mainstreet.fm | Brian Skowron

mainstreet.fm | Brian Skowron

Brian Skowron, President of the digital agency Lullabot, takes us on a candid journey from his dreams of sports broadcasting to navigating the cutthroat world of New York media sales on a non-living wage. He shares the intense "crushing anxiety" of his first tech sales job—cold-calling to sell complex server hosting to clients who knew more than he did. This pivotal moment of feeling "so far over my head" became the engine for his future success. Discover the unexpected lessons he took from a college professor that still drive his high-level business meetings today, the importance of mentorship, and the career leap that led him to cold-call Lullabot's co-founder and eventually become its President. Brian also shares an incredible insight from his father that redefined his perspective on business and career longevity: "The people are the permanent institutions, and the companies come and go". Tune in to learn how to turn your greatest professional anxieties into your biggest inflection points. Guest: Brian Skowron - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianskowron/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianskowron/] Host: Anebi - https://www.linkedin.com/in/anebiagbo/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/anebiagbo/] Lullabot's Philosophy: A focus on building digital services that genuinely "impact humans," particularly in the state government space (e.g., Georgia's GovHub)

mainstreet.fm | Inside the world of SBA Lending: Panel discussion

In this episode of the mainstreet.fm [http://mainstreet.fm] podcast, host Anebi [https://www.linkedin.com/in/anebiagbo/] is joined by banking experts Jonathan Temple from Columbia Bank, Jared Shintaku from Arizona Financial Credit Union, and Martin Cordova from Banc of California. They delve into the intricacies of SBA lending, discussing the challenges and opportunities it presents for small business owners. The conversation covers the importance of understanding lender requirements, the role of collateral, and creative financing solutions. The episode aims to provide practical insights and advice for navigating the SBA lending landscape. KEYWORDS SBA lending, small business, financing, Columbia Bank, Arizona Financial Credit Union, Banc of California, collateral, creative financing, mainstreet.fm TAKEAWAYS * Understand the role of collateral in SBA lending. * Explore creative financing solutions like seller carry notes. * Recognize the importance of having financials ready for lenders. * Discover the significance of local lender collaboration. * Consider future financial needs when applying for loans. * Acknowledge the personal guarantee requirement for SBA loans. * Identify common deal structures in the SBA space. * Appreciate the value of industry experience in securing loans. * Embrace the importance of building a strong business network.

mainstreet.fm | Dr. Pia Khandekar on Building a Psychology Practice

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Pia Khandekar, founder of PsychPro Consulting [https://psychproconsulting.com/], to explore her inspiring journey of building a modern psychology practice centered on care, connection, and clinical excellence. Dr. Khandekar shares what it was like to start her own practice, the lessons learned along the way, and how she designed PsychPro to meet both the emotional and practical needs of clients. A key theme of our conversation is the power of the intake process - how understanding a client’s physical, medical, and psychosocial background leads to more holistic and effective treatment. We also discuss: * Journey into Psychology * The challenges of launching a private practice * Why personalization and empathy are non-negotiable in therapy * How PsychPro approaches client well-being through evidence-based methods Learn more about PsychPro Consulting: https://psychproconsulting.com/ [https://psychproconsulting.com/] Follow PsychPro for insights on workplace mental health, therapy, and well-being: * LinkedIn: PsychPro Consulting [https://www.linkedin.com/company/psyschpro] * Instagram: @drk_psychpro [https://www.instagram.com/drk_psychpro/] * Website: psychproconsulting.com [http://psychproconsulting.com] Connect with Dr. Pia Khandekar: LinkedIn Profile [https://www.linkedin.com/in/piakhandekar/]

mainstreet.fm | What buying a business is really like

Join us for an unfiltered fireside chat as we dive into the real-world journey of acquiring a small business. We riff about what it really takes to buy and grow a service-based SMB, from due diligence and deal structure to day-one operations and lessons learned the hard way. Whether you're a first-time buyer, an operator eyeing exit strategies, or just curious about what owning a Main Street business looks like behind the curtain, this session will deliver practical insights, numbers, and personal reflections you won’t get from a textbook.