Living The Red Life

• The Art of Branding: Lessons from Chubbies Success Story

  Preston Rutherford is a renowned brand product owner, co-founder, and entrepreneurial expert known for his role in establishing Chubbies, a successful consumer brand famous for its colorful, casual men's shorts. With a strong background in brand development and digital marketing, Preston played a key role in growing Chubbies from a startup to a public company with a $100 million run rate. Today, he continues to influence the entrepreneurial landscape with new ventures and insights into brand-building strategies.With an emphasis on entrepreneurship, Preston and Rudy discuss the trials and triumphs faced during Chubbies' growth, from initial inception to a public company. Key topics include the importance of standing out in a crowded market, maintaining authenticity, and navigating the ever-evolving digital marketing landscape. The conversation also touches on personal insights about overcoming startup challenges, focusing on one's strengths, and making strategic business decisions. This dialogue is a must-listen for entrepreneurs seeking to build impactful brands with sustainable growth.Key Takeaways:Embrace differentiation to stand out in the marketplace; commoditized products can succeed with the right brand story and creative marketing.User-generated content can be a powerful tool for creating authentic brand engagement and fostering a sense of community with customers.The journey of entrepreneurship is fraught with challenges, but persistence and focusing on core strengths can lead to eventual success.Understanding the balance between generating demand and capturing demand is crucial for brand longevity.Collaboration and strategic partnerships, including offering equity, can be essential for acquiring the top talent needed to scale a growing business.Notable Quotes:"Everyone doesn't have to be exceptional at the best thing." — Preston Rutherford"You just have to be in the arena, constantly doing it and trying to learn." — Preston Rutherford"The opposite of apathy is memorable content; don't focus too much on pleasing everyone." — Preston Rutherford"If you're not good at it, hire, pay the money, and find the good people to do it." — Rudy Mawer"The true enemy in business is apathy, not people disliking what you do." — Preston RutherfordResources:marathondataco.comPreston Rutherford - Linkedin & XConnect with Rudy Mawer:LinkedInInstagramFacebookTwitter

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• Ditching Opiates: How Cannabis Changed My Life and Business

  Brianna Banks, the determined co-founder of WakenBakery. From a life-altering injury to establishing a flourishing cannabis-infused coffee and bakery enterprise, Brianna shares her journey of resilience and innovation. Listeners will delve into how a personal health crisis led her to discover the therapeutic benefits of cannabis, which sparked the inception of her unique business model designed to normalize and legalize cannabis consumption. This episode is not only about entrepreneurship but also sheds light on the societal impact of cannabis legalization and its role as an alternative to pharmaceuticals.Brianna Banks’ story is a testament to perseverance and creativity in transforming personal challenges into opportunities. Through her venture, WakenBakery, she advocates for the normalization of cannabis use and its monumental benefits. Operating in a highly regulated industry, Brianna discusses her strategic approach to navigating ever-changing laws and maintaining the essence of her brand across different locations. This episode is a treasure trove of insights for aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned business owners alike, showcasing the power of relentless positivity and visionary thinking in creating groundbreaking businesses.Key Takeaways:Brianna Banks turned her personal struggle with spinal injury and reliance on cannabis for pain relief into a successful business, aiming to destigmatize and normalize cannabis use.WakenBakery provides a welcoming space for a diverse clientele, offering a variety of cannabis-infused products such as coffee, tea, lemonade, and baked goods.The challenges of operating in the cannabis industry include navigating complex legal regulations and consistently rebranding to comply with state laws.Brianna’s resilience and commitment to innovation highlight the importance of positive affirmations and persistence in entrepreneurship.The potential benefits of cannabis as an alternative to pharmaceuticals in treating various conditions, showcasing personal testimonials of its impact on health and well-being.Notable Quotes:"I am building a safe space for everybody to come to. No. 21, to whatever age that might be, doctor to the janitor.""I push myself sometimes beyond what I think my limit is, and it has made me stronger and a better person and made the business better, too.""It's definitely an alternative. The whole point we have mojitos that are just infused with THC instead of alcohol.""If you just keep going...it is just as easy to think about the negative as it is to think about the positive."Connect with Brianna:https://www.wakenbakery.net/about-us/

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• 3x Ms. Olympia Champion on Winning While Broken w/Whitney Jones

  Whitney Jones is a trailblazer in the fitness world, best known for winning the prestigious Ms. Olympia title three times—a feat made even more remarkable by her unconventional start at age 34. As the first mother to ever win an Olympia title, Whitney redefines what's possible in competitive bodybuilding. Her journey includes overcoming 18 surgeries, including a broken neck, while building a thriving career as an athlete, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, author, and dedicated mom. Through it all, she’s remained focused on empowering others with her mindset of grit, purpose, and possibility.Whitney opens up about the mental and physical resilience it takes to succeed after severe injuries, why competing against yourself is more powerful than seeking validation, and how motherhood became a superpower—not a setback. She also shares how she transitioned from the advertising world to owning a gym, building a brand, and inspiring youth through fitness and self-belief.Key TakeawaysWinning While Broken: Whitney shares how resilience and mindset—not physical perfection—are what separate champions.Motherhood & Muscle: As the first mom to win an Olympia title, Whitney proves motherhood can fuel, not hinder, greatness.From Corporate to Coach: Her leap from ad agency life to gym ownership highlights the power of following passion over comfort.Inspiring the Next Generation: Whitney is committed to empowering youth, helping them break past limitations and rewrite their own stories.The Power of Visualization: Learn how visual learning and inner dialogue have been essential tools in Whitney’s evolution as both an athlete and person.Notable Quotes"If you look at everything on paper, I should have never been a pro athlete. I should have never qualified for Olympia.""I didn’t compete to impress the judges—I competed to conquer myself.""What sets champions apart is that they’ve learned how to win even when broken.""At the end of the day, I had to answer to myself. That’s what pushed me harder.""Why not be everything you dream to be—without limits?"Connect with Rudy Mawer:LinkedInInstagramFacebookTwitter

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• Hear How Clinical Matchmaking is Changing Lives w/Tiana Zang

  Tiana Zang, a dynamic and authentic connector of people, has transitioned from a 20-year career in hospice and palliative care to the realm of clinical matchmaking. With a passion rooted in her personal experiences, she co-founded a matchmaking venture, My Mindful Match, alongside her cousin and best friend, Marnie Zang Catalaro. Tiana's professional journey is marked by her commitment to helping others through genuine connections, underpinned by core values and the Big 5 personality traits model.The episode dives into how loneliness, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has reshaped social interactions and dating. Tiana discusses how traditional and app-based matchmaking methods are often superficial, leading her and her cousin to establish My Mindful Match—an initiative dedicated to connecting people through shared core values and authentic personalities.Rey and Tiana dissect the intricacies of matchmaking, the importance of authenticity, and the pitfalls of today's dating app culture. The discussion highlights how My Mindful Match stands apart by providing a clinically informed, values-driven approach to finding love. Moreover, the conversation unfolds Tiana's journey from a fulfilling career in hospice care to matchmaking, underscoring the significance of reinventing oneself and embracing authenticity both in personal and professional realms.Key Takeaways:Clinical Matchmaking Approach: My Mindful Match focuses on matching individuals based on core values and the Big 5 personality traits, stepping away from superficial matchmaking.The Importance of Authenticity: Authenticity in dating is crucial; pretending to be someone you're not sets the foundation for failure.Evolution of Loneliness: The pandemic has transformed social dynamics, highlighting the dangers of loneliness and misinformation in dating apps.Manifestation with Action: Manifestation must be complemented with actionable steps to achieve personal and relationship goals.Reinventing Self: Tiana shares how reinventing oneself through self-care and introspection can lead to personal growth and better relationship dynamics.Notable Quotes:"Loneliness is so dangerous." – Tiana Zang"Healthy whole people find healthy whole people." – Tiana Zang"Photos matter. Do not use a photo that is 15 years old because you've just broken the trust." – Tiana Zang"Manifestation plus action... You can imagine your partner, but if you sit on the couch and do nothing, it's not going to happen." – Tiana Zang"I was the hospice lady for 20 years, and I took the time... to reinvent myself." – Tiana ZangConnect with Tiana Zang:FB & TikTok - Tiana ZangIG - TianamfzangMymindfulmatch.com

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• Forests, Fame & the Fight Against Deforestation with Aaron Elton

  Aaron Elton, a pioneer in sustainable business devoted to combating deforestation. With earnest passion and innovative approaches, Elton recounts his journey from a career in cinematography to spearheading a global vision for environmental restoration. Addressing extinction-level impacts of deforestation, Elton's iteration reveals how his revolutionary methods aim to revive our natural world, while simultaneously presenting lucrative opportunities through commerce.Elton discusses the significance of tropical forests, elucidating their role in housing over 80% of terrestrial genomes. He emphasizes how leveraging the Moringa tree, known for its resilience and potent health benefits, can serve as a keystone in reversing ecological damage while contributing to human health. His dedication towards building ethical businesses to support these efforts is evidenced by his strategic move into the herbal medicine market. Elton's narrative unveils a potential paradigm shift, accentuating how intentional consumer choices and informed business practices could foster a more sustainable future.Key Takeaways:Aaron Elton transformed from a cinematographer to an eco-conscious entrepreneur focused on healing the planet through business-driven reforestation strategies.The tropical forests, critical for preserving land-based genetics, are under threat, making Aaron’s mission to restore them pressing and crucial.Moringa trees, central to Elton's vision, offer powerful antioxidant properties and serve as a pioneer species resilient to harsh environmental conditions.Investments in rural communities and conscious consumerism are pivotal avenues through which deforestation can be countered and sustainably transformed into profitable enterprises.Elton's methodologies illustrate how integrating earth repair sciences into commerce could effectively tackle global malnutrition, poverty, and ecological degradation.Notable Quotes:"The fate of our environment is entirely within our control.""As we destroy these forest ecologies, we're wiping out species off the face of the earth.""What I say to people is I just educate them, I teach them. And that has a major, major impact.""Through commerce and through ethical purchasing power, we can reverse deforestation.""I've been falling down that rabbit hole for the last 14 years and I'm still discovering new stuff about the Moringa plant every day."Connect with Aaron Elton:Linkedin - Aaron (H.E. Ambassador Dr.) Elton Connect with Rudy Mawer:LinkedInInstagramFacebookTwitter

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