, and household income filters for B2B offerings Quality over quantity leads: Expect slightly higher upfront costs per lead but significantly better conversion rates and ROI on the backend Leverage the content flywheel: Combine organic content with paid ads to create a self-reinforcing system where ads drive content consumption and content drives ad retargeting Test hooks, not full creatives: Unlike Meta's constant creative refresh needs, YouTube ads have longer lifecycles—focus on testing different opening hooks while maintaining core educational content Don't sleep on retargeting: Target website visitors, YouTube channel viewers, and video engagers with lower-budget campaigns for maximum efficiency Aleric Heck - Ad Outreach Website: https://aleric.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alericheck/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alericheck/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AlericHeckYT Free Gift Mentioned: https://adoutreach.com/gift (YouTube Ad Strategy PDF) Book: Video Authority book at https://adoutreach.com/video-authority-booklist/ AI Targeting Tool: https://keywordsearch.com (5-day free trial) Zachary Bernard – We Feature You PR LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itszachb/ Website: https://www.wefeatureyou.com/ Personal site: https://zacharybernard.com/ Podcast: The Entrepreneur's Logbook Want press/podcast/TV features? Visit wefeatureyou.com Chapters (00:00:00) - The Entrepreneur's Doc Book Podcast(00:00:39) - How to Reach the Right People on YouTube(00:01:58) - Starting Over: The Journey on Video(00:03:24) - How to grow your business with YouTube Ad(00:03:54) - How to Build a Lead on YouTube vs. Meta(00:09:37) - Facebook vs. YouTube: Cost per Lead and(00:10:35) - How to Integrate Facebook and YouTube Ad(00:14:05) - Why YouTube Ad Costs More Than Facebook Ad Costs(00:15:55) - How to Target People on YouTube Ads(00:22:52) - How to Run a YouTube Ad(00:25:10) - YouTube Ad Strategy

    26 min

  8. 10/08/2025

    Amber Goetz - Building Lead Generation Machines Through Strategic SEO | #28

    In this episode of The Entrepreneur's Logbook Podcast, host Zachary Bernard sits down with Amber Goetz, founder of Active Media, a high-performance web and SEO agency that's been turning websites into lead generation machines since 2005. With over 500 websites under her belt and clients pulling in over $10 million through organic search, Amber has spent two decades learning what actually works in SEO.    Key Takeaways   Start with market research: Validate search demand, competition levels, and real market need before building your business Fix messaging first: Address root causes (messaging and site health) before driving traffic—visitors leave for competitors if your foundation is broken Demand transparency: Quality SEO agencies provide visual dashboards, share keyword rankings, and educate clients rather than hiding behind "secret sauce" AI content is dead: Mass AI-generated blog posts no longer work; Google rewards human-reviewed, human-edited content that provides genuine value Optimize for AI now: Implement schema markup and voice search optimization immediately—DIY website builders are falling behind Focus local SEO efforts: Update Google Business Profile constantly (offers, photos, reviews every ~10 days) for local businesses Red flags in SEO agencies: Avoid anyone promising overnight rankings or not requesting Google Analytics/Search Console access Trust your instincts: Combine gut feelings with solid data when making business and technical decisions     Amber Goetz - The Active Media Website: https://www.theactivemedia.com/ and https://goetzgo.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ambergoetz9/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seowithamber/   Zachary Bernard – We Feature You PR LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itszachb/ Website: https://www.wefeatureyou.com/ Personal site: https://zacharybernard.com/   Want press/podcast/TV features? Visit wefeatureyou.com Chapters (00:00:00) - The End of Human-edited Content(00:00:37) - Amino Podcast(00:01:39) - The One Startup Tip You'd Get Wrong(00:03:09) - How To Turn A Completive Audit Into a Proposal(00:07:12) - How To Lead an SEO Team With Transparency(00:09:33) - Top SEO Executives: The Shift in Search(00:11:47) - How to Optimize Your Site for AI Search(00:13:18) - How to Optimize Your Website for AI & Small Business SEO(00:19:08) - Several Red Flags For Hiring An SEO Agency(00:21:07) - Go With Your Gut

    24 min
See All (35)

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

The Entrepreneur's Logbook brings you inside the minds of today's most successful business leaders to uncover the strategies, decisions, and frameworks driving extraordinary growth. Each episode features founders and CEOs sharing their proven approaches to scaling teams, expanding market share, and building thriving companies. Our guests - from bootstrapped success stories to venture-backed innovators - break down the exact systems, processes, and strategies you can use to grow your company. No fluff, just actionable insights you can apply to your business. Whether you're leading a growing team, aiming to break through revenue plateaus, or planning your next expansion, each episode delivers tested playbooks and practical wisdom from leaders who've turned small businesses into market leaders. Think of it as your masterclass in sustainable business growth.

Information