12 Steps To Help Separate Your Brand From The Competition

Are the Riches REALLY in the Niches? Should you niche down your business or should this strategy be tossed into the pile of garbage advice toted by fake gurus and marketing agencies trying to sell you something. Niche down? Don't niche down? Ugh! What's an entrepreneur to do? In my pilot edition of the Lemonade Maker® LIVE YouTube Show, I unpack this question asked by a Lemonade Maker® fan, and reveal the best way to navigate your business model, target audience, and advertising strategies. Then, take the TEST to find out if the riches really are in the niches for you and your business!

Published in Startup Nation | March 3, 2025 | Author: Thomas Minieri and YEC Members -- Navigating the complex process of securing a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan requires more than just a well-written proposal; it demands insider knowledge and strategic insight. This article distills expert advice into actionable steps for crafting a winning SBA loan proposal, emphasizing the importance of clarity, financial transparency, and realistic projections. Readers will gain access to a wealth of expertise, covering everything from market analysis to the nuances of presenting a compelling business plan. Gaining approval for a $3 million SBA loan for expansion and real estate acquisition, Thomas Minieri has first-hand experience here. His contribution to the article is as follows: A few years into my entrepreneurial journey, I decided that I wanted to expand by opening a second location. I also wanted to buy the real estate that housed that second location. The problem was that my credit was less than perfect because of the financial turmoil I went through as a self-funded startup entrepreneur. Not only was my credit bad, but I knew nothing about real estate and did not even know where to start. So, I connected with a loan broker, who instructed me to go with the SBA. I hired this loan broker who became the guide on my path to getting my first SBA loan approval, and subsequently my first commercial real estate property. He helped me organize my financials, and once my books were in order, he pitched my deal to multiple banks on my behalf. A few weeks later, he came back to me with an offer from a bank. I learned a lot from that experience, so much so that by my third commercial real estate purchase, I was able to broker the entire deal by myself. The moral of this story is to ask for help when you do not know how to do something. Stand on the shoulders of giants. Following the guidance of an expert is, in my opinion, the best way to learn. Sure, my loan broker took a fee that had to be paid upfront, but it was a small price to pay to leverage his expertise and to gain some of his knowledge.

Published in FastCompany | August 30, 2024 | Author: Thomas Minieri and YEC Members -- From limiting the number of communication channels to developing a unified company communication app, explore the 10 strategies these leaders recommend for setting and streamlining communication preferences. My contribution to the article is as follows: I manage a sales team, and I have found it to be imperative to have in-person meetings each week. The best model for managing my sales team is for us to meet twice per week in person. We meet first thing Monday morning to get motivated and to set up our week properly. We discuss pending sales, sales techniques, new sales, and strategies for cultivating sales opportunities. We utilize text messaging to communicate during the week as situations present themselves. This allows for quick responses and gives my sales team the ability to communicate with me on the fly if they need help in the middle of a sales presentation. We wrap up the week with a second in-person meeting. The vibe of this meeting is celebratory. Everyone comes to the meeting to share the sales they’ve cultivated, and everyone gets the chance to present their sales numbers to the team. We celebrate everyone’s successes, which keeps our sales team highly energized and encouraged. While it can be tempting to use new technology, I find it extremely difficult to create dynamic energy remotely. Tried-and-true in-person meetings work best for me and help me keep my team focused and encouraged. Click to read the full article on FastCompany .

Published in INC | July 31, 2024 | Author: Thomas Minieri and YEC Members -- “Initially crafted to help tech startups achieve rapid growth, the Lean Startup methodology has since transcended its original audience, proving invaluable to large corporations as well,” Reis says. “By leveraging principles such as validated learning, rapid experimentation, and continuous customer feedback, even established enterprises can navigate uncertainty and foster innovation.” This allows businesses to iterate quickly, minimize waste, and create products and services that resonate with their customers. So, how are businesses actually using the lean startup methodology? Here’s how eight business leaders think lean to produce big results for their businesses. Testing Before Implementation Thomas Minieri, founder of Lemonade Maker , an entrepreneur coaching franchise based in Charleston, South Carolina, says that utilizing the lean startup methodology allows his company to test new ideas before introducing them to franchisees. “As a franchisor, I have to be careful not to mandate new methods or services that have not been fully vetted,” says Minieri. ” By keeping our company-owned location running like an innovative startup, and by getting the customers of our company-owned location involved in a fun and intriguing way, we are able to stay agile and nimble.” Read the full article on INC .

Published in Entrepreneur | July 1, 2024 | Author: Thomas Minieri and YEC Members -- Considering a career hiatus? We've gathered insights from career coaches and founders to guide you through this critical decision. From assessing the lead time for your next opportunity to aligning the break with your personal seasons, explore the diverse perspectives of 18 experts on the merits and considerations of taking a career break. Thomas Minieri's contribution is as follows: I grew my first company from an underfunded $30 startup to a national franchise that employed over 50 professionals and produced over $12 million in revenue. I accomplished this in less than ten years. That level of growth was akin to riding a roller coaster without a harness. When I sold the company, I was exhausted! I needed a break. Ten years of running caught up with me, and to be honest, had I not sold the company and taken some time off, I might have collapsed. The day I left my company was the strangest day of my life. I went from CEO of a drama-prone franchise system to unemployed with nothing to do in one day. It was a culture shock at first, but the break let my mind, body, and soul relax. In that state of rest, I wrote my first book, which chronicled my crazy entrepreneurial journey and gave me the emotional release I needed to close that chapter of my life and move on to bigger and better things. With a clear head and some cash in the bank, I set out on a new adventure, taking with me all that I had learned and experienced. We entrepreneurs run at full steam, sometimes for extended periods of time. Whether you sell your company like I did or take the occasional sabbatical to catch your breath, taking a break might very well be the best thing you do this year. Your well-being deserves it! Read the full article in Entrepreneur .