Witness Business Steven Beckham & Kyle Martin

How does a person make money online? How does one become a social media influencer? Do they have one video go viral and their whole life turns upside down? Or do they decide they are going to get off the couch and make it happen? For Ben Barker of Ben Barker Fitness, it was mostly the latter.When Ben decided to start taking social media seriously, his following grew exponentially until he had a big enough following to monetize his platform. Was that the initial intention? How does he make money today? Is it as lucrative as people think? We discuss it all on this episode of the Witness Business Podcast.Be sure to check out the Show Notes!Follow us on Instagram: @witnessbusinessFollow Ben on Instagram: @benbarkerfitness

In this episode, we witness the passion of a luxury real estate agent turned luxury hat entrepreneur, and unpack his journey into entrepreneurship. When Max Nelson noticed a hole in the hat market, he took it upon himself to pivot his career and provide a solution: Hoot Hat.Initially facing rejection by Shark Tank producers, Max's resilience and determination landed him an appearance on the show a few years later. How do you get an idea out of your head? How do you survive when you haven't turned a profit? How do you continue to learn, grow, and pivot to get your product in front of the right people? Join us as we dive into all of this and more.Be sure to check out the Show Notes!Follow us on Instagram: @witnessbusinessFollow Hood Hat on Instagram: @hoodhatusa

In this episode, we delve into the fascinating journey of a former Vice President of Marketing at Facebook. Tom Arrix helped grow the company in its early days into the Facebook (or Meta) that we know today, from startup to global phenomenon. After taking some time off and wondering what was next, his beloved dog fell ill. Rather than accepting his fate, Tom got to work at addressing the root of the problem for his furry friend: his diet. He embarked on a mission to improve his own dog's health, as well as to revolutionize the pet food industry.Tune in as we explore his transition from the tech world of Silicon Valley to the realm of canine wellness, ultimately leading to the founding of a human-grade dog food company, Get Joy. In an unfamiliar world of dogs, health, and nutrition, how did he do it? Discover the lessons learned at Facebook that propelled his success, as well as the passion and determination that drove this remarkable transformation.Be sure to check out the Show Notes!Follow us on Instagram: @witnessbusiness Follow Get Joy on Instagram: @getjoyfood

As a young girl knowing no English, Alina and her family were immigrants in the United States. Though her classmates called her dumb, she showcased her skills the only way she knew how: through art. She couldn't communicate with words, but she could create with her hands. This adversity and love for art ultimately catapulted her into the success she has seen today through inventing, patenting, and licensing multiple products, and even landed her an appearance on ABC's Shark Tank with her product SwipenSnap!Whether you're looking to be inspired by a story of resilience and overcoming adversity, or you're looking for practical advice on how to invent and license products, look no further! Alina tells all, including her secret sauce to landing licensing deals and overcoming mental blocks. Tune in today (oh, and you might want to take notes)!Be sure to check out the Show Notes!Follow us on Instagram: @witnessbusinessFollow Alina on Instagram: @alina_inventor

"I can't get a job because of my background." "I can't afford to live off of $10/hour so I may as well take unemployment." "I don't know enough about entrepreneurship to start my own business." These are all excuses that Justin Dodson could have made that would have kept him in his situation. But rather than accept his life for what it was, he got to work. He took the only opportunity he was given with gratitude, got to work on his skills, and now runs a multimillion dollar HVAC company: Honest Home Services, LLC. He has not only created success for himself, but for several others who are making a career out of the HVAC profession at Justin's company.This episode is a testament of hard work and sacrifice. You can sit back and make excuses for why life hasn't panned out for you. Or you can get off the couch and make your life happen. Tune in to see how Justin did that latter, and how you can follow in his footsteps.Be sure to check out the Show Notes!Follow us on Instagram: @witnessbusinessFollow Justin's company on Facebook: Honest Home Services LLC

Gabe and Jessica Miller were on their honeymoon when they stumbled upon their big idea. With no babies yet themselves, they were able to draw upon their entrepreneurial spirit to found a company that would solve an ever-present problem amongst parents of newborns: socks don't stay on! With Squid Socks, this problem has been put to bed!Tune in to hear the challenges Gabe and Jessica faced, the connections they made, what their Shark Tank appearance did for their business, and the advice they would give to aspiring entrepreneurs.Be sure to check out the Show Notes!Follow us on Instagram: @witnessbusinessFollow Squid Socks on Instagram: @squidsocksink