Beyond The Pedway » Video Interviews http://www.beyondthepedway.com Learn from creative entrepreneurs! Wed, 17 Aug 2011 17:43:45 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 6 New Cities, 10 Months, & $1.6 Million: An Update With Grubwithus’ Eddy Lu http://www.beyondthepedway.com/grubwithus-eddy-lu-interview http://www.beyondthepedway.com/grubwithus-eddy-lu-interview#comments Fri, 12 Aug 2011 14:00:53 +0000 Tim Jahn http://www.beyondthepedway.com/?p=4368 interviewed Eddy Lu, co-founder of a brand new Chicago social dining startup called Grubwithus.  After Eddy and his co-founder moved to Chicago to open a brick and mortar store, they started Grubwithus on the side to help them meet new people in the city. Apparently a few other people had the same problem and loved their solution.  Grubwithus started taking off organically in Chicago.  In the 10 months since then, Grubwithus has participated in the Y Combinator incubator program, raised $1.6 million in funding, and expanded to 6 new cities beyond Chicago. I invited Eddy here to catch up on their story and learn what has changed, and what he's learned, in the past 10 crazy months of his journey.]]> Back in October 2010, I interviewed Eddy Lu, co-founder of a brand new Chicago social dining startup called Grubwithus.  After Eddy and his co-founder moved to Chicago to open a brick and mortar store, they started Grubwithus on the side to help them meet new people in the city.

Apparently a few other people had the same problem and loved their solution.  Grubwithus started taking off organically in Chicago.  In the 10 months since then, Grubwithus has participated in the Y Combinator incubator program, raised $1.6 million in funding, and expanded to 6 new cities beyond Chicago.

I invited Eddy here to catch up on their story and learn what has changed, and what he’s learned, in the past 10 crazy months of his journey.

]]> http://www.beyondthepedway.com/grubwithus-eddy-lu-interview/feed 0 Why Getting Feedback From Your Customers Is So Important – with DreamChamps http://www.beyondthepedway.com/dreamchamps-jill-felska-jenn-krenn-interview http://www.beyondthepedway.com/dreamchamps-jill-felska-jenn-krenn-interview#comments Fri, 05 Aug 2011 14:00:00 +0000 Tim Jahn http://www.beyondthepedway.com/?p=4359 interviewed Jill Felska and Jen Krenn a year ago about their company POP! Social Media.  Recently, they started DreamChamps, a site which seeks to connect companies with unique cultures with employees that really fit those cultures. On their blog Pursuing Our Passion, Jill and Jenn recently wrote about an expensive mistake they made with DreamChamps that they wanted to share with their readers.  I invited Jill and Jenn here to expand more on that post, and explain what they learned about the importance of asking customers for feedback.]]> I interviewed Jill Felska and Jen Krenn a year ago about their company POP! Social Media.  Recently, they started DreamChamps, a site which seeks to connect companies with unique cultures with employees that really fit those cultures.

On their blog Pursuing Our Passion, Jill and Jenn recently wrote about an expensive mistake they made with DreamChamps that they wanted to share with their readers.  I invited Jill and Jenn here to expand more on that post, and explain what they learned about the importance of asking customers for feedback.

]]> http://www.beyondthepedway.com/dreamchamps-jill-felska-jenn-krenn-interview/feed 0 Building Your Website Idea When You’re Not Technical – with Mark Lawrence http://www.beyondthepedway.com/mark-lawrence-spothero-interview http://www.beyondthepedway.com/mark-lawrence-spothero-interview#comments Fri, 29 Jul 2011 14:00:09 +0000 Tim Jahn http://www.beyondthepedway.com/?p=4350 SpotHero, a website that enables you to reserve parking spots ahead of time in cities like Chicago. If you're ever driven around Wrigley Field trying to find a spot before the Cubs game, or arrived 30 minutes before your meeting in downtown Chicago because it takes that long to find parking, you appreciate a site like SpotHero. In this interview, Mark and I discuss how SpotHero was created, and how best to approach building a website idea when neither you or your co-founder are technical people.]]> Mark Lawrence is the co-founder of SpotHero, a website that enables you to reserve parking spots ahead of time in cities like Chicago. If you’re ever driven around Wrigley Field trying to find a spot before the Cubs game, or arrived 30 minutes before your meeting in downtown Chicago because it takes that long to find parking, you appreciate a site like SpotHero.

In this interview, Mark and I discuss how SpotHero was created, and how best to approach building a website idea when neither you or your co-founder are technical people.

(Mark and I recently realized we both went to Bradley University at the same time).

]]> http://www.beyondthepedway.com/mark-lawrence-spothero-interview/feed 1 Building A Service And Product Hybrid Idea – with Ryan Evans http://www.beyondthepedway.com/ryan-evans-bite-size-pr-interview http://www.beyondthepedway.com/ryan-evans-bite-size-pr-interview#comments Fri, 22 Jul 2011 14:00:17 +0000 Tim Jahn http://www.beyondthepedway.com/?p=4345 Ryan Evans is an amazing entrepreneur and person in general.  In addition to his main company Rand Media Group, Ryan recently launched Bite Size PR, a new site that helps small businesses who can’t afford big budget PR firms.

Lesley Tweedie of Little Independent was raving to me about the service and how Ryan and his team had landed her some solid press.  The more she told me about Bite Size PR, the more I knew I needed to sit down with Ryan and learn why he launched this unique service.

]]> http://www.beyondthepedway.com/ryan-evans-bite-size-pr-interview/feed 0 When Your Idea Morphs From A Need To Frustration – with Garrick Pohl http://www.beyondthepedway.com/garrick-pohl-zipments-interview http://www.beyondthepedway.com/garrick-pohl-zipments-interview#comments Fri, 15 Jul 2011 14:00:19 +0000 Tim Jahn http://www.beyondthepedway.com/?p=4319 Zipments, a company in the emerging buyer powered market space that helps you get things across town by having local couriers bid on your need. I interviewed Garrick to learn why he created Zipments, what his previous company did, and why Zipments was one of those ideas he had to act on.]]> Garrick Pohl is the founder of Zipments, a company in the emerging buyer powered market space that helps you get things across town by having local couriers bid on your need.

I interviewed Garrick to learn why he created Zipments, what his previous company did, and why Zipments was one of those ideas he had to act on.

Learn how to create your own interviews!

My new e-book “Use Interviews To Increase Your Blog Traffic” shares my techniques and strategies for using interviews to increase my blog traffic by 650% over the past 2 years. 

You’ll learn how to:

  • Create Interviews That Attract Visitors
  • Boost Your Credibility
  • Enable Others To Spread Your Interviews
  • Select The Right People To Interview
  • and much more!
]]> http://www.beyondthepedway.com/garrick-pohl-zipments-interview/feed 0 From Failing An iPhone Development Class To Developing AirRun – with Rob Matthews http://www.beyondthepedway.com/airrun-rob-matthews-interview http://www.beyondthepedway.com/airrun-rob-matthews-interview#comments Fri, 08 Jul 2011 14:00:06 +0000 Tim Jahn http://www.beyondthepedway.com/?p=4313 Rob Matthews first came up with the idea for the AirRun iPhone app while in an iPhone development class in college.  A class he wasn’t doing the best in.

In this interview, Rob and I discuss the origins of his iPhone app idea, where he sees the future of this emerging buyer powered market going, and how he went about building an iPhone app.

Learn how to create your own interviews!

My new e-book “Use Interviews To Increase Your Blog Traffic” shares my techniques and strategies for using interviews to increase my blog traffic by 650% over the past 2 years. 

You’ll learn how to:

  • Create Interviews That Attract Visitors
  • Boost Your Credibility
  • Enable Others To Spread Your Interviews
  • Select The Right People To Interview
  • and much more!
]]> http://www.beyondthepedway.com/airrun-rob-matthews-interview/feed 0 Fusing Traditional And New Media For Wedding Invitations with Mightyvites http://www.beyondthepedway.com/mightyvites-christopher-stephanie-stump-interview http://www.beyondthepedway.com/mightyvites-christopher-stephanie-stump-interview#comments Fri, 01 Jul 2011 14:00:37 +0000 Tim Jahn http://www.beyondthepedway.com/?p=4285 Christopher Stump and his sister Stephanie are the founders of Mightyvites, a new way to send out wedding invitations (and other events down the road).  You send out beautiful, hand crafted paper invites, which contain instructions on how people can RSVP online, allowing you to manage responses and such more efficiently.

Learn how to create your own interviews!

My new e-book “Use Interviews To Increase Your Blog Traffic” shares my techniques and strategies for using interviews to increase my blog traffic by 650% over the past 2 years. 

You’ll learn how to:

  • Create Interviews That Attract Visitors
  • Boost Your Credibility
  • Enable Others To Spread Your Interviews
  • Select The Right People To Interview
  • and much more!
]]> http://www.beyondthepedway.com/mightyvites-christopher-stephanie-stump-interview/feed 0 An Artistic Twist On Family Photo Sharing with Photogram http://www.beyondthepedway.com/photogram-iphone-app-interview http://www.beyondthepedway.com/photogram-iphone-app-interview#comments Fri, 24 Jun 2011 14:00:27 +0000 Tim Jahn http://www.beyondthepedway.com/?p=4277 Photogram, a new iPhone app that puts an artistic twist on family photo sharing through email. I interviewed Bob and Brian to learn why they created Photogram, how they went about executing on their idea, and the challenges they faced along the way.]]> Bob Armour is the CEO and Brian Hand is a co-founder of Photogram, a new iPhone app that puts an artistic twist on family photo sharing through email.

I interviewed Bob and Brian to learn why they created Photogram, how they went about executing on their idea, and the challenges they faced along the way.

Learn how to create your own interviews!

My new e-book “Use Interviews To Increase Your Blog Traffic” shares my techniques and strategies for using interviews to increase my blog traffic by 650% over the past 2 years. 

You’ll learn how to:

  • Create Interviews That Attract Visitors
  • Boost Your Credibility
  • Enable Others To Spread Your Interviews
  • Select The Right People To Interview
  • and much more!
]]> http://www.beyondthepedway.com/photogram-iphone-app-interview/feed 0 Helping Local Independent Shops Reach Wider Audiences – with Lesley Tweedie http://www.beyondthepedway.com/lesley-tweedie-little-independent-interview http://www.beyondthepedway.com/lesley-tweedie-little-independent-interview#comments Fri, 17 Jun 2011 14:00:02 +0000 Tim Jahn http://www.beyondthepedway.com/?p=4265 Lesley Tweedie is the founder of Little Independent, an online marketplace for sale items from independent retail stores.  Lesley is an independent store owner herself and owns a local bike shop in Chicago.

I interviewed Lesley to learn where the idea for Little Independent came from, how she created the site, and what she’s learned from being a brick and mortar entrepreneur creating an internet business.

Learn how to create your own interviews!

My new e-book “Use Interviews To Increase Your Blog Traffic” shares my techniques and strategies for using interviews to increase my blog traffic by 650% over the past 2 years. 

You’ll learn how to:

  • Create Interviews That Attract Visitors
  • Boost Your Credibility
  • Enable Others To Spread Your Interviews
  • Select The Right People To Interview
  • and much more!
]]> http://www.beyondthepedway.com/lesley-tweedie-little-independent-interview/feed 1 From Interviewing JK Rowling To Inspiring Millions Every Month – with Emerson Spartz http://www.beyondthepedway.com/emerson-spartz-interview http://www.beyondthepedway.com/emerson-spartz-interview#comments Fri, 10 Jun 2011 16:16:18 +0000 Tim Jahn http://www.beyondthepedway.com/?p=4230 Emerson Spartz is the founder of Spartz Inc., a network of websites including OMG Facts, MuggleNet, and GivesMeHope that reach millions of people every month.

Emerson’s Harry Potter fan site MuggleNet was so popular that it attracted the attention of JK Rowling, who invited Emerson to Scotland to do a special interview with her when one of the later books came out.

I interviewed Emerson to learn how he created this popular network of websites, his process for evaluating new ideas, and why homeschooling ended up being the best thing that ever happened to him.

Learn how to create your own interviews!

My new e-book “Use Interviews To Increase Your Blog Traffic” shares my techniques and strategies for using interviews to increase my blog traffic by 650% over the past 2 years. 

You’ll learn how to:

  • Create Interviews That Attract Visitors
  • Boost Your Credibility
  • Enable Others To Spread Your Interviews
  • Select The Right People To Interview
  • and much more!
]]> http://www.beyondthepedway.com/emerson-spartz-interview/feed 5 Building Company Culture By Design, Not Default – with Jay Wilkinson http://www.beyondthepedway.com/firespring-jay-wilkinson-company-culture-interview http://www.beyondthepedway.com/firespring-jay-wilkinson-company-culture-interview#comments Tue, 07 Jun 2011 14:00:27 +0000 Tim Jahn http://www.beyondthepedway.com/?p=4222 Jay Wilkinson is the founder and CEO of Firespring, a digital marketing/design/dev firm in Lincoln, Nebraska that was recently named one of Inc. Magazine’s 50 Top Small Company Workplaces because of their unique company culture.

I interviewed Jay to learn about how he created such an appealing culture at Firespring, why it’s so important to him and his team, and how you build a culture by design instead of by default.

(photo credit)

Learn how to create your own interviews!

My new e-book “Use Interviews To Increase Your Blog Traffic” shares my techniques and strategies for using interviews to increase my blog traffic by 650% over the past 2 years. 

You’ll learn how to:

  • Create Interviews That Attract Visitors
  • Boost Your Credibility
  • Enable Others To Spread Your Interviews
  • Select The Right People To Interview
  • and much more!
]]> http://www.beyondthepedway.com/firespring-jay-wilkinson-company-culture-interview/feed 1 From Managing A $96 Million Budget To Improving Social Travel – with Brittany Laughlin http://www.beyondthepedway.com/brittany-laughlin-gtrot-interview http://www.beyondthepedway.com/brittany-laughlin-gtrot-interview#comments Fri, 03 Jun 2011 14:00:35 +0000 Tim Jahn http://www.beyondthepedway.com/?p=4216 Brittany Laughlin is the co-founder of gtrot, a website improving social travel.  Before narrowing down her interests to travel and tech, Brittany worked for American Express managing a team and a $96 million budget.

I interviewed Brittany to learn how she determined which of her many interests to pursue, how she was so persistent, and how she’s looking to improve social travel in the future.

Learn how to create your own interviews!

My new e-book “Use Interviews To Increase Your Blog Traffic” shares my techniques and strategies for using interviews to increase my blog traffic by 650% over the past 2 years. 

You’ll learn how to:

  • Create Interviews That Attract Visitors
  • Boost Your Credibility
  • Enable Others To Spread Your Interviews
  • Select The Right People To Interview
  • and much more!
]]> http://www.beyondthepedway.com/brittany-laughlin-gtrot-interview/feed 1 From Urban Design To Dabbling In New Business – with Jessica Lybeck http://www.beyondthepedway.com/jessica-lybeck-dabble-interview http://www.beyondthepedway.com/jessica-lybeck-dabble-interview#comments Fri, 27 May 2011 14:13:16 +0000 Tim Jahn http://www.beyondthepedway.com/?p=4173 Jessica Lybeck is the co-founder of Dabble, a new site allowing anybody to teach a class and anybody to dabble in new activities.  Before Dabble, Jessica co-founded a small business marketing firm and before that was an urban designer working on 50-year plans for colleges.

I interviewed Jessica to learn about dabble, her journey as an entrepreneur, and what sorts of things urban designers do (cool stuff!).

Learn how to create your own interviews!

My new e-book “Use Interviews To Increase Your Blog Traffic” shares my techniques and strategies for using interviews to increase my blog traffic by 650% over the past 2 years. 

You’ll learn how to:

  • Create Interviews That Attract Visitors
  • Boost Your Credibility
  • Enable Others To Spread Your Interviews
  • Select The Right People To Interview
  • and much more!
]]> http://www.beyondthepedway.com/jessica-lybeck-dabble-interview/feed 0 Improving Blog Comments One Blog At A Time – with Daniel Ha of Disqus http://www.beyondthepedway.com/daniel-ha-disqus-interview http://www.beyondthepedway.com/daniel-ha-disqus-interview#comments Tue, 24 May 2011 15:18:19 +0000 Tim Jahn http://www.beyondthepedway.com/?p=4150 Daniel Ha is the co-founder of Disqus, a popular commenting system for blogs all over the web.  Daniel and his co-founder created Disqus while in school and gradually have become one of the most used commenting systems out there.

I interviewed Daniel to learn about the story behind Disqus and how he’s grown it to what it is today.

(photo credit)

Learn how to create your own interviews!

My new e-book “Use Interviews To Increase Your Blog Traffic” shares my techniques and strategies for using interviews to increase my blog traffic by 650% over the past 2 years. 

You’ll learn how to:

  • Create Interviews That Attract Visitors
  • Boost Your Credibility
  • Enable Others To Spread Your Interviews
  • Select The Right People To Interview
  • and much more!
]]> http://www.beyondthepedway.com/daniel-ha-disqus-interview/feed 1 A Chat With The Founder Of A New Online Reality Game Show http://www.beyondthepedway.com/chris-vankula-the-big-playoff-interview http://www.beyondthepedway.com/chris-vankula-the-big-playoff-interview#comments Fri, 20 May 2011 19:29:19 +0000 Tim Jahn http://www.beyondthepedway.com/?p=4137 The Big Playoff, a competition based reality show for the web.  I caught up with Chris at Big Omaha to learn more about The Big Playoff and his thoughts on the growing merge between television and internet.]]> Chris Vankula is the founder of The Big Playoff, a competition based reality show for the web.  I caught up with Chris at Big Omaha to learn more about The Big Playoff and his thoughts on the growing merge between television and internet.

Photo courtesy of Big Omaha/Malone & Company

Learn how to create your own interviews!

My new e-book “Use Interviews To Increase Your Blog Traffic” shares my techniques and strategies for using interviews to increase my blog traffic by 650% over the past 2 years. 

You’ll learn how to:

  • Create Interviews That Attract Visitors
  • Boost Your Credibility
  • Enable Others To Spread Your Interviews
  • Select The Right People To Interview
  • and much more!
]]> http://www.beyondthepedway.com/chris-vankula-the-big-playoff-interview/feed 0 Unconventional Steps To Entrepreneurship – with Dan Martell http://www.beyondthepedway.com/dan-martell-flowtown-interview http://www.beyondthepedway.com/dan-martell-flowtown-interview#comments Tue, 17 May 2011 14:00:26 +0000 Tim Jahn http://www.beyondthepedway.com/?p=4115 Flowtown who lives and breathes entrepreneurship.  He spoke last week at Big Omaha (my favorite entrepreneur/startup event of the year) about five unconventional steps to entrepreneurship based on his experience. I caught up with Dan afterward and asked him to share more about why he believes in these steps, and how they've shaped his journey as an entrepreneur.]]> Dan Martell is the co-founder of Flowtown who lives and breathes entrepreneurship.  He spoke last week at Big Omaha (my favorite entrepreneur/startup event of the year) about five unconventional steps to entrepreneurship based on his experience.

I caught up with Dan afterward and asked him to share more about why he believes in these steps, and how they’ve shaped his journey as an entrepreneur.

(photo credit)

Learn how to create your own interviews!

My new e-book “Use Interviews To Increase Your Blog Traffic” shares my techniques and strategies for using interviews to increase my blog traffic by 650% over the past 2 years. 

You’ll learn how to:

  • Create Interviews That Attract Visitors
  • Boost Your Credibility
  • Enable Others To Spread Your Interviews
  • Select The Right People To Interview
  • and much more!
]]> http://www.beyondthepedway.com/dan-martell-flowtown-interview/feed 2 From The Basement To $17 Million In Revenue – with Rona Borre http://www.beyondthepedway.com/rona-borre-instant-technology-interview http://www.beyondthepedway.com/rona-borre-instant-technology-interview#comments Fri, 13 May 2011 14:00:14 +0000 Tim Jahn http://www.beyondthepedway.com/?p=4102 Rona Borre is the president and CEO of Instant Technology, an IT staffing and recruiting firm. After running a $30 million book of business at a global recruiting firm, Rona left to start Instant Technology with the goal of adding a personal touch to the staffing industry.

What began as a startup in her basement has grown to more than 30 employees and almost $17 million in revenue.  I invited Rona here today to share the story of how she built Instant Technology from the ground up.

Learn how to create your own interviews!

My new e-book “Use Interviews To Increase Your Blog Traffic” shares my techniques and strategies for using interviews to increase my blog traffic by 650% over the past 2 years. 

You’ll learn how to:

  • Create Interviews That Attract Visitors
  • Boost Your Credibility
  • Enable Others To Spread Your Interviews
  • Select The Right People To Interview
  • and much more!
]]> http://www.beyondthepedway.com/rona-borre-instant-technology-interview/feed 6 Learning From Failure And Scratching Your Own Itch – with Michael Mills http://www.beyondthepedway.com/michael-mills-mcc-recycling-interview http://www.beyondthepedway.com/michael-mills-mcc-recycling-interview#comments Tue, 10 May 2011 14:00:57 +0000 Tim Jahn http://www.beyondthepedway.com/?p=4096 Michael Mills is the founder of MCC Recycling and MyRecyclingReports.com.  Michael tried to start a recycling company twice and finally decided to get a “real job” in engineering.  Two days into the job, he quit and tried to start a recycling company a third time, this time successfully.

Today Michael shares the lessons he learned from trying to start his recycling business and his advice for creative entrepreneurs looking to scratch their own itch.

Learn how to create your own interviews!

My new e-book “Use Interviews To Increase Your Blog Traffic” shares my techniques and strategies for using interviews to increase my blog traffic by 650% over the past 2 years. 

You’ll learn how to:

  • Create Interviews That Attract Visitors
  • Boost Your Credibility
  • Enable Others To Spread Your Interviews
  • Select The Right People To Interview
  • and much more!
]]> http://www.beyondthepedway.com/michael-mills-mcc-recycling-interview/feed 0 Propelling The Buyer Powered Market – with Bo Fishback of Zaarly http://www.beyondthepedway.com/bo-fishback-zaarly-interview http://www.beyondthepedway.com/bo-fishback-zaarly-interview#comments Fri, 06 May 2011 13:00:25 +0000 Tim Jahn http://www.beyondthepedway.com/?p=4089 Bo Fishback is the founder of Zaarly. Previously, Bo was the Vice President of Entrepreneurship for the Kaufman Foundation. Zaarly was created a LA Startup Weekend just a few months ago in February 2011, and is moving at the speed of light building a team, raising tons of capital, and preparing to create an innovative new e-comemrce platform.

I invited Bo here today to share the story of Zaarly and share experiences from his vast history as an entrepreneur.

Learn how to create your own interviews!

My new e-book “Use Interviews To Increase Your Blog Traffic” shares my techniques and strategies for using interviews to increase my blog traffic by 650% over the past 2 years. 

You’ll learn how to:

  • Create Interviews That Attract Visitors
  • Boost Your Credibility
  • Enable Others To Spread Your Interviews
  • Select The Right People To Interview
  • and much more!

(photo credit)

]]> http://www.beyondthepedway.com/bo-fishback-zaarly-interview/feed 1 From Lollipops & Baseball Cards To Concert Tickets & Textbooks – with Chris Bennett http://www.beyondthepedway.com/chris-bennett-central-ly-interview http://www.beyondthepedway.com/chris-bennett-central-ly-interview#comments Tue, 03 May 2011 14:00:17 +0000 Tim Jahn http://www.beyondthepedway.com/?p=4072 Today I’m chatting with Chris Bennett, founder of Central.ly, a website that allows small businesses to easily create simple websites for themselves.  Chris also founded a profitable textbook selling business in college, and his entrepreneurial efforts go back to selling everything from lollipops to baseball cards to CDs.

I invited Chris here today to share his story and share what he’s learned throughout his ventures.

Learn how to create your own interviews!

My new e-book “Use Interviews To Increase Your Blog Traffic” shares my techniques and strategies for using interviews to increase my blog traffic by 650% over the past 2 years. 

You’ll learn how to:

  • Create Interviews That Attract Visitors
  • Boost Your Credibility
  • Enable Others To Spread Your Interviews
  • Select The Right People To Interview
  • and much more!
]]> http://www.beyondthepedway.com/chris-bennett-central-ly-interview/feed 1