Getting Down To Business with Mark Mondo

Modernizing Payments and Safeguarding Profits: Insight with Chandra Spary-Kontinos

Cynthia & I interview Chandra Spary-Kontinos, the founder of Card Systems.  She has over 30 years of experience in the merchant service industry. Her extensive background includes involvement in the RSPA, ETA and Dress for Success for southwest Florida.
Main Discussion Points:
Evolution of Payment Systems:
Transition from manual card imprints to digital transactions has revolutionized payment processing.
Efficiency in Payments:
Electronic payment systems, including credit cards and ACH, offer improved efficiency and security over traditional methods like checks.
Challenges with Payment Costs:
The discussion covers the high costs associated with reward credit cards and how they impact small businesses.
Surcharging and Dual Pricing:
Trends in surcharging and dual pricing help businesses manage transaction fees by passing them onto consumers.
Preventing Internal Embezzlement:
Vigilance in monitoring employee transactions, implementing strict controls, and regular financial audits are crucial.
Modern payment systems that restrict unauthorized refunds and require transaction authorizations can mitigate risks.
Legal and Regulatory Landscape:
Chandra discusses a class action lawsuit where merchants claimed that Visa and Mastercard charged excessive interchange fees. The settlement offers compensation to affected merchants who register by May 31st, 2024.  Contact us to register at no charge to you..

Crafting Caffeine: Yami Hu's Journey from Corporate America to Cold Brew Coffee at Three Legged Brewing

Cynthia & I interview Yami Hu, the founder of Three Legged Coffee Brewing, a craft brewery specializing in all-natural, zero-calorie cold brew coffees. Yami shares her journey from a corporate American to entrepreneurship, sparked by her desire for a more fulfilling professional life. She discusses the challenges and successes she faced while starting her business, including leveraging a Kickstarter campaign to fund the initial stages and planning a unique coffee brewery and taproom in Lindenhurst, Illinois.
Key points from the interview include:
Yami’s transition from a long career in corporate America to starting her own business.
The inspiration behind the name "Three Legged Brewing" comes from her three-legged dog, Mogwai, who became the company's mascot.
The benefits of cold brew coffee and Yami’s passion for the product.
Her experience on the reality TV show "The Blocks," which focuses on entrepreneurship.
The use of Kickstarter as a crowdfunding platform to support her business.
Challenges of competing with major brands like Starbucks and the importance of unique branding and community engagement.
The strategic decision to open a brick-and-mortar location to increase cash flow and visibility.
Throughout the episode, Yami emphasizes the importance of community support, learning from others, and the mental resilience needed to navigate the highs and lows of entrepreneurship. She also highlights her commitment to creating a multifaceted business that includes both a physical retail presence and distribution of her products.

Health Insurance Reimagined with Michelle McCorry - Alternatives That Work

Cynthia & I interview Michelle McCorry, MS CMR, a pioneer in health sharing plans offers a new perspective on healthcare solutions in America.  As we dive into the limitations of traditional health insurance, Michelle illustrates how alternative models can provide effective, affordable care. With the U.S. health system facing critical scrutiny—ranking below many other nations despite high spending—this episode sheds light on innovative strategies that could reshape healthcare. Tune in to discover how we can achieve better health outcomes without breaking the bank.
Stats we cite in the episode:
The American system is the only private one in the world.  27M are uninsured (9%).https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_insurance_coverage_in_the_United_States
If we follow the Legatum Prosperity Index, the US ranks 68th in outcomes with Singapore #1.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legatum_Prosperity_Index 
According to the Peterson Center on Healthcare Foundation, a non-profit non-partisan, we spend $12,914 per capita and have a life expectancy of 76.1 years.
Meanwhile, Japan is 84.5 years and spends $4,666.Source:  https://tinyurl.com/3vh9zyh8

Beyond Life Insurance: Innovating Your Estate's Safety Net with George Schwabe & Paul Katz

Cynthia & I talk to George Schwabe and Paul Katz, two renowned figures known for their innovative approaches to financial security and risk management. George and Paul share their expertise on evaluating estates and explore a variety of financial instruments beyond life insurance, such as annuities, and why they might be a better fit—or not—for your financial strategy.
The best part of the show is listening to Paul's no-nonsense approach as he likens himself to our favorite curmudgeon.  However, there is a balance between trust, likability and getting honesty when addressing these important topics.  Paul & George discuss their approach on how this is accomplished.
 

Success in Commercial Real Estate Brokerage: An Interview with Carlos Pelaez

I interview Carlos Pelaez, a commercial real estate agent working at Baron Commercial Real Estate in Stuart, Florida.
Carlos shares his story of his family emigrating from Cuba after Castro nationalized their land, and they had to start over in the US.   After working as a prosecutor in Orlando, Carlos wanted to change careers to earn more money after getting saddled with debt from law school.
Carols shares what works during his career selling timeshares, residential and commercial real estate in the Florida market.   Actually, those skills transcend geography if you want to get into selling real estate or sales in general.
He uses his skills to overcome the fear of rejection to pitch President Trump in person at Marl-A-Lago.  Find out what happens next.  (Spoiler Alert: The Secret Service gets involved)
 

Moving on up in Real Estate: Barb Noote, a 21 Year Vet of Real Estate Shows Us How It’s Possible

In this episode, Mark & Cynthia welcome Barb Noote, the managing broker from Noote Partners, who began her remarkable career at just 18 – a move so unprecedented that it influenced Illinois state licensing laws. Barb shares her journey, including how she built a successful team in an industry where income is often solely commission-based, and the nuances of becoming a real estate agent.
The discussion also touches on the impact of the buyer's commission lawsuit and its implications for sellers and agents alike. Barb provides valuable insights into acquiring properties with lower down payments through state and county programs, the advantages of buying in the short term, and how she successfully overcame the challenges of being a young newcomer in the real estate market.
Additionally, Mark and Cynthia contrast their own real estate experiences, highlighting the importance of professional guidance in property transactions.

Setting Goals and Side Hustles from our Favorite Sitcoms

Cynthia & I discuss how and why to set goals, even if you are self-employed and do not need to answer to investors or a sales manager.
And we end the year on a fun note citing our favorite sitcom character's side hustles.  Especially, Cosmo Kramer of Kramerica Industries.

From The Stage to The Classroom to a TedX Talk: An Interview with Amanda Blair MacDonald

Cynthia & I interview Amanda Blair MacDonald to learn how she went from performing in New York to teaching among several local universities including DePaul (What about Loyola, Amanda? 😉 ) .
She helps performers through mind and body balance using The Alexander Technique & Movement Pattern Analysis with Amanda Blair MacDonald and Laban methodologies.    Amanda knows her stuff, and she's presented at a TedX talk as well.

Breaking into YouTube: The Story of the Campos Collective

Cynthia Zimmerman & I interview The Campos Collective, a trio of innovative musicians who share their journey on how they adapted to the marketplace as performers.
They’re a group of Chicago-native musicians and close friends who are passionate about creating their interpretation of well-known music through film, theatrical enactment, and design.  Their music was recently featured on the Howard Stern Wrap-Up show. They have received feedback from supporters such as…“Absolutely phenomenal,” “This is ethereal and magical!” and “One of my favorite channels now!” You can find them sharing new videos every Friday on their YouTube Channel: The Campos Collective.

Faith at Work: Bridging Business and Belief with Bob Lambert

Cynthia & I interview Bob Lambert, the regional director of G7, a faith-based networking group.  Instead of taking the standard approach we experience in networking groups like BNI, Le Tip or a chamber of commerce, G7 explicitly employs faith to help people fiscally and spiritually.
 
With Cynthia's upbringing in the Methodist missionary community and Bob's return to faith after being raised in Roman Catholic household, we took a look at a different view (at least for me) on how this could work for many people.
After all, after 20+ interviews, we have learned entrepreneurs require a support system.  It's not a solo act.