*Episode Stack* https://stackl.ist/4307tpO

*Summary*

In this episode, I sit down with Rick, a seasoned entrepreneur and founder of Reach Out Technology, to dive deep into his journey from working at RadioShack to building a successful tech company. We kick things off by discussing the essence of entrepreneurship—how sometimes you just have to be "shoved into it" to truly learn and grow.

Rick shares some fascinating insights about the changing landscape of education and how traditional degrees are becoming less relevant in fields like tech and cybersecurity. He emphasizes the importance of real-world experience over theoretical knowledge, drawing from his own experiences hiring talent and navigating the industry.

We also chat about the pivotal moments in Rick's life that led him to start his own business, including the birth of his twins and the encouragement from his wife and a loyal client. He highlights the significance of speed over perfection when launching a business, sharing how he quickly secured a domain name and started helping clients right away.

Rick's story is filled with practical advice, like the importance of outsourcing tasks to scale your business effectively and the value of building strong relationships with clients. He even shares a memorable analogy about the "assumptive sale" from his barber, which perfectly illustrates how to approach sales without being pushy.

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or just curious about the tech industry, this episode is packed with valuable lessons and inspiration. Tune in to hear Rick's incredible journey and the wisdom he's gained along the way!

*Chapters*

00:00:00 - The Heart of Entrepreneurship
00:01:00 - Jumping into Conversations
00:02:30 - The Value of Experience Over Degrees
00:04:00 - Shifting Perspectives on Education
00:06:30 - The Evolution of College Degrees
00:08:30 - The Importance of Real-World Experience
00:10:00 - The Role of Experience in Career Development
00:12:00 - The Future of Education
00:13:30 - Early Career Lessons from Retail
00:15:30 - The Importance of Sales Skills
00:17:00 - Teaching Kids About Entrepreneurship
00:19:30 - The Journey to Starting a Business
00:22:00 - The Importance of Speed in Business
00:24:00 - Building a Brand from Scratch
00:26:30 - Marketing Strategies for Growth
00:28:00 - Outsourcing and Scaling the Business
00:30:00 - The Assumptive Sale Technique
00:32:00 - Finding Your Sales Groove
00:34:00 - The Consultative Approach to Selling