1046: Innovating Agriculture and Sports with Dan Lazar

Dylan Gaines boasts over 23 years of experience in Payment Processing, beginning his journey as a sales representative for UMS Banking. Initially tasked with managing all Citibank Branches from North Hollywood to Downtown, totaling 30 branches, Dylan handled all leads and sales responsibilities with finesse. Following Citibank's acquisition by First Data, he spearheaded the creation of a groundbreaking division within UMZS Banking, earning a promotion to VP National Business Development. In his elevated role, Dylan focused on forging new referral partnerships, particularly in the realm of E-commerce merchants. Collaborating with web designers, developers, internet marketers, and financial consultants, he capitalized on networking opportunities at conventions and conferences. These efforts resulted in the generation of millions of dollars in processing for UMS Banking. In 2009, Dylan co-founded International Payment Solutions with a vision to address the challenges faced by E-commerce merchants dealing with chargebacks and refunds. Recognizing a lack of understanding among merchants regarding the factors contributing to these issues, Dylan and his partner Chris committed themselves to educating and consulting clients on chargeback reduction strategies. Their dedication to guiding businesses through chargeback challenges earned them a reputation for caring and effective solutions. Building strong banking relationships enabled International Payment Solutions to onboard merchants facing processing challenges, including those unfairly placed on monitoring programs or MATCH lists. Dylan's expertise led to partnerships with prominent Mastermind Groups and speaking engagements at conferences like Traffic and Conversion and Affiliate Summit, where he shared insights on fraud prevention and chargeback reduction. Dylan's contributions to the E-commerce space have solidified his status as an opinion leader, leading to features in CEO Life magazine and an upcoming book titled "The Pitfalls of Payment Processing," to be published by Epic Media. His commitment to empowering merchants to navigate payment processing challenges while maintaining their processing capabilities has cemented his reputation as a trusted advisor and industry expert. Listen to this illuminating Sharkpreneur episode with Dylan Gaines about revolutionizing e-commerce. Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week’s show: - How it’s important to understand proper sales funnels and avoid misleading guarantees in e-commerce. - How International Payment Solutions employs strategies to mitigate chargebacks through alert systems and rapid dispute resolution. - Why business owners should provide personakized customer support over email interactions. - How building partnerships with web designers, marketers, and industry specific organizations expands your business reach. - How International Payment Solutions has an affiliate program structure where partners can refer new clients. Connect with Dylan Gaines: Guest Contact Info Links Mentioned: intpaysol.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the President of White Buffalo Advisors, Jonathan “JB” Brown is an accomplished broker, investor, and M&A expert with over $100 million in business transactions under his belt. With 20+ years of experience, JB has significantly increased the bottom lines for over 1,000 clients across more than 100 industries worldwide. As a dynamic speaker, growth strategist, business innovator, and entrepreneurial advisor, JB has mastered the art of revenue and performance enhancement. By adapting growth and success concepts from various industries, he helps businesses unlock their full potential. JB takes great pride in his 22-year marriage to his wife Crystal, and together they have built a loving family with their three children. JB is also active in church and his community as a coach for local baseball and softball teams. He is an avid sports enthusiast and relishes the opportunity to attend various sporting events, whether it’s cheering on his favorite professional teams or supporting local talent. He understands the importance of balancing his professional and personal life, using sports as a way to unwind and connect with others who share his passion. Through his commitment to his family, faith, and community, JB demonstrates the values that drive his success in both his personal and professional endeavors. Listen to this informative Sharkpreneur episode with Jonathan “JB” Brown about the art of the double exit. Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week’s show: - How it’s important for business owners to shift their mindset from day-to-day operations to leadership roles. - Why business owners shouldn’t underestimate long-term goals or overestimate short-term goals. - How understanding the type of buyer and industry-specific exit multiples is crucial in exit strategies. - Why you want to position your business within the exit multiple range for maximum value. - How many business owners experience depression post-exit and should prepare for the emotional side of selling a business. Connect with JB: Guest Contact Info X @dealflowbreaker Facebook facebook.com/dealflowbrokerage Links Mentioned: whitebuffaloadvisors.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ryan Joseph Kopyar—an acclaimed author, keynote speaker, internationally-regarded vulnerability coach and licensed counselor. He is a transformational figure in the fields of psychology and personal development focused on helping men become more in tuned with, and expressive of, their emotions. Drawing on his extensive expertise in psychology and personal development, Ryan will detail the importance for entrepreneurs and other business leaders to acknowledge and embrace vulnerability in the business world. He will provide practical strategies for owners and managers to better identify and express their emotions to team members, and even customers/clients/guests and the public at large, in healthy ways. Additionally, he will highlight the role of effective communication in fostering stronger and more fulfilling workplace relationships. Ryan has authored multiple books, including “Unlock The Power of Your Mind” (2019) and “Big Boys Do Cry” (2024), which reflect his deep understanding of human psychology and his commitment to helping individuals navigate their emotions. He has presented to prestigious organizations like the RCMP in Winnipeg, Canada, and has grown his counseling practice from zero to six figures in just one year. Listen to this informative Sharkpreneur episode with Ryan Kopyar about helping men become more expressive and in tune with their emotions. Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week’s show: - How many men have a difficult time expressing emotions because of biological and societal factors. - Why lack of emotional expression can lead to disconnection in relationships and hinder personal and professional growth. - How being vulnerable not only in personal relationships but also in professional settings can impact your connections. - Why vulnerability is a powerful tool in both sales and leadership. - How counseling can help people transform their personal and professional relationships. Connect with Ryan: Guest Contact Info Instagram @ryankopyar Facebook facebook.com/p/Ryan-Kopyar-10007584018072 LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/ryan-kopyar-934b41200 Links Mentioned: ryankopyarholistichealing.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paige Arnof-Fenn is the founder & CEO of global branding and digital marketing firm Mavens & Moguls based in Cambridge, MA. Her clients include Microsoft, Virgin, The New York Times Company, Colgate, venture-backed startups as well as non profit organizations. She graduated from Stanford University and Harvard Business School. Paige serves on several Boards, is a popular speaker and columnist who has written for Entrepreneur and Forbes. Listen to this informative Sharkpreneur episode with Paige Arnof-Fenn about maximizing your marketing impact. Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week’s show: - How Mavens & Moguls specializes in providing strategic marketing solutions for mid-market and emerging marketing firms. - Why it’s vital for business owners to consider their brand important. - How business owners should be defining and maintaining consistency in branding across all platforms. - Why authenticity is key in branding. - How businesses need to audit their messaging and identify their unique value proposition to achieve branding success. Connect with Paige: Guest Contact Info Links Mentioned: mavensandmoguls.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Richard Parker has been helping people achieve their dreams of owning a business for over 30 years. His ‘How To Buy A Good Business At A Great Price’ program has sold over 100,000 copies in more than 80 countries. He was a partner with Ray Dalio and the Dalio family office for four years in an investment firm that was set up for Richard to mentor one of Ray’s sons in the art of buying businesses. Richard has personally purchased 13 of his own companies plus one co-investment with purchase prices ranging from $50,000 to over $200 million. He has appeared in Forbes, The New York Times, TheStreet.com, Entrepreneur Magazine, Inc., and has over 200 published articles to his credit. Listen to this informative Sharkpreneur episode with Richard Parker about how to acquire a business. Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week’s show: - How it’s important to understand the complexities of buying a business so you can avoid common mistakes. - How one of the biggest mistake buyers make is diving into the process without sufficient knowledge and preparation. - Why you shouldn’t randomly search online for a business to purchase. - How it’s smart to meet with multiple people selling their business to gain insights into different industries and business operations. - How cultural alignment and proper integration when acquiring a business are vital to ensure success. Connect with Richard: Guest Contact Info Instagram @richardparkerdiomo Facebook facebook.com/RichardParkerDiomo Links Mentioned: richardparker.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Lazar is renowned as the founder of Tennis Hero (2015, exited in 2019), Covers Hero (2016, exited in 2020), and HeroX (2020). His entrepreneurial journey includes notable achievements such as securing his first round of investment on "Shark Tank Romania" and earning recognition as one of Forbes' "30 Under 30." Inspired by his Baha'i faith, Dan is deeply committed to serving social causes. Before venturing into entrepreneurship, Dan pursued a career in professional tennis, achieving significant success, including being crowned the vice-champion of Romania U18. Currently serving as the CEO and Co-founder of HeroX, a dynamic property company, Dan oversees diverse ventures aimed at global impact. HeroX specializes in supplying air domes and inflatable buildings worldwide, alongside developing units adjacent to parks in Australia and spearheading solar power farm projects in Romania. Through his multifaceted endeavors, Dan continues to demonstrate his passion for innovation and social responsibility on a global scale. Listen to this informative Sharkpreneur episode with Dan Lazar about innovating agriculture and sports. Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week’s show: - How air domes are a cost-effective way for businesses like tennis clubs to operate year-round, regardless of weather conditions. - Why you should be using different methods to reach potential clients, including cold outreach, paid ads, trade shows, and referrals. - How having a low loan-to-value ratio and valuing partnerships over loans is vital in property development - Why it’s important for entrepreneurs to avoid a fixed mindset and to explore various sales channels. - How entrepreneurs should push past their limiting beliefs to achieve higher levels of success. Connect with Dan: Guest Contact Info Links Mentioned: hero.holdings Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ivan Vislavskiy is the co-founder of Comrade Digital Marketing Agency, a renowned firm recognized by INC5000. With offices in Chicago, Miami, and Austin, Ivan leads the agency with a vision that keeps it ahead in the digital marketing world, always exceeding clients' expectations. Ivan's expertise is evident in over 400 successful projects, demonstrating his ability to drive growth and foster creativity within the company. His creative spirit has turned the agency into a hub for innovation and collaboration, leading to significant development of in-house projects. Comrade Digital Marketing Agency has received numerous industry awards, highlighting its commitment to excellence and its leading role in digital marketing. Listen to this informative Sharkpreneur episode with Ivan Vislavskiy about finding a niche in legal and home services. Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week’s show: - How Comrade Digital Marketing Agency helps clients solve revenue problems by creating systematic marketing programs and managing marketing budgets. - How monitoring Google’s algorithm updates ensures alignment with best practices delivering relevant content to users. - Why it’s important to hire employees who are the right cultural fit for your company. - Why staying at the forefront of the rapidly evolving digital marketing industry is vital. - How business owners need to stay on top of industry changes while enjoying the continuous learning process. Connect with Ivan: Guest Contact Info Instagram @comradeweb Facebook facebook.com/ComradeWeb LinkedIn linkedin.com/company/comrade-web-studios Links Mentioned: comradeweb.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Building a Million-Dollar Business: The Power of Systems and Delegation – The Sharkpreneur podcast with Seth Greene Episode 1044 Mike Abramowitz Mike Abramowitz has 20 years in direct sales, training over 5,000 reps, and generating $19M in product sales. He's the author of 9 self-help books and founder of a charity providing 100,000+ meals to the homeless. Mike has grown his multiple businesses and nonprofit to operate without him, achieving the "Time Rich" lifestyle. As a father and husband, he equips business owners with a team of AI Powered Virtual Assistants to liberate them from time-consuming tasks and elevating their focus on high-value activities that matter most to them. Mike also hosts "The Better Than Rich Show" podcast and leads the community Automate, Delegate, Systemize. Listen to this informative Sharkpreneur episode with Mike Abramowitz about using systems and delegation to build a million-dollar business. Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week’s show: - How hiring a business coach is one of the smartest decisions an entrepreneur can make. - How entrepreneurs deserve a work life balance and to spend time with their family. - Why entrepreneurs should reinvest in what matters most to them. - How using effective delegation and planning can give entrepreneurs more of their time back. - How strategic systems and delegation can lead business owners to success and personal fulfillment. Connect with Mike: Guest Contact Info Instagram @betterthan_rich Facebook facebook.com/betterthanrich Links Mentioned: betterthanrich.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff Tomlin is the Co-founder and CMO of VendAsta Technologies Inc. At Vendasta, our core purpose is to drive local economies by democratizing technology for small and medium-sized businesses, or SMBs. Our mission is to be the leading platform for technology experts, which we refer to as channel partners, to provide digital solutions to SMBs. Vendasta provides channel partners with an end-to-end platform to scale and a curated marketplace of products and services to sell, both of which are tightly integrated into an operating system that is delivered to SMBs. The Vendasta platform provides channel partners with products for marketing automation, CRM, order and billing management, payments and collections, fulfillment management, and more. These products and services come with ready-made, go-to market materials that save the channel partner time, attract SMB attention, and help close new deals. Listen to this informative Sharkpreneur episode with Jeff Tomlin about the key to building long-term partnerships in business. Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week’s show: - How it’s important to evolve your organizational structure as your company grows. - Why it’s vital to understand your clients’ needs and provide ongoing support. - How selling multiple solutions to clients reduces churn. - Why expanding your offerings allows you gain more clients. - How building and growing a company requires business owners to adapt to constant changes. Connect with Jeff: Guest Contact Info X @vendasta Instagram @vendasta Facebook facebook.com/vendasta LinkedIn linkedin.com/company/vendasta Links Mentioned: vendasta.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Camberato is the CEO and founder of National Business Capital, a Specialty Finance Group. Through an easy-to-use online platform and an experienced team, National Business Capital helps entrepreneurs access competitive business financing conveniently, efficiently, and strategically. From SBA loans to lines of credit, equipment financing, and more, Joe and his team have completed tens of thousands of transactions and financed $2+ billion for businesses nationwide since 2007. Joe knows entrepreneurs because he is an entrepreneur. He started National Business Capital after realizing how challenging it is for business owners to access the funding they need to grow. With a strong vision, determination, and passionate leadership, Joe grew his firm from his spare bedroom to an all-star team that’s earned #1 top workplace on Long Island 5 years in a row – all without one dollar of private equity. Joe is frequently mentioned in Fortune, CNBC, Yahoo, Business Insider, and Forbes. He’s recognized as a national thought leader in finance, business, and private credit, ranking among top business leaders. Listen to this informative Sharkpreneur episode with Joe Camberato about navigating the world of private credit. Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week’s show: - How accessing capital can be challenging for business owners. - Why business owners struggle with the complexities of financing their business. - How banks tend to prefer larger deals, leaving a gap for businesses that need smaller funding amounts. - How banks typically look for collateral such as real estate or heavy machinery which not all business have. - How private credit is more expensive than a traditional bank loan but it provides access to capital without giving up equity. Connect with Joe: Guest Contact Info X @NatBizCapital Instagram @natbizcapital Facebook facebook.com/NatBizCapital LinkedIn linkedin.com/company/natbizcapital Links Mentioned: nationalbusinesscapital.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices