Prometheus Chats

Unlocking Entrepreneurial Success with Julie Fry: Relationships, Culture & Values

My special guest is Julie Fry.
Introducing Julie Fry, a seasoned entrepreneur and founder of Your Expert Guest, a company that supports thought leaders and mission-driven business owners in increasing their visibility through podcasts. With a background in sales and firsthand experience in building and selling a business, Julie understands the crucial role of relationships, company culture, and values in overcoming entrepreneurial obstacles. Her natural talent for connecting people has allowed her to create a successful and thriving business focused on making a difference. In her downtime, Julie can be found enjoying life with her family, including a cat and dog, in the beautiful Seattle area.
 
Julie Fry's journey from corporate career to entrepreneur was only the beginning; what came next was truly unexpected. Through a chance moment on a dog walk, she stumbled upon her newfound passion, and with her extraordinary gift for connecting people, she started a business that quickly flourished. But Julie's greatest success comes from her commitment to building strong relationships, shared values, and a positive company culture.
 
In this episode we discuss celebrating your accomplishments, overcoming challenges in business, navigating the challenges of a remote workforce and finding a supportive business community and resources for entrepreneurs.
 
Resources discussed in this episode are:
SCORE Foundation
The Power of Fun by Catherine Price (please note that we are Amazon Affiliates and may receive a small commission to support our podcast  if you purchase using this link)
How to Be the Best Podcast Guest Ever Checklist
 
About Your Expert Guest
Your Expert Guest is a podcast guest booking agency for female founders and impact-driven leaders that want to speak directly to their ideal client without spending HOURS on social media. Julie Fry and her team have booked over 1500 interviews for their clients and can track hundreds of thousands of dollars of business back to being a podcast guest on top-ranked shows.
 
Web + Social Links:
Website - https://yourexpertguest.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/yourexpertguest
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/yourexpertguest/
Personal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/fryjulie/
Company LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/your-expert-guest
 

Kung Fu Principles in Practice: Overcoming Challenges in Business & Life with Sifu Gus Gates

My special guest this week is Sifu Gus Gates.
Sifu Gus Gates is a distinguished Kung Fu instructor with over four decades of experience in the field. As the founder of The Village Kung Fu in Westlake Village, California, Sifu Gates has dedicated his life to helping his students reach their full potential through a unique style of Kung Fu that combines combative techniques with Zen philosophy. His passion for martial arts has taken him as far as China to train at the birthplace of Kung Fu, further enriching his knowledge and skills. Today, Sifu Gates is well-known for his ability to transform lives by teaching his students how to apply Kung Fu principles in combat as well as in their personal and professional lives.
 
Navigating the Mental and Emotional Aspects of Kung FuPracticing Kung Fu goes beyond physical fitness and fighting techniques; it encompasses mental and emotional aspects that contribute to growth and self-improvement. Learning how to manage stress, control emotions, and maintain balance in one's life are crucial components of martial arts that can be applied to daily interactions. Developing these skills in a controlled setting enables individuals to become more adept at handling real-world scenarios where stress and anxiety might be high. In his conversation with Damion Taylor, Sifu Gus Gates highlights the importance of building trust and fostering a positive environment for his students. By focusing on students' well-being and meeting them where they are, Gates creates a safe space for them to explore their emotions and develop a strong sense of mental security. This approach enables his students to cultivate resilience and learn how to respond thoughtfully to challenging situations, rather than reacting impulsively or fearfully.
 
Learn More About The Village Kung Fu with Gus Gates
Website - www.thevillagewithgusgates.com  
Instagram - @villagesifu
Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063484451884
 

Maximizing Every Moment: Carlo Odicino’s Leadership Insights

My special guest this week is Carlo Odicino, founder of One Team Partners.
Carlo is a friend and seasoned consultant dedicated to guiding life science companies towards success. With a unique approach, Carlo focuses on fostering a people-first culture, emphasizing the importance of relationship-building and maximizing every moment. He believes in helping individuals discover their strengths, allowing them to thrive within their teams. As an advocate for self-awareness and adaptability, Carlo leads by example, creating a dynamic work environment that values self-care, continuous learning, and genuine connections.
In this episode, we discuss:
Promoting a value-centric organizational culture for long-lasting success.
Cultivating self-awareness for continuous personal and professional growth.
Achieving harmony between work responsibilities and personal aspirations for a fulfilling life.
Appreciating the significance of mentorship in uncovering hidden obstacles.
Advancing leadership skills through effective communication and shared understanding.
Over the duration of our conversation, Carlo shared some great tips to keep in mind as you build your company:
Consider engaging in a leadership training program that looks at leadership from the inside out to better understand yourself and become a more effective leader.
Reflect on your own core values and how they align with your organization's values to ensure a good fit and foster a positive work environment.
Focus on building relationships and investing in the growth and development of others in your team or organization.
Encourage open conversations and shared vocabulary within your organization to create a more cohesive and effective team.
Develop a set of standards or behaviors that align with your organization's values and create a structure for success.
Recognize the importance of awareness in making choices and adapting to different situations within your organization and when working with clients.
Consider implementing rituals or habits that contribute to building success in your professional and personal life.
Evaluate your organization's operating system and structure to ensure they are conducive to achieving desired results and fostering a thriving work environment.
Values and StandardsDeveloping a company culture characterized by strong values and standards is crucial to foster a successful work environment. A value-driven organization emphasizes the importance of aligning employees' values with company values to create a unified and purposeful working experience. When values and standards are clearly communicated from the beginning, individuals can make informed decisions about their suitability to an organization. This also enables companies to identify candidates who are more likely to succeed in that environment. Carlo Odicino, during his conversation with Damion Taylor, stressed the importance of establishing values and standards for One Team Partners. He credited the company's success to a culture that nurtures genuine connections and emphasizes self-care, presence, and continual learning. The shared understanding of values and standards across the team has helped create a thriving work environment where individuals can flourish in every available moment.
If you would like to connect with Carlo or learn more about One TEAM Partners here are the deets:
Website - https://oneteampartners.com/
Company LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/one-team-partners/
Email: carlo.odicino@oneteampartners.com

Mastering the Financial Leap into Entrepreneurship with Bridget Brown

My special guest in this episode is Bridget Brown, an ambitious engineer-turned-entrepreneur, who boldly committed to starting her own web design and marketing business, resulting in an adventurous journey of self-discovery, tenacity and growth.
A crucial aspect of entrepreneurship is being financially prepared before venturing into a new business. It is important for entrepreneurs to have a clear understanding of their numbers, finances, and revenue generation strategies, as well as keeping expenses low. Having a solid financial plan and setting achievable goals can act as a foundation for business growth and stability. Entrepreneurs must also remain nimble and ready to adapt their financial plans according to changing market conditions or business needs. During the conversation with Bridget Brown, she emphasized the importance of being financially prepared before making the transition to entrepreneurship. Drawing from her own experience, Brown urged new entrepreneurs to know their numbers and plan for revenue generation while keeping costs low. She suggested setting small, achievable goals that can build upon each other, thus creating a sustainable and financially stable business.
 
In this episode, we talk about:
Mastering financial strategies designed for entrepreneurs, paving the way for success.
Discovering the value of setting goals and marketing professionally in today's competitive world.
Overcome emotional challenges and find the support every entrepreneur needs to thrive.
Explore the benefits of diversifying your services and committing to continual learning for business growth.
Achieve the perfect balance between revenue generation and giving back to your community.
 
Bridget Brown, entrepreneur and owner of Pages and Posts, is an accomplished digital marketing expert with a background in engineering. Transitioning from a 14-year engineering career, Bridget's analytical skills and passion for management led her to create her own digital marketing agency, focusing on website design and strategic online presence. In her journey, Bridget emphasizes the importance of financial preparation and setting attainable goals to ensure success and stability for entrepreneurs.
 
If you would like to connect with Bridget Brown or to learn more about her company Pages and Posts, you can reach her here:
www.pagesandposts.com
https://www.facebook.com/pagesandposts
https://www.instagram.com/pagesandposts/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/pagesandposts/
 

Prometheus Flashback: A Candid Conversation with Cait Martin - Rising Star from The Voice on NBC

When a Voice-Over Artist and Musical Director join forces to create a Fantasy/Sci-Fi podcast, Caitlin Martin, the Voice of Tech Witch, overcomes her fears to reach her goal and delivers a powerful performance worthy of the praise it has received. Today's episode is a throwback to January 2021 when we had a chance to interview singer and voiceover actor Cait Martin.We talk about:1. Overcoming Fear in Your Career - How Caitlin Martin Explored a Dramatic Career Shift During COVID 2. Exploring the Creative Process of Voiceover Acting - What Is the Trickiest Skill to Master?3. Bridgerton: Uncovering a Geeky Moment Through Music - How Music Can Enhance a Story.Cait Martin is an amazing voiceover actor, singer and performer. She has worked on many projects, including the popular podcast Tech Witch, and is now a contestant on season 23 of NBC's hit show, The Voice. Please follow her journey on Instagram and watch her epic performances on The Voice.
 
https://www.instagram.com/caitmartinsings/ 
 
If you are interested in listening to our Sci-fi/Fantasy podcast Tech Witch it can now be found on If: Imagination & Fantasy Podcast. Here's a link: https://open.spotify.com/show/0HraMn5ClDjW6WFZnOsuGB?si=137a028810f1426b
 
We will resume publishing episodes on April 17th, 2023. 
 

Entrepreneurship Unleashed - Kids in Business: Unleashing the Entrepreneurial Spirit in You

Today’s episode is going to be a little different. Instead of having a guest interview, this will be our first “blog” episode. We're exploring the valuable lessons new entrepreneurs can learn from kids' entrepreneurial endeavors. From selling art online and setting up lemonade stands to mowing lawns and selling friendship bracelets, these pint-sized entrepreneurs have a lot to teach us about running a business. So, let's dive in and discover the secrets to their success!

How We Built This: Navigating the Challenges of Starting a Company - An Interview with Gabriel Salinas

Being a podcast about entrepreneurship, it's only fitting that we talk about our experience starting and running Prometheus Digital Studio. Today my Prometheus co-founder, Gabriel Salinas, joins the podcast to talk about why we started Prometheus, the challenges along the way and the lessons we've learned. We also talk about our proudest moments and the milestones we are most excited to hit. Join us for a story of over a decade in the making.
 
Website - www.prometheusdigitalstudio.com 
Prometheus LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/74096034/admin/
Gabriel Salinas LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielyepsalinas/ 
Damion Taylor LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/damiontaylor/ 
 

Navigating Work-Life Balance and Company Culture with Ebrahim Hasan

Experience the power of Blank Page Agency and make an impact with your project. Ebrahim Hasan is an experienced web developer and founder of BlankPage Agency, a web development and app development company based in Egypt. He has been freelancing for over 8 years and has grown BlankPage to 10 people in just two years! As the owner of a web development agency, he faces the challenges of leading an increasingly complex international web development business, while managing the conflicting goals of scaling his business, making an impact with his clients and taking time for his personal life.Here's what I cover with Ebrahim Hasan in this episode:1. How to successfully manage a web agency with a small team2. The challenge of creating a productive company culture3. How to navigate scaling from freelancer to managing a company
Please reach out if you would like to learn more about BlankPage Agency.
 
Ebrahim Hasan  - Founder of BlankPage Media
Website - https://www.blankpage-agency.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/blankpageagency
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/blankpageagency/
 

My Origin Story

REPLAY: This episode is a replay from an older episode from our Professional Confession podcast (which has since been discontinued and rolled into Prometheus Chats).
 
Last week we spoke to Dr. Linet Mera from the Unconscious Bias Project. Dr. Mera shared her personal origin story with us - telling us about the various challenges and events that led her to where she is today. After hearing her story, it seemed like a good time for me to talk about one particular event in my career that was incredibly formative and has influenced the way I manage others and run my company today.
 
Side note: It's really hard and weird to write about yourself in third person...darn! So, I wrote the episode description in first person. At least now you know that it's me, Damion, writing this and I don't have an army of podcast minions doing my bidding.

Welcome to Prometheus Chats

Welcome to Prometheus Chats. I'm your host Damion. Prometheus Chats is a podcast about business and entrepreneurship like you have never heard before. 
We know that being an entrepreneur or running a business touches virtually every facet of your life and that’s why we talk about the ENTIRE life of an entrepreneur - the good, the bad and the mundane. Because being an entrepreneur or running a business is a way of life.
From freelancers to people running organizations with hundreds of employees; from tech start-ups to movie producers - we will be exploring the full spectrum of what it means to run a business. That means in addition to talking about how to get the work done, we will talk about the do’s and don'ts of integrating work into our lives in a way that’s healthy. 
Let's be honest, running a business of any kind is not easy, but it can also be incredibly rewarding both financially and mentally. 
So join us as we explore the lives and experiences of entrepreneurs and business leaders across the gamut.