What does it look like to follow your passion and turn that passion into a successful business that has lasted several decades? 

This is the inspiring story of Jan Guenther, the owner of GearWest ( a specialty store focusing on cross-country skis, nordic skis, running, biking, apparel, and accessories). 

Discover how Jan took the leap from working all day and going to business school at night to starting her own bike store. 

Appreciate her insights on how Jan learned all she could about the outdoor sports industry by getting involved in the sports she was selling gear for. And resonate with her solid appreciation for the crucial role the customer plays in your business and how to take good care of them.

How did Jan get the word out there about her business in a pre-Internet time? What would Jan do differently if she could start over? And how did Jan succeed as a woman in such a male-dominated industry? 

Young asks some probing questions of Jan that take us back to an appreciation of old-fashioned values that involve doing the work yourself and then becoming a role model to others over time. 

And the bonus is that you build a successful business where your customers want to connect with you as you grow! Please join us in this delightful conversation. 

 "Your customers are your lifeblood." ~ Jan Guenther

In This Episode:

• How Jan left the big corporate world to start a small business
• Early business lessons: appreciate and look after your customer
• Why good service will last longer than most products
• Getting more women into sport by being a role model
• Getting energized by contrasts outdoors: working hard and playing hard
• The importance of supporting small businesses (and not taking advantage of them)

And so much more!

Connect with Jan Guenther:

• Website - https://www.gearwest.com/
• Email - jan@gearwest.com 

Connect with Young Lee:

• Facebook - Young Lee | Facebook
• LinkedIn - Young Lee - Host of the Chicago Business Review Podcast/Show

Do you ever feel stuck in your life? Perhaps you have an idea of what you need to do to create momentum and shift your energy toward healthy change, but you don't know where to begin.

If so, Habitual Growth could be the app and productivity tool you need to create that personal accountability in your life! 

It needn't be anything too dramatic or overwhelming either: just ask yourself each day what is the one thing you can do that will move you 1% towards your defined goals.

Lisa Small is the Co-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer of Habitual Growth, a tool and system that can help understand the “why” behind our thoughts and actions.

Habitual Health can help you develop self-awareness to understand where you’re at in life, prioritize and build disciplined behaviors, and create confidence to persevere through difficulties and challenges. 

In this engaging conversation between Lisa Small and our host Young Lee, you will learn just what you need to do to take action and make personal growth a healthy habit. The app also comes with a 30-day free trial!  

Lisa's relatable story will inspire you to seek out habitual growth as we realize that we are all on a journey of continuing personal education. Please join us. 

"What am I going to prioritize, or make sure that I'm getting done today, that moves me just 1% closer (to my goal)?" ~ Lisa Small

In This Episode:

• What is Habitual Growth? Lisa unpacked the tool for us
• The value of moving 1% closer to our goals each day (and tracking our progress)
• What made Lisa embark on her journey of habitual growth?
• The power of writing down your goals
• How long does it take to create a new habit?
• Understanding personal accountability and progress tracking

And so much more!

Connect with Lisa Small:

• Website - Habitual Growth
• Apple Store - https://apps.apple.com/cr/app/habitual-growth/id6446201836
• Google Play - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=br.com.avantsoft.habitualgrowth&pli=1

Connect with Young Lee:

• Facebook - Young Lee | Facebook
• LinkedIn - Young Lee - Host of the Chicago Business Review Podcast/Show

Are you aware of the power of solar energy in Chicagoland? Do you realize just how sexy solar is in the Midwest? 

Host Young Lee is joined by Eric Peterman today, former wide receiver for the Chicago Bears, and the two unpacking absolutely everything you need to know about solar energy!

Eric is now the Managing Director of Nelnet Renewable Energy and he’s spent over a decade understanding just how to provide homes and businesses with a turnkey solution for their renewable energy plan. 

And while the sun has always been there, shining down on us, it seems like only recently have we learned how best to harness its power.

This involves tax savings, feeding your extra energy back into the grid, knowing who you can trust with an installation, what to do if you break a panel, and even what to do if you want to repair your roof! 

Young leaves no stone unturned as he asks all the simple but important questions that will have you asking, ‘How can I get solar on my roof?’ Please join us in this deep dive into all things solar! 

“Solar is so new still. The industry is so young, that a lot of people still don’t have a full understanding of what it is, how it works, and how the savings flow.” ~ Eric Peterman

In This Episode:

• Is solar beneficial for everyone?
• How to evaluate your utility bill
• What kind of savings can you expect once you invest in solar?
• Lessons Eric has learned on the sports field that he applies in business
• Understanding the Renewable Energy Credit Score

And so much more!

Connect with Eric Peterman:

• Website - https://nelnetenergy.com/
• X - https://twitter.com/petermaneric

Connect with Young Lee:

• Facebook - Young Lee | Facebook

LinkedIn - Young Lee - Host of the Chicago Business Review Podcast/Show

What would you prefer: a life of discipline or a life of regret? For Dylan Rausch, the answer was simple. After being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in the midst of the pandemic, and dealing with a struggling business, Dylan chose to be a victor and not a victim.

This is the story of a family man who has overcome personal hardships by living a life of intentionality and strict regimen. He is the owner of two Pirtek franchises, offering on-site emergency hydraulic replacement and repair in the Wisconsin area. 

Learn all about Dylan's recipe for success in this impactful episode of Chicago Business Review that will have you taking notes on how you can up your game when it comes to personal well-being while also juggling the pressures of running a business and being the head of a large family.

From cold plunges to God and from the Live Hard program to the 5 people you surround yourself with, this episode is as inspirational as it gets thanks to Young Lee's probing questions and Dylan Rausch's frank answers. Please join us on this journey of intentionality!

"I wasn't going to be a victim of ulcerative colitis or my diagnosis. I was going to be a victor, that's what I decided. That's what I did. And so since then, I've been growing as a person, as a father, as a business owner, as a leader." ~ Dylan Rausch

In This Episode:

• The value of specialization in Dylan's business
• How Dylan first coped with his diagnosis
• Progress through adversity: writing down your goals (as if you've already achieved them)
• Being intentional about your relationships with your loved ones
• Taking ownership of your own life

And so much more!

Connect with Dylan Rausch:

• CALL - +83362346723
• Email - dylan.rausch@pirtekmedicine.com

Connect with Young Lee:

• Facebook - Young Lee | Facebook
• LinkedIn - Young Lee - Host of the Chicago Business Review Podcast/Show

Have you ever tried a product or supplement that promises to boost your energy levels or improve your health and after taking it, you're just not sure it's even worked? How about when you've taken a Vitamin B complex supplement and you've noticed neon yellow pee afterward?

A lot of companies are making products that have the 'right' ingredients on the label, but just not in a state our bodies can fully absorb. Imagine a glass of chocolate milk where half the powder remains at the bottom of your cup when you’re finished! We’ve all been there. 

LIX is a world-leading patented technology making active ingredients completely water-soluble in a shelf-stable state. And in today's informative episode of Chicago Business Review, our host Young Lee is chatting with the CEO of LIX Brands, Dan Margenau. 

The headline here is that LIX is the technology you need if you're looking to create an infused product of any kind for the retail market. 

From cannabinoids and functional mushrooms to nootropics and essential oils, LIX's patented technology enables a new world of possibilities for the formulation of infused products. 

Unlike traditional emulsification techniques, LIX fully dissolves, leaves no residue on the surface, and nothing settles out to the bottom of the container.

Learn about LIX's white-label business modality, why Dan is so passionate about building relationships in his industry, and the danger of snake oil salesmen in a candid conversation that will encourage you to get out of your comfort zone as an entrepreneur. Please join us. 

"You build relationships; you don't try to make a sale." ~ Dan Margenau

In This Episode:

• How LIX works (understanding absorption)
• What separates LIX from its competitors
• Understanding the value of white-label business
• Dan's journey from industrial engineer to entrepreneur
• Entrepreneurial advice: get out of your comfort zone!

And so much more!

Connect with Dan Margenau

• Website - https://lixingredients.com/
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-margenau-8532631/

Connect with Young Lee:

• Facebook - Young Lee | Facebook
• LinkedIn - Young Lee - Host of the Chicago Business Review Podcast/Show

What are some smart tax-saving strategies you can apply as you break into the real estate game? 

Jose A. Ramirez from Advanced Tax Advisors is chatting with Young Lee in a highly informative episode of Chicago Business Review that is guaranteed to save you (and your family) money in taxes if you take his advice. 

Jose is an expert in the field of implementing tax-saving strategies for business owners, landlords, and real estate investors. He's helping real estate investors save millions of dollars in tax savings.

From an overview of the advantages of real estate investment and why real estate is so powerful for creating generational wealth (understanding 'basis'), to insight into what determines real estate professional status (in the eyes of the IRS), Jose's astute advice is pure gold.

Learn about setting up an entity, passive versus non-passive business, depreciation benefits, tax benefits, and more – all explained in an easy-to-grasp manner that will motivate you to invest in real estate. Your education begins here. Please join us. 

"The journey has been a long, learning journey. Because taxation is not easy; taxation is hard. But once you understand the code and you understand how to implement these strategies, the benefits are tremendous." ~ Jose A. Ramirez

In This Episode:

• Jose's taxation journey (and why real estate is such a smart investment)
• The importance of separating your assets from your active business
• What is Capital Gains Income?
• What qualifies you for real estate professional status (according to the IRS)? 
• Understanding the '500 Hour Rule' tests and how a first-time investor can accumulate hours
• How to get your family involved in your real estate business (and pay less tax)
• Is it worth setting up a trust that owns your properties?

And so much more!

Connect with Jose A. Ramirez:

• Website - https://advancedtaxadvisors.net/
• Jose’s webinar - https://advancedtaxadvisors.net/webinar/

Connect with Young Lee:

• Facebook - Young Lee | Facebook
• LinkedIn - Young Lee - Host of the Chicago Business Review Podcast/Show

What does it look like to identify and articulate talent – and then match make it with the right company?

Kip Knippel is the Founder and CEO of KIP Search, a headhunting company that focuses on finding talent for C-Suite executives, legal, and other key employees to help organizations reach their full potential and destiny.

Kip ran for Senate in the State of Minnesota (while finishing up law school), and then worked in Mergers and Acquisitions and commercial real estate, before starting KIP Search.

Kip is an absolutely wonderful Chicago Business Review as our host Young Lee is able to draw the very best answers out of Kip by asking questions about talent, interviewing, and what it takes to match the right person with the right company culture.

There are insights into what a company can do to retain their talent, as well as what the average person can do to better prepare themselves for an interview, setting themselves up for long-term career success.

So from interview tips to how Kip goes about getting a clear, overall picture of the candidates he interviews for a job, there is so much to learn from this illuminating interview with a generous guest who is an expert in leadership training and business development. Please join us.

"We have 100% success. We've never failed on a search. And part of that is just our process. It's very process driven." ~ Kip Knippel

In This Episode:

Why start a headhunting company?

What does a typical day look like for Kip?

Appreciating the process-driven approach to vetting candidates

Identifying the talent you're looking for by aligning yourself with the company's values

The importance of getting a clear overall picture of a candidate to see if they're a cultural fit

What qualities does Kip look for in a candidate?

What interview tips does Kip have?

What can employers do to retain talent?

Kip's background (a play, an athlete, and running for Senate!)

How can you overcome your insecurities when applying for a job?

How do you go about researching fair compensation when applying for a new job?

And so much more!

Connect with Kip Kipping:

Website - https://www.kipsearch.com/

Connect with Young Lee:

Facebook - Young Lee | Facebook

LinkedIn - Young Lee - Host of the Chicago Business Review Podcast/Show

If you want to make lots of money, sell real estate. If you want to become wealthy, own real estate. Young Lee goes straight to the heart of the matter in this week's advice-laden episode of Chicago Business Review. 

Young has been running a team and working in real estate for over 17 years and he's here to tell us the best way to build wealth based on all his experience.  

There are three primary reasons why owning real estate is a smart way to get wealthy. You only have to pay a small percentage of the property's value as a down payment to own it. You can get someone else to cover your monthly bond payments with a good rental agreement. And your property will appreciate over time. 

Young's Top 3 Tips on generating real wealth through property investment will have you thinking about whether you are doing your very best to get wealthy rather than just getting rich. Please join us. 

"History tells us that home prices always go up. And the reason why is, it is a finite asset." ~ Young Lee

In This Episode:

• Three reasons why investing in real estate is a great tool for building wealth
• Using your property as leverage to get a loan
• How to get someone else to pay for your asset through a rental agreement
• Why property prices appreciate in value over time

And so much more!

Connect with Young Lee:

• Facebook - Young Lee | Facebook
• LinkedIn - Young Lee - Host of the Chicago Business Review Podcast/Show