S2 E8 - Dos and Don’ts of Startup

The Whole Enchilada Podcast

In this episode, Mitch Santala talks to Hope Seth, an expert in community development and start-up success. The conversation centers around humility and the importance of reaching outside yourself to make a dream come true.

Mitch starts off by asking Hope about her first entrepreneurial experiences and she talks about falling in love with customer service while helping her dad with the family business. Hope mentions that she doesn’t fit the classic definition of an entrepreneur, but Mitch disagrees.

Hope continues with her work history, from doughnuts to catalogs, and the two agree on what it means to be a supporting role.

Mitch comments on Hope’s philosophy about how the people – not the project – should be the focus and Hope brings up the concept of trust. She talks about trust as a foundation and how important it is to establish trust with the way you communicate. Mitch inserts his similar ideas on giving personal value to the people you work with.

The pair touches on the idea that everyone can be an owner of something, be it the whole company, a project, a department. As always, the topic of service comes up.

Mitch asks Hope about her best tips for getting an idea off the ground and Hope responds that the vision is easy…but getting the timing right is imperative. She also talks about what she believes is the secret to having a successful plan. She even gives insights into a big project she headed up in the city of Anderson, California and what she credits the success to.

The conversation turns to leadership and the importance of being able to follow. Hope gives insight into an approach for team leadership that gives everyone the opportunity to be a leader in their own space.

Hope discusses some of the dos and don’ts that she’ll highlight in the best-selling book Mitch is sure she’s going to write. She has a surprising take on writing business plans and what you should do instead. She also makes sure to note that you must be open to feedback and be willing to adjust as people give you advice. There are big tips, too, for getting started and getting an idea off the ground.

There’s also conversation about what not to do and a strong insinuation that entrepreneurial ideas are probably not as original as their brain trust thinks they are.

Mitch and Hope continue to talk about tricks for pitching and Hope reminds listeners that there has to be a problem first. The solution comes second. And she says not to get too used to your idea in its first form.

Hope also introduces an article she wrote called “Let’s Try It Again,” and gives a great example of how she pivoted her approach to getting her kids to do things and do them the right way. Mitch gives parents a new perspective on approaching their kids’ futures.

The topic of failure comes up and Hope cites the rather unconventional way it’s been worked into her office’s culture. The two then dive into keep entrepreneurs in a city and Hope gives some perspective into how hard it can be to both attract and keep local business…and what cities can do to minimize the risk of losing them.

Finally, the most important question of all is asked: Where are we going for really good Mexican food.

You can nearly hear the team gasp when Hope says that being from the Midwest means Taco Bell is the go-to for Mexican food. It’s established that this will not suffice, and Hope says that she is always on the lookout for the best white queso dip, finding it at Casa Ramos in Redding.

Table Talk:

Mitch introduces the team: Gil Moegerle, Erin Pruetz, and Isaac the Former Intern. Mitch starts out talking about the difference between entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial spirits.

Isaac immediately dives into one of his millennial rants about how social media gets a bad rap. He reminds listeners that social media is a viable means of networking and promoting a brand, content. It’s about how you use it.

Erin agrees, although somehow gets called a boomer in the process. She says that social media isn’t a flash in the pan and that businesses need to adapt and figure out how it’s going to work for them.

Erin also says that Hope’s “I don’t want to be the leader” statement was relatable to her. She remarks that she’s got a million ideas but just don’t want the junk that comes with company ownership. She says she likes being the boss of her own little area, without the pressure of the whole company on her.

Gil talks about his own dad’s door-to-door career and how the first time his dad let him give a pitch was the first time he really believed in himself for the first time. He relates to Hope’s own little experience of learning from doing, with the guiding hand of a beloved parent.

Mitch wraps it up with comments on showing up and serving, not worrying what others will give you in return. He says, “Find joy in seeding hope in others.”

Links:

The Speed of Trust by Stephen M.R. Covey

https://www.amazon.com/SPEED-Trust-Thing-Changes-Everything-ebook/dp/B000MGATWG

The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan

https://www.amazon.com/ONE-Thing-Surprisingly-Extraordinary-Results-ebook/dp/B00C1BHQXK/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+one+thing&qid=1623088645&s=digital-text&sr=1-1

The Whole Enchilada Podcast: The Eye of the Entrepreneurial Tiger

https://www.thewholeenchiladapodcast.com/podcast/episode/47548567/s1-e5-eye-of-the-entrepreneurial-tiger

The Whole Enchilada Podcast: Everyone is Entrepreneurial

https://www.thewholeenchiladapodcast.com/podcast/episode/c3e0bf99/s1-e7-is-everyone-entrepreneurial

“Let’s Try This Again” by Hope Seth

https://heaveninbusiness.com/lets-try-this-again-2/

Casa Ramos

https://www.casaramos.net/menu

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