In early April, Bonnie M. Harvey and I had the pleasure of traveling to Mississippi State University to speak at their Entrepreneurship Summit brought on by the MSU Center for Entrepreneurship & Outreach. It was a fantastic experience! We also were able to sit down with Jeffrey Rupp to record an episode of the Mississippi […]

As business advisors, we’ve noticed many clients ask specific questions like, “How do I hire a sales rep?” However, they often need to address bigger issues first. The Answer is a Question ❓ Inexperienced clients often ask the wrong questions. For example, instead of “How do I hire a sales rep?” they should ask, “Do […]

College teaches more than just academic knowledge. It equips you with essential entrepreneurial skills crucial for business success, developed through the experience of navigating college life rather than coursework. First, you learn prioritization (strategic planning), which involves prioritizing tasks and managing time effectively to survive academically. This skill translates to business, where focusing on top […]

When building the Barefoot Wine brand, we encountered numerous unexpected challenges in compliance, distribution, and personnel management. Over time, we developed principles to improve our problem-solving approach, transforming our anxiety into a constructive process. Here are the principles: 1. Take Inventory: Assess all available resources, including property, money, people, customers, suppliers, and personal knowledge. Leverage […]

So often we see great brands derailed. They seem to have lost track of their purpose and style, their principles and commitments. They often get watered down and diluted by corporate governance, standardization, and complacency. What happened? They lost their spirit, that’s what happened! They degenerated from a passion to a label – simply another […]

After selling Barefoot Wine, we helped our acquirer maintain the “Barefoot Spirit,” which led to Barefoot becoming the world’s largest wine brand. This experience taught us valuable lessons about large companies. We advised start-ups and build-ups, receiving numerous requests to write a book about our business approach. Our initial attempt was a conventional, prescriptive business […]

Did you know Bonnie M. Harvey and I have a FREE audiobook chapter of our NYT Best Seller, The Barefoot Spirit? “A Sherwood Players Production, featuring a full ensemble cast ​including Hollywood Legends Ed Asner and Gigi Perreau​, an original cinematic score, sound effects, and behind-the-scenes interviews with the real Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey […]

Customers crave compelling narratives they can identify with and root for, turning brands into heroes. For example, Barefoot Cellars capitalized on its David vs. Goliath battle against a French wine giant, winning customers’ hearts and wallets with their underdog story. Stories not only build brand credibility but also attract supporters who resonate with a brand’s […]

So often we see great brands derailed. They seem to have lost track of their purpose and style, their principles and commitments. They often get watered down and diluted by corporate governance, standardization, and complacency. What happened? They lost their spirit, that’s what happened! They degenerated from a passion to a label – simply another […]

“We were truly honored to have hosted the founders of Barefoot Wine, Michael Houlihan and Bonnie M. Harvey, at our Startup Summit Grand Finale. Their inspiring stories about how entrepreneurship has transformed their lives in the industry left a lasting impact on everyone. Seeing their insights and experiences was incredibly valuable, and we are looking […]