Summary In this episode of Sparking Success, E.J. Swanson and Aaron Opalewski discuss the stages and phases of business development. They explore the importance of starting a business, building a strong foundation, refining strategies, and targeting areas for impact. The conversation emphasizes the need for adaptability and the significance of unde…

In this episode of Sparking Success, Aaron Opalewski and EJ Swanson discuss the importance of reflection and planning as the year comes to a close. They reflect on recent guests and insights gained from their conversations, emphasizing the need for teamwork, communication, and understanding core values. Aaron shares key takeaways from a recent webi…

In this conversation, Chad Peterson shares his journey through the manufacturing industry, emphasizing the importance of mentorship, mindset, and teamwork. He discusses the challenges of entrepreneurship, the dynamics of prototype manufacturing, and the current state of the automotive industry. The conversation highlights the significance of buildi…

In this episode of Sparking Success, host Aaron Opalewski interviews Bill Kozyra, a fourth-generation leader in the automotive industry. Bill shares his journey from working in large tier one automotive suppliers to acquiring and rebranding Wilko Plastics. The conversation delves into the challenges and strategies of business acquisitions, the impo…

In this episode of Sparking Success, Aaron Opalewski interviews CJ Karchon, Vice President of IET and owner of multiple businesses in the defense and firearms industry. They discuss the evolution of IET, the challenges of navigating economic downturns, and the importance of controlled growth. CJ shares insights on pivoting to defense contracts duri…

In this conversation, Josh Kosnick shares his journey from a successful career in financial advising to facing unexpected adversity. He discusses the importance of mental toughness, human development in business, and the need for effective systems and processes. The conversation emphasizes the significance of building long-term relationships, the p…

In this engaging conversation, Aaron Opalewski and Mark Whitby of Recruitment Coach delve into the intricacies of recruitment, coaching, and the podcasting journey. Mark shares his personal experiences in the recruitment industry, highlighting the importance of coaching and continuous learning. Mark Whitby is one of the world’s leading coaches for …

Summary In this episode, the Aaron discusses the importance of bonuses and variable income tied to performance. He emphasizes the consistency and hard work required to earn these bonuses and how they can serve as anchors for future success. Aaron also highlights the personal growth and life lessons that come with overcoming challenges and achieving…

Syed Ahmed, owner and founder of Platinum Motor Cars and Out of Office Garage, shares his journey of building a successful business and community. He emphasizes the importance of building relationships and providing exceptional customer service. Syed and his team focus on the lifetime value of a client and prioritize their clients' needs and prefer…

In this episode, Aaron Opalewski and E.J. Swanson discuss navigating through change and uncertainty, particularly in the context of business and leadership. They share their experiences and lessons learned from past election cycles and market fluctuations. The key takeaway is to focus on what you can control, such as your pipeline, business perform…

Ryan Gumro, an entrepreneur, shares his journey of building and selling his business, Gumro & Associates. As Ryan shares with Aaron He emphasizes the importance of building a strong team, focusing on the sales pipeline, and maintaining ethical business practices. Ryan discusses the challenges and rewards of the acquisition process and the emotional…

Andrew Goggin, CEO of Frontier Building, shares his journey from starting as a superintendent to becoming the CEO and co-owner of the company. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on solving customer problems and delivering exceptional service rather than chasing revenue. Andrew also discusses the value of aligning with the right partners and l…

In this conversation, Brent Orsuga and Sparking Aaron Opalewski discuss the state of the recruiting industry and how to navigate the current climate. They emphasize the importance of controlling the controllables and focusing on activities that can be controlled, such as daily outreach and maintaining a strong pipeline. They also highlight the sign…

In this episode, Aaron and EJ discuss the topic of networking and its impact on businesses and lives. They emphasize the importance of focusing on becoming a high performer before joining networking groups or masterminds. They also discuss the timing of joining such groups and the dangers of getting off track or being steered in the wrong direction…

Stefan Joens, President and CEO of Elnik Systems, shares his experience of moving his company from New Jersey to North Carolina. He discusses the challenges and lessons learned during the transition, including the importance of adaptability and the art of the pivot. Stefan emphasizes the value of being a doer before becoming a leader and the signif…

In this conversation, Benjamin Mena, the founder of Select Source Solutions and host of the Elite Recruiter Podcast, is interviewed by Aaron Opalewski of Sparking Success. They discuss various topics related to government contracting, recruiting, and the impact of AI in the industry. Benjamin shares his journey into the government contracting space…

In this episode, Aaron and EJ discuss the importance of recurring business and gross profit margins in growing a recruiting agency. They explain that recurring business provides valuation and stability to the agency, while gross profit margins determine the profitability of each placement. They also touch on different forms of recurring revenue, su…

In todays episode, Sarah Englade shares her journey in the recruiting industry and the founding of her company, Monarch Talent Solutions. She emphasizes the importance of niching down and focusing on a specific market, in her case, accounting, finance, and human resources in Houston, Texas. Sarah highlights the value of building relationships and p…

In the episode, Mike Williams, founder of Carnegie Search, joins the Sparking Success podcast to discuss the challenges of growing a recruiting business. They talk about the importance of setting realistic goals and not sacrificing excellence for rapid growth. Mike shares his strategy of focusing on developing his team and maintaining a high level …

In this weeks episode,Jake Raska from Carrera Capital Advisors discusses the story of starting Carrera and the importance of building strong teams. He emphasizes the value of collaboration, complementary skill sets, and continuous improvement. Jake also highlights the significance of being present for family while managing a busy work schedule and …

Tom Caravela, a career services expert and entrepreneur, is the first guest on the Sparking Success podcast. He shares his journey of starting his own executive search firm, The Carolan Group, and the success of his podcast, MSL Talk. Tom's decision to start the podcast was driven by his desire to help job seekers and professionals in the pharmaceu…

Partnerships in business and life are discussed in this episode. The host shares his experiences and insights on the importance of bringing different skills to a partnership, having clear agreements, and ongoing communication. He emphasizes the value of partnerships in achieving success and fulfillment. The host also acknowledges the significance o…

In this episode, Aaron Opalewski and E.J. Swanson discuss the importance of choosing the right career path. They highlight three key factors to consider: evaluating the organization or department, evaluating the vehicle or opportunity, and taking action. They emphasize the need for alignment with the company's values and mission, as well as the imp…

In this episode, Aaron shares four top lessons he has learned throughout his career that he believes will be helpful for other entrepreneurs and business leaders. The first lesson is to focus on the fundamentals and control the controllable aspects of your work. The second lesson is to collaborate with others in your industry, even if they are cons…

On todays episode Aaron and Ej delve into the strategic decision to give away 960 pizzas and the business implications behind it. It explores the concept of customer lifetime value, community engagement, and the importance of long-term business outlook. The discussion also touches on the significance of financial stability and the impact of generos…

In this episode, Aaron and EJ discuss the importance of emotional intelligence (EQ) in leadership. Aaron shares his personal journey of developing EQ over the years and how it has impacted his leadership style. They emphasize the need for leaders to evolve and grow in their EQ as their team and responsibilities expand. They also discuss the balance…

Summary In this episode, Aaron Opalewski and EJ Swanson discuss the art of negotiation in recruitment. They emphasize the importance of understanding the needs and desires of both the client and the candidate in order to make the best match. They highlight the value of thorough communication and preparation in the negotiation process. They also str…

In this episode, Aaron Opalewski and EJ Swanson discuss the importance of stepping away from work to avoid burnout and maintain a healthy work-life balance. They share their personal experiences and insights on when and how to take time off, especially for business owners and leaders. They emphasize the need for intentional time management and bein…

Von Aaron Opalewski

In this episode, Aaron and E.J. discuss sales mistakes that people make when connecting with customers and clients. They emphasize the importance of understanding the context and situation of each prospect and not blindly going straight to the top decision-maker. They highlight the mistake of not respecting the chain of command and not building rel…

In this episode, Aaron Opalewski discusses the importance of setting vision and direction within an organization. He shares his approach to crafting vision and the challenges he has faced in communicating it effectively. Opalewski highlights the significance of off-sites, leadership meetings, company meetings, and daily stand-ups in aligning the te…

Summary In this episode, Aaron Opalewski and E.J. discuss the importance of EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) in evaluating the profitability and value of a business. They explain how EBITDA is a key number that indicates how much money a business makes and how it can be used to assess the growth and potential…

Join Aaron as he share with Mark Whitby from the The Resilient Recruiter Podcast Growing a recruitment business to 7 or 8-figure portfolio companies might be much simpler than you think. Few firm owners achieve this, but Aaron Opalewski stands as an example of this entrepreneurial success. He co-founded his first staffing company at just 24 and has…

In this episode , Aaron Opalewski shares his expertise on talent acquisition strategies. He discusses the importance of having a talent acquisition funnel to consistently generate potential candidates. He also emphasizes the significance of personal and company branding in attracting talent. Aaron highlights the need for an effective interview proc…

Summary In this episode, Aaron Opalewski and EJ Swanson discuss the importance of performance management in organizations. They outline a three-step process for addressing performance issues: friendly conversation, serious discussion, and opportunity plan. They emphasize the need for empathy and clear communication throughout the process. They also…

In this episode, Aaron discusses the importance of knowing your numbers in business and how to develop a gross profit strategy. He emphasizes the need to understand financial statements, such as income statements and balance sheets, and the difference between sales revenue and gross profit. Aaron explains that knowing your numbers allows for data-d…

In this episode, Aaron Opalewski and EJ Swanson discuss the importance of feedback loops and how they can lead to success in various areas of business. They explore feedback loops in projects, the development of new service lines, and the positive outcomes that can result from analyzing failures. They emphasize the need for quick adjustments and th…

In this episode, Aaron discusses the importance of anchoring achievements to key objectives. He emphasizes the difference between goals and objectives, highlighting the significance of objectives in driving growth and contributing to a larger mission. Aaron also shares personal stories of how he attaches meaning to his objectives, such as impacting…

In this episode, Aaron discusses the journey of growing a business at different levels of gross profit. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on gross profit rather than just sales revenue. Aaron shares insights and challenges encountered when crossing the $1 million, $3 million, and $10 million marks. He highlights the need for the leader to be…

In this episode, Aaron discusses the concept of vertical integrations and their role in driving efficiencies, lowering costs, and creating leverage within a business. He emphasizes the importance of timing and focusing on core competencies when considering a vertical integration. Aaron shares examples of successful vertical integrations within Spar…

In this episode, Aaron Opalewski introduces the Sparking Success podcast and shares his personal journey from his upbringing to his current role as the CEO of Spark Companies. He discusses the importance of faith and how it has guided his path. Aaron also talks about his experiences in school, sports, and personal training, highlighting the lessons…