This is the final episode of Inter:views, Cracking The Entrepreneur Bottleneck.

I reflect on over four years of podcasting and nearly 170 interviews with entrepreneurs worldwide. 

 

While the podcast served its purpose, it's time to transition fully into coaching entrepreneurs. All episodes remain available until the end of 2024, then exclusively on YouTube. 

 

In this final episode, I share memorable moments and guests, highlighting valuable insights gained. 

 

Moving forward, I'll focus on coaching and providing resources to empower entrepreneurs to thrive. 

 

Strategic Resources for Entrepreneurs:

 

The Bottleneck Index [https://www.laurentnotin.com/the-bottleneck-index]: your first step towards uncovering and addressing your bottlenecks. : 

 

eBook: "THRIVE [https://www.laurentnotin.com/get-my-ebook]": your go-to guide for overcoming bottlenecks and driving your business forward: 

 

B-weekly newsletter, The Bottleneck Digest [https://www.laurentnotin.com/blog-for-entrepreneurs]

 

Follow me: 

Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/@laurentnotin

LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurentnotin/

Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/laurentnotin/

The End of A Journey

John Cronin, now 27 years old, was diagnosed with Down syndrome. That never stopped him from becoming his best version. Together with his father as a business partner, he has defied all odds to become a tycoon in the socks business, impacting millions of people worldwide with their story of resilience, hope, and the power of vulnerability. They host workshops, seminars, and talks to educate people about Down syndrome and how anyone diagnosed with it can reclaim their life.  

 

Their business is not just about socks. It is an avenue to spread their message of hope and inspiration. Built on five principles, the business aims to showcase the capabilities of people with different abilities. Yet, like any other business, bottlenecks are inevitable. The struggle with perfectionism was one of the main bottlenecks they faced when they started. 

 

John’s Crazy Socks has a mission of spreading happiness through unique socks. They show the world that disability is not inability, pairing a retail mission with a social one. Donating 5% of earnings to the Special Olympics, they expand their charity partners, creating socks with awareness themes like Autism and Down Syndrome. With fast, personal service and hand-written thank you notes from John, they aim to bring joy through every package, proving what people with differing abilities can achieve. 

 

Tune in. 

 

Key Highlights from The Show 

[02:54] John and Mark Cronin’s story behind their Crazy Socks business 

[05:13] The pillars of their business 

[09:35] Why they chose a socks business and not any other 

[15:08] Candies in the socks boxes to win more loyal customers 

[16:13] The experience of a father-son partnership in business 

[18:57] The struggles of perfectionism and other bottlenecks in the business 

[26:54] Parts of the business that John likes the most  

[29:11] The power of living for a cause and purpose 

[33:34] Parting words of wisdom and best ways to reach out and connect 

[34:38] Wrap up and calls to action  

 

The Power of Living For a Cause | John and Mark Cronin | Ep. 168

Scaling up a start-up is a delicate balance of Skills and Sacrifice, embodying the essential qualities required to navigate the highs and lows of entrepreneurship. Beyond a visionary idea, founders must possess the skill set and be ready to make the sacrifices necessary with consistency to achieve their vision.  

 

They must also be able to recognize their limitations and empower others to contribute to their business success. This requires an Entrepreneurial Mindset—a blend of optimism, creativity, and resourcefulness—that fuels founders' drive to overcome obstacles and find opportunities that can propel them toward sustainable success.  

 

In this episode, we discuss the critical components necessary for entrepreneurs to transition from startup to scalable success with a special guest, Feras Alhlou. Feras has built and sold companies in Silicon Valley and abroad. He helps startup founders make good, informed decisions about entrepreneurship to avoid the pitfalls that derail many new ventures or hinder their growth.  

 

Feras has served as a mentor, providing guidance backed by extensive experience in business strategy, consulting, marketing, and analytics. 

 

Tune in. 

 

Key Highlights from The Show 

[02:42] One key lesson from Feras for start-up entrepreneurs 

[03:20] Why passion is optional for start-up founders' success  

[05:08] Three must-have skills for startup founders  

[08:21] How to overcome the obstacles of delegating to grow 

[10:31] Practical tips for delegation and the right time to delegate 

[13:14] The essentials for entrepreneurship success  

[15:18] The principles of working with advisors   

[17:20] The keys to accelerating your business growth: people, processes, and mindset  

[21:40] How to create a financial runway and when to reach out to investors 

[25:40] Sacrifices that you should be ready to make as a founder  

[28:41] B

Scaling Up: The Essentials of Start-up Founder's Success with Feras Alhlou | Ep. 167

Have you ever considered hiring a coach for your business, particularly focusing on overcoming bottlenecks? Since Renan Devillieres started working with Laurent, he has achieved remarkable breakthroughs in his business.  

 

Though surprised by how smoothly the process has been, he acknowledges the importance of having someone for accountability and guidance, which is why Laurent's services are invaluable. 

 

Before meeting Laurent, Renan felt a gap between where his business was and where he wanted it to be. Perhaps you have experienced this, too. You might have tried various strategies to improve your business without much success. What could be the issue? Could you be struggling with delegation and letting go of certain responsibilities?  

 

Renan is a seasoned entrepreneur who is the co-founder and CEO of OSS Ventures, a pioneering French firm dedicated to fostering start-ups tailored to manufacturers. With a background as an economist at the OECD and as a co-founder of a successful start-up in Brazil, Renan established OSS Ventures with a vision to facilitate the digital transformation of manufacturing facilities, enabling them to thrive in the modern landscape. In this episode, we dive into his inspiring transformation journey through coaching to scale his business. 

 

Tune in. 

 

Key Highlights from The Show 

[02:09] Episode intro 

[02:54] Renan’s mindset and bottlenecks level before working with Laurent 

[04:26] Business and personal impact of a business that was not at par with its vision 

[06:24] Aspects that have changed since he started working with Laurent   

[08:19] Why coaching is inevitable for your business success 

[10:30] The value of dedicating time to coaching 

[12:50] How far the business is from the original vision 

[15:40] Where did the business dream come from? 

[20:50] The motivation for Renan to become an entrepreneur 

[23:43] The diverse business experiences he had before founding OSS Ventures 

The Impact of Coaching in Overcoming Your Entrepreneurship Bottlenecks with Renan Devillieres | Ep. 166

Embracing resilience and overcoming self-limitations requires a combination of mindset shift, determination, and strategic action. It is all about acknowledging and understanding the self-limiting beliefs that contribute to self-imposed barriers, reframing them, and cultivating a mindset that can support resilience and growth.   

 

As an entrepreneur, the journey involves consistently pushing the boundaries of comfort and consistently challenging and expanding your potential to overcome limiting beliefs, unlock opportunities, and pave the way for personal and professional success. Additionally, being part of a community, letting go, and following your dream to serve your purpose can help keep the momentum going and navigate this journey with determination, fulfillment, and success. 

 

In this episode, we dive into the inspiring journey of Patricia Boral, the visionary entrepreneur behind Boral Branders.  We explore her mindset shift, overcoming self-limitations, the power of letting go, and the pivotal role of delegation in scaling her business.  

 

Despite facing challenges stemming from her background and accent, she has risen above them, leveraging her unique perspective and experiences to fuel her entrepreneurial journey. Patricia's ability to connect with clients on a personal level, coupled with her strategic insights, has earned her the trust and loyalty of a diverse clientele.  

 

With a forward-looking approach and a commitment to innovation, Patricia continues to lead Boral Branders toward new heights. Her story is a testament to the power of honoring dreams, inspiring others, and staying committed to growth and innovation.  

 

Tune in.  

 

Key Highlights from The Show 

[01:04] Episode intro 

[02:55] How Patricia's personal life inspired her entrepreneurial journey  

[05:47] Patricia’s delegation limitations and how she overcame them 

[08:06] Mindset shift: Overcoming self-limitations and Patricia's triumph  

[12:28] Putting yourself out there to practice and get better  

[13:12] How to find the right model and scale your business 



Entrepreneurial Resilience: The Path Beyond Self-Limitation | Ep. 165

How To Integrate Positive Impact In Your Business Strategy with Simon Schillebeeck | Ep. 164

Have you ever faced difficulties scaling your business, even with adequate funding and a strong foundation? If so, you might be experiencing a bottleneck. Reaching the next level often requires significant shifts like mindset changes, new working strategies, or adopting different frameworks.  

 

It could also involve taking on a new leadership role or seeking specific training or coaching. All these factors, combined with the challenge of integrating them, can lead to stagnation and become a bottleneck for your business growth. In this episode, we are joined by Riggs Eckelberry, an entrepreneur who successfully navigated and overcame such a bottleneck in his own journey. 

 

Riggs Eckelberry, CEO and Chairman of the Board of OriginClear is a seasoned disruptor in the tech industry who transitioned into the "green" space by co-founding OriginClear's predecessor in 2008 and taking it public.  

 

Leveraging his background in commercializing breakthrough technologies, including notable successes during the dotcom era, he spearheaded OriginClear's mission to address growing water supply issues by providing compact on-site systems and revolutionary offerings for   With experience in management, sailing, and skiing, Eckelberry is dedicated to enabling the water industry to adapt to rapidly changing conditions. 

 

Tune in.  

 

Key Highlights from The Show 

[03:29] Episode intro and why scaling up is Riggs Eckelberry’s current bottleneck 

[05:37] Great expectations of a CEO 

[06:49] Things you can do to put your company in a position that is easy to scale 

[09:21] The 2018 realization of growing with a team 

[14:37] The most difficult parts of growing the business 

[18:04] Riggs’ shift from entrepreneurship to corporate and back to entrepreneurship  

[23:51] Indicators that you need to shift from entrepreneurship to corporate 

[28:25] Why Riggs is an entrepreneur 

[30:16] What Riggs foresees beyond his retirement 

[33:17] Riggs’ recommendation to entrepr

Cracking the Bottleneck of Scaling a Business with Riggs Eckelberry | Ep. 163

We all start a business with a goal in mind. Sometimes, it may only be to have enough for you and your family, and other times, it may be to grow it into a prosperous company that will last for generations.  

 

In the first case, the entrepreneur could be a solopreneur with few or no plans to delegate some tasks. They become the bottlenecks, handling every aspect of the business. But that could be overturned. What if the business outgrows? What if the demand becomes too enormous than what you currently supply? Would you close the business, chase away clients, and remain at your level? How would you navigate that growth, set new goals, and make readjustments to fit the growth? With so much need for outsourcing and delegation of duties, how will you ensure everything runs smoothly?  

 

Join this conversation with Josh Nielsen, who has undergone exact growth with his podcasting company. He has seen the growth, gone through the pain of transition, and grown the company in ways he never imagined. This episode is packed with tips, insights, and valuable information to help you go through the unprecedented growth turbulence in a business.  

 

Josh Nielsen founded Zencastr, a company that makes it easier to record high-quality audio for podcast interviewees based anywhere in the world. Before working at Zencastr, Nielsen was a software developer at Missouri Star Quilt Co., co-founded Soundkeep, and led frontend engineer at Mahalo.  

 

Tune in.  

 

Key Highlights from The Show: 

[02:58] Josh Nielsen’s journey from a digital nomad to the founder of Zencastr 

[05:48] What was difficult in transitioning when the company outgrew him 

[07:19] Big goals with the company 

[10:33] Key milestones of Josh’s company since he started it as a solopreneur 

[13:47] The most difficult parts of growing the business 

[15:39] Josh’s current bottleneck as an entrepreneur 

[23:40] What he has learned about himself as an entrepreneur 

[29:56] Josh’s recommendation to entrepreneurs from his experience  

[31:35] Best ways to reach out and connect with Josh 

Beyond Bottlenecks: When a Business Outgrows You with Josh Nielsen | Ep. 162

AI is rapidly changing how we do business, and entrepreneurs stand to benefit immensely from its potential.

 

AI is not something that caught us by surprise. It is an expected trajectory of where we have always been going: a utopic society of more creativity and productivity. Entrepreneurs can apply AI in five key business areas: prospecting, sales, onboarding, HR, and data manipulation. AI can analyze customer data to provide personalized recommendations and targeted advertising, leading to better engagement and conversion rates. It can also provide insights and recommendations, helping you make faster decisions and avoid common pitfalls.

 

In this episode with Garik Tate, we talk about AI and how entrepreneurs can harness its potential for growth, efficiency, and overcoming bottlenecks. Garik makes companies more valuable to institutional buyers and increases profits through AI development/integration, hiring elite talent, and operational automation.

 

With over a decade of experience as a successful entrepreneur, Garik has founded companies spanning Software Development, Outsourcing, and Publishing. Notably, he has led and nurtured organizations and teams of up to 75 employees.

 

Tune in.

 

 

Key Highlights from The Show

[02:21] How entrepreneurs can harness the true essence of AI

[04:22] The evolution of AI for over 15 years and Garik’s take on it

[05:59] The five key business areas entrepreneurs can apply AI

[08:30] Practical examples of how you can use AI for the five areas

[13:15] How to personalize AI for your specific business

[17:06] Laurent’s reflection on his AI experience

[21:56] Why Garik is an entrepreneur

[24:12] His most current bottlenecks

[30:15] Garik’s recommendation from his experience in AI and entrepreneurship

[31:45] Best ways to reach out and connect with Garik

Harnessing the True Potential of AI in Business with Garik Tate | Ep. 161

Most founders get stuck with bottlenecks when they cannot delegate responsibilities to their team. The satisfaction of labels and not letting the ego go away could be detrimental. You have to let others play the game because, in most cases, the founder is not as skilled as his team of dedicated experts.  

 

Entrepreneurs will also always use their networks as a benefit when building something new. However, they never connect their team to these networks, which is still another source of bottleneck.  

 

Ari Tulla, who joins us in this episode, shares more of his entrepreneurship journey from age 18 and how he became stronger and never gave up despite the adversities along the journey. He also admits that despite having over 25 years of successful entrepreneurship, he still struggles with finding himself as the bottleneck of his business. 

 

Ari Tulla is a San Francisco-based entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of Elo, an AI personalisation engine delivering the exact nutrients to live better. After years of family health struggles, Ari has dedicated his life to building companies that help people live better.  His companies, BetterDoctor, Quest Analytics, and Elo Health, have helped over a hundred million people gain better access to healthcare. 

 

Tune in.  

 

Key Highlights from The Show 

[03:47] A short summary of Ari Tulla’s entrepreneurship journey since 18 years of age 

[06:02] The US hustle culture of never giving up 

[08:16] His secret of never giving up on business 

[13:41] When do you know it’s time to give up on a business 

[23:03] How his experience working at Nokia was 

[27:55] Determining the breaking point of a business 

[31:40] One of Ari’s current entrepreneur bottlenecks 

[35:45] Why it is not possible to have 100% bottleneck-free business 

[39:34] Best ways to reach out and connect with Ari 

[41:32] Wrap up and calls to action 



Why Giving Up Makes You the Bottleneck with Ari Tulla  | Ep. 160

Don't Be The Bottleneck In Your Business! My name is Laurent Notin; I am an Entrepreneur, Coach to Entrepreneurs, and Start-up Mentor. Being an entrepreneur is the most exciting and demanding job I know. Entrepreneurs get to wear many hats, acquire many skills, and make many decisions – fast. All whilst under extreme pressure to deliver quality work to their clients, take care of their employees, and maintain a healthy cash flow. Entrepreneurship is a calling. No entrepreneurs set themselves up to fail. No entrepreneurs believe they can't do it. But it happens more often than we'd like to think. Why? Usually, because the company's founders have locked themselves into a situation they can't get out of. They know something's wrong, perhaps they've seen some signs or people have warned them, but somehow, they don't act. Call it ego, fear, or lack of accountability. It doesn't matter. It happens when entrepreneurs become the main bottleneck in their business, and it's the biggest risk they face. You can be a bottleneck in many ways, but the price you pay is always the same: you're stuck. When you're stuck, your business is stuck. That's when this podcast comes in. It’s all about helping entrepreneurs perform better, so their businesses perform better. Subscribe now. More about me: www.laurentnotin.com Send your questions to contact@laurentnotin.com

Laurent Notin

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