How to Choose the Right Business Partner (Like Choosing a Spouse) | Building a Chocolate Company from Zero Revenue | Chef Brandon Olsen & Michael Held
In this episode, Chef Brandon Olsen and Michael Held share exactly how they chose each other as business partners and built a chocolate manufacturing company in Canada from zero revenue. They currently operate out of a 16,000 square foot warehouse with pre-orders, distribution deals already in place, and are fully self-funded.
If you're looking for real advice on how to choose the right business partner, how to build trust in a partnership, or how to start a manufacturing business from scratch without taking outside investment, this conversation will give you clarity.
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Chapter Stamps
00:00 - Zero Revenue but Thinking Like a Big Company
03:12 - Michael's Journey: Scaling Life Speak to a Half Billion Dollar Exit
05:04 - How They Bootstrapped the Chocolate Company
07:51 - Why They Refused Outside Investors & Family Money
08:52 - Launch Timeline: Machinery Coming
10:49 - Brandon Olsen's Story: From Top Chef to Serial Entrepreneur to Manufacturer
15:47 - Biggest Mistake Entrepreneurs Make
21:50 - How to Handle Business Failure
28:08 - Brandon's Honest Story: Working at LCBO After His Business Failed
34:47 - Ego vs Real Trust: What Actually Makes a Business Partnership Work
36:15 - "Just Do It" Mindset + Creating Accountability
41:04 - How Brandon & Michael Built Deep Trust Before Starting the Company
51:11 - Practical Advice for New Entrepreneurs
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Key Takeaways:
- How to choose the right business partner for long-term success
- Why refusing outside investors can be the right decision
- The biggest mistake entrepreneurs make with their identity
- How to handle business failure without losing momentum
- What real trust looks like in a business partnership
If this episode gave you value, like the video, subscribe for more real entrepreneur stories, and drop a comment below - what's the most important quality you look for in a business partner? #BusinessPartner #Entrepreneurship #BootstrappedBusiness #BusinessMindset #StartingABusiness #BusinessFailure #PartnershipAdvice #SerialEntrepreneur
Pullout Quotes:
"I define myself, and I can recreate myself, and I can redefine myself if I want to."
β Brandon Olsen
"Celebrate the failure. It's growth."
β Brandon Olsen
"Life is short."
β Michael Held
"Picking your partner is more important than the business."
β Michael Held
"You don't have to quit your day job to be an entrepreneur."
β Brandon Olsen
Social
Website:
https://www.aswedochocolates.com
LinkedIn:
Michael Held:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelheld/
Brandon Olsen:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandon-olsen/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/aswedochocolate/
Brandon Olsen:
https://www.instagram.com/chefbrandonolsen/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/aswedochocolate/
Disclaimer
Please be aware that the opinions and perspectives conveyed in this podcast are solely those of our guests and do not necessarily represent the views, ideologies, or principles of Super Entrepreneurs Podcast, its associated entities, or any organizations they represent or are affiliated with. We provide a platform for discussion and exploration, and the content of each episode is understood to be independent expressions from our guests, rather than a reflection of the beliefs held by the podcast or its hosts.
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