The Entrepreneur Next Door 🏡

Zev Asch

My name is Zev Asch; welcome to The Entrepreneur Next Door Podcast. I've spent my entire career in what I call "the trenches of small business and entrepreneurship." I spent three decades as a successful corporate marketing executive in small and family-owned businesses, an academic career as a Graduate Marketing Professor and director of Entrepreneurship and leadership at Touro University Graduate School of Business, and over a decade as a business transformation coach.
As an avid podcast listener, I've always craved one that features unknown, grounded non-celebrities and entrepreneurs who can be my next-door neighbors.
Join me for intimate, unfiltered conversations with everyday people who took a leap into entrepreneurship and openly share their journey from failure to success. I spend hours preparing for each interview and asking intimate and challenging questions; one insight can make a profound difference in your business or life.
Finally, I promise that my podcast will never be used as a platform for me or my guests to self-promote. I strictly prohibit it and ensure each guest understands before being featured on my show.
My goal is to ensure that every episode delivers at least one insight that can help you improve your business or one aspect of your personal life.
Listen, subscribe, and share this channel with my thanks.
Music courtesy of ZakharValaha at Pixabay.

All episodes

Best episodes

Top 10 The Entrepreneur Next Door 🏡 Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best The Entrepreneur Next Door 🏡 episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to The Entrepreneur Next Door 🏡 for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite The Entrepreneur Next Door 🏡 episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

[15] BRUCE FELDMAN M.D: Good medicine is thinking but great medicine is thinking beyond the obvious.

The Entrepreneur Next Door 🏡

06/08/22 • 50 min

A successful doctor with medical director-level lucrative positions is asked a life-changing question by his boss: "Bruce, why are you doing this job? You're excited when you talk about people that are getting screwed by the system. You only seem to care about the patient?"
For a long time, Bruce's stated goal was to change the way we deliver healthcare in this country. But, after twenty years of trying to execute his goal, he felt too distant from patients. The entire process was broken, and he realized that he wouldn't be able to make an impact within the current system.
And the rest, as they say, is history. Bruce leaves the glamour of executive positions and dives into entrepreneurship.
Dr. Feldman goes into private practice where the funding comes directly from the patient (not insurance), and as a doctor, he was able to develop a close relationship with the patient - Concierge-stye, or as Bruce marketed his practice, My Personal Doc - a practice where the patient pays for services and insurance isn't typically involved. A one-on-one service where he can actually control the outcome.
Bruce differentiates his practice by getting outside of conventional medicine (treating the symptoms, not the underlying cause) to actually try to figure out why a patient didn't feel well.
Bruce expands his knowledge base into non-traditional medicine and finds out that it often provides clues to underlying causes.
At this point, Bruce gives us quick education and explains why ignoring non-traditional medicine comes at the expense of patients' well-being and positive long-term outcomes.

[12] EDAN BIDANI: Was it meant to be? If you ask Eden Bidani she will say "absolutely."

The Entrepreneur Next Door 🏡

05/04/22 • 61 min

This is a rare behind-the-scenes insight into the art of copywriting and an entrepreneurial woman that changed everything in her life and became an international success.

Eden Bidani's journey starts with a dream of becoming a Forensic Anthropologist, or as she puts it, " establishing the cause of death and securing life for the people who cannot do it themselves." But, when faints at the sight of blood it also ends her quest for forensics, and she pursues a degree in Anthropology and Sociology.

Eden gets a sales job which she describes as "the intersection of marketing and anthropology" (you should listen to her fantastic interpretation of this). What attracted her was not the sales pitch or techniques but the ability to develop an in-depth connection and understanding of her customers.

On a solid foundation of caring for people and empathy, Eden dives into the highly competitive direct-to-customer cosmetic industry and her partner focuses on sales, logistics, and operations). Spoiler alert - violating every HR rule, their relationships blossom, and they get married.
Eden converts to Judaism and moves from Australia to her new home in Israel.

Eden is transitioning from a laidback Australian culture to a fast-paced Israel, and in the process, she also becomes (as she describes it) a mom to lots of kids. She begins to explore opportunities that fit her natural curiosity and talents but one she can do from home.
In 2015, Eden launched her copywriting career, and the rest is, as they say, "is history" - She is now of the most sought-after international copywriters.

This touching and engaging conversation is about an inspiring businesswoman with important takeaways, especially for business owners frustrated by marketing that doesn't work.

[54] The Secret to Entrepreneurial Success: Shift Your Mindset From Wealth To Purpose

The Entrepreneur Next Door 🏡

01/25/24 • 64 min

If you loved Simon Sinek's "Start With Why" talk, this is the street-smart version from a young Israeli entrepreneur.
Itay Forer dove into entrepreneurship as an Israeli student living in New York City. He openly shares his down-to-earth and transparent reasons for becoming an entrepreneur and his invaluable reality check.
If you want to succeed in business, Itay's raw and street-smart advice is a must-have roadmap to beating tough odds.
☛ "If you have the willpower and want to do things out of the ordinary, go for it. "
☛ Itay never asked for or needed an allowance as a teenager. Find out why.
☛ "Entrepreneurship combines the freedom to create and the thrill of uncertainty. "
☛ "The odds of entrepreneurial success are low, but if you don't compromise on your vision and do
what you love, you'll find a way to succeed. "
☛ What is product-market fit, and why will it make or break your business?
Connect with Itay:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/itayforer/

[59] From Submarine Naval Officer to leadership coaching

The Entrepreneur Next Door 🏡

04/03/24 • 60 min

Tom Sicola takes us on a captivating journey from his days as a submarine naval officer, where he learned the invaluable lessons of teamwork and purpose, to the corporate world, where he witnessed firsthand the pitfalls of the infamous Peter Principle.
Tom embarks on an entrepreneurial adventure with a burning desire to help corporate leaders and business owners unlock their true potential. Tom highlights the need for training and development in leadership positions and the importance of creating a fulfilling work environment.
***HIGHLIGHTS***
➡️ How coaching can help individuals achieve their greatest potential
➡️ The Peter Principle is still prevalent in many organizations.
➡️ Asking for help and delegating tasks allow for better focus on core responsibilities.
➡️ Maintaining a positive mindset and seeking support from peers and mentors are
essential for overcoming challenges.
➡️ Why Taking risks and learning from mistakes are necessary for entrepreneurs
➡️ Having the right mindset and taking action are key success factors.
Connect with Tom:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tomsicola
Web: sicolainsights.com/
Email: [email protected]

Podcasts' Hidden Magic

The Entrepreneur Next Door 🏡

01/27/22 • 7 min

In this introductory episode of The Entrepreneur Next Door, Zev Asch shares the purpose behind his new podcast; He says," The fastest and most practical way anyone can grow their business is by learning from other successes and what it took to get there." Get ready to be energized and inspired; about the potential of your business or if you're thinking about launching your own.
Learn more at https://zevasch.com/

[34] Rui Boom: Breaking free from routine and embracing the unknown."

The Entrepreneur Next Door 🏡

03/16/23 • 82 min

Buckle up and get the popcorn ready; it's a longer podcast worth listening to every minute.
When your guest opens the conversation with a profound quote from Confucius - "We have two lives; the second begins when we realize we only have one" - you know you're in for a deeply personal conversation.
Rui Boom grew up in Portugal and wanted to become an international soccer player. However, he followed his parents' wishes and pursued a more conventional path as a Finance major. What happens next? He takes a leap of faith, "embraces the unknown" and moved to another country.
Here are key insights from Rui's journey:

Why did Rui abandon his Finance college degree and trade it for sales and marketing with Unilever? Hint, Rui quotes Mark Twain, "I have never let schooling interfere with my education.”
Who was the person who changed Rui's life forever? He still doesn't know.
What does Rui mean when he says, "I was 27, but it felt like I was a baby again?"
What happened within five minutes of Rui landing in Japan?
What is the most critical aspect of early-stage start-ups?
Learn about the dynamics of mentoring start-up founders and what they must have in order to benefit from the engagement.
"The best way to become an entrepreneur is to be an entrepreneur."
What does Rui mean by "Profit is F$^% Money?"
"Older players understand there's no such thing as...."

Connect with Rui here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rui-bom/

[7] ANITA TOTH: Easy come, easy go right? Absolutely not!

The Entrepreneur Next Door 🏡

03/18/22 • 60 min

In this episode, I speak with Anita Toth, Chief Churn Crusher (CCC). While Anita focuses on Software as a Service (SaaS) companies, the topic - how to stop customers from leaving- applies to any business.
Find out what Medical Geography (an actual Master's major) is all about and what attracted Anita to public health and the environment. Anita's first day on the job was the day before September 11th, 2001 - talk about jumping into the water and learning how to swim.
Anita shares that she felt like a square peg in a round hole during her tenure as a researcher. But, like many would-be entrepreneurs, she also had a side hustle selling honey for her friend. She then takes an expensive website building and SEO course and helps companies rank on Google, but... "it didn't feel right" and was somewhat sketchy.
Anita falls for a few "it's too good to be true" courses by a self-promoted guru and dabbles with a paid advertising agency. She comes to realize a vital thing: "I didn't love marketing as much as I thought."
"My bad experiences as a customer pushed me. What appealed to me was what happens post-sales - the customer experience side of the business." Anita finally finds her calling by joining an AI SaaS platform where she discovers the world of churn.
Why do customers become dissatisfied after making a purchase? Listen to how Anita, who has built a profitable company, is helping businesses identify the root cause of customer dissatisfaction and getting them on a healthy growth track.

[36] Adam Robinson: "How we beat the "SaaS slow ramp of death."

The Entrepreneur Next Door 🏡

04/07/23 • 81 min

If you're looking for an authentic and inspiring entrepreneurial success story, this podcast episode with Adam Robinson is a must-listen. Adam's transparent and detailed account of his journey is a gem. He shares strategies, technical insights, and valuable lessons he's learned. His story is a treasure trove of wisdom for anyone considering starting their own business, especially in the competitive Software as a Service (SaaS) industry.

Adam bootstrapped Robly to an eight-figure exit and publicly shares how he plans to grow his new venture, Retention.com, to a one billion dollars valuation by the end of 2023. Retention.com (formerly GetEmails ) grew to fourteen million in two and a half years with just six people and zero funding.

Adam graduates from Rice University and is unsuccessful in getting a position with a major consulting firm. A chance encounter gets Adam a job as a trader on Wall Street, when, in his early twenties, he is able to create a financial nest egg.

What happened next is not your typical "young man makes millions and spends it all on a luxurious lifestyle." Adam saves money and gets a reality check from one of his mentors: "The skills from ten years ago are useless, so go get some skills that will keep you busy and employed ."

Watching his brother start a tech company plants a seed. Adam invests his savings and dives into entrepreneurship to take on email giants like MailChimp and Constant Contact.

Here are a few highlights of Adam's revealing conversation:

As a trader, what did it feel like when your biggest client lost eight million dollars in one day, and what was the valuable lesson that served Adam later in his career
How a web crawler opens the door to new opportunities
Where does Adam get the knowledge of how to be an Internet Entrepreneur?
The formula of what you need to invest when you're up against market leaders that own 80% of your market
What is a Competitive Moat, and how Adam's Navy Seal strategy allowed him to take market share from Constant Contact
Why telemarketing played a critical role in Robly's success: it's not just calling but whom you call and what you do say to grab their attention
How to grow a small Saas business to scale and overcome "The slow ramp of death" syndrome
Why Adam claims, "It's easier for me to sell a $20K deal than a $46 monthly subscription?"
What is a 'subscription decoy' plan, and why were people happier paying more?
Why differentiation, especially in Saas, was and continues to be, a game-changer
Adam's strategy: "You pick a lane that MailChimp will never choose or do."
How Adam and his team invested just $5K on FB ads in the first month, which converted to $10K monthly recurring revenue?
How and why Adam was able to become a Digital Nomad and the turning point when he decided it was time to exit
How Adam plans to grow his new company, Retention.com to a $1B valuation by the end of 2023

Follow Adam's journey on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/retentionadam/

[48] Chad Brown: How To Spot Patterns That Get In The Way Of Success

The Entrepreneur Next Door 🏡

09/26/23 • 62 min

In this episode of the Entrepreneur Next Door, you'll meet Chad Brown, who became an entrepreneur at fifteen and found his calling after multiple pivots in his career.

"Fathering teenage girls is one of the greatest leadership lessons."
If my relationship with my wife is terrible, I can’t be effective as a coach leader.

His first sales job was as a sales rep for his father’s drywall business. It colored and defined Chad’s professional future.
Chad takes a psychology class and gets hooked: “A space where we can discuss the humanness of life.”
Additional highlights from our fun and energetic conversation:
➡️ Why did Chad drop out of college in 2007, and how did a “What could go wrong?”
business go bust?
➡️ Chad’s big move into a new business and why he packed his family to start a new life
in California?
➡️ What technology was a game-changer in Chad’s new entrepreneurial venture?
➡️ How does Chad balance and tackle the challenge of family life and a successful career?
➡️ The unlikely path that had Chad pivot his career again
➡️ How filmmaking and leadership coaching come together for Chad
➡️ What does “You spot it, you got it” mean?
➡️ To see any pattern in my clients where they are getting in their way, I have to
first recognize it in myself.” - “You must address the thinking that created the reality
right now.”
➡️ The question that left Chad speechless and how he recovered.
Connect with Chad:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-brown-leadership-coach-477a7015/
Email: [email protected]
#leadership #leadership #leadershipdevelopmentcoaching

[46] Irit Levi: "If I can't figure it out in 5 minutes, I'm not recommending it."

The Entrepreneur Next Door 🏡

09/18/23 • 99 min

Irit Levi, "The Secret Tapes."
Well, not really. I invited Irit to do a follow-up interview for last year's podcast. A lot has changed with Irit's business, and I wanted her on video so she could be part of my new YouTube podcast line-up.
Irit Levi is a source of inspiration for women who strive to balance their roles as a mother, wife, and successful business owner while keeping up with the demands of maintaining a Jewish tradition. Many women (and men) dream of achieving the healthy and productive balance Irit has found in her life.
Other highlights from our open conversation:

How does one transform from a secular to an observant Jew, and does the process have parallels in business?
Irit's first job earned $3/hour, and it became her dream job
What is an instructional designer, and how does it correlate to Irit's religious discovery
"If I can't figure it out in 5 minutes, I'm not recommending it." Irit's brutal, honest assessment of automation/software tools
How Irit grew her LinkedIn followers from zero to over 10K+ followers
Irit's advice about LinkedIn strategies and experts
Why LinkedIn is the best place for introverts to make their mark
Why you can't and shouldn't delegate everything and the one thing you may not want to let go
Irit's take on AI and how it will (or not) impact productivity and workflow

Find & Connect with Irit Levi:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irit-levi/
Web: https://www.day-by-day.biz/

Show more best episodes

FAQ

How many episodes does The Entrepreneur Next Door 🏡 have?

The Entrepreneur Next Door 🏡 currently has 81 episodes available.

What topics does The Entrepreneur Next Door 🏡 cover?

The podcast is about Stories, Learning, Success, Marketing, Entrepreneur, Entrepreneurship, Money, Growth, Podcasts, Education, Sales, Business and Entrepreneurial.

What is the most popular episode on The Entrepreneur Next Door 🏡?

The episode title '[1] ITAY FORER: The Uber of On-Demand Laundry Service' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on The Entrepreneur Next Door 🏡?

The average episode length on The Entrepreneur Next Door 🏡 is 60 minutes.

How often are episodes of The Entrepreneur Next Door 🏡 released?

Episodes of The Entrepreneur Next Door 🏡 are typically released every 11 days, 1 hour.

When was the first episode of The Entrepreneur Next Door 🏡?

The first episode of The Entrepreneur Next Door 🏡 was released on Jan 27, 2022.

Show more FAQ

The Entrepreneur Next Door 🏡

Zev Asch

Top 10 The Entrepreneur Next Door 🏡 Episodes

FAQ

How many episodes does The Entrepreneur Next Door 🏡 have?

What topics does The Entrepreneur Next Door 🏡 cover?

What is the most popular episode on The Entrepreneur Next Door 🏡?

What is the average episode length on The Entrepreneur Next Door 🏡?

How often are episodes of The Entrepreneur Next Door 🏡 released?

When was the first episode of The Entrepreneur Next Door 🏡?

Comments