Hey everyone, I’m John Lee Dumas, and I want to thank you for joining me for the very first episode of EntrepreneurOnFire.com. Every weekday, I will be interviewing the most exciting and inspiring Entrepreneurs of today. Each interview will be captivating in its own right, as we will be telling a story… a real life story of a remarkable Entrepreneur.
One of the things I am most excited about is that we will be producing a new 30-minute episode 5-days a week. So for you, this means a new episode of EntrepreneurOnFire.com will be waiting to accompany you on your commute to work, your daily jog, or during any daily activity that could use an added dose of inspiration. We will also be following a clear and concise format on every show, so you will know exactly what to expect, day in and day out.
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Resource Mentioned:
- Your Big Idea: Successful Entrepreneurs have One Big Idea. Follow JLD’s FREE training & you’ll discover Your Big Idea in less than an hour!
Sound interesting? Well, keep reading, and I will delve into the details of the interview flow and also tell you a little bit about the host…myself, John Dumas.
Each episode will start with a brief introduction of the spotlighted Entrepreneur, followed by their favorite success quote. Everybody loves a good success quote, and we get to hear why this is our Entrepreneur’s favorite, along with how they apply it to their everyday life and mentality.
We then jump right into the journey. Our journeys here at EntrepreneurOnFire.com will always commence in an area we can learn so much from…failure. Our Entrepreneur will go into detail about a major trial/tribulation/failure they’ve encountered. We’ll examine the steps that led up to this situation and the actions that were taken immediately after that helped our Entrepreneur rise above and move forward.
Now, we’ve all heard about that infamous “AHA” moment: bells chime, light bulbs flash, and the sun bursts through the clouds. Well, most people that have created their own businesses have had that moment… and all of these Entrepreneurs have.
Our journey also takes us through that “AHA” moment: the steps leading up to it, the moment itself, and the actions the Entrepreneur took following their “AHA” moment that helped lead them to the success they are experiencing today.
Then, we seamlessly move into our Entrepreneur’s current business. They will go into detail about their day to day, and then also touch upon their vision for the future. This will help us not only understand what it is that they do, but it will also help us understand where they feel their particular industry is headed.
At this point, we have reached my favorite part… The Lightening Round. The Lightening Round is a question segment that probes deep into the mind of our Entrepreneur to extract priceless nuggets of knowledge. I feel that the answers to these questions will contain valuable information that every entrepreneur should know.
Some of the questions include:
- What was the #1 thing that was holding you back from becoming an Entrepreneur?
- What is the best business advice you ever received?
- What is something that is working for you right now?
- What is the best business book you have read in the last six months?
The last question in the lightening round – If you woke up tomorrow morning, and you still possessed all the experience and knowledge you currently have – but your business had completely disappeared, forcing you to start somewhere, anywhere from scratch – what would you do? – is my favorite because I believe it can yield some incredible insight for you. As free as Entrepreneurs claim to be, we still have to devote most of our time and resources to the business’s we are currently running. Often times we end up watching as ideas and opportunities pass us by. You may find yourself in a position where you’re searching for that great idea, waiting to pounce and take powerful action. Our entrepreneur’s insights might just help you take the leap towards that next big idea.
Now that I’ve told you a little bit about the show, I want to share with you why I created EntrepreneurOnFire.com. For over 3 years now, I have been an avid listener of podcasts. Like most people, I found myself spending countless hours on planes, trains and in automobiles. Don’t get me wrong, music is great, but I found myself wanting more, and podcasts were a perfect fit. Podcasts offer a combination that is hard to beat: they are targeted to any passion you have, there are no commercials, and they’re free!
I started with the bigger podcasts, such as the Wall Street Journal and APM Marketplace, but I soon found myself drawn towards the privately produced podcasts. Within this small sector I became enthralled with shows that interviewed small business owners, which provided insights into the lives of these otherwise mythical legends known as Entrepreneurs. I began to see these Entrepreneurs as real people, and through their experiences, I realized that I too could grab the reins of my life and steer my passions towards a meaningful career path.
However, the podcasts that fed the fire of my Entrepreneurial passions were few, and those in existence were being aired only once or twice a week. I would tear through month’s worth of interviews in weeks, and I always found myself waiting way too long for that next show to be aired. I immediately saw the need for a podcast that was aired daily. This would ensure that every morning a fresh episode awaited me and the countless other listeners that I was convinced were looking for the same thing on their commute or daily jog. I also craved to hear the journey of Entrepreneurs. Not just what they were successfully doing now, but what they did to reach that success.
So it was from that desire that EntrepreneurOnFire.com was born. I decided to create a conduit that would allow people around the globe to have access to Entrepreneurial stories, lessons, and concepts. My goal is to create a headquarters where today’s best and most exciting ideas are shared. I want to offer content that will inspire you to take that leap and make this world a better place by applying your passions and energy to creating brilliance.
Ok, so now that you know all about EntrepreneurOnFire.com and my reasoning for creating it, I will finish this episode with my background. I’m John Dumas, and I was born and raised in a sleepy town in Southern Maine. At 18, I left Maine for Providence College, in Rhode Island, where I accepted an ROTC scholarship to pay my way through school. I spent an amazing four years studying, socializing, training as a cadet, and rooting on the PC Friars Basketball team as they took on their Big East foes season in and season out.
At 22, I graduated with a 3.01 GPA and was commissioned as a 2LT in the US Army. Before my graduation buzz had worn off, I was shipped off to Ft. Lewis, Washington. I spent the next four years as an Army Officer, stationed at no less than 5 duty stations. By the time I was 24 years old, I had completed a 13-month tour of duty in Ar Ramadi, Iraq.
At 26, my active duty requirement had ended, and as a Captain I entered the reserves. I knew I was ready for some rest and relaxation, and so I took off for Guatemala, where I lived with a Guatemalan family for 4 months. While there, I explored several different parts of the country and spent my time speaking, eating, and breathing the culture of Central America.
Upon returning to the US, I felt it was time to get down to business. I applied myself, and at the age of 27 I entered Law school, prepared to follow in my father’s footsteps. One semester showed me this was not my desired path, and this time India and Nepal called me away for another 4 months of travel. While in India I played a role in a Bollywood movie, trekked the Himalayas, and immersed myself in a world very different from the one I knew back home in the grand USA.
Upon my return from this foray, I spent a few years living in some great cities, including Boston and NYC. I had some great jobs and some not so great jobs, all of which brought with them a corporate air. I always knew I was waiting for that “AHA” moment, for that passion to creep up on me. But at this stage in the game, it had yet to appear.
At 31, I moved back to the great state of Maine, 13 years after my departure. I took yet another professional job, which was very enjoyable for a year. Then, one rainy spring day in 2012 it happened. While listening to a podcast, I thought to myself, “I can do this. In fact, I can do this better.” Over the course of a few short months I immersed myself in my new venture, and the more research I did, the larger my passion grew.
Suddenly, and for the first time in my life, I knew with 100% conviction what I wanted to do: create a podcast interviewing inspiring Entrepreneurs. For me, June 1st, 2012 is the day that will forever live in infamy. I turned in my notice at my job, I told my friends and family of my plans, and I took off for a 3-day conference in New York City called Blogworld. I knew that my attendance at this conference was crucial – this is where I would meet with the movers and shakers in my new world. 4 months and a lot of hard work later, I was prepared to launch EntrepreneurOnFire.com.
I know deep within all of us lives an Entrepreneur looking to break out and take on the world. The Entrepreneur within me was buried for 32 years, and when he finally broke out, the result was the beginning of a wild and remarkable ride. I have no clue where this ride will take me, but I do know that it is a journey that positively consumes me.
I want to thank you again for joining me here at EntrepreneurOnFire.com. I truly hope that one, if not all of the episodes I produce, help you find your spark or help feed your already burning flame. If you find value in this podcast and the message we’re trying to spread at EntrepreneurOnFire.com, then click the subscribe button below, and give my show a review and (hopefully!) 5 star rating. This type of support will allow my show to gain the recognition it needs to reach as many people as possible. In turn, we’ll be able to share this incredible free medium of knowledge and experience with the world. Plus, I will make sure to give you a personalized thank you in an upcoming show.
You are absolutely going to love the next episode with Pat Flynn of Smart Passive Income. His journey is incredible, and an inspiration to us all. I’m excited for you to listen, and I’m excited for you to begin your journey. So without further ado…
Fire Nation…Prepare to ignite!
Killer Resources!
1) The Common Path to Uncommon Success: JLD’s 1st traditionally published book! Over 3000 interviews with the world’s most successful Entrepreneurs compiled into a 17-step roadmap to financial freedom and fulfillment!
2) Free Podcast Course: Learn from JLD how to create and launch your podcast!
3) Podcasters’ Paradise: The #1 podcasting community in the world!
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