Some of the most successful Founders I have met, have had the most humble beginnings. Jake did not have some of the advantages others may have had growing up. He was homeless as a teenager and joined the U.S. Army in order to pay for school. In fact, he is a fellow Military Intelligence soldier who prides himself on being able to "get into the head" of his team members and his customers. 

Jake shares a humbling story of leadership self-awareness that you'll want to listen to. He received feedback about his leadership of the company that made him stop, think, and readjust...after a roller coaster of emotions. ;)

Jay started as a Founder in his garage. Jay took orders on his cell phone while traveling around. Jay worked hard to build Blinds.com to the powerhouse it is today. I've been reading Jay's pieces on Inc.com for awhile. I truly appreciate his practical wisdom, commitment to improvement and his continuous focus on people. It was a treat for me to have an opportunity to interview such an American business icon. I think you'll appreciate hearing his speak about:

• How the death of his wife impacted him personally, helped shape his approach to leadership, and craft the culture of Blinds.com
• Why Home Depot bought Blinds.com
• The four values that drive the success of Blinds.com

Here's my favorite quote from the interview: "Stop thinking about yourself and start thinking about other people and make them the best they can be."

Health is everything. Founder fitness is everything. Michael knows abut both. That's why he created a company that uses NASA technology to make outdoor gear warm and free of bulk. It's also why he discovered that being a Founder requires focuses on his health and prompted him to lose over 20 pounds so he could better lead his company. Hear what happened and what he did and does about it so his company can soar.

Our very first, real Irishman on the podcast for this interview. :) I could talk with Tomás for ever. He is a smart, savvy, experienced Founder who is more than willing to share his journey from Founder to CEO. He had somewhat of a unique start to his business. I really appreciate how he turned a bad situation into a great business. We talk about the unpleasant need to fire a team member and how he handled the departure of two key team members who left his company while recruiting away his customers. We even talk about my favorite butter...made in Ireland. :)