This episode of Small Business Origins features Sabrina Osso, the founder of OSSO Safe, an organization working to prevent domestic violence through education and technology. The conversation covers Sabrina's childhood experiences with domestic violence, the inspiration behind starting OSSO Safe, and details on their core product offering for landlords and property managers.

Main Discussion Points:

- Sabrina's challenging upbringing in a home with domestic violence and her realization that she wanted to help others in similar situations

- An overview of the OSSO Safe certification program that combines education and technology to promote safety and prevent violence in homes

- How the program works - it includes a policy, seminar, app to detect violent movements, and assigned therapists to properties

- Ideal customers being landlords, property owners and managers to implement this across rental properties

- Pricing details - $125 per unit, one-time fee for landlords to get properties OSSO Safe certified

Guest Bios:

Sabrina Osso is Founder and CEO of OSSO SAFE…Feel safe where you live, work, and play. She is a TEDx Speaker, Author, and Real Estate Agent on promoting safety and preventing violence in the workplace, schools, and in places of residence. Sabrina’s personal and professional experience with the subject allows her to bring a unique and holistic approach as a solution. She is also a professional dancer/teacher who uses her performance abilities to educate on the subject. As a real estate agent, Sabrina is bridging the real estate industry with Osso Safe.

Key Quotes:

"If you're not safe at home, you're not safe anywhere." (00:18:43)

"Enough is enough. Let's nip it in the bud. Let's solve it in residency where all of these violence abuse episodes happen." (00:24:48)

"I always blamed myself. In fact, I would say I am responsible for my parents' marriage, like making it okay." (00:16:05)

Links Mentioned:

OSSO Safe Online

OSSO Safe on X (Formerly Twitter)

OSSO Instagram

Sabrina Osso on Facebook

OSSO Safe on YouTube

Sabrina Osso on LinkedIn

Sabrina Osso on TikTok

Amazon Link

Beefy Marketing

Small Business Origins Online

John Kelley's Links

Our Sponsor (Wingman)

This podcast episode features entrepreneur Chris Joyce discussing his company Gusher, which helps founders build startups without needing external funding. He provides insight into leveraging "sweat equity" and performance-based partnerships to get ideas off the ground. Gusher is a facilitator for startups, without a big investment needed.

Key Discussion Points:

- Origins of Gusher after seeing barriers entrepreneurs faced in securing traditional VC funding

- Using "performance-based equity" model to build startups with expertise rather than money

- Recruiting team members who believe in the idea and will work in exchange for equity

- Case studies of companies launched successfully on Gusher platform

- Mindset shift around believing you can start a business without seed funding

- Resources Gusher provides like support, structure, applicant pool to staff your startup

Guest Bio:

Chris Joyce is a prolific entrepreneur who has founded 24 companies across high tech, consumer goods, health, and manufacturing. His innovative products have reached over 11,000 stores in 23 countries, with tech users in 148 countries worldwide. Recognizing that many great ideas and entrepreneurs were being overlooked for superficial reasons, Chris created Gusher to ensure that anyone with a groundbreaking idea has the opportunity to succeed. His mission is to democratize the startup process, allowing the market to judge the viability of ideas rather than traditional gatekeepers. Chris's extensive experience and commitment to innovation make him a compelling guest with invaluable insights into entrepreneurship.

Company Bio:

Gusher democratizes the startup process, enabling entrepreneurs to launch ventures without traditional investors or capital. Using performance-based equity, Gusher connects founders with skilled collaborators, allowing ideas to come to life across various industries, including technology, media, health, design, finance, and gaming. By eliminating traditional barriers, Gusher empowers innovative ideas to succeed based on their merit in the market.

Quotes:

"I had to contact more than 500 food chemists that told me it couldn't be done. It shouldn't be done. It wouldn't be done. I had PhDs telling me to go F myself." (00:15:12)

Links Mentioned:

Gusher Website

Beefy Marketing

Small Business Origins Website

John Kelley's Links

Wingman (Sponsor)

This episode of the Small Business Origins podcast features guest David Encarnacion, the founder of Day Care Accounting Pro. They discuss David's journey into entrepreneurship, from working various jobs like driving a cab and bartending while attending college, to becoming a stockbroker and eventually an accountant focused on helping daycares. If you have tax questions and would like to limit your liability, this episode is for you!

Main discussion points:

- The importance of tax planning for small businesses instead of just tax preparation

- Common mistakes David sees daycares making with their taxes and entity structure

- How proper bookkeeping, payroll, and taxes can help daycares grow their business and retain more of their income

- Actionable tax strategies listeners can implement like retirement contributions and bonus depreciation

Guest Bio:

David is a Tax Strategist, Speaker and Founder of Daycare AccountingPRO. David runs a boutique accounting practice exclusively servicing the Daycare Industry for over 10yrs. David and his team provide modern-day accounting tactics & strategies to help Daycare Owners increase profits, cut cost, pay the least amount to the IRS and put owners on the road where they can focus on building their business so they can ultimately enjoy peace of mind. David has put together a team of strategic thinkers focused on exploring tax strategies, uncovering hidden gems in the tax code, and executing outside-the-box tactics that will increase revenues, save on taxes, and bring unsurmountable VALUE to the Daycare Industry. If Owners are not as financially successful as they want to be, the team will help them to get there. David’s mantra is “Daycare Owners suffer from an inherent number of challenges; Accounting should NOT be one”.

Key Quotes:

"Everyone talks about, without naming any names, all these companies and individuals that are paying 0 in taxes or very little. Well, guess what? That's what you should be following." [00:20:29]

"If you're paying tax, you're in a group that doesn't know." [00:36:33]

"How much business can you bring in if you had an additional 43 days?" [talking about spending less time on bookkeeping] [00:43:43]

Links Mentioned:

Daycare AccountingPRO Online

X (Twitter)

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

LinkedIn

TikTok

Beefy Marketing

Small Business Origin Online

Sponsor: Wingman

John Kelley's Links

This episode of Small Business Origins features Kat Polsinelli, founder of Agent Services Plus and host of the "A Real Chat with Kat" podcast. They have an insightful conversation about Kat's origin story, from getting pregnant at 16 and overcoming an abusive relationship, to finding purpose in entrepreneurship and coaching. Listeners can expect to learn about limiting beliefs, rebuilding after trauma, the importance of networking and collaborating, and Kat's unique approach to business coaching.

Main Discussion Points:

- Overcoming trauma and limiting beliefs

- Leaving an abusive relationship and starting over

- Finding purpose in helping others through entrepreneurship

- The importance of networking and collaborating

- Taking a collaborative approach to business coaching rather than one-on-one

Guest Bio: Kat Polsinelli

Kat is a passionate individual with a goal of helping others get out of their head and into what they love. She is a business organizing powerhouse and a personal development strategist. She uses her personal stories and the skills she has developed as a unique way to approach helping others. She strives to help others feel more seen not only by others but by themselves as well but helping them grow their mind as well as their business.

Key Quotes:

"If you don't work through them, it's going to eventually affect you. And for some of us, it can be very dramatic, and it can tear businesses down. It can tear relationships apart." [00:08:38]

"I love sharing people's stories, other podcasts. I share their websites, like, anything I can because if someone in my group coaching or someone that's listening finds that they connect better with them, that's who I want them to connect with." [00:22:39]

Links Mentioned:

Agent Services Plus Online

Facebook

Instagram

Beefy Marketing

Small Business Origins

Every Business Needs a Wingman

John Kelley's Links

In this episode of Small Business Origins we speak with Marissa Fernandez, founder of Marissa Fernandez LLC, an executive coaching company. Tune in as we discuss Marissa's journey from climbing the corporate ladder to starting her own business, how coaching can help both individuals and companies perform better, and mindset shifts around money and confidence that are critical for entrepreneurial success.

Main Discussion Points:

- Marissa didn't initially consider entrepreneurship. She followed a traditional corporate path inspired by her parents' careers (timestamp 00:09:44).

- Getting laid off from her CMO position during the pandemic, though difficult, prompted Marissa to reflect and realize where her true passions and talents lie - in developing teams and talent (00:15:51).

- Marissa suggests giving yourself a timeline (she gave herself 6 months) when trying out entrepreneurship, so it feels less daunting (00:17:29).

- Pricing coaching services higher actually helps attract more committed clients (00:30:20).

- Coaching is most useful for ambitious, high-performing people who want to reach their full potential (00:35:53).

- Examining money mindset and beliefs around stability and earning potential is key for entrepreneurs (00:41:53).

Guest Bio:

Marissa Fernandez is the founder of Marissa Fernandez LLC, an executive coaching firm. She has over 15 years of marketing leadership experience at major companies like Procter & Gamble, the NFL, and others.

Tweetables:

"If somebody reacts and says, that's a lot of money, when I say whatever the price is, I don't try to talk them out of that thought. It is a lot of money. And my clients who are ready to make that investment in themselves then show up to each coaching session, ready to grow, unafraid to look at their blind spots..." (00:30:43)

Links Mentioned:

Marissa Fernandez Online

Marissa Fernandez Instagram

Marissa Fernandez LinkedIn

Beefy Marketing

Small Business Origins Online

John Kelley's Links

Wingman (Sponsor)

**Trigger Warning** We discuss some pretty heavy topics such as veteran & first responder suicide, mental health, life stressors, etc... We also use some colorful language. Nothing here is overtly offensive, but you should use caution listening around children, or those sensitive to these subjects.

Join us as we discuss veteran and first responder mental health with Wes Drake from Camp Comrade and Jason and Patty Corthell from Guardian Grounds Ranch. These guests represent non-profit organizations focused on supporting veterans and first responders through initiatives related to mental health, community, and healing spaces in nature.

Why is this important? Answering the call to serve, whether in the military or as a first responder, comes with tremendous sacrifice and exposure to traumatic situations that can have lasting psychological impacts. Too often, the invisible wounds of mental health struggles go untreated for these heroes. Providing adequate mental health support for veterans and first responders is crucial - they put their lives on the line to protect us, and we owe it to them to ensure they get the care and resources they need to heal from the mental and emotional tolls of their service. By prioritizing veteran and first responder mental wellness, we can help prevent issues like PTSD, depression, substance abuse, and suicide from devastating those who have already given so much for their communities and country.

Key Discussion Points:

- The importance of community, camaraderie and peer support for veterans and first responders (timestamps 00:29:07, 00:29:58, 00:57:10)

- Why spouses and family members also need support and resources (timestamps 00:27:30, 00:36:01)

- How traumatic experiences can impact mental health for veterans, first responders and their families (timestamps 00:52:02, 00:53:54)

- The lack of dedicated inpatient and counseling resources tailored for veterans and first responders (timestamps 00:46:47, 01:19:07)

- How sharing stories and being vulnerable helps reduce stigma around mental health (timestamps 00:31:01, 00:55:55)

- The vision to provide trauma-informed counseling, peer support spaces and inpatient facilities specifically for veterans and first responders (timestamps 00:50:15, 01:18:00)

Guest Bios:

Wes Drake - Co-Founder of Camp Comrade, a non-profit providing recreational camps and peer support for veterans. Wes has experience as a combat veteran in the Army.

Jason Corthell - Jason is a fourth generation firefighter and Marine Corps Veteran. He is the President and CEO of Guardian Grounds Ranch and enjoys the pursuit of a better life for veterans and first responders.

Patty Corthell - Co-Founder of Guardian Grounds Ranch. As spouse of a veteran & first responder, Patty provides crucial perspective and support.

Key Quotes:

"I think it's a, like, bullsh*t answer when people say, hey, you know, they're just a wife of a first responder or husband of a first responder, like, they're not a part of that, you know, they they're not an actual veteran." (00:03:54)

"Everything happens for a reason, and we always wind up so much better in whatever it is that we wind up doing even if we thought it was something different." (00:06:51)

"When I see my family struggle, I'm like, this is because of what I do for a living. Like, it has to be." (00:27:40)

Links Mentioned:

Guardian Grounds Ranch

GGR Facebook

Tune in as John The Marketer interviews Brian, the founder of a successful parking lot litter cleanup business. Brian shares how he started the business over 40 years ago with just $250 and has grown it to generating over $600K in annual revenue. He discusses the equipment needed, pricing models, target customers, and why he chose to write a book to teach others the business instead of franchising.

Key Discussion Points:

- How Brian got the idea to start a parking lot litter cleanup business from seeing his father do similar work when he was young (00:03:38)

- The specialized hand tools and cost to start the business (00:13:15 - 00:15:34)

- Typical pricing structure and how much money can be made in this business (00:11:03 - 00:12:21)

- Target customers are commercial property management companies (00:09:47)

- Why a book for teaching the business instead of a franchise model (00:17:30 - 00:19:14)

- Brian's most successful student who has built a nationwide parking lot litter cleanup business (00:21:06)

Tweetables:

"Fortunes can be made cleaning up after others. So, that kind of sparked an idea." (00:03:38)

"It's recession proof. It's pandemic proof. People litter. They always have." (00:32:25)

Guest Bio:

Brian Winch is the creator and author of Cleanlots - America's Simplest Business. Brian grew his dad's side gig into a six-figure business starting with little money, skills and education. He can show you how to start and operate a simple business based from home and make money from a green service that's almost as easy to do as going for a walk.

Links Mentioned:

Cleanlots Online

Cleanlots Facebook

Cleanlots YouTube

Cleanlots LinkedIn

Beefy Marketing

Small Business Origins Online

John Kelley's Links

In this episode of the Small Business Origins podcast, we sit down with Richard Blank, CEO and Founder of Costa Rica's Call Center. Hear our discussion on outbound lead generation and sales appointment calling, inbound customer support, how Richard got his start, and some best practices for effective communication on sales and support calls.

Guest Bio:

Richard Blank is the CEO and Founder of Costa Rica's Call Center, a full-service BPO call center providing lead generation, customer service, social media support and more for US companies. He founded the company 15 years ago and has grown it to over 300 seats.

Key Quotes:

"I believe in synergy. I believe in circles, and I also believe in the sanctity of a meal together, breaking fast, you know, feeding ourselves, making ourselves stronger." (15:37)

"Why call them gatekeepers, and why give them such a bad rap? These are the first impressions of Emerald City. As long as you understand the protocol and you can give an excellent first impression with that company name spike, you have a chance. Get them out of that trends." (41:44)

"Leaders remember small details about you, or they dress in case your mother shows up so I can go downstairs and thank her for raising such a fine young man who's been with me for 3 years." (16:39)

Main Discussion Points:

- The importance of building relationships in sales, not just trying to force a sale

- Techniques for effective communication and rapport building on sales and support calls

- Why it's important to treat everyone in an organization with respect, not just decision makers

- How to get referrals and repeat business through exceptional customer service

- Why taking time to understand the local culture is key when doing business abroad

- How Costa Rica’s Call Center vets clients to avoid unethical business practices

Links Mentioned:

Costa Rica's Call Center

Beefy Marketing

John Kelley's Links

Small Business Origins Online

Our Sponsor - Wingman