Girl on Purpose with Vivian Tenorio

Julie Busha launched the Slawsa brand to the market in 2011 with rave reviews and retailer confidence that saw placement in over 5,100 stores in the US and Canada within two years. Prior to becoming an entrepreneur and landing a coveted spot on Season 5 of ABC's Shark Tank, Busha spent her entire professional career in the world of sport marketing. She worked with many Fortune 500 clients, starting with IMG and most recently leading the marketing efforts for an agency owned by NASCAR driver, Bobby Labonte - a company she was recruited to build in 2007. She is proud to have worked with General Mills for nearly a decade. Busha graduated with three departmental honors as Academic All-American and Order of Omega from Winthrop University and has since been published through various media outlets. She resides with her husband Brett and two weimaraners in Cramerton, North Carolina. More information about Slawsa, including a store locator, can be found at www.slawsa.com.

- What’s Your Personal Mission Statement I've got three little rules: #1 Don't make excuses. First of all, no one wants to be around people who don't take responsibility for their actions or inaction...they bring everyone else around them down. I have found that unsuccessful people can only achieve success on the backs of others. Don't be either one: the freeloader or the mule; and the freeloaders seem to be the ones who make the most excuses. #2 Never let someone else's inability to see your value determine your worth. If you want to achieve something, put in the work to get it done as it doesn't matter what other people think. #3 Don't be afraid to bite off a little more than you can chew at times. You lose fear when you dive into unknown territory head first and it'll make you stronger to take on more in the future. It'll build confidence too.

- Biggest Business Mistake I have always been a people pleaser and desire to make people happy, proud, you throw in the adjective, has always been a personality trait of mine. With that, I have found myself in situations where I have been too nice and that good nature has been taken advantage of. You want to assume the best in people but at the same time, you have to learn how to spot people who are just wanting to take advantage of your generosity, efforts or both. Its a fine line. Don't stop being nice, generous and helpful to others, just use caution when you do. I've learned it's okay to look at life's scenarios with a cynical eye from time to time and sometimes you have to do that to protect yourself.

- How Do You Handle Business Stress and Uncertainty With more grey hair. Honestly, because I am a very type-A person who feels she needs to be in control, it's not easy to think about the uncertainty of the future. I probably stress more than most but, at the same time, I have confidence in my abilities and I need to trust in those to get me to my goals. I just have to remind myself from time to time that I'm on the right path and as long as I stay focused, good things will happen. Physically, I enjoy going for a good long run or doing an Insanity workout to relieve some stress. In shape people can take on more workload.

- Greatest Business Decision That Changed Everything Buying out my partner when he requested to sell his equity in the company to me. To say that it was a shocking request is an understatement. Considering everything I had put forth with the company in time, effort and finances to grow the Slawsa brand where it was at the time of the request, I can't say it's an easy decision. I was now going to assume even greater risks with the added weight of an additional investment for the buyout and the legal fees in doing so. It's not an opportunity that comes before a 34-year old often but, at the same time, it was one that I couldn't pass up, even if it meant making additional sacrifices to do so.

- Best Book For The Entrepreneurial Mindset I'm a big fan of Larry Winget's business books because of their comical, kick-you-in-the-pants, nature... but I'd like to change this question up and reference a SONG that I think every Entrepreneur should live by: Frank Sinatra's "My Way." If you live like the person in this song lived, you probably kicked a little ass along the way. It's a great anthem for us entrepreneurs.

Plus much more...

As Founder and Chief Love Officer at Love Grown Foods, Maddy D’Amato not only spreads the LOVE far and wide, but also oversees many essential areas of the business. From managing domestic and international sales strategy, to overseeing packaging design, each day in Maddy’s life is different from the last. But one thing remains constant – her passion and enthusiasm for people and for Love Grown Foods is unyielding. It was this enthusiasm that propelled Love Grown Foods to break into one of the most competitive and saturated categories in the grocery store: cereal. In five years, Love Grown Foods’ distribution has gone from one store in Colorado to over 7,500+ stores throughout the US and Canada. Love Grown Foods is a Denver-based, natural food company on a mission to create healthy, delicious, and affordable products, while educating kids on the importance of fueling their bodies right.

What are your top 3 business tips for aspiring entrepreneurs

• Be passionate.
• Be persistent.
• Be fearless.

What has been your biggest business mistake Not hiring the right CPA off the bat. As a small company, every dollar is so hard to spend, but there are two areas you must spend money on in the beginning and it is on the right accounting firm and right legal team.

What do you think is the difference between people who talk about starting businesses and those who actually do it The fear factor. Being fearless enough to know you will make mistakes ...and that you won’t sleep a lot... and that you might fail.

What has been greatest business decision you made that changed everything for the better From the very beginning we packaged our products in professional bags with barcodes and nutritional labels. It cost more and took time (we hand labeled clear bags front and back with large stickers), but that initial first impression is so profound and imperative for long-term success.

Best book for the entrepreneurial mindset Cooking Up a Business by Rachel Hofstetter. No matter what industry you are in, this book takes you through the trials and tribulations of founders who have not only overcome huge challenges, but who have also created incredible business and brands. It is a quick, easy, and enjoyable read that is bound to inspire!

Plus much more...

Rachel Hofstetter is the author of “Cooking Up a Business” (Penguin, 2013). She was so inspired by the entrepreneurs she wrote about that she left her food editor career to launch guesterly, a software platform that enables anyone to create a playbill for life’s special events. Today, you can find her sharing guesterly with the world by day — and recipe testing at night!

What are your top 3 business tips for aspiring entrepreneurs? Pick something that makes your life easy as it grows (ie, non-perishable granola instead of pesto) Test, test, test your product with real users and customers Bring your enthusiasm!

What has been your biggest business mistake? Not going on a vacation before we started!! But seriously, nothing feels like a mistake. There are learning opportunities, but we’re grateful for the aha moments they provide, and then we move on. Starting a business is about learning constantly.

What do you think is the difference between people who talk about starting businesses and those who actually do it? As I traveled the country on my book tour, this was actually the #1 thing I heard... “For years I’ve wanted to start X, Y, Z!” Maybe it’s a business, maybe it’s writing a book. But it’s always hypothetical. I always say “Start this weekend then!” But people always have something planned this weekend, and then it’s the holidays, and then something comes up... just get started. When I had the idea to turn an article I wrote at O, the Oprah magazine into a book, I set aside the next two weekends and wrote my proposal. When we decided to start our company guesterly, I reached out to friends and family that day to ask for designer recommendations. Just get started!

What has been greatest business decision you made that changed everything for the better? I saw this story many times in my book, and it’s something I repeated myself: go into business with a partner you really truly trust and get along with. For me, that’s my husband Lorne, but it can be a best friend, boyfriend or girlfriend, etc. Having a very strong relationship makes everything easier.

Best book for the entrepreneurial mindset? I am loving The One Thing by Gary Keller—and of course, if you’re searching for inspiration I have to recommend Cooking Up a Business! It’s a fun, fast read that will get you itching to start your own business.

What began as a beekeeping hobby in 1985 has birthed a celebrated honey brand. Van and Laura Tapp, after a series of life altering events launched Vintage Bee, Inc. with Van’s father Jack.

-How she got her product in front of QVC buyers

-How she landed national retailers like TJ Maxx, Marshalls and Homegoods

-What’s Your Personal Mission Statement To be a living breathing billboard of God being alive!

-Biggest Business Mistake Not getting enough deposit on our first international private labeling and not having a contract. it has been a nightmare.

-How Do You Handle Business Stress and Uncertainty I pray alot! I have a great mentor circle that I communicate with when things get hairy! Lots of research. I read everything I can on the subject to make decisions accurately

-Greatest Business Decision That Changed Everything When we decided to go national. it was an easier thing to stay local, stay comfortable. i wasnt even sure what that meant. but it had to be bigger than where we were. We landed our first national account when attending Fancy Food Summer 3 yrs ago. it was crazy! my husband was in the hospital with a septic infection from being out of country the week before and it was nuts! but I went anyway--he yelled at me and told me I better go! and it was awesome!

-Best Book For The Entrepreneurial Mindset Entreleadership by Dave Ramsey

-Plus much more...

Autumn Martin is a proud 4th generation Washingtonian. She finds much inspiration in the natural elements found in the Pacific Northwest and is passionate about incorporating them into her creations—from innovative confections to the brand she’s created with Hot Cakes.

Autumn founded Hot Cakes in 2008, selling the namesake, Take n Bake Molten Chocolate Cake in mason jars at Farmer’s Markets in Seattle. In May of 2012, she opened Hot Cakes Molten Chocolate Cakery, an artisan dessert and craft cocktail bar featuring creative, small-batch desserts and fine spirits, to rave reviews. In April of 2013, St. Martin’s Press released herfirst book, Malts & Milkshakes: 60 Recipes for frosty, creamy, frozen treats.

Autumn has developed a devoted following over the years, and she is highly respected for her innovative flavor profiles and commitment to creating quality products. Hot Cakes was awarded “Best Dessert” at the NW Chocolate Festival for the last three years and was honored with a “Best New Dessert” nod from Seattle magazine. Most recently, her Pacific Coast Sea Salt Caramel Sauce became a Good Food Award finalist and her Molten Chocolate Cakes were featured on O magazine’s Wow list.

Autumn is a graduate of the Culinary Arts Program at Edmonds Community College where she was honored as Student of the Year and now Distinguished Alumni. She worked at Seattle’s world-renowned Canlis restaurant from 2002 to 2004. In 2005, she devoted her life to chocolate and became the head chocolatier for Theo Chocolate where she created award-winning confections and chocolate bars for nearly 5 years.

Autumn loves to rock climb, snowboard, surf, eat, love, and sleep.

On Today's show Autumn will share:

What’s Your Personal Mission Statement Be as honest as possible, be compassionate and kind to myself and listen to my gut.

Biggest Business Mistake Hiring family to help me build out the restaurant – it created so much stress, and I knew in the beginning it would turn out to be a mistake but I did it any way. Big, painful mistake that I could have done without.

How Do You Handle Business Stress and Uncertainty I wait. I try to not make any large decision on the fly, so I contemplate and talk it over with friends and colleagues and wait it out until it feels right. For stress - it’s an everyday learning process. I am trying to practice empathy and compassion as most stress is brought on by the actions of others and getting worked up over other peoples actions doesn’t serve me that well, so I am working on keeping calm and staying open and understanding to their position.

Greatest Business Decision That Changed Everything Going for it. I hemmed and hawed over whether or not to open a brick and mortar dessert restaurant and doing so has changed the game completely. We are successful and it feels good. Also, waiting for the right location and the right mix of investors. Having good people on my team makes all the difference in the world. Everybody is so supportive.

Best Book For The Entrepreneurial Mindset Well, I must say that I LOVE Atlas Shrugged. I don’t think it is at all about greed and just about capitalism, but about passionate builders (not just of structures) with visions and their path to living with truth and justice outside the sticky cobwebs of untruthful people.

Plus much more...

Useful links: http://www.getyourhotcakes.com https://twitter.com/getyourhotcakes https://www.facebook.com/getyourhotcakes