Super Entrepreneurs Podcast

How to Choose the Right Business Partner (Like Choosing a Spouse) | Building a Chocolate Company from Zero Revenue | Chef Brandon Olsen & Michael Held
In this episode, Chef Brandon Olsen and Michael Held share exactly how they chose each other as business partners and built a chocolate manufacturing company in Canada from zero revenue. They currently operate out of a 16,000 square foot warehouse with pre-orders, distribution deals already in place, and are fully self-funded.
If you're looking for real advice on how to choose the right business partner, how to build trust in a partnership, or how to start a manufacturing business from scratch without taking outside investment, this conversation will give you clarity.

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Chapter Stamps
00:00 - Zero Revenue but Thinking Like a Big Company
03:12 - Michael's Journey: Scaling Life Speak to a Half Billion Dollar Exit
05:04 - How They Bootstrapped the Chocolate Company
07:51 - Why They Refused Outside Investors & Family Money
08:52 - Launch Timeline: Machinery Coming
10:49 - Brandon Olsen's Story: From Top Chef to Serial Entrepreneur to Manufacturer
15:47 - Biggest Mistake Entrepreneurs Make
21:50 - How to Handle Business Failure
28:08 - Brandon's Honest Story: Working at LCBO After His Business Failed
34:47 - Ego vs Real Trust: What Actually Makes a Business Partnership Work
36:15 - "Just Do It" Mindset + Creating Accountability
41:04 - How Brandon & Michael Built Deep Trust Before Starting the Company
51:11 - Practical Advice for New Entrepreneurs
 
Key Takeaways:
- How to choose the right business partner for long-term success
- Why refusing outside investors can be the right decision
- The biggest mistake entrepreneurs make with their identity
- How to handle business failure without losing momentum
- What real trust looks like in a business partnership
If this episode gave you value, like the video, subscribe for more real entrepreneur stories, and drop a comment below - what's the most important quality you look for in a business partner? #BusinessPartner #Entrepreneurship #BootstrappedBusiness #BusinessMindset #StartingABusiness #BusinessFailure #PartnershipAdvice #SerialEntrepreneur

Pullout Quotes:
"I define myself, and I can recreate myself, and I can redefine myself if I want to."
— Brandon Olsen
"Celebrate the failure. It's growth."
— Brandon Olsen
"Life is short."
— Michael Held
"Picking your partner is more important than the business."
— Michael Held
"You don't have to quit your day job to be an entrepreneur."
— Brandon Olsen

Social
Website:
https://www.aswedochocolates.com
LinkedIn:
Michael Held:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelheld/
Brandon Olsen:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-olsen/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/aswedochocolate/
Brandon Olsen:
https://www.instagram.com/chefbrandonolsen/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/aswedochocolate/

Disclaimer
Please be aware that the opinions and perspectives conveyed in this podcast are solely those of our guests and do not necessarily represent the views, ideologies, or principles of Super Entrepreneurs Podcast, its associated entities, or any organizations they represent or are affiliated with. We provide a platform for discussion and exploration, and the content of each episode is understood to be independent expressions from our guests, rather than a reflection of the beliefs held by the podcast or its hosts.

Scale smarter. Operate cleaner. Exit stronger.
I help digital business owners turn founder-led companies into scalable, AI-enhanced, buyer-ready businesses. That means improving decision-making, removing growth bottlenecks, and increasing enterprise value so the business can perform better now and become more attractive later.
If you're curious what your business may be worth today, start with a free business valuation:
https://flippa.com/lps/shahiddurrani/

In this episode of the Super Entrepreneurs Podcast, Jermane Cheathem shares how he closed over $50 million in sales without ads, a sales team, or a personal brand. Learn client acquisition, strategic partnerships, high-ticket sales, lead generation, networking, business growth, sales psychology, and proven strategies to get more clients. Jump to any topic using the chapters below.
 
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To watch more videos and get new video updates please subscribe to our channel and stay with us:
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Chapter Stamps
00:00 Intro
01:38 Why Do Most Entrepreneurs Build Businesses Backwards?
03:01 How Do You Find Strategic Partners?
05:09 What Are the 3 Ps of Business?
08:40 Why Do Most Entrepreneurs Struggle to Get Clients?
10:48 Should You Ever Sell Products?
12:34 Who Should You Really Sell To?
15:07 Why Do Talented People Stay Stuck?
17:09 What's the Fastest Way to Beat Procrastination?
19:12 What If You Think You Have No Network?
20:44 How Did One Coffee Turn Into $6 Million?
24:50 Why Does Environment Matter More Than Motivation?
27:38 Is Burnout Actually Just Boredom?
30:16 What's the Biggest Money Mindset Mistake?
32:38 How Would You Get Your First 5 Clients Today?
34:56 Can You Learn Enthusiasm?
38:06 What's the Fastest Way to Get Qualified Leads?
40:29 Does Cold Outreach Still Work?
43:15 How Can One Strategy Transform Your Business?
45:27 Why Do Some People Get Endless Referrals?
48:46 What Makes People Trust You Instantly?
50:05 What's the Biggest Sales Mistake Everyone Makes?
51:56 Will You Regret Not Taking Action?

Pullout Quotes:
"Most people build businesses backwards."
"The clients come to me already sold."
"Never ever sell a product, only sell services."
"You can't do this in a vacuum."
"Life is short. So you have to think long and hard about that 99-year-old version of yourself in the rocking chair."

Social
Website: https://creatorslearn.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jermane-cheathem
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jermane_cheathem/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jermanethecreator/

Disclaimer
Please be aware that the opinions and perspectives conveyed in this podcast are solely those of our guests and do not necessarily represent the views, ideologies, or principles of Super Entrepreneurs Podcast, its associated entities, or any organizations they represent or are affiliated with. We provide a platform for discussion and exploration, and the content of each episode is understood to be independent expressions from our guests, rather than a reflection of the beliefs held by the podcast or its hosts.

Scale smarter. Operate cleaner. Exit stronger.
I help digital business owners turn founder-led companies into scalable, AI-enhanced, buyer-ready businesses. That means improving decision-making, removing growth bottlenecks, and increasing enterprise value so the business can perform better now and become more attractive later.
If you're curious what your business may be worth today, start with a free business valuation:
https://flippa.com/lps/shahiddurrani/

What if your car could earn you a full-time passive income while you sleep?

In this episode of the Super Entrepreneurs Podcast, we sit down with Rei Vardi, the founder of Eon, who turned a single Tesla into an 8-figure EV rental marketplace—all without raising a single dollar of outside capital. Rei shares the incredible story of bootstrapping a startup from a college dorm room to managing 3,500+ electric vehicles, building one of North America's fastest-growing EV rental businesses.

If you've ever wondered how to build a passive income business, start a successful side hustle, scale a marketplace startup, or why failing to raise venture capital might be the best thing that ever happens to your company, this conversation is for you. Whether you're an entrepreneur, startup founder, investor, or simply looking for profitable business ideas, Rei shares practical lessons on bootstrapping, startup growth, business strategy, and building a scalable business from the ground up.
🔔 Super Entrepreneurs Podcast To watch more videos and get new video updates please subscribe to our channel and stay with us:
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Chapter Stamps
00:00 – Intro
01:21 – From One Tesla to a 3,500-Car Business
03:07 – How Eon Makes Passive Income Completely Hands-Free
05:15 – Why the Founder Owns Only 2 Cars Today
06:50 – Can One EV Become a Full-Time Business?
07:37 – Will Autonomous Cars Replace Car Rentals?
09:20 – Why He Walked Away From a Career in Medicine
11:32 – Someone Robbed a Bank Using His Tesla
13:12 – How Eon Became One of the Safest EV Rental Platforms
16:35 – What Makes Eon Different From Turo?
18:42 – Why Failing to Raise Funding Saved the Company
21:07 – Why Most Mobility Startups Fail
25:44 – How to Turn Everyday Problems Into a Profitable Business
28:20 – The Best Side Business You Can Start Today
30:45 – Is Entrepreneurship Really Riskier Than a Job?
34:00 – Outro
#PassiveIncome #EVRental #Bootstrapping #SuperEntrepreneurs #Tesla #SideHustle #Entrepreneurship

Pullout Quotes
"If it sucks for you, it probably sucks for everybody."
"This is going to take a lot longer than you think, and it's going to be more painful than you think."
"You have to like solving problems."
"Sometimes, if you're not able to raise money, it's the universe's way of pushing you in the right direction."
"Trust yourself and give yourself that benefit of the doubt."

Social
Website:
https://www.eonrides.com/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/reivardi
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/reivardi/

Disclaimer
Please be aware that the opinions and perspectives conveyed in this podcast are solely those of our guests and do not necessarily represent the views, ideologies, or principles of Super Entrepreneurs Podcast, its associated entities, or any organizations they represent or are affiliated with. We provide a platform for discussion and exploration, and the content of each episode is understood to be independent expressions from our guests, rather than a reflection of the beliefs held by the podcast or its hosts.

Scale smarter. Operate cleaner. Exit stronger.
I help digital business owners turn founder-led companies into scalable, AI-enhanced, buyer-ready businesses. That means improving decision-making, removing growth bottlenecks, and increasing enterprise value so the business can perform better now and become more attractive later. If you're curious what your business may be worth today, start with a free business valuation
https://flippa.com/lps/shahiddurrani/

In today's episode, we sit down with Mark A. Pitman, leadership coach, nonprofit fundraising expert, and author of The Surprising Gift of Doubt, who has trained over 27,000 leaders across every major economic crisis of the last 25 years. Mark runs Conquer Leadership Group and works with CEOs, nonprofit founders, and new managers who are stuck - not because they lack skill, but because they don't yet understand what's actually holding them back.
We discuss why most leaders are secretly wearing a "hospital gown" just trying to cover what they don't know, how doubt can shift from a weakness into a Quadrant 3 leadership superpower, and why the inner critic isn't your enemy but a protector you've outgrown. Mark shares the real reason clients ghost you after saying yes, why silence is never a no, how he followed up with one prospect for four years before closing, and why he once fired a high-performing client for not actually changing. We also get into the nervous system's role in sales confidence, revenue goals built on desperation vs. inner alignment, and how your unique voice on any topic is exactly what someone out there needs to hear.
🔔 Super Entrepreneurs Podcast To watch more videos and get new video updates please subscribe to our channel and stay with us:
https://www.youtube.com/@SuperEntrepreneursPod
✅ Stay Connected With Us:
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👉 Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/officialshahiddurrani/
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https://www.instagram.com/superentrepreneurspod
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https://twitter.com/officialshahidd
👉 LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shahid-durrani/
👉 Website:
https://shahiddurrani.com/

Chapter Stamps
00:00 - Intro
02:02 - Why Is His Revenue Squeezed Despite 25 Years of Experience?
04:15 - Is the US Administration Quietly Killing the Coaching Industry?
08:22 - How Do You Ask Someone for Money Without Giving Them Anything?
09:07 - Are Leaders Stuck Because They Lack Tools or Because They Are Hiding?
11:22 - What Is the Hospital Gown Problem Every Leader Has?
12:40 - When Does Doubt Become Your Greatest Leadership Asset?
14:48 - Why Does It Take 12 Follow-Ups Before a Client Says Yes?
18:07 - How Do You Silence Your Inner Critic Forever?
23:57 - Can Self-Awareness Actually Stop You From Growing?
24:36 - Why Did He Fire a Client Who Was Getting Results?
28:42 - Are You Broken or Just Standing at the Wrong Side of the Door?

Pullout Quotes
"A client hasn't said no to me until they've said no to me. Silence isn't a no."
"Most people don't follow up enough."
"Maybe you're actually on the verge of greatness."
"Your perspective, the way you would word things, your voice on a topic is the voice that somebody else needs."
"I'm not worthless because this didn't work."

Social
Website:
https://concordleadershipgroup.com
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcapitman
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/marcpitman/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/marcapitman/

Disclaimer
Please be aware that the opinions and perspectives conveyed in this podcast are solely those of our guests and do not necessarily represent the views, ideologies, or principles of Super Entrepreneurs Podcast, its associated entities, or any organizations they represent or are affiliated with. We provide a platform for discussion and exploration, and the content of each episode is understood to be independent expressions from our guests, rather than a reflection of the beliefs held by the podcast or its hosts.

Scale smarter. Operate cleaner. Exit stronger.
I help digital business owners turn founder-led companies into scalable, AI-enhanced, buyer-ready businesses. That means improving decision-making, removing growth bottlenecks, and increasing enterprise value so the business can perform better now and become more attractive later. If you're curious what your business may be worth today, start with a free business valuation
https://flippa.com/lps/shahiddurrani/

The Next 5 Years Will Change Everything - AI, Jobs, Robots & The End of Work As We Know It What if I told you the job you have today might not exist in 5 years?
In this jaw-dropping conversation, entrepreneur and AI strategist Gary breaks down exactly what's coming - and why most people are completely unprepared.
We cover:
→ Why your job is NOT as safe as you think
→ The 5 industries AI will completely destroy first
→ How a $150K high school guarantees students a million-dollar startup upon graduation
→ Why -------- workers will OUTLAST -------, --------- & ---------
→ The real reason people procrastinate (it's not laziness)
→ How Gary booked 3 podcast interviews THIS WEEK without lifting a finger
→ Nvidia paying homeowners $22,000/year to host mini data centers
→ Why the smartest thing you can do right now is learn to MANAGE AI - not compete with it This isn't fear-mongering. This is a roadmap.
AI is advancing at a pace where businesses that fail to adopt AI-first strategies risk falling behind, as AI can streamline processes, improve efficiency, and provide valuable insights.
As AI technologies increasingly automate routine tasks, the workforce will need to pivot towards roles that emphasize creativity and interpersonal skills - areas where humans naturally excel.
The people who thrive in the next decade won't be the ones who work harder. They'll be the ones who deploy smarter.
🔔 Subscribe if you want the edge most people are sleeping on.
💬 Drop your biggest AI fear in the comments — let's talk about it.
🔔 Super Entrepreneurs Podcast
To watch more videos and get new video updates please subscribe to our channel and stay with us:
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✅ Stay Connected With Us:
👉 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialshahiddurrani/
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👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialshahiddurrani/
👉 SEP Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/superentrepreneurspod
👉 X: https://twitter.com/officialshahidd
👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shahid-durrani/
👉 Website: https://shahiddurrani.com/
=============================
Chapter Stamps
00:00 — Intro
01:26 — What Scares You Most About the Next 5 Years?
04:29 — The $150K School Building Future Entrepreneurs
06:07 — The AI Agent Booking Gary's Podcast Interviews
07:50 — Running Customer Support With AI
10:58 — The Biggest Mistake People Make With AI
13:30 — Why Everything Gets Cheaper in an AI World
17:01 — Nvidia's Vision for Home Data Centers
19:23 — The First Industries AI Will Disrupt
20:38 — Which Jobs Are Actually Safe?
26:00 — Inside an AI-Powered Hospital
27:04 — Why Middle Management Is at Risk
29:15 — What Workers Should Do Right Now
32:10 — The Biggest Lie About AI
38:00 — Why Procrastination Isn't Laziness
42:22 — The Story That Changed Gary's Perspective
46:16 — Why AI Still Needs Human Judgment
50:48 — Grok vs Claude vs ChatGPT
51:19 — Habits of High Performers
55:09 — Why Nobody Succeeds Alone

Pullout Quotes:
"I don't think we were put on earth to work our life away."
"The businesses that adopt and use AI are going to excel at a much faster pace."
"I think we're five years out from not working anymore."
"You can learn from everyone."
"The most successful people have the most predictable routines."

Social:
Website: https://gary.club/get-involved
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garylhenderson/
X: https://x.com/GaryLHenderson
 
Disclaimer:
Please be aware that the opinions and perspectives conveyed in this podcast are solely those of our guests and do not necessarily represent the views, ideologies, or principles of Super Entrepreneurs Podcast, its associated entities, or any organizations they represent or are affiliated with. We provide a platform for discussion and exploration, and the content of each episode is understood to be independent expressions from our guests, rather than a reflection of the beliefs held by the podcast or its hosts.

Scale smarter. Operate cleaner. Exit stronger.
I help digital business owners turn founder-led companies into scalable, AI-enhanced, buyer-ready businesses. That means improving decision-making, removing growth bottlenecks, and increasing enterprise value so the business can perform better now and become more attractive later. If you're curious what your business may be worth today, start with a free business valuation
https://flippa.com/lps/shahiddurrani/