BTU #386 - Starting a Business on Your Own Terms (John Schmitt)

One thing I realized up front is that I didn’t want to be a toaster salesman. I want to have relationships that are far beyond transactional and I want to build partnerships.

In order to do that, you have to have genuine interest and understanding in where people are coming from - not just professionally but on a personal level too. What motivates them? Is it purpose driven or financial?

And I think those conversations really helped me figure out where I fit.
— John Schmitt

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Why Listen:
I loved hearing John's unique approach to entrepreneurship and life. After 20 years of military service, John was drawn into starting his own business. While starting any company requires sales, John's approach to sales is to simply be curious about whoever he is speaking with, and learn about their pain points. This is such great advice for so many different career paths. I also appreciate how John has constructed his life to have a fulfilling family life, outside of work life, and professional life.

About John:
John Schmitt is a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel who served 20+ years as an Aviator and Acquisition Corps officer. Upon leaving the Army, John started his own consulting firm with a focus on biotech, advanced manufacturing and marketing projects. Additionally, he serves as a board member for multiple local non-profits. John holds a BS in Biological Sciences from UC-Davis and an MS in Microbiology and Immunology from Vanderbilt University.

Our Sponsor:
This episode is brought to you by Pass Life. Serving in the military is inherently dangerous - are your affairs in order? The grief a service member's family feels upon learning of their passing is difficult enough, but the days, weeks, and months that follow are filled with stressful decisions. Pass Life is a single solution, secure cloud-based platform where Funeral Preparations, Last Wishes, Will Information, Financial Assets, Business Continuation Information, Social Media Account info, etc., can be uploaded to recipients of the user's choosing. Pass Life allows you to alleviate the stress and lift the fog for your loved ones, preeminently, by giving them a vital trove of information in multiple areas. 

Listeners can save 10% by using the code "BTU” at checkout.

Learn more at Pass-Life.com.

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