Business & Economy

Fabian Pfortmüller on Helping Your Community Achieve Dream Goals

In Chapter 16 of 18 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, entrepreneur and community builder Fabian Pfortmüller answers "What Programs Are You Creating as a Business to Give Back to the Community?" Pfortmüller shares how he and his Holstee team are creating programs to give back to the community they serve and support community members on their journey to achieve life goals. After testing a revenue sharing model with Kiva, where Holstee donated 10% of all revenue to micro-loans, Holstee evolved its internal community programs and created a Holstee Fellowship and an online story sharing site, My Life, to support its membership. Fabian Pfortmüller is co-founder of Holstee, a socially conscious online marketplace, and Sandbox Network, a global community for young entrepreneurial people. Pfortmüller graduated from Columbia University.

Fabian Pfortmüller on Building Emotional Customer Relationships

In Chapter 17 of 18 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, entrepreneur and community builder Fabian Pfortmüller answers "How Have You Learned to Build Stronger Emotional Connections With Your Customers?" Building an e-commerce company, Pfortmüller and his Holstee team connect with potential customers early to understand how they learned about the company and its products. They design a user interaction experience to engage potential visitors through the sales funnel to improve how they can connect the right product to the right customer at the right time. This approach highlights how the Holstee business sees itself less as a product vendor and more of a mindful living lifestyle branded community. Fabian Pfortmüller is co-founder of Holstee, a socially conscious online marketplace, and Sandbox Network, a global community for young entrepreneurial people. Pfortmüller graduated from Columbia University.

Fabian Pfortmüller on Making a Plan to Manage Company Growth

In Chapter 18 of 18 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, entrepreneur and community builder Fabian Pfortmüller answers "What Procedures and Processes are You Putting in Place to Manage Company Growth?" At Holstee, Pfortmüller and his leadership team adopt a transparent management style of sharing P&L information with the employee team. Additionally, Holstee holds monthly meetings to engage employees in quarterly strategy planning for the upcoming quarter. Structure is also found in a more rigorous budgeting process that helps the company understand its successes and shortcomings. Fabian Pfortmüller is co-founder of Holstee, a socially conscious online marketplace, and Sandbox Network, a global community for young entrepreneurial people. Pfortmüller graduated from Columbia University.

Yoav Gonen on Developing Work Ethic by Doing Something You Enjoy

In Chapter 2 of 19 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, New York City reporter Yoav Gonen answers "Where Did You Learn Your Work Ethic?" Gonen shares how learning to work hard and develop a work ethic came naturally by doing things he enjoyed. He finds just because it is called "work" it does not have to feel that way if you have fun doing it. When smaller tasks need to come before more enjoyable ones, he takes an eager approach to knock out short-term tasks to work on long-term projects. Yoav Gonen is a reporter and City Hall Bureau Chief for the New York Post daily newspaper. Previously he spent nearly six years covering the education beat for the New York Post. Gonen earned a B.A. in English from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Journalism from New York University.

Michael Margolis on Learning Work Ethic After Graduating College

In Chapter 4 of 17 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, educator and entrepreneur Michael Margolis answers "Where Did You Learn Your Work Ethic?" Margolis notes he did not develop a hard work ethic until after graduating college, when he knew he had to find work and decided to create jobs and businesses to make an impact. He finds motivation in the process of proving to himself and others his work is meaningful. Margolis notes how he Michael Margolis is founder and president of Get Storied, an education and publishing platform dedicated to teaching the world how to think in narrative. He earned a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from Tufts University.

Michael Margolis on How Personal Priorities Change With Age

In Chapter 5 of 17 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, educator and entrepreneur Michael Margolis answers "How Are Your Personal Priorities Changing as You Get Older?" As he gets older, Margolis learns to be more mindful of his health and manage his time so he can sustain a consistent energy level. Individually and professionally, he feels he has less to prove to others and inside the office he embraces the role of CEO in setting intentional organizational culture and mentoring employees to help them grow professionally. Michael Margolis is founder and president of Get Storied, an education and publishing platform dedicated to teaching the world how to think in narrative. He earned a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from Tufts University.

Michael Margolis on How Storytelling Became an Essential Business Skill

In Chapter 6 of 17 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, educator and entrepreneur Michael Margolis answers "How is the Practice or Trend of Storytelling Changing?" He shares how storytelling as a business communication skill for innovators, marketers, entrepreneurs and change makers hit an inflection point in 2012. In 2012, storytelling suddenly became a top priority for corporate leaders and marketing executives. Margolis shares how multiple variable inputs contributed to this moment, all playing a role in the increasing humanization of business. Michael Margolis is founder and president of Get Storied, an education and publishing platform dedicated to teaching the world how to think in narrative. He earned a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from Tufts University.

Michael Margolis on Rethinking Your Career Goals After an Illness

In Chapter 7 of 17 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, educator and entrepreneur Michael Margolis answers "What Experiences in the Past Year Have Most Influenced the Direction of Your Company?" Margolis shares how recovering from a long-term illness reshaped the aspirations he has for his company Get Storied. Going through the illness and recovery pushes Margolis to evolve the business model from a lifestyle business and his role as a self-employed author/speaker/thought leader running a virtual company into a full-time employee-led business and his new role as CEO. Michael Margolis is founder and president of Get Storied, an education and publishing platform dedicated to teaching the world how to think in narrative. He earned a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from Tufts University.

Michael Margolis on How to Find the Right Project at the Right Time

In Chapter 8 of 17 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, educator and entrepreneur Michael Margolis answers "How Do You Filter and Find the Right Project at the Right Time?" Running a fast growing storytelling business communication business, Margolis looks for client stories his team can believe in and invest in to tell a bigger story. This then requires Margolis and team to select companies who are willing and open partners in the transformational storytelling process. Michael Margolis is founder and president of Get Storied, an education and publishing platform dedicated to teaching the world how to think in narrative. He earned a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from Tufts University.

Michael Margolis on Ways Presence Helps You Perform Under Pressure

In Chapter 9 of 17 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, educator and entrepreneur Michael Margolis answers "What Does It Mean to Perform Under Pressure in the Work That You Do?" For Margolis, performing under pressure means being present in the moment with others. This allows him to eliminate artificial or self-imposed pressure and instead direct his energy toward others to make a contribution or difference in that particular experience. Michael Margolis is founder and president of Get Storied, an education and publishing platform dedicated to teaching the world how to think in narrative. He earned a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from Tufts University.

Michael Margolis on Building Culture at a Fast Growing Small Business

In Chapter 11 of 17 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, educator and entrepreneur Michael Margolis answers "How Are Your Team Dynamics Changing as Your Company Completes More Creative Projects?" With a company that tripled in size in less than three months, CEO Margolis manages employee growth by investing in an intentional, transparent company culture. This sets clear employee expectations around priorities and values and helps Margolis do his best as a CEO to lead his team, earn their trust and respect, and provide coaching and guidance to help his team better serve its clients. Michael Margolis is founder and president of Get Storied, an education and publishing platform dedicated to teaching the world how to think in narrative. He earned a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from Tufts University.

Michael Margolis on Learning to Motivate and Develop Employees

In Chapter 12 of 17 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, educator and entrepreneur Michael Margolis answers "How Are You Learning to Better Manage and Motivate Teams?" Margolis shares two ways he is building these skills as he grows his small business. The first is how getting to know each employee personality allows him create a workplace better suited for employee learning and development. The second is having a company mission and vision employees embrace and putting an intentional culture in place to reinforce each of them. Michael Margolis is founder and president of Get Storied, an education and publishing platform dedicated to teaching the world how to think in narrative. He earned a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from Tufts University.

Michael Margolis on Creating Impact in a Corporate God Complex World

In Chapter 14 of 17 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, educator and entrepreneur Michael Margolis answers "Do You Find That You Connect Well With Extremely Religious People?" Margolis shares how becoming more comfortable talking about issues of faith and spirituality has opened doors to discussing leadership and stewardship in a corporate God complex culture and economy. A corporate God complex is when businesses confuse money for God and how successful businesses must deal with trying to make a profit while trying to make the world a better place. Michael Margolis is founder and president of Get Storied, an education and publishing platform dedicated to teaching the world how to think in narrative. He earned a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from Tufts University.

Michael Margolis on Assessing Fit in Final Round Job Interviews

In Chapter 15 of 17 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, educator and entrepreneur Michael Margolis answers "How Do You Assess Fit When Interviewing Prospective Employees?" Margolis first asks whether he would like to spend time around the candidate. Secondly, he looks for curiosity, namely through the questions job candidates ask in the interview. He then looks for heart and how this translates into culture fit. Lastly, he looks to job skill competency, knowing his team has already covered much of this in earlier round interviews. Michael Margolis is founder and president of Get Storied, an education and publishing platform dedicated to teaching the world how to think in narrative. He earned a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from Tufts University.

Michael Margolis on Growing into an Entrepreneurial CEO Job Role

In Chapter 16 of 17 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, educator and entrepreneur Michael Margolis answers "Are You Feeling That As Your Business Grows and You Add More Employees and You Have Greater Responsibilities to Your Clients You Are Starting to Understand Some of the Management Boundaries That Will Appear Over Time as You Build Capacity?" Margolis understands this at a high level, sharing notes from Union Square Ventures venture capitalist Fred Wilson on keeping money in the bank, articulating vision and executing a strategy to achieve it, and recruiting the right people for the team. As a teacher honing a storytelling philosophy for business, Margolis finds it harder to find balance between developing concepts and leading as a CEO. Michael Margolis is founder and president of Get Storied, an education and publishing platform dedicated to teaching the world how to think in narrative. He earned a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from Tufts University.

Michael Margolis on Using Structure Frameworks to Grow a Business

In Chapter 17 of 17 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, educator and entrepreneur Michael Margolis answers "What Procedures and Processes Are You Putting in Place to Manage Company Growth?" Margolis builds a business operations strategy around a four element model. Water is used to create regular meetings to gauge employee emotion and to get feedback. Fire is addresses problems and projects. Earth focuses on operations procedures, namely recruiting, retention, and routines. Lastly, air addresses the future. Michael Margolis is founder and president of Get Storied, an education and publishing platform dedicated to teaching the world how to think in narrative. He earned a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from Tufts University.

Richard Moross on Turning Anger and Frustration into Motivation

In Chapter 1 of 14 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, Moo.com CEO Richard Moross answers "What Childhood Experiences Have Been Most Fundamental in Shaping Who You Are Today?" Moross shares how several "knock back moments" in his childhood fueled anger he equates to Incredible Hulk moments. Over time, he learns to channel this anger and frustration into motivation, which he ultimately uses to start a business and become an entrepreneur. Richard Moross is founder and CEO of award-winning online print business Moo.com. He is a member of Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and a board member at Ladbrokes PLC. Before Moo.com, Moross was a strategist at design firm Imagination. He graduated from the University of Sussex.

Richard Moross on Learning Business in First Job Out of College

In Chapter 2 of 14 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, Moo.com CEO Richard Moross answers "What Did You Learn in Your First Job After University That is Still Relevant Today?" Moross shares that working in a small business after college taught him why people, more than anything else, are fundamental to a business. He learns to shift away from the individual nature of being a student to the collaborative nature of working on a small business team. Richard Moross is founder and CEO of award-winning online print business Moo.com. He is a member of Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and a board member at Ladbrokes PLC. Before Moo.com, Moross was a strategist at design firm Imagination. He graduated from the University of Sussex.