Pitchology

In this captivating podcast, Steve interviews Robbie Crabtree, a former trial lawyer who has transitioned into the world of entrepreneurship. Robbie candidly shares his motivations for becoming a trial lawyer, drawing inspiration from his childhood love of comic book heroes and the desire to fight for justice. The conversation takes a poignant turn as Robbie opens up about the emotional toll of handling cases involving child abuse, which eventually led him to reevaluate his career path. Robbie's insights into the challenges of embodying the emotions of his clients and the lingering impact of these cases provide a sobering look into the realities of being a trial lawyer. Robbie and Steve discuss the art of communication and the importance of being genuine when pitching to a potential client. In addition, they talk about the different techniques you can use when storytelling and how they can influence a pitch. The discussion also explores the parallels between acting and the art of persuasion in the courtroom and in being an entrepreneur, as Robbie reveals his unique ritual of using a specific playlist to help him transition into the right mindset before trials. This podcast offers a unique glimpse into the life of a former trial lawyer turned entrepreneur, highlighting the personal and professional transformations that can occur along the way. #triallawyer #prosecutor #criminaljustice #entrepreneur #entrepreneurialmindset #artofpersuasion #founder #courtroom #criminalcase #criminalcourt #childabuse #careerchange #courtroomtactics #emotionalstory

In this insightful podcast, the host sits down with venture capital leader George Bandarian the General Partner at Untapped Ventures. Bandarian shares his journey from successful entrepreneur to venture investor, with a focus on artificial intelligence startups. He discusses the importance of identifying top-tier founders who don't necessarily need hands-on guidance and the strategy of being a "small follower" investor alongside leading VC firms. Bandarian provides valuable insights into the venture capital landscape, the dynamics of different funding rounds, and his mission to invest in AI startups that positively impact humanity. This episode offers a unique glimpse into the world of AI-focused venture capital from an experienced practitioner.

In this captivating podcast episode, join Steve Distante as he sits down with Alex LePage, founder of MillerHill IP, a prominent intellectual property consulting and valuation firm. Discover the fascinating world of IP and its role in company valuation, market protection, and raising capital. From patents and trademarks to intangible assets, explore how businesses can leverage their intellectual property for growth and success. Gain valuable insights into the strategic use of IP as collateral and its impact on investor confidence. Don't miss this engaging discussion that sheds light on the hidden value of ideas and innovation. In this podcast you will discover: Licensing: Businesses can license their IP to other companies, allowing them to use their patented technology, trademarks, or copyrighted content in exchange for royalties or licensing fees. This enables businesses to generate additional revenue streams without the need for extensive production or distribution. Strategic Partnerships: Collaborating with other companies through strategic partnerships can be a powerful way to leverage IP. By combining complementary IP assets, businesses can create innovative products or services, access new markets, and enhance their competitive advantage. Branding and Marketing: Strong IP, such as trademarks and brand names, can differentiate a business from its competitors and build brand recognition and customer loyalty. Businesses can leverage their brands to attract customers, enter new markets, and command premium pricing. Securing Financing: Intellectual property can serve as collateral for securing loans or attracting investors. Lenders and investors may be more willing to provide capital if a business has valuable IP assets that can be used as security or demonstrate the potential for future revenue generation. Defensive Positioning: IP can be used defensively to protect a business from competitors. By obtaining patents or trademarks, businesses can establish barriers to entry, deter potential infringers, and safeguard their market position. Technology Transfer: Businesses can monetize their IP by transferring their technology or know-how to other companies or industries. This can involve licensing, joint ventures, or even spin-off companies that commercialize the IP in new applications or markets. Research and Development: Investing in R&D and continuously developing new IP can fuel business growth. By creating a robust IP portfolio, businesses can introduce innovative products or processes, stay ahead of market trends, and capture new market opportunities.

In this episode, Steve sits down with filmmaker and Documentarian, Akira Chan and we dive into the fascinating world of filmmaking and entrepreneurship. Discover the power of creative storytelling, the impact of documentaries, and the connection between art and entrepreneurship. From igniting social change to highlighting inspiring stories, Akira shares his experiences and collaborations with entrepreneurs, artists, and change-makers. Get inspired and gain insights into the art of storytelling and its ability to create a ripple effect in the world. Connect: Steve Distante - https://pitchology.ai/ Akira Chan - https://www.raremedia.tv filmmaking #Entrepreneurship #Creativestorytelling #Documentaries #Art #Socialchange #Inspiringstories #Collaboration #Entrepreneurs #Artists #Changemakers #Storytelling #Impactfulstorytelling #Documentaryfilmmaking #Creativethinkers #Entertainmentindustry #Filmproduction #Videoproduction

Visit pitchology.ai for more content, information, and tips for becoming a successful entrepreneur. In this episode, Steve and writing coach, Leslie Hinson, discuss the excitement, frustration, happiness, and even sadness that comes with writing a book. Join us for an adventure into the heart of storytelling where creativity knows no bounds. Highlights from this episode: Dive into the mesmerizing journey of storytelling and book creation with Leslie Hinson, a master of weaving tales that captivate and educate. In this enlightening podcast, we unravel the art of fable writing, explore the transformative power of stories, and discover how ancient wisdom is repackaged for modern audiences. Leslie shares insights from her unique path to becoming a fiction and fable writing aficionado, the intricacies of crafting stories with moral lessons, and the joy of blending historical facts with imaginative fiction. Whether you're an aspiring writer or a lover of stories, this conversation is a treasure trove of inspiration, offering a glimpse into the meticulous process of bringing tales to life that resonate across generations. Connect with Steve and Leslie: Steve Distante - https://stevedistante.com Leslie Hinson - https://www.linkedin.com/in/leslie-hinson-572b2481/

Steve sat down with friend Salim Ismail, the author of Exponential Organizations and its sequel, Exponential Organizations 2.0: The New Playbook for 10x Growth and Impact, to discuss the ins and outs of Entrepreneurial drive. Highlights from this Episode: Your Life’s Work may require money, but it’s never about money. It’s bigger than that. It’s usually visceral, or at your core of being, that is a challenge or opportunity to have a massive impact on both you (the entrepreneur) and many others. In most cases, it becomes your legacy because it’s so beneficial. For EIs, often the drive of the entrepreneur is more alluring than the company itself—we buy the drive, not the company. Efficiency and predictability aren’t enough anymore. Salim explains how the old paradigm of a sustainable organization used to be based on efficiency and predictability. Now, he says that organizations need to be architected for agility, flexibility, adaptability, and speed to truly succeed in today’s market. Evolve to wisdom. Salim and I speak about the thrill of momentum we feel when we have a new idea, or even see a new avenue in the direction of our Life’s Work. Know your highest and best use for the organization. Sometimes the CEO and president role isn’t where the entrepreneur needs to be forever. This can be a scary feeling for entrepreneurs, so they mess it up so they can find meaning. Learn how to harness your drive beneficially for everybody. It doesn’t matter how good your ideas are if you’re constantly shifting the purpose of your organization. If you’re repurposing your talent to new roles too often, no one will ever be able to master their position. This will lead to eye-rolling and frustration from your team, or worse—A-players leaving the organization. Consider creating an internal research and development team as an explorer. You can create an R&D team that serves that explorative purpose without stressing out your existing business or pulling your nucleus team off their jobs. Your ideal space may be at the edge. Salim discusses how the entrepreneur/founder may be happiest existing more at the edges of the company— where they can dabble with new ideas without being a destabilizing force—then at the helm. Being an “arsonist” can give you the illusion of purpose. They’re intentionally (or subconsciously) messing things up so they can have the opportunity to step in as the hero again. Learn to discern when you’re just looking to mess things up for the thrill of it. Arson can be a reaction to metamorphosis. Often, when people start lighting their own fires to put out, it stems from the fact that the business has matured to a place where it is no longer dependent on the entrepreneur. This can be a scary feeling for entrepreneurs, so they mess it up so they can find meaning. The luge can be a good thing. The thing about a luge is there’s no getting off. To accomplish big projects, you may need to have a “leave the world behind” mindset so you can focus intensely on the project at hand. When you’re in a luge, you’re accountable for results and deadlines. When you know how to harness the power of a luge, you can use it to create periods of commitment and intense focus so you can create BIG things. Connect with Steve and Salim: Steve Distante - https://stevedistante.com Salim Ismail - https://salimismail.com

Steve Distante sat down with friend and fellow wolf, AJ Caro, a lifelong serial entrepreneur who truly embodies the benefits of M&A. His strategic acquisitions of a home health aide business and an insurance company served as the inspiration for the Littlepigs story above. Highlights from this Episode: Diversification is important. Diversification across different industries should bring longer-term stability, as one economic event would not be destabilizing enough to tank any of your businesses. Diversification allows for a variety of activities. Entrepreneurs tend to get bored easily, so having a lot of different activities can offer longevity in more ways than just buffering for a market downturn. Diversification has its cons too. Diversification can take your concentrated growth efforts into multiple industries—which does create multiple streams of income—but not one larger company, which will likely hold a higher value. M&A can be a win-win. Looking for companies in their sunset stage can help ensure a win-win. One of the greatest benefits of acquiring a “sunsetting” business is to acquire and mentor the “A player” from the company to manage and ultimately grow that new venture with minimal participation. Acquire strategically. The best time to acquire a disaster relief company is before a tornado, hurricane, or earthquake hits, not after. Acquiring a business like this for a reasonable price can pay off immensely in the event of a disaster, or whatever it takes to change the normal market. You can make headway in diversification through M&A, and then develop those businesses under stable circumstances. Savings are the first expense. In the world of cycles, never gouge your business. Make saving your first expense. In a downturn market, that is the time to access your savings for an acquisition. It is often advantageous to invest (or acquire) during a big market downturn or cataclysmic event. This is why saving for rainy days is always a good strategy whenever possible. Another strategy involves relationships. When you identify businesses that may be good M&A opportunities for you in a few years, keep an open line of communication with the current owners. If something happens and they decide to sell the business, they’ll come to you as a lifeline. Connect with Steve and AJ: Steve Distante - https://stevedistante.com AJ Caro - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajcaro/

Dean Jackson coined the phrase “Who, not how,” which you might recognize as the title of a well-known entrepreneurial book. Well, Dean’s friend and Strategic Coach founder, Dan Sullivan, resonated with the idea so hard that he and Dr. Benjamin Hardy wrote a book about it. (Who, Not How by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy is dedicated to Dean.) For Dean, the idea is more of a concept by which to live his life. We discuss unique ability, abundance mentality, and the power of sticking with a community for the long run. He also breaks down the concept of a Who. The gist is this: we don’t have to know. Highlights from this Episode: Connect with Steve and Dean: Steve Distante - https://stevedistante.com Dean Jackson - http://deanjackson.com

Doug and Steve discuss the natural progression many leaders have to go through as they learn how to harness their “inner wolf” for good. It’s easy for us to intimidate others; we have an intense presence. But as we grow, learn, and evolve, we become more effective leaders. Wolves are the villains of so much lore, yet are an incredibly vital part of many ecosystems. As an entrepreneur’s business grows, they have to learn how to select and mentor the people who work with them. Often this takes a few years—and a few alienated employees who may jump ship. The wolf has to learn how to be a shepherd, which isn’t a role wolves perform naturally. As Doug explains in the conversation, there’s a big difference between a shepherd standing behind a flock of sheep, driving them forward by scaring them, and a shepherd whose sheep follow him by choice. Highlights from this Episode: Connect with Steve and Doug: Steve Distante - https://stevedistante.com Dr. Doug Brackmann - https://www.iamdriven.com

When I first had the idea for the PIN, I knew I wanted to include Joe Polish in a way that's more than making an Easter egg out of his ELF acronym. Joe and I had a conversation in which we discussed the benefits of having a network and getting to do your Life’s Work, what we look for in investable entrepreneurs and much more. Highlights from this episode:

What makes a good, fail-proof sales pitch? How can you ensure that the investors will not say “No” when you try to raise capital for your business? The conversation between Steve Distante and Sandra Powers surrounds the topic of creating your sales pitch. Sandra talks about the role of a global investment firm in helping small businesses to grow their market share and how it works with both managers and potential investors to help them connect and grow their assets. She also emphasizes the importance of being able to tell a story about why a product is different and better than what is already on the market. The pitch map process is a way for entrepreneurs to raise capital efficiently by focusing on the why behind their product or service. In a competitive world, it is essential to be able to articulate what makes your offering unique and why it is needed. The best pitches are those that are clear and concise, focusing on the value that the product or service will add. Who’s The Guest? Sandra Powers is the CEO and founder of a global, a third party marketing company that helps entrepreneurs raise capital. She has been in the industry for over a decade and her experience includes working with retirement planning clients. Sandra decided to start her own company in order to work more closely with entrepreneurial investment management firms, particularly those that are women and diversity-oriented. Highlights Call to Action Join the Early Access List Episode Resources https://pitchology.ai/https://joinvanderbilt.com/https://www.facebook.com/stevedistanteCEO/https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedistantehttps://twitter.com/Sdistantehttps://www.instagram.com/sdistante/https://uk.linkedin.com/in/sandrawpowers

In this episode of Pitch, host Steve Distante is joined by Akira Chan, director and founder of Rare Media. Chan discusses the company's focus on producing videos that tell human stories and highlights the demand for this type of content. He also talks about how he met Steve at the Abundance360 conference and how their meeting led to the creation of this podcast. Akira also shares his belief that video is an essential part of marketing, as it is an easy way to share information with a large number of people. It is also an effective way to communicate, as it can convey a lot of information in a short amount of time and how Rare Media produces videos for investors which tell the story of the founder, the business, and the impact it is having on the world. Who’s The Guest? Akira Chan is a documentary filmmaker and also the founder of Rare Media, a production studio creating videos for organizations, entrepreneurs, and authors such as Mindvalley, Chopra Global, Abundance360, and more. Akira’s recent film on art and addiction, was awarded Audience Choice Short at the Illuminate Film Festival 2018. Its film screening + art auction distribution model raised half a million dollars towards addiction recovery. Highlights Call to Action Join the Early Access List Episode Resources https://pitchology.ai/https://joinvanderbilt.com/https://www.facebook.com/stevedistanteCEO/https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedistantehttps://twitter.com/Sdistantehttps://www.instagram.com/sdistante/https://www.linkedin.com/in/akirachanhttps://www.raremedia.tv/

In this conversation, Tucker Max discusses the importance of writing a book and how it can help entrepreneurs raise capital. He describes how Scribe Media helps people write, publish, and market their books. He also talks about how most of their clients have more money than time, and so they hire Scribe Media to help with the process. Tucker also talks about the benefits of writing a book, both in terms of the personal satisfaction of the author and the potential to make money from the book. They also describe how important it is to have a plan for promoting the book, including interviews, guest posts, and articles. The goal is to get sales and clients from the book. Who’s The Guest? Tucker Max co-founded Scribe Media, a premier professional publishing company that helped people like Dan Sullivan, David Goggins, and Tiffany Haddish publish and market their books. He has written four New York Times Best Selling books which sold more than 4.5 million copies around the world. He is only the fourth writer to have three of his books listed on the New York Times Nonfiction Best Seller List. Highlights Call to Action Join the Early Access List Episode Resources https://pitchology.ai/https://joinvanderbilt.com/https://www.facebook.com/stevedistanteCEO/https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedistantehttps://twitter.com/Sdistantehttps://www.instagram.com/sdistante/https://www.tuckermax.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/tuckermaxhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tucker_Maxhttps://twitter.com/TuckerMaxhttps://www.amazon.com/Tucker-Max/e/B001JSAOIA

Living his best life in Puerto Rico, Richard Harmon, together with the host, Steve Distante, discusses the pros of living in another country, including the tax benefits it entails. Richard moved to Puerto Rico in 2018 after a client of his expressed interest in doing the same. He found that, compared to the mainland US, Puerto Rico has much lower taxes (4% after a reasonable salary is deducted), no capital gains taxes, and is a great place to live overall. They also talk about raising capital and how to extract money from a business. Richard discusses how he helped to structure Tony Robbins' ESOP deal and how entrepreneurs can start using it for their businesses. Who’s The Guest? Richard Harmon began his CPA career at PwC. He was a top financial systems implementation specialist tackling numerous assignments for Fortune 500 companies. He founded TeamAlliance, a technology staffing company, opening offices in 30 states, and after a successful exit, started building several start-ups. Richard Harmon’s experience in public accounting, as a CFO, and as an entrepreneur, allows him to bring unique strategic insights and practical solutions to his investment banking activities as a Managing Director at CSG Partners. Highlights Call to Action Join the Early Access List Episode Resources https://pitchology.ai/https://joinvanderbilt.com/https://www.facebook.com/stevedistanteCEO/https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedistantehttps://twitter.com/Sdistantehttps://www.instagram.com/sdistante/https://www.csgpartners.com/esop-advisory-team/richard-harmonhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/richardharmon/

Dan Sullivan and Steve Distante discuss the benefits of collaboration and how it can lead to the creation of new and innovative ideas. They talk about the importance of finding collaborators who share similar values and goals and how collaboration can often lead to opportunities that are much larger and less complicated than funding alone. Additionally, Dan goes on to share how he has since become involved in a number of collaborative ventures, including work with Entrepreneurs Organization, Tony Robbins, and Mike Koenigs. He describes how these collaborations have led to a number of positive outcomes, including the funding of his farm through Climate First Bank. Who’s The Guest? Dan Sullivan is the founder and president of Strategic Coach®. With over 40 years of experience as a highly regarded and world-class speaker, consultant, coach, and strategic partner, he helps entrepreneurs and groups in reaching their full potential, both in their business and personal lives. Dan is also an accomplished author with more than 30 titles under his name, including Creative Destruction, How The Best Get Better®, and The Great Crossover. Highlights Call to Action Join the Early Access List Episode Resources https://pitchology.ai/https://joinvanderbilt.com/https://www.facebook.com/stevedistanteCEO/https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedistantehttps://twitter.com/Sdistantehttps://www.instagram.com/sdistante/https://www.strategiccoach.com/https://ca.linkedin.com/in/dansullivansc

In the conversation, Peter Diamandis talks about his work with XPRIZE and his mission to help entrepreneurs achieve their dreams. He discusses his work with building a coaching program for entrepreneurs. Peter also talks about three different mindsets that he believes are important for people to have in order to be successful in the future. Who’s The Guest? Dr. Peter H. Diamandis is an international pioneer in the fields of innovation, incentive competitions, and commercial space. He is a three-time best-selling author, public speaker, and philanthropist. He is the founder and executive chairman of the XPRIZE Foundation, which leads the world in designing and operating large-scale incentive competitions. Peter is recently named as one of the world’s 50 Greatest Leaders and continues to counsel the world’s leaders on growing technologies. Highlights Call to Action Join the Early Access List Episode Resources https://pitchology.ai/https://joinvanderbilt.com/https://www.facebook.com/stevedistanteCEO/https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedistantehttps://twitter.com/Sdistantehttps://www.instagram.com/sdistante/https://www.diamandis.com/https://www.facebook.com/PeterDiamandis/https://twitter.com/PeterDiamandishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Diamandishttps://www.linkedin.com/in/peterdiamandishttps://www.instagram.com/peterdiamandis

In the conversation, Andrew Sherman and Steve Distante discuss the importance of intangible assets in business deals, particularly in the context of mergers and acquisitions. They also talk about the challenges of building and selling a company, and the role of strategy in acquisitions. Who’s The Guest? Andrew Sherman serves as a legal and strategic advisor to both leaders of Fortune 500 companies and founders of rapid growth, emerging businesses in the areas of business planning, corporate finance, M&A, and intellectual property harvesting, such as franchising and licensing strategies. He authored about 26 books on business growth, M&A, and strategies and was a frequent public speaker to business groups. He also serves as a Professor in the MBA program at the University of Maryland and at Georgetown Law School for nearly 30 years. Highlights Call to Action Join the Early Access List Episode Resources https://pitchology.ai/https://joinvanderbilt.com/https://www.facebook.com/stevedistanteCEO/https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedistantehttps://twitter.com/Sdistantehttps://www.instagram.com/sdistante/https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewjshermanhttps://www.seyfarth.com/people/andrew-j-sherman.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Sherman Mergers and Acquisitions from A to Z Harvesting of Intangible Assets

Ken LaRoe was a banker who decided to start a values-based bank. He was inspired by Yvon Chouinard's autobiography and his experience in the cannabis industry. He sold his first bank and then circumnavigated the country with his wife in a mini motorhome. He eventually started Climate First Bank, which was a part of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values. He served on the board of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values. Ken also shares his story of how he got involved in the industry and how he has seen firsthand the difference that green initiatives can make. He talks about the importance of making a profit while also doing good, and how few people in the industry are actually doing that. Who’s The Guest? After graduating from Florida State University, Ken LaRoe’s banking journey started in 1982 at the Flagship Bank in Tavares, Florida. In 1996, he joined the Colonial Bank as the President for their Lake County operations and founded the Florida Choice Bank in 1999 which grew its assets to $400 million before being sold to the Alabama National Bankcorp in 2006. Ken was inspired by Yvon Chouinard's autobiography and his experience in the cannabis industry after selling the First GREEN Bank. In the summer of 2020, he began working on a business plan and application for the Climate First Bank. After overcapitalization at $44.2 million, the bank was granted a charter by the State of Florida and the FDIC. The bank opened June 1, 2021 in St. Petersburg, Florida to a huge reception as the only Benefits Corporation bank in the State of Florida. Additionally, the bank was Net Zero day one as well as a member of 1% For the Planet and a provisional B Corp. Highlights Call to Action Join the Early Access List Episode Resources https://pitchology.ai/https://joinvanderbilt.com/https://www.facebook.com/stevedistanteCEO/https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedistantehttps://twitter.com/Sdistantehttps://www.instagram.com/sdistante/https://www.climatefirstbank.com/https://www.firstgreenbank.com/https://www.facebook.com/FirstGREENBankhttps://kenlaroe.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-laroe-92887510

Steve Distante welcomes Adam Rein, the Co-Founder, President, and Chief Investment Officer of CapShift. The conversation discusses how a family office can help manage a family's wealth as well as other family-related business activities. A family office typically has two core parts: investment management and family planning. Investment management helps decide where to invest the family's money, and family planning helps with things like tax planning, accounting, estate planning, and legal services. Adam Rein also talks about his expertise in the field of family office and how it has led him to his latest venture, CapShift. He describes how he helps high-net-worth families build purpose-driven investment portfolios. Who’s The Guest? Adam Rein is the Co-Founder, President, and Chief Investment Officer of CapShift, a turnkey impact investment solution for the $1 trillion charitable investment market of donor-advised funds and private foundations. He was also the Managing Director of MissionPoint Partners, which provides growth capital, knowledge, and a broad network of relationships to companies focused on the clean energy, energy efficiency, and environmental finance sectors, where he is still a Strategic Partner now. Highlights Call to Action Join the Early Access List Episode Resources https://pitchology.ai/https://joinvanderbilt.com/https://www.facebook.com/stevedistanteCEO/https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedistantehttps://twitter.com/Sdistantehttps://www.instagram.com/sdistante/https://capshift.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamrein

Steve Distante welcomes Franz Hochstrasser of Raise Green to talk about SAFE or the Simple Agreement for Future Equity, which is a security that is often used in early-stage investments. The conversation discusses the rise of private investment through crowdfunding portals, which has been a democratizing force in the securities market. The focus is on mission-driven companies, which have historically struggled to access capital. They also share the challenges that exist in the space, such as companies that take in money and don't pay anything back. Who’s The Guest? Franz Hochstrasser is the CEO and co-founder of Raise Green. He is the former Obama appointee on energy and climate for the White House, the US State Department, and the United States Department of Agriculture. He was also part of the core team that negotiated the Paris Agreement. Highlights Call to Action Join the Early Access List Episode Resources https://pitchology.ai/https://joinvanderbilt.com/https://www.facebook.com/stevedistanteCEO/https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevedistantehttps://twitter.com/Sdistantehttps://www.instagram.com/sdistante/https://www.raisegreen.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/franzhochstrasserhttps://twitter.com/franzish