Podcast Show Notes with Mike Michalowicz

There are approximately 3,000 CBD brands in the United States; how do you stand out in such a large crowd?

Best-selling business author Mike Michalowicz joined us to shed a light on differentiating your business, one particular frustration for many hemp entrepreneurs. From systematizing our business, to taking on the courage to be different than the competition, Mike shares advice for those seeking to turn their brands into unique players in their field.

Spoiler alert: you may start with something really small, you don’t have to re-invent your industry.

For exclusive resources from Mike to our podcast listeners go here.

Mike’s new book Get Different will launch in September and can be found here.

If you’re in the hemp and CBD business, why should a customer do business with you versus every other option, including doing nothing? And you can’t say because your products are better or higher quality… that doesn’t really mean anything because anybody can claim that. Why should somebody REALLY buy CBD from you?

Your business may be doing well now but at some point, it will struggle. Every business goes through ups and downs and you’re probably no special snowflake that this won’t happen to. How will your point of differentiation get you through the dark and hard periods?

I think you will be very excited about this next podcast episode with best selling author Mike Michalowicz.

I’ve read nearly all of Mike’s books and his lessons have been slowly transforming our companies in a very positive and meaningful way.

Mike was kind enough to create a list of resources exclusively for the listeners of the Hemp Startup Journey podcast.

Check out the free resources and learn more about how Mike’s lessons on entrepreneurship transformed him from struggling and depressed to loving his work and being fulfilled by it.

Podcast Show Notes with Ladies of Paradise

Creativity and Cannabis go together. In this episode, Jade and Harlee, owners of Ladies of Paradise and Lady Jays prove the point. They use branding, unique events, and their own line of smokables to make people, especially women, feel comfortable with consumption of cannabis.

Learn how Jade and Harlee do really cool branding that gets people talking and sharing their message.

The Ladies shared their perspective on industrial hemp for the future, and how positioning themselves with hemp today is strategic to take on upcoming opportunities arising from new regulations.

The conversation wrapped up with a brief story highlighting how their business has taken part in opportunities for giving back to society.

Get in touch with Ladies of Paradise at:

Web: Ladies of Paradise / Lady Jays

Instagram: @ladiesofparadise @smokeladyjays

@heyjadehey @harleecase

Podcast Show Notes with Nancy Whiteman

One of the most relevant personalities in the Cannabis Industry, Nancy Whiteman shares her insights on the creation of brands and products in a highly competitive, challenging and saturated market.

Amidst bigger competition, unclear regulations and more selective dispensaries, Nancy stands by starting with the value and with the product rather than on visual aspects. For Wana Brands introducing gummies was a novelty, and even so they dedicated effort to improving their manufacturing process to elevate the product quality – resulting in a key market differentiator.

How can a Cannabis company decide where to focus as they grow and scale? Nancy talks about understanding the market and the powerful role of innovation in the cannabis and hemp space, which also represents a huge source of opportunities when combined with market and consumer research.

Wrapping up, our guest shares her take on how entrepreneurs should prepare for the future in the hemp space

You may connect with Nancy on her LinkedIn.