Forward Obsessed

Harnessing The Power Of “Swing” With Eric Rosow

Eric Rosow is the CEO and Co-founder of Diameter Health. He was previously the Founder and CEO of Premise Corporation and has extensive experience in healthcare technology and entrepreneurship. Under his leadership, Diameter Health’s innovative technology has been adopted by major health systems across the country, and was acquired by Availity in 2022.
In this episode, Rosow shares insights and entrepreneurial stories from across the healthcare landscape. He discusses his journey as a founder, starting with his early days at Hartford Hospital where he identified a need for better data management in healthcare. This led to the creation of Premise Corporation, which developed a bed management dashboard and gained clients including prestigious hospitals and health systems.
Eric delves into the challenges he faced in transitioning from a consulting firm to a product company and how they found their competitive advantage in data improvement processes. He emphasizes the importance of understanding customer needs and market demand, utilizing the Pragmatic marketing framework.
Throughout the episode, Eric discusses the significance of establishing a strong team and maintaining transparent communication. He also highlights the value of mentorship, recounting his partnerships and the impact they had on his journey as a young founder and CEO.
Through the power of metaphor (and real-life experience) Eric explains his passion for rowing and the transformative power it can have on inner-city youth, drawing parallels between the dedication required in rowing and entrepreneurship. He also reveals his interest in bees, discussing their healing benefits and his recent endeavors into being a beekeeper.
OUTLINE:
(00:00) Intro
(1:47) Early years
(4:20) Developing the entrepreneurial mindset
(6:05) How competitive rowing changed my life
(9:25) Brute force vs. “swing”
(15:45) Why I started in medical engineering
(18:00) Developing “air traffic control” for a hospital
(21:02) Transitioning from being an employee to being a founder
(23:51) Raising money for my first startup 
(27:16) How to build a good board for your business
(31:20) Getting acquired, almost by accident
(36:09) Founding Diameter Health
(38:21) What is an “onlyness factor?”
(43:50) How to build a great team culture
(48:45) Selling Diameter Health
(51:33) The art of the start
(54:00) What CEO’s can learn from bees
 
EPISODE LINKS:
Diameter Health
Alleycorp
Eric’s LinkedIn
The Hard Thing About Hard Things (Book)
The Boys In The Boat (Book 
The Wisdom Of Bees (Book)
Thinking In Bets (Book) 
A Most Beautiful Thing (Movie)
PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: https://forwardobsessed.com/
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forward-obsessed/id1615760781
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2TrkOZ7xL7WSlzc2mrwXuC?si=aa5e7790aca64e05
YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5b9WPqVXz_qlfXgK3hHPs4z
YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5Yt0LiPml0y6pNUSrqHzWql
 
SUPPORT & CONNECT:
Digital Surgeons Website: https://digitalsurgeons.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitalsurgeons
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalsurgeons
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/210497/
 

The Future Of Networking With Yasha Filippenko

Yasha Filippenko is exiting founder of Sailplay, a B2C marketing automation platform, and the founder of Intch, a professional social networking platform. Born in Kazakhstan and later moving to Russia, Yasha specialized in mathematics, a path that eventually led him into the realm of technology. His tech career kicked off at Yandex, Russia's largest search engine, providing him with invaluable industry insights and experiences. Yasha then moved on to launch his first company, navigating through a series of challenges before successfully exiting. His entrepreneurial journey didn't stop there; after a stint at a venture capital firm where he further honed his business acumen, he initiated his most recent venture, Intch.
In the interview, Yasha delves into an array of relevant and informative topics for young entrepreneurs, founders, business owners, and MBA students. He shares the story of his humble beginnings, providing listeners with a candid account of the twists and turns he encountered while building and exiting his first company. Yasha's experience in both startup and venture capital realms offers listeners valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of launching and scaling a business. Furthermore, the journey of Intch, his latest venture, provides practical insights into the tenacity and vision required to sustain and grow a successful enterprise. This episode is a treasure trove of entrepreneurial wisdom, from understanding market dynamics to navigating venture capital, making it a must-listen for those keen on the entrepreneurial journey.
OUTLINE:
(00:00) Intro
(1:34) Early years in Kazakhstan in a tiny town
(4:00) Why I became obsessed with math
(7:58) How I began my interest in entrepreneurship
(12:30) What are the most important skills of a project manager? 
(15:00) Getting started at Yandex
(18:45) “I can do it better” - my reason to become an entrepreneur
(22:03) The concept behind SailPlay
(26:00) Raising money and almost getting acquired
(30:00) Why our first acquisition fell apart
(37:14) What I learned from a failed acquisition
(43:05) What is product market fit? 
(46:54) Fast nickels are better than slow dimes
(49:40) When the wire hit from our acquisition
(54:13) In an acquisition, the devil is in the details 
(57:40) Why I went into venture capital
(59:40) Why I founded Intch
(1:09:45) How we are different than LinkedIn and Indeed 
(1:16:42) LinkedIn is overrun with spam
(1:20:00) Fixing incentives for users on professional social media platforms 
(1:28:00) Replacing employees with Chat GPT
 
EPISODE LINKS:
Sailplay: https://sailplay.net/
Intch: https://intch.org/
Yasha’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yfilippenko/
 
PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: https://forwardobsessed.com/
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forward-obsessed/id1615760781
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2TrkOZ7xL7WSlzc2mrwXuC?si=aa5e7790aca64e05
YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5b9WPqVXz_qlfXgK3hHPs4z
YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5Yt0LiPml0y6pNUSrqHzWql
 
SUPPORT & CONNECT:
Digital Surgeons Website: https://digitalsurgeons.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitalsurgeons
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalsurgeons
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/210497/
 

Unleashing the Power of Video With Lucas Loeffler

Explore the fast-paced world of video marketing and user generated content with Lucas Loeffler, exiting founder of QuickFrame. In this interview, Lucas talks about his early years as a party-planner and rule-bender, his rapid rise and fall in the world of football, and re-discovering his identity after losing the ability to play his favorite sport. Lucas talks about why he turned down a six-figure dream job out of college, what inspired him to become an entrepreneur, and how he discovered the concept for a multi-million  dollar company while pranking people on Craigslist. This interview dives deep into the world of marketing, media management, and the often convoluted process of building and selling your business. 
 
OUTLINE:
(00:00) Intro
(2:00) Early years and family influences
(9:45) Being a rule breaker and playing football in  school
(14:11) Rediscovering my identity after losing the ability to play football
(17:30) Turning down a six-figure offer out of college
(20:31) Doing business development at Identified
(25:54) “I don't want to work for you - I want to BE you.”
(28:00) What is business development?  
(29:45) Deciding to go to Wharton for Business School
(32:00) Founding QuickFrame with a Craigslist experiment
(39:24) Starting a company with $50,000
(44:10) Building a tech company team from scratch
(47:00) Maintaining stamina for 6 years of hard work
(50:10) Getting our first customer - Pepsi
(54:00) Fundraising through scrappy means
(58:15) Investors always choose the jockey over the horse
(1:03:30) Pivoting from raising money to cutting my team
(1:10:20) Balancing institutional and strategic interests
(1:13:30) Getting acquired by Ryan Reynolds at Mountain Digital
(1:18:05) When the wire dropped
(1:22:40) Being an employee again
 
EPISODE LINKS:
Quickfrrame: https://quickframe.com/
Mountain Digital: https://mountain.com/
Lucas’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucas-loeffler-25887a24/
 
PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: https://forwardobsessed.com/
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forward-obsessed/id1615760781
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2TrkOZ7xL7WSlzc2mrwXuC?si=aa5e7790aca64e05
YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5b9WPqVXz_qlfXgK3hHPs4z
YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5Yt0LiPml0y6pNUSrqHzWql
 
SUPPORT & CONNECT:
Digital Surgeons Website: https://digitalsurgeons.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitalsurgeons
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalsurgeons
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/210497/

From Addiction To Acquisition With Ryan Shank

Ryan Shank is the exited founder of PhoneWagon, the founder of Cameo Ventures, and the founder of ShareWillow.
In this interview, dive into Ryan’s incredible entrepreneurial journey as he takes you through his early aha moments, bumpy periods of rapid growth, struggling with addiction, and finally getting his company acquired. Ryan opens up about his struggles with addiction and self-doubt, the pressure he faced as a founder, and the journey of finding balance in his life. He highlights the importance of seeking accountability, structure, and support systems. Ryan's story serves as an inspiration to entrepreneurs and founders who face challenges, reminding them that with determination, self-reflection, and a positive mindset, they can overcome obstacles and build successful ventures.
 
OUTLINE:
(00:00) Intro
(2:18) Early years 
(4:30) First experiences in hustling and sales
(14:03) My first sales job at a startup
(17:00) The entrepreneur’s mindset
(20:00) Going through my first acquisition
(25:07) Getting sued for a blogpost
(27:00) Over Communicate with your team
(30:50) Mastering inbound marketing
(30:45) What is product/market fit? 
(35:00) Getting acquired and exiting
(41:00) Becoming a founding entrepreneur
(44:45) Going from an idea to a real company
(54:30) Realizing I was struggling with an addiction
(57:31) We didn’t have “true product/market fit”
(1:04:00) What I learned from addiction treatment
(1:08:00) Getting acquired while in addiction treatment
(1:13:57) When employees steal from your company
(1:18:54) Why do acquisitions include escrow? 
(1:21:00) Life after selling my company
(1:24:31) Being transparent about my past
(1:26:50) Why entrepreneurs are often neurodivergent 
(1:31:30) Going all in on ShareWillow 
(1:39:26) My non-negotiables to maintain mental health
 
EPISODE LINKS:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-shank-94508328/
Cameo Ventures: https://www.cameoventures.com/
Sharewillow: https://www.sharewillow.com/
 
PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: https://forwardobsessed.com/
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forward-obsessed/id1615760781
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2TrkOZ7xL7WSlzc2mrwXuC?si=aa5e7790aca64e05
YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5b9WPqVXz_qlfXgK3hHPs4z
YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5Yt0LiPml0y6pNUSrqHzWql
 
SUPPORT & CONNECT:
Digital Surgeons Website: https://digitalsurgeons.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitalsurgeons
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalsurgeons
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/210497/

Resilience, Innovation, And Finding Your Purpose With Gioel Molinari

Gioel Molinari is the Founder of Autostrada, a boutique automotive club and showroom in Westport, CT. He was previously the exiting Founder of ClariFi and President of Butterfly Network, a medical device company that is democratizing healthcare by making medical imaging as accessible as a stethoscope.
In this episode, David Salinas and Pete Sena sit down with entrepreneur and leader Gioel Molinari to discuss various topics relating to entrepreneurship, leadership skills, and growing companies. Gioel shares his diverse journey, ranging from being a partner at Bridgewater, to starting from scratch while dealing with depression, to building one of the most innovative medical device companies in the world. Delve into the challenges Gioel faced when tasked with getting FDA clearance for a handheld ultrasound product and the lessons learned about the long cycle times and high costs associated with making hardware changes. Explore Gioel's belief in self-education and the value of practical skills over structured education. Gioel dives into the current state of the technology business, the importance of a motivated and gritty workforce, and the potential for other countries to surpass if they don't pick up their game. 
 
OUTLINE:
(00:00) Intro
(2:00) Early years
(3:31) Entrepreneurship is in your DNA
(7:00) Family businesses and crafts
(13:30) Working in family businesses as a child
(17:21) Instilling work ethic in young people
(24:30) Speed, Simplicity, and Scaling
(30:37) Finding and utilizing world-class talent 
(38:35) Dealing with the egos of talented people
(45:57) Why get an education in Chemical Engineering? 
(51:04) Timing is everything in entrepreneurship
(54:40) Pivoting to E-Commerce
(59:30) The Wall-Street Quant Crash
(1:04:50) Defining product market fit
(1:09:20) Why startups are unglamorous meat grinders
(1:20:40) How I got fired from Bridgewater
(1:25:15) Dealing with depression and starting at Butterfly
(1:33:13) Changing healthcare with a handheld ultrasound device
(1:38:00) Innovating in healthcare with e-commerce
(1:43:53) Pitching is about storytelling
(1:47:20) You are the best person to run your company
(1:53:46) Autostrada 
 
EPISODE LINKS:
Gioel’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gioelmolinari/
Autostrada Event Page: https://onthemarcevents.com/venues/autostrada-westport
Autostrada Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autostradawestport/?hl=en
 
PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: https://forwardobsessed.com/
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forward-obsessed/id1615760781
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2TrkOZ7xL7WSlzc2mrwXuC?si=aa5e7790aca64e05
YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5b9WPqVXz_qlfXgK3hHPs4z
YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5Yt0LiPml0y6pNUSrqHzWql
 
SUPPORT & CONNECT:
Digital Surgeons Website: https://digitalsurgeons.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitalsurgeons
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalsurgeons
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/210497/

Co-Founding JetBlue With John Owen

John Owen is the Co-founder and formerly the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Jetblue Airlines. John is currently an Angel Investor, Venture Partner, and advisor for multiple brands. 
 
In this episode of Forward Obsessed, David and Pete speak with John Owen, co-founder of JetBlue, about his experiences in starting one of the largest airlines in the United States. Starting with his early experiences at Southwest Airlines, John discusses the importance of creating a positive company culture and hiring employees who fit that culture. Learn about the value of hiring for attitude and the need to rectify hiring mistakes before they negatively impact the work environment, especially when starting a business and experiencing rapid growth. Explore John’s decision-making process in building a successful brand, and how he focuses on the importance of differentiating Jetblue’s product from the competition. For young entrepreneurs and leaders, the message is clear: create a cohesive team, prioritize attitude over qualifications, and differentiate your product in a way that makes it stand out from competitors.
 
Key Topics: 
Co-founding and growing Jetblue
Impact of 9/11 on the airline industry and creative solutions
Creating Core Values for JetBlue: Safety, Caring, Integrity, Fun, and Passion
Building an Airline Brand
Creating and Leading a Positive Corporate Culture
 
OUTLINE: 
(00:00) Intro
(2:00) Growing up in “small-town” Oklahoma
(4:30) Going to Wharton
(8:00) The inspiration behind getting a pilots license 
(11:45) My first job with American Airlines
(16:30) The terrible culture and practices at American Airlines
(21:57) The power of corporate culture for Southwest Airlines
(24:55) Psychic income 
(26:30) Why Herb Kellerher was such a strong leader at Southwest
(29:30) The successful growth strategy of Southwest Airlines
(32:00) How to handle teams that are complaining and lazy
(36:00) Acquiring Morris Air and achieving rapid growth
(44:30) How David Neeleman was set up for failure at Southwest
(48:19) Co-founding JetBlue
(55:30) Achieving “super speed” and agility at JetBlue
(1:01:00) The “Boeing Killer”
(1:04:00) Managing a visionary leader
(1:08:00) KPI’s can cause negative behavioral incentives
(1:11:25) How JetBlue survived 9/11
(1:19:00) JetBlue’s incredible IPO 
(1:22:00) Jetblue’s focus on design and marketing 
(1:29:40) The new, cheap business model for airlines
(1:35:30) Transitioning to Volite Airlines
 
EPISODE LINKS:
Jetblue Airlines: https://www.jetblue.com/
John’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-owen-a22a43ab/
 
PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: https://forwardobsessed.com/
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forward-obsessed/id1615760781
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2TrkOZ7xL7WSlzc2mrwXuC?si=aa5e7790aca64e05
YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5b9WPqVXz_qlfXgK3hHPs4z
YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5Yt0LiPml0y6pNUSrqHzWql
 
SUPPORT & CONNECT:
Digital Surgeons Website: https://digitalsurgeons.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitalsurgeons
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalsurgeons
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/210497/
 

MailChimp And The Future Of Email With Neil Bainton

Neil Bainton is the Co-Creator and COO of Mailchimp, and is currently an investor, advisor, and photographer. On this episode of Forward Obsessed, Neil Bainton discusses his unique career journey, starting with learning Russian during the Cold War and actually moving to Russia at the end of the Cold War to work for DuPont. Neil recalls Russia as an “entrepreneurial black slate,” transitioning to work for Pepsi, creating successful (and sometimes fervent) promotional campaigns in Russia. Neil talks about the challenges of doing business in Russia, returning to the US to participate in the dotcom boom, and recalls his early business that led to helping build MailChimp.
Throughout the episode, Bainton highlights the importance of design and innovation in staying ahead of competitors, and how the internet has drastically changed the business landscape. Tune in to this insightful episode as Bainton shares his wisdom and perspective gained from his unique journey. The episode also highlights some of the unique aspects of MailChimp's success, such as their passionate focus on design, their 'Forever Free' offering, their ability to compete with larger companies, and why Neil decided to eventually exit the business to pursue a better personal life. 
Key Entrepreneurial Topics From This Interview
The importance of design and user experience for a startup's success
Going against industry norms and embracing competitors' new ideas
The benefits of being an extremely lean team that can out-innovate competitors
The challenges of doing business in a country with lack of rule of law to protect businesses
The importance of addressing spam and automation in product development
The success of a "Forever Free" model for a unique approach to the market
The value of advertising in international markets, despite tough competition
The potential for fraud in today's world, and the importance of protecting business assets
The impact of changes in market dynamics and emerging competition.
 
OUTLINE:
(00:00) Intro
(2:02) Early Years
(3:36) Going to Russia as a young man
(8:13) The dichotomy between Communism and Capitalism
(16:29) Why Wharton is so good at producing excellent MBAs 
(20:37) Working with Dupont in the Soviet Union
(24:53) Where does work ethic come from? 
(26:40) Transitioning to Pepsi
(30:08) How Russian businesses use fear to do business 
(35:14) Being too early in fintech
(46:30) Fostering entrepreneurship in large companies
(48:50) Cultivating a work environment of experimentation and creativity
(50:00) Joining MailChimp as #4 on the team
(53:30) Designing the “voice” and experience of MailChimp
(1:00:00) Using “forever free” and product-led growth strategies
(1:04:00) Why I left MailChimp
 
EPISODE LINKS:
Website: https://www.neilbainton.com/ 
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nbainton/
Photography: https://www.neilbainton.photos/
RELATED KEYWORDS
DuPont, Lycra, Russian manufacturers, textiles, hosiery, competition, fear, tax inspectors, regulatory challenges, Russian culture, communism, group-focused, individual rights, Soviet Union, bankrupt, national TV, rules, Putin, SaaS product launches, go-to-market, referral strategies, MailChimp, Atlanta, funding, design, user experience, out-innovating, competitors, winner-takes-all, auto tag tool, Cold War era, rule of law, privatization, oligarchs, developers, capital, spam, Email Genome Project, Forever Free, Forward Obsessed, Woodbridge, Pepsi, Stolichnaya Vodka, Coke, salty snacks, safety-oriented culture, gunpowder, high market concentration, margins, consumer-oriented, Conoco, government approval, advertising, market dynamics, matching halves promotion, fraud.
PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: https://forwardobsessed.com/
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forward-obsessed/id1615760781
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2TrkOZ7xL7WSlzc2mrwXuC?si=aa5e7790aca64e05
YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5b9WPqVXz_qlfXgK3hHPs4z
YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5Yt0LiPml0y6pNUSrqHzWql
 
SUPPORT & CONNECT:
Digital Surgeons Website: https://digitalsurgeons.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitalsurgeons
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalsurgeons
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/210497/
 

The Future Of AI Language Models With Steve Shwartz

 
Steve Shwartz is an award winning author, angel investor, serial entrepreneur, and one of the foundational engineers behind AI technologies like natural language processing. On this episode of Forward Obsessed, we dive deep into the profitable (and tumultuous) world of Artificial Intelligence and AI Language Models. Our guest is Steve Schwartz, an accomplished AI engineer, author, investor, and entrepreneur who has built and sold multiple companies and novel AI technologies. Steve shares his incredible story of developing AI language models in the 80’s, his insights on the current state of AI, and analyzes the tools and technologies being used in the AI arms race. We discuss Steve's background and his unlikely transition from academia to entrepreneurship, how language models worked then vs. now, Chat GPT, and the potential for AI to transform the way our society operates. Finally, we also dive into potential use cases and concerns around AI, "killer robots," and reflect on the future of Artificial Intelligence. 
6 Key Entrepreneurial Topics From This Interview
The importance of creativity and effective communication as the two biggest competitive advantages in business.
The possibility of using AI tools, like Chat GPT, as assistants to reduce workload and increase productivity.
The importance of learning from failures and setbacks and seeking guidance and mentorship.
The impact of rapid technological advancements on businesses and the need to adapt and innovate.
The value of finding niche markets and creating premium products.
The potential of AI technology and its impact on society, such as its use in different industries and concerns about ethics and safety
 
OUTLINE: 
(00:00) - Intro
(1:51) - Early years in Cape Cod with entrepreneurial parents
(3:35) - “I learned to hate entrepreneurship and business as a kid”
(5:05) - Attending an experimental school in Florida  
(9:38) - Going to Johns Hopkins for a PhD
(13:28) - Creating an AI program to predict horse racing results
(17:33) - Pivoting from teaching to being an entrepreneur
(22:45) - What is a natural language interface? 
(28:58) - Making AI language models for an Oil rigging company
(32:02) - Building Intelligent Business Systems
(36:34) - Why AI was unpopular in the 1980’s 
(38:05) - Why I don’t invest in academics
(41:25) - Being too early with a brilliant idea
(46:20) - How to avoid accounting scandals 
(52:30) - Dealing with stress during scandal
(58:01) - Pitfalls and disasters while trying to sell my business
(1:00:30) - Add  a “Best Efforts” clause to your contracts
(1:05:30) - What is a CTO? 
(1:10:08) - Founder teams will make or break a good idea
(1:15:00) - Why Al Subbloie is changing the game
(1:21:05) - Joining Tangoe and Device42
(1:27:30) - The recent call to slow AI development
(1:30:00) - What ChatGPT isn’t as powerful as people think
(1:36:00) - Good uses for ChatGPT
(1:45:20) - The future of AI technology
(1:50:00) - The best places to invest in AI
 
EPISODE LINKS:
AI Perspectives: https://www.aiperspectives.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveshwartz/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sshwartz?lang=en
Steve’s Book: https://www.aiperspectives.com/evil-robots/
 
RELATED KEYWORDS
multimodal model, Zapier, Make, SaaS tools, Chat GPT, plugin architecture, AI, Auto GBT, Pine Cone, vector embeddings, reinforcement learning, GPD, creativity, communication, assistant, productivity, four-day workweek, career change, Intelligent Business Systems, natural language interfaces, Lisp, Digital Equipment Corporation, Knowledgeware, AI arms race, killer robots, monitors, Bert Green, supervised learning, horse racing, Lenny, golf hat business, mahogany stand, Hopkins, Steve Costlin, Stephen Pinker, Jeff Hinton, Yale, Roger Shank, neurosurgery.
PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: https://forwardobsessed.com/
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forward-obsessed/id1615760781
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2TrkOZ7xL7WSlzc2mrwXuC?si=aa5e7790aca64e05
YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5b9WPqVXz_qlfXgK3hHPs4z
YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5Yt0LiPml0y6pNUSrqHzWql
 
SUPPORT & CONNECT:
Digital Surgeons Website: https://digitalsurgeons.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitalsurgeons
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalsurgeons
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/210497/

The Future Of Marketing With Michael Kalman

Michael Kalman is the Chief Strategy Officer for PersonalRX, Advisory Board Member for iCleanse, and was previously the founder and CEO of MediaCrossing, a digital marketing agency which sold to Kubient in 2021. 
Kalman is a media and digital marketing expert who has been in the industry since 1990. On this episode of Forward Obsessed, learn about how a group of people started a trading desk to offer programmatic digital media to middle-market clients, and how their focus on good governance and hiring the right professionals led to a successful sale of the company. Hear about the importance of having a core team that believes in the vision of the business, finding personal relationships that can help improve oneself, as well as the importance of balancing work and personal life. Build better teams with Michael’s tips for identifying individuals with passion and integrating them into an established group. Interested in selling your business? Learn about Michael’s top tips for setting your acquisition up for success. 
Key Topics: 
Importance of work ethic and giving back
Creating a successful trading desk
Importance of having a core team with shared empathy and goals
The importance of finding personal relationships as an entrepreneur
Balancing work and personal life
Learning from mistakes and negative feedback
The importance of passion and creating a healthy company culture
Strategies for a successful sale of a business
 
OUTLINE: 
(00:00) - Intro
(1:30) -  Early years at a small agency
(7:53) - The first time I got my “teeth kicked in” by a client
(12:00) - Your client wants you to succeed
(14:43) - The root of every personal and professional problem
(17:27) - The hardest challenge that agencies face
(20:30) - The problem with unspoken expectations
(24:14) - Reliance on social media can be a disservice for brands
(27:41) - Finding a way to grow through a niche
(33:15) - What made MediaCrossing different from other agencies
(39:45) - How NOT to structure your company
(45:21) - Learning to let people down as a leader
(50:40) - Strategies when you become overwhelmed
(54:27) - Taking mental health days are key to growth
(59:14) - Learning to take care of yourself and your family
(1:02:24) - Teaching work ethic to your children
(1:08:30) - How to cultivate passion in your team
(1:16:00) - Managing (and firing) underperformers
(1:21:15) - Selling a private company to a public company
(1:29:03) - There are no shortcuts to selling your business
(1:35:20) - How the pandemic restrictions killed our industry
(1:39:11) - What’s next for the American economy
(1:42:30) - How to build a company in a “remote work first” generation
 
EPISODE LINKS:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mkkalman/
PersonalRX: https://www.linkedin.com/company/personalrx/
iCLeanse: https://www.icleanse.com/
 
PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: https://forwardobsessed.com/
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forward-obsessed/id1615760781
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2TrkOZ7xL7WSlzc2mrwXuC?si=aa5e7790aca64e05
YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5b9WPqVXz_qlfXgK3hHPs4z
YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5Yt0LiPml0y6pNUSrqHzWql
 
SUPPORT & CONNECT:
Digital Surgeons Website: https://digitalsurgeons.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitalsurgeons
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalsurgeons
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/210497/
 

The Art Of Never Giving Up With Larry Janesky

Larry Janesky is the CEO and Founder of Basement Systems, Contractor Nation, The School Of Entrepreneurship, and owns over 30 businesses across the United States. Larry is also one of the most accomplished desert motorcycle racers in the world, and has competed and won the Baja 1000 Desert race multiple times. On this episode of Forward Obsessed, we dive into the importance of focusing our attention on positive and constructive things that align with our goals. We discuss how negative news and media can be detrimental to our well-being and how to combat it. Larry shares their personal childhood experiences that helped shape their work ethic and the lessons they teach their own children, as well as the strategies for effective sales presentations and the importance of being able to connect with different personality types. Larry also shares his experience competing in a 1000 mile desert motorcycle race and the lessons they learned from it. We delve into the idea of perseverance and not giving up despite obstacles that come our way. Join us as we explore the importance of investing in our own education and producing value to help society function.OUTLINE:
(00:00) - Intro
(1:15) - Learning ambition at a young age
(5:28) - Growing up in Bridgeport Connecticut
(10:22) - Raising kids to be rabid learners
(15:28) - Reputation and trust are everything in business
(17:25) - How to cultivate ambition in others? 
(21:00) - The “no job too small” mentality leads to success
(27:00) - How to handle fear as an entrepreneur
(29:30) - A marble for every week I am alive
(32:20) - Fear and negativity is easy
(34:29) - You create the world you live in by what you pay attention to
(38:55) - Entrepreneurship is about seeing who you can become
(43:30) - Building a basement waterproofing empire
(50:40) - An extraordinary life of shared experiences
(54:38) - If you are doing a presentation, you are doing a show
(1:00:41) - Work once, get paid forever
(1:03:07) - Founding a school of entrepreneurship
(1:11:13) - Iron sharpens iron: Winning the Baja 1000 motorcycle race
(1:27:48) - What is means to never give up
 
EPISODE LINKS:
Laryy’s Daily Newsletter: www.thinkdaily.com
The School Of Entrepreneurship: www.Thesoe.com
Into the dust documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYaQLS-7ejU
The Highest Calling Book: https://shop.thehighestcallingbook.com/
Personal Website: https://www.larryjanesky.com/
PODCAST INFO:
Podcast website: https://forwardobsessed.com/
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/forward-obsessed/id1615760781
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2TrkOZ7xL7WSlzc2mrwXuC?si=aa5e7790aca64e05
YouTube Full Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5b9WPqVXz_qlfXgK3hHPs4z
YouTube Clips: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ldUUGxQZ5Yt0LiPml0y6pNUSrqHzWql
 
SUPPORT & CONNECT:
Digital Surgeons Website: https://digitalsurgeons.com
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@digitalsurgeons
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalsurgeons
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/210497/
KEYWORDS: 
positive thinking, attention, focus, master skill, media, solutions, childhood experiences, identity, financial struggles, hard work, entrepreneurship, sales, leadership training, Broadway show, personality types, introvert, Baja 1000 race, Iron Man, fear, honest, taking chances, failure, limited time, value creation, character, discipline, college education, Eagle Scout, work-life balance, teaching, leadership abilities, entrepreneurship school, perseverance, talent, moral responsibility, desert motorcycle race, "Into the Dust" movie, Iron Man class, anaphylactic shock, tapping out, limited resources.