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PROFITABLE CONNECTIONS
April 2024
REMOTE WORK THRIVES AT RISE25
Open Communication For our work culture to be successful, our team members have to feel comfortable sharing and communicating. To this end, we host monthly meetings where we all come together and answer the same icebreaker question, such as “What personal development activities do you want to engage in this year?” or “What is your dream job?” These meetings often veer off course, but that is sort of the point; they allow us to get to know each other better by learning one another’s hobbies, interests, favorite bands, foods, movies, and books; wherever the conversation takes us, that is where we go! We encourage our team to be their authentic selves because we believe authenticity and transparency are critical to unlocking their full potential. Since Rise25 is a fully remote workplace, we utilize various tools and methods to keep everyone feeling connected. We
When it comes to the work culture at Rise25, we believe a happy team makes for happy clients. Even though the phrase, “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life,” is overused, it contains a golden nugget of truth. While it may seem a bit hyperbolic, it is true that if you enjoy your job, the quality of the service you provide improves markedly. To ensure our team members enjoy working with us, we promote qualities we value that benefit our remote work culture. Kindness Always The key to enjoying your time at work, in part, is enjoying the people you work with. That starts with hiring. We have an informal rule that you must be kind and charismatic to work with us because kindness and congeniality benefit our team culture. Kindness is often undervalued, but it is one of our most important and treasured values.
use a communication platform whereby everyone at the company can message one another, share images, and host video calls called huddles. Our platform also features text channels, like “random,” where anyone at the company can share their thoughts and ideas or just have casual conversations with one another. One chat exchange involved having the team guess how many dogs another member has, and whoever got the answer right got to (jokingly) keep one of them! Being laid back might seem negative to some, but it provides tangible advantages. Openness promotes creativity and prevents us from feeling too isolated and confined in our home offices. Showing Appreciation One of our favorite ways to acknowledge the diligent work our team puts in is through our gifting program. Every month, we send an appreciation gift to each member. The latest care package consisted of a Starbucks gift card with a message that read, “Today’s cup of joe is on us. We love the energy you bring to the team!” We try to have fun, and occasionally, that means dropping jokes and puns whenever we can. A positive work culture prevents our jobs from becoming mundane and makes even the hardest days tolerable. If your team enjoys working for you, it shows, and clients can and will notice the difference!
–Dr. Jeremy Weisz & John Corcoran
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Essential Business Changes for 2024 Success
The past few years have been tumultuous. Much has changed since 2019, from the expansion of remote work to the rise of inflation. Almost every business needs to pivot and modernize to stay relevant in the new climate. A big part of that is finding a new target audience and more revenue streams, which is essential for keeping up with the times while boosting profits. Here’s how you can go about doing just that. No. 1: Reevaluate your target audience. The pandemic and its consequences have shaken up almost every industry, including yours. Prospective customers may have different expectations and needs, while some loyal customers you’ve always relied on may not be coming back. In 2024, you must reevaluate your ideal customers and strive to cater to them. Make a detailed list of businesses or consumers you’re targeting. This list determines the overall direction of your business and the type of adjustments you need to make. Here are some questions that can lead you to better information about your ideal customers. • How much are they willing to spend? If you’re aiming for high-paying clients, they’ll expect the best. If you’re shooting for low-paying customers, you must provide a budget option. • What are their biggest barriers to making a purchase? Examine your current processes. Are they user-friendly? For example, an easy online transaction experience is vital for many parties. • Why do they want to work with you? You have a lot of competition. Put yourself in the client’s shoes and ask why they’d pick you over another business.
Now that you know more about your ideal clients, adjust your pricing model, marketing, and other aspects of your business accordingly. If you adapt the company’s business model to be more attractive to your ideal (but untested) clients, be sure to find a balance so you don’t alienate loyal customers who are staying with you. No. 2: Find new revenue streams from existing clients. Companies in all sectors are introducing complementary products alongside existing ones to make more sales. It’s much easier to sell to loyal clients than to find new ones. Finding ways to maximize monetization is an effective way to boost profits without making substantial changes, and you should take advantage of them whenever possible. Identifying the right product to offer is critical. Start by considering the needs of your ideal and existing clients. Why are they buying your product? What could make their experience better? For example, say you’re an HVAC company. Some companies regularly hire you for replacements and repairs. Think about offering a subscription service, such as monthly checkups and maintenance. You’ll make life easier for both parties: It will be more convenient for them and offer them peace of mind, while the income will be more dependable for you — you won’t have to keep having the same sales conversation with them. But you have to find out their recurring needs to offer something attractive.
Consider introducing surveys, ideally with discount incentives, to get information from clients themselves. Ultimately, clients are the only ones who accurately know their needs and what they’re willing to pay for, and they may have ideas you’ve never considered. Remember Sears, Blockbuster, and RadioShack? Neither do we. Change is the only constant in this world; every company needs to adapt to it or face the consequences. All businesses, including yours, can be more efficient and boost profits like never before, so long as they’re willing to make the proper adjustments to grow.
• What is their personal background? Knowing someone’s location and personal info is always helpful for marketing purposes.
• What does it take to keep them happy? If a high-paying client requires a lot of effort on your part, the ROI might not be worth it.
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This Month’s Featured ‘Inspired Insider’ Podcasts
Cracking the Code of Effective Direct Response Marketing
Financing Solutions for Women and Minority- Owned Companies
Andrea Inokon is the COO and Co-founder of Cadence Cash, a fintech platform dedicated to providing business financing solutions for women and minority- owned small businesses. She is a distinguished
Deb Tracy is the COO and Founder of SIGNPROgrammers, a
digital marketing agency that creates digital sign content, video ads, and digital billboard graphics. She works with a range of clients, helping them capture their audience’s attention with unique designs and calls to action. With over two decades
C-suite executive, advisor, lawyer, and entrepreneur with a 20-year track record of championing the rights and opportunities of women and minorities in the financial and tech sectors. In this episode of the “Inspired Insider” podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Andrea Inokon, Co- founder and COO of Cadence Cash, to discuss how women- and minority-owned companies can access funding. Andrea talks about Cadence Cash, its business model for financing and lending to small businesses, and the funding challenges faced by minorities and women in business. Special Shoutouts: A few notable people on Andrea Inokon’s journey include Laura Barnard and Charles Inokon.
of experience, she believes in the power of personalized content, working closely with clients to understand their needs and creating tailored solutions. Before SIGNPROgrammers, Deb worked with Watchfire Signs as their training artist. On this episode of the “Inspired Insider” podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz sits down with Deb Tracy, Founder of SIGNPROgrammers, as she shares her expertise in digital advertising. She dives deep into the importance of creating engaging and unique content that grabs potential customers’ attention.
Special Shoutouts: A notable person on Deb Tracy’s journey is Brian Kurtz. Scan the QR code or visit the link to listen to the full episode.
Scan the QR code or visit the link to listen to the full episode.
InspiredInsider.com/ andrea-inokon-interview
InspiredInsider.com/ deb-tracy-interview
This Month’s Featured ‘Smart Business Revolution’ Podcasts
Business Development, Delegating Tips, and How to Leverage Peer Groups
How to Build a Purpose-Driven Brand
Joh Olson is the Chair of the San Francisco chapter of TIGER 21, an exclusive peer membership organization of ultra-high-net- worth entrepreneurs, investors, and executives. He is also a Mergers and Acquisitions Consultant at Pacifica Advisors, which offers M&A advisory services to small and medium-
Tamara Loehr is the Co- founder of Beusail Academy, a marketplace and community where conscious consumers use their purchasing power to make a collective positive impact. She became an entrepreneur at 19 years old when she started a digital marketing agency. Tamara is
sized businesses with an enterprise value of $5 million to $150 million throughout the Western U.S. and Mexico. Joh has held leadership positions in the corporate and health care sectors, including UCLA, UC Davis, and Stanford. In this episode of the “Smart Business Revolution” podcast, John Corcoran interviews Joh Olson, the Chair of the San Francisco chapter of TIGER 21, about delegating in business and leveraging peer groups. They also discuss the challenges Joh and his wife overcame to build Treehut, tips for growing a sellable business, and how Joh helped a client successfully exit her business. Special Shoutouts: A few notable people in Joh Olson’s journey include Ian Burnstein and Michael Sonnenfeldt.
also the Co-founder of Concertina Team, an outsourcing agency that helps entrepreneurs scale by finding the right team for them. She is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) and an advocate for female entrepreneurs and net-positive brands. In this episode of the “Smart Business Revolution” podcast, John Corcoran interviews Tamara Loehr, the Co-founder of Beusail Academy and Concertina Team, about how to build a purpose-driven brand. They also discuss the concept of ethical offshoring, how to raise entrepreneurial kids, and Tamara’s inspiration to start Beusail Academy. Special Shoutouts: A few notable people on Tamara Loehr’s journey include Paul Polman and Jeff Hoffman.
Scan the QR code or visit the link to listen to the full episode. SmartBusinessRevolution.com/ ma-series-tiger-21-series-business- development-delegating-tips-and- how-to-leverage-peer-groups-with- joh-olson
Scan the QR code or visit the link to listen to the full episode. SmartBusinessRevolution.com/ how-to-build-a-purpose-driven-brand- with-tamara-loehr
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WWII proved a challenging and pivotal time for the Dassler brothers and the Adidas name. Based in Germany, the rise of Nazism had substantial implications for every business operating in the country. The military conscripted both Adi and Rudolph, but the Dassler company managed to survive the turmoil of the war. However, it didn’t survive the countless disagreements between Adi and Rudolph. The Adidas name we know today was created in 1949. When Rudolph and Adi went their separate ways, Adi named the company Adi Dassler Adidas Sportschuhfabrik. He also registered the unmistakable three-line logo later that year. His estranged brother would go on to form his own shoe company — Puma.
1954 marked a pivotal moment for the company. The West German soccer team — which Adi was the official shoemaker for — competed against the Hungarians for the World Cup. Both teams competed on a rainy day on a muddy field. After a fierce first half, Adi introduced revolutionary studded cleats. Due to the added traction, the West Germans won the match. In 1952, Adi introduced Adidas’ first non-shoe product: a sports bag. The company subsequently released a multitude of Adidas-stamped sportswear, all bearing the familiar three-line logo. These offerings were an instant success, and the company opened several factories to produce enough supply to meet demand. By the 1960s, Adidas was a successful international company. It was the largest producer of sports shoes and continued to innovate. Adi invented nylon soles, replaceable cleats, rubberized sandals, warmup suits, and more. Adi Dassler remained a passionate shoemaker until he died in 1978. From his start as a cobbler in a war-stricken land, he left an incredible legacy of design, ambition, and resolve. Adidas, one of the most recognizable brands in the world, continues to produce an almost unmatched quantity and variety of clothing and shoes.
From then on, Adidas rocketed into stardom. Innovation and passion drew customers from all over the world. The ever-driven Adi continued to design and release new shoes. He worked with athletes of all kinds
to create a wide variety of shoes.
Rise25 Podcast Spotlight
In the Middle Ages, most people didn’t sleep for eight uninterrupted hours like we do today. Instead, they had THE 2 ACTS OF MEDIEVAL SLUMBER
inside and out of the automotive industry
'Timeless Marketing Podcast' Brian Kurtz
'The Guts and Glory Show' Luis Scott Featuring: Leaders and entrepreneurs in law and business sharing the guts it takes to succeed and the glory of success 'The Customer Wins' Richard Walker Featuring: Business leaders sharing their secrets and techniques for helping their customers succeed and grow their companies
Featuring: Top marketing minds revealing industry insights
'Nonprofit Thrive' Ben Freda
a “biphasic” sleep schedule. They had two phases to sleep every evening with a brief period of activity in the middle. The first sleep was from 9 to 11 p.m., and everyone in the household huddled on one straw bed. Despite the lack of space, they tried to make it as comfortable as possible with sleeping arrangements. Touching, kicking, or any other restless activity was considered rude. The household woke up around midnight, and they had plenty to do. They refueled the fire, did farmwork, and socialized. After that, they went back to bed for their second sleep, and they’d wake up at dawn. It’s always worth looking at the past to see the pros of living in the present. The eight-hour schedule is a modern invention and is better for our health. It’s also nice not to sleep with our brothers, sisters, parents, and guests.
Featuring: Humans helping nonprofits succeed in the digital world 'What The Teck?' Rolando Rosas Featuring: Tech experts discussing trends and issues impacting the workplace 'InsideAuto Podcast' Ilana Shabtay Featuring: Top dealers, GMs, marketers, and entrepreneurs
Go subscribe on iTunes!
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Inside This Edition 1. How Rise25 Champions Remote Work Culture 2. 2 Vital Adjustments for Businesses in 2024
Adidas is one of the world’s most recognizable brands. Their logo is on shoes, sportswear, and more across every continent. They sponsor stadiums, sports teams, and athletes in dozens of countries. It is impossible to imagine sportswear without Adidas and its countless innovations. Like many worldwide brands, Adidas has humble origins. Adolf “Adi” Dassler laid the foundation for Adidas in his mother’s washroom in Bavaria, Germany. The young Dassler cobbled and repaired shoes using materials scavenged from WWI battlefields, as resources were scarce in postwar Germany. A passionate athlete himself, Dassler dreamed of creating the finest sports shoe imaginable. He constantly innovated, experimenting with different materials and designs using repurposed equipment. Adi and his brother Rudolph created the Dassler Brothers Sport Shoe Factory, having grown too big for their washroom workshop. They hired dozens of employees and expanded into a proper factory in 1926, allowing them to create around a hundred shoes daily. Adi strongly supported athlete sponsorships, and it was those sponsorships that propelled his shoes to the international spotlight. In the Summer Olympics 1936, Adi gave German runner Lina Radke 3. The 2 Sleeps of Medieval Times 4. Adi Dassler’s 3 Stripes Legacy The Story of Adidas and Adi Dassler
Adidas founder Adolf Dassler. PHOTO: BRAUNER/ ULLSTEIN BILD VIA GETTY IMAGES)
a pair of his finest track shoes. Radke wore the six-spiked shoes to the award podium, where she accepted a gold medal in the 800-meter run. The Olympics gambit paid off. The world recognized the power of a well-designed shoe, and the Dassler brother’s company developed a reputation for quality. They started submitting international patents while Adi continued to design new and innovative shoes. Since then, numerous Olympic athletes, including the famed runner Jesse Owens, have sported a pair of Dassler shoes.
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