Join me on Women Lead Radio as Shelly Harrison, host of Amplify Your Influence, has a conversation with me, Bonnie Harvey, Founder of Barefoot Wines and Business Audio Theatre.

We’ll uncover my story and how I became co-author of the New York Times bestselling book: The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle, and Heart Built America’s #1 Wine Brand.

Listen to my episode with Shelly Harrison: https://lnkd.in/dkCj6S28

Who We Are

Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey co-authored the New York Times bestselling business book, The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle, and Heart Built America’s #1 Wine Brand. The book has been selected as recommended reading in the CEO Library for CEO Forum, the C-Suite Book Club, and numerous university classes on business and entrepreneurship. It chronicles their humble beginnings from the laundry room of a rented Sonoma County farmhouse to the board room of E&J Gallo, who ultimately acquired their brand and engaged them as brand consultants. Barefoot is now the world’s largest wine brand.

Beginning with virtually no money and no wine industry experience, they employed innovative ideas to overcome obstacles, create new markets and forge strategic alliances. They pioneered Worthy Cause Marketing and performance-based compensation. They built an internationally bestselling brand and received their industry’s “Hot Brand” award for several consecutive years.

They offer their Guiding Principles for Success (GPS) to help entrepreneurs become successful. Their book, The Entrepreneurial Culture: 23 Ways To Engage and Empower Your People, helps corporations maximize the value of their human resources.

Currently they travel the world leading workshops, trainings, & keynoting at business schools, corporations, conferences. They are regular media guests and contributors to international publications and professional journals. They are C-Suite Network Advisors & Contributing Editors. Visit their popular brand building site at www.consumerbrandbuilders.com.

To make inquiries for keynote speaking, trainings or consulting, please contact sales@thebarefootspirit.com.

The post The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle & Heart Built America’s #1 Wine Brand 🍷 appeared first on The Barefoot Spirit.

The disparity extends beyond leadership roles—only 57% of women report receiving manager feedback after leadership training, compared to 62% of men. That feedback is crucial for career growth and opportunity. While women’s representation in senior manager roles has grown to 37% and vice president roles to 34%, the progress is far from enough.

From politics to corporate boardrooms, the leadership landscape is still largely male-dominated. Women make up just 23.3% of Cabinet members worldwide, and only 27 countries have women serving as Heads of State or Government. We must accelerate change to foster environments where women can rise and thrive in positions of power.

The question is no longer about waiting for change but driving it forward.

What are you doing to help bridge the gap?

Who We Are

Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey co-authored the New York Times bestselling business book, The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle, and Heart Built America’s #1 Wine Brand. The book has been selected as recommended reading in the CEO Library for CEO Forum, the C-Suite Book Club, and numerous university classes on business and entrepreneurship. It chronicles their humble beginnings from the laundry room of a rented Sonoma County farmhouse to the board room of E&J Gallo, who ultimately acquired their brand and engaged them as brand consultants. Barefoot is now the world’s largest wine brand.

Beginning with virtually no money and no wine industry experience, they employed innovative ideas to overcome obstacles, create new markets and forge strategic alliances. They pioneered Worthy Cause Marketing and performance-based compensation. They built an internationally bestselling brand and received their industry’s “Hot Brand” award for several consecutive years.

They offer their Guiding Principles for Success (GPS) to help entrepreneurs become successful. Their book, The Entrepreneurial Culture: 23 Ways To Engage and Empower Your People, helps corporations maximize the value of their human resources.

Currently they travel the world leading workshops, trainings, & keynoting at business schools, corporations, conferences. They are regular media guests and contributors to international publications and professional journals. They are C-Suite Network Advisors & Contributing Editors. Visit their popular brand building site at www.consumerbrandbuilders.com.

To make inquiries for keynote speaking, trainings or consulting, please contact sales@thebarefootspirit.com.

The post Something has to change. appeared first on The Barefoot Spirit.

A company is only as strong as its relationships. Think about it. You rely on consumers, clients, staff, contractors, vendors, suppliers, bankers, and distributors (just to name a few!) to take actions that keep your business humming along and making money.

Imagine what would happen to your performance if instead of doing enough to get by, these key players really turned on their work ethics and innovative abilities? You can’t force, threaten, bribe, or cajole anyone into working and thinking on a higher level.

What you can do is generate the same spirit that fueled the iconic, top-selling Barefoot brand to engage and inspire people to produce amazing results.

For all your speaking engagements, book Michael Houlihan and I today. Reach out to us at info@thebarefootspirit.com for more information.

Who We Are

Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey co-authored the New York Times bestselling business book, The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle, and Heart Built America’s #1 Wine Brand. The book has been selected as recommended reading in the CEO Library for CEO Forum, the C-Suite Book Club, and numerous university classes on business and entrepreneurship. It chronicles their humble beginnings from the laundry room of a rented Sonoma County farmhouse to the board room of E&J Gallo, who ultimately acquired their brand and engaged them as brand consultants. Barefoot is now the world’s largest wine brand.

Beginning with virtually no money and no wine industry experience, they employed innovative ideas to overcome obstacles, create new markets and forge strategic alliances. They pioneered Worthy Cause Marketing and performance-based compensation. They built an internationally bestselling brand and received their industry’s “Hot Brand” award for several consecutive years.

They offer their Guiding Principles for Success (GPS) to help entrepreneurs become successful. Their book, The Entrepreneurial Culture: 23 Ways To Engage and Empower Your People, helps corporations maximize the value of their human resources.

Currently they travel the world leading workshops, trainings, & keynoting at business schools, corporations, conferences. They are regular media guests and contributors to international publications and professional journals. They are C-Suite Network Advisors & Contributing Editors. Visit their popular brand building site at www.consumerbrandbuilders.com.

To make inquiries for keynote speaking, trainings or consulting, please contact sales@thebarefootspirit.com.

The post Book Michael and Bonnie! appeared first on The Barefoot Spirit.

The key is to find a way to take advantage of them using your passion. So how do you recognize opportunity and pursue it passionately? And more importantly, how do you achieve sustainable success?

Pursuing an opportunity passionately requires a mindset of humility, discovery and adventure. Ask tons of questions and listen closely to the answers.

Don’t give up on your passion, but instead, find a way to incorporate it into your opportunity. We wove support for hundreds of worthy causes into the very fabric of our brand which ultimately made it into a success and an icon.

Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/dMBAKB-M

Who We Are

Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey co-authored the New York Times bestselling business book, The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle, and Heart Built America’s #1 Wine Brand. The book has been selected as recommended reading in the CEO Library for CEO Forum, the C-Suite Book Club, and numerous university classes on business and entrepreneurship. It chronicles their humble beginnings from the laundry room of a rented Sonoma County farmhouse to the board room of E&J Gallo, who ultimately acquired their brand and engaged them as brand consultants. Barefoot is now the world’s largest wine brand.

Beginning with virtually no money and no wine industry experience, they employed innovative ideas to overcome obstacles, create new markets and forge strategic alliances. They pioneered Worthy Cause Marketing and performance-based compensation. They built an internationally bestselling brand and received their industry’s “Hot Brand” award for several consecutive years.

They offer their Guiding Principles for Success (GPS) to help entrepreneurs become successful. Their book, The Entrepreneurial Culture: 23 Ways To Engage and Empower Your People, helps corporations maximize the value of their human resources.

Currently they travel the world leading workshops, trainings, & keynoting at business schools, corporations, conferences. They are regular media guests and contributors to international publications and professional journals. They are C-Suite Network Advisors & Contributing Editors. Visit their popular brand building site at www.consumerbrandbuilders.com.

To make inquiries for keynote speaking, trainings or consulting, please contact sales@thebarefootspirit.com.

The post How to Recognize Opportunity (and Make It Sustainable) KNOCK! KNOCK! appeared first on The Barefoot Spirit.

Or does it broadcast that your brand condones the proliferation of dangerous plastic trash? As single-use plastics break down into tiny pieces, and then into microscopic dust, many are ingested by fish that are eaten by bigger fish that are eventually eaten by us. What are the long-run consequences to the planet and to us?

Branding doesn’t stop at purchase, or even consumption, it goes on as non-compostable, non-returnable garbage.

We live on an island, Island Earth. We can’t throw our single-use plastics “away.” There is no “away!” So why put your brand on a single-use plastic container that reveals that you are short-sighted and care more about profits for your company than the health of the world in which we live?

When will we stop producing packaging that pollutes our environment and show the world we care about our future and our health? How about right now?

Who We Are

Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey co-authored the New York Times bestselling business book, The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle, and Heart Built America’s #1 Wine Brand. The book has been selected as recommended reading in the CEO Library for CEO Forum, the C-Suite Book Club, and numerous university classes on business and entrepreneurship. It chronicles their humble beginnings from the laundry room of a rented Sonoma County farmhouse to the board room of E&J Gallo, who ultimately acquired their brand and engaged them as brand consultants. Barefoot is now the world’s largest wine brand.

Beginning with virtually no money and no wine industry experience, they employed innovative ideas to overcome obstacles, create new markets and forge strategic alliances. They pioneered Worthy Cause Marketing and performance-based compensation. They built an internationally bestselling brand and received their industry’s “Hot Brand” award for several consecutive years.

They offer their Guiding Principles for Success (GPS) to help entrepreneurs become successful. Their book, The Entrepreneurial Culture: 23 Ways To Engage and Empower Your People, helps corporations maximize the value of their human resources.

Currently they travel the world leading workshops, trainings, & keynoting at business schools, corporations, conferences. They are regular media guests and contributors to international publications and professional journals. They are C-Suite Network Advisors & Contributing Editors. Visit their popular brand building site at www.consumerbrandbuilders.com.

To make inquiries for keynote speaking, trainings or consulting, please contact sales@thebarefootspirit.com.

The post Don’t Hurt Your Brand Image with Single-Use Containers – LOOK WHO’S AT THE TOP OF THE HEAP! appeared first on The Barefoot Spirit.

“When Barefoot launched in the 1980s, the U.S. wine industry was well-established.

In fact, there was a sense that if you were serious about wine, you drank French. American wines, on the other hand, were often viewed as inferior.

To make matters worse, wine had a snob appeal—expensive, sophisticated, and reserved for special occasions. For the average consumer, beer was the everyday go-to, while wine was often seen as out of reach.

This is where Barefoot Wine saw a huge opportunity. They saw a gap between the high-end wines and the casual beer drinkers.

There was room for an everyday wine, something affordable, approachable, and consistent. Their vision was simple: create a wine that’s easy to drink, available year-round, and, most importantly, predictable—no surprises, just a product that delivered every time.”

Read the full story from Marketing Spark below:

https://lnkd.in/gfBDmt6S

Who We Are

Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey co-authored the New York Times bestselling business book, The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle, and Heart Built America’s #1 Wine Brand. The book has been selected as recommended reading in the CEO Library for CEO Forum, the C-Suite Book Club, and numerous university classes on business and entrepreneurship. It chronicles their humble beginnings from the laundry room of a rented Sonoma County farmhouse to the board room of E&J Gallo, who ultimately acquired their brand and engaged them as brand consultants. Barefoot is now the world’s largest wine brand.

Beginning with virtually no money and no wine industry experience, they employed innovative ideas to overcome obstacles, create new markets and forge strategic alliances. They pioneered Worthy Cause Marketing and performance-based compensation. They built an internationally bestselling brand and received their industry’s “Hot Brand” award for several consecutive years.

They offer their Guiding Principles for Success (GPS) to help entrepreneurs become successful. Their book, The Entrepreneurial Culture: 23 Ways To Engage and Empower Your People, helps corporations maximize the value of their human resources.

Currently they travel the world leading workshops, trainings, & keynoting at business schools, corporations, conferences. They are regular media guests and contributors to international publications and professional journals. They are C-Suite Network Advisors & Contributing Editors. Visit their popular brand building site at www.consumerbrandbuilders.com.

To make inquiries for keynote speaking, trainings or consulting, please contact sales@thebarefootspirit.com.

The post How Barefoot Wine Mastered Brand Positioning and Customer Research to Capture a Market Gap appeared first on The Barefoot Spirit.

Mark Boundy and his team are launching the Arizona chapter of this incredible nonprofit, offering invaluable resources to any non-public company. It’s a unique opportunity to gain free expertise for your company’s board.

As passionate supporters of entrepreneurship, we wholeheartedly back this initiative. Check to see if there’s a Private Directors Association in your area—this is an opportunity you don’t want to miss!

During our talk, we shared key lessons from our own experience going through a real acquisition. We highlighted what worked, what could have been improved, and how to avoid common pitfalls.

Why give up a 9 to 5 for a 5 to 9 if your goal isn’t to monetize your brand equity? More value can be lost in a single hour of negotiation than in an entire year of building your brand.

Be prepared from day one—the longer the process, the less you’ll make! We’re here to help.

Who We Are

Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey co-authored the New York Times bestselling business book, The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle, and Heart Built America’s #1 Wine Brand. The book has been selected as recommended reading in the CEO Library for CEO Forum, the C-Suite Book Club, and numerous university classes on business and entrepreneurship. It chronicles their humble beginnings from the laundry room of a rented Sonoma County farmhouse to the board room of E&J Gallo, who ultimately acquired their brand and engaged them as brand consultants. Barefoot is now the world’s largest wine brand.

Beginning with virtually no money and no wine industry experience, they employed innovative ideas to overcome obstacles, create new markets and forge strategic alliances. They pioneered Worthy Cause Marketing and performance-based compensation. They built an internationally bestselling brand and received their industry’s “Hot Brand” award for several consecutive years.

They offer their Guiding Principles for Success (GPS) to help entrepreneurs become successful. Their book, The Entrepreneurial Culture: 23 Ways To Engage and Empower Your People, helps corporations maximize the value of their human resources.

Currently they travel the world leading workshops, trainings, & keynoting at business schools, corporations, conferences. They are regular media guests and contributors to international publications and professional journals. They are C-Suite Network Advisors & Contributing Editors. Visit their popular brand building site at www.consumerbrandbuilders.com.

To make inquiries for keynote speaking, trainings or consulting, please contact sales@thebarefootspirit.com.

The post Private Directors Association® in Scottsdale, Arizona appeared first on The Barefoot Spirit.

“Bonnie M. Harvey and Michael Houlihan started Barefoot Wine with $300,000 in debt and almost no knowledge of the wine industry. What they did know was how to market it—with a laid-back name, a beach-inspired label, and a consistent flavor at an affordable price, attracting people who often felt wine was too ‘snooty.’

After years of relentless work, especially from Michael, Barefoot Wine became a household name. In 2005, two decades after its launch, it was acquired by one of the largest wine brands in the world, E & J Gallo.

This episode was produced by J.C. Howard, with music by Ramtin Arablouei edited by Neva Grant, and research by Olivia Rockeman.

How I Built This dives deep into the minds of the world’s most well-known entrepreneurs, uncovering intimate moments of doubt, failure, and, ultimately, triumph. It’s a masterclass in innovation, leadership, and overcoming obstacles.”

Tune in now on your favorite podcast platform to listen:

Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gwzieDHc

Apple: https://lnkd.in/g6btnKUr

Amazon: https://lnkd.in/g9FMgXEE

Photo Credit of Guy: Peter Prato/NPR

Who We Are

Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey co-authored the New York Times bestselling business book, The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle, and Heart Built America’s #1 Wine Brand. The book has been selected as recommended reading in the CEO Library for CEO Forum, the C-Suite Book Club, and numerous university classes on business and entrepreneurship. It chronicles their humble beginnings from the laundry room of a rented Sonoma County farmhouse to the board room of E&J Gallo, who ultimately acquired their brand and engaged them as brand consultants. Barefoot is now the world’s largest wine brand.

Beginning with virtually no money and no wine industry experience, they employed innovative ideas to overcome obstacles, create new markets and forge strategic alliances. They pioneered Worthy Cause Marketing and performance-based compensation. They built an internationally bestselling brand and received their industry’s “Hot Brand” award for several consecutive years.

They offer their Guiding Principles for Success (GPS) to help entrepreneurs become successful. Their book, The Entrepreneurial Culture: 23 Ways To Engage and Empower Your People, helps corporations maximize the value of their human resources.

Currently they travel the world leading workshops, trainings, & keynoting at business schools, corporations, conferences. They are regular media guests and contributors to international publications and professional journals. They are C-Suite Network Advisors & Contributing Editors. Visit their popular brand building site at www.consumerbrandbuilders.com.

To make inquiries for keynote speaking, trainings or consulting, please contact sales@thebarefootspirit.com.

The post How I Built This – PODCAST FEATURE appeared first on The Barefoot Spirit.

A positioning statement is the message you send to all levels of the market by how you position your product. Ideally, the statement compels the buyer to make the purchase.

“If you buy a dozen of these cupcakes, we’ll give you 13 for the same price” — that’s a quantity position.

“The price of this car includes servicing” – that’s a long-term, cost-reduction statement, and may also be a distinguishing statement if no others offer the same thing.

The idea of a positioning statement comes into play when you’re planning your brand strategy and thinking about how to market your brand. What positioning statement do you want to make?

Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dUQBgaqP

Who We Are

Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey co-authored the New York Times bestselling business book, The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle, and Heart Built America’s #1 Wine Brand. The book has been selected as recommended reading in the CEO Library for CEO Forum, the C-Suite Book Club, and numerous university classes on business and entrepreneurship. It chronicles their humble beginnings from the laundry room of a rented Sonoma County farmhouse to the board room of E&J Gallo, who ultimately acquired their brand and engaged them as brand consultants. Barefoot is now the world’s largest wine brand.

Beginning with virtually no money and no wine industry experience, they employed innovative ideas to overcome obstacles, create new markets and forge strategic alliances. They pioneered Worthy Cause Marketing and performance-based compensation. They built an internationally bestselling brand and received their industry’s “Hot Brand” award for several consecutive years.

They offer their Guiding Principles for Success (GPS) to help entrepreneurs become successful. Their book, The Entrepreneurial Culture: 23 Ways To Engage and Empower Your People, helps corporations maximize the value of their human resources.

Currently they travel the world leading workshops, trainings, & keynoting at business schools, corporations, conferences. They are regular media guests and contributors to international publications and professional journals. They are C-Suite Network Advisors & Contributing Editors. Visit their popular brand building site at www.consumerbrandbuilders.com.

To make inquiries for keynote speaking, trainings or consulting, please contact sales@thebarefootspirit.com.

The post PERCEPTION, PRICE, AND PERFORMANCE appeared first on The Barefoot Spirit.

Here’s how to position yourself for an exit that reflects your hard-earned success:

Set the Stage: Acquirers want to see organization and clarity. Make sure your files are set up exactly how they expect, showcasing the power of your leadership.

Measure What Matters: Build toward the metrics that make you stand out as a valuable target. Progress each year, and watch your power grow.

Speed Wins: The faster you close the deal, the more you walk away with. Time is on your side when you move quickly and efficiently.

Own the Private Auction: Skip the public bidding frenzy. A private auction gives you control and lets you work with the right buyer.

Know What’s at Stake: This isn’t just a business—it’s your creation. Be clear about what you’re leaving behind, and plan for the next chapter.

Spot the Right Players: Identify the top 3 to 5 acquirers in your field. These are the ones who can take what you’ve built to the next level.

Make Your Presence Known: You’ve worked hard to get here—now it’s time to make sure the right people see you. Get on their radar, and stay there.

Silent but Strategic: Reward your key team members with stay bonuses, but keep things quiet until the deal is done. You’ve earned that discretion.

Protect Your Work: Get legal clearances on all creative assets now. This is your intellectual property, and it deserves protection.

Bring in a Trusted Advisor: You need more than just an investment banker. A strategic exit advisor will help you navigate this journey with the confidence you’ve earned.

Contact us today to start preparing for your ultimate exit.

You’ve built this business—now let’s make sure you leave on your terms. Your Mr. or Mrs. BIG is waiting!

Who We Are

Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey co-authored the New York Times bestselling business book, The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle, and Heart Built America’s #1 Wine Brand. The book has been selected as recommended reading in the CEO Library for CEO Forum, the C-Suite Book Club, and numerous university classes on business and entrepreneurship. It chronicles their humble beginnings from the laundry room of a rented Sonoma County farmhouse to the board room of E&J Gallo, who ultimately acquired their brand and engaged them as brand consultants. Barefoot is now the world’s largest wine brand.

Beginning with virtually no money and no wine industry experience, they employed innovative ideas to overcome obstacles, create new markets and forge strategic alliances. They pioneered Worthy Cause Marketing and performance-based compensation. They built an internationally bestselling brand and received their industry’s “Hot Brand” award for several consecutive years.

They offer their Guiding Principles for Success (GPS) to help entrepreneurs become successful. Their book, The Entrepreneurial Culture: 23 Ways To Engage and Empower Your People, helps corporations maximize the value of their human resources.

Currently they travel the world leading workshops, trainings, & keynoting at business schools, corporations, conferences. They are regular media guests and contributors to international publications and professional journals. They are C-Suite Network Advisors & Contributing Editors. Visit their popular brand building site at www.consumerbrandbuilders.com.

To make inquiries for keynote speaking, trainings or consulting, please contact sales@thebarefootspirit.com.

The post Whether selling seems far off or closer than you think, the time to plan is now. appeared first on The Barefoot Spirit.